臭氧水对韭蛆的防治效果及对韭菜生长的影响

【目的】为科学合理地浇灌臭氧(O₃)水防治韭菜迟眼蕈蚊Bradysia odoriphaga幼虫(俗称韭蛆),明确最佳浇灌时期和使用条件。【方法】在平地覆膜环境中浇灌不同浓度(5, 10, 20和30 mg/L)O₃水,调查对韭蛆的防治效果;在平地覆膜环境中不同日光强度、3种不同灌溉环境［平地覆膜、小拱棚和小拱棚+草垫］、2种不同灌溉环境［平地覆膜、小拱棚］的不同浇灌频率等条件下分别浇灌30 mg/L O₃水,调查对韭蛆的防治效果;调查平地覆膜环境中浇灌30 mg/L O₃水对韭菜产量和根系生长的影响;分析日光强度对不同灌溉环境中土壤温度及浇灌O₃水对韭蛆的防治效果的影响。【结果】平地覆膜条件下,O₃水防治韭蛆的最佳浓度为20~30 mg/L。在平地覆膜条件下浇灌30 mg/L O₃水处理中,对韭蛆的防治效果与浇灌当天的日光强度呈正相关;当日光强度超过60 000 lx时,第1天韭蛆的死亡率高达100%;日光强度低于10 000 lx时,对韭蛆无显著的防治效果;日光强度处于中间水平时,前期对韭蛆的防治效果较差,而后期防治效果逐渐增强。土壤升温效果与日光强度呈正相关,也与灌溉环境显著相关,不同灌溉环境下土壤5 cm深处的温度为：平地覆膜>小拱棚＞小拱棚+草垫。小拱棚内浇灌O₃水对韭蛆的防治效果显著高于平地覆膜组和小拱棚+草垫组。采取连续多次浇灌O₃水有利于提高O₃水对韭蛆的防治效果,而且小拱棚内韭蛆的防治效果更显著。浇灌O₃水时,进水口离田埂末端的距离不能超过40 m。平地覆膜环境中浇灌30 mg/L O₃水后,韭菜的株高、重量和须根数量显著高于对照组(浇灌清水);韭菜植株分蘖数与对照组差异不显著。【结论】若能科学合理地浇灌O₃水,既能达到防治韭蛆的理想效果,又能促进韭菜生长。     

Migration of phthalates from plastic products to model solutions

The aim of this investigation was to determine the level and rate of migration of phthalates, compounds used as plastic softeners, from various plastic products into model solutions and to assess the possible adverse effects of the phthalate amounts released on human health, thus to contribute to harmonization of the opinions on the maximal allowed human exposure to these compounds through environmental factors. Nine specimens of plastic toys, 16 specimens of plastic food containers and 10 specimens of other plastic consumer goods were analyzed. The specimens of plastic products were submitted to 10-day action of model solutions. Three model solutions were used: distilled water, 10% ethyl alcohol, and 3% acetic acid. Identification and quantification of the phthalates released were performed by the method of gas chromatography on days 1, 5 and 10 of exposure, at a detection limit of 0.005 microgram/kg. On day 10, the highest level of released phthalates (54.5 mg/kg) was measured in distilled water, followed by 44.4 mg/kg in 3% acetic acid and 32.3 mg/kg in 10% ethyl alcohol. According to plastic product categories, the highest pooled level of phthalates released to all three solutions was recorded for plastic toys (66.2 mg/kg), followed by food containers (37.6 mg/kg) and other consumer goods (27.4 mg/kg). According to plastic product categories, toys showed the most rapid phthalate release, with 65.4% (43.3 of 66.2 mg/kg) of the pooled level of phthalates released to all three solutions recorded on day 1. As indicated by the study results, the levels of phthalates released would not present a hazard for human health, not even over a prolonged period of time. However, data on the highest and fastest pooled phthalate release from plastic toys, and this especially to distilled water simulating salivary action, point to the need of continuous evaluation and amendments of the legislation on phthalates in consumer goods.     

