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INTRODUCTION: Preserving the dental enamel structure during removal of orthodontic accessories is a clinician's obligation. Hence the search for an evidence based debonding protocol. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate and compare, by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the effects of four different protocols of bracket debonding and subsequent polishing on enamel surface, and to propose a protocol that minimizes damage to enamel surface. METHODS: Twelve bovine permanent incisors were divided into four groups according to the instrument used for debonding and removal of the adhesive remnant. In groups 1 and 2, brackets were debonded with a straight debonding plier (Ormco Corp., Glendora, California, USA), and in groups 3 and 4, debonding was performed with the instrument Lift-Off (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA). In groups 1 and 3, the adhesive remnant was removed using a long adhesive removing plier (Ormco Corp., Glendora, California, USA) and in groups 2 and 4, residual adhesive was removed with a tungsten carbide bur (Beavers Dental) at high-speed. After each stage of debonding and polishing, enamel surfaces were replicated and electron micrographs were obtained with 50 and 200X magnification. RESULTS: All four protocols of debonding and polishing caused enamel irregularities. CONCLUSION: Debonding brackets with straight debonding plier, removal of adhesive remnant with a tungsten carbide bur and polishing with pumice and rubber cup was found to be the protocol that caused less damage to enamel surface, therefore this protocol is suggested for debonding brackets.INTRODUÇÃO: a preservação da estrutura de esmalte após a remoção dos acessórios ortodônticos é obrigação do clínico. Portanto, procura-se um protocolo de descolagem com bases científicas. OBJETIVO: objetivou-se avaliar por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) a influência de quatro protocolos de remoção de braquetes e polimento da superfície do esmalte e propor um protocolo que minimize os danosà superfície do esmalte. MÉTODOS: doze incisivos permanentes bovinos foram divididos em quatro grupos de acordo com os instrumentos utilizados para a descolagem dos braquetes e remoção do remanescente adesivo. Os braquetes foram descolados com o alicate de descolagem reto (Ormco Corp.) nos grupos 1 e 2, e com o instrumento de descolagem Lift-Off (3M Unitek) nos grupos 3 e 4. Os remanescentes adesivos dos grupos 1 e 3 foram removidos com o alicate removedor de resina longo (Ormco Corp.) e dos grupos 2 e 4 com broca de carboneto de tungstênio (Beavers Dental) em alta-rotação. As superfícies, após cada etapa da descolagem e polimento, foram avaliadas em réplicas de resina epóxica e foram obtidas eletromicrografias com aumento de 50 e 200X. RESULTADOS: os quatro protocolos de remoção de acessórios ortodônticos e polimento ocasionaram irregularidades no esmalte. Conclusão: a remoção do braquete com o alicate de descolagem reto, seguido da remoção do remanescente adesivo com broca de carboneto de tungstênio e polimento final com pasta de pedra-pomes foi o procedimento que ocasionou menores danos ao esmalte, sendo o protocolo sugerido para a remoção dos acessórios ortodônticos.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary intervention program on the factors: stage of behavior change (SBC), physical self-description (PSD), blood pressure (BP) and physical fitness in obese adolescents. The study was characterized as quasi-experimental type, with 33 adolescents who were evaluated before and after 16 weeks of intervention. The anthropometric and fitness variables, BP were assessed, and we also applied the Stage of Change instrument and PSDQ (Physical Self-Description Questionnaire), in order to measure the SBC and the PSD, respectively. The statistical analysis involved measures of central tendency and dispersion, and the comparison between the initial and final periods was performed by Student’s t-test. The comparison between the periods before and after-intervention presented significant differences (p < 0.05) for almost all variables, except for the hip circumference, waist to hip ratio and pull-ups in the adapted bar. The program promoted effective changes in the fat consumption, and habitual physical activity and PSD of habitual physical activity, body fat and appearance. The results are quite promising and evidence the needto expand programs like this, in order to lead to the behavioral change. In this way, the physical education professional has a decisive role on this process.O objetivo do estudo foi Avaliar os efeitos de um programa de intervenção multiprofissional sobre: estágio de mudança de comportamento (EMC), autodescrição física (ADF), pressão arterial (PA) e aptidão física em adolescentes obesos. O Estudo foi classificado como quase experimental realizado com 33 adolescentes que foram avaliados antes e após 16 semanas de intervenção. Foram avaliadas variáveis antropométricas, de aptidão física, PA e aplicados os instrumentos SOC (Stage of Change) e PSDQ (Physical Self-Description Questionnaire), a fim de mensurar EMC e ADF, respectivamente. A análise estatística envolveu medidas de tendência central e dispersão e a comparação entre os períodos inicial e final foi realizada pelo teste t de Student. A comparação entre os momentos pré e pós-intervenção apresentou diferenças significativas (p < 0,05) para quase todas as variáveis, com exceção da circunferência do quadril, relação cintura quadril e teste de barra adaptada. Com o estudo, foi possível considerar que o programa mostrou interferir no EMC de consumo de gorduras na dieta e atividade física habitual e na ADF de atividade física habitual, gordura corporal e aparência. Os resultados são bastante promissores e apontam para a necessidade de ampliação na abrangência de programas de intervenção com enfoque na mudança do comportamento, tendo o profissional de educação física um papel decisivo nesse processo.

