Morphology of ablation craters generated by ultra-short laser pulses in dentin surfaces: AFM and ESEM evaluation

In this study, the surface morphology and structure of dentin after ablation by ultra-short pulses were evaluated using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The dentin specimens examined were irradiated by a chirped-pulse-amplification (CPA) Ti:sapphire laser (800 nm) and the optimal conditions for producing various nanostructures were determined. Based on the ESEM results, it was possible to identify an energy density range as the ablation threshold for dentin. The laser-induced damage was characterized over the fluence range 1.3-2.1 J/cm². The results demonstrate that by selecting suitable parameters one can obtain efficient dentin surface preparation without evidence of thermal damage, i.e., with minimized heat affected zones and reduced collateral damage, the latter being normally characterized by formation of microcracks, grain growth and recrystallization in the heat affected zones.     

Topological properties of solution sets for stochastic evolution inclusions

In this paper, we investigate the topological structure of solution sets for stochastic evolution inclusions in Hilbert spaces when the semigroup is compact as well as noncompact. It is shown that the solution set is nonempty, compact, and an R_δ-set, which means that the solution set may not be a singleton but, from the point of view of algebraic topology, it is equivalent to a point, in the sense that it has the same homology group as one-point space. As applications of the obtained results, an example is given.     

Dynamics of a stochastic chemostat competition model with plasmid-bearing and plasmid-free organisms

In this paper, we consider a chemostat model of competition between plasmid-bearing and plasmid-free organisms, perturbed by white noise. Firstly, we prove the existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution. Then by constructing suitable Lyapunov functions, we establish sufficient conditions for the existence of a unique ergodic stationary distribution. Furthermore, conditions for extinction of plasmid-bearing organisms are obtained. Theoretical analysis indicates that large noise intensity $\sigma_{2}^{2}$ is detrimental to the survival of plasmid-bearing organisms and is not conducive to the commercial production of genetically altered organisms. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to illustrate the results.     

Existence of solutions for fractional differential equations of order q∈(2,3] with anti-periodic boundary conditions

In this paper, we prove the existence of solutions for an anti-periodic boundary value problem of fractional differential equations of order q∈(2,3]. The contraction mapping principle and Krasnoselskii’s fixed point theorem are applied to establish the results.     

An Update on COVID-19 Vaccine Induced Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Syndrome and Some Management Recommendations

The thrombotic thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), a complication of COVID-19 vaccines, involves thrombosis (often cerebral venous sinus thrombosis) and thrombocytopenia with occasional pulmonary embolism and arterial ischemia. TTS appears to mostly affect females aged between 20 and 50 years old, with no predisposing risk factors conclusively identified so far. Cases are characterized by thrombocytopenia, higher levels of D-dimers than commonly observed in venous thromboembolic events, inexplicably low fibrinogen levels and worsening thrombosis. Hyper fibrinolysis associated with bleeding can also occur. Antibodies that bind platelet factor 4, similar to those associated with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, have also been identified but in the absence of patient exposure to heparin treatment. A number of countries have now suspended the use of adenovirus-vectored vaccines for younger individuals. The prevailing opinion of most experts is that the risk of developing COVID-19 disease, including thrombosis, far exceeds the extremely low risk of TTS associated with highly efficacious vaccines. Mass vaccination should continue but with caution. Vaccines that are more likely to cause TTS (e.g., Vaxzevria manufactured by AstraZeneca) should be avoided in younger patients for whom an alternative vaccine is available.     

Complementary electric-LC resonator antenna for WLAN applications

In this paper, a metamaterial antenna based on complementary electric-LC (CELC) resonator is proposed. The antenna consists of slot-loaded ELC on the ground plane as the main antennas radiating element and excited by a microstrip line. The CELC resonator is characterized by single-negative magnetic moment excited by coupling between the microstrip transmission line and slot-loaded CELC. The peak realized gain and efficiency of 2.63 dB and 86 % are obtained, respectively, at resonance frequency. Simulation and measurement results are presented to validate the design. The antenna is suitable for WLAN applications (2.39–2.48 GHz).