Visible Effect Research Articles

Assessing the interdependency among effectiveness, satisfaction and efficient use of the Lightwave Health Information Management System (LHIMS) by health professionals in Ghana

BackgroundThe success of an electronic health records (EHR) system is dependent on the effectiveness, satisfaction, and efficient use of these systems by health professionals. This paper explores the interdependency among effectiveness, satisfaction, and efficient use of Lightwave Health Information Management Systems (LHIMS) which is an EHR by health professionals.MethodsA non-interventional descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed for this research. The study used stratified random sampling for the selection of participants. The population for the study was all the health professionals in the Central Region of Ghana. The number of health professionals who responded to the questions was 1126.ResultsThe findings suggest that understanding the interdependency of efficiency, effectiveness and satisfaction is crucial for the successful implementation and adoption of LHIMS in healthcare organisations. The study investigated the interdependence among effectiveness, satisfaction, and efficient use of the LHIMS by health professionals, and found a positive but weak significant relationship between these factors.ConclusionIn conclusion, this study aimed to assess the interdependency among effectiveness, satisfaction, and efficient use of LHIMS by health professionals. The. results support a positive but weak significant relationship between satisfaction, effectiveness, and efficient use of the LHIMS. These findings have implications for policymakers and hospital management in their efforts to improve the use of LHIMS. Policymakers can focus on any one of the three usability areas to enhance LHIMS use, with visible effects across the other two domains.

Understanding the influence of communication visibility in preventing knowledge sabotage: a knowledge power perspective

PurposeThis study explores the potential impact of enterprise social media (ESM) communication visibility on knowledge sabotage to reduce knowledge sabotage within organizations.Design/methodology/approachWe collected data from 389 Chinese employees across three stages and used hierarchical regression analysis and the bootstrap method to test our hypotheses.FindingsCommunication visibility negatively affects knowledge sabotage, and the loss of knowledge power mediates the relationship between communication visibility and knowledge sabotage. Digital work connectivity strengthens the negative relationship between message transparency and loss of knowledge power but weakens the negative relationship between network translucence and loss of knowledge power. Therefore, digital work connectivity plays a dual role.Practical implicationsManagers can encourage employees to share their knowledge advantages through ESM and seek cross-disciplinary knowledge cooperation, which helps restrain knowledge sabotage from the source. At the same time, maintaining appropriate digital work connectivity enables employees to leverage their knowledge interaction advantages of ESM, thereby fostering their knowledge competitiveness.Originality/valueThis study is the first to reveal the internal mechanism (loss of knowledge power) through which ESM communication visibility affects knowledge sabotage and explores the boundary condition (digital work connectivity) impacting the effectiveness of communication visibility. It contributes to a deeper understanding of the inherent nature of knowledge sabotage from an information technology perspective and offers novel technical insights into its management.

Supplier Visibility in Supply Chain Network and Firm Performance: A Study in Kenya’s Manufacturing Sector

The aim of this study was to establish the effect of supplier visibility on the performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya. The study was anchored on supply chain planning theory. The study utilized a cross-sectional research design. The target population was 561 respondents drawn from the 187 large manufacturing firms in Kenya. Using a stratified random sampling, a sample of 228 respondents was selected. A questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 27. The findings revealed that supplier visibility was not effectively embraced among the manufacturing firms in Kenya. The results further revealed that supplier visibility had a significant relationship with performance of manufacturing firms in Kenya (β=0.769; P<0.05). The study concluded that manufacturing firms were declining in performance as a result of inefficient supply chain process and failure to enhance supplier visibility. The study recommended that there is need for managers in supply chain among the manufacturing firms to enhance supplier visibility by incorporating suppliers in their supply chain network planning for them to meet customer needs and promote their performance.

