Study of existing biological communities in Hormuzgan province waters (Persian Gulf) for installation of artificial reefs

To determine the suitable locations for installation of artificial reefs we studied Persian Gulf waters (Hormuzgan province) from December 2006 to March 2007 seasonally. The area was stratified to 10 transects and each transect was divided to three layers and used random sampling method. Habitats of fauna and flora including: Communities of corals, seaweeds, sea cucumbers and sea grasses, and sedimentation depth using SCUBA diving method were studied in each transect and layer. Sea grass communities existed in some places with below 10m depth of Bandar Mesan, Bandar Kang, Kish Island and Bandar Chirooyeh transects. Also, seaweed habitats were seen in Bandar Mesan and some areas in Bandar Lengeh and Kish Island in 10-20m depth transect. The study of coral and sea cucumber communities indicated presence of Acropora sp. habitats in Bahman jetty, Bandar Mesan and Bandar Bostaneh transects , and Porites sp. habitats in Hengam island transect, Holothuria sp. habitats in Bandar masen and Bandar Lengeh transects and Stichopus sp. habitat in Hengam Island transect. All these species were found in shallow waters bellow 10 meters depth and showed a patchy distribution. Sedimentation depth results showed a statistically significant difference between layer <10m in Bandar Salakh and the same layers in other transects, also between layer 10-20m and 20-30m in other transects. Based on the sedimentation depth and habitats studies, we recommend layer 10-20m in Bandar Lengeh area and Bandar Lengeh to Hendurabi Island area as suitable for artificial reefs installation

Physiological and Blood Response in Goat Kids Disbudding by Subcutaneous Injection of Eugenol and Cautery

This study was aimed to compare the pain in five days old goat kids disbudding by eugenol and cautery method. the eugenol is known as a main factor in novel disbudding method named clove oil. In this study, serum cortisol levels, and clinical changes were evaluated to compare disbudding by eugenol and cautery.  A total of 25 Raieni (Cashmere) goat kids aged 5 days old were randomly allocated to 1-5 treatment groups (n=5), To differentiate the pain caused by disbudding with the stress of restraint and blood sampling in the results, the animals in both methods of disbudding were divided into different groups according to the evaluated parameters; groups 1,2 cautery-disbudded(550°C,3-6s), and groups 3-5 SC eugenol(0.1cc) administration- disbudded. The cortisol serum level immediately after disbudding in group 2 was 7.94±0.02 µg/dL, vs. group 4, 6.34±0.03 (mean ± SE), and over time, the values were in favor of the eugenol group, despite being insignificant up to 240 and 480 minutes after defoliation. The respiratory rate in group 3 was 77±1.13 vs. group 1, 108±0.67 (mean ± SE), and pulse rate in group 3 was 239.4±1.13 vs. group 1, 284±1.53; and rectal temperature showed no significant difference among groups 1&amp;3. In group 5, there was no significant difference between before and after cell blood count and blood enzymes analysis, which could be an argument for the lack of effect of eugenol on vital organs. The results showed less stress and pain level in eugenol-disbudded groups compared to cautery-disbudded in goat kids (P≤0.05). Analysis of specific blood serum enzymes represented no side effect on vital organs in eugenol injection. Our data suggest that eugenol may be a suitable alternative to old and outdated or painful routine disbudding methods. The difference in our findings with similar studies can be due to the difference in the methodology of sampling., analysis and measurement accuracy. However, more research with wide aspect on pain reliability, availability, economy, and behavioral is needed to assess whether eugenol can replace other methods

Effect of intrathecal transplantation of adrenal medullary tissue on the sciatic nerve regeneration following chronic constriction injury in the rat

Introduction: It has been demonstrated that the adrenal medullary transplants into the spinal subarachnoid space can alleviate neuropathic pain behaviors. The aim of the present study was to test the possibility that histological changes of the sciatic nerve in a neuropathic model as well as sensory dysfunction are repaired by adrenal medullary transplantation. Material and Methods: Left sciatic nerve was ligated in three groups of rats by 4 loose ligatures (CCI). After one week of nerve constriction, rats of first group were implanted with adrenal medullary tissue (CCI + adrenal medulla) and rats of the second group with striated muscle at the level of L1-L2 (CCI + muscle). The third group received only left ligature (CCI) and in the fourth group the sciatic nerve was exposed and then muscle and skin sutured (sham). Behavioral assessment was evaluated before surgery and 2, 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42, and 56 days after the onset of experiment. According to behavioral results, 4 rats in each group were anesthetized and then the distal part of sciatic nerve were isolated and prepared for histological quantitative investigation of nerve regeneration. Results: The results showed that CCI was accompanied with hyperalgesia and morphological changes in the distal part of sciatic nerve. In animals with adrenal medullary transplantation, not only hyperalgesia was markedly reduced or even eliminated, but also the number of myelinated fibers in the distal segment of nerve increased to nearly normal. Conclusions: Our findings showed that the implantation of adrenal medullary tissue might have caused regeneration of ligated nerves as well as alleviation of pain behavior

