• Computational Structural Engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 1991

In this paper, a mixed variational principle applicable to the linear elasticity of inhomogeneous anisotropic materials is presented. For derivation of the general variational principle, a systematic procedure for the variational formulation of linear coupled boundary value problems developed by Sandhu et al. is employed. Consistency condition of the field operators with the boundary operators results in explicit inclusion of boundary conditions in the governing functional. Extensions of admissible state function spaces and specialization to a certain relation in the general governing functional lead to the desired mixed variational principle. In the physical sense, the present variational principle is analogous to the Reissner's recent formulation obtained by applying Lagrange multiplier technique followed by partial Legendre transform to the classical minimum potential energy principle. However, the present one is more advantageous for the application to the general anisotropic materials since Reissner's principle contains an implicit function which is not easily converted to an explicit form.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.323-341
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• 2019

Background: Local anesthetics alone or in combination with adjuncts, such as oral medications, have routinely been used for pain control during endodontic treatment. The best clinical choice amongst the vast numbers of agents and techniques available for pain control for irreversible pulpitis is unclear. This network meta-analysis combined the available evidence on agents and techniques for pulpal anesthesia in the maxilla and mandible, in order to identify the best amongst these approaches statistically, as a basis for future clinical trials. Methods: Randomized trials in MEDLINE, DARE, and COCHRANE databases were screened based on inclusion criteria and data were extracted. Heterogeneity was assessed and odds ratios were used to estimate effects. Inconsistencies between direct and indirect pooled estimates were evaluated by H-statistics. The Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation working group approach was used to assess evidence quality. Results: Sixty-two studies (nine studies in the maxilla and 53 studies in the mandible) were included in the meta-analysis. Increased mandibular pulpal anesthesia success was observed on premedication with aceclofenac + paracetamol or supplemental 4% articaine buccal infiltration or ibuprofen+paracetamol premedication, all the above mentioned with 2% lignocaine inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB). No significant difference was noted for any of the agents investigated in terms of the success rate of maxillary pulpal anesthesia. Conclusion: Direct and indirect comparisons indicated that some combinations of IANB with premedication and/or supplemental infiltration had a greater chance of producing successful mandibular pulpal anesthesia. No ideal technique for maxillary anesthesia emerged. Randomized clinical trials with increased sample size may be needed to provide more conclusive data. Our findings suggest that further high-quality studies are required in order to provide definitive direction to clinicians regarding the best agents and techniques to use for mandibular and maxillary anesthesia for irreversible pulpitis.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.717-720
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• 2010

Purpose: Absorbable plate and screw fixation is widely used technique for internal rigid fixation in craniomaxillofacial surgery. However, there are some potential problems associated with the use of plate. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of bone fixation in facial fracture using absorbable mesh in place of absorbable plate. Methods: The records of 55 patients with zygomaticomaxilla fractures treated by open reduction, performed by the author from February 2008 to May 2009, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were selected to receive absorbable mesh fixation. The incidence of all complications including infection, hypoesthesia, and deformity was examined. Analysis with postoperative computed tomography follow-up demonstrates degree of reduction. Results: Forty-six patients met criteria for inclusion in the study. All patients went on to satisfactory healing without complication. Postoperative computed tomography revealed good bony alignment similarly non affected side. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the rigid internal fixation of fractured bone fragments using absorbable mesh is more effective than absorbable plate, especially in comminuted fracture of maxilla.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2006

