Novel Techniques in Dentoalveolar and Implant Surgery

The topics of this chapter can help manage or prevent several common intraoperative problems facing clinicians during dentoalveolar and implant surgery. Three novel techniques are presented: (1) a technique for the stabilization of mucoperiosteal flaps following exposure of an impacted tooth requiring the apical repositioning of the gingival flap to allow for bonding of an orthodontic bracket, (2) a technique for the management of bone loss after tooth extraction and immediate dental implant placement, and (3) a technique to repair maxillary sinus membrane perforations during sinus lifting for implant placement

A Comparative Evaluation of Snow Depth and Snow Water Equivalent Using Empirical Algorithms and Multivariate regressions

Space-borne passive microwave (PM) radiometers have provided an opportunity to estimate Snow water equivalent (SWE) and Snow depth (SD) at both regional and global scales. This study attempts to employ empirical algorithms and multivariate regressions (MRs) using Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) brightness temperature (TB) in order to achieve an accurate assessment of SD and SWE which well suited for the interest study area. The SSM/I data consist of Pathfinder Daily EASE-Grid TB supplied by the National Snow and Ice Data Centre (NSIDC). For the present study, satellite-based data were gathered from 1992 through 2015 in two versions (v1: 09 July 1987 to 29 April 2009; v2: 14 December 2006 up to now). The results indicated that a stepwise multivariate nonlinear regression (MNLR) outperformed (r = 0.41, and 0.344 for SD and SWE, respectively) other methods. However, a fairly unsatisfactory correlation between ground-based and satellite derived data has been confirmed due to the sparse ground based data and not considering other parameters (snow density, moisture, etc.

Improving Facilities Lifecycle Management Using RFID Localization And BIM-Based Visual Analytics

Indoor localization has gained importance as it has the potential to improve various processes related to the lifecycle management of facilities, such as the manual search to find assets. In the operation and maintenance phase, the lack of standards for interoperability and the difficulties related to the processing of large amount of accumulated data from different sources cause several process inefficiencies. For example, identifying failure cause-effect patterns in order to prepare maintenance plans is difficult due to the complex interactions and interdependencies between different building components and the existence of the related data in multiple, fragmented sources. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is emerging as a method for creating, sharing, exchanging and managing the information throughout the lifecycle of buildings. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), on the other hand, has emerged as an automatic data collection technology, and has been used in different applications for the lifecycle management of facilities. The previous research of the author proposed permanently attaching RFID tags to assets where the memory of the tags is populated with their accumulated lifecycle information taken from a standard BIM database to enhance various lifecycle processes. This thesis builds on this framework and investigates several methods for supporting lifecycle management processes of assets by using BIM, RFID and visual analytics. It investigates the usage of location-related data that can be retrieved from a BIM and are stored on RFID tags. It also investigates the usage of RFID technology for indoor localization of RFID-equipped assets using handheld readers. The research proposes using the location data saved on the tags attached to fixed assets to locate them on the floor plan. These tags also act as reference tags to locate moveable assets using received signal pattern matching and clustering algorithms. Additionally, the research investigates extending BIM to incorporate RFID information. It provides the opportunity to interrelate BIM and RFID data using predefined relationships. For this purpose, a requirements’ gathering is performed to add new entities, data types, relationships, and property sets to the BIM. Moreover, the research investigates the potential of BIM visualization to help facilities managers make better decisions in the operation and maintenance phase of the lifecycle. It proposes a knowledge-assisted BIM-based visual analytics approach for failure root-cause detection in facilities management where various sources of lifecycle data are integrated with a BIM and used for interactive visualization exploiting the heuristic problem solving ability of field experts

Framework for lifecycle management of facilities components using RFID technology

The AECOO (Architecture, Engineering, Construction, Owner and Operator) industry is highly fragmented; therefore, efficient information sharing and exchange between various players are evidently needed. Furthermore, the information about facility components should be managed throughout the lifecycle and be easily accessible for all players in the AECOO industry. BIM is emerging as a method of creating, sharing, exchanging and managing the information throughout the lifecyc1e between all the stakeholders. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), on the other hand, has emerged as an automatic data collection and information storage technology, and has been used in different applications in AECOO. This research proposes permanently attaching RFID tags to facility components where the memory of the tags is populated with accumulated lifecycle information of the components taken from a standard BIM database. This information is used to enhance different processes throughout the lifecycle. In addition, this research suggests storing other types of BIM information (e.g., floor plans) on RFID tags which is not necessarily related to the components themselves. Having BIM data chunks stored on tags provides a distributed database of BIM and allows data access for different players who do not have real-time access to a central database. In this research, a conceptual RFID-based system structure and data storage/retrieval design are elaborated. The value adding benefits and scope of impact of the proposed approach are discussed. To explore the technical feasibility of the proposed approach, two case studies have been implemented and tested

Forage Quality Indices of Some Important Grass Species of Iranian Rangelands

To be informed of the forage quality indices is one of the fundamental essentials for determination of the amount of forage sufficient for the daily requirements of animal in rangelands and wildlife habitats. This amount would be different depending on the vegetative composition and consequently the forage quality (Arzani, 2009). In this regard, grasses are considered one of the most important plants in the vegetative composition of rangelands in the country’s different climate zones that are grazed by the animals and meet a considerable amount of animal requirements (Arzani et al. 2010). Therefore, the values of forage quality indices (crude protein, acid detergent fiber, digestibility of dry matter, metabolisable energy) of 135 grass species were measured at different growth stages (vegetative growth, flowering, and seeding stage) and from different areas of the country