Practicability of Hygienic Wrapping of Touchscreen Operated Mobile Devices in a Clinical Setting

Background

To prove effectiveness of wrapping tablet computers in order to reduce microbiological contamination and to evaluate whether a plastic bag-covered tablet leads to impaired user satisfaction or touchscreen functionality.

Materials and Methods

Within a period of 11 days 115 patients were provided with a tablet computer while waiting for their magnetic resonance imaging examination. Every day the contamination of the surface of the tablet was determined before the first and after the final use. Before the device was handed over to a patient, it was enclosed in a customized single-use plastic bag, which was analyzed for bacterial contamination after each use. A questionnaire was applied to determine whether the plastic bag impairs the user satisfaction and the functionality of the touchscreen.

Results

Following the use by patients the outside of the plastic bags was found to be contaminated with various bacteria (657.5 ± 368.5 colony forming units/day); some of them were potentially pathogenic. In contrast, the plastic bag covered surface of the tablet was significantly less contaminated (1.7 ± 1.9 colony forming units/day). Likewise, unused plastic bags did not show any contamination. 11% of the patients reported problems with the functionality of the touchscreen. These patients admitted that they had never used a tablet or a smartphone before.

Conclusions

Tablets get severely contaminated during usage in a clinical setting. Wrapping with a customized single-use plastic bag significantly reduces microbiological contamination of the device, protects patients from the acquisition of potentially pathogenic bacteria and hardly impairs the user satisfaction and the functionality of the touchscreen.     

The influence of type I collagen on the growth and differentiation of the human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29 in vitro

HT-29 Human colonic adenocarcinoma cells when grown on a plastic substratum were anaplastic in appearance and failed to express any morphological or biochemical features that were characteristic of intestinal differentiation. Growth of HT-29 cells subcutaneously in the flank of immune deprived mice gave rise to morphologically heterogeneous tumors which were poorly differentiated but contained approximately 11% of cells with an intestinal phenotype: these showed features typical of cell polarization with well-developed microvilli, tight junctional complexes and desmosomes between adjacent cells. The transfer of cells from plastic onto either a fixed (designated 'non-released') or floating (designated 'released') type I collagen gel induced some morphological features typical of intestinal differentiation; for example goblet-like cells were observed after 9 days, but biochemical markers of differentiation were expressed only modestly. The continued subculture of HT-29 cells on collagen type I gels, which were either attached to the plastic or floating in the medium, induced some morphological features of intestinal differentiation and changes in the activity of brush border-associated enzymes. Alkaline phosphatase activity was enhanced from 1.3 x 10(-3) mumoles/mg/min for cells cultured on plastic substrata to 2.1 x 10(-3) mumoles/mg/min when gels were non-released, and 2.9 x 10(-3) mumoles/mg/min when gels were released after 12 days of culture. This was confirmed by electron microscopical visualization of alkaline phosphatase activity. Elevated levels of aminopeptidase activity were also observed on day 12 (plastic = 26 milliunits/mg; non-released gel = 41 milliunits/mg; released gel = 36 milliunits/mg). Similarly, changes occurred in the secretion of carcinoembryonic antigen from 0.96 x 10(-2) micrograms/mg/48 hours by cells cultured on plastic to 2.3 x 10(-2) micrograms/mg/48 hours by cells cultured on floating collagen gels. The effects of permitting HT-29 cells to undergo polarization were tested by culture on inert filter inserts: morphological features of intestinal differentiation were observed although this did not occur until after 21 days. These studies show that optimization of the growth conditions of anaplastic cells in vitro may provide cultures more representative of the tumor in vivo. This model system may be useful for cell biological and pharmacological studies of colon carcinoma.     

