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We investigated the effect of flow dependency in the assimilation of high-density, high-frequency observations. Radial winds from a Doppler radar are assimilated using a regional hybrid four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4D-Var) scheme with a flow-dependent background error covariance. To consistently assimilate 5 km × 5.625° cell-averaged radial winds at an interval of 10 min, the spatial and temporal correlations of the observation error are statistically diagnosed to be incorporated into the hybrid 4D-Var. The spatial correlation width is larger than that expected from instrument error, suggesting a contribution from representation error whose propagation is also considered to lead to temporal correlation, the width of which is diagnosed to increase with forecast time. The background error covariance also has an important role in incorporating observational information into the analysis. Single observation experiments show that the hybrid 4D-Var has more small-scale structure in its flow-dependent background error correlation than the 4D-Var limited from the climatological background error covariance mainly in the former part of the assimilation window. This suggests the higher potential of the hybrid 4D-Var to allow more higher-wavenumber components in the increment. A case study shows that the hybrid 4D-Var makes better use of the dense and frequent observations, reflecting more detailed representation of flow throughout the assimilation window, leading to promising results in the forecast. Sensitivity experiments also show that it is important to use the optimal observation error correlation. It is suggested that the flow-dependent background error becomes necessary to effectively use high-resolution, high-frequency observations.

In FY 2018, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has started considering the next geostationary satellite program. JMA will pursue a seamless geostationary Earth orbit satellite system, including in particular the deployment of hyperspectral infrared sounder (HSS) across the full GEO ring. In the study reported here, the impacts of the hyperspectral sounder on a geostationary satellite (GeoHSS) were assessed via the observing system simulation experiment (OSSE) to help evaluate the Himawari follow-on program. Hypothetical GeoHSS observations were simulated using an accurate reanalysis dataset for 2018 heavy rainfall and typhoon events in western Japan. The global data assimilation experiment demonstrated that the assimilated GeoHSS clear-sky radiances improved representative meteorological field forecasts and significantly reduced typhoon positional errors. A regional data assimilation experiment showed that assimilated temperature and relative humidity profiles derived from GeoHSS data improved information on heavy rainfall associated with enhanced southwesterly moisture flow off the northwestern coast of Kyushu Island. These results indicate that the GeoHSS provides valuable information on frequently provided data regarding vertically resolved temperature and humidity, thereby helping to improve forecasting of extreme meteorological events.

Displacement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc causes a lateral shift of the mandible and less-developed and/or distally located mandible unilaterally and bilaterally, respectively, if occurred in growing individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate mandibular condylar growth in growing rats after TMJ discectomy and to explore a certain significant role of articular disc in the TMJ in mandibular or cartilaginous growth. Eighteen 4-week-old Wistar strain male rats were divided into two groups with nine in each group, i.e., rats with TMJ discectomy (discectomy group) and only sham operation (control group). Four weeks after initiating the experiment, morphometric analyses of the mandible were performed using a rat and mouse cephalometer and micro-computed tomography. Then, the mandibular condyles were subjected to histomorphometric analyses. Condylar and mandibular growth was reduced significantly in the discectomy group than in the control group. In the discectomy group, the condyle also became flatter and smaller. In addition, the 4-layer structure of condylar cartilage was unclear with thicker fibrous and thinner lower hypertrophic layers in the discectomy group when compared to the controls. It is shown that resection of the articular disc substantially affects condylar and mandibular growth in terms of the cartilaginous growth, suggesting that TMJ disc is indispensable for maintaining normal growth of the condyle and mandible, leading to optimal development of the TMJ and the entire mandible.

Introduction: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of low-level neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser irradiation on orthodontic tooth movement and histological examination. Methods: Eleven male Wistar rats (aged 10 weeks) were included. To produce experimental tooth movement in rats, 10 g force was applied to maxillary first molars with nickel titanium closed coil springs. Right molars were irradiated with Nd:YAG laser on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21 and 24, while un-irradiated left molars were used as control. Distance between mesial side of second molar and distal side of first molar was measured on μCT image during tooth movement and the rats were sacrificed 4 weeks after the initiation of tooth movement. Results: The amount of tooth movement was significantly greater in the irradiation group (0.20 ± 0.06) than in the control group (0.14 ± 0.03) during the first week (P < 0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found afterwards. There was a tendency of higher tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive nuclei count in the pressure zones of the laser irradiation group, but it was not statistically significant. In immuno-histological examination, expressions of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) were higher at the pressure site of the laser irradiation group than the control group, whereas there was no difference in osteoprotegerin (OPG) expression. Conclusion: The results suggest that low-level Nd:YAG laser may stimulate osteoclast and osteoblast activation and accelerate bone metabolism during tooth movement.

