Fabrication of alginate composite hydrogel encapsulated retinoic acid and nano se doped CaP to augment in situ mineralization and osteoimmunomodulation for bone regeneration.

BACKGROUND: Bone tissue engineering endows alternates to support bone defects/injuries that are circumscribed to undergo orchestrated process of remodeling on its own. In this regard, hydrogels have emerged as a promising platform that can confront irregular defects and encourage in situ bone repair. METHODS: In this study, we aimed to develop a new approach for bone tissue regeneration by developing an alginate based composite hydrogel incorporating selenium doped biphasic calcium phosphate nanoparticles, and retinoic acid. The fabricated hydrogel was physiochemically evaluated for morphological, bonding, and mechanical behavior. Additionally, the biological response of the fabricated hydrogel was evaluated on MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells. RESULTS: The developed composite hydrogel confers excellent biocompatibility, and osteoconductivity owing to the presence of alginate, and biphasic calcium phosphate, while selenium presents pro osteogenic, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory properties. The hydrogels exhibited highly porous microstructure, superior mechanical attributes, with enhanced calcification, and biomineralization abilities in vitro. SIGNIFICANCE: By combining the osteoconductive properties of biphasic calcium phosphate with multifaceted benefits of selenium and retinoic acid, the fabricated composite hydrogel offers a potential transformation in the landscape of bone defect treatment. This strategy could direct a versatile and effective approach to tackle complex bone injuries/defects and present potential for clinical translation.

High-Performance Battery-Type Supercapacitors Based on Self-Oriented Growth of Nanorods/Nanospheres Composite Assembled on Self-Standing Conductive GO/CNF Frameworks.

MnOx-based materials have limited capacity and poor conductivity over various voltages, hampering their potential for energy storage applications. This work proposes a novel approach to address these challenges. A self-oriented multiple-electronic structure of a 1D-MnO2-nanorod/2D-Mn2O3-nanosphere composite was assembled on 2D-graphene oxide nanosheet/1D-carbon nanofiber (GO/CNF) hybrids. Aided by K+ ions, the MnO2 nanorods were partially converted to Mn2O3 nanospheres, while the GO nanosheets were combined with CNF through hydrogen bonds resulting in a unique double binary 1D-2D mixed morphology of MnO2/Mn2O3-GO/CNF hybrid, having a novel mechanism of multiple Mn ion redox reactions facilitated by the interconnected 3D network. The morphology of the MnO2 nanorods was controlled by regulating the potassium ion content through a rinsing strategy. Interestingly, pure MnO2 nanorods undergo air-annealing to form a mixture of nanorods and nanospheres (MnO2/Mn2O3) with a distinct morphology indicating pseudocapacitive surface redox reactions involving Mn2+, Mn3+, and Mn4+. In the presence of the GO/CNF framework, the charge storage properties of the MnO2/Mn2O3-GO/CNF composite electrode show dominant battery-type behavior because of the unique mesoporous structure with a crumpled morphology that provides relatively large voids and cavities with smaller diffusion paths to facilitate the accumulation/intercalation of charges at the inner electroactive sites for the diffusion-controlled process. The corresponding specific capacity of 800 C g-1 or 222.2 mAh g-1 at 1 A g-1 and remarkable cycling stability (95%) over 5000 cycles at 3 A g-1 were considerably higher than those of the reported electrodes of similar materials. Moreover, a hybrid supercapacitor device is assembled using MnO2/Mn2O3-GO/CNF as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode, which exhibits a superior maximum energy density (∼25 Wh kg-1) and maximum power density (∼4.0 kW kg-1). Therefore, the as-synthesized composite highlights the development of highly active low-cost materials for next-generation energy storage applications.

Unraveling the structure, chemical composition, and conserved signaling in leech teeth.

