Dissecting the functional organization of the C. elegans serotonergic system at whole-brain scale.

Serotonin influences many aspects of animal behavior. But how serotonin acts on its diverse receptors across the brain to modulate global activity and behavior is unknown. Here, we examine how serotonin release in C. elegans alters brain-wide activity to induce foraging behaviors, like slow locomotion and increased feeding. Comprehensive genetic analyses identify three core serotonin receptors (MOD-1, SER-4, and LGC-50) that induce slow locomotion upon serotonin release and others (SER-1, SER-5, and SER-7) that interact with them to modulate this behavior. SER-4 induces behavioral responses to sudden increases in serotonin release, whereas MOD-1 induces responses to persistent release. Whole-brain imaging reveals widespread serotonin-associated brain dynamics, spanning many behavioral networks. We map all sites of serotonin receptor expression in the connectome, which, together with synaptic connectivity, helps predict which neurons show serotonin-associated activity. These results reveal how serotonin acts at defined sites across a connectome to modulate brain-wide activity and behavior.

Brain-wide representations of behavior spanning multiple timescales and states in C. elegans.

Changes in an animal's behavior and internal state are accompanied by widespread changes in activity across its brain. However, how neurons across the brain encode behavior and how this is impacted by state is poorly understood. We recorded brain-wide activity and the diverse motor programs of freely moving C. elegans and built probabilistic models that explain how each neuron encodes quantitative behavioral features. By determining the identities of the recorded neurons, we created an atlas of how the defined neuron classes in the C. elegans connectome encode behavior. Many neuron classes have conjunctive representations of multiple behaviors. Moreover, although many neurons encode current motor actions, others integrate recent actions. Changes in behavioral state are accompanied by widespread changes in how neurons encode behavior, and we identify these flexible nodes in the connectome. Our results provide a global map of how the cell types across an animal's brain encode its behavior.

Monitoring lesion activity on primary teeth with CP-OCT and SWIR reflectance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to use cross polarization optical coherence tomography (CP-OCT) and short wavelength infrared imaging (SWIR) reflectance imaging to monitor changes in the structure and activity of early occlusal caries on primary teeth over a period of 6 months during intervention with fluoride. METHODS: Participants (n = 29) aged 6-10 each with two suspected active occlusal lesions on primary teeth completed the study. Fluoride varnish was applied to tooth surfaces every 3-months and participants were instructed to brush twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste. Images were acquired using CP-OCT every 3 months for 6 months. SWIR reflectance images were acquired during forced air-drying of the lesions for 30 s at 0 and 6-months. RESULTS: Most of the 42 lesions appeared initially active at baseline. Only 6 lesions appeared arrested at baseline based on the presence of a highly mineralized transparent surface layer (TSL) in CP-OCT images. At 6 months, 14 of the lesions appeared arrested including the 6 initially arrested lesions and the TSL thickness increased significantly (p < 0.0001). The mean lesion depth (Ld) and the integrated reflectivity over the lesion depth (ΔR) increased significantly (p < 0.05) after 6 months for the 42 lesions analyzed. SWIR reflectance images showed that there was a significantly higher (p < 0.05) delay before changes in intensity were measured for active lesions versus arrested lesions during lesion drying. CONCLUSION: CP-OCT was able to monitor changes in lesion structure and activity including the formation of a highly mineralized TSL indicative of lesion arrest during nonsurgical intervention. Time-resolved SWIR reflectance imaging also shows that there are differences in the dehydration kinetics between active and arrested lesions. This study demonstrates two independent imaging methods that can be used to monitor changes in lesion activity over time.