Connectivity-based parcellation of the human frontal polar cortex

The frontal pole corresponds to Brodmann area (BA) 10, the largest single architectonic area in the human frontal lobe. Generally, BA10 is thought to contain two or three subregions that subserve broad functions such as multitasking, social cognition, attention, and episodic memory. However, there is a substantial debate about the functional and structural heterogeneity of this large frontal region. Previous connectivity-based parcellation studies have identified two or three subregions in the human frontal pole. Here, we used diffusion tensor imaging to assess structural connectivity of BA10 in 35 healthy subjects and delineated subregions based on this connectivity. This allowed us to determine the correspondence of structurally based subregions with the scheme previously defined functionally. Three subregions could be defined in each subject. However, these three subregions were not spatially consistent between subjects. Therefore, we accepted a solution with two subregions that encompassed the lateral and medial frontal pole. We then examined resting-state functional connectivity of the two subregions and found significant differences between their connectivities. The medial cluster was connected to nodes of the default-mode network, which is implicated in internally focused, self-related thought, and social cognition. The lateral cluster was connected to nodes of the executive control network, associated with directed attention and working memory. These findings support the concept that there are two major anatomical subregions of the frontal pole related to differences in functional connectivity

Adaptation of cortical activity to sustained pressure stimulation on the fingertip

Background Tactile adaptation is a phenomenon of the sensory system that results in temporal desensitization after an exposure to sustained or repetitive tactile stimuli. Previous studies reported psychophysical and physiological adaptation where perceived intensity and mechanoreceptive afferent signals exponentially decreased during tactile adaptation. Along with these studies, we hypothesized that somatosensory cortical activity in the human brain also exponentially decreased during tactile adaptation. The present neuroimaging study specifically investigated temporal changes in the human cortical responses to sustained pressure stimuli mediated by slow-adapting type I afferents. Methods We applied pressure stimulation for up to 15 s to the right index fingertip in 21 healthy participants and acquired functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data using a 3T MRI system. We analyzed cortical responses in terms of the degrees of cortical activation and inter-regional connectivity during sustained pressure stimulation. Results Our results revealed that the degrees of activation in the contralateral primary and secondary somatosensory cortices exponentially decreased over time and that intra- and inter-hemispheric inter-regional functional connectivity over the regions associated with tactile perception also linearly decreased or increased over time, during pressure stimulation. Conclusion These results indicate that cortical activity dynamically adapts to sustained pressure stimulation mediated by SA-I afferents, involving changes in the degrees of activation on the cortical regions for tactile perception as well as in inter-regional functional connectivity among them. We speculate that these adaptive cortical activity may represent an efficient cortical processing of tactile information.open

Active fixturing: literature review and future research directions

Fixtures are used to fixate, position and support workpieces and represent a crucial tool in manufacturing. Their performance determines the result of the whole manufacturing process of a product. There is a vast amount of research done on automatic fixture layout synthesis and optimisation and fixture design verification. Most of this work considers fixture mechanics to be static and the fixture elements to be passive. However, a new generation of fixtures has emerged that has actuated fixture elements for active control of the part–fixture system during manufacturing operations to increase the end product quality. This paper analyses the latest studies in the field of active fixture design and its relationship with flexible and reconfigurable fixturing systems. First, a brief introduction is given on the importance of research of fixturing systems. Secondly, the basics of workholding and fixture design are visited, after which the state-of-the-art in active fixturing and related concepts is presented. Fourthly, part–fixture dynamics and design strategies which take these into account are discussed. Fifthly, the control strategies used in active fixturing systems are examined. Finally, some final conclusions and prospective future research directions are presented

Neurofilaments can differentiate ALS subgroups and ALS from common diagnostic mimics

Delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are frequent in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the most common form of motor neuron disease (MND). Neurofilament light chain (NFL) and phosphorylated neurofilament heavy chain (pNFH) are elevated in ALS patients. We retrospectively quantified cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NFL, CSF pNFH and plasma NFL in stored samples that were collected at the diagnostic work-up of ALS patients (n = 234), ALS mimics (n = 44) and controls (n = 9). We assessed the diagnostic performance, prognostication value and relationship to the site of onset and genotype. CSF NFL, CSF pNFH and plasma NFL levels were significantly increased in ALS patients compared to patients with neuropathies & myelopathies, patients with myopathies and controls. Furthermore, CSF pNFH and plasma NFL levels were significantly higher in ALS patients than in patients with other MNDs. Bulbar onset ALS patients had significantly higher plasma NFL levels than spinal onset ALS patients. ALS patients with C9orf72HRE mutations had significantly higher plasma NFL levels than patients with SOD1 mutations. Survival was negatively correlated with all three biomarkers. Receiver operating characteristics showed the highest area under the curve for CSF pNFH for differentiating ALS from ALS mimics and for plasma NFL for estimating ALS short and long survival. All three biomarkers have diagnostic value in differentiating ALS from clinically relevant ALS mimics. Plasma NFL levels can be used to differentiate between clinical and genetic ALS subgroups

