Influence of different types of non-resorbable suture material on the healing of extraction wounds--a histological study in rats.

The influence of different non-resorbable suture materials on the healing of tooth extraction wounds was examined in 120 adult male albino rats. Nylon gave the best biological results for healing of the mucosa and dental socket. Silk and cotton produced considerable delay of socket healing. Healing was only mildly delayed by polyester suture, with a short moderate inflammatory reaction at the initial stage.

Osseous regeneration in the presence of fibrin adhesive material (Tissucol) and epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA).

The effects of Tissucol and Tissucol/EACA on bone healing were evaluated histologically. Experimental defects were made in both tibias of 25 rats. Test materials were placed in defects in right tibias and left tibias served as control. Five animals in each group were killed at 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after surgery. Results showed that: a) Tissucol did not interfere with connective and osseous tissue formation; b) Tissucol allowed new bone formation; c) Tissue residues in Tissucol groups in sections of 21-day specimens did not impair healing; d) Tissucol/EACA was usually completely resorbed and healing was complete 21 days after surgery in the Tissucol/EACA group.

Expanded food choice as a possible factor in the evolution of sociality of Vespidae (Hymenoptera)

A recent theory suggests that economic considerations are more important than genetic ones in the emergence and maintenance of social behavior. Evolution of social behavior in wasps, thus, could be based on the development of worker castes, which increase the efficiency of brood care and energy use of the colony. If so, social wasps should collect a larger range of prey, favoring polyethism, as social behavior should increase the adaptive value of social species among wasps by increasing the range of prey accessible. We explored the literature and showed that the Eumeninae, which are mostly solitary, draw prey from significantly fewer orders of arthropods than wasps in the subfamily Vespinae and Polistinae, which are mainly social, supporting the hypothesis that social behavior may have emerged as a more efficient way to feed and care for the young by opening a wider range of food sources, increasing the amount of food and quality of care provided to the young. Two alternative explanations of this data are also discussed.

Gelatinous polyethylene in the treatment of the anophthalmic cavity

PURPOSE: Gelatinous polyethylene (GP) has been used as an orbital implant to evaluate volume maintenance and tissue reaction in the anophthalmic socket in a rabbit model. METHODS: Twenty-eight Norfolk white rabbits underwent unilateral evisceration with placement of 2ml GP (GP group - 16 animals) or 2ml 0.9% sodium chloride solution (Control group - 12 animals). Animal behavior, postoperative tissue response and socket conditions were evaluated. The animals were sacrificed at 7, 15, 30 and 60 days after the surgery and the bulbs were enucleated; volume maintenance and histopathological evaluation were done in the enucleated bulbs. The results were submitted to statistical analysis. RESULTS: All animals showed normal behavior. The orbital volume maintenance was better in the GP group. Histopathology in the GP animals showed mild tissue inflammation throughout the evaluation period and a thin pseudocapsule formation surrounding the orbital implant material. CONCLUSION: The clinical findings, good orbital volume maintenance and mild inflammatory tissue response make GP a good choice to replace the lack of volume in anophthalmic socket reconstruction.

Cytogenetic evidence for de novo synthesis of rRNA and involvement of nucleolar material in the organization of cell structures during spermiogenesis of Chariesterus armatus (Heteroptera, Coreidae).

The nucleolar material of Chariesterus armatus was analyzed during spermiogenesis in cell preparations impregnated with silver nitrate. Nucleolar corpuscles were observed in spermatids at the beginning of the process, showing that this organoid is also maintained after meiosis. In addition, nucleoli were seen in the round spermatids connected to the X-chromosome (bearer of the nucleolar organizer in C. armatus), indicating de novo synthesis of nucleolar material. This differs from the reorganization of ribosomal granules, transported from meiotic spermatocytes to round spermatids, where they would support protein synthesis, which is reported for other species. We also observed connections of nucleolar corpuscles to the nuclear membrane regions where the tail and the acrosome will be formed, suggesting close involvement of the nucleolar material in the formation of these structures. In addition to the nucleolar bodies, we detected silver-positive structures, which will require new approaches to clarify their role. One of these structures, observed in the cytoplasm, appears to correspond to the chromatoid body, which has been found in several organisms, but is still poorly understood; another is a complex structure to which the tail appears to be connected. We conclude that C. armatus is an appropriate model for understanding not only the synthesis of rRNA in the spermiogenesis, but also the functional meaning of the close relationship of nucleolar material with other structures during this process.

Production of an axial piston: Impacts resulting from the substitution of steel by a polymer-based material

The substitution of steel as a raw material in the production of axial pistons for pressure washers by polyphthalamide, polytetrafluoroethylene and glass fiber-based composite was studied. The new production process with composite consists of only two steps, while the production of the steel piston is to comprise of thirteen steps. This replacement would result in an estimated reduction of 80% of water consumption, 83% of electricity consumption, 73% of the total cost and 88% of the final mass. With regard to the main mechanical properties required for the end product, the composite was found to withstand the critical axial loads and it shows acceptable wear resistance in an environment without lubrication, an additional advantage of this replacement. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Low tungsten content of nanostructured material supported on carbon for the degradation of phenol

