The qualities of a laser diffraction grain size analyser, the Coulter LS-100 (range claimed by the manufacturer: 0.4-900 mum in a single measurement), are evaluated on sediments of fluvial and lacustrine origin. Accuracy and resolution of measurement on standard latex spheres are excellent. Reproducibility of the results on natural sediments appears to be satisfactory, but the method underestimates the fraction of clay particles with an efficiency of detection (36-70%) proportional to the clay content determined from pipette analysis. This efficiency is somewhat higher than those reported from other instruments of the same generation. Comparison of the Coulter LS-100 with other sizing techniques shows good agreement with the sieving method but some differences appear with the electroresistance particle technique: median and mean size values measured by the Coulter Counter TA1 are systematically lower than those obtained by the Coulter LS-100. Analyses show good correlation with those of a Malvern Laser particle analyser but a discrepancy appears with very fine silt and clay sized sediments. The Coulter LS-100 detects a higher clay content than that measured with the Malvern Laser Sizer 2600. Except when precise measurements of clay content are needed, the Coulter LS-100 produces precise and accurate results in size ranges required for geological and environmental studies

No abstract

This study evaluated the influence of time after application of oxalate solutions in reducing dentin hydraulic conductance. Fifty dentin discs were obtained from extracted human third molars and assigned to 5 groups (n=10), according to the desensitizing agent used: Group I: OxaGel; Group II: experimental agent DD-1: Group III: experimental agent DD-2. In Groups IV and V, a placebo gel and deionized water were used as control, respectively. The agents were applied for 3 min, washed out and the hydraulic conductance was measured immediately and at 5-, 15-and 30-min intervals, and after acid etching. Data were analyzed statistically by two-way ANOVA and Duncan's test at 5% significance level. Groups I, II and III did not differ significantly from each other in any of the time intervals (p>0.05). Likewise, Groups IV and V were statistically similar to each other (p>0.05). The active agents reduced significantly dentin permeability in comparison to control groups (p<0.05). Dentin permeability measured in vitro decreased significantly with time regardless of the agent applied (either active or control agents). The results of Group V, in which no dentin desensitizing agent was employed, indicates that the assessment of dentin permeability by this method must be interpreted with caution.

This controlled clinical trial evaluated the 2-year clinical performance of a one-bottle etch-and-rinse adhesive and resin composite system (Excite/Tetric Ceram) compared to a resin-modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) (Vitremer/3M) in non-carious cervical lesions. Seventy cervical restorations (35 resin composite - RC- restorations and 35 RMGIC restorations) were placed by a single operator in 30 patients under rubber dam isolation without mechanical preparation. All restorations were evaluated blindly by 2 independent examiners using the modified USPHS criteria at baseline, and after 6, 12 and 24 months. Data were analyzed statistically by Fisher's exact and McNemar tests. After 2 years, 59 out of 70 restorations were evaluated. As much as 78.8% retention rate was recorded for RC restorations, while 100% retention was obtained for RMGIC restorations. Fisher's exact test showed significant differences (p=0.011) for retention. However, there were no significant differences for marginal integrity, marginal discoloration, anatomic form and secondary caries between the RC and RMGIC restorations. The McNemar test detected significant differences for Excite/TC between baseline and the 2-year recall for retention (p=0.02), marginal integrity (p=0.002) and anatomic form (p=0.04). Therefore, the one-bottle etch-and-rinse bonding system/resin composite showed an inferior clinical performance compared to the RMGIC.