Distinct Salivary Biomarker Profile in Chronic Periodontitis

poster abstractBackground: Saliva has potential to diagnose chronic periodontitis (CP). Changes in tissue-expression of pattern-recognition-receptors (PRRs), which recognize periodontal-pathogens, correlate with CP. It follows that PRRs-expression in nucleated-cells (NCs) shed in saliva and soluble-PRRs may differentiate CP from health. Additionally, cytokines in gingival cervical fluid (GCF) correlate with worsening CP, which may be reflected in saliva. One significant test for biomarkers is changes in response to treatment. Objectives: Comparison of CP salivary-biomarkers profile with health and to study treatment effects of scaling and root planning (SRP). Methods: Unstimulated whole saliva (UWS) collection and recording of routine clinical periodontal parameters was done for two groups (n=16): healthy (H) (minimal clinical loss of attachment (CAL) and clinical inflammation) and CP (≥30% sites with ≥4mm CAL). UWS was collected at 3 different time points: before, 1-week and 6-weeks after SRP from the CP group. NCs and clarified saliva (CS) were separated from UWS. Messenger RNA was extracted from NCs and TLR-2 expression was quantitated through real-time-PCR. CS depleted of immunoglobulin and amylase to prevent large molecule interferences and diluted to 1 μg/ml of salivary-protein in PBS, normalize for variations in liquid volume, was used to quantify biomarkers through ELISA. Statistical significance between H- and CP-groups biomarkers was determined through Mann-Whitney ‘U' test and one tailed paired ‘t' test. Results: Statistically significant differences were noted for clinical profiles of H- and CP-groups and for changes after SRP within CP-group. Salivary sTLR-2, IL-17 and IL-10, were significantly higher, and sCD14, IL-6, IL-4 and TLR-2 mRNA were significantly lower in H compared to CP. In CP, salivary sTLR-2 and IL10 increased significantly at 1- and 6-weeks after SRP, whilst IL-4 decreased significantly at 6-weeks. Conclusions: Salivary biomarkers profiles are distinct between health and CP as well as before and after SRP treatment. sTLR-2, IL-10 and IL-4 may serve as short-term biomarkers for monitoring response to SRP. sCD14, TLR2-mRNA and other cytokines need exploration as long-term response biomarkers. Depletion of amylase and immunoglobulin, and normalization for total salivary protein may be important in biomarkers quantification

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Datura stramonium leaf extract and assessment of their antibacterial activity

Silver nanoparticles of 15-20 nm size with spherical shape were synthesized from green synthesis method using Datura stramonium leaf extract. Synthesized Ag NPs were studied for their optical, structural, surface morphological and antibacterial properties. The optical study shows that the appearance of SPR peak at 444 nm in the absorption spectrum is affirming the formation of Ag NPs and its high intensity with narrowed width indicating the homogenous size and shape of the Ag NPs. Structural studies reveal the good crystalline nature of face center cubic structure of Ag crystal and preferentially oriented along (111) plane with average crystallite size of 18 nm. FTIR analysis exhibits the possible reducing biomolecules within the leaf extract. The well defined homogenous spherical shape of the Ag NPs is clearly observed from the TEM studies and lattice fringes spacing of 0.23 nm shows the high crystalline nature of the synthesized Ag NPs. EDAX profile affirms the Ag crystal by the presence of energy peak at 3 eV. The synthesized Ag NPs showed antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria. However, well pronounced activity was observed against E. coli

Digital Modulation Identification Model Using Wavelet Transform and Statistical Parameters

