Quality of life following third molar removal under conscious sedation

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess quality of life (QoL) and degree of satisfaction among outpatients subjected to surgical extraction of all four third molars under conscious sedation. A second objective was to describe the evolution of self-reported pain measured in a visual analogue scale (VAS) in the 7 days after extraction. Study design: Fifty patients received a questionnaire assessing social isolation, working isolation, eating and speaking ability, diet modifications, sleep impairment, changes in physical appearance, discomfort at suture removal and overall satisfaction at days 4 and 7 after surgery. Pain was recorded by patients on a 100-mm pain visual analogue scale (VAS) every day after extraction until day 7. Results: Thirty-nine patients fulfilled correctly the questionnaire. Postoperative pain values suffered small fluctuations until day 5 (range: 23 to 33 mm in a 100-mm VAS), when dicreased significantly. A positive association was observed between difficult ranked surgeries and higher postoperative pain levels. The average number of days for which the patient stopped working was 4.9. Conclusion: The removal of all third molars in a single appointment causes an important deterioration of the patient"s QoL during the first postoperative week, especially due to local pain and eating discomfort.

Cervical radiculopathy: Efficiency of CT-guided cervical facet joint corticosteroid injection : 47

Purpose: Cervical foraminal injection performed with a direct approach of the foramen may induce serious neurologic complications. Cervical facet joint (CFJ) injections are easier to perform and safe, and may diffuse in the epidural and foraminal spaces. We analyzed the efficiency and tolerance of CT-guided CFJ slow-acting corticosteroid injection in patients with radiculopathy related to disc herniation. Methods and materials: Pilot study included 17 patients presenting typical cervical radiculopathy related to disc herniation without relief of pain after medical treatment (one month duration). CFJ puncture was performed under CT guidance with a lateral approach. CT control of the CFJ opacification was performed after injections of contrast agent (1 ml), followed by slow-acting corticosteroid (25 mg). Main criteria for judgment was pain relief one month later (delta visual analogical scale VAS for 0 to 100 mm). Diffusion of iodinated contrast agent in the foramen was assessed by two radiologists in consensus. Results: Pain relief was significant at one month (delta VAS 22 ± 23 mm, p = 0.001) and 41% (7/17) of patients had pain relief more than 50%. In cases with foraminal diffusion, pain relief more than 50% occured in 5 patients (50%) and only in 2 patients (29%) in cases without foraminal diffusion. No complication occurred. Conclusion: CT-guided CFJ slow-acting corticosteroid injection is safe and provided good results at one month follow-up. It may be considered as an interesting percutaneous treatment in patients suffering from cervical radicular pain related to disc herniation.

Evaluation of Changes in Productivity Resulting from Removal of Soil for Highway Construction, HR-186, 1981

Borrow areas are created where soil is removed to provide needed fill material for highway and other construction projects. Where these areas are located beyond the highway right-of-way, they must be restored and returned to useful purposes. In Iowa, borrow areas are often developed on agricultural lands and therefore, it is necessary to return them to agricultural uses whenever possible. This research project was established to evaluate the changes in row crop productivity where borrow is removed for highway construction. Secondly, several reclamation techniques were selected to be applied to borrow area research sites and the response of crops to each treatment will be evaluated. All borrow area research sites were selected in 1977 from Iowa Department of Transportation construction plans. The Audubon and Buchanan County sites were completed in the fall of 1977 and May 1978, respectively. Both were used for research in 1978, 1979, and 1980. The two remaining sites in Hamilton and Lee Counties were completed in the fall of 1978 and research was conducted at these sites in 1979, 1980, and 1981. In this report, the 1981 results from the Hamilton and Lee County borrow sites will be presented. Secondly, a summary of the three years of research from each borrow area will be presented along with specific and general conclusions from the research project.

MHC class II hierarchy of superantigen presentation predicts efficiency of infection with mouse mammary tumor virus.

