Adhesives with different pHs: Effect on the MTBS of chemically activated and light-activated composites to human dentin

Purpose: To evaluate the bond strength between human dentin and composites, using two light-activated single-bottle total-etch adhesive systems with different pHs combined with chemically activated and light-activated-composites. The tested hypothesis was that the dentin bond strength is not influenced by an adhesive system of low pH, combined with chemically activated or light-activated composites. Material and Method: Flat dentin surfaces of twenty-eight human third molars were allocated in 4 groups (n=7), depending on the adhesive system: (One Step Plus-OS and Prime & Bond NT-PB) and composite (light-activated Filtek Z-100 [Z100] and chemically activated Bisfil 2B [B2B]). Each adhesive system was applied on acid-etched dentin and then one of the composites was added to form a 5 mm-high resin block. The specimens were stored in tap water (37 degrees C/24 h) and sectioned into two axes, x and y. This was done with a diamond disk under coolant irrigation to obtain beams with a cross-section area of approximately 0.8 mm(2). Each specimen was then attached to a custom-made device and submitted to the microtensile test (1 mm.min(-1)). Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's tests (p<0.05). Results: the anticipated hypothesis was not confirmed (p<0.0001). The bond strengths (MPa) were not statistically different between the two adhesive systems when light-activated composite was used (OS+Z100 = 24.7 +/- 7.1(a); PB+Z100 = 23.8 +/- 5.7(a)). However, with use of the chemically activated composite (B2B), PB (7.8 +/- 3.6(b) MPa) showed significantly lower dentin bond strengths than OS (32.2 +/- 7.6(a)). Conclusion: the low pH of the adhesive system can affect the bond of chemically activated composite to dentin. on the other hand, under the present conditions, the low pH did not seem to affect the bond of light-activated composites to dentin significantly.

Measurement of phase differences between the diffracted orders of deep relief gratings

Measurement of the phase difference between the 0th and the 1st transmitted diffraction orders of a symmetrical surface-relief grating recorded on a photoresist film is carried out by replacement of the grating in the same setup with which it was recorded. The measurement does not depend on lateral shifts of the replaced grating relative to the interference pattern, on environmental phase perturbations or on the wave-front quality of the interfering beams. The experimental data agree rather well with theoretical results calculated for sinusoidal profiled gratings. (C) 2003 Optical Society of America.

Relief grating induced by photo-expansion in Ga-Ge-S and Ga-Ge-As-S glasses

We report the fabrication of relief diffraction gratings recorded on a surface of photosensitive Ga10Ge25S65 and Ga5Ge25As5S65 glasses by means of interference of two UV laser beams at 351 nm. The diffraction efficiency (eta) of first diffraction order was measured. Atomic-force-microscope (AFM) was used to perform a 3D imaging analysis of the sample surface topography that shows the superposition of an imprinted grating over the topography of the glass. The change in the absorption edge and the refractive index has been evaluated and a structural approach of the relief grating on the glass surface has been discussed.

Strong and fast phase modulation for quantitative analysis of photorefractive gratings

A new approach for studying photorefractive gratings in two-wave mixing experiments by a phase modulation technique is presented. The introduction of a large-amplitude, high-frequency sinusoidal phase modulation in one of the input beams blurs the interference pattern and provides powerful harmonic signals for accurate measurements of the grating diffraction efficiency eta and the output phase shift rho between the transmitted and diffracted waves. The blurring of the light fringes can be used to suppress the higher spatial harmonics of the grating, allowing a space-charge field with sinusoidal profile to be recorded. Although the presence of such a strong phase modulation affects the beam coupling in a rather complicated way, it is shown that for the special case of equal intensity input beams, the effect of the phase modulation on eta and rho is reduced to a weakening of the coupling strength. The potentialities of the technique are illustrated in a study of refractive-index waves excited by running interference patterns in a Bi12TiO20 crystal. Expressions for the diffraction efficiency and the output phase shift are derived and used to match numerically calculated curves to the experimental data. The theoretical model is supported by the very good data fitting and allows the computation of important material parameters.

