bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disturbances and biodiversity in forest ecosystems: A temperate zone perspective
Authors: Fischer Anton
Published: March 2012

In the temperate zone windstorms and bark beetle attacks represent the main natural forest disturbances; in steep mountain areas snow avalanches also may “destroy” forest stands completely. In the densely populated and intensively used temperate zone of Europe affected forest stands will be cleared and reforested immediately after such “catastrophes”. Therefore we have only little knowledge about the influence of such natural disturbances on both the stand development and the biodiversity of native forest ecosystems. And we do not have quantitative data on to which degree forest management changes the biodiversity compared to the natural disturbances. Since about two decades several permanent plot studies have been running in European forests affected by such natural disturbances, mainly with focus on plant species. Here we first outline the importance of disturbances for biodiversity in forest ecosystems and then discuss whether it is possible to combine both biodiversity protection and forest management. For that we use four recent case studies carried out in the two oldest national parks in Germany, three of them being long-term observations on permanent plots for up to two decades. Disturbances like wind throw, bark beetle outbreak and snow avalanche strongly influences the tree layer structure, creating micro-habitats for many plant, animal and fungi species, which naturally belong to the forest ecosystem. Such disturbances in future should be included into management schemes in forestry to improve biodiversity. We found evidence that it is really possible to combine timber utilization with biodiversity protection. As long as the management impact is reduced (e.g. single tree harvesting, using natural regeneration), species diversity of several taxonomic groups (in our study: vascular plants, soil living Carabidae, and soil living fungi) may not be different significantly from a pristine forest. Interconnecting resource use with biodiversity protection will be a main task for both foresters and conservationist in the decades to come – and it seems to be a possible option for a sustainable land use in many parts of the world.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5552 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 1-9
Terricolous lichens as indicator of anthropogenic disturbances in a high altitude grassland in Garhwal (Western Himalaya), India
Authors: Rai Himanshu , Khare Roshni , Gupta Rajan Kumar , Upreti Dalip Kumar
Published: March 2012

Lichens are known to be more sensitive indicators of ecosystem functioning and disturbances than any other cryptogams and vascular plant communities. Himalayan habitats, despite their stressed climates, harbor some of the unique biodiversity of the region, vital for overall ecosystem functioning and stability. Lichens, due to their desiccation tolerance, are able to survive in high altitude habitats and evolved into diverse categories and functional groups. Present study examines the terricolous lichen community in Chopta-Tungnath temperate-alpine grassland of Garhwal Himalaya, in order to identify potential elements (species/growth form) as indicator of anthropogenic disturbances. Terricolous lichens were sampled from twelve sites distributed in three stratified macrohabitats, along increasing altitudinal gradient. A total of twenty soil lichen species belonging to ten genera, six families and four morphological groups (i.e. leprose, foliose, dimorphic and fruticose) were identified. Terricolous lichen diversity was negatively correlated (r = 0.70; p<0.05) with altitude. Among the four growth forms, fruticose growth form was indicator of grazing disturbance, distinguishing low grazed high altitude (3400-4001 m asl) areas with highly grazed low altitude (2700-3000 m asl) to mid altitude (3000-3400 m asl) areas. Terricolous lichen diversity in the study area was found constrained by vascular plants at lower altitudes, human-related impacts (tourism and livestock grazing induced trampling) at mid-altitudes and habitat characteristics (low soil cover) at higher altitudes.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5554 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 16-23
Epiphytic lichens as indicator of land-use pattern and forest harvesting in a community forest in west Nepal
Authors: Nag Pramod , Rai Himanshu , Upreti Dalip Kumar , Nayaka Sanjeeva , Gupta Rajan Kumar
Published: March 2012

Human inhabitance and agriculture have fundamentally altered global pattern of biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Therefore, integration of community-based approach is an effective conservation strategy. Community forestry is an important community-based approach, which can help in conserving local ecological assets in a sustainable manner. Lichens are known to be more sensitive indicators of ecosystem functions and disturbances than any other cryptogam and vascular plant community. Present study reports a preliminary assessment of epiphytic lichens in a community forest in Dadeldhura district, west Nepal, in order to identify potential indicator of forest health and land-use pattern. Epiphytic (corticolous) lichens were sampled from ten land-use units (LUU), using narrow frequency grids of 10 cm × 50 cm, each divided into five sampling units of 10 cm × 10 cm, on the bark of selected tree species. Quercus leucotrichophora was the dominant phorophyte followed by Pinus roxburghii, Rhododendron arboreum and Myrica esculenta. Foliose parmeloid (Parmotrema spp., Heterodermia spp., Hypotrachyna spp., Bulbothrix spp., Canoparmelia spp., Canomaculina spp.) was the most abundant lichen group, found inhabiting all the phorophytes followed by crustose, fruticose and dimorphic growth forms. Maximum diversity of parmeloid lichens was recorded on older stand of Quercus while younger stands usually harbored crustose lichens (e.g., Lecanora spp., Basidia spp.). Though the lichen diversity increased from outer fringes of the forest to the core, the vegetation stand age was not distributed in any consistent pattern suggesting unconstrained harvesting of the forest. Lichen diversity was found constrained by phorophyte determinants (stand age, aspect, and bark properties) and community harvesting of the forest.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5555 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 24-32
Bioactivity and biochemical analysis of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
Authors: Baral Bikash , Vaidya Geeta Shrestha , Bhattarai Nabin
Published: March 2012

