Immunisation coverage in Australian Indigenous children : time to move the goal posts

Childhood immunisation coverage reported at 12 to <15 months and 2 years of age, may mask deficiencies in the timeliness of vaccines designed to protect against diseases in infancy. This study aimed to evaluate immunisation timeliness in Indigenous infants in the Northern Territory, Australia. Coverage was analysed at the date children turned 7, 13 and 18 months of age. By 7 months of age, 45.2% of children had completed the recommended schedule, increasing to 49.5% and 81.2% at 13 and 18 months of age, respectively. Immunisation performance benchmarks must focus on improving the timeliness in these children in the first year of life.

The suitability of plantation thinnings as vineyard posts.

The aim of this project was to investigate the suitability of thinnings from a range of plantation species for use as vineyard posts. The hardwood plantation species examined were Eucalyptus grandis, E. globulus, E. pilularis, E. dunnii, E. cladocalyx and Corymbia maculata, while Acacia mearnsii was obtained from natural regrowth. The softwood plantation species were P. elliottii, P. radiata and Araucaria cunninghamii. Variables examined included: three air drying regimes; microwave conditioning of E. grandis and E. globulus; two preservative treatments for hardwoods (alkaline copper quaternary compound (ACQ) and pigment emulsified creosote (PEC)); and two preservative treatments for softwood species (ACQ and, for Pinus radiata copper chromium arsenic (CCA)). A further aim was to install treated posts in commercial vineyards for demonstration purposes. From an earlier trial of three hardwood species treated with PEC, demonstration posts previously installed were also to be inspected annually for three years, and any movement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from the posts monitored.

WG-like modes selectivity in a square cavity with posts

We investigate the characteristics of Whispering-Gallery(WG)-like modes in a square cavity with posts by employing the two-dimentional (2D) finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) technique combined with the effective index method. The results indicate that the posts can result in mode selection in the WG-like modes. The WG-like modes with odd mode numbers are not much sensitive to the sizes of the posts. However, the quality factor (i.e. Q-factor) of the WG-like modes with even mode numbers decreases sharply with the increasing size of the posts. The decreasing Q-factor is attributed to mode leakage and scattering loss due to the presence of the post. The mode selection increases with the mode spacing of square cavity twice in an optimized strucure.

Tensile bond strength of cast commercially pure titanium and cast gold-alloy posts and cores cemented with two luting agents

Statement of problem. In vitro studies on the retentive strengths of various cements used to retain posts have reported conflicting results. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to compare the tensile strength of commercially pure titanium and type III cast gold-alloy posts and cores cemented with zinc phosphate or resin cement. Material and methods. Forty-two extracted human canines were endoclontically treated. The root preparations were accomplished using Largo reamers (10 mm in depth and 1.7 mm in diameter). Acrylic resin patterns for the posts and cores were made, and specimens were cast in commercially pure titanium and in type III gold alloy (n=7). Fourteen titanium cast posts and cores were submitted to surface treatment with Kroll acid solution and to scanning electron microscopy (SEM), before and after acid etching. The groups (n=7) were cemented with zinc phosphate cement or resin cement (Panavia F). Tensile strengths were measured in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. The results (Kgf) were statistically analyzed by 2-way ANCIVA (alpha=.05). Results. The 2-way ANOVA indicated that there were no significant differences among the groups tested. Retentive means for zinc phosphate and Panavia F cements were statistically similar. The bond strength was not Influenced by the alloy, the luting material, or the etching treatment. SEM analysis indicated that the etched surfaces were smoother than those that did not receive surface treatment, but this fact did not influence the results. Conclusions. Commercially pure titanium cast posts and cores cemented with zinc phosphate and resin cements demonstrated similar mean tensile retentive values. Retentive values were also similar to mean values recorded for cast gold-alloy posts and cores cemented with zinc phosphate cement and resin cements.

