Piezoelectric effect in composite polyurethane - Ferroelectric ceramics

Flexible and free-standing films of piezoelectric composites made up of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic powder dispersed in a castor oil-based polyurethane (PU) matrix were obtained by spin coating and characterised as materials for sensor applications. The piezoelectric coefficients d(31) and d(33) were measured with the usual technique. The piezoelectric charge constant d(33) yields values up to less than or equal to 24 pC/N, even at lower PZT content (33 vol%). Some desirable properties like piezoelectricity, flexibility and good mechanical resistance show this new material to be a good alternative for use as sensors and actuators.

Cellulose nanowhiskers from coconut husk fibers: Effect of preparation conditions on their thermal and morphological behavior

Cellulose nanowhiskers were prepared by sulfuric acid hydrolysis from coconut husk fibers which had previously been submitted to a delignification process. The effects of preparation conditions on the thermal and morphological behavior of the nanocrystals were investigated. Cellulose nanowhisker suspensions were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray diffraction. Results showed that it was possible to obtain ultrathin cellulose nanowhiskers with diameters as low as 5 nm and aspect ratio of up to 60. A possible correlation between preparation conditions and particle size was not observed. Higher residual lignin content was found to increase thermal stability indicating that by controlling reaction conditions one can tailor the thermal properties of the nanowhiskers. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

A produção das desigualdades: análise da relação entre trabalho infantil e indicadores sociais

The International Labor Organization (OIT) estimates that there are around 118 million children subjected to child labor around the world. In Brazil, there are 3.5 million workers aged between 5 and 17. This exploitation practice constitutes a serious social problem, including of Public Health, since these workers are exposed to a wide range of risks, such as those related to health, physical integrity and even to life, which may cause them to become sick adults and/or interrupt their lives prematurely. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the relationship between the frequency of child labor in the age group of 10 to 13 years and some socio-economic indicators. It is a quantitative research in an ecological study whose levels of analysis are the Brazilian municipalities grouped in 161 regions, defined from socioeconomic criteria. The dependent variable of this study was the prevalence of child labor in the age group of 10 to 13 years. The independent variables were selected after a correlation between the 2010 Census of child labor in the age group of 10 to 13 years and secondary data had been conducted, adopting two main independent variables: funds from the Family Allowance Program (PBF) per 1,000 inhabitants and Funds from the Child Labor Eradication Program (PETI) per a thousand inhabitants. Initially, it was conducted a descriptive analysis of the variables of the study, then, a bivariate analysis, and the correlation matrix was built. At last, the Multiple Linear Regression stratified analysis was performed. The results of this survey indicate that public policies , like the Bolsa Familia Program Features per 1000 inhabitants and Resources Program for the Eradication of Child Labour to be allocated to municipalities with HDI < 0.697 represent a decrease in the rate of child labor ; These programs have the resources to be invested in municipalities with HDI > = 0.697 have no effect on the rate of child labor. Other adjustment variables showed significance, among these the municipal Human Development Index (IDH), years of schooling at 18 years of age, illiteracy at 15 years of age or more, employees without employment contract at 18 years of age and the Gini Index. It is understood that the child labor issue is complex. The problem is associated, although not restricted to, poverty, the social exclusion and inequality that exist in Brazil, but other factors of cultural and economic nature, as well as of organization of production, also account for its aggravation. Fighting child labor involves a wide intersectoral articulation, shared and integrated with several public policies, among them health, sports, culture, agriculture, labor and human rights, with a view to guaranteeing the integrality of the rights of children and adolescents in situation of labor and of their respective families

Effect of the addition of soy lecithin and Yucca schidigera extract on the properties of gelatin and glycerol based biodegradable films

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

Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo adhesion and immunomodulatory effect of Lactobacillus species strains isolated from chickens

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

Effect of amniotic membrane transplantation on corneal healing and proteoglycan expression in an experimental model of limbal deficiency in rabbits

