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Via experiments performed by varying the doping level of single-layer mechanically exfoliated MoS

Liquid-phase exfoliation is the most suitable platform for large-scale production of two-dimensional materials. One of the main open challenges is related to the quest of green and bioderived solvents to replace state-of-the-art dispersion media, which suffer several toxicity issues. Here, we demonstrate the suitability of methyl-5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-5-oxopentanoate (Rhodiasolv Polarclean) for sonication-assisted liquid-phase exfoliation of layered materials for the case-study examples of WS2, MoS2, and graphene. We performed a direct comparison, in the same processing conditions, with liquid-phase exfoliation using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) solvent. The amount of few-layer flakes (with thickness, Sustainable liquid-phase exfoliation of 2D materials with nontoxic Polarclean solvent for application in agri-food, purification, and desalination processes.

Pending the availability of vaccines to contain the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the current solution is &ldquo, social distancing&rdquo, with a reduction of dental treatments to those assessed as urgent and emergency cases. These treatments also involve Early Childhood Caries (ECC) due to the fact that this disease affects preschool children (a vulnerable population) and, in addition, shows a propensity to evolve into more serious complications (dental pain, infections). A narrative review was carried out to support a protocol for treating ECC with efficacious and safe (in terms of SARS-CoV-2 transmission) procedures. Protocol involves criteria for patients&rsquo, selection remotely (telemedicine), and well-detailed criteria/equipment and hygiene procedures to combat against SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Moreover, the protocol proposes innovative caries treatments, named Minimally Invasive Treatments (MITs), well known in pedodontics for their high level of children&rsquo, s acceptance during dental care. MITs allow for caries removal (particularly in primary teeth) without any high-speed rotating instrument cooled with nebulized air-water spray (with high risk of virus environmental diffusion), usually adopted during traditional treatments. For evaluating MITs effectiveness in caries management, only Systematic Review and Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) were included in our study, without any risk of bias assessment. The indications proposed in this protocol could support clinicians for the temporary management of ECC until the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic ends.

Dental caries and periodontal disease represent a health problem and a social cost for the entire population, and in particular for socio-economically disadvantaged individuals who are less resistant to disease. The aim of this review is to estimate the prevalence and severity of the two dental pathologies, caries and periodontal disease, in the different classes of socio-economically disadvantaged subjects and to understand which of them are most affected. A systematic search of the literature was performed in MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE and Web of Science after establishing a suitable search strategy for each database, using keywords related to socio-economically vulnerable classes and health outcomes. Socio-economically disadvantaged individuals are more susceptible to tooth decay and periodontal disease (with relative tooth loss) than non-vulnerable people. Additionally, when multiple vulnerabilities are combined in the same subject, these oral diseases worsen. There is no type of vulnerability more affected by caries and periodontitis than others, since overall they all have severe disease indices. The data from this systematic literature review might be useful for health policy makers looking to allocate more resources and services to socially disadvantaged individuals, resulting in making them more resilient to oral disease due to their social marginalization.

In this study, We demonstrate mono and few layers MoS2 samples on the SiO2(270nm)/Si substrate from bulk MoS2 crystal by micromechanical exfoliation technique. We have systematically studied Atomic Force Microscopy, Raman and PL properties of mono and few layer MoS2 on the SiO2(270nm)/Si substrate. First, we find that the number of layer values dependent the Raman and PL emission. First, Raman intensity area ratio of the MoS2E12g, A1g and 2LA modes to that area of the Si substrate increased linear with increasing number of layers MoS2. Second, Normalized PL intensity area of the (A) peak decreased linear with increasing number of layers MoS2. The value of those graphs is a method to understand the number of layers the exfoliated MoS2.

The doping concentration of B doped single-crystal Czochralski Si(1 0 0) wafers (6 × 1014-5 × 1019 cm−3) has been monitored via micro-Raman spectroscopy using visible (633 and 532 nm) and near-UV (355 nm) laser excitations at low power (5 mW). Data have been analysed with unprecedented accuracy via a convoluted Fano-Gaussian model of the first-order Raman Stokes mode of Silicon. This allowed the determination of the fitting spectral parameters (peak position and width) with an accuracy of 0.01 cm−1, which enables a reliable probing of the concentration. We observed, independently on the excitation wavelength used, a widening (up to 6.5 cm−1), a frequency-softening (up to 1.5 cm−1) and an intensity reduction (down to 90 % ) of the Si peak with the doping concentration. The widening and frequency-softening follow a strictly linear dependence with doping concentration, allowing a calibration. A linear dependence of the reciprocal Fano asymmetry parameter ( q - 1 ) with excitation energy is verified, with the slope showing a linear behavior with the doping concentration and providing a direct estimate on the hole-phonon interaction strength. Results are reproduced with surface-sensitive near-UV Raman spectroscopy on BF 2 + ion implanted and laser thermal annealed (LTA) Si, demonstrating the full portability of the Raman technique to state-of-the-art nanoelectronics.