Numerical study on micro-fracture mechanism of rock dynamic failure induced by abrupt unloading under high in-situ stresses

Rock burst is a kind of severe engineering disaster resulted from dynamic fracture process of rocks. The macro failure behaviors of rocks are primarily formed after experiencing the initiation, propagation, and coalescence of micro-cracks. In this paper, the grain-based discretized virtual internal bond model is employed to investigate the fracturing process of unloaded rock under high in-situ stresses from the micro-fracture perspective. The simulated micro-fracturing process reveals that the longitudinal stress waves induced by unloading lead to the visible unloading effect. The influences of in-situ stresses, mineral grain sizes, and grain heterogeneity on rock macro and micro fracture are investigated. Micro-crack areas of tensile and shear cracks and micro-crack angles are statistically analyzed to reveal the rock micro-fracture characteristics. The simulated results indicate that the combined effect of the stress state transition and the unloading effect dominates the rock unloading failure. The vertical and horizontal in-situ stresses determine the stress state of surrounding rock after unloading and the unloading effect, respectively. As the vertical stress increases, the stress level after unloading is higher, and the shear failure characteristics become more obvious. As the horizontal stress increases, the unloading effect increases, leading to the intensification of tensile failure. The mineral grain size and grain heterogeneity also have nonnegligible influences on rock unloading failure. The micro-fracture perspective provides further insight into the unloading failure mechanism of deep rock excavation.

Dynamic planning of crowd evacuation path for metro station based on Dynamic Avoid Smoke A-Star algorithm

Considerable casualties can easily be caused once a fire occurs in a metro station, and a safe and effective evacuation path in time should be provided, taking on critical significance in the rapid evacuation of the crowd. In existing research, crowd evacuation paths have been generally planned without considering the fire environment and the real-time effect of fire products on the evacuation paths, such that the planned paths do not fit the realistic environment of crowd evacuation. An algorithm is proposed in this study to dynamically plan evacuation paths in fire scenarios in metro stations. First, the equivalent length of the path under the effect of fire on evacuation speed is determined in accordance with the effects of ambient temperature, visibility, and CO concentration, and then the fire risk model is built. Second, the fire risk model is incorporated into the A-Star algorithm, and the evaluation function of the A-Star algorithm is optimized, such that the determined path is capable of avoiding areas with higher fire risk. Subsequently, a dynamic update mechanism considering time factor is introduced to update the search environment information data of the algorithm in real time for dynamic path planning, with the aim of coping with the dynamically changing fire environment. Lastly, the A-Star algorithm is optimized, and the Dynamic Avoid-Smoke A-Star (DASA-Star) algorithm is built. As indicated by the simulation results, the DASA-Star algorithm is capable of making a trade-off between the fire risk and geometric length of the path in an underground station fire scenario and achieving dynamic planning of evacuation paths based on FDS fire simulation results. Accordingly, the algorithm conforms to the real-time requirements of path planning under fire conditions, and it is capable of more effectively planning the optimal evacuation path under the effect of fire.

Digital transformation and resilience in family business: an exploratory study of generational dynamics

PurposeThe paper aims to contribute to the advancement of the debate on digital innovation and entrepreneurship from a cross-generational perspective in the context of family businesses. Specifically, the paper explores the contribution provided by the young generations of entrepreneurs to the digital transformation and resilience of family businesses during the pandemic emergence of COVID-19. Focusing on the need for a major understanding of digital resilience in the context of family businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises, the paper aims to provide theoretical and empirical contributions in replying to the following research question: How did young entrepreneurs contribute to the resilience and the digital transformation of their family businesses during COVID-19?Design/methodology/approachThe methodology consisted of a two-stage qualitative investigation including a focus group managed in presence with the involvement of 24 young entrepreneurs and a self-administered online survey involving the family businesses belonging to the Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Confindustria Puglia (South Italy) that has allowed to collect 47 replies, with a 32% response rate.FindingsThe paper presents evidence about the resilience of family businesses during the COVID-19 supported by the disruptive role of emerging digital technologies. Our analysis demonstrates that young entrepreneurs adopted different patterns of digital transformations, depending on the firm’s industry and the family firm’s digital maturity. Digital resilience in the context of the observed family businesses produced different benefits in terms of competitiveness, effectiveness of decision-making, visibility and communication and new opportunities for value creation; it occurred in several business areas, including production, logistics, sales and human resources management.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the relevant role that younger generations can play in exploring innovation opportunities associated with digitalisation as well as in contributing to reinforce innovation and resilience capability of their family businesses through collaboration with external stakeholders and ecosystems.Originality/valueThe value of the research consists in the attempt to analyse the meaning and implication of digital innovation in the context of family business as a driver for their resilience capability. The Family Businesses Digital Readiness and Young Entrepreneurs Contributions Matrix presented into the study as an original contribution of synthesis of the evidence collected.