This study aimed to compare in vitro the shear bond strength between metallic brackets (Abzil) with conventional mesh bases and metallic brackets with bases industrially sandblasted with aluminum oxide using three adhesive systems, in order to assess the influence of sandblasting on adhesiveness and to compare 3 different bonding systems. Two hundred and forty bovine incisors were used and randomly divided into 6 groups (40 teeth in each group), according to the bracket base and to the bonding system. The brackets were direct-bonded in bovine teeth with 3 adhesive systems: System A - conventional TransbondTM XT (3M - Unitek); System B - TransbondTM Plus Self Etching Primer + TransbondTM XT (3M - Unitek) and System C - Fuji ORTHO LC resin-reinforced glass ionomer cement in capsules (GC Corp.). Shear bond strength tests were performed 24 hours after bonding, in a DL-3000 universal testing machine (EMIC), using a load cell of 200 kgf and a speed of 1 mm/min. The results were submitted to statistical analysis and showed no significant difference between conventional and sandblasted bracket bases. However, comparison between the bonding systems presented significantly different results. System A (14.92 MPa) and system C (13.24 MPa) presented statistically greater shear bond strength when compared to system B (10.66 MPa). There was no statistically significant difference between system A and system C.

Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV) coat protein (CP) replacement vectors have been used previously to silence transgenes (e.g., the green fluorescent protein gene) but have not been effective for silencing endogenous plant genes. New TBSV vectors which retained the CP gene were developed by engineering an XhoI restriction site in three positions (3f, CEB, and CEA) of the pTBSV-100 infectious clone. Magnesium chelatase (ChlH) and phytoene desaturase (PDS) were chosen as targets for endogenous gene silencing. Initial experiments using CP replacement vectors with a 230-bp sense or antisense ChlH insert gave a silencing phenotype prominent only in the first new leaves above those inoculated. No silencing phenotype was apparent beyond these leaves whereas, for PDS, no silencing phenotype was observed. When plants were inoculated with the XhoI insert vectors containing ChlH and PDS sequences, plants showed a silencing phenotype extensively throughout the challenged plant, indicating an improved ability for virus movement and silencing in Nicotiana benthamiana host plants. Silencing efficiencies were quantified using real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, indicating specific silencing effects of each individual silencing vector. Only one recombinant vector (pPD-3f5), where the XhoI insert was at the 3′ end of the CP gene, failed to give effective silencing. Here, we show that our new CP-retaining TBSV vectors (CEA-CEB) form typical TBSV virions, retain silencing inserts of variable lengths (110 to 260 nucleotides), and can systemically silence endogenous genes in N. benthamiana.

