From waste to surface modification of aluminum bronze using selective surface diffusion process.

When corrosion is the dominant failure factor in industrial application and at the same time high mechanical properties are required, aluminum bronze is one of the best candidates. Hence, there is a continuous quest for increasing the lifetime of aluminum bronze alloys through enhancing the abrasion and corrosion resistance. Existing methods are based on modifying the bulk properties of alloy or surface modification which required sophisticated equipment and process control. This approach has limited application for advanced components because of high price and difficulty to apply. In this research, we developed an innovative approach to enhance the corrosion and abrasion resistance of aluminum bronze through selective surface diffusion process. In this process, we have used waste materials as input and the modified surface has formed in a single and green process. New surface structure consists of finely dispersed kappa phase (χ ) in uniform alpha (α) solid solution matrix. Results have demonstrated that this uniform diffused modified surface layer has improved hardness of the base material and both corrosion and abrasion resistance has increased. This novel surface modification technique has opened a pathway for using waste materials as input for surface modification of aluminum bronze to meet the needs of industrial applications in a cost effective and environmentally friendly way.

Survey of dental radiographical practice in states of Punjab and Haryana in India.

BACKGROUND: Radiographs are used extensively in dentistry to supplement the clinical examination of the patients. Technical advances in X-ray equipment and imaging systems have allowed significant reduction in radiation doses of patients during intraoral and extraoral radiography. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the level of awareness of dental professionals of northern India regarding dose-reduction techniques and radiographic equipment. METHODS: The survey covered 370 dentists in the states of Punjab and Haryana in northern India. Information on the demographic characteristics of the dentists, radiographic equipment, techniques, and radiation protection was obtained with a 30-point questionnaire. RESULTS: The respondents knowledge concerning the technical details of their equipment was limited, with 82.3% not being aware about the kilovoltage peak of their machine. Up to 10.8% dentists were not aware about the speed of film. The most preferred technique for periapical radiography was the bisecting angle technique, which was used by 94.1% dentists. CONCLUSION: In the present study the results indicate that for minimizing any unnecessary radiation, attempts should be made to improve dentists' knowledge about radiation-dose-reduction techniques.

Role of topical drugs in treatment of oral mucosal diseases. A literature review.

Few topical formulations have been designed specifically to treat oral mucosal diseases. Local drug delivery may provide a more targeted and efficient option than systemic delivery for diseases of the oral mucosa. The permeability to the topical drugs differs according to the thickness of the epithelium and the extent of keratinization. The loss of the permeability barrier in the oral mucosa, due to ulceration or erosion, leads to rapid diffusion of the drug into tissues as compared to the intact areas of the mucosa. Oral mucosal delivery has the potential to treat many different conditions and diseases, such as oral cancer, mucositis, lichen planus, herpes simplex, candidiasis, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, vesiculo-bullous diseases, neuropathic pain and salivary dysfunction. Each therapy requires distinct penetration and drug retention profiles in order to optimize treatment and minimize side effects. In this paper, topical medications are discussed, as these are advantageous for the treatment of oral mucosal lesions with fewer side effects.

Dental students' motivations and perceptions of dental professional career in India.

Students' motivations in choosing a career in the health professions are of great interest for educators and admission committees, particularly in the field of dentistry. This study conducted in four private dental institutions in India was designed to investigate dental students' motivations in their choice of dentistry as a career and their perceptions regarding dentistry in India. A total of 400 questionnaires were distributed, and 369 students responded in a combination of selected responses to the questions, for a response rate of 92.3 percent. In the results, 53.7 percent of the students reported pursuing dentistry because it offers stable work (p<0.002); 38.7 percent because the profession is highly paid; and 7.6 percent due to the ease in finding a regular job in dental schools or hospitals. The survey also found that 44.4 percent of the students pursued dentistry because they can determine their own hours of work and 36.6 percent said they liked to be their own boss. Among these students, 64.5 percent said they were content to be joining dentistry as a professional course, but 35.5 percent were discontented (p<0.001). Regarding the specialties, 79.1 percent said they want to become specialists in the field of dentistry (p<0.001); oral surgery was the leading choice followed by orthodontics. Only 11.7 percent reported wanting to pursue dentistry for research purposes. Overall, this study found that financial and professional factors were the chief criteria for students' pursuing dentistry in India; however, the strongest influence in the choice of dentistry was the students' parents or family.

Pleomorphic adenoma of minor salivary gland: a case report

Introduction : World literature suggests salivary gland tumors account for less than 3% of the head and neck tumors and benign pleomorphic adenoma of minor salivary glands arising de novo is very rare.Objective,case report and Conclusion: A case of pleomorphic adenoma of minor salivary glands in the buccal mucosa in a 55 year-old female is discussed. It includes review of literature, clinical features, histopathology, radiological findings and treatment of the tumor, with emphasis on diagnosis. The salivary glands may present with a diverse range of lesions presenting a challenge to even the most experienced clinician and pathologist. Resection with surrounding dispensable normal tissues is the key to successful treatment of such tumors.

Desmoplastic ameloblastoma: a case report.

Desmoplastic ameloblastoma is a rare variant of ameloblastoma. Up until now, less than 150 patients have been reported in the literature. We report a case of desmoplastic ameloblastoma in a 45-year-old female with a painless swelling in the left anterior maxillary region. Fine needle aspiration yielded no fluid. Periapical and panoramic radiographs as well as computer tomography scan showed a mixed lesion with multilocular appearance. The present case deserves special importance be-cause of its unfamiliar appearance, potentially aggressive nature and high chances of misdiagnosis. Moreover, the radio-graphic features of this lesion rarely point towards ameloblastoma. A partial maxillectomy for tumor resection was per-formed and the involved teeth were removed. This report is an attempt to help the dental community in developing familiarity with the clinical presentation and at the same time advocating to develop a high index of suspicion in recognizing such cases.