The effect of visibility on forecast and inventory management performance during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare facilities faced significant shortages of critical supplies like personal protective equipment, with dire repercussions. This study evaluates the potential role of decreased data visibility on these shortages, analysing different forecasting methods integrated with a periodic review inventory system (i.e. a base stock policy) on semi-simulated data encompassing several visibility issues. The forecasting methods chosen pertain to different data types: Holt and naïve methods are used as demand-based predictors, while a modified epidemiological model utilises pandemic data for demand forecasting. We scrutinise three prevalent data visibility issues through specifically crafted scenarios examining the effects of delayed, temporally aggregated, and erroneous data on system performance. Generally, our research illustrates that data visibility issues have a detrimental impact on the healthcare supply chain's efficacy. Interestingly, the system performance sees an uptick when these issues spur significantly oversized over-forecasts, e.g. when employing an epidemiological compartmental model for predictions.

Social Justice Imaginaries and Education Policy in Aotearoa New Zealand (2017–2024)

AbstractIn this article, we continue Martin Thrupp’s critical work in education policy in Aotearoa New Zealand by examining the policies of the Sixth Labour-led Government (2017–2023) and the Sixth National-led Government (2023-present). We consider their attempts to mitigate social injustice via education policy and the social imaginaries that underpin such efforts. Our conceptual framework draws on Nancy Fraser’s tripartite analysis (redistribution, recognition, participation), the contributions of education policy scholars who have built upon her work, and others who offer alternative framings of social justice. To contextualise our analysis, we provide a historical account of the discursive shift from equality to equity in New Zealand education policy and the recent transition by the Left from the ‘Third Way’ (Giddens, The third way: The renewal of social democracy, Polity Press, 1999) to ‘progressive neoliberalism’ (Fraser, American Affairs 1:46–64, 2017, Fraser, The old is dying and the new cannot be born: From progressive neoliberalism to Trump and beyond, Verso, 2019). Examination of selected education policies by the most recent Labour and National governments reveals that, despite equity infusing the rhetoric of both governments, their actual policies have consistently adopted affirmative responses aimed only at ameliorating inequality’s most visible effects. We conclude with a call for more intentionally transformative efforts in education based on holistic conceptions of social justice.

Changes in Selected Biochemical Markers of Honey Bees Exposed to Fermented Common Tansy Solution (Tanacetum vulgare L.).

