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Teeth whitening refers to a variety of processes that aim to make someone’s natural teeth appear brighter and whiter. Teeth whitening methods include sanding down stains, bleaching, ultraviolet (UV) light therapy, and more. Some teeth whitening methods can cause uncomfortable side effects, particularly tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of Vanish XT in preventing white spot lesions (WSLs) when placed around orthodontic brackets. The efficacy of Vanish XT was compared with that of Pro Seal, a commercially available product already proven in preventing demineralization.Materials and Methods: Sixty extracted human canine teeth were divided into three groups (n = 20). The two experimental groups were treated with either Vanish XT or Pro Seal. A third group received no treatment (control). Ethidium bromide with DNA was added to and mixed with the products to produce fluorescence to verify retention of the experimental products. The teeth were submersed in a lactic acid solution for 32 days to create WSLs. All sample teeth were brushed twice daily with a non-fluoride toothpaste to evaluate retention of the experimental products. Photos were taken under fluorescence microscopy and white light at three time intervals. Demineralization was quantified utilizing computer software, and photos were analyzed to obtain values for percent surface area of demineralization and surface color change.Results: Percent surface area of WSL data, both under white light conditions and fluorometric analysis, revealed a significant difference between Pro Seal and Vanish XT when compared with the control group. No significant differences were found between Pro Seal and Vanish XT treated teeth. Fluorescence evaluation revealed that both experimental products were largely removed by 32 days of brushing and acid exposure.Conclusion: Vanish XT is effective in preventing demineralization around orthodontic brackets. Its preventive efficacy is equivalent to that of Pro Seal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Service life of a maxillofacial prosthesis is too short especially because of color instability. This study aimed to investigate the effects of hand soap and chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash on the color of maxillofacial prosthesis after exposure of cigarette smoke. Materials and Methods: Sixty specimens were fabricated from a maxillofacial silicone material. Two groups (n=20) were pigmented intrinsically mimicking dark and fair tone skin and one group was not pigmented for control. All the specimens were exposed to cigarette smoke in a closed apparatus designed for the study. Color measurements of the specimens were performed before and after smoke exposition by using a spectrophotometer. Half of all the specimens (n=30) consisting of dark, fair and non-pigmented ones was rubbed with liquid hand soap and the other half was immersed in chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash (0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate). Color measurement was repeated after cleaning process. Color differences were calculated both CIELab (∆E*ab) and CIEDE2000 (∆E00) color measurement formulas. Results: Color groups had significantly different color change values in terms of ∆E00 and ∆E*ab after exposition to smoke and cleaning methods (p < 0.001). The effect of soap and chlorhexidine on color change values did not differ from each other (p=0.284 for ∆E00, p=0.312 for ∆E*ab). The interaction of color groups with cleaning methods was statistically insignificant (p=0.962 for ∆E00, p=0.550 for ∆E*ab). ∆E00 and ∆E*ab values showing color alteration between initial color and after cleaning were significantly different in groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Cleaning process using hand soap and chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash succeed to return the color of stained silicone to the initial color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to determine the performance of water-based varnish adhesion on the process of stain removal, bleaching and impregnation applied to wood surfaces. In order to accomplish this objective, the selected sessile oak (Quercus petreae Mill.) wood samples were firstly contaminated with grease and PVAc glue, after they were cleaned. Then, the wood samples were bleached by using oxalic acid (C2H2O4) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Secondly, preprocessed specimens impregnated with imersol aqua (IA) and wood protective chemicals (WP) and together both these chemicals (IA+WP). Finally, adhesion strength performance of the wood samples were tested after they covered by single component primary resin (SCPR), double component polyurethane modified with acrylic (DCAP) and double component elastic polyurethane (DCEP). The adhesion resistance of varnish layers is determined according to ASTM 4541 principles. As a result, the oil stain removal and the protective chemical applications decreased the adhesion strength on the wood surface of water-based varnish layers. Contrary, the glue stain removal and the C2H2O4 and H2O2 bleaching increased the adhesion strength. Also, it was determined that DCEP applications have the highest value in oak wood samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives. Use of antiseptics as an adjunct to a traditional mechanical tooth brushing method has limited their application for long duration because of their side effects such as staining and calculus formation. The objective of this in vitro study is to analyse the staining effects of antiseptic mouthwashes on dental enamel and compare it with those containing nanoparticles, dietary agents, and distilled water (control). Material and Methods. 