The gap amplification at a "shape resonance" in a superlattice of quantum stripes: a mechanism for high Tc

The amplification of the superconducting critical temperature Tc from the low temperature range in homogeneous 2D planes (Tc<23 K) to the high temperature range (23 K<Tc<150 K) in an artificial heterostructure of quantum stripes is calculated. The high Tc is obtained by tuning the chemical potential near the bottom of the nth subband at a "shape resonance", in a range, whithin the energy cutoff for the pairing interaction. The resonance for the gap at the nth "shape resonance" is studied for a free electron gas in the BCS approximation as a function of the stripe width L, and of the number of electrons {\rho} per unit surface. An amplification factor for coupling 0.1<{\lambda}<0.3 is obtained at the third shape resonance raising the critical temperature in the high Tc range.Comment: 9 pages 6 figure

A Comparison of Manual Nylon Bristle Toothbrushes versus Thermoplastic Elastomer Toothbrushes in Terms of Cleaning Efficacy and the Biological Potential Role on Gingival Health

Featured Application This study was designed to evaluate changes in toothbrush-dependent oral hygiene scores as well as plaque removal efficacy measured as the Oral Hygiene Index (OHI), Gingival Index (GI) and Plaque Index (PI), comparing an entirely rubber-like material called thermoplastic elastomer with a soft toothbrush (nylon bristles, standard control). Background: It is well-known that toothbrushing might be associated with the development of oral soft tissue lesions. There is currently a continuing increase in the demand for new safety and performing materials in daily homecare oral hygiene including soft and extra-soft toothbrush bristles that tend to be safer. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of plaque control and the potential effects on gingival health of two different toothbrush bristle models. Methods: In a three-month period, a total of forty subjects were evaluated for Oral Hygiene Index (OHI), Gingival Index (GI) and Plaque Index (PI) scores as well the Gingival Abrasion Assessment (GAA) between a toothbrush entirely made from a rubber-like material called thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and a soft toothbrush (standard control with nylon bristles) in a clinical, single-blind, controlled, parallel-group trial. Results: The use of the TPE toothbrush allows a reduction in the PI, improves the OHI and modifies the GAA in the TPE group over a period of three months compared with a conventional soft bristle toothbrush applied for the same period, leading in this way evidence for a good influence of the TPE bristles on overall oral hygiene conditions. Conclusions: From the comparison between our data and the literature studies, we can state that the material and shape of the bristles of the toothbrush affect the home practice of oral hygiene. The TPE bristles reduce the presence of plaque formation and gingival bleeding, oral soft tissue injuries acquired during homecare oral hygiene

Superconductivity of a striped phase at the atomic limit

Abstract The resonant amplification of the superconducting critical temperature, the isotope effect, the change of the chemical potential in a particular 2D striped phase formed by superconducting stripes of width L alternated by separating stripes of width W with a period l at the atomic limit is studied. The critical temperature shows a &apos;shape resonance&apos; by tuning the p charge density where the chemical potential m is in the range E -m -E q &quot; v , where E is the bottom of the nth n n 0 n superlattice subband for n ) 2, and &quot; v is the energy cutoff for the pairing interaction. The maximum critical 0 superconducting temperature is reached at the cross-over from 2D to 1D behavior. The particular properties of this electronic phase and its similarities with the normal and superconducting properties of doped cuprate perovskites are discussed. q 1998 Elsevier Science B.V

Probiotics May Improve Serum Folate Availability in Pregnant Women: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Probiotics are living microorganisms that confer a health benefit when administered in adequate amounts. There is evidence in the current literature about the importance of probiotic use in pregnancy. The early supplementation of probiotics in the perinatal and postnatal periods seems to have a positive impact on the overall mother’s health and future health of infants. AIM: Our pilot study aimed to test the ability of specific probiotics strains in combination with the kiwi-unique enzyme actinidin to improve the availability of folic acid in 20 pregnant women. METHODS: We investigate 20 pregnant women in early (4–10 weeks) (6 patients), intermedium (11–20 weeks) (6 patients), and late (21–30 weeks) (8 patients) pregnancy. RESULTS: Our findings show that the tested formula promotes increased concentration of serum folate in women’s blood and contributes to the control of blood sugar and body weight, regardless of the gestational period (early, intermediate or late). CONCLUSIONS: Our data support the main results reported in the scientific literature about the importance of probiotics intake in pregnancy

Dental-Derived Stem Cells and Their Secretome and Interactions with Bioscaffolds/Biomaterials in Regenerative Medicine: From the In Vitro Research to Translational Applications

