OBJECTIVE

To examine the low-cycle fatigue (LCF) behaviour of NiTi rotary endodontic instruments in aqueous sodium hypochlorite solution.

METHODS

Four brands of NiTi rotary instrument (n=179) were subjected to a rotational-bending fatigue test at a rate of 250rpm until fracture, the instrument being immersed in 1.2% sodium hypochlorite solution. The surface strain amplitude, calculated from the curvature (from a pre-test photograph) and diameter of the fracture cross-section (from SEM photomicrograph) was plotted against the total number of revolutions to failure. An apparent fatigue-ductility exponent was determined from a regression line fitted to the LCF lives for each brand of instrument. All detached fragments were examined fractographically for crack initiation and the extent of crack extension into the cross-section. The values were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or chi2, where appropriate, at alpha=0.05.

RESULTS

A linear strain-life relationship was obtained for all groups; the apparent fatigue-ductility exponent was similar between various brands (ANOVA, P>0.05), but not for the number of crack origins (chi2, P<0.05). There was an inverse, linear relationship between the square root of the extension of the fatigue-crack and the strain amplitude.

CONCLUSIONS

NiTi rotary instruments fatigued in hypochlorite shows a strain-life relationship with low-cycle and high-cycle fatigue regions. The LCF behaviour is not affected by the cross-sectional shape of the instrument. There appears to be a critical extent of crack propagation for various surface strain amplitudes leading to final, catastrophic fracture of the instrument.

Botulinum neurotoxins are the most toxic of all compounds. The toxicity is related to a poor zinc endopeptidase activity located in a 50-kDa domain known as light chain (Lc) of the toxin. The C-terminal tail of Lc is not visible in any of the currently available x-ray structures, and it has no known function but undergoes autocatalytic truncations during purification and storage. By synthesizing C-terminal peptides of various lengths, in this study, we have shown that these peptides competitively inhibit the normal catalytic activity of Lc of serotype A (LcA) and have defined the length of the mature LcA to consist of the first 444 residues. Two catalytically inactive mutants also inhibited LcA activity. Our results suggested that the C terminus of LcA might interact at or near its own active site. By using synthetic C-terminal peptides from LcB, LcC1, LcD, LcE, and LcF and their respective substrate peptides, we have shown that the inhibition of activity is specific only for LcA. Although a potent inhibitor with a Ki of 4.5 μm, the largest of our LcA C-terminal peptides stimulated LcA activity when added at near-stoichiometric concentration to three versions of LcA differing in their C-terminal lengths. The result suggested a product removal role of the LcA C terminus. This suggestion is supported by a weak but specific interaction determined by isothermal titration calorimetry between an LcA C-terminal peptide and N-terminal product from a peptide substrate of LcA. Our results also underscore the importance of using a mature LcA as an inhibitor screening target.

The purpose of this study was to prepare engineered particles of rivastigmine hydrogen tartrate (RHT) and to characterize the physicochemical and aerodynamic properties, in comparison to a lactose carrier formulation (LCF). Microparticles were prepared from ethanol/water solutions containing RHT with and without the incorporation of L-leucine (Leu), using a spray dryer. Dry powder inhaler formulations prepared were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, laser diffraction particle sizing, ATR-FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry, bulk and tapped density, dynamic vapour sorption and in vitro aerosol deposition behaviour using a next generation impactor. The smooth-surfaced spherical morphology of the spray dried microparticles was altered by adding Leu, resulting in particles becoming increasingly wrinkled with increasing Leu. Powders presented low densities. The glass transition temperature was sufficiently high (>90 °C) to suggest good stability at room temperature. As Leu content increased, spray dried powders presented lower residual solvent content, lower particle size, higher fine particle fraction (FPF<5 μm), and lower mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD). The LCF showed a lower FPF and higher MMAD, relative to the spray dried formulations containing more than 10% Leu. Spray dried RHT powders presented better aerodynamic properties, constituting a potential drug delivery system for oral inhalation.

