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Hertwig's Εpithelial Root Sheath (HΕRS) has a major function in the developing tooth roots. Earlier research revealed that it undergoes epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a vital process for the morphogenesis and complete development of the tooth and its surrounding periodontium. Few studies have demonstrated the role of HERS in cementogenesis through ΕMΤ. The background of this in-silico system biology approach is to find a hub protein and gene involved in the EMT of HERS that may uncover novel insights in periodontal regenerative drug targets.The protein and gene list involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition were obtained from literature sources. The protein interaction was constructed using STRING software and the protein interaction network was analyzed. Molecular docking simulation checks the binding energy and stability of protein-ligand complex.Results revealed the hub gene to be DYRK1A(Hepcidin), and the ligand was identified as isoetharine. SΤRIΝG results showed a confidence cutoff of 0.9 in sensitivity analysis with a condensed protein interaction network. Overall, 98 nodes from 163 nodes of expected edges were found with an average node degree of 11.9. Docking results show binding energy of -4.70, and simulation results show an RMSD value of 5.6 Å at 50 ns.Isoetharine could be a potential drug for periodontal regeneration.

BACKGROUND: When anxiety is persistent among dental students, the consequence could be poor academic performance, ill health, lack of empathy, and exhaustion. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the level of anxiety along with anxiety-provoking factors among clinical dental students. METHODS: This study included dental undergraduate and postgraduate clinical students from a public university. A modified version of the self-administered Moss and McManus questionnaire, which consisted of 50 items, was utilized to evaluate the levels of anxiety. The results were analyzed using SPSS® version 24. The significance level was set at p

Aim This report highlights the use of a seldom-used treatment modality to save a diseased multirooted tooth, as an alternative to extraction and implant. Background Root-resection therapy is a simple surgical procedure performed by an endodontist or periodontist to save a multirooted tooth with furcation involvement and/or defective root. Case description A 64-year-old female patient reported a strip perforation in the distobuccal (DB) root of the maxillary left first molar. The tooth had previously undergone endodontic treatment and had a well-fitted crown. After presenting the patient with treatment options and prognosis, a treatment plan of root amputation to save the tooth was formulated. A full mucoperiosteal flap was reflected. The DB root was amputated and GIC was placed to cover the root. Sutures were placed and the patient was given postoperative instructions. A follow-up was carried out with clinical examination, and periapical radiographs were taken at 10 months, 2 years, and 5 years after the procedure. The tooth was intact and functioning; no signs or symptoms were reported. Conclusion Root resection has a deserved place in the modern clinical management of endodontic lesions or injuries. Conventional conservative treatment plans can succeed with proper treatment planning, diagnosis, case selection, maintenance of oral hygiene, and meticulous follow-up. Clinical significance This case emphasizes a viable treatment procedure to manage teeth with compromised radicular or restorative presentations. Root resection is a venerable treatment option that is often ignored in the era of implants even though it shows favorable prognosis and success rates.

Aim To analyze the impact of implant angulation and implant number on the dimensional accuracy of definitive casts. Materials and methods Seven definitive casts with implant analogs placed in a triangular pattern were made from dental stone. The groups were as follows: group 1 (control group) all implant analogs perpendicular to the plane of the cast; the center implant analog (implant 2) being at 90° to the plane of the cast in all groups and implant analogs number 1 and 3 arranged in 5°, 10°, or 15° divergence from or convergence to the center implant (implant number 2). Three open-tray impressions of definitive casts were made in each group. Impressions were poured in type IV dental stone. Coordinates in the three planes were measured at the implant analog top surface and the base of the cast using a fine tip measuring stylus. The data were aligned and the angular differences between implant analog vectors from definitive and duplicate casts were calculated in degrees. Results The impact of implant number on the dimensional accuracy of definitive casts was significant whereas for implant angulation it was nonsignificant. The correlation of angulation and the number of the implant did not show an interpretable pattern. The precision of duplicate casts (compared to definitive casts) is not affected by the combined interaction of implant number and implant angulation. Conclusion The close proximity of implant angulation toward a right-angled direction results in higher precision of implant. In the impression, there is direct picking from the impression copings which decreases the discrepancies in implant angulation on impression and master cast. The interaction of implant angulation and the number shows a noninterpretable pattern. Clinical significance Dimensionally accurate implant impressions can be made by using an open tray technique for three implants angled up to 15°.

