Effects of calcium phosphate nanoparticles on Ca-PO4 composite.
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Nano-particles of dicalcium phosphate anhydrous (DCPA) were synthesized for the first time. The objectives of this study were to incorporate DCPA nano-particles into resin for Ca-PO(4) release to combat dental caries, and to investigate the filler level effects. Nano-DCPA and nano-silica-fused silicon nitride whiskers at a 1:1 ratio were used at filler mass fractions of 0-75%. The flexural strengths in MPa (mean +/- SD; n = 6) of DCPA-whisker composites ranged from (106 +/- 39) at 0% fillers to (114 +/- 23) at 75% fillers, similar to (112 +/- 22) of a non-releasing composite (TPH) (p > 0.1). The composite with 75% fillers in a NaCl solution (133 mmol/L, pH = 7.4, 37 degrees C) yielded a Ca concentration of (0.65 +/- 0.02) mmol/L and PO(4) of (2.29 +/- 0.07) mmol/L. Relationships were established between ion-release and DCPA volume fraction V(DCPA): Ca = 4.46 V(DCPA)(1.6,) and = 66.9 V(DCPA)(2.6). Nano-DCPA-whisker PO(4) composites had high strength and released high levels of Ca-PO(4) requisite for remineralization. These new nano-composites could provide the needed combination of stress-bearing and caries-inhibiting capabilities. (+info)
Identification of the pheophytin-QA-Fe domain of the reducing side of the photosystem II as the Cu(II)-inhibitory binding site.
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Oxygen evolution by photosystem II membranes was inhibited by Cu(II) when 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone or ferricyanide, but not silicomolybdate, was used as electron acceptor. This indicated that Cu(II) affected the reducing side of the photosystem II. The inhibition curves of Cu(II), o-phenanthroline and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU), were compared; the inhibitory patterns of Cu(II) and o-phenanthroline were very similar and different in turn from that of DCMU. Cu(II) did not eliminate or modify the electron paramagnetic resonance signal at g = 8.1 ascribed to the non-heme iron of the photosystem II reaction center, indicating that the inhibition by Cu(II) was not the result of the replacement of the iron by Cu(II). Controlled trypsin digestion of thylakoid membranes inhibited oxygen evolution using 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone, but had no effect when using ferricyanide or silicomolybdate. Using ferricyanide, oxygen evolution of trypsin-treated thylakoids was insensitive to DCMU but became even more sensitive to Cu(II) and o-phenanthroline than nontreated thylakoids; however, trypsinized thylakoids were insensitive to inhibitors in the presence of silicomolybdate. We conclude that Cu(II) impaired the photosystem II electron transfer before the QB niche, most probably at the pheophytin-QA-Fe domain. (+info)
Silica in plants: biological, biochemical and chemical studies.
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BACKGROUND: The incorporation of silica within the plant cell wall has been well documented by botanists and materials scientists; however, the means by which plants are able to transport silicon and control its polymerization, together with the roles of silica in situ, are not fully understood. RECENT PROGRESS: Recent studies into the mechanisms by which silicification proceeds have identified the following: an energy-dependent Si transporter; Si as a biologically active element triggering natural defence mechanisms; and the means by which abiotic toxicities are alleviated by silica. A full understanding of silica formation in vivo still requires an elucidation of the role played by the environment in which silica formation occurs. Results from in-vitro studies of the effects of cell-wall components associated with polymerized silica on mineral formation illustrate the interactions occurring between the biomolecules and silica, and the effects their presence has on the mineralized structures so formed. SCOPE: This Botanical Briefing describes the uptake, storage and function of Si, and discusses the role biomolecules play when incorporated into model systems of silica polymerization as well as future directions for research in this field. (+info)
Breaking the diffraction barrier outside of the optical near-field with bright, collimated light from nanometric apertures.
