Zn(ferulate)-LSH Systems as Multifunctional Filters.

Excessive UV solar radiation exposure causes human health risks; therefore, the study of multifunctional filters is important to skin UV protective ability and also to other beneficial activities to the human organism, such as reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for cellular damages. Potential multifunctional filters were obtained by intercalating of ferulate anions into layered simple metal hydroxides (LSH) through anion exchange and precipitation at constant pH methods. Ultrasound treatment was used in order to investigate the structural changes in LSH-ferulate materials.

Influence of terbium (III) ions on the photocatalytic activity of TiO and CeO for the degradation of methylene blue in industrial effluents.

This study reports the preparation of TiO and CeO doped with different quantities of terbium and discusses the influence of this dopant on the photocatalytic activity of the semiconductors, with respect to the degradation of methylene blue, under ultraviolet and solar radiations. The oxides obtained were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared vibrational spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and dispersive energy spectroscopy. The results indicate that the presence of the dopant in TiO favored the formation of the anatase crystalline phase to the detriment of rutile, increased the band gap energy, and decreased the size of the nanoparticles.

Determining Optimal Fluorescent Agent Concentrations in Dental Adhesive Resins for Imaging the Tooth/Restoration Interface.

Fluorescent dyes like Rhodamine B (RB) have been used to identify the spatial distribution of adhesive restorative materials in the tooth/restoration interface. Potential effects of the addition of RB to dental adhesives were addressed in the past, but no further information is available on how to determine suitable concentrations of RB in these bonding agents for imaging in the confocal laser scanning microscope. This study provides systematical strategies for adding RB to viscous dental adhesive resins, focusing on the determination of the lowest range of dye concentrations necessary to achieve an acceptable image of the dentin/adhesive interface.