Endogenous and exogenous teeth whitening through gel-based bleaching hydrogen peroxide (35%) with the aid of silicon guide

The aim of this study is to demonstrate through a case report, a proposed treatment for discolored teeth, with and without pulp vitality, by the technique of external and internal tooth bleaching with hydrogen peroxide to 35% Lase Peroxide Sensy (DMC) using Whitening Lase II Device (DMC), and a silicone guide (3M ESPE) in the palatine portion of the upper teeth. In this clinical case, the patient had darkened dental elements 11 and 22, and dissatisfaction with the coloring of other elements. It was observed that the techniques used and the materials chosen allowed for an excellent aesthetic result, with technical simplicity and low cost, and minimal occurrence of signs and symptoms

Analysis of anticaries potential of pit and fissures sealants containing amorphous calcium phosphate using synchrotron microtomography

The aim of this study was to analyze the anticaries potential of pit and fissure sealants containing amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) by synchrotron microtomography. Bovine enamel blocks (4x4 mm; n=50) were selected through surface hardness (Knoop) analysis. Slabs were obtained through cross-sections taken 1 mm from the border of the enamel. Five indentations, spaced 100 mu m apart, were made 300 mu m from the border. Ten specimens were prepared for each tested material (Ultraseal XT plus TM, Aegis, Embrace, Vitremer and Experimental Sealant). The materials were randomly attached to the sectioned surfaces of the enamel blocks and fixed with sticky wax. The specimens were submitted to pH cycling. After that, the surface hardness (SH1) was determined, and the blocks were submitted to synchrotron microcomputed tomography analysis to calculate the mineral concentration (Delta g(HAp) cm(-3)) at different areas of the enamel. The comparison between the SH1 and DgHAp cm(-3) showed a correlation for all groups (r=0.840; p<0.001). The fluoride groups presented positive values of DgHAp cm(-3), indicating a mineral gain that was observed mainly in the outer part of the enamel. The ACP showed mineral loss in the outer enamel compared with fluoride groups, although it inhibited the demineralization in the deeper areas of enamel. The combination of two remineralizing agents (fluoride and ACP) was highly effective in preventing demineralization.

Electrical transport mechanisms and structure of hydrogenated and non-hydrogenated nanocrystalline Ga1-xMnxAs films

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

Foliar or soil applications of silicon alleviate water-deficit stress of potato plants

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

Electrical and Mechanical Properties of Post-annealed SiC(x)N(y) Films

Amorphous SiC(x)N(y) films have been deposited on (100) Si substrates by RF magnetron sputtering of a SiC target in a variable nitrogen-argon atmosphere. The as-deposited films were submitted to thermal anneling in a furnace under argon atmosphere at 1000 degrees C for 1 hour. Composition and structure of unannealed and annealed samples were investigated by RBS and FTIR. To study the electrical characteristics of SiC(x)N(y) films, Metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structures were fabricated. Elastic modulus and hardness of the films were determined by nanoindentation. The results of these studies showed that nitrogen content and thermal annealing affect the electrical, mechanical and structural properties of SiC(x)N(y) films.

Amorphous ZrF4-a molecular dynamics study

Using an effective two-body interaction potential, a molecular dynamics study of the structural properties of amorphous ZrF4 phase is presented. The effective pair potential includes steric repulsion, Coulomb interaction due to charge transfer, and charge-dipole interaction due to the large electronic polarizability of anions. The results for structural correlations, such as pair distribution functions, coordination numbers, and bond angle distributions are presented. Excellent agreement is obtained by comparing experimental X-ray diffraction and the simulated static X-ray structure factor. © 1993.

Optical parameters and crystallization of flash evaporated amorphous gallium antimonide films

Flash-evaporated GaSb films are analysed using a combination of optical, surface and x-ray diffraction techniques. The effects of thermal annealings on nearly stoichiometric GaSb films are studied.

A low-power silicon-on-insulator PWM discriminator for biomedical applications

A CMOS/SOI circuit to decode PWM signals is presented as part of a body-implanted neurostimulator for visual prosthesis. Since encoded data is the sole input to the circuit, the decoding technique is based on a double-integration concept and does not require dc filtering. Nonoverlapping control phases are internally derived from the incoming pulses and a fast-settling comparator ensures good discrimination accuracy in the megahertz range. The circuit was integrated on a 2 mu m single-metal SOI fabrication process and has an effective area of 2mm(2) Typically, the measured resolution of encoding parameter a was better than 10% at 6MHz and V-DD=3.3V. Stand-by consumption is around 340 mu W. Pulses with frequencies up to 15MHz and alpha = 10% can be discriminated for V-DD spanning from 2.3V to 3.3V. Such an excellent immunity to V-DD deviations meets a design specification with respect to inherent coupling losses on transmitting data and power by means of a transcutaneous link.

25 kHz amorphous core transformer for induction heating applications

The analysis of the feasibility and economics of amorphous core power transformers for induction heating applications in the field 10-50 kHz is developped. The results obtained on a 25 kHz-150 kVA concentric winding trial unit are presented. © 1990.

Amorphous calcium phosphate sealants: remineralization of carious lesions in the enamel can be achieved with use of pit-and-fissure sealants containing amorphous calcium phosphate

New pit-and-fissure sealants with the capacity to release calcium and phosphate because of the presence of ACP have been introduced into the dental marketplace. With the continuous introduction of new dental materials, it is important not only to research and confirm their properties, but also to propose modifications or associations that may contribute to their improvement.

