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This study assessed the effect of a primer containing 10-methacryloyloxydecyl-(2-thiohydantoin-4-yl)propionate (MDTHP) on the bonding of noble metal alloys to an acrylic resin. Three noble metal alloys were selected as adherends, and V-Primer containing 6-(4-vinylbenzyl-n-propyl)amino-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-dithione was used as a comparative control. The disk specimens of each noble metal alloy were wet-ground and divided into three conditions: specimens primed with MDTHP primer or V-Primer, and specimens without priming. An acrylic resin was bonded to each specimen, and the specimens were performed the shear bond test. The MDTHP primer showed higher shear bond strength than the V-Primer for all specimens. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis showed that MDTHP was adsorbed on the Au-Pt-Pd alloy surface even after acetone cleaning. MDTHP binds not only with Cu but also with Au and Ag, promoting the bond strength of noble metal alloys. The effectiveness of MDTHP on dental noble metal alloys was suggested.

Recently in Japan, due to the increased prices of palladium and gold, cast titanium restorations have been included in the Japanese national health insurance system. The purpose of this review was to survey the available literature on titanium bonding systems, focusing on the adhesive monomer in the luting agent in order to expand the application of resin-bonded fixed prostheses made of titanium or titanium alloys. It was found that adhesive monomers are effective for bonding to titanium, and provide results equal to the procedures of silanization and tribochemical silica coating. A primer or a luting agent, including 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP), methacryloyloxyalkyl thiophosphate derivative (MEPS), 6-methacryloxyhexyl phosphonoacetate (6-MHPA), and 4-methacryloyloxyethl trimellitate anhydride (4-META) promotes bonding characteristics between titanium and the resin material.

This study evaluated the color and microstructure of monolithic zirconia crowns with different yttrium oxide (Y

The use of a uniform terminology is important to avoid misunderstanding of concepts or procedures in discussion. The usage of English prosthodontic terms in Japan was investigated in the current study. English prosthodontic terms listed in The Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms edited by the Japan Prosthodontic Society (GPTJ-5) were compared to those in The Glossary of Prosthodontic Terms ninth edition (GPT-9). A small number of terms labeled as objectionable in GPT-9 were listed in GPTJ-5. This might indicate that it takes a long time to replace terms that are used widely.

OBJECTIVEThe sylvian bridging veins between the brain and the dura on the inner surface of the sphenoid wing can restrict brain retraction for widening of the lateral retrocarotid space during clipping surgery for internal carotid artery (ICA)–posterior communicating artery (PCoA) and basilar apex (BX) aneurysms. In such cases, the authors perform extradural anterior clinoidectomy with peeling of the temporal dura propria from the periosteal dura and inner cavernous membrane around the superior orbital fissure, with the incision of the dura mater stretching from the base of the temporal side to just before the distal dural ring of the ICA (termed by the authors as the sphenoparietal sinus transposition [SPST] technique). This technique displaces the bridging segment of the sylvian vein posteriorly and enables widening of the surgical space without venous injury. In this study, the authors observed the operative nuances and investigated the usefulness of this technique.METHODSThe authors retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 66 consecutive patients with ICA-PCoA and BX aneurysms between January 2016 and July 2018. This technique was performed in 8 patients (5 patients with PCoA aneurysms and 3 with BX aneurysms) in whom the bridging segments of the sylvian veins between the brain and the skull base restricted brain retraction for widening of the surgical space. The surface areas of the lateral retrocarotid space and the aneurysm were measured at the most visible working angle before and after the SPST technique was performed.RESULTSWith the use of the SPST technique, an adequate surgical space for aneurysm clipping was obtained with preservation of the bridging veins in all patients. The mean surface areas of the lateral retrocarotid space (p = 0.002) and aneurysm (p = 0.001) were significantly increased from 18.3 ± 18.8 and 2.8 ± 2.5 cm2 before to 64.2 ± 21.1 and 20.9 ± 20.6 cm2, respectively, after the SPST technique was performed.CONCLUSIONSThe SPST technique enables displacement of the bridging segments of the sylvian veins without venous injury and enables widening of the surgical space around the lateral retrocarotid area.

