Models for vertical wood density of Scots pine, Norway spruce and birch stems, and their application to determine average wood density

Abstract

Changes in running mechanics and spring-mass behaviour during a 5-km time trial.

Research into the biomechanical manifestation of fatigue during exhaustive runs is increasingly popular but additional understanding of the adaptation of the spring-mass behaviour during the course of strenuous, self-paced exercises continues to be a challenge in order to develop optimized training and injury prevention programs. This study investigated continuous changes in running mechanics and spring-mass behaviour during a 5-km run. 12 competitive triathletes performed a 5-km running time trial (mean performance: ̴17 min 30 s) on a 200 m indoor track. Vertical and anterior-posterior ground reaction forces were measured every 200 m by a 5-m long force platform system, and used to determine spring-mass model characteristics. After a fast start, running velocity progressively decreased (- 11.6%; P<0.001) in the middle part of the race before an end spurt in the final 400-600 m. Stride length (- 7.4%; P<0.001) and frequency (- 4.1%; P=0.001) decreased over the 25 laps, while contact time (+ 8.9%; P<0.001) and total stride duration (+ 4.1%; P<0.001) progressively lengthened. Peak vertical forces (- 2.0%; P<0.01) and leg compression (- 4.3%; P<0.05), but not centre of mass vertical displacement (+ 3.2%; P>0.05), decreased with time. As a result, vertical stiffness decreased (- 6.0%; P<0.001) during the run, whereas leg stiffness changes were not significant (+ 1.3%; P>0.05). Spring-mass behaviour progressively changes during a 5-km time trial towards deteriorated vertical stiffness, which alters impact and force production characteristics.

Vertical Clearance Restrictions on Primary Roads and Primary Road Extensions: Standard U.S. Measurements [Vertical Clearance Log], May 1, 2015

The Vertical Clearance Log is prepared for the purpose of providing vertical clearance restrictions by route on the primary road system. This report is used by the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Motor Carrier Services to route oversize vehicles around structures with vertical restrictions too low for the cargo height. The source of the data is the Geographic Information Management System (GIMS) that is managed by the Office of Research & Analytics in the Performance & Technology Division. The data is collected by inspection crews and through the use of LiDAR technology to reflect changes to structures on the primary road system. This log is produced annually.

Dynamics and vertical distribution of a Hrabeiella periglandulata (Annelida) population in South Moravia, Czech Republic

The objective of this work was to evaluate the density, dynamics and vertical distribution of a Hrabeiella periglandulata population in a forest soil at Brno, Czech Republic. From December 2003 to November 2004, two plots covered by mixed stands and two covered by coniferous stands were sampled monthly. Six soil cores per plot were taken down to 15 cm and subdivided into layers, which were subjected to wet funnel extraction. Missing in one of the coniferous stands H. periglandulata was abundant in the mixed stand with the highest soil pH. In this stand, monthly sampling continued until November 2005, with three additional samplings up to January 2007. Mean annual density was 2,672±1,534 individuals m-2. Population dynamics differed from those reported from Germany. Highest densities were reached in early summer, lowest between August and December. Due to aggregated horizontal distribution, differences between monthly values were often nonsignificant. No significant correlation with climatic data was found. Nevertheless, the observed dynamics corresponded to the climatic conditions, showing particularly the negative effect of drought. The population was evenly distributed in the sampled soil profile, only avoiding the organic layer. Except for a locality in Poland, this is the easternmost record of the species.

Differential stress reaction of human colon cells to oleic-acid-stabilized and unstabilized ultrasmall iron oxide nanoparticles.

Therapeutic engineered nanoparticles (NPs), including ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) NPs, may accumulate in the lower digestive tract following ingestion or injection. In order to evaluate the reaction of human colon cells to USPIO NPs, the effects of non-stabilized USPIO NPs (NS-USPIO NPs), oleic-acid-stabilized USPIO NPs (OA-USPIO NPs), and free oleic acid (OA) were compared in human HT29 and CaCo2 colon epithelial cancer cells. First the biophysical characteristics of NS-USPIO NPs and OA-USPIO NPs in water, in cell culture medium supplemented with fetal calf serum, and in cell culture medium preconditioned by HT29 and CaCo₂ cells were determined. Then, stress responses of the cells were evaluated following exposure to NS-USPIO NPs, OA-USPIO NPs, and free OA. No modification of the cytoskeletal actin network was observed. Cell response to stress, including markers of apoptosis and DNA repair, oxidative stress and degradative/autophagic stress, induction of heat shock protein, or lipid metabolism was determined in cells exposed to the two NPs. Induction of an autophagic response was observed in the two cell lines for both NPs but not free OA, while the other stress responses were cell- and NP-specific. The formation of lipid vacuoles/droplets was demonstrated in HT29 and CaCo₂ cells exposed to OA-USPIO NPs but not to NS-USPIO NPs, and to a much lower level in cells exposed to equimolar concentrations of free OA. Therefore, the induction of lipid vacuoles in colon cells exposed to OA utilized as a stabilizer for USPIO NPs is higly amplified compared to free OA, and is not observed in the absence of this lipid in NS-USPIO NPs.

