Human disturbance drives loss of soil organic matter and changes its stability and sources in mangroves.

Mangrove soils with high organic carbon (Corg) content are likely to contain Corg that is vulnerable to remineralization during land use changes. Mangrove conversion to different land uses might deplete soil Corg stocks causing variable carbon dioxide emissions, but the extent of these emissions and the fraction of soil Corg (i.e., labile or stable/recalcitrant) that is mostly lost is poorly understood. Here, we study mangrove soil Corg degradability and its susceptibility to mineralization after mangrove disturbance. We measured changes in soil properties, organic matter (OM) stability and Corg pools and sources across a mangrove disturbance gradient (i.e., pristine forests, degraded mangroves receiving domestic sewage and shrimp farm effluents, and shrimp ponds). Results showed that the conversion of mangroves to shrimp ponds caused the most severe changes in soil properties, OM and Corg characteristics. Shrimp pond soils contained the lowest OM-Corg pools, consisted mostly of stable OM (i.e., recalcitrant and refractory; 36.0 ± 5.7% of the total OM) and enriched δ13Corg (-22.6 ± 2.7‰). Conversely, control mangrove soils had the largest OM-Corg pools consisting of a large unstable OM fraction (i.e., labile; 46.4 ± 4.2%) and lighter δ13Corg (-26.8 ± 0.4‰) being characteristic of Corg from a mangrove origin. Conversion of mangroves to shrimp ponds and its degradation by shrimp farm and domestic sewage effluents caused a loss of 97%, 61%, and 35% of soil Corg stocks in the upper meter, representing potential emissions of ~1200, 800, and 400 Mg CO2 ha-1, respectively. These losses were explained by enhanced OM mineralization of unstable fractions driven by the loss of the physico-chemical protection provided by fine-grained soils and vegetation cover. The differences in Corg stability among sites can be used to predict potential carbon dioxide produced during mineralization, hence aid at prioritizing areas for conservation, restoration or management.

Experimental fragmentation of pipe bombs with varying case thickness.

Among all the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) known, pipe bombs are one of the most popular devices used by terrorists. They are simple to use, easy to construct and materials are readily available. For this IED, fragmentation is the primary injury mechanism, which makes them a desirable weapon for terrorists aiming to inflict maximum human casualties. Although the investigation of fragmentation pattern is not novel, there is limited data available on pipe bombs performance in the open literature. Therefore, this research is looking at validating results in current literature, which showed limited repetition and weak experimental design so far; by trial with six pipe bombs with two different thickness (3 of each). The pipe bombs consisted of mild steel casing and aluminised ammonium nitrate as the explosive filler. Fragments were collected, with an average recovery of 72%, and measured regarding mass and velocity. The experiment results show a correlation between the pipe thickness and both the size and velocity of fragments.

Arthroscopic double-locked stitch: a new technique for suturing rotator cuff tears.

There are a number of reasons for failed rotator cuff tear repair. In such cases the suture-tendon interface seems to be the most vulnerable area, especially when tendon degeneration is present. We describe a new technique, the arthroscopic double-locked suture, that increases the tendon fixation and has the added benefit of being placed parallel to the blood vessels, therefore avoiding damage to the tendon vascularization. The suture may be achieved by use of knots or knotless anchors and suture passers, without the need for any additional instrumentation. The new technique is especially helpful in cases in which the tendon is retracted and degeneration is present, impeding the use of the double-row technique or its transosseous equivalents.

High prevalence of orofacial complaints in patients with fibromyalgia: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the orofacial complaints and characteristics of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) compared with controls. STUDY DESIGN: We evaluated 25 patients diagnosed with FS compared with 25 gender- and age-matched controls by using a detailed clinical protocol for orofacial pain diagnosis and dental examination. RESULTS: FS patients had a higher frequency of temporomandibular disorders (TMD), masticatory complaints, pain with mandibular movements, and pain upon palpation of the head and neck area. There were no significant differences related to the dental exam. CONCLUSIONS: Orofacial complaints including TMD may be present either as symptoms of FS or as a comorbidity associated with this condition. A comprehensive evaluation of patients with FS is necessary to identify the need for specific treatments for orofacial complaints. Future studies, especially those with longitudinal design, should clarify whether a cause-effect relationship exists between orofacial complaints and fibromyalgia.

Comparison between the acromion index and rotator cuff tears in the Brazilian and Japanese populations.

BACKGROUND: We compared the acromion index, a lateral tilt of the acromion described by Nyffeler et al as a possible cause of rotator cuff tears (RCTs), in 2 different populations: Brazilian and Japanese. METHODS: Patients with full-thickness RCTs diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and corroborated by intraoperative findings were included in this study. Controls were patients with shoulder radiographs that indicated instability or adhesive capsulitis. The studied population was subdivided into 2 major racial groups: Brazilian and Japanese. We compared 83 Brazilian adults (mean age, 54 years) with RCTs with 28 individuals with intact rotator cuffs matched by sex, age, and race. Similarly, 112 Japanese individuals (mean age, 59 years) with RCTs were compared with 56 controls. The radiographic images were digitally scanned (HP DeskJet F4180; Hewlett-Packard, Palo Alto, CA, USA) and analyzed. RESULTS: The mean acromion index of the Brazilian patients with RCTs was 0.72; 0.68 was the result for the Japanese patients. When patients with RCTs were compared with those with intact rotator cuffs, a statistically significant difference was found in the Brazilian population (P = .001) but not in the Japanese population (P = .18). Therefore, Brazilian subjects with RCTs were found to have a greater lateral extension of the acromion than those with intact rotator cuffs. Such a difference, however, was not observed in the Japanese population. CONCLUSION: The acromion index can be used as a predictive factor for RCTs in the Brazilian population but not in the Japanese population.

Xerostomia and salivary flow in patients with orofacial pain compared with controls.

OBJECTIVES: Pain in the orofacial region is frequently reported by patients in dental and medical offices. Facial pain, headache, masticatory abnormalities and other complaints often become chronic and may be associated with local disturbances, such as xerostomia and teeth abnormalities. The objective of this study was to investigate salivary flow and xerostomia in patients with orofacial pain. DESIGN: This was a case-control study; we evaluated 82 patients with chronic orofacial pain compared with 56 healthy subjects using a Clinical Pain Questionnaire (pain characteristics, duration, intensity and descriptors), complete dental examination (including static and dynamic evaluation of the jaw) and a Xerostomia Inventory. The salivary flow was quantitatively evaluated. Data was compared through Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's exact, analysis of variance (ANOVA) 1 factor and Mann-Whitney tests. RESULTS: Patients often had temporomandibular disorder (TMD) (P=0.001) and pain during facial (P<0.001) and neck palpation (P=0.002). There were no differences in dental examination or other structural aspects of the jaw between the groups. There were more complaints associated with xerostomia in the study group, including burning sensation in the oral mucosa (P=0.003), in the throat (P=0.035) and in the stomach (P=0.050). Patients had lower salivary flow (P=0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Orofacial pain patients need to be evaluated with regard to their salivary function, which was often found abnormal in this sample and may have contributed to the complaints of these patients. Assessing salivary flow and xerostomia may help in the treatment of chronic orofacial pain.