Toward transparent nanocomposites based on polystyrene matrix and PMMA-grafted CeO2 nanoparticles

The association of transparent polymer and nanosized pigment particles offers attractive optical materials for various potential and existing applications. However, the particles embedded into polymers scatter light due to refractive index (RI) mismatch and reduce transparency of the resulting composite material. In this study, optical composites based on polystyrene (PS) matrix and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-grafted CeO(2) hybrid particles were prepared. CeO(2) nanoparticles with an average diameter of 18 ± 8 nm were precipitated by treating Ce(NO(3))·6H(2)O with urea in the presence of a polymerizable surfactant, 3-methacyloxypropyltrimethoxy silane. PMMA chains were grafted on the surface of the nanoparticles upon free radical in situ solution polymerization. While blending of unmodified CeO(2) particles with PS resulted in opaque films, the transparency of the composite films was remarkably enhanced when prepared by PMMA-grafted CeO(2) hybrid particles, particularly those having a PMMA thickness of 9 nm. The improvement in transparency is presumably due to the reduction in RI mismatch between CeO(2) particles and the PS matrix when using PMMA chains at the interface.     

Effect of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cavity disinfectant on microtensile bond strength of tooth-coloured restorative materials to sound and caries-affected dentin

This study evaluated the effect of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate-based cavity disinfectant (CHX) on the microtensile bond strength (μTBS) of glass ionomer, resin-modified glass ionomer and packable resin composite to sound and caries-affected dentin. Sound and occlusal caries-affected human third molars (N?=?36, n?=?3 per group) were randomly divided into three experimental groups to receive one of the following restorative materials. (a) Glass ionomer (Ketac Molar, 3 M ESPE; GI), (b) resin-modified glass ionomer (Vitremer, 3 M ESPE; RMGI) and (c) packable resin composite (Surefil, Dentsply; PRC) with a bonding agent (Prime Bond NT, Dentsply De Trey). Caries was removed using a caries-detecting dye (Caries Detector, Kuraray Medical Ltd.) and flat dentin surfaces were achieved by finishing up to 1200-grit silicon carbide abrasive. Half of the teeth in each group received 2% CHX (Consepsis, Ultradent). Dentin surfaces were built-up with the respective materials incrementally and were sectioned with a slow-speed saw into multiple beams. The beams were subjected to μTBS test (0.5 mm/min) in a Universal Testing Machine. The data were analysed using two-way analysis of variance and Tukey’s tests. For each restorative material, μTBS results were not affected by the application of CHX (p?>?0.05) on both sound and caries-affected dentin (p?>?0.05). PRC in combination with the corresponding bonding agent showed significantly higher results (p?<?0.05) than those of GI and RMGI, on sound and caries-affected teeth, respectively. Cohesive failure in dentin was not observed in any of the groups. The use of 2% chlorhexidine-based cavity disinfectant did not impair the adhesion of the restorative materials tested to either sound or caries-affected dentin.     

Low Temperature Initiation by 3-Mercaptopropionic Acid-Ce(IV) or -KMnO4 Redox System for Polymerization of Acrylamide Monomer

Polymerization of acrylamide monomer was performed at low temperatures using 3-mercaptopropionic acid-cerium(IV) sulfate and 3-mercaptopropionic acid-KMnO₄ redox systems in acid aqueous medium. Water soluble polyacrylamides containing 3-mercaptopropionic acid end groups were synthesized. The effects of mole ratio of acrylamide to initiator(n_MSA= n_Ce(IV)), polymerization time, temperature, and concentration of sulfuric acid on the yield and molecular weight of polymer were investigated. The decrease in the mole ratio of acrylamide/Ce(IV) at constant monomer concentration resulted in an increase in the yield but a decrease in molecular weight of polymer. The increase of reaction temperature from 20° to 70°C resulted in a decrease in the yield but indicated generally a constant value for the molecular weight of polymer. With increasing of polymerization time, the yield and molecular weight of polymer did not change mainly. Ce(IV) and Mn(VII) ions are reduced to Ce(III) and Mn(II) ions, respectively in the polymerization reaction. The existence of Ce(III) ion bonded to polymer was investigated by UV-visible spectrometry and fluorescence measurements. The amount of Mn(II) that is incorporated to the polymer was determined using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The mechanism of this phenomenon is discussed.     

