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Of
Kinds of Of Terms modified by Of Selected AbstractsInfrared mergers and infrared quasi-stellar objects with galactic winds , III.MONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 2 2005Mrk 231: an exploding young quasi-stellar object with composite outflow/broad absorption lines (and multiple expanding superbubbles) ABSTRACT We present a study of outflow (OF) and broad absorption line (BAL) systems in Mrk 231, and in similar infrared (IR) quasi-stellar objects (QSOs). This study is based mainly on one-dimensional and two-dimensional spectroscopy (obtained at La Palma/William Herschel Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, International Ultraviolet Explorer, European Southern Observatory/New Technology Telescope, Kitt Peak National Observatory, Apache Point Observatory and Complejo Astronomico El Leoncito observatories) plus Hubble Space Telescope images. For Mrk 231, we report evidence that the extreme nuclear OF process has at least three main components on different scales, which are probably associated with: (i) the radio jet, at parsec scale; (ii) the extreme starburst at parsec and kiloparsec scale. This OF has generated at least four concentric expanding superbubbles and the BAL systems. Specifically, inside and very close to the nucleus the two-dimensional spectra show the presence of an OF emission bump in the blend H,+[N ii], with a peak at the same velocity of the main BAL-I system (VEjection BAL-I,,4700 km s,1). This bump was more clearly detected in the area located at 0.6,1.5 arcsec (490,1220 pc), to the south-west of the nucleus core, showing a strong and broad peak. In addition, in the same direction [at position angle (PA) ,,120°, i.e. close to the PA of the small-scale radio jet] at 1.7,2.5 arcsec, we also detected multiple narrow emission-line components, with ,greatly' enhanced [N ii]/H, ratio (very similar to the spectra of jets bow shocks). These results suggest that the BAL-I system is generated in OF clouds associated with the parsec-scale jet. The Hubble Space Telescope images show four (or possibly five) nuclear superbubbles or shells with radii r, 2.9, 1.5, 1.0, 0.6 and 0.2 kpc. For these bubbles, the two-dimensional H, velocity field map and two-dimensional spectra show the following. (i) At the border of the more extended bubble (S1), a clear expansion of the shell with blueshifted velocities (with circular shape and at a radius r, 5.0 arcsec). This bubble shows a rupture arc , to the south , suggesting that the bubble is in the blowout phase. The axis of this rupture or ejection (at PA , 00°) is coincident with the axis of the intermediate and large-scale structures detected at radio wavelengths. (ii) In addition, in the three more external bubbles (S1, S2, S3), the two-dimensional William Herschel Telescope spectra show multiple emission-line components with OF velocities, of ,VOF Bubble, S1, S2 and S3 =[,(650 , 420) ± 30], [,500 ± 30] and [,230 ± 30] km s,1. (iii) In the whole circumnuclear region (1.8 < r < 5 arcsec), the [N ii]/H, and [S ii]/H, narrow emission-line ratios show high values (>0.8), which are consistent with low-ionization nuclear emission-line region/OF processes associated with fast velocity shocks. Therefore, we suggest that these giant bubbles are associated with the large-scale nuclear OF component, which is generated , at least in part , by the extreme nuclear starburst: giant supernova/hypernova explosions. The variability of the short-lived BAL-III Na i D system was studied, covering almost all the period in which this system appeared (between ,1984 and 2004). We have found that the BAL-III light curve is clearly asymmetric with a steep increase, a clear maximum and an exponential fall (similar to the shape of a supernova light curve). The origin of this BAL-III system is discussed, mainly in the framework of an extreme explosive event, probably associated with giant supernova/hypernova explosions. Finally, the IR colour diagram and the ultraviolet BAL systems of IR + GW/OF + Fe ii QSOs are analysed. This study shows two new BAL IR QSOs and suggests/confirms that these objects could be nearby young BAL QSOs, similar to those detected recently at z, 6.0. We propose that the phase of young QSOs is associated with accretion of a large amount of gas (by the supermassive black hole) + extreme starbursts + extreme composite OFs/BALs. [source] Novel Approach to the Treatment of Hyperpigmented Photodamaged Skin: 4% Hydroquinone/0.3% Retinol versus Tretinoin 0.05% Emollient CreamDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 2005Zoe Diana Draelos MD Background. Mild to moderately photodamaged skin is characterized by dyspigmentation, fine wrinkles, and tactile roughness. An optimal approach to the topical treatment of photoaging would simultaneously address all appearance issues. Objective. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of 4% hydroquinone and 0.3% retinol in photoaging. Materials and Methods. A 16-week study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerance of a single cream containing prescription topical 4% hydroquinone for dyspigmentation and the cosmeceutical 0.3% retinol for fine wrinkles in an emollient vehicle for tactile roughness. This novel formulation was compared with 0.05% tretinoin emollient cream, the standard against which all other topical photoaging treatments are compared. Investigator assessments, subject assessments, and photography represented the evaluation end points. Results. The cosmeceutical emollient 4% hydroquinone/0.3% retinol cream more effectively diminished the collective signs of photodamage than 0.05% tretinoin emollient cream in terms of dyspigmentation, fine wrinkles, and tactile roughness in 16 weeks. Conclusion. Combination therapy of hydroquinone and retinol may improve photoaging-associated hyperpigmentation. THIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED AS PART OF A RESEARCH GRANT FROM MEDICIS THE DERMATOLOGY COMPANY, PHOENIX, ARIZONA. DR. DRAELOS HAS NO FINANCIAL INTEREST IN ANY OF THE MEDICATIONS DISCUSSED IN THIS RESEARCH. [source] Beyond the Corporate SphereDESIGN MANAGEMENT REVIEW, Issue 1 2000Roger Sametz MUCH OF THE thinking and best practices related to branding and design in the corporate realm are of great value in the not-for-profit sector,particularly academia. Roger Sametz reframes fundamental branding strategies to better fit the academic culture, details the steps necessary to build a strong brand in this context, and shares examples of work Sametz Blackstone has done for several institutions. [source] SPECIAL SECTION: EVALUATION OF THE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN CANNABIS INFRINGEMENT NOTICE SCHEME,PHASE 1: Community attitudes towards cannabis law and the proposed Cannabis Infringement Notice scheme in Western AustraliaDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 4 2005JAMES FETHERSTON Abstract Western Australia (WA) became the fourth Australian jurisdiction to adopt a prohibition with civil penalties scheme for minor cannabis offences when its Cannabis Infringement Notice (CIN) scheme became law on 22 March 2004. Previous criminological research has demonstrated the importance of public attitudes towards the law in determining the effectiveness of legislation. This survey represents the first phase of a pre-post study that attempted to gauge public attitudes towards the legal status of cannabis, the proposed legislative reforms surrounding the drug and their likely effects. A random telephone survey of 809 members of the WA population was conducted prior to the implementation of the new laws with a view to exploring contemporary views of the existing legal status of cannabis, attitudes to the proposed legislative model and respondent perceptions of its likely effects. Despite cannabis being viewed negatively by large numbers of the sample, criminal penalties for minor cannabis offences were viewed as inappropriate and ineffective. Once explained, the proposed civil penalty scheme was viewed as ,a good idea' by 79% of the sample, despite significant differences due to personal experience of cannabis use, political affiliation, religiosity and age of offspring. Most believed that the legislative change would not result in changes to levels of cannabis use (70%) or ease of obtaining cannabis (59%). These data suggest that prior to its implementation the new legislation was highly acceptable to the majority of the community. These baseline data will be compared with data to be collected at the post-change phase of the study to allow empirical observations of attitudinal and behavioural changes occurring in the community. [source] GOVERNING BY NETWORK: THE NEW SHAPE OF THE PUBLIC SECTOR by Stephen Goldsmith and William D. EggersECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Issue 2 2006Keith Boyfield No abstract is available for this article. [source] [Commentary] FINANCIAL STRESS AND SMOKING CESSATION,A SILVER LINING TO THE DARK CLOUDS OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMY?ADDICTION, Issue 8 2009FRANK J. CHALOUPKA No abstract is available for this article. [source] [Commentary] GENETICALLY INFORMATIVE STUDIES OF ,ENVIRONMENT'ADDICTION, Issue 3 2009MICHAEL T. LYNSKEY No abstract is available for this article. [source] TO BE PRESENTED DURING THE 42nd ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR CLINICAL INVESTIGATION (ESCI) Geneva, Switzerland, 26,29 March 2008 THE ESCI AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN CLINICAL SCIENCE 10 000 EUROEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 8 2007Article first published online: 14 JUL 200 No abstract is available for this article. [source] Switchable Fluorescent and Solvatochromic Molecular Probes Based on 4-Amino- N -methylphthalimide and a Photochromic DiaryletheneEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, Issue 15 2008Sergey F. Yan Abstract New fluorescent photochromic compounds (1 -H and 1 -Boc) have been synthesized and characterized in different solvents. The fluorescence emission can be switched "on" and "off" with visible light and UV, respectively, by means of the photochromic reaction. The emission wavelength and efficiency strongly depend on the polarity of the solvent. The compounds show a positive solvatochromic effect in the emission maxima, and their fluorescence quantum yield decreases as the solvent's polarity increases (from cyclohexane to dioxane). In solvents more polar than dioxane the emission is too weak and therefore undetectable, and thus 1 -H and 1 -Boc behave as "normal" photochromic compounds. The photochromic reaction is also sensitive to the environment. A decrease of more than an order of magnitude was found for the quantum yield of the colouring reaction (,OF,CF) for 1 -H in ethanol compared with cyclohexane, and an about threefold decrease in ,OF,CF was observed for the compound 1 -Boc in polar solvents (compared with apolar solvents). For both compounds the ring-opening reaction was found not to dependent on the solvent. The novel fluorescent molecular switches 1 -H and 1 -Boc are able to probe the polarity of their microenvironment. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008) [source] Wild mouse open field behavior is embedded within the multidimensional data space spanned by laboratory inbred strainsGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 5 2006E. Fonio The vast majority of studies on mouse behavior are performed on laboratory mouse strains (Mus laboratorius), while studies of wild-mouse behavior are relatively rare. An interesting question is the relationship between the phenotypes of M. laboratorius and the phenotypes of their wild ancestors. It is commonly believed, often in the absence of hard evidence, that the behavior of wild mice exceeds by far, in terms of repertoire richness, magnitude of variables and variability of behavioral measures, the behavior of the classical inbred strains. Having phenotyped the open field behavior (OF) of eight of the commonly used laboratory inbred strains, two wild-derived strains and a group of first-generation-in-captivity local wild mice (Mus musculus domesticus), we show that contrary to common belief, wild-mouse OF behavior is moderate, both in terms of end-point values and in terms of their variability, being embedded within the multidimensional data space spanned by laboratory inbred strains. The implication could be that whereas natural selection favors moderate locomotor behavior in wild mice, the inbreeding process tends to generate in mice, in some of the features, extreme and more variable behavior. [source] Common variations in the pretest environment influence genotypic comparisons in models of anxietyGENES, BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR, Issue 7 2005G. S. Izídio The behavioral characterization of rodent strains in different studies and laboratories can provide unreplicable results even when genotypes are kept constant and environmental control is maximized. In the present study, the influence of common laboratory environmental variables and their interaction with genotype on the results of behavioral tests of anxiety/emotionality were investigated. To this end, the inbred rat strains Lewis (LEW) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), which are known to differ for numerous emotionality-related behaviors, were tested in the open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM) and black/white box (BWB), while three environmental factors were systematically controlled and analyzed: (1) the experimenter handling the animal (familiar or unfamiliar); (2) the position of the home cage (top or bottom shelf of the rack) and (3) the behavioral state of the animal immediately before the test (arousal or rest). Experimenter familiarity did not alter the behavior of rats in the OF. Cage position, on the other hand, influenced the behavior in the OF and BWB, with rats housed in top cages appearing less anxious like than those housed in the bottom. In the BWB (but not in the OF), these effects were genotype dependent. Finally, the behavioral state of the animals prior to testing altered the results of the EPM in a strain-dependent manner, with some anxiety-related genotypic differences being found only among rats that were aroused in their home cages. This study showed that common variations in the laboratory environment interact with genotype in behavioral tests of anxiety/emotionality. Recognizing and understanding such variations can help in the design of more effective experiments. [source] Relevance of the genes for bone mass variation to susceptibility to osteoporotic fractures and its implications to gene search for complex human diseasesGENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 1 2002Hong-Wen Deng Abstract We investigate the relevance of the genetic determination of bone mineral density (BMD) variation to that of differential risk to osteoporotic fractures (OF). The high heritability (h2) of BMD and the significant phenotypic correlations between high BMD and low risk to OF are well known. Little is reported on h2 for OF. Extensive molecular genetic studies aimed at uncovering genes for differential risks to OF have focussed on BMD as a surrogate phenotype. However, the relevance of the genetic determination of BMD to that of OF is unknown. This relevance can be characterized by genetic correlation between BMD and OF. For 50 Caucasian pedigrees, we estimated that h2 at the hip is 0.65 (P < 0.0001) for BMD and 0.53 (P < 0.05) for OF; however, the genetic correlation between BMD and OF is nonsignificant (P > 0.45) and less than 1% of additive genetic variance is shared between them. Hence, most genes found important for BMD may not be relevant to OF at the hip. The phenotypic correlation between high BMD and low risk to OF at the hip (approximately ,0.30) is largely due to an environmental correlation (,E = ,0.73, P < 0.0001). The search for genes for OF should start with a significant h2 for OF and should include risk factors (besides BMD) that are genetically correlated with OF. All genes found important for various risk factors must be tested for their relevance to OF. Ideally, employing OF per se as a direct phenotype for gene hunting and testing can ensure the importance and direct relevance of the genes found for the risk of OF. This study may have significant implications for the common practice of gene search for complex diseases through underlying risk factors (usually quantitative traits). Genet. Epidemiol. 