Raman micro/macro-spectroscopy allows for a non-destructive remote analysis: body and glaze, crystalline and amorphous phases can be identified, including the nanosized pigments colouring the glaze. Last generation instruments are portable which allows for examination in museum, on sites, etc. This paper gives an overview on the potential of Raman spectrometry technique to analyze ancient ceram...

Different microscanning synchrotron techniques were used to better understand the elaboration process and origins of Terra Sigillata potteries from the Roman period. A mixture Gallic slip sample cross-section showing red and yellow colors was studied. The small (micron) size of the X-ray beam available at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL) and Advanced Light Source (ALS) synchrotr...

Similarities and dissimilarities can be found in many natural as well as man-made structures and are an important source of information, e.g., for isolating defects or pathological regions, and for finding unique points and regions of interest on surfaces. This paper introduces a new approach for computing similarity information that can be used, e.g., for surface segmentation or to guide a sub...

Developing incisal enamel of the rat has been examined in sections with the electron microscope. Staining the sections with heavy metal and sandwiching them has revealed details hitherto unvisualized because of low contrast and destruction by the electron beam. In particular, it is seen that the cell membrane always lies between the ameloblast and the enamel and therefore that enamel is extrace...

Oxygen inhibits polymerization of resin-based materials. We hypothesized that compromised bonding to bleached enamel can be reversed with sodium ascorbate, an anti-oxidant. Sandblasted human enamel specimens were treated with distilled water (control) and 10% carbamide peroxide gel with or without further treatment with 10% sodium ascorbate. They were bonded with Single Bond (3M-ESPE) or Prime&...

In the present study, enamel wear against indirect composite resins was evaluated using two newly designed wear test methods: a rotating sliding wear test and a buff wear test. For the composite resins investigated in this study, their surface morphologies were examined using a scanning probe microscope after buff-polishing. After the wear tests, enamel was worn down by hard fillers that protru...

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of CPP method on the crystallinity of apatite powder and on the acid resistance of bovine enamel. Crystallinity degrees of apatite powder before and after CPP treatment were measured by powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Polished bovine enamel specimens treated with CPP method or NaF were immersed in a lactic acid solution for up to five days....

Although it is well known that enamel hypoplasia commonly is observed in prematurely born, very low birthweight (VLBW) children, its pathogenesis is not understood clearly. One likely mechanism may be related to mineral deficiency, which may be diagnosed as radiological demineralization of the long bones. In this study, we compared the cortical area of the humerus as measured from neonatal radi...

Recent discovery of hair follicle keratin 75 (KRT75) in enamel raises questions about the function of this protein in enamel and the mechanisms of its secretion. It is also not clear how this protein with a very specific and narrow expression pattern, limited to the inner root sheath of the hair follicle, became associated with enamel. We propose a hypothesis that KRT75 was co-opted by amelobla...

Enamel pearls are one of a number of different enamel structures that can be found on the roots of deciduous and pertnanent teeth. They have a distinct predilection for the furcation areas of tnolar teeth, particularly the maxillary third and second molars. They can consist primarily of enamel, but in most instances, a core of dentin is contained within them. On rare occasions, even pulpal tiss...