Botulinum Toxin Type A for Lumbar Sympathetic Ganglion Block in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that botulinum toxin would prolong the duration of a lumbar sympathetic block measured through a sustained increase in skin temperature. The authors performed a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to investigate the clinical outcome of botulinum toxin type A for lumbar sympathetic ganglion block in patients with complex regional pain syndrome. METHODS: Lumbar sympathetic ganglion block was conducted in patients with lower-extremity complex regional pain syndrome using 75 IU of botulinum toxin type A (botulinum toxin group) and local anesthetic (control group). The primary outcome was the change in the relative temperature difference on the blocked sole compared with the contralateral sole at 1 postoperative month. The secondary outcomes were the 3-month changes in relative temperature differences, as well as the pain intensity changes. RESULTS: A total of 48 participants (N = 24/group) were randomly assigned. The change in relative temperature increase was higher in the botulinum toxin group than in the control group (1.0°C ± 1.3 vs. 0.1°C ± 0.8, respectively; difference: 0.9°C [95% CI, 0.3 to 1.5]; P = 0.006), which was maintained at 3 months (1.1°C ± 0.8 vs. -0.2°C ± 1.2, respectively; P = 0.009). Moreover, pain intensity was greatly reduced in the botulinum toxin group compared with the control group at 1 month (-2.2 ± 1.0 vs. -1.0 ± 1.6, respectively; P = 0.003) and 3 months (-2.0 ± 1.0 vs. -0.6 ± 1.6, respectively; P = 0.003). There were no severe adverse events pertinent to botulinum toxin injection. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with complex regional pain syndrome, lumbar sympathetic ganglion block using botulinum toxin type A increased the temperature of the affected foot for 3 months and also reduced the pain.

Can the Rhomboid Major Muscle Be Used to Identify the Thoracic Spinal Segment on Ultrasonography? A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the thoracic segment corresponding to the inferior margin of the rhomboid major muscle (RMM) using ultrasound (US) to evaluate its potential as a reliable anatomic landmark for segment identification. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: An operating room. SUBJECTS: Patients who underwent procedures around the thoracic spine. METHODS: Four hundred segments corresponding to the RMM's inferior margin were identified through the use of paravertebral sagittal US and confirmed by fluoroscopy in 100 participants in the prone position with upward and downward shoulder rotation, comprising four datasets (up-right, up-left, down-right, and down-left). The US identification of the RMM's inferior margin was dichotomously scored (clear vs ambiguous). Each dataset was divided into two groups (dominant segment group vs remaining segments group), which were compared. Factors relevant to the dominant segment associated with the RMM's inferior border were determined through univariable analyses. RESULTS: The T6 segment was observed most commonly (59.5%) along the RMM's inferior border on paravertebral sagittal US acquired in the prone position, followed by T5 (25.0%), T7 (12.8%), and T4 (2.7%). The segments corresponding to the RMM remained unchanged by shoulder posture in most participants (n = 74, 74%). The RMM's inferior border was clearly distinguishable in 330 cases (82.5%). When the RMM's inferior border was clearly identified, the corresponding segment was likely to match T6 in all datasets, with odds ratios ranging from 3.24 to 6.2. CONCLUSIONS: The RMM's inferior border over the transverse process corresponded to T6 most frequently on paravertebral sagittal US, and its deep fascia was clearly visible in most cases.

Reactions of U+ with H2, D2, and HD Studied by Guided Ion Beam Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Theory.

The kinetic energy-dependent reactions of the atomic actinide uranium cation (U+) with H2, D2, and HD were examined by guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry. An average 0 K bond dissociation energy of D0(U+ - H) = 2.48 ± 0.06 eV is obtained by analysis of the endothermic product ion cross sections. Quantum chemistry calculations were performed for comparison with experimental thermochemistry, including high-level CASSCF-CASPT2-RASSI calculations of the spin-orbit corrections. CCSD(T) and the CASSCF levels show excellent agreement with experiment, whereas B3LYP and PBE0 slightly overestimate and the M06 approach badly underestimates the bond energy for UH+. Theory was also used to investigate the electronic structures of the reaction intermediates and potential energy surfaces. The experimental product branching ratio for the reaction of U+ with HD indicates that these reactions occur primarily via a direct reaction mechanism, despite the presence of a deep-well for UH2+ formation according to theory. The reactivity and hydride bond energy for U+ are compared with those for transition metal, lanthanide, and actinide cations, and periodic trends are discussed. These comparisons suggest that the 5f electrons on uranium are largely core and uninvolved in the reactive chemistry.

