Analysis of Apical Root Transportation Associated with Protaper Universal F3 and F4 Instruments by Using Digital Subtraction Radiography

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of apical root transportation after the use of Pro Taper Universal rotary files sizes 3 (F3) and 4 (F4). Methods: Instruments were worked to the apex of the original canal, always by the same operator. Digital subtraction radiography images were produced in buccolingual and mesiodistal projections. A total of 25 radiographs were taken from root canals of human maxillary first molars with curvatures varying from 23-31 degrees. Quantitative data were analyzed by intraclass correlation coefficient and Wilcoxon nonparametric test (P = .05). Results: Buccolingual images revealed a significantly higher degree of apical transportation associated with F4 instruments when compared with F3 instruments in relation to the original canal (Wilcoxon test, P = .007). No significant difference was observed in mesiodistal images (P = .492). Conclusions: F3 instruments should be used with care in curved canals, and F4 instruments should be avoided in apical third preparation of curved canals. (J Endod 2010;36:1052-1055)

An alternative genotyping method using dye-labeled universal primer to reduce unspecific amplifications

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Semantic categories in the indigenous languages of Brazil

This article investigates which semantic categories, as defined in Functional Discourse Grammar, formally manifest themselves in a sample of native languages of Brazil, and the extent to which the distribution of these manifestations across categories can be described systematically in terms of implicational hierarchies. The areas subjected to investigation are basic interrogative words, basic demonstrative words, and nominalization strategies.

Universal aspects of Efimov states and light halo nuclei

The parametric region in the plane defined by the ratios of the energies of the subsystems and the three-body ground state, in which Efimov states can exist, is determined. We use a renormalizable model that guarantees the general validity of our results in the context of short-range interactions. The experimental data for one-and two-neutron separation energies, implies that among the halo nuclei candidates, only 20C has a possible Efimov state, with an estimated energy less than 14 KeV below the scattering threshold.

Universal scaling in BCS superconductivity in three dimensions in non-s waves

The solutions of a renormalized BCS equation are studied in three space dimensions in s, p and d waves for finite-range separable potentials in the weak to medium coupling region. In the weak-coupling limit, the present BCS model yields a small coherence length ξ and a large critical temperature, T c, appropriate for some high-T c materials. The BCS gap, T c, ξ and specific heat C s(T c) as a function of zero-temperature condensation energy are found to exhibit potential-independent universal scalings. The entropy, specific heat, spin susceptibility and penetration depth as a function of temperature exhibit universal scaling below T c in p and d waves.

Methods and tools for encoding the WordNet.Br sentences, concept glosses, and conceptual-semantic relations

This paper presents the overall methodology that has been used to encode both the Brazilian Portuguese WordNet (WordNet.Br) standard language-independent conceptual-semantic relations (hyponymy, co-hyponymy, meronymy, cause, and entailment) and the so-called cross-lingual conceptual-semantic relations between different wordnets. Accordingly, after contextualizing the project and outlining the current lexical database structure and statistics, it describes the WordNet.Br editing GUI that was designed to aid the linguist in carrying out the tasks of building synsets, selecting sample sentences from corpora, writing synset concept glosses, and encoding both language-independent conceptual-semantic relations and cross-lingual conceptual-semantic relations between WordNet.Br and Princeton WordNet © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2006.

Genetic vaccine for tuberculosis (pVAXhsp65) primes neonate mice for a strong immune response at the adult stage

Background: Vaccination of neonates is generally difficult due to the immaturity of the immune system and consequent higher susceptibility to tolerance induction. Genetic immunization has been described as an alternative to trigger a stronger immune response in neonates, including significant Th1 polarization. In this investigation we analysed the potential use of a genetic vaccine containing the heat shock protein (hsp65) from Mycobacterium leprae (pVAXhsp65) against tuberculosis (TB) in neonate mice. Aspects as antigen production, genomic integration and immunogenicity were evaluated. Methods: Hsp65 message and genomic integration were evaluated by RT-PCR and Southern blot, respectively. Immunogenicity of pVAXhsp65 alone or combined with BCG was analysed by specific induction of antibodies and cytokines, both quantified by ELISA. Results: This DNA vaccine was transcribed by muscular cells of neonate mice without integration into the cellular genome. Even though this vaccine was not strongly immunogenic when entirely administered (three doses) during early animal's life, it was not tolerogenic. In addition, pVAXhsp65 and BCG were equally able to prime newborn mice for a strong and mixed immune response (Th1 + Th2) to pVAXhsp65 boosters administered later, at the adult life. Conclusion: These results suggest that pVAXhsp65 can be safely used as a priming stimulus in neonate animals in prime-boost similar strategies to control TB. However, priming with BCG or pVAXhsp65, directed the ensuing immune response triggered by an heterologous or homologous booster, to a mixed Th1/Th2 pattern of response. Measures as introduction of IL-12 or GM-CSF genes in the vaccine construct or even IL-4 neutralization, are probably required to increase the priming towards Th1 polarization to ensure control of tuberculosis infection. © 2007 Pelizon et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Universal conductance for the Anderson model