This study aimed to conduct a compendious review of root canal morphology of “permanent mandibular teeth in different regions of Saudi Arabia” to obtain a large sample representing the total population. A detailed search through the databases Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The data were analyzed based on the following inclusion criteria: original full-length original articles that reported the variables of interest “(number of roots, number of canals, Vertucci’s classification system and C-shaped canals or mid-mesial canals)” of the mandibular teeth and conducted on Saudi subjects. The retrieved data were presented as frequencies and percentages. The results revealed that 56.6% of mandibular central incisors had one canal and Vertucci type I (56.6%), while 57.4% of the mandibular lateral incisors had one canal, with Vertucci types I and III most frequent. In mandibular canines, 91.8% had one canal and 8.2% had two canals. Most of the mandibular first premolars had one root (86.6%), while almost all mandibular second premolars (91.5%) had one canal, and 96.9% had Vertucci type I configuration. Among the mandibular first molars, three and four canals were prevalent in 58.7% and 40.6%, respectively. The majority of mesial roots had Vertucci type IV (60.6%), and most of distal roots had Vertucci type I (72.2%). Most of the mandibular second molars had three canals (87.3%) and showed Vertucci type IV (39.4%) canals for mesial roots and Vertucci type I (95.6%) for distal roots. The C-shaped canals were seen in 8% of first premolars and 9.8% of second molars. The middle mesial canal was found in 4.2% and 0.4% of first and second molars, respectively. This review could represent “the population of Saudi Arabia as the included samples were combined from different regions of the country.” Some variations were noticed within the same group of teeth from different regions. However, the overall results of combined samples were comparable to the other international studies.

Over the past 20 years, despite significant advancements in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) medical therapy, many patients require admission to the hospital and are at risk for in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA). Prior data found poor survival in PAH patients after cardiac arrest. The purpose of this study was to explore post-IHCA outcomes in PAH patients receiving advanced medical therapies. This is a single-center retrospective study of PAH patients who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation for IHCA between July 2005 and May 2021. Patients were identified through an internal cardiac arrest database. Twenty six patients were included. Half of the cohort had idiopathic PAH, with 54% of patients on combination therapy, 27% on monotherapy, and 19% of patients on no therapy. Mean right atrial pressure, mean pulmonary artery pressure, cardiac index, and pulmonary vascular resistance were 13 ± 6 mmHg, 57 ± 13 mmHg, 2.0 ± 0.7 L/min/m

Introduction: Infection by SARS-CoV-2 and subsequent COVID-19 can cause viral sepsis. We investigated plasma protease activity patterns in COVID-19-induced sepsis with bacterial superinfection, as well as plasma proteomics and peptidomics in order to assess the possible implications of enhanced proteolysis on major protein systems (e.g., coagulation).Methods: Patients (=4) admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center with confirmed positive test for COVID-19 by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were enrolled in a study approved by the UCSD Institutional Review Board (IRB# 190699, Protocol #20-0006). Informed consent was obtained for the collection of blood samples and de-identified use of the data. Blood samples were collected at multiple time points and analyzed to quantify a) the circulating proteome and peptidome by mass spectrometry; b) the aminopeptidase activity in plasma; and c) the endopeptidase activity in plasma using fluorogenic substrates that are cleaved by trypsin-like endopeptidases, specific clotting factors and plasmin. The one patient who died was diagnosed with bacterial superinfection on day 7 after beginning of the study.Results: Spikes in protease activity (factor VII, trypsin-like activity), and corresponding increases in the intensity of peptides derived by hydrolysis of plasma proteins, especially of fibrinogen degradation products and downregulation of endogenous protease inhibitors were detected on day 7 for the patient who died. The activity of the analyzed proteases was stable in survivors.Discussion: The combination of multiomics and enzymatic activity quantification enabled to i) hypothesize that elevated proteolysis occurs in COVID-19-induced septic shock with bacterial superinfection, and ii) provide additional insight into malfunctioning protease-mediated systems, such as hemostasis.