Thermochemistry of the Ir+ + SO2 reaction using guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry and theory.

Kinetic energy dependences of the reactions of Ir+ (5F5) with SO2 were studied using a guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometer and theory. The observed cationic products are IrO+, IrS+, and IrSO+, formed in endothermic reactions. Bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of the products are determined by modeling the kinetic energy dependent product cross sections: D0(Ir+-O) = 4.27 ± 0.11 eV, D0(Ir+-S) = 4.03 ± 0.06 eV, and D0(Ir+-SO) ≥ 2.95 ± 0.06 eV. The oxide BDE agrees well with literature values, whereas the two latter results are novel measurements. Quantum mechanical calculations are performed at the B3LYP level of theory using the def2-TZVPPD basis set for all product BDEs with additional calculations for IrS+, IrO2 +, and IrSO+ at the coupled cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitation levels with def2-QZVPPD and aug-cc-pVXZ (X = T and Q and for IrS+, also X = 5) basis sets and complete basis set extrapolations. These theoretical BDEs agree reasonably well with the experimental values. 1A1 (IrO2 +), 5Δ4 (IrS+), and 3A″/1A' (IrSO+) are found to be the ground states after including empirical spin-orbit corrections. The potential energy surfaces including intermediates and transition states for each reaction are also calculated at the B3LYP/def2-TZVPPD level. The formation of MO+ (M = Re, Os, and Ir) from M+ + SO2 reactions is compared with those from the M+ + O2 and M+ + CO reactions, where interesting trends in cross sections are observed. Overall, these studies suggest that the M+ + O2 reactions had restrictions associated with reactions along A' and A″ surfaces.

Holmium (Ho) oxide, carbide, and dioxide cation bond energies and evaluation of the Ho + O → HoO+ + e- chemi-ionization reaction enthalpy.

Guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry (GIBMS) and quantum chemical calculations are employed to evaluate the title chemi-ionization reaction with holmium. Exchange reactions of Ho+ with O2, CO, and SO2 and HoO+ with CO, as well as collision-induced dissociation (CID) reactions of HoO+ with Xe, O2, and CO, were performed using GIBMS. Formation of HoO+ is exothermic in reactions with O2 and SO2 but endothermic for reaction with CO, as is the exchange reaction of HoO+ with CO. Quantitative analysis of these reactions and the three CID reactions provides a robust method to determine the bond dissociation energy (BDE) of Ho+-O, 6.02 ± 0.13 eV. BDEs for Ho+-C and OHo+-O are also measured as 2.27 ± 0.19 and 2.70 ± 0.27 eV, respectively. All three measurements are the first direct determinations of these BDEs. By combining the BDE of HoO+ with the well-established ionization energy of Ho, the exothermicity of Ho in the title chemi-ionization reaction can also be obtained as 0.00 ± 0.13 eV. All experimental thermochemistry was then compared to quantum chemical calculations for the purpose of establishing benchmarks and validation. BDEs determined via these calculations are in agreement with the experiment within the inherent experimental and theoretical uncertainties, with results obtained at the coupled-cluster with single, double, and perturbative triple excitations, CCSD(T), using all-electron basis sets yielding the most accurate results.

Pan-neuronal calcium imaging with cellular resolution in freely swimming zebrafish.