Objective The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of an experimental primer containing acetone solution and a sulfur-containing functional monomer, 10-methacryloyloxydecyl-(2-thiohydantoin-4-yl)propionate (MDTHP), on the bonds between noble metals and acrylic resin. Methods The experimental primer used as the control for comparison consisted of 6-(4-vinylbenzyl-n-propyl)amino-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-dithione (VBATDT) in acetone. These primers were prepared as equimolar functional monomers (0.1 mol%). A self-polymerizing acrylic resin initiated with tri-n-butylborane (TBB) was used as the luting agent. Four elemental metal disks (silver, copper, palladium, and gold) were used as adherend specimens. All the disks were wet-ground with silicon carbide paper (#1500). Bonding reactions were performed on 12 combinations of the four metals, and the disks were either primed with MDTHP or VBATDT or were unprimed (control). Shear bond strengths were determined pre- and post-thermocycling (5–55 °C, dwell time 60 s, 20,000 cycles). The results were statistically analyzed via a non-parametric test (α = 0.05). Results The post-thermocycling shear bond strengths of the MDTHP primer were as follows (median, n = 11): 13.2 MPa on silver, 25.9 MPa on copper, 4.1 MPa on palladium, and 11.3 MPa on gold. The MDTHP primer showed higher post-thermocycling shear bond strength on all the four metals. Additionally, on silver and copper, the MDTHP bond strengths were higher than on the other metals. Significance Within the limitation of current of experimental setting, the MDTHP compound may be applicable as a functional monomer for bonding noble metal alloys.

The Japanese Health, Labour, and Welfare Ministry in 2020 identified the following issues for training and recruitment of dental technicians: early involvement of students in dental practice and dental laboratory work, a curriculum in line with the times, and an extension of the years of training. This paper investigates the education and qualifications of dental technicians in other countries to discuss these issues. The survey method was to use the database PubMed to search the literature since 2001 using the keywords "dental technician," "education," and license" to collect literature related to the pre-graduate education of dental technicians. Information on educational institutions was also included in the survey. The results showed that the countries that introduced joint education between dental technicians and dentists into their educational programs, and the examinations and years of training required for each certification varied from country to country. The curriculum for dental technicians in Japan changed from a time-based to a credit-based system on April 1, 2018. The credit system is characterized by the possibility of each training institution actively engaging in flexible curriculum organization. Dental technician education programs in other countries can provide a valuable reference for each training institute to demonstrate its uniqueness.

To clarify the effect of a multi-purpose primer combining several functional monomers on two prosthodontic materials (cast titanium and a gold alloy) after airborne-particle abrasion.Disk-shaped adherends were prepared from cast titanium (CP Titanium JIS2) and a gold alloy (Casting Gold M.C. Type IV). A silane-containing two-liquid primer (MC primer (MC)) and two silane-free single-liquid primers (Alloy Primer (AP) and V-Primer (VP)) were used as surface-treatment agents. The shear bond strengths were determined before and after thermocycling to evaluate the adhesive durability, and the results were compared using a non-parametric statistical analysis. The effect of airborne-particle abrasion with alumina on the titanium surface was analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).There was no significant difference in bond strength between the MC and AP before and after thermocycling, whereas VP showed significantly lower values. XPS revealed that the titanium acquired hydrophilic properties after the airborne-particle abrasion.The novelty of this study is that it shows that the presence/absence of the silane had no effect on the bonding of cast titanium with an acrylic resin. The study also showed that the multi-purpose primer can be used without any problems with both cast titanium and gold alloy, in combination with airborne-particle abrasion with alumina.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the combined effect of two-liquid silane-phosphate primer and single-liquid sodium sulfite primer on bonding between self-polymerizing resins and feldspathic ceramics, and to promote the polymerization behavior of self-polymerizing resins at the bonding interface. The silane-phosphate primer (Super-Bond PZ Primer; PZ) and the sodium sulfite primer (Teeth Primer; TP) were used as the surface treatment agents for bonding the feldspathic ceramics and the self-polymerizing resins (MMA-TBB resin and 4-META/MMA-TBB resin). Combined PZ and TP showed high shear bond strengths. The peak of the differential scanning calorimetry curve was shown to occur early through the addition of TP. These results indicated that additional TP promoted the conversion in the initial polymerization of resin, and the firmly bond was obtained at the interface. PZ+TP treatment can be regarded as an effective treatment for a temporary splint used in teeth restoration.

