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This paper emphasizes the ratio of child adoption and utilization of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Nagpur division, India. The study was based on cross-sectional and cohort longitudinal surveys, which include e-survey, paper survey, and random sample-public opinion/att itude type survey. Collected data was interpreted graphically and then analysed in detail. The analysis indicated that the in vitro fertilization (IVF) technique is preferred over adoption using the division level data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eichner Indices (A, B, and C), especially the Eichner subgroups (A1-A3, B1-B4, C1-C3), have not been validated in relation to oral functions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of posterior occlusal contact loss with occlusal force and masticatory performance in subjects who had a normal dentition or partially edentulous arches restored with removable prostheses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical efficacy of guided tissue regeneration with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene membranes to that of free gingival graft for treatment of adjacent facial gingival recession. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Eight adjacent gingival recession sites with Miller class I or II defects containing at least a maxillary or mandibular canine were selected in 6 patients. Four recession sites in 3 patients were treated with guided tissue regeneration, and the other 4 sites in the remaining 3 patients were treated with free gingival graft. Probing depth, gingival recession, attachment level, width of keratinized gingiva, and root coverage were recorded before surgery (baseline) and 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were found for gingival recession, attachment level, and root coverage from baseline to 6 months and 1 year postoperatively in both groups. Both procedures produced the same average reduction in gingival recession, gain in attachment level, and amount of root coverage after 1 year. Probing depths did not differ between groups throughout the study. The width of keratinized gingiva was significantly greater in the grafted group than in the guided tissue regeneration group. CONCLUSION: Both procedures produced the same average amount of root coverage, reduction in gingival recession, and gain in clinical attachment. The guided tissue regeneration procedure provided a better esthetic appearance without any difference in gingival color or architecture in cases of adjacent facial gingival recession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which characterized the growth interruption interface in organometallic vapor-phase epitaxial silicon-doped gallium arsenide layers by mobility profiling. Methodology; Results and discussion; Conclusion.

A plasmonic array, consisting of metallic nanocylinders periodically arranged with a pitch comparable to the optical wavelength, is a system in which both the localized surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) and diffraction in the plane of the array are simultaneously excitable. When combined with a phosphor film, the array acts as a photoluminescence (PL) director and enhancer. Since the array can modify both excitation and emission processes, the overall modification mechanism is generally complex and difficult to understand. Here, we examined the mechanism by simplifying the discussion using an emitter with a high quantum yield, large Stokes shift, and long PL lifetime. Directional PL enhancement as large as five-fold occurred, which is mainly caused by outcoupling, i.e., the PL trapped in the emitter film by total internal reflection is extracted into free space through the SPPs and diffraction. The present scheme is robust and applicable to arbitrary emitters, and it is useful for designing compact and efficient directional illumination devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of mechanical stress on the morphology of crystallographic and magnetic domains in shape-controlled specimens of an orbital-spin-coupled system, MnV2O4, was examined by cryogenic Lorentz microscopy. Because of the difference in thermal expansion coefficients of MnV2O4 and the supporting Mo mesh, compression on the order of 0.01% was applied to the thin-foil specimens near the structural/magnetic phase transformation temperatures. The extent of compression was comparable to the lattice striction associated with the cubic-to-tetragonal phase transformation in MnV2O4. The applied strain thus clearly influenced themorphology of crystallographic domains (i.e. twinning configuration in the tetragonal phase) produced during cooling. The magnetic domain structure was entirely dependent on the configuration of twinning in the tetragonal phase. The observations in this study provided useful information for understanding the relationship between the crystallographic domains and the magnetic domains in MnV2O4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the shortened dental arch ( SDA) concept has been known to all over the world, acceptance of the SDA concept as an oral health standard can be questionable from the patients' point of view, even if it is biologically reasonable. Furthermore, because the health insurance system covers removable partial dentures ( RPDs) for all citizens in Japan, SDA patients seem to prefer to receive prosthetic treatment to replace the missing teeth. However, there were few field surveys to investigate the usage rate of RPDs in Japan. The purpose of this study was to determine the usage rate of RPDs in older Japanese subjects and to investigate the factors related to the usage of RPDs. Partially edentate participants ( n = 390) were included in this study. Oral examinations were conducted to record several indices. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to evaluate the relationship between the number of missing teeth and the usage rate of RPDs. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression analysis were conducted to evaluate the factors related to the usage rate of RPDs. Usage of RPDs had a significantly positive association with the number of missing distal extension teeth and bilaterally missing teeth. The usage rate of RPDs increased as the number of missing distal extension teeth increased ( P for trend < 0·001). The conclusion of this study was that participants with missing distal extension teeth had higher usage rates of RPDs than other participants, and the usage rate increased as the number of missing distal extension teeth increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and/or antihypertensive medication reportedly induce dry mouth; however, an immediate relationship between salivary flow and hypertension has not been elucidated. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to examine the association of hypertension and antihypertensive medication with salivary flow rate and pH in older adults. SUBJECTS: Subjects were independently living volunteers aged 60-78 years taking no medication (n = 138) or only antihypertensive medication (n = 27). Unstimulated saliva and stimulated saliva by the mastication method were collected, and salivary pH was measured. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure of ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure of ≥ 90 mmHg. RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between either hypertension or intake of antihypertensive medication and unstimulated or stimulated salivary flow rate. However, multiple regression analysis showed that hypertension was significantly associated with pH of unstimulated saliva after controlling for other variables (β = -0.270, P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: Hypertension regardless of antihypertensive medication was related to a lower pH of unstimulated saliva. Blood pressure might be a required consideration for maintenance of oral health in older individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the reproducibility of 24-hour dietary recall for estimating dietary vitamin intakes by middle-aged Japanese men and women. The subjects were 132 men and 130 women aged 40–69 years, selected from participants in cardiovascular risk surveys conducted in 4 communities. The reproducibility of the 24-hour dietary recall was tested by comparing nutrient and food intake for two recalls conducted on the same season 1 year apart, designated as recalls 1 and 2. Differences in mean values between two recalls were tested using analysis of variance, and Spearman rank correlation coefficients for the two recalls were calculated for nutrient and food intakes. Mean values of energy and vitamins for both sexes were generally similar for the two recalls. The reproducibility of recall by men was high for vitamin B2, folate, pantothenic acid, and vitamin C and by women for vitamin B2, moderate by men for vitamins A, E, K, B1, B6 and niacin, and by women for vitamins A, E, K, B1, B6 and niacin, folate, pantothenic acid and vitamin C, and low by both men and women for vitamins D and B12. The reproducibility during 1985-1999 was generally lower than that of 1973–1984, but that for folate, pantothenic acid and vitamin C remained to be moderate in 1984–1999. Although the reproducibility of 24-hour dietary recall varies among vitamins, moderate and sustained reproducibility was observed for folate, vitamin C and pantothenic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inner triplet quadrupole magnets (MQXA) for the LHC low-beta insertion have been developed. The quadrupoles provide a field gradient of 215 T/m at 1.9 K in a coil aperture of 70 nun diameter and with an effective magnetic length of 6.37 m. The series' of 20 magnets have been produced in industry, and full testing has been done at KEK. We present an overview of the production and the results from mechanical and magnetic measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MQXA superconducting low-beta quadrupole magnets for the LHC interaction regions are required to generate a field gradient of up to 215 T/m at 1.9 K along an effective magnetic length of 6.37 m. After completion of an R&D program on short models and full length prototypes, the series production of magnets has started, with to date five series magnets subsequently tested at KEK. Basic characteristics such as normal training, subsequent full energy dump, thermal cycle, ramp rate dependence and temperature dependence have been studied and results indicate that magnets have satisfactory quench performance. Magnetic field measurements performed at 1.9 K show the field quality to be uniform and to satisfy the stringent beam optics requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the fabrication of a Large Hadron Collider low-beta insertion superconducting quadrupole magnet. Quench performance; Field quality; Risk of a turn-to-turn; Coil size control.

Discusses the fabrication of superconducting low-beta quadrupole magnet for Large Hadron Collider insertion regions. Mechanical characteristics of the magnet; Coil size control; Quench characteristics.

1 The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that the adrenergic nervous system regulates the in vivo choline levels in the mouse major salivary glands. 2 Methoxamine (α[sub 1]-adrenoceptor agonist, 2.5-20 mg kg[sup -1], s.c.) elevated choline levels dose-dependently and the effect of methoxamine (10 mg kg[sup -1]) was completely inhibited by the α-adrenoceptor antagonist phentolamine (5 mg kg[sup -1], i.p.) but not by the β-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol (3 mg kg[sup -1], i.p.). 3 In contrast, isoprenaline (β-adrenoceptor agonist 0.25-20 mg kg[sup -1], s.c.) lowered choline levels and the effect of isoprenaline (2 mg kg[sup -1]) was inhibited by propranolol, but not by phentolamine. 4 Noradrenaline (1-4 mg kg[sup -1], s.c.) manifested both the α- and β-adrenergic actions depending on its dose. Noradrenaline at 1-2 mg kg[sup -1], lowered choline levels and the effect of noradrenaline (1 mg kg[sup -1]) was inhibited by propranolol, but not by phentolamine. On the other hand, noradrenaline (4 mg kg[sup -1]) elevated choline levels and the effect was blocked by phentolamine, but not by propranolol. 5 Tyramine (5-80 mg kg[sup -1], s.c.) elicited the release of noradrenaline from sympathetic nerve terminals and induced essentially the same effects on the choline levels as noradrenaline. Tyramine (10 mg kg[sup -1]) lowered choline levels and the effect was inhibited by propranolol, but not by phentolamine. However, tyramine (80 mg kg[sup -1]) elevated choline levels and the effect was inhibited by phentolamine, but not by propranolol. 6 These results suggest that choline levels in the salivary glands may be under separate α- and β-adrenergic control and suggest a possibility that the neurotransmitter noradrenaline released for sympathetic nerve terminals can manage the dual control of choline levels in some autonomic organs in a characteristic dose-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports on the progress of the development of Large Hadron Collider low-beta quadrupole magnets at the KEK High Energy Accelerator Research Organization in Tsukuba, Japan. Fabrication of five model magnets; Optimization of the coil configuration to reduce the higher magnetic field harmonic coefficients; Satisfactory performances of the field harmonics; Fabrication accuracies; Magnetic field quality.