22:12,25, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] THE CURSE OF THE LABRADOR DUCK: My Obsessive Quest to the Edge of Extinction.GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, Issue 2 2010By Glen Chilton. No abstract is available for this article. [source] Eco-hydrological controls on summertime convective rainfall triggersGLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2007JEHN-YIH JUANG Abstract Triggers of summertime convective rainfall depend on numerous interactions and feedbacks, often compounded by spatial variability in soil moisture and its impacts on vegetation function, vegetation composition, terrain, and all the complex turbulent entrainment processes near the capping inversion. To progress even within the most restricted and idealized framework, many of the governing processes must be simplified and parameterized. In this work, a zeroth-order representation of the dynamical processes that control convective rainfall triggers , namely land surface fluxes of heat and moisture , is proposed and used to develop a semianalytical model to explore how differential sensitivities of various ecosystems to soil moisture states modify convective rainfall triggers. The model is then applied to 4 years (2001,2004) of half-hourly precipitation, soil moisture, environmental, and eddy-covariance surface heat flux data collected at a mixed hardwood forest (HW), a maturing planted loblolly pine forest (PP), and an abandoned old field (OF) experiencing the same climatic and edaphic conditions. We found that the sensitivity of PP to soil moisture deficit enhances the trigger of convective rainfall relative to HW and OF, with enhancements of about 25% and 30% for dry moisture states, and 5% and 15% for moist soil moisture states, respectively. We discuss the broader implications of these findings on potential modulations of convective rainfall triggers induced by projected large-scale changes in timberland composition within the Southeastern United States. [source] Analog-VLSI, array-processor-based, Bayesian, multi-scale optical flow estimationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CIRCUIT THEORY AND APPLICATIONS, Issue 1 2006L. Török Abstract Optical flow (OF) estimation aims at derive a motion-vector field that characterizes motions on a video sequence of images. In this paper, we propose a new multi-scale (or scale-space) algorithm that generates OF on cellular neural/non-linear network universal machine, a general purpose analog-VLSI hardware, at resolution of 128 × 128 with fair accuracy and working over a speed of 100 frames/s. The performance of the hardware implementation of the proposed algorithm is measured on a standard image sequence. As far as we are concerned, this is the first time when an OF estimator hardware is tested on a practical-size standard image sequence. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Equivalent orbitals for multiconfigurational spin-tensor electron propagator method (MCSTEP): The vertical ionization potentials of B, NO, CF, and OFINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF QUANTUM CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2008Dongxia Ma Abstract The multiconfigurational spin tensor electron propagator method (MCSTEP) was developed as an implementation of electron propagator/single particle Green's function methods for ionization potentials (IPs) and electron affinities (EAs). MCSTEP was specifically designed for open shell and highly correlated (nondynamically correlated) initial states. For computational efficiency the initial state used in MCSTEP is typically a small complete active space (CAS) multiconfigurational self-consistent field (MCSCF) state. If in a molecule there are some degenerate orbitals which are not fully or half occupied, usual MCSCF calculations will make these orbitals inequivalent, i.e., the occupied ones will be different from the nonoccupied ones, so that the degeneracy is broken. In this article, we use a state averaged MCSCF method to get equivalent orbitals for the initial state and import the integrals into the subsequent MCSTEP calculations. This gives, in general, more reliable MCSTEP vertical IPs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., 2008 [source] SENSE OF THE FAITHFUL: HOW AMERICAN CATHOLICS LIVE THEIR FAITH by Jerome P. BaggettJOURNAL FOR THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF RELIGION, Issue 1 2010ANTHONY J. POGORELC No abstract is available for this article. [source] THE SIGN OF THE WITCH: MODERNITY AND THE PAGAN REVIVAL by David WaldronJOURNAL FOR THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF RELIGION, Issue 2 2009HELEN A. BERGER No abstract is available for this article. [source] Postprandial Hypotension in Long-Term