Anisotropic two-dimensional materials possess intrinsic angle-dependent physical properties that originate from their low crystal symmetry. Yet, how these properties are affected by external impurities or structural defects in the material is still wholly unclear. Here, we address this question by investigating the electrical transport in the anisotropic layered model system germanium arsenide. First, we show that the ratio of conductivities along the armchair and zigzag crystallographic directions exhibits an intriguing dependence with respect to both temperature and carrier density. Then, by using a conceptually simple model, we demonstrate that this unexpected behavior is directly related to the presence of impurity-induced localized states in the band gap that introduce isotropic hopping conduction. The presence of this conduction mechanism in addition to the intrinsic band conduction significantly influences the anisotropic electrical properties of the material, especially at room temperature, i.e., at application-relevant conditions.

Via experiments performed by varying the doping level of single-layer mechanically exfoliated MoS2via post exfoliation thermal annealing in the 200-300 °C temperature range, we study the power dependent room temperature (RT) photoluminescence (PL), which is dominated by A type excitons. The PL spectral yields of the as-exfoliated and annealed samples show sub-linear behaviour as a function of the excitation laser power. The PL signal of the 200 °C annealed sample is dominated by the charged exciton (trion) related peak, while the PL signal of the 300 °C annealed sample is dominated by the neutral exciton related peak, and the PL spectral weight of excitons is tunable in this temperature range. The PL signal increase due to annealing and the intensity ratio of the A type excitons are related, showing a hyperbolic tangent trend. We directly quantitatively demonstrate the one-to-one correlation of the RT resonant Raman (632.8 nm) integrated spectral intensity with the corresponding PL spectral yield, providing experimental evidence of the exciton-phonon coupling effect. The in-plane E2g1 Raman mode exhibits strong coupling with A excitons, while the out-of-plane A1g Raman mode does not. This is an indication of the in-plane spatial symmetry of the A excitons.

Metal-insulator-semiconductor-insulator-metal (MISIM) heterostructures, with rectifying current-voltage characteristics and photosensitivity in the visible and near-infrared spectra, are fabricated and studied. It is shown that the photocurrent can be enhanced by adding a multi-walled carbon nanotube film in the contact region to achieve a responsivity higher than 100 &nbsp, mA &nbsp, W &minus, 1 under incandescent light of 0.1 &nbsp, mW &nbsp, cm &minus, 2 . The optoelectrical characteristics of the MISIM heterostructures are investigated at lower and higher biases and are explained by a band model based on two asymmetric back-to-back Schottky barriers. The forward current of the heterojunctions is due to majority-carrier injection over the lower barrier, while the reverse current exhibits two different conduction regimes corresponding to the diffusion of thermal/photo generated carriers and majority-carrier tunneling through the higher Schottky barrier. The two conduction regimes in reverse bias generate two plateaus, over which the photocurrent increases linearly with the light intensity that endows the detector with bias-controlled photocurrent.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common cause of death, representing 29% of the mortality all over the word. Estimates for 2006 show that CVD is one of the world's main cause of death, with 17.1 million death per year. More than 70 million Americans have been diagnosed with various forms of CVD, including high blood pressure, coronary artery disease (acute myocardial infarction and angina pectoris), disorders of peripheral arteries etc. There is strong evidence that periodontal disease (PD) is associated with an increased risk of CVD. In addiction many patients with CVD are also affected by PD, which can be mild or severe. The aim of this manuscript is to investigate the effects of periodontal therapy on the management of CVD. 34 randomised controlled trials and reviews were included in this manuscript to test the effects of different periodontal therapies for patients with CVD. In conclusion, we may affirm that there is some lack of knowledge on relations between PD and CVD, however there is sufficient evidence to justify a periodontal treatment to prevent CVD, in fact PD is very prevalent in middle-aged population and can have a significant impact on the cardiovascular function.

Carbon spheres of nanometric dimension are known since the first studies on the synthesis of fullerenes. Their shape originates from the curvature of a carbon sheet similar to fullerenes, but with numerous graphitic rings that regulate the inside structure and the formation of open edges at the surface. This paper focuses on the structural and electronic characterization of carbon spheres obtained from a chemical vapor deposition synthesis process. Two different sets of samples are analyzed in detail, in particular, electron microscopies and Raman spectroscopy help understanding the morphology and the graphitic-sp2 arrangement of the carbon atoms in the architectures. In addition, the iron catalyst used during the reaction process confers the carbon spheres a ferromagnetic response at room temperature. Therefore, both the structural properties of the samples and the active contribution of iron mark the difference in the measured photoresponse as well as in the electrochemical behavior. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study addresses these points by giving information on the composition and the iron chemical state in the assembly. The collected results underline the advantages offered by this nanomaterial for sustainable applications.

