Preliminary Observations on the Effects In Vivo and In Vitro of Low Dose Laser on the Epithelia of the Bladder, Trachea and Tongue of the Mouse

The effects of low dose CW laser were studied by in vivo and in vitro systems. The experimental tissues that were used included bladders, tracheas and tongues as experimental tissues. Buddings (round surface projections) from the transitional epithelium of bladder were frequently observed 3 days after laser treatment in both in vivo and in vitro systems. The trachea and tongue were less affected. In both the in vivo and in vitro systems, some epithelial cells of the trachea showed decreased microvilli and cilia 3 days after treatment whereas the epithelial cells of the tongue revealed no response to laser treatment in both systems. Low dose laser, however, appeared to promote the rate of healing of experimental tongue ulcer: healing was about 1 day earlier in the laser treated than non-treated animals and vessel infiltration and epithelialization were detected earlier in the treated

Stimulation of Collagen Formation in the Intestinal Anastomosis by Low Dose He-Ne Laser

The effect of low dose He-Ne laser on the healing of intestinal anastomosis was studied in the albino rat. A small piece of jejunum was removed from each rat and the ends sutured back with a simple interrupted pattern. In the experimental animal, the anastomosis was Irradiated through an optic fiber with a He-Ne laser (1 mW) for 15 minutes whereas in the control animal, the anastomosis was not irradiated. The differences between the two groups were compared by histology, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and autoradiography 3 and 7 days after operation. The laser treated experimental animals demonstrated thicker collagen fibers and an increased quantity of collagen at the junction of the anastomosis compared to control animals. Increased uptake of labelled proline was also evident in the laser treated animals. These observations all point to a possible enhancement of collagen synthesis triggered by laser irradiation

Algumas considerações ecológicas sobre morcegos vampiros na epidemiologia da raiva humana na Bacia Amazônica ()

Bats in the urban and peri-urban communities of Manaus, Tefé, Benjamin Constant, Belém and Macapá were studied to evaluate the possible role of vampires in human rabies infection. We were unable to incriminate the vampire bats as playing any significant role in the studied areas. The ecological characteristics of the collection sites with vampire bats are examined and their implications in the epidemiology of human rabies discussed.Foi realizado um estudo sobre morcegos em locais urbanos e periurbanos em Manaus, Tefé, Benjamin Constant, Belém e Macapá, a fim de avaliar o possível papel dos vampiros na infecção da raiva humana. Não foi possível incriminar os vampiros como tendo algum papel significativo nas áreas estudadas. As características ecológicas dos locais de coletas dos morcegos vampiros foram examinadas e suas implicações na epidemiologia da raiva humana, discutidas

Statistical evaluation of on-road vehicle emissions measurement using a dual remote sensing technique.

On-road remote sensing (RS) is a rapid, non-intrusive and economical tool to monitor and control the emissions of in-use vehicles, and currently is gaining popularity globally. However, a majority of studies used a single RS technique, which may bias the measurements since RS only captures a snapshot of vehicle emissions. This study aimed to use a unique dual RS technique to assess the characteristics of on-road vehicle emissions. The results show that instantaneous vehicle emissions are highly dynamic under real-world driving conditions. The two emission factors measured by the dual RS technique show little correlation, even under the same driving condition. This indicates that using the single RS technique may be insufficient to accurately represent the emission level of a vehicle based on one measurement. To increase the accuracy of identifying high-emitting vehicles, using the dual RS technique is essential. Despite little correlation, the dual RS technique measures the same average emission factors as the single RS technique does when a large number of measurements are available. Statistical analysis shows that both RS systems demonstrate the same Gamma distribution with ≥200 measurements, leading to converged mean emission factors for a given vehicle group. These findings point to the need for a minimum sample size of 200 RS measurements in order to generate reliable emission factors for on-road vehicles. In summary, this study suggests that using the single or dual RS technique will depend on the purpose of applications. Both techniques have the same accuracy in calculating average emission factors when sufficient measurements are available, while the dual RS technique is more accurate in identifying high-emitters based on one measurement only

Rapid detection of high-emitting vehicles by on-road remote sensing technology improves urban air quality.

