Short-term effects of transcranial direct current stimulation on motor speech in Parkinson's disease: a pilot study.

Introduction: Hypokinetic dysarthria (HD) is a common motor speech symptom of Parkinson's disease (PD) which does not respond well to PD treatments. We investigated short-term effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on HD in PD using acoustic analysis of speech. Based on our previous studies we focused on stimulation of the right superior temporal gyrus (STG) - an auditory feedback area.

Estimation of photosynthetic dynamics in forests from daily measured fluorescence and PRI data with adjustment for canopy shadow fraction.

We conducted year-long measurements of the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and solar-induced fluorescence in the OA oxygen band (SIFA) at a Norway spruce forest and a European beech forest to study relationships of these remote sensing variables to photosynthesis by trees in grown forest stands. Measured PRI and SIFA values were linked to changes in forest gross primary productivity (GPP) and light-use efficiency (LUE). Changes in the shadow fraction (α) within tree crowns influenced PRI and fluorescence signals.

Combining NDVI, PRI and the quantum yield of solar-induced fluorescence improves estimations of carbon fluxes in deciduous and evergreen forests.

We used automated spectroradiometers to continuously monitor changes in the optical parameters of phenological and photosynthetic traits in beech and spruce forests. We examined seasonal variations in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), photochemical reflectance index (PRI), and solar-induced fluorescence in the oxygen A band (SIFA) that was estimated using a 3-FLD discrimination method from radiance data. The optical parameters tracked the activation and cessation of photosynthesis in spring and autumn.

Response of green reflectance continuum removal index to the xanthophyll de-epoxidation cycle in Norway spruce needles.

A dedicated field experiment was conducted to investigate the response of a green reflectance continuum removal-based optical index, called area under the curve normalized to maximal band depth between 511 nm and 557 nm (ANMB511-557), to light-induced transformations in xanthophyll cycle pigments of Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst] needles. The performance of ANMB511-557 was compared with the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) computed from the same leaf reflectance measurements.

[Microbial decontamination of the root canals of devitalized teeth].

The primary goal of endodontic therapy is the reduction or elimination of microorganisms and their by-products from the root canal system. Although a number of instrumentation and irrigation techniques exist, debris is often left behind in the root canal system and proper canal cleaning, shaping, and irrigation are needed to reduce significantly or sometimes even eliminate microorganisms from the canals. Residual microbes in the root canal system are the primary cause of post-treatment apical periodontitis that may persist in both poorly and properly treated cases.