A clinical study of the effect of calcium sodium phosphosilicate on dentin hypersensitivity

Objective: Dentinal hypersensitivity is a commonly encountered problem with varied treatment options for its management. A large number of home use products have been tested and used for the management of dentinal hypersensitivity. This 8 week clinical trial investigates the temporal efficacy of commercially available calcium sodium phosphosilicate containing toothpaste in comparison to a potassium nitrate containing toothpaste. Methods: A total 20 subjects between the ages of 18 to 65 years were screened for a visual analogue score (VAS) for sensitivity of 5 or more by testing with a cold stimulus and randomly divided into test and positive control groups. Baseline sensitivity VAS scores to air evaporative stimulus were recorded for minimum two teeth. The subjects were prescribed respective dentifrices and revaluated for sensitivity scores at 2, 4 and 8 weeks. Results:The study demonstrated reduction in symptoms for all treatment groups from baseline to 2, 4 and 8 weeks. The calcium sodium phosphosilicate group showed a higher degree of effectiveness at reducing hypersensitivity to air evaporative stimulus at 2 weeks, than commercially available potassium nitrate. However, there was no significant difference in scores of subjects using the calcium sodium phosphosilicate toothpaste as compared to potassium nitrate at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Conclusion: Calcium sodium phosphosilicate showed greater reduction in sensitivity compared to potassium nitrate at an earlier stage which is of high clinical value. However, based on the findings of the present study long term effects of calcium sodium phosphosilicate seem to be less promising than previously claimed

Impact of different cropping systems on properties of soil and water in different micro watersheds

Studies on soils of Navsari Agricultural University (NAU) having different cropping system were carried out in the four micro watersheds that exist in the 400 ha University campus. Soil samples from 0-15 cm depth and water samples from adjacent bore wells were collected and analyzed from different locations of micro watersheds. Soils of watersheds showed that soils texture was clay in nature, having more than 65 % clay, whereas silt was more in watershed ‘A’. Soil organic carbon content (SOC) was 0.32 %, found in the field near University play ground and the highest 0.88 %, in Forestry farm, thus underlining the need of forest species in agricultural farms. SOC levels have reduced significantly due to intensive cultivation in all the watersheds. The result of exchangeable sodium percent (ESP) is supported by the topographic features, as, ESP was more in watershed ‘B’ (5.15) than C (2.95), this showed that infiltration rate was lesser in ‘B’ as compared to ‘C’ due to availability of more sodium (Na). Available N was highest in watershed ‘A’ (246 kg/ha) followed by ‘C’ (225 kg/ha) than ‘B’ (203 kg/ha), the reason was watershed ‘A’ had only horticulture crops whereas B and C had different crops of the region. Electrical conductivity (EC) of ground water collected from wells in watershed ‘C’ was found to be very high both before (3.44 dS/m) and after monsoon (2.95 dS/m), showing that water is highly saline and not fit for surface irrigation and there is need of ground water recharging

MenaINV dysregulates cortactin phosphorylation to promote invadopodium maturation

Invadopodia, actin-based protrusions of invasive carcinoma cells that focally activate extracellular matrix-degrading proteases, are essential for the migration and intravasation of tumor cells during dissemination from the primary tumor. We have previously shown that cortactin phosphorylation at tyrosine residues, in particular tyrosine 421, promotes actin polymerization at newly-forming invadopodia, promoting their maturation to matrix-degrading structures. However, the mechanism by which cells regulate the cortactin tyrosine phosphorylation-dephosphorylation cycle at invadopodia is unknown. Mena, an actin barbed-end capping protein antagonist, is expressed as various splice-isoforms. The MenaINV isoform is upregulated in migratory and invasive sub-populations of breast carcinoma cells, and is involved in tumor cell intravasation. Here we show that forced MenaINV expression increases invadopodium maturation to a far greater extent than equivalent expression of other Mena isoforms. MenaINV is recruited to invadopodium precursors just after their initial assembly at the plasma membrane, and promotes the phosphorylation of cortactin tyrosine 421 at invadopodia. In addition, we show that cortactin phosphorylation at tyrosine 421 is suppressed by the phosphatase PTP1B, and that PTP1B localization to the invadopodium is reduced by MenaINV expression. We conclude that MenaINV promotes invadopodium maturation by inhibiting normal dephosphorylation of cortactin at tyrosine 421 by the phosphatase PTP1B.United States. National Institutes of Health (CA150344)United States. National Institutes of Health (CA100324

