Conceptual design and implantation of an external fixator with improved mobility for knee rehabilitation

A hinged external fixator is used to allow early knee rehabilitation in case of injury or trauma, as an alternative approach to immobilization. It is mainly adopted for the treatment of dislocations, which involve tearing of the ligaments, and it basically consists of two links connected to each other by a revolute joint. Each link is fixed to the femur and tibia via pin fixation, and the revolute joint is approximately aligned to the knee flexion-extension (FE) axis. The advantage in its implantation is to protect ligament reconstruction, while allowing for an aggressive rehabilitation. Traditional fixators only accommodate the functional flexion movement in a limited range, i.e. where the anatomical movement is closer to a planar circular trajectory. This paper presents the conceptual design and implantation procedure of a double-axis fixator, which accommodates both FE and longitudinal internal-external rotation. The procedure is based on accurate knee kinematics measurements and on computer-aided multibody simulations to assist clinicians in the implantation. An experimental test is presented using an artificial knee, and guidelines are given for in vitro studies. The proposed technique may allow for a better understanding of knee kinematics and have the potential advantage to increase the range of motion in postoperative rehabilitation.     

Morpho-colorimetric characterization by image analysis to identify diaspores of wild plant species

Digital images of ex situ germplasm stored in the Sardinian Germplasm Bank (BG-SAR) were used for the application of image analysis techniques at the Stazione Sperimentale di Granicoltura per la Sicilia. The analysed accessions refer to 148 taxonomic units belonging to 102 genera and 47 families, typical of the Sardinian flora, and of the Mediterranean basin in general.The images of diaspores were acquired by a flatbed scanner and elaborated with a macro specially developed for the morphometric and colorimetric measurements. This method allowed carrying out a database for the characterization of autochthonous germplasm in entry to the bank and the realization of statistic classifiers for the discrimination of genera and species within the following families: Apiaceae, Boraginaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Cistaceae, Fabaceae and Scrophulariaceae. Such classifiers, based on the linear discriminant analysis (LDA) technique and checked by cross-validation, showed a performance included between 74.3% and 96.4%.In addition, for the genus Astragalus, it was possible to elaborate a classifier able to identify very similar taxa of a species complex, obtaining a performance between 83.7% and 100%. Such analysis proved the validity of the methodology also from the taxonomic point of view.Suggestions for subsequent methodological progress, which could offer applications in other research issues, such as ecological analysis, soil seed bank and archaeological botany are proposed.     

Local host competition in the evolution of virulence

The evolution of parasite life histories should usually have correlated effects on host survivorship and/or reproductive success. For example, parasites that reproduce more rapidly might be expected to cause greater reductions in host fitness. Important theoretical advances have recently been made on virulence evolution, but the results are not always consistent. Here I compare two models [ Q. Rev. Biol. 71 (1996) 37 ; Q. Rev. Biol. 75 (2000) 261 ] on the evolution of virulence that get qualitatively different results with respect to the effects of coinfection. I also construct a third model that attempts to connect these two formulations. The results suggest that parasite growth rates should increase as local host competition increases, unless relatedness is at equilibrium. In addition, the qualitative effect of adding coinfections on parasite growth rates depends critically on how the number of coinfections affects transmission success.     

Differential susceptibility to hydrogen sulfide-induced apoptosis between PHLDA1-overexpressing oral cancer cell lines and oral keratinocytes: Role of PHLDA1 as an apoptosis suppressor

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) is a novel gasotransmitter that plays multiple biological roles in various body systems. In addition to its endogenous production, H₂S is produced by bacteria colonizing digestive organs, including the oral cavity. H₂S was previously shown to enhance pro-apoptotic effects in cancer cell lines, although the mechanisms involved remain unclear. To properly assess the anti-cancer effects of H₂S, however, investigations of apoptotic effects in normal cells are also necessary. The aims of this study were (1) to compare the susceptibility to H₂S-induced apoptosis between the oral cancer cell line Ca9-22 and oral keratinocytes that were derived from healthy gingiva, and (2) to identify candidate genes involved in the induction of apoptosis by H₂S. The susceptibility to H₂S-induced apoptosis in Ca9-22 cells was significantly higher than that in keratinocytes. H₂S exposure in Ca9-22 cells, but not keratinocytes, enhanced the expression of pleckstrin homology-like domain, family A, member 1 (PHLDA1), which was identified through a differential display method. In addition, PHLDA1 expression increased during actinomycin D-induced apoptosis in Ca9-22 cells. Knockdown of PHLDA1 expression by small interfering RNA in Ca9-22 cells led to expression of active caspase 3, thus indicating apoptosis induction. The tongue cancer cell line SCC-25, which expresses PHLDA1 at a high level, showed similar effects. Our data indicate that H₂S is an anti-cancer compound that may contribute to the low incidence of oral cancer. Furthermore, we demonstrated the role of PHLDA1 as an apoptosis suppressor.     