The present study aims to determine the effect of different post-space final irrigants ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), a mixture of Doxycycline citric acid and detergent (MTAD), Riboflavin (RF) and Pineapple peel extract (PPE) on the bond integrity of GFPs bonded to radicular dentin.Crowns of forty human mandibular premolars teeth were sectioned up to cementoenamel junction CEJ. Root canal treatment was performed. Gates Glidden drills were used to retrieve gutta-percha from the canal. All the specimens were randomly divided into four groups based on the final irrigant used. Group 1 (NaOCl with EDTA), group 2 NaOCl+ MTAD, group 3 NaOCl+RF and group 4 NaOCl+PPE. Cementation of glass fiber posts (GFPs) was performed using self-etch dual-cure resin cement. Sectioning was performed using a slow-speed saw from the coronal, middle, and apical third under constant water irrigation. A universal testing machine was used to assess push-out bond strength (PBS) and failure mode was evaluated using a Stereomicroscope at 40x magnification. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey multiple comparison tests were used for statistical analysis (p = 0.05).Group 4 (2.5% NaOCl+ PPE) displayed the highest PBS at all three root levels (Cervical: 11.22 ± 0.74 MPa, Middle: 8.99 ± 0.97 MPa, and Apical: 6.00 ± 0.88 MPa). However, Group 1 (2.5% NaOCl+17% EDTA) demonstrated the lowest EBS (Cervical: 9.25 ± 0.17 MPa, Middle: 7.01 ± 1.84 MPa, and Apical: 4.41 ± 0.17 MPa). Inter-group comparison displayed that PBS to be comparable between group 1 and group 3 (2.5% NaOCl+ Riboflavin) (Cervical: 9.74 ± 0.41 MPa, Middle: 7.44 ± 1.18 MPa, and Apical: 4.21 ± 0.05 MPa) (p 0.05). Whereas, group 2 (1.3% NaOCl+ MTAD) (Cervical: 9.32 ± 1.36 MPa, Middle: 7.17 ± 1.75 MPa, and Apical: 4.85 ± 0.19 MPa) and group 4 demonstrated comparable values of PBS (p 0.05).Pineapple peel extract and a mixture of Doxycycline citric acid and a detergent when used as a final irrigant demonstrated better bond integrity of GFPs to radicular dentin at all three levels coronal, middle and apical.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE The variation in the anatomy of the root canal system has anthropological and demographic significances. The aim of this study was to compare the number of roots, root canals, and internal canal morphology of permanent mandibular first molars between Indian and Saudi Arabian populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 523 (255 teeth of Indian sample and 268 teeth of Saudi Arabian sample) mandibular first molar (M1) were included for comparative analysis using cone-beam computed tomography images based on the inclusion criteria. The external and internal morphologies were assessed and compared by trained endodontist and the data was recorded. RESULTS M1 with three roots were found in 3.9% of the Indian population and 6% of the Saudi population. Overall, high prevalence was observed in two roots (95.0%), three canals (70.4%), Vertucci type IV of the mesial root (56.0%), and Vertucci type I of the distal root (76.7%). Comparison between Indian and Saudi Arabian molars revealed significant differences in relation to the number of canals (p

Background: Stem cell therapy has become an advanced and state-of-the-art procedure to regenerate lost tissues of the human body. Cartilage repair is a challenging task in which stem cells find potential application. One of the important biologic modifiers that can cause chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells is taurine. However, taurine has not been investigated for its effects on dental pulp derived stem cell (DPSC) chondrogenic differentiation. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate if taurine administration to DPSCs heralds chondrogenic differentiation as ascertained by expression of SOX9, COL2A1, ACAN, ELN, and COMP. The study also investigated if the differentiated cells synthesized glycosaminoglycans, a marker of cartilage formation. The study also aimed to assess proliferative activity of the cells after taurine administration by measuring the hTERT gene and protein expression. Materials and methods: DPSCs were obtained from a molecular biology laboratory and characterization of stem cell markers was done by flow cytometry. The cells were subjected to a MTT assay using various concentrations of taurine. Following this, hTERT gene and protein estimation was done in the control, telomerase inhibitor treated DPSC (TI-III), 10 μM taurine treated DPSC, and TI-III + 10 μM taurine treated DPSCs. A polymerase chain reaction was done to assess gene expression of SOX9, COL2A1, ACAN, ELN, and COMP genes and glycosaminoglycans were estimated in control cells, Induced DPSCs, induced and TI-III treated DPSCs, and 10 μM taurine treated DPSCs. Results: DPSCs expressed CD73, CD90, and CD105 and did not express CD34, CD45, and HLA-DR, which demonstrated that they were mesenchymal stem cells. The MTT assay revealed that various concentrations of taurine did not affect the cell viability of DPSCs. A concentration of 10 μM of taurine was used for further assays. With regard to the hTERT gene and protein expression, the taurine treated cells expressed the highest levels that were statistically significant compared to the other groups. Taurine was also found to restore hTERT expression in telomerase inhibitor treated cells. With regard to chondrogenesis related genes, taurine administration significantly increased the expression of SOX9, COL2A1, ACAN, and ELN genes in DPSCs and caused a significant increase in glycosaminoglycan production by the cells. Conclusions: Taurine can be regarded a biologic modifier that can significantly augment chondrogenic differentiation of DPSCs and can find potential applications in regenerative medicine in the area of cartilage regeneration.