Superantigens (SAgs) encoded by infectious mouse mammary tumor viruses (MMTVs) play a crucial role in the viral life cycle. Their expression by infected B cells induces a proliferative immune response by SAg-reactive T cells which amplifies MMTV infection. This response most likely ensures stable MMTV infection and transmission to the mammary gland. Since T cell reactivity to SAgs from endogenous Mtv loci depends on MHC class II molecules expressed by B cells, we have determined the ability of MMTV to infect various MHC congenic mice. We show that MHC class II I-E+ compared with I-E- mouse strains show higher levels of MMTV infection, most likely due to their ability to induce a vigorous SAg-dependent immune response following MMTV encounter. Inefficient infection is observed in MHC class II I-E- mice, which have been shown to present endogenous SAgs poorly. Therefore, during MMTV infection the differential ability of MHC class II molecules to form a functional complex with SAg determines the magnitude of the proliferative response of SAg-reactive T cells. This in turn influences the degree of T cell help provided to infected B cells and therefore the efficiency of amplification of MMTV infection.

Efficiency of split nitrogen fertilization with adjusted irrigation on potato

Selostus: Jaetun typpilannoituksen käyttömahdollisuudet perunalle

Adjustable Suture Removal: Increasing Aqueous Flow in "Safe" Trabeculectomy.

Purpose: Aqueous flow through trabeculectomy blebs has been suggested to influence filtration bleb survival. We investigated the relationship between the requirement to increase aqueous flow via adjustable suture removal and surgical outcomes following "safe trabeculectomy" with mitomycin C (MMC). Methods: 62 consecutive eyes of 53 patients underwent fornix based trabeculectomy with adjustable sutures, intraoperative MMC and intensive postoperative steroids. Subconjunctival antimetabolite injections and bleb needlings were administered according to bleb vascularity and IOP trends. Main outcome measures were: success rates (definition: IOP≤21mmHg and 20% IOP reduction); number of antimetabolite injections; bleb needlings; number of of eyes recommencing glaucoma medications and complications. Results: Mean age was 70.4±16.0 years (mean± SD); mean preoperative IOP was 24.5±9.1 mmHg and decreased to 12.3±8.9mmHg postoperatively. Mean number of sutures was 2.6 ± 0.7. Eyes were divided into 2 groups in relation to the number of sutures removed. The number of subconjunctival MMC injections required for those requiring 2 suture removals was significantly greater than those requiring 1 suture removal (p<0.05) The number of needlings and 5FU injections also increased but did not reach significance (p=0.09 and p=0.34 respectively). Least-squared linear regression analysis showed the number of needlings required had a statistically significant (p=0.05) trend with respect to time elapsed between surgery and first suture removal. No other interventions had significant trends. Mean time between surgery and suture removal was: 4.2±9.2 weeks (suture #1) and 5.7±9.7 weeks (suture#2). Antiglaucoma medication was restarted in only 5 eyes. Postoperative complications were infrequent: Seidel (3.2%), peripheral choroidal effusions at any time (3.2%), and shallow anterior chamber (1.6%). Conclusion: Eyes requiring a greater number of suture removals required a significantly greater number of antifibrosis interventions. The time elapsed before suture removal was inversely related to the number of postoperative needlings, suggesting these eyes may have decreased aqueous production and therefore require aggressive post-operative management to prevent bleb failure.

Graph theory reveals dysconnected hubs in 22q11DS and altered nodal efficiency in patients with hallucinations.

