MNDO theoretical study of ethanol decomposition process on SnO2 surfaces

An MNDO study has been carried out to analyze the decomposition process of the ethanol molecule on a SnO2 surface. A (SnO2)(7) (110) model has been selected to represent the surface. The decomposition process has been monitored by selection of a hydrogen-alpha-carbon distance of the ethanol molecule as reaction coordinate, This minimum energy pro file shows a maximum of 186 kJ mol(-1), and in the transition state there is a transfer of hydrogen-alpha-carbon to the SnO2 surface. There is also the interaction between the alcohol hydroxyls and the two oxygens of the oxide.

Microleakage and nanoleakage: Influence of laser in cavity preparation and dentin pretreatment

Objective: the purpose of this study was to verify if the application of the Nd:YAG laser following pretreatment of dentin with adhesive systems that were not light cured in class V cavities and were prepared with Er:YAG laser would promote better sealing of the gingival margins when compared to cavities prepared the conventional way. Background Data: Previous studies had shown that the pretreatment of dentin with laser irradiation after the application of an adhesive system is efficient in achieving higher shear bond and tensile bond strength. Materials and Methods: Er:YAG laser (Kavo-Key, Germany) with 350 mJ, 4 Hz, and 116.7 J/cm(2) was used for cavity preparation. The conventional preparation was made with diamond bur mounted in high-speed turbine. Dentin treatment was accomplished using an Nd:YAG laser (Pulse Master 1000, ADT. USA) at 60 mJ, 10 Hz, and 74.65/cm(2) following application of the adhesive system. The cavities were stored with Single Bond/Z100 and Prime & Bond NT/TPH. Eighty bovine incisors were used, and class V preparations were done at buccal and lingual surfaces divided into eight groups: (1) Er:YAG preparation + Prime & Bond NT + TPH; (2) Er:YAG preparation + Single Bond + Z100; (3) Er:YAG preparation + Single Bond + Nd:YAG + Z100; (4) Er:YAG preparation + Prime & Bond NT + Nd:YAG + TPH; (5) conventional preparation + Prime & Bond NT + TPH; (6) conventional preparation + Single Bond + Z100; (7) conventional preparation + Single Bond + Nd:YAG + Z100; (8) conventional preparation + Prime & Bond NT + Nd:YAG + TPH. All specimens were thermocycled for 300 full cycles between 5 degreesC +/- 2 degreesC and 55 degreesC +/- 2 degreesC (dwell time of 30 sec), and stored in 50% silver nitrate solution for 24 h soaked in photodeveloping solution and exposed to fluorescent light for 6 h. After this procedure, the specimens were sectioned longitudinally in 3 portions and the extension of microleakage at the gingival wall was determined following a criteria ranging from 0 to 4 using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The medium portion sectioned of each specimen was polished and prepared for nanoleakage avaliation by SEM. Results: Kruskall-Wallis and Miller statistical tests determined that group 3 presented less microleakage and nanoleakage. Conclusion: Application of the Nd:YAG laser following pretreatment of dentin with adhesive Single Bond non-photocured Single Bond adhesive in cavities prepared with Er:YAG promote better sealing of the gingival margins.

Role of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis cell wall fraction containing beta-glucan in tumor necrosis factor-alpha production by human monocytes: correlation with fungicidal activity

The polysaccharide fraction of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis mycelial cell wall (F1 fraction), the active component of which is composed of beta-glucan, was investigated in regard to the activation of human monocytes for fungal killing. The cells were primed with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) or F1 (100 and 200 mug ml(-1)) or F1 (100 and 200 mug ml(-1)) plus IFN-gamma for 24 h and then evaluated for H2O2 release. In other experiments, the cells were pretreated with the same stimuli, challenged with a virulent strain of P. brasiliensis and evaluated for fungicidal activity and levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) in the supernatants. F1 increased the levels of H2O2 in a similar manner to IFN-gamma. However, a synergistic effect between these two activators was not detected. on the contrary, a significant fungicidal activity was only obtained after priming with IFN-gamma plus F1. This higher activity was associated with high levels of TNF-alpha in the supernatants of the cocultures. Overall, P. brasiliensis F1 fraction induced human monocytes to release relatively high levels of TNF-alpha, which, in combination with IFN-gamma, is responsible for the activation of human monocytes for effective killing of P. brasiliensis.

Presence of wall-devoid micro-organisms in hypopharyngeal glands of forager bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

The occurrence of mycoplasma-like bodies in the axial duct and intracellular canaliculli from hypopharyngeal glands of bees (Meliponinae and Apinae) is described. Since they are not found within cells and due to the absence of cellular alterations in the infected glands it is suggested that micro-organisms are not pathogenic to the bees.

Composite occlusal surfaces for acrylic resin denture teeth

Acrylic resin denture teeth often exhibit rapid occlusal wear, which may lead to a loss of chewing efficiency and a loss of vertical dimension of occlusion. The use of metal occlusal surfaces on the acrylic resin denture teeth will minimize occlusal wear. Several articles have described methods to construct metal occlusal surfaces; however, these methods are time-consuming, costly, and sometimes considered to be unesthetic. These methods also require that the patient be without the prosthesis for the time necessary to perform the laboratory procedures. This article presents a quick, simple, and relatively inexpensive procedure for construction of composite occlusal surfaces on complete and partial dentures.

Electronic and structural properties of the (10(1)over-bar0) and (11(2)over-bar0) ZnO surfaces

The structural and electronic properties of ZnO (10 (1) over bar0) and (11 (2) over bar0) surfaces were investigated by means of density functional theory applied to periodic calculations at B3LYP level. The stability and relaxation effects for both surfaces were analyzed. The electronic and energy band properties were discussed on the basis of band structure as well as density of states. There is a significant relaxation in the (10 (1) over bar0) as compared to the (11 (2) over bar0) terminated surfaces. The calculated direct gap is 3.09, 2.85, and 3.09 eV for bulk, (10 (1) over bar0), and (11 (2) over bar0) surfaces, respectively. The band structures for both surfaces are very similar.

