ABSTRACT
The application of calcium coacervates (CCs) may hold promise for dental hard tissue remineralization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the infiltration of artificial enamel lesions with a CC and its single components including polyacrylic acid (PAA) compared to that of the self-assembling peptide P11-4 in a pH-cycling (pHC) model. Enamel specimens were prepared from bovine incisors, partly varnished, and stored in demineralizing solution (DS; pH 4.95; 17 d) to create two enamel lesions per sample. The specimens were randomly allocated to six groups (n = 15). While one lesion per specimen served as the no-treatment control (NTC), another lesion (treatment, T) was etched (H3PO4, 5 s), air-dried and subsequently infiltrated for 10 min with either a CC (10 mg/mL PAA, 50 mM CaCl2 (Ca) and 1 M K2HPO4 (PO4)) (groups CC and CC + DS) or its components PAA, Ca or PO4. As a commercial control, the self-assembling peptide P11-4 (CurodontTM Repair, Credentis, Switzerland) was tested. The specimens were cut perpendicularly to the lesions, with half serving as the baseline (BL) while the other half was exposed to either a demineralization solution for 20 d (pH 4.95; group CC + DS) or pHC for 28 d (pH 4.95, 3 h; pH 7, 21 h; all five of the other groups). The difference in integrated mineral loss between the lesions at BL and after the DS or pHC, respectively, was analyzed using transversal microradiography (ΔΔZ = ΔZpHC - ΔZbaseline). Compared to the NTC, the mineral gain in the T group was significantly higher in the CC + DS, CC and PAA (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon). In all of the other groups, no significant differences between treated and untreated lesions were detected (p > 0.05). Infiltration with the CC and PAA resulted in a consistent mineral gain throughout the lesion body. The CC as well as its component PAA alone promoted the remineralization of artificial caries lesions in the tested pHC model. Infiltration with PAA further resulted in mineral gain in deeper areas of the lesion body.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The study examines conditions to promote employment and workplace integration of people with psychosocial disabilities. METHOD: 26 guided interviews were conducted with Austrian companies. 15 of these companies employed people with mental disabilities at the time of the interview. The remaining 11 companies did not employ anyone who had a declared mental illness. RESULTS: Companies that employ people with mental disabilities refer to an idealistic, social or socio-political motive for employment and have manifold supportive measures in place. Companies that do not employ people with mental disabilities express insecurities and ambivalent expectations regarding employment of people with mental disabilities. CONCLUSION: Results show that it is imperative to inform companies of the possibilities and conditions of workplace integration of people with psychosocial disabilities.
Subject(s)
Disabled Persons , Intellectual Disability , Humans , Employment , Austria , Germany , Workplace/psychologyABSTRACT
Cationic complex coacervates are contemplated for various medical applications controlling carrier or release processes. Here, lower Mw poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (15 kg/mol) and (hydrogen)phosphate as cross-linking units were chosen to facilitate a sufficient coacervation and subsequently a controllable phosphate release, essential for consecutive mineralization reactions. In addition, the rheological characteristics of the obtained coacervates were assessed, exhibiting a pronounced liquid character, which enables beneficial properties toward remineralization applications such as high wettability and moldability. In light of our results, macroscopic hydrogels are considered for the first time as an ion source for the mineralization of crystalline calcium phosphate phases, representing an entirely new class of preceding mineralization species for potential applications in dentistry and osteology.
Subject(s)
Calcium Phosphates , Phosphates , Calcium Phosphates/chemistry , Phosphates/chemistry , CationsABSTRACT
pro mente OÖ is one of the biggest organisations offering psycho-social care and treatment. It is a crucial part of the differentiated system of social psychiatric services in Austria. First, the article describes the organization pro mente OÖ, its history and services. Then, a selection of framework conditions of social psychiatric supply is presented. In this respect some existing strengths and weaknesses of the Austrian psycho-social supply system are discussed.
Subject(s)
Community Psychiatry/history , Community Psychiatry/organization & administration , Mental Disorders/history , Mental Disorders/rehabilitation , Mental Health Services/history , Mental Health Services/organization & administration , Psychological Distance , Social Marginalization , Austria , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , HumansABSTRACT
Significant progress in solar-cell research is currently made by the development of metal-organic perovskites (MOPs) owing to their superior properties, such as high absorption coefficients and effective transport of photogenerated charges. As for other semiconductors, it is expected that the properties of MOPs may be significantly improved by a defined nanostructure. However, their chemical sensitivity (e.g., towards hydrolysis) prohibits the application of methods already known for the synthesis of other nanomaterials. A new and general method for the synthesis of various (CH3NH3)PbI3 nanostructures from a novel single-source precursor is presented. Nanoporous MOP single crystals are obtained by a crystal-to-crystal transformation that is accompanied by spinodal demixing of the triethylene glycol containing precursor structure. Selective binding of a capping agent can be used to tune the particle shape of the MOP nanocrystals.
