Factors that affect water loss rates (WLRs) are poorly known for organisms in natural habitats. Seed-harvester ant queens provide an ideal system for examining such factors because WLRs for mated queens excavated from their incipient nests are twofold to threefold higher than those of alate queens. Indirect data suggest that this increase results from soil particles abrading the cuticle during ...

Wind resuspension (or entrainment) provides a source of dust and contaminants for the atmosphere. Conventional wind erosion models parameterize dust resuspension flux with a threshold velocity or with a horizontal abrasion flux; in the absence of abrasion the models assume dust flux is transient only. Our experiments with an uncrusted, fine material at relative humidities exceeding 40% show a l...

Background Plaque control has been shown to have a pivotal role in maintaining optimal periodontal health. Toothbrushing as a mechanical plaque control tool is the most popular and effective option for self-performed oral health maintenance. However, the detrimental effects of bristle hardness and force exerted by toothbrushes on the tooth surface are the areas of concern. Objective The aim o...

The tooth-like mouthparts of some animals consist of biomacromolecular scaffolds with few mineral components, making them intriguing paradigms of biostructural materials. In this study, the abrasion resistance of the jaws of one such animal, the bloodworm Glycera dibranchiata, has been evaluated by nanoindentation, nanoscratching, and wear testing. The hardest, stiffest, and most abrasion-resis...

PURPOSE Although several surface treatments have been recently investigated both under in vitro and in vivo conditions, controversy still exists regarding the selection of the most appropriate zirconia surface pre-treatment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of alumina (Al) and aluminium nitride (AlN) coating on the shear bond strength of adhesive resin cement to zirconia cor...

OBJECTIVES The abrasion of dentifrices is well recognized to eliminate the dental plaque. The aims of this study were to characterize the abrasive powders of 6 dentifrices (3 toothpastes and 3 toothpowders) and to measure the abrasion on a test surface by Vertical Scanning Interference microscopy (VSI). MATERIAL AND METHODS Bright field and polarization microscopy were used to identify the ab...

The middle glenohumeral ligament (MGHL) typically contributes partially to the anterior stability of the shoulder. In a very limited number of cases, the MGHL can cause abrasion on the upper edge of the subscapularis causing persistent pain symptoms for patients. The condition is exacerbated by internal rotation of the arm. In this Technical Note, we describe this entity and call it the SAM les...

Rough structures created from bulk materials at the surface could have superior durability. Superhydrophobic colorful surfaces were fabricated through chemical etching of the fiber surfaces, followed by diffusion of fluoroalkylsilane into fibers. The obtained superhydrophobic textiles show strong durability against severe abrasion, long-time laundering, and boiling water.

An overview of tooth wear, i.e. of non-carious destructive processes affecting the teeth including abrasion, demastication, attrition, abfraction, resorption and erosion is presented. The nomenclature and classification of dental erosion commonly used in the dental literature are summarized. They are based on etiology (extrinsic, intrinsic, idiopathic), on clinical severity (Classes I to III), ...