pH, Calcium Ion Release, and Setting Time of an Experimental Mineral Trioxide Aggregate-based Root Canal Sealer

Introduction: An experimental mineral trioxide aggregate sealer (MTAS) has been developed for use as a root canal sealer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the setting time, pH, and calcium ion release of MTAS compared with white Portland cement (CPB-40; Votorantin Cimentos, Camargo Correa SA, Pedro Leopoldo, MG, Brazil), white MTA Angelus (MTA; Angelus, Londrina, PR, Brazil), and AH Plus (Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany). Methods: For the evaluation of setting time, each material was analyzed using Gilmore-type needles. Polyethylene tubes with the materials were immersed in distilled water for the measurement of pH (digital pH meter) and calcium release (atomic absorption spectrophotometry). The evaluations were performed at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours and 7, 14, and 28 days. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and the Tukey test at 5% significance level. Results: MTAS showed higher calcium release at all experimental periods, a greater increase in pH up to 48 hours and the longest setting time. Conclusions: MTAS presented favorable properties for its indication as a root canal sealer. (J Endod 2011;37:844-846)

A Case Study: The Effect of Visitors on Two Captive Pumas With Respect to the Time of the Day

This study analyzed the effects of noise levels and number of visitors on the behaviors of a mother puma and her daughter in a zoo environment with respect to the time of day. The study monitored visitation (noise and number) over two 1-week periods (4 weeks between periods) and frequency of various puma behaviors (videorecorded). The study analyzed videotaped behavior of the pumas based on the time of day and visitors number and noise levels. There was a direct association of puma behaviors with visitors number and noise levels. The daughter puma was the most affected and behavioral changes of both pumas correlated more strongly with the noise level than the number of visitors. The noise level and number of visitors affected the behavior of the mother and her daughter only in the morning. The results of this study indicate that both noise level and number of visitors affected these pumas but revealed the noise as predominant. Moreover, the response of these pumas to visitors depended on the time of the day.

Advantages of using nested collision induced dissociation/post-source decay with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry: sequencing of novel peptides from wasp venom

We have examined the applicability of the 'nested' collision induced dissociation/post-source decay (CID/PSD) method to the sequencing of novel peptides from solitary wasps which have neurotoxic venom for paralyzing other insects. The CID/PSD spectrum of a ladder peptide derived from an exopeptidase digest was compared with that of the intact peptide. The mass peaks observed only in the CID/PSD spectrum of a ladder peptide were extracted as C-terminal fragment ions. Assignment of C-terminal fragment ions enabled calculation of N-terminal fragment masses, leading to differentiation between N-terminal fragment ions and internal fragment ions. This methodology allowed rapid and sensitive identification by removing ambiguity in the assignment of the fragment ions, and proved useful for sequencing unknown peptides, in particular those available as natural products with a limited supply. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of topical application of juvenile hormone (JH) in honeybee worker larvae on the development of the Dufour's and Koschewnikow's glands

In order to investigate the action of the juvenile hormone (JH) on honeybee caste differentiation two exocrine glands, Koschewnikow and Dufour glands, were chosen for study. Two combs (I & II) were taken from a single posture of a queen to use for this research. In comb I the larvae were treated with a topical application of JH in Acetone, and those from the comb II (control group) received only Acetone. Immediately after the emergence of the workers, their glands were dissected and prepared for microscopic measurements. The results showed cell area reduction in the Koschewnikow gland induced by the JH application. The results for the Dufour gland displayed taller epithelial cells with the JH application. The difference in glandular responses to the JH relates to gland function, hormone targets, and individual homeostasis.

Influence of nitrogen source and sucrose concentration on inulinase production by Kluyveromyces marxianus in fed-batch fermentation

This work studied the influence of nitrogen source and sucrose concentration in the feeding medium for biomass and inulinase production by Kluyveromyces marxianus var. bulgaricus. The results show that the best nitrogen source was a combination of 5 g/L of yeast extract and 10 g/L of peptone. Both cellular growth and enzymatic activity increased with sucrose concentration in the feeding medium (from 200 to 500 g/L). When the sucrose concentration reached 600 g/L, both cellular growth and enzymatic activity decreased.

Very high gravity sucrose fermentation by Brazilian industrial yeast strains: effect of nitrogen supplementation

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

Optimization of incubation time of protein Tc85 in the construction of biosensor: Is the EIS a good tool?