105 intact premolars extracted for orthodontic reasons and without any caries or anatomical defects were selected for analysis. The samples were randomly divided into 7 different groups of fifteen teeth each for different solutions. A spectrophotometer was used to assess the colorimeter analysis of buccal dental enamel surface at R1 (baseline examination), R2 (24 hours after immersion in different solutions), and R3 (after brushing). Statistical analysis was done using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and Levene's test (p < 0.05), respectively. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the difference in color (∆E) between the readings, R1, R2, and R3. Results. The mouthwash containing titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles produced the greater enamel discoloration compared to that of chlorhexidine. Brushing had little effect on removal of stains induced by all mouthwashes except for dietary solutions (lemon with sodium bicarbonate and olive with laurel) and distilled water (control). Conclusion. The results from this study show that mouthwashes containing TiO2 nanoparticles and other antiseptic mouthwashes cause change in color of the teeth and lead to poor esthetic appearance when compared to dietary and control solutions. Thus, future in vivo studies have to be conducted to confirm these findings as in vitro studies may not provide a reliable simulation of the clinical situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flexible mucus film and hydrophilic hierarchical micro‐/nanoprotuberance structure on the skin surfaces of marine organisms contribute to an excellent intrinsic antifouling performance. Inspired by this fact, a self‐cleaning mucus‐like and hierarchical ciliary bionic antifouling surface (SMCAS) is designed for marine antifouling based on the electrostatic flocking technology. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the bioinspired SMCAS has a hierarchical micro‐/nanociliary structure and the micrometer array of polyamide (PA) microfibers is covered with the nanometer carbon nanotube/polyvinyl alcohol (CNT/PVA) hydrogel particles. The biomasses of the two marine microoganisms, Nitzschia closterium f. minutissima and Marinobacter lipolyticus SM19 (T), attached on the SMCAS are investigated using a UV–visible spectrophotometer (UV–vis) and SEM. The results reveal that the microoganisms attached on the SMCAS are significantly lower number in comparison with the organic silicon coating. In addition, the SMCAS has a greater ability of stain removal in the dyed petroleum ether washing test. Therefore, the SMCAS demonstrates an extraordinary antifouling performance due to the synergetic effect of the mucus‐like hydrogel film and the hierarchical micro‐/nanostructured micropillars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The objective of the present study is to evaluate the color stability of two different shaded acrylic denture teeth and the effectiveness of different cleansing methods on stain removal. Material-Method: Baseline color readings of 50 right maxillary central incisors of both A1 and A2 shaded denture teeth were performed with a spectrophotometer. Specimens were immersed in a staining solution for 72 hours (h), and the second color readings were carried out. Stained A1 and A2 shaded denture teeth were randomly divided into five subgroups according to cleansing methods as Corega 5-min (Groups of 1C5 for A1, 2C5 for A2), Protefix 3-min (Groups of 1P3, 2P3), Corega 3-min (Groups of 1C3, 2C3), brushing (Groups of 1B, 2B), distilled water (Groups of 1control, 2control) (n=10). Third color readings were performed after the related denture cleaning procedures were applied to the stained teeth. First color change (ΔE1) values were calculated according to baseline and second color readings, while second color change (ΔE2) values were calculated according to second and third color readings. Differences among ΔE1 values of the A1 and A2 shaded groups were analyzed with the Independent Samples Test. ΔE2 values were analyzed with two-way analysis of variance (2-way ANOVA). Multiple comparisons were made using the Tukey HSD test. Results: ΔE1 values were higher for A2 shaded teeth, while ΔE2 values were higher for A1 shaded denture teeth (p<0.05) for all groups. The investigated denture cleansing methods caused higher ΔE2 values than the control groups for both A1 and A2 shaded brands (p<0.05). For the A1 shaded brand, the highest ΔE2 value was observed for Group 1C3 (p<0.05). For the A2 shaded brand, ΔE2 values were similar among the test groups (p>0.05). Conclusions: The shade of denture teeth and denture cleansing method had a significant effect on ΔE values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on the trajectory planning of optical polishing based on an optimized implementation of dwell time to improve the polishing quality and efficiency of optical surfaces. The large-scale, sparse, and ill-posed linear equation solution is transformed into a quadratic programming problem with boundary constraint, and the monotone projection gradient method is adopted to obtain an optimal dwell time solution by considering its fluctuation characteristic. Then, parametric polishing paths are constructed using cubic B-spline curves to guarantee one-to-one correspondence between each curve segment and dwell time of a removal spot. Finally, an interpolation process of polishing trajectory is proposed on the basis of the equal–proportional feed rate adjustment strategy to improve the implementation accuracy of dwell time. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed dwell time algorithm and spline interpolation method can considerably improve the solution accuracy of dwell time and the convergence rate of the form error during polishing. These results provide important scientific basis and technical support for the high-efficiency and high-precision polishing of large-aperture aspheric optical surfaces. • The monotone projection gradient method is adopted to obtain an optimal dwell time solution. • Cubic B-spline curve and Gauss–Seidel iteration method are used to construct paths. • The equal–proportional feed rate adjustment strategy is used for polishing trajectory interpolation. • Simulation results show that the proposed dwell time algorithm is superior to other methods. • Results indicate that the method can improve the quality and efficiency of optical polishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alkaliphile bacterial strain designated as CH11 was isolated from the sediments of Chilika Lake, Odisha. The isolate showed stupendous growth and production of α-amylase at pH 10.0. Through 16S rRNA gene based molecular technique this isolate was identified as Bacillus cereus strain SP-CH11 having GenBank Accession No. KT992791. Homogenous ~55 kDa extracellular α-amylase was extracted with 241.304, 26.26 and 3.2-fold acceleration in specific activity, purification fold and yield respectively. The alkaline α-amylase AA11 was further characterized. At pH 9.0 the purified enzyme AA11 was highly stable while retaining 88–100% functional viability at temperature range from 35 to 65 °C, confirming its thermostability nature. It showed stability with powdered and liquid detergents at 7 mg/mL and 100-fold dilutions respectively. AA11 efficiently removed the starch stain from cotton fabrics. The findings of this study indicate that the isolate CH11 is a source of novel alkaline α-amylase that has promising application in food and detergent industries. Unlabelled Image • CH11 isolate is an alkaliphile isolated from Chilika Lake, Odisha • It was identified as Bacillus cereus strain SP-CH11 with GenBank accession number KT992791 • AA11 is the alkaline α-amylase derived from the isolate • High compatibility with Ezee, Genteel and Persil • AA11 showed splendid starch stain removal capacity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics (1001-1803) is the property of China Surfactant Detergent & Cosmetics Editorial Office 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.)

In this study, it was aimed to determine the ability to produce protease enzyme of Thermomonas haemolytica isolated from geothermal Nenehatun hot spring in Turkey and utilization of this enzyme in the detergent industry to remove protein stains. The protease-producing strains were screened from hot springs, and a potential strain was identified as T. haemolytica according to morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics and sequence of 16S rRNA gene. Maximum protease activity was observed at 55 °C and pH 9.0 at 72 h of incubation. Activity was very stable between 50 and 65 °C and pH 8.0–10.0, respectively. The enzyme activity was significantly inhibited by PMSF and partly inhibited by EDTA, EGTA, SDS, and urea. Some divalent metal ions such as Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+ increased the enzyme activity, while Zn2+ and Cu2+ decreased. Michaelis–Menten constant (Km) and maximum velocity (Vmax) values were calculated by Lineweaver–Burk plot as 125 EU/ml and 1262 mg/ml, respectively. The biochemical characterization of the protease obtained from T. haemolytica was performed and applied on the blood and grass-stained fabrics with detergent to evaluate the stain removal performance of the enzyme. It was observed that the application of detergent with enzyme was more effective than the detergent without enzyme to clean up the stained fabrics. This is the first report of characterization of the protease of T. haemolytica. According to results obtained from this study, this new strain is a promising candidate for industrial applications in production of detergent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alkali-tolerant bacterial isolate CH7 was isolated from Chilika Lake sediments that produced α-amylase at high pH. It showed >15 mm zone diameter at pH 11.0 on agar plate containing 1% starch hence considered for study. It survived up to 10% NaCl concentration on nutrient agar plates. Taxonomically it was identified as Bacillus sp. strain SP-CH7 having GenBank Accession No. KU761266. Optimized alkaline α-amylase, AA7 showed 202.857 specific activity (IU/mg), 65.95 purification fold and 25.94 yield (%) respectively. Molecular weight was revealed by SDS-PAGE as 55 kDa. The K m value was 0.688 mg/mL and so was 2.342 IU/mL V max obtained for AA7 towards starch. This enzyme showed 92.79% and 91.14% stability at pH 11.0 and 13.0 respectively and up to 75 °C stability was also noted. Enzyme activity was stimulated by Co2+, Na+ and Ca2+. It was stable in presence of EDTA, SDS, all the powdered detergents as well as with liquid detergent "Ezee" which vouches for its potential application in Detergent industries. • Bacillus sp. strain SP-CH7 is an alkalitolerant. • Alkaline α-amylase (AA7) derived from the isolate has strong alkaline and thermal stability. • AA7 was stable in the presence of EDTA. • AA7 showed remarkable compatibility with powdered and liquid detergents. • AA7 showed excellent stain removal capacity from soiled cotton fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industria Textila is the property of Institutul National de Cercetare-Dezvoltare pentru Textile si Pielarie 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.)

Background: Tooth polishing is a procedure carried out as a part of oral prophylaxis in most dental practices. In the present study, the stain removal efficacy of two commercially available polishing agents was compare: Proxyt paste (active ingredient-xylitol) and Shine N Smile paste (active ingredient-alumina). Materials & method:20 subjects in the age group of 20 to 40 years with extrinsic stains were included in the studyand a split mouth study design was employed. After thorough scaling was done, a split mouth study design was employed for comparing the two pastes. On the right side proxyt pastewas used and on the left side Shine N Smile paste was used to polish the teeth using rubber cup technique for 15 seconds on each tooth. Lobene stain index was used to assess the intensity and extent of the stains before and after the polishing procedure was performed. Results: Pre-treatment and post-treatment score