"Elastic osteosynthesis" with autocompression plates of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic material

The problem of atrophic bone that occurs in osteosynthesis employing rigid plates is first depicted. Attempts at fabricating "simirigid" plates, which, however, have so far failed to gain any practical importance are then discussed. The reason for this seems to be that made of duroplastics cannot be molded during the operation and the thermoplastics do not have sufficient strength. The production of semirigid plates made of thermoplastic Polyethersulfon (PES), reinforced with 20% short carbon fibres, results in plates which are made moldable by heating in a small oven, white retaining sufficient static strength, although only limited fatigue strength. Biomechanical examinations revealed that with appropriate dimensioning of the plates, "elastic osteosynthesis" results in less loss of mechanical function of the stabilized bones, so that less atrophy of the bone may be expected. During more pronounced exercise loading, a reversible "springiness" of the fracture results, which might stimulate callus formation and improved stability.     

Determination of photoperiod response characteristics using a greenhouse

The photoperiod response characteristics of two cultivars of seven long-day species of crop plants were determined by seeding at 33 biweekly intervals in a greenhouse at 49? 43′ N Latitude. Parameters of a segmented linear regression were estimated using a non-linear computer program. This gave good estimates of the length of the basic vegetative and reproductive phases, the photoperiod sensitivity and minimum optimal photoperiods. It was apparent that the photoperiod of importance was that of the day of floral initiation. If the plant is old enough and the photoperiod of the day is not inhibitory, initiation will occur. At certain times of the year, the photoperiod changes so rapidly that flower initiation is prevented. Using this method of analysis, comparisons of large numbers of genotypes can be made.     

Determination of a position of a functional pore in the tobacco pollen

Pollen hydration and germination on the "wet" stigma of Nicotiana tabacum L. were studied by SEM and TEM to reveal the role of the stigma in selecting the germinative pore, and in establishing the axis of polarity in the pollen grain. Pollinated stigmas were fixed with glutaraldehyde or osmium tetroxide vapour, or processed with rapid freeze fixation and freeze substitution. Fixation was performed in 5, 15 or 30 min and 3.5 h after pollination. The tube easily emerged from either pore, this process not depending on the pollen grain orientation relative to the stigma. The orientation of pollen tubes remained random till their length becomes longer than the pollen grain diameter. The TEM analysis of ultrastructural changes in poral regions during pollen hydration and germination showed that the germinative pore was positioned just near the generative cell and vegetative nucleus. Within the first 5 min after pollination a new layer of the electron-lucent wall adjacent to the plasma membrane was formed in the region of a future germinative pore. Following 15 min, marked changes were revealed in the cytoplasm region, close to the germinative pore. Minute dictyosome vesicles were accumulated near the plasma membrane. Small mitochondria and short ER cisternae were distal to a zone of secretory vesicles. The data suggest that the axis of polarity in the germinating pollen grain is predetermined by a spatial organization of the vegetative cell.     

Sequence characteristics of functional siRNAs

RNA interference in mammalian cells is actively used to conduct genetic screens, to identify and to validate targets, and to elucidate regulators and modifiers of cellular pathways. To ensure the specificity and efficacy of the active 21mer siRNA molecules, it is pertinent to develop a strategy for their rational design. Here we show that most functional siRNAs have characteristic sequence features. We tested 601 siRNAs targeting one exogenous and three endogenous genes. The efficacy of the siRNAs was determined at the protein level. Using a decision tree algorithm in combination with information analysis, our analyses revealed four sets of rules with a mean knockdown efficacy ranging from 60% to 73%. (To distinguish between percentages used to describe the quality of an siRNA and the percentages used to describe parts of data sets we underlined the former throughout this paper.) The best rule comprises an A/U at positions 10 and 19, a G/C at position 1, and more than three A/Us between positions 13 and 19, in the sense strand of the siRNA sequence. Using these rules, there is a 99.9% chance of designing an effective siRNA in a set of three with more than 50% knockdown efficiency in a biological readout.     

Determination of biomechanical characteristics of restrictive adhesions and of functional impairment after flexor tendon surgery: a methodological study of rabbits.

Formation of restrictive adhesions is one of the main obstacles in rehabilitation following hand surgery. Most experimental work, however, involves only a macroscopic and/or histologic evaluation of the amount of adhesions, and their functional characteristics are poorly described. The aim of this study was to develop an experimental technique for characterization of the biomechanical properties of the finger-tendon unit. An instrument was developed for continuous and simultaneous recording of tensile load, tendon excursion and angular rotation in the distal interphalangeal joint of rabbit digits. Utilizing this instrument, it was revealed that the first 50 degrees of flexion required virtually no tensile load either in unoperated digits or immediately after tenorrhaphy. Thereafter, the load required to obtain further flexion was progressively increased. The strength of adhesions, determined 2 weeks after tenorrhaphy, was best expressed as the maximum tensile load recorded before 50 degrees of flexion was reached. This measurement could also be used to register the strength of the tendon repair and to detect partial tendon rupture during the measurement. The technique allows both adequate measurements of the strength of the adhesions and of the tendon gliding ability after flexor tendon surgery.     