Light-induced relief gratings and a mechanism of metastable light-induced expansion in chalcogenide glasses

We report on a metastable light-induced volume expansion in Ge25+xGa10-xS65 glasses under irradiation with band gap (UV) light, which can result in recording of relief gratings on their surface in the case of irradiation with two interfering beams. We propose a mechanism for the expansion, which is based on the light-induced change in the polarizability of secondary (van der Waals type) bonds and the effect of this change on primary (covalent type) bonds of the glass. The effect is suggested to be due to an interference of electrons, which belong to a chalcogen atom and participate in the formation of secondary and primary bonds, respectively. We suggest that a minimum point of the Lennard-Jones potential, which corresponds to the equilibrium position of a chalcogen atom is shifted in the course of irradiation to a larger interatomic distance. This shift causes a volume expansion and allows a diffusion of chalcogen atoms into the irradiated area. We show that light-induced polymerization of the glass network is an important attribute of the light-induced volume expansion.

Single-exposure, photorefractive holographic surface contouring with multiwavelength diode lasers

We studied the use of multiwavelength diode lasers for surface profilometry through holographic recording in sillenite Bi(12)TiO(20) crystals. When such lasers are used, the holographic image from single-exposure recordings appears covered with interference fringes providing information on the surface relief of the object. By taking advantage of the narrow interference fringes due to the multiwavelength emission of the laser, we obtained interferograms by holographic recording with two reference beams, which improves the surface analysis by visual inspection and enhances the profilometry sensitivity. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.

Adhesive performance of dentin bonding agents applied in vivo and in vitro. Effect of intrapulpal pressure and dentin depth

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of intrapulpal pressure and dentin depth on bond strengths of an etch-and-rinse and a self-etching bonding agent to dentin in vitro and in vivo. Twenty-four pairs of premolars were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6) according to the dentin bonding agent, Single Bond and Clearfil SE Bond, and intrapulpal pressure, null or positive. Each tooth of the pair was further designated to be treated in vivo or in vitro. The intrapulpal pressure was controlled in vivo by the delivery of local anesthetics containing or not a vasoconstrictor, while in vitro, it was achieved by keeping the teeth under hydrostatic pressure. Class I cavities were prepared and the dentin bonding agents were applied followed by incremental resin restoration. For the teeth treated in vitro, the same restorative procedures were performed after a 6 month-storage period. Beams with I mm 2 cross-sectional area were prepared and, microtensile tested. Clearfil SE Bond was not influenced by any of the variables of the study, while bond strengths produced in vitro were significatly higher for Single Bond. Overall, lower bond strengths were produced in deep dentin, which reached statistical significance when Single Bond was applied under physiological or simulated intrapulpal pressure. In conclusion, in vitro bonding may overestimate the immediate adhesive performance of more technique-sensitive dentin bonding systems. The impact of intrapulpal pressure on bond strength seems to be more adhesive dependent than dentin morphological characteristics related to depth. (C) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Progress on holographic techniques to measure real-time phase and amplitude gratings in photosensitive materials

In this paper we present and demonstrate a technique that allows simultaneous and independent measurement of small changes in the refractive index and the absorption coefficient produced in photosensitive materials during holographic exposure. The technique is based on the synchronous detection of two-wave mixing signals in both directions of the transmitted interfering beams. By processing both signals it is possible to separate the diffraction contributions of the refractive index from the absorption coefficient and simultaneously stabilize the incident fringe pattern. The demonstration of this technique is undertaken by following the temporal evolution of the phase and amplitude modulations in photoresist films. To check the ability of the technique to perform numeric evaluations, for a positive photoresist the changes in the optical constants were measured and compared with those obtained using independent methods.

