Evaluation of Flow Rate,pH, Buffering Capacity,Calcium, Total Proteins and Total Antioxidant Capacity Levels of Saliva in Caries Free and Caries Active Children: An In Vivo Study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the physicochemical properties of saliva such as flow rate, pH, buffering capacity, calcium level, total protein and total antioxidant levels in caries free and caries active children. The present study included one hundred and twenty healthy children who were divided into two groups; group I and group II comprising of age groups 7–10 and 11–14 years, respectively. Both the groups were then sub-divided equally according to gender. They were further divided into caries free and caries active with 15 children in each group. Unstimulated saliva was collected by suction method and flow rates were determined. The samples were then analyzed for pH, buffering capacity, total protein, calcium and total antioxidant capacity. The data was statistically analyzed using student t test (unpaired). The results revealed that when all these parameters were compared among the caries free and caries active children, flow rate, pH, buffering capacity were slightly reduced in caries active children, but total protein and total antioxidant capacity of saliva increased significantly in caries active children and the total calcium decreased significantly in caries active children. Within the limitation of this study, we conclude that, the physicochemical properties of saliva play a major role in the development of caries.     

Serum Paraoxonase Levels In Patients with Acute Liver Disease

Paraoxonase is an anti-oxidant enzyme, which circulates in the plasma, tightly bound to HDL. This enzyme is known to be synthesized in the liver. This study was carried out in order to ascertain the diagnostic utility of this enzyme in acute liver disease. Serum basal as well as salt (NaCl) stimulated paraoxonase was estimated in 50 patients with an established diagnosis of acute liver disease and also in 50 healthy blood donors. Paraoxonase levels were significantly lower in patients as compared with controls (P < 0.05). The ‘receiver operating characteristic’ plot showed that this enzyme has a high degree of sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis acute liver disease. Serum PON is likely to emerge as an additional test of liver function, as it encompasses three different attributes of hepatic function namely, synthetic capacity, detoxication and secretory functions.     

Wer hat einen Nutzen von Kompetenzmodellen?

National educational standards (NES) were released in Germany 2003/2004 as obligatory performance standards substantively and normatively defining an acceptable degree of proficiency. The NES describe tangible competencies in the form of can-do statements for core subjects to be acquired by students at the end of defined stages of schooling. To evaluate standards-based performances the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Federal States in Germany (KMK) implemented a test-based monitoring system that comprised a centralized evaluation in a nationwide study sample comparing the German federal states (Ländervergleich), as well as state-wide testing schemes at the end of grade 3 and grade 8 linked to the NES. All test items were designed by didactic experts on the basis of domain specific competence models that were psychometrically evaluated. The potential practical benefit from competence testing is discussed for the various system levels of feedback (state, school, teacher, and student). It is argued that, in order to tap the full potential of standards-based performance feedback, it must be appropriately communicated to the target system level and should be accompanied by suitable measures of action support.     

A literature review of RFID-enabled healthcare applications and issues

Despite the rising implementation of RFID technology-based healthcare services, few empirical studies have been conducted to assess the potential of this technology within the healthcare sector. The purpose of this study is to help initiate and direct such empirical research by both conducting a review of the extant literature and using the findings to provide a discussion of current trends and future directions in this domain. In this paper, we develop a conceptual framework that can be used to classify publications on RFID applications and issues in the healthcare industry. We then use this framework to systematically summarize relevant articles. We conclude by highlighting future research directions where the deployment of RFID technology is likely to transform the healthcare sector.     

Leg Power

Leg power is an essential component for success in sports and athletic performance. Therefore, the leg power measurement may help athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and rehabilitation specialists in selecting, treating, and training athletes for a specific sport. Using a conventional ‘jump and reach’ test, one can accurately predict the leg power and success in anaerobic‐type sports. Nineteen untrained male subjects performed ‘jump and reach’ vertical jumps on a force platform. Power values were calculated from the force versus time data obtained from the force platform. A regression equation was obtained to predict the power values using the weight of an individual and the ‘jump and reach’ height as independent variables. The regression equation is given by p = ‐666.3+14.74 [Mass (kg)] +1925.72 [Height (m)]; [R‐square = 0.69, p<0.05].     

Initiation,Experimentation, Implementation of innovations: The case for Radio Frequency Identification Systems

This research primarily examines the stages hypothesis of the process of technology adoption by management personnel of organizations in the supply chain sector involving the Initiation, Experimentation, and Implementation stages. Further, this research examines key antecedents that may influence the various stages, including top management support, external pressure, and organization size. Using responses provided by top management representatives of 210 supply chain organizations on their organizations’ engagement with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technologies, this research finds that the stages hypothesis holds for RFID technologies. Specifically, organizations were seen to sequentially progress through the Initiation, Experimentation, and Implementation stages. Over 80% of organizations, who had reached the Implementation stage of adoption, had gone through the Initiation and Experimentation stages as well. Additionally, the data showed that the antecedents exerted varying levels of influences on the three stages. Top management support strongly influenced all three stages; external pressure influenced the Initiation and Implementation stages, and organizational size influenced Experimentation and Implementation stages. The paper discusses several implications for research and practice.     

Choice based diffusion model for predicting sales of mobile phones using conjoint analysis

The modeling of understanding consumers buying behavior requires a technique, which does not only incorporate the preferences of the consumers but also have the ability to trade-off between multi-characteristics products and services. This study is supported by evaluating a framework via a marketing research technique of Conjoint Analysis wherein we have shown how certain attributes of mobile phones when studied jointly can affect the overall buying behavior of the youth towards various brands taken into consideration. Further, customers' choice probabilities of the mobile phones, based on preferences have been evaluated and potential market size is determined. Also, this study has determined and forecasted the sales on the basis of choice probability and utility obtained via conjoint analysis. Customers of the mobile phone located in Delhi have been targeted for this study.