Effect of Erosive Agents on Surface Characteristics of Nano-Fluorapatite Ceramic: An In-Vitro Study

Erosive beverages cause dissolution of natural teeth and intra-oral restorations, resulting in surface characteristic changes, particularly roughness and degradation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surface roughness and topography of a dental ceramic following immersion in locally available erosive solutions. A total of 160 disc specimens of a nano-fluorapatite type ceramic (12 mm diameter and 2 mm thickness) were fabricated and equally distributed into two groups (n = 80) and then evenly distributed among the following five testing groups (n = 16): lemon juice, citrate buffer solution, 4% acetic acid, soft cola drink, and distilled water which served as a control. The surface roughness (Ra) and topography were evaluated using a profilometer and scanning electron microscope at baseline, 24 h, 96 h, and 168 h respectively. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey’s multiple comparisons (p ≤ 0.05). Surface changes were observed upon exposure to all acidic beverages except distilled water. Amongst all immersion media, 4% acetic acid produced the most severe surface roughness across all time periods (i.e., baseline, 24 h, 96 h, and 168 h). A statistically significant difference in the surface roughness values between all immersion media and across all four time intervals was observed. Erosive agents had a negative effect on the surface roughness and topography of the tested ceramic. The surface roughness increased with increased storage time intervals.     

Fumigant Activity of Bacterial Volatile Organic Compounds against the Nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans and Meloidogyne incognita

Plant-parasitic nematodes infect a diversity of crops, resulting in severe economic losses in agriculture. Microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are potential agents to control plant-parasitic nematodes and other pests. In this study, VOCs emitted by a dozen bacterial strains were analyzed using solid-phase microextraction followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Fumigant toxicity of selected VOCs, including dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), 2-butanone, 2-pentanone, 2-nonanone, 2-undecanone, anisole, 2,5-dimethylfuran, glyoxylic acid, and S-methyl thioacetate (MTA) was then tested against Caenorhabditis elegans. DMDS and MTA exhibited much stronger fumigant toxicity than the others. Probit analysis suggested that the values of LC₅₀ were 8.57 and 1.43 μg/cm³ air for DMDS and MTA, respectively. MTA also showed stronger fumigant toxicity than DMDS against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, suggesting the application potential of MTA.     

Novel Design of RNA Aptamers as Cancer Inhibitors and Diagnosis Targeting the Tyrosine Kinase Domain of the NT-3 Growth Factor Receptor Using a Computational Sequence-Based Approach

Aptamers, the nucleic acid analogs of antibodies, bind to their target molecules with remarkable specificity and sensitivity, making them promising diagnostic and therapeutic tools. The systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is time-consuming and expensive. However, regardless of those issues, it is the most used in vitro method for selecting aptamers. Therefore, recent studies have used computational approaches to reduce the time and cost associated with the synthesis and selection of aptamers. In an effort to present the potential of computational techniques in aptamer selection, a simple sequence-based method was used to design a 69-nucleotide long aptamer (mod_09) with a relatively stable structure (with a minimum free energy of −32.2 kcal/mol) and investigate its binding properties to the tyrosine kinase domain of the NT-3 growth factor receptor, for the first time, by employing computational modeling and docking tools.     

Spin-correlation function of the fully frustrated Ising model and ± J Ising spin glass on the square lattice

In this work we study the correlation function of the ground state of two-dimensional fully frustrated Ising model as well as spin glass. The Pfaffian method is used to calculate free energy and entropy as well as correlation function. We estimate the exponent of spin correlation function for fully frustrated model and spin glass. In this paper an overview of the latest results on the spin correlation function is presented.     