Bond strength of fibre glass and carbon fibre posts to the root canal walls using different resin cements

The aim of the study was to evaluate the bond strength of fibre glass and carbon fibre posts in the root canal walls cemented with self-adhesive (RelyX-Unicem) and chemical (Cement-Post) resin cements. Forty maxillary canines were divided into four groups according to the cement and post used and submitted to the push-out test (0.5 mm min(-1)). The data were submitted to statistical analysis (2-way ANOVA, Bonferroni - P < 0.05) and fracture analysis by Scanning Electronic Microscopy. Fibre glass presented the best results when cemented with RelyX-Unicem and Cement-Post (P < 0.05). RelyX-Unicem presented the highest bond strength values for both posts (P < 0.05). Fracture analysis showed predominance of cohesive fracture of post for RelyX-Unicem and adhesive fracture between dentin/cement and mixed for Cement-Post. The bond strength values were significantly affected by the type of post and cement used and the highest values were found for fibre glass posts and RelyX-Unicem.

Bond Strength of Fiber Posts in Different Root Thirds Using Resin Cement

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the in vitro bond strength (BS) of glass fiber posts (GF) and carbon fiber posts (CF) in the cervical, middle, and apical thirds of root canals cemented with RelyX-Unicem (RX) and Cement-Post (CP). Materials and Methods: Forty maxillary canines were divided into 4 groups (n = 10) according to the cement and post used: group 1: GF and RX; group 2: CF and RX; group 3: GF and CP; group 4: CF and CP. The push-out test was applied in the cervical, middle and apical thirds of each specimen to assess bond strength of the cement/post complex to the root canal wall. The data obtained were submitted to ANOVA (Bonferroni test, p < 0.05), and fracture analysis was done with SEM. Results: The GF posts presented the best results when cemented with RX and with CF (p < 0.05). RX presented the highest BS values for both GF and CF (p < 0.05). For all the groups, BS was higher in the cervical third, followed by the middle and apical thirds. Fracture analysis showed a predominance of cohesive fracture of posts for RX, and a predominance of adhesive fracture between dentin/cement, and mixed failure mode for CP. Conclusion: GF posts cemented with RX presented the highest BS values in all root thirds.

Nas redes, o debate sobre o futuro do PSB: posts sobre desdobramentos políticos já são maioria

O sentimento de luto pela morte de Eduardo Campos está dando espaço para o debate sobre o futuro da candidatura do PSB, segundo levantamento feito pela Fundação Getúlio Vargas para O GLOBO. O número de menções ao assunto na internet teve uma grande diminuição, mas isto não quer dizer que a discussão tenha diminuído.

Content marketing and brand engagement on social media: a study of Facebook´s posts in the ecommerce industry in Brazil

Content marketing refers to marketing format that involves the creation and sharing of media and publishing content in order to acquire customers. It is focused not on selling, but on communicating with customers and prospects. In today world´s, a trend has been seen in brands becoming publishers in order to keep up with their competition and more importantly to keep their base of fans and followers. Content Marketing is making companies to engage consumers by publishing engaging and value-filled content. This study aims to investigate if there is a link between brand engagement and Facebook Content Marketing practices in the e-commerce industry in Brazil. Based on the literature review, this study defines brand engagement on Facebook as the numbers of "likes" "comments" and "shares" that a company receives from its fans. These actions reflect the popularity of the brand post and leads to engagement. The author defines a scale where levels of Content Marketing practices are developed in order to analyze brand posts on Facebook of an ecommerce company in Brazil. The findings reveal that the most important criterion for the company is the one regarding the picture of the post, where it examines whether the photo content is appealing to the audience. Moreover, it was perceived that the higher the level of these criterion in a post, the greater the number of likes, comments and shares the post receives. The time when a post is published does not present a significant role in determining customer engagement and the most important factor within a publication is to reach the maximum level in the Content Marketing Scale.

