Bio-Directed Synthesis of Calcium Oxide (CaO) Nanoparticles Extracted from Limestone Using Honey.

Calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles have been synthesized by two step thermal decomposition method under ambient temperature. Structural analysis was carried out by powder X-ray diffraction method and the crystallite size of CaO nanoparticles was calculated using Scherrer formula. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis has been carried to identify the functional groups present in the synthesized specimen. Optical absorption studies reveal very low absorption in the entire visible region. The surface analysis of the synthesized particles was analysed using scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Fracture resistance of endodontically treated single rooted premolars restored with Sharonlay: An in vitro study.

AIMS: The aim of this study is to compare in vitro the fracture resistance of the endodontically treated tooth restored with a novel design Sharonlay, with the two component restorative method, i.e., post with separate onlay, and onlay without post. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 45 single-rooted mandibular second premolars were taken, and root canal treatment was performed. Teeth were then randomly divided into three groups (n = 15) based on the type of restoration given: Group I - metal onlay with cast post extension (Sharonlay), Group II - metal onlay with prefabricated metal post (Mani post system), Group III - metal onlay over endodontically treated tooth obturated with Gutta-percha (control group). Fracture resistance was checked using the Instron universal testing machine and the fracture patterns were analyzed. RESULTS: According to the values recorded, Group I showed maximum mean fracture resistance followed by Groups II and III. Statistically significant difference was found between Groups I and II and Groups I and III and statistically significant difference was found between Groups II and III. CONCLUSION: A single unit component Sharonlay, gives higher fracture resistance to a premolar as compared to (a) metal onlay with prefabricated metal post and (b) metal onlay over endodontically treated tooth.

Identification of sublattice damages in swift heavy ion irradiated N-doped 6H-SiC polytype studied by solid state NMR.

We have studied N-doped 6H-SiC in its pristine and Swift Heavy Ion (SHI) irradiated (150 MeV Ag(12+) ions) forms by solid state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) at 7.01 T using (13)C and (29)Si as probe nuclei under magic angle spinning. We show that increased levels of nitrogen doping, than used before, lead to the observation of Knight shifts emanating from an increase in electron density in the conduction band, which in (13)C far exceed those in (29)Si MAS spectra. We have rationalized the differential effects in the MAS spectra and site-dependent paramagnetic shifts in terms of the nitrogen doping at the A, B, and C lattice sites. N-doping has a profound effect on (29)Si spin-lattice relaxation, and the site-dependent relaxation behavior is attributed to a difference in conduction electron properties at the different lattice sites. (29)Si T(1) measurements serve to identify the sublattice damages in SHI irradiated 6H-SiC. By determining the spin-lattice relaxation rates as a function of the SHI irradiation ion fluences, the change in relaxation behavior is correlated to the damage production mechanism. The sublattice damage leads to discernable changes in the interaction between the mobile unpaired electrons in the conduction band and the nuclear site, which profoundly influence the NMR relaxation properties. Our relaxation studies also provide evidence for site-dependent localized effects and a decrease in carrier spin density in the conduction band for the SHI irradiated 6H-SiC.

Fluorescence spectra of blood components for breast cancer diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether fluorescence emission spectroscopy of blood components can differentiate normal from early and advanced stages of breast cancer using stepwise discriminant analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fluorescence emission spectra were measured for blood components of three different groups: 35 normal controls, 28 with early-stage, and 18 with advanced-stage breast cancer. The data from the spectra were subjected to Fisher's linear discriminant analysis. Classification accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity of the technique were calculated for breast cancer diagnosis. RESULTS: Fluorescence emission spectra of blood components accurately distinguished normal from early-stage and advanced-stage breast cancer in 91.4% of original cases and 90.1% for cross-validated cases. The sensitivity and specificity were 80.4% and 100%, respectively, in distinguishing subjects with breast cancer from normal controls. CONCLUSION: Our statistical evaluation indicates that porphyrin in blood can be used as a reliable tumor marker. Fluorescence emission spectroscopy of blood components and statistical evaluations should be further investigated for a variety of tumors.