bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biplot analysis of diallel crosses of NS maize inbred lines
Authors: Bocanski Jan , Nastasic Aleksandra , Stanisavljevic Dusan , Sreckov Zorana , Mitrovic Bojan , Treskic Sanja , Vukosavljev Mirjana
Published: September 2011

Genetic markers, from morphological to molecular, in function with early
Heterosis is a prerequisite for the successful commercial maize production.
It does not appear in any cross of two inbred lines, and therefore, the
determination of combining abilities of parental lines is essential. The most
commonly used method for determining combining abilities is diallel analysis.
Besides conventional methods for diallel analysis, a new biplot approach has
been sugested. In this paper, we studied the combining ability for grain
yield in a set of genotypes obtained by diallel crossing system of six inbred
lines. Both, the Griffing?s conventional method and the biplot approach have
been used for diallel analysis. Comparing the GCA values from biplot analysis
and Griffing?s method, similar results can be observed, with the exception of
NS L 1051 and NS L 1000 whose ranks are interchanged. Biplot analysis enables
the SCA estimation of parent inbred, and the highest SCA has inbred B73D.
Biplot analysis also allows the estimation of the best crosses. Inbred B73D
shows the best results when crossed with testers Mo17Ht, NS L 1051 and N152,
inbred N152 combines best with testers NS L 1001 and NS L 1000, whereas the
cross of inbred NS L 1051 with tester B73D results with the highest grain
yield per plant in comparison with other testers.
Credibility of the combined test in prenatal diagnostics
Authors: Loncar Dragan
Published: September 2011

Congenital anomalies are the cause of perinatal death in 20-25% of the cases,
while 3% of children are born with malformation of varying size. The
objective of this study was to examine the predictive value and define the
credibility ratio of the combined test results. Of 317 examined pregnant
women, we had sixteen (5.05%) with the result of pathological karyotype after
amniocentesis including: nine (2.84%) with fetal numerical aberrations and
seven (2.21%) with fetal structural aberrations. While determining the
ultrasonographic parameters of the combined test we used the standards of the
Fetal Medicine Foundation. We carried out the quantitative settings of free
?-HCG and PAPP-A from vein blood of patients by applying commercial tests of
firm DPC-USA. Tests were based on the analytical immunochemiluminescence
assay and were realized by using the automated analyzer IMMULITE 2000.
Manufacturer of the analyzer is also the firm DPC-USA. Sensitivity of the
test is 94%, and specificity is 99%. Positive likelihood ratio [likelihood
ratio test (LR+)] is 94.00, a negative likelihood ratio is [likelihood ratio
test (LR-)] 12:06. Pretest probability that pregnant women carries fetus with
chromosomal abnormality is 1:250 or 0004. Posttest odds after the combined
test to discover this abnormality is 0.3760, and probability of the same case
is 0.2732 if it happens that the test result is positive. The result of our
study confirms the justification of combined test usage in routine clinical
practice, since the posttest odds rate in the case of a positive screening
increases several times over (almost 90 times), the probability of detecting
a chromosomal abnormality was about 70 times. Combined screening test if used
methodologically correct, has a high predictive value in detecting fetal
congenital anomalies.
Relationship among eastern cottonwood genotypes according to early rooting traits
Authors: Kovacevic Branislav , Orlovic Sasa , Ivanovic Mile , Cobanovic Katarina , Nikolic-Djoric Emilija , Katanic Marina , Galovic Vladislava
Published: September 2011

The relationship between twelve genotypes of eastern cottonwood (Populus
deltoides Bartr.) was analyzed according to sixteen early rooting traits and
cutting survival. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis
were used on data that were standardized by common and by one alternative way
of standardization. Alternative way of standardization (standardization with
within-genotype standard deviation instead of standard deviation of
genotypes? means) was used in order to emphasize the contribution of genotype
to the effect of differences among genotypes on total variation. After bought
ways the first principal component had high correlation with the most of
rooting traits and cutting survival, while the second was mainly related to
the traits of root formation on the basal cut of cutting (wound roots). Three
difficult-to-root genotypes (S6-7, S1-3, 129/81) were distinctly grouped
against other examined genotypes, by bought principal component and cluster
analysis. There was a slight difference in grouping of easy-to-root genotypes
(B-229 and PE19/66) among examined ways of standardization.
Relative frequencies of the “sex-ratio” inversion in natural populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura from Mexico
Authors: Salceda Víctor
Published: September 2011

Sex-ratio (proportion of males) in a species is related to a not entirely
explained mechanism of sex determination. In Drosophila, sex is determined by
the proportion of X chromosomes vs. autosomes. A decrease in the proportion
of males vs. females, known as sex-ratio, is characteristic to several
Drosophila species, and is related to an inversion in the sexual chromosome
the so called ?sex-ratio? (SR) condition. In this occasion we study the
presence of that inversion in several populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura
from Mexico. With this purpose we did collections of this species on Nevado
de Colima,Col., Valpara?so, Zac, Zirahu?n, Mich., Tulancingo, Hgo. and
Amecameca, Mex. Flies were captured in nature and carried to the laboratory
were individual cultures of each female were established, when the offsprig
emerged salivary glands of a single larva from each culture were extracted
and stained with an aceto-orcein solution and the corresponding genotype for
the third and sex chromosome determined and their relative frequencies
calculated. The corresponding frequencies of the ?sex-ratio? inversion in the
localities analyzed were: Nevado de Colima 21.8 %, Valparaiso 18.8 %,
Zirahu?n 11.4 %, Tulancingo 6.8 % and Amecameca 6.8 %. Apparently an
East-West cline distribution is present in these populations. Relative
frequencies for inversions in the third chomosome were recorded and
relationships between third and X chromosomes inversions performed.
Comparisons with similar studies on this and other species are pointed out.
HLA class II antigens and haplotypes associated with susceptibility of leukemias and myelodysplastic syndrome
Authors: Vojvodic Svetlana , Ademovic-Sazdanic Dusica
Published: September 2011

