Push-out bond strength of different endodontic obturation material at three different sites : in-vitro study

The key to success of any root canal therapy is adequate obturation of the prepared root canal space. Root canal sealers are not dimensionally stable and might dissolve partially over a period of time. The objective of this in vitro study is to evaluate the push-out bond strength to intraradicular dentin of two endodontic obturation materials. Forty extracted single rooted permanent teeth were used. Canals orifice was explored, teeth were instrumented. The samples were divided into two groups each containing twenty specimens obturated with different obturation material (Group1 Epiphany/Resilon and Group 2 Gutta Percha/AH Plus).The obturation systems used in this study was Element Obturation unit (Sybron Endo). Each tooth root was horizontally sectioned in approximately 2-mm thick slices from the coronal 1/3rd, middle 1/3rd and apical 1/3rd. The push-out bond strength of each specimen was calculated using Universal Testing Machine. The statistical analysis was done using two way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and tukey?s test. There was significant difference between push out bond strength of Resilon/Epiphany and AH Plus/Gutta Percha. Gutta percha group was superior with push out bond strength of 2.22 (± 0.16) Mpa in comparison to Resilon/Epiphany group with 1.61 (±0.14) Mpa (p<0.001). The interfacial bond strength achieved with Resilon/Epiphany self-etch (SE) to intraradicular dentine was not superior to that of AH Plus/Gutta Percha

Attribute Based Coding, Review and Gap Analysis of Cotton Harvesting Processes and Machines

Mechanical cotton harvesters, i.e. strippers and pickers are commercially available, but these cannot be used for cotton harvesting from varieties presently grown in India due to design constraints and agronomic practices. Higher initial cost and field capacity make cotton harvesters unsuitable and unaffordable for small and medium farms. Hence, a comprehensive review of cotton harvesting mechanisms developed till date was carried out. Different attributes relating to problem have been expressed in matrix form to identify of crop and machine parameters which could be utilized by Researchers, Engineers and Manufacturers for development and refinement of mechanical cotton harvesters for small and medium farms. The matrix depicts on academic work of each paper and each attribute. Coding/grading of these attributes was done according to their importance in the research publications. Summation of coded attributes has been done publication-wise as well as category-wise so that the value of each attribute and each publication gets identified for the development of a need based mechanical cotton harvester. For publication-wise attribute coding, a total of 19 publications with 21 attributes were reviewed and related with the mechanical cotton harvesters. A publication with all the 21 selected attributes had been discussed in detail and was assigned a score of 105. Under the category-wise attribute coding, attributes such as crop variety, yield, row spacing, plant height and plant population were considered and assigned grade more than 20 as most of the authors discussed these attributes in their studies. Other parameters like limb length, plant canopy (spread width) along and across the rows, height of lower and upper boll were accorded less importance as their grade was less than 10 out of a total 95 score. Defoliant attributes were discussed in 14 out of 19 papers reviewed and had 28 grade points as compared to desiccant, which was discussed in only 2 papers and assigned a grade of 5 only. Under the machine parameters, type of mechanism was assigned a grade point i.e. 66 as mechanical harvester performance was mainly dependent on this attribute. So far, as the performance of harvester was concerned, various parameters like picking efficiency, trash content, lint turnout and losses were discussed in different studies.

Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy of brain in obstructive sleep apnoea in North Indian Asian subjects

Background &amp; Objectives: Repeated apnoeic/hypoapnoeic episodes during sleep may produce cerebral damage in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The aim of this study was to determine the absolute concentration of cerebral metabolites in apnoeic and non-apnoeic subjects from different regions of the brain to monitor the regional variation of cerebral metabolites. Methods: Absolute concentration of cerebral metabolites was determined by using early morning proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS) in 18 apnoeic patients with OSA (apnoeics) having apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI) &gt; 5/h, while 32 were non-apnoeic subjects with AHI &lt; 5/h. Results: The absolute concentration of tNAA [(N-acetylaspartate (NAA)+N-acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG)] was observed to be statistically significantly lower (P&lt;0.05) in apnoeics in the left temporal and left frontal gray regions compared to non-apnoeics. The Glx (glutamine, Gln + glutamate, Glu) resonance showed higher concentration (but not statistically significant) in the left temporal and left frontal regions of the brain in apnoeics compared to non-apnoeics. The absolute concentration of myo-inositol (mI) was significantly high (P&lt;0.03) in apnoeics in the occipital region compared to non-apnoeics. Interpretation &amp; Conclusions: Reduction in the absolute concentration of tNAA in apnoeics is suggestive of neuronal damage, probably caused by repeated apnoeic episodes in these patients. NAA showed negative correlation with AHI in the left frontal region, while Cho and mI were positively correlated in the occipital region and Glx showed positive correlation in the left temporal region of the brain. Overall, our results demonstrate that the variation in metabolites concentrations is not uniform across various regions of the brain studied in patients with OSA. Further studies with a large cohort of patients to substantiate these observations are required