Combination therapy with artemesinin or non-artemesinin-based antimalarials (ACTs or NACTs) are known to retard the development and progression of drug resistance in Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum). The optimal antimalarial combinations in Africa are yet unknown. We evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and effects on gametocyte carriage of Artemether-Lumefantrine (AL) and Amodiaquine-Sulfalene/Pyrimethamine (ASP) in children with P. falciparum malaria in an endemic area. One-hundred and thirty-nine children aged ≤ 10 years with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria were enrolled. The primary end points were adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR), late parasitological failure(LPF), late clinical failure (LCF) and early treatment failure (ETF). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-corrected cure rates on days 14-42 and gametocyte carriage rates were determined. Fever clearance time was significantly shorter (P = 0.009) with ASP, but parasite clearance time was similar with both regimens. Day 28 cure rates were 91.4 and 89.9% (PCR-corrected) for AL and ASP respectively. Both regimens were well tolerated. Overall, gametocyte carriage before and following treatment were similar. Both combinations were found effective and comparable for treatment of acute, uncomplicated, P. falciparum malaria.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to determine whether speech perception could be improved for bimodal listeners (those using a cochlear implant [CI] in one ear and hearing aid in the contralateral ear) by removing low-frequency information provided by the CI, thereby reducing acoustic-electric overlap.

METHODS

Subjects were adult CI subjects with at least 1 year of CI experience. Nine subjects were evaluated in the CI-only condition (control condition), and 26 subjects were evaluated in the bimodal condition. CIs were programmed with 4 experimental programs in which the low cutoff frequency (LCF) was progressively raised. Speech perception was evaluated using Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant words in quiet, AzBio sentences in background babble, and spondee words in background babble.

RESULTS

The CI-only group showed decreased speech perception in both quiet and noise as the LCF was raised. Bimodal subjects with better hearing in the hearing aid ear (< 60 dB HL at 250 and 500 Hz) performed best for words in quiet as the LCF was raised. In contrast, bimodal subjects with worse hearing >> 60 dB HL at 250 and 500 Hz) performed similarly to the CI-only group.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that reducing low-frequency overlap of the CI and contralateral hearing aid may improve performance in quiet for some bimodal listeners with better hearing.

To elucidate compositional changes of human ligaments by aging, the content of elements in anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) and ligamenta capitum femorum (LCFs) was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The subjects consisted of 11 men and 7 women, ranging from 59 to 91 yr of age. With regard to the content of elements, the content of sulfur and iron was significantly higher in the LCFs than in the ACLs. It was found in the ACLs that the content of sulfur decreased gradually with aging, whereas the content of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium increased progressively with aging. On the other hand, it was found in the LCFs that the content of magnesium decreased gradually with aging, where as the content of phosphorus increased progressively with aging. The common finding that the content of phosphorus increased with aging, but the content of iron decreased, was obtained in the ACL and LCF. Regarding sexual difference, it was found in both the ACLs and LCFs that the content of phosphorus was higher in women's ligaments than in men's.

OBJECTIVE

Under the hypothesis that the elbow alignment, namely the carrying angle, could predispose individuals to a specific type of pediatric elbow fracture after a fall onto an outstretched arm, we investigated the relationship between radiographic carrying angle and elbow fracture type in children.

METHODS

Retrospective case-control study.

METHODS

Level I pediatric trauma center.

METHODS

We reviewed 374 children who were diagnosed with supracondylar fracture (SCF, n = 208), lateral condylar fracture (LCF, n = 132), and radial neck fracture (RNF, n = 34).

METHODS

The association between the radiographic carrying angle and the fracture type was investigated.

METHODS

To adjust for bias, 2 statistical methods were used: multivariate analysis using a baseline-category logistic model and a case-matching method using propensity score analysis.

RESULTS

In the multivariate analysis, with SCF patients set as the baseline category, a more valgus-deviated elbow (increased carrying angle, P = 0.011) predisposed individuals to RNF, whereas a more varus-deviated elbow (decreased carrying angle, P < 0.001) predisposed them to LCF. In the case-matched analysis, there were also significant differences in carrying angles between RNF and case-matched SCF patients (14.3 vs. 11.4 degrees, P = 0.013) and between LCF and case-matched SCF patients (7.7 vs. 11.7 degrees, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Elbow alignment, which may influence the transmission of traumatic force during a fall onto an outstretched elbow, could be a predisposing factor for specific types of pediatric elbow fracture. The results provide the additional information about the injury mechanisms of pediatric elbow fracture and may deepen our understanding of the fractures.