This study aimed to clarify the degree of difference in radiopacity between sixteen CAD/CAM composite resin blocks, one ceramic block, and teeth of the same thickness on radiographs. The radiographic density of CAD/CAM composite resin blocks was measured and the results were compared with the corresponding values for enamel and dentin. Additionally, the study analyzed the constituent elements of each type of CAD/CAM composite resin block and conducted an examination to identify those elements exerting an influence on radiopacity. Compared to the enamel, there were five blocks with significantly higher radiopacity, two blocks with the same level in radiopacity, and ten blocks with notably lower radiopacity. Compared to the dentin, there were ten blocks with significantly higher radiopacity, one block with the same level in radiopacity, and six blocks with notably lower radiopacity. All of the CAD/CAM composite resin blocks for molars contained barium and strontium. This result suggests that the addition of heavy metals, for example, barium, strontium, and zirconium, would be effective in providing CAD/CAM composite resin blocks with radiopacity.

We show that two phenomena of superfluidity, superfluidity of weakly interacting bosons and superconductivity of the BCS model, are unified using the collective mode arising from the Berry connection for many-body wave functions. The superfluidity is attributed to the presence of this mode, which is stabilized by the interaction between particles that causes fluctuations of the number of particles participating in it. It is suggested that the existence of this collective mode and its stabilization is more fundamental to the occurrence of superconductivity than the electron-pair formation.

The velocity field composed of the electromagnetic field vector potential and the Berry connection from many-body wave functions explains supercurrent generation, Faraday’s law for the electromotive force (EMF) generation, and other EMF generations whose origins are not electromagnetism. An example calculation for the EMF from the Berry connection is performed using a model for the cuprate superconductivity.

The standard quantum mechanical electronic state calculations for molecules and solids uses the Schroedinger representation where the momentum conjugate to the coordinate $q_r$ is given by $-hbar {partial over {partial q_r}}$. This formalism contains an extra $U(1)$ phase degree-of-freedom. We show that it can be regarded as a Berry phase arising from many-electron interaction, and when it is non-trivial, it gives rise to a current carrying ground state identified as the superconducting ground state. The connection between this superconducting state and the BCS one is presented.

This study assessed the gloss and surface roughness of computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) resin composites corroded with acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) application. One ceramic block, ten CAD/CAM resin composites for premolars, and four CAD/CAM resin composites for molars were assessed. The surface topography of the materials before and after APF application was observed using an electron microscope. The results were analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Dunnett's many to one test (p

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of etching with potassium hydrogen difluoride (KHF2) and ammonium hydrogen difluoride (NH4HF2) on the bond strength of a self-polymerizing methyl methacrylate resin (MMA-TBB) bonded to zirconia. Zirconia disks were prepared using the following surface treatment: no treatment, alumina blasting, and etching with KHF2 or NH4HF2. The specimens were bonded with the MMA-TBB. The shear bond (O=5 mm) strength was measured. The surface free energies of the specimens were determined by measuring contact angles. The KHF2 and NH4HF2 groups exhibited higher shear bond strength and surface free energy than did the alumina blasting and no treatment groups. Compared with alumina blasting, etching with KHF2 and NH4HF2 exhibited superior bonding ability of mechanical retention to zirconia.

This study was conducted to clarify the influence of the copper surface oxidation and reduction on the shear-bond strength with functional monomers. Unheated copper specimens (UH, n = 88) were wet-ground. Three-quarters of the UH were then heated (HT). Two-thirds of the HT was then immersed in a hydrochloric acid solution (AC). Half of the AC was then reheated (RH). Each group was further divided into two groups (n = 11), which were primed by either 6-methacryloyloxyhexyl 2-thiouracil-5-carboxylate (MTU-6) or 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP). The shear-bond strength tests were used for bonding with an acrylic resin. The surface roughness values and chemical states of the four groups were analyzed using a confocal scanning laser microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The shear-bond strengths of HT and RH were the lowest in the MTU-6-primed groups. The result of AC was significantly lower than others in the MDP-primed groups. The XPS results showed that the surfaces of UH and AC consisted of Cu2O and Cu. The surface changed to CuO upon heating. The presence or absence of copper-oxide films showed the opposite trends in the effectiveness of MTU-6 and MDP to improve bond strength. The results could elucidate the effects of functional monomers on copper-oxide films.