. A study was conducted to evaluate the antibacterial effect of yellow He-Ne laser irradiation with crystal violet solution (CV) on Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.g.). Paper points were soaked with a P.g. suspension (109 ml) with 0.8 mg/l CV added, laser-irradiated for 60 s (laser group), and implanted subcutaneously on the back of rats. Three additional groups were studied: CV group: the paper point was soaked with the P.g. suspension plus 0.8 mg/l CV, but laser irradiation was not performed; P.g. group: the paper point was soaked with the P.g. suspension only and laser irradiation was not performed; control group: the paper point was soaked with sterilised isotonic sodium chloride solution and laser irradiation was not performed. Seven days after implantation, block sections of all implanted sites were examined histologically. The abscess area in the laser group was smaller than in the P.g. group or CV group, but larger than in the control group. The number of inflammatory cells was greatest in the P.g. and CV groups, with fewer in the laser group and still fewer in the control group. The results indicate that a yellow He-Ne laser with 0.8 mg/l CV solution exerts an antibacterial effect in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of yellow He-Ne laser irradiation in the presence of crystal violet (CV) solution on dental plaque formation in the human mouth. Four enamel specimens were fixed on a retainer, one of which was placed on both maxillary buccal sites of four subjects. The retainers were assigned randomly to 3- or 7-day experimental periods and the right or left buccal sites for the evaluation of plaque formation on the specimens. Then, the specimens were assigned randomly to four treatments as follows: A, laser irradiation; B, CV application; C, CV application and laser irradiation and D, no treatment (control). At three and seven days after the treatments, the inhibitory effects of plaque formation on the specimens were evaluated by measuring the thickness of the plaque on each section. Analysis of the plaque formation scores revealed that treatment C had a significantly greater inhibitory effect on plaque formation than treatment A, B and D after 3 days, however there were no significant differences among the plaque formation scores of the four treatment groups after 7 days. Analysis of the plaque thickness revealed that at both 3 and 7 days after treatment, the plaque layers after treatment C were significantly thinner than those after treatments A, B and D. These results indicated that yellow He-Ne laser irradiation in the presence of CV had an inhibitory effect of plaque formation in human mouth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forest ecosystems of Thailand are characterized by a diverse and complex vegetation structure. Classification of vegetation types of such forest ecosystems has been experienced as a difficult task, even with large-scale aerial photography. Satellite remote sensing, the digital technique in particular, has not been widely used for vegetation mapping in Thailand until now. The objective of this study was to explore the potential of digital image processing over the existing technique of visual interpretation of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) false colour composite (BGR-2, 3, 4) to produce forest cover maps in Thailand. Supervised and unsupervised classification methods were employed with different band combinations to discriminate vegetation types in the Khao Yai National Park using Landsat TM data. The results indicated that thematic classes derived from supervised classification produced higher overall accuracy than unsupervised classification. In addition, the combination of ratio bands R4/3, R5/2, R5/4 and R5/7 ranked the highest in terms of accuracy (65% for unsupervised and 79% for supervised) and the combination of bands 2, 3 and 4 gave the lowest (56% for both methods). Finally, it was concluded that, even within the limit of spectral information available in the image, the digital classification can improve the result of visual interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifibrotic effect of interferon (IFN)-alpha in chronic hepatitis C (CH-C) patients with no response to IFN-alpha therapy. We studied 76 patients (46 men, 30 women; mean age, 55.6 years) who received IFN-alpha intramuscularly, at a total close of 480 to 880MU for 6 months (group A). As a control group, we studied 50 patients (32 men and 18 women; mean age, 58.5 years) with CH-C who received medication other than IFN (ie, Strong-Neo-Minophagen C, ursodeoxycholic acid, and a herbal medicine, Sho-saiko-to [TJ-9]) and who had persistent alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation (group B). All patients were subdivided into three subgroups according to different patterns of ALT changes during the observation period, ie, (a) persistent ALT level < 60IU/ 1 (below about twice the upper limit of the normal range), (b) persistent ALT level > or = 60IU/1, (c) ALT levels other than (a) and (b). Liver biopsy was performed within 6 months prior to IFN therapy and more than 6 months