METHODS

Prognostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that leads to severe multiorgan damage. Lang Chuang Fang (LCF) is a Chinese herbal medicine that is clinically prescribed for treating SLE. In this study, we examined the therapeutic effects of LCF granule on lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice. Female mice were randomly separated into six groups, and LCF treatment groups received LCF granule at the dosage of 0.97 g/kg/d, 1.95 g/kg/d, and 3.90 g/kg/d, respectively. Here, we found that, compared to the MRL/lpr mice, both the spleen coefficient and thymus coefficient were reduced in the LCF granule-treated mice. There was a marked downregulation in CRP and anti-dsDNA autoantibody and an evident upregulation of CH50 in LCF granule-treated mice. LCF granule treatment also obviously reduced the proteinuria, BUN, and SCr levels in MRL/lpr mice at the dosage of 0.97 g/kg/d, 1.95 g/kg/d, and 3.90 g/kg/d, indicating that LCF granule alleviated the renal injury of MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, LCF granule decreased p65 NF-κB levels and increased Sirt1 and Nrf2 levels in the kidney tissues of MRL/lpr mice, which might elucidate the beneficial effects of LCF on lupus nephritis. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that LCF granule has therapeutic effects on lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice.

Fructans are dietary fibers with beneficial effects on the gastrointestinal physiology and offer a promising approach for the treatment of some metabolic disorders associated with obesity. In vitro and in vivo studies were developed to test the safety of fructans obtained from Agave tequilana Weber var. azul. Additionally, an in vivo experiment using a diet-induced obesity model was performed to compare the effect of agave fructans with different degree of polymerization (DP) profiles: agave fructans with DP>> 10 (LcF), agave FOS with DP < 10 (ScF), and agave fructans with and without demineralization (dTF, TF) versus commercial chicory fructans (OraftiSynergy1™) on the body weight change, fat, total cholesterol, triglycerides and count of fecal Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. Results showed that A. tequilana fructans were not mutagenic and were safe even at a dose of 5 g per kg b.w. Obese mice that received ScF showed a significant decrease in body weight gain, fat tissue and total cholesterol without increasing the count of fecal Bifidobacteria. Whereas, obese mice that received LcF and TF showed decreased triglycerides and an increased count of fecal Bifidobacteria. Interestingly, although obese mice that received dTF did not show changes in body weight gain, fat tissue, total cholesterol or triglycerides, they showed an increase in the count of Bifidobacteria. These results demonstrate that both the degree of polymerization and the demineralization process can influence the biological activity of agave fructans.

As recently reported, one lymphocyte chemotactic factor (beta-LCF, mol. wt. about 27,000) released from activated guinea-pig lymphocytes appeared to be identical to one of the LCFs (LCF-d) isolated from extract of purified protein derivative (PPD)-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity skin reaction sites in guinea-pigs with respect to antigenicity and chemotactic effect for T cells. However, the mol. wt. of LCF-d (about 300,000) was clearly distinct from beta-LCF. The experiments were undertaken to clarify the problem. beta-LCF appeared to be bound to some protein of normal guinea-pig serum (GPS) because the chemotactic activity was revealed in the fraction corresponding to that of LCF-d when the mixtures of beta-LCF with GPS were applied to a Sephadex G-200 column. Additionally, binding experiments using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled beta-LCF were performed; fluorescence was only detected in the chemotactic fraction. It was thus assumed that the lymphokine (beta-LCF) would be released from activated lymphocytes around the inflammatory tissue, then bound with serum protein exuded in the site and function as LCF-d. The possibility was supported by the evidence that beta-LCF like-chemotactic substance (mol. wt. about 27,000) was dissociated from LCF-d under acid conditions. The factor dissociated from LCF-d was also bound with GPS protein under neutral conditions and converted to high molecular substance resembling LCF-d physiochemically. Furthermore, the chemotactic activity of LCF-d was almost completely absorbed by antibody against GPS. It is thus considered that the chemotactic activity of LCF-d may be attributed to beta-LCF released from activated lymphocytes and that some serum protein which binds beta-LCF may function as a carrier protein in the DTH sites.