The effect of serum levels of vitamin D in stone recurrencein patients with urinary tract stone

Introduction: The role of vitamin D in kidney stone disease and its effect on stone formation is still controversial. Objectives: To find out the possible role of 25(OH) D3 as an intrinsic factor in urinary calcium stone formers (SFs; individuals with one episode during the last 5 years and individuals with more than one episode during the last 5 years), we investigated the effect of serum levels of vitamin D on recurrence of urinary stones in SFs and control subjects (non-SFs). Patients and Methods: A total of 30 patients with first episode of urolithiasis (group A) and 30 patients with more than one episode of urolithiasis during the last 5 years (group B) aged 18 or older enrolled in this study and underwent metabolic evaluation including the measurement of serum level of 25(OH)D3, parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium and uric acid. Thirty age and sex-matched patients who had never urinary stone episode (non-SFs) were considered as control group. The patients in this study were selected among those admitted in Urology Department of Kashani hospital during the last year. Individuals excluded from the study were subjects with hyperparathyroidism or with the previous history of hyperparathyroidism. Results: Mean level of 25(OH) D3 was positively correlated with recurrent stone (mean 19.89±7.6 in the control group versus 47.21±19.77 in the group with the recurrent stone disease). The recurrent stone group (SFs) had the higher serum level of 25(OH) D3 than the control. No correlation was observed between the serum levels of PTH and 25(OH) D3 (r =0. 13, P =0.11) in both control and urinary SFs group. Conclusion: High serum level of vitamin D has an important effect on the pathogenesis of repeated urolithiasis. High serum levels of 25(OH) D3 were detected in the group with recurrent kidney stone disease. But it seems there was no relation between serum level of vitamin D3 and one episode of urolithiasis. Based on the results of this study, the high level of vitamin D3 may have a significant role in inducing the recurrence of urinary stone

Ultrafast nonlinear optical properties of passive and active semiconductor devices

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 2011.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references.Nonlinear optical properties and ultrafast carrier dynamics of slab-coupled optical waveguide amplifiers, silicon nanowaveguides, and III-V semiconductor saturable Bragg reflectors are studied. The limits imposed by two photon absorption and free-carrier absorption on the gain and output powers of an InGaAsP/InP slab-coupled optical waveguide amplifier with a confinement factor of [gamma] = 0.5% are determined. The two-photon absorption coefficient and the induced freecarrier absorption cross-section were measured to be 65cm/GW and 7x10-4 cm2, respectively. The effects of two-photon absorption begin to limit the gain significantly for pulses shorter than 40ps. The carrier recovery times were observed to vary between 390 to 160ps for 1A to 4A bias currents, and the short-pulse saturation fluence of the gain was determined to be 1.4mJ/cm2. Furthermore, nonlinear optical processes in high-index-contrast waveguide circuits consisting of 106nm x 497nm silicon waveguides with Si0 2 and HSQ cladding layers were studied using a heterodyne pump probe experimental setup. The linear loss of the waveguides was determined to be 6.5dB/cm. The two-photon absorption coefficient and free-carrier absorption effective crosssection were determined to be 0.68cm/GW, and 1.9x10-17 cm 2, respectively. Coefficients for the index changes due to optical Kerr effect, and free-carrier density were determined to be 3.2x10- 4 cm 2/W, and -5.5x10-21 cm3. Effects of the proton bombardment on linear loss and carrier lifetimes in the devices were also studied. Carrier lifetime reduction to 33ps with a linear loss of only 14.8dB/cm was achieved using a proton bombardment level of 105 /cm 2. Ultrafast dynamics of semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors were also investigated. The addition of resonant layers to the absorbers resulted in lower saturation fluence and increased non-saturable loss. Proton bombardment was utilized on these devices as well, to decrease the carrier recovery times. With proton bombardment of single-absorber layer devices with 40KeV proton energies at a dose of 1015/cm2, a 1.5ps carrier recovery time was achieved in single-absorber structures.by Ali Reza Motamedi.Ph.D

Valsalva maneuver using a Handmade Device in Supraventricular Tachycardia Reversion; a Quasi Experimental Study

Introduction: The use of vagal nerve stimulation is identified as a proper treatment option in patients with stable supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). This study aimed to assess the success of Valsalva maneuver via a handmade device in reversion of SVT. Methods: In this quasi experimental study, using a handmade device, vagus nerve stimulation was performed for SVT patients presenting to emergency department or cardiac intervention unit and the success rate and its related factors were assessed. Results: 100 patients with the mean age of 53.05 ± 13.70 years were studied (67% female). 12 (12%) cases were unable to do the maneuver. Out of the 88 (88.0%) patients who could perform the maneuver, 75 (85.2%) cases were unsuccessful. Dysrhythmia was controlled in 6 (6.8%) cases on the first attempt and in 7 (8.0%) cases on the second one (14.8% total success rate). 12 of the 13 cases (92.3%) with successful maneuver had history of SVT (p = 0.031). There was not any significant association between success rate and sex (p = 0.084), age (p = 0.744), or other medical histories (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, the success rate of Valsalva maneuver with the mentioned handmade device was calculated to be 14.8%. The only independent related factor of successful reversion was SVT history.