Evaluation of plasma treatment effects on improving adhesive-dentin bonding by using the same tooth controls and varying cross-sectional surface areas.

The objective of this study was to evaluate and verify the effectiveness of plasma treatment for improving adhesive-dentin interfacial bonding by performing microtensile bond-strength (μTBS) testing using the same-tooth controls and varying cross-sectional surface areas. Extracted unerupted human third molars were used after removal of the crowns to expose the dentin surface. One half of each dentin surface was treated with a non-thermal argon plasma brush, whilst the other was shielded with glass slide and used as an untreated control.

Inhibition of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm by trimethylsilane plasma coating.

Biofilm formation on implantable medical devices is a major impediment to the treatment of nosocomial infections and promotes local progressive tissue destruction. Staphylococcus epidermidis infections are the leading cause of biofilm formation on indwelling devices. Bacteria in biofilms are highly resistant to antibiotic treatment, which in combination with the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance among human pathogens further complicates treatment of biofilm-related device infections.

Toxicity of silicon carbide nanowires to sediment-dwelling invertebrates in water or sediment exposures.

Silicon carbide nanowires (SiCNW) are insoluble in water. When released into an aquatic environment, SiCNW would likely accumulate in sediment. The objective of this study was to assess the toxicity of SiCNW to four freshwater sediment-dwelling organisms: amphipods (Hyalella azteca), midges (Chironomus dilutus), oligochaetes (Lumbriculus variegatus), and mussels (Lampsilis siliquoidea).