ABSTRACT
Water vapour and CO2 exchange were measured in moss‐dominated vegetation using a gas analyser and a 0.3 × 0.3 m chamber at 17 sites near Abisko, Northern Sweden and 21 sites near ...Longyearbyen, Svalbard, to quantify the contribution of mosses to ecosystem level fluxes. With the help of a simple light‐response model, we showed that the moss contribution to ecosystem carbon uptake varied between 14 and 96%, with an average contribution of around 60%. This moss contribution could be related to the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of the vegetation and the leaf area index (LAI) of the vascular plants. NDVI was a good predictor of gross primary production (GPP) of mosses and of the whole ecosystem, across different moss species, vegetation types and two different latitudes. NDVI was also correlated with thickness of the active green moss layer. Mosses played an important role in water exchange. They are expected to be most important to gas exchange during spring when leaves are not fully developed.
The high-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae object 1ES 0806+524, at redshift z = 0.138, was observed in the very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray regime by VERITAS between 2006 November and 2008 April. These ...data encompass the two- and three-telescope commissioning phases, as well as observations with the full four-telescope array. 1ES 0806+524 is detected with a statistical significance of 6.3 standard deviations from 245 excess events. Little or no measurable variability on monthly timescales is found. The photon spectrum for the period 2007 November to 2008 April can be characterized by a power law with photon index 3.6 ± 1.0stat ± 0.3sys between ~ 300 GeV and ~ 700 GeV. The integral flux above 300 GeV is (2.2 ± 0.5stat ± 0.4sys) X 10-12 cm-2 s-1 which corresponds to 1.8% of the Crab Nebula flux. Non-contemporaneous multiwavelength observations are combined with the VHE data to produce a broadband spectral energy distribution that can be reasonably described using a synchrotron-self-Compton model.
In humans with sepsis, the onset of multiorgan failure (MOF), especially involving liver, lungs, and kidneys, is a well known complication that is associated with a high mortality rate. Our previous ...studies with the cecal ligation/puncture (CLP) model of sepsis in rats have revealed a C5a-induced defect in the respiratory burst of neutrophils. In the current CLP studies, MOF occurred during the first 48 h with development of liver dysfunction and pulmonary dysfunction (falling arterial partial pressure of O(2), rising partial pressure of CO(2)). In this model an early respiratory alkalosis developed, followed by a metabolic acidosis with increased levels of blood lactate. During these events, blood neutrophils lost their chemotactic responsiveness both to C5a and to the bacterial chemotaxin, fMLP. Neutrophil dysfunction was associated with virtually complete loss in binding of C5a, but binding of fMLP remained normal. If CLP animals were treated with anti-C5a, indicators of MOF and lactate acidosis were greatly attenuated. Under the same conditions, C5a binding to blood neutrophils remained intact; in tandem, in vitro chemotactic responses to C5a and fMLP were retained. These data suggest that, in the CLP model of sepsis, treatment with anti-C5a prevents development of MOF and the accompanying onset of blood neutrophil dysfunction. This may explain the protective effects of anti-C5a in the CLP model of sepsis.
Objective: To compare the effects of an experimental mouth rinse containing 0.07% cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) (Crest Pro‐Health®) with those provided by a commercially available mouth rinse ...containing essential oils (EOs) (Listerine®) on dental plaque accumulation and prevention of gingivitis in an unsupervised 6‐month randomized clinical trial.
Material and Methods: This double‐blind, 6‐month, parallel group, positively controlled study involved 151 subjects balanced and randomly assigned to either positive control (EO) or experimental (CPC) mouth rinse treatment groups. At baseline, subjects received a dental prophylaxis procedure and began unsupervised rinsing twice a day with 20 ml of their assigned mouthwash for 30 s after brushing their teeth for 1 min. Subjects were assessed for gingivitis and gingival bleeding by the Gingival index (GI) of Löe & Silness (1963) and plaque by the Silness & Löe (1964) Plaque index at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of rinsing. At 3 and 6 months, oral soft tissue health was assessed. Microbiological samples were also taken for community profiling by the DNA checkerboard method.
