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The learning crisis in sub-Saharan Africa is alarming. More than 80% of primary-school-age children are not mastering the basics of reading and math. A package of interventions to deliver remedial support for students through collaboration among parents, teachers, and community members was developed in Madagascar. The package was mainly composed of school management and pedagogical components, and each component comprises several interventions. This study investigated the effectiveness of the package by use of a randomized controlled trial. The package realized extracurricular remedial activities for 3–4 months and improved learning outcomes in basic reading and in numbers and the four basic operations. The volume of students who could read a paragraph or story written in the local language increased by approximately 21 percentage points. Students also improved learning outcomes in numbers and the four basic operations by 0.40 standard deviations. Furthermore, the package decreased the repetition rate and increased the passing rate of the primary certification exam. The results demonstrate the power of community-wide support for children in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although primary school enrollment in developing countries has rapidly increased since 1990, the quality of education has stagnated over the years. In teaching and learning practices, textbooks are an important intermediate that links curriculum, teachers, and students. Through a randomized controlled trial in El Salvador, this study evaluated the effect of a package of interventions including the distribution of textbooks that were carefully designed to improve math learning. This study targeted second-grade students and tracked them for 2 years. To capture their progress in learning over the period, this study linked math test scores at the end of the second grade and third grade by using the item response theory (IRT). The average 1-year effect of the package is estimated at 0.49 standard deviations of the IRT scores. Schools in the control group began to receive the package in the second year of research. After 2 years of exposure to the package—as compared with students in the control group who received only 1 year of exposure—the effect is estimated at 0.13 standard deviations. Students in the treatment group advanced their math learning in the second year of research because of the improved understanding in the previous year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the marginal and internal fit of alumina cores and all-ceramic crowns in a new preparation design for abutment teeth devised for copy milling. Materials and Methods: Using conventional dies and dies from the new type of preparation design, 20 alumina cores were produced by copy milling, 10 cores in each die type. Also using the new type of die, another 10 final crowns were fabricated. Each of the 30 specimens was returned to its original die and embedded in epoxy resin. Each specimen was then sectioned labiolingually and measured for gaps at the margin, in the central area, and at the incisal edge. Results: The alumina cores fabricated using the new type of die had mean gaps of 30 to 40 µm at the margins of the labial and lingual sides, which was significantly smaller than the gaps (67 to 130 µm) found in the alumina cores produced with the conventional type of die. The final crowns had mean gaps of 44 to 63 µm at the margins and on the inner surfaces. There was no significant difference in the gaps between the alumina cores produced using the new type of die and those found in the final crowns. Conclusion: The new type of die was effective in allowing the fabrication of all-ceramic crowns that provide excellent marginal and internal fit by copy milling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article features Estenia, a hybrid composite restorative material for posterior teeth that has an aesthetic appearance, biocompatibility and enough mechanical strength to handle occlusal forces in posterior areas. The material, which is made from enamel, dentin and cervical pastes, has a light-cure catalyst and a smaller maximum glass filler particle size. Its strength is measured by a four-point bending strength and diametric tensile strength, and compared with other materials such as hard resin, polyglass, castable glass ceramics and metal bonding porcelain.