Aim
To microscopically examine the cleanliness of root canal walls that remained unprepared as revealed by micro‐CT.
Methodology
The root canals of 10 freshly extracted mandibular premolars with ...necrotic pulps and apical periodontitis along with the mesiobuccal canals of 11 mandibular molars with vital pulps were prepared using Reciproc instruments R40 and R25, respectively, and 2.5% sodium hypochlorite irrigation. Specimens were scanned in micro‐CT before and after preparation, and the unprepared areas were identified. The outer root surface corresponding to the untouched areas was marked on each root third to guide further analysis using histological (for teeth with vital pulps) and scanning electron microscopic (SEM; for necrotic teeth) examination. In the teeth with vital pulps, the root canal area occupied by tissue remnants was calculated. In SEM analysis of teeth with necrotic pulps, scores were attributed for the amount of debris on the untouched areas.
Results
The proportion of unprepared areas in the mesiobuccal molar canals was 18.1% and 9.6% over the full canal length and apical canal, respectively. In premolars, corresponding figures were 34.6% and 17.6%, respectively. Histological analysis of canals with vital pulps revealed tissue remnants over the untouched walls almost exclusively in the apical canal. SEM analysis of the canals with necrotic pulps revealed debris along the untouched walls in all root canal thirds.
Conclusion
The areas that remain untouched by Reciproc instruments used with 2.5% NaOCl irrigation as revealed by micro‐CT analysis were usually covered with debris, in the form of pulp tissue remnants, bacteria and dentine chips, especially in the apical root canal.
Environmental pollution is a recognized issue of major concern since a wide range of contaminants has been found in aquatic environment at ngL−1 to μgL−1 levels. In the year 2000, a strategy was ...defined to identify the priority substances concerning aquatic ecosystems, followed by the definition of environmental quality standards (EQS) in 2008. Recently it was launched the Directive 2013/39/EU that updates the water framework policy highlighting the need to develop new water treatment technologies to deal with such problem. This review summarizes the data published in the last decade regarding the application of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to treat priority compounds and certain other pollutants defined in this Directive, excluding the inorganic species (cadmium, lead, mercury, nickel and their derivatives).
The Directive 2013/39/EU includes several pesticides (aldrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, dicofol, dieldrin, endrin, endosulfan, isodrin, heptachlor, lindane, pentachlorophenol, chlorpyrifos, chlorfenvinphos, dichlorvos, atrazine, simazine, terbutryn, diuron, isoproturon, trifluralin, cypermethrin, alachlor), solvents (dichloromethane, dichloroethane, trichloromethane and carbon tetrachloride), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nonylphenol and octylphenol, as well as the three compounds included in the recommendation for the first watch list of substances (diclofenac, 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) and 17-beta-estradiol (E2)). Some particular pesticides (aclonifen, bifenox, cybutryne, quinoxyfen), organotin compounds (tributyltin), dioxins and dioxin-like compounds, brominated diphenylethers, hexabromocyclododecanes and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate are also defined in this Directive, but studies dealing with AOPs are missing.
AOPs are recognized tools to destroy recalcitrant compounds or, at least, to transform them into biodegradable species. Diuron (a phenylurea herbicide) and atrazine (from the triazine chemical class) are the most studied pesticides from Directive 2013/39/EU. Fenton-based processes are the most frequently applied to treat priority compounds in water and their efficiency typically increases with the operating temperature as well as under UV or solar light. Heterogeneous photocatalysis is the second most used treatment to destroy pollutants defined in the Directive. Ozone alone promotes the partial oxidation of pollutants, and an increase in the effluent biodegradability, but complete mineralization of pollutants is difficult. To overcome this drawback, ozonation has been combined with heterogeneous catalysts, addition of H2O2, other AOPs (such as photocatalysis) or membrane technologies.
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•AOPs to treat priority compounds listed in the Directive 2013/39/EU are reviewed.•Fenton-based processes, photocatalysis and ozonation are the most frequently applied.•Importance of AOPs to treat recalcitrant compounds is emphasized.
Public health concerns exist surrounding the epidemic of the Zika virus (ZIKV) and the rapid growth of transplantation in developing countries, including endemic zones of active arbovirus ...transmission, as well as travel to such regions by potential organ donors and recipients. Few data exist regarding the clinical characteristics of ZIKV infection in immunocompromised hosts. Laboratory screening protocols for transplantation to differentiate ZIKV infections from other endemic viral diseases and for the detection of possible donor‐derived infection have not been stated. The diagnosis of ZIKV infection remains a challenge, fueled by the lack of standardized commercially available diagnostic tests and validated reference diagnostic laboratories, as well as the limited duration of ZIKV viremia. In this small series, ZIKV infection in renal and liver recipients presented without rash, conjunctivitis, or neurological symptoms, and with abnormal graft function, thrombocytopenia, and bacterial superinfection. We report the first case series of ZIKV infection in solid organ recipients, with a description of clinical and laboratory features and therapeutic management.
