Search results for "visual_art"
showing 10 items of 2987 documents
Polyethylene bio-degradation by caterpillars?
2017
In their recent paper on the degradation of polyethylene by caterpillars of the wax moth Galleria melonella, Bombelli et al.[1] report various experiments, including microscopic and spectroscopic data which the authors believe support the chemical digestion of the polymers by these insects. While the biodegradation of mostly inert artificial polymers is definitely a very interesting research field, we must respectfully disagree with the methodology and conclusions from this paper.
The application of casein phosphopeptide and amorphous calcium phosphate with fluoride (CPP-ACPF) for restoring mineral loss after dental bleaching w…
2018
Abstract Objective To conduct an in vitro evaluation of the effect of casein-phosphopeptide and amorphous calcium phosphate with fluoride [CPP-ACPF] upon the calcium [Ca] and phosphorus [P] composition and morphology of dental enamel and dentin after the application of two bleaching agents: 37.5% hydrogen peroxide [HP]) and 35% carbamide peroxide [CP]. Materials and methods The crowns of 40 extracted human teeth were divided into four groups (n = 10 each). The crowns were sectioned along the cervical-incisal axis, and each half was embedded in acrylic resin, leaving a window 3 mm in diameter to explore the enamel or dentin (according to the study group involved). Groups 1a and 1b correspond…
Histidine tracts in human transcription factors: insight into metal ion coordination ability
2017
Consecutive histidine repeats are chosen both by nature and by molecular biologists due to their high affinity towards metal ions. Screening of the human genome showed that transcription factors are extremely rich in His tracts. In this work, we examine two of such His-rich regions from forkhead box and MAFA proteins—MB3 (contains 18 His) and MB6 (with 21 His residues), focusing on the affinity and binding modes of Cu2+ and Zn2+ towards the two His-rich regions. In the case of Zn2+ species, the availability of imidazole nitrogen donors enhances metal complex stability. Interestingly, an opposite tendency is observed for Cu2+ complexes at above physiological pH, in which amide nitrogens part…
The effects of fractional CO2 laser, Nano-hydroxyapatite and MI paste on mechanical properties of bovine enamel after bleaching
2017
Background This study investigated the effect of post bleaching treatments to the change of enamel elastic modulus and microhardness after dental bleaching in- vitro. Material and Methods Fifty bovine incisor slab were randomly assigned into five groups (n=10). The samples were bleached for three times; 20 minutes each time, by 40% hydrogen peroxide. Next it was applied fractional CO2 laser for two minutes, Nano- hydroxy apatite (N-HA) and MI-paste for 7 days and 2 minutes per day. The sound enamel and bleached teeth without post treatment remained as control groups. The elastic modulus and microhardness were measured at three times; 24 hours, 1 and 2 months. Data were statistically analyze…
Stability of vacuolar betaxanthin pigments in juices from Moroccan yellow Opuntia ficus indica fruits
2008
Pigment stability of yellow juices prepared from Moroccan cactus pear (Opuntia ficus indica) was determined as a function of temperature and pH. The experiments were carried out at temperatures ranging from 80 to 100 °C with juices at pH 3.5, 5 and 6.5. The degree of pigment retention decreased when the temperature increased. The degradation constant rates were determined for thermal degradation rates of pseudo-first order. The Arrhenius plot obtained for the degradation of betaxanthin from the yellow fruits was not linear. Regardless of the temperature treatment, the lowest degradation was obtained for pH 5. Where some stabilizers were tested for the protection of pigments, the results sho…
Comparative evaluation of bioactive cements on biomimetic remineralization of dentin
2020
Background This study was designed to quantitatively compare the presence of apatite peaks on demineralized dentin to induced bio-mimetically by bioactive commercial materials. Material and methods Dentin slice specimens (n=6) were prepared and demineralized by by17% EDTA for 2 hours. Each disks materials (Theracal, Biodentine, CPP-ACP) were freshly prepared and was maintained in close contact with a demineralized dentin specimen immersed in PBS solution during one week. To evaluation of bioactivity, cements disks (n=6) were prepared from each material and immersed in PBS solution for one week. The bioactivity and remineralization ability was evaluated using FTIR spectroscopy and Scanning E…
Synthesis and influence of fatty acid esters on the foliar penetration of herbicides
1998
Abstract Synthesis of mono-esters of tetraethylene glycol and di-esters of tetraethylene glycol was accomplished from fatty acids and tetraethylene glycol in the absence of solvent and catalyst. Esterification was studied in a batch reactor by using a response surface methodology to evaluate the influence of synthesis variables such as molar substrate ratio of fatty acid relative to tetraethylene glycol (1.39–7.52), temperature (145–167°C), reaction time (0.5–8 h) on the yield of mono- and di-esters of tetraethylene glycol. A multipurpose reactor was developed for the transformation of fatty acids into pure α-monoglycerides. The 1-monoglycerides of heptanoic, undecelenic, oleic, linoleic an…
Use of Wood Ash in the Forest and its Effect on the Concentration of Essential and Heavy Metallic Elements in Soil and Blueberries <i>(Vacciniu…
2020
The aim of this research is to evaluate the influence of wood ash as an additive fertilizer to forest soil and growing blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) in terms of metallic element content. To evaluate the effect of wood ash on the forest ecosystem, was selected two forest areas which was fertilized with a certain amount of wood ash (bottom ash and fly ash). The selected forest areas were divided into two types of sampling plots (fertilized with ash and control). Obtained results showed that in the bottom ash dispersion area the concentration of Ca, K, Ni, Cu is almost twice higher in the fertilized plots than control plots. In the blueberries, metallic element content is similar and do…
What makes environmental performance differ between firms? Empirical evidence from the Spanish tile industry
2007
Environmental performance is a matter of major concern both for policy makers and for firm managers. In this paper we interpret firms' environmental performance as their ability to reduce polluting wastes while maintaining observed levels of inputs and desirable outputs. Making use of data envelopment analysis techniques, we compute waste-specific environmental efficiency measures for a sample of ceramic-tile producers located in the eastern Spanish region of Valencia. Our results show that there exists substantial room for improving environmental performance, which would have highly beneficial consequences for the local environment. In a second stage of analysis, we find that affiliation …
Body coloration and mechanisms of colour production in Archelosauria: the case of deirocheline turtles
2019
Animal body coloration is a complex trait resulting from the interplay of multiple mechanisms. While many studies address the functions of animal coloration, the mechanisms of colour production still remain unknown in most taxa. Here we compare reflectance spectra, cellular, ultra- and nano-structure of colour-producing elements, and pigment types in two freshwater turtles with contrasting courtship behaviour,Trachemys scriptaandPseudemys concinna. The two species differ in the distribution of pigment cell-types and in pigment diversity. We found xanthophores, melanocytes, abundant iridophores and dermal collagen fibres in stripes of both species. The yellow chin and forelimb stripes of bot…