Hybridization and reticulate evolution in Diphasiastrum (flat-branched clubmosses, Lycopodiaceae) - New data from the island of Taiwan and Vietnam.

In the species groups related to Diphasiastrum multispicatum and D. veitchii, hybridization was investigated in samples from northern and southern Vietnam and the island of Taiwan, including available herbarium specimens from southeast Asia. The accessions were analyzed using flow cytometry (living material only), Sanger sequencing and multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing. We detected two cases of ancient hybridization involving different combinations of parental species; both led via subsequent duplication to tetraploid taxa. A cross D. multispicatum × D. veitchii from Malaysia represents D. wightianum, a tetraploid taxon according to reported DNA content measurements of dried material (genome formulas MM, VV and MMVV, respectively). The second case involves D. veitchii and an unknown diploid parent (genome formula XX). Three hybridogenous taxa (genome formulas VVX, VVXX, VVVX) were discernable by a combination of flow cytometry and molecular data. Taxon I (VVX, three clones found on Taiwan island) is apparently triploid. Taxon II represents another genetically diverse and sexual tetraploid species (VVXX) and can be assigned to D. yueshanense, described from Taiwan island but occurring as well in mainland China and Vietnam. Taxon III is as well most likely tetraploid (VVVX) and represented by at least one, more likely two, clones from Taiwan island. Taxa I and III are presumably asexual and new to science. Two independently inherited nuclear markers recombine only within, not between these hybrids, pointing towards reproductive isolation. We present an evolutionary scheme which explains the origin of the hybrids and the evolution of new and fully sexual species by hybridization and subsequent allopolyploidization in flat-branched clubmosses.

Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas exhibit antimicrobial properties against critical bacteria and yeast species.

OBJECTIVE: Cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPPs) have been used to sterilise implant materials and other thermally unstable medical products and to modify chemical surfaces. This study investigates the antimicrobial effect of the gas and input power used to generate CAPPs on microorganisms causing skin infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Malassezia pachydermatis. METHOD: Microorganisms were cultivated on Mueller Hinton 2 (MH2) agar plates. CAPP treatment was performed using the Plasma BLASTER MEF. To investigate the antimicrobial effects the following CAPP parameters were varied: the gas used, input power, as well as number of treatments and treatment time. RESULTS: The antimicrobial efficacy of the CAPPs was found to increase with increasing input power and treatment time (or cycles). Furthermore the plasma generated from nitrogen is more effective than from air. CONCLUSION: The study showed that CAPPs demonstrate strong bactericidal and fungicidal properties in vitro. The selective application of CAPPs for the treatment of wound infections may offer a promising supplementary tool alongside current therapies.

Antimicrobial impact of cold atmospheric pressure plasma on medical critical yeasts and bacteria cultures.

OBJECTIVES: Plasma medicine focuses on the application of cold atmospheric pressure plasmas (CAPs) in or on the human body. So far, plasmas have been used to sterilize implant materials or other thermally unstable medical products and have been applied for chemical surface modifications. This study investigates the antimicrobial effect of physical plasmas on microorganisms which cause skin infections, such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans, depending on the plasma source and the kind of plasma excitation used. MATERIALS: Microorganisms were plated onto MH2 agar plates. Plasma treatment was performed using the plasma sources BLASTER MEF and kinpen 09. To investigate the antimicrobial effects, the following plasma parameters have been varied: working gas, distance from nozzle to surface, electrical power, grid spacing of treatment lines, number of treatments and work piece velocity. RESULTS: The generated plasmas had an antimicrobial effect that depended on the chosen plasma parameters, in particular on the process gas used, the plasma power and the number of treatments performed. Thus, different reactive species were observed by optical emission spectroscopy measurement in the generated plasmas. CONCLUSIONS: The study showed that CAPs exhibit profound bactericidal and fungicidal properties in vitro. However, an important factor for the antimicrobial efficacy is the composition of the 'chemical soup' supplied by the CAP system which can be regulated by the process gases used.

Personality risk for alcohol consequences among college freshmen.

Drinking is pervasive in the lifestyle of many college students. This study investigated the relationship between drinking and students' impulsivity, sensation seeking, alcohol consequences, and expectancies. The study was based on the Acquired Preparedness Model, which posits that personality constructs like impulsivity and sensation seeking influence drinking through the formation of positive expectancies about the effects of drinking. Freshmen (N = 260) from a large public university volunteered for the study and were administered three surveys. Structural equation modeling was used to examine the study variables. The findings showed that the total effect of impulsivity was mediated by positive alcohol expectancies. The total effect of sensation seeking was mediated by alcohol expectancies. Freshmen who were more impulsive and sensation seeking had more positive alcohol expectancies and experienced more negative consequences related to alcohol use. These findings suggest that the risk of alcohol consequences was associated with personality constructs and alcohol expectancies.