Care Elderly Patients on Enteral FeedingJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 9 2006Emily Lubart MD OBJECTIVES: To examine the prevalence and nature of postprandial hypotension (PPH) in orally fed (OF), nasogastric tube (NGT)-fed, and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)-fed older people. DESIGN: Prospective comparative study. SETTING: Nursing and skilled nursing wards of three geriatrics hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Three groups (OF, PEG, NGT) of long-term care patients (50 in each cohort) were enrolled. MEASUREMENTS: Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate measurements were obtained just before lunch and at 15-minute intervals for 90 minutes after the completion of the meal. The meals were similar in caloric content and composition. RESULTS: PPH was evidenced in 64 (43%) patients. No significant intergroup (OF, PEG, NGT) differences were present. In 68% of PPH patients, the systolic BP (SBP) drop appeared within 30 minutes, and 70% reached their systolic nadir at 60 minutes. In 31%, the SBP drop was registered on only one measurement, whereas in 25%, the drop was detected on five to six measurements. All parameters were without notable intergroup differences. CONCLUSION: In enterally fed elderly patients (NGT or PEG), the rate and pattern of PPH are similar and not significantly different from that observed in OF patients. [source] Anatomics: the intersection of anatomy and bioinformaticsJOURNAL OF ANATOMY, Issue 1 2005Jonathan B. L. Bard Abstract Computational resources are now using the tissue names of the major model organisms so that tissue-associated data can be archived in and retrieved from databases on the basis of developing and adult anatomy. For this to be done, the set of tissues in that organism (its anatome) has to be organized in a way that is computer-comprehensible. Indeed, such formalization is a necessary part of what is becoming known as systems biology, in which explanations of high-level biological phenomena are not only sought in terms of lower-level events, but are articulated within a computational framework. Lists of tissue names alone, however, turn out to be inadequate for this formalization because tissue organization is essentially hierarchical and thus cannot easily be put into tables, the natural format of relational databases. The solution now adopted is to organize the anatomy of each organism as a hierarchy of tissue names and linking relationships (e.g. the tibia is PART OF the leg, the tibia IS-A bone) within what are known as ontologies. In these, a unique ID is assigned to each tissue and this can be used within, for example, gene-expression databases to link data to tissue organization, and also used to query other data sources (interoperability), while inferences about the anatomy can be made within the ontology on the basis of the relationships. There are now about 15 such anatomical ontologies, many of which are linked to organism databases; these ontologies are now publicly available at the Open Biological Ontologies website (http://obo.sourceforge.net) from where they can be freely downloaded and viewed using standard tools. This review considers how anatomy is formalized within ontologies, together with the problems that have had to be solved for this to be done. It is suggested that the appropriate term for the analysis, computer formulation and use of the anatome is anatomics. [source] The influence of ovarian fluid on Solea senegalensis sperm motilityJOURNAL OF APPLIED ICHTHYOLOGY, Issue 5 2010P. Diogo Summary The role of ovarian fluid in fertilization has been neglected, particularly in marine species. The aim of this work was therefore to assess the influence of ovarian fluid (OF) as a potential contributor factor to sperm motility in Solea senegalensis. The specificity of interactions between sperm and ovarian fluid was analyzed using homologous and heterelogous ovarian fluid. Additional tests tried to identify the most useful concentration for improving sperm motility throughout the activation process. Ovarian fluid solutions were diluted in artificial seawater (SW) (v:v) 0 : 100, 25 : 75, 50 : 50, 75 : 25 and 100 : 0 (OF:SW). Pure ovarian fluid solutions (100%) did not promote sperm motility by themselves since they lack the osmolarity needed to trigger sperm motility. With 75% of ovarian fluid the activation solution promoted a deficient activation and the best concentrations used were 25 and 50%. The presence of ovarian fluid affected significantly total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) in the last seconds post activation. Progressive motility was higher at 45 s for homologous 25% OF (20.4%) than control (9.4%). Homologous 25% OF increased significantly TM and PM at 60 s post activation (32.0 and 10.5%, respectively) when compared to control (15.8 and 1.7%, respectively). Sperm velocity showed significant differences in the presence of ovarian fluid since early seconds post activation. Our data revealed an enhancement of sperm motility with ovarian fluid at low concentrations in the activation solution. There seems to be a high degree of specificity of ovarian fluid-sperm interaction since heterologous fluid had a lower performance enhancing sperm motility than homologous fluid. Our results indicated a possible