Objective The aim was to compare Photodynamic therapy (PDT) as an adjunct to NaOCl and EDTA on the extrusion bond strength (EBS) of AH Plus (AH), Sealapex (SA) and MTA Fillapex (MF) root canal sealers. Materials and method Root canal treatment for human teeth (n = 60) using protaper universal system was performed followed by irrigation with NaOCl/ EDTA. Samples were divided (n = 30) based on disinfection technique, NaOCl/EDTA and NaOCl/EDTA with PDT (Curcumin-PS-CP) as an adjunct. Specimens were divided in three subgroups (n = 10) based on sealers used (Gp 1-Na-E-AH, Gp 2-Na-E-PDT-AH, Gp 3-Na-E-SA, Gp 4-Na-E-PDT-SA, Gp 5-Na-E-MF & Gp 6-Na-E-PDT-MF). Canals were dried and obturated followed by sectioning at coronal and middle third. EBS testing was performed using a universal testing machine (UTM) and modes of failure were assessed. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey multiple comparison tests were used to compare the means of EBS. (p Results Sealers showed a significant influence on EBS, as Gp 1 (Co: 9.21 ± 0.62, Mid: 8.54 ± 0.55) and Gp 2 (Co: 7.11 ± 0.68, Mid: 7.30 ± 0.37) showed higher EBS than Gp 3 (Co: 5.21 ± 0.63, Mid: 4.36 ± 0.83) and Gp 4 (Co: 5.39 ± 0.72, Mid: 4.46 ± 0.74). Gp 5 (Co: 9.04 ± 0.13, Mid: 8.14 ± 0.91) and Gp 6 (Co: 8.67 ± 0.42, Mid: 8.07 ± 0.07) exhibited higher EBS than Gp 3 and Gp 4 specimens. Adjunctive use of PDT for AH sealer (Gp 2) showed decreased EBS compared to Gp 1 specimens. EBS remained comparable for both MTA-Fillapex and Sealapex with and without PDT. Conclusion AH Plus (Gp 1 and 2) and MTA-Fillapex (Gp 5 and 6) sealers displayed better EBS compared to Sealapex (Group 3 and 4). Adjunctive Application of PDT (CP) did not show a significant improvement in bond strength of sealers to root dentin.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and ethanolic extract of Sapindus mukorossi (S. mukorossi) in combination with canal shaping on surface properties of ProTaper Gold rotary endodontic file. Sixteen F1 ProTaper Gold rotary files underwent the standard protocol for root canal treatment using two irrigants (S. mukorossi and 17% EDTA) in single-rooted decoronated teeth. Eight unused files were used as a control. All files were examined under an atomic force microscope (AFM) to evaluate surface roughness (Ra) and root mean square (RMS). Data were analyzed using the t-test. RMS and Ra values of the control file were 1.37 and 0.607, respectively. The mean RMS (3.70 ± 1.41) and mean Ra (2.89 ± 1.41) in EDTA group were significantly higher than the control file (p < 0.05). The mean RMS in the S. mukorossi group (1.77 ± 0.66) did not show any significant difference with the control (p > 0.05). The Ra of S. mukorossi group (1.09 ± 0.05) was significantly higher than the control file (p < 0.05). Moreover, the mean RMS and Ra were found to be significantly higher in the EDTA group compared to the S. mukorossi group (p < 0.05). The mean Ra and RMS values of the ProTaper Gold files used to prepare canals using 17% EDTA and S. mukorossi irrigation were significantly higher than the control files. The EDTA-treated ProTaper Gold rotary files demonstrated higher surface Ra and RMS than the S. mukorossi files.

