The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in case confidence, treatment management, and Invisalign® expertise between orthodontists and general dentists. A survey was mailed to 1,000 randomly selected orthodontists and general dentists, respectively, who are Invisalign® providers, and results were analyzed. The results indicated that orthodontists treated significantly more Invisalign® cases and received more Invisalign® training than general dentists (P

Anhand dieser Untersuchung sollte geklärt werden, welchen Einfluss eine extrakapsuläre Kataraktoperation mit clear-cornealer Schnitt-Technik, Phakoemulsifikation und Implantation einer Hinterkammerlinse auf den Augeninnendruck bei Patienten mit Offenwinkelglaukom hat. Dabei wurden sowohl retrospektiv die Daten von 76 Patienten als auch prospektiv die Daten von 49 Patienten aus der Universitätsaugenklinik Würzburg verglichen. Alle Patienten wiesen entweder ein Primäres Offenwinkelglaukom oder ein Pseudoexfoliationsglaukom auf und erhielten eine Kataraktoperation, die anhand einer clear-cornea-Phakoemulsifikation durchgeführt wurde. Keiner der Patienten hatte eine vorangegangene filtrierende Glaukomoperation. Für die retrospektive Analyse wurden IOD und Anzahl an antiglaukomatöser Medikation vor und durchschnittlich 12,9 Monate nach der Operation bestimmt. Hierbei konnte eine Redukion des IOD von 18,3 ± 3,7 mmHg präoperativ auf 16,7 ± 3,3 mmHg postoperativ beobachtet werden (p=0,011*). Die durchschnittliche Anzahl an Medikamenten verringerte sich von 1.4 ± 0.9 präoperativ auf 1.0 ± 0.9 postoperativ (p=0,0004***). Während der prospektiven Untersuchung wurden Augeninnendruck, Anzahl der Medikamente und zusätzlich der Visus jeweils am Tag vor der Kataraktoperation sowie postoperativ am Tag vor Entlassung, nach sechs und nach zwölf Monaten bestimmt. Der IOD sank von durchschnittlichen 17,6 ± 3,8 mmHg präoperativ auf 14,2 ± 3,1 mmHg postoperativ (p=0,0003***), 15,8 ± 2,1 mmHg nach sechs Monaten (p=0,0021**) und 15,4 ± 3,2 mmHg nach zwölf Monaten (p=0,0085**). Die Medikamentenzahl konnte von durchschnittlich 1,6 ± 1,0 präoperativ auf 1,2 ± 1,0 postoperativ (p=0,0098**), 1,1 ± 1,0 nach sechs Monaten (p=0,0019**) und auf 1,1 ± 1,0 nach zwölf Monaten (p=0,0056**) reduziert werden. Der Visus verbesserte sich von durchschnittlich 0,3 ± 0,2 auf 0,63 ± 0,3. Somit ist die clear-cornea-Phakoemulsifikation eine sichere Alternative bei Koexistenz von Offenwinkelglaukom und Katarakt, wenn bestimmte Voraussetzungen erfüllt sind. Sie eignet sich vor allem bei Patienten mit noch nicht zu stark ausgeprägten Glaukomschäden, einer guten Medikamentencompliance und einer nicht zu großen Anzahl an Medikamenten. Dann kann eine gute Visusverbesserung erzielt und gleichzeitig eine Verbesserung oder Stabilisierung der Glaukomkontrolle erreicht werden. Nur bei einer geringen Anzahl von Patienten ist mit einer Verschlechterung zu rechnen. Außerdem lässt dieser operative Zugang die Möglichkeit offen, im weiteren Verlauf noch eine filtrierende Operation durchzuführen. / The issue of this examination was to evaluate changes in intraocular pressure following phacoemulsification cataract extraction with IOL-implantation on patients with glaucoma. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 76 patients and prospectively compared the data of 49 patients. All patients had primary open angle glaucoma (POWG)or pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEX)and the IOL was implanted through clear corneal incision. None of the patients had prior filtration surgery. In the retrospective review the mean preoperative IOP was 18,3 ± 3,7 mmHg and 16,7 ± 3,3 mmHg after one year (p=0,011*). The average number of medicaments was reduced from 1,4 ± 0,9 to 1,0 ± 0,9 after one year (p=0,0004***). During the prospective study the mean IOP, number of medicaments and visual acuity were examined the day before operation, some days later, six months and one year after operation. The mean preoperative IOP was 17,6 ± 3,8 mmHg in comparision to 14,2 ± 3,1 mmHg postoperative (p=0003***), after six months it reached a mean IOP of 15,8 ± 2,1 mmHg (p=0,0021**) and 15,4 ± 3,2 mmHg after 12 months (p=0,0085**). The mean number of medications decreased from 1,6 ± 1,0 preoperative to 1,2 ± 1,0 postoperative (p=0.0098**), to 1,1 ± 1,0 after six months and to 1,1 ± 1,0 after one year. The visual acuity improved from 0,3 ± 0,2 to 0,63 ± 0,3. In the management of co-existing cataract and glaucoma the phacoemulsification cataract extraction through clear corneal incision with IOL- implantation is a safe alternative associated with significant decrease in IOP with less medication.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Mechanical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

