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Clear Distinction (clear + distinction)
Selected AbstractsWittgenstein's Builders and Perry's Objection to Sentence PriorityDIALECTICA, Issue 1 2002Eli Dresner In the first section of this paper I present a view of linguistic meaning that I label 'Sentence Priority'(SP): the position that semantically primitive language-world contact is made at the level of complete sentences (rather than the level of sentence parts). Then, in the main part of the paper, I consider and reject an objection against Sentence Priority raised by John Perry, an objection that appeals to Wittgenstein's builders parable. Perry argues that the builder's utterances (,Slab',,Pillar', etc.) are utterances of self-standing nouns, and that therefore they constitute a counter-example to SP. A sound assessment of Perry's argument, however, depends on a clear distinction between two cases: one in which the four expressions mentioned in Wittgenstein's example exhaust the builders'expressive powers, and one in which they do not. Once these cases are distinguished it can be seen that in neither does Perry's argument go through. [source] Assessment of Acute Right Ventricular Dysfunction Induced by Right Coronary Artery Occlusion Using Echocardiographic Atrioventricular Plane DisplacementECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 6 2000Alpesh R. Shah M.D. Right ventricular (RV) systolic function analysis by echocardiography has traditionally required RV endocardial border definition with subsequent tracing and is often inaccurate or impossible in technically poor studies. The atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) method attempts to use the descent of the tricuspid annular ring, a reflection of the longitudinal shortening of the right ventricle, as a surrogate marker for RV systolic function. We hypothesized that RV ischemia induced during right coronary artery occlusion proximal to the major right ventricular branches would result in severe right ventricular systolic dysfunction detectable by the AVPD method. During this pilot study, seven patients undergoing elective proximal RCA angioplasty had echocardiographic measurement of RV AVPD performed at baseline (i.e., immediately prior to RCA balloon inflation), during the last 30 seconds of first RCA balloon inflation, and at 1 minute after balloon deflation (recovery). Lateral and medial RV AVPD were significantly reduced from baseline values during intracoronary balloon inflation. (Lateral: 2.45 cm ± 0.22 vs 1.77 cm ± 0.13, P < 0.001; medial: 1.46 cm ± 0.37 vs 1.28 cm ± 0.32, P < 0.05). Additionally, lateral and medial RV AVPD significantly returned towards baseline values during recovery. (Lateral: 2.39 cm ± 0.20, P < 0.001; medial: 1.58 cm ± 0.27, P = 0.01). At baseline, all lateral RV AVPD values were > 2.0 cm, whereas during balloon inflation all were < 2.0 cm. No such clear distinction was found in medial RV AVPD values. Proximal RCA angioplasty is associated with a significant reduction in lateral and medial RV AVPD. Thus RV AVPD may serve as a marker for RV systolic dysfunction. [source] Is there anything like a citizen?ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 1 2010A descriptive analysis of instituting a citizen's role to represent social values at the municipal level Abstract Environmental policy-making can be challenging because of lobbying by strong private interests. This results in less consideration about what is best for the wider community. The main goal of this study is to evaluate to what extent it is possible to institutionalize a citizen's role in decision-support processes. While the literature makes a clear distinction between private and social values, very little research is undertaken on how the framing of the instituted process influences which types of value become legitimate. Two deliberative meetings with local inhabitants were conducted in a municipality in Norway focusing on land use policy in coastal areas. The meetings were framed to facilitate dialogue and to emphasize the most important values to protect, given the interests of the wider municipality in the longer run. A large majority of the participants found the framing appropriate. Analyses of the dialogues, letters written by participants before the meetings and individual interviews undertaken afterwards document that the format of the meetings influenced strongly which arguments were found legitimate. The setting favoured the identification and specification of social values for inhabitants of the involved municipality such as public accessibility in conserved nature areas along the coast. The data moreover give insights about how the framing influenced the process. Arguments in favour of private construction interests were present, but were found to be weak in legitimacy. The framing might, however, also have influenced which social values were emphasized the most strongly. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Effects of sand sedimentation on the macroinvertebrate fauna of lowland streams: are the effects consistent?FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006BARBARA J. DOWNES Summary 1. In lowland streams sand sedimentation can produce sand slugs: very slow moving, discrete volumes of sand that are created episodically. Hypothetically, such sedimentation causes losses of habitat and fauna but little is known about the effects of sand slugs. In south-eastern Australia sand slugs are widespread, especially in streams with granitic catchments. 2. This study in north-central Victoria was centred on three streams that rise in the Strathbogie Ranges and flow out onto lowland plains, where they contain sand slugs. Below the sand slugs, the streams are slow-flowing ,chains of ponds' with a clay streambed. To correct for potential upstream-downstream confounding of comparisons, two unsanded, nearby streams were included as potential controls. Habitat measurements and faunal samples were taken in Spring 1998, from three sites in the sand slug and three sites in the clay-bed, downstream sections of each impacted stream, as well as from three sites in commensurate upstream and downstream sections of the control streams. 