The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans and in vivo toxicity using embryonic zebrafish assays of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water (containing hypochlorous acid (HOCl))-based root canal irrigating solutions. Methodology: Using 100 µL microbial count of 1 × 10 8 cfu/mL Enterococcus faecalis to mix with each 10 mL specimen of NaOCl or HOCl for designed time periods. The above protocol was also repeated for Streptococcus mutans. The concentration of viable microorganisms was estimated based on each standardized inoculum using a plate-count method. Zebrafish embryo assays were used to evaluate acute toxicity. Results: All the HOCl or NaOCl treatment groups showed > 99.9% antibacterial efficacy against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans. Zebrafish embryos showed almost complete dissolution in 1.5% NaOCl within 5 min. Both survival rates after being treated with 0.0125% and 0.0250% HOCl for 0.5 min or 1.0 min were similar to that of E3 medium. Conclusions: Both NaOCl and HOCl revealed similar antibacterial efficacy (> 99.9%) against Enterococcus faecalis and Streptococcus mutans. While 1.5% NaOCl fully dissolved the Zebrafish embryos, both 0.0125% and 0.0250% HOCl showed little in vivo toxicity, affirming its potential as an alternative irrigation solution for vital pulp therapy.

The purpose of this paper is to present a design approach based on the geometric constraints of joints for synthesizing differential mechanisms with two degrees-of-freedom, including some mechanisms with the same functions but distinct structures. The concept of virtual axes is presented. And, there are five steps in the design process. Step 1 is to decide fundamental entities by the properties of existing mechanisms and the technique of number synthesis, and 10 suitable fundamental entities of differential mechanisms are available. Step 2 is to compose geometric constraints, and 14 items are obtained. Step 3 is to compose links, and 15 items are derived. Step 4 is to assign fixed constraints for inputs or outputs, and 15 results are found. The final step is to particularize the obtained events by the properties of existing mechanisms and the structures of fundamental entities. As a result, 8 feasible results for differential mechanisms with two degrees-of-freedom and two basic loops are obtained in which 2 are existing designs and the other 6 are novel.

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