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is an invasive aquatic weed causing serious threats to water ecosystems throughout the world. Recently, considerable attention has been given at harvesting the plant for practical uses. An experiment on the bioactivity of water hyacinth was conducted using the soxhlet extraction (hot method) and cold percolation method in chloroform and ethanol in order to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of the plant. Plant samples were also analyzed for the presence of major pharmacologically active compounds. The antimicrobial assay was performed using well diffusion method against nine different clinical bacterial strains and six phytopathogenic fungal strains. The chloroform hot extract showed activity against 22.22% (Zone of Inhibition, ZOI < 13mm) bacteria and 66.66% (ZOI < 12mm) fungi; while the cold extract showed activity against 50% (ZOI < 13mm) fungi, but no activity against bacteria. Similarly, the ethanol hot extract showed activity against 77.77% (ZOI < 19mm) bacteria and 66.66% (ZOI < 20mm) fungi, while the cold extract showed activity against 77.77% (ZOI < 10mm) bacteria and 50% (ZOI < 14mm) fungi. The ethanolic hot and cold extract proved to be far better than the chloroform fraction showing more antibacterial activity, while they share the same value and possess same effectiveness against the different fungi. Chemical analysis indicated that the major components in these extracts were saponins, polyoses, alkaloid salts, and reducing compounds. The present study showed that the devastating aquatic weed, with strong antimicrobial potentials and presence of biologically active phytochemicals, may be useful for developing alternative compounds to treat infectious diseases caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5556 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 33-39
Production of bergenin, an active chemical constituent in the callus of Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb.
Authors: Shrestha Umesh Krishna , Pant Bijaya
Published: March 2012

In vitro culture of Bergenia ciliata (Haw.) Sternb. was carried out for the examination of bergenin content. Leaf explants were cultured in MS (Murashige and Skoog) basal media supplemented with or without phytohormones. The hormonal series maintained were in the range of 0-2 mg l-1 for BAP (6-benzyl amino purine) and 0-1.5 mg l-1 for NAA (α-naphthalene acetic acid). Bergenin content of in vitro grown tissues of B. ciliata was compared with that of wild plants collected from three different localities of Nepal. The best growth of callus and plantlets occurred in the media containing BAP 1.0 mg l-1 + NAA 1.0 mg l-1 and BAP 1.5 mg l-1 + NAA 1.0 mg l-1. Production of bergenin was high in the media supplemented with 1.0 mg l-1 BAP + 1.5 mg l-1 NAA (3.40 μg g-1) and 2.0 mg l-1 BAP + 1.5 mg l-1 NAA (3.05 μg g-1) under experimental condition. The bergenin content in the wild plants collected from Langtang, Jumla and Godawari was found to be 4.28 μg g-1, 4.53 μg g-1 and 3.64 μg g-1 respectively. This study shows that the in vitro cultured callus of B. ciliata is capable of synthesizing bergenin in quantity comparable to that of the wild plant.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5557 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 40-44
Bee flora in mid hills of Central Nepal
Authors: Adhikari Subodh , Ranabhat Nar B
Published: March 2012

Beekeeping is one of the promising ventures for economically poor families in Nepal. Knowledge about the bee flora of a certain area is very crucial for the farmers. A study was conducted in mid hills of Central Nepal during 2003-04 and 2008-09 to monitor the common plant species visited by bees with their visiting time and seasons. The flowering period of those plant species were also observed. Observations were made on the bees’ activities on flowers of different plant species. Relevant information was also collected through informal key informant interviews. The plant species visited by the bees and the bee species (mainly Apis cerena with some Apis melifera) themselves were collected, preserved and identified. Plants were categorized as major, medium and minor sources of pollen and/or nectar. The pollen and nectar statuses in different plants were also determined. A total of 158 plant species were identified as main bee flora in the study area. Among them, 19 species were horticultural plants, 42 species were crop plants, 15 species were ornamental plants and 82 species were wild plants. In total, 38 species were recognized as major, 35 as medium and 30 as minor sources for both nectar and pollen. Months from March to May and August to October were the honey flow periods. Species of Brassica, Citrus, Pyrus, Berberis, Rubus, Callistemon, Bombox and Artemisia were some of the important plants which bloomed during those months. Winter (mid November to January) and rainy (June and July) seasons were identified as the dearth periods for bees to collect honey. Some of the plants that bloom during winter were Pisum sativum, Ipomoea batata and Eupatorium sp. Similarly, Lagerstroemia sp., Impatiens balsamina, Sesamum indicum, Zea mays and many cucurbits bloomed during rainy season. Study has shown that mid-hills of Central Nepal is rich in bee flora and has great potential for beekeeping as many plants bloomed even in dearth periods.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5558 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 45-56
Beetle on the battle: Defoliation of Parthenium hysterophorus by Zygogramma bicolorata in Kathmandu valley, Nepal
Authors: Shrestha Bharat Babu , Thapa-Magar Khum Bahadur , Paudel Ambika , Shrestha Uttam Babu
Published: March 2012