We discuss the thermal dependence of the zero-bias electrical conductance for a quantum dot embedded in a quantum wire, or side-coupled to it. In the Kondo regime, the temperature-dependent conductances map linearly onto the conductance for the symmetric Anderson Hamiltonian. The mapping fits accurately numerical renormalization-group results for the conductance in each geometry. In the side-coupled geometry, the conductance is markedly affected by a gate potential applied to the wire; in the embedded geometry, it is not. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.

Dental arches multi-projection system with semantic descriptions

This paper presents the development of an multi-projection stereoscopic dental arches application with semantic descriptions. The first section presents the concepts of the used technologies. Applications and examples are demonstrated. Finally, is presented the physical structure and the developed system, where a 3D dental arch is used as a model and can be viewed in multi-projection, thereby, providing greater user's immersion. ©2010 IEEE.

Halo nuclei in a three-body model and universal characteristics of low-energy few-body systems

Within general characteristics of low-energy few-body systems, we revise some well-known correlations found in nuclear physics, and the properties of low-mass halo nuclei in a three-body neutron-neutron-core model. In this context, near the critical conditions for the occurrence of an Efimov state, we report some results obtained for the neutron- 19C elastic scattering. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

Conceptual spaces and consciousness: Integrating cognitive and affective processes

In the book Conceptual Spaces: the Geometry of Thought [2000] Peter Gärdenfors proposes a new framework for cognitive science. Complementary to symbolic and subsymbolic [connectionist] descriptions, conceptual spaces are semantic structures constructed from empirical data representing the universe of mental states. We argue that Gärdenfors' modeling can be used in consciousness research to describe the phenomenal conscious world, its elements and their intrinsic relations. The conceptual space approach affords the construction of a universal state space of human consciousness, where all possible kinds of human conscious states could be mapped. Starting from this approach, we discuss the inclusion of feelings and emotions in conceptual spaces, and their relation to perceptual and cognitive states. Current debate on integration of affect/emotion and perception/cognition allows three possible descriptive alternatives: emotion resulting from basic cognition; cognition resulting from basic emotion, and both as relatively independent functions integrated by brain mechanisms. Finding a solution for this issue is an important step in any attempt of successful modeling of natural or artificial consciousness. After making a brief review of proposals in this area, we summarize the essentials of a new model of consciousness based on neuro-astroglial interactions. © 2011 World Scientific Publishing Company.

3D semantic models for dental education

This paper explores the benefits of using immersive and interactive virtual reality environments to teach Dentistry. We present a tool for educators to manipulate and edit virtual models. One of the main contributions is that multimedia information can be semantically associated with parts of the model, through an ontology, enriching the experience; for example, videos can be linked to each tooth demonstrating how to extract them. The use of semantic information gives a greater flexibility to the models, since filters can be applied to create temporary models that show subsets of the original data in a human friendly way. We also explain how the software was written to run in arbitrary multi-projection environments. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.

FTMOntology: An ontology to fill the semantic gap between music, mood, personality, and human physiology

This paper presents a domain ontology, the FeelingTheMusic Ontology - FTMOntology. FTMOntology is designed to represent the complex domain of music and how it relates to other domains like mood, personality and physiology. This includes representing the main concepts and relations of music domain with each of the above-mentioned domains. The concepts and relations between music, mood, personality and physiology. The main contribution of this work is to model and relate these different domains in a consistent ontology. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.

Architecture for peer-to-peer databases with routing queries using ant colony algorithm and semantic support

In a peer-to-peer network, the nodes interact with each other by sharing resources, services and information. Many applications have been developed using such networks, being a class of such applications are peer-to-peer databases. The peer-to-peer databases systems allow the sharing of unstructured data, being able to integrate data from several sources, without the need of large investments, because they are used existing repositories. However, the high flexibility and dynamicity of networks the network, as well as the absence of a centralized management of information, becomes complex the process of locating information among various participants in the network. In this context, this paper presents original contributions by a proposed architecture for a routing system that uses the Ant Colony algorithm to optimize the search for desired information supported by ontologies to add semantics to shared data, enabling integration among heterogeneous databases and the while seeking to reduce the message traffic on the network without causing losses in the amount of responses, confirmed by the improve of 22.5% in this amount. © 2011 IEEE.