In this work, enhancement to the fluorescence characteristics of laser dye solutions hosting highly-pure titanium dioxide nanoparticles as random gain media. This was achieved by coating two opposite sides of the cells containing these media with nanostructured thin films of highly-pure titanium dioxide. Two laser dyes; Rhodamine B and Coumarin 102, were used to prepare solutions in hexanol and methanol, respectively, as hosts for the nanoparticles. The nanoparticles and thin films were prepared by dc reactive magnetron sputtering technique. The enhancement was observed by the narrowing of fluorescence linewidth as well as by increasing the fluorescence intensity. These parameters were compared to those of the dye only and the dye solution hosting nanoparticles without coatings on the cell. For Rhodamine B and Coumarin 102 samples, the fluorescence intensity of coated-cell sample was increased by 230, and 351%, respectively, with respect to that of dye only and by 152 and 141%, respectively, with respect to that of uncoated cells. The full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) was determined for both cases and found to be 8 and 9 nm, respectively.
Background: Irrigation has a central role in endodontic treatment. Several irrigating solutions have the antimicrobial activity and actively kill bacteria and yeasts when introduced in direct contact with the microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root and leaf extracts as possible irrigant solutions, used during endodontic treatments, and both were compared to Sodium hypochlorite, Propolis and Ethyl alcohol. Materials and Method: Forty seven human extracted single rooted teeth were selected. The teeth were decoronated using a diamond disk to have a length of 15 mm ±1 mm and they were instrumented using the hybrid technique. All roots were sterilized
... Show MoreHydrogels are hydrophilic biocompatible polymers that can be used as a drug delivery material in different medical branches, including vital pulp therapy. The aim of this study is to characterize the physical and biological properties of the newly developed formula as a candidate direct pulp-capping material. The hydrogel composite was prepared from natural and synthetic origins (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), hyaluronic acid (HA), and sodium alginate (SA)) with the incorporation of bioactive Moringa. Different formulas of hydrogel containing different concentrations were evaluated for physicochemical (FTIR, XRD, SEM, degradation, and swelling), mechanical (viscosity, folding endurance, film thickness), and biological (antioxidant, antibacterial,
... Show MoreWastewater discharge containing organic dyes may pose a hazard to the environment, which necessitates that dye removal must occur prior to wastewater release into water bodies. Herein, copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) were prepared by a green precipitation method to enable decolorization of a cationic dye (methyl violet; MV) from aqueous media. Complementary tools were employed to characterize the CuO NPs adsorbent: spectroscopy (FTIR and UV-VIS), microscopy (FESEM and TEM), XRD, BET surface area analysis, and point of zero charge (pHPZC) via potentiometry. The FTIR bands at 722, 663, 569, and 465 cm−1 correspond to the vibrational modes of CuO NPs, along with the optical absorbance band at 275 nm that supports the formation of Cu
... Show MoreThe main objective of this study is to determine the suitable excitation wavelengths for
urine components reaching to select the suitable lasers to execute the auto fluorescence due to their
high intensities. The auto fluorescence was measured at 305, 325 and 350 nm excitation wavelengths
for eleven urine samples which were also analyzed by conventional methods (chemical and
microscopic examination). Data manipulation using Matlab package programming language showed
that urine sample with normal chemical and biological components have emission peaks which are
different from the infected urine samples. Despite the complexity of the composition of urine,
fluorescence maxima can be observed. Most likely, the peaks obser
The main objective of this study is to determine the suitable excitation wavelengths for
urine components reaching to select the suitable lasers to execute the auto fluorescence due to their
high intensities. The auto fluorescence was measured at 305, 325 and 350 nm excitation wavelengths
for eleven urine samples which were also analyzed by conventional methods (chemical and
microscopic examination). Data manipulation using Matlab package programming language showed
that urine sample with normal chemical and biological components have emission peaks which are
different from the infected urine samples. Despite the complexity of the composition of urine,
fluorescence maxima can be observed. Most likely, the peaks obser
Understanding, promoting, and teaching media literacy is an important societal challenge. STEM educators are increasingly looking to incorporate 21st century skills such as media literacy into core subject education. In this paper we investigate how undergraduate Computer Science (CS) students can learn media literacy as a by-product of collaborative video tutorial production. The paper presents a study of 34 third-year CS undergraduates who, as part of their learning, were each asked to produce three video tutorials on Raspberry Pi programming, using a collaborative video production tool for mobile phones (Bootlegger). We provide results of both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the production process and resulting video tutorials,
... Show MoreAs many expensive and invasive procedures are used for the diagnosis or follow-up of clinical conditions, the measurement of cell-free DNA is a promising, noninvasive method, which considers using blood, follicular fluid, or seminal fluid. This method is used to determine chromosomal abnormalities, genetic disorders, and indicators of some diseases such as polycystic ovary syndrome, pre-eclampsia, and some malignancies. Cell-free DNA, which are DNA fragments outside the nucleus, originates from an apoptotic process. However, to be used as a marker for the previously mentioned diseases is still under investigation. We discuss some aspects of using cell-free DNA measurements as an indicator or marker for pathological conditions.
Copper indium disulphide, CuInS2, is a promising absorber material for thin film photovoltaic which has recently attracted considerable attention due to its suitability to reach high efficiency solar cells by using low cost techniques. In this work CuInS2 thin films have been deposited by chemical spray pyrolysis onto glass substrates at ambient atmosphere, using different [Cu]/[In] ratio in the aqueous solutions at substrate temperature 3000C
and different annealing temperatures . Structural and optical properties of CIS films were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, and optical spectroscopy. Sprayed CIS films are polycrystalline with a chalcopyrite structure with a preferential orientation along the 112 direction and no remains of oxides