Progressive limb ataxia following inferior olive lesions.

Cerebellar climbing fibres originate in the inferior olive (IO). Temporary IO inactivation produces movement deficits. Does permanent inactivation produce similar deficits and, if so, do they recover? The excitotoxin, kainic acid, was injected into the rostral IO of three cats. Behaviour was measured during reaching and locomotion. Two cats were injected during the reaching task. Within minutes, grasping became difficult and the trajectories of the reaches showed higher arcing than normally seen. During locomotion, both cats showed head and trunk deviation to the injected side, walking paths curved to the injected side, and the paws were lifted higher than normal. Limbs contralateral to the injections became rigid. Within 1 day, posture had normalized, locomotion was unsteady and high lifting of the paws had reversed to a tendency to drag the dorsum of the paws. Passive body movement produced vestibular signs. Over a few days, locomotion normalized and vestibular signs disappeared. Reach trajectories were normal but grasping deficits persisted. Over the first week, the amplitude of limb lift during reaching and locomotion began to increase. The increase continued over time and, after several months, limb movements became severely ataxic. The effects followed the somatotopy of the rostral IO: a loss of cells in medial rostral IO only affected the forelimb, whereas a loss of cells in medial and lateral IO affected both forelimb and hindlimb. Deficits produced by IO lesions involve multiple mechanisms; some recover rapidly, some appear stable, and some worsen over time. The nature of the progressive deficit suggests a gradual loss of Purkinje cell inhibition on cerebellar nuclear cells.

A comparison of pre-operative nerve stimulator-guided femoral nerve block and fascia iliaca compartment block in patients with a femoral neck fracture.

We undertook a randomised, controlled trial to compare the analgesic efficacy and opioid sparing effect of nerve stimulator-guided femoral nerve block with fascia iliaca compartment block in patients awaiting surgery for fractured neck of femur. Ten-centimetre visual analogue pain scores were measured before and 2 h after the block and opioid consumption was recorded in the 12-h period after the block. One hundred and ten patients were randomly assigned. Femoral nerve block provided superior pre-operative analgesia for fractured neck of femur compared with fascia iliaca compartment block. The difference in the mean reduction of pain score after the block was 0.9 (95% CI 0-1.8); p = 0.047. Patients receiving a femoral nerve block required less morphine after the block than those receiving fascia iliaca compartment block (p = 0.041).

Therapy of chronic myeloid leukaemia can benefit from the activation of stem cells: simulation studies of different treatment combinations.

BACKGROUND: Newly diagnosed patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) are currently treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as imatinib, nilotinib or dasatinib. However, incomplete eradication of residual disease is a general problem of long-term TKI therapy. Activation of mouse haematopoietic stem cells by interferon-α (IFNα) stimulated the discussion of whether a combination treatment leads to accelerated eradication of the CML clone. METHODS: We base our simulation approach on a mathematical model describing human CML as a competition phenomenon between normal and malignant cells. We amend this model to incorporate the description of IFNα activity and simulate different scenarios for potential treatment combinations. RESULTS: We demonstrate that the overall sensitivity of CML stem cells to IFNα activation is a crucial determinant for the benefit of a potential combination therapy. We furthermore show that pulsed IFNα together with continuous TKI administration is the most promising strategy for a combination treatment in which the therapeutic benefit prevails adverse side effects. CONCLUSION: Our modelling approach is a highly beneficial tool to quantitatively address the competition between normal and leukaemic haematopoiesis in treated CML patients. We derive testable predictions for different experimental settings that are suggested before the clinical implementation of the combination treatment.

Bulk electronic structure of quasicrystals.

We use hard x-ray photoemission to resolve a controversial issue regarding the mechanism for the formation of quasicrystalline solids, i.e., the existence of a pseudogap at the Fermi level. Our data from icosahedral fivefold Al-Pd-Mn and Al-Cu-Fe quasicrystals demonstrate the presence of a pseudogap, which is not observed in surface sensitive low energy photoemission because the spectrum is affected by a metallic phase near the surface. In contrast to Al-Pd-Mn, we find that in Al-Cu-Fe the pseudogap is fully formed; i.e., the density of states reaches zero at E(F) indicating that it is close to the metal-insulator phase boundary.

TEMPORARY REMOVAL: VP.47 Interleukin 31 (IL-31) inhibition as a trigger for an immune-mediated myopathy?

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Electronic structure and magnetic properties of the graphene/Fe/Ni111 intercalation-like system.

The electronic structure and magnetic properties of the graphene/Fe/Ni(111) system were investigated via combination of the density functional theory calculations and electron-spectroscopy methods. This system was prepared via intercalation of thin Fe layers (1 ML) underneath graphene on Ni(111) and its inert properties were verified by means of photoelectron spectroscopy. Intercalation of iron in the space between graphene and Ni(111) changes drastically the magnetic response from the graphene layer that is explained by the formation of the highly spin-polarized 3d(z(2)) quantum-well state in the thin iron layer.

Quasicrystalline valence bands in decagonal AlNiCo

Quasicrystals are metallic alloys that possess perfect long-range structural order, in spite of the fact that their rotational symmetries are incompatible with long-range periodicity. The exotic structural properties of this class of materials are accompanied by physical properties that are unexpected for metallic alloys. Considerable progress in resolving the geometric structures of quasicrystals has been made using X-ray and neutron diffraction, and concepts such as the quasi-unit-cell model have provided theoretical insights. But the basic properties of the valence electronic states--whether they are extended as in periodic crystals or localized as in amorphous materials--are still largely unresolved. Here we investigate the electronic bandstructure of quasicrystals through angle-resolved photoemission experiments on decagonal Al71.8Ni14.8Co13.4. We find that the s-p and d states exhibit band-like behaviour with the symmetry of the quasiperiodic lattice, and that the Fermi level is crossed by dispersing d-bands. The observation of free-electron-like bands, distributed in momentum space according to the surface diffraction pattern, suggests that the electronic states are not dominated by localization.

Cultural differences in asymmetric beliefs of interpersonal knowledge in vertical and horizontal relationships.

Previous studies have reported that our interpersonal knowledge shows an asymmetry; that is, we tend to believe that we know and understand other people's thoughts and feelings better than other people know and understand our own thoughts and feelings. In the present study, the authors compared American (114 men, 192 women) and Korean (99 men and 98 women) students to examine whether the asymmetry is greater in collectivistic than in individualistic culture in two types of relationships: horizontal (with best friends) and vertical (with parents). On all three items--Know, Understand, and Visibility--asymmetry was found for both horizontal and vertical relationships. Further, the Understand and Visibility items showed greater asymmetry for the Korean group than for the American group. It was concluded that asymmetry is greater in collectivistic than in individualistic culture. The cultural differences can be explained by self-consistency, sensitivity to social consequences, parent-child interaction, and living arrangement.

Concentration of elements in mitotic chromatin as measured by x-ray microanalysis.

Unfixed frozen-dried and uncoated tissue sections of the mouse duodenum were placed on carbon planchets and analyzed in a scanning electron microscope fitted with energy dispersive X-ray equipment. Computer analysis of the X-ray spectra allowed elemental microanalysis of the nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitotic chromatin regions in the cryptal and villus enterocytes. The peak to continuum ratio of S, Cl, K, and Ca were higher in mitotic chromatin than any of the other sites measured. The redistribution of Ca at mitosis is postulated to help explain both chromosome condensation and assembly of the mitotic spindle apparatus.

Synergy between tumor suppressor APC and the beta-catenin-Tcf4 target Tcf1.

Mutations in APC or beta-catenin inappropriately activate the transcription factor Tcf4, thereby transforming intestinal epithelial cells. Here it is shown that one of the target genes of Tcf4 in epithelial cells is Tcf1. The most abundant Tcf1 isoforms lack a beta-catenin interaction domain. Tcf1(-/-) mice develop adenomas in the gut and mammary glands. Introduction of a mutant APC allele into these mice substantially increases the number of these adenomas. Tcf1 may act as a feedback repressor of beta-catenin-Tcf4 target genes and thus may cooperate with APC to suppress malignant transformation of epithelial cells.

Dynamin 2-related centronuclear myopathy: clinical, histological and genetic aspects of further patients and review of the literature.

Centronuclear myopathy (CNM) is a slowly progressive congenital myopathy with characteristic histopathological findings of chains of centrally located myonuclei in a large number of muscle fibers. Recently, different missense mutations in the dynamin 2 gene (DNM2, 19p13.2) have been shown to cause autosomal dominant CNM. We re-evaluated patients with a histopathological diagnosis of CNM and report on the clinical phenotype, the biopsy findings and the genetic results of these patients and review the current literature. Two of the three patients showed an unusually late disease onset (> 40 years). Interestingly, intramuscular nerve fascicles found in the muscle biopsy of a patient harboring the E368K DNM2 mutation contained nerve fibers with disproportionately thin myelin sheaths. Schwann cells of unmyelinated nerve fibers showed abnormal plasma membrane and basal lamina protrusions, indicating peripheral nerve involvement.

Concurrent validity of the WISC-IV in eligibility decisions for students with educable mental disabilities.

Concurrent validity of the WISC-III and WISC-IV was conducted using a sample of 35 students classified as educable mentally disabled. Full Scale IQ scores of previously administered WISC-III correlated .91 with WISC-IV Full Scale IQ scores when adjusted for restricted range. Of the previous eligibility decisions, 80% were confirmed by the WISC-IV scores. Implications of the findings and suggestions for research are discussed.

Learning style, judgements of learning, and learning of verbal and visual information.

The concept of learning style is immensely popular despite the lack of evidence showing that learning style influences performance. This study tested the hypothesis that the popularity of learning style is maintained because it is associated with subjective aspects of learning, such as judgements of learning (JOLs). Preference for verbal and visual information was assessed using the revised Verbalizer-Visualizer Questionnaire (VVQ). Then, participants studied a list of word pairs and a list of picture pairs, making JOLs (immediate, delayed, and global) while studying each list. Learning was tested by cued recall. The results showed that higher VVQ verbalizer scores were associated with higher immediate JOLs for words, and higher VVQ visualizer scores were associated with higher immediate JOLs for pictures. There was no association between VVQ scores and recall or JOL accuracy. As predicted, learning style was associated with subjective aspects of learning but not objective aspects of learning.

Short-Term Practice Effects and Amyloid Deposition: Providing Information Above and Beyond Baseline Cognition.

BACKGROUND: Practice effects, which are improvements in cognitive test scores due to repeated exposure to testing materials, may provide information about Alzheimer's disease pathology, which could be useful for clinical trials enrichment. OBJECTIVES: The current study sought to add to the limited literature on short-term practice effects on cognitive tests and their relationship to amyloid deposition on neuroimaging. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-seven, non-demented older adults (9 cognitively intact, 18 with mild cognitive impairment) received amyloid imaging with 18F-Flutemetamol, and two cognitive testing sessions across one week to determine practice effects. RESULTS: A composite measure of 18F-Flutemetamol uptake correlated significantly with all seven cognitive tests scores on the baseline battery (r's = -0.61 - 0.59, all p's<0.05), with higher uptake indicating poorer cognition. Practice effects significantly added to the relationship (above and beyond the baseline associations) with 18F-Flutemetamol uptake on 4 of the 7 cognitive test scores (partial r's = -0.45 - 0.44, p's<0.05), with higher uptake indicating poorer practice effects. The odds ratio of being "amyloid positive" was 13.5 times higher in individuals with low practice effects compared to high practice effects. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term practice effects over one week may be predictive of progressive dementia and serve as an affordable screening tool to enrich samples for preventative clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease.

Health behaviors of mandated and voluntary students in a motivational intervention program.

UNLABELLED: College students engage in many unhealthy behaviors, one of these, heavy alcohol use, is a major global public health problem. OBJECTIVE: This longitudinal study examined whether students' mandated/voluntary status in a program to reduce college drinking was associated with overall health, ethnicity, gender, and personality traits. Both mandated and voluntary groups participated in the Motivational Intervention (MI) program to prevent high risk drinking. METHODS: Freshmen (710 voluntary, 190 mandated, n = 900) between the ages of 18 and 21, received the MI at baseline and again at 2 weeks, with boosters at 3, 6 and 12 months. Participants completed three measures: the Daily Drinking Questionnaire (DDQ); the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale (SURPS), and the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile II (HPLPII). Mandated and voluntary participants were compared at baseline and following the intervention using two sample t-tests for continuous variables (overall health, personality traits, drinking measures), and chi-square for categorical variables (gender, ethnicity). Linear mixed models were used to identify associations between HPLP II scores and mandated/voluntary status, time, ethnicity gender and SURPS scale scores. RESULTS: In both groups, alcohol consumption dropped significantly by 12 months. Overall health-promoting behaviors, physical activity, stress management, and interpersonal relations improved in both groups between baseline and 12 months. Associations were found between alcohol consumption, personality traits, gender, and lifestyle health-promoting behaviors. In particular, impulsivity and hopelessness were associated with poor health behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Intervention programs to reduce drinking by college students need to address developmental dynamics of freshmen students, including gender, psychosocial factors, personality, and lifestyle health-promoting behaviors.

The classification, recognition and significance of polyagglutination in transfusion medicine.

Polyagglutination, although an uncommon phenomenon in transfusion medicine, is becoming increasingly recognized as a potential pitfall in correct ABO typing and can hinder the rapid allocation of accurately crossmatched blood products. Polyagglutination refers to erythrocytes which demonstrate agglutination with the majority of adult sera upon initial ABO crossmatch testing. Most types of polyagglutination involve alteration of red cell surface antigens through microbial enzymatic activity in patients with sepsis, and subsequent interaction of these newly exposed 'cryptantigens' with naturally occuring IgM antibody which is present in most adult sera. Less common variants include essential inborn variations in red cell development, and have been associated with myelodysplastic syndromes, congenital anemias, and various leukemias; it has been suggested that patients shown to possess these types of polyagglutination may benefit from increased hematologic surveillance. Recognition of polyagglutination in these settings is important to allow successful resolution of ABO typing discrepancies and permit efficient administration of appropriate blood products to these patients, who are often quite ill. The classification and method of laboratory recognition of polyagglutination is reviewed.