Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Bovine Bone Mineral in Sinus Lift Procedures-An Experimental Study in Sheep

Introduction: New reconstructive and less invasive methods have been searched to optimize bone formation and osseointegration of dental implants in maxillary sinus augmentation. Purpose: The aim of the presented ovine split-mouth study was to compare bovine bone mineral (BBM) alone and in combination with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) regarding their potential in sinus augmentation. Material and Methods: Bilateral sinus floor augmentations were performed in six adult sheep. BBM and MSCs were placed into the test side and only BBM in the contra-lateral control side of each sheep. Animals were sacrificed after 8 and 16 weeks. Augmentation sites were analyzed by computed tomography, histology, and histomorphometry. Results: The initial volumes of both sides were similar and did not change significantly with time. A tight connection between the particles of BBM and the new bone was observed histologically. Bone formation was significantly (p = 0.027) faster by 49% in the test sides. Conclusion: The combination of BBM and MSCs accelerated new bone formation in this model of maxillary sinus augmentation. This could allow early placement of implants.

Nutritional intervention programme among a Japanese-Brazilian community: procedures and results according to gender

Objective: To describe the results of a nutritional intervention programme among Japanese-Brazilians according to gender. Design: A non-controlled experimental study. Setting: The research included three points of clinical, nutritional and physical activity evaluation: at baseline (in 2005), after the first year and at the end of the second year (in 2007). The paired Student t test and multiple linear regression analysis were used to evaluate changes in the subjects` profile (clinical, nutritional and physical activity variables). Subjects: Japanese-Brazilians (n 575) of both genders, aged over 30 years. Results: We verified statistically significant reductions in body weight (0.9 kg), waist circumference (2.9 cm), blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (>3 mg/dl) and total cholesterol (>20 mg/dl) and its fractions, in both genders. We also found reductions in intake of energy (among men), protein (among women) and fat (both genders) and increases in intake of total fibre (among women) and carbohydrate (among men). Conclusions: The intervention programme indicated meaningful benefits for the intervention subjects, with changes in their habits that led to a `healthier` lifestyle positively impacting their nutritional and metabolic profile.

The influence of halo assembly on galaxies and galaxy groups

In this paper, we study the variations of groups (galaxy properties according to the assembly history in Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 6 (SDSS-DR6) selected groups. Using mock SDSS group catalogues, we find two suitable indicators of group formation time: (i) the isolation of the group, defined as the distance to the nearest neighbour ill terms of its virial radius and 00 the concentration. measured as the groups inner density calculated using the fifth nearest bright galaxy to the groups centre. Groups Within narrow ranges of Mass ill the mock catalO-Lie show increasing Ifl-OLIP alle With isolation and concentration. However, in the observational data the stellar age, as indicated by the spectral type, only shows a correlation with concentration. We study groups of similar mass and different assembly history. finding important differences ill their galaxy population. Particularly, ill high-mass SDSS groups. the number of members. mass-to-light ratios, red galaxy fractions and the magnitude difference between the brightest and second-brightest group galaxies, show different trends as a function of isolation and concentration, even when it is expected that the latter two quantities correlate with group age. Conversely. low-mass SDSS groups appear to be less sensitive to their assembly history. The correlations detected in the SDSS are not consistent with the trends measured in the mock catalogues. However, discrepancies can he explained in terms of the disagreement found in the a-e-isolation trends, suggesting that the model might be overestimating the effects of, environment, We discuss how the modelling of the cold gas ill satellite galaxies could be responsible for this problem. These results call be Used to improve our Understanding of the evolution of galaxies ill high-density environments.

The nested assembly of individual-resource networks

P>1. Much of the current understanding of ecological systems is based on theory that does not explicitly take into account individual variation within natural populations. However, individuals may show substantial variation in resource use. This variation in turn may be translated into topological properties of networks that depict interactions among individuals and the food resources they consume (individual-resource networks). 2. Different models derived from optimal diet theory (ODT) predict highly distinct patterns of trophic interactions at the individual level that should translate into distinct network topologies. As a consequence, individual-resource networks can be useful tools in revealing the incidence of different patterns of resource use by individuals and suggesting their mechanistic basis. 3. In the present study, using data from several dietary studies, we assembled individual-resource networks of 10 vertebrate species, previously reported to show interindividual diet variation, and used a network-based approach to investigate their structure. 4. We found significant nestedness, but no modularity, in all empirical networks, indicating that (i) these populations are composed of both opportunistic and selective individuals and (ii) the diets of the latter are ordered as predictable subsets of the diets of the more opportunistic individuals. 5. Nested patterns are a common feature of species networks, and our results extend its generality to trophic interactions at the individual level. This pattern is consistent with a recently proposed ODT model, in which individuals show similar rank preferences but differ in their acceptance rate for alternative resources. Our findings therefore suggest a common mechanism underlying interindividual variation in resource use in disparate taxa.

