Abstract: Statement of problem. The wear of tooth structure opposing anatomically contoured zirconia crowns requires further investigation. Purpose. The purpose of this in vitro study was to measure the roughness and wear of polished, glazed, and polished then reglazed zirconia against human enamel antagonists and compare the measurements to those of veneering porcelain and natural enamel. Material and methods. Zirconia specimens were divided into polished, glazed, and polished then reglazed groups (n=8). A veneering porcelain (Ceramco3) and enamel were used as controls. The surface roughness of all pretest specimens was measured. Wear testing was performed in the newly designed Alabama wear testing device. The mesiobuccal cusps of extracted molars were standardized and used as antagonists. Three-dimensional (3D) scans of the specimens and antagonists were obtained at baseline and after 200 000 and 400 000 cycles with a profilometer. The baseline scans were superimposed on the posttesting scans to determine volumetric wear. Data were analyzed with a 1-way ANOVA and Tukey Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) post hoc tests (alpha=.05) Results. Surface roughness ranked in order of least rough to roughest was: polished zirconia, glazed zirconia, polished then reglazed zirconia, veneering porcelain, and enamel. For ceramic, there was no measureable loss on polished zirconia, moderate loss on the surface of enamel, and significant loss on glazed and polished then reglazed zirconia. The highest ceramic wear was exhibited by the veneering ceramic. For enamel antagonists, polished zirconia caused the least wear, and enamel caused moderate wear. Glazed and polished then reglazed zirconia showed significant opposing enamel wear, and veneering porcelain demonstrated the most. Conclusions. Within the limitations of the study, polished zirconia is wear-friendly to the opposing tooth. Glazed zirconia causes more material and antagonist wear than polished zirconia. The surface roughness of the zirconia aided in predicting the wear of the opposing dentition. (J Prosthet Dent 2013;109:22-29)

Abstract: Since its discovery 20 years ago, many studies have been performed to gain insight into the functional role of cytoglobin (Cygb). However, Cygb has been proven to be a promiscuous protein. Yet, there is a consensus that Cygb is a cytoprotective protein involved in redox homeostasis. CYGB is a ubiquitously expressed hexacoordinated globin that is highly expressed in melanocytes and is often found to be downregulated during melanocyte-to-melanoma transition. In Chapter III, we investigated the molecular mechanism through which CYGB could be involved in redox regulation. Here, we showed that CYGB contains two redox-sensitive cysteine residues and that the formation of an intramolecular disulfide bridge resulted in the heme group becoming more accessible to external ligands. This supports the hypothesis that Cys38 and Cys83 serve as sensitive redox sensors. In Chapter IV we showed that CYGB mRNA and protein levels were elevated upon exposure to hypoxia. Interestingly, this upregulation was most likely HIF-2α-dependent. We propose that in melanoma, HIF-2α, rather than HIF-1α, positively regulates CYGB under hypoxic conditions in a cell type specific way. In Chapter V, the cytotoxic effect of indirect NTP treatment in two melanoma cell lines with divergent endogenous CYGB expression levels was investigated. We confirmed that NTP endows cytotoxicity that induces cell death through apoptosis and that this was mediated through the production of ROS. Moreover, we showed that CYGB protects melanoma cells from ROS-induced apoptosis by the scavenging of ROS. Interestingly, CYGB expression influenced the expression of NRF2 and HO-1. We identified the lncRNA MEG3 as a possible mechanism through which NRF2 expression and its downstream target HO-1 can be regulated by CYGB. In chapter VI, increased basal ROS levels and higher degree of lipid peroxidation upon RSL3 treatment contributed to the increased sensitivity of CYGB knockdown G361 cells to ferroptosis. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis demonstrates the enrichment of multiple cancer malignancy pathways upon CYGB knockdown, supporting a tumor-suppressive role for CYGB. Remarkably, CYGB expression regulation was identified as a critical determinant of the ferroptosis–pyroptosis therapy response. This suggests that CYGB is involved in the regulation of multiple modes of programmed cell death. FInally, we sought to delineate the RONS that are responsible for plasma-induced ICD. Our results highlight the importance of the short-lived species. Furthermore, we are first to demonstrate that NTP-created vaccine is safely prepared and offers complete protection. Moreover, we provide conclusive evidence that direct application of NTP induces ICD in melanoma.

