Mineral content and biomechanical properties of fibrolamellar bone

editorial reviewe

Avaliação da infiltração marginal dos materiais MTA, Cimento de Portland e Ionômero de Vidro empregados em obturações retrógadas

Objetivos. Avaliar o selamento apical promovido pelo MTA, cimento de Portland e ionômero de vidro em retrocavidades de dentes incisivos centrais superiores humanos.Método. Trinta incisivos centrais superiores foram tratados endodonticamente e tiveram sua porção apical seccionada, cavidades retrógadas foram preparadas e em seguida divididas em três grupos de dez dentes cada, da seguinte forma: Grupo1 – MTA; Grupo 2 – cimento de Portland; e Grupo 3 – ionômero de vidro. Dois dentes ainda foram utilizados, um como controle positivo e outro como controle negativo. Após a imersão no corante rodamina B a 0,2% por 48h a 37ºC as raízes foram clivadas e o padrão de infiltração foi mensurado. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se ANOVA seguido pelo Teste Post Hoc de Bonferroni (p 0,05).Conclusão. Segundo a metodologia empregada, concluiu-se que o material que proporcionou o melhor selamento apical em retrobturações endodônticas foi o ionômero de vidro

Rainfall recharge thresholds in a subtropical climate determined using a regional cave drip water monitoring network

Quantifying the combination of climatic and hydrological conditions required to generate groundwater recharge is challenging, yet of fundamental importance for groundwater resource management. Here we demonstrate a new unsaturated zone physical method of determining rainfall-recharge thresholds in karst using a regional cave drip water monitoring network. For limestones of the Upper and Lower Macleay Valley, eastern Australia, set in a subtropical climate, we observe thirty-one cave drip water recharge events over a five-year monitoring period. Comparison to antecedent precipitation demonstrates a median observed recharge threshold of 76 mm/week precipitation (Lower Macleay) and 79 mm/week precipitation (Upper Macleay), with lower precipitation thresholds (down to 30 mm/week) possible. We use a simple water budget model to quantify soil and epikarst water storage volumes and to test hypotheses of the hydrological controls. Modelled soil and epikarst water storage capacities of about 65 mm (Lower Macleay) and 80 mm (Upper Macleay) confirm a correspondence between observed weekly precipitation thresholds and soil and epikarst capacities. However, discrepancies between observed and simulated recharge events helps elucidate the likely recharge processes including focussed recharge bypassing the soil and epikarst store, overflow and drainage between multiple karst stores, and tree water use from depth. Our observed recharge thresholds and modelled soil and epikarst storage capacities are comparable to recharge thresholds estimated across a range of water-limited environments globally. The method is readily applicable to any karst region where drip loggers can be installed in a cave system in close proximity to surface climate data

PowerCube: Design and Development of a 100 W Origami-Inspired Deployable Solar Array for NanoSatellites

The rapid growth of the capabilities of small satellites have sparked the need for high-power deployable solar arrays. PowerCube addresses this need by proposing a unique solution that can generate up to 100W from a 1U stowed volume. At the core of this design is an innovative origami-inspired architecture, combined with advanced dual-matrix composite materials, to achieve excellent packaging efficiency and self-deployment capabilities. This paper provides an overview of the design of the system and presents the key analyses and breadboarding activities that supported its development. The next milestones in the ESA-funded PowerCube project are discussed, focusing on its qualification campaign. The paper is concluded by an overview of the PowerSat IOD mission, which will demonstrate a high-power 3U satellite, powered by the PowerCube solar array

Affy exon tissues: exon levels in normal tissues in human, mouse and rat

Summary: Most genes in human, mouse and rat produce more than one transcript isoform. The Affymetrix Exon Array is a tool for studying the many processes that regulate RNA production, with separate probesets measuring RNA levels at known and putative exons. For insights on how exons levels vary between normal tissues, we constructed the Affy Exon Tissues track from tissue data published by Affymetrix. This track reports exon probeset intensities as log ratios relative to median values across the dataset and renders them as colored heat maps, to yield quick visual identification of exons with intensities that vary between normal tissues

How, not if, is the question mycologists should be asking about DNA-based typification

Fungal metabarcoding of substrates such as soil, wood, and water is uncovering an unprecedented number of fungal species that do not seem to produce tangible morphological structures and that defy our best attempts at cultivation, thus falling outside the scope of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. The present study uses the new, ninth release of the species hypotheses of the UNITE database to show that species discovery through environmental sequencing vastly outpaces traditional, Sanger sequencing-based efforts in a strongly increasing trend over the last five years. Our findings chal-lenge the present stance of some in the mycological community - that the current situation is satisfactory and that no change is needed to "the code" - and suggest that we should be discussing not whether to allow DNA-based descriptions (typifications) of species and by extension higher ranks of fungi, but what the precise requirements for such DNA-based typifications should be. We submit a tentative list of such criteria for further discussion. The present authors hope for a revitalized and deepened discussion on DNA-based typification, because to us it seems harmful and counter-productive to intentionally deny the overwhelming majority of extant fungi a formal standing under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants

UBVRI Light Curves of 44 Type Ia Supernovae

We present UBVRI photometry of 44 type-Ia supernovae (SN Ia) observed from 1997 to 2001 as part of a continuing monitoring campaign at the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The data set comprises 2190 observations and is the largest homogeneously observed and reduced sample of SN Ia to date, nearly doubling the number of well-observed, nearby SN Ia with published multicolor CCD light curves. The large sample of U-band photometry is a unique addition, with important connections to SN Ia observed at high redshift. The decline rate of SN Ia U-band light curves correlates well with the decline rate in other bands, as does the U-B color at maximum light. However, the U-band peak magnitudes show an increased dispersion relative to other bands even after accounting for extinction and decline rate, amounting to an additional ~40% intrinsic scatter compared to B-band.Comment: 84 authors, 71 pages, 51 tables, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. Version with high-res figures and electronic data at http://astron.berkeley.edu/~saurabh/cfa2snIa

