Dentin Regeneration

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66570/2/10.1177_08959374950090030501.pd

Health status in African American children and adolescents attending a community fine arts program

BACKGROUND: Over recent decades, the nationwide prevalence of chronic disease among children and adolescents has been on the rise. Conditions such as obesity pose a significant risk to the physical and mental health of individuals in youth as well as in adulthood, as these health risks track into later years and increase in severity. Low-income and racial/ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by chronic conditions. In particular, African American (AA) youth are reported to have a higher prevalence of fair/poor health than their Caucasian peers. Compounding the effects of this racial disparity in health is the disparity AA youth face in SES, as many live in poverty. The individual and environmental influences associated with factors of race and SES contribute to negative health behaviors leading to poor health status among AA youth living in disadvantaged communities. Health disparities have been shown to manifest in the earliest years of life, therefore the monitoring of at-risk populations of children and adolescents is essential to identifying, addressing, and reducing poor health outcomes throughout the course of life. OBJECTIVE: To determine the health status of AA children and adolescents living in a low-income community using multiple health measures, examine the relationships between these health measures in AA youth, as well as to identify barriers to participation in a family-oriented health promotion program. METHODS: A total of 111 AA boys and girls attending a community fine arts program located in a low-income suburb of Chicago participated in the study. Data from anthropometric measurements, the 20-m Shuttle Run Test, and curl-ups were collected and analyzed to assess the health measures of Body Mass Index (BMI) and BMI Percentile, Cardiorespiratory Fitness (CRF), and Muscular Fitness (MF), respectively. Data pertaining to barriers encountered in attending a health promotion program were collected from 13 families who were active members of the community fine arts program and had participated in health promotion program. The cross-sectional survey consisted of questions pertaining to the different components of the intervention program as well as to family demographic information. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the entire study population was 34.2%, with 31.6% of boys and 34.8% of girls being classified as overweight/obese. 16.2% of youth categorized specifically as obese, with 26.3% of boys and 15.2% of girls being obese. 43.9% of study participants aged 10-18 years needed improvement in CRF, all of whom were girls. All but one boy reached the healthy fitness zone for curl-ups. Significant positive correlations were found between BMI and age as well as curl-ups and age, and significant negative correlation was found between CRF and age as well as BMI and CRF for AA youth. Of reported barriers, scheduling conflicts and time constraints were consistently most listed by survey respondents. CONCLUSION: Within the at-risk population of AA youth studied, despite high levels of MF, a large proportion presented with problematic health as indicated by the high levels of poor CRF and weight status observed, suggesting a need for intervention in order to address these health issues. An intervention program targeting youth within this and similar communities should take into consideration attenuating excessive program-associated expenses as well as offering more scheduling options and information on efficient food preparation and exercise

The Change Management Process for Automation Implementations

The objective of this thesis is to identify change management processes in manufacturing and, if they exist, identify challenges and opportunities for improvement. There are many changes encountered in manufacturing as the advances of automation are integrated within production. For this reason, a change management process is required to effectively and efficiently implement these changes. To research this, a case study was conducted at a large manufacturing firm (more than ten-thousand employees). The facility studied produces low volume (~one per week), high complexity (~million components) products. The case study spanned six months, in which sixteen interviews were conducted with nine people from three different functional groups. The case study focused on a change to production, which was an automated machine that was implemented in the facility. This was not a change to the product, but a newly configured production station resulting in a decrease in automation level (bringing more manual activity into the task). The previous manufacturing method was fully automated but was not robust. Therefore, the change was to increase the human-robot cooperation in the robotic system. This study investigated the change process for this newly implemented automation. This was identified as a good case example to study due to several reasons. First, this was implemented within the past five years, which meant that people involved in the change process were still present. In addition to this, since the machine was still in operation it meant the propagation effects were stable and the changes were kept. Another reason this was a good example, was because this was a large-scale investment (~million dollars). This meant the return on investment (ROI) was high, leading to more attention to detail and higher resource allocation. From a research perspective, these reasons ensure the process was a critical case for study. Many change management processes align with the following high-level process: identify opportunity, gather approval to find a solution, form teams to solve, discover a solution, review, deploy a solution, and measure the solution. The change management process identified through the interviews followed this general pattern. In this model, thirty-four tasks were identified. Through a series of follow-up interviews, the process model was validated. However, obstacles were identified throughout some of the tasks in the process that encountered many changes. To explore this, a collaborative design resistance model was applied to see whether the model could accurately identify the tasks of highest resistance. The resistances were applied to the objective data from the interviews, such as team size and communication, and then compared to the subjective obstacles. From this, it was determined that the resistance model accurately predicted the challenges throughout the process. This research resulted in a mapped change management process for typical automation implementations. It additionally helped discover opportunities for making these implementations more efficient by mitigating the resistances. Motivated from this study, the following are some opportunities that were discovered for future work: conducting workshops to have participants build the change process model, studying the process at a small-medium enterprise, studying the process at a company with product change (high volume, low complexity)