Results: Results show that after 3 and 6 months of rinsing, there were no significant differences (p=0.05) between the experimental (CPC) and the positive control mouth rinse treatment groups for overall gingivitis status, gingival bleeding, and plaque accumulation. At 6 months, the covariant (baseline) adjusted mean GI and bleeding sites percentages for the CPC and the EO rinses were 0.52 and 0.53 and 8.7 and 9.3, respectively. Both mouth rinses were well tolerated by the subjects. Microbiological community profiles were similar for the two treatment groups. Statistically, a significant greater reduction in bleeding sites was observed for the CPC rinse versus the EO rinse.
Conclusion: The essential findings of this study indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in the anti‐plaque and anti‐gingivitis benefits between the experimental CPC mouth rinse and the positive control EO mouth rinse over a 6‐month period.
We present observations of the dwarf galaxies Draco and Ursa Minor, the Local Group galaxies M32 and M33, and the globular cluster M15 conducted with the Whipple 10 m gamma-ray telescope to search ...for the gamma-ray signature of self-annihilating weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), which may constitute astrophysical dark matter (DM). We review the motivations for selecting these sources based on their unique astrophysical environments and report the results of the data analysis that produced upper limits on the excess rate of gamma rays for each source. We consider models for the DM distribution in each source based on the available observational constraints and discuss possible scenarios for the enhancement of the gamma-ray luminosity. Limits on the thermally averaged product of the total self- annihilation cross section and velocity of the WIMP, image, are derived using conservative estimates for the magnitude of the astrophysical contribution to the gamma-ray flux. Although these limits do not constrain predictions from the currently favored theoretical models of supersymmetry (SUSY), future observations with VERITAS will probe a larger region of the WIMP parameter phase space, image, and WIMP particle mass.
The slow component of the delayed rectifier K+ current (IKs) is believed to be important in cardiac repolarization, and may be a potential target for antiarrhythmic drugs, but its study has been ...limited by a lack of specific blockers. The chromanol derivate 293B blocks currents expressed by minK and not HERG in Xenopus oocytes, but little is known about its effects on native currents and action potentials. We aimed to establish the effects of 293B on K+, Na+ and Ca2+ currents and action potentials in human and guinea pig cardiomyocytes.
Whole-cell patch clamp techniques were applied to assess the effects of 293B on isolated myocytes at 36 degrees C.
Delayed rectifier current (IK) elicited by pulses to +60 mV from a holding potential of -50 mV in guinea pig myocytes was strongly inhibited by 293B (maximum inhibition 96.9 +/- 0.8%; 50% inhibitory concentration, EC50, 1.02 microM), but IK during pulses to -10 mV was unaffected (3.9 +/- 8.4% inhibition at 50 microM). Half-activation voltages, current-voltage relations, and current densities of drug-resistant and drug-sensitive IK correspond to those of IKr and IKs respectively. Inward rectifier K+ current, Na+ current and L-type Ca2+ current were unaffected by 293B. Transient outward current in human ventricular myocytes was inhibited by 293B at an EC50 of 24 microM, less than one twentieth the potency for IKs inhibition in guinea pig myocytes. While dofetilide prolonged action potential duration (APD) with strong reverse use dependence, 293B prolonged guinea pig and human ventricular APD to a similar fractional extent at all frequencies.
293B is a selective IKs blocker, and the frequency dependence of APD prolongation caused by this IKs blocker is different from that caused by IKr blockade: 293B may be an interesting tool to study the physiologic role of IKs and the antiarrhythmic potential of IKs blockade.
