PROCESS FOR THE FORMATION OF WEAR- AND SCUFF-RESISTANT CARBON COATINGS

A process for forming an adherent diamond-like carbon coating on a workpiece of suitable material such as an aluminum alloy is disclosed. The workpiece is successively immersed in different plasma atmospheres and subjected to short duration, high voltage, negative electrical potential pulses or constant negative electrical potentials or the like so as to clean the surface of oxygen atoms, implant carbon atoms into the surface of the alloy to form carbide com pounds while codepositing a carbonaceous layer on the surface, bombard and remove the carbonaceous layer, and to thereafter deposit a generally amorphous hydrogen-containing carbon layer on the surface of the article

Correlation between vitamin D levels and apoptosis in geriatric patients infected with hepatitis C virus genotype 4

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D levels play a pivotal role in most biological processes and differ according to age. A deficiency of vitamin D in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients has been shown to be linked with the severity of liver fibrosis, but little is known about the mechanism of this association. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we evaluate the potential interrelation between vitamin D levels, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, based on liver fibrosis in geriatric patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 120 adult individuals aged 30–68 years were recruited in this study. Of these, 20 healthy subjects (15 men and five women) with a mean age of 48.3±6.1 years were selected as controls, and 100 patients with a mean age of 47.8±4.9 years with chronic HCV (CHC) who had undergone liver biopsy (80 men and 20 women) were included in this study. Based on liver radiographic (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and histological Metavir system analyses, the CHC patients were classified into three groups: asymptomatic CHC carriers (n=30), fibrosis (n=25), and cirrhosis (n=45). HCV RNA, HCV genotypes, inflammatory cytokines AFP and TNFα, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels, apoptotic markers single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and soluble Fas (sFas), and oxidative stress markers nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were estimated by using molecular, immunoassay, and colorimetric techniques. RESULTS: Approximately 30% of the study population (n=30) were diagnosed as asymptomatic CHC carriers, and 70% of the study population (n=70) had severe fibrosis; these were classified into fibrosis and cirrhosis. There was a significant reduction in 25(OH)D levels and TAC activity, along with an increase in levels of NO, AFP, TNFα, ssDNA, and sFas in fibrosis and cirrhosis subjects compared with those of asymptomatic CHC carriers and health controls. The deficiency in 25(OH)D levels correlated positively with sFas, ssDNA, AFP, TNFα, NO, and TAC, and negatively with age, sex, liver function, body mass index, homeostatic model assessment – insulin resistance, HCV RNA, and viral load. Significant intercorrelation was reported between serum 25(OH)D concentrations and apoptotic and oxidative markers, which suggested progression of liver pathogenesis and fibrogenesis via oxidative and apoptotic mechanisms. CONCLUSION: The data showed that vitamin D status was significantly correlated with pathogenesis and fibrogenesis of the liver in geriatric patients infected with HCV genotype 4. The deficiency in 25(OH)D levels was shown to have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of liver via apoptotic, oxidative stress, and inflammatory mechanistic pathways. The data point to adequate vitamin D levels being recommended for a good response to treatment strategies, especially in older CHC patients

Antibacterial activity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles using aqueous extract of Aeluropus litoralis and their anticancer and antioxidant properties

Background. The biosynthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts offers an eco-friendly and cost-effective method for producing stable nanoparticles with various applications in medicine, agriculture, and environmental science. Purpose. To investigate the ability of Aeluropus littoralis aqueous extract to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and of antibacterial activity, anticancer and antioxidant properties. Materials and methods. A. littoralis aerial parts were washed, dried, and ground. Extract was prepared by boiling 7 g in 100 mL water, filtered, and dried. Aelu-AgNPs were biosynthesized by mixing extract with AgNO₃, incubating until color change, then centrifuging and washing. Nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis, FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX, and zeta potential. Antibacterial activity was tested against MDR bacteria using agar diffusion, MIC, and MBC assays. Cytotoxicity was evaluated with MTT on cancer and normal cells. Antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH assay. Data analysis used SPSS and GraphPad Prism. Results. The aqueous extract of A. littoralis operated as a reducing agent for AgNO3, resulting in the formation of AgNPs (Aelu-AgNPs), which was confirmed by spectroscopy at the greatest peak of 410 nm. Based on FESEM analysis, the Aelu-AgNPs were around 41.43 nm in size. The XRD study demonstrated a face-centered cubic structure, whereas zeta potential assessment suggested significant stability at -40.4 mV. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Providencia rettgeri, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, S. haemolyticus, S. epidermidis, S. hominis, and Enterococcus faecium were all proven to be susceptible to the Aelu-AgNPs. Among the bacteria tested, P. mirabilis showed the most sensitivity, with a 19.5 mm inhibition zone. The MIC ranged from 62.5 to 7.8 µg/ml and the MBC from 62.5 to 15.6 µg/ml for all the bacterial isolates that were examined. The results showed that the Aelu-AgNPs had a potential antioxidant activity higher than ascorbic acid at a concentration of 12.5 μg/ml. The MTT assay validated superior efficacy in inhibiting the A375 cancer cell line with an IC50 of 71.04 μg/ml, in contrast to 148.6 μg/ml of the normal cell line (HdFn). Conclusion: The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles obtained from A. littoralis extract exhibit potential as antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer agents. EDN: RHIAY