Unlike vertebrates, the number of toothed taxa in invertebrates is very few, with leeches being the only tooth-bearing organisms in the phylum Annelida. Copious studies have been conducted regarding vertebrate teeth; however, studies regarding the structure and function of invertebrate teeth are limited. In this study, the tooth structure of leeches, specifically Hirudo nipponia and Haemadipsa rjukjuana, was revealed, which showed sharp and pointed teeth along the apex of three jaws. Understanding conserved signaling regulations among analogous organs is crucial for uncovering the underlying mechanisms during organogenesis. Therefore, to shed light on the evolutionary perspective of odontogenesis to some extent, we conducted de novo transcriptome analyses using embryonic mouse tooth germs, Hirudo teeth, and Helobdella proboscises to identify conserved signaling molecules involved in tooth development. The selection criteria were particularly based on the presence of tooth-related genes in mice, Hirudo teeth, and Helobdella proboscis, wherein 4113 genes were commonly expressed in all three specimens. Furthermore, the chemical nature of leech teeth was also examined via TEM-EDS to compare the chemical composition with vertebrate teeth. The examination of tissue-specific genetic information and chemical nature between leeches and mice revealed chemical similarities between leech and mice teeth, as well as conserved signaling molecules involved in tooth formation, including Ptpro, Prickle2, and Wnt16. Based on our findings, we propose that leech teeth express signaling molecules conserved in mice and these conserved tooth-specific signaling for dental hard tissue formation in mice would corresponds to the structural formation of the toothed jaw in leeches.

Developmental roles of glomerular epithelial protein-1 in mice molar morphogenesis.

Glomerular epithelial protein-1 (Glepp1), a R3 subtype family of receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatases, plays important role in the activation of Src family kinases and regulates cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this study, we firstly examined the functional evaluation of Glepp1 in tooth development and morphogenesis. The precise expression level and developmental function of Glepp1 were examined by RT-qPCR, in situ hybridization, and loss and gain of functional study using a range of in vitro organ cultivation methods. Expression of Glepp1 was detected in the developing tooth germs in cap and bell stage of tooth development. Knocking down Glepp1 at E13 for 2 days showed the altered expression levels of tooth development-related signaling molecules, including Bmps, Dspp, Fgf4, Lef1, and Shh. Moreover, transient knock down of Glepp1 revealed alterations in cellular physiology, examined by the localization patterns of Ki67 and E-cadherin. Similarly, knocking down of Glepp1 showed disrupted enamel rod and interrod formation in 3-week renal transplanted teeth. In addition, due to attrition of odontoblastic layers, the expression signals of Dspp and the localization of NESTIN were almost not detected after knock down of Glepp1; however, their expressions were increased after Glepp1 overexpression. Thus, our results suggested that Glepp1 plays modulating roles during odontogenesis by regulating the expression levels of signaling molecules and cellular events to achieve the proper structural formation of hard tissue matrices in mice molar development.

The role of O-GlcNAcylation mediated by OGT during tooth development.

To understand the mechanisms underlying tooth morphogenesis, we examined the developmental roles of important posttranslational modification, O-GlcNAcylation, which regulates protein stability and activity by the addition and removal of a single sugar (O-GlcNAc) to the serine or threonine residue of the intracellular proteins. Tissue and developmental stage-specific immunostaining results against O-GlcNAc and O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) in developing tooth germs would suggest that O-GlcNAcylation is involved in tooth morphogenesis, particularly in the cap and secretory stage. To evaluate the developmental function of OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation, we employed an in vitro tooth germ culture method at E14.5, cap stage before secretory stage, for 1 and 2 days, with or without OSMI-1, a small molecule OGT inhibitor. To examine the mineralization levels and morphological changes, we performed renal capsule transplantation for one and three weeks after 2 days of in vitro culture at E14.5 with OSMI-1 treatment. After OGT inhibition, morphological and molecular alterations were examined using histology, immunohistochemistry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, scanning electron microscopy, and ground sectioning. Overall, inhibition of OGT resulted in altered cellular physiology, including proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial rearrangements, with significant changes in the expression patterns of ß-catenin, fibroblast growth factor 4 (fgf4), and sonic hedgehog (Shh). Moreover, renal capsule transplantation and immunolocalizations of Amelogenin and Nestin results revealed that OGT-inhibited tooth germs at cap stage exhibited with structural changes in cuspal morphogenesis, amelogenesis, and dentinogenesis of the mineralized tooth. Overall, we suggest that OGT-mediated O-GlcNAcylation regulates cell signaling and physiology in primary enamel knot during tooth development, thus playing an important role in mouse molar morphogenesis.