Data assimilation methods for convective-scale numerical weather prediction at operational centres are surveyed in this paper. The operational methods include variational methods (3D-Var and 4D-Var), ensemble methods (LETKF) and hybrids between variational and ensemble methods (3DEnVar and 4DEnVar). At several of the operational centres, other assimilation algorithms, like latent heat nudging, are additionally applied to improve the model initial state, with emphasis on convective scales. It is demonstrated that the quality of forecasts based on initial data from convective-scale data assimilation is significantly better than the quality of forecasts from simple downscaling of larger-scale initial data. The duration of positive impact depends however on the weather situation, the size of the computational domain and the data that are assimilated. It is furthermore shown that more-advanced methods applied at convective scales provide improvements compared to simpler methods. This motivates continued research and development in convective-scale data assimilation. Challenges in research and development for improvements of convective-scale data assimilation are also reviewed and discussed in this paper. The difficulty of handling the wide range of spatial and temporal scales makes development of multi-scale assimilation methods and space-time covariance localization techniques important. Improved utilization of observations is also important. In order to extract more information from existing observing systems of convective-scale phenomena, for example weather radar data and satellite image data, it is necessary to provide improved statistical descriptions of the observation errors associated with these observations.

Previous studies have revealed that orthodontic force affects dental pulp via the rupture of blood vessels and vacuolization of pulp tissues. We hypothesized that pulp tissues express inflammatory cytokines and regulators of odontoclast differentiation after excess orthodontic force. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of tensile force in human pulp cells and to measure inflammatory root resorption during tooth movement in pulpless rat teeth.After cyclic tensile force application in human pulp cells, gene expression and protein concentration of macrophage colony-stimulating factor, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand, interleukin-1 beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunoassay. Moreover, the role of the stretch-activated channel was evaluated by gadolinium (Gd(3+)) treatment. The upper right first molars of 7-week Wistar rats were subjected to pulpectomy and root canal filling followed by mesial movement for 6 months.The expression of cytokine messenger RNAs and proteins in the experimental group peaked with loading at 10-kPa tensile force after 48 hours (P.01). Gd(3+) reduced the expression of these cytokine messenger RNAs and protein concentrations (P.01). The amount of inflammatory root resorption was significantly larger in the control teeth than the pulpectomized teeth (P.05).This study shows that tensile forces in the pulp cells enhance the expression of various cytokines via the S-A channel, which may lead to inflammatory root resorption during tooth movement. It also suggests that root canal treatment is effective for progressive severe inflammatory root resorption during tooth movement.

Objective The purpose of this study was to clarify the interaction of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs)-C and -D with cell surface foetal liver kinase-1 (Flk-1) and fms -like tyrosine kinase-4 (Flt-4) receptors in the induction and activity of osteoclasts in cultured human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Design PBMCs were cultured on chamber slides or on ivory discs for 2 or 3 weeks in the presence of macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF), VEGF-A, -C or -D, or placental growth factor (PlGF) with or without receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL). The number of osteoclasts in each group was counted and the area of ivory resorption was measured. In addition, osteoclast differentiation was further analysed under the same conditions, but with the addition of specific neutralizing antibodies against Flk-1 and Flt-4. Results RANKL was essential for the induction of osteoclasts in PBMCs. However, significant differences were found in the number of osteoclasts induced by VEGF-A, -C, -D or M-CSF with RANKL compared with control groups lacking or containing RANKL. Blocking of either Flk-1 or Flt-4 resulted in a reduction in the enhancement of osteoclast differentiation in PBMCs by VEGF-C or -D with RANKL. The osteoclasts induced by VEGF-A, -C, -D or M-CSF with RANKL formed significantly larger resorption lacunae than those formed by osteoclasts induced by RANKL alone. Conclusions This study showed that VEGF-C and -D play a role in the induction of osteoclast differentiation through both Flk-1 and Flt-4 receptors and influence the area of the ivory resorption in PBMCs.

