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Hybrid laminates made of Carbon Fibre and Glass Fibre Reinforcement have become widely popular in various applications which are mainly due to their excellent structural strength coupled with lower cost. In all these applications, drilling plays a crucial role during the assembly of these structural components. This paper deals with the examination of the influencing parameters (feed rate, tool material) on thrust force during drilling of hybrid laminates. Statistical Design of Experiments has been used for the analysis of the drilling parameters on the thrust force. Taguchi's L9 (32) array has been used to determine whether the response function is minimised by feed rate or tool material. Hole drilling on hybrid FRP laminate has been done using Solid Tungsten Carbide and High-Speed Steel tool material under controlled machining operations. The results reveal that the tool material has a higher influential effect on the thrust force when compared with the feed rate. Also, the morphology of hybrid laminate was obtained using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and the results indicate that surface texture was observed to be optimum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Iron deficiency anemia accounts for 90% of all types of anemia in the world. Although the prevalence has declined in recent years, it remains an important pediatric public health problem. Iron deficiency has also been associated with dental caries. It impairs salivary gland function causing reduced salivary secretion and buffering capacity leading to increased caries activity.Aim: The aim of the study is to explore an association between dental caries and serum levels of iron and ferritin in children aged 3-12 years. Subjectsand Methods: The study group included 120 children, hospitalized for uncomplicated medical problems. Blood reports were evaluated to determine serum iron and ferritin levels. Dental caries experience was assessed using deft index.Statistical Analysis Used: The collected data were tabulated and analyzed using Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficient.Results: Out of 120 children, 38 children showed low serum iron levels of which 31 children had dental caries and nine out of 15 children in the high serum iron level group showed dental caries. High ferritin levels were seen in three children among which two children were caries-free and only one child had a low ferritin level who also had a positive deft score.Conclusion: Based on the results, it was concluded that there is an inverse association between serum iron levels and dental caries whereas there is no association between serum ferritin levels and dental caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thyroid dysfunction is the second most common disorder of the endocrine system that can affect any system of the body. The oral cavity can be adversely affected by either an excess or deficiency of these hormones.Aim Of the Study: To assess and compare the oral health status of children suffering from thyroid disorders and healthy children.Materials and Methods: A total of 200 children aged between 2 years and 16 years were allocated into two groups. The study group consisted of 100 children with thyroid dysfunction (hypothyroidism/hyperthyroidism), while the control group consisted of 100 healthy children. Gingival index, plaque index, DMFT (Decayed missing filled teeth Index for permanent teeth) & Dmft index (Decayed missing filled teeth Index for primary teeth) and modified developmental defects of enamel (DDE) index were recorded and data were analyzed statistically.Results: Plaque and gingival scores were significantly higher in the thyroid group compared to the control group. DMFT and dmft scores were higher in the thyroid group than the control group but the difference in score was not statistically significant. Statistically significant DDE score was found in the thyroid group. Apart from increased susceptibility to caries and poor periodontal health condition, children with thyroid disorders were also found to have other oral manifestations such as macroglossia, open bite, and change in eruption pattern.Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunction (both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism) has impact on the oral health status. Children with thyroid disorders showed high prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease compared to the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serbia, as the largest market of the Western Balkans, has entered socioeconomic transition with substantial delay compared to most of Eastern Europe. Its health system reform efforts were bold during the past 15 years, but their results were inconsistent in various areas. The two waves of global recession that hit Balkan economies ultimately reflected to the financial situation of healthcare. Serious difficulties in providing accessible medical care to the citizens became a reality. A large part of the unbearable expenses actually belongs to the overt prescription of pharmaceuticals and various laboratory and imaging diagnostic procedures requested by physicians. Therefore, a broad national survey was conducted at all levels of the healthcare system hierarchy to distinguish the ability of cost containment strategies to reshape clinician's mindsets and decision-making in practice. Aims: Assessment of healthcare professionals' judgment on economic consequences of prescribed medical interventions and evaluation of responsiveness of healthcare professionals to policy measures targeted at increasing cost-consciousness. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted through a hierarchy of medical facilities across diverse geographical regions before and after policy action, from January 2010 to April 2013. In the middle of the observed period, the National Health Insurance Fund (RFZO) adopted severe cost-containment measures. Independently, pharmacoeconomic guidelines targeted at prescribers were disseminated. Administration in large hospitals and community pharmacies was forced to restrict access to high budget-impact medical care. Economic Awareness of Healthcare Professionals Questionnaire--29 (EAHPQ-29), developed in Serbian language, was used in face-to-face interviews. The questionnaire documented clinician's attitudes on: Clinical-Decision-Makingbetween- Alternative-Interventions (CDMAI), Qualityof- Health-Care (QHC), and Cost-Containment-Policy (CCP). The authors randomly and anonymously recruited 2000 healthcare experts, with a total of 1487 responding; after eliminating incomplete surveys, 649 participants were considered before and 651 after policy intervention. Results: Dentists (1.195±0.560) had a higher mean CDMAI score compared to physicians (1.017±0.453). The surgical group compared to the internist group had a higher total EAHPQ-29 score, CCP score and CDMAI score. Policy intervention had a statistically significant negative impact on the