Comparison of Biocompatibility of Three Soft Milled Cobalt-Chromium Alloys.

In the context of biology and medicine, nanotechnology encompasses the materials, devices, and systems whose structure and function are relevant for small length scales, from nanometers through microns. The purpose of this study was to compare the microstructures and resultant biocompatibility of three commercially available soft milled cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys (Ceramill Sintron, CS; Sintermetall, SML; and Soft Metal, SM). Disc-shaped specimens were prepared by milling the soft blanks and subsequent post-sintering. The crystal and microstructures of the three different alloys were studied using optical microscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron backscatter diffraction. The amounts of Co, Cr, and molybdenum (Mo) ions released from the alloys were evaluated using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. The effect of ion release on the viability of L929 mouse fibroblasts was evaluated by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The SML alloy showed a finer grain size (approx. 5 µm) and a larger pore size (approx. 5 µm) than the CS and SM alloys, and its XRD pattern exhibited a slightly higher ε phase peak intensity than that of the γ phase. In the CS and SML alloys, the average crystallite sizes of the nano-sized Cr23C6 carbide were 21.6 and 19.3 nm, respectively. The SML alloy showed higher concentrations of Cr and Mo in the grain boundaries than the other two alloys. The SML alloy showed significantly higher Co and Mo ion releases (p < 0.001) and significantly lower cell viability (p < 0.05) than the CS and SM alloys. The combined results of this in vitro study suggest that the three soft milled Co-Cr alloys had different crystal and microstructures and, as a result, different levels of in vitro biocompatibility.

Evaluation of Resin Bonding to Tetragonal and Gradient-Shaded Cubic Zirconia Ceramics After Air-Abrasion.

Self-assembled nano-layering resulting from combined ionic and hydrogen-bonding interactions of phosphate functional monomers with zirconia have been proposed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the bond strengths of two phosphate monomer-containing adhesive resin cements (Panavia F 2.0 and RelyX U200) to a conventional tetragonal zirconia (Lava Plus, LP) and a new cubic zirconia (Lava Esthetic, LE), with three different shade zones, after air-abrasion. The structures of the zirconia surfaces were examined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD). Vickers hardness and fracture toughness of the surfaces were also evaluated using a hardness tester. After air-abrasion (with 50 µm Al2O3 at a pressure of 0.25 MPa), the surface roughness was measured using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and the resin cements were bonded (diameter: 2.38 mm) to the surfaces. All bonded specimens were stored in water at 37 °C for 24 h before performing the shear bond strength (SBS) test (n = 15). In the SEM images, the LP group showed a finer grain size than the LE groups. The XRD patterns confirmed that LP and LE had tetragonal and cubic phases, respectively. Although there were no significant differences in Vickers hardness among the four groups (p = 0.117), the three LE groups revealed inferior fracture toughness to the LP group (p < 0.001). However, neither the surface roughness of the air-abraded zirconia surfaces nor SBS values of each resin cement bonded to them were significantly different (p > 0.05). In conclusion, no significant difference in SBS value was detected between the tetragonal and cubic zirconia within each resin cement used, probably due to the similar surface roughness of the air-abraded zirconia ceramics.

Influence of Sandblasting Particle Size and Pressure on Resin Bonding Durability to Zirconia: A Residual Stress Study.

