Disproportionate rosin (DPR) is a mixture of rosin acids with dehydro-abietic acid as its major component.Alkaline salts of DPR are used as emulsifier surfactant in emulsion polymerization reactions. In this work, synthesis of DPR by the use of palladium nanoparticles loaded on activated carbon was studied. The nanocatalyst was characterized by TEM, SEM, XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption and AAS. The reusability of the prepared nanocatalyst was successfully examined three times with only a very slight loss of catalytic activity.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate OCB among physicians in China and explore whether their job satisfaction mediates the association between doctor-patient relationship (DPR) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Methods: This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey was conducted among 1400 physicians in Shaanxi, China in 2014. The subjects were selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling methodology. The self-administered questionnaires included OCB Scale, DDPRQ, and PJSQ. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to estimate the effects of job satisfaction on the association between DPR and OCB. Results: DPR negatively predicted four dimensions of OCB, including conscientiousness, sportsmanship, civic virtue, and altruism. DPR was negatively related to five job satisfaction dimensions, namely work satis-faction (WS), promotion satisfaction (PS), reward satisfaction (RS), supervision satisfaction (SS), and envi-ronment satisfaction (ES). WS was positively correlated with conscientiousness and civic virtue; PS and SS were positively related to all four OCB dimensions; RS was positively related with civic virtue and altruism, and ES was positively correlated with conscientiousness and civic virtue. WS and PS partially mediated the association between DPR and conscientiousness; PS and SS partially mediated the relation between DPR and sportsmanship; PS, SS, and ES mediated the association between DPR and civic virtue; and PS, RS and SS partially mediated the relation between DPR and altruism. Conclusion: Job satisfaction mediated the association between DPR and OCB among Chinese physicians. The poor DPR possibly reduce physicians’ job satisfaction, thereby causing a decline of OCB in hospitals. Therefore, DPR improvement and job satisfaction have a great potential to promote physicians’ job perfor-mance in China.

The Doctor-Patient Relationship (DPR) is a complex concept in the medical sociology in which patients voluntarily approach a doctor and thus become a part of a contract in which they tends to abide with the doctor’s guidance. Globally, the DPR has changed drastically over the years owing to the commercialization and privatization of the health sector. Furthermore, the dynamics of the DPR has shown a significant change because of the formulation of consumer protection acts; clauses for professional misconduct and criminal negligence; establishment of patient forums and organizations; massive expansion of the mass media sector leading to increase in health awareness among people; and changes in the status of the doctors. Realizing the importance of DPR in the final outcome and quality of life of the patient, multiple measures have been suggested to make a correct diagnosis and enhance healing. To conclude, good DPR is the crucial determinant for a better clinical outcome and satisfaction with the patients, irrespective of the socio-cultural determinants.

Statement of the Problem: The diagnosis of vertical root fracture (VRF) is a challenging task.Purpose: This in vitro study compared cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging with digital periapical radiography (DPR) made by three different horizontal angels (20omesial, 0o and 20o distal) for accurate diagnosis of VRF.Materials and Method: Among 120 posterior teeth included in this study, 60 were vertically fractured. Fractured and non-fractured teeth were randomly distributed into three groups defined as group 1 with no filling in the root canal, group 2 with gutta-percha in the canal, and group 3 with the intracanal post. All samples were placed in a dry mandible and imaged with CBCT and DPR techniques. Two blind observers investigated the images.Results: CBCT had higher sensitivity but lower specificity compared with DPR, except for the intracanal post group in which the sensitivity of DPR was higher; though the chi-square test showed the differences to be statistically insignificant.The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CBCT and DPR were reduced in the cases that gutta-percha or post were present in the canal. Inter-observer agreement was higher for CBCT. A set of three DPRs with different horizontal angels were significantly more sensitive for VRF recognition than a single orthogonal DPR.Conclusion: Based on our results, there was no significant difference between CBCT and a set of three DPRs with different angulations for VRF detection in posterior teeth. Therefore, it is suggested to consider DPRs with three different horizontal angels (20o mesial, 0o and 20o distal) for radiographic evaluation before CBCT examination.

Introduction: Dental panoramic radiography (DPR) is one of the most frequent diagnostic X-ray procedures, the application of which is currently on a growing trend. During DPR, several radiosensitive tissues, such as the lens of the eyes, parotid gland, and thyroid gland, contribute to the radiation field, and it is necessary to monitor their received dose. The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiation dose to the lens of the eyes, parotid gland, and thyroid gland in patients undergoing DPR at Lorestan Province, Western Iran. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 180 patients of both genders referred to DPR at two most crowded hospitals in Khorramabad, Iran, namely Tamin-e Ejtemaei (TE) and Shohada-ye Ashayer (SA) hospitals. The radiation dose measurements were carried out using LiF (Mg, Cu, P) thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs). To measure the absorbed dose received by the lens of the eyes, parotid gland, and thyroid gland in each patient, five sets of three TLDs, wrapped in a thin plastic bag, were positioned over each eyelid and the anatomical position of the parotid and thyroid glands. The TLDs were read within 24 h of exposure. Results: The mean absorbed dose received by the lens of the eyes, parotid gland, and thyroid gland were obtained as 155, 160, and 72 μ Gy for the TE Hospital, respectively. These values were obtained as l24, 558, and 56 μ Gy, respectively, for the SA Hospital. The results revealed a statistically significant difference between the organs located outside and inside the primary beam in terms of the absorbed dose (P<0. 001). Conclusion: The absorbed dose received by the lens of the eyes and thyroid gland was generally lower than the values reported in similar studies. Nevertheless, the absorbed dose received by the parotid gland in the SA Hospital exceeded the recommended dose reference level of 400 μ Gy in DPR.