important female contribution to sperm motility enhancement during the fertilization process in S. senegalensis. [source] Genetic Determination of Colles' Fracture and Differential Bone Mass in Women With and Without Colles' FractureJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 7 2000Hong-Wen Deng Abstract Osteoporotic fractures (OFs) are a major public health problem. Direct evidence of the importance and, particularly, the magnitude of genetic determination of OF per se is essentially nonexistent. Colles' fractures (CFs) are a common type of OF. In a metropolitan white female population in the midwestern United States, we found significant genetic determination of CF. The prevalence (K) of CF is, respectively, 11.8% (±SE 0.7%) in 2471 proband women aged 65.55 years (0.21), 4.4% (0.3%) in 3803 sisters of the probands, and 14.6% (0.7%) in their mothers. The recurrence risk (K0), the probability that a woman will suffer CF if her mother has suffered CF is 0.155 (0.017). The recurrence risk (Ks), the probability that a sister of a proband woman will suffer CF given that her proband sister has suffered CF is 0.084 (0.012). The relative risk , (the ratio of the recurrence risk to K), which measures the degree of genetic determination of complex diseases such as CF, is 1.312 (0.145; ,0) for a woman with an affected mother and 1.885 (0.276; ,s) for a woman with an affected sister. A ,-value significantly greater than 1.0 indicates genetic determination of CF. The terms ,0 and ,s are related to the genetic variances of CF. These parameters translate into a significant and moderately high heritability (0.254 [0.118]) for CF. These parameters were estimated by a maximum likelihood method that we developed, which provides a general tool for characterizing genetic determination of complex diseases. In addition, we found that women without CF had significantly higher bone mass (adjusted for important covariates such as age, weight, etc.) than women with CF. [source] Atrial Morphology in Hearts with Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries: Implications for the InterventionistJOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2 2002RAJNISH JUNEJA M.D. Atrial Morphology in Congenitally Corrected Transposition.Introduction: In view of the possible need for septal puncture to ablate left-sided lesions and the occasional difficulty in coronary sinus (CS) cannulation, we investigated relevant anatomic features in the right atrium of hearts with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA). Methods and Results: Nine hearts with ccTGA and an intact atrial septum and eight weight-matched normal hearts were examined by studying the "septal" aspect of the right atrium with reference to the oval fossa (OF). The anterior margin was arbitrarily measured as the shortest distance from the OF to the superior mitral/tricuspid annulus. The posterior margin was measured from the OF to the posterior-most edge of the right atrial "septal" surface. The total "septal" surface width was measured at the middle of the OF. The stretched OF dimensions and CS isthmus length were noted. Mann-Whitney test was used to compare absolute and indexed dimensions, i.e.. normalized to total width. The posterior margin in hearts with ccTGA was shorter than in controls (6.3 ± 2.4 mm vs 11 ± 1.9 mm, P < 0.001; normalized margin P = 0.09). The CS isthmus also was significantly shorter (5.3 ± 2.7 mm vs 11.4 ± 2.2 mm, P < 0.001). In two hearts with ccTGA, the CS opening into the right atrium was on the same side of the eustachian valve as the inferior caval vein. Conclusion: The shorter posterior "septal" margin in hearts with ccTGA may increase the risk of exiting the heart while performing septal puncture when pointing the needle posteriorly. The shorter CS isthmus and the abnormal location of the CS opening in some of these hearts are important when contemplating radiofrequency ablation in this area. [source] PHYLOGENY OF THE EUGLENALES INFERRED FROM PLASTID LSU rDNA SEQUENCES,JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 4 2008Jong Im Kim To gain insights into the phylogeny of the Euglenales, we analyzed the plastid LSU rDNA sequences from 101 strains of the photosynthetic euglenoids belonging to nine ingroup genera (Euglena, Trachelomonas, Strombomonas, Monomorphina, Cryptoglena, Colacium, Discoplastis, Phacus, and Lepocinclis) and two outgroup genera (Eutreptia and Eutreptiella). Bayesian and maximum-likelihood (ML) analyses resulted in trees of similar topologies and four major clades: a Phacus and Lepocinclis clade; a Colacium clade; a Trachelomonas, Strombomonas, Monomorphina, and Cryptoglena clade; and a Euglena clade. The Phacus and Lepocinclis clade was the sister group of all other euglenalian genera, followed by Discoplastis spathirhyncha (Skuja) Triemer and the Colacium clade, respectively, which was inconsistent with their placement based on nuclear rDNA genes. The Trachelomonas, Strombomonas, Monomorphina, and Cryptoglena clade was sister to the Euglena clade. The loricate genera, Trachelomonas and Strombomonas, were closely related to each other, while Monomorphina and Cryptoglena also grouped together. The Euglena clade formed a monophyletic lineage comprising most species from taxa formerly allocated to the subgenera Calliglena and Euglena. However, within this