Civil Procedure

In 1980 the Supreme Court of Florida adopted comprehensive amendments to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. The author critically examines these amendments and discusses their probable impact on civil practice in Florida. The author also surveys and discusses the 1980 legislation and court decisions that have affected or construed the unamended rules

Salivary bacterial leakage into implant-abutment connections: preliminary results of an in vitro study

OBJECTIVE: The occurrence of bacterial leakage in the internal surface of implants, through implant-abutment interface (IAI), is one of the parameters for analyzing the fabrication quality of the connections. The aim of this in vitro study is to evaluate two different types of implant-abutment connections: the screwed connection (Group 1) and the cemented connection (Group 2), analyzing the permeability of the IAI to bacterial colonization, using human saliva as culture medium. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of twelve implants were tested, six in each experimental group. Five healthy patients were enrolled in this study. Two milliliters of non-stimulated saliva were collected from each subject and mixed in a test tube. After 14 days of incubation of the bacteria sample in the implant fixtures, a PCR-Real Time analysis was performed. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the proportions of implant-abutment assembled structures detected with bacterial leakage. Differences in the bacterial counts of the two groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. A p value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The results showed a decreased stability with the screwed implant-abutment connections compared to the cemented implant-abutment connections. A mean total bacterial count of 1.2E+07 (± 0.25E+07) for Group 1 and of 7.2E+04 (± 14.4E+04) for Group 2 was found, with a high level of significance, p = .0001. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this study it can be concluded that bacterial species from human saliva may penetrate along the implant-abutment interface in both connections, however the cemented connection implants showed the lowest amount of bacterial colonization

Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationGlycosaminoglycans are carboyhydrate side chains of proteoglycans that have a myriad of biological functions. In the brain, these molecules are implicated in everything from development to plasticity to disease. Two of the main types of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate, have been implicated in both plasticity and learning; however, the exact role they play has remained unclear. One of the more interesting sensorimotor systems in the brain involves the learning and production of vocalizations. The goal of this work was to investigate the role GAGs play in two different aspects of this complex behavior, the neural control of vocal ontogeny and superfast muscle involvement in song production of zebra finch. In order to fully understand the role GAGs play in complex biological behaviors, such as vocalizations, it is imperative that the proper tools be synthesized, characterized, and produced for the study of these carbohydrates. Enzymes, specifically sulfated polymers and oligosaccharides, and small molecules provide unique opportunities to examine the role of GAGs. The use of enzymes in the song-specific nucleus, HVC, allowed the validation of the functionality of these enzymes in the model system of interest. Changes in stereotyped song were observed showing that GAG modulation could lead to alteration of a learned behavior. After this confirmation that GAGs were present and involved in song, small molecules called xylosides were used to examine the role of chondroitin sulfate iv biosynthesis during vocal ontogeny. Infusion of xyloside into RA (robust nucleus of the arcopallium), a nucleus important for vocal ontogeny, led to a change in the development of song. This implies that regulated biosynthesis of chondroitin sulfate during the critical period for vocal ontogeny is important. Lastly, the role of superfast syringeal muscles in song production was examined. Heparan sulfate degradation in these muscles alters the ability of the syrinx to modulate airflow. This change in muscle kinetics was correlated with significant, but temporary, differences in acoustic structure and frequency modulation while long-term differences showed aberrant syllable production

A randomized clinical trial about presence of pathogenic microflora and risk of peri-implantitis: comparison of two different types of implant-abutment connections

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate two different types of implant-abutment connections: screwed connection and cemented connection, analyzing peri-implant bacteria microflora as well as other clinical parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty implants were selected, inserted in 20 patients, 10 with a screwed implant-abutment connection (Group 1) and 10 with a cemented implant-abutment connection (Group 2). The peri-implant microflora was collected, after at least 360 days from the prosthetic rehabilitation, using paper points inserted in peri-implant sulcus for 30 s. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Real-time analyzed the presence of 9 bacteria periodontal-pathogens and Candida albicans. RESULTS: Our findings showed that bacteria colonized all Groups analyzed, the average bacterial count was 3.7 E +08 (±1.19) in Group 1, compared to 2.1 E +08 (±0.16) in Group 2; no statistically significant differences were observed (p>0.0.5). In Group 1, however, bacterial colonization of peri-implant sulci was over the pathogenic threshold for 5 bacteria, indicating a high-risk of peri-implantitis. Also in Group 2, results showed a microflora composed by all bacteria analyzed but, in this case, bacterial colonization of peri-implant sulci was over the pathogenic threshold for only 1 bacterium, indicating a lower risk of peri-implantitis. Moreover, clinical parameters (PPD > 3 mm and m SBI > 0) confirmed a greater risk of peri-implantitis in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that, also after only 360 days, implants with screwed connection showed a higher risk of peri-implantitis that implants with cemented connection

Extraction socket preservation using porcine-derived collagen membrane alone or associated with porcine-derived bone. Clinical results of randomized controlled study

The aim of present randomized controlled clinical trial was to clinically evaluate hard tissue changes after extraction socket preservation procedures compared to natural spontaneous healing

Implant survival and success rates in patients with risk factors: results from a long-term retrospective study with a 10 to 18 years follow-up

