Improvement of mechanical and biological properties of TiNi alloys by addition of Cu and Co to orthodontic archwires.

The purpose of this study was to investigate improved performances of TiNi in order to promote tooth movement. Special attention was paid to the effect on the clinical properties of TiNi of adding Cu and Co to this alloy. Ti49.

Mini-interfacial fracture toughness as a new validated enamel-bonding effectiveness test.

Unlabelled: Today׳s most commonly applied bonding effectiveness tests are criticized for their high variability and low reliability, the latter in particular with regard to measuring the actual strength of the adhesive interface.

Objectives: in continuation of previous research conducted at dentin, we hereby aimed to validate the novel mini-interfacial fracture toughness (mini-iFT) test on its applicability to assess bonding effectiveness of contemporary adhesives when bonded to enamel.

Methods: The 3-step etch&rinse (E&R) adhesive OptiBond FL (Kerr), the 2-step self-etch (SE) adhesive Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray Noritake) and the two multi-mode adhesives Clearfil S(3) Bond Plus (Kuraray Noritake) and Scotchbond Universal (3M ESPE), both used following a 2-step E&R and 1-step SE mode, were applied to clinically relevant, flattened enamel surfaces.

Bilayer oxidized regenerated cellulose/poly ε-caprolactone knitted fabric-reinforced composite for use as an artificial dural substitute.

A novel bilayer knitted fabric-reinforced composite for potentially being used as a dural substitute was developed by solution infiltration of oxidized regenerated cellulose knitted fabric (ORC) with poly ε-caprolactone (PCL) solution at various concentrations ranging 10-40 g/100 mL. It was found that the density of all formulations did not differ significantly and was lower than that of the human dura. Microstructure of the samples typically comprised a bilayer structure having a nonporous PCL layer on one side and the ORC/PCL composite layer on another side.

Challenges and strategies of surface modification of electrogalvanized coatings for electron microscopy analysis.

Despite wide usage of electrogalvanized coatings in various applications, characterization studies on their micro/crystal structure, and the understanding of how they correspondingly affect the properties, such as corrosion, are rather limited. This is mainly attributed to some difficulties in preparing and examining the zinc coating layers, owing to their intrinsically low corrosion resistance and refined nano-scaled crystallite size. This study aims to examine such challenges systematically and propose some mitigation strategies.

Biomechanical performance of retrograde nail for supracondylar fractures stabilization.

The study compared the biomechanical performance of retrograde nail used to stabilize supracondylar fracture (three different levels) by means of finite element analysis. Three different nail lengths (200, 260, and 300 mm) of stainless steel and titanium nails were under consideration. Intact femur model was reconstructed from Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine images of Thai cadaveric femur scanned by computed tomography spiral scanner, whereas geometry of retrograde nail was reconstructed with the data obtained from three-dimensional laser scanner.

Physical characteristics and biocompatibility of the polycaprolactone-biphasic calcium phosphate scaffolds fabricated using the modified melt stretching and multilayer deposition.

Physical properties and biocompatibility of polycaprolactone (PCL)-biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) scaffolds fabricated by the modified melt stretching and multilayer deposition (mMSMD) technique were evaluated in vitro. The PCL-BCP scaffold specimens included group A; PCL: BCP (wt%) = 80:20 and group B; 70:30. Mechanical properties of the scaffolds were assessed using a universal testing machine.

Economical and green biodiesel production process using river snail shells-derived heterogeneous catalyst and co-solvent method.

River snail shells-derived CaO was used as a heterogeneous catalyst to synthesize biodiesel via transesterification of palm oil with methanol. The shell materials were calcined in air at 600-1000°C for 3h. Physicochemical properties of the resulting catalysts were characterized by TGA-DTG, XRD, SEM, BET, XRF, FT-IR and TPD.

Chitosan-phenylalanine-mPEG nanoparticles: From a single step water-based conjugation to the potential allergen delivery system.

The chemical modification to obtain biocompatible chitosan (CS) nanoparticles for the application in biological system is still on expectation. By simply mixing CS with hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBt), the CS aqueous solution obtained allows a successful single step conjugation of both hydrophobic biomolecules, i.e.

Mechanical and biological properties of photocurable oligolactide-HA composites investigated under accelerated degradation.

The major concern related to biodegradable bone substitute materials is the loss of mechanical strength which can be undesirable when occurring too quickly before new bone formation. In this study, the multifunctional lactide oligomers having 2, 3, and 4 arms end capped with methacrylate groups were synthesized with the aim of improving the degradation properties. Their composites with hydroxyapatite (HA) were photopolymerized and subjected to accelerated degradation at 60 °C.

Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles formed under a wet mechanochemical method.

Hydroxyapatite (HA) nanoparticles were synthesized using a wet mechanochemical method without a calcination process. Dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (CaHPO ·2H O) and calcium carbonate (CaCO ) were mixed and milled in a planary mill using ethanol or water as liquid media in the two different synthesized routes. Effects of rotation speed and milling time on the final products formed have been studied.

Dentin Bonding Testing Using a Mini-interfacial Fracture Toughness Approach.

Measurement of interfacial fracture toughness (iFT) is considered a more valid method to assess bonding effectiveness as compared with conventional bond strength testing. Common fracture toughness tests are, however, laborious and require a relatively bulky specimen size. This study aimed to evaluate a new simplified and miniaturized iFT (mini-iFT) test.

Water footprints of products of oil palm plantations and palm oil mills in Thailand.

The water footprint (WF) of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) from oil palm plantations and crude palm oil (CPO) from palm oil mills in southern and eastern Thailand were determined over 25 years. Climatic conditions, soil characteristics, and the characteristics of oil palm growth were considered. The WF of FFBs was 1063 m(3)/ton (t) on average.