The immobilization of Pb in contaminated soils as pyromorphite [Pb(5)(PO(4))(3)Cl, OH, F] through the addition of various phosphate amendments has gained much attention in the remediation community. However, it is difficult to fully determine the speciation and amount of soil Pb converted to pyromorphite by previously employed methods, such as selective sequential extraction procedures and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, which often lead to erroneous results in these non-equilibrated and heterogeneous systems. Statistical analysis by linear combination fitting (LCF) applied to X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopic data of Pb-contaminated soil samples relative to known Pb reference material provides direct, in situ evidence of dominate Pb species in the amended soils without chemical or physical disruption to the Pb species as well as a weighted quantification output. The LCF-XAFS approach illustrated that pyromorphite concentration ranged from 0% (control soil) to 45% (1% phosphoric acid amendment, residence time of 32 mo) relative to the total Pb concentration. The Pb speciation in the nonamended control soil included Pb-sulfur species (galena + angelsite = 53%), adsorbed Pb (inner-sphere + outer-sphere + organic-bound = 45%), and Pb-carbonate phases (cerussite + hydrocerussite = 2%). The addition of P promoted pyromorphite formation and the rate of formation increased with increasing P concentration (up to 45%). The supplemental addition of an iron amendment as an iron-rich byproduct with triple superphosphate (TSP) enhanced pyromorphite formation relative to independent TSP amendment of like concentrations (41 versus 29%). However, the amendment of biosolids and biosolids plus TSP observed little pyromorphite formation (1-16% of total Pb), but a significant increase of sorbed Pb was determined by LCF-XAFS.

Leukocyte chemotactic factors (LCF) are important inflammatory mediators which activate and recruit leukocytes from the circulation into sites of tissue damage. These factors were recently detected in the tear fluid of inflamed eyes induced by alkali burn. It remains unclear, however, whether the detected LCF are released from injured corneal tissues or leaked from the circulation. Using a corneal cup model developed in our laboratory, we began examining the capability of corneal tissues to produce LCF in response to alkali injury. We also evaluated the influence of citric acid on the production of LCF from corneas preinjured by the alkali sodium hydroxide (NaOH). For these studies, the epithelial surfaces of corneas isolated from bovine and human eyes were exposed to 1N NaOH for 35 seconds at room temperature. The NaOH was then removed and the epithelial surfaces washed once with buffer and incubated with culture medium for 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours at 37 degrees C/5% CO2 atmosphere. Our results showed that (1) NaOH2 induced corneal epithelial cell injury ranging from cell discoloration and moderate damage of the upper half of the epithelium (1-4 hrs) to total destruction of the epithelium (6 hrs); (2) NaOH-injured corneas (2 hr incubation post injury) produced significant levels of chemotactic activity (via checkerboard analysis) specific for neutrophils (115% maximum chemotactic response [MCR]) and mononuclear cells (94% MCR); (3) preliminary characterization of these factors revealed that they are protease and heat sensitive, extractable by organic solvents, and possess molecular weight values greater than 100,000 daltons; and (4) incubation of NaOH-pretreated corneas with 0.01% citric acid for 2 hours markedly inhibited the production of LCF for both neutrophils (98% inhibition) and mononuclear cells (91% inhibition). Results of these studies indicate that alkali-burned bovine and human corneas generate leukocyte chemoattractants which differ in their biochemical characteristics from previously known low molecular weight chemotactic factors such as C5a, interleukin-1, or leukotriene B4.

The protective mechanisms employed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to reduce the toxic effects of arsenic on host plants remain partially unknown. The goal of this research was identifying the in situ localization and speciation of arsenic (As) in the AM fungus Rhizophagus intraradices [formerly named Glomus intraradices] exposed to arsenate [As(V)]. By using a two-compartment in vitro fungal cultures of R. intraradices-transformed carrot roots, microspectroscopic X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF), and microspectroscopic X-ray absorption near edge structure (μ-XANES), we observed that As(V) is absorbed after 1 h in the hyphae of AMF. Three hours after exposure a decrease in the concentration of As was noticed and after 24 and 72 h no detectable As concentrations were perceived suggesting that As taken up was pumped out from the hyphae. No As was detected within the roots or hyphae in the root compartment zone three or 45 h after exposure. This suggests a dual protective mechanism to the plant by rapidly excluding As from the fungus and preventing As translocation to the plant root. μ-XANES data showed that gradual As(V) reduction occurred in the AM hyphae between 1 and 3 h after arsenic exposure and was completed after 6 h. Principal component analysis (PCA) and linear combination fitting (LCF) of μ-XANES data showed that the dominant species after reduction of As(V) by R. intraradices extra-radical hyphal was As(III) complexed with a reduced iron(II) carbonate compound. The second most abundant As species present was As(V)-iron hydroxides. The remaining As(III) compounds identified by the LCF analyses suggested these molecules were made of reduced As and S. These results increase our knowledge on the mechanism of As transport in AMF and validate our hypotheses that R. intraradices directly participates in arsenic detoxification. These fungal mechanisms may help AMF colonized plants to increase their tolerance to As at contaminated sites.