A comparative study using different mass proportions of WO3/C (1%, 5%, 10% and 15%) for H2O2 electrogeneration and subsequent phenol degradation was performed. To include the influence of the carbon substrate and the preparation methods, all synthesis parameters were evaluated. The WO3/C materials were prepared by a modified polymeric precursor method (PPM) and the sol-gel method (SGM) on Vulcan XC 72R and Printex L6 carbon supports, verifying the most efficient metal/carbon proportion. The materials were physically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques. The XRD and the XPS techniques identified just one phase containing WO3 and elevated oxygen concentration on carbon with the presence of WO3. The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), studied by the rotating ring-disk electrode technique, showed that WO3/C material with the lowest tungsten content (1% WO3/C), supported on Vulcan XC 72R and prepared by SGM, was the most promising electrocatalyst for H2O2 electrogeneration. This material was then analyzed using a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) and 585mgL-1 of H2O2 was produced in acid media. This GDE was employed as a working electrode in an electrochemical cell to promote phenol degradation by an advanced oxidative process. The most efficient method applied was the photo-electro-Fenton; this method allowed for 65% degradation and 11% mineralization of phenol during a 2-h period. Following 12h of exhaustive electrolysis using the photo-electro-Fenton method, the total degradation of phenol was observed after 4h and the mineralization of phenol approached 75% after 12h. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

The role of superstructure material on the stress distribution in mandibular full-arch implant-supported fixed dentures. A CT-based 3D-FEA

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

Analysis of the Stresses in Corrugated Sheets under Bending

This paper presents three different numerical models for the evaluation of the stresses in corrugated sheets under bending. Regarding the numerical simulations different approaches can be considered, i.e., a elastic linear analysis or a physical nonlinear analysis, that considers criteria to fail for the sheet material. Moreover, the construction of the finite element mesh can be used shell elements or solid elements. The choice of each finite element must be made from the consideration of their representativity before behavior to be simulated. Thus, the numerical modelling in this manuscript was performed from the three-dimensional models using the SAP2000Nonlinear software, version 7.42, which has as base the finite elements method (FEM). It was considered shell elements in the build the mesh of finite elements and an analysis of type elastic linear in this case. Five mm thick sheets were evaluated considering three different longitudinal dimensions (spans), i.e., 1100 mm, 1530 mm and 1830 mm. The applied load to the models was 2500 N/m and it was verified that the spans of support of sheets have a significant influence on the results of stresses. The sheets with larger spans present larger stresses for the same applied load. The most intense values of tension occur in the troughs (low waves) of the sheets, on the lower surface, while the most intense values of compression occur in the crests (high waves), on the upper surface of the sheet. The flanks, which are the parts among the troughs and crests of the sheets, are submitted to low levels of stresses. The numeric results of the stresses showed a good agreement with the results obtained from other researchers(3) and these results can be used to predict the behavior of corrugated sheets under bending.

The effect of biomass immobilization support material and bed porosity on hydrogen production in an upflow anaerobic packed-bed bioreactor

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

Effectiveness of ProTaper retreatment system associated with organic solvents in the removal of root canal filling material

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of ProTaper universal retreatment system in the removal of root canal filling material with thermomechanical compaction, in comparison to manualmechanical technique, associated with orange oil or eucalyptol. Materials and methods: Forty extracted lower incisors were filled with thermomechanical compaction technique. After 3 years, the root canal filling was removed by: G1 - manualmechanical technique with orange oil; G2 - manual-mechanical technique with eucalyptol; G3 - ProTaper universal retreatment system with orange oil and G4 - ProTaper universal retreatment system with eucalyptol. In sequence, all root canals were instrumented to F5 instrument. The teeth were longitudinally grooved, images of buccal half were obtained in stereomicroscope and covered area by root canal filling material was measured using image tool software, in cervical, middle and apical radicular thirds. The results were subjected ANOVA and Tukey test (p = 0.05). Results: In all thirds, the manual-mechanical technique showed lower presence of root canal filling material on root canal dentin in comparison to ProTaper retreatment universal system, regardless of organic solvent used (p < 0.05). There is no difference between organic solvents in removal root canal filling material (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The ProTaper universal retreatment system showed lower effectiveness in removal root canal filling material than manual-mechanical technique, regardless of organic solvents (orange oil or eucalyptol oil) used. Clinical significance: Recently rotary instruments have been proposed to removal of root canal filling material. However, there are no studies evaluating its effectiveness in removal root canal filling material in association with orange oil or eucalyptol oil.

Homogeneity of the geochemical reference material BRP-1 (paranábasin basalt) and assessment of minimum mass

Reference materials (RM) are required for quantitative analyses and their successful use is associated with the degree of homogeneity, and the traceability and confidence limits of the values established by characterisation. During the production of a RM, the chemical characterisation can only commence after it has been demonstrated that the material has the required level of homogeneity. Here we describe the preparation of BRP-1, a proposed geochemical reference material, and the results of the tests to evaluate its degree of homogeneity between and within bottles. BRP-1 is the first of two geochemical RM being produced by Brazilian institutions in collaboration with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and the International Association of Geoanalysts (IAG). Two test portions of twenty bottles of BRP-1 were analysed by wavelength dispersive-XRF spectrometry and major, minor and eighteen trace elements were determined. The results show that for most of the investigated elements, the units of BRP-1 were homogeneous at conditions approximately three times more rigorous than those strived for by the test of sufficient homogeneity. Furthermore, the within bottle homogeneity of BRP-1 was evaluated using small beam (1 mm(2)) synchrotron radiation XRF spectrometry and, for comparison, the USGS reference materials BCR-2 and GSP-2 were also evaluated. From our data, it has been possible to assign representative minimum masses for some major constituents (1 mg) and for some trace elements (1-13 mg), except Zr in GSP-2, for which test portions of 74 mg are recommended.