Stability of Citrus tristeza virus protective isolates in field conditions

The objective of this work was to monitor the maintenance of Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) protective isolates stability in selected clones of 'Pêra' sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), preimmunized or naturally infected by the virus, after successive clonal propagations. The work was carried out in field conditions in the north of Paraná State, Brazil. Coat protein gene (CPG) analysis of 33 isolates collected from 16 clones of 'Pêra' sweet orange was performed using single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP). Initially, the isolates were characterized by symptoms of stem pitting observed in clones. Then viral genome was extracted and used as template for the amplification of CPG by reverse transcription polimerase chain reaction (RTPCR). RTPCR products electrophoretic profiles were analyzed using the Jaccard coefficient and the UPGMA method. The majority of the clones had weak to moderate stem pitting symptoms and its CTV isolates showed alterations in the SSCP profiles. However, the stability of the protective complex has been maintained, except for isolates from two analised clones. Low genetic variability was observed within the isolates during the studied years.

Orthogonal protection of peptides and peptoids for cyclization by the thiol-ene reaction and conjugation

Cyclic peptides and peptoids were prepared using the thiolene Michael-type reaction. The linear precursors were provided with additional functional groups allowing for subsequent conjugation: an orthogonally protected thiol, a protected maleimide, or an alkyne. The functional group for conjugation was placed either within the cycle or in an external position. The click reactions employed for conjugation with suitably derivatized nucleoside or oligonucleotides were either cycloadditions (Diels-Alder, Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne) or the same Michael-type reaction as for cyclization.

Reaction-diffusion lattice gas: Theory and computer results

We report on the study of nonequilibrium ordering in the reaction-diffusion lattice gas. It is a kinetic model that relaxes towards steady states under the simultaneous competition of a thermally activated creation-annihilation $(reaction$) process at temperature T, and a diffusion process driven by a heat bath at temperature T?T. The phase diagram as one varies T and T, the system dimension d, the relative priori probabilities for the two processes, and their dynamical rates is investigated. We compare mean-field theory, new Monte Carlo data, and known exact results for some limiting cases. In particular, no evidence of Landau critical behavior is found numerically when d=2 for Metropolis rates but Onsager critical points and a variety of first-order phase transitions.

A cophenetic correlation coefficient for Tocher's method

The objective of this work was to propose a way of using the Tocher's method of clustering to obtain a matrix similar to the cophenetic one obtained for hierarchical methods, which would allow the calculation of a cophenetic correlation. To illustrate the obtention of the proposed cophenetic matrix, we used two dissimilarity matrices - one obtained with the generalized squared Mahalanobis distance and the other with the Euclidean distance - between 17 garlic cultivars, based on six morphological characters. Basically, the proposal for obtaining the cophenetic matrix was to use the average distances within and between clusters, after performing the clustering. A function in R language was proposed to compute the cophenetic matrix for Tocher's method. The empirical distribution of this correlation coefficient was briefly studied. For both dissimilarity measures, the values of cophenetic correlation obtained for the Tocher's method were higher than those obtained with the hierarchical methods (Ward's algorithm and average linkage - UPGMA). Comparisons between the clustering made with the agglomerative hierarchical methods and with the Tocher's method can be performed using a criterion in common: the correlation between matrices of original and cophenetic distances.

Reaction of sweet orange cultivars expressing the attacin A gene to 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' infection

The objective of this work was to evaluate the reaction of four sweet orange cultivars expressing the attacin A gene to 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (Las) infection, a bacterium associated to huanglongbing (HLB) disease. Transgenic sweet orange plants of Hamlin, Natal, Pêra, and Valência cultivars, as well as nontransgenic controls received inocula by grafting budwood sections of HLB-infected branches. Disease progression was evaluated through observations of leaf symptoms and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, eight months after inoculation. A completely randomized design was used, with four experiments (one for each cultivar) performed simultaneously. Bacteria title was estimated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). HLB symptoms and Las titers were present in nontransgenic and transgenic plants expressing the attacin A gene of the four sweet orange cultivars, eight months after bacteria inoculation. Five transgenic lines (transformation events) of 'Pêra' sweet orange expressing the attacin A gene have significantly lower Las titers in comparison with nontransgenic plants of this cultivar.