Objective: With the objective of studying the temporomandibular dysfunction and anxiety levels in children, an epidemiological study was accomplished in scholars of the fundamental teaching of private schools of the Municipal District of Jaboticabal/SP. Method: For this study, 304 students were selected, being 83 of the 4th series, 117 of the 6th series and 104 of the 8th series (Committee of Ethics in Research: 200501873). The sampling was composed by children of both gender, with age among of 9 to 15 years. The evaluation was done by means of three self-applicable questionnaires: one to quantify the degree of temporomandibular dysfunction (Index of Fonseca), and two to determine the anxiety level (IDATE): Anxiety-State (“As I am feeling”) and Anxiety-Trait (“Like me I generally feel”). The Anxiety-State questionnaire indicates as the children fells in a certain moment. The Anxiety-Trait questionnaire determines how the children generally fells during its lives. Results: The obtained data were tabulated and it allowed to arrive the following average scores of Index of Fonseca, Anxiety-State and Anxiety-Trait: 25.61 (13.25); 31.35 (5.03) and 38.61 (5.29), respectively. Conclusion: It was concluded that a great part of children’s of fundamental teaching showed signs and symptoms of TMD and presented themselves quite anxious. Besides, analysis of data showed that a positive correlation exists between temporomandibular dysfunction and anxiety (p

Genomes must balance active suppression of transposable elements (TEs) with the need to maintain gene expression. In Arabidopsis, euchromatic TEs are targeted by RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM). Conversely, active DNA demethylation prevents accumulation of methylation at genes proximal to these TEs. It is unknown how a cellular balance between methylation and demethylation activities is achieved. Here we show that both RdDM and DNA demethylation are highly active at a TE proximal to the major DNA demethylase gene ROS1. Unexpectedly, and in contrast to most other genomic targets, expression of ROS1 is promoted by DNA methylation and antagonized by DNA demethylation. We demonstrate that inducing methylation in the ROS1 proximal region is sufficient to restore ROS1 expression in an RdDM mutant. Additionally, methylation-sensitive expression of ROS1 is conserved in other species, suggesting it is adaptive. We propose that the ROS1 locus functions as an epigenetic rheostat, tuning the level of demethylase activity in response to methylation alterations, thus ensuring epigenomic stability.

This protocol describes whole genome bisulfite-sequencing library preparation from plant tissue and subsequent data analysis. Allele-specific methylation analysis and genome-wide identification of differentially methylated regions are additional features of the analysis procedure.

Imprinted gene expression occurs during seed development in plants and is associated with differential DNA methylation of parental alleles, particularly at proximal transposable elements (TEs). Imprinting variability could contribute to observed parent-of-origin effects on seed development. We investigated intraspecific variation in imprinting, coupled with analysis of DNA methylation and small RNAs, among three Arabidopsis strains with diverse seed phenotypes. The majority of imprinted genes were parentally biased in the same manner among all strains. However, we identified several examples of allele-specific imprinting correlated with intraspecific epigenetic variation at a TE. We successfully predicted imprinting in additional strains based on methylation variability. We conclude that there is standing variation in imprinting even in recently diverged genotypes due to intraspecific epiallelic variation. Our data demonstrate that epiallelic variation and genomic imprinting intersect to produce novel gene expression patterns in seeds.