Honey bees use pollen and nectar from flowers to produce food. Because they often forage on crops, they are at risk of being exposed to plant protection products (PPPs), both directly and in stored food. Due to the adverse effects of synthetic PPPs on pollinators, biopesticides may be a viable alternative. Common tansy extract is used as one of the natural substitutes for synthetic pesticides. In our study, the effect of fermented common tansy extract on aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) activity and the concentration of triglycerides (TGs), total protein (TP), total antioxidant status (TAS), and glucose in honey bee workers' hemolymph was assessed. These biochemical markers give valuable information about the immunity, detoxification, and nutrition of a bee's body. Caged bees were given tansy extract added at various concentrations in sugar syrup for 24 h. Then, they were provided with only sugar syrup. After 7 days of the experiment, hemolymph was collected and analyzed. We observed changes in the activity of AST, ALT, GGTP enzymes and TG, TP, and glucose levels, but not all changes were statistically significant. In terms of AST activity, statistically significant differences were found. All groups tested, including the negative control group, showed reduced enzyme activity values compared to the positive control group. In TG concentration, differences were observed between the groups receiving 2% extract and 1% ethanol. Glucose levels differed between the groups receiving 1% extract and 2% extract and between the positive control group and 1% extract. Bee body proper functioning is affected by changes in enzyme activity, especially those responsible for immunity and detoxification, such as AST, ALT, ALP, and GGTP. Despite the short time of bees' exposure to the agent, the results of study show visible effects. Our results provide a basis for further research on the impact of tansy extract on honey bees.

Divestitures and the proportion of women on firms’ boards: The effect of shareholders and visibility

This study examines whether and when divestitures impact the gender composition of the divesting firm's board. Building on agency theory and the potentially different interests of shareholders and board members, we argue that the proportion of female directors decreases when firms divest, especially with an increase in ownership by the largest shareholder, who may experience self-interested decision-making and attributional bias. In contrast, the proportion of women on a board may increase for highly visible firms as a result of public scrutiny and legitimacy-enhancing efforts. Using data on 465 divesting and non-divesting US-based firms matched with board information over the 2000–2019 period, we find a negative relationship between divestitures and firms' female board representation. Our results also suggest that divestitures impact boards' gender composition with outcomes that depend on firms' ownership structure and external visibility.

The effect of assessor visibility on student stress and anxiety in emergency care simulation assessments

BackgroundSimulation assessment can result in anxiety for students. These assessments involve being observed by assessors, so there is a significant socio-evaluative stress component which may cause greater anxiety if assessors are visible to students during assessments. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of assessor visibility on biological and physiological markers of stress and levels of anxiety experienced by pre-hospital emergency care students in a simulation assessment environment.MethodsA paired comparison, pre-post test research design was used with two conditions; an assessor visible condition with simulation assessors visible to students in the room and an assessor not visible condition with assessors not in the room but connected via video link. With a sample of 29 emergency care students anxiety was measured with the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and stress was measured with salivary cortisol and heart rate variability (HRV).ResultsDifferences in state anxiety scores, HRV variables and salivary cortisol suggested lower stress and anxiety in the assessor visible group. Only heart rate was significantly different between the groups (p = 0.016), with a higher heart rate in the assessor not visible group.ConclusionsGreater stress and anxiety may be experienced by students during emergency care simulation assessments when assessors are not visible to students.

Towards a paradigm shift in the fuctions of biologically active agents: herbicide-mediated hormesis

One of the most important points to which I pay particularly close attention in this paper is the action of biologically active chemicals (BACs) in the living things. Theoretically, the action of BACs manifests itself in four stages, which are determined by the doses from the smallest to the largest: absence of visible effects, stimulation of biochemical and growth processes, inhibition of growth processes and death of the living things. Today, scientific research is mainly focused on the second stage of BACs action. At the same time, using of herbicides (killers of unwanted plants) in agriculture give evidens that they stimulate the growth of beneficial plants. The paradigm of only the stimulating action of BACs should be replaced by the paradigm of events at all four stages of BACs action in living organisms. The article proposes the mechanisms of events at all four stages of BACs action. The main focus is on redox reactions. Mechanisms of transformation of inactive BACs into reactive agents in endogenous redox reactions are described. This article also aims to focus the discussion on the analysis of the diversity of mechanisms underlying the action of natural and synthetic chemical agents.

Gas-Phase Studies of NMR Shielding and Indirect Spin-Spin Coupling in 13C-Enriched Ethane and Ethylene.