Distribuição horizontal e vertical de fósforo em sistemas de cultivos exclusivos de soja e de integração lavoura-pecuária-floresta

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a distribuição horizontal e vertical do fósforo no solo e a produtividade de soja em sistemas de cultivos exclusivos e de integração lavoura-pecuária-floresta (ILPF). Foram avaliados os tratamentos: floresta plantada de eucalipto; lavoura de soja e milho safrinha consorciado com Urochloa brizantha 'Marandu'; pastagem de U. brizantha; sistema de ILPF; e duas áreas controle, com floresta nativa e pousio. O solo foi coletado nas camadas de 0-5, 5-10, 10-20 e 20-30 cm, para determinação das características químicas. As avaliações foram realizadas no segundo ano agrícola após a implantação do experimento. No sistema de ILPF, solo e produtividade foram avaliados em quatro transectos equidistantes, no centro do renque e a 3, 6, 10 e 15 m do renque, nas faces norte e sul. Os teores de P disponível (Mehlich-1) foram maiores nas camadas superficiais do solo, nos sistemas com soja/milho safrinha e com ILPF. No ILPF, os teores de P disponível não diferiram entre as distâncias do renque das árvores, e a produtividade de soja não diferiu da observada no sistema com soja/milho safrinha. Portanto, com dois anos de implantação, o sistema ILPF ainda não é capaz de interferir marcadamente nas características químicas do solo e na produtividade da soja.

Peripheral Nerve Neuropathy is Associated with a Glial Reaction in the Gracile Nucleus Associated with a regulation of the GABA transporter GAT-1

Allodynia (pain in response to normally non painful stimulation) and paresthesia (erroneous sensory experience) are two debilitating symptoms of neuropathic pain. These stem, at least partly, from profound changes in the non-nociceptive sensory pathway that comprises large myelinated neuronal afferents terminating in the gracile and cuneate nuclei. Further than neuronal changes, well admitted evidence indicates that glial cells (especially in the spinal cord) are key actors in neuropathic pain, in particular the possible alteration in astrocytic capacity to reuptake neurotransmitters (glutamate and GABA). Yet, the possibility of such a changed astrocytic scavenging capacity remains unexplored in the dorsal column pathway. The present study was therefore undertaken to assess whether peripheral nerve injury (spared nerve injury model, SNI) could trigger a glial reaction, and especially changes in glutamate and GABA transporters, in the gracile nucleus. SNI surgery was performed on male Sprague-Dawley rats. Seven days after surgery, rats were used for immunofluorescence (fixation and brain slicing), western-blot (fresh brain freezing and protein extraction) or GABA reuptake on synaptosomes. We found that SNI results in a profound glial reaction in the ipsilateral gracile nucleus. This reaction was characterized by an enhanced immunolabelling for microglial marker Iba1 as well as astrocytic protein GFAP (further confirmed by western-blot, p <0.05, n = 7). These changes were not observed in sham animals. Immunofluorescence and western-blot analysis shows that the GABA transporter GAT-1 is upregulated in the ipsilateral gracile nucleus (p <0.001; n = 7), with no detectable change in GAT-3 or glutamate transporters EAAT-1 and EAAT-2. Double immunoflurescence shows that GAT-1 and GFAP colocalize within the same cells. Furthermore, the upregulation of GFAP and GAT-1 were shown to occur all along the rostrocaudal axis of the gracile nucleus. Finally, synaptosomes from ipsilateral gracile nucleus show an increased capacity to reuptake GABA. Together, the data presented herein show that glial cells in the gracile nucleus react to neuropathic lesion, in particular through an upregulation of the GABA transporter GAT-1. Hence, this study points to role of an increased GABA transport in the dorsal column nuclei in neuropathic pain, calling attention to GAT-1 as a putative future pharmacological target to treat allodynia and paresthesia.

Pauson-Khand reaction of internal dissymmetric trifluoromethyl alkynes. influence of the alkene on the regioselectivity

Abstract: The scope of the Pauson-Khand reaction (PKR) of internal trifluoromethyl alkynes, previously described with norbornadiene, is expanded to norbornene and ethylene. A thorough structural analysis of the resulting PK adducts has been carried out to unveil that α-trifluoromethylcyclopentenones are preferred in all cases, independently of the electronic properties of the alkyne. The regioselectivity observed with norbornadiene and ethylene is higher than in the case of norbornene.