The LFA-1 ligand ICAM-1 provides an important costimulatory signal for T cell receptor-mediated activation of resting T cells

Functional studies demonstrate that T cell activation often requires not only occupancy of the TCR but costimulatory interactions of other molecules, which remain largely undefined. We have tested the hypothesis that LFA-1 interaction with its ligand intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (CD54) (ICAM-1) is such a costimulatory interaction in a model system using biochemically purified ICAM-1 and TCR cross-linking by anti-CD3 mAb OKT3 immobilized on plastic. Resting T cells do not respond to OKT3 mAb immobilized on plastic. However ICAM-1 deposited on plastic together with the nonmitogenic immobilized OKT3 results in a potent activating stimulus. This costimulation cannot be readily accounted for by ICAM-1-mediated adhesion but is consistent with a role in signaling, which is observed in ICAM-1-mediated augmentation of activation induced by PMA/ionomycin. The ability of ICAM-1 to costimulate with immobilized CD3 contrasts with minimal costimulatory activity of cytokines IL-1 beta, IL-2, and IL-6. The proliferative response to co-immobilized OKT3 and ICAM-1 is dependent on the IL-2R, which is induced only in the presence of both OKT3 and ICAM-1. The present data demonstrate that LFA-1/ICAM-1 interaction is a potent costimulus for TCR-mediated activation; this observation, interpreted in light of previous reports, suggests that LFA-1/ICAM-1 is of major physiologic importance as a costimulatory signal.     

On the stability of salivary progesterone under various conditions of storage

The concentrations of progesterone in saliva of women exhibited significant decreases when the fluid was stored in plastic vials for 3 days at room temperature or 37 C. The addition of antibiotics or a variety of metabolic poisons to the saliva prior to storage did not prevent the progesterone decrement. However, the addition of albumin (2 g/dl) was protective, suggesting that the protein impeded adsorption of salivary progesterone by the plastic container. Saliva could be maintained at 37 C for 3 days in glass vials or at -20 C in plastic containers for indefinite periods without loss of progesterone titers. These data indicate that a patient under luteal function assessment may collect saliva samples in glass vials at regular intervals during the latter half of her cycle and store them in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator until shipment by mail to the laboratory for progesterone assay. With special care, plastic vials charged with albumin may also be used.     

不同覆盖方式对旱地胡麻土壤硝态氮和籽粒产量的影响

为了探讨黄土高原旱作雨养条件下覆盖种植胡麻田土壤硝态氮动态特征和增产效果,在2015和2016年胡麻生长季,以常规种植模式为对照(CK),研究了3种覆盖方式(全膜微垄覆土穴播、全膜覆土穴播和秸秆覆盖条播)对胡麻籽粒产量和关键生育时期农田硝态氮分布的影响.结果表明: 与CK相比,覆盖处理的胡麻籽粒产量分别增加56.1%(2015)和22.7%(2016),且均以全膜覆土穴播处理的籽粒产量最高.覆膜提高了胡麻根际土壤水分含量,在整个生育期的影响程度为先增加后降低;随着胡麻生育进程的推进,土壤硝态氮含量逐渐降低.两年试验中,覆盖处理下胡麻现蕾期0～40 cm土层硝态氮含量分别比CK增加3.1%～18.6%(2015)和5.1%～16.4%(2016),其中,全膜覆土穴播的增幅最大.2015年,胡麻盛花期和成熟期0～100 cm土层土壤硝态氮积累量较CK分别增加10.2%～22.2%和8.6%～21.4%,特别是在降雨较多的成熟期,0～40 cm土层土壤硝态氮含量较40～100 cm土层显著提高3.3%～4.9%,说明覆盖处理可以减缓硝态氮向下层的迁移.2016年,生育后期的高温干旱对胡麻生长造成了极大的影响,胡麻成熟期覆盖处理0～100 cm土层硝态氮积累量较CK显著增加6.6%～18.0%.相关分析表明,胡麻关键生育时期不同土层的土壤硝态氮含量与籽粒产量之间有显著正相关关系.综合考虑,全膜覆土穴播模式是适宜干旱、半干旱区推广应用的胡麻高产高效栽培方式.     

