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This paper presents the results of an interview-based study of the use of virtual learning environments (VLEs) among dyslexic students. Interviews were carried out with 12 informants who had been formally diagnosed as dyslexic. The informants were either enrolled in a university or college programme, or had graduated less than a year before the interview. The findings reveal that dyslexic students experience a number of challenges associated with VLE use, including information overload, imperfect word processing tools, inadequate search functions, and having to relate to more than one system at a time.

Digestive symptoms have been reported in an important proportion of children with COVID-19, and the clinical expression of critical patients with COVID-19 is thought to result from progressive increase of inflammation and an unusual trend of hypercoagulation. We report a newborn received with abdominal distension, green vomiting and imaging suggestive for enterocolitis. He had a close contact with COVID-19 and the PCR for SARS-CoV-2 came back positive. Despite the supportive measures, his condition deteriorated and a surgery was decided. The surgical exploration found an ischemic bowel. The therapeutic measures were ineffective as the child passed away a few hours after surgery despite the resuscitation treatment performed. The confirmed enterocolitis happening within the period of acute infection by SARS-CoV-2, the NEC was likely a manifestation of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Fe-oxide-impregnated paper strip (Pi) test with 0.01 M Ca[Cl.sub.2] has been proposed as an improved soil test for evaluating available P from soils treated with phosphate rock (PR) and triple superphosphate (TSP). However, conclusive evidence for this suggestion has not been reported. This study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of the Pi test for both PR and TSP. In a greenhouse study, two acid soils - Hartsells silt loam (fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Hapludult) and Hiwassee clay loam (fine, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Kanhapludult) - were mixed with ground (0.15-mm, 100-mesh) North Carolina (NC) PR or commercial-grade granular TSP at 0 to 300 mg P [kg.sup.-1] soil. The soil samples were preincubated for 2 wk before maize (Zea mays L.) was planted and grown for 5 wk. Prior to planting, soil samples were analyzed by three soil tests: Bray I, Pi test with 0.01 M Ca[Cl.sub.2], and Pi test with 0.02 M KCl. The results showed that NC-PR and TSP were equally effective in increasing dry-matter yield and P uptake by maize in Hartsells soil. North Carolina phosphate rock was approximately 83 and 91% as effective as TSP in increasing dry-matter yield and P uptake, respectively, in Hiwassee soil. When P uptake was plotted against soil test values, both the Bray I and Pi test with Ca[Cl.sub.2] underestimated available P from NC-PR for TSP-treated soil. Available soil P estimated by the Pi test using KC instead of Ca[Cl.sub.2] was more closely related to P uptake with both NC-PR and TSP. More P was extracted from NC-PR by the Pi test with KCl than with Ca[Cl.sub.2], whereas no effect was observed for TSP.

The effects of Na2EDTA and HNO3 on Ni2+ uptake by Spinacia oleracea seedlings replanted inhydroponic culture in a greenhouse was investigated. Eight week old seedlings, were exposed to various doses of Ni2+ (0, 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/L) as NiSO4, at (0, 500 and 3000 mg/L) Na2EDTA and ( 0, 500 and 3000 mg /L) HNO3 in different combinations. There was a substantial increase in nickel uptake in chelated treatments (p < 0.05) compared to unchelated treatments of same concentrations of Ni2+. So, chelation enhanced Ni2+ uptake in S. oleracea. During the exposure, antioxidant defense system helped the plant to protect itself from the damage. Due to increasing nickel  uptake by the plant, the photosynthetic pigments (i.e chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and Caretenoids) gradually declined. In this study, Spinacia oleracea Seedlings and contents of the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and Caretenoids) of both chelated and unchelated hydroponic treatments were investigated. Changes in photosynthetic pigments was significant (p < 0.05) with respect to addition of EDTA and HNO3 at different concentration to different concentrations of Ni2+ compared to unchelated treatments of same concentrations of Ni2+. The Ni2+ induced translocation factor was also determined which increased significantly (P < 0.05) with increasing Ni2+ concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stem bark of Ficus exasperata was extracted using ethyl acetate by microwave-assisted solvent extraction. Phytochemical screening and antimicrobial evaluation were carried out on the extract. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of cardiac glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, triterpenes and steroids. Antimicrobial evaluation revealed that the extract is active against Methicillin – resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella dysenteriae, Candida stellatoidea and Candida tropicalis. The zones of inhibition (mm) for the test organisms were (24 - 31) mm. Minimum inhibition concentrations (mg/L) of extract against MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella dysenteriae, Candida stellatoidea and Candida tropicalis were 2.5, 1.25,1.25, 2.5, 1.25, 1.25, 1.25 and 2.5 respectively. Minimum bactericidal concentrations (mg/L) of extract against Methicillin – resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumonia, Salmonella typhi, Proteus mirabilis Shigella dysenteriae Candida stellatoidea and Candida tropicalis were 5, 2.5, 2.5, 5, 5, 2.5,2.5 and 5 respectively. The extract showed high inhibition against MRSA and Candida tropicalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of water is very important and it determines the extent to which it can be used. The water for drinking should be potable and various parameter are always use for the assessment of water quality. The study was carried with the aim to assess the quality of Obubur river water, Okene town that serve as source of water to many inhabitants of the town. A total of 36 surface water samples were collected. The samples were analyzed for some physicochemical parameters and heavy metals such as pH, turbidity, total solids, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, alkalinity, total hardness, sulphate, phosphate and dissolved oxygen using standard chemical methods. Nitrate was determined by phenoldisulphonic acid method. Heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The water