Influence of the ratio of particulate autogenous bone graft/platelet-rich plasma on bone healing in critical-size defects: a histologic and histometric study in rat calvaria

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Right ventricle best predicts the race performance in amateur ironman athletes

PURPOSE The ironman (IM) triathlon is a popular ultraendurance competition, consisting of 3.8 km of swimming, 180.2 km of cycling, and 42.2 km of running. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of IM race time, comparing echocardiographic findings, anthropometric measures, and training characteristics. METHODS Amateur IM athletes (ATHL) participating in the Zurich IM race in 2010 were included. Participants were examined the day before the race by a comprehensive echocardiographic examination. Moreover, anthropometric measurements were obtained the same day. During the 3 months before the race, each IM-ATHL maintained a detailed training diary. Recorded data were related to total IM race time. RESULTS Thirty-eight IM finishers (mean ± SD age = 38 ± 9 yr, 32 men [84%]) were evaluated. Total race time was 684 ± 89 min (mean ± SD). For right ventricular fractional area change (45% ± 7%, Spearman ρ = -0.33, P = 0.05), a weak correlation with race time was observed. Race performance exhibited stronger associations with percent body fat (15.2 ± 5.6%, ρ = 0.56, P = 0.001), speed in running training (11.7 ± 1.2 km · h(-1), ρ = -0.52, P = 0.002), and left ventricular myocardial mass index (98 ± 24 g · m(-2), ρ = -0.42, P = 0.009). The strongest association was found between race time and right ventricular end-diastolic area (22 ± 4 cm2, ρ = -0.64, P < 0.0001). In multivariate analysis, right ventricular end-diastolic area (β = -16.7, 95% confidence interval = -27.3 to -6.1, P = 0.003) and percent body fat (β = 6.8, 95% confidence interval = 1.1-12.6, P = 0.02) were independently predictive of IM race time. CONCLUSIONS In amateur IM-ATHL, RV end-diastolic area and percent body fat were independently related to race performance. RV end-diastolic area was the strongest predictor of race time. The role of the RV in endurance exercise may thus be more important than previously thought and needs to be further studied.

Geochemistry of Miocene Alborán Basin volcanism

We present new major and trace element and O-Sr-Nd-isotope data for igneous rocks from the western Mediterranean Alborán Sea, collected during the METEOR 51/1 cruise, and for high-grade schists and gneisses from the continental Alborán basement, drilled during the Ocean Drilling Programme (ODP Leg 161, Site 976). The geochemical data allow a detailed examination of crustal and mantle processes involved in the petrogenesis of the lavas and for the first time reveal a zonation of the Miocene Alborán Sea volcanism: (1) a keel-shaped area of LREE-depleted (mainly tholeiitic series) lavas in the central Alborán Sea, generated by high degrees of partial melting of a depleted mantle source and involving hydrous fluids from subducted marine sediments, that is surrounded by (2) a horseshoe-shaped zone with LREE-enriched (mainly calc-alkaline series) lavas subparallel to the arcuate Betic-Gibraltar-Rif mountain belt. We propose that the geochemical zonation of the Miocene Alborán Basin volcanism results from eastward subduction of Tethys oceanic lithosphere coupled with increasing lithospheric thickness between the central Alborán Sea and the continental margins of Iberia and Africa.

Effect of ocean acidification and pH fluctuations on the growth and development of coralline algal recruits, and an associated benthic algal assemblage