Carbon spheres of nanometric dimension are known since the first studies on the synthesis of fullerenes. Their shape originates from the curvature of a carbon sheet similar to fullerenes, but with numerous graphitic rings that regulate the inside structure and the formation of open edges at the surface. This paper focuses on the structural and electronic characterization of carbon spheres obtained from a targeted chemical vapor deposition synthesis process. Two different set of samples are analyzed in detail, in particular, the electron microscopies and Raman spectroscopy help understanding the morphology and the graphitic-sp2 arrangement of the carbon atoms in the architectures. In addition, the iron catalyst used during the reaction process confers the carbon spheres a ferromagnetic response at room temperature. Therefore, both the structural properties of the samples and the active contribution of iron mark the difference in the measured photoresponse as well as in the electrochemical behavior. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study addresses these points by giving information on the composition and the iron chemical state in the assembly. The collected results underline the advantages offered by this synthesis route and the properties of the carbon spheres as active nanomaterial for sustainable applications.

In addition to tobacco and alcohol consumption, the two main risk factors for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), recent studies have revealed infections with human papilloma virus (HPV) as an additional risk factor for OSCC development. In the field of head and neck malignancies, the prevalence of HPV infections in oropharyngeal cancer (OC) ranges in different studies up to 84%. While HPV infection is discussed as an independent risk factor in this region, its distinguished role in carcinogenesis of tumours localized to the oral cavity remains uncertain. A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Cochrane library, Science Direct, and the Internet search, with language restricted to English. The search included published studies which dealt with detection methods of HPV-related oral and oropharyngeal cancers and biomolecular studies, particularly regarding the compromising of p53 p16 and e-cadherin’s. P53 Tumour suppressor protein p53 has several functions that are related to maintaining genomic stability and inhibiting cell proliferation in response to DNA damage. For preventing neoplasia to occur, the most important of these functions are cessation of cell growth and induction of either apoptosis or senescence. P16 is a cellular protein involved in cell cycle regulation. It is a cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) inhibitor, and is integral to Rb mediated regulation of G1-S phase of the cell cycle. P16 is expressed at a very low level in normal cell as Rb inhibits transcription of p16. Various detection methods ranging from immunohistochemistry (IHC) to molecular techniques have been used to determine the HPV status of HNSCC. E-cadherin, a 120 kDa Type I classical cadherin, is expressed primarily on epithelial cells. It is found on the surface of keratinocytesand Langerhans cells (LC) and E-cadherin mediated adhesion between these cell types is required for LC retention in the epidermis. It is also an important tumour suppressor protein: its loss or inactivation is associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process involving dedifferentiation, infiltration and metastasis of tumours. Oral carcinogenesis is a multi-factorial process involving socioeconomic, environmental and microbial factors leading to multistep changes. Smoking and tobacco exposure seems to modify the survival and recurrence of HPV positive tumours and should be considered in future trials for risk stratification of HPV positive patients. HPV associated oropharynx cancer represents a distinct clinical and biologic entity with many unresolved issues that will be investigated in future translational, clinical research. We need to further explore and understand why the disease occurs predominantly in males, and whether the natural history of oral HPV infection differences in men and women.

We report on the fabrication, the morphological, structural, and chemical characterization, and the study of the electrical response to NO 2 and other gases of resistive type gas sensors based on liquid chemically exfoliated (in N-methyl pyrrolidone, NMP) MoS 2 flakes annealed in air either at 150 °C or at 250 °C. The active material has been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and micro Raman and X-ray core level photoemission spectroscopies. SEM shows that MoS 2 exfoliated flakes are interconnected between electrodes of the sensing device to form percolation paths. Raman spectroscopy of the flakes before annealing demonstrates that the flakes are constituted by crystalline MoS 2 , while, annealing at 250 °C, does not introduce a detectable bulk contamination in the expected form of MoO 3 . The sensor obtained by thermal annealing in air at 150 °C exhibits a peculiar p -type response under exposure to NO 2 . In line with core level spectroscopy evidences, this behavior is potentially ascribed to nitrogen substitutional doping of S vacancies in the MoS 2 surface (nitrogen atoms being likely provided by the intercalated NMP). Thermal annealing the MoS 2 flakes in air at 250 °C irreversibly sets an n -type behavior of the gas sensing device, with a NO 2 detection limit of 20 ppb. This behavior is assigned, in line with core level spectroscopy data, to a significant presence of S vacancies in the MoS 2 annealed flakes and to the surface co-existence of MoO 3 arising from the partial oxidation of the flakes surface. Both p- and n -type sensors have been demonstrated to be sensitive also to relative humidity. The n -type sensor shows good electrical response under H 2 exposure.