Knochenmarködem – Ätiologie und Behandlung

Über die letzten Jahrzehnte kam es zu einer deutlichen Zunahme der Diagnose „Knochenmarködem“ (KMÖ). Bei dem KMÖ handelt es sich aber primär um einen radiologisch-deskriptiven Begriff. Ein KMÖ kann durch eine Vielzahl von physiologischen und pathophysiologischen Prozessen ausgelöst werden. Im Rahmen dieser narrativen Übersichtsarbeit soll ein standardisierter Diagnosealgorithmus vorgestellt und die vorhandene Evidenz zu der additiven Therapie zusammengefasst werden. Der Diagnosealgorithmus basiert auf einer sequenziellen Diagnostik, die neben dem MRT, Röntgen / CT, ein Basislabor, sowie ein differenziertes, endokrinologisches Labor und eine DXA umfasst. Sequenziell werden so traumatische, inflammatorische, septische, mechanisch/degenerative, ischämisch/neurogene, neoplastische, und metabolische Ursachen für das KMÖ abgearbeitet. Erst wenn keine Ursache für das KMÖ gefunden werden konnte, sollte dieses als ein Knochenmarködemsyndrom bezeichnet werden. Der wichtigste Pfeiler der Therapie des KMÖ ist die Identifikation und Behandlung der zugrundeliegenden Erkrankung. Nur wenn diese adressiert wird, kann eine dauerhafte Heilung erzielt werden. Additiv zu der Therapie der Grunderkrankung, oder beim KMÖS isoliert, können konservative (NSARs ± Immobilisation ± Teilbelastung, Stoßwelle, gepulste elektromagnetische Felder) oder medikamentöse Therapien (Bisphosphonate oder Iloprost) angeboten werden. Alle medikamentösen Therapien sind Off-lable und somit Aufklärungspflichtig. Die chirurgische Therapie hat nach Ansicht der Autor:innen keinen Stellenwert.Over the last decades, there has been a significant increase in the diagnosis of „bone marrow edema“ (BME). BME is primarily a radiological-descriptive term. It can be caused by a variety of physiological and pathophysiological processes. This narrative review aims to present a standardized diagnostic algorithm and summarize the existing evidence on adjunctive therapies. The diagnostic algorithm is based on a sequential diagnostic approach, which includes MRI, X-ray/CT, basic laboratory tests, a detailed endocrinological laboratory workup, and DXA. This sequential process addresses traumatic, inflammatory, septic, mechanical/degenerative, ischemic/neurogenic, neoplastic, and metabolic causes of BME. Only when no specific cause has been identified, the BME should be classified as a bone marrow edema syndrome (BMES). The cornerstone of BME therapy is identifying and treating the underlying pathology. Only by addressing the cause long-term recovery can be achieved. In addition to treating the primary disease—or in cases of isolated BMES—adjunctive conservative therapies (e.g., NSAIDs ± immobilization ± partial weight-bearing, shockwave therapy, pulsed electromagnetic fields) or pharmacological treatments (e.g., bisphosphonates or iloprost) may be considered. All pharmacological treatments are off-label and therefore require an informed consent. According to the authors, surgical treatment is not part of BME Management

A study on some biological aspects of longnose trevally (Carangoides chrysophrys) in Hormozgan waters

Aspects of the biological features such as age and growth, the reproductive cycle , food and feeding of the Longnose Trevally (Carangoides chrysophrys) were studied from a total 376 specimens collected by use of trawl fishing in Hormuzgan waters between February 2014 and February 2015. The minimum and maximum total length during different months were between 25.5 and 80 cm respectively. Weight-length relationship for Longnose Trevally was W= 0/0064L 2/9004. This fish had an isometric growth. Fishes aged using sections of their otoliths. The equation of growth for Longnose Trevally obtained Lt=85(1-e-0/266(t+1/443)). Total mortality rate for Longnose Trevally was 0.412. LM50 and TM50 for Longnose Trevally was 46 cm, 2 years. Sex ratio(femail : male) for Longnose Trevally was 1/42:1. Maximum absolute and relative fecundity for Longnose Trevally were 479992 and 354 respectively. The highest GSI in April (2.86) and the lowest was in June 2014 (0.43). It has a long spawning season from January to May and spawning peak was observed in May. Longnose Trevally was Relatively low feed (CV= 65.49). Main food for Longnose Trevally were bony fish (Fp= 91.67). Random diet of Longnose Trevally were crustaceans (Fp=4.17) (shrimp, crab and squilla) and mollusks (Fp=4.17) (cutlle fish, Squid), respectively