difference for the proxyt group and Shine N Smile group was 0.98 and 1.23 respectively. Significant results were obtained while comparing the mean post-polishing score and difference (pre-treatment and post-treatment) score in between proxyt paste group and shine N smile group. Conclusion:Shine NSmile paste showed better results in comparison to proxyt paste. However; further studies with larger sample size are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to focus on the performance analysis of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) – Chitosan composite dye transfer inhibitor (DTI) for household laundry. The developed composite DTI is tested against different commercial dyes and detergent powders normally used in the household laundry for its performance. Design/methodology/approach: The DTI article is tested for its performance against five commercial dyes and five commercial detergent compositions. The dye re-deposition behaviour of the control fabric was measured in terms of the colour difference (ΔE) values. The influence of PVP on the washing efficiency of detergent was evaluated against tea, coffee and juice stains. Findings: The results showed that there is an excellent performance of the developed product noted in terms of DTI performance against reactive, basic and sulfur dyes. The DTI product showed a significantly (p<0.05) less performance against acid and direct dyes. There is no significant differences noted in the stain removal efficiency of the detergent in the presence of PVP in the wash liquor (p>0.05). Originality/value: The usage of DTI polymer in the household laundry has no significant influence on the detergents performance in terms of stain removing efficiency. The DTI polymer's function in the wash liquor depends up on the type of polymer used, as they are sensitive to the type of detergent compositions used and the type of dyes bleeds in the wash liquor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1947 Lisbon held the "Cortejo Histórico de Lisboa", a parade belonging to the "VII Centenary of the Reconquest of Lisbon to the Moors" celebrations. For the accomplishment of this parade, hundreds of scenic objects and accessories were created and three thousand extras and actors participated. Museu de Lisboa has in its collection a significant set of these objects, with highlight to the seventeen-banner collection. These banners that since 1947 were kept in different warehouses, were transferred in 2008 to the Museu de Lisboa Central Storage Unit textile room. The large dimensions of these objects were the main preventive conservation issue the Museum had to solve, regarding the way of storing the collection. In 2018 the Museum designed a project for the vertical storage of these banners. Due to its enormous size (being the biggest 315 cm height and 212 cm width) it was impossible for the museum to store these objects in flat format. The alternative was designed and executed using Tycore® boards as backing panel, hinged with acid-free buffered paper sheets and then glued together into one large piece with the same size as each banner. The banners with textile strip extensions were mounted onto the panels and stored vertically on metallic grids used for the storage of the Museum painting art collection. Treatments such as dust cleaning, tear consolidation and stain removal were carried out to stabilize the banners prior to the mounting on the boards. This paper describes some of the steps of this eight-month project, involving six people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biochemical properties of extracellular proteases enzymes from Malaysia Alkalophilic's bacteria, Bacillus lehensis G1, were investigated. The secreted enzymes were tested on 2% of skim milk agar. Results demonstrated that the enzyme could maintain the activity up to 60°C within an extensive range of pH from 3 to 11 with the optimal pH and temperature of 7.0 and 40°C, respectively. The proteases activity were also observed to be increased in the presence of several ions such as Mn2+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Mg2+ and Co2+. Whilst, the enzyme activity was marginally inhibited with the addition of Ca2+, K+ and Ni2+ with the residual activity of 85%, 81%, and 75%, respectively. Furthermore, the extracellular proteases have shown to be compatible with several Malaysia commercial liquid detergents, which could be beneficial for stain removal. The potential application of proteases in gelatine decomposition from used X-ray films was also determined in this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducion: Microabrasion provides the removal of stains and irregularities on the surface of the enamel by associating the erosive action of acids, such as phosphoric acid or hydrochloric acid, and the abrasive action of substances such as pumice (silicon carbide) by smearing. Objective: This study aims to evaluate, by way of a literature review, the efficacy and applicability of this method in clinical treatment, analyzing the potential of resolution according to studies that support its efficiency. Materials and Methods: A bibliographic review was conducted in the databases Bireme, Pubmed and Google Scholar, covering research articles and case reports from 2013 to 2018, using the descriptors: Dental Enamel, Enamel microabrasion, Dental Fluorosis, Amelogenesis imperfecta. Conclusion: It was verified that the microabrasion of the dental enamel is an effective alternative in the treatment of localized chromatic alterations in the superficial layer of the enamel considering that, besides being a conservative method, it promotes satisfactory results immediately after its application. However, for the treatment of alterations of greater depth, it may be necessary to associate the microabrasion technique with other aesthetic procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Model developed to describe the kinetics of stain removal from cotton fabrics. • Model predicts stain removal