Purpose: This study evaluated the effect of an aromatic silane compound and acidic functional monomer on the bond strength of fused quartz. Materials and Methods: A total of 264 disk specimens were fabricated from fused quartz for shear bond testing. Two silane compounds were used: 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (3-TMSPMA) and 3-(4-methacryloyloxyphenyl) propyltrimethoxysilane (3-MPPTS). As acidic functional monomers, 4-methacryloyloxyethyl trimellitate (4-MET) and 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (10-MDP) were used. The disks were primed with one of each silane compound with or without the acidic functional monomer of the same molarity. The specimens were bonded with a tri-n-butylborane (TBB) initiated luting material. The shear bond strength was determined before and after 10,000 thermocycles. Bond strength was statistically evaluated with Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U-, and Steel- Dwass tests. To test dye penetration, the specimens were immersed in 0.5 wt% fuchsin solution for 24 h after priming with each condition, bonding, and 10,000 thermocycles. The dye penetration area was determined by observing the backside of the bonded specimen with an optical microscope. The relationship between the shear bond strength and dye penetration ratio was analyzed with Spearman’s rank correlation test. Results: The highest post-thermocycling bond strengths in the 1 mol% and 2 mol% groups were 3-TMSPMA + 10- MDP and 3-MPPTS + 10-MDP. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between shear bond strength and dye penetration area was γ = -0.7519, indicating a strong negative correlation. Conclusion: The surface treatments of 3-TMSPMA and 3-MPPTS combined with 10-MDP yielded higher bond strength after 10,000 thermocycles than those combined with 4-MET, despite the similarity in molarity. The shear bond strength was negatively correlated with the dye penetration area.

A fundamentally revised version of superconductivity theory has been put forward by the present authors since the standard theory of superconductivity based on the BCS theory cannot explain superconductivity in cuprates discovered in 1986, and reexaminations on several experimental results on the conventional superconductors indicate the necessity for a fundamental revision. The revision is made on the origin of the superconducting phase variable, which is attributed to a Berry connection arising from many-body wave functions. With this revision, the theory can be cast into a particle number conserving formalism. We have developed a method to calculate superconducting states with the Berry connection using the particle number conserving version of the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. An example calculation is made for a model originally built for cuprate superconductors.

Cast titanium restoration for molars has high biocompatibility and is covered by the Japanese national health insurance. Titanium casting requires specific investment material and casting apparatus. A cast restoration for the mandibular left second molar was fabricated using titanium in this study. A wax pattern fabricated on a definitive cast was invested in calcium aluminate-bonded magnesia investment material. Titanium was cast using an argon gas pressure one-chamber casting apparatus. No defects were observed on the surface and the hole was clearly reproduced. A smooth surface on the restoration was obtained by polishing at low speed. Reproductivity and polishing properties of the titanium restoration fabricated in this study were comparable to those of conventional dental metal restorations.

Computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) resin-produced restorations were approved by a health insurance system in Japan from the year 2014. In this study, we investigated the use of CAD/CAM resin blocks in Japan since 2014, and the clinical use of adhesive systems for CAD/CAM resin-produced restorations in dentistry. Our findings indicated a rise in the clinical application of these products; however, some studies have reported instances of debonding and fracture of the restorations. CAD/CAM resin blocks were implemented in the health insurance system in Japan as an alternative for alloys due to the continuous rise in the prices of gold and palladium. Thus, in order to reduce the number of failures in CAD/CAM resin-produced restorations due to debonding and fracture, the integration of these restorations with the tooth structures is of utmost importance.

The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of the copper surfaces changed from Cu or Cu2O to CuO on the bonding strength of resin with organic sulfur compounds. The disk-shaped specimens (n = 44) of copper were wet-ground. Half of the specimens were heated at 400 &deg, C for 4 min in an electric furnace (HT: heated). Half of the specimens were not heated (UH: unheated). The specimens were further divided into two groups. Each group was primed by 6-methacryloyloxyhexyl 2-thiouracil-5-carboxylate (MTU-6) or unprimed (n = 11). A statistical analysis of the results of shear bond strength testing was performed, and the failure mode of the bonded areas was classified with an optical microscope. Two types of specimen surface (UH or HT) were analyzed chemically using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). When primed with MTU-6, unheated Cu (28.3 MPa) showed greater bond strength than heated (19.1 MPa). When unprimed, heated Cu (4.1 MPa) showed greater bond strength than unheated (2.3 MPa). The results of the debonded surfaces observation showed that only the UH-MTU-6 group demonstrated a combination of adhesive and cohesive failures in all specimens. The XPS results showed that the surface of copper changed from Cu or Cu2O to CuO when HT. These results confirmed that it is necessary to take care of the copper oxide contained in noble metal alloys when using organic sulfur compounds for adhesion.

