ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the difference in working conditions as perceived by dentists during the pandemic and their professional satisfaction levels. Material and Methods: An online survey was conducted using the convenience and snowball sampling methods. Two hundred seventy-two respondents across various countries answered information related to socio-demographic data and work satisfaction levels during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Results: 40.1% of dentists reported dissatisfied with their current work, while another 13.6% of dentists fell in the extremely dissatisfied category. 22.8% of dentists were significantly dissatisfied with their current income. Furthermore, 38.4% of the dentists were dissatisfied with physical working conditions, while 33.5% reported dissatisfaction with the freedom of working methods. Conclusion: This study was focused on the connection between various intrinsic and extrinsic factors affecting working conditions, social interactions, and psychological stresses. From the findings of this multicultural study, we can see that dentists across different countries have been affected and have varying levels of dissatisfaction. Therefore, regulatory authorities must plan for support and interventional programs to help dental professionals pass this difficult period.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a simple tool for assessing the severity of disability resulting from Japanese encephalitis and whether, as a result, a child is likely to be dependent. METHODS: A new outcome score based on a 15-item questionnaire was developed after a literature review, examination of current assessment tools, discussion with experts and a pilot study. The score was used to evaluate 100 children in Malaysia (56 Japanese encephalitis patients, 2 patients with encephalitis of unknown etiology and 42 controls) and 95 in India (36 Japanese encephalitis patients, 41 patients with encephalitis of unknown etiology and 18 controls). Inter- and intra-observer variability in the outcome score was determined and the score was compared with full clinical assessment. FINDINGS: There was good inter-observer agreement on using the new score to identify likely dependency (K = 0.942 for Malaysian children; K = 0.786 for Indian children) and good intra-observer agreement (K = 1.000 and 0.902, respectively). In addition, agreement between the new score and clinical assessment was also good (K = 0.906 and 0.762, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of the new score for identifying children likely to be dependent were 100% and 98.4% in Malaysia and 100% and 93.8% in India. Positive and negative predictive values were 84.2% and 100% in Malaysia and 65.6% and 100% in India. CONCLUSION: The new tool for assessing disability in children after Japanese encephalitis was simple to use and scores correlated well with clinical assessment.

OBJETIVOS: Diseñar una herramienta sencilla para valorar la gravedad de la incapacidad causada por la encefalitis japonesa y la posibilidad de que un niño sea dependiente como consecuencia de la misma. MÉTODOS: Se ha elaborado una nueva escala de resultados, basada en un cuestionario de 15 puntos, realizado tras una revisión bibliográfica, en el estudio de las herramientas de valoración actuales, en el debate con expertos y en un estudio preliminar. La escala se empleó para evaluar a 100 niños en Malasia (56 pacientes con encefalitis japonesa, 2 pacientes con encefalitis de etiología desconocida y 42 controles) y 95 en India (36 pacientes con encefalitis japonesa, 41 pacientes con encefalitis de etiología desconocida y 18 controles). Se determinó la variabilidad interobservador e intraobservador en la escala de resultados y se comparó la escala con una valoración clínica completa. RESULTADOS: Hubo un consenso interobservador favorable respecto a la utilización de la nueva escala para identificar la posible dependencia (K = 0,942 en el caso de los niños malasios; K = 0,786 para los niños indios) y un consenso intraobservador favorable ( K = 1,000 y 0,902, respectivamente). Además, el consenso entre la nueva escala y la valoración clínica también fue bueno (K = 0,906 y 0,762, respectivamente). La sensibilidad y la especificidad de la nueva escala para identificar a los niños que pueden ser dependientes fue del 100% y del 98,4% en Malasia, y del 100% y del 93,8% en India. Los valores predictivos positivos y negativos fueron del 84,2% y del 100% en Malasia, y del 65,6% y del 100% en India. CONCLUSIONES: La nueva herramienta de valoración de la incapacidad infantil tras la encefalitis japonesa fue fácil de usar y los resultados estaban relacionados con la valoración clínica.

OBJECTIF: Développer un outil simple pour évaluer la gravité de l'invalidité résultant de l'encéphalite japonaise et, en conséquence, la probabilité de dépendance de l'enfant. MÉTHODES: Une nouvelle échelle d'évaluation basée sur un questionnaire de 15 questions a été développée après une analyse de la littérature, l'examen des outils d'évaluation actuels, une discussion avec les experts et une étude pilote. L'échelle a été utilisée pour évaluer 100 enfants en Malaisie (56 patients atteints d'encéphalite japonaise, 2 patients atteints d'encéphalite d'étiologie inconnue et 42 contrôles) et 95 en Inde (36 patients atteints d'encéphalite, 41 patients atteints d'encéphalite d'étiologie inconnue et 18 contrôles). La variabilité inter et intra-observateurs dans l'échelle d'évaluation a été déterminée et l'échelle a été comparée avec une évaluation clinique complète. RÉSULTATS: Il a été observé une bonne correspondance inter-observateurs dans l'utilisation de la nouvelle échelle pour identifier la dépendance probable (K=0,942 pour les enfants malais; K=0,786 pour les enfants indiens), ainsi qu'une bonne correspondance intra-observateurs (K=1,000 et 0,902, respectivement). De plus, la correspondance entre la nouvelle échelle et l'évaluation clinique a été bonne (K=0,906 et 0,762, respectivement). La sensibilité et la spécificité de la nouvelle échelle d'évaluation de la probabilité de dépendance des enfants ont été de 100 % et de 98,4 % en Malaisie et de 100 % et de 93,8 % en Inde. Les valeurs prédictives positives et négatives ont été de 84,2 % et de 100 % en Malaisie et de 65,6 % et de 100 % en Inde. CONCLUSION: Le nouvel outil pour l'évaluation de l'invalidité des enfants après encéphalite japonaise a été simple à utiliser et les résultats présentent une bonne corrélation avec l'évaluation clinique.

With the availability of complete genome sequences of several organisms, the focus has shifted from structural genomics to functional genomics, specifically in plants where the complete genomic sequences are becoming available i.e., Arabidopsis and rice. Agrobacterium mediated transformation which is exploited for transgenic technology is also being used as an effective mutagen and as a tool for functional genomics in higher plants. Besides the fact that the insertion of T-DNA element into a gene can lead to loss or gain of function, ingenious use of a variety of vectors have led to the identification of genes and regulatory elements in Arabidopsis. In this review, we highlight the progress made in the field of functional genomics of Arabidopsis using T-DNA tagging. Since this strategy has been very successfully employed in Arabidopsis and is now being extended to other plant species, we discuss the various vectors and experimental approaches employed to tag, identify and clone genes and promoter elements in Arabidopsis using T-DNA as a tool.