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Surface finish produced on three resin composites by new polishing systems.

This study evaluated the surface finish of three direct resin composites polished with three different systems. Disk-shaped specimens (n=16 per material; phi=8.0 mm x h=2.0 mm) were formed in a stainless steel mold by packing uncured material, either a hybrid composite (Z250, 3M ESPE) or two micro-hybrid composites (Point 4, Kerr; Esthet-X, Dentsply), and light-cured from the top and the bottom surfaces with a light-emitting diode (LED) curing unit (NRG, Dentsply). After storing the specimens in deionized water at 37 degrees C for seven days, one side of each specimen was finished through 1200-grit SiC abrasive (Buehler). Five specimens of each resin composite were randomly assigned to one of the three polishing systems (Identoflex, Kerr; Pogo, Dentsply; Sof-Lex, 3M ESPE). Manufacturers' instructions were followed during the polishing procedures. The average surface roughness (Ra) was determined by generating tracings across the polished surface of each disk using a scanning profilometer (Surfanalyzer System 5000, Federal Products Co). The results were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann and Whitney tests (p < or = 0.05). The smoothest surfaces were produced with the celluloid strip (control group) on all the resin composites tested. The aluminum oxide disks (Sof-Lex) produced a statistically equivalent surface finish (Ra) on the three resin composites. The lowest mean roughness values were recorded with diamond micropolisher disks (PoGo) on the hybrid composite (Z250). Overall, the two new polishing systems, Identoflex and PoGo, created a comparable surface finish to that produced by the Sof-Lex system on all three resin composites.

Aluminum Oxide↗

Sharpening of periodontal instruments with different sharpening stones and its influence upon root debridement--scanning electronic microscopy assessment.

The objective of this study was to evaluate, through scanning electronic microscopy, the effect of sharpening with different sharpening stones on the cutting angle of periodontal curettes (Gracey 5-6), and the influence on root surfaces after debridement and planing. The experimental model consisted of two different phases. In the first, the cutting angles of fifteen stainless steel Gracey 5-6 curettes were analyzed under a scanning electronic microscope after being sharpened with different types of stones. In the second phase, the root surfaces of 25 newly extracted teeth were evaluated with a scanning electronic microscope after being debrided with curettes sharpened with different stones. Analysis of the results showed that the synthetic stones (aluminum oxide and carborundum) are more abrasive and produce more irregular cutting angles, whereas Arkansas stones are less abrasive and produce smoother and more defined cutting angles. There was no significant statistical differences among the five groups tested with regard to the degree of irregularity of the root surfaces after instrumentation.

Aluminum Oxide↗

Characterization of implanted semiconductors by means of white-beam and plane-wave synchrotron topography.

Al(x)Ga(1-x)As epitaxic layers, with x = 0.43 and GaAs single crystals implanted with various doses of high-energy Se and Si ions, and silicon single crystals implanted with high-energy light ions were studied by means of different X-ray diffraction methods employing either a strongly limited white beam or a highly collimated monochromatic beam. The methods provided complementary characterization of lattice parameter changes and lattice deformation in the implanted layers. The synchrotron rocking curves recorded with a small-diameter beam provided a very good separation of interference maxima and enabled determination of the strain profile. A characteristic difference in strain depth distributions between the implanted A(III)B(V) compounds and silicon was noticed. Ion implantation in A(III)B(V) compounds produced a relatively thick layer with an almost constant and distinctly increased lattice parameter in regions close to the surface, whereas, in the case of silicon, shot-through layers with almost unchanged lattice spacing were observed. Other important information obtained from the synchrotron micro-Laue pattern was that the interference fringes caused by crystal curvature or strain gradient are located in the plane of diffraction, while parts of the Laue spot corresponding to the deformed regions are usually displaced.

Journal Article↗

Ultrastructural study of mineral fiber uptake by hepatocytes in vitro.

Cellular interactions of a series of fibrous materials were examined by the use of a well established in vitro system. Primary cultures of hepatocytes were exposed to natural attapulgite, synthetic xonotlite and natural sepiolite. Ultrastructural analyses revealed that hepatocytes can engage in the phagocytosis of all 3 types of fibers over an exposure period of 20 h. Attapulgite fibers were found in plasma membrane invaginations, and deeper in the cytoplasm, in vesicles exhibiting various shapes. Xonotlite was also incorporated in plasma membrane invaginations; furthermore, these fibers were present in large vacuoles where they were circumscribed by membranes and appeared somewhat isolated from the cytoplasm. Sepiolite fibers were also taken up by the cells and could likewise be identified in the previously described structures. These observations point to the relevance of the hepatocyte model for investigating the effects of fibrous materials at the cellular level.

Animals↗

The interface between silicon and a high-k oxide.