Regenerative dentistry is an innovative field of medicine that is growing involving both dental and maxillofacial sciences. Clinical healing occurs when new regenerated tissue is well integrated into the previously damaged host tissue: in this context, the reparative and regenerative actions of resident and recruited mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been thoroughly performed. In the most recent literature, the MSC-produced secretome has been widely studied and it has been even more considered as the strategic promoter of the vast majority of the biological effects derived from stem cell transplantation. Dental-derived mesenchymal stem cells (D-dMSCs) are today considered as an intriguing milestone of the regenerative medicine as such cells have been reported to have a strong ability to differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic lineages, with a peculiar ability to improve the bone mineralization. Complete healing might be achieved by establishing novel strategies, by using scaffolds in combination with oral-derived MSCs in the presence of secretome and growth. The interaction between stem cells and biomaterials is a crucial topic; recent research trends were focused and developed on the interaction both at superficial macroscopic level and at structural microscopic level. About the first ones, involving the researches on scaffold-related macroscopic features, there are evidences that geometrical and mechanical properties of scaffolds are able to influence the cell behavior and their response to differentiating stimulations. Among the manufacturing processes that can be used to fabricate biomimetic scaffolds, the strategy based on the combination of additive manufacturing and computer-aided design (CAD) modelling seems to be one of the most promising. The possibility to design and create any shape for the newly produced scaffolds, and the scientifically confirmed evidence that scaffold geometry plays a crucial role in influencing the MSC response, led researchers towards an increasing attention to scaffold design; more in details, bioengineers designed complex morphologies able to be reproduced on the surfaces of porous biomaterials. Other types of research studies were related to microscopic features of scaffolds, demonstrating that many changes in scaffold microarchitecture modified, for example, the adhesion of stem cells to the scaffold surfaces. The adhesion of stem cells to scaffold is a biologically guided result of complex cellular, physical, and chemical processes, and it is an essential requirement to guarantee a proper and effective tissue engineering aimed to healing and regenerative applications. Differently from the huge number of studies focused on biochemical reactions that trigger stem cell differentiation, very few studies are reported in the scientific literature about how the mechanical environment affects the adhesion of stem cells on biomaterials’ surfaces. We believe that extensive studies will be carried out on this topic in the next few years. However, much still needs to be elucidated in order to be able to create efficient and safe bioartificial substitutes for clinical use

Efficacy of Sea Salt-Based Mouthwash and Xylitol in Improving Oral Hygiene among Adolescent Population: A Pilot Study

The scientific community has definitely demonstrated the importance of the use of mouthwash in daily oral hygiene. In our pilot study, we tested the effectiveness of a novel mouth rinse containing sea salt, xylitol, and lysozyme. Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) growth, and plaque index in adolescent patients aged 14–17 years, were observed. The bacterial load was investigated by in vitro microbiological analysis; the plaque index was assessed through the O’Leary’s Plaque Control Record (PCR). The study has shown that the use of a sea salt-based mouthwash in daily oral hygiene reduces the bacterial levels of S. mutans (p &lt; 0.01) linked to the combined action of xylitol and lysozyme, together with the action of sea salt. Our preliminary data confirm and improve the main results reported in the scientific literature on the importance of the use of xylitol, lysozyme, and sea salt in oral health

Opportunities and Challenges for Performance Prediction of Dynamic Complex Fenestration Systems (CFS)

This article presents an overview of possibilities and points of attention for modelling the performance of dynamic CFS in building performance simulation software. Following a detailed analysis of the unique requirements that are associated with modelling of CFS, a comparative study of the capabilities in different software implementations is presented. In addition, we present on overview of state-of-the-art approaches to obtain the necessary Bi-directional Scattering Distribution Functions (BSDF), involving experimental characterisation, databases, and component-level ray-tracing approaches. The second part of the paper provides a detailed discussion of a case study of a high reflective lamella system. This case study complements the review with hands-on information from a practical example and highlights the importance of developing models at the right level of complexity, taking into account the type of questions that the simulation intends to answer and the required accuracy level to do so

Disorder Post-Traumatic Stress, sleep quality, anxiety, depression and quality of life in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of disorder Posttraumatic Stress (DPTS), anxiety and depression, quality of sleep and quality of life in cancer patients consecutively during chemotherapy compared to the general population, the prevalence of benchmarking Disorder Post Traumatic Stress (DPTS), anxiety and depression, quality of sleep and quality of life in cancer patients during adjuvant treatment versus cancer patients in treatment for metastatic disease. Methods: We surveyed consecutive patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment for neoplastic disease in accordance with the following instruments: the disorder Posttraumatic Stress was assessed by questionnaire Impact of Event Scale (IES), the levels of anxiety and depression through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); sleep quality with the help of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the quality of life through the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G). Results: We evaluated 173 patients, of whom 61 (35.3%) treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and 112 (64.7%) in chemotherapy for metastatic disease. In the overall population, the supremacy of Disorder Posttraumatic Stress was 8%, a sleep disorder 30%; anxiety to 15 - 20%, 15% from depression. The prevalence in the study population Disorder Posttraumatic Stress was higher compared to data in the literature (45.1% versus 8%), the largest of sleep disorders (62.8% versus 30%) of the anxiety higher (40% vs. 15-20%), the major depression (15% versus 31.1%). No significant differences were found with regard to the prevalence of disorder Posttraumatic Stress (P = 0.768), sleep disorders (P = 0.978), anxiety (p = 0.351), depression (P = 0.958) and quality of  life (P = 0.675) in patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment for metastatic disease compared to patients treated adjuvante.Conclusões: The prevalence of psychological disorders in the study population appears significantly higher than in the general population; This finding confirms the need for psychiatric intervention consultation and liaison (liaison) in neoplastic patients undergoing chemotherapy. This need not differ between patients in the adjuvant treatment and those receiving treatment for metastatic disease, with no significant differences in the incidence of the disorders assessed between the two groups above