as a function of mechanical action during the wash. • Dual porosity of textiles is modelled by allowing two regions where soil locates. • Soil sensitivity to mechanical action is defined by its solids content. • Good agreement is observed between experimental and predicted data in all cases. Abstract The kinetics of stain removal from knitted cotton textiles during the washing process in a Front Loader Washing Machine (FLWM) has been investigated as a function of the ballast load, agitation, drum rotational speed and washing time, which result in different levels of mechanical action during the wash. The study was conducted using a set of stains comprising grease, enzymatic, particulate and coloured beverage type of soils that are representative of typical domestic washing loads. A mechanistic model has been developed to describe the stain removal process which takes into consideration the dual porosity of the textiles by allowing two different regions where the soil is located (inter-yarn and intra-yarn porosity). The location of the soil affects its exposure to the hydrodynamic forces and surfactant system resulting in a more challenging removal for the portion of the stain located in the inner area of the textiles. Good agreement between the experimental and predicted stain removal by the proposed mathematical model has been observed for the range of variables considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the repeated nonthermal atmospheric discharge (NADC) exposure without peroxide or water on bleaching effect of cycling stained tooth and to evaluate surface roughness and microhardness of the enamel surface exposed by NADC. Specimens with 5×5mm were prepared from extracted bovine teeth. Staining with tea and exposure by NADC were repeated for five times and color was measured at each step. Other specimens were prepared and surface roughness (Ra) and microhardness (Vickers hardness) were measured after exposure by NADC. The repeated NADC exposure without peroxide or water showed bleaching effect for stained bovine teeth. The surface roughness was not changed by NADC exposure. The less microhadness was shown by NADC exposere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical characteristics such as oropharyngeal leak pressure (OLP) and ventilation peak pressure are important factors for successful use of supraglottic airway devices in general anaesthesia. We hypothesized that the LMA Protector™ compared to the LMA Supreme™ may develop a higher OLP, which could be of clinical significance.Methods: Ninety-six patients were randomized to the LMA Protector™ or LMA Supreme™ groups. We measured oropharyngeal leak pressure within 5 minutes after insertion of the supraglottic airway device with a standardized cuff pressure at 60 cm H2 O. Secondary parameters, such as insertion time of the supraglottic airway device, the number of attempts inserting the supraglottic airway device and the gastric tube, volume of gastric contents, and maximum airway pressure, as well as pulse oximetry throughout the operation were measured. Further, blood staining after removal of the supraglottic airway device and postoperative airway morbidity 3 hours after surgery were determined.Results: The mean difference of oropharyngeal leak pressure was 5.2 (95% CI 2.8-7.6), ie, 30.9 (7.4) cmH2 O for the LMA Protector™ vs 25.6 (4.4) cmH2 O for the LMA Supreme™ (P < 0.001; mean(SD)). Similarly, there was a mean difference between OLP and maximal ventilation peak pressure 5.6 (95% CI 3.1-8.2) ie 19.6 (7.7) cmH2 O for the LMA Protector™ vs 14.0 (4.4) cmH2 O for the LMA Supreme™ (P < 0.001). No difference was found between the groups for other secondary parameters, as well as postoperative airway morbidity.Conclusion: The LMA Protector™ enabled a higher OLP compared to the LMA Supreme™. This finding may be important for patients requiring a higher peak pressure for sufficient supraglottic airway device ventilation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation was conducted to determine the effects of an air-abrasive polishing system on various implant surfaces. Four each of the following types of implants were obtained from the manufacturer: Stryker DB (a titanium alloy implant), Denar Steri-Oss (a pure titanium implant), IMZ (pure titanium polished collar/plasma-sprayed body), and IMZ transmucosal implant extensions (highly polished pure titanium). Four samples of each type of implant material were placed in a group to be treated with an air-abrasive polishing system for 0.5, 1, 5, or 10 seconds, for a total of 16 samples. Scanning electron photomicrographs taken of each sample before and after treatment were analyzed by three examiners who were blind to the treatment conditions. They determined if the abrasion on the treated surface was greater than, equal to, or less than the pretreatment control. No perceptible difference was noted between the pretreatment and posttreatment photomicrographs regarding the surface integrity of the implant material surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study developed a computer image analysis technique as a quantitative means to measure changes in dental stain after brushing with various dentifrices. Method and materials: Enamel specimens with naturally occurring mature stain were cut from bovine incisors. The specimens were subjected to in vitro toothbrushing with one of the four tested groups, consisting of two dentifrices that make claims of stain removal (Aquafresh Whitening and Rembrandt Sensitive), a regular dentifrice, (Aquafresh Triple Protection), and water. Digital images of stain specimens were recorded under standardized lighting conditions and analyzed with an image analysis software. The area-intensity stain determinant, which accounted for the reflected intensity and the corresponding areas of stain, was computed. Stain removal efficacy was calculated based on the difference in area-intensity stain determinant before and after brushing. Results: Brushing with