Influence of customized composite resin fibreglass posts on the mechanics of restored treated teeth

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

Fracture strength of flared bovine roots restored with different intraradicular posts

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the fracture strength and failure mode of flared bovine roots restored with different intraradicular posts. Material and Methods: Fifty bovine incisors with similar dimensions were selected and their roots were flared until 1.0 mm of dentin wall remained. Next, the roots were allocated into five groups (n=10): GI-cast metal post-and-core; GII-fiber posts plus accessory fiber posts; GIII-direct anatomic post; GIV-indirect anatomic post and GV-control (specimens without intraradicular post). A polyether impression material was used to simulate the periodontal ligament. After periodontal ligament simulation, the specimens were subjected to a compressive load at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min in a servo-hydraulic testing machine (MTS 810) applied at 135 to the long axis of the tooth until failure. The data (N) were subjected to ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test (alpha=0.05). Results: GI and GIV presented higher fracture strength (p<0.05) than GII. GIII presented intermediate values without statistically significant differences (p>0.05) from GI, GII and GIV. Control specimens (GV) produced the lowest fracture strength mean values (p<0.05). Despite obtaining the highest mean value, GI presented 100% of unfavorable failures. GII presented 20% of unfavorable failures. GIII, GIV and GV presented only favorable failures. Conclusions: Although further in vitro and in vivo studies are necessary, the results of this study showed that the use of direct and indirect anatomic posts in flared roots could be an alternative to cast metal post-and-core.

Customized fiber glass posts. Fatigue and fracture resistance

Purpose: To evaluate the root fracture strength of human single-rooted premolars restored with customized fiberglass post-core systems after fatigue simulation. Methods: 40 human premolars had their crowns cut and the root length was standardized to 13 mm. The teeth were endodontically treated and embedded in acrylic resin. The specimens were distributed into four groups (n=10) according to the restorative material used: prefabricated fiber post (PFP), PFP+accessory fiber posts (PFPa), PFP+unidirectional fiberglass (PFPf), and unidirectional fiberglass customized post (CP). All posts were luted using resin cement and the cores were built up with a resin composite. The samples were stored for 24 hours at 37 degrees C and 100% relative humidity and then submitted to mechanical cycling. The specimens were then compressive-loaded in a universal testing machine at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/minute until fracture. The failure patterns were analyzed and classified. Data was submitted to one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha= 0.05). Results: The mean values of maximum load (N) were: PFP - 811.4 +/- 124.3; PFPa - 729.2 +/- 157.2; PFPf - 747.5 +/- 204.7; CP - 762.4 +/- 110. Statistical differences were not observed among the groups. All groups showed favorable restorable failures. Fiberglass customized post did not show improved fracture resistance or differences in failure patterns when compared to prefabricated glass fiber posts. (Am J Dent 2012;25:35-38).

Effects of mechanical cycling on the bonding of zirconia and fiber posts to human root dentin

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of cyclical mechanical loading on the bond strength of a fiber and a zirconia post bonded to root dentin.Materials and Methods: Forty single-rooted human teeth (maxillary incisors and canines) were sectioned, and the root canals were prepared at 12 mm. Twenty randomly seleced specimens received a quartz fiber post (FRC) (D.T. Light-Post) and 20 others received a zirconia post (ZR) (Cosmopost). The posts were resin luted (All Bond 2 + resin cement Duo-link) and each specimen was embedded in epoxy resin inside a PVC cylinder. Ten specimens with FRC post and 10 specimens with ZR post were submitted to fatigue testing (2,000,000 cycles; load: 50 N; angle of 45 degrees; frequency: 8 Hz), while the other 20 specimens were not fatigued. Thus, 4 groups were formed: G1: FRC+O cycles; G2: FRC+2,000,000 cycles; G3: ZR+O cycles; G4: ZR+2,000,000 cycles. Later, the specimens were cut perpendicular to their long axis to form 2-mm-thick disk-shaped samples (4 sections/specimen), which were submitted to the push-out test (1 mm/min). The mean bond strength values (MPa) were calculated for each tooth (n = 10) and data were submitted to statistical analysis (alpha = 0.05).Results: Two-way ANOVA revealed that the bond strength was significantly affected by mechanical cycling (p = 0.0014) and root post (p = 0.0325). The interaction was also statistically significant (p = 0.0010). Tukey's test showed that the mechanical cycling did not affect the bonding of FRC to root dentin, while fatigue impaired the bonding of zirconium to root dentin.Conclusion: (1) the bond strength of the FRC post to root dentin was not reduced after fatigue testing, whereas the bonding of the zirconia post was significantly affected by the fatigue. (2) Cyclical mechanical loading appears to damage the bond strength of the rigid post only.