The influence of residual stress induced by sandblasting the zirconia ceramic surface on the resin bonding to the ceramic is still unclear. The effect of four different sandblasting conditions (with 50 and 110 µm alumina at pressures of 0.2 and 0.4 MPa) on the bonding of adhesive resin cement (Panavia F 2.0) to zirconia (Cercon® ht) was investigated in terms of residual stress. The surface roughness and water contact angle of the zirconia surfaces were measured. The tetragonal-to-monoclinic (t-m) phase transformation and residual stresses (sin2ψ method) were studied by X-ray diffraction. The resin-bonded zirconia specimens were subjected to shear bond strength (SBS) tests before and after thermocycling (10,000 and 30,000 cycles) (n = 10). As the particle size and pressure increased, the roughness gradually and significantly increased (p = 0.023). However, there were no significant differences in roughness-corrected contact angle among all the sandblasted groups (p > 0.05). As the particle size and pressure increased, the m-phase/(t-phase + m-phase) ratios and compressive residual stresses gradually increased. After thermocycling, there were no significant differences in SBS among the sandblasted zirconia groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, increased surface roughness and residual stress do not directly affect the resin bonding durability.

Application of a Novel CVD TiN Coating on a Biomedical Co-Cr Alloy: An Evaluation of Coating Layer and Substrate Characteristics.

Titanium nitride (TiN) was deposited on the surface of a cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy by a hot-wall type chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor at 850 °C, and the coating characteristics were compared with those of a physical vapor deposition (PVD) TiN coating deposited on the same alloy at 450 °C. Neither coating showed any reactions at the interface. The face-centered cubic (fcc) structure of the alloy was changed into a hexagonal close-packed (hcp) phase, and recrystallization occurred over at 10 µm of depth from the surface after CVD coating. Characteristic precipitates were also generated incrementally depending on the depth, unlike the precipitates in the matrix of the as-cast alloy. On the other hand, the microstructure and phase of the PVD-coated alloy did not change. Depth-dependent nano-hardness measurements showed a greater increase in hardness in the recrystallization zone of the CVD-coated alloy than in the bulk center of the alloy. The CVD coating showed superior adhesion to the PVD coating in the progressive scratch test. The as-cast, PVD-coated, and CVD-coated alloys all showed negative cytotoxicity. Within the limitations of this study, CVD TiN coating to biomedical Co-Cr alloy may be considered a promising alternative to PVD technique.

Formation of Nano/Micro Hierarchical Structures on Titanium Alloy Surface by a Novel Etching Solution.

A new effective oxidative solution for titanium (Ti) surface etching was recently developed. The present in vitro study was aimed at determining the influence of shorter (than 240 min) treatment time on the surface characteristics of the Ti nano/micro hierarchical structures. Cylinder-shaped Ti grade 5 alloys were etched for 30, 60, 120, and 240 min at room temperature and cleaned successively with acetone, ethanol, and distilled water in an ultrasonic bath. The micro- and nanostructures, surface roughness, dynamic wettability, and the surface elemental composition of the etched surfaces were evaluated. Nano/micro hierarchical structures, composed of micro-pits and nano-channels, were formed on the Ti surface through simple immersion in the oxidative solution. The findings suggest that the 120-min immersion yielded significant enhancement in the roughness and wettability of the Ti surfaces.

Marginal fit of metal-ceramic crowns fabricated by using a casting and two selective laser melting processes before and after ceramic firing.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Few studies have investigated changes in the marginal fit of metal-ceramic restorations fabricated by selective laser melting (SLM) techniques after the application of veneering ceramic. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the marginal fit (silicone replica technique) and internal porosity (cross-section analysis) of cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy metal crowns prepared by using 2 SLM processes together with a casting technique before and after ceramic veneering. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cast single Co-Cr crowns and SLM-processed crowns with large (SLML) or small (SLMS) porosity were prepared (n=20/group), and half were subjected to ceramic veneering. On a single Co-Cr master die, the marginal discrepancy (MD) and absolute marginal discrepancy (AMD) of the crowns were measured by using the silicone replica technique, in which each replica was cut into 4 sections before and after ceramic veneering (n=10 for each subgroup). After marginal fit measurements, each metal coping was cross-sectioned into 4 parts, and 5 rectangular optical microscope images were acquired on both outer corners of each quarter. The porosity was then calculated as the ratio of the black-to-white pixels on the binarized images. The data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA and the post hoc test (Tukey or Student t test) (α=.05). RESULTS: Before ceramic veneering, the 2 SLM groups showed significantly larger MDs than the casting group (56.4 ±10.4 µm) (P<.05). A significant increase in MD after ceramic veneering was detected only in the SLML group (P<.001). The AMD values showed a similar trend with MD values. The 2 SLM groups (in particular, SLML) showed a significantly higher amount of porosity than the casting group before ceramic veneering (P<.001). Only the SLML group showed a significant decrease in the amount of porosity after ceramic veneering (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Within the limitations of this in vitro study, large internal porosity within the SLM-fabricated Co-Cr metal copings affected the marginal fit of the metal-ceramic crowns. However, all the MD values of the 3 groups were lower than the acceptable range even after the application of veneering ceramic.

