Autopilot? A reflexive review of the piloting process in qualitative e-research

Purpose: This paper examines an oft-neglected aspect of qualitative research practice – conducting a pilot – using the innovative approach of ‘e-research’ to generate both practical and methodological insights. Approach: Using the authors’ ‘e-research’ pilot as a reflexive case study, key methodological issues are critically reviewed. This review is set in a broader context of the qualitative methods literature in which piloting appears largely as an implicit practice. Using a new and emerging approach (‘e-research’) provides a prompt to review our ‘autopilot’ tendencies and offers a new lens for analysing research practice. Findings: We find that despite an initial focus on ‘practical’ aspects of data collection within our ‘e-research’, the pilot opened up a range of areas for further consideration. We review research ethics, collaborative research practices and data management issues specifically for e-research but also reflect more broadly on potential implications for piloting within other research designs. Practical implications: We aim to offer both practical and methodological insights for qualitative researchers, whatever their methodological orientation, so that they might develop approaches for piloting that are appropriate to their own research endeavours. More specifically, we offer tentative guidance to those venturing into the emerging area of ‘e-research’. Value: This paper offers insight into an oft-ignored aspect of qualitative research, whilst also engaging in emerging area of methodological interest

First results of systematic studies done with different types of Silicon Photomultipliers

The presented results are obtained during the first steps taken in order to develop a setup and measurement procedures which allow to compare properties of diverse kinds of silicon photomultipliers. The response to low-intensity light was studied for silicon photomultipliers produced by CPTA (Russia), Hamamatsu (Japan), ITC-irst (Italy) and SensL (Ireland).Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, proceedings of the Internationa Linear Collider Workshop LCWS2007, Hamburg, German

Moving an incisor across the midline: A treatment alternative in an adolescent patient

A 13-year-old sought treatment for a severely compromised maxillary left central incisor and an impacted fully developed left canine. Extraction of both teeth became necessary. As the key component of the revised comprehensive treatment plan, the right maxillary central incisor was moved into the position of the left central incisor. All other maxillary teeth were moved mesially to close any gaps. Active orthodontic treatment was completed after 34 months. Frenectomy, minor periodontal surgeries, and bonded lingual retainers were used to improve aesthetics and stabilize the tooth positions. The patient was pleased with the treatment outcome. Cone-beam computed tomography provided evidence that the tooth movement was accompanied by a deviation of the most anterior portion of the median palatine suture. This observation may make relapse more likely if long-term retention cannot be ensured. Root resorption was not observed as a consequence of the major tooth movement. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2011;139:533-43