Preparation of nano-hydroxyapatite/poly(<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-lactide) biocomposite microspheres

Nano-hydroxyapatite (HA)/poly(l-lactide) (PLLA) composite microspheres with relatively uniform size distribution were prepared by a solid-in-oil-in-water (s/o/w) emusion solvent evaporation method. The encapsulation of the HA nanopaticles in microshperes was significantly improved by grafting PLLA on the surface of the HA nanoparticles (p-HA) during emulsion process. This procedure gave a possibility to obtain p-HA/PLLA composite microspheres with uniform morphology and the encapsulated p-HA nanoparticle loading reached up to 40 wt% (33 wt% of pure HA) in the p-HA/PLLA composite microspheres. The microstructure of composite microspheres from core-shell to single phase changed with the variation of p-HA to PLLA ratios. p-HA/PLLA composite microspheres with the diameter range of 2–3 μm were obtained. The entrapment efficiency of p-HA in microspheres could high up to 90 wt% and that of HA was only 13 wt%. Surface and bulk characterizations of the composite microspheres were performed by measurements such as wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).     

Host–guest system of etodolac in native and modified β-cyclodextrins: preparation and physicochemical characterization

Etodolac, being a practically insoluble candidate, exhibits certain toxic effects and a limited bioavailability. Upon chronic use, it causes gastro-intestinal injury and increases the risk of ulcer complications. The approach of this study was to improve the physicochemical properties of the drug utilizing complexation phenomenon with β-, methyl-β- and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins, which may enhance the aqueous solubility and dissolution rate of etodolac, in an effort to increase oral bioavailability. In certain instances, this approach can be used to increase drug solubility, improve organoleptic properties and maximize the gastrointestinal tolerance by reducing drug irritation after oral administration. Differential UV measurements as well as continuous variation plots revealed the formation of equimolar complex with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin and 1:2 complexes with β-cyclodextrin and its methyl derivative. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray and FT-IR measurements were applied to prove inclusion complex formation and characterize the complexes. These results lend support to the idea that solubilization of etodolac is mainly related to inclusion complex formation and to a lesser extent to cyclodextrin aggregates. Understanding the factors that influence the performance of etodolac, will allow us to state that molecular encapsulation of the drug and other modifications with appropriate hydroxylation or methylation of parent β-cyclodextrin is able to overcome its problems and facilitate safe and efficient delivery of the drug.     

Synthesis of 1-aryl-substituted-4-chloroimidazo[1,2-a]quinoxalines catalyzed by PdCl2 in water

The reaction of 2-chloro-3-propargylaminoquinoxaline with various aryl iodides and bromides catalyzed by Pd–Cu in the presence of potassium carbonate as the base in water leads to the one-pot formation of 1-aryl-substituted-4-chloroimidazo[1,2-a]quinoxalines in moderate-to-high yields.     

The effect of drying method on the properties and nanoscale structure of cellulose whiskers

Cellulose whiskers were prepared from wood- and cotton-based microcrystalline cellulose and dried by two methods: freeze-drying or air-drying. The effect of drying method on the properties and structure of the whiskers were studied. Furthermore, the influence of the source of cellulose on the nanoscale structure was investigated. Drying method was observed to slightly influence the thermal stability of cellulose whiskers, whereas the char residue varied significantly depending on the drying process performed. Small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and solid state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to examine the crystallinity and nanoscale structure of the dried whiskers. It was observed that the crystal structure and crystallinity of cellulose whiskers remained during all treatments, whereas their nanoscale structure was significantly influenced by drying method, neutralization, and source of cellulose. Relationships between thermal behavior and nanoscale structure were reported and discussed.     

Theoretical study of molecular interactions of phosphorus ylide with HF, HCN, and HN3

The molecular interactions between phosphorous ylide (PY) and HX molecules (X?=?F, CN, and N₃) were investigated using the MP2 method at 6-311++G(2d,2p) basis set. Three different patterns including non-classical hydrogen bond H···C, X···P interaction and classical hydrogen bond H···X were found for complex formation between PY and HX molecules. From the predicted models, stability of the H···C type complexes are greater than other types. Quantum theories of atoms in molecules and natural bond orbitals methods have been applied to analyze the intermolecular interactions. Good correlations have been found between the interaction energies (SE), the second-order perturbation energy E ⁽²⁾, and the charge transfer qCT in the studied systems.