This case report describes the treatment of a case involving a skeletal Class II facial profile with a gummy smile. While treating a facial profile and a gummy smile, the outcome may not always be successful with orthodontic therapy alone. For this reason, surgical therapy is often chosen to gain an esthetic facial profile and a good smile. However, sometimes the patients reject surgical treatment and an alternative method must be considered. Skeletal anchorage systems such as miniscrews are now frequently used for correcting severe malocclusion that should be treated by surgical therapy. In this case report, we treated a skeletal Class II malocclusion with a convex profile and a gummy smile using miniscrews, which were placed in the upper posterior and anterior areas. The active treatment period was 3.5 years, and the patient's teeth continued to be stable after a retention period of 36 months.

At the present time, there are no reports in the literature on the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) by intrusion of molars using mini-screws. This case report describes the treatment for a female patient, aged 19 years seven months, with a TMD and an excessive lower anterior facial height. Overjet and overbite were +5.0 mm and +0.5 mm, respectively. The patient had a history of orthodontic treatment in which her first premolars were all extracted. During the first orthodontic treatment, a clockwise mandibular rotation was observed as a result of the increase of posterior dentoalveolar height. She had temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain during mouth opening and complained of difficulty in eating due to masticatory dysfunction. The pretreatment Schuller views of both TMJ showed a posterior condyle position. In order to correct the overjet, molar relationship and the mandibular condyle position, a miniscrew was inserted into the palatal region of the upper first molar to intrude the upper posterior teeth. As the upper molars were intruded, the overjet was decreased, and a class I molar relationship was achieved by a counterclockwise mandibular rotation. After one year of treatment, an acceptable occlusion was achieved, and the condyle moved into centric position in the glenoid fossa. The patient's teeth continued to be stable, and she had no pain in TMJ after a retention period of three years. The result of this treatment showed that molar intrusion using miniscrew anchorage is effective for treatment of a TMD patient with a posterior condyle position.

Fujita T, Ohtani J, Shirakura M, Hayashi H, Kawata T, Kaku M, Motokawa M, Tanne K. Changes in cortical bone mineralization in the mouse mandible with regenerated condyle. Eur J Oral Sci 2011; 119: 136–140. © 2011 Eur J Oral Sci The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of condylectomy and of a functional appliance on the mineral content, density, and area of the mandibular cortical bone in a growing mouse model. In the condylectomy group, a unilateral condylectomy was performed on the right side of the mouse mandible. In the condylectomy + appliance group, a functional appliance was used to reposition the mandible after the unilateral condylectomy. All mice were killed 4 wk after surgery. Each mandible was then subjected to analyses of cortical bone mineral content (CRT_CNT), cortical bone density (CRT_DEN), and cortical bone area (CRT_A) by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). The CRT_CNT, CRT_DEN, and CRT_A values were significantly lower in the condylectomized mandible (right side) than in the non-condylectomized mandible (left side). However, in the condylectomized animals in which a functional appliance was used, the CRT_CNT, CRT_DEN, and CRT_A values became higher than those in the mice treated with condylectomy alone. No significant differences were found in the CRT_CNT, CRT_DEN, and CRT_A between non-condylectomized (left side) mandibles, mandibles treated with condylectomy + functional appliance (right side), and control mandibles. It was thus shown that a functional appliance used to reposition the condylectomized mandible forward in a symmetric position induced improvement of the cortical bone in a mouse model in terms of cortical bone mineral content, density, and area.

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the upper and lower lip vermilion areas and the relevant factors in mandibular prognathism patients treated with orthognathic surgery.The samples were diagnosed as a mandibular protrusion and collected from mandibular prognathism patients before treatment with orthognathic surgery from 2000 to 2007.Subjects with congenital disease including cleft lip and palate, syndrome and severe facial asymmetry with jaw deviation were excluded. All subjects were divided into two groups by surgical procedure. Eighteen and 16 patients underwent mandibular setback surgery (one-jaw group) and two-jaw surgery (two-jaw group), respectively. Lateral cephalograms and standardized frontal facial photographs were taken before and after surgery and used for the analysis. Cephalometric analysis of the changes of skeletal and dentoalveolar structures was conducted.Upper and lower lip vermilion areas were measured by using NIH Image software (National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA). A paired t-test was used to identify significant changes in skeletal components and lip vermilion areas before and after surgery. Pearson correlation analysis was also used to discriminate skeletal changes responsible for lip vermilion changes before and after surgery.The following results were obtained.1. In the one-jaw group, the lower lip vermilion area exhibited a decreasing tendency, whereas the upper lip vermilion area was almost invariable. Thus, the ratio of vermilion area (upper lip vermilion area/lower lip vermilion area) showed a slight increase.2. In the two-jaw group, the upper vermilion area exhibited an increasing tendency, while the lower vermilion area was almost unchanged. As a result, the ratio of vermilion area increased similarly to that in the one-jaw group.3. In the one-jaw group, a significant negative correlation was found between overjet and lower lip vermilion area.4. In the two-jaw group, a significant positive correlation was found between changes in vertical position of Point A and upper vermilion area. Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between changes in FMA and upper vermilion area.These results suggested that although the ratio of vermilion area increased in the one-jaw and two-jaw groups after orthognathic surgery, the mechanism of lip morphological improvement was quite different in the two groups. It is also considered that the counter-clockwise rotation of the mandible following upward movement of the maxilla achieved by two-jaw surgery affects the change in upper lip vermilion area.

Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is characterized by unilateral underdevelopment of facial bones and soft tissues originating from the first and second branchial arches. In this article, we report an adolescent HFM patient treated with a functional appliance to facilitate mandibular growth.The patient was a 7-year 1-month-old boy with the chief complaint of open bite and facial asymmetry. He had Pruzansky Grade II deformity of the mandible. The overjet was 7.0 mm, the overbite was -5.0 mm, and Hellman's dental age was IIC. The left lower second premolar was congenitally missing and the left lower first molar showed a 90-degree mesio-buccal rotation. The postero-anterior cephalometric analysis revealed that the mandible was shifted to the left side and the occlusal plane was tilted upward on the left side. The lateral cephalometric analysis showed a small and distally-located mandible with clockwise rotation. Prior to orthognathic treatment started at 15 years old, the first phase of treatment was initiated with a functional appliance and headgear for a period of 1 year and 10 months at 12 years 10 months old.During the initial 4 years of treatment from the first consultation at 7 years 1 month old, the amount of occlusal plane inclination and lateral shift of the mandible increased due to a lack of patient cooperation. Nevertheless, use of the functional appliance improved the facial asymmetry due to lateral shift of the mandible. On the lateral cephalogram, a remarkable mandibular growth was found on the asymptomatic left side of the mandible.

Idiopathic scoliosis is a well-known orthopedic disease in childhood and the onset and progress are observed during adolescence. It is speculated that the progress of idiopathic scoliosis affects the maxillofacial growth and the function of the temporomandibular joint because the craniofacial skeletal is located on the top of the spinal column. Another reason may be that asymmetric craniofacial growth changes the head posture and/or spinal column. In this study, we examined the association of scoliosis with jaw deformity and temporomandibular joint disorders.The subjects were 44 patients who underwent orthognathic surgery for treatment of a jaw deformity at Hiroshima University Hospital. We measured the Cobb angle, an indicator of scoliosis, and the curve of the spinal column in vertebrae thoracicae on the chest radiograph. Moreover, the lateral shift of points A and B, cant of the occlusal plane and ANB angle were measured on the postero-anterior (PA) plane and lateral cephalograms. Association between the curve of the spinal column and maxillofacial morphology was examined by correlation analysis. The degree of scoliosis was examined in association with the pathological status of temporomandibular joint.The prevalence of subjects diagnosed with scoliosis was 22.7%. Among the scoliosis patients, 70% were female. In all subjects with a jaw deformity, a significantly positive correlation was not found between the following variables and the Cobb angle: ANB angle, lateral shift of points A and B, cant of the occlusal plane. Moreover, no significant association between the curve of spinal column in the vertebrae thoracicae and previous variables was revealed. In addition, there was no relationship between the degree of the scoliosis and progress of the temporomandibular joint disorder.These findings suggested that the progress of scoliosis exerts no substantial influence on the growth of the maxillofacial skeleton and the progress of temporomandibular joint disorders.

A 50% ethanolic extract (MCS-ext) from seeds of Morinda citrifolia ("noni" seeds) showed more potent in vitro inhibition of elastase and tyrosinase, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity than extracts of M. citrifolia leaves or flesh. Activity-guided fractionation of MCS-ext using in vitro assays led to the isolation of ursolic acid as an active constituent of elastase inhibitory activity. 3,3'-Bisdemethylpinoresinol, americanin A, and quercetin were isolated as active constituents having both tyrosinase inhibitory and radical scavenging activities. Americanin A and quercetin also showed superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. These active compounds were isolated from noni seeds for the first time.

