Differences In Technical Quality Research Articles

Technical Quality of Complete Dentures: Influence on Masticatory Efficiency and Quality of Life

To evaluate the effect of the technical quality of conventional complete dentures (CD) on masticatory efficiency and quality of life (QoL) of denture wearers during a 1-year follow-up. A prospective clinical trial with 32 edentulous patients (mean age of 60.2 years) wearing mandibular and maxillary dentures was conducted. All patients were evaluated wearing their preexisting dentures and after 3, 6, and 12 months postinsertion of new dentures. A reproducible method for objective evaluation of the technical quality of CDs was employed. Masticatory efficiency was evaluated by the colorimetric method using beads as artificial testing food. The oral health impact on patient QoL was measured using the OHIP-EDENT (Oral Health Impact Profile in Edentulous Adults) questionnaire. The nonparametric Wilcoxon test was applied to reveal any differences in technical quality between the preexisting and new dentures. The Friedman test was used to detect differences in masticatory efficiency and oral health impact on QoL. Spearman's correlation was applied to reveal correlation between the variables. Comparing preexisting and new dentures, significant improvement was found in technical quality between the dentures (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in masticatory efficiency. A significant decrease was found in the total OHIP-EDENT scores after denture replacement. A positive correlation was found between technical quality and OHIP in the new denture wearers (p = 0.011). According to the results of this study, denture quality significantly improved patients' oral health-related QoL; however, insertion of new dentures did not influence masticatory efficiency.

Comparative Radiographic Assessment of Root Canal Obturation Quality: Manual Verses Rotary Canal Preparation Technique

Objective: To compare the technical quality of root canal obturation in relation to rotary and manual root canal preparation techniques. Study Design: Cross sectional, analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi from January till December 2011. Methodology: Data was retrospectively retrieved by periapical radiographs of 60 root canal treated molars for assessment of obturation quality. Data was divided into two groups, 30 radiographs in each group. Group 1 and 2 teeth were prepared with rotary and manual canal preparation technique respectively followed by obturartion with cold lateral condensation technique. Postobturation radiographs were assessed to evaluate technical quality of obturation in term of length, density and taper of root filling. Mann Whitney-U and Chi- square test was applied to compare the difference in technical quality of obturation between two canal preparation techniques. Results: Amongst Thirty molar prepared with rotary instruments, 27 had achieved acceptable length, 25 had adequate density and 27 had achieved adequate taper. Amongst 30 molars prepared manually, 18 had achieved acceptable length, 14 had adequate density and 12 had adequate taper. Conclusion: Radiographic technical quality of the obturation (length, density and taper) was better with rotary technique as compared to manual canal preparation technique.

Influence of type of raw material on fishmeal physicochemical properties, the extrusion process, starch gelatinization and physical quality of fish feed

The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of two types of fish raw material on fishmeal (FM) physicochemical properties, specific mechanical energy, starch gelatinization and physical feed quality. Eleven feed mixes based on six independent FMs from herring (FMH) and five from sand eel (FMSE) were extruded according to standardized conditions. Type of fish raw material influenced FM physicochemical properties and had significant impact on starch gelatinization and pellet hardness. Multivariate models were established based on partial least squares regression (R2 = 0.637–0.999). Improved degree of starch gelatinization was associated with increased degree of protein hydrolysis (P = 0.011) and by replacement of FMH with FMSE in the feed mix (P = 0.012). A large span in pellet hardness was observed (4.9–94.1 N). Improved hardness was associated with decreased level of non-soluble protein (P < 0.001) and by replacement of FMSE with FMH (P < 0.001). For FMSE, improved hardness was associated with decreased level of non-soluble protein (P < 0.001) and increased degree of protein hydrolysis (P = 0.002), compressed bulk density (P = 0.039) and dust fraction (P = 0.001). The underlying physical and chemical mechanisms are discussed. The study documents differences in technical quality of FM produced from herring and sand eel with significant impact on fish feed extrusion and pellet quality.

