Student Number : 9707737A - MSc Dissertation - School of Anatomical Sciences - Faculty of Health Sciences / This study design was built around investigating the correlation between facet joint degeneration and ipsilateral annular fissuring or degeneration of the intervertebral disc. It was necessary to establish firstly whether this combination existed and if so, how prevalent it was. The study design incorporates macroscopic and microscopic examination of the intervertebral disc as well as the injection of a radio opaque dye into the nucleus in order to observe dye migration and identify fissuring in the anulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc. The articulating facet joints were also examined macroscopically and microscopically. A correlation of findings reported in a tabular form should then reveal the existence of the foregoing proposition. The dissertation design did not incorporate examination of range of motion, but the effect of motion was reported in the literature review.

M.Tech.

M.Tech.

Utilizing the semiconductor processing technology, a large number of optical components can be integrated into a small area. It is of low cost and high reliability and can be massively produced. The PLC(planar light circuit) has become an important component with the opto-communication industry.In this thesis, we aim to study dielectric waveguide termination witha slightly tilted facet. A waveguide with normal termination in the air will have non-zero reflection coefficients due to the impedance difference at the core-air junction. To reduce the reflection of the fundamental mode, it is custom to terminate the waveguide with a small tilted angle. The angle is optimally chosen to avoid spurious scattering into high-order radiation modes.To analyze this problem, we employ the modal expansion method for both the reflected waves and the transmitted waves. We then analytically extend the waves and join the two fields on the bordering line by matching the fields and their normal derivatives. An incomplete transverse-mode integral equation (TMIE) is derived for the reflection and transmission coefficients. The incomplete TMIE is good for waveguide termination with small tilted angles. Our analysis show that for multi-mode 1-D slab waveguide (simulating the 1-D optical fiber), the fundamental mode reflection coefficient is about -28dB down. It gradually reduces to -60dB as we increase the tilt angle from around 8 degrees. The result agrees well with those calculate from frequency-domain finite-difference method.

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Mindfulness is an element of consciousness which has historically been associated with well-being. Mindfulness-based clinical interventions intend on reducing cognitive vulnerability to emotional distress and have produced promising results. Such endeavors however rest upon the dissent that remains among researchers on how to operationally define the construct. Measuring mindfulness in a valid and reliable manner is an essential part of scientific inquiry and facilitates the effort to define the construct. This study examines three newer self-report mindfulness instruments; Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), the Toronto Mindfulness Scale (TMS) and the Experiences Questionnaire (EQ). A sample of non-meditators (Texas A&M University students; n =141) and meditators (non-clinical population from Bay Area, California; n =157) with a wide range of meditation experience completed the instruments. Multiple correlations allowed for an in-depth examination of the measures at full-scale and sub-scale level and all yielded significant and positive relations. Regression analyses established that meditation does increase mindfulness scores as measured by the FFMQ, TMS and EQ. Sub-scales FFMQ Observe, FFMQ Non React and TMS Decenter increased most of the combined eight facets; while FFMQ Describe and FFMQ Aware increased least. Lastly, the study examined how various aspects of meditation practice affect total mindfulness. Aspects of practice included: Number of sittings per week (sit/wk); time spent per meditation sitting (time/med); how long the participant has engaged in formal meditation (how long) and style of meditation (style). Meditation styles were grouped into the following categories; 1) Mindfulness, Vipassana, Zen and Shambhala; 2) Concentration and Transcendental; 3) Blend and 4) “I don’t know”. “Sit/wk”, “how long” and “style” were predictive of total mindfulness, with “how long” being the strongest predictor. All the mindfulness facets were predicted by meditation style except for FFMQ Observe, FFMQ Describe and TMS Curiosity. Meditation styles mindfulness, Vipassana, Zen and Shambhala were associated with the highest mindfulness scores.

MUDr. BOLDAJI, Abdollah The author in his PhD thesis deals with the assessment of long-term stability of commonly used bevel crown. The work deals with the changes in color, shape, surface integrity, marginal adaptation and the state of the surrounding tissues to determine the ideal facet material.

M.Tech. / Purpose: This study aims to compare the effects of a manual high velocity, low amplitude spinal manipulation and a mechanical force, manually assisted spinal manipulation in the treatment of sub acute lumbar facet syndrome with regards to pain, disability, lumbar spine range of motion and pressure pain threshold. These effects were based on two questionnaires, the McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Oswestry Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire, lumbar spine range of motion readings using a digital inclinometer and pressure pain threshold readings taken with an algometer. Method: Thirty participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomly allocated to one of two groups. One group received a manual lumbar spine manipulation using the Diversified Technique. The second group received lumbar spine manipulative therapy with the use of the Activator Adjusting Instrument. Treatment occurred over a three week period, with participants receiving treatment six times out of a total of seven consultations. Procedure: Subjective data was collected using both the McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Oswestry Low Back Pain and Disability Questionnaire. Objective data was collected using a digital inclinometer to measure lumbar spine range of motion, and an algometer to measure pressure pain threshold. The questionnaires and all readings were recorded prior to treatment on the first, fourth and seventh visits. The data was then analysed by a statistician. Results: Clinical improvements in both groups were noted over the duration of the study with regards to pain, disability, left rotation and left and right lateral flexion. The group receiving a spinal manipulation with the Activator Adjusting Instrument also showed clinical improvement for flexion and right rotation and only the manual manipulation group improved in algometer measurements. Both groups displayed a decrease in lumbar extension readings over time. Statistical significance was observed for subjective measurements only. Conclusion: The results show that both spinal manipulative therapies are effective in the treatment of sub acute lumbar facet syndrome, however neither proved to be preferential over the other for subjective and objective measurements.

M.Tech.

MUDr. BOLDAJI, Abdollah The author in his PhD thesis deals with the assessment of long-term stability of commonly used bevel crown. The work deals with the changes in color, shape, surface integrity, marginal adaptation and the state of the surrounding tissues to determine the ideal facet material.