In this study, the authors describe the features of Zika infection in solid organ transplant. See the editorial from Blumberg and Fishman on page 599.
In 2019, a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is transmitted via the airborne route, caused a new pandemic namely, "coronavirus disease 2019" (COVID-19). ...Although the effectiveness of face masks to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is debated, no study has evaluated the virus-blocking efficacy of masks used by patients. We aimed to evaluate this efficacy of masks used by SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. Data, masks used, and nasopharyngeal swab samples were obtained from these patients. Forty-five paired samples of nasopharyngeal swabs and masks were obtained and processed; the majority of masks were woven. Viral RNAs were amplified using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and detected only on the inner parts of masks. Median viral load (VL) values of swabs and masks were 1.954x106 and 2,51x103, respectively. Statistically, there was a difference of approximately 1000 RNA copies/mL between swabs and masks and no significant difference in VL values among different types of masks. There were statistically significant differences in VL values between men and women and between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Our findings suggest the blocking of virus transmission by different types of masks and reinforce the use of masks by both infected and non-infected individuals.
Although there are no legal discharge limits for micropollutants into the environment, some regulations have been published in the last few years. Recently, a watch list of substances for European ...Union-wide monitoring was reported in the Decision 2015/495/EU of 20 March 2015. Besides the substances previously recommended to be included by the Directive 39/2013/EU, namely two pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and the synthetic hormone 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2)) and a natural hormone (17-beta-estradiol (E2)), the first watch list of 10 substances/groups of substances also refers three macrolide antibiotics (azithromycin, clarithromycin and erythromycin), other natural hormone (estrone (E1)), some pesticides (methiocarb, oxadiazon, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, clothianidin, acetamiprid and triallate), a UV filter (2-ethylhexyl-4-methoxycinnamate) and an antioxidant (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol) commonly used as food additive. Since little is known about the removal of most of the substances included in the Decision 2015/495/EU, particularly regarding realistic concentrations in aqueous environmental samples, this review aims to: (i) overview the European policy in the water field; (ii) briefly describe the most commonly used conventional and advanced treatment processes to remove micropollutants; (iii) summarize the relevant data published in the last decade, regarding occurrence and removal in aqueous matrices of the 10 substances/groups of substances that were recently included in the first watch list for European Union monitoring (Decision 2015/495/EU); and (iv) highlight the lack of reports concerning some substances of the watch list, the study of un-spiked aquatic matrices and the assessment of transformation by-products.
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•Decision 2015/495/EU-Watch list of substances for EU-wide monitoring is overviewed.•Removal of these substances in aqueous matrices is reviewed.•Biological, membrane and advanced oxidation processes are applied.•Need to study realistic concentrations/matrices is emphasized.
We aimed to evaluate the effects of post-ruminal supply of urea (PRU) on nutritional status, and liver metabolism of pregnant beef cows during late gestation. Twenty-four Brahman dams, pregnant from ...a single sire, and weighing 545 kg ± 23 kg were confined into individual pens at 174 ± 23 d of gestation, and randomly assigned into one of two dietary treatments up to 270 d of gestation: Control (CON, n = 12), consisting of a basal diet supplemented with conventional urea, where the cows were fed with diets containing 13.5 g conventional urea per kg dry matter; and PRU (PRU, n = 12), consisting of a basal diet supplemented with a urea coated to extensively prevent ruminal degradation while being intestinally digestible, where the cows were fed with diets containing 14,8 g urea protected from ruminal degradation per kg dry matter. Post-ruminal supply of urea reduced the urine levels of 3-methylhistidine (P = 0.02). There were no differences between treatments for dry matter intake (DMI; P = 0.76), total digestible nutrient (TDN) intake (P = 0.30), and in the body composition variables, such as, subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT; P = 0.72), and rib eye area (REA; P = 0.85). In addition, there were no differences between treatments for serum levels of glucose (P = 0.87), and serum levels of glucogenic (P = 0.28), ketogenic (P = 0.72), glucogenic, and ketogenic (P = 0.45) amino acids, neither for urea in urine (P = 0.51) as well as urea serum (P = 0.30). One the other hand, enriched pathways were differentiated related to carbohydrate digestion, and absorption, glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, pentose phosphate pathway, and biosynthesis of amino acids of the exclusively expressed proteins in PRU cows. Shifting urea supply from the rumen to post-ruminal compartments decreases muscle catabolism in cows during late gestation. Our findings indicate that post-ruminal urea supplementation for beef cows at late gestation may improve the energy metabolism to support maternal demands. In addition, the post-ruminal urea release seems to be able to trigger pathways to counterbalance the oxidative stress associated to the increase liver metabolic rate.