3. The sand-slugged sections had significantly higher velocities, shallower depths and less coarse woody debris than the unsanded downstream sections. Macroinvertebrate taxon richness and abundance showed some significant differences between the sand and clay sections compared with commensurate up- and downstream locations in the control streams. Effects were not uniform, however. In Castle Creek there were no significant differences between the sand and clay sections, in Pranjip-Ninemile Creek taxon richness and abundances were higher in sand than in the clay sections, whereas in Creightons Creek the ,expected' results of lower taxon richness and abundance in the sand were found. 4. Of the 40 most common taxa, only eight provided a clear signal related to sand and, of these, one (Slavina sp.) occurred only in the sand slugs, whereas the other seven had significantly higher numbers in the clay sections. Of these taxa, three were ostracods, three were chironomids and one was a tubificid oligochaete, all taxa that live in detritus-rich environments. Overall faunal composition did not show a clear distinction though, between sandy and clay sites. The sand slug community of Creightons Creek was very different from the other communities in all of the streams. There were clear differences in community composition between the sand-affected and the control streams, even for downstream, clay sections, suggesting they cannot act as controls for the impacted sections of the sand-slugged streams. 5. Differences between streams within categories (particularly between sand-slugged streams) and between sites in the same section of stream accounted for most of the variability in species richness and the abundances of each of the 40 most common taxa. That finding was repeated when data were examined at the family level, for both numbers of families per sample and collated lists of families occurring across sites. These results strongly suggest that the effects of sedimentation by sand slugs do not overwhelm background variation in macroinvertebrate density and diversity. Overall the results suggest that many taxa may respond individually, and that there is much variation between sand-affected streams even over relatively small (approximately <10 km) spatial scales. [source] Spectral analysis of electrocorticographic activity during pharmacological preconditioning and seizure induction by intrahippocampal domoic acidHIPPOCAMPUS, Issue 8 2010P.M. Sawant Abstract Previously we have shown that low-dose domoic acid (DA) preconditioning produces tolerance to the behavioral effects of high-dose DA. In this study, we used electrocorticography (ECoG) to monitor subtle CNS changes during and after preconditioning. Young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with a left cortical electrode, and acute recordings were obtained during preconditioning by contralateral intrahippocampal administration of either low-dose DA (15 pmoles) or saline, followed by a high-dose DA (100 pmoles) challenge. ECoG data were analyzed by fast Fourier transformation to obtain the percentage of baseline power spectral density (PSD) for delta to gamma frequencies (range: 1.25,100 Hz). Consistent with previous results, behavioral analysis confirmed that low-dose DA preconditioning 60 min before a high-dose DA challenge produced significant reductions in cumulative seizure scores and high level seizure behaviors. ECoG analysis revealed significant reductions in power spectral density across all frequency bands, and high-frequency/high-amplitude spiking in DA preconditioned animals, relative to saline controls. Significant correlations between seizure scores and ECoG power confirmed that behavioral analysis is a reliable marker for seizure analysis. The reduction ofpower in delta to gamma frequency bands in contralateral cortex does not allow a clear distinction between seizure initiation and seizure propagation, but does provide objective confirmation that pharmacological preconditioning by DA reduces network seizure activity. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Expression profiling of Wilms tumors reveals new candidate genes for different clinical parametersINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 8 2006B. Zirn Abstract Wilms tumor is the most frequent renal neoplasm in children, but our understanding of its genetic basis is still limited. We performed cDNA microarray experiments using 63 primary Wilms tumors with the aim of detecting new candidate genes associated with malignancy grade and tumor progression. All tumors had received preoperative chemotherapy as mandated by the SIOP protocol, which sets this study apart from related approaches in the Unites States that are based on untreated samples. The stratification of expression data according to clinical criteria allowed a rather clear distinction between different subsets of Wilms tumors. Clear-cut differences in expression patterns were discovered between relapse-free as opposed to relapsed tumors and tumors with intermediate risk as opposed to high risk histology. Several differentially expressed genes, e.g.TRIM22, CENPF, MYCN, CTGF, RARRES3 and EZH2, were associated with Wilms tumor progression. For a subset of differentially expressed genes, microarray data were confirmed by real-time RT-PCR on the original set of tumors. Interestingly, we found the retinoic acid pathway to be deregulated at different levels in advanced tumors suggesting that treatment of these tumors with retinoic acid may represent a promising novel therapeutic approach. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] A short history of sweat gland biologyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 3 2007K. Wilke Synopsis The axilla, especially its microflora and axillary sweat glands as well as their secretions, is the main target of cosmetic compositions such as deodorants or antiperspirants. There are three types of sweat glands present in the axillary skin, namely apocrine, eccrine and apoeccrine sweat glands. Here, we provide an overview of the morphological, structural and functional characteristics of the different gland types and present techniques that allow their clear distinction. Moreover, we describe different forms of perspiration as physical reactions to external and internal stimuli. Résumé Les glandes sudoripares axillaires et leurs sécrétions sont les points d'application principaux des produits antitranspirants et déodorants. Dans la peau axillaire, il y a trois formes différentes de glandes sudoripares appelées apocrines, eccrines et apoeccrines. Nous donnons une vue d'ensemble des propriétés fonctionnelles, morphologiques et structurelles des différentes glandes et présentons des techniques qui permettent leur distinction. Nous décrivons également les différents