any of the tested dentifrices removed more stain than did brushing with water along. The fining that brushing with a regular dentifrice resulted in higher stain removal efficacy than brushing with water seems to indicate a role for abrasivity. Aquafresh Whitening had a higher stain removal efficacy than did Rembrandt for the removal of mature calcified stain used in this study. However, there were certain stains that none of the dentifrices removed. Conclusion: Computer image analysis provides an objective and quantitative measurement to distinguish in vitro stain rem oval efficacy of dentifrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Figure spotting is one of the important applications in the field of content-based image retrieval. With the recent advances in 3D shape analysis, Wave Kernel Signature (WKS), a kernel-based feature descriptor under the foundation of quantum mechanics performs well than the other kernel based feature descriptors. In this paper, we adopt the WKS as a 2D local patch descriptor for figure spotting. An effective search technique is developed to spot the regions of interest within an image for a given query image. We also use the classical feature descriptors such as scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT), speeded up robust features (SURF), and the histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) for figure spotting and compare their performances. The proposed technique is tested on a dataset which contains 594 images collected from two heritage temples. The performance of the proposed technique is measured using standard evaluation metrics and shows promising results of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hot spotting is a reliability problem in photovoltaic (PV) panels where a mismatched cell heats up significantly and degrades PV panel output power performance. High PV cell temperature due to hot spotting can damage the cell encapsulate and lead to second breakdown, where both cause permanent damage to the PV panel. Therefore, the design and development of a hot spot mitigation technique is proposed using a simple, low-cost and reliable hot spot activation technique. The hot spots in the examined PV system is detected using FLIR i5 thermal imaging camera. Several experiments have been studied during various environmental conditions, where the PV module P-V curve was evaluated in each observed test to analyze the output power performance before and after the activation of the proposed hot spot mitigation technique. One PV module affected by hot spot was tested. The output power increased by approximate to 3.6 W after the activation of the hot spot mitigation technique. Additional test has been carried out while connecting the hot spot PV module in series with two other PV panels. The results indicate that there is an increase of 3.57 W in the output power after activating the hot spot mitigation technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the efficacy and safety of application of a toothpaste containing lysozyme to remove extrinsic stains on the tooth surface in an 8-week trial. Methods: 70 adult participants with extrinsic staining of the tooth surface were recruited to this randomized, parallel-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Participants were allocated randomly to the test group or the control group and the study procedure and correct usage of the toothpaste were explained to them. Staining, measured by the Lobene stain index, and any side effects, were recorded over the course of the 8 weeks. All data were analyzed using SAS software version 8.0. Results: 69 participants completed the study. The value of the Lobene stain index was significantly reduced (P< 0.05) in the treatment group compared with the control group after both 4 and 8 weeks. No obvious side effects were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new self-cleaning cotton fabric coated with zinc oxide (ZnO) was obtained via a facile and effective microwave method. The solution pH was a key factor in determining the morphology of ZnO crystal growth on the cotton fibers: rod structures were apt to be formed at pH 4–5, whereas flake and flower-like structures were preferentially formed at higher solution pHs of 6–7 and 10–11, respectively. It is proved that the photocatalytic and wettability performances of ZnO could be efficiently transferred to cotton fabric, leading to a preeminent UV-blocking and self-cleaning cotton fabric. The identified UV protection factors (UPFs) indicate the excellent UV-blocking properties of the ZnO-coated textile fabric synthesized at pH 6–7, 8–9 and 10–11 with UPFs of 222.52, 162.68 and 202.57, respectively. The ZnO coating layer on the cotton fabric significantly improved the wetting behavior of the fabric, such as water absorption speed, thereby affording a self-cleaning ability for the ZnO-coated cotton fabrics. This ability was checked according to the removal degree of coffee stain under UV irradiation at different humidities (30–90% RH). The coffee stains on the ZnO-coated cotton fabrics were almost removed after 15 h without needing any water or detergent and the highest removal effect was observed at 90% humidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aims of the study are to prepare novel stain removal gel-based formulations containing papain or bromelain and to investigate their stain removal effect when applied to enamel. Materials and methods: Experimental bromelain- and papain-based stain removal gels were prepared. Next, enamel/dentin tooth samples (6 × 6 mm, 4 mm in thickness) were obtained from bovine teeth, stained in coffee solution for 1 week, and measured with a digital spectrophotometer (Easyshade, Vita Zahnfabrik) for color assessment (baseline). The samples were then randomly allocated into four groups ( n = 7), according to the stain removal agent applied: ContrastPM+ (Discus Dental, LLC), which is based on 20 wt.