Biocompatibility of hydroxyapatite scaffolds processed by lithography-based additive manufacturing.

The fabrication of hydroxyapatite scaffolds for bone tissue engineering applications by using lithography-based additive manufacturing techniques has been introduced due to the abilities to control porous structures with suitable resolutions. In this research, the use of hydroxyapatite cellular structures, which are processed by lithography-based additive manufacturing machine, as a bone tissue engineering scaffold was investigated. The utilization of digital light processing system for additive manufacturing machine in laboratory scale was performed in order to fabricate the hydroxyapatite scaffold, of which biocompatibilities were eventually evaluated by direct contact and cell-culturing tests.

Novel targeting of the lepB gene using PCR with confronting two-pair primers for simultaneous detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and Mycobacterium bovis.

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), is the leading cause of infectious disease-related mortality worldwide. The standard method for TB diagnosis usually requires long periods of mycobacteria cultivation, leading to delayed diagnosis, inefficient treatment and widespread occurrence of the disease. Therefore, a rapid method for the detection and differentiation of MTC from other mycobacteria is essential for disease diagnosis.

In vitro human chondrocyte culture on plasma-treated poly(glycerol sebacate) scaffolds.

Porous poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS) scaffolds were prepared using a salt leaching technique and subsequently surface modified by a low oxygen plasma treatment prior to the use in the in vitro culture of human chondrocytes. Condensation polymerization of glycerol and sebacic acid used at various mole ratios, i.e.

CTAB as a soft template for modified clay as filler in active packaging.

The role of modified clay has been employed in many areas of engineering research. Structure of clay was mainly focused on alumino-silicate layer and its form was presented as pillar layer. It composed of many ion exchanges inside.

Interaction study of a novel Macrobrachium rosenbergii effector caspase with B2 and capsid proteins of M. rosenbergii nodavirus reveals their roles in apoptosis.

Apoptosis is an essential immune response to protect invertebrates from virus infected cells. In shrimp, virus infection has been reported to induce apoptosis. Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Mr) was considered to be a disease-resistant host when compared to penaeid shrimps.

Development and Evaluation of Diclofenac Sodium Loaded-N-Trimethyl Chitosan Nanoparticles for Ophthalmic Use.

The ophthalmic preparation of diclofenac sodium (DC) for relieving ocular inflammation is presently available in the market only as an eye drop solution. Due to its low occular bioavailability, it requires frequent application leading to low patients' compliance and quality of life. This study was conducted to develop formulations of DC loaded-N-trimethyl chitosan nanoparticles (DC-TMCNs) for ophthalmic use to improve ocular biavailabiltiy of DC.

Electromechanical properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube/gelatin hydrogel composites: effects of aspect ratios, electric field, and temperature.

The effects of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) aspect ratio, electric field strength and temperature on the electromechanical properties of MWNT/gelatin hydrogel composites were investigated. The highest aspect ratio of MWNT provides the composites with the highest dynamic moduli under electric field. The MWNT/gelatin hydrogel composites of 0.

Crystal structure of 3,13-dimethoxy-5,6,10,11-tetrahydrofuro[3,4-i][5]helicene-7,9-dione.

The title compound, C26H20O5, crystallizes with two independent molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit, which differ primarily in the location of the -OCH3 groups. In the crystal, the mol-ecules form a layered structure parallel to (10-1) by C-H⋯O hydrogen-bonded networks. Adjacent layers are also linked by further C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming a three-dimensional structure.

Enhancement of chondrocyte proliferation, distribution, and functions within polycaprolactone scaffolds by surface treatments.

Enhancement of porcine chondrocyte growth, distribution and functions within polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds was attempted using alkaline hydrolysis and oxygen plasma treatment. The hydrolysis of PCL was performed either before or after scaffold fabrication in the preparations of pre-hydrolyzed PCL (pre-HPCL) or post-HPCL scaffolds, respectively. The PCL, pre-HPCL, and post-HPCL scaffolds were subsequently plasma-treated to yield plasma-treated PCL, plasma-treated pre-HPCL, and plasma-treated post-HPCL scaffolds, respectively.

3,12-Dimeth-oxy-5,6,9,10-tetra-hydro-[5]helicene-7,8-dicarbo-nitrile.

The complete molecule of the title compound, C26H20N2O2, is generated by a crystallographic twofold axis. The torsion angle between the terminal and central benzene rings is -32.5 (2)°.

Molecular self assembly of mixed comb-like dextran surfactant polymers for SPR virus detection.

The synthesis of two comb-like dextran surfactant polymers, that are different in their dextran molecular weight (MW) distribution and the presence of carboxylic groups, and their characterization are reported. A bimodal carboxylic dextran surfactant polymer consists of poly(vinyl amine) (PVAm) backbone with carboxyl higher MW dextran, non-functionalized lower MW dextran and hydrophobic hexyl branches; while a monomodal dextran surfactant polymer is PVAm grafted with non-functionalized lower MW dextran and hexyl branches. Layer formation of non-covalently attached dextran chains with bimodal MW distributions on a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) chip was investigated from the perspective of mixed physisorption of the bimodal and monomodal surfactant polymers.

Properties of experimental copper-aluminium-nickel alloys for dental post-and-core applications.

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a copper-aluminium-nickel alloy which has properties comparable to that of dental alloys used for dental post and core applications with the reasonable cost.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen groups of experimental copper alloys with variants of 3, 6, 9, 12 wt% Al and 0, 2, 4, 6 wt% Ni were prepared and casted. Their properties were tested and evaluated.