Genetical and environmental factors play an interactive role in the
development of acute and chronic leukemias. HLA antigens have been considered
as possible genetic risk factors. The aim of this work was to investigate a
possible association between HLA class II polymorphisms and leukemias and
myelodysplastic syndrome. In the present study we investigated HLA class II
antigens, DR/DQ and DR51/DR52/DR53 haplotypes in 100 patients: 7 suffering
from myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS),37 from acute lymphoblastic
leukemia(ALL),32 from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and 24 from chronic
myeloid leukemia(CML). A panel of 210 healthy unrelated individuals of the
same origin, from Vojvodina, served as controls. HLA phenotyping was
performed by two color fluorescence method. In patients suffering from MDS
was found a positive association with DR7(RR=2.598,EF=0.175) and
DQ7(3)(RR=4.419, EF=0.632), while negative association was found for
DR15(2)(RR=0.405, PF=0.172) and DQ6(1) (RR=0.889, PF=0,936).Positive
association was found in the group of patients with ALL for
DR7(RR=2.391,EF=0.688) and DQ2(RR=1.62, EF=0.15),while negative association
was found with DQ5(1)(RR=0.075, PF=0.324). In the group of patients with
AML, there were positive associations with DR11(5)(RR=1.732,EF=0.211),DQ2(RR=
1.594, EF=0.151) and DQ7(3) (RR=2.547,EF=0.266),while possible protective
antigen was DQ5(1) (RR=0.107,RF=0.701). Higher RR than 1 and EF>0.15, in
patients suffering from CML was found for DQ6(1)(RR=1.661,EF=0.232), while
negative association was found for DR4 (RR=0.182,PF=0.155).Possible
protective haplotype in this study was DR3DQ8(3) for patients suffering from
AML(RR=0.007, PF=0.501).The distribution of DR53-DR53 haplotypes showed
significant difference in male patients with ALL(6% vs 0.09%), while
DR52-DR52 haplotype was significantly less frequent in male patients with CML
(4% vs 20.47%) and female patients with MDS (1% vs 18.57%), respectively, in
comparison to controls. We deduced that DR7 antigen in male patients with ALL
has the greatest impact to the higher frequency of DR53-DR53 haplotype in
this type of leukemia. The role of HLA antigens as risk factors for
development of leukemias in our population was shown and furthermore it could
be useful in clinical practice.
FV Leiden, FII G20210A and MTHFR C677T mutations in patients with lower or upper limb deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Djordjevic Valentina , Pruner Iva , Rakicevic Ljiljana , Kovac Mirjana , Mikovic Danijela , Miljic Predrag , Antonijevic Nebojsa , Radojkovic Dragica
Published: September 2011

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a multifactorial disease that occurs with
frequency of 1/1000 per year. The FV Leiden, FII G20210A and MTHFR C677T
mutations represent genetic factors for the occurrence of vein thrombosis.
The goal of this study was to determine the frequency of these mutations in
patients with DVT of upper and lower limbs. The study encompassed 119
patients divided in two groups. The group of patients with the lower limbs
thrombosis included 77 patients, while the upper limbs thrombosis group
included 42 patients. The presence of FV Leiden, FII G20210A and MTHFR C677T
mutations was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment
length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. In patients with DVT of lower limbs,
the frequency of FV Leiden mutation was 26,0% in heterozygous form and 1,3%
in homozygous form. In the group of patients with DVT of upper limbs, the
frequency of heterozygous carriers was 7.2%. In patients with DVT of lower
limbs, FII G20210A mutation occurred in heterozygous form in 15.6% subjects,
and in the group with DVT of upper limbs the frequency was 7.2% in
heterozygous and 2.3% in homozygous form. The frequency of MTHFR C677T
mutation in patients with lower limbs DVT was 42.8% in heterozygous form and
13% in homozygous form, while in the group of patients with upper limbs DVT,
the frequency was 52.4% in heterozygous form and 9.5% in homozygous form. The
FV Leiden and FII G20210A mutations represent significant risk factors for
the occurrence of DVT of lower limbs. These mutations are less frequent in
DVT of upper limbs and more extensive further studies are needed to determine
their potential role. The MTHFR C677T mutation represents less significant
risk factor for lower limb DVT and should be taken into account only in cases
when it occurs in combination with other risk factors.
Phenotypic variability of bread wheat genotypes for nitrogen harvest index
Authors: Gorjanovic Biljana , Brdar-Jokanovic Milka , Kraljevic-Balalic Marija
Published: September 2011