Coralline algae are susceptible to the changes in the seawater carbonate system associated with ocean acidification (OA). However, the coastal environments in which corallines grow are subject to large daily pH fluctuations which may affect their responses to OA. Here, we followed the growth and development of the juvenile coralline alga Arthrocardia corymbosa, which had recruited into experimental conditions during a prior experiment, using a novel OA laboratory culture system to simulate the pH fluctuations observed within a kelp forest. Microscopic life history stages are considered more susceptible to environmental stress than adult stages; we compared the responses of newly recruited A. corymbosa to static and fluctuating seawater pH with those of their field-collected parents. Recruits were cultivated for 16 weeks under static pH 8.05 and 7.65, representing ambient and 4*preindustrial pCO2 concentrations, respectively, and two fluctuating pH treatments of daily (daytime pH = 8.45, night-time pH = 7.65) and daily (daytime pH = 8.05, night-time pH = 7.25). Positive growth rates of new recruits were recorded in all treatments, and were highest under static pH 8.05 and lowest under fluctuating pH 7.65. This pattern was similar to the adults' response, except that adults had zero growth under fluctuating pH 7.65. The % dry weight of MgCO3 in calcite of the juveniles was reduced from 10% at pH 8.05 to 8% at pH 7.65, but there was no effect of pH fluctuation. A wide range of fleshy macroalgae and at least 6 species of benthic diatoms recruited across all experimental treatments, from cryptic spores associated with the adult A. corymbosa. There was no effect of experimental treatment on the growth of the benthic diatoms. On the community level, pH-sensitive species may survive lower pH in the presence of diatoms and fleshy macroalgae, whose high metabolic activity may raise the pH of the local microhabitat.

Hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean

Introduction: Chemical composition of water determines its physical properties and character of processes proceeding in it: freezing temperature, volume of evaporation, density, color, transparency, filtration capacity, etc. Presence of chemical elements in water solution confers waters special physical properties exerting significant influence on their circulation, creates necessary conditions for development and inhabitance of flora and fauna, and imparts to the ocean waters some chemical features that radically differ them from the land waters (Alekin & Liakhin, 1984). Hydrochemical information helps to determine elements of water circulation, convection depth, makes it easier to distinguish water masses and gives additional knowledge of climatic variability of ocean conditions. Hydrochemical information is a necessary part of biological research. Water chemical composition can be the governing characteristics determining possibility and limits of use of marine objects, both stationary and moving in sea water. Subject of investigation of hydrochemistry is study of dynamics of chemical composition, i.e. processes of its formation and hydrochemical conditions of water bodies (Alekin & Liakhin 1984). The hydrochemical processes in the Arctic Ocean are the least known. Some information on these processes can be obtained in odd publications. A generalizing study of hydrochemical conditions in the Arctic Ocean based on expeditions conducted in the years 1948-1975 has been carried out by Rusanov et al. (1979). The "Atlas of the World Ocean: the Arctic Ocean" contains a special section "Hydrochemistry" (Gorshkov, 1980). Typical vertical profiles, transects and maps for different depths - 0, 100, 300, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000 m are given in this section for the following parameters: dissolved oxygen, phosphate, silicate, pH and alkaline-chlorine coefficient. The maps were constructed using the data of expeditions conducted in the years 1948-1975. The illustrations reflect main features of distribution of the hydrochemical elements for multi-year period and represent a static image of hydrochemical conditions. Distribution of the hydrochemical elements on the ocean surface is given for two seasons - winter and summer, for the other depths are given mean annual fields. Aim of the present Atlas is description of hydrochemical conditions in the Arctic Ocean on the basis of a greater body of hydrochemical information for the years 1948-2000 and using the up-to-date methods of analysis and electronic forms of presentation of hydrochemical information. The most wide-spread characteristics determined in water samples were used as hydrochemical indices. They are: dissolved oxygen, phosphate, silicate, pH, total alkalinity, nitrite and nitrate. An important characteristics of water salt composition - "salinity" has been considered in the Oceanographic Atlas of the Arctic Ocean (1997, 1998). Presentation of the hydrochemical characteristics in this Hydrochemical Atlas is wider if compared with that of the former Atlas (Gorshkov, 1980). Maps of climatic distribution of the hydrochemical elements were constructed for all the standard depths, and seasonal variability of the hydrochemical parameters is given not only for the surface, but also for the underlying standard depths up to 400 m and including. Statistical characteristics of the hydrochemical elements are given for the first time. Detailed accuracy estimates of initial data and map construction are also given in the Atlas. Calculated values of mean-root deviations, maximum and minimum values of the parameters demonstrate limits of their variability for the analyzed period of observations. Therefore, not only investigations of chemical statics are summarized in the Atlas, but also some elements of chemical dynamics are demonstrated. Digital arrays of the hydrochemical elements obtained in nodes of a regular grid are the new form of characteristics presentation in the Atlas. It should be mentioned that the same grid and the same boxes were used in the Atlas, as those that had been used by creation of the US-Russian climatic Oceanographic Atlas. It allows to combine hydrochemical and oceanographic information of these Atlases. The first block of the digital arrays contains climatic characteristics calculated using direct observational data. These climatic characteristics were not calculated in the regions without observations, and the information arrays for these regions have gaps. The other block of climatic information in a gridded form was obtained with the help of objective analysis of observational data. Procedure of the objective analysis allowed us to obtain climatic estimates of the hydrochemical characteristics for the whole water area of the Arctic Ocean including the regions not covered by observations. Data of the objective analysis can be widely used, in particular, in hydrobiological investigations and in modeling of hydrochemical conditions of the Arctic Ocean. Array of initial measurements is a separate block. It includes all the available materials of hydrochemical observations in the form, as they were presented in different sources. While keeping in mind that this array contains some amount of perverted information, the authors of the Atlas assumed it necessary to store this information in its primary form. Methods of data quality control can be developed in future in the process of hydrochemical information accumulation. It can be supposed that attitude can vary in future to the data that were rejected according to the procedure accepted in the Atlas. The hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean is the first specialized and electronic generalization of hydrochemical observations in the Arctic Ocean and finishes the program of joint efforts of Russian and US specialists in preparation of a number of atlases for the Arctic. The published Oceanographic Atlas (1997, 1998), Atlas of Arctic Meteorology and Climate (2000), Ice Atlas of the Arctic Ocean prepared for publication and Hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean represent a united series of fundamental generalizations of empirical knowledge of Arctic Ocean nature at climatic level. The Hydrochemical Atlas of the Arctic Ocean was elaborated in the result of joint efforts of the SRC of the RF AARI and IARC. Dr. Ye. Nikiforov was scientific supervisor of the Atlas, Dr. R. Colony was manager on behalf of the USA and Dr. L. Timokhov - on behalf of Russia.

