Potencial dendroclimático del encino rojo, Quercus sideroxyla (Fagaceae) en México / Dendroclimatic potential of red oak, Quercus sideroxyla (Fagaceae) in Mexico

Resumen Introducción: Los estudios dendrocronológicos en México se han basado principalmente en las coníferas, mientras que las especies de madera dura han sido poco estudiadas. Este ha sido el caso del género Quercus, con una alta diversidad taxonómica en el país pero que no ha sido estudiado con fines dendrocronológicos, a pesar de los valores ecológicos y económicos de sus especies. Objetivo: En la presente investigación se determinó el potencial dendroclimático de Quercus sideroxyla en el noroeste de México, y su relación con variables climáticas como precipitación y temperatura. Métodos: La investigación se desarrolló en el estado de Durango en el ejido Chavarría Viejo en las coordenadas (23º43' N & 105º33' W), se recolectaron muestras de 5 a 7 cm en dos sitios bajo aprovechamiento forestal y se procesaron mediante técnicas dendrocronológicas convencionales. Resultados: Se desarrolló una cronología de ancho de anillo total, la cual se compuso por 30 muestras de 16 árboles para el período de 1917 a 2018 (101 años). Se obtuvieron valores de intercorrelación entre series de 0.43, de sensibilidad media de 0.36, relación señal-ruido de 3.53 y autocorrelación de primer orden (0.58). En cuanto a la relación clima-crecimiento, los valores de índice de ancho de anillo se correlacionaron con datos de la estación climática más cercana al sitio de estudio; donde la precipitación invierno-primavera (enero-mayo) fue la variable de mayor influencia en el crecimiento de la especie. Conclusiones: Con base en los parámetros dendrocronológicos se demuestra el alto potencial de la especie para ser empleada en estudios dendroclimáticos en la región, la respuesta de la especie a la precipitación es similar al de las coníferas con las que cohabita.

Abstract Introduction: Dendrochronological studies in Mexico have been mainly based on conifers, while hardwood species have been little studied. This has been the case of the genus Quercus, which has a high taxonomic diversity in the country but has not been previously studied for dendrochronological issues, despite the ecological and economic values of oak species. Objective: In the present investigation, the dendroclimatic potential of Quercus sideroxyla in Northwestern Mexico was determined, as well as its relationship with climatic variables such as precipitation and temperature. Methods: The research was carried out in the state of Durango, Chavarría Viejo with coordinates (23º43' N & -105º33' W). Samples of 5 cm to 7cm were collected in two sites under forest exploitation and processed by conventional dendrochronological techniques. Results: A chronology of total ring width was developed, which was composed of 30 samples from 16 trees for the period from 1917 to 2018 (101 years). Inter-series intercorrelation values of 0.43, mean sensitivity of 0.36, signal-to-noise ratio of 3.53 and first-order autocorrelation (0.58) were obtained. Regarding the climate-growth relationship, the ring width index values were correlated with data from the climatic station nearest to the study site, where winter-spring precipitation (January-May) was the variable with the greatest influence on the growth of the species. Conclusions: Based on the dendrochronological parameters, the high potential of the species that were used in dendroclimatic studies in the region has demonstrated that the response of the species to precipitation is similar to that of the conifers with which the Quercus sideroxyla shares its habitat with.

Research on thorax impact injury of children at different ages based on finite element models / 生物医学工程学杂志

The pediatric cadaver impact experiments were reconstructed using the validated finite element(FE) models of the 3-year-old and 6-year-old children. The effect of parameters, such as hammer size, material parameters and thorax anatomical structure characteristics, on the impact mechanical responses of 3-year-old and 6-year-old pediatric thorax was discussed by designing reasonable finite element simulation experiments. The research results showed that the variation of thorax contact peak force for 3-year-old group was far larger than that of 6-year-old group when the child was impacted by hammers with different size, which meant that 3-year-old child was more sensitive to hammer size. The mechanical properties of thoracic organs had little influence on the thorax injury because of the small difference between 3-year-old and 6-year-old child in this research. During the impact, rib deformation led to different impact location and deformation of internal organs because the 3-year-old and 6-year-old children had different geometrical anatomical structures, such as different size of internal organs. Therefore, the injury of internal organs in the two groups was obviously different. It is of great significance to develop children finite element models with high biofidelity according to its real anatomical structures.