Zygogramma bicolorata, a Mexican beetle, is the most widely distributed biocontrol agent of the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus. The occurrence and distribution of this beetle in Nepal has been poorly documented. We monitored and mapped the occurrence of this beetle in Kathmandu valley for two years from August 2009 to September 2011. A small population of the beetle was first encountered in a wasteland at Sundarighat of Kirtipur Municipality in August 2010. By September 2011, the beetle has spread over half of the valley areas where P. hysterophorus was present, but damage to the weed was appreciable only at Sundarighat. The effectiveness of biocontrolling process is likely to be limited by shorter period of defoliating activity of the beetle, prolific seed production by Parthenium round the year, and environmental pollution.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5559 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 100-104
Physiology of fruit cracking in wax apple (Syzygium samarangense)
Authors: Lu Pei-Luen , Lin Chin-Ho
Published: March 2012

The cause of fruit cracking can be diverse and the reasons vary among species. Wax apple (Syzygium samarangense) fruit is an economically valuable fruit in Southeast Asia and in Taiwan. The main problem in the production of wax apple is cracking which reduces its market value. The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with fruit cracking in wax apple. Results showed that the contents of total soluble sugars and total titratable acid were both 20% higher in cracked fruits than in uncracked fruits, and the osmotic potential was 40% lower; water potential was similar; turgor pressure was 60% higher, and specific activity of polygalacturonase was 131% higher. Based on the above results, the physiological factors for fruit cracking in wax apple are hypothesized. The increase in total soluble sugars and total titratable acid during fruit maturation leads to decreased tissue osmotic potential. Water absorption in response to this decrease in osmotic potential can cause cells to swell, which increase the turgor pressure resulting in rupture of the cells and tissues. The increase in polygalacturonase activity weakens the cell walls. Those combined factors result in fruit cracking.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5954 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 70-76
Epiphytic cyanobacterial diversity in the sub-Himalayan belt of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Kumar Mukesh , Gupta Rajan Kumar , Bhatt AB , Tiwari SC
Published: March 2012

Cyanobacteria constitute the largest, most diverse and widely distributed group of prokaryotes that perform oxygenic photosynthesis. These are known to comprise a diverse flora of morphologically distinct forms. Some species are epiphytic occurring on a variety of plants. The present study was undertaken to study the distribution pattern of epiphytic cyanobacterial flora in the foot-hills of Garhwal Himalaya. An extensive survey was carried out in different seasons at four cyanobacteria-rich localities (Dakpatthar, Kotdwar, Rishikesh and Laldhang) of Uttarakhand state of India. A total of 39 epiphytic cyanobacterial taxa (12 heterocystous and 27 non-heterocystous) belonging to 2 orders, 7 families and 17 genera were recorded from this region. Highest number of species (25) was reported from Rishikesh, followed by Kotdwar with 14 species and Laldhang and Dakpatthar each with 12 species. Principal Component Analysis showed significant variation for epiphytic cyanobacterial diversity among studied sites, whereas cluster analysis categorized epiphytic cyanobacterial diversity under two categories, viz. Cluster I with 9 species and Cluster II with 30 species. Study concludes that variation in epiphytic cyanobacterial diversity might be compared to physicochemical properties of soil and climatic conditions along altitudes.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5955 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 77-89
A new record of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) for Flora of Nepal
Authors: Raskoti Bhakta B , Ale Rita , Bhatt Ganga D
Published: March 2012

Occurrence of Nymphaea lotus var. pubescens Willd. (Nymphaeaceae) in Nepal is reported. Detailed description, illustration and relevant notes are provided.doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5958 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 105-107
Introduction
Authors: Edwards Jeanette , Evans Gillian , Smith Katherine
Published: March 2012

The articles collected in this special section of Focaal capture, ethnographically, a particular moment at the end of the New Labour project when the political consequences of a failure to address the growing sense of crisis among working-class people in post-industrial Britain are being felt. These new ethnographies of social class in Britain reveal not only disenchantment and disenfranchisement, but also incisive and critical commentary on the shifting and often surprising forms and experiences of contemporary class relations. Here we trace the emergence of controversies surrounding the category “white working class“ and what it has come to stand for, which includes the vilification of people whose political, economic and social standing has been systematically eroded by the economic policies and political strategies of both Conservative and New Labour governments. The specificities of class discourse in Britain are also located relative to broader changes that have occurred across Europe with the rise of “cultural fundamentalisms“ and a populist politics espousing neo-nationalist rhetorics of ethnic solidarity. This selection of recent ethnographies holds up a mirror to a rapidly changing political landscape in Britain. It reveals how post-Thatcherite discourses of “the individual“, “the market“, “social mobility“ and “choice“ have failed a significant proportion of the working-class population. Moreover, it shows how well anthropology can capture the subtle and complex forms of collectivity through which people find meaning in times of change.
"The aboriginal people of England"
Authors: Evans Gillian
Published: March 2012