In 2011, a large multivessel survey was conducted to provide nearly synoptic sampling of Red Snapper Lutjanus campechanus throughout their reproductive season in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. A total of ...2,487 Red Snapper were caught with a female : male ratio that was approximately 1:1. The ovaries of 1,002 females were histologically examined. Females (n = 391) were found with spawning markers (postovulatory follicles and hydrated oocytes) throughout the study area, but primarily in outer shelf waters. Statistical models were developed to quantify and test the dependence of the proportion of females bearing spawning markers (spawning fraction) on female length and age, time of year, depth, gear type (vertical line or longline), or region (east or west of the Mississippi River). Most of the variance in spawning fraction was explained by the time of year; spawning fractions were generally low in spring, peaked in midsummer, and declined by fall. There was also strong statistical evidence of a positive relationship between spawning fraction and either age or length. The effects of region and gear type were not significant once time of year and size or age were accounted for. These results demonstrate the need to account for differences in the time of year and age structure of the population when the productivity of populations of Red Snapper are compared. For example, productivity has been hypothesized to be greater in the western Gulf than in the eastern Gulf, as evidenced by regional patterns of egg and larval abundance. Our results suggest that this regional difference is not due to any intrinsic difference in the biology of the fish, but simply a consequence of there being more large, old Red Snapper in the western Gulf. Recent stock assessments have indicated that Red Snapper are increasing in abundance and there is a need to continue monitoring to detect any possible compensation in reproduction.
M 87 is a nearby radio galaxy that is detected at energies ranging from radio to very high energy (VHE) gamma rays. Its proximity and its jet, misaligned from our line of sight, enable detailed ...morphological studies and extensive modeling at radio, optical, and X-ray energies. Flaring activity was observed at all energies, and multi-wavelength correlations would help clarify the origin of the VHE emission. In this paper, we describe a detailed temporal and spectral analysis of the VERITAS VHE gamma-ray observations of M 87 in 2008 and 2009. In the 2008 observing season, VERITAS detected an excess with a statistical significance of 7.2 standard deviations ({sigma}) from M 87 during a joint multi-wavelength monitoring campaign conducted by three major VHE experiments along with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. In 2008 February, VERITAS observed a VHE flare from M 87 occurring over a 4 day timespan. The peak nightly flux above 250 GeV was (1.14 {+-} 0.26) x 10{sup -11} cm{sup -2} s{sup -1}, which corresponded to 7.7% of the Crab Nebula flux. M 87 was marginally detected before this 4 day flare period, and was not detected afterward. Spectral analysis of the VERITAS observations showed no significant change in the photon index between the flare and pre-flare states. Shortly after the VHE flare seen by VERITAS, the Chandra X-ray Observatory detected the flux from the core of M 87 at a historical maximum, while the flux from the nearby knot HST-1 remained quiescent. Acciari et al. presented the 2008 contemporaneous VHE gamma-ray, Chandra X-ray, and Very Long Baseline Array radio observations which suggest the core as the most likely source of VHE emission, in contrast to the 2005 VHE flare that was simultaneous with an X-ray flare in the HST-1 knot. In 2009, VERITAS continued its monitoring of M 87 and marginally detected a 4.2{sigma} excess corresponding to a flux of {approx}1% of the Crab Nebula. No VHE flaring activity was observed in 2009.
To build a stable animal model simulating pelvic nerve injury in female pelvic floor dysfunction.
A total of 55 10-week-old female SD rats weighing (220±15) g were randomly divided into 3 groups: 5 ...for normal group, 25 for sham operation group (SO), 25 for bilateral pudendal nerve block group (BPNB). Samples of rat anterior vaginal wall were obtained in 3 days, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after the operation. The number of nerve fibers was counted per high power field under microscope, with UCHL immunohistochemical staining of nerve fibers. RNA was extracted and the expression of RNA related to nerve tissue was tested.
The numbers of nerve fibers had no significant difference between the normal group and the sham operation group. The numbers of nerve fibers in anterior vaginal wall of rats in BPNB group, was obviously decreased in 3 days after the operation, reached a minimum value at 1 weeks, and lasting till 3 months. QRT-PCR indicated that the expression of UCHL mRNA in the BPNB group was significantly de
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