Mineralogical compositions of sediment samples from the San Francisco Bay coastal system

The mineralogical compositions of 119 samples collected from throughout the San Francisco Bay coastal system, including bayfloor and seafloor, area beaches, cliff outcrops, and major drainages, were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD). Comparison of the mineral concentrations and application of statistical cluster analysis of XRD spectra allowed for the determination of provenances and transport pathways. The use of XRD mineral identifications provides semi-quantitative compositions needed for comparisons of beach and offshore sands with potential cliff and river sources, but the innovative cluster analysis of XRD diffraction spectra provides a unique visualization of how groups of samples within the San Francisco Bay coastal system are related so that sand-sized sediment transport pathways can be inferred. The main vector for sediment transport as defined by the XRD analysis is from San Francisco Bay to the outer coast, where the sand then accumulates on the ebb tidal delta and also moves alongshore. This mineralogical link defines a critical pathway because large volumes of sediment have been removed from the Bay over the last century via channel dredging, aggregate mining, and borrow pit mining, with comparable volumes of erosion from the ebb tidal delta over the same period, in addition to high rates of shoreline retreat along the adjacent, open-coast beaches. Therefore, while previously only a temporal relationship was established, the transport pathway defined by mineralogical and geochemical tracers support the link between anthropogenic activities in the Bay and widespread erosion outside the Bay. The XRD results also establish the regional and local importance of sediment derived from cliff erosion, as well as both proximal and distal fluvial sources. This research is an important contribution to a broader provenance study aimed at identifying the driving forces for widespread geomorphic change in a heavily urbanized coastal-estuarine system.

