Consistent scaling of whole-shoot respiration between Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and trees

Both Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) and tree forests have a large biomass; they are considered to play an important role in ecosystem carbon budgets. The scaling relationship between individual whole-shoot (i.e., aboveground parts) respiration and whole-shoot mass provides a clue for comparing the carbon budgets of Moso bamboo and tree forests. However, nobody has empirically demonstrated whether there is a difference between these forest types in the whole-shoot scaling relationship. We developed whole-shoot chambers and measured the shoot respiration of 58 individual mature bamboo shoots from the smallest to the largest in a Moso bamboo forest, and then compared them with that of 254 tree shoots previously measured. For 30 bamboo shoots, we measured the respiration rate of leaves, branches, and culms. We found that the scaling exponent of whole-shoot respiration of bamboo fitted by a simple power function on a log–log scale was 0.843 (95 % CI 0.797–0.885), which was consistent with that of trees, 0.826 (95 % CI 0.799–0.851), but higher than 3/4, the value typifying the Kleiber’s rule. The respiration rates of leaves, branches, and culms at the whole-shoot level were proportional to their mass, revealing a constant mean mass-specific respiration of 1.19, 0.224, and 0.0978 µmol CO2 kg- 1 s- 1, respectively. These constant values suggest common traits of organs among physiologically integrated ramets within a genet. Additionally, the larger the shoots, the smaller the allocation of organ mass to the metabolically active leaves, and the larger the allocation to the metabolically inactive culms. Therefore, these shifts in shoot-mass partitioning to leaves and culms caused a negative metabolic scaling of Moso bamboo shoots. The observed convergent metabolic scaling of Moso bamboo and trees may facilitate comparisons of the ecosystem carbon budgets of Moso bamboo and tree forests. © 2021, The Author(s)

埋伏歯による上顎切歯歯根吸収に対して下顎小臼歯の移植を行った歯性上顎前突症例

埋伏歯は外科的な開窓，牽引処置が必要となるだけでなく，萌出方向の異常による隣在歯の歯根吸収といった弊害も起こしうる．今回我々は，犬歯の埋伏によって上顎4 前歯に歯根吸収が生じた患者に対して，下顎小臼歯を移植し動的矯正治療を行い，良好な治療結果が得られたので報告する． 患者は初診時年齢12歳9 か月の男子であり，近医にて上顎両側犬歯の埋伏による上顎4 前歯の歯根吸収を指摘され，当科を紹介された．上顎4 前歯のうち，最も重度の歯根吸収を呈した上顎右側側切歯を抜去し，上顎両側犬歯の開窓，牽引処置を行った．13歳10か月時の再診断の結果，動揺が大きく保存困難であった上顎右側中切歯の抜去および下顎右側第一小臼歯の上顎右側中切歯部への移植を施行し，マルチブラケット治療を開始した． 2 年4 か月の動的治療により，わずかに上下顎歯列正中の右方偏位が認められたものの，緊密な咬合を獲得することができた．保定6 か月経過時に上顎右側中切歯部移植歯の最終補綴を行った．現在，保定1 年9 か月経過し下顎骨のわずかな晩期成長が認められたものの，咬合は安定しており，上顎右側中切歯部に移植した下顎小臼歯および歯根吸収が認められた上顎左側中，側切歯に関しても，著しい変化もなく経過良好である．今後，移植歯を含め長期間にわたる保定観察を継続していく予定である

A 24-Week, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of the Rivastigmine Patch in Japanese Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Background: As of 2010, the rivastigmine patch was licensed for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in 64 countries. Methods: This 24-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy, safety and tolerability of the 5-cm2 (9-mg loading dose; 4.6 mg/24 h delivery rate) and 10-cm2 (18-mg loading dose; 9.5 mg/24 h delivery rate) rivastigmine patch in Japanese patients with AD. Results: In the primary analysis population (intent-to-treat last observation carried forward) at week 24, delayed deterioration was seen with the 10-cm2 patch versus placebo on the Japanese version of the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-J cog; p = 0.005) and the Japanese version of the Clinician’s Interview-Based Impression of Change plus Caregiver Input (CIBIC plus-J; p = 0.067). Participants receiving the rivastigmine patch showed numerically less decline versus placebo at week 24 on the CIBIC plus-J, although this did not reach statistical significance. Statistical significance for the CIBIC plus-J was met following adjustment for body weight and baseline Mini-Mental State Examination score as dynamic allocation factors (p = 0.042) and on the Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD; p = 0.024) and Mental Function Impairment (MENFIS; p = 0.016) subscales. Serious adverse events were rare and were consistent with the known safety profile of the rivastigmine patch. Conclusion: The rivastigmine patch has a favorable efficacy and tolerability profile in Japanese patients with AD

A Novel Concept of Fundus-Ovary-Salpinx-Para-Aorta Implantation Promoting Unit during Human Embryo Implantation

Human embryo implantation is mainly regulated by the endocrine system. Since the ovary, fallopian tube, and fundus can directly communicate through the mesosalpinx and ovarian ligament, the local concentration of progesterone in the pathway of the developing embryo is considered to be higher than in systemic blood circulation. The immune system promotes embryo implantation by stimulating progesterone production of the ovary and by inducing endometrial differentiation. The recognition of the developing embryo in the fallopian tube by the immune system is achieved through the para-aortic lymph nodes. On the basis of the above evidence, the autologous immune cells activated in vitro were demonstrated to improve clinical pregnancy rates in patients with repeated implantation failures. In addition, the autonomic nerve system that innervates the fundus, the ovary, and the fallopian tube from the para-aortic region is proposed to regulate the environment of the pathway of the developing embryo. From these findings, we suppose that a unique unilateral functional unit to promote human embryo implantation exists in the pathway of the developing embryo including the para-aortic regions and propose naming this novel functional unit the Fundus-Ovary-Salpinx-Para-aorta Implantation Promoting unit (FOSPa-IP unit)

