The main objective was to investigate the effects of different polishing techniques on the color stability of provisional prosthetic materials upon exposure to different staining agents by mimicking the oral environment in vitro. Fifty-six cylindrical specimens were prepared for each type of material: bis-acryl and light-polymerized composite resins, and methyl methacrylate-and ethyl methacrylatebased resins. The specimens were polished using seven different polishing techniques and then immersed in four different staining agents. Color was measured with a spectrophotometer before and after immersion, and color changes (ΔE) were calculated. The effects of the type of provisional material, polishing procedure, staining agent, and their interactions on color stability were significant (p<0.05). Amongst these factors, the staining agent exerted the strongest effect on color stability. Amongst the provisional materials tested, methacrylate-based resins exhibited the highest color stability irrespective of polishing technique and staining agent.

The aim of this study was to evaluate wear effects on overdenture resilient attachments. Six commercially available attachments were investigated: ERA orange and white (EO and EW), Locator pink, white and blue (LRP, LRW and LRB) and OP anchor (OP). Five specimens were used for wear simulation while other two specimens served as controls. Fifteen thousands insertion-removal cycles were simulated. Dimensional changes and surface characteristics were evaluated using light microscopy and SEM, respectively. Sudden decrease of retentive force was characteristic for EO and EW attachments. Retentive force of Locator attachments fluctuated throughout the wear simulation period. Dimensional changes and surface wear was more expressed on plastic cores than on plastic rings of attachment males. Based on SEM analysis, some of the specimens obtained smoother surface after wear simulation. Mechanism of retention loss of resilient overdenture attachments can be only partially explained by dimensional changes and surface alterations.

UV radiation is a well-known inducer of epidermal pigmentation that is utilized in therapy for vitiligo, one of the skin depigmentation disorders. Although it has been reported that melanocyte stem cells (McSCs) play essential roles in hair pigmentation, the relationship between McSCs and epidermal pigmentation remains unclear. Repetitive UVB irradiation on the dorsal skin of F1 mice of HR-1 × HR/De caused apparent epidermal pigmentation, and it was characterized by increase in the number of melanocytes. Interestingly, differentiation of McSCs into melanoblasts in hair follicles was followed by induction of epidermal melanocyte differentiation. Administration of a neutralizing antibody for Kit receptor that depletes resident melanoblasts could not suppress increased number of melanocytes. UVB irradiation also induced robust expression of Wnt7a as well as Kitl in epidermis, and β-catenin translocation into nucleus in McSCs. Intradermal injection of IWR-1 (inhibitor of Wnt response 1), a chemical inhibitor of β-catenin activation, and small interfering RNA (siRNA) against Wnt7a suppressed increase in the number of epidermal melanocytes. Taken altogether, it was demonstrated that Wnt7a triggered McSCs differentiation through β-catenin activation, and Kitl might induce following migration of melanoblasts to epidermis. These findings will help in developing therapeutic technologies for vitiligo and other pigmentary disorders.

Various samples around gull and penguin rookeries were examined for nitrogen and carbon isotope ratios. The results showed that input of organic nitrogen from avain breeding activity, followed by its aerobic decomposition in soil and by volatilization of the resultant ammonia, strongly dominated nitrogen flow in both rookeries. Plants, animals, and soils in the rookeries appeared dependent on the nitrogen thus provided. In the penguin rookery, soil organic carbon was also derived from breeding activity. A large input of organic carbon by gulls, however, appeared to have quickly escape from the gull rookery through respiration. It had little effect on the soil organic carbon; the main source of organic carbon there seemed to have come from higher plants. Major pathways of material flow in the seabird rookeries were deduced from the isotopic data. Study of stable isotopes should enable us to draw similar pictures for other ecosystems; it is particularly useful in places where frequent visits are impractical.

General aspects in isotope biogeochemistry was summarized with emphasis on delta 15N and delta 13C contents in plants and animals in natural ecosystems. In the estuary, the variation of isotope ratios were principally governed by the mixing of land-derived organic matter, marine phytoplankton, and seagrasses. A clear cut linear relationship between animal delta 15N and its trophic level was obtained in the Antarctic food chain system. Several current efforts to use the stable isotopes for food web analysis were demonstrated for some terrestrial and marine systems as well as human food web.