The phase transformation from kaolinite to mullite was examined with new electron diffraction data obtained using an energy-filtering transmission electron microscope. Kaolinite was finally transformed to mullite and cristobalite through several steps of endothermic and exothermic reactions, which resulted in metakaolinite, a microcrystalline spinel-type phase and amorphous silica. Metakaolinite maintained its short-range order even at 920°C. The spineltype phase resulted from a topotactic transformation of metakaolinite. Mullite first appeared at around 940°C, showing no clear crystallographic relationships to the parent metakaolinite structure. It coexisted with metakaolinite and the spinel-type phase produced previously. The first strong exothermic peak on the DTA curve was mainly due to the extraction of amorphous silica from metakaolinite and the gradual nucleation of the mullite phase. The initially formed spinel-type and mullite phases were suggested to be Al-rich, but to progressively gain Si in their structures at higher temperatures. The spinel-type phase decomposed completely through a second weak exothermic reaction, promoting the crystallization of cristobalite from amorphous silica, and the growth of mullite.

A red phosphor, Li-doped Gd2O3:Eu3+ with high cathodoluminescent brightness was developed. In contrast to Gd2O3:Eu3+ which showed an irregular shape of agglomerated fine particles (the mean particle size <0.5 μm), the morphology of Li doped Gd2O3:Eu3+ crystals was quite regular and pseudospherical (the mean particle size ≈2 μm). In particular, the incorporation of Li+ ions into Gd2O3 lattice could induce a remarkable increase of cathodoluminescence efficiency at low voltages (500 V–1 kV). The highest emission intensity was observed with Gd1.84Li0.08Eu0.08O3−δ, whose brightness at 500 V was increased by a factor of 1.8 in comparison with that of commercial Y2O3:Eu3+. This phosphor may be an application to the field emission display operating at low voltages.

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The prevalence of the PSAA on CT images was higher, and the diameter was larger in males. The PSAA was more close to the alveolar crest in the molar areas. The evaluation of the PSAA in maxillary sinus on CT images before surgery could reduce the likelihood of excess bleeding during surgery especially in molar areas.

PurposeThis study aimed to determine the most reliable scanning strategy and scanner type, using a new protocol for assessing the accuracy (trueness and precision) of intraoral scan data.Materials and MethodsFive different maxillary and mandibular typodont pairs (n = 10) and 2 intraoral scanners were used for the study. A reference scan for each arch was obtained with an industrial scanner. Scanning strategies were classified into 2 continuous methods—continuous scan in horizontal direction (CH group) and continuous scan with vertical rotation in anterior region (CV group)—and 1 segmental method (S group). In the CH group, the scanner head was maintained mostly in a horizontal position. In the CV group, the scanners were rotated 180° around the anterior tooth region to allow smooth scanning through the area. The intraoral scan data were individually superimposed over their corresponding reference scan data. Raw data of the distances between paired surface points were extracted from the superimposed pairs of datasets, with (original distance values) or without consideration (absolute distance values) of the value signs. Trueness values were calculated using absolute distance values, while precision values were obtained from original distance values. Data were analyzed with a 2‐way repeated‐measures analysis of variance using α = 0.05 as the level of significance.ResultsThe CV group produced significantly inferior outcomes compared to the CH and S groups in terms of trueness (p < 0.001, F = 24.67), whereas no significant differences were observed among the 3 scanning strategies with respect to precision (p = 0.451, F = 0.83). Scanner type did not produce significant differences in terms of either trueness (p = 0.058, F = 4.72) or precision (p = 0.742, F = 0.12).ConclusionsThe segmental approach for scanning the region of interest first and continuous scanning with the scanner head held mostly in a horizontal position are both acceptable as full‐arch scanning strategies. However, vertical rotation of intraoral scanners should be minimized.

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Objective: To investigate whether drugs targeting peripheral cannabinoid-1 (CB1) receptor ameliorate adiposity comparable to central CB1-receptor antagonist or not. Measurements: Receptor binding assay and functional assay in vitro. Pharmacokinetic parameters in mice, brain uptake clearance of compounds in rats and antagonism on the CB1-agonist-induced hypothermia in mice. Diet consumption, body weight changes, hepatic gene expression of sterol-regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and plasma/tissue concentrations of compounds in HF diet-induced obese (HF-DIO) mice after acute and chronic treatment. Results: Compound-1, an SR141716A derivative, is a peripheral CB1-receptor-selective antagonist that is 10 times less potent than SR141716A in in vitro evaluations. Although the plasma concentrations of Compound-1 are five times higher than those of SR141716A, its potency is still 10 times lower than that of SR141716A in reducing the consumption of normal or HF diet by mice. Through evaluations of brain uptake and the effect on CB1-agonist-induced hypothermia, it was verified that the bloodbrain barrier (BBB) penetration of Compound-1 is much lower than that of SR141716A. In HF-DIO mice, chronic treatment by Compound-1 showed dose-dependent antiobesity activities, while its brain distribution was very low as compared with that of SR141716A. Compound-1's effective doses for antiobesity activity were just over 30 mg kg À1 . However, Compound-1 completely suppressed the elevated hepatic SREBP-1 expression even at 10 mg kg À1 . Conclusion: These results suggest that (1) central CB1 receptors mediate anorectic response of CB1-receptor antagonists and (2) peripheral modulations, including SREBP-1 expression, are not major mechanisms in the antiobesity effects of CB1-receptor antagonists.