13C and 1H NMR spectra were observed as the function of density in 1,2-13C-enriched ethane and ethylene for the pure gaseous compounds and their binary mixtures with xenon and carbon dioxide gases as the solvents. All the chemical shifts and indirect spin-spin couplings were linearly dependent on the solvent density. The appropriate NMR parameters (σ and nJ) in isolated 13C2H6 and 13C2H4 molecules and the coefficients responsible for the binary molecular interactions were determined and compared with previous similar measurements and selected calculated shielding data. The newly obtained 13C shielding values in the isolated ethane and ethylene molecules suggest visible secondary isotope effects due to the additional carbon-13 atom. All the investigated shielding parameters depend on intermolecular interactions, and the dependence of 13C shielding is much more marked. In contrast, the indirect spin-spin couplings in 13C2H6 and 13C2H4 molecules are almost independent of solvent molecules. Their nJ values determined in liquids over sixty years ago are generally consistent with the same nJ parameters in isolated 13C2H6 and 13C2H4 molecules.

We will be different forever: A qualitative study of changes of body image in women with breast cancer

ObjectiveThis study explores the experience of body-image changes throughout the trajectory of breast cancer.MethodsWe conducted qualitative in-depth interviews with 53 women (n = 53) representing diverse age groups, with a mean age of 48.61 years (SD = 13.12), from various regions across the Czech Republic. The interviews were audio/video recorded and divided into two phases. The initial phase consisted of a narrative part, followed by a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis was employed to identify and explore the topics that held significant importance to the participants.ResultsThis research investigated how body image and emotional responses evolve in women with breast cancer during various stages of the illness. Throughout the breast cancer journey, women undergo diverse body image changes, with some of them being described as particularly traumatic, such as hair loss and preventive operations. The effects of breast cancer extend beyond physical scars, influencing femininity and womanhood in the long run. The experience of womanhood is marked by visible and non-visible effects that persist for years after treatment.ConclusionStudy has provided valuable insights into the emotional journey that women experience during breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. The illness trajectory framework has proven to be a valuable tool for understanding the complexities of body image concerns and the emotional implications faced by breast cancer patients. By acknowledging the significance of body image issues and providing targeted interventions, healthcare providers can improve the psychosocial well-being and overall quality of life for breast cancer survivors. Further research in this area is needed to develop and refine supportive interventions that address the unique challenges women face during their breast cancer journey. Ultimately, by fostering a sensitive and comprehensive approach to care, we can empower women to navigate their breast cancer journey with greater resilience and confidence.

Your dermatology office visit: The effects of target visibility, target-distractor similarity, satisfaction of search, and time pressure on a visual search for cancerous moles

Your dermatology office visit: The effects of target visibility, target-distractor similarity, satisfaction of search, and time pressure on a visual search for cancerous moles

Pycnogenol® + Centellicum® supplementation improves skin elasticity and microperfusion. Implication for surgical patients: a conceptual registry study.

