Tracing innovation pathways behind fisheries co-management in Vanuatu.

Co-management approaches have become a core part of coastal fisheries policy and planning practice in Vanuatu. With a long history of supporting community based fisheries management (CBFM), we trace its evolution in Vanuatu to understand how new structures and processes become adopted at scale. A theory of scaling for CBFM guides the analysis of regime shifts over time. We discuss planning for sustained spread under a national programme by categorising multiple drivers of change through three intervention pathways focussed, respectively, on developing (i) an enabling environment, (ii) institutional and individual capacity, and (iii) focussed innovative action in smaller targeted constituencies. Whilst we argue that local fisheries co-management institutions balance competing interests, and so differ amongst places, we also recognise the importance of connectivity and continuity. The realisation of a national programme therefore requires patchworks of siloed projects to be knitted together into coordinated programmatic approaches that strategically integrate activities.

Successful artificial reefs depend on getting the context right due to complex socio-bio-economic interactions.

Artificial reefs (ARs) are one of the most popular means of supporting marine ecosystem conservation and coastal fisheries, particularly in developing countries. However, ARs generate complex socio-bio-economic interactions that require careful evaluation. This is particularly the case for ARs outside no-take zones, where fish might be subject to enhanced exploitation due to easier catchability. Here, we conducted an interdisciplinary study on how ARs impact fish and fishing yields, combining mathematical and sociological approaches. Both approaches converge to confirm that fishery yields decline when ARs are exploited as if they were open access areas. This situation typically occurs in areas with weak governance and/or high levels of illegal fishing activity, both of which are common in many developing countries. To avoid these adverse effects and their associated ecological consequences, we recommend prioritizing the onset of a long-term surveillance system against illegal fishing activities, and adapting design and location of the ARs based on both and local and academic knowledge, before the deployment of ARs.

Accuracy and dimensional reproducibility by model scanning, intraoral scanning, and CBCT imaging for digital implant dentistry.

BACKGROUND: Recently, it has become possible to analyze implant placement position using the digital matching data of optical impression data of the oral cavity or plaster models with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data, and create a highly accurate surgical guide. It has been reported that CBCT measurements were smaller than the actual values, termed shrinkage. Matching of digital data is reliable when the plaster model or intraoral impression values show shrinkage at the same rate as the CBCT data. However, if the shrinkage rate is significantly different, the obtained digital data become unreliable. To clarify digital matching reliability, we examined dimensional reproducibility and shrinkage in measurements obtained with a model scanner, intra-oral scanner (iOS), and CBCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three implants that were arranged in a triangle were fixed in an acrylic plate. The distance between each implants were measured using model scanner, iOS, and CBCT. The actual size measured by electronic caliper was regarded as control. RESULTS: All values measured with CBCT were significantly smaller than that of model scanner, iOS, and control (p<0.001). The model scanner shrinkage was 0.37-0.39%, iOS shrinkage was 0.9-1.4%, and CBCT shrinkage was 1.8-6.9%. There were statistically significant differences among the shrinkage with iOS, CBCT, and model scanner (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that all measurements obtained with those modalities showed shrinkage as compared to the actual values. In addition, CBCT shrinkage was largest among three different measuring methods. They indicated that data matching between CBCT and scanner measurements requires attention in regard to the reliability of values obtained with those devices.

A membrane filtering method for the purification of giant unilamellar vesicles.

The use of giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) for investigating the properties of biomembranes is advantageous compared to the use of small-sized vesicles such as large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs). Experimental methods using GUVs, such as the single GUV method, would benefit if there was a methodology for obtaining a large population of similar-sized GUVs composed of oil-free membranes. We here describe a new membrane filtering method for purifying GUVs prepared by the natural swelling method and demonstrate that, following purification of GUVs composed of dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG)/dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) membranes suspended in a buffer, similar-sized GUVs with diameters of 10-30 µm are obtained. Moreover, this method enabled GUVs to be separated from water-soluble fluorescent probes and LUVs. These results suggest that the membrane filtering method can be applied to GUVs prepared by other methods to purify larger-sized GUVs from smaller GUVs, LUVs, and various water-soluble substances such as proteins and fluorescent probes. This method can also be used for concentration of dilute GUV suspensions.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 stimulates directed migration of periodontal ligament cells via PI3K/AKT signaling and CD44/hyaluronan interaction.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) regulates a variety of functions of the periodontal ligament (PDL) cell, which is a key player during tissue regeneration following periodontal tissue breakdown by periodontal disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of FGF-2 on the cell migration and related signaling pathways of MPDL22, a mouse PDL cell clone. FGF-2 activated the migration of MPDL22 cells and phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) and akt. The P13K inhibitors, Wortmannin and LY294002, suppressed both cell migration and akt activation in MPDL22, suggesting that the PI3K/akt pathway is involved in FGF-2-stimulated migration of MPDL22 cells. Moreover, in response to FGF-2, MPDL22 showed increased CD44 expression, avidity to hyaluronan (HA) partly via CD44, HA production and mRNA expression of HA synthase (Has)-1, 2, and 3. However, the distribution of HA molecular mass produced by MPDL22 was not altered by FGF-2 stimulation. Treatment of transwell membrane with HA facilitated the migration of MPDL22 cells and an anti-CD44 neutralizing antibody inhibited it. Interestingly, the expression of CD44 was colocalized with HA on the migrating cells when stimulated with FGF-2. Furthermore, an anti-CD44 antibody and small interfering RNA for CD44 significantly decreased the FGF-2-induced migration of MPDL22 cells. Taken together, PI3K/akt and CD44/HA signaling pathways are responsible for FGF-2-mediated cell motility of PDL cells, suggesting that FGF-2 accelerates periodontal regeneration by regulating the cellular functions including migration, proliferation and modulation of extracellular matrix production.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 regulates expression of osteopontin in periodontal ligament cells.

