Utility of Albicans ID plate for rapid identification of Candida albicans in clinical samples. Rapid identification of Candida albicans

A clinical study was carried out in an attempt to assess the efficacy of a newly designed electric toothbrush compared to a conventional manual toothbrush using the American Dental Association's protocol for evaluating toothbrushes. An Oral-B 35 manual toothbrush, which served as the control, was compared to the Plaq & White125 electric toothbrush. Examinations were performed by two calibrated examiners at baseline, day 15 and day 30. Examinations included the gingival index, plaque index and bleeding index. Mean indices were calculated and compared between the two brushes using the repeated measures multiple analysis of variance. No statistically significant differences between the mean indices on the three examination days were observed following the use of the manual or the electric toothbrushes. The results of this study demonstrate that the electric toothbrush was numerically more effective than the manual toothbrush in reducing supragingival plaque levels, either before or after brushing, at each examination date compared to baseline plaque values. However, this difference was not statistically significant. This and other findings concluded that the Plaq & White toothbrush is comparable to the control ADA-accepted toothbrush.     

All-optical nonblocking M*M switchless connector with O( square root (M log M)) wavelengths and without wavelength changers

All-optical networks without switches are considered where the signals are routed based on wavelength only. 2 square root (M log/sub 2/( square root (2)M)) wavelengths are shown to be sufficient to build an M*M nonblocking connector without switches and without wavelength changers.<>     

Modelling and Simulation of Batch and Continuous Fluidized Bed Dryers

The performance of batch and continuous fluidized solids dryers has been modeled, with allowance for diffusional moisture transport in the dense phase particles and for interstitial gas-to-particle mass transfer within the dense phase, as well as for interphase exchange resistance between gas bubbles and the dense phase. Two types of boundary conditions are employed. Variations of the bed temperature and product moisture content in the bed with time are predicted numerically under various batch drying conditions. Exit product moisture contents, bed temperatures and outlet air humidities are also predicted for continuous drying at various mean residence times. The model can be used for homogeneous as well as bubbling fluidized bed drying. It can be used for a wide range of materials, including cereal grains and granular synthetic polymeric materials.     

Use of a transparent rabbit ear chamber in the study of biomaterials

Tests of biocompatibility are obligatory in the development of implants. Use of a polycarbonate transparent rabbit ear is a practical and relatively economical way of observing and documenting progressive interaction between potential prosthetic materials and granulation tissue. Fabrication of the chambers is technically straightforward and the surgical procedure involved in their insertion is simple and minimally invasive.     

Preparation and characterization of oxygen deficient perovskites,BaBiO3−x

Oxygen nonstoichiometry in the distorted perovskite BaBiO₃ has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis using controlled oxygen pressures. Three distinct regions of nonstoichiometry are observed with composition ranges which narrow as the temperature is lowered. Samples isolated from each region were shown by powder X-ray diffraction to retain the perovskite subcell but show different types of framework distortion. Low temperature reoxidation of the oxygen deficient phases is also described.