Effect of Post-Sintering Conditions on the Mechanical Properties of a New Co-Cr Alloy Produced by New Subtractive Manufacturing.

In this study, we investigated the effect of sintering temperature (1300, 1350, or 1400 °C) and holding time (1 or 2 h) on the mechanical properties of a cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloy (Soft Metal) produced by milling/post-sintering, using a tensile test (n = 6). Prior to the test, the different nanostructures arising from the sintering conditions were also analyzed. The phase ratio of γ (face-centered cubic) phase to ɛ (hexagonal close-packed) phase increased mainly with increasing temperature. The formation of Cr23C6 carbide was greatest in the 1350 °C groups when compared to the other temperature groups. The 1400 °C groups had a substantially greater grain size than the 1300 °C and 1350 °C groups, together with a significant number of annealing twins inside the matrix phases. Overall, the 1350 °C groups showed the most superior properties. The 1400 °C groups showed a mean 0.2% yield strength under 500 MPa. The holding times did not significantly affect the mechanical properties (p > 0.05).

Influence of Oxidative Etching Solution Temperatures on the Surface Roughness and Wettability of a Titanium Alloy.

Recently, a simple surface modification treatment of titanium (Ti) was developed to produce nano-and micro-scale features on the surfaces via simple immersion in an oxidative aqueous solution (30% hydrogen peroxide/5% sodium bicarbonate). However, this treatment method of Ti surfaces requires a relatively long immersion time (4 h) in the oxidative solution. In this study, we investigated whether an increase in the temperature of the oxidative etching solution can shorten the immersion time of Ti effectively. Polished grade 5 dental Ti (Ti-6Al-4V) discs were immersed in the oxidative aqueous solution either for 30 or 60 min. The temperature of the etching solution was maintained at 25 (similar to room temperature), 35, or 45 °C during etching. The etched surfaces were studied in terms of micro- and nano-structures, surface roughness, and wettability (surface energy). The increase in the temperature of the solution accelerated the etching effect of Ti and created both micro- and nano-structures on the surfaces more effectively. In particular, immersion for 60 min at the solution temperature of 35 °C significantly increased the surface roughness and wettability, although the etching effect was enhanced further at the solution temperature of 45 °C.

Resin Bonding to Type IV Gold Alloy Conditioned with a Novel Mercapto Silane System: Effect of Incorporation of a Phosphate Monomer.

Self-assembled monolayers of thiols have been used to link a range of materials to planar gold surfaces or gold nanoparticles in nanoscience and nanotechnology. Novel mercapto silane systems are a promising alternative to dental noble metal alloys for enhanced resin bonding durability Goldbased alloys for full-cast restorations contain various base metal elements, which may bond to acidic functional monomers chemically, in addition to noble metal elements. This study examined how the additional incorporation of a phosphate monomer (di-2-hydroxyethyl methacryl hydrogenphosphate, DHP) into novel mercapto silane primer systems affected the resin bond strength to a type IV gold alloy pretreated with the primers. One of three commercial primers (Alloy Primer and M. L. Primer) and three experimental primer systems ((1) blend of γ-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (SPS) and γ-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) (both 1.0 wt%), (2) 1.0 wt% DHP-containing primer, and (3) blend of SPS, MPS, and DHP (each 1.0 wt%)) was applied to the alloy surfaces after sandblasting. Resin cylinders (diameter: 2.38 mm) were bonded to the surfaces and light-cured. All bonded specimens were stored in water at 37 °C for 24 h and then half of them additionally water immersed for 7 days (37 °C) and thermocycled 10,000 times before the shear bond strength test (n = 10). The mercapto silane systems (SPS + MPS) were found to show superior resin bonding durability to the commercial primers and the only DHP-containing primer, regardless of additional incorporation of the phosphate monomer.

Microbial fuel cell assisted band gap narrowed TiO2 for visible light-induced photocatalytic activities and power generation.

This paper reports a simple, biogenic and green approach to obtain narrow band gap and visible light-active TiO2 nanoparticles. Commercial white TiO2 (w-TiO2) was treated in the cathode chamber of a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC), which produced modified light gray TiO2 (g-TiO2) nanoparticles. The DRS, PL, XRD, EPR, HR-TEM, and XPS were performed to understand the band gap decline of g-TiO2. The optical study revealed a significant decrease in the band gap of the g-TiO2 (E g = 2.80 eV) compared to the w-TiO2 (E g = 3.10 eV). The XPS revealed variations in the surface states, composition, Ti4+ to Ti3+ ratio, and oxygen vacancies in the g-TiO2. The Ti3+ and oxygen vacancy-induced enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity of g-TiO2 was confirmed by degrading different model dyes. The enhanced photoelectrochemical response under visible light irradiation further supported the improved performance of the g-TiO2 owing to a decrease in the electron transfer resistance and an increase in charge transfer rate. During the TiO2 treatment process, electricity generation in MFC was also observed, which was ~0.3979 V corresponding to a power density of 70.39 mW/m2. This study confirms narrow band gap TiO2 can be easily obtained and used effectively as photocatalysts and photoelectrode material.

The Nature of Metastable AA' Graphite: Low Dimensional Nano- and Single-Crystalline Forms.

Over the history of carbon, it is generally acknowledged that Bernal AB stacking of the sp2 carbon layers is the unique crystalline form of graphite. The universal graphite structure is synthesized at 2,600~3,000 °C and exhibits a micro-polycrystalline feature. In this paper, we provide evidence for a metastable form of graphite with an AA' structure. The non-Bernal AA' allotrope of graphite is synthesized by the thermal- and plasma-treatment of graphene nanopowders at ~1,500 °C. The formation of AA' bilayer graphene nuclei facilitates the preferred texture growth and results in single-crystal AA' graphite in the form of nanoribbons (1D) or microplates (2D) of a few nm in thickness. Kinetically controlled AA' graphite exhibits unique nano- and single-crystalline feature and shows quasi-linear behavior near the K-point of the electronic band structure resulting in anomalous optical and acoustic phonon behavior.

A simple, sensitive and non-destructive technique for characterizing bovine dental enamel erosion: attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.

Although many techniques are available to assess enamel erosion in vitro, a simple, non-destructive method with sufficient sensitivity for quantifying dental erosion is required. This study characterized the bovine dental enamel erosion induced by various acidic beverages in vitro using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Deionized water (control) and 10 acidic beverages were selected to study erosion, and the pH and neutralizable acidity were measured. Bovine anterior teeth (110) were polished with up to 1 200-grit silicon carbide paper to produce flat enamel surfaces, which were then immersed in 20 mL of the beverages for 30 min at 37 °C. The degree of erosion was evaluated using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and Vickers' microhardness measurements. The spectra obtained were interpreted in two ways that focused on the ν1, ν3 phosphate contour: the ratio of the height amplitude of ν3 PO4 to that of ν1 PO4 (Method 1) and the shift of the ν3 PO4 peak to a higher wavenumber (Method 2). The percentage changes in microhardness after the erosion treatments were primarily affected by the pH of the immersion media. Regression analyses revealed highly significant correlations between the surface hardness change and the degree of erosion, as detected by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy (P<0.001). Method 1 was the most sensitive to these changes, followed by surface hardness change measurements and Method 2. This study suggests that ATR-FTIR spectroscopy is potentially advantageous over the microhardness test as a simple, non-destructive, sensitive technique for the quantification of enamel erosion.