Multiple active levels in Bi12TiO20 crystals

The existence of multiple active levels in a photorefractive Bi12TiO20 crystal is here investigated at 514.5nm wavelength. We carry out two-wave mixing experiments using symmetrically incident beams of equal intensities. A large amplitude fast phase modulation in one of the beams reduces the fringes visibility and improves the detection of the generated frequency modulated signals in both (R and S) output directions. Diffraction efficiencies of the phase (photorefractive) and the absorption (photochromic) gratings are quantitatively computed as functions of the grating period. Results show that the absorption grating has two distinct components: one associated to the photorefractive trap density modulation and another related to local light-induced effects between different levels. The photorefractive grating was also investigated at 633nm and 594nm (besides 514.5nm) and a significant quenching of the photorefractive effect was observed at these wavelengths.

Analysis of the topography of a Bragg grating in chalcogenide glass

Relief Bragg gratings were recorded on the surface of Ga-Ge-S glass samples by interference of two UV laser beams at 351 nm, Scanning force microscopy was used to perform a 3D image analysis of the resulting surface topography, which shows the superposition of an imprinted grating over the base topography of the glass. An important question regarding the efficiency of the grating is to determine to what extent the base topography reduces the intended coherent scattering of the grating because of its stochastic character. To answer this question we separated both base and grating structures by Fourier filtering, examined both spatial frequency and roughness, and determined the correlation. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Linear analysis of building floor structures by a BEM formulation based on Reissner's theory

In this work, the plate bending formulation of the boundary element method (BEM) based on the Reissner's hypothesis is extended to the analysis of zoned plates in order to model a building floor structure. In the proposed formulation each sub-region defines a beam or a slab and depending on the way the sub-regions are represented, one can have two different types of analysis. In the simple bending problem all sub-regions are defined by their middle surface. on the other hand, for the coupled stretching-bending problem all sub-regions are referred to a chosen reference surface, therefore eccentricity effects are taken into account. Equilibrium and compatibility conditions are automatically imposed by the integral equations, which treat this composed structure as a single body. The bending and stretching values defined on the interfaces are approximated along the beam width, reducing therefore the number of degrees of freedom. Then, in the proposed model the set of equations is written in terms of the problem values on the beam axis and on the external boundary without beams. Finally some numerical examples are presented to show the accuracy of the proposed model.

Simulação do comportamento não linear de materiais quase-frágeis via elementos finitos com fissura embebida

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparison of SRIM, MCNPX and GEANT simulations with experimental data for thick Al absorbers

Proton computerized tomography deals with relatively thick targets like the human head or trunk. In this case precise analytical calculation of the proton final energy is a rather complicated task, thus the Monte Carlo simulation stands out as a solution. We used the GEANT4.8.2 code to calculate the proton final energy spectra after passing a thick Al absorber and compared it with the same conditions of the experimental data. The ICRU49, Ziegler85 and Ziegler2000 models from the low energy extension pack were used. The results were also compared with the SRIM2008 and MCNPX2.4 simulations, and with solutions of the Boltzmann transport equation in the Fokker-Planck approximation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of proton energy loss in thick absorbers in terms of a reduced calibration curve

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Denisiuk-type reflection holography display with sillenite crystals for imaging and interferometry of small objects

A novel setup for imaging and interferometry through reflection holography with Bi12TiPO20(BTO) sillenite photorefractive crystals is proposed. A variation of the lensless Denisiuk arrangement was developed resulting in a compact, robust and simple interferometer. A red He-Ne laser was used as light source and the holographic recording occurred by diffusion with the grating vector parallel to the crystal [0 0 1]-axis. In order to enhance the holographic image quality and reduce noise a polarizing beam splitter (PBS) was positioned at the BTO input and the crystal was tilted around the [0 0 1]-axis. This enabled the orthogonally polarized transmission and diffracted beams to be separated by the PBS, providing the holographic image only. The possibility of performing deformation and strain analysis as well as vibration measurement of small objects was demonstrated. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.