Effect of fluoride-treated enamel on indirect cytotoxicity of a16% carbamide peroxide bleaching gel to pulp cells

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of fluoride solutions applied to enamel to protect pulp cells against the trans-enamel and transdentinal cytotoxicity of a 16% carbamide peroxide (CP) bleaching gel. The CP gel was applied to enamel/ dentin discs adapted to artificial pulp chambers (8 h/day) during 1, 7 or 14 days, followed by fluoride (0.05% or 0.2%) application for 1 min. The extracts (culture medium in contact with dentin) were applied to MDPC-23 cells for 1 h, and cell metabolism (MTT assay), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and cell membrane damage (flow cytometry) were analyzed. Knoop microhardness of enamel was also evaluated. Data were analyzed statistically by ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests (a=0.05). For the MTT assay and ALP activity, significant reductions between the control and the bleached groups were observed (p<0.05). No statistically significant difference occurred among bleached groups (p>0.05), regardless of fluoride application or treatment days. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated 30% of cell membrane damage in all bleached groups. After 14 days of treatment, the fluoride-treated enamel presented significantly higher microhardness values than the bleached-only group (p<0.05). It was concluded that, regardless of the increase in enamel hardness due to the application of fluoride solutions, the treated enamel surface did not prevent the toxic effects caused by the 16% CP gel to odontoblast-like cells.

Periodicity in a delayed version of the kaldor trade cycle model

We are concerned with the Kaldor's trade cycle model under the effect of a delay which represents a gestation lag between a decision of investment and its effect on the capital stock. Taking the adjustment coefficient in the goods market as a bifurcation parameter, we achieve global branches of periodic solutions. In our setting the delay is a constant inherent to the specific economy. Copyright © 2013 Watam Press.

In vitro activity of pineapple extracts (Ananas comosus, Bromeliaceae) on Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Measures to control the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, based only on chemical products are becoming unsustainable, mainly because of the development of resistance. The objective of this study was to test the effect of the aqueous extract of pineapple skin (AEPS) and bromelain extracted from the stem (Sigma-Aldrich®, B4882) on engorged females and larvae of R. (B.) microplus in vitro. These substances were diluted in water and evaluated at eight concentrations. Engorged females were collected and distributed in groups of 10, with three repetitions for each treatment. After immersion in the solutions, the females were placed in an incubator for observation of survival, oviposition and larval hatching. The larval packet method was used, also with three repetitions with about 100 larvae each. The packets were incubated and the readings were performed after 24h. The estimated reproduction and efficacy of the solutions were calculated. The LC50 and LC90 were estimated using the Probit procedure of the SAS program. The eight concentrations were compared within each treatment by the Tukey test. For the experiment with engorged females, the most effective concentrations were 125, 250 and 500mg/mL: 33%, 48% and 59% for the AEPS and 27%, 51% and 55% for the bromelain. The LC50 and LC90 values were, respectively, 276 and 8691mg/mL for AEPS and 373 and 5172mg/mL for bromelain. None of the dilutions tested was effective against the larvae of R. (B.) microplus. This is the first report of the action of pineapple extracts or their constituents on cattle ticks. The results demonstrate that further studies regarding composition of tick cuticle, with evaluation of other solvents and formulations, should be conducted seeking to enhance the effect of pineapple extracts and compounds against this ectoparasite. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Influence of the concentration of polyols on the rheological and spectral characteristics of guar gum

Polyols are widely used as sugar substitutes and provide texture to foods. Guar gum has many applications in food industry such as increasing product viscosity and improving texture. Knowledge of rheological properties of gum/polyol systems is important to permit replacing sugar while maintaining product texture. In this work, rheological properties of 0.1, 0.5 and 1 g/100 g guar solutions containing 10 and 40 g/100 g of maltitol, sorbitol, or xylitol were studied. The behavior of these mixtures was evaluated by steady and oscillatory shear measurements, and after a freezing/thawing cycle. Apparent viscosity of guar solutions increased with addition of polyols and with the increase in their concentrations, except for 40 g/100 g sorbitol addition to 1 g/100 g guar gum, in which the apparent viscosity decreased. Addition of polyols also increased the dynamic moduli of the systems. In mixtures of guar with 40 g/100 g polyol, the phase angle (δ) was below unity, but was dependent on frequency, which is characteristic of concentrated solutions with a certain degree of structuring. FTIR spectroscopy was studied to provide information on possible interactions between guar gum and polyols. Analyses carried out after freezing/thawing showed no changes in the viscoelastic behavior of the solutions. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Treatment of geophysical data as a non-stationary process

ABSTRACT: The Kalman-Bucy method is here analized and applied to the solution of a specific filtering problem to increase the signal message/noise ratio. The method is a time domain treatment of a geophysical process classified as stochastic non-stationary. The derivation of the estimator is based on the relationship between the Kalman-Bucy and Wiener approaches for linear systems. In the present work we emphasize the criterion used, the model with apriori information, the algorithm, and the quality as related to the results. The examples are for the ideal well-log response, and the results indicate that this method can be used on a variety of geophysical data treatments, and its study clearly offers a proper insight into modeling and processing of geophysical problems.

