Residues of different gel formulations on dentinal walls: A SEM/EDS analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of residues of sodium hypochlorite gel, chlorhexidine gel, and EDTA gel on dentinal walls after canal preparation through chemical SEM‐ elemental chemical microanalysis (EDS) analysis. Forty‐eight single‐rooted teeth were selected. They had their crowns sectioned and were instrumented with a reciprocating system. The canals were irrigated with 5 mL of saline solution during root canal preparation. After instrumentation, the root canals were irrigated with 3 mL 17% EDTA followed by 1 min of ultrasonic passive activation (3× 20 sec) to remove the smear layer, and then irrigated with 3 mL of saline solution. The specimens were randomized into three groups (n = 12) according to the chemical substance that filled the root canal for 30 min: GI: 5.5% sodium hypochlorite gel; GII: 2% chlorhexidine gel; GIII: 24% EDTA gel; Negative control group: no substance was used. Then, the root canals were irrigated with 6 mL of saline solution followed by 1 min of ultrasonic passive activation (3× 20 sec). After ultrasonic activation, the canals were irrigated with 2 mL saline. The roots were sectioned, and the percentage of each chemical element present in the samples was analyzed through chemical SEM‐EDS microanalysis. All experimental groups showed a significantly higher percentage of chemical elements (Na and/or Cl) than the control group (P < 0.03). This in vitro study has shown that, regardless of chemical solutions used even after the final irrigation protocol, chemical residues of different substances remained attached to the root canal walls. Microsc. Res. Tech. 78:495–499, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Technologies and the development of the Automated Metadata Indexing and Analysis (AMIA) system

The Automated Metadata Indexing and Analysis (AMIA) project aims to provide an effective digital asset management (DAM) tool for large digital asset databases. We began with text-based indexing since it is still the most reliable approach as compared with other content-based media features. AMIA not only searches for the text of the file name, but also utilizes embedded information such as the metadata in Maya files. The AMIA system builds a linked map between all dependency files. We present an approach of preserving previously established metadata created by the old DAM tools, such as AlienBrain, and integrating them into the new system. Findings indicate that AMIA has significantly improved search performance comparing to previous DAM tools. Finally, the ongoing and future work in the AMIA project is described.     

Determination of Primary Amine Content in Bonding Agent Used in Composite Solid Propellants

The primary amine content in tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) and TEPAN, a bonding agent used in composite solid propellants, was determined by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and the results were compared to those obtained by potentiometry. The band at 4930 cm⁻¹, which showed to be influenced only by primary amine groups, was chosen as the analytical band. The calibration curves based on isopropylamine (IPA) and isopropylamine/dibutylamine (IPA/DBA) mixtures proved to be suitable for determining the NH₂ content of TEPA or of samples containing mixtures of NH and NH₂ groups. It was found that TEPA contains 26.4 % of NH₂ and 25.7 % of NH, and that TEPAN contains 0.5 % of NH₂, confirming the low content of primary amine of this bonding agent. The lowest amine equivalent of TEPA is 31.1±0.3 g/eq, as determined by potentiometry, was found because this technique measures the total hydrogen content, including primary and secondary amines. The literature value of 62.6 g/eq for TEPA ACROS obtained by potentiometry in a non aqueous medium and related to the first inflection of the primary amine, validates the value obtained by NIR in this work for a similar type of amine. The equivalent weight obtained by NIR spectroscopy (62.7 g/eq) allowed to calculate the molar mass of TEPA of 195.6 g mol⁻¹, which is close to the typical value of 200 g mol⁻¹.     

In vivo digestibility of corn and sunflower intercropped as a silage crop

Six nonlactating Holstein cows in a 3 x 3 Latin square total collection digestion trial were used to evaluate three low DM (less than 26%) silage types: 1) corn; 2) corn and sunflower intercropped and 3) sunflower. Feeding periods consisted of a 7-d adjustment followed by a 5-d collection period. Dry matter intake was similar for the three treatments; 12.5, 12.1, and 12.0 kg, respectively. Percent apparent digestibilities for DM, NDF, and N for corn and corn-sunflower were similar and greater than for sunflower: DM (69.6, 68.2, 57.4); NDF (68.1, 61.5, 51.6); and N (66.3, 66.5, 63.6). No differences were observed for digestibilities of ADF, hemicellulose, starch, or for N retention. Percent ether extract digestibility was greatest for corn-sunflower and sunflower silage when compared with digestibility of corn silage (82.5, 77.9, vs. 66.3). Major changes in rumen fermentation patterns were not observed as evidenced by rumen molar proportions of propionate, isobutyrate, isovalerate, valerate, or acetate to propionate ratios. No difference was observed for rumen NH3 N (2.7, 3.2, 4.1 mg/dl, respectively). Corn and sunflower intercropped silage had intermediate concentrations of fat, fiber, and protein when compared with those of corn or sunflower silages.     