Genetic diversity of the Australian National Mango Genebank

Assessment of genetic diversity is an essential component in germplasm characterisation and utilisation. In this study the genetic diversity of mango was determined among 254 Mangifera indica L. accessions and related Mangifera species originating from 12 diverse geographic areas using eleven known simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers from mango. A total of 133 alleles were detected, ranging from eight (LMMA12) to 16 (MIAC-5) alleles per locus with a mean value of 12.36 and an average polymorphism information content (PLC) of 0.72. The mean number of alleles (8.45) was highest in the South East Asian accessions (Indonesia/Malesia) and lowest in the accessions from the Philippines (2.55). Diversity analysis divided the accessions into four major nodes broadly representing their geographical origins. The genetic diversity of 'Kensington Pride' was confirmed as being very low and no parents for this cultivar were identified. No association could be established between SSR markers analysed and embryony. Ten synonymous accessions were identified with matching genetic identity with at least one other accession at all SSR loci examined. Twenty-two unique genotypes were identified for 50 trees previously assigned different accession names. The remaining accessions were genetically distinct from each other. This increased understanding of genetic diversity in the Australian National Mango Genebank will assist breeders to better select parents with the potential to contribute desired genes to the progeny and thus more rapidly deliver improved cultivars to industry to meet consumer demand. Crown Copyright (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A self-supported 40W direct methanol fuel cell system

A self-supported 40W Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) system has been developed and performance tested. The auxiliaries in the DMFC system comprise a methanol sensor, a liquid-level indicator, and fuel and air pumps that consume a total power of about 5W. The system has a 15-cell DMFC stack with active electrode-area of 45 cm(2). The self-supported DMFC system addresses issues related to water recovery from the cathode exhaust, and maintains a constant methanol-feed concentration with thermal management in the system. Pure methanol and water from cathode exhaust are pumped to the methanol-mixing tank where the liquid level is monitored and controlled with the help of a liquid-level indicator. During the operation, methanol concentration in the feed solution at the stack outlet is monitored using a methanol sensor, and pure methanol is added to restore the desired methanol concentration in the feed tank by adding the product water from the cathode exhaust. The feed-rate requirements of fuel and oxidant are designed for the stack capacity of 40W. The self-supported DMFC system is ideally suited for various defense and civil applications and, in particular, for charging the storage batteries.

Scale-dependent relationships between tree species richness and ecosystem function in forests

1. The relationship between species richness and ecosystem function, as measured by productivity or biomass, is of long-standing theoretical and practical interest in ecology. This is especially true for forests, which represent a majority of global biomass, productivity and biodiversity. 2. Here, we conduct an analysis of relationships between tree species richness, biomass and productivity in 25 forest plots of area 8-50ha from across the world. The data were collected using standardized protocols, obviating the need to correct for methodological differences that plague many studies on this topic. 3. We found that at very small spatial grains (0.04ha) species richness was generally positively related to productivity and biomass within plots, with a doubling of species richness corresponding to an average 48% increase in productivity and 53% increase in biomass. At larger spatial grains (0.25ha, 1ha), results were mixed, with negative relationships becoming more common. The results were qualitatively similar but much weaker when we controlled for stem density: at the 0.04ha spatial grain, a doubling of species richness corresponded to a 5% increase in productivity and 7% increase in biomass. Productivity and biomass were themselves almost always positively related at all spatial grains. 4. Synthesis. This is the first cross-site study of the effect of tree species richness on forest biomass and productivity that systematically varies spatial grain within a controlled methodology. The scale-dependent results are consistent with theoretical models in which sampling effects and niche complementarity dominate at small scales, while environmental gradients drive patterns at large scales. Our study shows that the relationship of tree species richness with biomass and productivity changes qualitatively when moving from scales typical of forest surveys (0.04ha) to slightly larger scales (0.25 and 1ha). This needs to be recognized in forest conservation policy and management.

