Discussion on the limit cycles of the Lev Ginzburg equation by M. Bellamy and R.E. Mickens, Journal of Sound and Vibration 308 (2007) 337-342

The authors M. Bellamy and R.E. Mickens in the article "Hopf bifurcation analysis of the Lev Ginzburg equation" published in Journal of Sound and Vibration 308 (2007) 337-342, claimed that this differential equation in the plane can exhibit a limit cycle. Here we prove that the Lev Ginzburg differential equation has no limit cycles. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the shear bond strength of a composite resin in sound, demineralized and hypermineralized bovine dentin after irradiation with Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers, employing a self-etching adhesive system

Background and Objectives. The adhesion of dental materials is important for the success of treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the bond strength of a composite resin applied with a self-etching adhesive system in different dentins after irradiation with Er:YAG and Nd:YAG lasers, observing their morphologic pattern using Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM). Materials and Methods. The buccal surface of 72 bovine incisors was worn until exposure of medium depth dentin. The specimens were divided into three groups; GI: normal, GII: demineralized and GIII: hypermineralized dentin. These were also divided into two subgroups; A-irradiated for 30 s with Er:YAG laser in noncontact mode at 40 mJ and 6 Hz and B- irradiated for 30 s with Nd:YAG laser in contact mode at 60 mJ and 10 Hz. The adhesive system Clearfil SE. Bond (Kuraray) and composite resin Tetric Ceram (Vivadent) were applied on the irradiated area by the incremental technique. After storage for 24 h in distilled water at 37 degrees C, the specimens were submitted to the shear strength test in a universal testing machine (EMIC) at a crosshead speed of 1.0 mm/min. Other specimens were made to be analyzed by SEM. Results. The results were statistically analyzed by Analysis of Variance and the Tukey test. Regardless of the type of dentin, the bond strength of specimens irradiated with the Nd:YAG laser (8,94 +/- 2,07) was higher compared to specimens irradiated with the Er:YAG laser (7,03 +/- 2,47); the highest bond strength was obtained for the group of hypermineralized dentin irradiated with the Nd:YAG laser. The SEM analysis showed that the Er:YAG laser caused opening of tubules and the Nd:YAG laser produced areas of fusion as well as regions of opening of dentinal tubules. Conclusions. The dentin showed different morphological patterns and the laser promote alterations on their surfaces, influencing the bond strength of the composite resin. (C) 2010 Laser Institute of America.

Is it physically sound to add a topologically massive term to three-dimensional massive electromagnetic or gravitational models?

The addition of a topologically massive term to an admittedly nonunitary three-dimensional massive model, be it an electromagnetic system or a gravitational one, does not cure its nonunitarity. What about the enlargement of avowedly unitary massive models by way of a topologically massive term? the electromagnetic models remain unitary after the topological augmentation but, surprisingly enough, the gravitational ones have their unitarity spoiled. Here we analyze these issues and present the explanation why unitary massive gravitational models, unlike unitary massive electromagnetic ones, cannot coexist from the viewpoint of unitarity with topologically massive terms. We also discuss the novel features of the three-term effective field models that are gauge-invariant.

Anisotropic sound and shock waves in dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate

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

ZERO SOUND-VELOCITY IN PI, RHO-MESON GASES

Sharp transitions are perhaps absent in QCD, so that one looks for physical quantities which may reflect the phase change. One such quantity is the sound velocity which was shown in lattice theory to become zero at the transition point for pure glue. We show that even in a simple bag model the sound velocity goes to zero at temperature T = T(v) not-equal 0 and that the numerical value of this T(v) depends on the nature of the meson. The average thermal energy of mesons goes linearly with T near T(v), with much smaller slope for the pion. The T(v) - s can be connected with the Boltzmann temperatures obtained from transverse momentum spectrum of these mesons in heavy-ion collision at mid-rapidity. It would be interesting to check the presence of different T(v) - s in present day finite T lattice theory.

Relation between speaking space of the /s/ sound and freeway space in dentate and edentate subjects.

The purpose of this study is to assess the relation between the speaking space of the /s/ sound and the freeway space in two subject groups. One group had natural dentition (Group I, n = 61) and the other comprised complete denture wearers (Group II, n = 33). The analysis was done by means of a jaw-tracking device (K6-I Diagnostic System, Myotronics Research Inc., Seattle, WA, USA). Freeway space was determined by asking the subjects to occlude from the postural rest position. Speaking space of /s/ was measured during the pronunciation of the word seis and comprised the mean distance from the /s/ speaking position to maximal intercuspation. A weak correlation was found between the speaking space of /s/ and the freeway space in Group I (r = 0.41, p < 0.01), but in Group II, the correlation was stronger (r = 0.75, p < 0.01). The speaking space of /s/ and freeway space were different in Group I, but statistically similar in Group II (paired t-test, alpha = 0.05). It can be suggested that anatomic changes following prosthetic procedures caused a functional adaptation which resulted in more similar values for the speaking space of /s/ and the freeway space.