Nitrogen harvest index (grain nitrogen content over total nitrogen content
ratio) is a measure of the efficiency of nitrogen translocation from the
vegetative portions of the plant to the grain. It can be recommended as a
selection criterion for nitrogen use efficiency improvement. The aim of this
study was to investigate nitrogen harvest index in twelve bread wheat
genotypes at three nitrogen levels and to classify genotypes according to
their phenotypic similarity for the examined trait. The results of factorial
ANOVA showed that nitrogen harvest index was influenced mostly by the year ?
genotype interaction, year of investigation and genotype; and to the lowest
extent by the applied nitrogen rate. Increasing nitrogen doses did not lead
to the increased nitrogen harvest index. The calculated nitrogen harvest
index values were the highest for wheat growing season 2004/05, and the
smallest for the season 2006/07. The highest nitrogen harvest indices were
calculated for cultivars Pobeda at the N0 rate and Zlatka at the N100 rate
(0.93), and the lowest for cultivar Tamaro at the N0 rate (0.63). Analyzing
the constructed dendogram, cultivars Pobeda and Renan at all three levels of
nitrogen supply can be singled out as the genotypes with the highest, and
cultivar Tamaro as the variety with the lowest harvest index value. The
results of this study may be used in developing new high-yielding bread wheat
cultivars with improved nitrogen use efficiency. Growing such cultivars would
provide the savings in mineral fertilizers and minimize their possible
harmful effect on environment.
Endoscopic mucosal resection of colorectal tumors: Our first experience
Authors: Nagorni Aleksandar , Bjelakovic Goran
Published: September 2011

Background/Aim. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) or mucosectomy is an
interventional procedure for minimal invasive endoscopic removal of benign
and malignant digestive tract tumors. Mucosectomy removes flat and sessile
neoplasms, early colorectal cancer (CRC) confined to mucosa or submucosa and
lateral spreading tumors. The aim of the study was to show our first
experience in application of this procedure in everyday practice in regarding
completeness and efficacy of the procedure, complication rate and incidence
of recurrent adenomas. Methods. In the prospective study 51 colorectal
adenomas were removed in 44 patients by EMR. Results. Single mucosectomy was
done in 43 patients, while multiple (8) in one patient. Complete resection
was obtained in all procedures. In 36 (68.62%) procedures ?en block?
resection was done, but in 15 (31.37%) procedures ?piece meal? resection was
performed. Synchronous colorectal tumors (benign or malignant) were detected
in 20 (45.45%) patients. Moderate dysplasia was found in 30 (58.82%)
adenomas, but high grade dysplasia in 9 (17.64%) of adenomas. Intramucosal
CRC was detected in 11.77% of adenomas. A total of 37 (72.54%) advanced
adenomas were removed. There were 3 (5.88%) of recurrent adenomas, 6-30
months after the EMR. Only one (2.2%) case of post procedure bleeding was
observed. Conclusion: EMR is a safe and efficious method for removal of flat,
sessile adenomas, as well as early CRC. EMR is a routine endoscopic procedure
in everyday practice of interventional endoscopist.
Influence of hemoglobin level and dose of administered recombinant human beta erythropoietin on survival of hemodialysis patients
Authors: Knezevic Violeta , Milosevic Aleksandra , Vodopivec Slavenka , Bozic Dusan , Budosan Ivana , Majic Milena
Published: September 2011

Background/Aim. In patients with end-stage renal disease, treatment with
erythropoietin lowers cardiovascular morbidity, improves quality of life and
patient survival. The aim of this study was to determine the difference in
survival of hemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human beta
erythropoietin and patients without this treatment, and to determine the
influence of hemoglobin level and erythropoietin dose on the survival of
these patients. Method. The study included 291 patients undergoing
maintenance hemodialysis, 122 were on erythropoietin therapy, 169 patients
formed control group. The study was performed at the Clinic for Nephrology
and Clinical Immunology, Clinical Center of Vojvodina, during a 69-month
period. We analyzed basic demographic parameters, dialysis duration,
underlying disease, comorbidities, death causes, bloodwork parameters and
erythropoietin dosage. Descriptive statistics, Anova, Manova, discriminant
function analysis, Cox regressional model and Kaplan Meier survival curves
were used as statistical methods. Results. Average age and dialysis duration
in the experimental group were 47.88 ? 13.32 years, and 45.76 ? 46.73 months,
respectively and in the control group 58.73 ? 12.67 years and 62.80 ? 55.23
months, respectively. Average level of hemoglobin and hematocrit in the group
in which erythropoietin had been administered was 11.40 ? 8.39 g/dL and 0.35
? 0.04/L, while the control group these values were 8.52 ? 7.73 g/dL and 0.26
? 0.04/L, respectively. Average monthly dosage of erythropoietin was 21 587 ?
10 183.36 IJ/month. Significant difference in survival was determined (p <
0,05) between the stated patient groups. A significant difference (p < 0,05)
was found in survival of the patients in which erythropoietin was
administered regarding hemoglobin level (< 100 g/L/100-110 g/L/110-120 g/L/ >
120 g/L), as well as in regard of erythropoietin dose applied (< 20 000 IJ/20
000-40 000 IJ/ > 40 000 IJ/month). Conclusion. Best survival was noted in
patients with hemoglobin > 120 g/L and erythropoietin dose < 20 000 IJ/month.
Influence of glucoregulation quality on c-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α level in patients with diabetes type 1
Authors: Mitrovic Milena , Ilic Tatjana , Stokic Edita , Novakovic-Paro Jovanka , Tomic-Naglic Dragana , Bajkin Ivana , Icin Tijana
Published: September 2011

