Composite bond strength improvement with thermal vibration: an experimental non-randomised study

Background. Secondary caries formation is a relevant issue due to poor long-term quality of composite fillings, with inherent subsequent chipping and cracking of the material. We developed a method to improve physical, mechanical and chemical properties of available composites based on thermal vibration imposed on unpolymerised composite in the formed tooth cavity directly prior to polymerisation.Objectives. Effect assessment of thermal vibration exposure on bond strength in composite restorative polymer matrix in various composite brands.Methods. The study used synchronous thermal analysis, including differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry, to estimate and register thermal effects of physical and chemical processes within a temperature programme, as well as determine gaseous release, air contact and decomposition-related sample mass variation, thermal stability, reaction kinetics, polymer and inorganic filler component chemical composition, humidity and softening degree. The study covered 90 specimens 30 mg each prepared of three different composites.Results. Synchronous thermal analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in polymer matrix bond strength in the composites Estelite Sigma Quick (Tokuyama Dental), Filtek Bulk Fill Posterior Restorative (3M Espe) and DentLight (VladMiVa) after thermal vibration exposure vs. classical polymerisation of same composites (p < 0.0001). The bond strength increased by 17.00, 22.51 and 11.31%, respectively.Conclusion. The developed exposure method for altering the composite filling physical and chemical properties has been shown advantageous in a laboratory setting. Thermal vibration-pretreated composite fillings had a higher polymer matrix bond strength vs. same composites polymerised under standard conditions.The pretreatment improves composite filling quality via directly affecting the material physical and mechanical properties of hardness and bending strength

Molecular alliance of Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus and a short unmodified antisense oligonucleotide of its anti-apoptotic IAP-3 gene: A novel approach for gypsy moth control

Baculovirus IAP (inhibitor-of-apoptosis) genes originated by capture of host genes. Unmodified short antisense DNA oligonucleotides (oligoDNAs) from baculovirus IAP genes can down-regulate specific gene expression profiles in both baculovirus-free and baculovirus-infected insects. In this study, gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar) larvae infected with multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV), and LdMNPV-free larvae, were treated with oligoDNA antisense to the RING (really interesting new gene) domain of the LdMNPV IAP-3 gene. The results with respect to insect mortality, biomass accumulation, histological studies, RT-PCR, and analysis of DNA apoptotic fragmentation suggest that oligoRING induced increased apoptotic processes in both LdMNPV-free and LdMNPV-infected insect cells, but were more pronounced in the latter. These data open up possibilities for promising new routes of insect pest control using antisense phosphodiester DNA oligonucleotides

Оценка термонапряженного состояния бетонного массива

The paper describes a technique for assessing the thermally stressed state of a concrete massif of a foundation slab made of a self-compacting concrete mixture. The proposed method consists in a preliminary calculation of temperature fields in hardening concrete. The objects of research have been self-compacting concrete mix and structural concrete in the structure mass. The choice of materials for the preparation of a concrete mixture is given and substantiated. The composition of self-compacting concrete has been used to assess the thermally stressed state. A binder with a reduced exotherm has been used in order to reduce the self-heating of concrete. Studies have been carried out to assess the specific heat release of the recommended cement depending on the initial water-cement ratio. The effect of a chemical additive on the rate and magnitude of the specific heat release of cement has been studied.  The paper presents the main theoretical provisions and an algorithm for calculating the thermal stress state of a concrete massif. The finite difference method has been used to calculate the expected temperatures and their distribution in the structure mass, and the temperature stresses in the sections of the concrete mass have been calculated to assess the thermally stressed state. The performed calculations of the temperature fields have made it possible to estimate the maximum possible temperatures and temperature differences over the sections of the concrete massif depending on the initial temperature of the concrete mixture and the average daily temperature of the outside air. Analysis of the temperature distribution has revealed the most dangerous sections of the concrete mass. An assessment of the thermal stress state of the concrete mass has been made on the basis of the results pertaining to calculation of temperature fields. The calculation of temperature stresses in the most dangerous sections of the concrete massif has been performed. It is shown that the calculated value of the temperature stress can serve as a characteristic of the thermally stressed state of the concrete mass. The formation of temperature cracks in a concrete mass is possible when the calculated value of the temperature stress exceeds the actual tensile strength of concrete. Comparison of the calculated and actual values of temperatures in the sections of the foundation slab has made it possible to conclude that the calculations of the temperature fields and, as a consequence, possible temperature deformations are correct.В статье изложена методика оценки термонапряженного состояния бетонного массива фундаментной плиты, изготовленной из самоуплотняющейся бетонной смеси. Предлагаемая методика заключается в предварительном расчете температурных полей в твердеющем бетоне. Объектами исследований являлись самоуплотняющаяся бетонная смесь и конструкционный бетон в массиве конструкции. Приведен и обоснован выбор материалов для приготовления бетонной смеси. Для оценки термонапряженного состояния использован состав самоуплотняющегося бетона. С целью снижения величины саморазогрева бетона применяли вяжущее с пониженной экзотермией. Выполнены исследования по оценке удельного тепловыделения рекомендованного цемента в зависимости от начального водоцементного отношения. Изучено влияние химической добавки на скорость и величину удельного тепловыделения цемента. Приведены основные теоретические положения и алгоритм расчета термонапряженного состояния бетонного массива. Для расчета ожидаемых температур и их распределения в массиве конструкции использовали метод конечных разностей, а для оценки термонапряженного состояния рассчитывали температурные напряжения в сечениях бетонного массива. Выполненные расчеты температурных полей позволили оценить максимально возможные температуры и температурные перепады по сечениям бетонного массива в зависимости от начальной температуры бетонной смеси и среднесуточной температуры наружного воздуха. Анализ распределения температур выявил наиболее опасные сечения бетонного массива. На основании результатов расчета температурных полей проведена оценка термонапряженного состояния бетонного массива. Выполнен расчет температурных напряжений в наиболее опасных сечениях бетонного массива. Показано, что характеристикой термонапряженного состояния бетонного массива может служить расчетная величина температурного напряжения. Образование температурных трещин в бетонном массиве возможно при превышении расчетного значения температурного напряжения над фактической прочностью бетона на растяжение. Сравнение расчетных и фактических значений температур в сечениях фундаментной плиты позволило сделать вывод о правильности выполненных расчетов температурных полей и, как следствие, о возможных температурных деформациях