modes de transpiration corporelle entant que réactions physiques aux stimuli externes et internes. [source] Continuation and long-term maintenance treatment with Hypericum extract WS® 5570 after successful acute treatment of mild to moderate depression , rationale and study designINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 3 2004Chairman, S. Kasper Professor Abstract Unipolar major depression is often a chronic disease that may require lifelong prophylaxis. Recovery from an acute episode is followed by 4-6 months of relapse prevention. After that, long-term maintenance treatment is administered to avoid recurrence. We present the rationale and design of an ongoing double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the efficacy of Hypericum extract WS® 5570 in relapse prevention in recurrent unipolar depression. An estimated sample of 425 adults with recurrent, mild to moderate major depression (ICD-10 and DSM-IV criteria), ,3 previous episodes (last 5 years) and a total score ,20 points on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD) will be included. After a one-week wash out patients receive 3 × 300 mg/day WS® 5570 single-blind for 6 weeks. Responders are randomized to 26 weeks of double-blind continuation treatment with 3 × 300 mg/day WS® 5570 or placebo. Patients completing continuation treatment without relapse enter 52 weeks of double-blind maintenance treatment, where those treated with WS® 5570 are re-randomized to 3 × 300 mg/day WS® 5570 or placebo. The primary outcome measure is the time to relapse during continuation treatment (HAMD ,16, clinical diagnosis of depression, or premature treatment termination for inefficacy). Hypericum extract, with its favourable tolerability profile, could be an interesting option for long-term prophylaxis. The trial was designed according to current consensus and guidance. Notably, it includes long-term prophylactic treatment with the same drug and the same therapeutic dose applied during acute treatment, uses well-defined outcome measures and provides a clear distinction between relapse and recurrence. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Changing concepts of bladder regenerationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 8 2007Akihiro Kanematsu Abstract: During the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in studies aimed at regeneration of the urinary bladder. Many studies employed animal-derived or synthetic materials as grafts for experimental bladder augmentation models, with or without additional measures to promote regeneration, such as autologous cell transplantation or growth factor loading. However, in spite of encouraging results in several reports, few methodologies have shown proven definitive clinical utility. One major problem in these studies is the lack of a clear distinction between native and regenerated bladder in total bladder function after augmentation. Another crucial problem is the absorption and shrinkage of larger grafts, which may result from insufficient vascular supply and smooth muscle regeneration. In contrast, researchers have recently attempted to establish alternative regenerative strategies for treating bladder diseases, and have employed far more diverse approaches according to the various pathological conditions to be treated. For total replacement of the bladder after cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer, urothelium-covered neobladder with non-urinary tract backbone remains a viable choice. In addition, functional bladder diseases such as urinary incontinence, weak detrusor, or non-compliant fibrotic bladder have also been major targets for many leading research groups in this field. These conditions are studied much more from different therapeutic standpoints, aiming at the prevention or reversal of pathological conditions in muscle remodeling or neural control. Such altered research direction would inevitably lead to less surgically based basic biological research, and also would include a far wider spectrum of adult and pediatric bladder diseases, from overactive bladder to dysfunctional voiding. [source] A comparative study of the egg morphology in four species of Eubothrium (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) with comments on their early developmentINVERTEBRATE BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Roman Kuchta Abstract. Freshly released eggs from four species of the cestode Eubothrium (Eubothrium crassum, Eubothrium fragile, Eubothrium rugosum, and Eubothrium salvelini) were subjected to morphological and morphometric analysis. The eggs of the two freshwater species, E. rugosum and E. salvelini, were ovoid with a lobed embryophore whereas the eggs of the two marine species, E. crassum and E. fragile, were more circular with a smooth embryophore. However, the morphological differences between species were not readily evident to permit their clear distinction from one another. To discriminate species, a forward stepwise linear discriminant analysis, using six of the seven measured metric characters made on the eggs, was used, which gave 100% correct classification of two species, E. rugosum and E. salvelini, and a high proportion of correct classification for E. crassum (98%) and E. fragile (83%). Of the latter two species, one specimen of E. crassum and five specimens of E. fragile were misclassified between the respective groups. The principal characters used in the classification of the species were the width of the egg, the length of the mediolateral hooks, and the width of the oncosphere. To provide more information on the life cycle of each species, the eggs were used in a series of infection trials to identify appropriate intermediate hosts. Experimental infections with freshwater copepods were successful when exposed to the eggs of E. salvelini, partially successful when exposed to the eggs of marine E. crassum with 10% of the copepods becoming infected, but no infections were obtained when the eggs of E. fragile were used. [source] Benefits of polarized small-angle neutron scattering on magnetic nanometer scale structure modelingJOURNAL OF APPLIED CRYSTALLOGRAPHY, Issue 3-1 2003André Heinemann Recent use of polarized neutron technique in small-angle scattering (SANS) have led to impressive results in the case of magnetic nanometer-scale structure analysis. In some particular cases this method offers the possibility to survey structure models with the necessary accuracy for the first time. The different cross sections