Background/Aim. Results of studies which have proved an increased
inflammatory activity in diabetes type 1, have been published over recent
years. One of possible mechanisms that are used to explain chronic
inflammation in diabetes is the state of hyperglycemia leading to the
enhanced synthesis of glycosylation end products (AGEs) which activate
macrophages, increase the oxidative stress and affect the synthesis of
interleukins (IL-1, IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-? (TNF-?) and C-reactive
protein (CRP). The aim of the study was to determine the inflammatory markers
(CRP, IL-6, TNF-?) in patients with diabetes type 1 and to establish their
correlation with glucoregulation parameters and other cardiovascular risk
factors as well as to compare them with the healthy controls. Methods. The
study included 76 patients with diabetes type 1 and 30 healthy controls. We
determined values of inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, TNF-?) and
glucoregulation parameters (fasting glucose HbA1c). Results. The values of
CRP (p = 0.014), IL-6 (p = 0.020) and TNF-? (p = 0.037) were statistically
significantly higher in the diabetic patients than in the healthy controls.
There was a positive correlation between CRP with postprandial glycemia (p =
0.004); the multivariate regression analysis revealed a statistically
significant correlation between CRP and age (p = 0.001), smoking (p = 0.055),
fasting glucose (p = 0.021) and triglycerides (p = 0.048) as well as between
IL-6 and LDLcholesterol (p = 0,009). No statistically significant
correlations were found between glycosilated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and the
inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6 and TNF-?). Conclusion. The patients with
type 1 diabetes were found to have a low level of inflammatory activity
manifested by the increased values of CRP, IL-6 and TNF-?.
Possibilities of nontoxic autonomous thyroid nodules treatment by percutaneous ethanol injection
Authors: Andjelkovic Zoran , Kuzmic-Jankovic Snezana , Pucar Dragan , Tavcar Ivan , Dragovic Tamara
Published: September 2011

Background/Aim. According to the current principles, autonomous functional
thyroid nodules are treated by surgery or by radioiodin therapy. Ultrasound
guided percutaneous ethanol injection into solid tumors of the soft tissues
was a starting point in attempts to treat the thyroid nodules by the same
method. The aim of the study was to assess the efficiency of percutaneous
injection in treating solitary, nontoxic, autonomous thyroid nodules of up to
15 mL volume. Methods. In 25 patients with solitary nontoxic autonomous
thyroid nodules diagnosed by tehnetium-99m scanning as an intensive area
having a complete supremacy in the paranodal tissue, an ultrasound guided
percutaneous ethanol injection was applied. The procedure was carried out
repeatedly once a week until the reduction in nodule size to 50% of the
initial size was achieved. Results. An average size of the nodule before
curing was 9.68 ? 5.01 mL. An average quantity of the injected ethanol was
9.52 ? 5.08 mL, ie 1.06 ? 0.48 mL/mg of the tissue. The regression of the
nodule size in the successfully (?vol% u = - 57.09 ? 13.75%, p < 0.001) and
partly successfully cured (?vol du = -48.45 ? 14.35%, p < 0.05) was
statistically significant compared to the size before the treatment. After
ceasing ethanol injection, 18 months later, a further size regression (?vol%
= -79.20 ? 9.89%) compared to the initial one (p < 0.001) was noticed. Soon,
after the procedure was finished, a statistically significant concentration
increase of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) was noticed compared to the
initial values (0.18 ? 0.16 vs 0.34 ? 0.31 mU/L, p < 0.01). According to the
given criteria, in two female patients satisfactory results were not
achieved, but, a year later, in one of them the nodule was not seen by
repeated scintigram. The number and frequency of side effects were
insignificant. Conclusion. Repeated percutaneous ethanol injections into
nontoxic solitary autonomous thyroid nodules result in disappearing of
authonomy. The regression of the nodule size of more than 50% compared to its
initial volume, as well as the increase in concentration of TSH for more than
50% are the signs of a successful treatment.
Successful implantation of a permanent pacemaker through a persistent left superior vena cava by using a right subclavian approach
Authors: Jovic Zoran , Mijailovic Zdravko , Obradovic Slobodan , Tavciovski Dragan , Matunovic Radomir , Rusovic Sinisa , Djuric Predrag
Published: September 2011

Introduction. Persistent left superior vena cava, a rare congenital
abnormality, can complicate placement of pacemaker leads through the
subclavian vein. A left-sided approach is usually preferable in such cases.
Case report. We reported a case in which we began a single-chamber pacemaker
implantation procedure via a right subclavian approach (because of scarring
beneath the left clavicle) and then discovered intraoperatively that the
patient had a persistent left superior vena cava. After a few attempts, we
succeeded in placing the head of the electrode in the septum, near the top of
the right ventricle, and the rest of the procedure was completed without
complication. Conclusion. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case
of pacemaker implantation, with passive electrode, through a persistent left
superior vena cava via the right subclavian vein. This case demonstrates that
such an approach, when necessary, can be used successfully.
Surgical treatment of unicentric plasma cell histological type Castleman's disease
Authors: Maric Nebojsa , Stanic Vojkan , Cvijanovic Vlado , Ristanovic Aleksandar , Kovacevic Snezana , Krivokapic Zarko , Tasic-Radic Olga
Published: September 2011