Cancer of the oral cavity is known to have a diverse aetiology that includes infectious agents. Human papilloma virus has been found to be associated with several types of human cancer, inclusive of cervical, vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and cancer of tonsil. The aim of this manuscript is to investigate the presence of human papilloma virus in tonsillar microbiota of an Afghan population group. A sample of the tonsillar microbiota was collected by oral swab paper stick from 80 healthy donors. The sample was investigated for the presence of high-risk human papillomavirus types 16, 18, 31 and 45 by real time PCR. Eight samples produced some positive endpoint signals for human papillomaviruses. The human papillomavirus 31 was the unique papillomavirus detected; its calculated prevalence rate was 0.10 (C.I. 0.05-0.19). However, the viral load was always very low, in the order of 10-3 viral genomes per cell. The high prevalence of high-risk human papillomavirus in healthy population suggest a need for further investigation on virus spreading and supports the development of vaccination strategies.

Endocarditis is a cardiovascular disease caused by the inflammation of the inner tissues of the heart, the endocardium, usually of the valves. Bacteraemia is essential in the development of endocarditis, and there are some findings that the main pathogens of endocarditis are viridans group streptococci: Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Enterococcus faecalis. There is strong evidence that endocarditis bacteria are present in the tonsillar microbiota, so that tonsillar infection is associated with an increased risk of endocarditis. The aim of this manuscript is to investigate the presence of the main pathogens of endocarditis in tonsillar microbiota of an Afghan population group. A sample of 80 tonsil swabs were analyzed by quantitative real time PCR to detect endocarditis pathogens and an estimation of the total bacterial load. The median bacterial load in PCR reaction was 1.4x106 (interquartile range 4,7x105 - 2,9x106). Three species, S. Oralis, S. Sanguinis, and E. Faecalis were found in large amounts in all specimens. On the other hand, S. Mitis was never detected. The S. Aureus was found in 3 samples with a prevalence of 0.04 (C.I. 0.01-0.10). The S. Mutans was found in 33 samples with a prevalence of 0.41 (C.I. 0.31-0.52). Endocarditis bacteria has been found into the tonsillar microbiota, so there is sufficient evidence to justify that the oral cavity is a reservoir of endocarditis bacteria that can have a significant impact on the cardiovascular function.

The aim of this paper is to describe the efficacy of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccines for preventing oral cancer. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to describe the state of the art about HPV vaccines for preventing oral cancer. The aspects of prevention and control of infection by administering vaccines and the diffusion of sexual education campaigns are discussed also. In recent years there has been a growing interest in HPV in dentistry, suggesting a role of such a family of viruses in the development of oral cancers as well as of the uterine cervix. Even if the mass media have increasingly faced the problem, causing frequent alarming among patients, the dentist therefore needs a complete and up-to-date knowledge of this infectious condition that is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted mucous membrane infections (eg genital, anal and oral). Recent studies about HPV infection are a basic requirement in order to promote the HPV vaccinations and patient’s health.

Purpose The aim of this paper is to describe epidemiology and clinical manifestations of oral infection by Human papillomavirus (HPV), with particular attention to potential malignant lesions. Materials and methods A systematic review of the literature was conducted to describe the state of the art about HPV infection in oropharyngeal mucosa and its modalities of transmission, with particular attention to possible simultaneous infection in multiple anatomic sites. The aspects of prevention and control of infection by administering vaccines and the diffusion of sexual education campaigns are discussed also. Therapeutic protocols are also described where necessary. Results In recent years there has been a growing interest in HPV oral medicine, suggesting a role of such a family of viruses in the development of neoplasms of the oropharyngeal district as well as of the uterine cervix. Even if the mass media have increasingly faced the problem, causing frequent alarming among patients, the dentist therefore needs a complete and up-to-date knowledge of this infectious condition that is one of the most common causes of sexually transmitted mucous membrane infections (e.g. genital, anal and oral). Conclusions Recent studies about HPV infection are a basic requirement in order to promote the health of patients and provide them with the most exhaustive indications from dentists.

The aerosol produced during the use of dental instruments can spread pathogens potentially harmful to health. Most of the pathogens found in hydraulic system are Gram-negative aerobic heterotrophic environmental bacterial species exhibiting very low pathogenicity, although they may be of concern in the treatment of vulnerable patients, such as immunocompromised, medically compromised individuals and dental team. Dental team can be exposed to pathogenic microorganisms including cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, herpes simplex virus and Legionella spp. Legionella spp. are ubiquitous in hydraulic system, in fact surveys have shown that the percentage of samples taken at different dental chairs that were positive for Legionella spp. and ranged from 0 to 100%. The concentration of Legionella spp. in hydraulic system may reach 1000 organisms per ml. The primary route of Legionella spp. transmission is inhalation or aspiration of environmentally contaminated aerosols. All dentists are required to conduct a statutory risk assessment of their hydraulic system, in fact to comply with their legal duties, dentists must identify and assess the sources of risk and prepare a scheme for preventing and controlling risks. Moreover, they must monitor the quality of their hydraulic system at least annually to ensure that they are "legionellae free".

Photoreduction has so far received less attention than other approaches used to reduce graphene oxide (GO) like thermal and chemical reduction, although its potential is huge. The mechanism of deoxygenation is still questioned. In photolithographic applications, this means that one cannot predict whether the minimum feature size is close to the diffraction limit or larger. In this work we have studied GO photoreduction with vacuum ultraviolet Synchrotron radiation. GO has been exposed to extreme-UV and soft-X-ray radiation and the ratio between C–O and sp2 C–C bonds has been measured by photoemission spectroscopy as a function of dose and number of photons. The deoxygenation rate has been demonstrated to be proportional to the imaginary part f2 of the oxygen scattering factor. Experiments at the wavelengths where the f2 of oxygen is close to its maximum (namely close to 2 nm and between 20 nm and 60 nm) have demonstrated that GO can be rapidly reduced (even few minutes exposure time) with doses well below those needed for photothermal heating (the corresponding temperature rise is ∼1 μK) and without damaging the basal plane (the in-plane sp2 C–C bonds are not broken). Efficient nanometer scale GO photopatterning is therefore demonstrated to be possible.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the sensitivity of orthopantomography (OPT) in the diagnosis of long term complications in oral rehabilitations with blade implants. Materials and methods A total of 235 blade implants in 189 patients, inserted between 1988 and 2003, were retrospectively analyzed. The records consisted of a first OPT taken between January and December 2010, and a second one 12 months after. The evaluation of implant health considered: integrity of the blade, normal radiological representation of the bone around the implant, dense and cortical appearance of bone around the implant collar. The evaluation of radiological complications considered: implant fracture, bone resorption around the implant, recession of the bone around the implant collar. Results The sensitivity of the panoramic evaluation was equal to 100%. The complications detected were 5 cases of periimplantitis, 9 cases of bone pericervical bone recession and 3 cases of fracture of the implant body. In cases of pericervical bone resorption the following radiological check up 12 months after the first one showed the progression of the disease in 6 out of 9 cases, with irreversible implant failure. In subjects with a radiological pattern of implant health there were no complications in the subsequent check up after 12 months. In the subjects with complications the specificity was equal to 100%. Conclusion The radiographic evaluation by the means of OPT has shown high sensitivity in the diagnosis of long term complications of oral rehabilitations with blade implants and allows prompt therapeutic interventions. Radiological complications appeared mostly in the long term check ups and mainly consisted in recession of the bone around the neck or around the entire implant. More rarely implant fractures occurred, which, in the case of blades, sometimes were not associated with any clinical symptoms: therefore, postsurgical evaluation should not be separated from diagnostic imaging.

WS2 exfoliated by a combined ball milling and sonication technique to produce few-layer WS2 is characterized and assembled as chemo-resistive NO2, H2 and humidity sensors. Microstructural analyses reveal flakes with average dimensions of 110 nm, &ldquo, aspect ratio&rdquo, of lateral dimension to the thickness of 27. Due to spontaneous oxidation of exfoliated WS2 to amorphous WO3, films have been pre-annealed at 180 &deg, C to stabilize WO3 content at &asymp, 58%, as determined by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Raman and grazing incidence X-ray Diffraction (XRD) techniques. Microstructural analysis repeated after one-year conditioning highlighted that amorphous WO3 concentration is stable, attesting the validity of the pre-annealing procedure. WS2 films were NO2, H2 and humidity tested at 150 &deg, C operating Temperature (OT), exhibiting experimental detection limits of 200 ppb and 5 ppm to NO2 and H2 in dry air, respectively. Long-term stability of the electrical response recorded over one year of sustained conditions at 150 &deg, C OT and different gases demonstrated good reproducibility of the electrical signal. The role played by WO3 and WS2 upon gas response has been addressed and a likely reaction gas-mechanism presented. Controlling the microstructure and surface oxidation of exfoliated Transition Metal Dichalcogenides (TMDs) represents a stepping-stone to assess the reproducibility and long-term response of TMDs monolayers in gas sensing applications.

We report a compared analysis of inelastic X ray scattering (IXS) and of low frequency Raman data of glassy 3-methylpentane. The IXS spectra have been analysed allowing for the existence of two distinct excitations at each scattering wavevector obtaining a consistent interpretation of the spectra. In particular, this procedure allows us to interpret the linewidth of the modes in terms of a simple model which relates them to the width of the first sharp diffraction peak in the static structure factor. In this model, the width of the modes arises from the blurring of the dispersion curves which increases approaching the boundary of the first pseudo-Brillouin zone. The position of the boson peak contribution to the density of vibrational states derived from the Raman scattering measurements is in agreement with the interpretation of the two excitations in terms of a longitudinal mode and a transverse mode, the latter being a result of the mixed character of the transverse modes away from the center of the pseudo-Brillouin zone.

Purpose To determine the existence of any correlation between the degree of divergence and apical and coronal arch form using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and methods A total of 176 (88 coronal and 88 apical) CBCT scans pertaining to a sample of 44 subjects (16 males and 28 females), of which 26 were Class I, 14 Class II and 4 Class III, were analysed. A lateral projection of the skull was obtained from each VCT and cephalometric tracing was performed (according to Ricketts) so as to divide the sample into subgroups based on the degree of divergence (11 short-faced, 18 norm-faced and 15 long-faced subjects). Dahlberg's index values were calculated and Student's t-test for paired data was applied. Results On the whole, the hyperbolic cosine curve was found to be the most representative of the arch forms considered. Conclusions A correlation between degree of divergence and the arch form of the apical and, especially, coronal portions of both the upper and lower jaws was revealed.

Bulk heterojunction films made of polychiral single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) form efficient heterojunction solar cells with n-type crystalline silicon (n-Si), due to their superior electronic, optical, and electrical properties. The films are multi-functional, since their hierarchical surface morphology provides a biomimetical anti-reflective, air-stable, and hydrophobic encapsulation for Si. Also, the films have a large effective area conferring them high optical absorption, which actively contribute to the solar energy harvesting together with Si. Here, we report photovoltaic devices with photoconversion efficiency up to 12% and a record 100% internal quantum efficiency (IQE). Such unprecedented IQE value is truly remarkable and indicates that every absorbed photon from the device, at some wavelengths, generates a pair of separated charge carriers, which are collected at the electrodes. The SWCNT/Si devices favor high and broadband carrier photogeneration; charge dissociation of ultra-fast hot excitons; transport of electrons through n-Si and high-mobility holes through the SWCNT percolative network. Moreover, by varying the film thickness, it is possible tailoring the physical properties of such a two-dimensional interacting system, therefore the overall device features. These results not only pave the way for low-cost, high-efficient, and broadband photovoltaics, but also are promising for the development of generic SWCNT-based optoelectronic applications.

Purpose To present the most frequent occult pathologies unexpectedly encountered via cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), with particular reference to the diagnostic role of the dentist and that of the radiographer, with a view to clarifying where the diagnostic responsibility lies. Material and methods A narrative literature review on the most diffused occult pathologies under CBCT was conducted, with iconographical guide as an example for each category. Results The most frequent forms of unexpected pathologies encountered are: the presence of foreign bodies, airway anomaly, and the presence of radio-opacity or -transparency in the maxillofacial district. Conclusions The orthodontists must know that they are responsible to recognize these frequent, and potentially serious, pathologies of the head and neck. If the dentist feels unable to take on this responsibility, he or she should, however, be sure to have the scans read by a specialist radiologist.

Diagnosis of focal disease, the theory that the human oral microbial (HOM) could affect the onset and development of systemic diseases, was very popular in the past, but the lack of scientific evidence has led to the abandonment of this idea. Interestingly, increasing evidence over the past 3 or so decades suggests that HOM can indeed serve as a reservoir for systemic dissemination of pathogenic bacteria and their toxins in distant body sites, favouring the developments of malignant tumours. Malignant tumours are complex communities of oncogenically transformed cells with aberrant genomes, associated nonneoplastic cells including immune and stromal cells, and sometimes HOM, including bacteria and viruses. Recent data suggest that HOM and periodontal disease play an active role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, in fact HOM has been found within the colorectal cancer microenvironment, and the composition of the HOM was different from that of adjacent non- neoplastic tissue. An association of fusobacterium nucleatum with the colonic mucosa of colorectal cancer has been proven. Several questions thus arise. Is periodontal disease a risk factor for colorectal carcinoma? Given the connectivity of the digestive tract, could fusubacterium nucleatum or other HOM be involved in additional gastrointestinal disorders? Furthermore, based on the “mobility” of Fusubacterium nucleatum and the omnipresence of cadherins, could this organism be involved in cancers beyond the gastrointestinal tract? Answers to these questions will shed new lights on the role of the HOM in onset of diseases.

