We compared the surface free-energies and dentin bond strengths of single-step self-etch adhesives with and without an oxygen-inhibited layer. The labial dentin surfaces of bovine mandibular incisors were wet ground with #600-grit silicon carbide paper. The adhesives were applied to the ground dentin, light-irradiated, and the oxygen-inhibited layer was either retained or removed with ethanol. ...

The primary root of Arabidopsis has a simple cellular organisation. The fixed radial cell pattern results from stereotypical cell divisions that occur in the meristem. Here we describe the characterisation of schizoriza (scz), a mutant with defective radial patterning. In scz mutants, the subepidermal layer (ground tissue) develops root hairs. Root hairs normally only form on epidermal cells of...

The order-disorder layering transitions, of the Blume-Capel model, are studied using the Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, in the presence of a variable crystal field. For a very low temperature, the results are in good agreement with the ground state study. The first order transition line, found for low temperatures, is connected to the second order transition line, seen for higher temperatures, b...

A wideband dual-polarized aperture antenna array is presented based on elements formed by pairs of octagonal rings. The octagon ring elements are linked by capacitors and kept a defined distance from a ground plane. A broader frequency bandwidth has been achieved by placing a further layer of conductive elements above the array forming a meta-material layer. Expanded polystyrene foam is used to...

During ground faults, fault current flows in the ground which results in potential gradient and ground potential rise (GPR). The potential gradient affects the safety of operating person due to step and touch voltage and GPR affects the insulation of protective devices and control cables. The potential gradient and GPR are the functions of ground electrode geometry. In this paper, performance a...

While definitive winter measurements for Dome C must await until 2004, on the basis of existing data the Antarctic Dome sites promise the best conditions on the Earth for many astronomical observations. Because atmospheric turbulence is largely confined to a ~ 100 m ground layer, adaptive correction with a single deformable mirror conjugated to this layer should yield an 8-arcminute field of vi...

A two-stage optimization method is presented by employing the evolutionary structural optimization (ESO) and ant colony optimization (ACO), which is called ESO-ACO method. To implement ESO-ACO, size optimization is performed using ESO, first. Then, the outcomes of ESO are employed to enhance ACO. In optimization process, the weight of double layer grid is minimized under various constraints whi...

Vegetation plays an important role in stabilizing the soil and decreasing fluvial erosion. In certain cases, vegetation increases the accumulation of fine sediments. Efficient and accurate methods are required for mapping and monitoring changes in the fluvial environment. Here, we develop an area-based approach for mapping and monitoring the vegetation structure along a river channel. First, a ...