Albizzia saman, a leguminous plant, is known to open its leaves in the daytime and sleep at night with the leaves folded. beta-D-Glucopyranosyl 12-hydroxyjasmonate (1) was isolated as an endogenous chemical factor controlling this leafmovement. We developed a concise synthesis of optically pure (-)-1 in 9 steps from (+)-2 with a total yield of 58%. Similarly, such analogs of 1 as epi-LCF (13), enantiomer (14), and galactoside (19) were synthesized for a structure activity relationship (SAR) study. The results of this SAR study strongly suggest that the mechanism for the leaf-closing activity of 1 would be different from that of methyl jasmonate, and also suggest the involvement of a different kind of target protein which recognizes the trans-isomer of a jasmonate derivative.

The present study used cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to measure the inter- and intrafraction uncertainties for intracranial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) using the Leksell Gamma Knife (GK).

Using a novel CBCT system adapted to the GK radiosurgery treatment unit, CBCT images were acquired immediately before and after treatment for each treatment session within the context of a research ethics board-approved prospective clinical trial. Patients were immobilized in the Leksell coordinate frame (LCF) for both volumetric CBCT imaging and GK-SRS delivery. The relative displacement of the patient's skull to the stereotactic reference (interfraction motion) was measured for each CBCT scan. Differences between the pre- and post-treatment CBCT scans were used to determine the intrafraction motion.

We analyzed 20 pre- and 17 post-treatment CBCT scans in 20 LCF patients treated with SRS. The mean translational pretreatment setup error ± standard deviation in the left-right, anteroposterior, and craniocaudal directions was -0.19 ± 0.32, 0.06 ± 0.27, and -0.23 ± 0.2 mm, with a maximum of -0.74, -0.53, and -0.68 mm, respectively. After an average time between the pre- and post-treatment CBCT scans of 82 minutes (range 27-170), the mean intrafraction error ± standard deviation for the LCF was -0.03 ± 0.05, -0.03 ± 0.18, and -0.03 ± 0.12 mm in the left-right, anteroposterior, and craniocaudual direction, respectively.

Using CBCT on a prototype image guided GK Perfexion unit, we were able to measure the inter- and intrafraction positional changes for GK-SRS using the invasive frame. In the era of image guided radiation therapy, the use of CBCT image guidance for both frame- and non-frame-based immobilization systems could serve as a useful quality assurance tool. Our preliminary measurements can guide the application of achievable thresholds for inter- and intrafraction discrepancy when moving to a frameless approach.

We have investigated the use of multimode fiber in optical coherence tomography (OCT) with a mode filter that selectively suppresses the power of the high-order modes (HOMs). A large-core fiber (LCF) that has a moderate number of guiding modes was found to be an attractive alternative to the conventional single-mode fiber for its large mode area and the consequentially wide Rayleigh range of the output beam if the HOMs of the LCF were efficiently filtered out by a mode filter installed in the middle. For this, a simple mode filtering scheme of a fiber-coil mode filter was developed in this study. The LCF was uniformly coiled by an optimal bend radius with a fiber winder, specially devised for making a low-loss mode filter. The feasibility of the mode-filtered LCF in OCT imaging was tested with a common-path OCT system. It has been successfully demonstrated that our mode-filtered LCF can provide a useful imaging or sensing probe without an objective lens that greatly simplifies the structure of the probing optics.

We present a large-core fiber (LCF) with a reduced nonlinear property for a single-mode beam delivery of intense ultrashort pulses. A tapered-fiber mode filter was fabricated in an LCF with the core diameter decreased from 20 μm to 6 μm at the tapered waist region surrounded by index-matched liquid. By the tapered geometry, the high-order mode was rejected so that our mode-filtered LCF acted as a single-mode fiber despite the multimode property of the original LCF. It has been found that this fiber class is suitable for applications, such as an endoscopic multiphoton microscope, that demand a flexible short-distance (<4 m) delivery medium of ultrashort pulses.

BACKGROUND

The role of plasma glutamine, fish oil and antioxidants concentrations in the treatment effect of immune-modulating high-protein versus high-protein enteral nutrition on 6-month mortality in critically ill patients is explored, as unexpected negative outcomes of recent large randomized controlled trials on immune-modulating nutrients have raised questions about safety of these interventions.