We report here a combined experimental and theoretical study on the bio-compatible salicylate choline ionic liquid. The liquid structure has been investigated by X-ray diffraction and vibrational (IR and Raman) spectroscopy. Local structure has been obtained from ab initio calculations on static ion pairs and from dynamic simulations of a small portion of the liquid. The theoretical models indicate that salicylate is connected by hydrogen bonding to choline mainly through the carboxylate group and forms stable ion pairs. A strong intramolecular interaction hinders internal rotations of the OH group of salicylate and competes with the hydrogen bonding with choline. When the liquid has been simulated by classical force fields we found a good agreement with the X-ray experimental features, comparable to that obtained from AIMD simulations. Important insights on hydrogen bonding between carboxylate and choline have been also derived from the analysis of the CO stretching modes of carboxylate measured in the Raman and IR spectra and calculated from VDOS-Wannier centers procedures.

We investigated by inelastic X-ray scattering the dynamical properties of molten potassium in a wide range of momentum transfer, Q, from 1 nm(-1) up to the main peak of the structure factor Q approximate to 17 nm(-1). The observed increase of sound velocity in the low Q region (1 < Q < 3 nm(-1)), has been described within a model characterized by two distinct relaxation processes for the collective dynamics. The obtained results are discussed and compared with those from previous neutron scattering experiments. In particular, we associate the speed-up of the sound velocity to the 'instantaneous' disorder of the liquid as opposed to the argument, supported by some neutron scattering studies, of a transition from a liquid to solid like response of the system. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We present a detailed investigation of the terahertz vibrational dynamics of 3-methylpentane performed by means of high-resolution inelastic x-ray scattering (IXS). We probe the dynamics in a large temperature range, which includes the glass, the supercooled liquid, and the liquid phases. The characteristic frequency of the excitations follows a well-defined dispersion curve extending beyond 8 nm(-1) at all the investigated temperatures, indicating the persistence of a solidlike behavior also in the liquid phase. This implies the existence of a pseudo-Brillouin zone whose size compares surprisingly well with the periodicity inferred from the first sharp diffraction peak in the static structure factor. We show that, in the investigated temperature range, both sizes undergo a variation of about 15%-20%, comparable to that of the average intermolecular distance. We finally show that the IXS sound velocity coincides with the infinite frequency sound velocity previously inferred from visible and ultraviolet Brillouin spectroscopy data. This analysis confirms the role of the shear relaxation processes in determining the variation with frequency of the apparent sound velocity.

The mechanisms responsible for phonon attenuation in glasses and in porous systems have been investigated. The acoustic attenuation has been measured by Brillouin light scattering using a Fabry-Perot apparatus and a new ultraviolet spectrometer. In particular, melt-quenched vitreous silica (ρ = 2200 kg m−3), silica xerogels with different densities (ρ = 510 ± 50, 770 ± 80, 1380 ± 140 and 2190 ± 200 kg m−3), and silica aerogel (ρ = 670 ± 80 kg m−3) have been studied. The porosities of the samples have been measured by nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques. The Brillouin linewidth is found to increase with increasing pore size, being related to the effect of the growing structural disorder. Comparison between the acoustic attenuation obtained by the two wavelengths shows the existence of a crossover length a* which identifies the wave-vector values above which the disorder induced by the pore size starts to be the dominant cause of absorption. The position of the crossover is found to be frequency depen...

We have performed an inelastic X-ray scattering experiment on normal liquid H2 at a temperature of 31.5 K and a density of 21.5 nm-3 on the ID16 beam line at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility. We compare three independent methods to determine experimentally its static structure factor S(Q): method (i) is from a diffraction measurement; method (ii) is through an omega integration of the dynamic structure factor S(Q, omega); method (iii) is from a best-fit procedure of the spectral line shape with a viscoelastic model. The measurements have then been compared with both classical and quantum path integral Monte Carlo simulations. The comparison between experimental and computed S(Q) indicates that quantum effects must be explicitly taken into account in the simulation in order to obtain good agreement with the data.