Superconductivity is a phenomena where an external-feeding current flows through the system without voltage drop. This indicates the existence of an energy minimum under the current feeding boundary condition. Although it is believed that superconductivity is explained by the BCS theory that attributes the origin of superconductivity to the electron pair formation, such an energy minimum has never been obtained by it. We have found such a minimum in the system exhibiting spin twisting itinerant motion of electrons with the Rashba spin-orbit interaction, but without referring to the electron pairing. The supercurrent is shown to have the London equation form that exhibits the flux quantum $h/2e$. This supercurrent generation mechanism may be the one actually occurring in real superconductors instead of the one explained by the BCS theory.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surface properties and gloss of CAD/CAM composites after toothbrush abrasion testing. Four CAD/CAM composites for molars (Cerasmart 300, Estelite P block, Katana Avencia P block, and KZR-CAD HR3 Gammatheta), one CAD/CAM composite for premolars (Shofu Block HC Hard), and one feldspathic ceramics (Vitablocs Mark II) were assessed. Knoop hardness number, gloss, and surface roughness (Ra, Rz, and Sa) were measured before and after toothbrush abrasion testing. Knoop hardness number values were in the order Vitablocs Mark II > Katana Avencia P block > Estelite P Block > Shofu Block HC Hard > Cerasmart 300 > KZR-CAD HR3 Gammatheta. After testing, the gloss of Estelite P block and KZR-CAD HR3 Gammatheta was greatly decreased and surface roughness was greatly increased. Periodic recall and re-polishing may thus be necessary when these products are used clinically.

Purpose This study investigated the influence of an interaction between sulfur-containing monomers and other monomers in multipurpose primers on the bond durability of a tri-n-butylborane (TBB)-initiated acrylic resin to a gold alloy. Methods The disk-shaped adherend materials were prepared from a gold alloy (Casting Gold M.C. Type IV). Two multipurpose-primers (Universal Primer, Monobond Plus), four metal primers containing an organic sulfur compound (M.L. Primer, Alloy Primer, Metaltite, and V-Primer), and three acidic primers (Estenia Opaque Primer, Acryl Bond, and Super-Bond Liquid) were used. The shear bond strengths were determined pre- and post-thermocycling to evaluate the bond durability. A statistical analysis of the results was performed using a non-parametric procedure, and the cohesive failure ratios of the debonded surfaces were compared. Results Among the pre-thermocycling groups, M.L. Primer, Metaltite, Monobond Plus, Universal Primer, and Alloy Primer showed the greatest bond strengths. Among the post-thermocycling groups, M.L. Primer, Metaltite, Monobond Plus, and Universal Primer showed the greatest bond strengths, whereas Acryl Bond, Super-Bond Liquid, Estenia Opaque Primer, and the unprimed control showed the lowest. Similarly, the primers that did not contain either a sulfur compound showed an obvious reduction in the cohesive failure ratio. Conclusions Multi-purpose primers containing a sulfur-containing monomer increased the bond strength of a TBB-initiated acrylic resin to a gold alloy. The proportion of the area of cohesive failure to the bonded area showed an interrelationship with the shear bond strength testing results.

The purpose of the current study was to synthesize a methacrylate monomer with a thiohydantoin structure. In a flask, (2-thiohydantoin-4-yl) propionic acid, 10-hyroxydecyl methacrylate, 4-dimethylaminopyridine, and tetrahydrofuran (THF) were placed in a nitrogen atmosphere. A THF solution of N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide was added and stirred at room temperature. Ethyl acetate and n-hexane were then added to the reaction mixture. The reacted slurry was purified by chromatography with silica gel and hexane-ethyl acetate gradient elution solvent. The structure of the compound was assigned with proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectral analysis. The colorless viscous liquid obtained in yield of 49% was characterized as 10-methacryloyloxydecyl-(2-thiohydantoin-4-yl)propionate (MDTHP) or 10-((3-(5-oxo-2-thioxysoimidazolidin-4-yl)propanoyl)oxy)decyl methacrylate (2-THPDM). The MDTHP was soluble to acetone, isopropanol, and methyl methacrylate up to 2.6% or more. This compound could be potentially applicable as a functional monomer for bonding metals and alloys.