The aim of this registry study was to evaluate the effects of Pycnogenol® and Centellicum® (PYCE) on skin perfusion and skin elasticity in healthy women over a period of 4 weeks. The supplemented women used 150 mg of Pycnogenol® and 450 mg of Centellicum® daily. The supplemented group used the combination PYCE daily for 4 weeks and followed the standard management (SM) in addition. A control group used only the SM. SM for all subjects included a healthy diet (low levels of NaCl, low sugar, low calories), vitamin supplementation (C, E, B), daily mild outdoors exercise, regular washing with neutral soap; the same non-clinical, non-specific hydrating cream (Nivea) was used once daily. Sixty-three women completed the registry study. Thirty women using the PYCE combination and 33 women in the control group. The groups were comparable at baseline. No clinical condition was observed during the registry; no drug was used. There were no side effects or tolerability problems with the supplements. After 4 weeks, ultrasound elastosonography showed that skin elasticity significantly improved with the PYCE combination (P<0.05) without significant changes in the control group. In parallel, transcutaneous skin PO<inf>2</inf> increased significantly with PYCE compared to controls and transcutaneous skin PCO<inf>2</inf> decreased significantly compared to controls (P<0.05). This showed that skin oxygenation and nutrition improved with PYCE. Skin hydration also significantly improved with PYCE (P<0.05) in comparison with controls. Skin flow, indicating skin blood perfusion (thermoregulatory flow), assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry significantly improved over 4 weeks compared to controls (P<0.05). More specifically, the most superficial part of the flow, in the most superficial layer of the skin, corresponding to the nutritional blood flow, significantly improved with the combination PYCE compared to controls (P<0.05). Skin and tissue elasticity are crucial in surgery for healing, scarring, and wound closure. Reduced elasticity can lead to irregular or delayed healing. This preliminary concept study suggests that PYCE supplementation enhances skin elasticity, perfusion, and nutrition, with visible effects seen in just 4 weeks. This preliminary, concept study indicates that skin elasticity, skin perfusion, and skin nutrition improved with the supplementation of PYCE and the effects of PYCE were visible after only 4 weeks. A longer observation period should be considered in future studies. In conclusion, this pilot concept study shows a significant activity of the combination Pycnogenol® and Centellicum® on skin elasticity over a short period of supplementation.

Temporal and oceanographic factors differentially affect two size classes of white shark at a Southern California aggregation site

Ontogenetic habitat shifts are a common feature of many marine species, including sharks, which face conservation threats when their distributions overlap with human resource extraction and habitat modification. White sharks Carcharodon carcharias, for example, exhibit a distinctly coastal phase as juveniles, with a limited distribution compared to the basin-scale range of adults. Using an unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV), we studied a coastal aggregation site within a Southern California Bight nursery area to determine how fine-scale temporal and oceanographic factors affect white sharks at different developmental stages. White shark density, as measured via UAV, was highly variable across time of day and day of year, with modest variation across years. Typically, more sharks were observed in the late afternoon hours. Sharks, especially those &lt;3 m total length, were observed more often during periods of colder seafloor temperatures, potentially reflecting avoidance of these colder, deeper waters by more cold-intolerant smaller white sharks. Alternate models incorporating sea surface temperature showed a very small but significant association between surface temperatures and &lt;3 m total length white sharks for the months we surveyed, but no such association for larger sharks. There were no or only modest effects of visibility, swell height, chl a levels, sea state, and tidal height on UAV-observed shark density. Understanding how temporal patterns and oceanographic predictors of density change over time as well as how shark ontogeny interacts with these factors can help us to better understand how this species uses coastal habitats and predict when they may be more likely to share marine space with humans.

Model Predictive Temperature Control for Retinal Laser Treatments.

Manual, individual adjustment of the laser power in retinal laser therapies is time-consuming, is inaccurate with respect to uniform effects, and can only prevent over- or undertreatment to a limited extent. Automatic closed-loop temperature control allows for similar temperatures at each irradiated spot despite varying absorption. This is of crucial importance for subdamaging hyperthermal treatments with no visible effects and the safety of photocoagulation with short irradiation times. The aim of this work is to perform extensive experiments on porcine eye explants to demonstrate the benefits of automatic control in retinal laser treatments. To ensure a safe and reliable temperature rise, we utilize a model predictive controller. For model predictive control, the current state and the spot-dependent absorption coefficients are estimated by an extended Kalman filter (EKF). Therein, optoacoustic measurements are used to determine the temperature rise at the irradiated areas in real time. We use fluorescence vitality stains to measure the lesion size and validate the proposed control strategy. By comparing the lesion size with temperature values for cell death, we found that the EKF accurately estimates the peak temperature. Furthermore, the proposed closed-loop control scheme works reliably with regard to similar lesion sizes despite varying absorption with a smaller spread in lesion size compared to open-loop control. Our closed-loop control approach enables a safe subdamaging treatment and lowers the risk for over- and undertreatment for mild coagulations in retinal laser therapies. We demonstrate that modern control strategies have the potential to improve retinal laser treatments for several diseases.

