A genetic analysis of the Gibraltar Neanderthals.

The Forbes' Quarry and Devil's Tower partial crania from Gibraltar are among the first Neanderthal remains ever found. Here, we show that small amounts of ancient DNA are preserved in the petrous bones of the 2 individuals despite unfavorable climatic conditions. However, the endogenous Neanderthal DNA is present among an overwhelming excess of recent human DNA. Using improved DNA library construction methods that enrich for DNA fragments carrying deaminated cytosine residues, we were able to sequence 70 and 0.4 megabase pairs (Mbp) nuclear DNA of the Forbes' Quarry and Devil's Tower specimens, respectively, as well as large parts of the mitochondrial genome of the Forbes' Quarry individual. We confirm that the Forbes' Quarry individual was a female and the Devil's Tower individual a male. We also show that the Forbes' Quarry individual is genetically more similar to the ∼120,000-y-old Neanderthals from Scladina Cave in Belgium (Scladina I-4A) and Hohlenstein-Stadel Cave in Germany, as well as to a ∼60,000- to 70,000-y-old Neanderthal from Russia (Mezmaiskaya 1), than to a ∼49,000-y-old Neanderthal from El Sidrón (El Sidrón 1253) in northern Spain and other younger Neanderthals from Europe and western Asia. This suggests that the Forbes' Quarry fossil predates the latter Neanderthals. The preservation of archaic human DNA in the warm coastal climate of Gibraltar, close to the shores of Africa, raises hopes for the future recovery of archaic human DNA from regions in which climatic conditions are less than optimal for DNA preservation.

Fusarium: more than a node or a foot-shaped basal cell.

Recent publications have argued that there are potentially serious consequences for researchers in recognising distinct genera in the terminal fusarioid clade of the family Nectriaceae. Thus, an alternate hypothesis, namely a very broad concept of the genus Fusarium was proposed. In doing so, however, a significant body of data that supports distinct genera in Nectriaceae based on morphology, biology, and phylogeny is disregarded. A DNA phylogeny based on 19 orthologous protein-coding genes was presented to support a very broad concept of Fusarium at the F1 node in Nectriaceae. Here, we demonstrate that re-analyses of this dataset show that all 19 genes support the F3 node that represents Fusarium sensu stricto as defined by F. sambucinum (sexual morph synonym Gibberella pulicaris). The backbone of the phylogeny is resolved by the concatenated alignment, but only six of the 19 genes fully support the F1 node, representing the broad circumscription of Fusarium. Furthermore, a re-analysis of the concatenated dataset revealed alternate topologies in different phylogenetic algorithms, highlighting the deep divergence and unresolved placement of various Nectriaceae lineages proposed as members of Fusarium. Species of Fusarium s. str. are characterised by Gibberella sexual morphs, asexual morphs with thin- or thick-walled macroconidia that have variously shaped apical and basal cells, and trichothecene mycotoxin production, which separates them from other fusarioid genera. Here we show that the Wollenweber concept of Fusarium presently accounts for 20 segregate genera with clear-cut synapomorphic traits, and that fusarioid macroconidia represent a character that has been gained or lost multiple times throughout Nectriaceae. Thus, the very broad circumscription of Fusarium is blurry and without apparent synapomorphies, and does not include all genera with fusarium-like macroconidia, which are spread throughout Nectriaceae (e.g., Cosmosporella, Macroconia, Microcera). In this study four new genera are introduced, along with 18 new species and 16 new combinations. These names convey information about relationships, morphology, and ecological preference that would otherwise be lost in a broader definition of Fusarium. To assist users to correctly identify fusarioid genera and species, we introduce a new online identification database, Fusarioid-ID, accessible at www.fusarium.org. The database comprises partial sequences from multiple genes commonly used to identify fusarioid taxa (act1, CaM, his3, rpb1, rpb2, tef1, tub2, ITS, and LSU). In this paper, we also present a nomenclator of names that have been introduced in Fusarium up to January 2021 as well as their current status, types, and diagnostic DNA barcode data. In this study, researchers from 46 countries, representing taxonomists, plant pathologists, medical mycologists, quarantine officials, regulatory agencies, and students, strongly support the application and use of a more precisely delimited Fusarium (= Gibberella) concept to accommodate taxa from the robust monophyletic node F3 on the basis of a well-defined and unique combination of morphological and biochemical features. This F3 node includes, among others, species of the F. fujikuroi, F. incarnatum-equiseti, F. oxysporum, and F. sambucinum species complexes, but not species of Bisifusarium [F. dimerum species complex (SC)], Cyanonectria (F. buxicola SC), Geejayessia (F. staphyleae SC), Neocosmospora (F. solani SC) or Rectifusarium (F. ventricosum SC). The present study represents the first step to generating a new online monograph of Fusarium and allied fusarioid genera (www.fusarium.org).

Lanostane triterpene glycosides from the flowers of Lyonia ovalifolia var. hebecarpa and their antiproliferative activities.

Sixteen lanostane-type triterpene glycosides including eight new ones, named lyonicarposides A-H (1-8), were isolated from the flowers of Lyonia ovalifolia var. hebecarpa (Franch. ex F.B. Forbes & Hemsl.) Chun (Ericaceae). The chemical structures of the new compounds were elucidated by the comprehensive spectroscopic techniques and chemical methods. The Mo2(OAc)4-induced electronic circular dichroism method was used to determine the absolute configurations of C-24 in lyonicarposides A (1), C (3), and E (5). This is the first phytochemical study on the flowers of L. ovalifolia var. hebecarpa. All the isolates were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against SMMC-7721, HL-60, SW480, MCF-7, and A-549 cell lines. Lyonicarposides A (1) and B (2) showed moderate antiproliferative activities against five cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 12.39 to 28.71 µM. Lyonicarposides C (3) and G (7) and lyonifoloside M (12) selectively inhibited the proliferation of HL-60 and MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 13.03 to 17.71 µM. Interestingly, lyonifoloside L (13) selectively inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cell line with an IC50 value of 16.27 µM. Their structure-activity-relationships were discussed.

Beneficial Effects of Modified Atkins Diet in Glycogen Storage Disease Type IIIa.

INTRODUCTION: Glycogen storage disease Type III (GSD III) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by the deficiency of glycogen debranching enzyme, encoded by the AGL gene. Two clinical types of the disease are most prevalent: GSD IIIa involves the liver and muscle, whereas IIIb affects only the liver. The classical dietetic management of GSD IIIa involves prevention of fasting, frequent feeds with high complex carbohydrates in small children, and a low-carb-high-protein diet in older children and adults. Recently, diets containing high amount of fat, including ketogenic and modified Atkins diet (MAD), have been suggested to have favorable outcome in GSD IIIa. METHODS: Six patients, aged 3-31 years, with GSD IIIa received MAD for a duration of 3-7 months. Serum glucose, transaminases, creatine kinase (CK) levels, capillary ketone levels, and cardiac parameters were followed-up. RESULTS: In all patients, transaminase levels dropped in response to MAD. Decrease in CK levels were detected in 5 out of 6 patients. Hypoglycemia was evident in 2 patients but was resolved by adding uncooked cornstarch to diet. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that GSD IIIa may benefit from MAD both clinically and biochemically.

The death of Ben Hall.

Ben Hall was a nineteenth-century Australian bushranger (outlaw) who was shot and killed by colonial police on May 5 1865. Popular belief is that Hall was shot while sleeping in his camp bedding. This contrasts with the official police version of Hall being shot while attempting to escape by running away. To evaluate this divergence of opinion a study of the gun belt allegedly worn by Hall at the time of his fatal shooting was undertaken. This revealed a nineteenth-century belt with a defect corresponding to an oblique bullet hole. The shelving was in keeping with the shooter being located to the rear and left of the decedent, in a position corresponding to police reports. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the presence of lead, in addition to mercury, silver and sulfur, materials used as primers in nineteenth century ammunition. Thus, contemporary examination of the belt provides support for the police version of events.

The Watson-Forbes Biogeographical Controversy Untangled 170 Years Later.

Hewett Cottrell Watson and Edward Forbes were two naturalists of the Victorian age. They were protagonists on a dispute that generated comment and serves as an illuminating case study of misunderstanding in priority issues. Watson accused Forbes of having plagiarized his original classification of the British plants into groups on the basis of their geographical distribution. This controversy originated mostly from a so-far-ignored basic difference in Watson's and Forbes' ideas about biogeographical regionalization. Watson's classification of the British flora into groups of species with similar distribution was probably the first application of the concept of "regional chorotype." By contrast, the biogeographical classification of the British flora proposed by Forbes belongs to the concept of "element," because it was based on assumed species history (i.e. colonization routes). The two approaches may produce similar outcomes, but remain conceptually different. Although personal reasons may have contributed to exacerbate the Watson-Forbes controversy, failure in recognizing this distinction by its actors and their contemporaries, such as Hooker and Darwin, was the most important cause.

The enduring importance of family wealth: Evidence from the Forbes 400, 1982 to 2013.

The richest 1 percent in the United States is a largely unexplored group, despite its ever-increasing share of the national wealth. The Forbes roster of the richest Americans has often been used to demonstrate the fading of nineteenth-century hereditary fortunes. Based on full panel data from the annual American Forbes 400 ranking (1982-2013), this article goes beyond previous work by examining not only the sources of the very wealthy but also the factors that increase or decrease the likelihood of remaining listed among the American super-rich and the typical patterns of mobility. We find that heirs are more likely to remain listed in the Forbes 400 roster than self-made entrepreneurs, all other things being equal. While scions of great wealth are less likely to drop completely from the list, they are nevertheless more likely to fall gradually in ranking than are self-made multimillionaires. Even though entrepreneurship matters increasingly for becoming super-rich, we conclude that it is first and foremost the ability of rich family dynasties to retain control over corporations and to access sophisticated financial advice that makes fortunes last.

The Pennsylvania Anatomy Act of 1883: Weighing the Roles of Professor William Smith Forbes and Senator William James McKnight.

Effective Anatomical Acts transformed medical education and curtailed grave-robbing. William S. Forbes, Demonstrator of Anatomy at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, authored the Pennsylvania Anatomy Act of 1867, but it was ineffective. In December of 1882, Forbes and accomplices were charged with grave-robbing. Forbes was acquitted in early 1883, but his accomplices were all convicted; nevertheless, these events precipitated a strengthened Anatomy Act in 1883. Forbes was crowned the Father of the Pennsylvania Anatomy Act and was revered by the Philadelphia medical community for his personal sacrifices for medical education; they even paid his legal fees. Over the remainder of his life, Forbes received many honors. However, there was a second major player, rural doctor William J. McKnight, a convicted grave-robber and State Senator. The evidence shows that Forbes precipitated the crisis, which was a racial powder keg, and then primarily focused on his trial, while McKnight, creatively working behind the scenes in collaboration with Jefferson, Anatomy Professor William H. Pancoast, used the crisis to draft and pass transformative legislation enabling anatomical dissection at Pennsylvania medical schools. While not minimizing Forbes suffering throughout these events, McKnight should be appropriately recognized for his initiative and contributions, which far exceeded those of Forbes.

Diagnosis and Dental Management of a Patient With Forbes Albright Syndrome: A Report of a Rare Case.

Forbes Albright syndrome is a hyperprolactinemia syndrome linked to a pituitary tumor associated with galactorrhea and amenorrhea. Cabergoline, an ergot derivative, is its drug of choice. Here, we report the oral manifestations and management of a case of a 32-year-old female, diagnosed and treated with the same. The patient had an alarming increase in the incidence and progression of dental caries. Her diagnosis and management have been highlighted. This can have overbearing effects on the psychology and function of the individual, thus making early diagnosis and precise management important.

Forbes Winslow and his Journal: With an introduction by.

During the 19th century, there were few periodicals dedicated to the inchoate discipline of alienism (now called 'psychiatry'). Given the newness of alienism and the idiosyncratic structure of the British publishing industry at the time, for a private individual to start a new specialized journal was a major enterprise. Against all odds, Forbes Winslow managed to publish his journal from 1848 to 1860, and during this period the scholarly nature of his publication could not be matched by the Asylum Journal, the official publication of the Association of Medical Officers of Asylums and Hospitals for the Insane. Under the title Psychological Medicine, Winslow offered a new view of alienism which he clearly conceived as a discipline broader than medicine. He strove to inform his readers about the conceptual and practical complexities that then (as now) beset and besiege the care of the mentally ill. He taught his readers that to understand and manage insanity, knowledge of philosophy and of the human sciences was as important as knowledge about the brain. In the 1850s this was a new message to impart.

What does the biography of Duncan Forbes MBE (1873-1941), Medical Officer of Health for Brighton (1908-1938), reveal about managing pandemics?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the national lockdowns of 2020/2021 illustrate how modern public health systems are founded on empirical evidence and contemporary understanding of disease transmission. Duncan Forbes was one of the earliest sanitarians in Britain to propose and implement a new understanding of infectious disease control. Starting his early career in Manchester and Cambridge, his eventual tenure as Brighton's longest-serving medical officer of health (MOH) left an indelible mark by challenging the entrenched tradition of terminal disinfection and by devising his "Brighton methods" for the care of tubercular patients. Forbes led Brighton's public health responses during World War I and the 1918/1919 "Spanish" influenza pandemic. Forbes also strove to improve health and housing in Brighton. His views on limiting access to contraception on the grounds of eugenics are also significant. Analysis of Forbes' work then allowed a discussion of both his legacy and of the applicability of his experiences to our own in tackling COVID-19. Forbes undeniably had a great influence in shaping modern public health practice in Britain and his challenges as MOH bear many similarities, as well as stark differences, to today's experience of COVID-19.

Metabolic Myopathies in the Era of Next-Generation Sequencing.

Metabolic myopathies are rare inherited disorders that deserve more attention from neurologists and pediatricians. Pompe disease and McArdle disease represent some of the most common diseases in clinical practice; however, other less common diseases are now better-known. In general the pathophysiology of metabolic myopathies needs to be better understood. Thanks to the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS), genetic testing has replaced more invasive investigations and sophisticated enzymatic assays to reach a final diagnosis in many cases. The current diagnostic algorithms for metabolic myopathies have integrated this paradigm shift and restrict invasive investigations for complicated cases. Moreover, NGS contributes to the discovery of novel genes and proteins, providing new insights into muscle metabolism and pathophysiology. More importantly, a growing number of these conditions are amenable to therapeutic approaches such as diets of different kinds, exercise training protocols, and enzyme replacement therapy or gene therapy. Prevention and management-notably of rhabdomyolysis-are key to avoiding serious and potentially life-threatening complications and improving patients' quality of life. Although not devoid of limitations, the newborn screening programs that are currently mushrooming across the globe show that early intervention in metabolic myopathies is a key factor for better therapeutic efficacy and long-term prognosis. As a whole NGS has largely increased the diagnostic yield of metabolic myopathies, but more invasive but classical investigations are still critical when the genetic diagnosis is unclear or when it comes to optimizing the follow-up and care of these muscular disorders.

Could Johnny Tremain Be Gay? Reinterpretation as a Subversive Act.

Members of sexual minority groups confront a dearth of fictional characters in k-12 curricula with whom they can feel any affinity, particularly in regard to sexual orientation. This is especially problematic for readers who are at odds with themselves and/or society over cultural constructions of normalcy. Queer theory can address this issue by encouraging readers to contest the putative heteronormativity in works of literature. The perennially popular novel Johnny Tremain provides such an opportunity. Though the author, Esther Forbes, depicts the main protagonist as heterosexual, a queer analysis of the novel and comparison to the subsequent film version by Walt Disney suggest that other interpretations are possible. This is significant because healthy identity formation can be fostered by encountering positive portrayals of fictional individuals like oneself. Moreover, promoting self-esteem is consistent with the praxis - the "activist agenda" - that has become an important element of queer criticism.

Phases of physics in J. D. Forbes' Dissertation Sixth for the Encyclopaedia Britannica (1856).

This paper takes James David Forbes' Encyclopaedia Britannica entry, Dissertation Sixth, as a lens to examine physics as a cognitive, practical, and social enterprise. Forbes wrote this survey of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century mathematical and physical sciences between 1852 and 1856, when British "physics" was at a pivotal point in its history, situated between a field identified by its mathematical methods - originating in France - and a discipline identified by its university laboratory institutions. Contemporary encyclopedias provided a nexus for publishers, the book trade, readers, and men of science in the formation of physics as a field. Forbes was both a witness, whose account of the progress of physics or natural philosophy can be explored at face value, and an agent, who exploited the opportunity offered by the Encyclopaedia Britannica in the mid nineteenth century to enroll the broadly educated public and scientific collective, illuminating the connection between the definition of physics and its forms of social practice. Forbes used the terms "physics" and "natural philosophy" interchangeably. He portrayed the field as progressed by the natural genius of great men who curated it within an associational culture that engendered true intellectual spirit. Although this societal mechanism was becoming ineffective, Forbes did not see university institutions as the way forward. Instead, running counter to his friend William Whewell, he advocated inclusion of the mechanical arts (engineering), and a strictly limited role for mathematics. He revealed tensions when the widely accepted discovery-based historiography conflicted with intellectual and moral worth, reflecting a nineteenth-century concern with spirit that cuts across twentieth-century questions about discipline and field.

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) and Sir John Forbes (1787-1861): neighbours in Old Burlington Street, Westminster.

The year 2010 marks the centenary of the birth of Florence Nightingale and will, no doubt, be universally remembered. Her life and nursing career have recently been fully described by Bostridge. It is less well known that her neighbour from November 1856 was the distinguished Scottish physician Sir John Forbes MD Edin FRCP Lond FRS DCL Oxon. Although they never met, they exchanged copies of each other's books and shared a mutual respect.

A memoir of Sir John Forbes (1787-1861).

The 150th anniversary of the death of Sir John Forbes passed on 13 November 2011 perhaps unnoticed except in his native land. This memoir is an attempt to remind the medical profession of some of his achievements and of the value of percussion and auscultation in the bedside diagnosis of diseases of the heart and lungs.

Alexander Forbes, Walter Cannon, and science-based literature.

The Harvard physiologists Alexander Forbes (1882-1965) and Walter Bradford Cannon (1871-1945) had an enormous impact on the physiology and neuroscience of the twentieth century. In addition to their voluminous scientific output, they also used literature to reflect on the nature of science itself and its social significance. Forbes wrote a novel, The Radio Gunner, a literary memoir, Quest for a Northern Air Route, and several short stories. Cannon, in addition to several books of popular science, wrote a literary memoir in the last year of his life, The Way of an Investigator. The following will provide a brief overview of the life and work of Forbes and Cannon. It will then discuss the way that Forbes used literature to express his views about the changing role of communications technology in the military, and his evolving view of the nervous system itself as a kind of information-processing device. It will go on to discuss the way that Cannon used literature to articulate the horrors he witnessed on the battlefield, as well as to contribute to the philosophy of science, and in particular, to the logic of scientific discovery. Finally, it will consider the historical and philosophical value of deeper investigation of the literary productions of scientists.