This study aimed to investigate how different compositions of experimental silane-based primers in a methyl methacrylate solution containing 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (3-TMSPMA) or 3-(4-methacryloyloxyphenyl)propyl trimethoxysilane (3-MPPTS) might act as silicon dioxide bonding agents. With or without post-silanization heat treatment, primer-treated quartz discs were bonded using the MMA-TBB resin and their bond strengths were evaluated. The disks were primed with one of the following materials: 1 mol% 3-TMSPMA, 2 mol% 3-TMSPMA, 1 mol% 3-MPPTS, and 2 mol% 3-MPPTS. Shear bond strength was determined both before and after thermocycling. Statistical analyses were performed with non-parametric procedure (Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and Steel-Dwass tests). Both primers were effective with heat treatment to enhance bonding between quartz and the MMA-TBB, and the bonding durability of the 1 and 2 mol% 3-MPPTS (16.8 and 24.9 MPa) with heat groups was significantly higher than in the 1 and 2 mol% 3-TMSPMA (5.4 and 9.8 MPa) with heat groups.

The resin-coating technique is one of the successful bonding techniques used for the indirect restorations. The dentin surfaces exposed after cavity preparation are coated with a thin film of a coating material or a dentin bonding system combined with a flowable composite resin. Resin coating can minimize pulp irritation and improve the bond strength between a resin cement and tooth structures. The technique can also be applied to endodontically treated teeth, resulting in prevention of coronal leakage of the restorations. Application of a resin coating to root surface provides the additional benefit of preventing root caries in elderly patients. Therefore, the coating materials have the potential to reinforce sound tooth ("Super Tooth" formation), leading to preservation of maximum tooth structures.

The castability, mechanical properties, and fracture characteristics of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy were compared with those of Ti-6Al-7Nb alloy and pure titanium (CP Ti) for application of this β-type titanium alloy in cast dental prostheses. Cast specimens were prepared with a centrifugal casting machine. A tensile test was performed according to ISO standard 22674. The castability index for Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al was lower than those for Ti-6Al-7Nb and CP Ti. The tensile strength of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al was 852 MPa, which was lower than that of Ti-6Al-7Nb and higher than that of CP Ti. The proof strength of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al was 799 MPa, which was comparable to that of Ti-6Al-7Nb and higher than that of CP Ti. The elastic modulus of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al was 81.0 GPa, which was lower than the values for Ti-6Al-7Nb and CP Ti. Elongation of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al was 5.1%, which was comparable to that of Ti-6Al-7Nb and less than that of CP Ti. The shape of the fractured segment was narrower for Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al than for Ti-6Al-7Nb and CP Ti. The deformation characteristics of Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al may result in decreased stress relative to increased strain during plastic deformation in the stress-strain diagram. In conclusion, Ti-15Mo-5Zr-3Al alloy has a low elastic modulus and exhibits limited ductile plastic deformation in cast dental prostheses.

Accurate impressions are essential in fabri-cating dental restorations and fixed dental prostheses. During the last decade, digital impression systems have improved substantially. This review discusses the accuracy of digital impression systems for fabrication of dental restorations and fixed dental prostheses. A literature search in PubMed was performed for the period from July 2010 through June 2017. The search keywords were Cerec, digital impression, direct digitalization, indirect digitalization, and intraoral scanner. Only relevant studies are summarized and discussed in this review. In general, the latest systems have considerably reduced the time required for impression making, and the accuracy and marginal fit of digital impression systems have recently improved. Restorations and fixed dental prostheses fabricated with currently available digital impression systems and intraoral scanners exhibit clinically acceptable ranges of marginal gap in both direct and indirect procedures.

We examine some consequences of the duality that a U(1) phase factor added on a wave function describes a whole system motion and also plays the role of a U(1) gauge potential. First, we show that the duality solves a long-standing puzzling problem that the ‘flux rule’ (the Faraday’s induction formula) and the Lorentz force calculation for an emf emerging in an electron system moving in a magnetic field give the same result (Feynman et al. 1963). Next, we examine a U(1) phase factor induced on the wave function for an electron system due to the single-valuedness requirement of the wave function with respect to the electron coordinates, and its consequential appearance of a U(1) instanton. This instanton explains the Meissner effect, supercurrent generation, flux quantization in the units of ${{h} \over {2e}}$ , and the voltage quantization in the units of ${{hf} \over {2e}}$ across the Josephson junction in the presence of a radiation field with frequency f. In the experiment, a radiation field must be present to have a finite voltage across the Josephson junction; but a clear explanation for it has been lacking. The present work provides an explanation for it, and also explains the high precision of the quantized voltage as due to a topological effect.