This article explores the legal precedent of the case of Mandla versus Dowell-Lee (Mandla v Dowell-Lee 1983) to explain how the far right British National Party mobilizes ethnic strategies and specifically the category of “indigenous Britons,“ to turn post-colonial multiculturalism on its head and thereby disavow the realities of a post-industrial, multiracial working class in Britain. The article argues that the historical moment in contemporary Britain is characterized by a shift away from the politics of social class toward collective organization and sentiment based on ethnicity and cultural nationalism. Drawing on ethnographic and historical research, conducted between 1998 and 2000 on the post-industrial Docklands of Southeast London, the article explains an exceptional local area case study, which proves the rule about the growth in influence in the first decade of the twenty-first century of far-right politics in post-industrial urban areas of Britain.
Ancestors, class, and contingency
Authors: Edwards Jeanette
Published: March 2012

Local family historians in the north of England are not only intent on "finding" their ancestors but in adding "flesh" to the bones of genealogy. Many are as interested in the social life of their ancestors as they are in their family tree or pedigree and, through their research, they excavate particular social and classed histories which combine discourses of land, labor, love, and loss. As well as deepening a sense of the workings of class in England, their research renders class identity more contingent than other contemporary public and media-driven versions. This article argues that family history and genealogical research destabilizes readings of English class identities as fixed, bounded and inescapable by revealing the vagaries of fate and chance and by making explicit other relevant and overlapping social distinctions in the provenance of one's ancestors.
Slum politics
Authors: Koster Martijn , de Vries Pieter A.
Published: March 2012

This article envisages slum dwellers' politics in Recife, Brazil as a realm of possibility in which care and recognition are central. Community leaders are its main facilitators as articulators of slum dwellers' needs and aspirations. The article's notion of slum politics is an elaboration of Chatterjee's (2004) ideas on popular politics as a “politics of the governed.“ Yet the article critiques the governmentality perspective for its inability to envisage a politics of hope and possibility. It distinguishes among slum politics, governmental politics (projects and programs), and electoral politics (voting), which are entwined and interdependent, but different. Zooming in on a community leader's urban agriculture project, the article argues that this project, which from an outsiders' perspective may be considered non-viable, provided slum dwellers with possibilities to strive for community solidarity and personal recognition. Slum politics, the article concludes, is about claiming the right to be counted and recognized, and about the care for the other.
Civilizational analysis for beginners
Authors: Hann Chris
Published: March 2012

The concept of civilization has not prospered in
socio-cultural anthropology. Its origins lie in
Enlightenment France, where it was used in
both singular and plural forms, the universalist
singular eventually prevailing in the decades
leading up to the Revolution. Our discipline
came to prefer pluralizing counter-currents of
this universalism such as that associated with
Johann Gottfried Herder. The key term in German
was Kultur, though it was not widely used
in the plural until the twentieth century, while
Zivilisation referred to technological progress.
For Edward Burnett Tylor in England, culture
and civilization were synonymous. But even before
the demise of the European colonial empires,
most socio-cultural anthropologists were
uncomfortable with the normative connotations
of the latter. They preferred to carry out
ethnographic studies within paradigms that
represented the world as composed of more or
less bounded societies with their more or less
incommensurable cultures. With the abandonment
of evolutionist paradigms, analyses of the
emergence of civilization from primitive cultures
were rendered redundant and repugnant.
Frameless robotically targeted stereotactic brain biopsy: feasibility, diagnostic yield, and safety
Authors: Bekelis Kimon , Radwan Tarek A. , Desai Atman , Roberts David W.
Published: March 2012

Object

Frameless stereotactic brain biopsy has become an established procedure in many neurosurgical centers worldwide. Robotic modifications of image-guided frameless stereotaxy hold promise for making these procedures safer, more effective, and more efficient. The authors hypothesized that robotic brain biopsy is a safe, accurate procedure, with a high diagnostic yield and a safety profile comparable to other stereotactic biopsy methods.

Methods

This retrospective study included 41 patients undergoing frameless stereotactic brain biopsy of lesions (mean size 2.9 cm) for diagnostic purposes. All patients underwent image-guided, robotic biopsy in which the SurgiScope system was used in conjunction with scalp fiducial markers and a preoperatively selected target and trajectory. Forty-five procedures, with 50 supratentorial targets selected, were performed.

Results

The mean operative time was 44.6 minutes for the robotic biopsy procedures. This decreased over the second half of the study by 37%, from 54.7 to 34.5 minutes (p < 0.025). The diagnostic yield was 97.8% per procedure, with a second procedure being diagnostic in the single nondiagnostic case. Complications included one transient worsening of a preexisting deficit (2%) and another deficit that was permanent (2%). There were no infections.

Conclusions

Robotic biopsy involving a preselected target and trajectory is safe, accurate, efficient, and comparable to other procedures employing either frame-based stereotaxy or frameless, nonrobotic stereotaxy. It permits biopsy in all patients, including those with small target lesions. Robotic biopsy planning facilitates careful preoperative study and optimization of needle trajectory to avoid sulcal vessels, bridging veins, and ventricular penetration.
Mirror aneurysms: a reflection on natural history
Authors: Meissner Irene , Torner James , Huston John , Rajput Michele L. , Wiebers David O. , Jones Lyell K. , Brown Robert D. , _ _
Published: March 2012

Object

Investigators conducting the International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, sought to evaluate predictors of future hemorrhage in patients who had unruptured mirror aneurysms. These paired aneurysms in bilateral arterial positions mirror each other; their natural history is unknown.

