The purpose of this prospective clinical study was to investigate differences in outcomes from two common treatment modalities used to reduce deep overbite: maxillary incisor intrusion using an intrusion arch and posterior tooth eruption using an anterior bite plate. Pre-treatment, post-overbite correction and post-treatment records were gathered from 32 patients who presented with deep overbite malocclusions to the Virginia Commonwealth University orthodontic clinic. Both groups of patients experienced reductions in overbite and maxillary incisor display as well as maxillary and mandibular incisor proclination and mandibular incisor occlusal movement during treatment. In the intrusion arch group, the center of resistance of the maxillary incisor was significantly intruded during overbite correction. The maxillary incisor incisal edge was significantly more intruded at the end of treatment in the intrusion arch group. Both groups experienced flattening of the smile arc in agreement with previous studies showing similar changes in orthodontically treated individuals.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the oral health-related quality of life for patients treated at Give Kids a Smile. Methods: Participants were asked to complete a 25-question survey regarding their child’s oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), with answers ranked on a 0 to 4 point scale. Results: A total of 78 questionnaires were completed, with the mean score of 5.19. Conclusions: Give Kids a Smile was created to treat children with unmet oral healthcare needs, therefore it was hypothesized that the OHRQoL for the children treated would be negatively impacted and thus this score high. This was not demonstrated in the current study and these findings could be due to a variety of factors, including relying on the parent to report the child’s symptoms as well as low oral health literacy for parents completing the questionnaires.

Orientador: Sandro Caramaschi / Resumo: Estudos mostram diferenciações consistentes no comportamento não verbal de homens e mulheres. É muito comum observar indivíduos sorrindo, mesmo em contextos que não estão atrelados a emoções positivas, manifesto como forma de amenizar uma situação de constrangimento. Além disso, pesquisas indicam que o sorriso também possui importante função em relações hierárquicas, sendo mais comum em indivíduos em situação de submissão. Desse modo, esta pesquisa objetivou investigar o sorriso durante a fala, pretendendo analisar se nesse contexto haveria uma diferença no padrão comunicacional de homens e mulheres. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo quase-experimental, descritivo e comparativo com 88 participantes, sendo 41 do sexo masculino e 47 do sexo feminino, os quais foram filmados enquanto descreviam imagens. Em seguida, os vídeos foram analisados com base na categorização morfológica de análise de sorrisos proposta por pesquisadores da área, sendo realizado o estudo comparativo da apresentação da arcada dentária superior durante a fala e o sexo do participante. Os resultados desse trabalho destacam, com base no teste de análise de variância Anova com resultado de F4,88= 35,4898 e p<0,0001, diferenças entre apresentação de sorriso durante a fala em cada sexo, sendo maior a frequência no sexo feminino. Conclui-se, portanto, que o falar sorrindo está presente como uma manifestação predominantemente feminina. Os condicionantes que promovem manutenção desse comportamento estão associado... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Studies show consistent differentiations in the nonverbal behavior of men and women. It is very common to observe smiling individuals, even in contexts that are not tied to positive emotions, manifest as a way of easing a situation of embarrassment. In addition, research indicates that the smile also has an important function in hierarchical relationships, being more common in individuals in a situation of submission. Thus, this research aimed to investigate the smile during speech, aiming to analyze if in this context there would be a difference in the communication pattern of men and women. For that, a quasi-experimental, descriptive and comparative study was performed with 88 participants, of whom 41 were males and 47 were females, which were filmed while describing images. The videos were then analyzed based on the morphological categorization of smile analysis proposed by researchers in the area, and a comparative study was performed on the presentation of the upper dental arch during speech and the participant's gender. The results of this study highlight, based on the Anova analysis of variance test with a result of F4.88 = 35.4898 and p <0.0001, differences between smile presentation during speech in each sex, with a higher frequency in females. We conclude, therefore, that smiling talking is present as a predominantly feminine manifestation. The conditions that promote maintenance of this behavior are associated with evolutionary and sociocultural aspects. / Mestre

The Black-Scholes option pricing model has several well recognized deficiencies, one of which is its assumption of a constant and time-homogeneous stock return volatility term. The implied volatility smile has been studied by subsequent researchers and various models have been developed in an attempt to reproduce this phenomenon from within the models. However, few of these models yield closed-form pricing formulas that are easy to implement in practice. In this thesis, we study a Mixture Lognormal model (MLN) for European option pricing, which assumes that future stock prices are conditionally described by a mixture of lognormal distributions. The ability of mixture models in generating volatility smiles as well as delivering pricing improvement over the traditional Black-Scholes framework have been much researched under multi-component mixtures for many derivatives and high-volatility individual stock options. In this thesis, we investigate the performance of the model under the simplest two-component mixture in a market characterized by relative tranquillity and over a relatively stable period for broad-based index options. A careful interpretation is given to the model and the results obtained in the thesis. This di erentiates our study from many previous studies on this subject. Throughout the thesis, we establish the unique advantage of the MLN model, which is having closed-form option pricing formulas equal to the weighted mixture of Black-Scholes option prices. We also propose a robust calibration methodology to fit the model to market data. Extreme market states, in particular the so-called crash-o-phobia effect, are shown to be well captured by the calibrated model, albeit small pricing improvements are made over a relatively stable period of index option market. As a major contribution of this thesis, we extend the MLN model to price exotic options including binary, Asian, and barrier options. Closed-form formulas are derived for binary and continuously monitored barrier options and simulation-based pricing techniques are proposed for Asian and discretely monitored barrier options. Lastly, comparative results are analysed for various strike-maturity combinations, which provides insights into the formulation of hedging and risk management strategies.