Thesis (M.Ing. (Electrical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Chlorine is one of most common element on earth and it is essential in every living organism, but can also cause problems in the environment. Chlorine can exist both as inorganic (Clin) and organically bound (Clorg). Earlier was the common opinion that Clorg only occurs from anthropogenic sources, but the last years, research has shown that chlorine is a part of the biogeochemical cycle and Clorg also can have natural sources. Many chlorinated substances are poisonous, so the fact that they have a natural source created attention. Fertilizations with nitrogen in forest areas have shown unexpected consequences, such as an increase leakage of nitrogen to ground and surface water. Clear-cutting is a disturbance on the ecosystem and the environment is sensitive for disturbances. Because of the fact that both chlorine and fertilization can be environmental problems and that clear-cutting is a big disturbance in the nature, this study will investigate if there are changes of organic chlorine (Clorg) in soil water after clear-cutting and if fertilization with nitrogen has any influence on the concentration of Clorg. This study was made in a forest area in Värmland, Sweden (Hagfors). Chemical analyses were made in the laboratory though measuring AOX (absorbable organic halogens). The result of this study showed that clear-cutting probably has some effect on the Clorg concentration and that nitrogen doesn’t have any influence.

In the past few years, financial restructuring fund has become a popular term in Taiwan. This is because Taiwan tries to avoid impact of the financial environment and economic growth during Asian financial crisis period. They bring in mechanism of Japan, South Korea, and United States, legislate for provisions of financial restructuring fund, and establish this fund in order to compensate the capital shortfall may be arising from unhealthy financial institutions, as well as to prevent a withdraw run on a bank because of public panic and chain reaction causing the outbreak of systematic financial crisis. However, the evaluation of the effect of the financial restructuring fund from outside world is different, and opposition has been heard often. They criticize that the financial restructuring fund is a bottomless pit, and there is suspicion that the fund uses the money from taxpayers to rescue those illegal operators of bad financial institutions. The size of the fund has been increased by amending the law constantly, and nearly 170 billion new Taiwan dollars has been invested which can only fill in loopholes. It can stabilize the order of financial market temporarily, but it is unable to prevent successive crisis effectively that caused by bad financial institutions. ¡@¡@ The financial restructuring fund entrusts the Central Deposit Insurance Corporation to execute all kinds of matter. In the process, how does the Central Deposit Insurance Corporation operate? What is the trend of amendment in the future? These issues are worth studying and discussing. The process including the assessment, clearing up, selling tender, prosecution, and reimbursement of the illegal responsible person after taking over bad financial institutions. What kind of problems would occur during the process of operation? How does the Central Deposit Insurance Corporation handle it? This research regards Kaohsiung Business Bank as the case, not only to understand and report it, but also to analyze and discover problems from legal point of view. Base on the judgment of the prosecution in accordance with the court, it evaluates all kinds of effect of the financial restructuring fund that is applied to Kaohsiung Business Bank. Finally, this research tries to bring up the conclusion and suggestion of the financial restructuring fund, based on the gains after evaluating and analyzing, hope it is helpful on the application and management of current financial restructuring fund.