Previous studies have indicated that an injured condyle during adolescence is a causative factor for reduced mandibular growth and resulting asymmetry of the mandible. The aim of this study was to examine the nature of mandibular growth after unilateral condylectomy and to elucidate the effects of mandibular advancement. Sixty growing mice were subjected to unilateral condylectomy, and then one-half of them underwent treatment with a functional appliance. After 4 wks, a unilateral condylectomy produced reduced growth of the mandible and a subsequent lateral shift to the affected side. However, reduced growth and a lateral shift of the mandible were eliminated by a functional appliance, and prominent regeneration of the condyle was also demonstrated. It was shown that mandibular advancement provides for the regeneration of cartilaginous tissues on injured condyles and recovery of reduced mandibular growth, leading to correction of the lateral shift of the mandible.

A simple method to assimilate precipitation data from a synthesis of radar and gauge data is developed to operate alongside an ensemble Kalman filter that assimilates hourly surface observations. The mesoscale ensemble forecast system consists of 25 members with 30-km grid spacing and incorporates variability in both initial and boundary conditions and model physical process schemes. The precipitation assimilation method only incorporates information on when and where rainfall is observed. Model temperature and water vapor mixing ratio profiles at each grid point are modified if rainfall is observed but not predicted, or if rainfall is predicted but not observed. These modifications act to either increase or decrease, respectively, the likelihood that precipitation develops at that grid point. Two cases are examined in which this technique is applied to assimilate precipitation data every 15 min from 1200 to 1800 UTC, while hourly surface observations are also assimilated at the same time using the more sophisticated ensemble Kalman filter approach. Results show that the simple method for assimilating precipitation data helps the model develop precipitation where it is observed, resulting in the precipitation area being reproduced more accurately than in the run without precipitation-data assimilation, while not negatively influencing the positive results from the surface data assimilation. Improvement is also seen in the reliability of precipitation probabilities for a 1 mm h−1 threshold after the assimilation period, indicating that assimilating precipitation data may provide improved forecasts of the mesoscale environment for a few hours.

The melting of a vertical ice cylinder into a homogeneous calcium chloride aqueous solution inside a cylindrical cavity is considered experimentally. The ice cylinder rotates with prescribed several speeds. The rotating speeds of the ice cylinder are 0, 35, 70 and 105 rpm. Melting experiments are performed on several different initial conditions of the solution. When a rotating speed is fast, melting front shows specific configuration similar to a “Bamboo node” due to the Taylor vortex flow. When the rotating speed is slow, a specific “screw” shape appears on the melting front. This specific configuration appears due to large buoyancy caused by large concentration difference and due to circumferential flow caused by rotation of ice cylinder. The melting mass fraction increases with the passage of melting time and with increasing of rotating speed. Transient melting mass fraction is correlated to Fourier and rotating Reynolds numbers and melting ability of the solution calculated from the equilibrium phase diagram.

Conventional geothermal development has been targeted by either the geothermal fluid reservoir in which steam and hot water are dominant or a deep-seated hot dry rock. However, these geothermal resources are regionally restricted therefore, long-term research development has been necessary to ascertain and establish the achievement of a power generation system by geothermal energy. From the view point of this research background, the development of shallow geothermal resources has been extensively carried out recently because shallow geothermal resources are not only exploited comparatively with ease but also can be found anywhere. The present study aims to investigate the heat extraction characteristics of a coaxial heat exchanger, which is the downhole heat exchangers extracting geothermal energy. From the computed results it was found that the heat extraction performance using a coaxial heat exchanger under the forward circulation mode depended on the inner tube material of the coaxial heat exchanger in the case where the length of the coaxial heat exchanger was comparatively long. Further, it was found that there was not much difference in the heat extraction rate among the metal tubes as long as they were used as the inner tube material.

Effect of 50% ethanolic extract of unripe fruits of Citrus unshiu (CU-ext) on type IV allergic reaction was examined by inhibitory activity of ear swelling of picryl chloride-induced contact dermatitis (PC-CD) in mice. Oral administration of CU-ext and subcutaneous administration of prednisolone showed inhibition of ear swelling during both induction and effector phases of PC-CD. The inhibitory activities of combinations of CU-ext (p.o.) and prednisolone (s.c.) during induction phase of PC-CD were more potent than those of CU-ext alone and prednisolone alone. Successive oral administration of hesperidin, a major flavanone glycoside of CU-ext, inhibited ear swelling during induction phase of PC-CD. The inhibitory activities of combinations of hesperidin (p.o.) and prednisolone (s.c.) were more potent than those of hesperidin alone and prednisolone alone. These results indicated that the combinations of prednisolone and CU-ext or hesperidin exerted a synergistic effect.