Oxygen Vacancy-Induced Structural, Optical, and Enhanced Supercapacitive Performance of Zinc Oxide Anchored Graphitic Carbon Nanofiber Hybrid Electrodes.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) anchored to carbon nanofiber (CNF) hybrids were synthesized using a facile coprecipitation method. This report demonstrates an effective strategy to intrinsically improve the conductivity and supercapacitive performance of the hybrids by inducing oxygen vacancies. Oxygen deficiency-related defect analyses were performed qualitatively as well as quantitatively using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. All of the analyses clearly indicate an increase in oxygen deficiencies in the hybrids with an increase in the vacuum-annealing temperature. The nonstoichiometric oxygen vacancy is mainly induced via the migration of the lattice oxygen into interstitial sites at elevated temperature (300 °C), followed by diffusion into the gaseous phase with further increase in the annealing temperature (600 °C) in an oxygen-deficient atmosphere. This induction of oxygen vacancy is corroborated by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, which depicts the oxygen-vacancy-induced bandgap narrowing of the ZnO NPs within the hybrids. At a current density of 3 A g(-1), the hybrid electrode exhibited higher energy density (119.85 Wh kg(-1)) and power density (19.225 kW kg(-1)) compared to a control ZnO electrode (48.01 Wh kg(-1) and 17.687 kW kg(-1)). The enhanced supercapacitive performance is mainly ascribed to the good interfacial contact between CNF and ZnO, high oxygen deficiency, and fewer defects in the hybrid. Our results are expected to provide new insights into improving the electrochemical properties of various composites/hybrids.

Sonocatalytic degradation of Acid Blue 92 using sonochemically prepared samarium doped zinc oxide nanostructures.

Pure and Sm-doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized applying a simple sonochemical method. The nanocatalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) techniques which confirmed the successful synthesis of the doped sonocatalyst. The sonocatalytic degradation of Acid Blue 92 (AB92), a model azo dye, was more than that with sonolysis alone. The 6% Sm-doped ZnO nanoparticles had a band gap of 2.8 eV and demonstrated the highest activity. The degradation efficiency (DE%) of sonolysis and sonocatalysis with undoped ZnO and 6% Sm-doped ZnO was 45.73%, 63.9%, and 90.10%, after 150 min of treatment, respectively. Sonocatalytic degradation of AB92 is enhanced with increasing the dopant amount and catalyst dosage and with decreasing the initial AB29 concentration. DE% declines with the addition of radical scavengers such as chloride, carbonate, sulfate, and tert-butanol. However, the addition of enhancers including potassium periodates, peroxydisulfate, and hydrogen peroxide improves DE% by producing more free radicals. The results show adequate reusability of the doped sonocatalyst. Degradation intermediates were recognized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Using nonlinear regression analysis, an empirical kinetic model was developed to estimate the pseudo-first-order constants (kapp) as a function of the main operational parameters, including the initial dye concentration, sonocatalyst dosage, and ultrasonic power.

Microstructures and Mechanical Properties of Co-Cr Dental Alloys Fabricated by Three CAD/CAM-Based Processing Techniques.

The microstructures and mechanical properties of cobalt-chromium (Co-Cr) alloys produced by three CAD/CAM-based processing techniques were investigated in comparison with those produced by the traditional casting technique. Four groups of disc- (microstructures) or dumbbell- (mechanical properties) specimens made of Co-Cr alloys were prepared using casting (CS), milling (ML), selective laser melting (SLM), and milling/post-sintering (ML/PS). For each technique, the corresponding commercial alloy material was used. The microstructures of the specimens were evaluated via X-ray diffractometry, optical and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and electron backscattered diffraction pattern analysis. The mechanical properties were evaluated using a tensile test according to ISO 22674 (n = 6). The microstructure of the alloys was strongly influenced by the manufacturing processes. Overall, the SLM group showed superior mechanical properties, the ML/PS group being nearly comparable. The mechanical properties of the ML group were inferior to those of the CS group. The microstructures and mechanical properties of Co-Cr alloys were greatly dependent on the manufacturing technique as well as the chemical composition. The SLM and ML/PS techniques may be considered promising alternatives to the Co-Cr alloy casting process.