Dependence of Asian honeybee on deciduous woody plants for pollen resource during spring to mid‐summer in northern Japan

Apis cerana japonica Radoszkowski, endemic to Japan, is known to be one of the most important pollinators for wild plants and crops, such as buckwheat, in cool to warm temperate Japan. To determine the degree of dependence of A. cerana japonica on forest resources, we analyzed pollen brought back to nests in a typical “Satoyama” landscape with relatively high deciduous forest coverage in northern Japan. We divided the landscape elements of the study area into three types: deciduous forest, conifer plantation and open land according to landcover digital data, and each pollen taxon was assigned to one of these three types of landscape elements. We collected total pollen loads of 15.75 g (total of colonies A and B) in May (spring), 1.57 g (total of colonies A and C) in June (early summer), 19.03 g (total of colonies A, B and C) in July (mid‐summer) and 45.61 g (total of colonies A, B and D) in September (autumn). Deciduous forests are the most important foraging habitats for A. cerana japonica in the “Satoyama” landscape especially from spring to mid‐summer when mass flowering of tall trees and shrubs species provides rich floral resources for developing bee colonies. On the other hand, the bees frequently foraged from herbaceous plant species in autumn when flowering of tree species reduces and herbaceous plant species have flowering peaks. In turn, the bees provide pollination services to a number of wild flowers blooming in various forest layers ranging from the canopy to the understory layer.     

祁连山中段高寒草甸草毡表层发育程度的空间分异及环境影响因子

高寒草甸植被下的草毡表层能够发挥水土保持、水源涵养等生态环境效益,是高寒草甸植被生态功能发挥的核心,认识草毡表层发育程度的空间分异及环境影响因子有利于深入理解高寒草甸在高原生态系统中的作用。本研究以祁连山中段高寒草甸分布区为研究区,依据根系体积并结合草毡层厚度以及土壤容重,将草毡表层划分为弱发育、中等发育以及强发育草毡。分析了不同发育程度草毡的地形、植被、气候等环境特征,并采用支持向量机模型对其分布进行了空间制图。结果表明:祁连山中段发育程度较高的草毡表层趋向于分布在水分条件较好的低海拔、缓坡,低坡位以及北向坡的位置,以嵩草属植物为主,中等以上发育程度的草毡地表植被及水分条件都较好;发育程度较高的草毡表层年均温较高,各发育程度草毡表层降水量差异不显著。空间分布结果整体与现有的高寒草甸植被类型分布具有高度的一致性,但空间分辨率更为详细,并且实现了不同发育程度草毡表层的空间细分。     

高寒生态脆弱区农户的气候变化适应策略评价——以甘南高原为例

气候变化加剧了高寒生态脆弱区农户的生计脆弱性,为应对气候变化,农户已采取了各种响应措施,当前急需评估农户所采取适应策略的效果,以便选择更有效的适应策略。以甘南高原为研究区,基于入户调查数据分析了农户所采取适应策略的特征,采用模糊综合评价法分析现行适应策略的效果,并利用多准则决策模型确定了最优的气候变化适应策略。结果显示:(1)甘南高原农户多采取组合型策略应对气候变化,尤以调整+扩张型策略为主;(2)甘南高原农户所采取气候变化适应策略的效果较好,效益指数为3.43。其中,农区农户的适应策略效果最好、半农半牧区次之、纯牧区最差;(3)甘南高原不同区域农户筛选的最优策略存在差异。其中,纯牧区和半农半牧区农户筛选的最优策略为调整农牧业结构,而农区农户为完善农牧业基础设施。最后,提出了提高农户适应策略效果的对策建议及未来研究中需进一步关注的问题。