for spin-up and spin-down neutron scattering on magnetic precipitates can be combined with the method of chemical contrast variation. All data fitting using structure models will benefit of that kind of constraints. The analysis of the interference term of nuclear and magnetic scattering respectively enables the extraction of additional information about the composition and magnetization profiles of the samples. Here we place emphasis on the difference of spin-up and spin-down neutron scattering intensities to obtain this information. This technique profits by the clear distinction between magnetic and nonmagnetic scattering contributions and the strong auxiliary conditions for model fitting procedures. Depending on the relative orientations of the external magnetic field, the local magnetization of the precipitates and the scattering vector, significant scattering patterns can be scrutinized. Beside general formulas for some special cases of present experimental interest we exercise the approach to a nontrivial case of data obtained from polarised SANS experiments at the Berlin Neutron Scattering Center (BENSC). [source] Species richness, rarity and endemicity on Italian offshore islands: complementary signals from island-focused and species-focused analysesJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2008Leonardo Dapporto Abstract Aims, To investigate the relative explanatory power of source faunas and geographical variables for butterfly incidence, frequency, richness, rarity, and endemicity on offshore islands. Location, The western Italian offshore islands (Italy and Malta). Methods, Thirty-one islands were examined. Data were taken from our own field surveys and from the literature. Two approaches were undertaken, described as island-focused and species-focused, respectively. Offshore islands were allocated to their neighbouring source landmasses (Italian Peninsula, Sicily and Sardinia,Corsica) and compared with each other for faunal attributes, source and island geography. Generalized linear and stepwise multiple regression models were then used to determine the relationships of island species richness, rarity and endemicity with potential geographical predictors and source richness, rarity, and endemicity (island-focused). Species frequency and incidence were assessed in relation to geographical and source predictors using stepwise linear and logistic regression, and inter-island associations were examined using K-Means clustering and non-metric scaling (species-focused). Results, The analysis reveals firm evidence for the influence of the nearest large landmass sources on island species assemblages, richness, rarity and endemicity. A clear distinction in faunal affinities occurs between the Sardinian islands and islands lying offshore from the Italian mainland and Sicily. Islands neighbouring these three distinct sources differ significantly in richness, rarity and endemicity. Source richness, rarity, and endemicity have explanatory power for island richness, rarity, and endemicity, respectively, and together with island geography account for a substantial part of the variation in island faunas (richness 59%, rarity 60% and endemicity 64%). Source dominates the logistic regression parameters predicting the incidence of island species [13 (38%) of 34 species that could be analysed]; three ecological factors (source frequency, flight period and maximal altitude at which species live) explained 75% of the variation in the occurrence of species on the islands. Species found more frequently on islands occurred more frequently at sources, had longer flight periods, and occurred at lower altitudes at the sources. The incidence of most species on islands (84%) is correctly predicted by the same three variables. Main conclusions, The Italian region of the Mediterranean Sea has a rich butterfly fauna comprising endemics and rare species as well as more cosmopolitan species. Analysis of island records benefited from the use of two distinct approaches, namely island-focused and species-focused, that sift distinct elements in island and source faunas. Clear contemporary signals appear in island,source relationships as well as historical signals. Differences among faunas relating to sources within the same region caution against assuming that contemporary (ecological) and historical (evolutionary) influences affect faunas of islands in different parts of the same region to the same extent. The implications of source,island relationships for the conservation of butterflies within the Italian region are considered, particularly for the long-term persistence of species. [source] Near-infrared multichannel Raman spectroscopy toward real-time in vivo cancer diagnosisJOURNAL OF RAMAN SPECTROSCOPY, Issue 7 2002Shoji Kaminaka Using a newly developed InP/InGaAsP multichannel detector, we developed a near-infrared Raman spectroscopic system that can measure human tissues efficiently without interference from fluorescence. This enabled us to measure an in vivo Raman spectrum of live human tissue (skin) in 1 min using fiber probe optics. By applying this system to human lung tissues, we found that Raman spectroscopy makes a clear distinction not only between normal and cancerous tissues but also between two different types of lung carcinomas. The results indicate a promising future for the non-invasive real-time Raman diagnosis of cancers. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] A hierarchical modelling framework for identifying unusual performance in health care providersJOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY: SERIES A (STATISTICS IN SOCIETY), Issue 4 2007David I. Ohlssen Summary. A wide variety of statistical methods have been proposed for detecting unusual performance in cross-sectional data on health care providers. We attempt to create a unified framework for comparing these methods, focusing on a clear distinction between estimation and hypothesis testing approaches, with the corresponding distinction between detecting ,extreme' and ,divergent' performance. When assuming a random-effects model the random-effects distribution forms the null hypothesis, and there appears little point in testing whether individual effects are greater or less than average. The hypothesis testing approach uses p -values as summaries and brings with it the standard problems of multiple testing, whether Bayesian or classical inference is adopted. A null random-effects formulation allows us to answer appropriate questions of the type: ,is a particular provider worse than we would expect the true worst provider (but still part of the null distribution) to be'? We outline a broad three-stage strategy of exploratory detection of unusual providers, detailed modelling robust to potential outliers and confirmation of unusual performance, illustrated by using two detailed examples. The concepts are most easily handled within a Bayesian analytic framework using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, but the basic ideas should be generally applicable. [source] Are QST,FST comparisons for natural populations meaningful?MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 22 2008B. PUJOL Abstract Comparisons between putatively neutral genetic differentiation amongst populations, FST, and quantitative genetic variation, QST, are increasingly being used to test for natural selection. However, we find that approximately half of the comparisons that use only data from wild populations confound phenotypic and genetic variation. We urge the use of a clear distinction between narrow-sense QST, which can be meaningfully compared with FST, and phenotypic divergence measured between populations, PST, which is inadequate for comparisons in the wild. We also point out that an unbiased estimate of QST can be found using the so-called ,animal model' of quantitative genetics. [source] Low level of gene flow from cultivated beets (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. vulgaris) into Danish populations of sea beet (Beta vulgaris L. ssp. maritima (L.) Arcangeli)MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2005N. S. ANDERSEN Abstract Gene flow from sugar beets to sea beets occurs in the seed propagation areas in southern Europe. Some seed propagation also takes place in Denmark, but here the crop,wild gene flow has not been investigated. Hence, we studied gene flow to sea beet populations from sugar beet lines used in Danish seed propagation areas. A set of 12 Danish, two Swedish, one French, one Italian, one Dutch, and one Irish populations of sea beets, and four lines of sugar beet were analysed. To evaluate the genetic variation and gene flow, eight microsatellite loci were screened. This analysis revealed hybridization with cultivated beet in one of the sea beet populations from the centre of the Danish seed propagation area. Triploid hybrids found in this population were verified with flow cytometry. Possible hybrids or introgressed plants were also found in the French and Italian populations. However, individual assignment test using a Bayesian method provided 100% assignment success of diploid individuals into their correct subspecies of origin, and a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MC MC) approach revealed clear distinction of individuals into groups according to their subspecies of origin, with a zero level of genetic admixture among subspecies. This underlines that introgression beyond the first hybridization is not extensive. The overall pattern of genetic distance and structure showed that Danish and Swedish sea beet populations were closely related to each other, and they are both more closely related to the population from Ireland than to the populations from France, the Netherlands, and Italy. [source] Ovarian yolk sac tumor with virilization during pregnancy: Immunohistochemical demonstration of Leydig cells as functioning stromaPATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2000Nobuyuki Arima A case is reported of yolk sac tumor occurring in the left ovary and complicated by pregnancy. The 22-year-old patient presented at 28 weeks gestation with virilization and elevated serum levels of testosterone and alpha-fetoprotein. The tumor showed the typical features of yolk sac tumor with a mixture of islands of Leydig cells. The accumulations of Leydig cells were well demarcated from the cellular components of the yolk sac tumor and were distributed throughout the tumor, although with predominant localization at the periphery. By immunohistochemistry the Leydig cells were intensely positive for vimentin and negative for cytokeratins, allowing clear distinction from the cell components of the yolk sac tumor, which were positive for cytokeratins and negative for vimentin. Testosterone was also identified in the cytoplasm of the Leydig cells. After tumor resection the testosterone and alpha-fetoprotein levels declined simultaneously; this, together with the immunohistochemical demonstration of testosterone, indicates that the Leydig cells were responsible for the endocrine manifestations. Furthermore, antibodies against inhibin alpha-subunit and calretinin could be used to detect the Leydig cells. The present case, a combination of yolk sac tumor and Leydig cells acting as a functioning stroma and causing virilization during pregnancy, is very rare. [source] Metabolomic analysis of Echinacea spp. by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry and multivariate data analysis technique,PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS, Issue 1 2010Michel Frédérich Abstract Introduction , The genus Echinacea (Asteraceae) comprises about 10 species originally distributed in North America. Three species are very well known as they are used worldwide as medicinal plants: Echinacea purpurea, E. pallida, E. angustifolia. Objective , To discriminate between these three Echinacea species and E. simulata by 1H NMR-based metabolomics. Methodology , 1H NMR and multivariate analysis techniques were applied to diverse Echinacea plants including roots and aerial parts, authentic plants, commercial plants and commercial dry extracts. Results , Using the 1H NMR metabolomics, it was possible, without previous evaporation or separation steps, to obtain a metabolic fingerprint to distinguish between species. Conclusion , A clear distinction between the three pharmaceutical species was possible and some useful metabolites were identified. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Development of molecular markers to assess the level of introgression of Populus tremula into P. alba natural populationsPLANT BREEDING, Issue 4 2004T. Fossati Abstract Morphological traits traditionally adopted to discriminate between Populus alba L. and P. tremula L. have frequently led to misclassifi-cation of their spontaneous hybrid P. × canescens Sm. Moreover, they may not be of any help in cases of spontaneous backcross phenomena. These limitations can be overcome by molecular markers, which are not environmentally influenced nor subjectively assessed. In this study, the effectiveness of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers in species and hybrid discrimination was evaluated by analysing a set of reference samples of P. alba, P. tremula and P. × canescens. Species-specific and species-indicative AFLPs, as well as diagnostic SSR alleles, were recorded in both P. alba and P. tremula reference samples. The results allowed a clear distinction between the two poplar species and their hybrid. Using these diagnostic markers, a natural population of P. alba trees sampled along the Ticino river basin in northern Italy was analysed, and P. × canescens individuals, intermingled with P. alba trees, were detected. [source] King Canute and the ,Problem' of Structure and Agency: On Times, Tides and HerestheticsPOLITICAL STUDIES, Issue 2 2009Colin Hay The story of King Canute (Cnut) is well known. Indeed, in perhaps its most familiar form it exists as an oral historical tradition passed from generation to generation. In this almost legendary account, King Canute is depicted as an arrogant ruler, so confident as to his own omnipotence that he takes on the forces of nature, pitting his own powers against those of the rising tide , his wet robes paying testament to his powerlessness in the face of potent material forces and to the triumph of (natural) structures over (human) agency. Or so it might seem. In this article I suggest that even in this, the simplest depiction of the story of Canute, the relationship between structure and agency is more complex and involved than it appears. This complexity is only accentuated if we turn from the legend to the historical evidence. Moreover, by reflecting on Canute's practical negotiation of the ,problem' of structure and agency we can not only gain an interesting political analytical purchase on a seemingly familiar tale, but we can also generate a series of valuable and more general insights into our understanding of the structure,agency relationship. In particular, the (various) stories of King Canute and the waves alert us to the need: (1) to maintain a clear distinction between the empirical and the ontological; (2) to resist the temptation to attempt an empirical adjudication of ontological issues (or, indeed, an ontological adjudication of empirical issues); (3) to differentiate clearly between the capacities of agents with respect to material/physical structures on the one hand, and social/political structures on the other; (4) to acknowledge the significance of unintended consequences; (5) to attend to the ,performative' dimensions of agency; and (6) to recognise the dangers inherent in an overly instrumental view of actors' motivations and intentions. [source] Analysis and measurement of carbon nanotube dispersions: nanodispersion versus macrodispersionPOLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 10 2010Micah J Green Abstract Because of their unique mechanical, optical, thermal and electrical properties, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) form the basis for a wide variety of multifunctional devices and materials; many of these applications require that CNTs be dispersed and processed in liquids such as organic solvents, polymer melts or surfactant solutions. One of the most problematic issues affecting the CNT research community is the lack of standards and uniform characterization methods for CNT dispersion. A 2005 NASA-NIST workshop aimed to address this issue and made a clear distinction between ,nanodispersion' of individual CNTs and ,macrodispersion' of CNT bundles. Unfortunately, this distinction has yet to percolate through the CNT dispersion literature. The present article seeks to elucidate and commend these concepts, identify the situations where this difference is most critical, note some scenarios where these concepts have been underutilized and posit experimental and computational characterization methods for quantifying the degree of nanodispersion. Particular attention is devoted to the controversial claims of complete nanodispersion and how such claims may be verified. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Ratio-dependent significance thresholds in reciprocal 15N-labeling experiments as a robust tool in detection of candidate proteins responding to biological treatmentPROTEINS: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND BIOINFORMATICS, Issue 7 2009Sylwia Kierszniowska Abstract Metabolic labeling of plant tissues with 15N has become widely used in plant proteomics. Here, we describe a robust experimental design and data analysis workflow implementing two parallel biological replicate experiments with reciprocal labeling and series of 1:1 control mixtures. Thereby, we are able to unambiguously distinguish (i) inherent biological variation between cultures and (ii) specific responses to a biological treatment. The data analysis workflow is based on first determining the variation between cultures based on 15N/14N ratios in independent 1:1 mixtures before biological treatment is applied. In a second step, ratio-dependent SD is used to define p -values for significant deviation of protein ratios in the biological experiment from the distribution of protein ratios in the 1:1 mixture. This approach allows defining those proteins showing significant biological response superimposed on the biological variation before treatment. The proposed workflow was applied to a series of experiments, in which changes in composition of detergent resistant membrane domains was analyzed in response to sucrose resupply after carbon starvation. Especially in experiments involving cell culture treatment (starvation) prior to the actual biological stimulus of interest (resupply), a clear distinction between culture to culture variations and biological response is of utmost importance. [source] Impacts of Restored Patch Density and Distance from Natural Forests on Colonization SuccessRESTORATION ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2003Hans Jacquemyn Abstract The reduction and fragmentation of forest habitats is expected to have profound effects on plant species diversity as a consequence of the decreased area and increased isolation of the remnant patches. To stop the ongoing process of forest fragmentation, much attention has been given recently to the restoration of forest habitat. The present study investigates restoration possibilities of recently established patches with respect to their geographical isolation. Because seed dispersal events over 100 m are considered to be of long distance, a threshold value of 100 m between recent and old woodland was chosen to define isolation. Total species richness, individual patch species richness, frequency distributions in species occurrences, and patch occupancy patterns of individual species were significantly different among isolated and nonisolated stands. In the short term no high species richness is to be expected in isolated stands. Establishing new forests adjacent to existing woodland ensures higher survival probabilities of existing populations. In the long term, however, the importance of long-distance seed dispersal should not be underestimated because most species showed occasional long-distance seed dispersal. A clear distinction should be made between populations colonizing adjacent patches and patches isolated from old woodland. The colonization of isolated stands may have important effects on the dynamics and diversity of forest networks, and more attention should be directed toward the genetic traits and viability of founding populations in isolated stands. [source] General Comment No. 17 on "Authors' Rights"THE JOURNAL OF WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, Issue 1 2007Hans Morten Haugen General Comment No. 17 on authors' rights is a comprehensive assessment of the normative content of article 15, paragraph 1(c) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (the Covenant). Also, the obligations and violations are spelled out in great detail. It is found that the General Comment makes a clear distinction in principle between standard intellectual property rights and the protection given in accordance with article 15, paragraph 1(c). At the same time, the General Comment does not outline any specific tools for determining when an intellectual effort would result in human rights protection and when it would fall outside of the scope of this protection. Two clarifications have resulted in a positive reception of the General Comment among those who expressed criticism during the drafting. First, General Comment No. 17 acknowledges the need for human rights protection for local and indigenous communities. Second, General Comment No. 17 emphasizes the balance between the private interests of the authors and the other human rights recognized in the Covenant. [source] Assessing genetic diversity in indigenous Veneto chicken breeds using AFLP markersANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 2 2006M. De Marchi Summary Genetic variation in four indigenous chicken breeds from the Veneto region of Italy was assessed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A total of 99 individuals were analysed using three AFLP primer combinations that produced 70 polymorphisms. Four indigenous Veneto chicken breeds (Ermellinata, Padovana, Pépoi and Robusta) and a reference broiler line were included in the analysis. Breed-specific markers were identified in each breed. The expected heterozygosity did not differ significantly among the indigenous Veneto chicken breeds and the broiler line. The coefficient of gene variation (Gst) value across loci indicated that almost half of the total variability was observed among breeds. Nei's standard genetic distance between pairs of breeds showed that the distance between the broiler line and the Pépoi breed was greater than the distances between the broiler line and the other three chicken breeds. Cluster analysis based on standard genetic distances between breeds indicated that the Padovana and Pépoi breeds were closely related. Factorial analysis based on a binary matrix of the AFLP data showed a clear distinction of all breeds. [source] Genetic diversity in German draught horse breeds compared with a group of primitive, riding and wild horses by means of microsatellite DNA markersANIMAL GENETICS, Issue 4 2004K. S. Aberle Summary We compared the genetic diversity and distance among six German draught horse breeds to wild (Przewalski's Horse), primitive (Icelandic Horse, Sorraia Horse, Exmoor Pony) or riding horse breeds (Hanoverian Warmblood, Arabian) by means of genotypic information from 30 microsatellite loci. The draught horse breeds included the South German Coldblood, Rhenish German Draught Horse, Mecklenburg Coldblood, Saxon Thuringa Coldblood, Black Forest Horse and Schleswig Draught Horse. Despite large differences in population sizes, the average observed heterozygosity (Ho) differed little among the heavy horse breeds (0.64,0.71), but was considerably lower than in the Hanoverian Warmblood or Icelandic Horse population. The mean number of alleles (NA) decreased more markedly with declining population sizes of German draught horse breeds (5.2,6.3) but did not reach the values of Hanoverian Warmblood (NA = 6.7). The coefficient of differentiation among the heavy horse breeds showed 11.6% of the diversity between the heavy horse breeds, as opposed to 21.2% between the other horse populations. The differentiation test revealed highly significant genetic differences among all draught horse breeds except the Mecklenburg and Saxon Thuringa Coldbloods. The Schleswig Draught Horse was the most distinct draught horse breed. In conclusion, the study demonstrated a clear distinction among the German draught horse breeds and even among breeds with a very short history of divergence like Rhenish German Draught Horse and its East German subpopulations Mecklenburg and Saxon Thuringa Coldblood. [source] Leaf vascular dimensions associated with freeze tolerance in bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum)ANNALS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2009J.W. Breman Abstract Foliage damage as a result of individual freeze events is a major limitation to the expansion of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) pastures and hay production in Southeastern USA. Greater tolerance to such freeze events would allow production deeper into the fall and winter and allow expansion of this species into colder regions. While it has been reported that small cells are more tolerant to freeze damage, this possibility has not been explored in bahiagrass. Specifically, the hypothesis was examined that xylem vessels with smaller diameter in the midrib of leaves are associated with freeze tolerance among bahiagrass genotypes. Vascular bundle diameter was also measured as a possible index of xylem cell size. A total of eight bahiagrass genotypes were eventually studied representing four freeze-sensitive