Mastication in jaw muscle pain

Background: Integrated Pain Adaptation Models suggest a possible pain-motor interaction. Mechanisms affecting the jaw muscle spindles seem to affect the ability to bite and chew, suggesting that jaw muscle pain may be a potential modifier of mastication in humans. Objectives: The general objective of this doctoral thesis was to investigate the mastication performance in patients with painful temporomandibular disorders (TMD) and, more specifically, clinical chronic pain within the masticatory muscles. Study I investigated the effects of chronic and acute jaw muscle pain on oral motor control during precision biting. Study II focused on the optimisation of excessive gum chewing as an experimental model to induce jaw muscle pain and fatigue similar to that seen in painful TMD. Study III focused on chewing performance in TMD patients with myalgia. Methods and Results: Study I involved a comparison of patients with chronic masseter muscle pain and healthy participants. Experimental acute pain was induced by bilateral, simultaneous sterile hypertonic saline infusions into the healthy masseter muscles. A standardised hold and split biting task was used to assess precision biting. No significant differences were found in the hold forces, split forces or durations of split within or between the pain and pain-free conditions. Study II was a randomised, double-blinded study that included healthy participants of both sexes. A standardised chewing protocol of either 40- or 60-min of chewing was used, with a wash-out period. Subjective fatigue, pain characteristics, and functional measures were all assessed. Significant high subjective fatigue scores were induced in both the 40- and 60-min chewing trials. Significant but mild pain was induced only in the 60-min trial, and only in men. The induced pain area was significantly larger in the 60-min trial. The induced fatigue lasted up to 20 minutes after the end of the chewing while the increase in pain intensity and pain area did not until the first 10-min follow-up. Study III involved a series of chewing tasks involving viscoelastic soft and hard candies as well as a two-coloured gum. Optical imaging and analysis were conducted, and both bite force and the characteristics of pain and fatigue were assessed. Patients with painful TMD chewed the soft candies into particles that were fewer in number and which had a larger minimum Feret’s diameter after standardised chewing as compared to healthy pain-free control individuals. Surprisingly, the two-coloured gum was less mixed in the control cases. However, there were significant differences between the patients and the healthy controls in terms of self-assessed masticatory ability, mainly driven by painrelated issues. There was also obvious agreement between the patients’ self-assessed masticatory ability and the efficiency of their masticatory function. Conclusion: The three studies that form this doctoral thesis suggest that jaw muscle pain does not affect precision biting in humans; however, TMD patients with chronic myalgia exhibit impaired masticatory performance, with less efficiency of food communition, than those in the pain-free healthy control group. However, the excessive chewing model needs further adjustments in order to mimic TMD-pain, especially in women

Belowground ectomycorrhizal fungal communities at fagus stands in differently polluted forest research plots

V talnih vzorcih različno onesnaženih ploskev v bukovih sestojih smo analizirali talno združbo ektomikoriznih gliv. V obdobju od 1998 do 2001 smo zmikobioindikacijsko metodo določali tipe ektomikorize v standardnem volumnu tal različno onesnaženih ploskev. Gozdne raziskovalne ploskve so bile izbrane v bližini termoenergetskih objektov (onesnaženo območje: Zavodnje - Prednji vrh in Zasavje - Dobovec) in v okolici Kočevske Reke (referenčno, neonesnaženoobmočje: Preža in Moravške gredice). Identificirali smo 88 različnih tipov ektomikorize iz skupnega števila 95.044 kratkih korenin. 48 tipov smo določili do vrste, 18 do rodu, za preostalih 22 pa nismo našli ustreznega opisa. Domnevamo, da precejšnje število sodi še k neopisanim tipom ektomikorizevečino slednjih (31 opisov) predstavljamo s kratkimi opisi v članku. Med posameznimi območji smo evidentirali razlike v vrstni sestavi tipov ektomikorize. Iz identificiranih tipov smo izločili dominantne in pogoste vrste, med katerimi so morda ključne vrste ektomikoriznih talnih združb bukovih sestojev.Belowground ectomycorrhizal fungal communities at fagus stands were analysed. Eectomycorrhiza types were identified in soil cores from differently polluted beech forest research plots in the 1998 - 2001 period by mycobioindication method. Forest research plots were situated in the vicinity of thermal power plants (polluted plots: Zavodnje - Prednji vrh and Zasavje - Dobovec) and in unpolluted areas (in the vicinity of Kočevska Reka: Preža and Moravške gredice). Eighty-eight different ectomycorrhiza types were determined from a total of 95,044 root tips. Among them, 48 were identified down to the species level and 18 to the genus levelfor 22 of them, no similarity was found with any of the already described types, so the majority of them are probably undescribed types. Short descriptions of 31 ectomycorrhiza types (most of themare undescribed types) are presented in this article. However, there are differences in species diversity of the types. Among the identified types of ectomycorrhizae, the dominant and common species were selected, some of which are probably the key species of belowground ectomycorrhizal communities of beech forests