Calcium imaging with cellular resolution typically requires an animal to be tethered under a microscope, which substantially restricts the range of behaviors that can be studied. To expand the behavioral repertoire amenable to imaging, we have developed a tracking microscope that enables whole-brain calcium imaging with cellular resolution in freely swimming larval zebrafish. This microscope uses infrared imaging to track a target animal in a behavior arena. On the basis of the predicted trajectory of the animal, we applied optimal control theory to a motorized stage system to cancel brain motion in three dimensions. We combined this motion-cancellation system with differential illumination focal filtering, a variant of HiLo microscopy, which enabled us to image the brain of a freely swimming larval zebrafish for more than an hour. This work expands the repertoire of natural behaviors that can be studied with cellular-resolution calcium imaging to potentially include spatial navigation, social behavior, feeding and reward.

Thermochemical studies of reactions of Re+ with SO2 using guided ion beam experiments and theory.

The kinetic energy dependent reactions of Re+ with SO2 were studied with guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry. ReO+, ReO2+, and OReS+ species were observed as products, all in endothermic reactions. Modeling of the kinetic energy dependent cross sections yields 0 K bond dissociation energies (BDEs, in eV) of 4.78 ± 0.06 (Re+-O), 5.75 ± 0.02 (Re+-O2), and 4.35 ± 0.14 (Re+-SO). The latter two values can be combined with other information to derive the additional values 6.05 ± 0.05 (ORe+-O) and 4.89 ± 0.19 (ORe+-S). BDEs of ReO+ and ReO2+ agree with literature values whereas the values for OReS+ are the first measurements. The former result is obtained even though formation of ground state ReO+ is spin-forbidden. Quantum mechanical calculations at the B3LYP level of theory with a def2-TZVPPD basis set yield results that agree reasonably well with experimental values. Additional calculations at the BP86 and CCSD(T) levels of theory using def2-QZVPPD and aug-cc-pVxZ (x = T, Q, and 5) basis sets were performed to compare thermochemistry with experiment to determine that ReO2+ rather than the isobaric ReS+ is formed. Product ground states are 3Δ3(ReO+), 3B1(OReO+), 5Π-1(ReS+), and 3A''(OReS+) after including empirical spin-orbit corrections, which means that formation of ground state products is spin-forbidden for all three product channels. The potential energy surfaces for the ReSO2+ system were also explored at the B3LYP/def2-TZVPPD level and exhibited no barriers in excess of the endothermicities for all products. BDEs for rhenium oxide and sulfide diatomics and triatomics are compared and discussed. The present result for formation of ReO+ is compared to that for formation of ReO+ in the reactions of Re+ + O2 and CO, where the former system exhibited interesting dual cross section features. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that the distinction of in-plane and out-of-plane CS symmetry in the triatomic systems might be the explanation for the two endothermic features observed in the Re+ + O2 reaction.

Thrombectomy in acute vertebrobasilar occlusion: a single-centre experience.

PURPOSE: Acute vertebrobasilar occlusion (VBO) has a grave clinical course; however, thrombectomy in VBO patients has rarely been reported. We retrospectively evaluated the clinical and radiological outcomes of thrombectomy in VBO patients. METHODS: From March 2010 to December 2017, 38 patients with 40 acute VBOs underwent thrombectomy at our hospital. Thrombectomy was performed using catheter aspiration (n = 11, 26.8%) or a stent retriever (n = 29, 70.7%). RESULTS: Good clinical outcomes (3-month modified Rankin scale (mRS) of 2 or lower) were achieved in 9 cases (22.5%), and successful recanalization (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) grade of 2b or 3) was achieved in 35 cases (87.5%). Good clinical outcomes were significantly related to aetiologies other than atherosclerosis (p = 0.020) and lower National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores on admission (p = 0.025). The clinical and radiological outcomes did not differ significantly between catheter aspiration and stent retriever thrombectomy (p = 1.000 and p = 0.603, respectively); however, stent retriever thrombectomy had a shorter procedure time than catheter aspiration (59.7 ± 31.2 vs. 84.5 ± 35.1 min, p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: In our series, good clinical outcomes were associated with a lower NIHSS score on admission and stroke aetiologies other than atherosclerosis. The two thrombectomy modalities showed similar clinical and radiological outcomes. However, stent retrievers seemed to allow more rapid recanalization than catheter aspiration in VBO.