To appraise the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and conventional regime (NaOCl) following three chelating agents ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), Green tea extract (GTE), grape extract (GE) on pushout bond strength (PBS) of epoxy resin-based sealer with root dentin.60 single-rooted human teeth were prepped using a ProTaper system and cleansed using photodynamic therapy (PDT) and 5% NaOCl (n = 30 each). Samples in each group PDT and 5% NaOCl were further divided into 6 sub-group (n = 10) based on the chelating agents used: 17% EDTA, GTE, and GE. Gutta-percha and AH Plus were used to obturate the canals. The push-out test was used to determine bond strength, and ANOVA was used to conduct statistical analysis while failure patterns were classified as adhesive, cohesive, or mixed. The Chi-squared test was used to examine the different failure modes at a significance level of 0.05.NaOCl disinfection, when applied with naturally derived reducing agents (17% EDTA, GTE, and GE) demonstrated significantly higher PBS compared to PDT when used with chelating agents (17% EDTA, GTE, and GE) (p 0.05). The most predominant failure mode was an adhesive failure when root dentin was disinfected with PDT while NaOCl treatment showed a high percentage of cohesive failure.Radicular canal disinfection with sodium hypochlorite following three chelating agents (Green tea extract, Grape extract, and Ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) exhibited better push-out bond strength bonded to radicular dentin with epoxy resin-based sealer.

Aim The aim of the present study was to assess post space disinfection using different irrigants and their effect on radicular dentin bond to SERC. Materials and methods Forty single rooted mandibular 2nd premolars were collected and disinfected. All samples were decoronated maintaining root length of 12 mm and embedded vertically in acrylic resin. Shaping of the canal was performed using reciprocating system. Canals were dried using paper points and obturated with gutta percha via lateral condensation. Peso-reamers were used to create post space up to 10 mm. The post space was irrigated with 1% NaOCl before being randomly allocated into four groups (n = 10) according to different methods of canal disinfection. Samples in group 1 were subjected to photoactivated disinfection (PAD), group 2 irrigated with ethanol based propolis group 3 disinfected using ozone and group 4 irrigated with 2.25 % NaOCl with 17 % EDTA and ECL. GFP was fitted using SERC. Each sample was cut into 1 mm from coronal, middle and apical and subjected to pushout bond strength (PBS) via universal testing machine. Fracture analysis were confirmed by stereomicroscope at 40x magnification. For comparison of means, Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey multiple comparison test was used maintaining the level of significance at p Results The highest PBS at all three levels were found in group 4, canal disinfected with 2.5 % NaOCl with 17 % EDTA and ECYL. Whereas, the lowest PBS was observed in group 1. Inter group comparison, prosthetic space disinfected with propolis extract showed no significant difference to group 4 canal disinfected with 2.5 % NaOCl with 17 % EDTA and ECYL at all three levels (p > 0.05). Intra group comparison in all experimental groups showed no significant difference was noted in coronal and middle thirds of group 1, group 2 and group 3 respectively (p > 0.05). Conclusion 2.5 % NaOCl with EDTA and ECL treatment (group 4) remains the gold standard when used as a final canal irrigant. Propolis can be used as potential irrigant for canal disinfectant provided if the composition becomes standardized.

Power dividers are critical components for mm-wave applications. They are used in antenna feeding structures to provide the suitable excitation in the antenna array systems and deployed in microwave smart beam switching subsystems. In this article a dual gap wideband in-phase power divider is presented. The bandwidth starts at 19 and ends at 40 GHz. We are targeting with this design both the k and ka bands. The proposed design achieved a very deep matching level below −18 dB.

The aim of the present study was to determine the vertical root fracture (VRF) resistance of roots obturated with TotalFill BC Sealer and AH Plus sealer using lateral condensation and single cone techniques in comparison to untreated controls. Sixty single rooted mandibular premolars were sectioned and divided into six groups. Ten teeth were left untreated (positive control-Gp 1) and fifty teeth were cleaned and shaped. Ten root specimens were left unfilled (negative control-Gp 2) and the remaining roots were divided into 4 groups. Gp 3, GP and AH Plus sealer (AH Plus) using the cold lateral compaction (LC) technique, Gp 4, GP and AH Plus using the Single Cone (SC) technique, Gp 5: TotalFill GP and TotalFill BC sealer using the LC technique, Gp 6: TotalFill GP and TotalFill BC sealer with SC. VRF was performed for all specimens using a universal testing machine. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukeys post-hoc multiple comparison test was used to compare the means among tested study groups. Group 1 (positive control) displayed the highest fracture resistance (946.61 ± 166.465 N), however, the lowest fracture strength was demonstrated by the specimens in group 2 (negative control) (433.31 ± 129.350 N). Specimens treated with AH plus using different obturation techniques (group 3 and 4) showed comparable outcomes (p &gt, 0.05). Similarly, specimens treated with TotalFill BC sealer with different obturation techniques showed statistically similar outcomes (p &gt, 0.05). It was also observed that specimens in groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 demonstrated comparable outcomes of fracture strength (p &gt, 0.05). The use of TotalFill-BC sealer showed similar vertical root fracture resistance as AH plus sealer in root canal treated teeth. Use of total fill-BC and AH Plus sealer in root canal treatment showed vertical root fracture resistance comparable to untreated natural teeth (positive controls).