A novel measuring system for the determination of paramagnetic particle labels for use in magneto-immunoassays

Coated micrometer-sized paramagnetic particles (PMPs) are readily available and widely used in immunoassays, mainly for separation and as a solid phase. We have described in a separate paper a model sandwich assay in which ≈1×10⁵ to 1×10⁶ PMPs (2.8 μm diameter) are immobilised on a plastic strip at the end of the assay. In this paper, we describe the design of an instrument that is capable of determining the number of PMPs on the plastic strip. The paper also describes a method of making standard plastic strips with known numbers of PMPs on them. A strip, when placed in a coil of wire in parallel with a capacitor, causes the resonant frequency of the coil to decrease because of the presence of the PMPs. The decrease in frequency relates directly to the number of PMPs on the strip. A circuit based on a voltage-controlled oscillator and a phase-locked loop is used to accurately measure the resonant frequency of the coil. The instrument is capable of detecting at least 1×10⁵ PMPs immobilised on a plastic strip and has a linear response (r=0.99) for up to at least 3.33×10⁶ PMPs. In terms of the iron content of the PMPs, the detection limit is ≈1.2 μg Fe in the paramagnetic particles and the sensitivity is ≈3 Hz per μg of Fe. The instrument is small and compact and together with a suitable magneto-immunoassay will have many applications, including near-patient monitoring.     

Determining undergraduate curriculum content in plastic surgery

The purpose of this study was to determine the cognitive knowledge and clinical skills related to plastic surgery that are essential for inclusion in an undergraduate curriculum. A questionnaire was distributed to surgical clerkship directors, plastic surgeons, and 1980 graduates of four medical schools. Respondents were asked to rate (0-3) the importance of 74 knowledge items and 28 clinical skills in relation to the knowledge/proficiency necessary for students to achieve prior to graduating from medical school (0 = unnecessary, 3 = indepth knowledge/proficiency important). Results of the questionnaire enabled the determination of mean response scores and the hierarchical ranking of questionnaire items. There was a high degree of correlation between the rankings of the three groups of respondents indicating agreement on knowledge and clinical skills in plastic surgery that are essential, as well as those nonessential, for the competent practice of medicine.     

Separation of the transforming growth factor from cells of murine sarcoma induced by polymeric film

Use was made of the cell line PS-103 induced by subcutaneous implantation of plastic film to CBA mice. The conditioned medium from PS-103 was shown to stimulate anchorage independence of PS-103 itself and several pseudonormal cells: NRK and NIH/3T3. The peak of the colony-stimulating activity after gel filtration was displayed by fractions with a molecular weight of 15 000, which were acid- and heat-resistant. All those characteristics correlated with the traits of the transforming growth factors (TGF). The significance of the TGF for carcinogenesis induced by plastic films is discussed.     

Health risk assessment of occupational exposure to styrene depending on the type of industry: Data from the Workplace Environmental Monitoring Program in Korea

Data from the Workplace Environmental Monitoring Program was used to evaluate the concentrations and risk of occupational exposure to styrene in different industries to identify which industries should be prioritized for styrene exposure management. Risk assessments were conducted for the five industries with several workplaces that mostly use styrene: motor vehicle and motorcycle maintenance and repair services, other chemical product manufacturing, ship and boat building, basic chemical manufacturing, and plastic products manufacturing. The highest central tendency exposure was found in the plastic products manufacturing industry (10.14 mg/m³). In addition, the hazard quotient (HQ) for central tendency exposure exceeded 1 only in the plastic products manufacturing industry. Almost two-thirds (62.2%) of workplaces in the plastic products manufacturing industry have an HQ exceeding 1. We conclude that workers in the plastic products manufacturing industry are at the highest risk for styrene exposure, and those in motor vehicle and motorcycle maintenance and repair service and basic chemical manufacturing are at the lowest risk. These results show that styrene exposure could be most effectively managed by prioritizing control measures in the plastic products manufacturing industry.     