Nano and micro capsulation (NM capsulation) involve the incorporation for nanofood materials, enzymes, cells or other materials in small capsules. Since Kim D. M. (2001) showed that a new type of food called firstly the name of nanofood, which means nanotechnology for food, and the encapsulated materials can be protected from moisture, heat or other extreme conditions, thus enhancing their stability and maintaining viability applications for this nanofood technique have increased in the food. NM capsules for nanofood is also utilized to mask odours or tastes. Various techniques are employed to form the capsules, including spray drying, spray chilling or spray cooling, extrusion coating, fluidized bed coating, liposome entrapment, coacervation, inclusion complexation, centrifugal extrusion and rotational suspension separation. Each of these techniques is discussed in this review. A wide variety of nanofood is NM capsulated - flavouring agents, acids, bases, artificial sweeteners, colourants, preservatives, leavening agents, antioxidants, agents with undesirable flavours, odours and nutrients, among others. The use of NM capsulation for sweeteners such as aspartame and flavors in chewing gum is well known. Fats, starches, dextrins, alginates, protein and lipid materials can be employed as encapsulating materials. Various methods exist to release the ingredients from the capsules. Release can be site-specific, stage-specific or signaled by changes in pH, temperature, irradiation or osmotic shock. NM capsulation for the nanofood, the most common method is by solvent-activated release. The addition of water to dry beverages or cake mixes is an example. Liposomes have been applied in cheese-making, and its use in the preparation of nanofood emulsions such as spreads, margarine and mayonnaise is a developing area. Most recent developments include the NM capsulation for nanofood in the areas of controlled release, carrier materials, preparation methods and sweetener immobilization. New markets are being developed and current research is underway to reduce the high production costs and lack of food-grade materials.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.128-135
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• 2009

Acinetohacter baumannii BD5 was isolated from waters of Baek-du mountain, and the lipase gene was cloned using a PCR technique. The deduced amino acid sequence of the lipase and lipase chaperone were found to encode proteins of 325 aa and 344 aa with a molecular mass of 35 kDa and 37 kDa, respectively. The lipase gene was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(trxB) as an inclusion body, which was subsequently solubilized by urea, and then purified using Ni-affinity chromatography. After being purified, the lipase was refolded by incubation at $4^{\circ}C$ in the presence of a 1:10 molar ratio of lipase:chaperone. The maximal activity of the refolded lipase was observed at a temperature of $35^{\circ}C$ and pH 8.3 when p-NP caprate(C10) was used as a substrate; however, 28% of the activity observed at $35^{\circ}C$ was still remaining at $0^{\circ}C$. The stability of the purified enzyme at low temperatures indicates that it is a cold-adapted enzyme. The refolded lipase was activated by $Ca^{2+},\;Mg^{2+},\;and\;Mn^{2+}$, whereas $Zn^{2+}\;and\;Cu^{2+}$ inhibited it. Additionally, 0.1% Tween 20 increased the lipase activity by 33%, but SDS and Triton X-100 inhibited the lipase activity by 40% and 70%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society for information Management
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.53-81
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• 2019

The 3rd Library Comprehensive Development Plan (2019-2023) of the Committee on Library and Information Policy under IFLA-UN 2030 Agenda emphasize the role of libraries in practicing social inclusion. At home and abroad, this is shedding new light on libraries as the public service institutions aimed at resolving information inequality. This study thus developed the information inequality measurement indicator optimized for libraries. For this purpose, FGI and Delphi technique were implemented as the verification stage of the expert group. As a result, the final indicators were derived in three evaluation areas, twelve evaluation items, and 30 evaluation indicators. Specifically, first, 3 evaluation items and 8 evaluation indicators were derived in the access evaluation area; second, 5 evaluation items and 12 evaluation indicators were derived in the competency evaluation area; and third, 4 evaluation items and 10 evaluation indicators were derived in the utilization evaluation area. This study is considered to be of great significance in that the information inequality measurement indicators optimized for libraries were developed, the first of its kind.

• International Journal of Knowledge Content Development & Technology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.49-65
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• 2014

This paper investigates how strategy formulation and implementation processes used by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in building its digital collections compare with the Andrew's strategic formulation and implementation theoretical framework. Theory-testing case study methodology was used. The data collection instruments were the key informant interview technique and document reviews. During the formulation phase, two aspects (resources and aspirations of senior management) were emergent. During the implementation phase, five aspects (achieving results, processes and behaviour, standards, motivation, personal) were emergent. All other elements of building the UCC digital collections were planned during both the formulation and implementation phases. Although the emphasis on students and learning is laudable and apt, there seems to be lack of focus on research support beyond digital collection building, despite the fact that research excellence is one of the UCC's key priorities. Opportunities exist for improving feedback mechanisms between the users, digital library staff and the university management; and inclusion of social media tools in the digital library project. Since only the experience of a single institution of higher learning is considered, it cannot be definitively stated that strategy formulation and implementation will be similar in every institutional context. However, the results provide a basis for academic digital libraries to draw lessons from this case. In African public universities, there is little earlier research on strategy formulation and implementation in digital library management. Strategy formulation and implementation is a critical issue for higher education academic libraries especially in developing countries like Ghana, due to limited financial resources and the rapid change in the information environment during the last several decades.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.61-68
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• 2018