QHC score (F=4.958; df=1; p=0.027). There was no substantial impact of policy interventions on professional behavior and judgment with regard to the CDMAI, CCP, and total EAHPQ-29 scores. Conclusion: Although cost savings were forcibly imposed in practice, the effects on clinical decision-making were modest. Clinicians' perceptions of quality of medical care were explained in a less effective manner due to the severely constrained resources allocated to the providers. This pioneering effort in the Balkans exposes the inefficiency of current policies to expand clinicians' cost consciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In children, caries removal by means of conventional rotary instruments is often associated with pain and discomfort. An alternative method to conventional caries removal by means of rotary instruments is the use of chemo-mechanical caries removal agents. Aim: To evaluate and compare the efficacy of two chemomechanical caries removal agents Carisolv and Papacarie in reducing cariogenic flora in primary molars employing bacteriological evaluation. Materials and Methods: Forty children aged 3-9 years were randomly divided into Carisolv and Papacarie group. In each group, caries sample was taken with a sterile instrument under rubber dam isolation before and after the application of the respective chemo-mechanical caries removal agents. The samples were serially diluted and plated onto two different agar plates, Schaedler agar to determine the total viable count of bacteria and MRS agar to determine the viable count of Lactobacilli. The agar plates were incubated for 3 days (Schaedler agar at 37° , MRS agar at 32°). The number of colonies formed were determined and expressed as CFU (colony forming units) per sample. Results: The difference in mean reduction of CFU's between Carisolv group & Papacarie group was found to be 77.03. Higher mean reduction of microbial counts was observed in the Papacarie group (157.98) compared to Carisolv group (80.95). This difference in mean reduction between the two groups was found to be statistically significant (p< 0.01). Conclusion: Papacarie can be an effective clinical alternative to Carisolv for the removal of dentinal caries in cavitated primary molars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare the antimicrobial efficiency of chlorhexidine and cacao bean husk extract mouthrinses in children. STUDY DESIGN: A randomised comparative study which employed purpose sampling. METHODS: Study was conducted on 50 children of both sexes aged 6-10 years old. A group of 25 children were given 10 ml of 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthrinse and another 25 children were given 10 ml of 0.1% cacao bean extract mouthrinse to rinse twice daily for about 30 seconds. The salivary samples were collected from each child in Dentocult SM vials on day one (pre-rinse) and after 7 days, 1 month and 2 months. The readings were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. STATISTICS: Mann-Whitney test and the p-value were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was significant reduction in streptococcus mutans counts in saliva at all follow-up intervals for both mouthrinse groups. However, there was no significant difference in reduction of streptococcus mutans counts in saliva, between chlorhexidine mouthrinse group and cacao bean husk extract mouthrinse group. CONCLUSION: Cacao bean husk extract mouthrinse can be used in children as an alternative to chlorhexidine mouthrinse as it has similar antimicrobial properties and evades the side-effects of the latter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple instability condition based on Ziegler's continuum principles as applied to large plastic flow is extended to define the deformation processing maps that delineate 'safe' and 'non-safe' hot working conditions. Processing maps were developed utilising the measured flow stress data of nickel based powder metallurgy superalloys in a constitutive equation. The applicability of the processing maps developed has been examined by comparing with the reported microstructural observations of deformed compression specimens. Optimum hot working conditions for the materials are suggested, based on the maximum values of the strain rate sensitivity index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regional odontodysplasia (RO) is a rare developmental anomaly involving both mesodermal and ectodermal components in primary or permanent dentition. It affects the maxilla and the mandible or both; however, maxilla is more commonly involved. This article reports the case of 33-month-old boy who came with the chief complaint of delayed eruption of mandibular teeth. Findings of clinical and radiographic examination were consistent with those of RO. Maxillary dentition was unaffected. Clinical and radiographic features and treatment options are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation and efficient use of energy in industry has been a priority of the government of India for a long time. In anticipation of the enactment of federal legislation on energy management for industry, the State of Government of Tamilnadu, Kerala, and other southern states made energy audits mandatory for large-scale energy-consuming industries. As a result, among industrial consumers, the aspect of energy conservation is gaining due to the importance of the realization that "energy saved is energy produced and that too at an economical cost." This paper shares the experiences of the authors of energy conservation projects carried out in a textile industry situated in Tamilnadu State. Economic and efficient measures of energy conservation have been followed subject to budget constraints, and the effect of such measures were realized through reduction in energy costs with the added advantage of environmental safety. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Trianthema portulacastrum (common farm weed in tropical countries) contains 21.5 ± 1.2% crude protein, similar to Lucerne with relatively low structural carbohydrate (neutral detergent fibre: 43.6 ± 3.1%). The mineral profile of T. portulacastrum was well above the critical level as far as calcium (0.3%), magnesium (0.2%), iron (50 ppm), copper (8 ppm), zinc (30.0 ppm) and manganese (50 ppm), whereas the phosphorus content at 0.13 ± 0.1 % was below the critical level recommended by McDowell et al. (1983). Degradability studies in rumen stimulation technique (RUSITEC) revealed that nearly half of the dry matter in T. portulacastrum was soluble and degradable, while 69.9% of the nitrogen was insoluble but degradable. The digestible rumen degradable nitrogen and digestible un-degradable nitrogen values were 1.2% and 1.4% respectively, with the total absorbable nitrogen value of 2.5%. This study revealed that supplementation of digestible organic matter to the extent of 14.9% and phosphorus to the extent of 0.2% was suggested as a tool to exploit the full potential nutritive value of T. portulacastrum.