Abstract: The research on the use of obsidian in the Mediterranean is extensive but concerns almost exclusively volcanic glass from prehistoric and Bronze Age contexts. The consumption of obsidian during the Roman imperial period, however, has only occasionally received attention. Never a comprehensive account on what the Romans made in vitrum obsianum has been set up, nor have the sources exploited by them been examined. This paper provides a concise overview of the current knowledge on obsidian during the Roman imperial period and offers an introductory outline on potential research. The ancient writers inform us about the use of volcanic glass to create exclusive vessels, gemstones, mirrors and sculpture, but also about the creation of black appearing man-made glass initiated as a cheap and easier workable substitute of obsidian. The archaeological data on the other hand propose a more complex story with the occurrence of obsidian chunks in early Roman secondary glass workshops, and the bulky use of obsidian in late Antiquity to produce tesserae for the creation of wall and vault mosaics. Because it is extremely difficult to visually distinguish natural obsidian from man-made glass imitations we present in this paper data collected by means of non-destructive chemico-physical analyses SEM-EDX, portable X-ray fluorescence (p-XRF) and Raman spectroscopy to easily distinguish man-made glass from natural obsidian. In particular the use of portable instruments makes possible in situ analysis of objects in archaeological depots or museum collections to help defining distribution networks to better understand the shifting consumption patterns in Antiquity.

Abstract: Potentiometric sensors were used to study molecular interactions in liquid environments, with sensorgram methodology. This is demonstrated with a lipophilic rubber-, and with a collagen based hydrogel sensor coating. The investigated molecules were promazine and tartaric acid respectively. The sensors were placed in a hydrodynamic wall jet system for the recording of sensorgrams. mV sensor responses were first converted to a signal, expressing the concentration of adsorbed organic ions. Using a linearization method, a pseudo first order kinetic model of adsorption was shown to fit the experimental results perfectly. Kass, kon and koff values were calculated.. The technique can be used over 4 decades of concentration, and it is very sensitive to low MW compounds as well as to multiply charged large biomolecules. This study is the first to demonstrate the application of potentiometric sensors as an alternative and complement to SPR methods.

Abstract: The characteristics of a Full-Field X-ray Fluorescence (FF-XRF) set-up for element-specific imaging, installed at the HASYLAB synchrotron radiation source, were determined. A lateral resolution of 10 μm and limits of detection in the percentage range were found. Further potential developments in CCDs available for FF-XRF are discussed and the use of polycapillary lenses as image transfer optics is illustrated in some explorative experiments.

Abstract: Shallow trench isolation (STI) is a promising technology for the isolation structures of the new generation of ULSI devices with dimensions below 0.18 mum. The various processing steps cause stress fields in STI structures, which can lead to defect formation in the silicon substrate. In their turn, stress fields affect the electrical parameters and the reliability of devices. Convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) is used in this study to examine the influence of a wet and a dry pre-gate oxidation on the stress distribution around STI structures. The measurements are performed on STI structures with different width and spacing. CBED analysis is compared with bright-field TEM images. Defects are observed in high-strain areas of small isolated structures. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Abstract: In this study the uptake of ZnO and CuO nanoparticles by Daphnia magna was tested. Daphnids were exposed during 48 h to acute concentrations of the nanoparticles and corresponding metal salts. The Daphnia zinc and copper concentration was measured and the nanoparticles were localized using electron microscopy. The aggregation and dissolution in the medium was characterized. A fast dissolution of ZnO in the medium was observed, while most CuO formed large aggregates and only a small fraction dissolved. The Daphnia zinc concentration was comparable for the nanoparticles and salts. Contrarily, a much higher Daphnia copper concentration was observed in the CuO exposure, compared to the copper salt. CuO nanoparticles adsorbed onto the carapace and occurred in the gut but did not internalize in the tissues. The combined dissolution and uptake results indicate that the toxicity of both nanoparticle types was caused by metal ions dissolved from the particles in the medium.