Background: This study was performed to review the efficacy of national and international randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating Chuna manipulative treatment for ankle sprains. Methods: Online databases (PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, CNKI, NDSL, OASIS), were searched for studies where Chuna treatment was performed for ankle sprains up to October 12th, 2017. Only RCT were selected that fulfilled the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Data were analyzed using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Results: There were 676 studies retrieved from the databases, resulting in analysis of 24 RCT. There was an average of 7 treatment visits over a 7 day period and the most frequent evaluation tool used was efficacy rate, with drug therapy being the most common control used in the trials. In 15 RCT, several Chuna methods were used in combination, amongst which, the osteopathic technique was most common. Statistically significant improvement in evaluation indices was reported in 19 RCT, and in 3 RCT, statistically significant improvement was reported, but not for all indices. In the remaining 2 RCT, there were no significant differences in any of the evaluation indices. No adverse reactions were reported in any of the RCT, although it was unknown whether all the trial protocols indicated that adverse reactions should be monitored, and for this reason, the risk of bias was unclear. Conclusion: The review of 24 studies suggest that Chuna manipulative treatment for ankle sprains was effective in most cases, although, potential bias in these studies was difficult to evaluate.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.603-606
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• 2013

Background: Ovarian cancer is the second most common malignancy in Pakistani women, accounting for 4% of all cancers in the female population. The aim of this study was to determine sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and 95% confidence intervals for ultrasound in characterization of ovarian masses in patients presenting at public and private tertiary care hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: We adopted a cross-sectional analytical study design to retrospectively collect data from January 2009-11 from medical records of two tertiary care hospitals. Using a non-probability purposive sampling technique, we recruited a sample of 86 women aged between 15 and 85 years fulfilling inclusion criteria with histopathologically proven ovarian masses presenting for an ultrasound examination in our radiology departments. Results: Our retrospective data depicted sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound to be 90.7%, 95%CI (0.77, 0.97) and 91.4%, 95%CI (0.76, 0.98) respectively. Positive predictive value was 93%, 95%CI (0.79, 0.98) and negative predictive value was 89%, 95%CI (0.73, 0.96). A total of 78 ovarian masses were detected, out of which 42 were malignant and 36 were benign. Conclusions: Results of our study further reinforce the conclusion that ultrasound should be used as an initial modality of choice in the workup of every woman suspected of having an ovarian mass. It not only results in decreasing the mortality but also avoids unnecessary surgical interventions.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.761-771
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• 1998

In this study, attempt has been made to evaluate the effect of $CO_2$ laser irradiation on enamel surface structure and the bond strength of sealant material. Conventional acid etching was used as a control technic for comparison. The results obtained from this experiment were as follows; 1. The highest mean shear bond strength value was observed in samples of Group I (acid-etching) with the statistical significance(p<.05) between all the other groups. 2. The shear bond strength in Group IV was the lowest among laser etching groups. but there were no significant difference between them(p>.05). 3. Scanning electron microscopic observation showed that the rough and irregular surface was created by $CO_2$ laser treatment with the formation of numerous pores, micro-cracks, and small bubble-like inclusion. Increasing the energy density induced localized surface melt with a thin smooth glaze-like appearance. 4. In acid-etched control specimen cohesive failure predominated, whereas adhesive failure was the main mode in laser-treated group. Based upon the above-mentioned results, it can be assumed that the $CO_2$ laser is not an adequate substitute for the acid-etch technique in enamel preconditioning. More studies are required to explore the effective condition of laser irradiation which could attain the better bond strength of restorative materials.