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

Penetration time of Salmonella Heidelberg through shells of white and brown commercial eggs

This study aimed at determining the minimum time required for the penetration of Salmonella Heidelberg inside the eggs after contact with contaminated material. Recently-collected brown and white eggs from laying hens between 45-50 weeks of age, reared in a commercial poultry house, were artificially contaminated by contact with wood shavings moistened with liquid inoculum of Salmonella Heidelberg in stationary-growth phase (10³-10(4) CFU g-1). According to type (white or brown), eggs were distributed into three different groups, with four replicates each: negative control group (no artificial contamination), positive control group (analyzed externally immediately after contamination and internally after the maximum storage period of the test group) and test group. Eggs were stored at controlled environmental temperature varying from 25ºC to 30ºC. In the test group, eggs contents (yolk and albumen) were pooled and analyzed after 1:00, 1:30, 2:00, 2:30, 3:00, 3:30, and 4:00 hours after contamination for the presence of Salmonella Heidelberg in 25g of this pool. The experimental unit consisted of five eggs in each test. The analysis protocol included pre-enrichment, selective enrichment, plating on selective agar, and biochemical and serological tests. The results obtained were submitted to logistic regression, which indicated that the presence of Salmonella Heidelberg was verified after 2:16 h and 2:44 h of contact with white and brown eggs, respectively.

The importance of excretion by Chironomus larvae on the internal loads of nitrogen and phosphorus in a small eutrophic urban reservoir

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

Determination of the probable ontogenic time of action of lethal factors on the second chromosome of Drosophila melanogaster derived from a natural population

From the study of the genetic load of second chromosome factors in a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster, 15 lethal-bearing strains were recovered and maintained in the laboratory balanced against Ins (2L + 2R), Cy, L-4. For each lethal factor, the probable time of action during development was determined by the appearance of a sharp reduction, at any given stage, in the frequency of individuals compared to that expected in the absence of the lethal factor. Carried out in this way, the analysis suggested that seven were embryonic lethals, two larval lethals and three pupal lethals. Additionally, three gave no evidence of affecting any of the above-mentioned stages; these are interpreted as gametic lethals.

Plasma immersion ion implantation of nitrogen into H13 steel under moderate temperatures

Ion implantation of nitrogen into samples of tempered and quenched H13 steel was carried out by plasma immersion technique. A glow discharge plasma of nitrogen species was the ion source and the negative high voltage pulser provided 10-12 kV, 60 mu s duration and 1.0-2.0 kHz frequency, flat voltage pulses. The temperatures of the samples remained between 300 and 450 degrees C, sustained solely by the ion bombardment. In some of the discharges, we used a N-2 + H-2 gas mixture with 1:1 ratio. PIII treatments as long as 3, 6, 9 and up to 12 h were carried out to achieve as thickest treated layer as possible, and we were able to reach over 20 mu m treated layers, as a result of ion implantation and thermal (and possibly radiation enhanced) diffusion. The nitrogen depth profiles were obtained by GDOS (Glow Discharge Optical Spectroscopy) and the exact composition profiles by AES (Auger Electron Spectroscopy). The hardness of the treated surface was increased by more than 250%, reaching 18.8 GPa. No white layer was seen in this case. A hardness profile was obtained which corroborated a deep hardened layer, confirming the high efficacy of the moderate temperature PIII treatment of steels. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of two methods of CaCl2 application and concentrations used to maintain passion fruit firmness

This is a report on the influence of the methods of postharvest application of CaCl2 in several concentrations, on the maintenance of the firmness of the sweet passion fruit (Passiflora alata Dryander). The fruits, picked in the pre-climateric stage, were selected desinfection with thiabendazol and submitted to CaCl2 in concentrations of 0% (control), 1%, 2%, 3% or 4% with two methods: immersion (for 2 h) and infiltration under vacuum and pressure (- 25 vacuum kPa, for 1 minute and, + 25 pressure kPa, for 1 min). All fruits were stored under refrigeration (9 degreesC, 85-90% RH), for 30 d. The fruits were evaluated for texture every 3 d. From the results, it is concluded that application of CaCl2 by infiltration favored the maintenance of fruit consistency during the first 18 days of storage. Fruits treated with 1% and 2% of CaCl2 were firmer than the others.