Drought-induced Amazonian wildfires instigate a decadal-scale disruption of forest carbon dynamics.

Drought-induced wildfires have increased in frequency and extent over the tropics. Yet, the long-term (greater than 10 years) responses of Amazonian lowland forests to fire disturbance are poorly known. To understand post-fire forest biomass dynamics, and to assess the time required for fire-affected forests to recover to pre-disturbance levels, we combined 16 single with 182 multiple forest census into a unique large-scale and long-term dataset across the Brazilian Amazonia. We quantified biomass, mortality and wood productivity of burned plots along a chronosequence of up to 31 years post-fire and compared to surrounding unburned plots measured simultaneously. Stem mortality and growth were assessed among functional groups. At the plot level, we found that fire-affected forests have biomass levels 24.8 ± 6.9% below the biomass value of unburned control plots after 31 years. This lower biomass state results from the elevated levels of biomass loss through mortality, which is not sufficiently compensated for by wood productivity (incremental growth + recruitment). At the stem level, we found major changes in mortality and growth rates up to 11 years post-fire. The post-fire stem mortality rates exceeded unburned control plots by 680% (i.e. greater than 40 cm diameter at breast height (DBH); 5-8 years since last fire) and 315% (i.e. greater than 0.7 g cm-3 wood density; 0.75-4 years since last fire). Our findings indicate that wildfires in humid tropical forests can significantly reduce forest biomass for decades by enhancing mortality rates of all trees, including large and high wood density trees, which store the largest amount of biomass in old-growth forests. This assessment of stem dynamics, therefore, demonstrates that wildfires slow down or stall the post-fire recovery of Amazonian forests.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'The impact of the 2015/2016 El Niño on the terrestrial tropical carbon cycle: patterns, mechanisms and implications'.

Experimental primers containing synthetic and natural compounds reduce enzymatic activity at the dentin-adhesive interface under cyclic loading.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of experimental primers (chlorhexidine, enriched mixture of proanthocyanidins, and doxycycline) on the adhesive properties and gelatinolytic activity at dentin-resin interfaces of occlusal Class I restorations. METHODS: The inactivation of enzymes by the experimental primers was assessed by fluorescence assay and gelatin zymography. To assess the adhesive properties, occlusal Class I cavities were prepared in sound human molars, etched with phosphoric acid and restored with one of the primers and an etch-and-rinse adhesive system (Adper Single Bond Plus-3M ESPE). After the restorative procedures, specimens were divided into two subgroups (n=6) consisting of storage in incubation buffer or axial cyclic loading at 50N and 1,000,000 cycles. Then, the specimens were sectioned and slices were assigned to in situ zymography assay and microtensile bond strength (TBS) test. RESULTS: Fluorescence assay and gelatin zymography revealed that the experimental primers inactivated rMMPs. In situ zymography (2-way ANOVA, Tukey, p<0.05) showed that cyclic loading increased the gelatinolytic activity at the resin-dentin interface and the experimental primers decreased the gelatinolytic activity at the adhesive interface. The experimental primers had no significant effects on dentin-adhesive bond strengths with or without cyclic loading (2-way ANOVA, p>0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: The use of experimental primers impaired the enzymatic activity at the dentin-adhesive interface after cyclic loading and the activity of rMMPs. Cyclic loading did not have a significant effect on the bond strength.

Influence of the resin cement color on the shade of porcelain veneers after accelerated artificial aging / Influence of the resin cement color on the shade of porcelain veneers after accelerated artificial aging / Influência da cor do cimento resinoso na tonalidade de facetas de porcelana após envelhecimento artificial acelerado

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the color of the resin luting cement in the final shade of minimally invasive porcelain veneers after accelerated artificial aging (AAA). Material and methods: 20 bovine teeth were collected, prepared and divided into two groups. The roots were removed and the buccal surfaces were polished to obtain a flat surface. Porcelain discs (IPS Empress Esthetic) were produced to a standardized shade (ET1) and thickness (0.6mm). The teeth and the veneers surfaces were prepared according to manufacturer recommendations. For group I (n=10), the White-Opaque (WO) base-paste was used and for group II (n=10) the Yellow (Y) base-paste. Each specimen was photocured for 60 s. The specimens were next subjected to AAA. They were submitted to color readings with a spectrophotometer in three moments: after the preparation (only the substrate), after the cementation and polymerization of the veneers and after the AAA. Were obtained values of L*, a* and b* and the total color change was calculated (?E*). Values obtained were subjected to statistical analysis in SPSS 17.0 for Windows with a significance of 0.05. Results: When comparing the cements, the Y cement showed higher ?E*, lower L* and higher b* after AAA than the WO. Conclusion: Both cements could mask the substrate color. With AAA, only the Y shade showed a ?E* clinically unacceptable, becoming more yellow (higher b*) and losing lightness (lower L*).

Objetivos: O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a influência da cor do cimento resinoso na tonalidade final de facetas de porcelana minimamente invasivas, após envelhecimento artificial acelerado (EAA). Material e Métodos: 20 dentes bovinos foram coletados, preparados e divididos em dois grupos. As raízes foram removidas e a face vestibular foi polida para obter uma superfície plana. Discos de porcelana (IPS Empress Esthetic) foram confeccionados na cor ET1 e espessura de 0,6 mm. Os dentes e as superfícies dos discos foram preparados de acordo com as recomendações do fabricante. Para o grupo I (n=10) foi usado o cimento resinoso White-Opaque (WO) pasta-base, e para o grupo II (n-10) utilizou-se o Yellow (Y) pasta-base. Cada espécime foi fotopolimerizado por 60 s. Os espécimes foram então submetidos ao EAA. Eles foram submetidos a leituras de cor com auxílio de um espectro fotômetro em três momentos: após o preparo (apenas o substrato), após a cimentação e polimerização das facetas e após o EAA. Foram obtios valores de L*, a* e b* e o total da variação de cor foi calculado (?E*). Os valores obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística no SPSS 17.0 para Windows, com nível de significância de 0,05. Resultados: O cimento Y apresentou maior ?E*, menor L* e maior b* após o EAA em comparação com o WO. Conclusão: Ambos os cimentos têm capacidade de mascarar a cor do substrato. Com o EAA, apenas o Y apresentou um valor de ?E* inaceitável clinicamente, se tornando mais amarelo (maior b*) e perdendo luminosidade (menor L*).

Influence of artificial accelerated ageing on the colour stability of paints used for ocular prosthesis iris painting.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the colour stability of paints used for ocular prosthesis iris painting submitted for accelerated artificial ageing (AAA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty specimens of acrylic resin for sclera (16 × 2 mm) were made and separated into eight groups (n = 10) according to the type of paint (gouache, GP; oil, OP; acrylic AP; and composite resin for characterisation, CR) and the colours used (blue/brown). After drying (72 h), a new layer of colourless acrylic resin was applied and the initial colour readout was performed (Spectrophotometer PCB 6807). New colour readouts were performed after AAA, and ΔE was calculated. RESULTS: Statistical analysis (two-way anova-Bonferroni, p < 0.05) demonstrated that the brown colour showed lower ΔE means in comparison with the blue colour, with statistically significant difference for AP only. Blue colour showed no statistically significant difference with regard to the type of paint used. Brown AP showed lower ΔE than the other groups, with significant difference for OP and GP. GP showed greater alteration in ΔE for the brown colour, being statistically similar only to OP. CONCLUSIONS: Only the AP group for brown pigment shows clinically acceptable values for colour stability after AAA.