To prevent re-infection and provide a hermetic seal of the root canal system, an endodontist must aim to produce a void-free obturation. This review aimed to compare the completeness of root canal obturation between the two most prevalent methods—cold lateral condensation and warm gutta-percha techniques—using micro-CT (PROSPERO reg no. 249815). Materials and Methods: A search of Scopus, Embase, PubMed (Medline via PubMed), and Web of Science databases was done without any time restriction according to the PRISMA protocol. Articles that compared both techniques and were published in English were included. Data was extracted and the risk of bias was assessed using an adapted tool based on previous studies. Results: A total of 141 studies were identified by the search. Following the screening and selection of articles, 9 studies were included for review. Data was extracted manually and tabulated. Most studies had a moderate risk of bias. None determined operator skill in both methods before comparison. The data extracted from the included studies suggests that both techniques produce voids in the obturation. The thermoplasticized gutta-percha techniques may result in fewer voids compared to cold lateral condensation. Conclusion: Considering the limitations of the included studies, it was concluded that neither technique could completely obturate the root canal. Thermoplasticized gutta-percha techniques showed better outcomes despite a possible learning bias in favor of cold lateral condensation. Establishing operator skills before comparison may help reduce this bias.

Aim The aim of present ex-vivo study was to assess and evaluate the influence of alternative dentinal conditioning methods- Er,Cr:YSGG (ECL) and Photodynamic therapy (PDT) in comparison to traditional etching regimes- Self Etch Resin (SER) and total etch and rinse (TER) on the bond values of Bioactive restorative material (BA) and Multicore (MC) bulk filled resin composite restorations. Material and Methods Eighty caries free mandibular molars were disinfected and embedded in acrylic resin up to Cemento enamel junction (CEJ). Buccal surfaces of all samples were grounded to depth of 2 mm. Specimens were divided into eight groups (n = 20) based on surface treatment received. Samples in group 1 and 2 conditioned with ECYL, group 3 and 4 pre-treated with methylene blue photosensitizer (MBP), group 5 and 6 surfaces conditioned with TER and samples in group 7 and 8 conditioned with SER. Dentin bonding agent was applied and samples of group 1, 3, 5 and 7 were bonded with BA and 2,4,6,8 bonded to MC. Samples were placed in universal testing machine for SBS testing. Data was assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey multiple comparisons test. Results Specimens in group 6 treated with TER and bonded with MC demonstrated maximum SBS (19.61 ± 0.587 MPa). Whereas, group 3 dentin conditioned to MBP and bonded to BA displayed lowest bond values (12.01 ± 0.892 MPa). Samples in group 3 and group 4 dentin treated with MBP bonded to MC (13.68 ± 0.221 MPa) and BA (12.01 ± 0.892 MPa) displayed comparable bond integrity (p > 0.05) Conclusion Dentin pre-treated with TER still remains the gold standard. ECYL as an alternative approach to condition dentin has shown potential and can be recommended in clinical settings. MC as bulk fill composite is recommended over BA irrespective of dentine conditioning technique. MBP as dentin conditioner needs further investigation.

Feedback orientation is an individual's overall receptivity to feedback, a concept that encompasses feedback utility, accountability with regard to participation in feedback, social awareness, and self-efficacy toward feedback. This study investigated the effects of these individual differences on in-role performance, with the mediation of satisfaction with feedback. Based on our survey of 225 matched supervisor-subordinate sets from nurses in public hospitals, analyses through structural equation modeling support a direct association of feedback utility, accountability, self-efficacy, and social awareness with performance as well as indirect relationships through satisfaction with feedback. On the basis of these findings, the framework advances some formal performance management practices to aid managers and human resource development (HRD) practitioners in the understanding and enactment of feedback orientation. Finally, the implications of the study for further research are discussed.