The impact of IFRS 8 on financial analysts' earnings forecast errors: EU evidence

While the IASB has eliminated virtually all the differences between US GAAP and IFRS with respect to segment reporting, the quality of segment disclosure after IFRS 8 remains questionable, with the European Parliament only endorsing IFRS 8 after a great deal of scrutiny and much debate. We investigate the impact of segment information quality and quantity on analysts’ earnings forecasts after the adoption of IFRS 8.We further address how country-level enforcement influences this relationship using a sample from EU countries. The findings reveal that the quality and quantity of segment information are associated with more accurate earnings forecasts following IFRS 8. Furthermore, the results suggest that enforcement plays a pivotal role in shaping the impact of the principles-based IFRS 8. These findings contribute to the ongoing debate on the quality of segment information under the management approach and role of accounting regulation enforcement. They also provide early evidence on the usefulness of country-by-country reporting

Evaluation of antibacterial efficacy of propolis as an intercanal medicament against Enterococcus faecalis (a randomized controlled in vitro study)

Background: Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is one of the microorganisms responsible for the pathology of root canals. We aimed in this study to determine the efficacy of two different pastes (calcium hydroxide combined with saline and calcium hydroxide combined with propolis) as a dressing material in eradicating E. faecalis from infected root canals. Methods: Twenty extracted single-rooted and single-canalled first premolars randomly distributed into two equal groups of 10 teeth each. Each canal was first injected with the prepared bacterial suspension, which was cultured with E. faecalis aerobically in the incubator at 37 °C for 7 days. Then they were irrigated with NaOCl, and finally, groups 1 and 2 were stuffed with (calcium hydroxide + saline) and (calcium hydroxide + propolis) pastes, respectively. Both groups were cultured for 7 days in a moist environment. Bacterial colonies' units were counted at three different times (T0; after bacterial injection, T1; after NaOCl irrigation, and T2; after paste application). Data were analyzed using a T-test (P-value≤0.05) as the significance level. Results: The mean value of the E. faecalis count at the time T2 was 0.030 for group 2, which is less and better than in group 1 (0.363). Statistical analysis showed that the difference in the E. faecalis count at T2 between the studied groups was 2.192 and a P-value of 0.042, indicating that there is a statistically significant difference between the two studied groups. Conclusion: Propolis-containing paste had a remarkable ability to reduce the bacterial enumeration of E. faecalis in root canals

A retrospective panoramic study for alveolar bone loss among young adults in Sulaimani City, Iraq

Objective: to determine the prevalence of alveolar bone crest loss among a selected sample of archival orthopantomography (OPG) in relation to number of sites affected and gender in Sulaimani City. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted with an inclusive period running from March to December 2007 to determine the prevalence of alveolar bone loss among 1072 subjects on panoramic radiographs. Panoramic images were sampled at the radiological archive of Dental School Hospital–University of Sulaimani for a selected age class ranged from 17 to 30 years. Bone loss was estimated by measuring the distance from cementoenamel junction (CEJ) minus 2 mm (physiologic high of interseptal alveolar crest) to the crest of the alveolar bone at sites with reduced normal level of interseptal bone. Total bone loss was divided into two groups according to number of sites affected; group one (1-3) sites showing bone loss per panoramic radiograph, and group 2 showing bone loss at more than 3 sites. Samples were also divided into two age groups; group one from 17 to 23 years and group two from 24 to 30 years. Moreover, bone loss was determined according to gender into male and female and number of sites affected for each gender. Results: results showed that 347 images – 30.2% of the total images showed bone loss at one site or more. 14.6% of the images revealed bone loss at 1-3 sites, whereas, 15.6% demonstrated bone loss at more than 3 sites. Percentage of bone loss was significantly higher (P=0.001) among group two (24-30 years old group) than group one (17-23 years old group) 38% against 25% respectively. Female s radiographs recorded a non-significantly higher (P 0.05) bone loss than male s radiographs 31.7% against 28.7% respectively. Conclusion: prevalence of bone loss among young adults in Sulaimani City was relatively high compared to other published reports. There was a predilection for female. Bone loss was more prevalent at (24-30 years old group) compared to (17-23 years old group)