bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Acibenzolar‐S‐Methyl and β‐Aminobutyric Acid for Control of Downy Mildew in Greenhouse Grown Basil and Peroxidase Activity in Response to Treatment with these Compounds
Authors: Mersha Zelalem , Zhang Shouan , Fu Yuqing , Mo Xiaodan , Raid Richard N. , Hau Bernhard
Published: November 2012

Downy mildew, caused by the oomycete pathogen Peronospora belbahrii, is a devastating foliar disease of basil in the United States and worldwide. Currently there are very few chemistries or organic choices registered to control this disease. In this study, two systemic acquired resistance (SAR) inducers, acibenzolar‐S‐methyl (ASM) and β‐aminobutyric acid (BABA), were evaluated for their in vitro effects on the pathogen, for their potential to control basil downy mildew in greenhouses, and for changes in peroxidase activity in basil plants treated with these two SAR inducers. No significant inhibition of sporangial germination was detected in water agar amended with ASM at concentrations lower than 100 mg/l or with BABA at concentrations lower than 500 mg/l. Efficacy of ASM and BABA in greenhouses varied depending on the rate, method and timing of application. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) of disease severity was significantly reduced compared to the non‐treated control when ASM was sprayed (in all experiments) or drenched (in one out of two experiments) pre‐, or pre‐ + post‐inoculation at rates of 25–400 mg/l. Three weekly post‐inoculation sprays of ASM at the rate of 50 mg/l reduced AUDPC by 93.0 and 47.2% when started 3 and 7 days after inoculation (DAI), respectively. The AUDPC of disease severity was also significantly reduced when BABA was sprayed pre‐ + post‐inoculation at rates of 125–500 mg/l. According to the prediction using a log‐logistic function, 50% maximum disease protection was achieved at a concentration of 27.5 mg/l of ASM. Basil plants treated with these two SAR inducers and challenged with the pathogen showed significantly higher peroxidase activity than the non‐treated control at 8 DAI. Temporally, the highest activity of peroxidase was detected at 8 DAI, decreased at 15 DAI and waned further at 23 DAI.
Parasitic Bacteria and Fungi on Common Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) and Their Potential Application in Biocontrol
Authors: Kotan Recep , Okutucu Akif , Ala Görmez Arzu , Karagoz Kenan , Dadasoglu Fatih , Karaman İsa , Hasanekoglu İsmet , Kordali Şaban
Published: November 2012

This study was carried out to identify pathogenic bacteria and fungi on mistletoe (Viscum album L.) and investigate their potential use in biological control of this parasitic plant. For this purpose, a total of 48 fungal isolate and 193 bacterial strains were isolated from contaminated V. album during the summers 2005–2006. The isolated bacterial strains and fungal isolates were identified by using the Sherlock Microbial Identification System (MIS; Microbial ID, Newark) and microscopic methods, respectively. The bacterial strains that induced hypersensitive reaction (HR) on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) and fungal isolates were tested for pathogenicity on young shoots of mistletoe by using injection methods. The pathogenic bacterial strains and fungal isolates were also tested for their activity against mistletoe using spray methods. Five bacterial strains (two Burkholderia cepacia, one each of Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus and Pandoraea pulminicola) were HR and pathogenicity positive when injected but none of them when sprayed on mistletoe. When fungi were injected, 32 isolates were pathogenic but only thirteen when sprayed on mistletoe. Alternaria alternata VAŞ‐202, VAŞ‐205, VAŞ‐217 and Acremonium kiliense VA‐11 fungal isolates were the most effective ones and caused strong disease symptoms on mistletoe. The present study is the first report on the efficiency of potential biocontrol agents against mistletoe in Turkey.
Identification of Provider Characteristics Influencing Prescription of Analgesics: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Deepmala Deepmala , Franz Lauren , Aponte Carolina , Agrawal Mayank , Jiang Wei
Published: November 2012

Purpose

Pain is a comorbid and aggravating symptom that in many conditions can be perceived differently and should therefore be managed accordingly. Numerous factors, both social and cultural, are thought to influence the analgesic prescription. However, elucidation of such areas is limited. We therefore conducted a systematic literature review to test the hypothesis that variations in provider characteristics predict the prescription of pain medication.

Methods

A MEDLINE and PsycINFO database search from 1960 to 2009 was conducted using the search terms of “pain” or “pain treatment” along with culture, ethnicity, race, minority, gender/sex, knowledge, attitudes, physician–patient relationship, stereotype, and physician practices. Twelve original research articles based on predefined inclusion criteria were identified and analyzed to test the hypothesis of provider characteristics influencing analgesics prescription.

Results

Of the 12 studies, 11 were cross‐sectional in design, and 10 used a survey instrument or clinical vignettes to measure different pain management responses. A randomized sampling methodology was used in 5 of the studies. The majority of providers were male (64.9% in 8 studies), white (73.5% in 5 studies), internal medicine physicians (37.4% in 11 studies), and located in the United States (75% across all 12 studies). Ten studies identified at least one provider characteristic that influenced prescription practices; age, level of experience, as well as sex were listed most frequently as contributing factors. The interplay of the sex of the provider and patient characteristics were found to be important variables in pain management.