Methods

Centers in the US, Canada, and Europe enrolled patients for prospective assessment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Central radiological review confirmed the presence or absence of mirror aneurysms in patients without a history of prior subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (Group 1). Outcome at 1 and 5 years and aneurysm characteristics are compared.

Results

Of 3120 patients with aneurysms treated in 61 centers, 376 (12%) had mirror aneurysms, which are more common in women than men (82% [n = 308] vs 73% [n = 1992], respectively; p <0.001) and in patients with a family history of aneurysm or SAH (p <0.001).

Compared with patients with nonmirror saccular aneurysms, a greater percentage of patients with mirror aneurysms had larger (>10 mm) aneurysms (mean maximum diameter 11.7 vs 10.4 mm, respectively; p <0.001). The most common distribution for mirror aneurysms was the middle cerebral artery (34% [126 patients]) followed by noncavernous internal carotid artery (32% [121]), posterior communicating artery (16% [60]), cavernous internal carotid artery (13% [48]), anterior cerebral artery/anterior communicating artery (3% [13]), and vertebrobasilar circulation (2% [8]). When these patients were compared with patients without mirror aneurysms, no statistically significant differences were found in age (mean age 54 years in both groups), blood pressure, smoking history, or cardiac disease. Aneurysm rupture rates were similar (3.0% for patients with mirror aneurysms vs 2.8% for those without).

Conclusions

Overall, patients with mirror aneurysms were more likely to be women, to report a family history of aneurysmal SAH, and to have larger aneurysms. The presence of a mirror aneurysm was not an independent predictor of future SAHs.
Optimal entry point and trajectory for endoscopic third ventriculostomy: evaluation of 53 patients with volumetric imaging guidance
Authors: Chen Fangxiang , Nakaji Peter
Published: March 2012

Object

An optimal entry point for endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) helps protect critical structures from undue manipulation. A commonly accepted ideal entry point is 3 cm from the midline and 1 cm anterior to the coronal suture. The authors of this study reexamine this ideal entry point.

Methods

Trajectory views from MR images or CT scans used for cranial image guidance in 53 patients (age range 3–85 years) who had undergone ETV were retrospectively evaluated. The trajectory from the tuber cinereum back through the center of the foramen of Monro was projected to the surface of the head. The relation of the entry point to the midline and the coronal suture was established.

Results

The mean perpendicular distance from the ideal entry point to the midline was 30.1 ± 7 mm (median 31.9 mm, range 12.5–42.2 mm). The mean perpendicular distance to the coronal suture was 8.9 ± 14.1 mm posterior (median 10.4 mm), ranging from 30.6 mm anterior to 35.8 mm posterior. The entry point tended to be located more posteriorly in women and adults: 5.8 ± 15.4 mm posterior in males versus 13.1 ± 13.2 mm posterior in females (p = 0.08) and 9.1 ± 14.8 mm posterior in adults versus 8.2 ± 11.7 mm posterior in children (p = 0.84).

Conclusions

While the entry point may need to be modified from the ideal trajectory for other anatomical reasons, such as a trajectory through the motor cortex, in general, the authors found that the optimal entry point for ETV was more posterior than previously published and highly variable. Using image guidance or a customized trajectory based on analysis of a patient's own imaging is highly preferable to using an empirical ideal trajectory.
Management of glioblastoma multiforme in pregnancy
Authors: Jayasekera Bodiabaduge A. P. , Bacon Andrew D. , Whitfield Peter C.
Published: March 2012

Glioblastoma multiforme presenting during pregnancy presents unique challenges to the clinician. In planning treatment, potential benefits to the mother must be balanced against the risks to the fetus. In addition, evidence relating to timing of surgery and the use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in pregnancy is limited. Management of peritumoral edema and seizures in pregnancy is also complicated by the potential for drug-related teratogenic effects and adverse neonatal outcomes on the fetus. The general anesthetic used for surgery must factor obstetric and neurosurgical considerations.

In this review article, the authors seek to examine the role, safety, and timing of therapies for glioblastoma in the context of pregnancy. This covers the use of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, timing of surgery, postoperative care, anesthetic considerations, and use of anticonvulsant medications and steroids. The authors hope that this will provide a framework for clinicians treating pregnant patients with glioblastomas.
Minimally invasive lateral extracavitary corpectomy: cadaveric evaluation model and report of 3 clinical cases
Authors: Smith Zachary A. , Li Zhenzhou , Chen Nan-Fu , Raphael Dan , Khoo Larry T.
Published: March 2012

Object

In this paper, the authors' goal was to demonstrate the clinical and technical nuances of a minimally invasive lateral extracavitary approach (MI-LECA) for thoracic corpectomy and anterior column reconstruction.

Methods

A cadaveric feasibility study and the subsequent application of this approach in 3 clinical cases are reported. Six procedures were completed in 3 human cadavers. Minimally invasive, extrapleural thoracic corpectomies were performed with the aid of a 24-mm tubular retraction system, using a posterolateral incision and an oblique approach angle. Fluoroscopy and postprocedural CT scanning, using 3D volumetric averaging software, was used to evaluate the degree of bone removal and decompression. Three clinical cases, including a T-11 burst fracture, a T-7 plasmacytoma, and a T4–5 vertebral body (VB) tuberculosis lesion, were treated using the approach.