is hard and with a high chloride concentration. Studied level of Cd and Pb in water samples exceeded the safe limits of drinking water. The average level of Zn is also of concern. The range of heavy metals observed were 0.011-0.023, 0.008-0.011, 0.001-0.014, 0.001- 2.2, 2.80-7.20 for Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn respectively. The results indicated that the water is probably not safe for drinking by human and other animals as well as for cooking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the 3-year outcomes of immediately loaded and one-stage conventionally loaded variable-thread tapered implants in the posterior maxilla. Materials and methods: This study was designed as a split-mouth randomised controlled trial. Twenty-six patients attending the postgraduate Periodontics Department at the Lebanese University, and missing teeth bilaterally in the posterior maxilla were randomised. All patients received three to four implants in each of the posterior sextants. The implants on one side were immediately loaded with a provisional resin fixed partial denture on definitive multi-unit abutments regardless of their primary stability. The implants in the contralateral side received definitive multi-unit abutments according to the one-stage unloaded protocol. Three to 3.5 months following implant placement, the implants were restored with metal-ceramic fixed prostheses. Outcome measures were implant and prosthesis failure rates, complications, and peri-implant bone level changes up to 3 years following delivery of the definitive prosthesis. The clinical outcomes and radiographic measurements were performed by a single outcome assessor blinded to the type of interventions. Results: Two patients dropped out prior to the delivery of definitive prostheses. The results were analysed using a per-protocol analysis and included 24 patients. Four implants supporting a fourunit immediately loaded prosthesis failed in one patient, 3 months following definitive prosthesis. In the same patient, the three contralateral conventionally loaded implants failed 14 months after definitive prosthesis. There were no significant differences in the proportions of implant and prosthesis failures at 3 years (difference = 0%; 95% CI 0.0% to 14.2%; P = 0.999). Periimplantitis was diagnosed at two adjacent conventionally loaded implants in one patient at the 3-year examination. In the immediately loaded group, four early minor prosthetic complications occurred during the provisionalisation phase. Following delivery of the definitive prostheses, one minor ceramic fracture was observed in each of the implant groups. The difference in the rate of complications between the two interventions was not statistically significant at 3 years (difference = 13%; 95% CI 3.4% to 27.7%; P = 0.453). The 3-year peri-implant marginal bone level changes were evaluated in 23 patients (77 immediately loaded and 76 conventionally loaded implants). On average, patients lost 0.79 (0.62) mm at the immediately loaded and 0.91 (0.82) mm at the conventionally loaded implants, the difference being statistically not significant (difference = 0.12 mm; 95% CI -0.31 to 0.55 mm; P = 0.590). The 3-year marginal bone level changes were not significantly different between smokers (n = 12) and non-smokers (n = 11) (difference = 0.19 mm; 95% CI -0.24 to 0.62 mm; P = 0.382). Conclusions: Immediate loading of three- to four-unit fixed partial prostheses supported by variable-thread implants in the posterior maxilla can achieve similar 3-year results to one-stage conventionally loaded implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Primary stability is a key factor for successful implant osseointegration, especially in poor bone quality and early/immediate loading. In the immediate loading protocol, insertion torque values (ITVs) have been suggested to be the most valid prognostic factor for osseointegration of maxillary implants. The objectives of this study were to: (1) evaluate ITVs achieved by a variable‐thread tapered implant in the posterior maxilla; and (2) assess the impact of bone quality, implant dimensions, bicortical anchorage, and implant location on ITVs. Materials and Methods: Twenty‐six adult, systemically healthy patients received 173 variable‐thread tapered implants in maxillary premolar and molar healed edentulous sites with a minimum subsinus height of 8 mm. Implant sites were prepared using the bone‐quality adjusted drilling sequence according to manufacturer's recommendations. Bone quality was recorded subjectively during drilling based on Misch criteria (D1‐D4), and ITVs were measured with a manual torque wrench. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed at the 0.05 significance level. Results: First and second molar sites accounted for 46.8% of all implants. D4 bone was encountered in 61.3% of the sites. Most of the implants were 4.3 mm in diameter (59.5%), and lengths of 11.5 and 13 mm were most commonly used (75.2%). Approximately half of the implants were associated with apical cortical anchorage (51.4%). The overall mean ITV was 44.5 ± 23.0 Ncm, with 65.5 ± 15.6 Ncm, 55.5 ± 19.6 Ncm, and 36.6 ± 21.7 Ncm for D2, D3, and D4 bone, respectively. Bone quality and implant location significantly affected ITVs, while implant dimensions and apical cortical anchorage did not. Conclusions: ITVs of variable‐thread implants were significantly influenced by variations in bone quality and implant position in the posterior maxilla. Despite the influence of bone quality on primary stability, the mean ITVs attained with variable‐thread tapered implants in poor bone quality were within the recommended range for immediate loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes a methodological experiment that aimed to test a small number of tools borrowed from Soft Systems Methodology. Those tools were intended to support action research for a project in interprofessional educational development. The intention with using those tools was two-fold: first, they were expected to help structure the analysis of the problem situation that the project was to address; second, they were to facilitate and document the project management process itself, by allowing for the different voices within the interprofessional project team to be heard. The paper relates how the tools functioned relatively successfully as analytical devices for the action researcher, but did not significantly contribute to further interprofessional collaboration or enhance dialogue between the action researcher and the project members. Issues of how to use the tools to support more effectively the existing dialogue across professional cultures and traditions are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]