Industry 4.0 supply chain nexus: sequential mediating effects of traceability, visibility and resilience on performance

PurposeThe research frontier concerning the relationship between Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and supply chain performance (SCP) in manufacturing is currently lacking in a comprehensive examination. This study examines the relationship between I4.0 adoption and SCP. Additionally, the study examines the mediating effects of supply chain traceability (SCT), supply chain visibility (SCV) and supply chain resilience (SCR), both individually and sequentially.Design/methodology/approachThe data were garnered from 510 managers of manufacturing firms, and PLS-SEM was applied to examine the sequential mediation effect of SCT, SCV and SCR between I4.0 and SCP.FindingsResults indicate a statistically significant direct relationship between I4.0 adoption and SCP. Furthermore, SCT mediates the impact of I4.0 on SCP. Similarly, results showed that SCV mediates the impact of I4.0 on SCP and SCR mediates the impact of I4.0 on SCP. Moreover, the relation between I4.0 adoption and SCP is substantially influenced by the sequential effects of SCT, SCV and SCR. The study provides novel empirical evidence by investigating the sequential mediation roles of SCT, SCV and SCR between I4.0 adoption and SCP through the lens of the resource-based view (RBV) perspective.Practical implicationsPolicymakers must prioritize the promotion of I4.0 integration to strengthen the performance of manufacturing supply chains (SC). This can be achieved by improving traceability, visibility and resilience within these SCs.Originality/valueThe originality of this study lies in its use of the sequential mediation effect of SCT, SCV and SCR between I4.0 and SCP under the theoretical lens of RBV.

Management of white spot enamel lesions with resin infiltration: potentials and future research directions.

The current study1 is a randomized controlled trial with two arm, multicenter and parallel group design. Study subjects were 38 orthodontic patients younger than 17 years who were being treated with metal braces. Patients with at least one white spot lesion (WSL) graded 1 to 2 according to the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) on the labial surface of permanent maxillary and mandibular canines and incisors were included for the trial. Teeth with carious lesions and restorations, anomalies of the enamel, and primary teeth were excluded. Patients were allocated by computer generated random sequence into resin infiltration and fluoride varnish intervention groups. Study subjects were blinded until the allocation, outcome assessors and statisticians remained blinded through the study, however the operators could not be blinded. Resin infiltration treatment involved removal of orthodontic wires and auxiliaries followed by cleaning the teeth with fluoride free prophylactic paste and completing the resin infiltration according to manufacturer's instructions. In the fluoride varnish group, a thin layer of the material was applied after isolating the teeth, and patients were asked not to eat or drink for 1 hour. This was continued twice a month for 6 months. Digital images of the teeth were obtained before, and 1 day (T1), 1 week (T2), 1 month (T3), 3 months (T4) and 6 months (T5) after treatment, using a DSLR camera and a matching polarization filter. The images were processed for calibration and color stability. Regions of interest representing WSL (white spot lesion) and SAE (sound adjacent enamel) were isolated in the images for comparison at different stages the images were captured. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 28. Independent-samples t-test was utilized for comparison between the two groups, and paired-samples t-test for comparison within the groups. A statistical significance level of α = 0.05 was set. At T1, significant color difference was observed between white spot lesion and adjacent sound enamel in the resin infiltration group and it remained stable after 6 months. Whereas in the fluoride varnish group, there were no statistical differences from baseline to 6 months. A statistical difference of 3.27 CIELAB units (p < 0.001) was reported between the infiltration group and the fluoride group at T5. No significant changes were noted in SAE with respect to changes in lightness. Resin infiltration was found to be better at masking the demineralization produced by WSL and also enhanced the esthetic appearance of demineralized areas around the brackets. Resin infiltration did not produce any clinically visible effects in non-affected enamel. These changes remained stable for a period of 6 months.