PURPOSE. Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has been used as a graft or as a dressing in ocular surface reconstruction, facilitating epithelization, maintaining normal epithelial phenotype, and reducing inflammation, vascularization, and scarring. The corneal transparency is due, at least in part, to the arrangement in orthogonal lamellae of collagen fibrils, surrounded by proteoglycans (PGs). These PGs regulate fibrilogenesis, the matrix assembly, and ultimately the corneal transparency. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of AMT upon the corneal PGs after severe limbal injury.METHODS. Experiments were performed on the right corneas of 22 New Zealand female albino rabbits, and their left corneas were used as matched controls. These animals were divided into 3 groups: G1 (n = 10): total peritomy and keratolimbectomy, followed by application of 0.5 M NaOH; G2 (n = 10): submitted to the same trauma as G1, and treated by AMT; G3: no trauma, only AMT (n = 2). The right corneas of G2 and G3 were covered by DMSO 4 cryopreserved human amniotic membrane, fixed by interrupted 9-0 mononylon sutures, with its stromal face toward the ocular surface. After 7 or 30 days, the corneas were removed and PGs were extracted.RESULTS. Normal corneas contained approximately 9 mg of PGs per gram of dry tissue. AMT on intact cornea (G3) did not cause any changes in the concentration of PGs. In contrast, injured corneas contained much less PGs, both on the seventh and on the 30th day posttrauma. The PG concentration was even lower in injured corneas treated by AMT. This decrease was due almost exclusively to dermatan sulfate PGs, and the structure of dermatan sulfate was also modified, indicating changes in the biosynthesis patterns.CONCLUSIONS. Although beneficial effects have been observed on clinical observation and concentration of soluble proteins after AMT, the normal PG composition of cornea was not attained, even 30 days postinjury, indicating that the normal ocular surface reconstruction, if possible, is a long-term process. (Eur J Ophthalmol 2010; 20: 290-9)

Use of a titanium device in lateral sinus floor elevation: an experimental study in monkeys

Aim: To evaluate the effect of a space-maintaining device fixed to the lateral wall of the maxillary sinus after the elevation of the sinus mucosa on bone filling of the sinus cavity. Material and methods: Immediately after the elevation of the maxillary sinus Schneiderian membrane accomplished through lateral antrostomy in four monkeys, a titanium device was affixed to the lateral sinus wall protruding into the sinus cavity to maintain the mucosa elevated without the use of grafting material. The healing of the tissue around the implants was evaluated after 3 and 6 months. Ground sections were prepared and analyzed histologically. Results: The void under the elevated sinus membrane, originally filled with the blood clot, was reduced after 3 as well as after 6 months of healing of about 56% and 40.5%, respectively. In seven out of eight cases, the devices had perforated the sinus mucosa. The formation of mineralized bone and bone marrow amounted to about 42% and 69% after 3 and 6 months, respectively. The connective tissue represented about 53% and 23% of the newly formed tissue after 3 and 6 months, respectively. Conclusions: New bone formation was found below the devices. However, shrinkage of the newly formed tissue was observed both after 3 and 6 months of healing. Hence, the space-maintaining function of the devices used in the present study has to be questioned.

Effect of Metal-Ceramic or All-Ceramic Superstructure Materials on Stress Distribution in a Single Implant-Supported Prosthesis: Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis

Purpose: This three-dimensional finite element analysis study evaluated the effect of different material combinations on stress distribution within metal-ceramic and all-ceramic single implant-supported prostheses. Materials and Methods: Three-dimensional finite element models reproducing a segment of the maxilla with a missing left first premolar were created. Five groups were established to represent different superstructure materials: GP, porcelain fused to gold alloy; GR, modified composite resin fused to gold alloy; TP, porcelain fused to titanium; TR, modified composite resin fused to titanium; and ZP, porcelain fused to zirconia. A 100-N vertical force was applied to the contact points of the crowns. All models were fixed in the superior region of bone tissue and in the mesial and distal faces of the maxilla section. Stress maps were generated by processing with finite element software. Results: Stress distribution and stress values of supporting bone were similar for the GP, GR, TP, and ZP models (1,574.3 MPa, 1,574.3 MPa, 1,574.3 MPa, and 1,574.2 MPa, respectively) and different for the TR model (1,838.3 MPa). The ZP model transferred less stress to the retention screw (785 MPa) than the other groups (939 MPa for GP, 961 MPa for GR, 1,010 MPa for TP, and 1,037 MPa for TR). Conclusion: The use of different materials to fabricate a superstructure for a single implant-supported prosthesis did not affect the stress distribution in the supporting bone. The retention screw received less stress when a combination of porcelain and zirconia was used. Int J Oral Maxillofac Implants 2011;26:1202-1209

Evaluation of the Effect of Retightening and Mechanical Cycling on Preload Maintenance of Retention Screws

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

The Effect of Mechanical Cycling and Different Misfit Levels on Vicker's Microhardness of Retention Screws for Single Implant-Supported Prostheses

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of mechanical cycling and different misfit levels on Vicker's microhardness of retention screws for single implant-supported prostheses.Materials and Methods: Premachined UCLA abutments were cast with cobalt-chromium alloy to obtain 48 crowns divided into four groups (n = 12). The crowns presented no misfit in group A (control group) and unilateral misfits of 50 mu m, 100 mu m, and 200 mu m in groups B, C, and D, respectively. The crowns were screwed to external hexagon implants with titanium retention screws (torque of 30 N/cm), and the sets were submitted to three different periods of mechanical cycling: 2 x 10(4), 5 x 10(4), and 1 x 10(6) cycles. Screw microhardness values were measured before and after each cycling period. Data were evaluated by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (p < 0.05).Results: Mechanical cycling statistically reduced microhardness values of retention screws regardless of cycling periods and groups. In groups A, B, and C, initial microhardness values were statistically different from final microhardness values (p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference for initial screw microhardness values (p > 0.05) among the groups; however, when the groups were compared after mechanical cycling, a statistically significant difference was observed between groups B and D (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Mechanical cycling reduced the Vicker's microhardness values of the retention screws of all groups. The crowns with the highest misfit level presented the highest Vicker's microhardness values.