% carbamide peroxide (positive control); bromelain-based; papain-based; and no agent (negative control). The materials were applied once a week, three times per day, during 4 weeks, and following the directions of use from positive control. The samples were measured again with the Easyshade and using the CIE L a b color system. The color change (Δ E ) results were obtained by subtracting the baseline values from the final color values obtained at each time point. The data were statistically analyzed using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance and Student Newman Keuls's test as a post hoc test ( α = 5 %). Results: All stain removal agents produced greater color change than the negative control ( p < .001), with the positive control demonstrating greater Δ E values when compared to the experimental gels ( p ≤ .004). The second application of all gels resulted in greater Δ E values compared to the first application ( p ≤ .025), although no color change was observed after the third application ( p ≥ .051), regardless of the material evaluated. Clinical significance: The proposed gels containing proteolytic enzymes (bromelain or papain) of vegetal origin may hold significant clinical potential as active agents for the preparation of stain removal agents free of hydrogen/carbamide peroxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness and the mechanism of copper stain removal from stones by agar gels was systematically studied using marble laboratory specimens, stained and cleaned in well-controlled and reproducible conditions. The same cleaning procedure was also applied on the marble base of Napoleon's statue by A. Canova. The water release from agar gels to stones was investigated by capillarity absorption and unilateral Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. The cleaning by different agar gel formulations (pure and added with chemicals) was studied both on the stone substrate (optical microscopy and colour measurements) and in the gels (inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy). Among the considered cleaning systems, the most effective ones for copper removal were agar gels 3% containing additives, with no significant difference among the used additives. However, agar gels with additives host copper in different ways: in gels added with ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), all copper centers are coordinated, while copper centers are also dispersed in water within gels added with ammonium citrate tribasic (TAC). The stain cleaning process of stones probably starts with the diffusion of water at the gel-stone interface, but it finds the driving force in the copper coordination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quantum of marine fish wastes produced by fish processing industries has necessitated to search new methods for its disposal. Hence, this study is focused on production and purification of halophilic organic solvent tolerant protease (HOSP) from marine Alcaligenes faecalis APCMST-MKW6 using marine shell wastes as substrate. The candidate bacterium was isolated from the marine sediment of Manakudi coast and identified as A. faecalis APCMST-MKW6. The purified protease showed 16.39-fold purity, 70.34 U/mg specific activity with 21.67 % yield. The molecular weight of the purified alkaline protease was 49 kDa. This purified protease registered maximum activity at pH 9 and it was stable between pH 8-9 after 1.30 h of incubation. The optimum temperature registered was 60 °C and it was stable between 50 and 60 °C even after 1.30 h of incubation. This enzyme also showed maximum activity at 20 % NaCl concentration. Further, manganese chloride, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride and barium chloride influenced this enzyme activity remarkably and it was also found to be enhanced by many of the tested surfactants and solvents. The candidate bacterium effectively deproteinized the shrimp shell waste compared to the other tested crustaceans shell wastes and also attained maximum antioxidant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, handling of bio-hazardous dyes such as crystal violet in various discharges is a growing concern which can affect the global aquatic scenario. A low-cost environment-friendly nanocomposite was synthesized for the removal of crystal violet dye from industrial effluent solution. The efficacy of plant(Azadirachta indica)-mediated synthesized silver nano soil composite as an adsorbent was evaluated in a batch reactor. A composite model system was introduced linear and non-linear responsiveness towards the kinetics of adsorption of crystal violet onto Ag-nano soil composite during batch experimental study. The equilibrium kinetics was analysed using pseudo-second-order kinetic model system. The coefficient of determination and chi-square tests were implemented to explore the best fit of the equation. The experimental data were better represented by non-linear model system than that of linear model system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Firebrands of ribbon bark eucalypt are notorious for igniting spotfires many kilometres ahead of a bushfire. However, no research to date has demonstrated that this bark type can sustain combustion at its terminal velocity for the travel time required. Fifty samples of shed bark of Eucalyptus viminalis of three distinct morphologies were ignited at one end and burned tethered in a vertical wind tunnel at air velocities approximating their terminal velocity. Mean terminal velocity and burnout time for 'flat plates', 'simple cylinders' and 'internally convoluted cylinders' were 5.4 m s[sup -1] and 251 s; 5.2 m s[sup -1] and 122 s; and 5.8 m s[sup -1] and 429 s. The corresponding maximum burnout times were 785 s, 353 s and 1304 s. One internally convoluted cylinder flamed continuously and consumed its length of 368 mm in 271 s. The maximum burnout time for the internally convoluted cylinders is commensurate with a potential spotting distance exceeding 20 km given a mean wind speed during transport of 