Schizophrenia is postulated to be the prototypical dysconnection disorder, in which hallucinations are the core symptom. Due to high heterogeneity in methodology across studies and the clinical phenotype, it remains unclear whether the structural brain dysconnection is global or focal and if clinical symptoms result from this dysconnection. In the present work, we attempt to clarify this issue by studying a population considered as a homogeneous genetic sub-type of schizophrenia, namely the 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). Cerebral MRIs were acquired for 46 patients and 48 age and gender matched controls (aged 6-26, respectively mean age = 15.20 ± 4.53 and 15.28 ± 4.35 years old). Using the Connectome mapper pipeline (connectomics.org) that combines structural and diffusion MRI, we created a whole brain network for each individual. Graph theory was used to quantify the global and local properties of the brain network organization for each participant. A global degree loss of 6% was found in patients' networks along with an increased Characteristic Path Length. After identifying and comparing hubs, a significant loss of degree in patients' hubs was found in 58% of the hubs. Based on Allen's brain network model for hallucinations, we explored the association between local efficiency and symptom severity. Negative correlations were found in the Broca's area (p < 0.004), the Wernicke area (p < 0.023) and a positive correlation was found in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) (p < 0.014). In line with the dysconnection findings in schizophrenia, our results provide preliminary evidence for a targeted alteration in the brain network hubs' organization in individuals with a genetic risk for schizophrenia. The study of specific disorganization in language, speech and thought regulation networks sharing similar network properties may help to understand their role in the hallucination mechanism.

Road Use Tax Fund Efficiency Report Savings Status, December 31, 2014

Senate File 2355, 85th General Assembly, states the Iowa Department of Transportation shall submit annual reports regarding the implementation of efficiency measures identified in the “Road Use Tax Fund Efficiency Report,” January 2012. This report shall provide details of activities undertaken in the previous year relating to one-time and long-term program efficiencies and partnership efficiencies. Issues to be covered in the reports shall include but are not limited to savings realized from the implementation of particular efficiency measures; updates concerning measures that have not been implemented; efforts involving cities, counties, other jurisdictions, or stakeholder interest groups; any new efficiency measures identified or undertaken; and identification of any legislative action that may be required to achieve efficiencies.

Effects of plant population and nitrogen fertilizer on yield and efficiency of maize-bean intercropping

Nitrogen supply and plant population are basic parameters for cereal-legume intercropping. In order to study plant population and nitrogen fertilizer effects on yield and yield efficiency of maize-bean intercropping, a field experiment was established. Three bean plant populations and three nitrogen levels were used. Maize dry matter accumulation decreased with increases in bean plant population. Competitive effect of intercrop beans on maize yields was high at higher plant populations, being decreased by nitrogen fertilizer; application of 50 kg ha-1 N was very efficient in increasing maize cob yield. Intercropping significantly decreased harvest index of beans in all plant population and nitrogen fertilizer situations. The efficiency of intercropping, compared to sole cropping, was evidenced by the values obtained for Land Equivalent Ratio (LER) for biomass, cob and pod yields that increased with increases in bean plant populations and nitrogen fertilizer levels.

Efficiency of five biosolids to supply nitrogen and phosphorus to ryegrass

Biosolids have been considered satisfactory to supply crops and plant nutrients. The ideal biosolids application rate should result in high crop yields and nutrient uptake, and leave low concentrations of nutrients in soils to avoid environmental problems. The objective of this study was to estimate the capacity of five biosolids to supply N and P to ryegrass (Lolium perenne) after a single application of either fertilizers or biosolids to a Spodosol and an Oxisol. Results showed that 6% - 36% of N and 3% - 7% of P applied as biosolids were recovered in plants grown on the Spodosol, while the range on the Oxisol was 26%-75% for N and 1.2%-3.7% for phosphorus. Biosolids' efficiency on supplying N and P to plants was similar to fertilizer on the Spodosol, but on the Oxisol it refrained to 65%-67% fertilizer's efficiency. After a single application of biosolids followed by six consecutive harvests, 25%-94% of the N and 93%-99% of the P were not used by plants and remain in the soils.

