SUMMARY Seismic isolation is an effective method for protecting the structural system, nonstructural systems and content from the damaging effects of strong horizontal earthquake ground shaking. However, seismic isolation devices widely used in the USA and elsewhere are not designed to protect nonstructural components and content from strong vertical earthquake ground shaking. Past research efforts aimed at developing three‐dimensional isolation have resulted in systems that have limited application or are overly complex, cost prohibitive and unproven. A distributed flexibility and damping concept to control vertical acceleration demands in base‐isolated buildings is explored in this study. Unlike past efforts to achieve three‐dimensional isolation that concentrate both the horizontal and vertical flexibility at the base of the superstructure, the vertically distributed flexibility and damping concept explored here consists of one or more planes of laterally restrained column bearings distributed at discrete locations up the height of a base‐isolated superstructure. The laterally restrained column bearings increase the vertical flexibility and damping in the superstructure without increasing rocking displacements. An analytical study was performed to understand the influence of incorporating vertical flexibility and damping in a base‐isolated frame and to evaluate the effectiveness of the concept for controlling vertical acceleration demands. The distributed flexibility and damping concept is shown to significantly reduce vertical acceleration demands and the likelihood of damage to suspended ceiling systems by comparison with an identical conventionally base‐isolated frame. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of some whitening toothpastes on the surface roughness and coloration susceptibility of a composite resin, as well as their whitening effectiveness. Methods: This study was carried out in two different stages. In experiment A, samples were divided into 7 subgroups to compare the surface roughness and coloration susceptibility of the composite resin: distilled water, conventional toothpaste, and 5 different whitening toothpastes. In experiment B, samples were divided into 8 subgroups to compare the whitening effectiveness of the whitening toothpastes: conventional toothpaste, 5 other whitening toothpastes, and two bleaching groups. After toothbrushing simulation, the color and surface roughness of the samples were measured. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance, paired t-test and Tukey post-hoc test (α = 0.05). Results: There were no statistically significant differences among the surface roughness values for the groups for any period before and after brushing (P > 0.05). In terms of the coloration susceptibility of the composite resin and the whitening effects of the toothpastes, no statistically significant differences were evident among the groups for any period before and after brushing (P > 0.05). Conclusion:The results of this study indicate that effective toothbrushing is more important than the type of toothpaste employed.

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Knowing both the position and the distance of the MF from the surrounding anatomical structures is not only useful information for surgery, but will also help avoid complications such as paresthesia.

As a general definition, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is the concentration of autologous human platelets in a small amount of plasma. PRP contains important growth factors deposited in alpha-granules of platelets and plasma proteins such as fibrin, fibronectin, and vitronectin. PRP has been shown to improve wound healing process in acute trauma wounds, incisional wounds, and chronic nonhealing wounds and is a beneficial agent in reconstructions of soft and hard tissue. Furthermore, PRP enhances differentiation of epithelial cell and collagen bundle organization. Effects of growth factors in PRP on wound healing and successful results obtained with PRP treatment in other types of wound lead to the use of PRP for burn treatment.