Technical and clinical analysis of microEEG: a miniature wireless EEG device designed to record high-quality EEG in the emergency department

BackgroundWe describe and characterize the performance of microEEG compared to that of a commercially available and widely used clinical EEG machine. microEEG is a portable, battery-operated, wireless EEG device, developed by Bio-Signal Group to overcome the obstacles to routine use of EEG in emergency departments (EDs).MethodsThe microEEG was used to obtain EEGs from healthy volunteers in the EEG laboratory and ED. The standard system was used to obtain EEGs from healthy volunteers in the EEG laboratory, and studies recorded from patients in the ED or ICU were also used for comparison. In one experiment, a signal splitter was used to record simultaneous microEEG and standard EEG from the same electrodes.ResultsEEG signal analysis techniques indicated good agreement between microEEG and the standard system in 66 EEGs recorded in the EEG laboratory and the ED. In the simultaneous recording the microEEG and standard system signals differed only in a smaller amount of 60 Hz noise in the microEEG signal. In a blinded review by a board-certified clinical neurophysiologist, differences in technical quality or interpretability were insignificant between standard recordings in the EEG laboratory and microEEG recordings from standard or electrode cap electrodes in the ED or EEG laboratory. The microEEG data recording characteristics such as analog-to-digital conversion resolution (16 bits), input impedance (>100MΩ), and common-mode rejection ratio (85 dB) are similar to those of commercially available systems, although the microEEG is many times smaller (88 g and 9.4 × 4.4 × 3.8 cm).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the technical qualities of microEEG are non-inferior to a standard commercially available EEG recording device. EEG in the ED is an unmet medical need due to space and time constraints, high levels of ambient electrical noise, and the cost of 24/7 EEG technologist availability. This study suggests that using microEEG with an electrode cap that can be applied easily and quickly can surmount these obstacles without compromising technical quality.

３Ｄ‐Ｆａｓｔ Ｒｅｃｏｖｅｒｙ Ｆａｓｔ Ｓｐｉｎ Ｅｃｈｏ法を用いた ＭＲ ｃｈｏｌａｎｇｉｏｐａｎｃｒｅａｔｏｇｒａｐｈｙにおける最適スライス厚の検討

To evaluate the technical quality and visibility of the biliary tree and pancreatic duct on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) images obtained with a single-breath-hold three-dimensional (3D) fast-recovery fast spin-echo (FRFSE) sequence in several different slice thicknesses. As a fundamental study, tubes of various inside diameters filled gadolinium solutions were acquired at 1.5 T in 3D-FRFSE. We observed error rate changes of volume inside the tubes and the visibility of thinner tubes. MRCP was performed at 1.5 T in 8 consecutive patients (4 men and 4 women, aged 22-58 years). Seven radiologists graded images obtained with each slice thickness in a blind fashion. Furthermore, we compared 1.4 mm slice thickness images with 1.8 mm slice thickness images in a continuous rating scale for the same patient. We assessed differences in technical quality, overall visibility, and six individual ductal segments of the biliary tree and pancreatic duct. If slice thickness were thinner relative to diameter, the error rate would be closer to zero. But, when slice thickness was 0.8 mm, the error rate became clearly higher because of low intensity. In the fundamental study, we thought that the appropriate slice thickness is between 1.0 mm and 2.4 mm. The visibility of images of thinner tubes could be improved by having a thinner slice thickness. In particular, MRCP overall images generated from a 1.4 mm slice thickness were found to be significantly superior to those generated from a 1.8 mm slice thickness (p<0.001); this was also true as regards the pancreatic duct and cystic duct (p<0.01, p<0.05). We conclude that a 1.4 mm slice thickness is appropriate for MRCP.