Evidence for biofilm acid neutralization by baking soda

Background The generating of acids from the microbial metabolism of dietary sugars and the subsequent decrease in biofilm pH below the pH at which tooth mineral begins to demineralize (critical pH) are the key elements of the dental caries process. Caries preventive strategies that rapidly neutralize biofilm acids can prevent demineralization and favor remineralization and may help prevent the development of sugar-induced dysbiosis that shifts the biofilm toward increased cariogenic potential. Although the neutralizing ability of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) has been known for many years, its anticaries potential as an additive to fluoride dentifrice has received only limited investigation. Types of Studies Reviewed There is evidence that baking soda rapidly can reverse the biofilm pH decrease after a sugar challenge; however, the timing of when it is used in relation to a dietary sugar exposure is critical in that the sooner its used the greater the benefit in preventing a sustained biofilm pH decrease and subsequent demineralization. Furthermore, the effectiveness of baking soda in elevating biofilm pH appears to depend on concentration. Thus, the concentration of baking soda in marketed dentifrice products, which ranges from 10% to 65%, may affect their biofilm pH neutralizing performance. People with hyposalivation particularly may benefit from using fluoride dentifrice containing baking soda because of their diminished ability to clear dietary sugars and buffer biofilm acids. Conclusions Although promising, there is the need for more evidence that strategies that modify the oral ecology, such as baking soda, can alter the cariogenic (acidogenic and aciduric) properties of biofilm microorganisms. Practical Implications The acid neutralization of dental biofilm by using fluoride dentifrice that contains baking soda has potential for helping counteract modern high-sugar diets by rapidly neutralizing biofilm-generated acid, especially in people with hyposalivation

“And the next day, you are in charge”: policy recommendations stemming from a qualitative investigation into the professional development of early career peer support specialists in Kentucky.

Over the last twenty years, the peer support segment of the behavioral health workforce has grown rapidly. However, few researchers have studied the effects on individuals from transitioning into the role. Likewise, there is limited research examining the professional development process of early career peer support specialists. To begin to fill these gaps in the literature, I conducted a qualitative research study examining workforce development experiences of peer support specialists in Kentucky. This dissertation reports on its findings and includes a policy paper with recommendations for improving policy and practice. Chapter one offers an introduction to the peer support workforce literature and summarizes the dissertation. Chapter two provides a literature review on training and supervision within the behavioral health workforce. Chapter three reports on a qualitative study which explored the social process of transitioning from being a patient in care to becoming a peer support working in the treatment field. Constructivist grounded theory informed the study design, with its methods applied in conducting and analyzing in-depth interviews with the sample of 23 certified peer support specialists entering the field within the last three years. Study findings showed during the patient to peer support transition, individuals experienced a significant period of adjustment before accepting their new identity. Soon after joining the behavioral health workforce, participants became consumed by their work to the point their personal recovery was at risk. They saw training and supervision as insufficient in preparing them for the day-to-day realities of the peer support role. After time in the field, they successfully transitioned into their peer support identity. In doing so, they created role boundaries and sought support from outside the workplace to reduce their risk of relapse. Chapter four reports on the 23 peer support workers’ early career training and supervision experiences. It describes how their professional development was affected by these workplace experiences, with findings showing there was a wide range of training and supervision experiences among participants. Organizations lacked standards for best practices in their training and supervision. The content, methods, and time allocated for these activities varied from agency to agency. Most individuals in the study believed their training and supervision was insufficient, that still had knowledge and skills deficits in one or more areas relevant to their position. Participants employed various strategies in filling these perceived gaps, including consulting with their 12-step sponsor, applying an approach learned in their own treatment, and researching the issue on the internet. They were least likely to bring up needing more training on a topic during supervision. Chapter five is a policy paper providing the rationale and recommendations for amending existing Kentucky regulations governing its certified peer support workforce. Chapter six contains a summary of research findings and recommendations for future work

