Mariana T. Carvalho

Evaluation of enamel dental restoration interface by optical coherence tomography

Evaluation of molar dental restorations on enamel is performed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) with 10 microm resolution. Images of approximately 50 microm failure gaps in the restorations are demonstrated and the OCT images are compared with x-ray and optical microscopy pictures. The results demonstrate the potential of the technique for clinical evaluation of dental restorations.

Characterization of efficient dual-wavelength (1050 + 800 nm) pumping scheme for thulium-doped fiber amplifiers

We report on the characterization of a recently introduced dual-wavelength pumping scheme for thulium-doped fiber amplifiers using 800 and 1050 nm. Using a counterpropagating pump configuration, 180 mW of total pump power yielded 27-dB small-signal gain and less than 5-dB noise figure. Furthermore, using optical frequency domain reflectometry, the distributed gain in this configuration was evaluated, allowing for optimization of the doped fiber length.

Prevalence of herpes simplex type 2 antibodies and a clinical history of herpes in three different populations in Campinas City, Brazil

OBJECTIVES To determine the seroprevalence of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) antibodies and the relation between the history of clinical herpes and the presence of type-specific HSV-2 antibodies in three different populations from the city of Campinas City, Brazil. POPULATION AND METHODS One hundred and one college students, 96 patients with sexually transmitted diseases (STD), and 102 women at delivery were interviewed and blood samples were collected. Total HSV (HSV-1 and HSV-2) antibodies were screened by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and type-specific HSV-2 antibodies were detected by Western blot assay. RESULTS Herpes simplex virus antibodies were detected in 66.3% of the students, 97.1% of the women at delivery, and 99.0% of the STD patients. Type-specific HSV-2 antibodies were detected in 6.9% of the students, 22.6% of the women at delivery, and in 53.1% of the STD patients. History of genital herpes was reported by none of the students, by one of the women at delivery, and by 11 of 51 (21.6%) STD patients who were HSV-2 seropositive. Four of the 45 (8.9%) seronegative STD patients reported a history of genital herpes. CONCLUSION The prevalence of HSV-2 infection in Campinas City can be significantly affected by the characteristics of the population studied, as was shown in previous studies. The sensitivity of the history of genital herpes was low in the present series, stressing that prophylactic measures for vertical and horizontal transmission of HSV-2 should not be based only on a positive history of genital ulcers.

Photodynamic inactivation of clinical isolates of Candida using Photodithazine

This study evaluated the photodynamic inactivation (PDI) mediated by Photodithazine® (PDZ) against 15 clinical isolates of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis. Each isolate, in planktonic and biofilm form, was exposed to PDI by assessing a range of PDZ concentrations and light emitting diode fluences. Cell survival of the planktonic suspensions was determined by colony forming units (CFU ml−1). The antifungal effects of PDI against biofilms were evaluated by CFU ml−1 and metabolic assay. Data were analyzed by non-parametric tests (α = 0.05). Regardless of the species, PDI promoted a significant viability reduction of planktonic yeasts. The highest reduction in cell viability of the biofilms was equivalent to 0.9 log10 (CFU ml−1) for C. albicans, while 1.4 and 1.5 log10 reductions were obtained for C. tropicalis and C. glabrata, respectively. PDI reduced the metabolic activity of biofilms by 62.1, 76.0, and 76.9% for C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata, respectively. PDZ-mediated PDI promoted significant reduction in the viability of Candida isolates.

Modeling the distributed gain of single--(1050 or 1410 nm) and dual-wavelength--(800 + 1050 nm or 800 + 1410 nm) pumped thulium-doped fiber amplifiers.

The distributed gain of single- and dual-wavelength-pumped thulium-doped fiber amplifiers is modeled. The excellent agreement between the model and coherent optical frequency domain reflectometry measurements enables us to estimate intrinsic loss, branching ratios of fluorescence originating from the 3H4 level, and cross sections of upconversion pumping at 1050 and 1410 nm for the Tm3+ ions in the fiber. With the branching ratios obtained it is possible to describe induced signal absorption when pumping at 800 nm.

Direct three-photon excitation of upconversion random laser emission in a weakly scattering organic colloidal system.

We report the operation and characterization of an upconversion random laser emitting at 560 nm, when directly pumped by three photon excitation at the near IR wavelength of 1350 nm in a colloidal dye solution in the weakly scattering regime. Using a special dye with a high three-photon cross-section and TiO(2) nanoparticles (250 nm diameter), optimized upconverted emission was obtained for particle densities of ~2 x 10(9)/cm3. A strong dependence on the nanoparticle concentration and the pumping area was verified. The presence of spikes with linewidths ~0.4 nm in the emitted spectrum is the signature of coherent emission from this three-photon pumped random laser.

Low-pump-power, short-fiber copropagating dual-pumped (800 and 1050 nm) thulium-doped fiber amplifier

Using optical frequency-domain reflectometry to reveal the gain distribution and allow us to optimize a thulium-doped fiber amplifier, we have demonstrated 18-dB gain by employing only 5 m of a 2000-parts-in-10(6)-Tm-doped fiber pumped with 145 mW of power at dual wavelengths of 800 and 1050 nm. The role of the 800-nm pump, which by itself does not permit population inversion, was clearly observed experimentally.

Dual-wavelength (1050 nm +1550 nm) pumped thulium-doped fiber amplifier characterization by optical frequency-domain reflectometry

We present experimental results of distributed gain measurements from a dual-pumped (1050 nm +1550 nm) thulium-doped fiber amplifier using optical frequency-domain reflectometry. We show that significant reductions in total pump power and/or fiber length are realized with the addition of a few milliwatts at 1550 nm. For our experimental conditions, the addition of 5 mW of 1550 nm allows for a reduction of 100 mW of pump power at 1050 nm or a reduction of 44% of doped fiber length to reach the same gain as with 1050-nm pumping alone.

Random lasing in Nd3+ doped potassium gadolinium tungstate crystal powder

Random laser (RL) emission in Nd3+ doped potassium gadolinium tungstate—KGd(WO4)2:Nd3+—crystal powder is demonstrated. The powder was excited at 813 nm in resonance with the Nd3+ transition 4I9/2→4F5/2. RL emission at 1067 nm due to the 4F3/2→4I11/2 transition was observed and characterized. An intensity threshold dependent on the laser spot area and bandwidth narrowing from ≈2.20 nm to ≈0.40 nm were observed and measured. For a beam spot area of 0.4 mm2, a RL threshold of 6.5 mJ/mm2 (90 MW/cm2) was determined. For excitation intensity smaller than the RL threshold, only spontaneous emission from level 4F3/2 with decay time in the tens microsecond range was observed, but for excitation above the RL threshold, significant shortening of excited level lifetime, characteristic of a stimulated process was found. The overall characteristics measured show that KGd(WO4)2:Nd3+ is an efficient material for operation of solid state RLs in the near-infrared.

Characterization of the dental pulp using optical coherence tomography

The inner structure of teeth, i.e. the root canal anatomy, is very complex. However a good knowledge of endodontic architecture is the first step towards successful endodontic treatment. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a powerful technique to generate images of hard and soft tissue. Its images show dependency on the optical properties of the tissue under analysis. Changes in the scattering and absorption of tissues can be observed through the OCT images. In this work, we used optical coherence tomography to perform in vitro studies of the inner structure of the first molar of albino rats (Rattus norvegicus). Focusing on the pulp chamber and in the root canal, we compare the images generated with the OCT technique to the histology. We are analyzing the feasibility of OCT to help on the diagnostic of endodontic diseases.