Results

At 6 cadaveric levels, the mean circumferential volumetric decompression was 48% ± 16%, and the mean resection of the VB was 72% ± 13%. The mean change in anterior and posterior vertebral height with expansion of the corpectomy cage was 47 and 61 mm, respectively. There were no violations of the pleura or dura. Pedicle screw reliability was 95.8% (23 of 24 screws) with a single lateral breach. All 3 patients in the clinical cohort had excellent clinical outcomes. There was a single pleural tear requiring chest tube drainage. Operative images and a video clip are provided to illustrate the approach.

Conclusions

A minimally invasive lateral extracavitary thoracic corpectomy has the ability to provided excellent spinal cord decompression and VB resection. The procedure can be completed safely and successfully with minimal blood loss and little associated morbidity. This approach has the potential to improve upon established traditional open corridors for posterolateral thoracic corpectomy.
Water-Soluble Monochloroplatinum(II) Complexes with Amino Acid Derived Schiff Bases as Ligands: Synthesis, Characterisation and Antitumour Activity
Authors: Li Li-Jun , Tian Chao , Wang Zheng , Wang Guang-Yuan , Wang Lian-Zeng , Du Jian-Long
Published: March 2012

A series of water-soluble monochloroplatinum(II) complexes K[PtCl(L)] (L = amino acid derived schiff base) have been synthesised as potential anticancer agents and characterised by 1H NMR, elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy and molar conductivity measurements. These compounds were tested for their DNA interaction ability with salmon sperm DNA and their in vitro anticancer activities have been validated against Hela and A549 cell lines by the CCK-8 assay. Whilst some complexes had better cytotoxic activities against the Hela cell line compared with cisplatin, all the complexes had little cytotoxicity against the A549 cell line compared with cisplatin.
Syntheses, Structure and Electrochemical Anion Recognition of 5-Ferrocenylisophthalicdiacyl Hydrazones
Authors: Li Xia , Liu Wei , Zheng Haijin , Zhao Jin'an , Song Maoping
Published: March 2012

Three new 5-ferrocenylisophthalicdiacyl hydrazones derivatives (molecular tweezers), have been prepared by condensation reactions of 5-ferrocenylisophthalic dihydrazide with the corresponding aromatic aldehyde. The compounds were fully characterised by spectroscopic techniques, mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry and an X-ray crystal structure of one example. Electrochemical investigations have demonstrated that addition of H2PO4- resulted in large shifts of respective Fc/Fc+ redox coupled to more negative potentials, indicating that these compounds have a good ability to recognise H2PO4-.
Synthesis and Spectral Characterisation of Novel 2,3-Disubstituted Quinazolin-4(3H)-One Derivatives
Authors: Mahmoud Mahmoud R. , Abou-Elmagd Wael S.I. , Abdelwahab Salwa S. , Soliman El-Sayed A.
Published: March 2012

A new series of 2,3-disubstituted quinazolinones was synthesised via the reaction of readily obtainable 2-thioxo-3-phenylquinazolin-4(3 H)-one 1 with ethyl chloroacetate followed by hydrazinolysis to afford the hydrazide 3. This was allowed to react with different electrophilic reagents such as carbon disulfide, phenyl isothiocyanate, β-diketones, anhydrides, acrylonitrile, ethyl cinnamate, aldehydes, arylidene malononitrile and lauroyl chloride. Some of the newly synthesised compounds showed promising anti-inflammatory activities.
Synthesis and Spectral Characterisation of Some Phthalazinone Derivatives
Authors: Mahmoud Mahmoud R. , Abou-Elmagd Wael S.I. , Derbala Hamed A. , Hekal Mohamed H.
Published: March 2012

1,2,4-Triazol-3-yl, 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl, 1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl, 1 H-pyrazol-4-yl, phthalazin-1(2 H)one, 5 H-2,3-benzodi-azepine-1,4-dione and pyridazine-1,4-dione derivatives were prepared via the reaction of the readily obtainable starting material 1-oxo-1,2-dihydrophthalazin-4-carbohydrazide with one carbon donor like phenyl isothiocyanate, phenyl isocyanate, triethylorthoformate, formic acid and different electrophilic reagents such as anhydrides, chromen-1,3-dione, chloroacetyl chloride, acetic anhydride, arylidene malononitrile, ethoxymethylene malononitrile and ethyl acetoacetate.
Asymmetric Michael Additions Catalysed by Functionalised Quaternary Alkylammonium Ionic Liquids
Authors: Wang Ge , Sun Huichao , Cao Xiaohui , Li Yang , Chen Ligong
Published: March 2012

Some functionalised quaternary alkylammonium ionic liquids were synthesised and examined as organocatalysts for asymmetric Michael additions of aldehydes and ketones to nitroolefins. All of them exhibited excellent enantioselectivities (>99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (> 99/1 d/r). One of the catalysts ( S)- N,N-dimethyl- N-pyrrolidin-2-ylmethyl)-2-methylpropan-1-aminium bromide could be recovered for reuse with similar results, and triethylamine was found to be an effective additive to enhance its catalytic activity.
Synthesis of a Series of Pyridine-Functionalised Benzoimidazole-Based N-Heterocyclic Carbene Ligands
Authors: Guo Jin , He Pan , Yang Long , Liu Xiang , Lv Lanlan , Shi Yanhui , Cao Changsheng
Published: March 2012