The ability of the semiconductor industry to continue scaling microelectronic devices to ever smaller dimensions (a trend known as Moore's Law) is limited by quantum mechanical effects: as the thickness of conventional silicon dioxide (SiO(2)) gate insulators is reduced to just a few atomic layers, electrons can tunnel directly through the films. Continued device scaling will therefore probably require the replacement of the insulator with high-dielectric-constant (high-k) oxides, to increase its thickness, thus preventing tunnelling currents while retaining the electronic properties of an ultrathin SiO(2) film. Ultimately, such insulators will require an atomically defined interface with silicon without an interfacial SiO(2) layer for optimal performance. Following the first reports of epitaxial growth of AO and ABO(3) compounds on silicon, the formation of an atomically abrupt crystalline interface between strontium titanate and silicon was demonstrated. However, the atomic structure proposed for this interface is questionable because it requires silicon atoms that have coordinations rarely found elsewhere in nature. Here we describe first-principles calculations of the formation of the interface between silicon and strontium titanate and its atomic structure. Our study shows that atomic control of the interfacial structure by altering the chemical environment can dramatically improve the electronic properties of the interface to meet technological requirements. The interface structure and its chemistry may provide guidance for the selection process of other high-k gate oxides and for controlling their growth.

Journal Article↗

HEPARIN BONDING ON COLLOIDAL GRAPHITE SURFACES.

Experiments on clotting, both in vitro and in vivo, showed that a colloidal graphite surface, when rinsed with a cationic, surface-active agent, was capable of bonding heparin. The resistance of this graphite-heparin surface to the formation of clots was far greater than plastic or silicone surfaces in comparable studies.

Ammonium Compounds↗

Antibacterial properties of nitric oxide-releasing sol-gels.

The antibacterial characteristics of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing sol-gel coatings are described. The NO release from these surfaces is steady over short periods (approximately 1 h) and measurable over several days. The ability of NO to prevent bacterial adhesion is evaluated by exposing controls and NO-releasing sol-gels to approximately 10(8) colony-forming units (cfu)/mL saline suspensions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion to sol-gel controls varies depending on the sol-gel formulation. Sol-gel surfaces capable of NO release decrease bacterial adhesion by 30% to 95% relative to controls. The contact angle measurements of control and NO-releasing surfaces are similar, supporting NO's action as an antibacterial agent against bacterial adhesion.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Calculated surface electrostatic potentials of molecular sieve models containing SiO4, AlO4, and PO4 units.

Surface electrostatic potentials have been computed at the ab initio HF/STO-5G* level for two model systems: a fragment of a zeolite channel wall; and a fragment composed of SiO4, AlO4 and PO4 units. The potential above the SiO4 network is negative everywhere, despite these units commonly being regarded as electrically neutral. In marked contrast, the AlO4 and PO4 units introduce strongly negative and positive regions, respectively, giving rise to a much more heterogeneous surface potential.

Aluminum Compounds↗

Surface roughness and gloss of dental materials as a function of force and polishing time in vitro.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was (1) to analyze the influence of polishing time and press-on force on the surface gloss and roughness of dental materials by using a three-component rubber-based polishing system and to compare the results with those obtained in conjunction with an optimal polishing procedure and application of the specimens to a metal matrix, (2) to estimate the correlation between surface gloss and surface roughness. METHODS: Eight flat specimens were made of each dental material (Tetric Ceram [TC], Tetric EvoCeram [TE], Heliomolar [HM], Compoglass [CO] and Amalcap [AM]) and polished with 4000-grit SiC and a polishing liquid. Subsequently, the mean surface roughness (Ra) was measured with an optical sensor (FRT MicroProf) and the gloss (Gl) with a glossmeter (Novocurve). Prior to polishing the specimens with the polishing system, the surface was pre-roughened with 320-grit SiC paper and polishing was performed under water cooling at 10,000rpm, applying a controlled force of 2N. Each component of the Astropol system (F/P/HP) was used for 30s and Ra and Gl were measured at 5-second intervals. Other specimens of the same materials were polished with a controlled force of 4N or they were applied to a metal matrix and, subsequently, Ra and Gl were measured. To measure the influence of the polishing time on the surface gloss and roughness, repeated ANOVA with post-hoc paired t-tests was carried out in log-transformed Ra and gloss values. To estimate the correlation between Ra and Gl, the Spearman and Pearson correlation was calculated. RESULTS: (1) Surface gloss and surface roughness were time-dependent, showing the greatest improvement already after 5s of polishing with each of the polishing components, with the exception of AM, for which HP was not effective. The patterns of improvement varied considerably from material to material, but they were more consistent with regard to Gl than to Ra. (2) Ra was statistically significantly higher only in TC, TE and CO when 4N of force was applied instead of 2N. (3) Polishing the surface with a polishing machine resulted in a significantly better surface gloss in all materials. (4) After applying the specimens to a metal matrix, the surface roughness of all dental materials was significantly higher when compared to polished specimens except for TC. (5) Correlations between gloss and roughness were in general negative but they were higher for individual measurements compared to the differences between two consecutive measurements. SIGNIFICANCE: Both surface gloss and surface roughness were material-dependent and influenced by the polishing time and applied force. As gloss and roughness proved to be closely associated with each other, gloss assessment may be a sufficient method to screen materials with regard to their polishability.

