Composite surfaces after finishing and polishing techniques

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of finishing and polishing techniques on surface roughness of resin-based composites (RBCs). Materials and Methods: Forty specimens of each material were cured under Mylar strips and immersed in artificial saliva for 1 wk. Samples were tested with a profilometer to obtain baseline average surface roughness (Ra). Specimens of both RBCs were then finished and polished according to four techniques: (1) Sof-Lex disks; (2) Sof-Lex disks followed by Prisma Gloss; (3) Enhance points; (4) Enhance points followed by Prisma Gloss application. New readings of the roughness pattern were carried out and the difference of post-polishing and baseline values were analyzed. Results: ANOVA test (alpha= 0.05) did not show differences between materials (P= 0.9393) nor interaction effects (P= 0.3094), but significant difference among the finishing/polishing techniques were detected (P= 0.0157). Tukey's test showed that the smoothest surface was obtained when the specimens were treated by Sof-Lex followed by Prosma Gloss polishing paste; and the worst results were obtained after using Enhance points alone.

Surfactin reduces the adhesion of food-borne pathogenic bacteria to solid surfaces

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Constructions of algebraic lattices

In this work we present constructions of algebraic lattices in Euclidean space with optimal center density in dimensions 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 12, which are rotated versions of the lattices Λn, for n = 2,3,4,6,8 and K12. These algebraic lattices are constructed through twisted canonical homomorphism via ideals of a ring of algebraic integers. Mathematical subject classification: 18B35, 94A15, 20H10.

Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Adhesion on Composite Resin Surfaces After Different Finishing and Polishing Techniques

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

On the algebraic K theory of the massive D8 and M9-branes

In this paper we review some basic relations of algebraic K theory and we formulate them in the language of D-branes. Then we study the relation between the D8-branes wrapped on an orientable, compact manifold W in a massive Type IIA, supergravity background and the M9-branes wrapped on a compact manifold Z in a massive d = 11 supergravity background from the K-theoretic point of view. By interpreting the D8-brane charges as elements of K-0(C(W)) and the (inequivalent classes of) spaces of gauge fields on the M9-branes as the elements of K-0(C(Z) x ((k) over bar*) G) where G is a one-dimensional compact group, a connection between charges and gauge fields is argued to exists. This connection could be realized as a composition map between the corresponding algebraic K theory groups.

Spacetime algebraic skeleton

The cosmological constant is shown to have an algebraic meaning: it is essentially an eigenvalue of a Casimir invariant of the Lorentz group acting on the spaces tangent to every spacetime. This is found in the context of de Sitter spacetimes, for which the Einstein equation is a relation between operators. Nevertheless, the result brings, to the foreground the skeleton algebraic structure underlying the geometry of general physical spacetimes. which differ from one another by the fleshening of that structure by different tetrad fields.

Solitons from dressing in an algebraic approach to the constrained KP hierarchy

The algebraic matrix hierarchy approach based on affine Lie sl(n) algebras leads to a variety of 1 + 1 soliton equations. By varying the rank of the underlying sl(n) algebra as well as its gradation in the affine setting, one encompasses the set of the soliton equations of the constrained KP hierarchy.The soliton solutions are then obtained as elements of the orbits of the dressing transformations constructed in terms of representations of the vertex operators of the affine sl(n) algebras realized in the unconventional gradations. Such soliton solutions exhibit non-trivial dependence on the KdV (odd) time flows and KP (odd and even) time Bows which distinguishes them From the conventional structure of the Darboux-Backlund-Wronskian solutions of the constrained KP hierarchy.

Algebraic properties of Rogers-Szego functions: I. Applications in quantum optics

By means of a well-established algebraic framework, Rogers-Szego functions associated with a circular geometry in the complex plane are introduced in the context of q-special functions, and their properties are discussed in detail. The eigenfunctions related to the coherent and phase states emerge from this formalism as infinite expansions of Rogers-Szego functions, the coefficients being determined through proper eigenvalue equations in each situation. Furthermore, a complementary study on the Robertson-Schrodinger and symmetrical uncertainty relations for the cosine, sine and nondeformed number operators is also conducted, corroborating, in this way, certain features of q-deformed coherent states.

Glacially striated, soft sediment surfaces on late Paleozoic tillite at São Luiz do Purunã, PR

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

Hydroxyapatite deposition study through polymeric process on commercially pure Ti surfaces modified by laser beam irradiation

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Investigations on the stability of plasma modified silicone surfaces

In this work it was investigated the effect of the exposure to different plasmas on the wettability of silicone samples. We have observed that oxygen. argon, and hydrogen glow discharges are quite effective in reducing the water contact angle of such polymer. However, indifferently to efficiency of the treatment, practically all the modified surfaces recovered great part of their original hydrophobicity. We have investigated this hydrophobic recovery using surface energy measurements and theoretical simulations based on the exponential decay of the population of polar groups on the surface. According to our results such recovery can be attributed to the decrease of polar species at the interface water-polymer surface.

Characterization of electrodes chemically modified with Mn(III) porphyrin/polypyrrole films as catalytic surfaces for an azo dye

In this study we describe the electrochemical behavior of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2'-aminophenylporphyrin)manganese(III) chloride supported on a glassy carbon electrode, as well as the electrochemical preparation and characterization of thin films based on pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid. The electrocatalytic action of the electrode modified with the Mn(III) porphyrin toward an azo dye was tested, and the characteristic strong interaction between the incorporated metalloporphyrin and RR120 dye was verified. Copyright (c) 2006 Society of Porphyrins & Phthalocyanines.