Chemical reaction effect on MHD rotating fluid over a vertical plate with variable thermal conductivity: A numerical study

In this article, we have considered the simultaneous influence of chemical reaction and heat source on magnetohydrodynamic assorted convective heat and mass transfer flow past a vertical plate in a rotating system. The effects of applied magnetic field have also been taken into consideration while the induced magnetic field has not been reviewed due to very minor magnetic Reynolds number. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations for the flow, energy and species have been changed into highly nonlinear coupled system of ordinary differential equations by the help of similarity transformations and which are then solved numerically by applying fourth order Runge-Kutta technique associated along with shooting technique. The impacts of different variables on the velocity, temperature, concentration, skin friction and rate of heat and mass transfer distribution in the system have been shown graphically and explained in detail. In this paper we differentiate the results with already published works and good concurrence has been acquired to ensure the validity of the study

A comparative study of the use of tiger-specific and heterologous microsatellite markers for population genetic studies of the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris)

Comparison of genetic diversity indices of heterologous and species-specific microsatellite loci within a species may provide a panel of appropriate markers for genetic studies, but few studies have carried out such comparisons. We examined and compared the genetic characteristics of tiger-specific and heterologous loci in eight captive Bengal tigers. The mean polymorphic information content (PIC) value of the tiger-specific microsatellite loci (n = 15) was 0.447, and the number of alleles was from 2 to 4 per locus. In comparison, the heterologous microsatellite loci (n = 15) had a mean PIC value of 0.539, and the number of alleles per locus was three to five. Our findings indicate that the heterologous markers have a higher frequency (n = 11) of polymorphic microsatellite loci and number of alleles per locus compared with tiger-specific loci. We pooled the highly polymorphic (PIC &gt; 0.5) tiger-specific loci (n = 5) and heterologous microsatellite loci (n = 11) except one and noted a higher mean observed heterozygosity and PIC values of 0.668 and 0.575, respectively, compared with the heterologous and tiger-specific loci taken alone. Using a locus selection criterion of PIC &gt; 0.5, we recommend a combined panel of 16 highly polymorphic loci for genetic studies of the wild population of the Bengal tigers and suggest that either a combination of tiger-specific and heterologous microsatellite primers or heterologous primers be used in genetic studies related to the ecology, biology, socio-biology and behavior of Bengal tigers as &gt;13 loci are needed in such studies.Keywords: Bengal tiger, highly polymorphic, tiger-specific, heterologous, microsatellite loci

Effect of Feronia elephantum (Corr) Fruit Pulp Extract on Indomethacin-induced Gastric Ulcer in Albino Rats

Purpose: To investigate the activity of Feronia elephantum fruit pulp extract (which is used in folk medicine) against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Methods: The fruit pulp was extracted with ethanol and the anti-ulcer activity of the extract in indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration in Swiss albino rats was evaluated. The parameters assessed were pH and acid concentration of gastric contents, and gastric ulcer index. Ranitidine was used as the reference anti-ulcer drug. Acute toxicity studies were also carried out. Results: The extract (500 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration by decreasing acid concentration of gastric fluid while elevating its pH (p < 0.01), and compared well with the standard drug, ranitidine (p < 0.001). However, its anti-ulcer activity was not as potent as that of ranitidine. Acute toxicity studies showed thatthere was no mortality following the administration of the extract in a dose range of 250 - 5000 mg/kg, p.o. Conclusion: Feronia elephantum fruit pulp extract has potent antiulcer activity with low toxicity. Its anti-ulcer property probably acts via a reduction in gastric acid secretion. The results obtained support the use of this herbal material in folk medicine.Keywords: Anti-ulcer; Feronia elephantum (Corr.); Indomethacin; Ulcer; Gastric acidit

Effect of soil on microbial diversity of flora and fauna in ecosystem

Soil is a complex and dynamic biological system. We are limited in the determination of microbial mediated reactions because present assays for determining the overall rate of entire metabolic processes (such as respiration) or specific enzyme activities (such as urease, protease and phosphomonoesterase activity) do not allow any identification of the microbial species directly involved in the measured processes. The central problem posed by the link between microbial diversity and soil function is to understand the relations between genetic diversity and community structure and between community structure and function. Soil seems to be characterized by a redundancy of functions; for example, no relationship has been shown to exist between microbial diversity and decomposition of organic matter. Generally, a reduction in any group of species has little effect on overall processes in soil because other microorganisms can take on its function