Density functional theory study on the structural and electronic properties of low index rutile surfaces for TiO2/SnO2/TiO2 and SnO2/TiO2/SnO2 composite systems

The present study is concerned with the structural and electronic properties of the TiO2/SnO2/TiO2 and SnO2/TiO2/SnO2 composite systems. Periodic quantum mechanical method with density functional theory at the B3LYP level has been carried out. Relaxed surface energies, structural characteristics and electronic properties of the (I 10), (0 10), (10 1) and (00) low-index rutile surfaces for TiO2/SnO2/TiO2 and SnO2/TiO2/SnO2 models are studied. For, comparison purposes, the bare rutile TiO2 and SnO2 structures are also analyzed and compared with previous theoretical and experimental data. The calculated surface energy for both rutile TiO2 and SnO2 surfaces follows the sequence (110) < (010) < (101) < (001) and the energy increases as (010) < (101) < (110) < (001) and (010) approximate to (110) < (101) < (001) for SnO2/TiO2/SnO2 and TiO2/SnO2/TiO2 composite systems, respectively. SnO2/TiO2/SnO2 presents larger values of surface energy than the individual SnO2 and TiO2 metal oxides and the TiO2/SnO2/TiO2 system renders surface energy values of the same order that the TiO2 and lower than the SnO2. An analysis of the electronic structure of the TiO2/SnO2/TiO2 and SnO2/TiO2/SnO2 systems shows that the main characteristics of the upper part of the valence bands for all the studied surfaces are dominated by the external layers, i.e., by the TiO2 and the SnO2, respectively, and the topology of the lower part of the conduction bands looks like the core layers. There is an energy stabilization of both valence band top and conduction band bottom for (110) and (010) surfaces of the SnO2/TiO2/SnO2 composite system in relation to their core TiO2, whereas an opposite trend is found for the same surfaces of the TiO2/SnO2/TiO2 composite system in relation to the bare SnO2. The present theoretical results may explain the growth of TiO2@SnO2 bimorph composite nanotape.

Effect of temperature on glass-ceramic films prepared by impregnation of commercial float glass surfaces with oxide powders under pressure

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Apatite coatings onto titanium surfaces submitted to laser ablation with different energy densities

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Structural characterization of the cell wall D-glucans isolated from the mycelium of Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05

Three D-glucans were isolated from the mycelium of the fungus Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 by sequential extraction with hot-water and hot aqueous KOH (2% w/v) followed by ethanol precipitation. Following their purification by gel permeation chrornatography on Sepharose CL-4B, the structural characteristics of the D-glucans were determined by FT-IR and C-13 NMR spectroscopy and, after methylation, by GC-MS. The hot-water extract produced a fraction designated Q(1A) that was a beta-(1 -> 6)-D-glucan with the following structure:[GRAPHICS]The alkaline extract, when subjected to repeated freeze-thawing, yielded two fractions: KIP (insoluble) that comprised a beta-(1 -> 3)-D-glucan with beta-D-glucose branches at C-6 with the structure:[GRAPHICS]and K1SA (soluble) consisting of a backbone chain of alpha-(1 -> 4)-linked D-glucopyranosyl residues substituted at O-6 with alpha-D-glucopyranosyl residues:[GRAPHICS](c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nanomechanical properties of glass-ceramic films obtained by pressure impregnation of oxide powders on commercial float glass surfaces

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

In Vitro Evaluation of ICDAS and Radiographic Examination of Occlusal Surfaces and Their Association With Treatment Decisions

This in vitro study evaluated the performance of visual (International Caries Detection and Assessment System [ICDAS]) and radiographic (bitewing [BW]) examinations for occlusal caries detection and their associations with treatment decision (TD). Permanent teeth (n=104) with occlusal surfaces varying from sound to cavitated were selected. Sites were identified from 10x occlusal surface photographs. Standardized bitewing (BW) radiographs were taken. Four dentists with at least five years of experience scored all teeth twice (one-week interval) for ICDAS (0-6), BW (0=sound, 1=caries restricted to enamel, 2=caries in outer third dentin, 3=caries in inner third dentin), and TD (0=no treatment, 1=sealant, 2=microabrasion and sealant, 3=round bur sealant, 4a=resin, 4b=amalgam). Histological validation was performed by observation under a light microscope, with lesions classified on a five-point scale. Intraexaminer and inter-examiner repeatability were assessed using two-way tables and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Comparisons between percentage correct, specificity, sensitivity, and area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve were performed using bootstrap analyses. ICCs for intraexaminer and interexaminer repeatability indicated good repeatability for each examiner, ranging from 0.78 to 0.88, and among examiners, ranging from 0.74 to 0.81. Correlation between ICDAS and TD was 0.85 and between BW and TD was 0.78. Correlation between the methods and histological scores was moderate (0.63 for ICDAS and 0.61 for BW). The area under the ROC curve was significantly greater for ICDAS than for BW (p<0.0001). ICDAS had significantly lower specificity than BW did (p=0.0269, 79% vs 94%); however, sensitivity was much higher for ICDAS than for BW (p<0.0001, 83% vs 44%). Data from this investigation suggested that the visual examination (ICDAS) showed better performance than radiographic examination for occlusal caries detection. The ICDAS was strongly associated with TD. Although the correlation between the ICDAS and BW was lower, it is still valuable in the clinical decision-making process.