Anatomical characteristics and surgical selections of upper lumbar disc herniation / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the anatomical characteristics and surgical selections of upper lumbar disc herniation, and evaluate its clinical effects.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From January 2009 to January 2013, 26 patients with upper lumbar disc herniation were treated in our department. There were 16 males and 10 females, aged from 28 to 51 years old with an average of 45.7 years, 4 cases were in L₁,₂, 9 cases in L₂,₃, and 13 cases in L₃,₄. The data was collected including distance between outer edge of lower facet and the spinous process, the outer edge of the isthmus and spinous process, the lower edge of lamina and the upper edge of the intervertebral space, nerve root arising points and lower edge of the corresponding pedicle. Transforaminal discectomy and interbody fusion combined with pedicle screw fixation was performed in patients with L₁,₂, L₂,₃ herniated disk and 5 patients with L₃,₄ herniated disk complicated with lumbar instability. However another 8 patients with L₃,₄ herniated disk were treated with posterior fenestration decompression. Clinical effects were evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association(JOA). The relative height rate(R) of the intervertebral space was measured preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. The fusion of the bone graft was also observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Intraoperative anatomical measurement was taken in all patients. All patients were followed up for more than 1 year with an average of 16 months, and all incisions got healing, JOA was improved from preoperative(10.13±1.49) points to last follow up (25.21±2.13) points with the improvement rate of 79.9%. Among the patients underwent fusion operation, 17 cases obtained bone fusion and 1 case maybe non fusion and no internal fixation failure was found;the R value was (0.231±0.056) mm preoperatively, however (0.345±0.076) mm at 1 year after operation with statistical difference(<0.05). In the patient underwent posterior fenestration decompression, the R value was(0.243±0.036) mm preoperatively, and (0.212±0.046) mm at 1 year after operation without statistical difference (>0.05). No spinal instability and lumbar disc herniation recurrence were found in these patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>According to the anatomical characteristics of L₁,₂ and L₃,₄ herniated disk, these patients could be treated with transforaminal discectomy and interbody fusion. The anatomical characteristics and clinical manifestations of L₃,₄ herniated disk is similar with the lower lumbar disc herniation, for the patients, an appropriate surgical method should be chosen according to the lumbar stability.</p>

Characteristics of Animal Shoulder Models for Rotator Cuff Experiments

Animal shoulder models are important in the investigation of the natural history of various pathologic conditions and for evaluation of the effectiveness of different treatments and biomaterials. The characteristics of animal shoulder models that may be used for rotator cuff related experiments are different with regard to the anatomy, behavioral pattern, advantages and disadvantages in application to each other. The lower primates and all the non-primate species, except the tree kangaroo, were neither functional overhead nor had a true rotator cuff. Utilizing more advanced primates, or perhaps even the tree kangaroo would be ideal and the most relevant to man as they possess a true rotator cuff. However, ethical concerns, costs, and many limitations in obtaining primates generally preclude the use of these animals for such research. Finally we should consider the differences in comparative anatomy and behavioral pattern of each animal model during performance or interpretation of rotator cuff experiments.

Characteristics of Animal Shoulder Models for Rotator Cuff Experiments

Animal shoulder models are important in the investigation of the natural history of various pathologic conditions and for evaluation of the effectiveness of different treatments and biomaterials. The characteristics of animal shoulder models that may be used for rotator cuff related experiments are different with regard to the anatomy, behavioral pattern, advantages and disadvantages in application to each other. The lower primates and all the non-primate species, except the tree kangaroo, were neither functional overhead nor had a true rotator cuff. Utilizing more advanced primates, or perhaps even the tree kangaroo would be ideal and the most relevant to man as they possess a true rotator cuff. However, ethical concerns, costs, and many limitations in obtaining primates generally preclude the use of these animals for such research. Finally we should consider the differences in comparative anatomy and behavioral pattern of each animal model during performance or interpretation of rotator cuff experiments.

Influence of nitrogen levels on leaf anatomy and nutritive value of millennium grass / Influência de níveis de nitrogênio na anatomia foliar e valor nutritivo de capim-milênio

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of nitrogen levels (control = without N, 150, 300 and 450 kg N/ha), on proportions of tissues of leaf blades and the nutritional value of Millennium grass, on grazing system with intermittent stocking during the summer of 2007 in a completely randomized design. The last and penultimate expanded leaves of vegetative tillers were collected for this study. The proportion of abaxial epidermis (EPIaba) and vascular tissue (VT) decreased linearly with increasing levels of nitrogen. The percentage of sclerenchyma (SC) was 40,8% e 36,4% lower in pasture fertilized with 150, 300 kg N/ha and 25% lower for those with 450 kg in comparison to pasture without fertilization. The percentage of mesophyll (MES) increased linearly with nitrogen levels, with up to 20,3% higher for pasture with 450kg of N in relation to control level. The morphological characteristics, leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA) and length, increased linearly with increasing nitrogen levels. The percentage of crude protein (CP ) and in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDDM ) were higher for treatments with higher fertilization (300 and 450 kg). The EPIaba and the levels of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) had positive correlation. The same occurred between IVDDM and parenchyma bundle sheath (PBS). The nitrogen applied to pasture has influence on improving the nutritive value of leaf blades of millennium grass and on the proportion of tissues considered of high digestibility.