LIPUS effect on osteoarthritic TMJs

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) application on rat temporomandibular joints (TMJs) with early-stage of osteoarthritis-like conditions induced by mechanical overloading. Fifteen-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into two experimental groups and a control group (n = 10 each). Both TMJs of all rats in one experimental group were subjected to mechanical overloading for 5 d, and those in the other experimental group were exposed to LIPUS for 20 min/d after overloading. Condyles were assessed using micro-computed tomography, histology and histomorphometry. LIPUS treatment attenuated cartilage degeneration, decreased the number of osteoclastic cells and restored the expression of aggrecan after an initial decrease induced by mechanical overloading. These results indicate that LIPUS may have a protective effect on the early progression of TMJ osteoarthritis

Dual Positive Regulation of Embryo Implantation by Endocrine and Immune Systems - Step-by-Step Maternal Recognition of the Developing Embryo

In humans, HCG secreted from the implanting embryo stimulates progesterone production of the corpus luteum to maintain embryo implantation. Along with this endocrine system, current evidence suggests that the maternal immune system positively contributes to the embryo implantation. In mice, immune cells that have been sensitized with seminal fluid and then the developing embryo induce endometrial differentiation and promote embryo implantation. After hatching, HCG activates regulatory T and B cells through LH/HCG receptors and then stimulates uterine NK cells and monocytes through sugar chain receptors, to promote and maintain pregnancy. In accordance with the above, the intrauterine administration of HCG-treated PBMC was demonstrated to improve implantation rates in women with repeated implantation failures. These findings suggest that the maternal immune system undergoes functional changes by recognizing the developing embryos in a stepwise manner even from a pre-fertilization stage and facilitates embryo implantation in cooperation with the endocrine system. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Embargo Period 12 month

Ontogenetic changes in root and shoot respiration, fresh mass, and surface area of Fagus crenata

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To date, studies on terrestrial plant ecology and evolution have primarily focused on the trade-off patterns in the allocation of metabolic production to roots and shoots in individual plants and the scaling of whole-plant respiration. However, few empirical studies have investigated the root:shoot ratio by considering scaling whole-plant respiration at various sizes throughout ontogeny. METHODS: Here, using a whole-plant chamber system, we measured the respiration rates, fresh mass, and surface area of entire roots and shoots from 377 Fagus crenata individuals, from germinating seeds to mature trees, collected from five different Japanese provenances. Nonlinear regression analysis was performed for scaling of root and shoot respiration, fresh mass, and surface area with body size. KEY RESULTS: Whole-plant respiration increased rapidly in germinating seeds. In the seedling to mature tree size range, the scaling of whole-plant respiration to whole-plant fresh mass was expressed as a linear trend on the log-log coordinates (exponent slightly larger than 0.75). In the same body size range, root and shoot respiration versus whole-plant fresh mass were modelled by upward convex (exponent decreased from 2.35 to 0.638) and downward convex trends (exponent increased from -0.918 to 0.864), respectively. The root fraction in the whole-plant respiration, fresh mass, and surface area continuously shifted throughout ontogeny, increasing in smaller seedlings during early growth stages and decreasing in larger trees. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a gradual shift in allocation priorities of metabolic energy from root in seedlings to shoot in mature trees, providing insights into how roots contribute to shoot and whole-plant growth during ontogeny. The models of root:shoot ratio in relation to whole-plant physiology could be applied in tree growth modelling, and in linking the different levels of ecological phenomena, from individuals to ecosystems.Publishe

Review Article : Feudalism or Absolute Monarchism?

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68809/2/10.1177_009770049001600304.pd

In Vivo Diagnostic Imaging Using Micro-CT: Sequential and Comparative Evaluation of Rodent Models for Hepatic/Brain Ischemia and Stroke

BACKGROUND: There is an increasing need for animal disease models for pathophysiological research and efficient drug screening. However, one of the technical barriers to the effective use of the models is the difficulty of non-invasive and sequential monitoring of the same animals. Micro-CT is a powerful tool for serial diagnostic imaging of animal models. However, soft tissue contrast resolution, particularly in the brain, is insufficient for detailed analysis, unlike the current applications of CT in the clinical arena. We address the soft tissue contrast resolution issue in this report. METHODOLOGY: We performed contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) on mouse models of experimental cerebral infarction and hepatic ischemia. Pathological changes in each lesion were quantified for two weeks by measuring the lesion volume or the ratio of high attenuation area (%HAA), indicative of increased vascular permeability. We also compared brain images of stroke rats and ischemic mice acquired with micro-CT to those acquired with 11.7-T micro-MRI. Histopathological analysis was performed to confirm the diagnosis by CECT. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In the models of cerebral infarction, vascular permeability was increased from three days through one week after surgical initiation, which was also confirmed by Evans blue dye leakage. Measurement of volume and %HAA of the liver lesions demonstrated differences in the recovery process between mice with distinct genetic backgrounds. Comparison of CT and MR images acquired from the same stroke rats or ischemic mice indicated that accuracy of volumetric measurement, as well as spatial and contrast resolutions of CT images, was comparable to that obtained with MRI. The imaging results were also consistent with the histological data. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that the CECT scanning method is useful in rodents for both quantitative and qualitative evaluations of pathologic lesions in tissues/organs including the brain, and is also suitable for longitudinal observation of the same animals