The effect of oven-drying at 25, 40 and 60 °C was evaluated on three macroalgae of relevance in Europe, namely
,
sp. and
, with respect to quality aspects, including their potential to be exploited ...as a source of valuable compounds. Notably, as compared to freeze-drying, oven-drying at 25 °C promoted the extraction of chlorophylls and carotenoids from
, as well as those of phycoerythrin and chlorophyll
from
sp., while 40 °C favored the recovery of fucoxanthin and pheophytin
from
. On the other hand, the use of oven-drying had a negative impact on the extraction of phenolic compounds from this alga, also diminishing the antioxidant activity of the resulting extracts. Instead, the impact of oven-drying of raw material on the recovery of specific polysaccharides differed among the macroalgae. While the amounts of ulvans and fucoidans obtained from macroalgae dried at higher temperatures tended to be superior, the recovery of agar was not affected with the drying temperatures applied to
sp. The overall results showed that oven-drying might serve as a good alternative to stabilize
,
sp. and
, especially if extraction of pigments and polysaccharides is aimed, thought the appropriate temperature applied must be adapted for each macroalgae.
Elderberry (
L.) is a widely disseminated plant that produces bright black berries containing high quantities of anthocyanins, acknowledged for their bioactivity and dye capacity. Besides other ...applications, anthocyanins might be employed as natural colouring agents to reduce/eliminate the use of artificial dyes, while providing positive effects on consumers' health. Herein, the anthocyanins profile of elderberry juice was characterised by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn. In addition, its antioxidant capacity and cytotoxicity were also evaluated. As a proof-of-concept of its colouring capacity, elderberry juice was added (different percentages) to a highly appreciated and consumed pastry product (croissant) and compared with a commercial dye (black carrot). In general, the nutritional properties of control and coloured croissants were similar, despite some individual differences in sugars and fatty acids. In turn, the appearance obtained with elderberry juice incorporation might be considered innovative, besides partially maintaining the anthocyanins content of fresh juice and showing considerable antioxidant activity.
The ability to synthesize laser-induced graphene (LIG) on cellulosic materials such as paper opens the door to a wide range of potential applications, from consumer electronics to biomonitoring. In ...this work, strain and bending sensors fabricated by irradiation of regular filter paper with a CO2 laser are presented. A systematic study of the influence of the different process parameters on the conversion of cellulose fibers into LIG is undertaken, by analyzing the resulting morphology, structure, conductivity, and surface chemistry. The obtained material is characterized by porous electrically conductive weblike structures with sheet resistances reaching as low as 32 Ω sq–1. The functionality of both strain (gauge factor of ≈42) and bending sensors is demonstrated for different sensing configurations, emphasizing the versatility and potential of this material for low-cost, sustainable, and environmentally friendly mechanical sensing.
Aim
To evaluate the bending, buckling and torsional resistance of ProGlider (PG) (Dentsply Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland), R‐Pilot (RP) (VDW, Munich, Germany) and WaveOne Gold Glider (WOGG) ...(Dentsply Sirona).
Methodology
Ninety instruments were used: 30 PG (size 0.16, .02v taper), 30 RP (size 0.125, .04 taper) and 30 WOGG (size 0.15, .02v taper). The bending resistance test was performed on 10 randomly selected instruments of each system according to ISO 3630‐1 specifications. For the buckling resistance test, a loading was applied in the axial direction of each instrument using a universal test machine, with a 20 N cell and 15 mm min−1 speed, in the axial direction. When a lateral elastic displacement of 1 mm occurred, the force was registered. The torsional resistance test was performed according to ISO 3630‐1 specifications. Statistical analysis was performed using one‐way anova and post hoc Student–Newman–Keuls test (P < 0.05).
Results
WOGG had the lowest bending resistance, whilst RP had the highest bending resistance (P < 0.05). RP also had the highest buckling resistance, and WOGG had the lowest (P < 0.05). PG had intermediate results regarding bending and buckling resistance, with significant differences to RP and WOGG (P < 0.05). RP had the highest torsional strength and the lowest angular deflection when compared to PG and WOGG (P < 0.05). No differences in the torsional strength and angular deflection were observed between WOGG and PG (P> 0.05).
Conclusion
The glide path instruments had different behaviours in term of bending, buckling and torsional resistance.
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