Vehicle emissions are the most important source of air pollution in the urban environment worldwide, and their detection and control are critical for protecting public health. Here, we report the use of on-road remote sensing (RS) technology for fast, accurate, and cost-effective identification of high-emitting vehicles as an enforcement program for improving urban air quality. Using large emission datasets from chassis dynamometer testing, RS, and air quality monitoring, we found that significant percentages of in-use petrol and LPG vehicles failed the emission standards, particularly the high-mileage fleets. The RS enforcement program greatly cleaned these fleets, in terms of high-emitter percentages, fleet average emissions, roadside and ambient pollutant concentrations, and emission inventory. The challenges of the current enforcement program are conservative setting of cut points, single-lane measurement sites, and lack of application experience in diesel vehicles. Developing more accurate and vertical RS systems will improve and extend their applications

The PB2 mutation with lysine at 627 enhances the pathogenicity of avian influenza (H7N9) virus which belongs to a non-zoonotic lineage

A novel avian-origin influenza A (H7N9) virus emerged in China in 2013 and has caused zoonotic disease in over 1123 persons with an overall mortality around 30%. Amino acid changes at the residues 591, 627 and 701 of polymerase basic protein 2 (PB2) have been found frequently in the human H7N9 isolates but not in viruses isolated from avian species. We have recently identified a cluster of H7N9 viruses in ducks which circulated in China prior to the first recognition of zoonotic disease in 2013. These duck viruses have genetic background distinct from the zoonotic H7N9 lineage. We found that the introduction of PB2 mutation with K at 627 but not K at 591 or N at 701 to the duck H7N9 virus led to increased pathogenicity in mice. We also found that the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IP-10, MCP-1 and MIP-1α were associated with increased severity of infection. We conclude that introduction of the mammalian adaptation mutations into the PB2 gene of duck H7N9 viruses, which are genetically unrelated to the zoonotic H7N9 lineage, can also enhance pathogenicity in mice.published_or_final_versio

Commissioning the SPEAR3 Diagnostic Beamlines

SPEAR3 has two diagnostic beam lines: an x-ray pinhole camera and a visible/UV beam line. The pinhole camera images {approx}8 keV dipole synchrotron radiation (SR) incident on a phosphor screen. The visible beam line delivers conventional optical radiation to an array of cameras and diagnostic elements on a 1x3m optical bench. This paper briefly reviews the pinhole camera system while concentrating more on visible beam line power transmission calculations and streak camera data. Impedance estimates in the nominal optics and bunch length measurements in low-alpha optics are presented

The Microvasculature of Human Oral Mucosa Using Vascular Corrosion Casts and India Ink Injection I. Tongue Papillae

The microvasculature of human tongue papillae originating from 9 males and 6 females, aged 0.5 to 2 years was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of vascular corrosion casts and by light microscopy (LM) of India ink injected specimens. All papillae showed a microvasculature characterized by primary, secondary and tertiary capillary loops. In the filiform papillae the loops were generally arranged in a corolla-like pattern with the tertiary loops demonstrating a hair-pin shape. The fungiform papillae showed basically a similar architectural pattern although the loops were somewhat more compact and complex in structure. A small, shallow depression of the tertiary loops at the top of these papillae was found to be occupied by a prominent rete ridge of the surface epithelium. There was a gradual transition from filiform to foliate papillae, the latter appearing as rows of coalesced filiform papillae. The circumvallate papillae easily identified by the surrounding furrow showed a rather complex and compact pattern of capillary loops of which typical hair-pin shaped tertiary loops dominated the periphery of the papilla. Small grooves or depressions in the vascular network were found to be occupied by rete ridges of the overlying mucosal epithelium