Comparative Study of Compliance and Policy Frameworks

The landscape of higher education is undergoing rapid transformation due to external pressures such as changing regulatory environments, increasing demands for transparency, and the rise of digital education. Universities need to adapt to these challenges while maintaining strong governance and compliance frameworks. There is a strong need for academics and managers in the universities to comprehend the impact of accountability on higher education policies. There is a growing need for universities to benchmark against the best global practices to remain competitive and compliant. The case study for this thesis is a leading University in Helsinki (UiH), Finland. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate the existing compliance framework of UiH, assess its strengths and weaknesses, compare these with leading global universities and propose actionable recommendations. The foundation of this thesis is drawn from service design, Double Diamond model, and organizational governance literature. Qualitative research methodology was used, combining user surveys, stakeholder interviews, comparative desk research. These methods enabled a multi-perspective understanding of user needs, institutional pain points, and the strategic gaps in UiH’s current policy ecosystem. In this context, this thesis recommends policy repository compliance model for improving compliance structure with targeted improvements aimed at enhancing institutional effectiveness and accountability by conducting comparative analysis of compliance framework at UiH visa-vis leading global institution (Cambridge, Oxford, Princeton, Stanford). The thesis provides a replicable roadmap for other institutions facing similar decentralization challenges in compliance and policy management. Keywords: compliance, policy repository, service design, higher education administratio

Structure and rheological properties of model microemulsion networks filled with nanoparticles

Model microemulsion networks of oil droplets stabilized by non ionic surfactant and telechelic polymer C18-PEO(10k)-C18 have been studied for two droplet-to-polymer size ratios. The rheological properties of the networks have been measured as a function of network connectivity and can be described in terms of simple percolation laws. The network structure has been characterised by Small Angle Neutron Scattering. A Reverse Monte Carlo approach is used to demonstrate the interplay of attraction and repulsion induced by the copolymer. These model networks are then used as matrix for the incorporation of silica nanoparticles (R=10nm), individual dispersion being checked by scattering. A strong impact on the rheological properties is found for silica volume fractions up to 9%

Fabrication and characterization of Polymer Light Emitting Diodes (PLEDs) for display application

The performance of polymer light emitting diode (PLED) strongly depends on materials, fabrication and the structure of the device. Polymer light-emitting diodes typically consists of emitting layer(s) sandwiched between a cathode and an anode. In our study indium tin oxide (ITO) is used as anode, the polymer blend as emitting layer and metals such as aluminum, silver as cathodes. Investigation in this area is focused to fully understand and develop the method of fabrication of PLEDs using the available resources and to understand the effect of variation of blend ratios of polyfluorene polymers (TFB: 9, 9\u27-dioctylfluorene-co-N-(4-butylphenyl) diphenylamine and F8BT: poly (9, 9\u27dioctylfluorene- co-benzothiadiazole)), different cathodes, addition of buffer layer (calcium acetylacetonate [Ca (acac)z]) on the built devices

Silica coating of gold nanoparticles

“Gold colloids have been homogenously coated with silica using silane coupling agents as a primer to make the gold surface vitreophilic. After adding active silica, the particles are transferred in ethanol for uniform silica coating by using the Stober method. Gold nanoparticles used for this study ranged from 5 nm up to 40 nm with mixed results. Silica condensation can be controlled to produce different silica thicknesses on gold. The main problem while coating smaller particles (5 nm and 10 nm) was the final coagulation or necking of silica after coating the gold surface. The possible causes for this effect are also examined. These composite nanoparticles are then characterized by studying their optical properties particularly absorbance using a fiber optic spectrometer. Such complex but functional particles and structures should have potential applications in optics and other areas”--Abstract, page iii