Guided Ion Beam Tandem Mass Spectrometry and Theoretical Study of SO2 Activated by Os.

The kinetic-energy dependence of SO2 activated by Os+ was studied by guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry. Species observed in endothermic reactions were OsO+, OsO2+ or OsS+, and OOsS+. The kinetic energy-dependent cross sections were modeled to yield 0 K bond dissociation energies (BDEs) of 5.01 ± 0.06 eV (Os+-O), 5.15 ± 0.07 eV (Os+-O2), 4.50 ± 0.17 eV (Os+-S), and 4.22 ± 0.11 eV (Os+-SO). Among these BDE values, the values for OsO+ and OsO2+ agree with literature values and those for OsS+ and OOsS+ are novel measurements. Theoretical calculations were performed at a B3LYP/def2-TZVPPD level for all products, and additional calculations were performed for OsS+, OsO2+, and OsSO+ using the CCSD(T) level of theory, extrapolated to the complete basis set (CBS) limit, and def2-QZVPPD and aug-cc-pVxZ (x = T, Q, and 5) basis sets. These calculations indicate that the ground states of the products are 4Π5/2 (OsO+), 2B1 (OsO2+), 4Π5/2 (OsS+), and 2A″ (OOsS+) after including empirical spin-orbit corrections. The potential energy surfaces (PESs) for OsSO2+ intermediates, transition states, and all products were also investigated at the B3LYP/def2-TZVPPD level. The PESs show that none of the reactions have barriers in excess of the product endothermicities. Cross sections for OsO+ formation are compared to those from previous guided ion beam studies of related systems (Os+ + O2 and CO and Re+ + SO2) to evaluate their relative behaviors.

Phe-140 Determines the Catalytic Efficiency of Arylacetonitrilase from Alcaligenes faecalis.

Arylacetonitrilase from Alcaligenes faecalis ATCC8750 (NitAF) hydrolyzes various arylacetonitriles to the corresponding carboxylic acids. A systematic strategy of amino acid residue screening through sequence alignment, followed by homology modeling and biochemical confirmation was employed to elucidate the determinant of NitAF catalytic efficiency. Substituting Phe-140 in NitAF (wild-type) to Trp did not change the catalytic efficiency toward phenylacetonitrile, an arylacetonitrile. The mutants with nonpolar aliphatic amino acids (Ala, Gly, Leu, or Val) at location 140 had lower activity, and those with charged amino acids (Asp, Glu, or Arg) exhibited nearly no activity for phenylacetonitrile. Molecular modeling showed that the hydrophobic benzene ring at position 140 supports a mechanism in which the thiol group of Cys-163 carries out a nucleophilic attack on a cyanocarbon of the substrate. Characterization of the role of the Phe-140 residue demonstrated the molecular determinant for the efficient formation of arylcarboxylic acids.

Evaluation of the exothermicity of the chemi-ionization reaction Nd + O → NdO+ + e- and neodymium oxide, carbide, dioxide, and carbonyl cation bond energies.

The exothermicity of the chemi-ionization reaction, Nd + O → NdO+ + e-, has been indirectly determined by measuring the thermochemistry for reactions of the lanthanide metal neodymium cation (Nd+) with O2, CO2, and CO and reactions of NdO+ with CO, O2, and Xe. Guided ion beam tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure the kinetic energy dependent product ion cross sections for these reactions. NdO+ is formed through a barrierless exothermic process when the atomic metal cation reacts with O2 and CO2. All other reactions are observed to be endothermic. Analyses of the kinetic energy dependences of these cross sections yield 0 K bond dissociation energies (BDEs) for several species. The 0 K BDE for Nd+-O is determined to be 7.28 ± 0.10 eV from the average of four independent thresholds. This value is combined with the well-established Nd ionization energy to indicate an exothermicity of the title reaction of 1.76 ± 0.10 eV, which is lower and more precise than literature values. In addition, the Nd+-C, ONd+-O, and Nd+-CO BDEs are determined to be 2.61 ± 0.30, 2.12 ± 0.30, and 0.30 ± 0.21 eV. Additionally, theoretical BDEs of Nd+-O, Nd+-C, ONd+-O, and Nd+-CO are calculated at several levels for comparison with the experimental values. B3LYP calculations seriously underestimate the Nd+-O BDE, whereas MP2 and coupled-cluster with single, double-and perturbative triple excitations values are in reasonable agreement. Good agreement is generally obtained for Nd+-C, ONd+-O, and Nd+-CO BDEs as well.

Characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea in myasthenia gravis patients: a single center study.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in myasthenia gravis compared to the normal population. The aim of this study was to elucidate clinical and polysomnographic differences between clinically stable Korean MG patients with and without OSA. METHODS: A total of 18 consecutively stable MG patients were included in this prospective study. We compared MG patients with OSA (n = 7) and without OSA (n = 11) with respect to the baseline characteristics and overnight polysomnography (PSG) parameters. Demographic parameters, prescribed medication status, thymectomy status, myasthenia gravis foundation of America score, and antibody status were obtained from their medical records. We performed the Korean version of Pittsburg sleep quality index to assess the subjective quality of sleep. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 18.0 with Wilcoxon rank sum test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and Spearman correlation test. RESULTS: Among the clinical parameters, MG patients with OSA showed a higher proportion of male sex (p = 0.016) and increased body mass index (p = 0.033). The PSG showed an 11-fold higher supine apnea-hyponea index (AHI) in MG patients with OSA. AHI was further analyzed with supine and non-supine position. MG patients with OSA had a higher supine AHI (19.5 ± 15.8) compared to those without OSA (1.9 ± 1.2, P = 0.008). Most of MG patients with OSA (85.7%) showed more than two times higher supine AHI than non-supine AHI. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the occurrence of OSA in patients with MG is associated with male sex and obesity, which is in accordance with the normal population. Moreover, PSG data showed a high prevalence of supine dominant OSA in MG patients with OSA.

Self-releasing of a titanium clamp (CranioFix) in cranioplasty.

The CranioFix® titanium clamp was developed for fixing bone flaps after craniotomy. In this case, to prevent cosmetic problems, the bone flaps were trimmed with a beveled edge, and a CranioFix clamp was used for bone flap fixation. As the brain swelled, the CranioFix clamp became loosened. If brain swelling is anticipated and bone margins have been trimmed, it may be better to consider other fixation methods.

The key local segments of human body for personalized heating and cooling.

Thermal characteristics of local body parts of a human subject are markedly different in cold or hot environments. Some body segments are known to be much more susceptible to heat loss than the others, thus strongly influencing the overall thermal sensation of a subject. If these body parts can be effectively cooled in a hot environment or warmed in a cold environment using personal environmental control systems, thermal comfort of human occupants can be achieved at the minimum cost of energy without heavily relying on centralized heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. With an objective to understand the influence of local thermal sensation on the subjects' overall thermal comfort perception, experiments in the two sets of climate chambers were carried out simulating summer and winter conditions, respectively. A total of 24 subjects (12 females and 12 males) were recruited for this study, and their local skin temperature, conductive heat flux, and thermal sensations were recorded during the experiments. The local thermal characteristics of the subjects were compared between the 'neutral' and 'hot' conditions to identify predominant body segments in the summer scenario. Moreover, the comparison was also made between the 'neutral' and 'cold' conditions to derive predominant body segments in the winter scenario. The analysis of the results indicated that leg, thigh, and back are the key segments desirable for local cooling; whilst leg, thigh, back, and upper arm are the crucial segments for local heating. The findings can have important implications for the design of low-energy cost-effective personal heating/cooling devices. Finally, the results identified the conductive heat flux of skin as a useful physiological parameter in examining human thermal sensation.

