Effects of intrapulpal temperature change induced by visible light units on the metabolism of odontoblast-like cells

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

Fuzzy distributed artificial intelligence systems

In this paper, we introduce a DAI approach called hereinafter Fuzzy Distributed Artificial Intelligence (FDAI). Through the use of fuzzy logic, we have been able to develop mechanisms that we feel may effectively improve current DAI systems, giving much more flexibility and providing the subsidies which a formal theory can bring. The appropriateness of the FDAI approach is explored in an important application, a fuzzy distributed traffic-light control system, where we have been able to aggregate and study several issues concerned with fuzzy and distributed artificial intelligence. We also present a number of current research directions necessary to develop the FDAI approach more fully.

Preferência por substratos escuros no C. auratus: influência das condições de luz no alojamento

Pós-graduação em Psicologia do Desenvolvimento e Aprendizagem - FC

Correspondência de cor de diferentes marcas e sistemas de resina c omposta em relação à escala vita classical

The objective of this study was to compare different resins and determine their matching color with Vita shade, also investigating the possibility of substitution among them and the correlation between the visual and spectrophotometry methods of color selection. The composite resin Tetric N-Ceram® shade A1 was used as light-control and color A4 as dark-control. For each material were prepared five 10 x 2 mm disks. Analyses were performed in a metamerism box by volunteers who ordered the specimens from the lightest to the darkest. The spectrophotometry was carried out using the spectrophotometer Vita Easyshade®. ∆E values were subjected to analysis of variance with 5% significance level. The Fisher exact test showed that there was no color match among the materials and the reference Vita shade. The possibility of substitution among the composites could not be established. The two methods are able to correctly differentiate the control resin A4 as distinct from the other resins shade A2.

Chemiluminescence as a PDT light source for microbial control

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

Control of nonlinear absorption and amplification of light in Er3+-doped fluoroindate glass

Nonlinear absorption and amplification of a probe laser beam can be controlled by adjustment of the intensity-modulation frequency and the wavelength of a pump laser beam. A demonstration of this effect in Er3+-doped fluoroindate glass is presented. The results show maximum amplification of the probe beam (∼12%) when a pump laser emitting 16 mW of power is modulated at ∼30 Hz. In the limit of low modulation frequencies, or cw pumping, induced absorption of the probe beam is the dominant nonlinear process. © 1999 Optical Society of America.

Control of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis in laying hens by inactivated Salmonella Enteritidis vaccines

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

Improving photoprotection of Beauveria bassiana conidia for biological control of the cactus pest Dactylopius opuntiae in the semiarid region northeast of Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mechanism and control of Genipa americana seed germination

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The dorsal raphe nucleus exerts opposed control on generalized anxiety and panic-related defensive responses in rats

It has been proposed that the ascending dorsal raphe (DR)-serotonergic (5-HT) pathway facilitates conditioned avoidance responses to potential or distal threat, while the DR-periventricular 5-HT pathway inhibits unconditioned flight reactions to proximal danger. Dysfunction on these pathways would be, respectively, related to generalized anxiety (GAD) and panic disorder (PD). To investigate this hypothesis, we microinjected into the rat DR the benzodiazepine inverse receptor agonist FG 7142, the 5-HT1A receptor agonist 8-OH-DPAT or the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol. Animals were evaluated in the elevated T-maze (ETM) and light/dark transition test. These models generate defensive responses that have been related to GAD and PD. Experiments were also conducted in the ETM 14 days after the selective lesion of DR serotonergic neurons by 5,7-dihydroxytriptamine (DHT). In all cases, rats were pre-exposed to one of the open arms of the ETM 1 day before testing. The results showed that FG 7142 facilitated inhibitory avoidance, an anxiogenic effect, while impairing one-way escape, an anxiolytic effect. 8-OH-DPAT, muscimol, and 5,7-DHT-induced lesions acted in the opposite direction, impairing inhibitory avoidance while facilitating one-way escape from the open arm. In the light/dark transition, 8-OH-DPAT and muscimol increased the time spent in the lighted compartment, an anxiolytic effect. The data supports the view that distinct DR-5-HT pathways regulate neural mechanisms underlying GAD and PD. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Digital Light Microscopy of Macroporous Ceramics Processed by Consolidation Casting with Mixtures of Native Starches

Porosity in starch consolidation casting technique is rightly related to original size and morphology of starch granules, leaving a pore structure after burning out. This work reports the results for the addition of different native potato and corn starch proportions in suspension,; with TiO(2) (rutile) powder. Gelling temperature have been defined after observation under light microscopy using a heating stage. Analysis of porous network and isolated pores have been clone from images of samples surfaces obtained by depth from focus reconstruction, revealing a qualitative correlation of pores characteristics and starches additions in suspensions, suggesting that the presence of isolated or interconnected pores can be handled by starches selection to control the amylopectin and amylose contents in slurries. Also, the analysis of porous fraction distribution shows no consistent pattern through specimens' volume according to starches in mixtures.

Heterodyne Interferometry Applied to the Characterization of Acousto-Electro-Optic Light Modulators

When the electro-optic and acousto-optic effects are combined into a single device, the resulting acousto-electro-optic (AEO) modulator shows improved flexibility to overcome some limitations of the individual modulators or their cascade combinations. By using optical interferometry, it is possible to investigate the AEO modulator behavior as a function of this applied voltage. By this way, a lithium niobate AEO modulator is positioned in one of the arms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer and operates at 62 MHz frequency, which constitutes the intermediate frequency of the heterodyne interferometer. Operating the AEO modulator in the acousto-optic small diffraction efficiency regime, the photodetected signal amplitude and phase are analyzed, and the induced phase shift, transmission curve and linearity response are obtained. The experimental results show good agreement with that expected from the coupled-mode theory. The possibility of linear control of the optical phase shift by the external voltage, from 0 to 2 p radians, is demonstrated.

Evaluation of Rat Alveolar Bone Response to Angelus MTA or Experimental Light-cured Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Using Fluorochromes

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rat alveolar bone response after the implantation of experimental light-cured mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or Angelus MTA (Angelus, Londrina, Parana, Brazil) by histological and fluorescence analysis. Methods: Thirty Wistar Albino rats were divided into three groups. In the control group, empty polyethylene tubes were inserted into the rat alveolar sockets immediately after extraction. In the other groups, the tubes were filled with light-cured MTA or Angelus MTA. Five animals from each group were injected with calcein on day 7, alizarin on day 14, and oxytetracycline on day 21. on day 30, these animals were killed, and the right hemimaxillas were removed and histologically processed. Half of the maxillas were processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The remaining maxillas were processed for fluorescence analysis and stained with Stevenel blue and alizarin red. New bone was histomorphometrically evaluated using a Merz grid. Results: The light-cured MTA presented a similar response when compared with Angelus MTA; it was characterized by a mild inflammatory response and complete bone healing. In the light-cured MTA group, the fluorescence areas were more evident at 21 days, showing an increase in bone formation. However, dystrophic mineralization was observed only with Angelus MTA. Conclusions: It was concluded that both materials present a similar inflammatory response and bone healing, but dystrophic mineralization was observed only with Angelus MTA. (J Endod 2011;37:250-254)

Effects of light-curing time on the cytotoxicity of a restorative composite resin on odontoblast-like cells

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

Cytotoxicity of resin-based light-cured liners

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)