OBJECTIVE: Risk factors for implant therapy are represented by all general and local conditions that through various mechanisms can increase either short-term and long-term failure risk. The aim of this study is to assess the implant survival and implant success rates with single and multiple risk factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To address the research purpose, a retrospective cohort study was designed and implemented, including a sample of 225 patients with a total of 871 implants placed. The following risk factors were considered: smoking, bruxism, bone augmentation procedures and the presence of load risk (implants with crown/implant relation > 0.8; angulation > 25°; presence of cantilever). Follow-up ranged from 10 years to 18 years (average follow-up 13.6 years). Failures were subdivided into short-term failures, before the prosthetic phase, and long-term failures, after definitive prosthesis. The success criteria published by Albrektsson and Zarb were adopted. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to calculate hazard ratio, with a statistically significant p-value <0.05. RESULTS: Out of the 871 implants placed, 138 did not meet the success criteria, (success rate 84.16%), sixty (43.47%) were classified as "early failure" and seventy-eight as "late failure" (56.53%). A total of 70 dental implants were removed, with a survival rate of 91.96%. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a single risk factor does not imply a marked increase of failure risk. Among the analyzed factors, the one that proved to be the most dangerous was bruxism, even when presented as the only risk factor. Bruxism with load risk proved to be the most dangerous association (success rate 69.23%) and could be included among the absolute contraindications for implant treatment

Corrosion behavior of dental implants immersed into human saliva: Preliminary results of an in vitro study

Over the years, dif- ferent implant surfaces have been used to try to maximize bone to implant contact. The aim of this study was to compare levels of metallic ions and particles dissolution collected from two dif- ferent dental implants surfaces immersed into human saliva. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 60 den- tal implants were tested. Group A: sanded with aluminium oxide medium grade particles and ac- id-etched; Group B: micro-sanded with calcium phosphate powders and acid-etched. Forty im- plants were immersed in 20 ml of human saliva, twenty, as a control, in sterile saline solution. ICP-MS was performed to detect any metallic ions released from dental implants at T0, on day 1 (T1), on day 3 (T2), after one week (T3), on day 14 (T4), after 3 months (T5) and after 6 months (T6). RESULTS: Dissolution of metallic particles of titanium and nickel, absent in human saliva (T0), were found after one week (T3) for Group B and after 3 months (T5) for Group A. Vanadium was already detected in small concentrations in either group after 1 day, with an exponential growth for Group B. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results reported signi cant values of Ti, Ni and V released by Group B, showing for the rst time statistically signi cant values of vanadium

Bone healing in extraction sockets covered with collagen membrane alone or associated with porcine-derived bone graft: a comparative histological and histomorphometric analysis

The present paper reports data of a randomized study aimed to analyse and compare the histologic and histomorphometric aspects of bone healing in extraction sites covered with collagen membrane alone or associated with porcine-derived bone graft

A constitucionalidade dos critérios de criação das Regiões Metropolitanas, Aglomerações Urbanas e Microrregiões previstos na Lei Federal brasileira

This paper deals with the question regarding the constitutionality of some articles contained in the Federal Law n.º 13089/2015 (Statute of the metropolis). The first question is about the viability of the Federation (União) in setting up general requirements for all federate states to institute the administrative regional figures. The second question is about how to establish metropolitan regions and urban conglomerations that include municipalities belonging to more than one state. The third question is the different treatment established by the federal law: There are requirements for metropolitan regions and urban conglomerations, but there are no requirements for micro regions. However, by analogy, the federal law also applies to this type of federal arrangement.O presente artigo trata da constitucionalidade de alguns dispositivos legais instituídos pela Lei Federal n.º 13089/2015, denominada Estatuto da Metrópole. O primeiro questionamento refere-se à viabilidade da União fixar requisitos gerais para todos os Estados-membros instituírem as figuras regionais. O segundo diz respeito à criação de regiões metropolitanas e aglomerações urbanas que envolvem municípios pertencentes a mais de um Estado da federação. Por sua vez, a terceira questão diz respeito à distinção de tratamento estabelecida pelo legislador federal ao fixar requisitos apenas para instituição das regiões metropolitanas e aglomerações urbanas, em detrimento das microrregiões, embora estenda os efeitos da lei para este tipo de arranjo federativo

Laboratori de captchas

C.A.P.T.C.H.A: Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. Segons Cloudfare*, els humans tardem de mitjana 32 segons en resoldre cada captcha. Això suposa un equivalent de 500 anys destinats col.lectivament cada dia a resoldre aquests tests per evitar les intrusions de bots a les pàgines web. Si bé els objectius inicials d’aquests tests eren únicament separar humans de bots, altres objectius paral.lels han alterat el funcionament d’aquestes peces, com la digitalització de llibres o l’entrenament d’intel.lència artificial i altres interessos comercials. Com a resultat, tot i el volum immens de tests que es fan diàriament (200 milions), el disseny d’aquestes peçes interactives no han evolucionat tant com ho ha fet el de la resta de les interfícies i experiències d’usuari. Aquest projecte proposa prèmer el botó de reinici dels captcha i explorar les seves possibilitats per millorar-ne el funcionament. Utilitzant com a punt de partida les increïbles habilitats que diferencien els seus usuaris, els humans, dels bots. Posant especial atenció en la manera única amb la que perceben la realitat