genus, none of the subgenera was monophyletic. [source] CHOREONEMA (CORALLINALES, RHODOPHYTA): 18S rDNA PHYLOGENY AND RESURRECTION OF THE HAPALIDIACEAE FOR THE SUBFAMILIES CHOREONEMATOIDEAE, AUSTROLITHOIDEAE, AND MELOBESIOIDEAEJOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 5 2003Adele S. Harvey Phylogenetic analyses of 18S rDNA gene data for Choreonema thuretii (Corallinales, Rhodophyta) and available data for other coralline red algae indicated that Choreonema belongs to the same lineage as other taxa of Corallinales possessing tetra/bisporangial conceptacles with multiporate plates. These results, when integrated with extant morphological/anatomical data, ultrastructural data, and taxonomic data led to the conclusion that all taxa of Corallinales possessing multiporate conceptacles belong to a distinct family, the Hapalidiaceae. Recognition of the Hapalidiaceae as a distinct family was supported both phylogenetically and phenetically. The Hapalidiaceae includes those taxa of Corallinales whose tetrasporangia produce zonately arranged spores and whose tetra/bisporangia are borne in conceptacles, produce apical plugs, and develop beneath multiporate plates. The Hapalidiaceae includes the subfamilies Choreonematoideae, Melobesioideae, and Austrolithoideae, formerly placed in the Corallinaceae sensu lato. The Choreonematoideae lack cell connections between adjacent vegetative filaments and have a multiporate plate that is acellular at maturity, consisting only of a calcium carbonate matrix. The Austrolithoideae and Melobesioideae both have cellular pore plates; taxa of Melobesioideae have cell fusions between cells of adjacent vegetative filaments, whereas taxa of Austrolithoideae lack cellular connections between adjacent vegetative filaments. Inclusion of the Austrolithoideae in the Hapalidiaceae was based entirely on morphological/anatomical evidence; molecular evidence currently is lacking. Relevant historical and nomenclatural data are included. [source] PHYLOGENY OF THE DASYCLADALES (CHLOROPHYTA, ULVOPHYCEAE) BASED ON ANALYSES OF RUBISCO LARGE SUBUNIT (rbcL) GENE SEQUENCES,JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 4 2003Frederick W. Zechman The phylogeny of the green algal Order Dasycladales was inferred by maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of chloroplast-encoded rbcL sequence data. Bayesian analysis suggested that the tribe Acetabularieae is monophyletic but that some genera within the tribe, such as Acetabularia Lamouroux and Polyphysa Lamouroux, are not. Bayesian analysis placed Halicoryne Harvey as the sister group of the Acetabularieae, a result consistent with limited fossil evidence and monophyly of the family Acetabulariaceae but was not supported by significant posterior probability. Bayesian analysis further suggested that the family Dasycladaceae is a paraphyletic assemblage at the base of the Dasycladales radiation, casting doubt on the current family-level classification. The genus Cymopolia Lamouroux was inferred to be the basal-most dasycladalean genus, which is also consistent with limited fossil evidence. Unweighted parsimony analyses provided similar results but primarily differed by the sister relationship between Halicoryne Lamouroux and Bornetella Munier-Chalmas, thus supporting the monophyly of neither the families Acetabulariaceae nor Dasycladaceae. This result, however, was supported by low bootstrap values. Low transition-to-transversion ratios, potential loss of phylogenetic signal in third codon positions, and the 550 million year old Dasycladalean lineage suggest that dasyclad rbcL sequences may be saturated due to deep time divergences. Such factors may have contributed to inaccurate reconstruction of phylogeny, particularly with respect to potential inconsistency of parsimony analyses. Regardless, strongly negative g1 values were obtained in analyses including all codon positions, indicating the presence of considerable phylogenetic signal in dasyclad rbcL sequence data. Morphological features relevant to the separation of taxa within the Dasycladales and the possible effects of extinction on phylogeny reconstruction are discussed relative to the inferred phylogenies. [source] INTERACTIONS OF THE MIX-LINKED ,-(1,3)/,-(1,4)- d -XYLANS IN THE CELL WALLS OF PALMARIA PALMATA (RHODOPHYTA),JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Estelle Deniaud Algal cell wall mechanical properties, crucial for biological functions and commercial applications, rely on interactions in macromolecular assemblies. In an effort to better understand the interactions of the matrix-phase ,-(1,3)/(1,4)- d -xylan in the edible seaweed Palmaria palmata ((L.) O. Kuntze, Rhodophyta, Palmariales), sequential extractions by saline, alkaline, and chaotropic solutions were done. The chemical composition and structure and the physicochemical properties of the isolated xylan revealed that it was partly acidic, probably due to the presence of sulfate (up to 5%) and phosphate groups (up to 4%). Although such acidity suggested ionic interactions of xylan in the cell walls, the high yields of polysaccharide extracted by alkali and particularly by 8 M urea and 4.5 M guanidium thiocyanate demonstrated that it was mainly hydrogen bonded in the cell wall. H-bonds did not appear to be related to the mean proportions of ,-(1,3) and ,-(1,4)- d -xylose linkages because these did not differ between extracts of increasing alkalinity. However, the decreasing molar weight and intrinsic viscosity of extracts obtained by alkaline solution containing a reducing agent used to prevent polysaccharide degradation suggested the presence of an alkali-labile component in the xylan. These results are discussed with regard to the role of potential wall proteins as a means of control of these interactions. [source] MONOPHYLY OF THE GENUS CLOSTERIUM AND THE ORDER DESMIDIALES (CHAROPHYCEAE, CHLOROPHYTA) INFERRED FROM NUCLEAR SMALL SUBUNIT rDNA DATAJOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 6 2001Takashi Denboh We newly sequenced the nuclear-encoded small subunit (SSU) rDNA coding region for 21 taxa of the genus Closterium. The new sequences were integrated into an alignment with 13 known sequences of conjugating green algae representing six traditional families (i.e. Zygnemataceae, Mesotaeniaceae, Gonatozygaceae, Peniaceae, Closteriaceae, and Desmidiaceae) and five known charophycean sequences as outgroups. Both maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony analyses supported with high bootstrap values one large clade containing all placoderm desmids (Desmidiales). All the Closterium taxa formed one clade with 100% bootstrap support, indicating their monophyly, but not paraphyly, as suggested earlier. As to the taxa within the genus Closterium, we found two clades of morphologically closely related taxa in both maximum likelihood and maximum parsimony trees. They corresponded to the C. calosporum species complex and the C. moniliferum-ehrenbergii species complex. It is of particular interest that the homothallic entity of C. moniliferum v. moniliferum was distinguished from and ancestral to all other entities of the C. moniliferum-ehrenbergii species complex. Superimposing all 50 charophycean sequences on the higher order SSU rRNA structure model of Closterium, we investigated degrees of nucleotide conservation at a given position in the nucleotide sequence. A characteristic "signature" structure to the genus Closterium was found as an additional helix at the tip of V1 region. In addition, eight base deletions at the tip of helix 10 were found to be characteristic of the C. calosporum species complex, C. gracile, C. incurvum, C. pleurodermatum, and C. pusillum v. maius. These taxa formed one clade with an 82% bootstrap value in maximum parsimony analysis. [source] PHYLOGENY OF THE EUGLENOPHYTES INFERRED FROM SSU AND LSU rDNAJOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2001Article first published online: 24 SEP 200 Zimmermann, S. & Triemer, R. E. Department of Life Sciences, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA The phylogeny of the Euglenophytes has previously been examined using the SSU rDNA. Results from these analyses indicated that the phototrophic genera are not monophyletic. To test this hypothesis, a second gene was sequenced, the LSU rDNA. The taxa used in this study were selected from clades represented in the SSU analyses so that comparisons could be made between gene phylogenies and a combined dataset could be created. Conserved areas of the aligned sequences for both the LSU and SSU were used to generate parsimony, maximum likelihood, and distance trees. Topology of the SSU and LSU trees was similar. The SSU and LSU data consistently generated the same four highly supported terminal clades and varied only in the placement of Euglena stellata and Euglena viridis. The internal nodes of the SSU trees were weakly supported, whereas the LSU provided higher support for these nodes. A combined LSU and SSU dataset was then created. Analysis of the combined dataset yielded trees with identical topologies to those found in the individual datasets and demonstrated strong support for the four terminal clades. These results show that phylogeny of the Euglenophytes as inferred previously from SSU data is confirmed by the LSU data and that the LSU rDNA gene may be useful in elucidating relationships among the major clades. [source] ORGANIZATION OF THE nif GENES OF THE NONHETEROCYSTOUS CYANOBACTERIUM TRICHODESMIUM SP.JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 4 2000IMS10 An approximately 16-kb fragment of the Trichodesmium sp. IMS101 (a nonheterocystous filamentous cyanobacterium) "conventional"nif gene cluster was cloned and sequenced. The gene organization of the Trichodesmium and Anabaena variabilis vegetative (nif 2) nitrogenase gene clusters spanning the region from nif B to nif W are similar except for the absence of two open reading frames (ORF3 and ORF1) in Trichodesmium. The Trichodesmium nif EN genes encode a fused Nif EN polypeptide that does not appear to be processed into individual Nif E and Nif N polypeptides. Fused nif EN genes were previously found in the A. variabilis nif 2 genes, but we have found that fused nif EN genes are widespread in the nonheterocystous cyanobacteria. Although the gene organization of the nonheterocystous filamentous Trichodesmium nif gene cluster is very similar to that of the A. variabilis vegetative nif 2 gene cluster, phylogenetic analysis of nif sequences do not support close relatedness of Trichodesmium and A. variabilis vegetative (nif 2) nitrogenase genes. 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