Neuromonitoring can be used to observe intracranial pathological conditions in neurointensive care; however, use of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is low in Japan. In this study, we retrospectively investigated the effects of ICP monitoring in the treatment of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), using data from the Japan Neurotrauma Data Bank (JNTDB). The study was conducted in 1091 subjects enrolled in the JNTDB (Project 2009) from July 2009 to June 2011. The subjects were divided into those treated with and treated without ICP monitoring in intensive care for severe TBI. Age at admission, sex, level of consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] score), pupillary findings, findings on head CT, treatment, and outcome were compared between these groups. The subjects were also classified into two groups based on the outcome. Relationships among patient background factors, including ICP and clinical outcome were evaluated. The rate of ICP monitoring in treatment of severe TBI was 28%. Therapies were performed aggressively in the ICP monitoring group, and this group had a significant reduction in mortality, but no increase in the favorable outcome rate. In multivariate analysis, age, GCS, pupillary abnormalities, perimesencephalic cistern disappearance or compression, and ICP were associated with a favorable outcome, but the therapeutic method did not affect outcome. We conclude that ICP monitoring and management of ICP are both important for management and care of severe TBI. However, current therapies do not control ICP sufficiently, and more effective therapies are needed.

Although the standard theory of superconductivity based on the BCS theory is a successful one, there are several experimental results that indicate the necessity for fundamental revisions. One of them is the mass in the London moment. Experiments indicate the mass in the London moment is the free electron mass although the BCS theory and its extension predict it to be an effective mass. We show that this discrepancy is lifted if we install the London's superpotential in the theory, and identify it as the Berry phase arising from the many-body wave functions. Then, the induced current by the applied magnetic field becomes a stable current calculated using the free energy in contrast to the linear response current assumed in the standard theory which yields the Nambu-Goldstone mode. The Nambu-Goldstone mode arising from the breakdown of the global $U(1)$ gauge invariance in the standard theory is replaced by the collective mode arising from the Berry connection. Then, the free electron mass appears in the London moment.

OBJECTIVEDuring surgical clipping of internal carotid artery (ICA)–posterior communicating artery (PCoA) aneurysms, proximal vascular control (PVC) is difficult to achieve in some cases because of variations in the anatomy of this type of aneurysm and its parent arteries. The authors investigated morphometric features that may be predictive for the necessity of anterior clinoidectomy (ACL) or cervical ICA exposure for PVC.METHODSThe authors retrospectively reviewed 65 patients with an ICA-PCoA aneurysm treated with clipping during the previous 3 years. The factors considered for assessing the difficulty of attaining PVC included the following: the maximum diameter of the aneurysm; the distance between the tip of the anterior clinoid process (ACP) and the proximal aneurysmal neck; the presence of calcification at the ophthalmic segment of the ICA; and the angles between the communicating segment of the ICA and the ophthalmic segment of the ICA and a line perpendicular to the cranial base, which reflect the tortuosity of the ICA. These parameters were measured based on preoperative CTA results.RESULTSIn a total of 21 patients (32.3%), PVC was difficult to perform with the usual pterional approach. In 6 patients, temporary artery occlusions (TAOs) were difficult to achieve because of severe atherosclerotic wall changes in the ophthalmic segment of the ICA. For 15 patients, the ACPs overhanging the ophthalmic segment of the ICA obstructed the ability to secure a space for TAO. In the 21 patients with PVC difficulty, ACL alone, cervical ICA exposure alone, and both ACL and cervical ICA exposure were conducted in 6, 8, and 7 patients, respectively. Multivariate analysis with binary logistic regression revealed that the maximum diameter of the aneurysm (p = 0.041), the distance between the proximal neck of the aneurysm and the ACP tip (p = 0.002), and calcification of the ICA ophthalmic segment (p = 0.001) were significant predictive factors for difficulties with PVC. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a distance between the proximal aneurysmal neck and the ACP tip of ≤ 5.4 mm was the best cutoff value for predicting the difficulty of attaining PVC (area under the curve 0.800, sensitivity 80.0%, specificity 80.0%).CONCLUSIONSA short distance between the proximal aneurysmal neck and the ACP tip and the presence of calcification at the ophthalmic segment of the ICA on preoperative CTA are helpful for predicting the difficulty of achieving PVC.