Evaluation of surface-modified orthodontic wires by different concentration and dipping duration of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in-vitro surface characteristics and frictional properties of orthodontic stainless steel and beta-titanium archwires after surface modification with different concentrations and coating time of titanium oxide (TiO2) nanoparticles by Sol-gel dip coating method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was carried out with 4 different concentrations (1:2, 1:4, 1:6, and 1:8) and three different dipping durations (24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours) over ten main test groups of SS and TMA archwires with uncoated wires acting as control in both dry and wet conditions. Phase analysis and surface characterization of TiO2 was analyzed by X-ray Diffractometry, surface evaluation with the help of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and frictional characteristics were evaluated. RESULTS: Among all the concentrations 1:6 ratio with 48 hours of dipping duration showed better surface characteristics. A statistically significant difference in frictional coefficient was observed in both SS and TMA wires than their respective controls (p = 0.001). Intragroup comparison among SS and TMA groups showed that groups with 1:6 ratio and 48 hours dipping duration had least frictional coefficient in both dry and wet conditions (p = 0.001). Intergroup comparison between SS and TMA showed that SS group had significantly reduced friction than TMA (p = 0.001) except in few groups. CONCLUSION: TiO2 nanoparticle with a concentration ratio of 1:6 and 48 hours dipping duration is recommended for surface modification of orthodontic archwires.

Knowledge, perceived threats and protective behaviour related to COVID 19 among pregnant women.

Pregnancy is usually a period of joy, happiness, and expectation for a baby. However, COVID-19 changed the priority and created an environment of worry, perceived threats, and increased protective behaviour to safeguard mother and baby against COVID-19. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess, the level of knowledge, perceived threats, protective behavior, and factors affecting protective behavior among pregnant women by using a convenient sampling technique. The questionnaire collected the demographic profile, knowledge related to the risk factors of COVID-19, perceived treats (severity and susceptibility), and protective behaviors adopted by pregnant women. RESULT: Among the 325 pregnant women, knowledge was high (50.5%), the highest relative Importance Index for perceived susceptibility and severity was coming to hospital visits (0.64), and the belief that COVID-19 is a severe health problem (0.81) respectively. Around 69.8% had followed COVID appropriate protective behaviors. The study also revealed that, a high level of knowledge (AOR=2.45, 95%CI:1.45-4.13) and having a university education (AOR= 2.91, 95%CI:1.62-5.22) had a significantly higher probability of adapting COVID appropriate behavior among pregnant women. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the need to streamline communication and adequate education for pregnant women which can help reduce perceived threats and improve protective behavior.

Ethyl 2-methyl-5-oxo-4-(3,4,5-trimeth-oxy-phen-yl)-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexa-hydro-quinoline-3-carboxyl-ate.

In the mol-ecular structure of the title compound, C(22)H(27)NO(6), the dihydro-pyridine ring adopts a flattened boat conformation while the cyclo-hexenone ring is in an envelope conformation. In the crystal, mol-ecules stack parallel to the crystallographic a axis linked by inter-molecular N-H⋯O and C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.