Effects of Physically Adsorbed Films on Conductivity of?Two-Dimensional Metal Surfaces and Graphene

The electronic properties of two-dimensional (2D) materials, like graphene, are of considerable fundamental interest. This paper describes how physically adsorbed films probe these properties. The cases of an ideal 2D free electron gas and graphene are examined, with explicit results found for an adsorbed He film. In the free electron case, the scattering is proportional to the 2D structure factor of the film. Results are presented for He on graphene and the free electron gas in both the low coverage and fully commensurate limits.     

Evaluation of microspheres containing cytokine neutralizing antibodies in endotoxemia.

Albumin microspheres are efficient carriers for delivering therapeutic agents to macrophages. In response to endotoxin, macrophages release tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1 beta). Blocking the effects of TNF alpha and IL-1 beta decreased lethality due to endotoxin-induced shock. In this study, we compared the efficacy of the microsphere form of TNF alpha and/or IL-1 beta neutralizing antibodies (NAs) with the free form of TNF alpha and/or IL-1 beta NA in preventing lethality due to endotoxemia and evaluated the duration of blockade by the microsphere form of TNF alpha and/or IL-1 beta NA on endotoxin-induced cytokine release. The results indicate that the microsphere form of TNF alpha and/or IL-1 beta NA protected 80% of the rats from lethal endotoxemia, while none of the rats that received the free from of TNF beta and/or IL-1 beta NA survived longer than 48 hr. The microsphere form of TNF alpha and/or IL-1 beta NA attenuated endotoxin-induced cytokine release more potently than the free form of TNF alpha and/or IL-1 beta NA in vivo. In vitro, the microsphere form of TNF alpha and/or IL-1 beta NA blocked endotoxin-induced cytokine release for at least 24 hr. Higher efficacy of the microsphere form of NA in reducing mortality and blocking cytokine release makes it more therapeutically advantageous than the free form of NA in the treatment of lethal endotoxemia.     

Edible mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) lectin, which reversibly inhibits epithelial cell proliferation, blocks nuclear localization sequence-dependent nuclear protein import

The Galbeta1-3GalNAcalpha (TF antigen)-binding lectin (ABL) from the common edible mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) has a potent anti-proliferative effect without any apparent cytotoxicity. This unusual combination of properties prompted investigation of its mechanism of action. In contrast to soluble lectin, agarose-immobilized, and hence noninternalizable ABL had no effect on proliferation of HT29 colon cancer cells. Electron microscopy of HT29 cells incubated with fluorescein- and gold-conjugated ABL showed internalization of the lectin into endocytotic vesicles and multivesicular bodies. Confocal microscopy showed perinuclear accumulation of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated lectin, which also inhibits HT29 cell proliferation, raising the possibility that the lectin might interfere with nuclear pore function. Transport of heat shock protein 70 into the nucleus in response to heat shock was blocked by preincubation of HT29 cells for 6 h with 40 micrograms/ml ABL. In digitonin-permeabilized cells, nuclear uptake of bovine albumin conjugated to a nuclear localization sequence (NLS)-containing peptide was also inhibited by a 15-min preincubation with 40-100 micrograms/ml ABL. In contrast, serum-stimulated nuclear translocation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, which is NLS-independent, was not affected by pretreatment of cells with the lectin. These results suggest that the anti-proliferative effect of ABL is likely to be a consequence of the lectin trafficking to the nuclear periphery, where it blocks NLS-dependent protein uptake into the nucleus.     

Does psi exist? Lack of replication of an anomalous process of information transfer.

D. J. Bern and C. Honorton (1994) recently presented in this journal a set of ganzfeld extrasensory perception (ESP) experiments conducted by C. Honorton that appeared to support the existence of a communication anomaly. In this article, the authors present a meta analysis of 30 ganzfeld ESP studies from 7 independent laboratories adhering to the same stringent methodological guidelines that C. Honorton followed. The studies failed to confirm his main effect of participants scoring above change on the ESP task, Souffer z?=?0.70, p?=?.24, one-tailed; M effect size (z/N1/2)?=?0.013, SD?=?0.23. The new studies included replication attempts of 3 out of 5 internal effects reported as statistically significant by D. J. Bern and C. Honorton. Only 1 was confirmed, and the authors found the D. J. Bern and C. Honorton were mistaken in describing the original effect as being statistically significant. The authors conclude that the ganzfeld technique does not at present offer a replicable method for producing ESP in the laboratory. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)