Prediction of Channel Utilization with Artificial Neural Networks Model in Mac Layer in Wireless Local Area Networks

Wireless Personal Communications - The use of channels in WLANs affects data communication. RTS Fragmentation Threshold (RTSFT), Fragmentation Threshold (FT), and Buffer Size (BS) input values;...     

A Computational Investigation of the Thermohydraulics of an EGS Project

A numerical analysis of the thermohydraulics of an enhanced geothermal system project is presented. The rock structures are modelled as porous medium, based on the computationally obtained hydraulic fracturing data of other authors. The influence of the domain size, grid resolution, temporal resolution and the discretization scheme is assessed to obtain a highly accurate numerical solution under the prevailing modelling assumptions. Based on the numerical model, different production scenarios are investigated and discussed. The relative positioning of the injection and production ports is also analyzed. It is shown that there is a considerable potential for optimizing the production rate and the port configuration to obtain the most favorable results for the production temperature, investment costs and operation costs.     

Evaluation of gas turbine rotor dynamic analysis using the finite element method

Rotors in general have complex geometries which make analytical modeling of the rotor to determine its dynamic behavior difficult. For this purpose, strong approaches such as finite element method are used to analyze the system. Finite element method saves time and money by allowing reductions in equations while solving the equation systems. Besides, it is possible to obtain faster solutions by using software that can solve these equations. Investigating the Campbell diagrams and deformations caused by critical speeds is very important in investigation of the dynamic behaviors of rotors. For this reason, obtaining the Campbell diagrams of the rotating systems and determining the critical speeds are very useful for us to observe the system behaviors. There are several programs based on finite element method to obtain these data and diagrams. In this study, a program named Dynrot was used to make dynamic analysis and the evaluation of the results and how the software was used are presented in the study. For this purpose, a gas turbine rotor with certain geometrical and mechanical properties is modeled and its dynamic analysis was made by Dynrot program.     

Nanoleakage within adhesive-dentin interfaces made with simplified ethanol-wet bonding

Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the simplified ethanol-wet bonding technique and conventional water-wet bonding technique on short term nanoleakage within hybrid layers made with two different etch-and-rinse adhesives (Single Bond 2 and Prime & Bond NT). Materials and methods: Flat dentin surfaces from bovine incisors were prepared and finished with wet 600-grit abrasive papers, then divided into groups to be bonded with one of the adhesives. After etching and rinsing, dentin surfaces were either moistened with water (water-wet bonding technique) or moistened with absolute ethanol for 1 min (ethanol-wet bonding technique). Then, adhesives were applied, and composite buildups were done. Bonded teeth samples were sectioned into resin–dentin samples by means of a low speed diamond saw under water cooling. Specimens were immersed into a 50% (w/v) solution of silver ammoniacal nitrate for 18 h and exposed to photodeveloping solution for 6 h. The amount of silver nitrate uptake within the adhesive layer, or hybrid layer, was measured with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) in different regions (n = 30). Results: Simplified ethanol-wet bonding significantly reduced nanoleakage within resin–dentin interfaces made with Single Bond 2 and Prime & Bond NT, but improvement at the nanoleakage of Single Bond 2 was only significant. Conclusion: Simplified ethanol-wet bonding may improve quality of hybrid layers made with commercially available simplified etch-and-rinse adhesives. But benefits of ethanol-wet bonding may depend on product.     

Using Screenshot Attachments in Issue Reports for Triaging

Empirical Software Engineering - Model-based mutation testing has the potential to effectively drive test generation to reveal faults in software systems. However, it faces a typical efficiency...