Plastic Embedding of thick Celloidin Sections of nerve Tissue

A method is described for mounting Golgi-impregnated and Weigert-stained thick celloidin sections of brain and spinal cord in transparent plastic. Finished mounts have good optical properties and are suitable for macroscopic and microscopic observation. The durability of such preparations makes them superior to similar material prepared by the more conventional methods. Holes of suitable size were cut in matrices of 2.5 × 5 × 3/16 inches Plexiglas. Ward's Bio-plastic was used to form a base for the holes and also as the embedding medium for the sections. Plate glass formed a working substrate and gave a polished surface to the plastic base and later to the top of the preparation. For Golgi material (200μ) the celloidin was removed by dioxane. A dioxane-plastic bath preceded plastic embedding. For Weigert material (30-40μ) celloidin was not removed due to fragility of sections. Prior to plastic embedding, they were subjected first to benzol and then to a benzol-plastic bath.     

Evaluation of culture systems for attachment and proliferation of epithelial cells cultured from ovine semen

Different culture systems were evaluated for their ability to support attachment and proliferation of the somatic cells obtained from ovine semen. Ejaculates (n = 14) were collected from eight rams representing three breeds, Dorper, Suffolk and Hampshire. All samples were processed immediately and somatic cells were obtained from 11 of the 14 ejaculates. These cells had classic epithelial morphology and expressed cytokeratin, indicating they were of epithelial origin. Cells from four rams with the greatest growth rates were used for subsequent studies. Cells were cultured in four different media for 5 days and total numbers of attached cells vs. total numbers of seeded cells were counted and compared each day. Four media were evaluated: (1) a supplemented medium composed of DMEM/F12, 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS), 10 ng/ml epidermal growth factor, 30 μg/ml bovine pituitary extract, 5 μg/ml insulin, 10 ng/ml cholera toxin, and 50 μg/ml gentamycin; (2) sheep fetal fibroblast (SFF)-conditioned medium; (3) swiss 3T3 fibroblast-conditioned medium; and (4) basic medium composed of DMEM/F12, 10% FBS, and 50 μg/ml gentamycin. Cell proliferation was greater in the supplemented medium, SFF-conditioned medium, and 3T3 fibroblast-conditioned medium compared to the basic medium by day 2 of culture (p < 0.05, n = 24), and greater in supplemented medium compared to the SFF-conditioned medium and 3T3 fibroblast-conditioned medium by day 4 of culture (p < 0.05, n = 24). Three different surfaces: (1) Matrigel basement membrane matrix-coated plastic; (2) collagen I-coated plastic; and (3) uncoated plastic were evaluated for their ability to support proliferation and attachment of the cells obtained from semen. Cell proliferation was greater when cells were cultured on the Matrigel-coated compared to the collagen I-coated and uncoated plastic by day 2 of culture (p < 0.05, n = 16). Cell attachment was greater when cells were plated on the Matrigel-coated and collagen I-coated plastic compared to the uncoated plastic (p < 0.05, n = 16). These studies describe an effective system for the culture and proliferation of epithelial cells obtained from ovine semen samples. The system may increase the likelihood of obtaining cells from frozen semen, which could be used for cloning to recover animals of genetic value in which semen is the only material that is available.     