Three-dimensional Fast-Recovery Fast Spin-Echo MRCP: Comparison with Two-dimensional Single-Shot Fast Spin-Echo Techniques

To retrospectively evaluate the technical quality of and the visibility of the biliary tree and pancreatic duct on magnetic resonance (MR) cholangiopancreatographic (MRCP) images obtained with a single-breath-hold three-dimensional (3D) fast-recovery fast spin-echo (FRFSE) sequence in comparison with conventional two-dimensional (2D) single-shot fast spin-echo (SSFSE) thin-section and thick-slab sequences. Institutional review board approval was obtained; informed consent was not required for this HIPAA-compliant study. MRCP was performed at 1.5 T in 53 consecutive patients (25 men and 28 women, aged 23-84 years). A single-breath-hold volume acquisition was performed by using the 3D FRFSE sequence and the conventional 2D SSFSE sequences. Two radiologists graded studies obtained with each sequence in a blinded fashion, and the paired Student t test was used to assess differences in technical quality, visibility of eight individual ductal segments of the biliary tree and pancreatic duct, and number of ductal segments visualized per patient. Studies obtained with 3D FRFSE were of significantly higher technical quality than those obtained with thin-section 2D SSFSE (P < .02 for both readers). The 3D FRFSE maximum intensity projection reconstruction and 2D SSFSE thick-slab sequence proved statistically equivalent with regard to the overall visibility of the biliary tree and pancreatic duct and the number of ductal segments visualized per patient. In comparison with 2D SSFSE thin-section imaging, however, 3D FRFSE imaging produced an improved overall duct segment visibility grade of 0.45 on a three-point visibility scale (P < .001), with a corresponding average per-patient improvement of 1.9 out of eight possible fully visualized duct segments (P < .001). The 3D FRFSE sequence shows promise for improved visibility of the pancreatic duct and biliary tree, compared with the conventional 2D SSFSE thin-section and thick-slab approach, while permitting the entire MRCP examination to be performed in a single breath hold.

Increasing compliance with maternal and child care quality standards in Ecuador.

To determine the effects of hospital quality assurance interventions on compliance with clinical standards, availability of essential drugs, client satisfaction, and utilization. Quasi-experimental, prospective study with four intervention hospitals and four control hospitals. All eight facilities were purposively selected and of comparable complexity. Ministry of Health secondary care facilities in Ecuador. Facility-based quality improvement teams, job clarification, standards communication, refresher training, strengthening hospital pharmacy committees, monthly monitoring of compliance indicators, and formation of users' committees. Compliance with input and process standards, utilization of services, and patient satisfaction were measured monthly in both groups through review of clinical and administrative records, exit interviews, and patient satisfaction surveys. After 12 months, the quality assurance interventions produced rapid increases in compliance with clinical standards in the intervention hospitals as compared with the control group. These improvements appeared as early as 2 months after the onset of the interventions. No differences were found between intervention and control groups in terms of trends in utilization patterns or client satisfaction. Quality assurance interventions made a difference in technical quality of care. Patient satisfaction and utilization do not appear to be directly associated with short-term improvements in compliance with clinical standards. Quality improvement interventions may require longer periods and a specific aim at clients' needs to demonstrate effects on utilization and satisfaction outcome variables.

A New Approach to Determine Soil Parameters Free from Regional Variations in Soil Behavior and Technical Quality

In order to evaluate soil parameters free from regional variations both in soil behaviour and technical quality, a new procedure to determine the shear strength for design use, τ f (mob) as well as consolidation yielding stress, σ'y is proposed. Various methods to determine τ f (mob) in current practice are first reviewed and it is then revealed that regional difference in technical quality is significant. It is indicated that cone penetrometer, sheathed field vane and direct shear tests are recommended as the tests to minimize the effect of quality difference together with that the direct shear strength offsets the strength anisotropy and be uniquely related to τ f (mob). Results of investigations with the proposed method consisting of three tests described above are presented for three marine clays. Point resistance, field vane, direct shear and unconfined compression strengths were investigated and the correction factor to determine τ f (mob) from these strengths are shown together with those proposed in various methods. It is demonstrated that σy' can be obtained from the shear strengths both in the field and in the normally consolidated state, and τ f (mob) can uniquely be related to σ'y irrespective of clay properties. Further, it is also shown that τ f (mob) and σ'y can be predicted without undisturbed samples when vane shear and direct shear strengths in the normally consolidated state are obtained.