A generalized modulation identification scheme is developed and presented. With the help of this scheme, the automatic modulation classification and recognition of wireless communication signals with a priori unknown parameters are possible effectively. The special features of the procedure are the possibility to adapt it dynamically to nearly all modulation types, and the capability to identify. The developed scheme based on wavelet transform and statistical parameters has been used to identify M-ary PSK, M-ary QAM, GMSK, and M-ary FSK modulations. The simulated results show that the correct modulation identification is possible to a lower bound of 5 dB. The identification percentage has been analyzed based on the confusion matrix. When SNR is above 5 dB, the probability of detection of the proposed system is more than 0.968. The performance of the proposed scheme has been compared with existing methods and found it will identify all digital modulation schemes with low SNR

Molecular modeling of 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile dye sensitizer for solar cells using quantum chemical calculations

AbstractThe geometries, electronic structures, polarizabilities, and hyperpolarizabilities of organic dye sensitizer 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile was studied based on Hartree–Fock (HF) and density functional theory (DFT) using the hybrid functional B3LYP. Ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectrum was investigated by time dependent DFT (TD-DFT). Features of the electronic absorption spectrum in the visible and near-UV regions were assigned based on TD-DFT calculations. The absorption bands are assigned to π→π∗ transitions. Calculated results suggest that the three lowest energy excited states are due to photoinduced electron transfer processes. The interfacial electron transfer between semiconductor TiO2 electrode and 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile is due to electron injection process from excited dye to the semiconductor’s conduction band. The role of cyanine in 3,4-pyridinedicarbonitrile in geometries, electronic structures, and spectral properties were analyzed

Optimization of Growth Regulators for Induction of Callus from Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)

The objective of this study was to optimize the concentration of different plant growth regulators or hormones for callus induction of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.). Different types and concentrations of growth regulators were tested in order to obtain the best callus formation. Four growth hormones such as 1-naphthaleneacetic acid NAP), 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), Kinetin and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4–D) were used in this study. It was found that growth regulator type and concentration had a significant effect on the callus induction, the increment of callus index and callus physical appearance. The higher frequency of callus growth (95-100%) were observed on both epicotyls and cotyledon explants cultured on basal medium supplemented with 0.1mg/l NAA + 0.5mg/l Bap and various concentrations such as 0.2+0.1, 0.5+0.1, 1.0+0.2mg/l of NAA + BAP also shows good callus response but at higher concentration of the same hormones shuts the callus growth. The concentration of BAP and 2,4-D also shows good callus response in higher concentration whereas low concentrations of this hormone combination show nil effect. The morphology of callus differs upon the hormonal concentration from green to white and green to brown with various textures. This protocol paves the way for the development of in vitro regeneration for cotton and consequently will promote the application of plant tissue culture

Tibia Fracture Healing Prediction Using First-Order Mathematical Model

The prediction of healing period of a tibia fracture in humans across limb using first-order mathematical model is demonstrated. At present, fracture healing is diagnosed using X-rays. Recent studies have demonstrated electric stimulation as a diagnostic tool in fracture healing. A DC electric voltage of 0.7 V was applied across the fracture and stabilized with Teflon coated carbon rings and the data was recorded at different time intervals until the fracture heals. The experimental data fitted a first-order plus dead time zero model (FOPDTZ) that coincided with the mathematical model of electrical simulated tibia fracture limb. Fracture healing diagnosis was proposed using model parameter process gain. Current stabilization in terms of process gain parameter becoming constant indicates that the healing of fracture is a new finding in the work. An error analysis was performed and it was observed that the measured data correlated to the FOPDTZ model with an error of less than 2 percent. Prediction of fracture healing period was done by one of the identified model parameters, namely, process gain. Moreover, mathematically, it is justified that once the fracture is completely united there is no capacitance present across the fracture site, which is a novelty of the work