METHODS

Post hoc analysis of the MetaPlus randomized controlled trial which was performed in a total of 301 medical, surgical and trauma critically ill patients in fourteen European intensive care units. Patients received either immune-modulating (glutamine, fish oil and antioxidant enriched) high-protein (IMHP) or isocaloric high-protein (HP) enteral nutrition. Six-month mortality and baseline, day 4 and day 8 plasma concentrations of glutamine, (eicosapentaenoicacid + decosahexaenoicacid)/long-chain fatty acid plasma level ratio ((epa + dha)/lcf ratio), selenium, vitamin c, vitamin e and zinc were measured.

RESULTS

The harmful treatment effect of the IMHP versus HP enteral nutrition on 6-month mortality was only demonstrated in the medical subgroup (HR 2.52, 95% CI 1.36-4.78, P = 0.004). Among medical patients, when corrected for age groups and APACHE-II scores, there were no statistically significant associations between baseline plasma levels and 6-month mortality, except for zinc (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.00-1.12, P = 0.026). IMHP feeding resulted in statistically significant increase in plasma levels of glutamine, vitamin e, vitamin c and (epa + dha)/lcf ratio from baseline to day 4, while only the change from baseline to day 4 of (epa + dha)/lcf ratio was statistically significant associated with 6-month mortality (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.02-1.35, P = 0.021) and identified as mediator for the harmful treatment effect of IMHP enteral nutrition among medical ICU patients.

CONCLUSIONS

We hypothesize that the harmful effect of IMHP compared to HP enteral nutrition in a heterogeneous group of critically ill patients is limited to the medical critically ill patients and mediated by an early increase in (epa + dha)/lcf ratio. Trial Registration Dutch Trial Register 26 January 2010 (NTR2181 http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=2181 ).

Land use has significantly changed during the recent decades at global and local scale, while the importance of ecosystems as sources/sinks of C has been highlighted, emphasizing the global impact of land use changes. Land use changes can increase C loss rates which are extremely difficult to reverse, in the short term, opposite to organic carbon (OC) which accumulates in soil in the long-term. The aim of this research is to improve and test methodologies to assess land cover change (LCC) dynamics and temporal and spatial variability in C stored in vegetation at a wide scale. LCCs between 1956 and 2007 in Andalusia (Southern Spain) were selected for this pilot study, assessed by comparison of spatial data from 1956 to 2007 and were reclassified following land cover flows (LCFs) reported in major areas in Europe. Carbon vegetation densities were related to land cover, and C vegetation stocks for 1956 and 2007 were calculated by multiplying C density for each land cover class with land cover areas. The study area has supported important changes during the studied period with significant consequences for vegetation C stocks, mainly due to afforestation and intensification of agriculture, resulting in a total vegetation C stock of 156.08Tg in 2007, with an increase of 17.24Tg since 1956. This study demonstrates the importance of LCC for C sequestration in vegetation from Mediterranean areas, highlighting possible directions for management policies in order to mitigate climate change as well as promoting land conservation. The methodologies and information generated in this project will be a useful basis for designing land management strategies helpful for decision makers.

The cloning potential of PHA-treated T cells is significantly enhanced when lymphocyte culture fluid (LCF) from mitogen-treated lymphocytes is added to the soft agar culture system. The mitogens seem to stimulate the release of a lymphocyte colony enhancing factor (LCEF) into the culture medium. A study of the physico-chemical properties of the LCEF revealed that it is a nondialyzable, heat-labile molecule which migrates in the haptoglobin (2--2) post-transferrin region in acrylamide electrophoresis. It is stable to RNase and DNase but labile to papain and trypsin. The LCEF was partially purified from the crude LCF using a sequence of techniques--ammonium sulphate precipitation, DEAE-cellulose and Bio-Gel P-150 chromatography and disc electrophoresis. The mol. wt of the purified LCEF, determined from gel filtration chromatography, was 90,000--110,000.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to assess the potential of oral myofunctional therapy (OMFT) for improving respiration parameters, Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), and saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2) during sleep.