Se desarrolla un modelo numérico bidimensional del ensayo de conexiones acero ”“ hormigón a elevadas temperaturas, mediante el programa de computación SuperTempcalc, basado en el método de los elementos finitos. Se toman como referencias esenciales los criterios recomendados en los eurocódigos EN 1991-1-2 y EN 1994-1-2. Consecuentemente, la conductividad térmica y el calor específico del acero y el hormigón adoptan valores dependientes de la temperatura, en tanto la densidad de cada material se considera constante. Las partes expuestas de la sección transversal de los especímenes se consideran bajo la acción del fuego estándar ISO 834-1, en tanto las partes no expuestas se consideran a temperatura ambiente. Los resultados de los ensayos push-out en situación de incendio desarrollados en el CTICM, Francia, fueron utilizados para calibrar los modelos respecto a datos experimentales. En general, se obtiene un modelo relativamente simple, eficiente y fácil de usar, que ofrece temperaturas fiables para el análisis estructural. Finalmente, se exponen los resultados de la evaluación de la sensibilidad del modelo calibrado a la variación del diámetro y la altura del conector, dentro de los alcances definidos en EN 1991-1 y EN 1994-1-2, y son analizadas diferentes alternativas acerca del nivel donde debe ser considerada la temperatura en el hormigón, de cara a la evaluación del método simplificado de EN 1994-1-2.

The management of hormone-refractory prostate cancer represents a major challenge in the therapy of this tumor, and identification of novel androgen receptor antagonists is needed to render treatment more effective. We analyzed the activity of two novel androgen receptor antagonists, (S)-11 and (R)-9, in in vitro and in vivo experimental models of hormone-sensitive or castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In vitro experiments were performed on LNCaP, LNCaP-AR, LNCaP-Rbic and VCaP human prostate cancer cells. Cytotoxic activity was assessed by SRB and BrdU uptake, AR transactivation by luciferase reporter assay and PSA levels by Real Time RT-PCR and ELISA assays. Cell cycle progression-related markers were evaluated by western blot. In vivo experiments were performed on SCID mice xenografted with cells with different sensitivity to hormonal treatment. In hormone-sensitive LNCaP and LNCaP-AR cells, the latter expressing high androgen receptor levels, (R)-9 and (S)-11 exhibited a higher cytotoxic effect compared to that of the reference compound ((R)-bicalutamide), also in the presence of the synthetic androgen R1881. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect produced by (R)-9 was higher than that of (S)-11 in the two hormone-resistant LNCaP-AR and VCaP cells. A significant reduction in PSA levels was observed after exposure to both molecules. Moreover, (S)-11 and (R)-9 inhibited DNA synthesis by blocking the androgen-induced increase in cyclin D1 protein levels. In vivo studies on the toxicological profile of (R)-9 did not reveal the presence of adverse events. Furthermore, (R)-9 inhibited tumor growth in various in vivo models, especially LNCaP-Rbic xenografts, representative of recurrent disease. Our in vitro results highlight the antitumor activity of the two novel molecules (R)-9 and (S)-11, making them a potentially attractive option for the treatment of CRPC.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary intervention program on the factors: stage of behavior change (SBC), physical self-description (PSD), blood pressure (BP) and physical fitness in obese adolescents. The study was characterized as quasi-experimental type, with 33 adolescents who were evaluated before and after 16 weeks of intervention. The anthropometric and fitness variables, BP were assessed, and we also applied the Stage of Change instrument and PSDQ (Physical Self-Description Questionnaire), in order to measure the SBC and the PSD, respectively. The statistical analysis involved measures of central tendency and dispersion, and the comparison between the initial and final periods was performed by Student’s t-test. The comparison between the periods before and after-intervention presented significant differences (p < 0.05) for almost all variables, except for the hip circumference, waist to hip ratio and pull-ups in the adapted bar. The program promoted effective changes in the fat consumption, and habitual physical activity and PSD of habitual physical activity, body fat and appearance. The results are quite promising and evidence the needto expand programs like this, in order to lead to the behavioral change. In this way, the physical education professional has a decisive role on this process.

This paper reports on a study of steel columns embedded in walls in fire. Several fire resistance tests were carried out at the Laboratory of Testing Materials and Structures of the University of Coimbra, in Portugal. The temperatures registered in several points of the experimental models are compared with those obtained in numerical simulations carried out with the SUPERTEMPCALC finite element program.