Biodiversity of types of ectomycorrhizae in fagus stands in differently polluted forest research plots

V obdobju od 1998 do 2001 smo z mikobioindikacijsko metodo analizirali tipe ektomikorize in določili njihovo raznovrstnost v standardnih volumnih tal različno onesnaženih gozdnih raziskovalnih ploskev bukovih sestojev. Gozdne raziskovalne ploskve so bile izbrane v bližini termoenergetskih objektov (onesnaženo območje: Zavodnje - Prednji vrh in Zasavje - Dobovec) in v okoliciKočevske Reke (referenčno, neonesnaženo območje: Preža in Moravške gredice). Identificirali smo 88 različnih tipov ektomikorize iz skupnega števila 95.044 kratkih korenin. Izračunali smo biodiverzitetne indekse (Shannon-Weaverjev indeks, indeks vrstnega bogastva in indeks izenačenosti) inugotovili, da raznovrstnost tipov ektomikorize v talnih vzorcih onesnaženih ploskev ni bistveno zmanjšana, kar povezujemo z vitalnostjo bukovih sestojev.Types of ectomycorrhizae were identified by the mycobioindication method and biodiversity was assessed in soil cores from differently polluted beech forestresearch plots in the period 1998 - 2001. Forest research plots were situated in the vicinity of thermal power plants (polluted plots: Zavodnje - Prednji vrh and Zasavje - Dobovec) and in unpolluted areas (in the vicinity ofKočevska Reka: Preža and Moravške gredice). Eighty-eight different types of ectomycorrhizae were determined from a total of 95,044 root tips. Biodiversityindices (Shannon- Weaver index of diversity, species richness and equitability) were estimated. In soil cores from polluted areas no decrease inbiodiversity was determined. Consequently, it can be concluded that high biodiversity reflects good health status of beech forest in Slovenia

Personalised Virtual Fitting for Fashion

The paper describes the "Body Shape Recognition for Online Fashion" research project and the development and testing of the garment size recommendation app, ShapeMate, embedded within a fashion e-commerce site. Not finding the correct garment size causes the high return rate of 30%-40% (According to interviews commissioned by the research project with leading fashion e-commerce and retailers in the UK), in fashion e-commerce. The app captures a single image with minimal user input, to estimate and classify the 3D body shape, in order to generate body measurements and using this information, to match with garment data for size recommendation. An extensive user-experience study was conducted. The developed app was empirically tested through semi-structured focus group interview and questionnaires, to validate results and obtain further insight. This research offers a major innovation for low-cost size recommendation generated from a single image for fashion e-commerce. It enhances the online apparel shopping experience, by matching body measurements with a personalised recommendation for garments

Cd, Hg, Pb, and As in European species of wild growing forest landscape fungi : a review