The assimilation of surface observations using an ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) approach is evaluated for the potential to improve short-range forecasting. Two severe weather cases are examined, in which the assimilation is performed over a 6-h period using hourly surface observations followed by an 18-h simulation period. Ensembles are created in three different ways—by using different initial and boundary conditions, by using different model physical process schemes, and by using both different initial and boundary conditions and different model physical process schemes. The ensembles are compared in order to investigate the role of uncertainties in the initial and boundary conditions and physical process schemes in EnKF data assimilation. In the initial condition ensemble, spread is associated largely with the displacement of atmospheric baroclinic systems. In the physics ensemble, spread comes from the differences in model physics, which results in larger spread in temperature and dewpoint temperature than the initial condition ensemble, and smaller spread in the wind fields. The combined initial condition and physics ensemble has properties from both of the previous two ensembles. It provides the largest spread and produces the best simulation for most of the variables, in terms of the rms difference between the ensemble mean and observations. Perhaps most importantly, this combined ensemble provides very good guidance on the mesoscale features important to the severe weather events of the day.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal complexity quantifies the brain dynamic and yields many different features to diagnose many psychotic disorders. The aim of this work is to analyze EEG to detect schizophrenia in comparison with normal subjects using EEG signal complexity, at various conditions such as rest and mental activity. In order to stimulate mental activity, this work proposes a two modified odd ball paradigms. In this research work, 55 schizophrenia subjects and 23 normal subjects together 78 subjects are included. EEG is recorded under resting state with eyes closed and during the stimuli applied. Shannon entropy, Spectral entropy, Information entropy, Higuchi’s Fractal Dimension, Kolmogorov complexity and Approximate Entropies are considered as features and are analyzed in two aspects. One is at rest condition and the other is during application of stimulus for mental activity. The signal complexity is more for schizophrenia compared to the normal group during different mental states and it is more dominant during mental activity with p

There have been no reports describing the results of conservative treatment of acute lateral ligament injury of the ankle in detail in terms of the severity of the injury, and the results of conservative treatment for injury with severe instability are still controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the results of nonoperative treatment of acute lateral ligament injury according to its severity.Fifty-five consecutive acute lateral ankle ligament injuries in 54 patients who were treated nonoperatively were followed up as a prospective study. Twenty-seven were male patients and 27 were female patients; the average age was 23.9 years (12-55 years). The patients were divided into two groups according to the extent of the ligament injury: patients with an isolated injury of the anterior talofibular ligament and those with combined injuries of the anterior talofibular ligament and the calcaneofibular ligament. In addition to the routine examinations for inversion ankle sprain, subtalar arthrography was mainly used to assess the condition of the calcaneofibular ligament. The arthrography was performed an average of 3.5 days after the injury (0-5 days).Fifty-five ankles of patients who were treated nonoperatively according to the same protocol were included in this study, and were followed up for an average of 5.0 years (37-86 months). At the time of the final follow-up, 22 of 25 (88%) ankles with an isolated injury to the anterior talofibular ligament were asymptomatic; in contrast, only 9 of 30 (30%) ankles with combined injuries of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament were asymptomatic. The average American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score of the isolated injuries was 97.8 points, in contrast to 92.4 points for the combined injuries.The results of nonoperative treatment with 1 week immobilization followed by a functional brace were excellent in patients with an isolated injury of the anterior talofibular ligament, but were unsatisfactory in those with combined injuries of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments.

Melting of a vertical ice cylinder into a homogeneous calcium chloride aqueous solution inside a rotating cylindrical cavity with several revolution speeds is considered experimentally. Melting mass and temperature are measured on four initial conditions of the solution and four rotating speeds of the cavity. Temperature of liquid layer becomes uniform by the mixing effect resulting from cavity rotation and it enhances the melting rate of ice cylinder. As cavity-rotating speed becomes fast, melting rate increases. Dimensionless melting mass is related to Fourier number and rotating Reynolds number in each initial condition, therefore the experimental equation that is able to quantitatively calculate a dimensionless melting mass is presented. It is seen that melting Nusselt number re-increases in the middle of melting process. Ice cylinder continues to melt in spite of small temperature difference between ice cylinder and solution.