Flat, Adherent, Well-Contrasted Semithin Plastic Sections for Light Microscopy

Semithin (0.5-2.0 μm) sections of plastic embedded specimens have long been used for identifying and orienting structures destined for electron microscopic observation. Improved staining methods and the development of more versatile plastics have increased the use of semithin plastic sections for histochemical and autoradiographic studies. The principal advantage of plastic over paraffin sections is the possibility of increased resolution. This advantage is often compromised, however, by problems arising during processing and staining. Wrinkles are common in sections containing tissues of different consistencies or when the hardness of the tissue does not match that of the surrounding plastic (Millonig 1980). Unfortunately, many of the methods designed to eliminate wrinkles (e.g., Alsop 1974, Sommer et al. 1979) require prolonged staining or repeated handling of the sections. Section adhesion problems usually arise during staining, particularly if the protocol requires alkaline or oxidizing reagents. Adhesives such as Mayer's albumen or chrome alum-gelatin (Hayat 1981) work well but may contribute to undesirable background staining or trapping of debris. A more complicated problem, inadequate stain contrast for photomicrography, usually can be traced to inability of the stain to penetrate the plastic, staining of the plastic, or nonspecific staining of the tissue. Alkaline staining solutions and chemicals which etch plastic can increase penetration, but may also cause section loss or staining of the plastic. The following is a simple method to eliminate these processing problems. It exploits the solvent properties and low surface tension of glycerol to aid in softening, flattening, and adhering semithin plastic sections to microscope slides.     

Limits to phenotypic plasticity: flow effects on barnacle feeding appendages

Phenotypic plasticity, the capacity of a given genotype to produce differing morphologies in response to the environment, is widespread among marine organisms (1). For example, acorn barnacles feed by extending specialized appendages (the cirral legs) into flow, and the length of the cirri is plastic: the higher the velocity, the shorter the feeding legs (2,3). However, this effect has been explored only for flows less than 4.6 m/s, slow compared to typical flows measured at sites on wave-exposed shores. What happens at faster speeds? Leg lengths of Balanus glandula Darwin, 1854, an acorn barnacle, were measured at 15 sites in Monterey, California, across flows ranging from 0.5 to 14.0 m/s. Similar to previous findings, a plastic response in leg length was noted for the four sites with water velocities less than 3 m/s. However, no plastic response was present at the 11 sites exposed to faster velocities, despite a 4-fold variation in speed. We conclude that the velocity at which the plastic response occurs has an upper limit of 2-4 m/s, a velocity commonly exceeded within the typical habitat of this species.     

Effect of estradiol and relaxin on collagen and non-collagen protein synthesis by mammary fibroblasts

In order to determine the effect of relaxin and estradiol on collagen and noncollagen synthesis by mammary gland fibroblasts, fibroblasts isolated from guinea pig mammary glands were grown on plastic or Cytodex-3 collagen coated microcarriers. On plastic, estradiol (600 pg/ml) increased the incorporation of tritiated glycine into collagen. Non-collagenous protein synthesis was increased at all concentrations of estradiol, but it was greatest with 200 pg/ml estradiol. On Cytodex-3, 400 pg/ml estradiol increased the synthesis of collagen and non-collagenous protein. Relaxin (1 microgram/ml) did not affect collagen synthesis but decreased the synthesis of non-collagenous protein.     

Plate-Induced tumors of BALB/3T3 cells exhibiting foci of differentiation into pericytes,chondrocytes, and fibroblasts

The BALB/3T3 clone A31 mouse embryo cell line has been used by many investigators as a model “normal” “fibroblast” line for a variety of in vitro studies. It has been shown, however, that these cells are not “normal” because they will produce tumors within 2–4 months if 3 × 10⁴ cells are implanted subcutaneously in BALB/c mice attached to 0.2 × 5 × 10-mm plastic plates. Previous studies also suggested that these cells were not fibroblasts because they gave rise to tumors with the characteristics of vascular endothelium not fibroblasts. We now report that BALB/3T3 (clone A31), BALB/3T3-T, a proadipocyte subclone of clone A31 cells, and six recent subclones of BALB/3T3-T cells show additional differentiation patterns when tumors derived by implantation of these cells attached to plastic plates are examined. Differentiation into pericytes, chondrocytes, and fibroblasts was observed. We conclude that the BALB/3T3 clone A31 cell line and related lines are multipotent mesenchymal cells which are capable of differentiation into a variety of cell types.     