Hepatic denervation impairs the assembly and secretion of VLDL-TAG

VLDL secretion is a regulated process that depends on the availability of lipids, apoB and MTP. Our aim was to investigate the effect of liver denervation upon the secretion of VLDL and the expression of proteins involved in this process. Denervation was achieved by applying a 85% phenol solution onto the portal tract, while control animals were treated with 9% NaCl. VLDL secretion was evaluated by the Tyloxapol method. The hepatic concentration of TAG and cholesterol, and the plasma concentration of TAG, cholesterol, VLDL-TAG, VLDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol were measured, as well as mRNA expression of proteins involved in the process of VLDL assembly. Hepatic acinar distribution of MTP and apoB was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Denervation increased plasma concentration of cholesterol (125.3 +/- 10.1 vs. 67.1 +/- 4.9 mg dL(-1)) and VLDL-cholesterol (61.6 +/- 5.6 vs. 29.4 +/- 3.3 mg dL(-1)), but HDL-cholesterol was unchanged (45.5 +/- 6.1 vs. 36.9 +/- 3.9 mg dL(-1)). Secretion of VLDL-TAG (47.5 +/- 23.8 vs. 148.5 +/- 27.4 mg dL h(-1)) and mRNA expression of CPT I and apoB were reduced (p < 0.01) in the denervated animals. MTP and apoB acinar distribution was not altered in the denervated animals, but the intensity of the reaction was reduced in relation to controls. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Job rotation in assembly lines employing disabled workers

In this paper we consider the programming of job rotation in the assembly line worker assignment and balancing problem. The motivation for this study comes from the designing of assembly lines in sheltered work centers for the disabled, where workers have different task execution times. In this context, the well-known training aspects associated with job rotation are particularly desired. We propose a metric along with a mixed integer linear model and a heuristic decomposition method to solve this new job rotation problem. Computational results show the efficacy of the proposed heuristics. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Layer-by-Layer Assembly of Carbon Nanotubes Incorporated in Light-Addressable Potentiometric Sensors

The integration of carbon nanotubes in conjunction with a chemical or biological recognition element into a semiconductor field-effect device (FED) may lead to new (bio)chemical sensors. In this study, we present a new concept to develop field-effect-based sensors, using a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) platform modified with layer-by-layer (LbL) films of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers. Film growth was monitored for each layer adsorbed on the LAPS chip by Measuring current-voltage (IIV) curves. The morphology of the films was analyzed via atomic force microscopy (AFM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), revealing the formation of a highly interconnected nanostructure of SWNTs-network into the dendrimer layers. Constant current (CC) Measurements showed that the incorporation of the PAMAM/SWNT LbL film containing LIP to 6 bilayers onto the LAPS Structure has a high pH sensitivity of ca. 58 mV/pH. The biosensing ability of the devices was tested for penicillin G via adsorptive immobilization of the enzyme penicillinase atop the LgL film. LAPS architectures modified with the LbL film exhibited higher sensitivity, ca. 100 mV/decade, in comparison to ca. 79 mV/decade for all unmodified LAPS, which demonstrates the potential application of the CNT-LbL Structure in field-effect-based (bio)chemical sensors.

Molecular Ordering in Layer-by-Layer Polyelectrolyte Films Studied by Sum-Frequency Vibrational Spectroscopy: The Effects of Drying Procedures

Sum-Frequency Vibrational Spectroscopy (SFVS) has been used to investigate the effect of nitrogen-flow drying on the molecular ordering of Layer-by-Layer (LbL) films of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) alternated with poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS). We find that films dried by spontaneous water evaporation are more ordered and homogeneous than films dried by nitrogen flow. The latter are quite inhomogeneous and may have regions with highly disordered polymer conformation. We propose that drying by spontaneous water evaporation reduces the effect of drag by the drying front, while during nitrogen-flow drying the fast evaporation of water ""freezes"" the disordered conformation of adsorbed polyelectrolyte molecules. These findings are important for many applications of LbL films, since device performance usually depends on film morphology and its molecular structure.