BACKGROUND: Whole genome duplication, which results in polyploidy, is a common feature of plant populations and a recurring event in the evolution of flowering plants. Polyploidy can result in changes to gene expression and epigenetic instability. Several epigenetic phenomena, occurring at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional level, have been documented in allopolyploids (polyploids derived from species hybrids) of Arabidopsis thaliana, yet findings in autopolyploids (polyploids derived from the duplication of the genome of a single species) are limited. Here, we tested the hypothesis that an increase in ploidy enhances transgene-induced post-transcriptional gene silencing using autopolyploids of A. thaliana. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Diploid and tetraploid individuals of four independent homozygous transgenic lines of A. thaliana transformed with chalcone synthase (CHS) inverted repeat (hairpin) constructs were generated. For each line diploids and tetraploids were compared for efficiency in post-transcriptional silencing of the endogenous CHS gene. The four lines differed substantially in their silencing efficiency. Yet, diploid and tetraploid plants derived from these plants and containing therefore identical transgene insertions showed no difference in the efficiency silencing CHS as assayed by visual scoring, anthocyanin assays and quantification of CHS mRNA. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results in A. thaliana indicated that there is no effect of ploidy level on transgene-induced post-transcriptional gene silencing. Our findings that post-transcriptional mechanisms were equally effective in diploids and tetraploids supports the use of transgene-driven post-transcriptional gene silencing as a useful mechanism to modify gene expression in polyploid species.

Se desarrolla un modelo numérico bidimensional del ensayo de conexiones acero - hormigón a elevadas temperaturas, mediante el programa de computación SuperTempcalc, basado en el método de los elementos finitos. Se toman como referencias esenciales los criterios recomendados en los eurocódigos EN 1991-1-2 y EN 1994-1-2. Consecuentemente, la conductividad térmica y el calor específico del acero y el hormigón adoptan valores dependientes de la temperatura, en tanto la densidad de cada material se considera constante. Las partes expuestas de la sección transversal de los especímenes se consideran bajo la acción del fuego estándar ISO 834-1, en tanto las partes no expuestas se consideran a temperatura ambiente. Los resultados de los ensayos push-out en situación de incendio desarrollados en el CTICM, Francia, fueron utilizados para calibrar los modelos respecto a datos experimentales. En general, se obtiene un modelo relativamente simple, eficiente y fácil de usar, que ofrece temperaturas fiables para el análisis estructural. Finalmente, se exponen los resultados de la evaluación de la sensibilidad del modelo calibrado a la variación del diámetro y la altura del conector, dentro de los alcances definidos en EN 1991-1 y EN 1994-1-2, y son analizadas diferentes alternativas acerca del nivel donde debe ser considerada la temperatura en el hormigón, de cara a la evaluación del método simplificado de EN 1994-1-2.

ABSTRACT Objective To describe the long term safety and efficacy of pegvisomant (PEGV), and the predictors of treatment response in patients with acromegaly in the real life setting. Subjects and methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, hormonal and radiological data of acromegalic patients treated with PEGV in 17 Argentine centers. Results Seventy-five patients (age range 22-77, 51 females) with acromegaly have been treated with PEGV for up to 118 months (median 27 months). Before PEGV, 97.3% of patients had been treated with medical therapy, surgery and/or radiotherapy, two patients had no previous treatment. At that time, all patients had an IGF-1 above the upper normal limit (ULN) (mean 2.4 x ULN ± 0.98, range 1.25-7). At diagnosis of acromegaly 84% presented macroadenomas, prior to PEGV only 23,5% of patients remained with tumor remnant > 1 cm, the remaining showed normal or less than 1 cm images. Disease control (IGF-1 ≤ 1.2 x ULN) was achieved in 62.9% of patients with a mean dose of 11.8 mg/day. Thirty-four patients (45%) received PEGV monotherapy, while 41 (55%) received combined therapy with either somatostatin analogues and/or cabergoline. Adverse events related to PEGV were: local injection site reaction in 5.3%, elevated liver enzymes in 9.3%, and tumor size growth in 9.8%. Pre-PEGV IGF-I level was the only predictor of treatment response: 2.1 x ULN vs 2.8 x ULN in controlled and uncontrolled patients respectively (p < 0.001). Conclusion this long term experience indicates PEGV treatment was highly effective and safe in our series of Argentine patients with acromegaly refractory to standard therapies. Arch Endocrinol Metab. 2019;63(4):320-7