A rheological study on the application of carbohydrate-protein incompatibility to the development of low fat commercial spreads

The small and large deformation properties of commercial low fat spreads and traditional full fat products have been investigated in order to develop a background understanding of the changes in viscoelastic properties and the structural organisation occurring as a result of addition of biopolymers to the aqueous phase of low fat dispersions. Parameters have been derived from compression analysis, dynamic oscillation (frequency, strain and temperature sweeps) and creep compliance testing.

It seems that the direct replacement of fat with a biopolymer-structured aqueous phase does not imitate the plastic rheology of butter and margarine. Thus, the ratio of plastic to maximum stress (σ_p/σ_m) of butter and margarine is substantially higher (0.96–1.0) than the ratio of inflectional to maximum stress (σ_i/σ_m) of commercial low fat spreads with a strong, gel-like character (up to 0.83). Additionally, some commercial embodiments with reduced amounts of structural components have stress-strain profiles resembling those of viscous solutions instead of a plastic product.

Dynamic oscillatory measurements have characterised the mechanical properties of water-continuous low fat spreads. Dispersions reproduced the mechanical profile of three-dimensional biopolymer gels with a high elastic component (tan δ ≈ 0.04) and a substantial linear response to increasing amplitude of oscillation (up to 10% deformation). Products comprising hydrolysed starch as one of the functional ingredients show long melting profiles upon heating, which contrast strongly with the ‘melt in the mouth’ properties of butter. In accordance with the above, butter requires lower initial strain to exhibit negligible recovery of shape after the removal of stress, than do commercial low fat spreads with a pronounced elastic element, during a creep compliance experiment.     

Sensitization of HT29 colorectal cancer cells to vemurafenib in three‐dimensional collagen cultures

The extracellular matrix to which cancer cells adhere affects cellular sensitivity to anticancer drugs. We sought to examine the changes in sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells carrying the BRAF V600E mutation to vemurafenib cultured in three‐dimensional (3D) collagen‐I gels, while also identifying the signaling pathways involved in these changes. HT29 colorectal cancer cells were cultured in conventional tissue culture (TC) plastic plates or in collagen‐I gels. The HT29 cells demonstrated approximately 10‐fold higher sensitivity to vemurafenib in 3D‐collagen‐I gels compared with those cultured on conventional TC plastic plates. Furthermore, in cells cultured on TC plastic, vemurafenib was found to augment tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), while 3D‐cultured cells expressed lower levels of FAK and vemurafenib did not affect its tyrosine phosphorylation, suggesting that FAK contributes to vemurafenib resistance. However, pharmacological inhibition of FAK did not sensitize the cells to vemurafenib. Also, the level of tyrosine‐phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)/ERBB2 family proteins was found to be lower in cells cultured in 3D‐collagen gel compared with those in cells cultured on TC plastic. Afatinib, an inhibitor of the EGFR/ERBB family of kinases, sensitized the cells to higher concentrations of vemurafenib, implying their participation in vemurafenib resistance. Adhesion to collagen‐I gel but not to the collagen‐I‐coated plastic surface sensitized the cells, suggesting that the rigidity of the media rather than adherence to collagen‐I may be important for cellular sensitivity to vemurafenib.     

Biomechanical properties of the human ankle in relation to passive stretch

Viscous/plastic properties were investigated in the passive tissue opposing dorsiflexion of the human ankle. The foot was rotated (dorsiflexed) and fixed. Due to viscous/plastic properties, the passive torque declined with time. After 300 s, torque, relative to the initial torque at 0 s, had fallen by 22.7% +/- 2.6% (mean +/- 1S.D.), as an expression of the relative importance of the viscous/plastic tissue properties for the passive torque. By a peel-off technique the number of different tissue elements with viscous/plastic properties was found to be at least three. After 100 s, all but one of these elements had yielded completely. Viscous/plastic properties were unchanged by stretching when measured 90 min after a single stretching program and when measured 24 h after stretching procedures had been performed twice a day for three weeks.