The current study has examined the interaction between social support and workload for predicting the work related performance of academic staff in Pakistan. A self administered questionnaire was distributed among a sample of 400 academic staff working in the six universities of Pakistan. Data was analyzed through multivariate statistics like Factor Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis. The results of current study showed that workload was negatively related with the work performance, where social support significantly moderated the negative relationship between workload and performance. The findings of this study have provided new insights on interaction between workload, social support and performance in academia of Pakistan through empirically testing the JD-R theory. This study recommends the proper utilization of personal resources at individual and organizational levels for managing workload and performance related problems in academia of Pakistan.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate impacts of training on organizational commitment and turnover intentions in private sector of Saudi Arabia. The study seeks to focus the relationship between organizational commitment and turnover intentions of the employees. A literature review of organizational commitment and employee turnover provides the basis for the research model and hypotheses. A self-administered questionnaire was used, involving 251 respondents from leading private organizations of Saudi Arabia to collect data and testing the existing theory. The results provide strong support for the hypothesis that is the negative relationship between organizational commitment and turnover intention. Employees’ training is significantly correlated with organizational commitment, turnover intentions and the commitment-turnover relationship.The sample was limited to private organization in Saudi Arabia. It may not be appropriate to generalize the findings across other populations or settings. However, the sample can be viewed as a representative case typical of many other organizations in the same industry. The results provides insight into the impact of organizational commitment on turnover intentions in the specific private sector of Saudi Arabia, which might benefit for managers and policy makers of the concerned organizations and in general for the whole sector. The paper studies the problems that exist in the private sector of Saudi Arabia.

Organizational Citizenship Behaviour (OCB) has been signified as one of the antecedents of organizational effectiveness. OCB is widely studied over the years in the US but has received relatively inadequate attention in other Asian contexts. This study explored and examined number of predictors of OCB in the Arabic-speaking context (Saudi Arabia in Gulf). The data was drawn from 275 employees of both private and public banking sectors. Predictors of OCB examined are Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment, Role Perceptions, Fairness Perceptions, Leadership Behavior, Individual Dispositions, Motivation and Feedback. The results found support the hypotheses stating the positive relationship between the predictors of OCB and organizational citizenship behaviour except motivation that found no relationship with OCB. Implications for future research are discussed.

Galvanizing reinforcing steel is one of the methods used to protect steel bars against corrosion. In 2001, a research program was started at the American University of Beirut (AUB), Beirut, Lebanon, to experimentally evaluate the effect of hot-dip galvanizing on the bond capacity of tension lap splices anchored in full-scale beam specimens designed to fail in bond splitting mode. The test results indicated that the use of galvanized bars had a negligible effect on bond strength of reinforcement in normal-strength concrete. Galvanising, however, caused an average of 20% decrease in bond strength of reinforcement in high-strength concrete. The primary objective of the research reported in this paper was to find a solution to eliminate the bond reduction of galvanized bars in high-strength concrete. It was important to evaluate the potential positive effect of the addition of transverse reinforcement in the splice region. One hypothesis to be tested was that such transverse reinforcement would ensure uniform bond stress distribution over the entire splice length, thus mobilizing all bar lugs along the splice in the stress transfer mechanism between the bar and the surrounding concrete, and hence would lead to increasing the bond strength of galvanized bars. The second hypothesis to be checked was whether the aforementioned mechanism of mobilizing all bar lugs along the splice in the stress transfer mechanism would reduce the significant decrease in bond strength of galvanized bars relative to black bars in high-strength concrete. Eighteen, full-scale beam specimens, designed to fail in bond-splitting mode, were tested in positive bending. Each beam was reinforced with bars spliced in a constant moment region at midspan. The main variables were bar size and the amount of transverse reinforcement in the splice region. The test results indicated that, whereas confinement increased the bond strength of galvanized bars and black bars, confinement did not have a significant positive effect on the bond strength of galvanized bars relative to black bars.

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For the first time, memory devices with optimized high density (2E12#/cm/sup 2/) LPCVD Si nanocrystals have been reproducibly achieved and studied on an extensive statistical basis (from single cell up to 1 Mb test-array) under different programming conditions. An original experimental and theoretical analysis of the threshold voltage shift distribution shows that Si nanocrystals have serious potential to push the scaling of NOR and NAND flash at least to the 35 nm and 65 nm nodes, respectively.