Nitrogen deposition leads to environmental damage in areas where the nitrogen deposition is high. Southwest Sweden receives an annual nitrogen deposition of up to 20 kg N/ha. Nitrogen that is not assimilated by the vegetation is accumulated in the soil, which may lead to nitrogen saturation and an elevated risk of nitrogen leaching. Nitrogen leaching from forest areas in southern Sweden has proven to be higher than from agricultural areas, which have been thought to be the main contributors to elevated nitrogen levels in rivers and lakes. The amount of nitrogen that leaches depends on the fraction of the total nitrogen in the soil that consists of nitrate, since nitrate is easily transported through the soil. Nitrogen leaching increases after clear-cutting since the uptake by vegetation is greatly reduced. In this study the soil chemistry of two clear-cut spruce stands in Halland, in southwest Sweden, has been analyzed. A previous study in these areas has indicated higher nitrate concentrations in the groundwater in one of the areas and thus a greater nitrogen leaching. Nitrogen deposition in the two areas is estimated to be the same and therefore the soil chemistry has been analyzed to evaluate if differences in the soil can have resulted in differences in the nitrate concentration in the groundwater. The hypothesis is that the area with higher nitrate concentrations in the groundwater has properties more favorable for nitrification, which would be especially apparent in a lower carbon to nitrogen ratio. The pH and storage of nitrate, ammonium, total carbon, total nitrogen and exchangeable cations was analyzed in soil samples from both areas. In addition, a study of stand properties and previous use of the areas was made. The analyses performed in this study indicate that the soil properties could not explain the differences in nitrate concentration in the groundwater. The differences found between the areas were that the area with lower nitrate concentrations in the groundwater had higher nitrate and ammonium concentrations and higher pH in the soil. The reason for this might be that the soil in this area has larger capacity to bind elements. The fact that the soil samples were sampled during different seasons probably had a major effect on these results. The history and stand properties of the two areas were similar. According to site index one area was more fertile, which benefits nitrification. This fact was not confirmed by the analyses, but it probably caused the nitrification rate to be higher in this area. / Det stora nedfallet av föroreningar i form av kväve i framförallt sydvästra Sverige leder till försurning och övergödning av både skogsmarker och vattendrag. Kvävedepositionen i södra Sverige kan uppgå till 20 kg N/ha och år. Det kväve som inte tas upp av vegetationen ackumuleras i marken som efterhand riskerar att bli kvävemättad vilket ökar risken för kväveutlakning. Kväveutlakningen från svenska skogsmarker har visat sig kunna vara i samma storleksordning som från jordbruksmarker som anses vara en av de största orsakerna till ökande kvävehalter i sjöar och vattendrag. Kväveutlakningens storlek beror till stor del på hur stor del av markens kväveförråd som finns i den oorganiska formen nitrat eftersom den är en lättrörlig jon. Efter skogsavverkning ökar nitratutlakningen betydligt på grund av att det finns väldigt lite vegetation kvar som tar upp kväveföreningarna. I den här studien har markkemin i två avverkade granskogsområden i Halland undersökts. Tidigare studier i dessa två områden har visat att halterna av nitrat var högre i grundvattnet i det ena området än i det andra, och således var även nitratutlakningen större i detta område. Eftersom kvävedepositionen anses vara densamma i de två områdena har markemin undersökts för att finna skillnader där som kan förklara de olika nitratnivåerna i grundvattnet. Hypotesen var att det ena området skulle ha mer gynnsamma förhållanden för nitrifikation, framförallt en lägre C/N-kvot. Markens förråd av nitrat- och ammoniumkväve, totalkol, totalkväve, utbytbara katjoner samt pH undersöktes i båda områdena. En studie av områdenas historia gjordes även för att kunna utesluta skillnader där som kunde ge upphov till skillnaden i nitrat i grundvattnet. Slutsatsen som kan dras från studien är att de analyserade egenskaperna inte visade på mer gynnsamma förhållanden för nitrifikation i det ena området än i det andra. Ingen skillnad i C/N-kvot uppmättes. Skillnaderna som hittades var att området med lägst halter av nitrat i grundvattnet hade högst halter av oorganiskt kväve i marken och högre pH. Att nitrathalterna var högre i grundvattnet men inte i marken kan ha sin förklaring i att marken i det ena området har större förmåga att binda till sig kväve vilket gör att det inte lika lätt kommer ut i grundvattnet. Antagligen spelade det stor roll för dessa resultat att jordproven tagits vid olika årstider. Undersökningen av tidigare användningsområde i skogarna visade att de hade en tämligen liknade historia. Det ena området har enligt ståndortsindex högre bördighet vilket gynnar nitrifikation. Detta framgick dock inte av analyserna men är antagligen orsaken till de högre nitrathalterna i grundvattnet i detta område.