Observation of tags and hybrid layer of a single bottle conventional adhesive system and a self-etching adhesive system, on sound dentin.

This experimental light microscopy study investigated the formation of a hybrid layer and resin tags on sound dentin, after utilization of conventional and self-etching adhesive systems. After restorative procedures, the specimens were decalcified in a formic acid and sodium citrate solution, embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 6-microm thickness and stained by the Brown & Brenn method for analysis and measurement by light microscopy (AXIOPHOT) (400x). The results were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance, at a significance level of 5%. Based on the results, it could be concluded that the conventional adhesive allowed the formation of a thicker hybrid layer than the self-etching adhesive, with similar penetration into the dentinal tubules (resin tags).

A sound education: Becoming aware of the sound around us

In this article it is intended to discuss the issue of noise pollution from an unusual point of view: noise pollution is not only the result of sound increase worldwide, but, particularly, the poor quality of our listening habits in modern life as well. In contemporary society we are subject to a considerable amount of stimulus to all our senses: vision, scent, taste and hearing which are becoming more and more insensible due to over exposure in our environment. These increased stimuli make us look for alternatives to reduce our ability to perceive them and be protected from injuries. However, our sensitivity will also decrease. In the specific case of environment noise, over exposure has made us forget the enchantment of certain sounds that used to give us pleasure or evoke good feelings by many ways, making us recall certain good things, bringing particular moments of our lives to our memory or even filling us with strong emotion. The Canadian composer and music educator, R. Murray Schafer, believes that noise pollution is the result of a society who became deaf. Closing our ears to noise protect us from noise pollution but also prevent us from grasping subtleties of listening. Contemporary world does not help us to be aware of sound in the space around us; acquiring this hearing ability is a matter of focus, interest and practice. Sound education exercises are aimed at children, teenagers and adults who want to improve their listening ability to environmental sounds, perceive its proprieties and learn how sound affects us and touches our feelings. The results are easy to accomplish and contribute to our awareness of the sound environment around us and to the conception of the environmental sound as a composition made by everybody and everything through positive actions, strong will and high sensitivity. Copyright © (2011) by the International Institute of Acoustics & Vibration.

Effect of bleaching on sound enamel and with early artificial caries lesions using confocal laser microscopy

The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of bleaching agents on sound enamel (SE) and enamel with early artificial caries lesions (CL) using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Eighty blocks (4 × 5 × 5 mm) of bovine enamel were used and half of them were submitted to a pH cycling model to induce CL. Eight experimental groups were obtained from the treatments and mineralization level of the enamel (SE or CL) (n=10). SE groups: G1 - unbleached (control); G2 - 4% hydrogen peroxide (4 HP); G3 - 4 HP containing 0.05% Ca (Ca); G4 - 7.5% hydrogen peroxide (7.5 HP) containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP). CL groups: G5 - unbleached; G6 - 4 HP; G7 - 4 HP containing Ca; G8 - 7.5 HP ACP. G2, G3, G6, G7 were treated with the bleaching agents for 8 h/day during 14 days, while G4 and G8 were exposed to the bleaching agents for 30 min twice a day during 14 days. The enamel blocks were stained with 0.1 mM rhodamine B solution and the demineralization was quantified using fluorescence intensity detected by CLSM. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Fisher's tests (α=0.05). For the SE groups, the bleaching treatments increased significantly the demineralization area when compared with the unbleached group. In the CL groups, no statistically significant difference was observed (p>0.05). The addition of ACP or Ca in the composition of the whitening products did not overcome the effects caused by bleaching treatments on SE and neither was able to promote remineralization of CL.

Antidumping and countervailing duties in a Western Hemispheric free trade agreement

Includes bibliography

Laser ultrasonics system for measurement of speed of sound in gases

In this work we developed a setup to measure the speed of sound in gases using a laser ultrasonics system. The mentioned setup is an all optical system composed by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser to generate the sound waves, and a fiber optical microphone to detect them. The Nd:YAG provided a laser pulse of approximately 420 mJ energy and 9 ns of pulse width, at the wavelength of 1064 nm. The pulsed laser beam, focused by a positive lens, was used to generate an electrical breakdown (in the gas) which, in turn, generates an sound wave that traveled through a determined distance and reached the fiber optical microphone. The resulting signal was acquired in an oscilloscope and the time difference between the optical pulse and the arrival of the sound waves was used to calculate the speed of sound, since the distance was known. The system was initially tested to measure the speed of sound in air, at room pressure and temperature and it presented results in agreement with the theory, showing to be suitable to measure the speed of sound in gases. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.