Immunological evidence of variation in exposure and immune response to Bacillus anthracis in herbivores of Kruger and Etosha national parks

Exposure and immunity to generalist pathogens differ among host species and vary across spatial scales. Anthrax, caused by a multi-host bacterial pathogen, Bacillus anthracis, is enzootic in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa and Etosha National Park (ENP), Namibia. These parks share many of the same potential host species, yet the main anthrax host in one (greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) in KNP and plains zebra (Equus quagga) in ENP) is only a minor host in the other. We investigated species and spatial patterns in anthrax mortalities, B. anthracis exposure, and the ability to neutralize the anthrax lethal toxin to determine if observed host mortality differences between locations could be attributed to population-level variation in pathogen exposure and/or immune response. Using serum collected from zebra and kudu in high and low incidence areas of each park (18- 20 samples/species/area), we estimated pathogen exposure from anti-protective antigen (PA) antibody response using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lethal toxin neutralization with a toxin neutralization assay (TNA). Serological evidence of pathogen exposure followed mortality patterns within each system (kudus: 95% positive in KNP versus 40% in ENP; zebras: 83% positive in ENP versus 63% in KNP). Animals in the high-incidence area of KNP had higher anti-PA responses than those in the low-incidence area, but there were no significant differences in exposure by area within ENP. Toxin neutralizing ability was higher for host populations with lower exposure prevalence, i.e., higher in ENP kudus and KNP zebras than their conspecifics in the other park. These results indicate that host species differ in their exposure to and adaptive immunity against B. anthracis in the two parks. These patterns may be due to environmental differences such as vegetation, rainfall patterns, landscape or forage availability between these systems and their interplay with host behavior (foraging or other risky behaviors), resulting in differences in exposure frequency and dose, and hence immune response.NSF Division of Environmental Biology.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunologydm2022Veterinary Tropical Disease

Treatment of seizures in the neonate: Guidelines and consensus-based recommendations—Special report from the ILAE Task Force on Neonatal Seizures

Seizures are common in neonates, but there is substantial management variability. The Neonatal Task Force of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) developed evidence-based recommendations about antiseizure medication (ASM) management in neonates in accordance with ILAE standards. Six priority questions were formulated, a systematic literature review and meta-analysis were performed, and results were reported following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 standards. Bias was evaluated using the Cochrane tool and risk of Bias in non-randomised studies - of interventions (ROBINS-I), and quality of evidence was evaluated using grading of recommendations, assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE). If insufficient evidence was available, then expert opinion was sought using Delphi consensus methodology. The strength of recommendations was defined according to the ILAE Clinical Practice Guidelines development tool. There were six main recommendations. First, phenobarbital should be the first-line ASM (evidence-based recommendation) regardless of etiology (expert agreement), unless channelopathy is likely the cause for seizures (e.g., due to family history), in which case phenytoin or carbamazepine should be used. Second, among neonates with seizures not responding to first-line ASM, phenytoin, levetiracetam, midazolam, or lidocaine may be used as a second-line ASM (expert agreement). In neonates with cardiac disorders, levetiracetam may be the preferred second-line ASM (expert agreement). Third, following cessation of acute provoked seizures without evidence for neonatal-onset epilepsy, ASMs should be discontinued before discharge home, regardless of magnetic resonance imaging or electroencephalographic findings (expert agreement). Fourth, therapeutic hypothermia may reduce seizure burden in neonates with hypoxic–ischemic encephalopathy (evidence-based recommendation). Fifth, treating neonatal seizures (including electrographic-only seizures) to achieve a lower seizure burden may be associated with improved outcome (expert agreement). Sixth, a trial of pyridoxine may be attempted in neonates presenting with clinical features of vitamin B6-dependent epilepsy and seizures unresponsive to second-line ASM (expert agreement). Additional considerations include a standardized pathway for the management of neonatal seizures in each neonatal unit and informing parents/guardians about the diagnosis of seizures and initial treatment options

Widening of the genetic and clinical spectrum of Lamb-Shaffer syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder due to SOX5 haploinsufficiency

Purpose Lamb-Shaffer syndrome (LAMSHF) is a neurodevelopmental disorder described in just over two dozen patients with heterozygous genetic alterations involving SOX5, a gene encoding a transcription factor regulating cell fate and differentiation in neurogenesis and other discrete developmental processes. The genetic alterations described so far are mainly microdeletions. The present study was aimed at increasing our understanding of LAMSHF, its clinical and genetic spectrum, and the pathophysiological mechanisms involved. Methods Clinical and genetic data were collected through GeneMatcher and clinical or genetic networks for 41 novel patients harboring various types ofSOX5 alterations. Functional consequences of selected substitutions were investigated. Results Microdeletions and truncating variants occurred throughout SOX5. In contrast, most missense variants clustered in the pivotal SOX-specific high-mobility-group domain. The latter variants prevented SOX5 from binding DNA and promoting transactivation in vitro, whereas missense variants located outside the high-mobility-group domain did not. Clinical manifestations and severity varied among patients. No clear genotype-phenotype correlations were found, except that missense variants outside the high-mobility-group domain were generally better tolerated. Conclusions This study extends the clinical and genetic spectrum associated with LAMSHF and consolidates evidence that SOX5 haploinsufficiency leads to variable degrees of intellectual disability, language delay, and other clinical features