Este trabalho foi realizado com objetivo de avaliar a influência do uso de doses de nitrogênio (controle=sem N; 150; 300 e 450 kg de N/ha), nas porcentagens de tecidos de lâminas foliares e no valor nutritivo de capim-milênio, em sistema de pastejo com lotação intermitente no período do verão de 2007, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Foram coletadas a última e penúltima folha expandida de perfilhos vegetativos. A porcentagem de esclerênquima (ESC) foi 40,8% e 36,4% menor para os pastos adubados com 150 e 300 kg de N/ha e 25% menor para aqueles com adubação de 450 kg em relação aos não adubados. A porcentagem de mesofilo (MES) aumentou linearmente com as doses de nitrogênio, sendo até 20,3% maior para os pastos com 450 kg de N em relação aos não adubados. Area foliar (AF), área foliar especifica (AFE) e comprimento aumentaram linearmente com o aumento das doses de nitrogênio. Houve correlação positiva entre AF e bainha parenquimática dos feixes (BPF), AFE e BPF, mesofilo (MES) e largura das folhas. A porcentagem de proteína bruta (PB) e digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) foram maiores para os pastos mais adubados (300 e 450 kg de N/ha). A epiderme abaxial (EPIaba) e os teores de fibra em detergente ácido e neutro (FDA e FDN) tiveram correlação positiva, o mesmo ocorreu entre a DIVMS e BPF. O nitrogênio aplicado influencia na melhoria do valor nutritivo de lâminas foliares do capim-milênio e na proporção de tecidos considerados de alta digestibilidade.

Anatomical Considerations in Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Idiopathic Trigeminal Neuralgia

OBJECTIVE: The authors conducted this study to present the long-term treatment outcomes (minimum 2 years) of Gamma knife radiosurgery(GKS) for trigeminal neuralgia(TN) and to demonstrate the correlation of treatment outcomes and the anatomical characteristics of TN. METHODS: From 1997 to 2003, 44 consecutive patients suffering from medically intractable pain underwent GKS for TN. A single 4mm collimator was used with a median maximum dose of 80Gy (range 75~80Gy) prescribed to the root entry zone of the trigeminal nerve. Median follow up duration was 30 months (range 24~78 months). Anatomical measurements of trigeminal nerve in magnetic resonance images during GKS planning were correlated with clinical outcome. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (50%) achieved an excellent outcome (BNI grade I & II), 20 patients (45.5%) a good outcome (grade IIIa & IIIb), and only 2 patients (4.5%) a poor outcome (grade IV & V). Eleven patients (25.0%) experienced pain recurrence after initial pain relief. Smaller volume of trigeminal nerve area irradiated more than 40Gy was significantly correlated with excellent outcome in both univariate and multivariate analyses respectively (P=0.033 and 0.040). CONCLUSION: Anatomical considerations during the planning of GKS would be helpful for predicting clinical outcome in TN.

Comparison of Characteristics of Ganoderma lucidum According to Geographical Origins : Consideration of Morphological Characteristics(II)

Nine species of genus Ganoderma different in cultural characteristics each other were separated by histo-anatomical differences. Differences among the species and geographic distribution of G. lucidum were also analyzed to provide the criteria for the classification of Korean cultivation or wild type strains. Korean cultivation and wild type strains were quiet different from other species as well as Taiwan and North American G. lucidum strains in histo-anatomical traits of Ganoderma. Pore color of Korean G. lucidum strains was less brown than those of Taiwan and North American strains. Shapes of pores were round or circular in Korean strains but ellipsoidal or angular in Taiwan or North American strains. Pore numbers of Korean strains were more than those(4~6/mm) of Taiwan or North American strains. Hardness of the pileus of Korean strains was much more than that of Taiwan or North American strains. Such characteristics of Korean strains were different from those of other species of Ganoderma. Korean G. lucidum strains could be classified into the other group because they had many different traits in growth characteristics of fruiting bodies and histo-anatomical characteristics from those of Taiwan or North American G. lucidum and other species of G. lucidum complex.