PERAN PEMERINTAH DAERAH KOTA TOMOHON DALAM PELAKSANAAN PENATAAN RUANG MENURUT UNDANG-UNDANG NOMOR 26 TAHUN 2007

Pertumbuhan dan perkembangan wilayah semakin kedepan akan semakin berubah. Dinamika pembangunan terjadi yang sangat cepat dan pesat menuntut pemerintah untuk membuat tindakan antisipasi akan perubahan yang berjalan serta dampak yang akan mengikutinya. Perkembangan wilayah ini akan diikuti oleh peningkatan berbagai kegiatan sosial dan ekonomi, serta utilitas dan fasilitas pendukungnya. Hal itu tentunya akan memberikan kontribusi terhadap upaya kegiatan penataan ruang, terutama pada aspek perencanaan ruang guna mengantisipasi segala bentuk kecenderungan perkembangan tersebut. Perencanaan tata ruang sangat diperlukan untuk menciptakan kondisi yang seimbang dan berkesinambungan antara kebutuhan dan ketersediaan yang meliputi seluruh aspek kehidupan masyarakat menuju tujuan yang ingin dicapai. Perencanaan memiliki makna untuk mewujudkan kondisi yang lebih baik di masa depan dengan memperhatikan kecenderungan dan dinamika perkembangan yang ada di masa lalu dan masa kini. Dalam perencanaan terdapat unsur-unsur yang perlu diperhatikan yang meliputi unsur keinginan dan cita-cita; unsur tujuan dan motivasi; unsur sumber daya (alam, manusia, modal dan informasi) unsur upaya hasil guna dan daya guna; serta unsur ruang dan waktu. Kata Kunci: Pemerintah, Penataan Ruang, Perencanaan, Perkembangan Wilayah

Prepričanja dodiplomskih in magistrskih študentov glede disleksije: posledice za začetno izobraževanje učiteljev tujih jezikov

The purpose of this study was to explore undergraduate and graduate students’ beliefs about dyslexia at the Department of English Language and Literature of the University of Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina and subsequent implications for initial foreign language teacher education. The study follows a convergent parallel mixed methods design. A questionnaire was used to gather quantitative data on students’ beliefs about dyslexia and to consider potential variances at different levels of study. A group interview was used to gather qualitative findings for further consideration in initial teacher education on dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. The findings have shown that both undergraduate and graduate students have an almost equal number of misconceptions about dyslexia, with the majority (96.03%) affirming that they need more training in teaching students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties. Furthermore, the study follows an emergent framework with reference to three main themes: (1) teacher beliefs and attitudes, (2) teaching practices, and (3) teacher preparation, which also reflect the main areas of undergraduate and graduate students’ concerns in teaching students with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties. (DIPF/Orig.

In situ anticaries efficacy of dentifrices with different formulations – A pooled analysis of results from three randomized clinical trials

Objectives Data generated from three similar in situ caries crossover studies presented the opportunity to conduct a pooled analysis to investigate how dentifrice formulations with different fluoride salts and combinations at concentrations of 1400–1450 ppm F, different abrasive systems and in some cases, carbomer (Carb), affect enamel caries lesion remineralization and fluoridation. Methods Subjects continuously wore modified partial dentures holding two gauze-covered partially-demineralized human enamel specimens for 14 days and brushed 2×/day with their assigned dentifrice: Study 1: sodium fluoride (NaF)/Carb/silica, NaF/silica, NaF + monofluorophosphate (MFP)/chalk; Study 2: NaF/Carb/silica, NaF + MFP/dical, amine fluoride (AmF)/silica; Study 3: NaF/Carb/silica, NaF + stannous fluoride (SnF2)/silica/hexametaphosphate (HMP). All studies included Placebo (0 ppm F) and/or dose-response controls (675 ppm F as NaF [675F-NaF]) ±Carb. Specimens were evaluated for percentage surface microhardness recovery (SMHR) and enamel fluoride uptake (EFU). Results All 1400–1450 ppm F dentifrices except NaF + SnF2/silica/HMP provided significantly greater lesion remineralization than Placebo (p < 0.0001): differences in SMHR ranged from 17.46% (NaF + MFP/dical) to 26.66% (AmF/silica). For EFU (back-transformed log EFU), all 1400–1450 ppm F dentifrices gave significant fluoride uptake compared to Placebo (p < 0.0001): increases in EFU ranged from 4.95 μg F/cm2 (NaF + SnF2/silica/HMP) to 16.32 μg F/cm2 (NaF/carb/silica). Dentifrices containing NaF or AmF as sole fluoride source provided the greatest remineralization and fluoridation; Carb addition did not alter fluoride efficacy; some excipients appeared to interfere with the cariostatic action of fluoride. Treatments were generally well-tolerated with ≤4 treatment-related adverse events per study. Conclusion Commercially available fluoride dentifrices varied greatly in their ability to remineralize and fluoridate early caries lesions. Clinical significance Fluoride dentifrices are the most impactful anticaries modality worldwide. While clinical caries trials have not consistently shown the superiority of one formulation over another, these findings using a sensitive in situ caries model indicated that dentifrices containing NaF or AmF as the sole fluoride source provided the greatest remineralization and fluoridation benefits