Abstract Obtaining internal load capacity, in reinforced concrete sections, at ambient temperature, under biaxial bending, is one of the most common tasks done by structural engineers, but not so common when the member is in fire situation. The intention of this paper is to show that is possible to correlate the ultimate limit state (ULS), in fire situation, with ULS at ambient temperature, for square cross sections under fire from all faces. To reach the purpose and give support to the numerical analysis of this article, a computer program, in Delphi language, called COL FIRE, is being developed by the authors.

Abstract The study of non-symmetrical composite columns is complex and European and North American standards only approach this issue superficially. In this text, a new proposal is presented for non-symmetrical composite column design subject to biaxial bending and axial compression, based on the compatibility of the deformation method, which considers the nonlinearity of the material with constitutive models according to Brazilian standards and geometric nonlinearity, as well as the equilibrium of the column in the displaced position. As a strategy for solving the general method, use is made of the "fiber element method", and for solving problems involving nonlinear equilibrium equations, the Newton-Raphson method.

This study presents the simulation of retrofitting measures in a residential apartment located in Sydney based on energy consumption, building characteristics, and climatic conditions through energy audits. From the results, an upgrade to a casement aluminum framed double glazing window with a thermal conductance (U-Value) of 2.3 W/m2/oC, having an initial cost of $6,570, will save 41.2 % and 21 % of the energy used for heating and cooling equipment with a simple payback of 6.3 years and fuel cost savings of $1,046. In addition, 787kWh of electricity saved from white goods by investing $1,050 has a payback of 2.2 years and fuel cost savings of $472. Finally, the building will save 2.7 tons of GHG emissions, equivalent to three people reducing energy use by 20 % in Australia. The research is vital because retrofitting multi-residential buildings in Australia has not been fully explored, leaving 7.8 million existing buildings that are not energy efficient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, research focused on the development of roofing and paving systems aimed at (i) enhancing the passive cooling at single-building level and (ii) mitigating urban heat island at inter-building scale. In this work, the optic-thermal behavior of a naturally cool gravel for roof and paving application is studied, through lab and field experimental analyses. Specific evaluation about the cooling potential is carried out with varying grain size of the same gravel and stone typology. Additionally, its cool roof effect is investigated through dynamic simulation in a case study university campus in Italy. Finally, the analysis of the global warming contribution of the gravel was performed, with reference to the most performing gravel size. The results show differences up to 24% in terms of albedo with varying the only grain size. Additionally, the gravel with the smallest grain size resulted the most performing in terms of summer energy saving and indoor thermal comfort. By shifting from single building scale models to global climate energy balance models, an equivalent carbon emission offset of 4400 tCO 2eq was found, imputable to the (i) energy saving contribution, and (ii) global warming mitigation effect produced by the enhanced albedo of the case study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, huge efforts were made to develop new passive solutions for optimizing building summer thermal-energy behavior. While cool roofs are well investigated, a lack of knowledge is detected about the benefits deriving from the combination of cool roofs and cool façades. This work aims at determining the thermal performance of innovative cool roofing membrane and cool façade painting when applied on a prototype building, through continuous monitoring. Additionally, sensitivity analysis is performed to investigate the thermal benefits of the coupled solutions. Results showed that the combined solutions generate significant passive cooling in terms of indoor operative temperature reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study deals with the preparation of albumin nanocapsules containing fenretinide and their evaluation in experimental models of human non-small cell lung cancer. These nanocapsules showed enhanced antitumor activity with respect to free fenretinide due to the solubilization effect of albumin on the hydrophobic drug, known to improve bioavailability. The high expression of caveolin-1 on the A549 cell surface further enhanced the antitumor activity of the nanoencapsulated fenretinide. Caveolin-1 favored