The growing importance of materials that prevent microbial adhesion: antimicrobial effect of medical devices containing silver

Research has clarified the properties required for polymers that resist bacterial colonisation for use in medical devices. The increase in antibiotic-resistant microorganisms has prompted interest in the use of silver as an antimicrobial agent. Silver-based polymers can protect the inner and outer surfaces of devices against the attachment of microorganisms. Thus, this review focuses on the mechanisms of various silver forms as antimicrobial agents against different microorganisms and biofilms as well as the dissociation of silver ions and the resulting reduction in antimicrobial efficacy for medical devices. This work suggests that the characteristics of released silver ions depend on the nature of the silver antimicrobial used and the polymer matrix. In addition, the elementary silver, silver zeolite and silver nanoparticles, used in polymers or as coatings could be used as antimicrobial biomaterials for a variety of promising applications. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.

Effect of Superstructure Materials and Misfit on Stress Distribution in a Single Implant-Supported Prosthesis: A Finite Element Analysis

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

Effect of Misfit on Preload Maintenance of Retention Screws of Implant-Supported Prostheses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of unilateral misfit at different levels on a crown-implant-retention screw system of implant-supported crowns. Hexagon castable UCLA abutments were cast in Co-Cr alloy to fabricate 48 metallic crowns divided into four groups (n = 12). Group A: crowns did not present misfit; Groups B, C and D: crowns were fabricated with unilateral misfit of 50, 100, and 200 mu m, respectively. The crowns were attached by titanium retention screw with 30 N/cm to external hexagonal osseointegrated implants embedded in acrylic resin. After 2 min, the retention screw of each replica was submitted to detorque evaluation by an analogic torque gauge. Three retention screws were used to perform detorque evaluation at each replica and the procedure was repeated twice with each screw. Each group was submitted to 72 detorque measurements. Data were evaluated by ANOVA and Tukey test (P < 0.05). All groups exhibited significant decrease (P < 0.05) in preload and the lowest decrease occurred in Group A. Groups B, C, and D were statistically significant different from Group A (P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between Groups B and D (P > 0.05). Crowns with unilateral misfit presented higher preload decrease than crowns completely fitted to osseointegrated implants.

Effect of Vertical Misfit on Screw Joint Stability of Implant-Supported Crowns

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

The effect of an experimental 4% TiF(4) varnish compared to NaF varnishes and 4% TiF(4) solution on dental erosion in vitro

This in vitro study assessed the effect of an experimental 4% TiF(4) varnish compared to commercial NaF and NaF/CaF(2) varnishes and 4% TiF(4) solution on enamel erosion. For this, 72 bovine enamel specimens were randomly allocated to the following treatments: NaF varnish (2.26% F), NaF/CaF(2) varnish (5.63% F), 4% TiF(4) varnish (2.45% F), F-free placebo varnish, 4% TiF(4) solution (2.45% F) and control (not treated). The varnishes were applied in a thin layer and removed after 6 h. The solution was applied to the enamel surface for 1 min. Then, the specimens were alternately de- and remineralized (6 times/day) in an artificial mouth for 5 days at 37 degrees C. Demineralization was performed with the beverage Sprite (1 min, 3 ml/min) and remineralization with artificial saliva (day: 59 min, 0.5 ml/min; during the night: 0.1 ml/min). The mean daily increment of erosion and the cumulative erosion data were tested using ANOVA and ANCOVA, respectively, followed by Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05). The mean daily erosion increments and cumulative erosion (micrometers) were significantly less for the TiF(4) varnish (0.30 +/- 0.11/0.65 +/- 0.75) than for the NaF varnish (0.58 +/- 0.11/1.47 +/- 1.07) or the NaF/CaF(2) varnish (0.62 +/- 0.10/1.68 +/- 1.17), which in turn showed significantly less erosion than the placebo varnish (0.78 +/- 0.12/2.05 +/- 1.43), TiF(4) solution (0.86 +/- 0.11/2.05 +/- 1.49) and control (0.77 +/- 0.16/2.06 +/- 1.49). In conclusion, the TiF(4) varnish seems to be a promising treatment to reduce enamel loss under mild erosive conditions. Copyright (C) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.