Retentiopolymeerin optimointi täyteaineiden yhtäaikaisannostelussa

Kirjallisuusosassa perehdyttiin retentioaineisiin ja täyteaineisiin sekä retentioaineiden ja rainanmuodostusolosuhteiden vaikutukseen retentioon, vedenpoistoon ja paperin ominaisuuksiin. Tarkemmin kirjallisuusosassa keskityttiin täyteaineiden esiflokkaukseen, retentiopolymeerin adsorptioon sekä retentiopolymeerien ja täyteaineiden annostelutapoihin. Kokeellisessa osassa tutkittiin sarjaa retentiopolymeerejä, joiden varaustiheys ja moolimassa muuttuivat. Yksi polymeereistä oli kahdesta polymeeristävalmistettu suoladispersio ja yksi modifioitu kationinen PAM. Näillä polymeereillä käytiin läpi koesarjoja, joissa muutettiin täyteaineen annosteluaikaa retentiopolymeerin annosteluajan pysyessä vakiona. Lähinnä vertailtiin keskenään perinteistä annostelua, jossa täyteaine annosteltiin paljon ennen retentiopolymeeriä,ja yhtäaikaista annostelua, jossa molemmat annosteltiin yhtä aikaa lähellä perälaatikkoa. Kokeet tehtiin MBF-laitteella, jolla pystytään paperikonetta vastaaviin pulsaatiotaajuuksiin ja sillä voidaan valmistaa tasoviirakoneella valmistetunpaperin kaltaisia laboratorioarkkeja. Valmistetuista arkeista tutkittiin retentioita ja paperiteknisiä ominaisuuksia. Laboratoriokokeiden perusteella yhtäaikainen annostelu antoi paremmat täyteaineretentiot verrattaessa perinteiseen annosteluun lähes kaikissa koesarjoissa. Varsinkin lyhytketjuiset polymeerit näyttivättoimivan hyvin yhtäaikaisannostelulla, mikä saattaisi johtua siitä, että lyhyt reagointiaika sulpun kanssa on lyhytketjuisille polymeereille edullinen, sillä silloin polymeeriketjun konformaatio ei ehdi asettua liian alhaiseksi ja ketjun toimintakyky säilyy parempana. Polymeerin varaustiheyden kasvaessa riittävästi laski täyteaineretentio seuraavissa tapauksissa: SC-massa + kaoliini ja SC-massa +GCC kummallakin annostelulla sekä SC-massa + PCC A perinteisellä annostelulla. Hienopaperimassalla samaa trendiä noudatti täyteaine GCC kummallakin annostelulla, kun taas PCC H:ta käytettäessä paranivat täyteaineretentiot molemmilla annosteluilla. Retentiopolymeerin moolimassan kasvaessa riittävästi kääntyi täyteaineretentio laskuun täyteaineilla GCC ja kaoliini, kun käytettiin SC-massaa. Hienopaperimassalla GCC noudatti tätä samaa taipumusta. Sen sijaan SC-massalla PCC A:takäytettäessä täyteaineretentio puolestaan nousi hieman moolimassan kasvaessa. Näin kävi myös hienopaperimassalla, kun täyteaineena käytettiin PCC H:ta. Käytettäessä SC-massaa, perinteisellä annostelulla saatiin parempi tai yhtä hyvä valonsironta kuin yhtäaikaisella annostelulla kaikilla täyteaineilla. Tämä saattaisi johtua siitä, että yhtäaikaisannostelulla on muodostunut suurempia täyteaineflokkeja, mikä on alentanut valoa sirottavia pintoja. Täyteaineista korkeimmat valonsirontakertoimet antoi PCC A ja alhaisimmat kaoliini. PCC A:lla oli kapein partikkelikokojakauma, mikä korottaa paperin valonsirontaa. Hienopaperimassalla valonsirontakerroin ja opasiteetti suurenivat GCC-pitoisuuden kasvaessa kummallakin annostelulla, mikä voisi johtua täyteainepartikkelien antamasta paremmasta sironnasta. Yhtäaikaisella annostelulla saavutettiin huomattavasti paremmat valonsironnan arvot perinteiseen annosteluun verrattuna. PCC H-pitoisuuden kasvaessa suurenivat myös valonsirontakerroin ja opasiteetti kummallakin annostelulla. PCC H antoi korkeammat valonsirontakertoimet kuin GCC. PCC omaa suuremman valonheijastusluvun kuin GCC, minkä vuoksi se antaa paremmat valonsirontakertoimen arvot. PCC H:n partikkelikokojakauma oli myös kapeampi kuin GCC:n, mikä mahdollisti paremman valonsironnan ja opasiteetin saavuttamisen.