The purpose of this study was to develop a bone tissue bank using a programmed freezer with a magnetic field. Parietal bones were removed from rats and used for organ culture examination (non-cryopreserved, cryopreserved with a magnetic field (CAS) and cryopreserved without a magnetic field group). Next, other parietal bones were used for histological examination. The cryopreserved bones by a CAS freezer and dried bones were transplanted respectively. Control bones were replanted without cryopreservation. Animals were sacrificed at 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery. After organ culture, the isolated osteoblasts from parietal bones which were cryopreserved by a CAS freezer can survive and proliferate as much as non-cryopreserved group. Histological examinations showed new bone formation in control and CAS group. These results suggest that bone tissue cryopreservation by CAS freezer can be successfully used for bone grafting which may be a novel option for regeneration medicine.

It has not yet been clarified how sex hormones affect craniofacial bone development immediately after birth. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sex hormone deficiency on craniofacial bone development immediately after birth, in terms of the internal structure of the mandible in newborn mice with orchiectomy (ORX) and ovariectomy (OVX). ORX, OVX and a sham-operation were performed on 40 five-day-old C57BL/6J mice. Eight weeks after surgery, each mandible was subjected to histomorphometric analysis of trabecular (Tr) and cortical (Ct) bone mineral density (BMD) by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). In the experimental groups, a significant reduction in BMD was found in comparison with the control groups. In histomorphometric analysis, the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive cells in the condyle and the thickness of the condylar cartilage layer was significantly greater in the experimental mice than in the controls. Trabecular bone volume of the condyle measured on azocarmine-aniline blue (AZAN) sections was significantly less in the experimental mice than in the controls. These results indicate that mandibular growth is inhibited by sex hormone disturbances and the relevant internal structures changed. The findings show that sex hormones are one of the key determinants of mandibular growth and development immediately after birth.

The melting of two vertical parallel ice plates into a binary aqueous solution is considered experimentally and numerically. When the aspect ratio of liquid region is 1.0, the numerical results are compared with experimental ones and also quantitatively predicted the velocity in the liquid melt, mean melting mass, ice plate temperature. The influence of melting system sizes on melting mass, flow field, isotherms, and concentration isopleths are considered numerically, and the relation between the corrected melting mass change ratio and aspect ratio is presented for various liquid layer heights with dimensionless ice plate thickness as a parameter.

This study was performed to investigate the heat extraction characteristics from shallow geothermal resources using a coaxial heat exchanger. First, a computer simulation program for a coaxial heat exchanger was checked and verified by laboratory experiments. After inspecting the effectiveness of the computer program described herein, a numerical simulation for a real scale model was conducted under the condition that the heat transfer mechanism in the stratum was heat conduction. Unsteady heat extraction characteristics are presented herein, and the effects of the tube material, inner diameter, and circular modes on the heat extraction rate are discussed. From the computer results it was found that the heat extraction performance using a coaxial heat exchanger greatly depended on the factors mentioned above in the range of the parameters covered in this study. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 34(7): 496–513, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20083

Formation of senile plaques (SPs) by amyloid beta (Abeta) protein is a neuropathological change which characterizes Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Abeta deposition and neuron loss are essential for the pathological cascade of the disease. Although the mechanism of Abeta deposition remains unclear, it has been suggested that clearance of Abeta protein may be impaired in the AD brain. Previous studies demonstrated that microglia were able to remove Abeta by releasing a metalloprotease or by phagocytosis, suggesting that microglia may play an important role in preventing Abeta deposition in the central nervous system (CNS). On the other hand, it was reported that the number of microglia was reduced in osteopetrotic (op/op) toothless mice resulting from the lack of functional macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). The present study was thus designed to examine the Abeta deposition and the number of hippocampal neurons in the brain of op/op mice. A number of fibrillar plaques were detected in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus in op/op mice, however, no quantitative evidence of Abeta deposition was observed in normal mice. Moreover, the total number of pyramidal cells in the hippocampal CA1, and CA3 regions was significantly reduced in op/op mice when compared to the controls. These results demonstrate that Abeta deposition influence neuron loss and it may be suspected that expression of SPs may be in part regulated by microglia under physiological conditions.