60 km h[sup -1] . This is the first study in which combustion times exceeding a few minutes have been recorded for this bark morphology, and thus provides some corroboration of the notoriety for long-distance spotting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificially soiled test fabrics are widely used to study the cleaning performance of detergents formulations. In this study, artificial soiled cotton test fabrics were prepared in the laboratory using carbon black as a model soil. Design of experiments was used to optimise the concentration of detergent ingredients for stain removal. A multi-factorial analysis of variance was used to model the effect of sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate, nonylphenol ethoxylate, sodium silicate, sodium citrate and sodium carbonate as builders on soil removal. A colourimetric evaluation using the CIELAB system was used to measure soil removal. In general, performance increases with increasing concentration of surfactant, silicate and soda ash. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the detergents that are presently produced contain the detergent compatible enzymes to improve and accelerate the washing performance by removing tough stains. The process is environment friendly as the use of enzymes in the detergent formulation reduces the utilization of toxic detergent constituents. The current trend is to use the detergent compatible enzymes that are active at low and ambient temperature in order to save energy and maintain fabric quality. As the detergent compatible bacterial enzymes are used together in the detergent formulation, it is important to co-produce the detergent enzymes in a single fermentation medium as the enzyme stability is assured, and production cost gets reduced enormously. The review reports on the production, purification, characterization and application of detergent compatible amylases, lipases, and proteases are available. However, there is no specific review or minireview on the concomitant production of detergent compatible amylases, lipases, and proteases. In this minireview, the coproduction of detergent compatible enzymes by bacterial species, enzyme stability towards detergents and detergent components, and stain release analysis were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large eddy simulation of the wind surface layer above and within vegetation was conducted in the presence of an idealised forest fire by using an equivalent volumetric heat source. Firebrand’s particles are represented as spherical particles with a wide range of sizes, which were located into the combustion volume in a random fashion and are convected in the ascending plume as Lagrangian points. The thermally thin particles undergo drag relative to the flow and moisture loss as they are dried and pyrolysis, char-combustion, and mass loss as they burn. The particle momentum, heat and mass transfer, and combustion governing equations were computed along particle trajectories in the unsteady 3D wind field until their deposition on the ground. The spotting distances are compared with the maximum spotting distance obtained with Albini model for several idealised line grass or torching trees fires scenarios. The prediction of the particle maximum spotting distance for a 2000 kW/m short grass fire compared satisfactorily with results from Albini model and underpredicted by 40% the results for a high intensity 50000 kW/m fire. For the cases of single and four torching trees the model predicts the maximum distances consistently but for slightly different particle diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was focused on the simultaneous removal of Methylene blue (MB) and Safranin-O (SO), as most together hazardous dye in wastewater, from aqueous solution by ultra-sonic-assisted adsorption onto the developed adsorbent i.e. Fe 3 O 4 NPs. Fe 3 O 4 NPs were synthesized, by using central composite design (CCD), the effects of variables such as pH, adsorbent dosage, MB concentration, SO concentration and contact time on binary dyes removal were examined and optimized values were found to be 6, 0.01 g, 10 and 20 mg/L and 2 min, respectively. The very rapid removal of dyes makes this novel adsorbent as a promising tool for wastewater management applications. Different adsorption isotherm model i.e. Langmuir, Freundlich, non-modified Langmuir, modified competitive Langmuir, modified extended Langmuir, extended Freundlich and sips models are studied out of which extended-Freundlich model proved to be the best fit to equilibrium data because of correlation value ( R 2 ) is 0.99 which is very close to 1, additionally it depicts the high adsorption capacity around (89.2–91.9 mg g − 1 ). An empirical extension of competitive extended-Freundlich model was proposed to predict the simultaneous adsorption behavior of MB and SO. It was observed that pseudo-second-order equation is suitable to fit the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, woven fabrics with cotton, polyester and cotton/polyester blend were dyed with commercial, including nano-sized TiO2, pigment dye via pad-dry-cure method. These fabrics are designed for outdoor usage such as beach furniture, sunshade for prams, awnings, etc. To evaluate the self-cleaning action of modified fabrics, coffee, sour cherry and ink stains were introduced onto fabrics. Under sun light exposure, the stains were partially decolourised. The effects of TiO2 on the main functions of fabrics were investigated by measurement of UV penetration and protection, colour fastness to dry and wet rubbing and also strength properties before and after sun light exposure. All treated fabric types performed excellent resistance against UV radiation and dry and wet rubbing. Pigment dyeing with rutile phase TiO2 caused an increase in breaking strength of treated fabrics. The sun light exposure decreased the breaking strength of both treated and untreated fabrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]