O mecanismo atrator e a função entropia de Sen para buracos negros

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Luminescent threat: toxicity of light stick attractors used in pelagic fishery

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

Quantization of unstable linear scalar fields in static spacetimes

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

Comparative study of toxicity of azo dye Procion Red MX-5B following biosorption and biodegradation treatments with the fungi Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus terreus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of Beverages and Mouthwashes on the Hardness of Polymers Used in Intraoral Prostheses

PurposeThe mechanical properties of acrylic resins used in intraoral prostheses may be altered by frequent exposure to liquids such as beverages and mouthwashes. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of thermocycling and liquid immersion on the hardness of four brands of acrylic resins commonly used in removable prostheses (Onda Cryl, QC-20, Classico, Lucitone).Materials and MethodsFor each brand of resin, seven specimens were immersed in each of six solutions (coffee, cola, red wine, Plax-Colgate, Listerine [LI], Oral B), and seven more were placed in artificial saliva (control). The hardness was tested using a microhardness tester before and after 5000 thermocycles and after 1, 3, 24, 48, and 96 hours of immersion. The results were analyzed using three-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Tukey's test (p < 0.05).ResultsThe hardness of the resins decreased following thermocycling and immersion in the solutions. Specimens immersed in cola and wine exhibited significant decreases in hardness after immersion for 96 hours, although the greatest significant decrease in hardness occurred in specimens immersed in LI. However, according to American Dental Association specification 12, the Knoop hardness of acrylic resins for intraoral prostheses should not be below 15. Thus, the median values of superficial hardness observed in most of the acrylic resins in this study are considered clinically acceptable.ConclusionsThe microhardness of polymers used for intraoral prostheses decreases following thermocycling. Among specimens immersed in beverages, those immersed in cola or wine experienced the greatest decrease in microhardness. Immersion of acrylic resins in LI significantly decreased the microhardness in relation to the initial value. Among the resins assessed, QC-20 exhibited the lowest initial hardness.

Exact Solution of the Elastica with Transverse Shear Effects

A new derivation of Euler's Elastica with transverse shear effects included is presented. The elastic potential energy of bending and transverse shear is set up. The work of the axial compression force is determined. The equation of equilibrium is derived using the variation of the total potential. Using substitution of variables an exact solution is derived. The equation is transcendental and does not have a closed form solution. It is evaluated in a dimensionless form by using a numerical procedure. Finally, numerical examples of laminates made of composite material (fiber reinforced) and sandwich panels are provided.

Effect of caffeine on larval mortality of Aedes aegypti: efficiency related to solution concentration and age

In two experiments, the duration of the effect of caffeine (CAF) solutions on larval mortality (LM) of Aedes aegypti was analyzed. In the first, LM was studied using solutions at 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL aged from zero to five days in artificial breeding sites exposed to the laboratory environment (LE). In the second, the solutions aged at 1.0, 2.0 and 2.5 mg/mL closed flasks were stored in LE or in the refrigerator (R), and the effect on LM was tested in the experimental breeding sites at 30 days interval. In the first, the duration of the effect increased with the solution age in each CAF concentration. CAF at 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL, without addition of food, produced 100% LM until 25 days after preparation; with food, at 11 and 18 days, respectively. In the second the effectiveness of CAF solutions lasted up to the seventh month, irrespective of whether they were stored in R or in LE. No adult emerged at any of the CAF concentrations used in second experiment.

On a class of abstract neutral functional differential equations

By using the theory of semigroups of growth α, we discuss the existence of mild solutions for a class of abstract neutral functional differential equations. A concrete application to partial neutral functional differential equations is considered.

Vector Mode Analysis of Ring-Core Fibers: Design Tools for Spatial Division Multiplexing

Design tools have existed for decades for standard step-index fibers, with analytical expressions for cutoff conditions as a function of core size, refractive indexes, and wavelength. We present analytical expressions for cutoff conditions for fibers with a ring-shaped propagation region. We validate our analytical expressions against numerical solutions, as well as via asymptotic analysis yielding the existing solutions for standard step-index fiber. We demonstrate the utility of our solutions for optimizing fibers supporting specific eigenmode behaviors of interest for spatial division multiplexing. In particular, we address large mode separation for orbital angular momentum modes and fibers supporting only modes with a single intensity ring.

Hydrogen ion and calcium releasing of MTA Fillapex® and MTA-based formulations

MTA is composed of various metal oxides, calcium oxide and bismuth. It has good biological properties and is indicated in cases of endodontic complications. Several commercial formulations are available and further studies are necessary to evaluate these materials. Objective: To evaluate pH and calcium releasing of MTA Fillapex® compared with gray and white MTA. Material and methods: Gray and white MTA (Angelus) and MTA Fillapex® (Angelus) were manipulated and placed into polyethylene tubes and immersed in distilled water. The pH of these solutions was measured at 24 hours, 7 days and 14 days. Simultaneously, at these same aforementioned periods, these materials' calcium releasing was quantified, through atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results were submitted to ANOVA, with level of significance at 5%. Results: Concerning to pH, the materials present similar behaviors among each other at 24 hours (p > 0.05). At 7 and 14 days, MTA Fillapex® provided significantly lower pH values than the other materials (p < 0.05). Regarding to calcium releasing, at 24 hours and 7 days, MTA Fillapex® provided lower releasing than the other materials (p < 0.05). After 14 days, differences were found between MTA Fillapex® and gray MTA (p < 0.05). Conclusion: All materials showed alkaline pH and calcium releasing, with significantly lower values for MTA Fillapex® sealer.