Perceptions and challenges of online teaching and learning amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in India: a cross-sectional study with dental students and teachers.

BACKGROUND: Online education has emerged as a crucial tool for imparting knowledge and skills to students in the twenty-first century, especially in developing nations like India, which previously relied heavily on traditional teaching methods. METHODS: This study delved into the perceptions and challenges experienced by students and teachers in the context of online education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from a sample of 491 dental students and 132 teachers utilizing a cross-sectional research design and an online-validated survey questionnaire. RESULTS: The study's findings revealed significant insights. Internet accessibility emerged as a major impediment for students, with online instruction proving more effective for theoretical subjects compared to practical ones. Although most teachers expressed comfort with online teaching, they highlighted the absence of classroom interaction as a significant challenge. CONCLUSION: This study comprehensively examines the perspectives of both students and teachers regarding online education during the pandemic. The results carry substantial implications for the academic community, underscoring the need to address internet access issues and explore ways to enhance engagement and interaction in online learning environments.

Fabrication of 2D Vanadium MXene Polyphenylsulfone Ultrafiltration Membrane for Enhancing the Water Flux and for Effective Separation of Humic Acid and Dyes from Wastewater.

MXene, a new 2D transition metal carbide-based material, is gaining outstanding attention in recent days in the area of separation and purification. In this study, we have successfully synthesized vanadium-based MXene-V2CT x (where T represents functional groups such as -OH, O, and F) by etching an aluminum layer from V2AlC. For the first time, a vanadium-based MXene-V2CT x -embedded mixed matrix membrane was fabricated and utilized for removal of hazardous dye and humic acid from wastewater. With an increase in V2CT x loading, the hydrophilicity of the polyphenylsulfone (PPSU) membrane reasonably improved, and its water contact angle was reduced from 82.8 to 70.9°. V2CT x nanosheet-embedded PPSU membrane exhibited an excellent pure water permeability of 247 L m-2 h-1, which was 266% elevated than the pristine PPSU membrane. The V2CT x -PPSU membrane revealed a good antifouling nature, thermal stability, and 98.5% removal of humic acid. The optimal membrane exhibited 96.6 and 82.02% expulsion of Reactive Black 5 (RB 5) dye and Reactive Orange 16 (RO 16) dye, respectively. The flux for RO 16 and RB 5 dyes and humic acid were remarkable with a value of 202.02, 161.61, and 141.41 L m-2 h-1, respectively. This work provides a new V2CT x -incorporated PPSU ultrafiltration membrane to effectively treat humic acid and dye wastewater.

Assessment of sealing efficacy, radiopacity, and surface topography of a bioinspired polymer for perforation repair.

Background: Root perforation repair presents a significant challenge in dentistry due to inherent limitations of existing materials. This study explored the potential of a novel polydopamine-based composite as a root repair material by evaluating its sealing efficacy, radiopacity, and surface topography. Methods: Confocal microscopy assessed sealing ability, comparing the polydopamine-based composite to the gold standard, mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Radiopacity was evaluated using the aluminium step wedge technique conforming to ISO standards. Surface roughness analysis utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM), while field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) visualized morphology. Results: The polydopamine-based composite exhibited significantly superior sealing efficacy compared to MTA (P < 0.001). Radiopacity reached 3 mm aluminium equivalent, exceeding minimum clinical requirements. AFM analysis revealed a smooth surface topography, and FESEM confirmed successful composite synthesis. Conclusion: This study demonstrates promising properties of the polydopamine-based composite for root perforation repair, including superior sealing efficacy, clinically relevant radiopacity, and smooth surface topography. Further investigation is warranted to assess its clinical viability and potential translation to endodontic practice.

Apprehensions and Optimism among Dental Professionals during the COVID-19 Pandemic-A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Evaluation.

Globally, the pandemic of the coronavirus disease, which started in Wuhan, China, has become a major issue for public health. The COVID-19 epidemic notably causes health professionals to experience significantly more emotional stress than the general populace. The present study proposes to investigate the fear aspect in dentists in the initiation of clinical practice during these times. An online cross-sectional study was conducted among dental practitioners based on a pre-validated questionnaire. The data were expressed as frequency and percentage analyzed using the chi-square test using SPSS version 25. The data was obtained from 271 participants, where clinical practice after the first wave was mostly by freelancers (p-value = 0.01); most of whom were married (p-value = 0.065); 19.1% attached to institutes did not have changes in earnings; 28.1% of private practitioners had less than 10% reduction in cases. A total of 62% of private practitioners are concerned about the vaccine's preventative effects (p-value = 0.026), and 57% of private practitioners worry about being sued for the delay in treatment (p-value = 0.036). Only 33.1% of employees in institutions worry that becoming sick could endanger their family. As dentists continue to work their way through this pandemic, these pressures only occasionally have an impact on them. According to the researchers, this is the first study that has captured the anxiety and apprehensions that dental practitioners experienced during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in India in April 2021. The study's findings demonstrate that the study population was generally upbeat and confident that they could quickly overcome their fear.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of dental students and practitioners during the early days of COVID-19 pandemic in India: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a major health problem and has affected innumerable people around the world. The current online-based study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of dental students and professionals during the early days of lockdown in India from 2 April to 1 May 2020. METHODOLOGY: An online-based cross-sectional study was undertaken through WhatsApp messenger and e-mail groups among dental students and professionals. The KAP on COVID-19 was ascertained using an investigator designed and validated questionnaire. The results were stratified based on student vs professionals. The data were expressed as frequency and percentage analysed using the chi-square/Fishers exact test using IBM version 17. A probability value of <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 287 complete responses from the dental students and professionals were received. The results indicated that the knowledge of both dental students and professionals were good and that the attitude and practice were in accordance with good clinical practice. No significant differences were found within the domains of KAP scores among the dental students and practitioners indicating that the study participants were abreast with the recent advances. CONCLUSION: The results of this study conducted during the early stage of the lockdown indicated that the dental students and professionals who had filled the questionnaire had very good knowledge of coronavirus and COVID-19. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of the study indicate that the volunteers had good knowledge, attitude and self-care practice, which are necessary in preventing the spread of COVID-19. It is anticipated that detailed hands-on training in practical aspects of good clinical practice with protective gears will help students and professionals perform the necessary dental procedures in accordance with the guidelines set by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization.