Bioactive glasses are materials capable of bonding implants to tissues. 45S5 Bio-glass R is one such material capable of bonding strongly to bone within 6 weeks. It develops a hydroxy-carbonate apatite layer on the implant that is chemically and crystallographically equivalent to the mineral phase of bone. However, it suffers from a mechanical weakness and low fracture toughness due to an amorphous glass network and is not suitable for load-bearing applications. In order to improve its mechanical strength and bioactivity, the present work explores the effects of cobalt oxide additions. Bioactivity of the glass samples was assessed through their hydroxyapatite formation ability by immersing them in the simulated body fluid for different soaking periods. The formation of hydroxyapatite was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, pH measurement and microstructure evaluation through scanning electron microscopy. Densities and mechanical properties of the samples were found to increase considerably with an increase in the concentration of cobalt oxide.

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D a v i d O l s o n , L i n d a F a r l e y , A l e x P a t r i c k , D i c k W a t l i n g , M a r i k a T u i w a w a V i l i k e s a M a s i b a l a v u , L e m e k i L e n o a , A l i v e r e t i B o g i v a , I n g r i d Q a u q a u J a m e s A t h e r t o n , A k a n i s i C a g i n i t o b a , M o a l a T o k o t a ' a , S u n i l P r a s a d W a i s e a N a i s i l i s i l i , A l i p a t e R a i k a b u l a , K i n i k o t o M a i l a u t o k a C r a i g M o r l e y and T h o m a s A l l n u t t Abstract Fiji's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan encourages refinements to conservation priorities based on analyses of new information. Here we propose a network of Priority Forests for Conservation based on a synthesis of new studies and data that have become available since legislation of the Action Plan in 2001.For selection of Priority Forests we considered minimum-area requirements for some native species, representation goals for Fiji's habitats and species assemblages, key ecological processes and the practical realities of conservation areas in Fiji. Forty Priority Forests that cover 23% of Fiji's total land area and 58% of Fiji's remaining native forest were identified. The analysis confirms the majority of conservation priority areas previously identified, recommends several new areas, and supports the Government of Fiji's policy goal of protecting 40% of remaining natural forests to achieve the goals of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and sustain ecosystem services for Fijian communities and economies.

A field experiment was conducted in sandy clay loam soil during winter season of 2012-13. The lowest weed dry weight and the highest nutrient content were recorded under 80 mm CPE. Significantly the highest grain and straw yield, total nutrients uptake, and the highest consumptive use of water (57.8 cm), rate of water use (4.52 mm/day), water use efficiency (87.3 kg/ha-cm) and soil profile moisture was extracted with irrigation at 40 mm CPE. Application of sulfosulfuron recorded significantly lowest weed biomass and the highest nutrient content and their uptake, grain and straw yield, and maximum consumptive use of water (51.5 cm), rate of water use (4.02 mm/day), water use efficiency (91.3 kg/ha-cm) and soil profile moisture extraction over metribuzin and it was at par with metsulfuron-methyl. Grain (6.57 kg/ha) and straw yield (12.3 kg/ha) will be reduced by an increased in unit dry matter production in weeds.

Background Preconditioning of the heart ameliorates doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiotoxicity. We tested whether pretreating cardiomyocytes by mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants, mitoquinone (MitoQ) or SKQ1, would provide better protection against Dox than co-treatment. Methods We investigated the dose-response relationship of MitoQ, SKQ1, and vitamin C on Dox-induced damage on H9c2 cardiomyoblasts when drugs were given concurrently with Dox (e.g., co-treatment) or 24 h prior to Dox (e.g., pretreatment). Moreover, their effects on intracellular and mitochondrial oxidative stress were evaluated by 2,7-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and MitoSOX, respectively. Results Dox (0.5–50 μM, n = 6) dose-dependently reduced cell viability. By contrast, co-treatment of MitoQ (0.05–10 μM, n = 6) and SKQ1 (0.05–10 μM, n = 6), but not vitamin C (1–2000 μM, n = 3), significantly improved cell viability only at intermediate doses (0.5–1 μM). MitoQ (1 μM) and SKQ1 (1 μM) significantly increased cell viability to 1.79 ± 0.12 and 1.59 ± 0.08 relative to Dox alone, respectively (both p < 0.05). Interestingly, when given as pretreatment, only higher doses of MitoQ (2.5 μM, n = 9) and SKQ1 (5 μM, n = 7) showed maximal protection and improved cell viability to 2.19 ± 0.13 and 1.65 ± 0.07 relative to Dox alone, respectively (both p < 0.01), which was better than that of co-treatment. Moreover, the protective effects were attributed to the significant reduction in Dox-induced intracellular and mitochondrial oxidative stress. Conclusion The data suggest that MitoQ and SKQ1, but not vitamin C, mitigated DOX-induced damage. Moreover, MitoQ pretreatment showed significantly higher cardioprotection than its co-treatment and SKQ1, which may be due to its better antioxidant effects.