Upper Blepharoplasty for Dermatochalasis With or Without Resection of the Preaponeurotic and Nasal Fat Pads: A Comparative Study

Purpose: Dermatochalasis is a skin excess in the upper eyelid and upper blepharoplasty corrects it. Blepharoplasty can be performed by removing only the excess of the skin or concomitant orbicularis oculi, preaponeural or nasal fat pads removal. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of one technique over the other in order to improve safety and aesthetic results. Methods: A comparative retrospective study was conducted in 386 consecutive patients with dermatochalasis of the upper eyelid, who underwent primary upper eyelid blepharoplasty from January 1st, 2015 to June 30th, 2017 at Turku University Hospital. Patients were divided according to the resection of preaponeurotic and nasal fat pads (study group, 51 patients) versus skin only (control group, 335 patients). Outcomes, patients’ and surgeons’ satisfaction were compared at follow-up. Results: Operative time and return to work were significantly shorter in the control group. No significant differences in the total amount of complications were detected (7.8% vs 2.4%, p=0.075). Ecchymosis requiring further observation was significantly more frequent in the experimental group (3.9% vs 0.29%, p=0.046). Re-operation rates at follow-up were similar between the two groups. Subjective patients' satisfaction was significantly higher when preaponeurotic and nasal fat pads were resected (from 0-10, mean 8.3 vs 7.0, p=0.034). Conclusions: Concomitant preaponeurotic and nasal fat pad resection appear to have higher patients’ satisfaction without increased complications in upper lid blepharoplasty for dermatochalasis

Explaining Outcome – The role of utilizing measurement insights for planning and reporting. A quantitative analysis of Swedish communicators.

The relevance of M&E insights being utilized for reporting, contra planning purposes, for predicting level of outcome implementation have been neglected in previous literature. However, this study can show that when measurements and evaluations is used for future planning of communication activities, level of outcome implementation increase largely. This study can also predict the level of which M&E used for reporting and planning purposes. Level of Knowledge, Perceived lack of budget and Perception of standards are independent variables being identified to explain the level of M&E being utilized for reporting and planning purposes. Empirical data of this study is based on a quantitative survey (75 respondents) filled out by Swedish communication practitioners and statistical analyzes.Even though a large body of literature suggest that communication outcome should be implemented, empirical research identify an unmistakably large lack of implementation of outcome. This study can show that practitioners using data, derived from measuring communication activities, future-oriented, as a basis for future planning of communication outcome tend to be implemented to a higher degree. Communication outcome is the umbrella term for measurement practices that evaluate the effect of communication activities. Effect in terms of target groups’ knowledge, understanding, attitude and intention to act in certain ways. What may explain communication outcome implemented in practice have occupied scholars for quite some time, however this study contributes to this literature by serving an explanation not identified before. Using insights, collected by measuring the progress of communication activities, as a basis for future strategic planning of communication activities tend to correlate with implementing outcome. It seems like communication outcome is suitable when findings from measurements are used with the ambition to look forward; and utilize insight for future planning of communication. Why measurements are used for planning purposes (contra used for retrospective purposes) can in turn be explained by level of knowledge among practitioners, whether they perceive to be lacking resources and their perception towards measurement standards. In summary, do the usage of measurement findings play an important role in understanding why practitioners implement measurement practices the way they do. This study uses a quantitative method, and the empirical data collected based of 75 Swedish communication practitioners answering a survey. The data was then statistically analyzed and the conclusions summarized above was made

Analysis and Development using Tools for Augmented Reality on Smartphones

The goal of this master thesis was to examine some of the available development tools for augmented reality in mobile applications. The best development tool were then used in development of an application for Android or iOS. The thesis has two main parts, the analysis of development tools and the application development. During the analysis ve dierent commercial development tools for augmented reality were examined. Four criterions were dened that were used to compare the dierent development tools. Based on the analysis the development tool that fullled most criterions were chosen to be used in the development of an application. The development had two main parts, design and implementation. Several body and brainstorming sessions were used during the design phase to nd a good idea for an application that could show the functionality of the chosen development tool. This resulted in an application idea that with the help of augmented reality informs a commuter how long he will have to wait until his bus arrives. A Lo-Fi prototype was developed during the design phase that was used as a base for the development of the application. Valuable information about user interaction was received from testing the Lo-Fi prototype on potential users. This resulted in a Hi-Fi prototype that underwent several usability evaluation to get an intuitive design