Osteopontin is a protein found in the bone-related matrix and plays multiple regulatory roles in mineralizing and non-mineralizing tissue. In osteogenic cell-lines, the expression of osteopontin increases with the progression of differentiation, but both the expression and function of osteopontin vary with the cell type and its activation state. In this study, we examined the expression of osteopontin by clones established from mouse periodontal ligament, in response to inorganic phosphate and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2, which can induce periodontal tissue regeneration. The involvement of inorganic phosphate in the expression of osteopontin during the course of cell differentiation of a clone MPDL22 was confirmed by addition of foscarnet, an inorganic phosphate transport inhibitor. Although FGF-2 decreased the mRNA expression of almost every bone-related protein in MPDL22, FGF-2 upregulated the expression of osteopontin in MPDL22 at both mRNA and protein levels. Interestingly, FGF-2 enhanced the concentration of osteopontin in the culture supernatant of MPDL22, whereas inorganic phosphate did not. The FGF-2-induced osteopontin in the culture supernatant seems to be involved in cell survival activity. An immunohistochemical study showed that the FGF-2-induced osteopontin was mainly present in perinuclear matrices while the inorganic phosphate-induced osteopontin was associated with extracellular matrices in addition to perinuclear matrices. The present results indicated that FGF-2 induces unique expression of osteopontin, which may play a role different from the other bone-related proteins during the process of periodontal tissue regeneration by FGF-2.

Basic fibroblast growth factor regulates expression of heparan sulfate in human periodontal ligament cells.

Heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycan is a widely distributed biological molecule that mediates a variety of physiological responses in development, cell growth, cell migration, and wound healing. We examined the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2), which is known to modulate extracellular matrix (ECM) production of various cell types, on the production of HS proteoglycan by human periodontal ligament (HPDL) cells. We also examined the effects of FGF-2 on the expression of syndecans, a major family of membrane-bound HS proteoglycans. Treatment of HPDL cells with FGF-2 for 72 h resulted in a pronounced increase in the level of HS in the culture supernatant in a dose-dependent manner. However, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction data (RT-PCR) revealed that FGF-2 marginally reduced the gene expression of syndecan-1, -2, and -4, and did not alter the level of syndecan-3 mRNA. Furthermore, FGF-2 did not have an effect on the mRNA expression of enzymes associated with HS biosynthesis. Interestingly, FACS analysis revealed that the syndecan family displayed diverse alterations in response to FGF-2. FGF-2 barely altered the expression of syndecan-1, but decreased the expression of syndecan-2 and -4 on HPDL cells. Moreover, dot blot analysis showed that FGF-2 did not alter the level of syndecan-1 and -2, but enhanced the level of syndecan-4 in culture supernatants of FGF-2-stimulated HPDL cells. These results suggest that the FGF-2-activated increase in the level of HS in conditioned medium may be a result of shedding of syndecan-4 from the HPDL cell surface. Taken together, FGF-2 may differentially regulate the expression of HS proteoglycans in a HS-proteoglycan-subtype-dependent manner. The diversity of the expression patterns of HS proteoglycans may be associated with the FGF-2-induced biological functions of HPDL cells.

Displaced fracture of the femoral shaft from kicking the ground during soccer - a case report.

We report a displaced femoral shaft fracture that occurred with no sign of contact-induced, stress, fatigue, or previous abnormal bone pathology in a 19-y-old man who kicked the ground instead of the ball when playing soccer. After examination to rule out abnormal bone pathology, intramedullary nailing was performed. Bone union was achieved and he could return to recreational soccer. Among soccer injuries, the occurrence of displaced femoral shaft fractures in the absence of stress, fatigue, or pathological fracture is rare. Awareness of such a rare cause of displaced femoral shaft fracture would help clinicians in the field of sports and soccer medicine. Key PointsWe report a very rare displaced femoral shaft fracture in a 19-y-old man who kicked the ground instead of the ball when playing soccer.Abnormal bone pathology was ruled out.Awareness of such a rare cause of displaced femoral shaft fracture would help clinicians in the field of sports and soccer medicine.