Abstract: The existence of the [SrF(0.8)O(0.1)](2.5)[Mn(6)O(12)] = Sr(2.5)Mn(6)O(12.5 – delta)F(2) compound was established in the SrO-Mn(2)O(3)-SrF(2) system at 900A degrees C and p(O(2)) = 1 atm. The crystal structure of strontium fluoromanganite was determined from the X-ray powder diffraction data, electron diffraction, and high-resolution electron microscopy. It can be described in the monoclynic system with four Miller hklm indices: hklm: H = h a* + k b* + l c (1) (*) + m q (1), q (1), q (1) = c (2) (*) = gamma c (1) (*) , gamma a parts per thousand 0.632, a a parts per thousand a a parts per thousand 9.72 , b a parts per thousand 9.55 , c (1) a parts per thousand 2.84 , c (2) a parts per thousand 4.49 , monoclinic angle gamma a parts per thousand 95.6A degrees. The electromotive force method with a solid fluorine ion electrolyte was used to refine the composition of fluoromanganite and determine the thermodynamic functions of its formation from phases neighboring in the phase diagram (SrMn(3)O(6), Mn(2)O(3), SrF(2), and oxygen), Delta GA degrees, kJ/mol = -(111.7 +/- 1.9) + (89.5 +/- 1.5) x 10(-3) T.

Abstract: Herein, an isothermal padlock probe-based assay for the simple and portable detection of pathogens coupled with a glucose oxidase (GOx)-based electrochemical readout is reported. Infectious diseases remain a constant threat on a global scale, as in recurring pandemics. Rapid and portable diagnostics hold the promise to tackle the spreading of diseases and decentralising healthcare to point-of-care needs. Ebola, a hypervariable RNA virus causing fatalities of up to 90% for recent outbreaks in Africa, demands immediate attention for bedside diagnostics. The design of the demonstrated assay consists of a rolling circle amplification (RCA) technique, responsible for the generation of nucleic acid amplicons as RCA products (RCPs). The RCPs are generated on magnetic beads (MB) and subsequently, connected via streptavidin-biotin bonds to GOx. The enzymatic catalysis of glucose by the bound GOx allows for an indirect electrochemical measurement of the DNA target. The RCPs generated on the surface of the MB were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, and among other experimental conditions such as the type of buffer, temperature, concentration of GOx, sampling and measurement time were evaluated for the optimum electrochemical detection. Accordingly, 125 μg mL−1 of GOx with 5 mM glucose using phosphate buffer saline (PBS), monitored for 1 min were selected as the ideal conditions. Finally, we assessed the analytical performance of the biosensing strategy by using clinical samples of Ebola virus from patients. Overall, this work provides a proof-of-concept bioassay for simple and portable molecular diagnostics of emerging pathogens using electrochemical detection, especially in resource-limited settings.

Abstract: For the first time, the local structure and physical properties of Ru1222 based compounds (RuSr(2)Gd(1.4)Ce(0.6)Cu(2)O(10-delta) and RuSr(2)Gd(1.8-x)Y(0.2)CexCu(2)O(10) (x = 0.90-0.55)) have been investigated and analyzed together on the very same compounds. The Ru1222 superstructure was confirmed by TEM at a local scale and was suggested to have an orthorhombic symmetry with space group Aba2 and lattice parameters a(s) similar or equal to root 2a, b(s) similar or equal to root 2a and c(s) = c. This new Ru1222 superstructure distortion from tetragonal symmetry is proposed to have a positive correlation with the superconductivity variation of these compounds. The more the distortion towards orthorhombic symmetry, the higher the critical superconducting temperature these compounds can achieve. The T(c)(0) of RuSr(2)Gd(1.8-x)Y(0.2)Ce(x)Cu(2)O(10-delta) (x = 0.85-0.55) increases monotonically from 4 to 16 K when x decreases from 0.85 to 0.70, then RuSr(2)Gd(2)Cu(2)O(8) defects emerge and the T(c) decreases with decreasing x. Ru1212 defects are observed to intergrow epitaxially with the Ru1222 structure as lamellas along the c-axis in RuSr(2)Gd(1.4)Ce(0.6)Cu(2)O(10-delta). Although Ru1212 is a superconductor, the intergrowth severely restrains its superconductivity.