Cost-Benefit Analysis in a Framework of Stakeholder Involvement and Integrated Coastal Zone Modeling

Active involvement of local stakeholders is currently an increasingly important requirement in European environmental regulations such as the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The same is true for economic analyses such as cost-benefit analysis (CBA). For example, the Swedish WFD implementation requires i) quantification of cost and benefits of proposed measures and ii) stakeholder involvement. How can these two requirements be integrated in practice? And can such requirements facilitate implementation of projects with a potential net benefit? This paper presents a stepwise CBA procedure with participatory elements and applies it for evaluating nutrient management options for reducing eutrophication effects in the coastal area of Himmerfjärden SW of Stockholm, Sweden. The CBA indicates a positive net benefit for a combination of options involving increased nitrogen removal at a major sewage treatment plant, creation of new wetlands and connecting a proportion of private sewers to sewage treatment plants. The procedure also illustrates how the interdisciplinary development of a coupled ecological-economic simulation model can be used as a tool for facilitating the involvement of stakeholders in a CBA.cost-benefit analysis; stakeholder involvement; integrated modeling; eutrophication

Empowerment of HIV-positive individuals - possible through microfinance? A Case Study Of Microfinance And HIV Affected Households In Tuan Giao District In Dien Bien Province, Vietnam

The prevalence of HIV has caused adverse impacts on rural households, not least in the northern Vietnam where the problem has become a development issue. Despite a rapid economic growth leading to donor withdrawal, huge income disparities still exists. As a result, a person facing the additional burden of HIV has to cope with an even greater distress than before. The aim of this research was therefore to gain a better understanding of the impact microfinance and the training programmes have on the empowerment on households with HIV positive member(s). The study employed a single-case study design and was conducted in Tuan Giao district in Dien Bien province. Using empowerment theory sourced from Kabeer and power theory from Lukes as a foundation for the questions, data was collected through semi-structured interviews with HIV-positive households who had been members of the programmes for at least 1 year. The results points towards that microfinance can be used as a catalyst to an already started empowerment process, but cannot start it itself. Instead, the provision of ARVs together with an increase of the social status through trainings and building of human resources play a key role in enabling HIV-positive households to become empowered

Food safety risk perceptions and mitigation techniques in the dumpster diving community in Sweden

An online questionnaire was used to investigate behaviors and habits relating to food retrieval by Swedish dumpster divers. Respondents were also asked to share information on their background, reasons for engaging in dumpster diving, and perceptions of potential bacterial hazards associated with the consumption of dis-carded foods. The questionnaire was mainly distributed to Swedish social media groups focusing on dumpster diving, and a total of 92 responses were received. The most common reason given for engaging in dumpster diving was to reduce food waste and associated negative environmental impacts (60%, n = 55). Many of the respondents (65%) had completed university education, and around three-quarters (73%) had some form of employment or were enrolled in studies. Half the respondents (52%, n = 48) perceived a risk of falling ill after consuming food obtained through dumpster diving, but very few (2%) reported they had been made ill by food they had picked up from dumpsters. Around one-fifth (22%) of the respondents did not know of any bac-teria that could cause foodborne infections or food poisoning. Salmonella was mentioned by 35% of the respon-dents, while Listeria was mentioned by 18%. The respondents reported employing various techniques to reduce the risk of encountering harmful microbiological agents, for example, rinsing their food retrievals or discarding food that appeared spoiled. These are novel findings on dumpster divers' perceptions of perceived health risks and the strategies they use to mitigate such risks with food obtained through dumpster diving

The intraoperative relationship between intracochlear electrical field and excitability of the auditory nerve

Peer reviewe