Voting 'against all' in postcommunist Russia

Since the early 1990s voters in Russia (and most of the other post-Soviet republics) have been offered the opportunity to vote ‘against all’ parties and candidates. Increasing numbers have done so. The evidence of two post-election surveys indicates that ‘against all’ voters are younger than other voters, more urban and more highly educated. They do not reject liberal democracy, but are critical of the contemporary practice of Russian politics and find no parties that adequately reflect their views. With the ending of the ‘against all’ facility in 2006 and other changes in the Russian electoral system under the Putin presidency, levels of turnout are likely to fall further and the protest vote will seek other outlets within or outside the parliamentary system

Structural insights into thrombolytic activity of destabilase from medicinal leech

Destabilase from the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis belongs to the family of i-type lysozymes. It has two different enzymatic activities: microbial cell walls destruction (muramidase activity), and dissolution of the stabilized fibrin (isopeptidase activity). Both activities are known to be inhibited by sodium chloride at near physiological concentrations, but the structural basis remains unknown. Here we present two crystal structures of destabilase, including a 1.1 Å-resolution structure in complex with sodium ion. Our structures reveal the location of sodium ion between Glu34/Asp46 residues, which were previously recognized as a glycosidase active site. While sodium coordination with these amino acids may explain inhibition of the muramidase activity, its influence on previously suggested Ser49/Lys58 isopeptidase activity dyad is unclear. We revise the Ser49/Lys58 hypothesis and compare sequences of i-type lysozymes with confirmed destabilase activity. We suggest that the general base for the isopeptidase activity is His112 rather than Lys58. pKa calculations of these amino acids, assessed through the 1 μs molecular dynamics simulation, confirm the hypothesis. Our findings highlight the ambiguity of destabilase catalytic residues identification and build foundations for further research of structure–activity relationship of isopeptidase activity as well as structure-based protein design for potential anticoagulant drug development.</p

Prospects for K+→π+ννˉK^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar{ \nu } at CERN in NA62

The NA62 experiment will begin taking data in 2015. Its primary purpose is a 10% measurement of the branching ratio of the ultrarare kaon decay $K^+ \to \pi^+ \nu \bar{ \nu }$, using the decay in flight of kaons in an unseparated beam with momentum 75 GeV/c.The detector and analysis technique are described here.Comment: 8 pages for proceedings of 50 Years of CP

Scintillator counters with multi-pixel avalanche photodiode readout for the ND280 detector of the T2K experiment

The Tokai-to-Kamioka (T2K) experiment is a second generation long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment which aims at a sensitive search for νe appearance. The main design features of the T2K near neutrino detectors located at 280 m from the target are presented, and the scintillator counters are described. The counters are readout via WLS fibers embedded into S-shaped grooves in the scintillator from both ends by multi-pixel avalanche photodiodes operating in a limited Geiger mode. Operating principles and results of tests of photosensors with a sensitive area of 1 mm2 are presented. A time resolution of 1.75 ns, a spatial resolution of 9.9 - 12.4 cm, and a detection efficiency for minimum ionizing particles of more than 99% were obtained for scintillator detectors in a beam test. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Snake venom phospholipase A2s exhibit strong virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 and inhibit the viral spike glycoprotein interaction with ACE2.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 requires new treatments both to alleviate the symptoms and to prevent the spread of this disease. Previous studies demonstrated good antiviral and virucidal activity of phospholipase A2s (PLA2s) from snake venoms against viruses from different families but there was no data for coronaviruses. Here we show that PLA2s from snake venoms protect Vero E6 cells against SARS-CoV-2 cytopathic effects. PLA2s showed low cytotoxicity to Vero E6 cells with some activity at micromolar concentrations, but strong antiviral activity at nanomolar concentrations. Dimeric PLA2 from the viper Vipera nikolskii and its subunits manifested especially potent virucidal effects, which were related to their phospholipolytic activity, and inhibited cell-cell fusion mediated by the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Moreover, PLA2s interfered with binding both of an antibody against ACE2 and of the receptor-binding domain of the glycoprotein S to 293T/ACE2 cells. This is the first demonstration of a detrimental effect of PLA2s on β-coronaviruses. Thus, snake PLA2s are promising for the development of antiviral drugs that target the viral envelope, and could also prove to be useful tools to study the interaction of viruses with host cells