Introduction. Castleman?s disease or angiofollicular lymph hyperplasia is a
rare disease with two identified clinical forms. Unicentric or localized
form is characterized by isolated growth of lymph nodes, most often in
mediastinum, and multicentric form is expressed as systemic disease with
spread lymphadenopathy, organomegaly and presence of general symptoms of the
disease. Histological types are hyalovascular, plasma-cell and transitive
(mixed) cell. Case report. This case report shows a woman, 59 years old,
with unicentric form of plasma-cell type of Castleman?s disease. Unicentric
form is usually shown as hyalovascular histological type, extremely rare as
plasma-cell type, and transitive (mixed) cell type was never described in
literature as localized clinical form. The disease was manifested with chest
pain, loss of body weight, exhaustion and weakness of legs. Further
diagnostic procedures found the presence of enlarged lymph nodes
paratracheally right, in a close contact with vena cava superior. The
disease was confirmed by histopathological analysis of bioptated mediastinal
lymph node after mediastinoscopy. Surgical treatment included extirpation of
enlarged lymph nodes. After the regular postoperative condition, a full
therapy effect was confirmed. Conclusion. Unicentric form of Castleman?s
disease is expressed with enlarged lymph nodes on predilected places,
usually in mediastinum. Surgical treatment is best method for the management
of the disease and brings a full recovery of patient.
Sacral gigantocellular tumor treated with total sacrectomy and spinal-pelvic fixation
Authors: Savic Milenko
Published: September 2011

Background. Total sacrectomy with spinal-pelvic fixation is considered to be
a successful approach to the radical surgical treatment of extensive sacral
tumors, however, technically very demanding, thus only rarely reported in the
literature. We presented a patient with sacral gigantocellular tumor managed
successfully using this method but with certain standard operative techniques
improvements. Case report. A 30-year old patient with a pronounced painful
syndrome and sphincter disorders was confirmed to have sacral gigantocellular
tumor affecting a greater part of the sacrum. Tumor resection was performed
in the first act out off retroperitoneal organs (colon and blood vesels),
sacroiliac joints were open by the ventral side, the L5 discus removed, the
S2-S5 roots cut off. In the second act, performed three weeks later,
sacrectomy was completed by the reconstruction of pelvic ring and
spinal-pelvic fixation. Then, the standard technique was modified to provide
additional spinal fixation. The results of the operation (duration, blood
loss, postoperative deficit) were quite comparable with, and in some aspects
even better than the results published in the literature. Conclusion. Total
sacrectomy with spinal-pelvic fixation can be a therapy of choice in patients
with extensive sacral tumors requaring, however, the multidisciplinary
approach and a considerable experience with instrumental spinal
stabilization.
An early (1834) illustration of the wood lemming, Myopus schisticolor (Lilljeborg, 1844), from Finland
Authors: Fredga Karl , Stjernberg Torsten , Svanberg Ingvar
Published: September 2011

The wood lemming, Myopus schisticolor, was described as a new species by the Swedish zoologist Wilhelm Lilljeborg in 1844 from a specimen captured in Norway the year before. With the original description was a fine hand-coloured lithograph by the artist Magnus Körner. A Latin translation of the description published later that year also used an illustration by Körner, but it was of lesser quality. However, the species had been observed, described and depicted earlier, but these renderings never reached the scientific community. In 2008 and 2009 respectively, one illustration of the wood lemming made by the Finnish-born artist Wilhelm von Wright was sold twice at auctions in Stockholm. The illustration is dated 1834 and shows a specimen that was found dead at the artist's native home, Haminalaks, in Kuopio parish, Central Finland, that year. However, an accurate description of the species had already been made in 1765, by a group of young naturalists on a tour in the Swedish province Dalecarlia.
A botanical group in Lahore, 1864
Authors: Noltie H. J.
Published: September 2011

The sitters in a previously misunderstood nineteenth-century Indian group photograph are identified as four East India Company surgeons with wider interests in natural history: William Jameson, Thomas Caverhill Jerdon, John Lindsay Stewart and Hugh Francis Clarke Cleghorn, taken in Lahore at the Punjab Exhibition of 1864. The image was previously believed to depict the committee of the Madras Literary Society and to have been taken in Madras. No portraits of Jameson or Stewart have previously been known, and Jameson had mistakenly been identified as E. G. Balfour. Brief biographies are given of the individuals figured, the circumstances under which they coincided in Lahore explained, and their roles in forest conservation and the documentation of Indian biodiversity outlined. The photographer is confirmed as Samuel Bourne, and information is provided on the Scottish individuals to whom Cleghorn sent copies of the photograph.
The background to the proposition that plankton be used as food in the United Kingdom during the Second World War
Authors: Moore P. G.
Published: September 2011

Food shortages, particularly of proteins, in Britain during the Second World War led to the suggestion re-surfacing that marine plankton might be harvested on an industrial scale first as human food, then turning to its potential use as a supplement to stock and poultry feed. The notion emanated in the United Kingdom from Sir John Graham Kerr, at Glasgow University. He encouraged Alister Hardy, at Hull, to develop the idea and the natural testing ground was the Clyde Sea Area (given the extensive history of plankton researches at Millport). Unpublished documents from the archives of the Scottish Association for Marine Science shed new light on the interactions behind the scenes of this project between Kerr, Hardy and the Millport Marine Station's then director, Richard Elmhirst. Elmhirst, who was sceptical about the feasibility of the plan from the outset, went along with it; not least as a way of attracting welcome research funding during lean times but also, doubtless, regarding it as his patriotic duty in case the proposal proved worthwhile.
John Ray, physico-theology and afterwards
Authors: Berry R. J.
Published: September 2011

