Effect of a novel commercial potassium-oxalate containing tooth-desensitizing mouthrinse on the microhardness of resin composite restorative materials with different monomer compositions

The effects of mouthrinses on dental resin composites have been investigated extensively. However, there is little information available regarding the effects of ‘newly developed mouthrinse’ formulations on the microhardness of different monomer based composite systems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a novel potassium-oxalate containing desensitizing mouthrinse on the microhardness of different monomer based composite materials. A hundred and twenty specimens (6mm in diameter and 2mm in height) were prepared for composite resin groups (methacrylate based, DX-511 monomer based and silorane monomer based) and for storage solution groups (artificial saliva and potassium oxalate-containing tooth-desensitizing mouthrinse). After allowing post-polimerization the baseline Knoop microhardness measurements for all specimens were recorded. The specimens were stored in 20 mL mouthwash and artificial saliva for 12 hours at 37ºC. The post-immersion microhardness values of all specimens were also recorded. Data were subjected to ANOVA/Scheffe’s test at a significance level of 0.05. The intra group (pre and post immersion values) comparison of the mean microhardness values of the specimens was done using Wilcoxon signed rank test. The microhardness of the silorane based composite was not affected significantly (p>0.05). The hardness values of the DX-511 monomer based composite and the methacrylate based composite exhibited a slight but not significant microhardness change compared to the baseline values (p>0.05). Studies reported that the effect of mouthrinses on microhardness changes of composite resins may be material dependent, and the hardness change susceptibility of a restorative material may be attributed to its resin matrix or filler type. However, dental monomers as well as the oral care products have an ever-evolving technology and future studies should consider newer products. Potassium oxalate containing mouthrinses, especially alcohol-free ones, may be used safely with dental composites with newly developed low-shrink monomer compositions

Morphometric analysis of the lumbar vertebrae in the Turkish population using three-dimensional computed tomography: correlation with sex, age, and height

Background: Morphometric measurements of lumbar vertebrae are different in European and Asian populations. Transpedicular screws are candidates for the ideal method to treat instability of lumbar vertebrae and provide very strong stabilisation. Our study reflects the variation of morphometric measurements of lumbar vertebrae in the Turkish population according to sex, age, and height. The aim of our study was to measure the transverse pedicle diameter (TPD), vertical pedicle diameter (VPD), pedicle axis length (PAL), and transverse pedicle angle (TPA) of the lumbar vertebrae, using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT), and assess variations according to sex, age, and height. Materials and methods: Prospective cohort, Therapeutic Level III, Urban Level III Trauma Centre. The study design adopted a morphometric analysis using 3D-CT of the lumbar vertebrae in the Turkish population, with variation in terms of sex, age, and height and comparison with previous studies. In 240 cases, measurements of TPC, VPD, PAL, and TPA with 3D-CT were performed on a total of 1200 lumbar vertebrae. The values at each lumbar level were compared in groups based on sex, age, and height. Results: The results of our study determined the normal values of TPD, VPD, PAL, and TPA of lumbar vertebrae in the Turkish population using 3D-CT. Additionally there were variations in TPD, VPD, and PAL according to sex, age, and height. TPA varied according to age, while no difference was found in terms of sex or height. Conclusions: The morphometric measurements of lumbar vertebrae in the Turkish population are similar to western populations. Sex, age, and height are factors affecting reliable screw choice

Mechanical, thermal, morphological properties and decay resistance of filled hazelnut husk polymer composites

Four different formulations of natural fiber-polymer composites were fabricated from mixtures of hazelnut (Corylus avellana) husk flour (HHF), polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE).Variables examined included polymer and coupling agent types. All formulations were compression molded in a hot press for 3 minutes at 175 0C. The resulted specimens were tested for mechanical properties according to ASTM D-790 and ASTM D-638. In addition, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry (TG) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis were performed to characterize rheological properties of the fabricated composite. Furthermore, decay tests were performed to determine degradation of hazelnut husk polymer matrices. Hazelnut husk polymer composites had high mechanical properties for the tested formulations. The thermal studies showed that incorporation ofhazelnut husk into the polymer matrices used did not adversely affect the composite. The HDPE+50% wood + 3% MAPE (HHF2) formulation showed the highest natural durability with only 3,47% and 4,60% mass losses against Trametes versicolor and Postia plecenta, respectively, while Scots pine solid controls experienced around 32% mass loss under the same exposure condition

AERIAL PLATFORMS (UAV) SURVEYS IN THE VIS AND TIR RANGE. APPLICATIONS ON ARCHAEOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE

The paper presents multi-sensor applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) on three different cases of study, belonging to the wide category of Cultural Heritage (CH). The contribution aims to examine the efficacy of different methodological approach of surveys made in VIS and TIR range with aerial platforms. The use of UAV on two archaeological areas, Çatalhöyük site (Konya, Turkey) and the Medicean Villa of Pratolino (Florence, Italy) and an application of precision agriculture in Lamole (Greve in Chianti, Italy) will be presented. In particular, the analysis will focus on the accuracy of the obtained data, in terms of both metric and image quality, the possible information to extract from the IR imaging, the relationship between costs and benefits and the total amount of information that can be gained. The two different fields of research (archaeological and agricultural one) show that there are some similarities in the approaches and which could be the improving to obtain using the aerial survey in the visual and IR bands

Süphan stratovolkanı'nın volkanostratigrafisi ve jeokimyasal evrimi

TÜBİTAK MAG01.09.2009Doğu Anadolu Bölgesinde yer alan çarpışma kökenli volkanizma kuzeydoğuda Erzurum-Kars Platosundan güneyde Karacadağ’a kadar uzanan geniş bir alanda yüzeylenmektedir. Bölgenin yaklaşık olarak 2/3 sini kaplayan volkanizma irili ufaklı çıkış merkezleri ile büyük hacimlere sahip kalkan ve stratovolkanlar ile karakterize edilir. Van Gölü’nün kuzeyinde yer alan Süphan Stratovolkanı 4050 m yüksekliği ile Doğu Anadolu’da yer alan Kuvaterner yaşlı volkanların en önemli üyelerinden biridir. Neojen-Kuvaterner yaşlı sedimanter birimler üzerine yerleşen Süphan volkanizmasının ilk ürünleri debris avalanche, I. evre piroklastik ürünler ve riyolitik obsidiyen lavlarıdır. Bu birimlerin üzerine ise bazalttan riyolite kadar uzanan lav akışları, riyolitik/dasitik domlar, piroklastik birimler gelmektedir. Volkanizmanın en son ürünleri ise Aygır Maarı’na ait piroklastik birimlerdir. Mineralojik-Petrografik çalışmalar ve lavların major-iz element karakteristikleri volkanizmanın gelişiminde plajiyoklaz + olivin + klinopiroksen + ortopiroksen + amfibol + biyotit + K-felsdpat fraksiyonel kristalleşmesinin etkin olduğunu göstermektedir. Süphan volkanikleri genel olarak subalkali ve alkali karakterler arasında geçiş göstermektedir. İz element içerikleri ele alındığında HFS elemetler LIL elementlere oranla, LRE elementler HRE elementlere oranla zenginleşme göstermiştir. Volkanikler içerisinde yeralan anklavların jeokimyasal özellikleri Süphan volkanizmasının genel karakteri ile uyum göstermektedir. Th/Y-Nb/Y ve izotop korelasyon diyagramları (87Sr/86Sr -143Nd/144Nd, 87Sr/86Sr – Pb206/Pb204, Pb207/204-Pb206/204) volkanizmanın kaynağının dalma-batma bileşeni ile zenginleşmiş bir manto kaynağı olduğunu işaret etmektedir. Bununla birlikte Ba/Nb - Ce/ Nb diyagramı üzerindeki karışım eğrisi de Süphan volkaniklerinin zenginleşmiş bir manto kaynağı ile dalma-batma bileşeni içeren bir kaynağın karışımından oluştuğunu göstermektedir. Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi’nde kabuk kalınlığı ile ilgili jeofizik tabanlı çalışmalar da göz önüne alındığında bu manto kaynağının, dalan levhanın krılması (slab breakoff) yoluyla yitim bileşeni kazanmış astenosferik bir kaynak olabileceği öngörülmüştür. Volkanikler üzerinde gerçekleştirilen Ar-Ar yaş analizleri trakitik lavlar için 0.55±0.34 ile 0.037±0.020 my arasında riyolitik lavlar için ise 0.040±0.022 my yaş vermiştir.Collision-related volcanics in Eastern Anatolia are exposed in a broad zone from the Erzurum-Kars Plateau in the northeast to Karacadağ in the south. Volcanic rocks covered two thirds of the plateau and are characterized by secondary eruption centers and huge shield and stratovolcanoes. Süphan Stratovolcano, located to the north of the Lake Van is one of the most important Quaternary volcanos in Eastern Anatolia with its 4050 m high elevation. Initial products of the Süphan stratovolcano which overly the Neogene-Quaternary sedimentary rocks are the debris avalanche, Ist cycle pyroclastic rocks and rhyolitic obsidian flows. These units are overlain by lava flows with compositions ranging from basalt to rhyolite, rhyolit-dasidic domes and pyroclastic rocks. Aygır maar deposits are the last products of the volcano. Mineralogical-petrographical and major-trace element compositions of the volcanic products point to the effects of plagioclase + olivine + clinopyroxene + ortopyroxene + amphibole + biotite + K-feldspar fractionation in the evolution of the volcanics. Süphan volcanics are transitional between subalkaline and alkaline character. LIL and LRE elements are enriched over HFS and HRE elements respectively. Most of the Süphan enclaves show similar geochemical properties with the Süphan volcanics. Th/Y-Nb/Y and isotope correlation (87Sr/86Sr -143Nd/144Nd, 87Sr/86Sr – Pb206/Pb204, Pb207/204-Pb206/204) diagrams point out a subduction modified enriched mantle source for the source of the volcanics. Mixing curves on Ba/Nb - Ce/ Nb diagrams further suggest that the Süphan volcanics are formed by mixing of an enriched mantle and a source bearing effects of subduction. In the light of geochemical constraints and recent geophysical data regarding lithospheric structure of eastern Anatolia, the source of the Suphan volcanics is interpreted as an astenospheric mantle bearing the effects of previous subduction events via slab breakoff. Ar-Ar ages of the trachytes and rhyolites range between 55±0.34 - 0.037±0.020, 0.040±0.022 ma respectively