after IFN therapy, while two liver biopsies were performed during therapy in group B. Liver fibrosis was compared between two specimens by staging. When the fibrosis stage was the same in the two specimens, we determined whether the fibrosis had improved or worsened by comparing the fibrotic ratio, ie, the ratio of the area of fibrosis to the area of the entire liver tissue specimen, calculated using computed graphic software. Serum aminoterminal peptide of type III procollagen (PIIIP) levels were measured on the day of the liver biopsy and their mean yearly changes were compared between the two groups. Improvement of liver fibrosis was found in 12% to 30% of patients in each ALT subgroup and in 24% of all patients in group A and there were no significant differences in liver fibrosis in comparison with findings in of group B when assessed by staging alone. However, these percentages rose to 59% to 75% and 66%, respectively, when liver fibrosis was assessed by the fibrotic ratio together with staging, resulting in a significant difference in fibrosis between groups A and B in total (P < 0.01). The mean yearly changes in serum PIIIP levels in each subgroup and in all patients in group A were below zero, indicating a tendency to improvement of fibrosis after IFN therapy, while these changes in group B were all above zero, except for subgroup (c). Improvement of fibrosis after IFN therapy was found in 15 of 24 patients (64%) whose ALT changes had the same pattern before and after IFN therapy, although no significant difference was noted between improved and worsened patients. These results suggest that IFN-alpha may have an antifibrotic effect even in CH-C patients with no overt response to IFN-alpha therapy, compared with the effect of medications other than IFN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of acute and chronic administration of MKC-231, a new choline uptake enhancer, and two other nootropic agents, linopiridine (Dup 996) and tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA) on working memory deficits and decreased hippocampal acetylcholine (ACh) content were studied in a delayed non-matching to sample task, using a T-maze, in ethylcholine aziridinium ion (AF64A)-treated mice. Treatment with AF64A (3.5 nmol, i.c.v.) produced memory deficits and decreased hippocampal ACh content. In acute behavioral experiments, MKC-231 and THA had no significant effect on AF64A-induced memory deficits at any doses tested (0.3, 1.0 and 3.0mg/kg), whereas Dup 996, at a dose of 1.0mg/kg, significantly improved memory deficits. In chronic experiments, MKC-231 improved memory deficit at all doses tested (0.3, 1.0, or 3.0mg/kg p.o., once daily for 11 days) and Dup 996 did so only at a dose of 3.0 mg/kg, whereas THA did not improve memory deficit at any doses tested. In acute neurochemical experiments, MKC-231 and THA did not reverse the AF64A-induced hippocampal ACh depletion. Dup 996, however, further decreased hippocampal ACh content compared to that in the AF64A-treated group. In chronic experiments, MKC-231 significantly reversed hippocampal ACh depletion at doses of 0.3 and 1.0mg/kg, whereas neither Dup 996 nor THA reversed hippocampal ACh depletion at any doses tested. These results indicate that MKC-231 improved the AF64A-induced working memory deficit and hippocampal ACh depletion, probably by recovering reduced high-affinity choline uptake and ACh release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of nefiracetam [DM-9384; N-(2,6-dimethyl-phenyl)-2-(2-oxo-pyrrolidinyl)acetamide] and of phosphatidylcholine on a step-up active avoidance response, locomotor activities and regional brain cholinergic and monoaminergic neurotransmitters in AF64A-treated mice were investigated. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of AF64A (ethylcholine mustard aziridinium ion; 8 nmol/ventricle) impaired acquisition and retention of the avoidance task, and increased vertical and horizontal locomotor activities. Regional levels of acetylcholine, noradrenaline, 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were significantly decreased and homovanillic acid (HVA) levels were increased in the hippocampus but not in the septum, cerebral cortex or striatum of AF64A-treated animals. Administration of nefiracetam (3 mg/kg, p.o.) twice daily for 9 days to AF64A-treated animals ameliorated the deficit in active avoidance response in addition to attenuating the increase in locomotor activities. In parallel with these behavioural effects, nefiracetam reversed AF64A-induced alterations in the hippocampal profiles of cholinergic and monoaminergic neurotransmitters and their metabolites. In contrast, administration of phosphatidylcholine (30 mg/kg, p.o.) twice daily for 9 days had no significant effect on the deficit in active avoidance response, despite significantly reversing the decrease in acetylcholine levels in the hippocampus. These results indicate that the effects of nefiracetam on AF64A-induced behavioural deficits are probably due to its ability to facilitate both cholinergic and monoaminergic neurotransmitter systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]