and four freeze-tolerant lines. There was a clear distinction in xylem cell size between the freeze-sensitive and the freeze-tolerant lines. The freeze-tolerant genotypes had xylem element cells that were significantly smaller than the freeze-sensitive genotypes. Averaged across three leaf positions and all genotypes, the xylem element diameter for the freeze-sensitive lines was 222 ,m and for the freeze-tolerant lines was only 164 ,m. A similar difference was observed in overall vascular bundle diameter with freeze-sensitive lines having a mean of 1168 ,m and the freeze-tolerant lines a mean of 917 ,m. These results indicated that the diameter of the xylem cells in the vascular midrib of bahiagrass may be an important variable influencing the sensitivity among genotypes to freeze damage. [source] Notes on coastal lagoon typology in the light of the EU Water Framework Directive: Italy as a case studyAQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS, Issue 5 2006Davide Tagliapietra Abstract 1.The European Water Framework Directive (WFD) requires that Member States differentiate the transitional water bodies into types. 2.WFD assigns coastal lagoons to two different water categories, ,transitional waters' and ,coastal waters' on the basis of freshwater influence. 3.The main physical factors that contribute to the genesis and characterization of coastal lagoons are coastal typology, tidal range and climate. 4.Italian lagoons are presented as an example of how these physical factors can be used in coastal lagoon characterization and typology. On this basis, a clear distinction of Italian lagoons into two main groups is possible: Northern Adriatic and Mediterranean. 5.Large lagoons can be profitably subdivided into a hierarchical system of sub-basins facilitating both the comparison of parts of the same lagoon and the comparison between different lagoons. 6.The basins are consistent water bodies that can be used as managerial units for environmental conservation, species protection and wise use of resources. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Clinical responses to tumor necrosis factor , antagonists do not show a bimodal distribution: Data from the Stockholm Tumor Necrosis Factor , Followup RegistryARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 6 2003Ronald F. van Vollenhoven Objective To study the distribution of clinical responses to treatment with the tumor necrosis factor , (TNF,) antagonists etanercept and infliximab, and in particular, to determine whether there is a biologically meaningful distinction between responders and nonresponders. Methods Among patients in the Stockholm TNF, Followup Registry, we analyzed the clinical responses to etanercept and infliximab, using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) core set of outcome measures. For each parameter, the absolute change (value at baseline , current value) and the percentage change ([absolute change]/[value at baseline] × 100) from baseline were calculated. The results were plotted as histograms and inspected visually, and the distributions were statistically compared with computer-generated normal distributions. Results Absolute and relative changes in outcomes on the ACR core set of measures in 406 patients receiving etanercept or infliximab were studied. All but a few of these analyses yielded normal or somewhat skewed distributions. The statistical analyses did not detect any non-normal distributions, and visually, the distributions did not appear to be bimodal. Conclusion The clinical response to TNF, blockade displays a normal or skewed, but not bimodal, distribution. The frequently encountered perception that a clear distinction can be made between responders and nonresponders is not borne out. These relatively straightforward findings imply that the biologic mechanisms determining responsiveness to TNF, blockade are multifactorial and may also have important implications for regulatory guidelines pertaining to treatment with these biologic agents. [source] A quantitative analysis of the Eutherian orbit: correlations with masticatory apparatusBIOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2008Philip G. Cox Abstract The mammalian orbit, or eye-socket, is a highly plastic region of the skull. It comprises between seven and nine bones, all of which vary widely in their contribution to this region among the different mammalian orders and families. It is hypothesised that the structure of the mammalian orbit is principally influenced by the forces generated by the jaw-closing musculature. In order to quantify the orbit, fourteen linear, angular and area measurements were taken from 84 species of placental mammals using a Microscribe-3D digitiser. The results were then analysed using principal components analysis. The results of the multivariate analysis on untransformed data showed a clear division of the mammalian taxa into temporalis-dominant forms and masseter-dominant forms. This correlation between orbital structure and masticatory musculature was reinforced by results from the size-corrected data, which showed a separation of the taxa into the three specialised feeding types proposed by Turnbull (1970): i.e. ,carnivore-shear', ,ungulate-grinding' and ,rodent-gnawing'. Moreover, within the rodents there was a clear distinction between species in which the masseter is highly developed and those in which the temporalis has more prominence. These results were reinforced by analysis of variance which showed significant differences in the relative orbital areas of certain bones between temporalis-dominant and masseter-dominant taxa. Subsequent cluster analysis suggested that most of the variables could be grouped into three assemblages: those associated with the length of the rostrum; those associated with the width of the skull; and those associated with the relative size of the orbit and the shape of the face. However, the relative area of the palatine bone showed weak correlations with the other variables and did not fit into any group. Overall the relative area of the palatine was most closely correlated with feeding type, and this measure that appeared to be most strongly associated with the arrangement of the masticatory musculature. These results give a strong indication that, although orbital structure is in part determined by the relative size and orientation of the orbits, the forces generated by the muscles of mastication also have a large effect. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||