Metal Concentrations in Eurasian Eagle Owl Pellets as a Function of Reproductive Variables in Korea.

Eight metals were analyzed in the pellet of Eurasian eagle owls (Bubo bubo) breeding in Korea: Paju, Ganghwa, Gimpo, and Sihwa, Gyeonggi-do (N = 15, respectively). Except for cadmium (Cd), concentrations of all metals differed among sites (ANOVA, p < 0.001); Sihwa had relatively higher metal concentrations compared with other sites. Clutch size did not differ among the four sites. However, Sihwa had the greatest nesting success and number of fledglings (per hatchlings and laid egg) and highest mean weight of diet. Lead concentrations in the pellets were generally lower than the excrements of various birds worldwide. We suggest that all metal concentrations in pellets do not negatively affect the reproduction of Eurasian eagle owls, and food supply at Sihwa seems likely more important to breeding success than metal contamination.

Development of urban runoff model FFC-QUAL for first-flush water-quality analysis in urban drainage basins.

An urban runoff model that is able to compute the runoff, the pollutant loadings, and the concentrations of water-quality constituents in urban drainages during the first flush was developed. This model, which is referred to as FFC-QUAL, was modified from the existing ILLUDAS model and added for use during the water-quality analysis process for dry and rainy periods. For the dry period, the specifications of the coefficients for the discharge and water quality were used. During rainfall, we used the Clark and time-area methods for the runoff analyses of pervious and impervious areas to consider the effects of the subbasin shape; moreover, four pollutant accumulation methods and the washoff equation for computing the water quality each time were used. According to the verification results, FFC-QUAL provides generally similar output as the measured data for the peak flow, total runoff volume, total loadings, peak concentration, and time of peak concentration for three rainfall events in the Gunja subbasin. In comparison with the ILLUDAS, SWMM, and MOUSE models, there is little difference between these models and the model developed in this study. The proposed model should be useful in urban watersheds because of its simplicity and its capacity to model common pollutants (e.g., biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, Escherichia coli, suspended solids, and total nitrogen and phosphorous) in runoff. The proposed model can also be used in design studies to determine how changes in infrastructure will affect the runoff and pollution loads.

A novel combination treatment to stimulate bone healing and regeneration under hypoxic conditions: photobiomodulation and melatonin.

Melatonin has anabolic effects on the bone, even under hypoxia, and laser irradiation has been shown to improve osteoblastic differentiation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether laser irradiation and melatonin would have synergistic effects on osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization under hypoxic conditions. MC3T3-E1 cells were exposed to 1% oxygen tension for the hypoxia condition. The cells were divided into four groups: G1-osteoblast differentiation medium only (as the hypoxic condition), G2-treatment with 50 µM melatonin only, G3-laser irradiation (808 nm, 80 mW, GaAlAs diode) only, and G4-treatment with 50 µM melatonin and laser irradiation (808 nm, 80 mW, GaAlAs diode). Immunoblotting showed that osterix expression was markedly increased in the melatonin-treated and laser-irradiated cells at 48 and 72 h. In addition, alkaline phosphatase activity significantly increased and continued to rise throughout the experiment. Alizarin Red staining showed markedly increased mineralized nodules as compared with only melatonin-treated or laser-irradiated cells at day 7, which significantly increased by day 14. Moreover, when melatonin-treated cells were laser-irradiated, the differentiation and mineralization of cells were found to involve p38 MAPK and PRKD1 signaling mechanisms. However, the enhanced effects of laser irradiation with melatonin were markedly inhibited when the cells were treated with luzindole, a selective melatonin receptor antagonist. Therefore, we concluded that laser irradiation could promote the effect of melatonin on the differentiation and mineralization of MC3T3-E1 cells under hypoxic conditions, and that this process is mediated through melatonin 1/2 receptors and PKRD/p38 signaling pathways.