Kadmij (Cd), živo srebro (Hg), svinec (Pb) in arzen (As) so kovine, ki se naravno ali kot posledica človekove dejavnosti pojavljajo v okolju, tudi v gozdni krajini, kjer so rastišča številnih evropskih vrst gliv. Namen članka je bil pripraviti pregled vrst in količin izbranih kovin v trosnjakih gliv terprimerjati lastne raziskave, opravljene v različno onesnaženih območjih v Sloveniji (Zgornja Mežiška, Šaleška in Poljanska dolina), s podatki evropskih raziskav. Vsebnosti kovin v trosnjakih gliv iz neonesnaženih območij pravilomanajdemo v naslednjih intervalih: <0,5 mg/kg suhe teže (Cd), < 0,5 mg/kg do 10 mg/kg suhe teže (Hg), < 0,5 mg/kg do 5 mg/kg suhe teže (Pb) in < 0,5 mg/kg do 1 (2) mg/kg suhe teže (As). Na podlagi pregleda vsebnosti izbranih kovin v trosnjakih gliv ugotavljamo, da sta problematični kovini predvsem Cd in Hg. Omenjeni kovini lahko dosegata velike vsebnosti celo v glivah, ki rastejo v neonesnaženih območjih. Za vse analizirane kovin je značilno, da v trosnjakih gliv iz močno onesnaženih območji dosegajo velike, celo ekstemne vsebnosti, ki nekajkrat prekoračujejo vsebnosti iz neonesnaženih območij. Upoštevaje primerjavo z evropskimi raziskavami ugotavljamo, da je Zgornja Mežiška dolina obremenjena s Pb in Cd, Šaleška dolina pa s Cd in As.Metals, which originate from anthropogenic and natural activities, frequently occur in forest landscape with habitats of many European species of wild growing fungi. The presented review focuses on cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As) levels in fruiting bodies of wild growing European species of fungi of forest landscape. Furthermore, a comparison with studies of this kind performed in Slovenia was made with the aim to assess themetals levels in fungi from differently polluted areas in Slovenia (the Upper Meža Valley, the Šalek Valley, the Poljana Valley). The usual reported levels for most species grown in unpolluted areas are in the following ranges:Cd: < 0,5 mg/kg - 5 mg/kg dry weight (dw), Hg: < 0,5 mg/kg - 10 mg/kg dw, Pb: < 0,5 mg/kg - 5 mg/kg dw, As: < 0,5 mg/kg -1 (2) mg/kg dw (As), respectively. The presented data reveal that cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) have probably been the most detrimental trace elements in fruiting bodies, which can reach increased levels even in unpolluted areas. It is evident for all analyzed trace elements that values can considerably increase in fungi picked in severely polluted areas. According to data regarding Slovene studies and comparison with other European studies, it is obvious that the Šalek Valley is enriched with Cd and As, while the Upper Meža Valley is considerably polluted with Pb and Cd

Obremenjenost trosnjakov užitnih vrst gliv iz Šaleške in Zgornje Mežiške doline z izbranimi kovinami (Cd, Hg, Pb, As), s poudarkom na oceni tveganja za prehranjevanje ljudi

Vsebnosti Cd, Pb, Hg in As smo izmerili v trosnjakih različnih vrst gliv iz okolice nekdanje topilnice svinca (Zgornja Mežiška dolina) in največjega termoenergetskega objekta v Sloveniji (Šaleška dolina) z namenom, da napravimo primerjavo med obema območjema ter drugimi evropskimi raziskavami in ocenimo tveganje za zdravje ljudi zaradi prehranjevanja s trosnjaki užitnih vrst gliv. V Šaleški dolini odsvetujemo uživanje poljskega in hostnega kukmaka, poletnega gobana ter vijoličaste bledivke, v Zgornji Mežiški dolini pa jesenskega gobana, betičaste prašnice, brezovega turka, sivorumene mraznice in orjaškega dežnika. Za nekatere vrste gliv predlagamo omejitve pri njihovem uživanju. Med analiziranimi kovinami je Cd najbolj problematičen v obeh raziskovalnih območjih, saj ravno vsebnost Cd največkrat zmanjšuje dopustno količino zaužitih trosnjakov gliv. zaradi prepoznanega tveganja za zdravje ljudi predlagamo vzpostavitev biomonitoringa v degradiranih območjih v Sloveniji, kjer podobnih raziskav še ni bilo (Jesenice, Celjska kotlina), in v tradicionalno nabiralniških območjih (Pokljuka, Smrekovec)

Fungi as responsive and accumulative bioindicators of forest site pollution in the Šalek valley

V Šaleški dolini smo analizirali talne in nadzemne glivne združbe z namenom ugotoviti potencialno onesnaženost gozdnih rastišč. Glive smo uporabili kot odzivne (pojavljanje trosnjakov višjih gliv, raziskave tipov ektomikorize in mikoriznega potenciala tal) in akumulacijske (analize težkih kovin v trosnjakih gliv) kazalce stanja gozdnega ekosistema. Opravljali smo naslednje raziskave: (a) popise trosnjakov višjih gliv, (b) raziskave tipov ektomikorizein njihove biodiverzitete, (c) analize mikoriznega potenciala tal in (d) raziskave vsebnosti težkih kovin v trosnjakih gliv. V vseh primerih so se glive pokazale kot učinkovit bioindikator stanja gozdnega ekosistema.Belowground and aboveground fungal communities in the Šalek Valley were analysed to assess the potential forest site pollution. Fungi were used as responsive (the inventory of macrofungi, determination of types of ectomycorrhizae, analyses of mycorrhizal potential) and accumulative bioindicators (heavy metal level in fruiting bodies of higher fungi). The following issues were emphasized: (a) inventory of macrofungi, (b) identification and biodiversity of types of ectomycorrhizae(c) analysis of mycorrhizal potential of differently polluted forest research plotsand (d) determination of heavy metal levels in fruiting bodies of macrofungi. Considering all issues, fungi were confirmed as effective bioindicators of forest ecosystem condition