Efecto de la densidad de siembra y nivel de fertilizacion nitrogenada sobre el rendimiento de Moringa oleifera en suelo franco arcilloso. Universidad Nacional Agraria (UNA). Managua, Nicaragua

El presente trabajo se realizó con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto de dos densidades de siembra y cuatro niveles nitrogenados sobre la producción de Moringa oleífera. El ensayo se llevó a cabo en la finca Santa Rosa, localizada geográficamente de 12°08’15’’ a latitud Norte y 86°09’36’’ a longitud e ste, municipio de Managua, de mayo 2008 a septiembre 2009; el diseño experimental fue un bifactorial con parcela dividida usando las densidades como parcela principal (100,000 plantas ha-1 y 166,666 plantas ha-1) y los niveles de fertilización (0 kg N ha año-1, 446 kg N ha año-1, 906.2 kg N ha año-1, 1334 kg N ha año-1)como sub -parcela. Las variables de estudio fueron: rendimiento de materia fresca total (RMFT), rendimiento de materia fresca fracción fina (RMFFF), rendimiento de materia fresca fracción gruesa (RMFFG), rendimiento de materia seca total (RMST), rendimiento de materia seca fracción fina (RMSFF), rendimiento de materia seca fracción gruesa (RMFFG), a ltura promedio de plantas, Mortalidad de plantas y Tasa de crecimiento (TC). Se realizó análisis de varianza (ANDEVA) y comparaciones con la prueba de Tukey utilizando MINITAB, versión 13.0. Los resultados en el ANDEVA, mostraron que la fertilización presentó efecto significativo (P<0.05) con los mejores rendimientos el nivel 150 %, con RMFT (69.17 to n ha año-1), RMFFF (60.72 ton ha año-1), RMFG (8.45 ton ha año-1), RMST (10.81 ton ha año-1), RMSFF (9.69 ton ha año -1), RMSFG (1.12 ton ha año-1), Altura de las plantas(1.33 m) y TC( 28.91), la densidad de siembra presentó efectos significativos (P<0.05)sólo para la variable Mortalidad con (18.08 %).

小型跨声速高雷诺数实验装置

<正> (一)引言近代,随着大型飞行器的出现,飞行雷诺数大大提高;C-141飞机事件的出现更使跨声速下雷诺数效应问题成为设计先进飞机和导弹的主要问题.人们迫切需要寻找一种能实现高雷诺数的试验设备.七十年代初期,美国和北大西洋公约组织都成立了专门小组从事这项研究.从雷诺数的定义Re=ρul/μ知道,提高雷诺数有三个途径:增加模型尺度l;提高气体密

Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em adolescentes das regiões Nordeste e Sudeste do Brasil, 1996-1997