The static structure factors S(Q) of liquid normal H2 and D2 have been measured in the wave-vector region 5 nm−1

In this paper we accurately revisit the mechanical exfoliation and layer number determination of MoS2. By modelling the exfoliation itself as a random vertical (lateral) exfoliation (fragmentation) phenomenon, a rationale is given to optimise the number of iterations in the scotch-tape peeling technique and we rigorously demonstrate that since the second cleavage the occurrence of monolayers is the most likely. For the unambiguous layer number identification, experiments have been carried out with a unified complementary approach based on optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, resonant and non resonant Raman spectroscopy, and photo-luminescence spectroscopy. The experimental analysis has been carried out on a statistically significant set of few-layer MoS2 flakes (from one to five layers). The work stresses the strong need of such complementary multi-technique approach to really unambiguously determine the layer number of flakes (that neither optical microscopy, nor AFM alone can give). Optical microscopy contrast analysis experiments (carried out on flakes deposited onto 270 nm SiO2/Si(1 0 0) substrates) demonstrate that for few-layer MoS2 (from the mono to the epta-layer) the optical contrast is weakly depending on the radiation wavelength and is a non-monotonic function of the layer number. Thus, flakes from ten to twelve layers exhibit the same contrast of monolayers, as demonstrated by parallel AFM analysis. AFM clearly shows that the stacking between the silicon oxide substrate and the first MoS2 layer is strongly unpredictable and likely depending on the degree of surface contamination of the substrate. A parallel systematic resonant Raman study is performed ranging from one to five layers clearly exhibiting systematic layer dependent spectral features in the one-five layers range. For the first time a layer estimation number based on a quantitative analysis of resonant Raman and PL spectra is proposed.

Density functional theory and vibrational spectroscopy are used to investigate a class of bioionic liquids consisting of a choline cation and carboxylate anions. Through quantum mechanical studies of motionless ion pairs and molecular dynamics of small portions of the liquid, we have characterized important structural features of the ionic liquid. Hydrogen bonding produces stable ion pairs in the liquid and induces vibrational features of the carboxylate groups comparable with experimental results. Infrared and Raman spectra of liquids have been measured, and main bands have been assigned on the basis of theoretical spectra.

An experimental determination of the single-particle mean kinetic energies for 3He along the T = 2.00 K isotherm in the dense liquid and in the solid hcp and bcc phases is reported. Deep-inelastic neutron scattering measurements at exchanged wave vectors ranging from 90.0 to 140.0 A(-1) have been performed in order to evaluate, within the framework of the impulse approximation, the molar volume dependence of the kinetic energy. The results are found in excellent agreement with recent diffusion Monte Carlo simulations.

Neutron diffraction data from sub- and supercritical CO2, collected over three different experimental runs, are analysed together, in order to investigate the evolution of the microscopic structure with the thermodynamic parameters. The relative orientations of neighbouring molecules are analysed also in terms of the angular radial correlation function, obtained by molecular dynamics simulation runs compatible with the total neutron weighted radial distribution function. Orientational correlations between neighbouring molecules are seen to persist across the whole thermodynamic range investigated. However, these are limited to the first neighbouring shell, and mainly ascribable to the quadrupolar interaction.

The dynamic structure factor, S…Q;v†; of neon has been studied by Inelastic X-ray Scattering and by Molecular Dynamic simulations in the momentum transfer region Q ˆ 1‐25 nm 21 at T ˆ 295 K and P ˆ 3 kbar: At this density, comparable to that of the liquid at ambient pressure, the shape of S…Q;v† evolves from a Brillouion triplet towards a complex single lineshape, which precurs the shape expected for single particle behavior. The data, analyzed using the three modes model of the molecular hydrodynamics, show the absence of positive dispersion in the sound velocity and a minimum in the dispersion curve. Analogous measurements have been performed on a sample of supercritical 4 He at a density double of the liquid one. The inelastic shifts obtained from the fits coincide with the 0-frequency values predicted by the viscoelastic theory. The analysis of the whole set of measurements leads to the conclusion that no relaxation processes as those expected in the viscoelastic behavior are observable for these systems in the explored THz frequency range. q 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

In this paper we present a thorough study of the local microscopic structure of carbon dioxide in a wide thermodynamic region, covering both undercritical and supercritical states. From neutron diffraction measurements we derive accurate information on the neutron weighted distribution function,gnw (τ), which allows us to single out a realistic interaction potential to be used in Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. These MD simulations are then performed to supplement the information obtained from the neutron scattering experiments. In such a way we determine appropriateaverages of the molecular distribution function,g(R, ω1,ω2). The presence of preferred relative orientations between neighbouring molecules is evident. We find that, among first neighbouring molecules,T-shaped configurations are largely preferred in all the investigated thermodynamic states and that electrostatic interactions play a crucial role in determining the local structure of the fluid.