METHODS

The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was administered to 92 students in class time at the Nihon University School of Dentistry at Matsudo. The results showed that 15 students had a high ESS. Of the 15 students who had learnt about their excessive sleepiness, six students expressed their intention to receive treatment for their sleep condition. They volunteered as subjects for the study. The Lip Trainer Patakara(®) was used for labial closure force (LCF) training for 2 months. LCF, AHI and SPO2 during sleep were measured before training and after 2 months training. The paired t-test was applied for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

LCFs before and 2 months after training were 8.8 ± 1.6 and 12.9 ± 0.6N, respectively. LCF significantly increased after training compared to that before training. SpO2 before training and after training were 90.0 ± 2.9% and 96.8±0.8%, respectively. SpO2 after training was significantly increased compared to that before training. AHI before and after training were 15.1 ± 3.4 and 9.2 ± 1.5 events/h, respectively. AHI after training was significantly decreased compared to that before training.

CONCLUSIONS

From this study, the following conclusions were made: (1) OMFT significantly increases LCF; and (2) the AHI and SpO2 during sleep are significantly improved after OMFT.

There is evidence that spontaneous blinking correlates with cognitive functions. This arises from the observation that blinking rate (BR) is modulated by arousal levels, basic cognitive processes (e.g., attention, information processing, memory, etc.) and more complex cognitive functions (e.g., reading, speaking, etc.). The aim of this work was to test the role of BR evaluation in the assessment of cognitive network functioning in awake patients with consciousness deficits. Thirteen patients were recruited for the study, and were assessed by the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) and Glasgow outcome scale (GOS) on admittance and discharge, respectively. A level of cognitive functioning scale (LCFS) score was assigned at every change in awareness or at least every 2 weeks. At the same time as the clinical tests, the BR was observed for a 5-min period. Ten healthy subjects, observed throughout three non-consecutive days, formed the control group. The BR underwent a different temporal behaviour in the two diagnostic categories. In the persistent vegetative state (PVS) group it remained stable throughout time and linked with the clinical conditions of the patients; whereas in the non-persistent vegetative state (NPVS) group it decreased over time as the cognitive conditions improved. Moreover, a strong inverse correlation was found between overall BR values and LCFS scores. We have concluded that the blinking behaviour changes manifested in PVS and NPVS patients reflect different evolution phases of a cholinergic-dopaminergic imbalance, and that a reduced BR characterizes the early stages of consciousness recovery.

The leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis), a member of the felidae family, is a threatened animal in South Korea. In terms of protecting endangered felids, nuclear transfer (NT) is a potentially valuable technique for assuring the continuation of species with dwindling numbers. In the present experiment, nuclear and microtubule remodeling and the in vitro developmental potential of enucleated domestic cat oocytes reconstructed with nuclei of somatic cells from either domestic cat fibroblast (DCF) or leopard cat fibroblast (LCF) were evaluated. Microtubule aster is allocated to de-condensed chromatin following nuclear transfer (3h after activation) of fibroblast cells from both domestic and leopard cats, suggesting the introduction of a somatic cell centrosome. The transferred fibroblast nuclei formed a large, swollen, pronuclear-like structure in most reconstructed oocytes, in the cat or leopard cat. At 18h following nuclear transfer, mitosis occurred, and according to the photo (F) it appears that spindle microtubules and two asters were observed. The percentages of blastocyst formation from nuclear transfer embryos derived from domestic cat fibroblasts (4/46, 8.6%) were not significantly different than those for nuclear transfer embryos constructed with leopard cat fibroblasts (4/52, 7.6%). These results indicate that nuclear and microtubule remodeling processes and in vitro developmental ability are similar in reconstructed cat oocytes following transfer of nuclei from either domestic or leopard cats.

Combined high and low cycle fatigue (CCF) generally induces the failure of aircraft gas turbine attachments. Based on the aero-engine load spectrum, accurate assessment of fatigue damage due to the interaction of high cycle fatigue (HCF) resulting from high frequency vibrations and low cycle fatigue (LCF) from ground-air-ground engine cycles is of critical importance for ensuring structural integrity of engine components, like turbine blades. In this paper, the influence of combined damage accumulation on the expected CCF life are investigated for turbine blades. The CCF behavior of a turbine blade is usually studied by testing with four load-controlled parameters, including high cycle stress amplitude and frequency, and low cycle stress amplitude and frequency. According to this, a new damage accumulation model is proposed based on Miner's rule to consider the coupled damage due to HCF-LCF interaction by introducing the four load parameters. Five experimental datasets of turbine blade alloys and turbine blades were introduced for model validation and comparison between the proposed Miner, Manson-Halford, and Trufyakov-Kovalchuk models. Results show that the proposed model provides more accurate predictions than others with lower mean and standard deviation values of model prediction errors.