Redox-triggered buoyancy and size modulation of a dynamic covalent gel

The development of stimuli-responsive materials capable of transducing external stimuli into mechanical and physical changes has always been an intriguing challenge and an inspiration for scientists. Several stimuli-responsive gels have been developed and applied to biomimetic actuators or artificial muscles. Redox active actuators in which the mechanical motion is driven chemically or electrochemically have attracted much interest and their actuation mechanism is based on the change in electrostatic repulsion and the loss or gain of counterions to balance newly formed charges. Actuation can also be promoted by changing the hydration state of the material leading to the release/adsorption of water molecules from the network, inducing a direct shrinking/swelling of the material respectively. A cationic crystalline dynamic covalent gel was obtained via the formation of imine bonds between 2,6-diformyl pyridine and triamino guanidinium chloride. The gel exhibits a reversible contraction/expansion behavior in response to base (oxidation, –H+, –e–) and acid (reduction +H+, +e–) respectively. The oxidation induces a color change and contraction of the gel with a concomitant increase in its strength. As synthesized, the cationic gel is denser than water and sinks when placed in water. Upon oxidation, the radical cationic gel expels water molecules rendering it less dense than water and the gel is propelled to the surface without any loss of its structural integrity. These results demonstrate that a careful choice of amine and aldehyde linkers can give rise to imine-linked materials capable of tolerating and resisting extreme acidic and basic conditions while performing work

An embedded interfacial network stabilizes inorganic CsPbI₃ perovskite thin films

The black perovskite phase of CsPbI(3) is promising for optoelectronic applications; however, it is unstable under ambient conditions, transforming within minutes into an optically inactive yellow phase, a fact that has so far prevented its widespread adoption. Here we use coarse photolithography to embed a PbI(2)-based interfacial microstructure into otherwise-unstable CsPbI(3) perovskite thin films and devices. Films fitted with a tessellating microgrid are rendered resistant to moisture-triggered decay and exhibit enhanced long-term stability of the black phase (beyond 2.5 years in a dry environment), due to increasing the phase transition energy barrier and limiting the spread of potential yellow phase formation to structurally isolated domains of the grid. This stabilizing effect is readily achieved at the device level, where unencapsulated CsPbI(3) perovskite photodetectors display ambient-stable operation. These findings provide insights into the nature of phase destabilization in emerging CsPbI(3) perovskite devices and demonstrate an effective stabilization procedure which is entirely orthogonal to existing approaches

Photoelectric Properties of Silicon Nanocrystals/P3HT Bulk-Heterojunction Ordered in Titanium Dioxide Nanotube Arrays

A silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) conjugated-polymer-based bulk-heterojunction represents a promising approach for low-cost hybrid solar cells. In this contribution, the bulk-heterojunction is based on Si-ncs prepared by electrochemical etching and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer. Photoelectric properties in parallel and vertical device-like configuration were investigated. Electronic interaction between the polymer and surfactant-free Si-ncs is achieved. Temperature-dependent photoluminescence and transport properties were studied and the ratio between the photo- and dark-conductivity of 1.7 was achieved at ambient conditions. Furthermore the porous titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes’ template was used for vertical order of photosensitive Si-ncs/P3HT-based blend. The anodization of titanium foil in ethylene glycol-based electrolyte containing fluoride ions and subsequent thermal annealing were used to prepare anatase TiO2nanotube arrays. The arrays with nanotube inner diameter of 90 and 50 nm were used for vertical ordering of the Si-ncs/P3HT bulk-heterojunction

Ion-Mobility Mass Spectrometry for the Rapid Determination of the Topology of Interlocked and Knotted Molecules.

A rapid screening method based on traveling-wave ion-mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) combined with tandem mass spectrometry provides insight into the topology of interlocked and knotted molecules, even when they exist in complex mixtures, such as interconverting dynamic combinatorial libraries. A TWIMS characterization of structure-indicative fragments generated by collision-induced dissociation (CID) together with a floppiness parameter defined based on parent- and fragment-ion arrival times provide a straightforward topology identification. To demonstrate its broad applicability, this approach is applied here to six Hopf and two Solomon links, a trefoil knot, and a [3]catenate.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (CRC 765 “Multivalency”). Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. Swiss National Science Foundation (PZ00P2_161270). Fondation Wiener-Anspach