albumin uptake and improved the efficacy of the fenretinide-loaded albumin nanocapsules, especially in 3-D cultures where the densely packed 3-D structures impaired drug diffusibility and severely reduced the activity of the free drug. The efficacy of the fenretinide albumin nanocapsules was further confirmed in tumor xenograft models of A549 by the significant delay in tumor progression observed with respect to control after intravenous administration of the novel formulation. From the Clinical Editor This study describes the preparation of fenretinide containing albumin nanocapsules and their evaluation in experimental models of non-small cell lung cancer, showing enhanced antitumor activity compared to free fenretinide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world-wide effort to reduce the environmental impact associated to the industrial sector is quickly producing an increasing feedback on national and international decision makers. In this context, the analysis of life-cycle based assessments on the main impact categories associated to the pre-production, production, assembly, use, and end-of- life phases represents a powerful tool towards a holistic interpretation of the footprint from industrial buildings. The Italian prefabricated building sector, characterized, on average, by local enterprises with regional coverage, has been investigated in order to study the Carbon and Energy Footprints. Data from a large company, running several facilities spread on the national territory, have been collected and analyzed in order to provide a parameterized evaluation of the GHG emission and the energy consumption associated to the single phases of the building life cycle as a function of the sensible design requirements. The quantification of the Carbon and the Energy footprint, associated to the prefabricated industrial building sector, is presented. The assessment procedure is performed through a parametric modeling of the building properties bases on the analysis of different sizes and designs. A detailed discussion of the outputs is presented, including the comparison of the environmental performance depending on different construction requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Preserving the dental enamel structure during removal of orthodontic accessories is a clinician's obligation. Hence the search for an evidence based debonding protocol. Objective: to evaluate and compare, by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the effects of four different protocols of bracket debonding and subsequent polishing on enamel surface, and to propose a protocol that minimizes damage to enamel surface. Methods: Twelve bovine permanent incisors were divided into four groups according to the instrument used for debonding and removal of the adhesive remnant. In groups 1 and 2, brackets were debonded with a straight debonding plier (Ormco Corp., Glendora, California, USA), and in groups 3 and 4, debonding was performed with the instrument Lift-Off (3M Unitek, Monrovia, California, USA). In groups 1 and 3, the adhesive remnant was removed using a long adhesive removing plier (Ormco Corp., Glendora, California, USA) and in groups 2 and 4, residual adhesive was removed with a tungsten carbide bur (Beavers Dental) at high-speed. After each stage of debonding and polishing, enamel surfaces were replicated and electron micrographs were obtained with 50 and 200X magnification. Results: All four protocols of debonding and polishing caused enamel irregularities. Conclusion: Debonding brackets with straight debonding plier, removal of adhesive remnant with a tungsten carbide bur and polishing with pumice and rubber cup was found to be the protocol that caused less damage to enamel surface, therefore this protocol is suggested for debonding brackets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Clínica de Ortodontia Dental Press is the property of Dental Press International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to compare in vitro the shear bond strength between metallic brackets (Abzil) with conventional mesh bases and metallic brackets with bases industrially sandblasted with aluminum oxide using three adhesive systems, in order to assess the influence of sandblasting on adhesiveness and to compare 3 different bonding systems. Two hundred and forty bovine incisors were used and randomly divided into 6 groups (40 teeth in each group), according to the bracket base and to the bonding system. The brackets were direct-bonded in bovine teeth with 3 adhesive systems: System A - conventional Transbond™ XT (3M - Unitek); System B - Transbond™ Plus Self Etching Primer + Transbond™ XT (3M - Unitek) and System C - Fuji ORTHO LC resin-reinforced glass ionomer cement in capsules (GC Corp.). Shear bond strength tests were performed 24 hours after bonding, in a DL-3000 universal testing machine (EMIC), using a load cell of 200 kgf