Ray's most widely read book was his Wisdom of God manifested in the works of creation (1691), probably based on addresses given in the chapel of Trinity College Cambridge 20 years previously. In it he forswore the use of allegory in biblical interpretation, just as he had done in his (and Francis Willughby's) Ornithology (1678). His discipline seeped into theology, complementing the influence of the Reformers and weakening Enlightenment assumptions about teleology, thus softening the hammer-blows of Darwinism on Deism. The physico-theology of the eighteenth century and the popularity of Gilbert White and the like survived the squeezing of natural theology by Paley and the Bridgewater Treatises a century after Wisdom … , and contributed to a peculiarly British understanding of natural theology. This undergirded the subsequent impact of the results of the voyagers and geologists and prepared the way for a modern reading of God's “Book of Works” (“Darwinism … under the disguise of a foe, did the work of a friend”).

Natural theology is often assumed to have been completely discredited by Darwin (as well as condemned by Barth and ridiculed by Dawkins). Notwithstanding, and despite the vapours of vitalism (ironically urged – among others – by Ray's biographer, Charles Raven) and the current fashion for “intelligent design”, the attitudes encouraged by Wisdom … still seem to be robust, albeit needing constant re-tuning (as in all understandings influenced by science).
A Generic Method to Monitor Completeness and Speed of Medical Documentation Processes
Authors: Dugas-Breit S. , Dugas M.
Published: September 2011

Background: Physicians dedicate approximately a quarter of daily work to documentation. Completeness and speed of medical documentation processes are important parameters, because they can affect quality of healthcare.

Objectives: A generic method to monitor these quality parameters is proposed and its utility is demonstrated in two examples.

Methods: Based on a generic event-driven process chain of a medical documentation process, completeness functions for created and finalized documents (available versus required documents by time) are defined. The 95%-quantile of process time is applied as performance indicator of documentation speed. A plotting function for these parameters is provided: completeness and speed of medical documentation (CSMD)-plot. Open source code and a sample data set are available in the Supplement.

Results: This methodology is applied to analyze the effect of an electronic dictation system on discharge letter documents. CSMD-plot detects significant differences regarding speed and completeness of the process before and after implementation of electronic dictation; in addition, it pinpoints differences regarding these quality parameters in documentation processes between different clinical departments. In a second example, CSMD-plot is used to analyze follow-up documentation of a clinical trial. Due to its generic design, CSMD-plots can be applied to other medical documentation processes such as order-entry processes.

Conclusions: Monitoring of completeness and speed of medical documentation is feasible and can provide quantitative information on these processes.
Respiratory Variability during Different Auditory Stimulation Periods in Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: Kara S. , Bilgiç V. , Akar S. A.
Published: September 2011

Background: Schizophrenic patients are known to have difficulty processing emotions and to exhibit impairment in stimuli discrimination. However, there is limited knowledge regarding their physiological responsivity to auditory stimuli.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the respiratory effects of two types of auditory stimuli with emotional content, classical Turkish music (CTM) and white noise (WN), on schizophrenia patients and healthy control subjects.

Methods: Forty-six individuals participated in the experiment, and respiratory signals derived from a strain-gauge were recorded. Two important respiratory patterns, respiration rate and depth, were analyzed.

Results: The results indicated that the patients presented a significantly higher respiration rate than control subjects during the initial baseline and WN exposure periods. Although CTM evoked an increase in respiration rates and a decrease in respiration depths in the control group, no significant differences were found during the stimulation periods in the patient group. The respiration rate was lower in the post-stimulation period than during the initial baseline period, and no respiration depth differences were found for the WN, music or post-stimulation periods in the schizophrenia group. Patients exhibited a greater respiration depth than the control subjects over all periods; however, a significant difference between the patient and control groups was obtained in the second resting condition and CTM exposure period. Furthermore, to analyze the effect of symptom severity on respiratory patterns, patients were divided into two classes according to their Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale score.

Conclusions: Further studies are needed to correlate respiratory differences with emotionally evocative stimuli and to refine our understanding of the dynamics of these types of stimuli in relation to clinical state and medication effects.
Investigation on structural, thermal, optical and sensing properties of meta-stable hexagonal MoO3 nanocrystals of one dimensional structure
Authors: Chithambararaj Angamuthuraj , Bose Arumugam Chandra
Published: September 2011

Hexagonal molybdenum oxide (h-MoO3) was synthesized by a solution based chemical precipitation technique. Analysis by X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that the as-synthesized powder had a metastable hexagonal structure. The characteristic vibrational band of Mo–O was identified from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images clearly depicted the morphology and size of h-MoO3. The morphology study showed that the product comprises one-dimensional (1D) hexagonal rods. From the electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurement, the elemental composition was investigated and confirmed from the characteristic peaks of molybdenum and oxygen. Thermogravimetric (TG) analysis on metastable MoO3 revealed that the hexagonal phase was stable up to 430 °C and above this temperature complete transformation into a highly stable orthorhombic phase was achieved. The optical band gap energy was estimated from the Kubelka–Munk (K–M) function and was found to be 2.99 eV. Finally, the ethanol vapor-sensing behavior was investigated and the sensing response was found to vary linearly as a function of ethanol concentration in the parts per million (ppm) range.
In Vivo Measurements of Thermal Load During Ablation in High-speed Laser Corneal Refractive Surgery
Authors: de Ortueta Diego , Magnago Thomas , Triefenbach Nico , Arba Mosquera Samuel , Sauer Udo , Brunsmann Ulrich
Published: September 2011

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the thermal load of ablation in high-speed laser corneal refractive surgery with the AMARIS excimer laser (SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions).

METHODS:

Thermal load from refractive corrections on human corneas using a 500-Hz laser system with a fluence of 500 mJ/cm
2
and aspheric ablation profiles was recorded with an infrared thermography camera. Each single in vivo measurement was analyzed and temperature values were evaluated.

RESULTS:

Overall, the maximum temperature change of the ocular surface induced by the refractive ablations was ≤4°C. The increase in the peak temperature of the ocular surface never exceeded 35°C in any case. This low thermal load was independent of the amount of correction the eye achieved.

CONCLUSIONS:

The thermal load of the ablation in high-speed laser corneal refractive surgery was minimized using a computer algorithm to control the peak temperature to avoid corneal collagen denaturation with minimal compromise on treatment duration.
Rasch modelling of Mathematics and Science teachers’ preferences of real-life situations to be used in Mathematical Literacy
Authors: Julie Cyril , Holtman Lorna , Mbekwa Monde
Published: September 2011

In order to ascertain the real-life situations that teachers, as stakeholders, would find suitable and appropriate to deal with in Mathematical Literacy (a compulsory subject for students who are not doing Mathematics at the Further Education and Training level of the South African education system), we embarked on a study known as the Relevance of School Mathematics Education (ROSME). The principle underpinning this article is that there are times when it is necessary to assess the functionality and quality of questionnaires used to ascertain affective domain issues. The study provides an analysis technique which is not affected by the sample of individuals completing a questionnaire, provided that the instrument meets particular requirements. It thus improves the rigour of measurement. Various statistics obtained in this study showed that the instrument used to determine the real-life situations which teachers prefer for Mathematical Literacy reasonably identifies this variable. However, it is cautioned that much more care needs to be exercised in construction of such instruments. The results also indicated the real-life situations which teachers most and least preferred to be included in Mathematical Literacy, providing useful information for policy-makers and textbook authors on contextual situations to be included in learning materials.
Flow‐induced reconfiguration of buoyant and flexible aquatic vegetation
Authors: Luhar Mitul , Nepf Heidi M.
Published: September 2011

Plant posture can play a key role in the health of aquatic vegetation, by setting drag, controlling light availability, and mediating the exchange of nutrients and oxygen. We study the flow‐induced reconfiguration of buoyant, flexible aquatic vegetation through a combination of laboratory flume experiments and theoretical modeling. The laboratory experiments measure drag and posture for model blades that span the natural range for seagrass stiffness and buoyancy. The theoretical model calculates plant posture based on a force balance that includes posture‐dependent drag and the restoring forces due to vegetation stiffness and buoyancy. When the hydrodynamic forcing is small compared to the restoring forces, the model blades remain upright and the quadratic law, Fx ∝ U2, predicts the drag well (Fx is drag, U is velocity). When the hydrodynamic forcing exceeds the restoring forces, the blades are pushed over by the flow, and the quadratic drag law no longer applies. The model successfully predicts when this transition occurs. The model also predicts that when the dominant restoring mechanism is blade stiffness, reconfiguration leads to the scaling Fx ∝ U4/3. When the dominant restoring mechanism is blade buoyancy, reconfiguration can lead to a sub‐linear increase in drag with velocity, i.e., Fx ∝ Ua with a < 1. Laboratory measurements confirm both these predictions. The model also predicts drag and posture successfully for natural systems ranging from seagrasses to marine macroalgae of more complex morphology.
Vertical and longitudinal distribution patterns of different bacterioplankton populations in a canyon‐shaped, deep prealpine lake
Authors: Salcher Michaela M. , Pernthaler Jakob , Frater Nakita , Posch Thomas
Published: September 2011

The pelagic zone of large, deep freshwater lakes features pronounced horizontal and vertical gradients of physicochemical parameters, which in turn might allow for a nonuniform occurrence of specifically adapted bacterial taxa. We, therefore, studied the spatial distribution patterns of different heterotrophic bacteria, picocyanobacteria, and the dominant primary producer, the filamentous cyanobacterium Planktothrix rubescens, in a large, canyon‐shaped, prealpine lake (Lake Zurich, Switzerland), in six vertical profiles along a 21.7‐km longitudinal transect. Highest total densities and proportions of cells with high nucleic acid content were in the warm epilimnion and the hypoxic zone of the hypolimnion. P. rubescens formed a dense layer in the metalimnion throughout the lake, whereas picocyanobacteria populated the water layers above. The epilimnion was mainly inhabited by ultramicrobacteria related to the LD12‐lineage of Alphaproteobacteria and to Actinobacteria; the latter group preferred the shallow regions. Cytophaga‐Flavobacteria, in particular a population related to Fluviicola sp. were more frequent in and below the layer of maximal P. rubescens abundances. Betaproteobacteria, on the other hand, were highly abundant in the epi‐ and hypolimnion, but not in the P. rubescens layer. Four betaproteobacterial subpopulations with contrasting longitudinal and/or vertical habitat preferences were distinguished: putatively methylotrophic bacteria of the LD28 lineage (beta IV) preferentially inhabited the hypolimnion, Polynucleobacter acidiphobus was found throughout the epilimnion, Limnohabitans (R‐BT065) more in the shallow regions of the lake, and Polynucleobacter necessarius ssp. asymbioticus only in hypoxic waters. Our results stress the potential importance of spatial niche differentiation in freshwater bacterioplankton.
Comparison of Blind Nasal Packing vs Endoscopic Control of Epistaxis in an Emergency Setting
Authors: Chhapola Sunita , Matta Inita , Marker Pratima
Published: September 2011

Aim:

To compare the precision and efficacy of endoscopic control versus nasal packing in epistaxis presenting to the emergency room.

Design

Open labelled randomized controlled trial for comparison of precision and efficacy of emergency blind nasal packing with primary endoscopic control of epistaxis.

Subjects

A total of 160 consecutive patients of epistaxis in the age group of 40 to 70 years were randomized in two groups (A and B) of 80 patients each. Group A was subjected to blind nasal packing and group B to endoscopic procedure. About 48 (30%) patients were alcoholic, 64 (40%) were hypertensive and 48 (30%) patients did not have any overt predisposing factor. Bleeding time, clotting time, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time and international normalized ratio (INR) were done in all patients to rule out coagulation diseases.

Results

The nasal pack of patients in group A was removed after 48 hours. The nose was endoscopically examined on 3rd day, 7th day and then 1 month after the epistaxis. A total of 44 (55%) patients of group A had nasal mucosal abrasions (p < 0.05), two (2.5%) patients had secretory otitis media (p > 0.05) and 10 (12.5%) had synechiae formation (p > 0.05). A total of 28 (35%) patients from group A had one episode of rebleed after nasal pack removal. Group B had no complications.

Conclusion

Epistaxis presenting to the emergency room can be precisely and effectively controlled endoscopically. Clumsy nasal packing, complications and subsequent hospitalization costs are thereby reduced.
Schwannomas along Different Segments of Facial Nerve: Case Series with Review of Literature
Authors: Nair Deepa , Pai Prathamesh S , Joseph Shawn T , Moiyadi Aliasgar V
Published: September 2011

Facial nerve schwannomas are rare conditions which can mimic many other conditions. A series of patients with facial nerve schwannomas were treated in our department, all of whom had a delay in diagnosis resulting in a significant morbidity. This prompted us to present this rare case series of schwannomas along different segments of facial nerve and also review the literature on such tumors—the different presentations, work-up issues in management and rehabilitation. A wide text and PubMed English literature-based search was done on the existing literature on facial nerve schwannomas and the summary presented. Facial nerve schwannomas can have multiple clinical presentations with or without a facial paresis. Only a high degree of clinical suspicion and early imaging can lead to this diagnosis. An early diagnosis of facial nerve schwannoma is important as the morbidity associated with the condition as well as the surgery increases with the delay in diagnosis.
Oral Complications and Its Management during Radiotherapy
Authors: Kumar Dheeraj , Rastogi Namrata
Published: September 2011

Cancer is a class of diseases in which a cell or a group of cells display uncontrolled growth, invasion, and sometimes metastasis. The term head and neck cancer refers to a group of biologically similar cancers originating from the upper aerodigestive tract, including the lip, oral cavity, nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, pharynx and larynx. About 90% of head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas, originating from the mucosal lining (epithelium) of these regions. Radiation therapy is the most common form of treatment along with surgery and chemotherapy. There are different forms of radiation therapy, including 3D conformal radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy and brachytherapy, which are commonly used in the treatment of cancers of the head and neck. There are both acute and long-term sequelae of radiation therapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC) that occur because of effects on normal tissues. Radiotherapy-induced oral complications are complex, dynamic pathobiological processes that lower the quality of life and predispose patients to serious clinical disorders. Radiotherapy-induced damage in the oral mucosa is the result of the deleterious effects of radiation, not only on the oral mucosa itself but also on the adjacent salivary glands, bone, dentition, and masticatory musculature and apparatus.

Dental surgeons should organize and implement preventive and therapeutic strategies in the management of various complications due to radiotherapy. The clinical features, diagnosis and management of various complications are discussed here. This article mainly presents a brief overview of the whole program of oral evaluation and proper care before, during and after the radiotherapy, managing all the common problems involved.
Ameloblastomatous Calcifying Odontogenic Cyst: A Rare Clinicopathologic Entity
Authors: Gupta Siddharth
Published: September 2011

The calcifying odontogenic cyst represents a heterogeneous group of lesions that exhibits a variety of clinicopathologic and behavioral features. Therefore, a proper categorization of the cases is needed for better understanding of each variant. Ameloblastoma is one of the well-known odontogenic tumors that could be associated with calcifying odontogenic cyst. Very few cases of ameloblastomatous calcifying odontogenic cyst have been reported in the literature. In this report, we present a case of ameloblastomatous calcifying odontogenic cyst differentiating it from other variants of calcifying odontogenic cyst.