Forestry affects most of the forest-covered land in Sweden. In the landscape, the most common stream type is headwaters, which are important sites for many processes and organisms in both the terrestrial and the aquatic ecosystems. The aim of this study was to investigate how the abundance of benthic invertebrate functional feeding groups in headwater streams develops after clear-cutting and if it also is possible to detect a change in the composition of feeding groups. The study also attempts to determine what factors have an effect on temporal changes in abundance of these groups. For the study, 11 sites in northern Sweden were sampled for benthic invertebrates using a Surber-sampler, and for each site canopy-cover and pH was obtained. Further, the age of the surrounding forest at each was visually assessed and created a 100-year gradient along which temporal changes in abundance of the functional feeding groups were investigated. The results revealed that the total abundance of organisms was the highest short after clear-cutting and afterward decreased to the lowest level in streams with the highest age of surrounding forest. Significant results for the functional feeding groups were found for predators, shredders and scrapers, which also had the highest levels of abundance early after clear-cutting and thereafter decreased. The result shows that clear-cutting, not only changes the fundamental terrestrial conditions, but also has an impact on the abundance of different benthic functional feeding group.

This thesis presents an efficient buffer management scheme for 3-D graphic rendering systems. The purpose of this scheme is to reduce the off-chip memory accesses, which have become a valuable resource, and very often a performance bottleneck of embedded 3-D applications. The 3-D buffers, including depth and color frame buffers, will be divided into rectangular blocks. The proposed scheme can first provide the management of buffer clear operation. For most of time, the rendering of each 3-D frame starts from the buffer clear command to clear the data remaining in buffers from the previous frame. Instead of clearing the buffers residing in the off-chip memory immediately, our scheme will just set the clear flag in an on-chip buffer management table which provides a control information entry for each of the blocks in the buffer. When the blocks have to be accessed later during rendering process, they won¡¦t be brought in from on-chip memory; instead, they are cleared directly in the corresponding cache location. When the cache blocks are replaced, the corresponding off-chip buffer blocks will be updated. Only those blocks in the off-chip color buffer which are not visited will be actually cleared when the color frame is swapped for display. The second contribution of the propose management scheme is to compress and decompress the depth blocks to save the transfer data amount of these blocks. Since the difference of the depth values of the neighboring pixels belonging to the same triangle plane will be the same, this difference value can be stored and encoded along with the run-length information which can lead to significant saving of the storage space. The actual reduction ratio depends on the relative object complexity to the output screen size, the block size, and the degree of the anti-aliasing considered. However, our experimental results show that the compression ratio of 17-28% can be achieved for the moderate block size. The entire buffer management has been implemented, and the entire gate count is 65k, which is about 10% of the entire 3-D systems. The proposed management chip is very suitable for embedded 3D graphic rendering systems where the memory bandwidth budget is very tightly restricted.

Understanding the mechanism of zeolite nucleation and crystallization will enable the zeolite science community to tune zeolite properties during synthesis in order to accommodate the purposes of various applications. Thus there has been considerable research effort in "deciphering" the mechanism by studying the growth course of tetrapropylammonium (TPA)-mediated silicalite-1 using several techniques, such as dynamic light scattering (DLS), small-angle X-ray/neutron scattering (SAXS/SANS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). While these studies have generated a more comprehensive picture on the silicalite-1 growth mechanism, the general application of the mechanism and how it could be applied to other zeolite systems have not been addressed. This work initially tried to apply the insights developed from the TPAsilicalite- 1 clear solution synthesis by investigating the nanoparticles formation and zeolite growth in several tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)-organocation-water solutions heated at 368 K using SAXS. The results are in contrast to TEOS-TPAOH-water mixtures that rapidly form silicalite-1 at 368 K. These results imply that the developed TPA-silicalite-1 nucleation and crystallization mechanism is not universally applicable to other zeolite systems and TPA-silicalite-1 itself could be a special case. With this in mind, the next goal of this work uses in situ SAXS to revisit silicalite-1 growth kinetics prepared by using several TPA-mimic organocations and some asymmetric geometry organocations. The results clearly show the TPA cation is an extraordinarily efficient structure-directing agent (SDA) due to its moderate hydrophobicity and perfect symmetric geometry. Any perturbation of the hydrophobicity and symmetry of SDA leads to a deterioration of zeolite growth. This work further investigates the influences of alcohol identity and content on silicalite-1 growth from clear solutions at 368 K using in situ SAXS. Several tetraalkyl orthosilicates (Si(OR)4, R = Me, Pr, and Bu) are used as the alternative silica sources to TEOS in synthesizing silicalite-1. Increasing the alcohol identity hydrophobicity or lowering the alcohol content enhances silicalite-1 growth kinetics. This implies that the alcohol identity and content do affect the strength of 1) hydrophobic hydration of the SDA and 2) the water-alcohol interaction, through changing the efficiency of the interchanges between clathrated water molecules and solvated silicate species.