Directed self-assembly of quantum structures by nanomechanical stamping using probe tips

We demonstrate that nanomechanically stamped substrates can be used as templates to pattern and direct the self-assembly of epitaxial quantum structures such as quantum dots. Diamond probe tips are used to indent or stamp the surface of GaAs( 100) to create nanoscale volumes of dislocation-mediated deformation, which alter the growth surface strain. These strained sites act to bias nucleation, hence allowing for selective growth of InAs quantum dots. Patterns of quantum dots are observed to form above the underlying nanostamped template. The strain state of the patterned structures is characterized by micro-Raman spectroscopy. The potential of using nanoprobe tips as a quantum dot nanofabrication technology are discussed.

Hierarchical Assembly of CaMoO(4) Nano-Octahedrons and Their Photoluminescence Properties

Hierarchical assemblies of CaMoO4 (CM) nano-octahedrons were obtained by microwave-assisted hydrothemial synthesis at 120 degrees C for different times. These structures were structurally, morphologically and optically characterized by X-ray diffraction, micro-Raman spectroscopy, field-emission gun scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements. First-principle calculations have been carried out to understand the structural and electronic order-disorder effects as a function of the particle/region size. Supercells of different dimensions were constructed to simulate the geometric distortions along both they and z planes of the scheelite structure. Based on these experimental results and with the help of detailed structural simulations, we were able to model the nature of the order-disorder in this important class of materials and discuss the consequent implications on its physical properties, in particular, the photoluminescence properties of CM nanocrystals.

On an Electrode Modified by a Supramolecular Ruthenium Mixed Valence (Ru(II)/Ru(III)) Diphosphine-Porphyrin Assembly

Three novel polymetallic ruthenium (III) meso-tetra(4-pyridyl)porphyrins containing peripheral ""RuCl(3)(dppb)"" moieties have been prepared and characterized. The X-ray structure of the tetraruthenated {NiTPyP[RuCl(3)(dppb)](4)} porphyrin complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group FT. This structure is discussed and compared with the crystal data for the mer-[RuCl(3)(dppb)(py)]. The {TPyP[RuCl(3)(dppb)](4)} and {CoTPyP[RuCl(3)(dppb)](4)} porphyrins were used to obtain electrogenerated films on ITO and glass carbon electrode surfaces, respectively. Such tetraruthenated porphyrins form films of a mixed-valence species {TPyP[Ru(dppb)](4)(mu Cl(3))(2)}(2)(4n2+) and {CoTPyP[Ru(dppb)](4)(mu Cl(3))(2)}(2n)(4n2+) on the electrode surface. The modified electrode with {CoTPyP[RuCl(3)(dppb)](4)} is very stable and can be used to detect organic substrates such as catechol.

On the relationships between molecular conformations and intermolecular contacts toward crystal self-assembly of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-oxygenated xanthone derivatives

Oxygenated xanthones have been extensively investigated over the years, but there are few reports concerning their crystal structure. Our chemical investigations of Brazilian plants resulted in the isolation of four natural products named 1-hydroxyxanthone (I), 1-hydroxy-7-methoxyxanthone (II), 1,5-dihydroxy-3-methoxyxanthone (III), and 1,7-dihydroxy-3,8-dimethoxyxanthone (IV). The structures of these compounds were established on the basis of single crystal X-ray diffraction. The xanthone nucleus conformation is essentially planar with the substituents adopting the orientations less sterically hindered. In addition, classical intermolecular hydrogen bonds (O-H center dot center dot center dot O) present in III and IV give rise to infinite ribbons. However, the xanthone I does not present any intermolecular hydrogen bonds, meanwhile the xanthone II presents only a non-classical one (C-H center dot center dot center dot O). The crystal packing of all xanthone structures is also stabilized by pi-pi interactions. The fingerprint plots, derived from the Hirshfeld surfaces, exhibited significant features of each crystal structures.