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Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the cell viability, differentiation potential and anti-inflammatory potential of propolis and Biodentine™ on stem cells isolated from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED). Materials and methods: SHED were segregated and cultured from the dental pulp of children after therapeutic extraction. Microculture Tetrazolium Assay (MTT) assay was carried out for assessing cell proliferation potential of propolis and Biodentine at different concentrations. As per the results from cell proliferation assay, cell differentiation potential of SHED was evaluated at concentration of 12.5 μg/ml using Alizarin Red staining. The anti-inflammatory potential of test materials was evaluated using gelatin zymography by detecting MMP-2 and MMP-9. Results: The maximum cell proliferation percentage of SHED treated with propolis and Biodentine was observed at a concentration of 12.5 μg/ml, on day 7, 14 and 21 with Biodentine having maximum cell proliferation potential followed by propolis. SHED treated with Biodentine showed maximum cell differentiation on day 7 (107.16), 14 (106.29) and 21 (107.72). However, anti-inflammatory activity against MMP-2 was 95 % with propolis and 85 % with Biodentine and whereas, against MMP-9 it was 65 % for propolis and 47 % for Biodentine. Conclusion: Propolis shows comparable cell viability, cell proliferation and differentiation potential on SHED when compared to Biodentine. It also exhibits better invitro anti-inflammatory activity on SHED compared to Biodentine. Further studies are warranted to validate the application of propolis as an effective and economical alternative biocompatible agent to Biodentine for vital pulp therapies.

This paper presents the results of a vulnerability analysis in different water distribution system (WDS) benchmarks, performed under a framework based on a graph model that integrates topological features and hydraulic characteristics, allowing the comparison between different attack strategies and centrality measures in terms of their ability to predict the shortage of water supply. This vulnerability framework has been previously applied to electric power systems and it employs a vulnerability prediction measure to quantify the amount of damage caused in terms of the physical damage measure. Different attack strategies and centrality measures were applied to four WDS benchmarks: the New York Tunnel, the Hanoi, the Modena, and the Balerma networks. It was determined that removing the most central element and recalculating the centrality for each stage are the most damaging attack strategies. Degree, eigenvector, and Katz centrality measures presented the best performance to predict the elements that are more relevant to the network and can have a larger impact on the water supply. It was demonstrated that the vulnerability framework can be applied to the WDS in the same way it was previously applied to electric power systems. Future work will be oriented to the design of the WDS using optimization techniques to minimize the vulnerability of the network under faults that can be generated by droughts and other extreme weather conditions. HIGHLIGHT This paper presents the results of a vulnerability analysis in different WDS benchmarks, performed under a framework based on a graph model that integrates topological features and hydraulic characteristics, allowing the comparison between different attack strategies and centrality measures in terms of their ability to predict the shortage of water supply.;

Introduction: Dentistry has found practically the best available aesthetic answer, is ceramic restoration. There are various factors that contribute to the success of ceramic veneers, like colour of underlying tooth, thickness if ceramics and the type of underlying luting cement. Shade selection and matching remains still challenge, however the shade of luting agent used for cementation of veneers produces a change in resultant shade of veneers. Aim: To compare and analyze the spectrophotometric effect of opaque and transparent luting agent on resultant shade of ceramic veneers made of 2L1.5 shade (Vitapan 3D-Masters) and B2 shade (Vitapan Classic). Materials and Methods: Out of 15 ceramic veneers of 2L1.5 shade (VITAPAN 3D- Master), seven teeth cemented with opaque cement and eight teeth with transparent cement shade of dual cure resin cement (Variolink IITM). Out of 10 ceramic veneers of B2 shade (VITAPAN Classic), five teeth were cemented with opaque cement and other five teeth with transparent cement shade of dual cure resin cement (Variolink IITM). Spectrophotometric (Macbeth U.S.A.) analysis of all ceramic veneer crowns done with optiview software and readings were recorded in Commission Internationale de I’ Eclairge {CIELAB} system and dE value was calculated. Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was done by using Paired t-test. Results: Spectrophotometric analysis of all the veneers cemented with opaque luting agent were lighter in shade due to significant change in dL value. Veneers cemented with transparent luting agent were darker in shade due to significant change in the dL value. Conclusion: Opaque luting agent gives lighter shade and transparent luting agent gives darker shade to ceramic veneers fabricated with 2L1.5 and B2 shades.