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For a company to strengthen competitive advantage, they had to put in whatever method they can from time to time, for example, from product innovation, strategic innovation to seek for differentiation. There is also no exceptional for Taiwanese manufacturer. Due to the fact that most Taiwanese manufacturers are small and medium scales company, in addition they are OEM supplier, therefore at initial stage, it is very difficult to pursue differentiation from marketing and product research and development innovation. Under limited resources situation, how to aims at their own strength to select the strategy for differentiation is an issue for Taiwanese manufacturer to consider very thoroughly. This article took small electrical appliances industry as an example and from the business model application standpoint, we discovered that most Taiwanese manufacturers has taken Tapered vertical integration as the main business model to sustain its competitive advantage. Especially when they started on mainland investment, due to the land obtains easily and the cheaper labor force...etc, this vertical integration model application can further be implemented. Taking Value Chain theory and the Smile Curve as a basis for this study, and obtains the most effective vertical integration model is focus on "The Production Vertical Integration". This business model has led a few manufacturers obtain cost advantage in different level. As a case study we take Tsann Kuen Enterprise Co., Ltd as an example, to learn how this company has taken this vertical integration as an approach and developed to become the first Taiwanese manufacturer listed in China stock market. In addition, to learn how it became the top three of the largest small electrical appliances supplier. Finally, from the case study, we will propose a future development approach and suggestion for the Taiwanese small electrical appliances industry. Key Word: Vertical Integration, Smile Curve, Value Chain

Problem: The standard Black-Scholes framework cannot incorporate the volatility smiles usually observed in the markets. Instead, one must consider alternative stochastic volatility models such as the SABR. Little research about the suitability of the SABR model for Swedish market (swaption) data has been found. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to account for and to calibrate the SABR model for swaptions trading on the Swedish market. We intend to alter the calibration techniques and parameter values to examine which method is the most consistent with the market. Method: In MATLAB, we investigate the model using two different minimization techniques to estimate the model’s parameters. For both techniques, we also implement refinements of the original SABR model. Results and Conclusion: The quality of the fit relies heavily on the underlying data. For the data used, we find superior fit for many different swaption smiles. In addition, little discrepancy in the quality of the fit between methods employed is found. We conclude that estimating the α parameter from at-the-money volatility produces slightly smaller errors than using minimization techniques to estimate all parameters. Using refinement techniques marginally increase the quality of the fit.