Acrylic Resins↗

Human serum albumin adsorption onto a-SiC:H and a-C:H thin films deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

In the present paper, we report the study of the adsorption behavior of a model protein such as human serum albumin (HSA) onto surfaces of a-SiC:H and a-C:H thin films deposited by using the plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) technique. The surface composition and surface energy of the various substrates as well as the evaluation of the adsorbed amount of protein has been carried out by means of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and contact angle measurements. It has been found that HSA tends to preferentially adsorb on Si-rich surfaces, as far as the relative amount of adsorbed HSA decreases with increasing S-C concentration. Preliminary elements of mechanistic models are proposed for the correlation between chemical factors and the observed protein adsorption behavior.

Adsorption↗

Hard-soft acid-base interactions of silylenes and germylenes.

A detailed investigation of the electrophilic and nucleophilic character of singlet silylenes and germylenes, divalent compounds of silicon and germanium, respectively, substituted by first- and second-row elements is presented. In a first part, the Lewis acid properties of these compounds were studied through their complexation reaction with the Lewis bases NH3, PH3, and AsH3. The results indicate that this complexation is most favorable with the hardest base NH3, classifying these compounds as hard Lewis acids. This is confirmed by the linear correlation between the interaction energies and the value of the electrostatic potential, used as an approximation to the local hardness, near the empty p orbital of these compounds, indicating a charge-controlled interaction in the complex. Also the electrophilicity index, proposed by Parr et al., computed both at the global and the local level, correlates linearly with the complexation energies of the compounds with NH3. The Lewis base character of these silylenes has been investigated, through their interaction with the acids BH3 and AlH3. Also in this case, the electrostatic potential can be used to probe the reactivity of the compounds. It will finally be demonstrated that an increasing stability of the silylenes and germylenes is accompanied by an increase in their nucleophilicity and a decrease of the electrophilicity.

Journal Article↗

Pulmonary clearance of fibrous and angular SiC particulates in the sheep model of pneumoconiosis.

Both angular and fibrous SiC (carborundum) particulates can be emitted by SiC production operations. Carborundum pneumoconiosis is now recognized as an occupational lung disease with specific pathological features. These were previously reproduced in the sheep model of pneumoconiosis with fibrous SiC but not with angular SiC. To further document this question, the pulmonary retention in the sheep of the two morphological types was studied. Animals were injected in the tracheal lobe with equal mass (100 mg) of particulates prepared from SiC materials taken in the field. Particles were measured by analytical transmission electron microscopy in samples of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BAL) obtained at months 2, 4, 6 and 8 after the injection. They were also measured in samples of lung parenchyma obtained at month 8. Measurements in BAL and in lung samples both indicated a much lower retention for fibrous than for angular SiC. The retention rate in lung parenchyma at month 8 was 30 times lower for fibrous SiC. The half-life of decrease of concentrations was 3.4 times shorter for fibrous SiC. Other data in the literature support the notion that fine fibres are cleared more effectively than coarser angular particles.

Animals↗

Mortality from cardiovascular diseases and sudden death in ferroalloy plants.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine mortality from circulatory diseases and sudden death among workers in 12 Norwegian ferroalloy plants. METHODS: The cohort comprised 14730 men employed for the first time during 1933-1990 and for at least 6 months. Deaths observed during 1962-1990 were compared with expected figures calculated from national mortality rates. Internal comparisons of rates were performed by Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: The overall mortality from cardiovascular diseases was not increased [standardized mortality ratio (SMR) 1.01], but a significantly increased mortality from sudden death (SMR 1.55) and hypertensive disease (SMR 1.37) was observed. Among the ferromanganese/silicomanganese (FeMn/SiMn) furnace workers the sudden death mortality was significantly increased during the employment period (SMR 2.47). In an internal comparison of the sudden death rates, a significant increase of 0.05 in the rate ratio per workyear was observed in this group. The mortality from 3 hypertension-related diseases combined (cerebrovascular, hypertensive, and renal diseases) showed identical positive mortality trends among the ferrosilicon/silicon-metal (FeSi/Si-met) and the FeMn/SiMn furnace workers by increasing duration of work. CONCLUSIONS: Increased mortality from sudden death among the FeMn/SiMn furnace workers is not likely to be explained by smoking or alcohol consumption. Associations with work exposures (manganese and possibly carbon monoxide and heat) are suspected. The increasing mortality from hypertension-related diseases with increasing duration of work in both groups of furnace workers may be associated with common furnace work conditions (eg, heat, psychosocial stress, shift work, noise, carbon monoxide).

Adult↗