Estudo da utilização de ferramentas a base de nitreto de silício (Si3N4) e alumina (Al2O3) na usinagem do ferro fundido vermicular

Machining is one of the most commonly manufacturing processes used in the modern world, consuming millions of dollars annually. Because of this, it is crucial for the automotive industry to reduce costs on their heat-resistant alloy machining processes, such as compacted graphite iron (CGI), which has shown an increasing trend of its application in diesel engine blocks, brakes disks, among other applications, due to its superior mechanical properties to gray cast iron. Despite this advantage, its use is still limited due to its difficulty of machining, moreover, cutting tools are displayed as the main factor in increasing the machining cost. Seeking an alternative to a better machinability of CGI, this paper aims to study two types of ceramic tools developed in Brazil, and benchmark their performance by dry turning. For this, were used CGI class 450 and two tools: ceramic of silicon nitride (Si3N4) and alumina-based (Al2O3), with a cutting speed (Vc) of 300, 400 and 500 m / min; feed (f) of 0.2 mm / rev and depth of cut (ap) of 0.5 mm, using three replicates and starting with new cutting edges. The results showed that the Al2O3 tool had the best performance in Vc of 500 m / min, while the Si3N4 tool had the best results in Vc of 300 m / min. This can be explained by the tool of Si3N4 based include soft intergranular phase, called amorphous, while alumina has higher abrasion resistance due to its high refractoriness. The results make it clear that the tools have significant potential for machining of compacted graphite iron, being necessary a strict control of the cutting parameters used

Growth and Characterization of Silicon Carbide Thin Films Using a Nontraditional Hollow Cathode Sputtering Technique

Silicon carbide (SiC) is considered a suitable candidate for high-power, high-frequency devices due to its wide bandgap, high breakdown field, and high electron mobility. It also has the unique ability to synthesize graphene on its surface by subliming Si during an annealing stage. The deposition of SiC is most often carried out using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques, but little research has been explored with respect to the sputtering of SiC. Investigations of the thin film depositions of SiC from pulse sputtering a hollow cathode SiC target are presented. Although there are many different polytypes of SiC, techniques are discussed that were used to identify the film polytype on both 4H-SiC substrates and Si substrates. Results are presented about the ability to incorporate Ge into the growing SiC films for the purpose of creating a possible heterojunction device with pure SiC. Efforts to synthesize graphene on these films are introduced and reasons for the inability to create it are discussed. Analysis mainly includes crystallographic and morphological studies about the deposited films and their quality using x-ray diffraction (XRD), reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and Raman spectroscopy. Optical and electrical properties are also discussed via ellipsometric modeling and resistivity measurements. The general interpretation of these analytical experiments indicates that the films are not single crystal. However, the majority of the films, which proved to be the 3C-SiC polytype, were grown in a highly ordered and highly textured manner on both (111) and (110) Si substrates.

Structural and Magnetic Properties of Neodymium - Iron - Boron Clusters

Using inert gas condensation techniques the properties of sputtered neodymium-iron-born clusters were investigated. A D.C. magnetron sputtering source created vaporous Nd-Fe-B which was then condensed into clusters and deposited onto silicon substrates. A composite target of Nd-Fe-B discs on an iron plate and a composite target of Nd-(Fe-Co)-B were utilized to create clusters. The clusters were coated with a carbon layer through R.F. sputtering to prevent oxidation. Samples were investigated in the TEM and showed a size distribution with an average particle diameter of 8.11 nm. The clusters, upon deposition, were amorphous as indicated by diffuse diffraction patterns obtained through SAD. The EDS showed compositionally a direct correlation in the ratio of rare-earth to transition metals between the target and deposited samples. The magnetic properties of the as-deposited clusters showed superparamagnetic properties at high temperatures and ferromagnetic properties at low temperatures; these properties are indicative of rare-earth transition metal amorphous clusters. Annealing of samples showed an initial increase in the coercivity. Samples were annealed in an inert gas atmosphere at 600o C for increasing amounts of time. The samples showed an initial increase in coercivity, but showed no additional increases with additional annealing time. SAD of annealed cluster samples showed the presence of Nd2Fe17 and a bcc-Nd phase. The bcc-Nd is the result of oxidation at high temperatures created during annealing and surface interface energy. The magnetic properties of the annealed samples showed weak coercivity and a saturation magnetization equivalent to that of Nd2Fe17. The annealed clusters showed a slight increase in coercivity at low temperatures. These results indicate a loss of boron during the sputtering process.

Estudo da utilização de ferramentas a base de nitreto de silício (Si3N4) e alumina (Al2O3) na usinagem do ferro fundido vermicular

Machining is one of the most commonly manufacturing processes used in the modern world, consuming millions of dollars annually. Because of this, it is crucial for the automotive industry to reduce costs on their heat-resistant alloy machining processes, such as compacted graphite iron (CGI), which has shown an increasing trend of its application in diesel engine blocks, brakes disks, among other applications, due to its superior mechanical properties to gray cast iron. Despite this advantage, its use is still limited due to its difficulty of machining, moreover, cutting tools are displayed as the main factor in increasing the machining cost. Seeking an alternative to a better machinability of CGI, this paper aims to study two types of ceramic tools developed in Brazil, and benchmark their performance by dry turning. For this, were used CGI class 450 and two tools: ceramic of silicon nitride (Si3N4) and alumina-based (Al2O3), with a cutting speed (Vc) of 300, 400 and 500 m / min; feed (f) of 0.2 mm / rev and depth of cut (ap) of 0.5 mm, using three replicates and starting with new cutting edges. The results showed that the Al2O3 tool had the best performance in Vc of 500 m / min, while the Si3N4 tool had the best results in Vc of 300 m / min. This can be explained by the tool of Si3N4 based include soft intergranular phase, called amorphous, while alumina has higher abrasion resistance due to its high refractoriness. The results make it clear that the tools have significant potential for machining of compacted graphite iron, being necessary a strict control of the cutting parameters used