and a speed of 1 mm/min. The results were submitted to statistical analysis and showed no significant difference between conventional and sandblasted bracket bases. However, comparison between the bonding systems presented significantly different results. System A (14.92 MPa) and system C (13.24 MPa) presented statistically greater shear bond strength when compared to system B (10.66 MPa). There was no statistically significant difference between system A and system C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Dental Press de Ortodontia e Ortopedia Facial is the property of Dental Press International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• This paper develops a framework for urban heat prevention, mitigation and adaptation. • Air-conditioning systems are the dominant cooling facility in both work and living environments. • Urban planning and design for heat resilient cities is the most urgent intervention. • 50% of the respondents preferred collaborative payment among government, developers, and owners for heat resilient infrastructure. • Heat-related responses and actions towards urban heat challenges were dependent demographic factors and their exposure, habit formation and behavior change, social acceptance. This study investigates public participation in heat impact reduction by analysing adaptive behaviours, familiarity with urban heat island (UHI) and cooling strategies, the perceived urgency of heat impact actions and citizen's willingness to pay through a questionnaire survey in Chongqing, China. The results indicate that air-conditioning systems are the dominant cooling facility in both work and living environments. Respondents had a moderately familiar understanding of several cooling strategies such as urban vegetation, shading devices, water-based artificial facilities, urban design for shading and ventilation and water bodies. Familiarity with innovative materials and techniques for pavements, roofs and façades was less than moderate. Urban planning and design for heat resilient cities was thought to be the most urgent intervention, followed by the establishment of temporary cooling facilities. Most respondents indicated that cost-sharing mechanisms for urban heat prevention and control systems should at least include the government, whilst 50% of the respondents preferred collaborative payment among government, developers, and owners. Only 41.6% of the interviewees expressed their willingness to pay, with a share varying between <20 and >80 RMB. A conservative estimate indicated that there could be an average payment of 45.95 RMB and 19.10 RMB among the 234 respondents who were willing to pay and all 562 respondents regardless of willingness, respectively. Respondents' heat-related responses and actions towards urban heat challenges were dependent on a wide range of factors like gender, age, education, economic status, health, exposure, habit formation and behavior change, social acceptance, etc. Moreover, such factors could interact with each other affecting public behavior with different weights. Overall, this study increases our understanding of people's perceptions and proactiveness in reducing urban heat and provides guidance for decision-makers towards a novel user-aware approach to the implementation of urban heat prevention, adaptation, and mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Urban growth is related to major environmental consequences and affects people's livability and economy. To address such impacts, stakeholders must evaluate different mitigation policies. Due to the complexity of those phenomena, such comparison process can be challenging, resulting in subjective and unclear interpretations, which consequentially limits the course of action for its implementation. To overcome this difficulty, we develop a novel framework that provides a statistical analysis of urban climate models. The high-dimensional data generated by the climate model is transformed into a low-dimensional scoring system, according to statistical metrics that reflect desired priorities of stakeholders. This allows for informed quantification of the quality of different scenarios by policy makers. We illustrate the applicability of the framework in an urban area of Singapore. Different urban morphologies are analysed, estimating their environmental impact on Urban Heat Island and their potential for population allocation, while considering operational energy costs. The result is a matrix of scores per scenario, highlighting the optimal design according to the pre-defined metrics. The scenarios with the highest building height (81 m) and medium (40%) or low (30%) density offer a good balance between the environmental impact and its external trade-offs, evaluated by the number of people allocated per site area and the cost of energy to operate the district. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]