Socio-economic factors influencing farmers' willingness to undertake environmental responsibility.

Acknowledging the importance of water resources protection and sustainable management, the European Parliament enacted directives based on the "polluter-pays" principle aiming for "environmental damage" protection and restoration of water resources. The main aim of this paper is to examine, for the first time in Greece, the possibility of achieving environmental goals, such as reduction of agrochemical pollution and irrigation water use, alongside with the farmers' willingness to undertake the environmental costs arising from their activity. In a questionnaire survey, conducted using a "state preference" method, participants were asked to respond on whether they are willing to absorb an "environmental charge" for the protection and restoration of surface and ground water. It is an essential precondition to understand the factors that affect taxpayers' willingness to participate in the Water Framework Directive, as they are expected to cover the cost of its implementation. The identification of the driving forces that affect stakeholders' environmental decisions can emerge as an important and useful tool in extending public participation in the Water Framework Directive.

Dental materials for primary dentition: are they suitable for occlusal restorations? A two-body wear study.

AIM: This was to evaluate the wear resistance of different materials, compomers, resin-modified glass ionomer cements (RMGICs), glass ionomer cements (GICs), used for posterior restorations in primary teeth and to compare the results with the reference material, amalgam. STUDY DESIGN: Eight specimens of each material were subjected to two-body wear test, using a chewing simulator. The wear region of each material was examined under a profilometer, measuring the vertical loss (µm) and the volume loss (mm(3)) of the materials. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences of vertical loss and volume loss of the test materials (p < 0.001). Amalgam had the highest wear resistance. Twinky Star (compomer) had the lowest vertical loss and volume loss. There was no significant difference of vertical loss among compomers, Dyract Extra, Dyract Flow and Dyract Posterior. Riva Self Cure (GIC) had no statistically significant difference compared with the compomers (except Twinky Star). No statistically significant difference was found also between Equia (GIC) and Ketac Moral (GIC) with Dyract Extra (Compomer). RMGICs were found to have the lowest wear resistance. STATISTICS: For the statistical analysis, the PASW 20.0 (SPSS Statistics, IBM, Chicago) package was used. Means and standard deviations were measured with descriptive statistics and analyzed using one-way ANOVA. CONCLUSION: Compomers and some GICs, that have moderate wear resistance, may be sufficient for occlusal restorations in primary dentitions.

Psychometric properties of the Greek version of the Toronto Composite Empathy Scale in Greek dental students.

INTRODUCTION: Empathy levels of health practitioners are related to patient satisfaction and treatment outcomes. The Toronto Composite Empathy Scale (TCES) was recently developed to assess cognitive and emotional empathy levels in both professional and personal spheres, and tested in an English-speaking sample of dental students. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometrics of the Greek version of the TCES. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The TCES was translated into Greek and administered to all of the dental students at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. A random subset of students completed the questionnaire twice for test-retest analysis. RESULTS: Nearly all (96.5%) of the students completed the questionnaire. The internal consistencies of each of the four subscales were generally acceptable (Cronbach's alphas: 0.676-0.805), and the scale showed good discriminant and convergent validities (r's for discriminant validity: 0.217 and 0.103; r's for convergent validity: 0.595 and 0.700). Test-retest reliabilities ranged from 0.478 to 0.779. After eliminating items that fell on both cognitive and emotional factors, a rotated factor analysis indicated that the items loaded on two cognitive and three emotional factors. DISCUSSION: Our results indicate that the Greek version of the TCES has good psychometric properties. The factor analysis indicates that the emotional and cognitive aspects of empathy are distinct, supporting the need to address both aspects in studies of empathy. CONCLUSIONS: The Greek version of the TCES is a reliable and valid tool for the measurement of cognitive and emotional empathy, in both professional and personal life, in Greek dental students.

Trauma, solitary bone cyst and delayed eruption of permanent mandibular incisors. an unusual case in a 7-year-old patient.

BACKGROUND: Solitary bone cysts (SBC) are uncommon non-neoplastic bone lesions, which present mainly in the mandible. Their aetiology is still obscure, but it has been suggested that they may be a result of trauma in the region. Due to their asymptomatic nature, SBCs are revealed mainly accidentally during routine radiographic examination. Sometimes, patients complain of pain or delayed eruption of teeth. Treatment is recommended because, otherwise, the cyst may become symptomatic or cause a pathologic mandibular fracture. CASE REPORT: A 7-year-old Caucasian boy presented with delayed eruption of his permanent incisors. His parents reported a history of trauma at 3 years of age. The radiographic examination revealed a bony lesion, largely displacing the permanent incisors and preventing their eruption. TREATMENT: Surgical exploration of the lesion was carried out and the histopathological examination result was consistent with a SBC. FOLLOW-UP: Two years after the surgical curettage there was radiographic evidence of considerable bony regeneration. The permanent incisors erupted and were vital. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware that SBC is associated with trauma, mainly of the mandible, and with a possible delay of eruption of the corresponding teeth.