Earthworms as bioindicator organisms of soil pollution

Na raziskovalnih območjih v neposredni bližini nekdanje topilnice svinca (Zgornja Mežiška dolina, Žerjav), največjega termoenergetskega objekta v Sloveniji (Šaleška dolina, Veliki Vrh), ob regijski cesti Velenje - Celje (Črnova) in na referenčni lokaciji (Logarska dolina, Polanc) smo v talnih vzorcih in v deževnikih določali vsebnosti kovin z namenom raziskati prehod kovin iz tal v deževnike in oceniti njihov bioindikacijski potencial. Na podlagi predstavljenih rezultatov je razvidno, da: (i) so bile največje vsebnosti kovin v deževnikih iz najbolj onesnaženega območja (Žerjav), najmanjše pa praviloma v deževnikih z referenčne lokacije (Logarska dolina)(ii) so se v deževnikih, vzorčenih na vseh lokacijah, kopičili Cd, Hg in Zn, katerih BCF-faktorji so nihali med 1,18 - 29,2 (Cd), 1,68 - 21,0 (Hg) in med 1,10 - 5,57 (Zn)(iii) so deževniki dobri kazalniki onesnaženosti tal s Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg in Mo, saj smo dokazali, da obstaja statistično značilna soodvisnost med vsebnostjo navedenih kovin v tleh in v deževnikih.The metal levels were determined in soil samples in earthworms collected in the vicinity of the abandoned lead smelter (the Upper Meža Valley, Žerjav) andthe largest thermal power plant in Slovenia (the Šalek Valley, Veliki Vrh),near Velenje - Celje road (Črnova) and at the reference area (the Logar Valley, Polanc) with the aim to investigate the transfer of metals from soil to earthworms and to assess the bioindicative potential of earthworms. Our study revealed the following: (i) the highest levels of metals were determinedin earthworms from the most polluted area (Žerjav) and the lowest inearthworms from the reference location (the Logar Valley)(ii) earthworms bioaccumulated Cd, Hg and Zn at all locations, bioaccumulative factors (BCF) of these three metals ranged between 1.18 - 29.2 (Cd), 1.68 - 21.0 (Hg) and 1.10 - 5.57 (Zn), respectively(iii) earthworms are good bioindicator of polluted soil, since the correlations between Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg and Mo in soil and in earthworms were established

Looking for the perfect fit? Online fashion retail - opportunities and challenges

This paper broadly describes the e-Size project as well as presenting the preliminary results of its first pilot test - an exploratory survey administered to a convenience sample of customers in the attempt to establish whether the integration of a size recommendation application into a menswear fashion retail website had been successfully achieved by verifying the size recommendations made by the application, and to assess the user experience of the application in order to determine its suitability for live user testing on the retailer’s website. From the preliminary findings it emerges that all participants found the size recommendation application easy to use. The majority of participants received the correct size recommendation from the application, and would be willing to use the application due to its helpfulness in providing a size recommendation when shopping online, however, users’ personal style and fit preference is an important factor, irrespective of the size that fits them correctly. By integrating additional garment and fit information into the application, retailers can ensure every user will be able to receive a tailored recommendation that meets both their size and personal style preferences

The importance of wavelength for tight temperature control during µ-laser assisted machining

The area of single point diamond turning of brittle materials like semiconductors and ceramics is significantly benefitted by incorporation of laser assistance. In a new developmental technology that is now recognized as micro-laser-assisted machining (μ-LAM), a laser is shone through a diamond tool to soften the high-pressure phase transformed ductile machining phases that in turn allows thermal softening and thereby enables a higher material removal rate during ductile mode machining. One of the lasers currently used in μ-LAM is the neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser operating at 100 W (continuous wave) at the wavelength of 1064 nm. Although this configuration has worked to the benefit of the technology, here we report futuristic developments that will significantly enhance temperature control by selecting a laser wavelength according to the material being machined, allowing tunable machining properties. The concept is illustrated with sample calculations for μ-LAM of silicon, and it appears to offer better target temperatures, thus enhancing the performance of the μ-LAM process