Determination of antiepileptic drugs in biological material

Current analytical methodologies applied to the determination of antiepileptic drugs in biological material are reviewed. The role of chromatographic techniques is emphasized. Special attention is focused on new chemical entities as well as current trends such as high-speed liquid chromatographic techniques, hyphenated techniques and electrochromatography techniques. A review with 542 references.     

Electrophysiologic characteristics of functional interhemispheric asymmetry

Change of biopotentials spatial synchronization under functional loads addressed predominantly to one or the other hemisphere (correlative analysis of the first EEG derivative of more than two thousands healthy subjects of various age), allowed to single out three phenotypes of hemispheric relations differing mainly by different types of information processing: right-hemispheric, left-hemispheric or mixed. Expressed EEG activation in both hemispheres (judged by alpha-index change) is manifest when the subject is presented with a task, the context of which does not correspond to the initially dominating type: in right-hemispheric--at solution of tasks, oriented to logical-verbal context and in left-hemispheric--to spatial-image one. The high level of non-specific EEG activation may be considered as an attempt of compensation of relative functional insufficiency of the right hemisphere systems in initially left-hemispheric or left-hemisphere systems in right-hemispheric individuals.     

Respiration of wood ant nest material affected by material and forest stand characteristics

We studied differences in respiration of materials from different parts of wood ant nest (top, bottom, and rim) and from the nest surroundings (humus layer and mineral soil). Samples were taken from 8 wood ant (Formica aquilonia) nests in each of the two types of forest (birch and pine) in eastern Finland. The differences were related to material and forest stand characteristics (i.e., moisture, pH, carbon content, and C:N ratio). As a result, the highest respiration per g DW was measured at the top of ant nests in the birch forest. However, respiration did not significantly differ between the parts of ant nests in the pine forest. Respiration of the humus layers in both forest stands was on average higher, whereas respiration of the mineral soils in both forest stands was lower in comparison with respiration of the nest materials. The respiration per g C did not show any significant differences between different parts of nests and surrounding soil. The most important factors influencing respiration of the materials appeared to be moisture, carbon content, and pH. In conclusion, respiration of wood ant nest material is affected by the specific material and forest stand characteristics.     

Keratin based thermoplastic biocomposites: a review

Reviews in Environmental Science and Bio/Technology - Fibre reinforced composites have become important materials for manufacturing a diverse range of industrial products. Keratin-rich materials...     

Determination of lectin characteristics by a novel agglutination technique.

A technique generally applicable for the determination of lectin characteristics is described. A sensitive light transmission/scattering method was adapted for the determination of lectin levels and lectin activity. Applying this procedure Geodia cydonium lectin-mediated agglutination was studied in an agglutimeter device using erythrocytes and even T-lymphocytes. In the Geodia lectin/T-lymphocyte system chosen, (i) a lectin concentration as low as 0.57 micrograms/ml could be measured accurately, (ii) the observed cell agglutination velocity constant with a maximal value of 0.75 min-1 was calculated, and (iii) the size of the agglutinates at a given lectin concentration and time period was estimated. The Geodia lectin activity was determined in parallel also in the erythrocyte system. Here, compared to the lectin/T-lymphocyte system the agglutination efficiency of the Geodia lectin-mediated agglutination was more than 10-fold higher and the lowest detectable lectin concentration was 0.06 micrograms/ml. Compared to the hemagglutination assay the lectin/erythrocyte system turns out to be more sensitive and to give much more information on agglutination behavior; this conclusion is supported by additional data using a second lectin isolated from Pellina semitubulosa. The superiority of the agglutination method described here over other known methods must be seen in its accuracy; moreover more lectin characteristics can be determined.     

Splice variants of a ClC-2 chloride channel with differing functional characteristics

We identified two ClC-2 clones in a guinea pigintestinal epithelial cDNA library, one of which carries a 30-bpdeletion in the NH₂ terminus. PCR using primersencompassing the deletion gave two products that furthermore wereamplified with specific primers confirming their authenticity. Thecorresponding genomic DNA sequence gave a structure of three exons andtwo introns. An internal donor site occurring within one of the exonsaccounts for the deletion, consistent with alternative splicing.Expression of the variants gpClC-2 and gpClC-277-86 in HEK-293cells generated inwardly rectifying chloride currents with similaractivation characteristics. Deactivation, however, occurred with fasterkinetics in gpClC-277-86. Site-directed mutagenesis suggeststhat a protein kinase C-mediated phosphorylation consensus site lost ingpClC-277-86 is not responsible for the observed change. Thedeletion-carrying variant is found in most tissues examined, and itappears more abundant in proximal colon, kidney, and testis. Thepresence of a splice variant of ClC-2 modified in itsNH₂-terminal domain could have functional consequences intissues where their relative expression levels are different.