Effects of repeated slash removal in thinned stands on soil chemistry and understorey vegetation

Abstract

Effect of Video Camera-Based Remote Roadway Condition Monitoring on Snow Removal-Related Maintenance Operations. 2014

Remote monitoring through the use of cameras is widely utilized for traffic operation, but has not been utilized widely for roadway maintenance operations. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has implemented a new remote monitoring system, referred to as a Cloud-enabled Remote Video Streaming (CRVS) camera system for snow removal-related maintenance operations in the winter. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of the CRVS camera system in snow removal-related maintenance operations. This study was conducted in two parts: opinion surveys of maintenance station supervisors and an analysis on snow removal-related maintenance costs. The responses to the opinion surveys mostly displayed positive reviews of the use of the CRVS cameras. On a scale of 1 (least effective) to 5 (most effective), the average overall effectiveness given by the station supervisors was 4.3. An expedition trip for this study was defined as a trip that was made to just check the roadways if snow-removal was necessary. The average of the responses received from surveys was calculated to be a 33 percent reduction in expedition trips. For the second part of this study, an analysis was performed on the snow removal-related maintenance cost data provided by UDOT to see if the installation of a CRVS camera had an effect in reducing expedition trips. This expedition cost comparison was performed for 10 sets of maintenance stations within Utah. It was difficult to make any definitive inferences from the comparison of expedition costs over the years for which precipitation and expedition cost data were available; hence a statistical analysis was performed using the Mixed Model ANOVA. This analysis resulted in an average of 14 percent higher ratio of expedition costs at maintenance stations with a CRVS camera before the installation of the camera compared to the ratio of expedition costs after the installation of the camera. This difference was not proven to be statistically significant at the 95 percent confident level, but indicated that the installation of CRVS cameras was on the average helpful in reducing expedition costs and may be considered practically significant. It is recommended that more detailed and consistent maintenance cost records be prepared for accurate analysis of cost records for this type of study in the future.

A high-efficiency HeLa cell nuclear transcription extract.

A HeLa cell nuclear transcription extract that is approximately 20 times more efficient than standard HeLa cell transcription extracts was developed. Transcription of the strong adenovirus II major late promoter by this extract results in the synthesis of 1.5-4 molecules of product RNA per molecule of template, indicating that the extract is capable of multiple rounds of initiation. Standard HeLa cell nuclear extracts transcribe closed circular and linear adenovirus major late promoter templates with equal efficiency. In contrast, the new extract exhibits an increase of approximately twofold on transcription of a closed circular, as opposed to a linear, major late promoter template.

Pollination efficiency of the stingless bee Melipona subnitida on greenhouse sweet pepper

The present study was carried out in Northeastern Region of Brazil, in order to investigate the use of stingless bee Melipona subnitida Ducke in the pollination of greenhouse sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Treatments of hand cross-pollination, hand self-pollination, pollination by bees and restricted pollination were performed. Results showed that despite sweet pepper flowers are considered autogamous, this crop benefits from pollination by M. subnitida, producing fruits significantly heavier and wider, containing a greater number of seeds and of better quality (lower percentage of malformed fruits) than self-pollinated sweet pepper. Thus, M. subnitida can be considered an efficient pollinator of greenhouse sweet pepper.

Growth components and zinc recovery efficiency of upland rice genotypes

The objective of this work was to evaluate Zn use efficiency by upland rice genotypes. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, with ten upland rice genotypes grown on an Oxisol (Typic Hapludox) with no application, and with application of 10 mg kg-1 Zn, applied as zinc sulfate. Shoot dry weight, grain yield, Zn harvest index, Zn concentration in shoot and in grain were significantly influenced by soil Zn levels and genotypes. However, panicle number and grain harvest index were significantly affected only by genotype. Genotypes CNA8557, CNA8540 and IR42 produced higher grain yield than other genotypes. Genotypes showed significant variability in Zn recovery efficiency. On average, 13% of the applied Zn was recovered by upland rice genotypes. Genotypes with high Zn recovery efficiency could be used in breeding of Zn efficient upland rice cultivars. Higher level of soil Zn (10 mg kg-1) increased significantly the concentrations of plant Cu and Mn. However, Fe concentrations in plant (shoot and grain) were not influenced by soil Zn levels.