A series of pyridine-functionalised bis(benzoimidazolium) dichlorides, dibromides and dihexafluorophosphate with different alkyl bridged length ( n = 2–4) were synthesised in high yield. All the compounds are new and fully characterised by 1H and 13C NMR, IR and elemental analyses.
One-Pot Sequence Synthesis of Azetidin-2-One Using Diethyl Chlorophosphate
Authors: Zarei Maaroof
Published: March 2012

A simple and convenient synthesis of 2-azetidinone derivatives from the reaction of a pre-mixture of amines and aldehydes with carboxylic acids in the presence of diethyl chlorophosphate by [2+2] cycloaddition reaction is described. Separation and purification of imines as intermediates were not required. The methodology is convenient and good to excellent yields of products were obtained with simple purification.
Facile Aza-Michael Additions of Uracil Derivatives to Acrylates
Authors: Zhou Shuguang , Xu Mingxia , Ye Siyu , Li Dashuai , Xu Jing , Mao Pei , Xiong Jing
Published: March 2012

24 Aza-Michael adducts were synthesised in moderate to excellent yields by the addition of 5-substituted uracils to acrylates with ethylamine as a catalyst. Many of the adducts were obtained in almost quantitive yield without column chromatography. The procedure provideded an efficient approach to the synthesis of N-1 uracil adducts using acrylates as acceptors. The structures of the compounds were determined by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass spectra and X-ray crystallography analyses. The uracil unit is present in DNA and related natural products and has a broad spectrum of biological activity.
Approaches to Dance (2): Influences
Authors: Kant Marion
Published: March 2012

This statement is an attempt to reflect on my intellectual formation and how certain influences, both from home (a place suspended between Germany with the remnants of its Weimar culture and Britain as the place of exile) and from subsequent experiences, led me to adopt an historical approach to dance studies and to emphasise the context in which artistic activity unfolds. My education at Berlin's Humboldt University and the Comic Opera shaped my perspectives on theatre and performance. The East German milieu in general forced me to confront the immediate past and think about the political and ideological legacies of the cultures in which I grew up.
In-Field Implementation of a Recombinant Factor C Assay for the Detection of Lipopolysaccharide as a Biomarker of Extant Life within Glacial Environments
Authors: Barnett Megan J. , Wadham Jemma L. , Jackson Miriam , Cullen David C.
Published: March 2012

The discovery over the past two decades of viable microbial communities within glaciers has promoted interest in the role of glaciers and ice sheets (the cryosphere) as contributors to subglacial erosion, global biodiversity, and in regulating global biogeochemical cycles. In situ or in-field detection and characterisation of microbial communities is becoming recognised as an important approach to improve our understanding of such communities. Within this context we demonstrate, for the first time, the ability to detect Gram-negative bacteria in glacial field-environments (including subglacial environments) via the detection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS); an important component of Gram-negative bacterial cell walls. In-field measurements were performed using the recently commercialised PyroGene® recombinant Factor C (rFC) endotoxin detection system and used in conjunction with a handheld fluorometer to measure the fluorescent endpoint of the assay. Twenty-seven glacial samples were collected from the surface, bed and terminus of a low-biomass Arctic valley glacier (Engabreen, Northern Norway), and were analysed in a field laboratory using the rFC assay. Sixteen of these samples returned positive LPS detection. This work demonstrates that LPS detection via rFC assay is a viable in-field method and is expected to be a useful proxy for microbial cell concentrations in low biomass environments.
Réforme, reconquista, croisade. L'idée de reconquête dans la correspondance pontificale d'Alexandre II à Urbain II
Authors: Flori Jean
Published: March 2012

The excellent publications of J. Riley-Smith and M. Bull have led the historians to reject the old thesis wich saw the reconquista in Spain and the crusade as the logical outcomes of the idea of holy war, and to emphasize, henceforth, the idea of pilgrimage. This paper intends to reconsider these conclusions, since the arguments put forward to negate the idea of holy war in pope Alexander II's mind are not entirely convincing. The semantic study of the terms used in Pope Gregory VII's letters shows clearly that, in his mind, christians are involved in a general conflict against the Devil. The fideles sancti Petri have to take part with their arms in this warfare against all the enemies of the Church, inside Christendom as outside. In Gregory's mind, this war is a holy one because performed under God's rule, in order to liberate the Church and restore justicia. Moreover is it true in the case of military forces against the Moslems, in Spain and especially in the Holy Land, for here the reconquest of the most eminent Christian lands and people is concerned. Pope Urban II, who inherits these ideas, expresses them only a little more precisely in his preaching of the crusade.
La colonne à l'époque romane. Réminiscences et nouveautés
Authors: Vergnolle Éliane
Published: March 2012

It is not only the monuments themselves but also texts which vouch for the intellectual status enjoyed in the Early Middle Ages and the Romanesque period by the column as an architectural member. Of course columns can be splendid, and particularly when they are of marble, but they can also within the Christian tradition enjoy a major symbolic force. With the advent of Romanesque architecture they were the object of renewed interest and underwent a number of formal and technical transformations. Thus, since monolithic columns or columns formed of several drums were more or less unsuitable for bearing heavy weights, a masonry pier was often adopted ; the composite pier was in particular employed to carry the thrust of the vaults. In contrast, many architects favoured the column applied to the wall, for instance for arcading, window-surrounds and so on. In this way, decoration and structure were treated as separate problems. At the same time the column-shaft itself underwent important modifications : the shaft with entasis became the cylindrical shaft, the moulding at the top of the shaft (in French "astragale") was carved as part of the capital, a "necking-band". It followed from such modifications that architects were able to opt for a whole vast range of proportions for their columns, whilst in regions with good limestones they could use the stones as detached shafts set "en délit" (against the quarry-bed). Here they were playing with architectural solutions which sometimes looked forward to Early Gothic Architecture 's column.
L'ironie comme principe structurant chez Chrétien de Troyes
Authors: Laranjinha Ana Sofia
Published: March 2012

The ironie interlacing of Gauvain's and Perceval's adventures (the most courtly of all knights suffering humiliation and running towards death while the young nice, despite some accidents, is heading to kingship) structures the Conte du Graal ; the metatextual allusions to madness and inversion confirm the ironie nature of this romance.

Chrétien's ambiguity as to authorities and writing can also be found in his approach to laugh and irony : he condemns Keu's gabs but is himself the best of ironists. Besides, if irony is a fondamental principle of Chrétien's text, Keu originates some events that are essential to the plot, playing the part of the eternal opponent that, just like an alter ego of the author, creates disorder and division — elements that are necessary to literary production.
Bioreactor for Blood Product Production
Authors: Doran Michael R. , Aird Ian Alexander , Marturana Flavia , Timmins Nicholas , Atkinson Kerry , Nielsen Lars K.
Published: March 2012

The feasibility of ex vivo blood production is limited by both biological and engineering challenges. From an engineering perspective, these challenges include the significant volumes required to generate even a single unit of a blood product, as well as the correspondingly high protein consumption required for such large volume cultures. Membrane bioreactors, such as hollow fiber bioreactors (HFBRs), enable cell densities approximately 100-fold greater than traditional culture systems and therefore may enable a significant reduction in culture working volumes. As cultured cells, and larger molecules, are retained within a fraction of the system volume, via a semipermeable membrane it may be possible to reduce protein consumption by limiting supplementation to only this fraction. Typically, HFBRs are complex perfusion systems having total volumes incompatible with bench scale screening and optimization of stem cell-based cultures. In this article we describe the use of a simplified HFBR system to assess the feasibility of this technology to produce blood products from umbilical cord blood-derived CD34+hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs). Unlike conventional HFBR systems used for protein manufacture, where cells are cultured in the extracapillary space, we have cultured cells in the intracapillary space, which is likely more compatible with the large-scale production of blood cell suspension cultures. Using this platform we direct HSPCs down the myeloid lineage, while targeting a 100-fold increase in cell density and the use of protein-free bulk medium. Our results demonstrate the potential of this system to deliver high cell densities, even in the absence of protein supplementation of the bulk medium.
Human Islets Express a Marked Proinflammatory Molecular Signature Prior to Transplantation
Authors: Cowley Mark J. , Weinberg Anita , Zammit Nathan W. , Walters Stacey N. , Hawthorne Wayne J. , Loudovaris Thomas , Thomas Helen , Kay Tom , Gunton Jenny E. , Alexander Stephen I. , Kaplan Warren , Chapman Jeremy , O'Connell Philip J. , Grey Shane T.
Published: March 2012

In the context of islet transplantation, experimental models show that induction of islet intrinsic NF-κB-dependent proinflammatory genes can contribute to islet graft rejection. Isolation of human islets triggers activation of the NF-κB and mitogen-activated kinase (MAPK) stress response pathways. However, the downstream NF-κB target genes induced in human islets during the isolation process are poorly described. Therefore, in this study, using microarray, bioinformatic, and RTqPCR approaches, we determined the pattern of genes expressed by a set of 14 human islet preparations. We found that isolated human islets express a panel of genes reminiscent of cells undergoing a marked NF-κB-dependent proinflammatory response. Expressed genes included matrix metallopeptidase 1 (MMP1) and fibronectin 1 (FN1), factors involved in tissue remodeling, adhesion, and cell migration; inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-8; genes regulating cell survival including A20 and ATF3; and notably high expression of a set of chemokines that would favor neutrophil and monocyte recruitment including CXCL2, CCL2, CXCL12, CXCL1, CXCL6, and CCL28. Of note, the inflammatory profile of isolated human islets was maintained after transplantation into RAG-/- recipients. Thus, human islets can provide a reservoir of NF-κB-dependent inflammatory factors that have the potential to contribute to the anti-islet-graft immune response. To test this hypothesis, we extracted rodent islets under optimal conditions, forced activation of NF-κB, and transplanted them into allogenic recipients. These NF-κB activated islets not only expressed the same chemokine profile observed in human islets but also struggled to maintain normoglycemia posttransplantation. Further, NF-κB-activated islets were rejected with a faster tempo as compared to non-NF-κB-activated rodent islets. Thus, isolated human islets can make cell autonomous contributions to the ensuing allograft response by elaborating inflammatory factors that contribute to their own demise. These data highlight the potential importance of islet intrinsic proinflammatory responses as targets for therapeutic intervention.