The Black-Scholes option pricing model has several well recognized deficiencies, one of which is its assumption of a constant and time-homogeneous stock return volatility term. The implied volatility smile has been studied by subsequent researchers and various models have been developed in an attempt to reproduce this phenomenon from within the models. However, few of these models yield closed-form pricing formulas that are easy to implement in practice. In this thesis, we study a Mixture Lognormal model (MLN) for European option pricing, which assumes that future stock prices are conditionally described by a mixture of lognormal distributions. The ability of mixture models in generating volatility smiles as well as delivering pricing improvement over the traditional Black-Scholes framework have been much researched under multi-component mixtures for many derivatives and high-volatility individual stock options. In this thesis, we investigate the performance of the model under the simplest two-component mixture in a market characterized by relative tranquillity and over a relatively stable period for broad-based index options. A careful interpretation is given to the model and the results obtained in the thesis. This di erentiates our study from many previous studies on this subject. Throughout the thesis, we establish the unique advantage of the MLN model, which is having closed-form option pricing formulas equal to the weighted mixture of Black-Scholes option prices. We also propose a robust calibration methodology to fit the model to market data. Extreme market states, in particular the so-called crash-o-phobia effect, are shown to be well captured by the calibrated model, albeit small pricing improvements are made over a relatively stable period of index option market. As a major contribution of this thesis, we extend the MLN model to price exotic options including binary, Asian, and barrier options. Closed-form formulas are derived for binary and continuously monitored barrier options and simulation-based pricing techniques are proposed for Asian and discretely monitored barrier options. Lastly, comparative results are analysed for various strike-maturity combinations, which provides insights into the formulation of hedging and risk management strategies.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:09:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 mello_pb_me_arafo.pdf: 2440580 bytes, checksum: dda996c24968844c61b4acb0db2832e7 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O corredor bucal é definido como o espaço que existe bilateralmente entre a superfície vestibular dos dentes superiores posteriores visíveis e a comissura labial durante o sorriso. Este espaço escuro também é conhecido como espaço negativo. O objetivo da presente pesquisa foi analisar o corredor bucal durante o sorriso de 150 indivíduos de 10 a 19 anos de idade, verificando se há mudança no tamanho desse espaço em diferentes idades, se há diferença entre os gêneros e se existe uma relação de proporção entre a distância inter pré-molares, a largura inter comissura e o corredor bucal. Foram realizadas fotografias digitais padronizadas em norma frontal do sorriso amplo posado que foram transferidas para um computador e os contornos das imagens dos corredores bucais e sua medida linear foram delimitados e calculados pelo programa Image Tool 3.0. Uma linha entre as comissuras labiais direita e esquerda foi definida medindo a largura inter comissura. A área inter labial do sorriso e do corredor bucal foi delimitada e calculada. As distâncias entre as cúspides vestibulares dos primeiros pré-molares superiores foram medidas em modelos de gesso comum e as mesmas foram transferidas para um computador para posteriores comparações. A análise dos dados foi realizada obtendo estimativas por intervalo de confiança, análise de variância com dois critérios de classificação, comparação múltipla de médias e coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. O corredor bucal aumentou com a idade. Os indivíduos do gênero masculino apresentam corredor bucal maior que os do gênero feminino, porém em relação ao percentual da largura inter comissura não há diferença entre os gêneros. / The buccal corridor is defined as the space that exists bilaterally between the vestibular surface of the subsequent superior teeth visible and the labial comissure during the smile. This dark space is also known as negative space. The objective of the present research is to analyze the buccal corridor during the smile of 150 individuals from 10 to 19 years of age, verifying if there is change in the size of that space in different ages and if exists a relationship of proportion among the inter premolar distance, the inter comissure width and the buccal corridor. Digital standardized pictures were accomplished in frontal norm of the posed wide smile that were transferred for a computer and the outlines of the images of the buccal corridors and linear measure were delimited and calculated by the program Image Tool 3.0. A line between the right and left comissures was defined measuring the inter comissure width. The inter labial area of the smile and buccal corridors were delimited and calculated. The distances among the vestibular cusps of the first superior premolars were measured in casts of common plaster and were transferred for a computer for subsequent comparisons. The analysis of the data was accomplished obtaining confidence intervals, analysis of variance with two classification criteria, multiple mean test and Pearson correlation coefficient to complete data. Buccal corridor increases with age. Males have bigger buccal corridor than females, but there is no difference between gender when calculated as percentage related with the inter comissure width.

Une partie du monde affronte la crise. Afin de pallier à la morosité ambiante, les acteurs de la communication marchande travaillent l’affect de leurs cibles. Pour influer sur leurs perceptions, ils codifient parfois leurs messages en insérant le signe du sourire sous des formes plurielles. Un récepteur peut ainsi assimiler le message souvent transmis subliminalement sous un angle favorable car la réception visuelle du sourire colore ses émotions pour lui permettre de voir « la vie en rose ».Ce dispositif de communication convoque le questionnement d’une correspondance synesthésiste entre l’affichage de cette expression faciale et d’une couleur. Dans un cadre de dimension internationale, la méthode heuristique menée dans la Principauté de Monaco auprès d’un échantillon d’individus de différentes cultures, approche cette question idiosyncratique ou universelle de la synesthésie du sourire. L’étude présente une analyse sémiosynesthésiste pour découvrir la couleur du sourire. Les résultats de la réception multimodale des muscles zygomatiques montrent que les sujets perçoivent l’objet communicationnel du sourire selon des couleurs fondamentales et universelles. Cette étude enrichit les connaissances sur la synesthésie d’un signe, d’une expression faciale par le sourire. Elle affiche le sourire comme émetteur synesthésiste de la couleur jaune. Cette recherche ouvre des champs d’investigations variés pour que signes et couleurs ne se heurtent pas en diffusant des messages contraires. En outre, elle permet de poser un nouveau regard sur les questions intemporelles de manipulations synesthésistes par les messages subliminaux. / A part of the world is currently facing the global economic crisis. To overcome this gloom, professionals in the world of communication work in order to influence their target audience in their favor. To positively impact the audience, sometimes communication professionals codify their messages by inserting the sign of the smile in various forms. Thus, a receiver can assimilate a message - often transmitted subliminally - in a positive manner, because the visual reception of a smile colors the emotions to allow the receiver to see through "rose colored glasses". To approach this idiosyncratic or universal question of synesthetic correspondence and synesthesia’s smile in a unique international context, the Principality of Monaco, surveys of a sample of individuals from different cultures is conducted. This research presents the results of a semiosynesthetic analysis to identify the color of the smile. The bimodal reception of the zygomatic muscles confirms that subjects perceive the communicative purpose of the smile as having fundamental and universal colors. As a result, the color yellow is widely attributed to the smile.The study also enriches our knowledge about the potential synesthesia of a sign and a facial expression. Finally, this research is committed to strengthening the analysis by other methodological approaches and fields of research on the characteristics of the color yellow, and its potential subliminal influences. This is in order to avoid a clash between signs and color which could lead to disseminating contrary messages. Furthermore, this analysis provides a new perspective on timeless issues of synesthesia’s manipulation through subliminal messages.