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The optical diffraction limit has been the dominant barrier to achieving higher optical resolution in the fields of microscopy, photolithography, and optical data storage. We present here an approach toward imaging below the diffraction barrier. Through the exposure of photosensitive films placed a finite and known distance away from nanoscale, zero-mode apertures in thin metallic films, we show convincing, physical evidence that the propagating component of light emerging from these apertures shows a very strong degree of collimation well past the maximum extent of the near-field (lambda(0)/4n-lambda(0)/2n). Up to at least 2.5 wavelengths away from the apertures, the transmitted light exhibits subdiffraction limit irradiance patterns. These unexpected results are not explained by standard diffraction theory or nanohole-based "beaming" rationalizations. This method overcomes the diffraction barrier and makes super-resolution fluorescence imaging practical. (+info)
Competitive immunoassays for simultaneous detection of metabolites and proteins using micromosaic patterning.
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New high-throughput immunoassay methods for rapid point-of-care diagnostic applications represent an unmet need and current focus of numerous innovative methods. We report a new micromosaic competitive immunoassay developed for the analysis of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4), inflammation biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP), and the oxidative damage marker 3-nitrotyrosine (BSA-3NT) on a silicon nitride substrate. To demonstrate the versatility of the method, both direct and indirect format competitive immunoassays were developed and could be applied simultaneously for single samples. Signals from standard solutions were fit to a logistic equation, allowing simultaneous detection of T4 (7.7-257.2 nM), CRP (0.3-4.2 microg/mL), and BSA-3NT (0.03-22.3 microg/mL). Total assay time including sample introduction, washing, and fluorescence measurement was less than 45 min. Dissociation constants for affinity pairs in the system have been estimated using regression. This proof-of-concept experiment shows that both small and macromolecular biomarkers can be quantified from a single sample using the method and suggests that groups of clinically related analytes may be analyzed by competitive micromosaic immunoassay techniques. (+info)
Stretching and unzipping nucleic acid hairpins using a synthetic nanopore.
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Influence of simplified silica coating method on the bonding strength of resin cement to dental alloy.
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This study evaluated the effectiveness of a simplified silica coating method (CoJet System) on the bonding strength of resin cements to dental alloy. Bonding strength of the specimens treated with metal primer after alumina sandblasting was compared with those treated with silica coating and silane coupling agent after alumina sandblasting. Furthermore, the influence of silane coupling agent on bonding strength was compared between one-liquid and two-liquid silane coupling agents. Measurement of shear bond strength before and after thermal cycling revealed that the group treated with silica coating in one step without alumina sandblasting yielded high bonding strength. As for the influence of silane coupling agent, treatment with two-liquid silane coupling agent achieved higher mean shear bond strength than with one-liquid silane coupling agent. Findings in this study indicated that silicatization by means of this simplified silica coating method was effective in improving the bonding strength to dental alloy. (+info)
Effect of various surface conditioning methods on the adhesion of dual-cure resin cement with MDP functional monomer to zirconia after thermal aging.
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This study evaluated the effect of chairside and laboratory types of surface conditioning methods on the adhesion of dual-cure resin cement with MDP functional monomer to zirconia ceramic after thermocycling. Disk-shaped (diameter: 10 mm, thickness: 2 mm) Y-TZP ceramics (Lava, 3M ESPE) were used (N=40) and finished with wet 1200-grit silicon carbide abrasive paper. Specimens were randomly divided into four experimental groups according to the following surface conditioning methods (n=10 per group): Group 1--Chairside airborne particle abrasion with 50-microm Al2O2 + Alloy Primer (Kuraray); Group 2--Airborne particle abrasion with 50-microm Al2O3 + Cesead II Opaque Primer (Kuraray); Group 3--Airborne particle abrasion with 50-microm A12O3 + Silano-Pen + silane coupling agent (Bredent); Group 4--Laboratory tribochemical silica coating (110-microm Al2O3 + 110-microm SiOx) (Rocatec) + silane coupling agent (ESPE-Sil). Adhesive cement, Panavia F 2.0 (Kuraray), was bonded incrementally to the ceramic surfaces using polyethylene molds (diameter: 3.6 mm, height: 5 mm). All specimens were thermocycled (5 and 55 degrees C, 6,000 cycles) and subjected to shear bond strength test (1 mm/min). Data were statistically analyzed (one-way ANOVA, alpha=0.05), whereby no significant differences were found among the four groups (8.43+/-1.3, 8.98+/-3.6, 12.02+/-6.7, and 8.23+/-3.8 MPa) (p=0.1357). Therefore, the performance of chairside conditioning methods used for zirconia was on par with the laboratory alternative tested. (+info)