A questão nutricional tem sido objeto de interesse da saúde pública, não só em nosso país, como também em outros, independentemente dos diferentes níveis de desenvolvimento. O sobrepeso e a obesidade são considerados agravos nutricionais importantes, cuja frequência vem aumentando entre adolescentes, acarretando consequências negativas, imediatas ou futuras, para a saúde. Este estudo pretende descrever a prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em adolescentes, segundo o sexo, nas regiões Nordeste e Sudeste do Brasil, e investigar a sua reação com fatores socioeconômicos e com a prática de atividade física. A investigação tem como base os dados da Pesquisa sobre Padrões de Vida (PPV) do IBGE, realizada entre março de 1995 e março de 1997, nas duas regiões. Dadas as peculiaridades de crescimento e desenvolvimento durante essa fase da vida, somados a ausência de dados sobre maturação sexual, optou-se por incluir os dados de adolescentes de 15 a 19 anos de idade. A amostra contou com os dados de 1027 adolescentes da Região Nordeste e 854 da Região Sudeste com amplo predomínio numérico nas áreas urbanas em ambas regiões.O termo sobrepeso/obesidade foi utilizada para caracterizar os adolescentes que se encontravam com valores de índice de Massa Corporal (IMC) iguais ou acima do percentil 85, de acordo com o sexo e a idade, da distribuição de IMC da população norte americana (WHO, 1995). A análise estatística considerou os fatores de expansão e o desenho da amostra. A prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade foi de 8,45% IC 95% 6,51-10,90) na Região Nordeste, contra 11,53% (IC 95% 8,90- 14,81) na Região Sudeste. No Nordeste, observou-se maior risco de sobrepeso/obesidade para adolescentes do sexo feminino (razão de prevalência: RP meninas/meninos=3,00; IC 95% 1,73-5,22), situação que se manteve entre os residentes da área urbana (RPr3,21; IC 95% 1,72-5,99) e os da área rural (RP=2,27; IC 95% 0,68-7,60). Na Região Sudeste, o risco de sobrepeso/obesidade foi maior entre os meninos (RP meninas/meninos=0,58; IC 95% 0,37-0,92). Ao se estratificarem os dados por situação de moradia, os residentes da área urbana desta região mantiveram essa diminuição entre meninas (RPO,51; IC 95% 0,31-0,85), porém na área rural houve aumento de risco entre as meninas (RP=1 86; IC 95% 0,83-4,16). A renda per capita domiciliar mensal só associou ao risco de sobrepeso/obesidade, em ambas as regiões, apenas entre as meninos de maior renda per capita domiciliar mensal, quando comparados aos de renda inferior (Região Nordeste: OR bruto=9,64; IC 95% 3,17-29,35 e CR ajustado=10,13; IC 95% 2,83-36,27 e, na Região Sudeste: OR bruto13; IC 95% 1,50-17,48 e OR ajustado=8,70; IC 95% 1,17-32,34). Embora tenha sido observada grande frequência de sedentarismo entre as meninas, a realização de atividade física não se associou a prevalência do sobrepeso/obesidade em nenhuma das regiões estudadas. Os resultados apontam para a necessidade de medidas do controle dessas condições, visando a prevenção de doenças crônicas, bem como da condução de estudos que aprofundem as questões associadas ao risco de sobrepeso/obesidade entre os adolescentes de diferentes regiões do país.

掺钕材料激光终态能级寿命测量

介绍了目前测量掺钕材料激光终态能级寿命的三种方法，通过对三种测量方法比较，采用间接法测量激光终态能级寿命相对简单易行。

Acurácia da avaliação doppler velocimétrica da velocidade máxima do pico sistólico da artéria cerebral média na detecção da anemia fetal na doença hemolítica perinatal: uma revisão sistemática

O contexto do estudo é a predição da anemia fetal em gestantes portadoras da doença hemolítica perinatal e tem como objetivo avaliar a acurácia da medida doppler velocimétrica da velocidade máxima do pico sistólico da artéria cerebral média na detecção da anemia fetal na doença hemolítica perinatal. A identificação dos estudos foi realizada com a adoção de bancos de dados gerais (MEDLINE e LILACS) e a partir de referências bibliográficas de outros autores. Os estudos selecionados tinham como critérios serem do tipo observacionais, com gestantes apresentando coombs indireto maior do que 1:8, técnica de insonação do vaso adequada, Vmax-ACM ≥ 1,5MOM, presença obrigatória de comparação com o padrão-ouro (hemoglobina fetal e/ou neonatal), e nível de evidência diagnóstica acima ou igual a 4. Os dados dos estudos selecionados foram alocados em tabelas 2x2 comparando o resultado do teste com o padrão-ouro. A acurácia diagnóstica foi expressa principalmente através da razão de verossimilhança. A revisão incluiu onze estudos, com uma amostra total de 688. Três estudos apresentaram delineamento do tipo prospectivo e nível de evidência diagnóstica categoria 1. A performance do teste em questão apresentou variação razoável. O estudo de Mari et al (2000) foi considerado o de melhor qualidade metodológica, apresentando uma RV(+) de 8,45 e uma RV(-) de 0,02. A medida do doppler da Vmax da ACM como preditor da anemia fetal na doença hemolítica perinatal está consolidada. Porém, alguns pontos precisam ser melhor esclarecidos, como o intervalo ideal dos exames em casos graves e a validade do método em fetos que já foram submetidos a transfusões intra-uterinas.