Sustainability of bioenergy – Mapping the risks & benefits to inform future bioenergy systems

Bioenergy is widely included in energy strategies for its GHG mitigation potential. Bioenergy technologies will likely have to be deployed at scale to meet decarbonisation targets, and consequently biomass will have to be increasingly grown/mobilised. Sustainability risks associated with bioenergy may intensify with increasing deployment and where feedstocks are sourced through international trade. This research applies the Bioeconomy Sustainability Indicator Model (BSIM) to map and analyse the performance of bioenergy across 126 sustainability issues, evaluating 16 bioenergy case studies that reflect the breadth of biomass resources, technologies, energy vectors and bio-products. The research finds common trends in sustainability performance across projects that can inform bioenergy policy and decision making. Potential sustainability benefits are identified for People (jobs, skills, income, energy access); for Development (economy, energy, land utilisation); for Natural Systems (soil, heavy metals), and; for Climate Change (emissions, fuels). Also, consistent trends of sustainability risks where focus is required to ensure the viability of bioenergy projects, including for infrastructure, feedstock mobilisation, techno-economics and carbon stocks. Emission mitigation may be a primary objective for bioenergy, this research finds bioenergy projects can provide potential benefits far beyond emissions - there is an argument for supporting projects based on the ecosystem services and/or economic stimulation they may deliver. Also given the broad dynamics and characteristics of bioenergy projects, a rigid approach of assessing sustainability may be incompatible. Awarding ‘credit’ across a broader range of sustainability indicators in addition to requiring minimum performances in key areas, may be more effective at ensuring bioenergy sustainability

Cumulative incidence and risk factors for cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma metastases in organ transplant recipients: the SCOPE-ITSCC metastases study, a prospective multi-center study.

Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are believed to have an increased risk of metastatic cutaneous squamous-cell carcinoma (cSCC), but reliable data are lacking regarding the precise incidence and associated risk factors. In a prospective cohort study, including 19 specialist dermatology outpatient clinics in 15 countries, patient and tumor characteristics were collected using standardized questionnaires when SOTRs presented with a new cSCC. After a minimum of 2 years of follow-up, relevant data for all SOTRs were collected. Cumulative incidence of metastases was calculated by the Aalen-Johansen estimator. Fine and Gray models were used to assess multiple risk factors for metastases. Of 514 SOTRs who presented with 623 primary cSCCs, 37 developed metastases with a 2-year patient-based cumulative incidence of 6.2%. Risk factors for metastases included location in the head and neck area, local recurrence, size >2cm, clinical ulceration, poor differentiation grade, perineural invasion and deep invasion. A high-stage tumor that is also ulcerated showed the highest risk of metastasis, with a 2-year cumulative incidence of 46.2% (31.9% - 68.4%). SOTRs have a high risk of cSCC metastases and well-established clinical and histological risk factors have been confirmed. High-stage, ulcerated cSCCs have the highest risk of metastasis. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.