Conclusions

Our systematic review of existing literature highlights that provider's age, sex, experience, specialty, and the interplay between provider and patient characteristics are important variables in pain management. However, generalizations relating to these findings are limited by the heterogeneity of the studies and the paucity of literature in this field.
Screening Instruments for Depression in Advanced Cancer Patients: What Do We Actually Measure?
Authors: Warmenhoven Franca , van Weel Chris , Vissers Kris , Prins Judith
Published: November 2012

Background

Patients in a palliative care trajectory frequently suffer from depression. To distinguish depression from normal sadness, the use of screening instruments could facilitate the diagnostic process. However, in palliative care, screening instruments may not discern physical symptom burden from psychological distress, due to the high number of physical symptoms in palliative patients.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to explore physical symptom burden and psychological distress in patients with advanced cancer in relation to scores on screening instruments for depression.

Methods

Patients with advanced cancer were asked to fill out the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI‐II), Beck Depression Inventory Primary Care (BDI‐PC), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale Short Form (MSAS‐SF). The relationship between scores on screening tools for depression and different physical symptom clusters was explored.

Results

In the sample of 65 patients, screening instruments for depression correlated highly with different somatic symptom clusters. The BDI‐II cognitive subscale was the only scale that was not significantly correlated with any of the somatic symptom clusters.

Conclusion

Screening tools for the detection of depression in patients with advanced cancer may not provide an accurate evaluation of depression. These tools seem to measure physical symptom burden as well, especially when patients suffer from symptoms of the clusters fatigue/anorexia/cachexia, neuropsychology, debility, or pain. In this study, the BDI‐II cognitive subscale seems to differentiate best from somatic symptom burden.
Genomic prediction of sunflower hybrid performance
Authors: Reif Jochen C. , Zhao Yusheng , Würschum Tobias , Gowda Manje , Hahn Volker
Published: November 2012

Predicting single‐cross performance is of high importance to improve the efficiency of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) hybrid breeding programmes. We used experimental data from inter‐ and intragroup sunflower hybrids and their parental lines adapted to Central Europe to (i) study the genetic diversity and combining ability and (ii) examine the accuracy to predict hybrid performance based on phenotypic and genomic data. We evaluated 133 intragroup and 104 intergroup hybrids with their parental lines in replicated trials at four environments for grain yield, oil yield and oil content. Furthermore, the parental lines were fingerprinted with 572 AFLP markers. Variance due to specific combining ability was comparable for intergroup and intragroup crosses. This suggested a lack of clearly defined heterotic groups for the sample of studied sunflower lines. Prediction accuracy of hybrid performance based on general combining ability effects was high and could not be increased using genomic selection approaches. For situations where no information on GCA effects of parental lines was available, hybrid prediction based on genomic selection methods was accurate for groups of related lines. For groups of unrelated lines, however, we observed a strong decrease in the prediction accuracy. This suggests that prediction of hybrid performance for crosses based on genetically distant parents remains challenging.
Acupuncture in the Treatment of Obesity: A Narrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Belivani Maria , Dimitroula Charikleia , Katsiki Niki , Apostolopoulou Martha , Cummings Mike , Hatzitolios Apostolos I
Published: November 2012

Obesity is one of the leading health risk factors worldwide and is associated with several other risk factors and health problems including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and malignancies. Current conventional therapeutic strategies for obesity cannot achieve adequate weight control in all patients, so complementary types of treatment are also performed. Acupuncture, one of the oldest healing practices, represents the most rapidly growing complementary therapy which is recognised by both the National Institutes of Health and the WHO. A previous review concluded that acupuncture was superior to lifestyle advice, to sham acupuncture and to conventional medication. In this narrative review, the possible mechanisms of actions and the results of recent experimental and clinical studies with different forms of acupuncture (eg, body, auricular, manual and electroacupuncture) are presented. In particular, the effects of acupuncture on anorexigenic and orexigenic peptides, insulin resistance, lipid metabolism and inflammatory markers are discussed. Both experimental and clinical current data suggest that acupuncture exerts beneficial effects on the mechanisms of obesity. Some data suggest that electroacupuncture may be more effective than manual acupuncture; however, the most effective frequency remains controversial. Combination of different forms of acupuncture with diet and exercise seems to be necessary for achieving and maintaining weight loss.  Further prospective clinical trials are needed to establish the effectiveness of this complementary method for obesity treatment.
The clinical management in familial adenomatous polyposis deserves continuous monitoring for thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Crippa Stefano , Saletti Piercarlo , Barizzi Jessica , Mazzucchelli Luca
Published: November 2012

Papillary thyroid carcinoma is an extraintestinal manifestation of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, mainly occurring in young women. Recent publications highlight that familial adenomatous polyposis-associated papillary thyroid carcinoma represents a distinct type of follicular cell neoplasm histologically characterised by cribriform-morular aspects, the incidence of which has probably been underestimated so far. We report a case history of familial adenomatous polyposis-associated papillary thyroid carcinoma occurring in a 55-year-old man with Gardner syndrome, underscoring the importance of careful ultrasound screening examination of the thyroid gland in this condition.
Biliary stent migration presenting with leg pain
Authors: O'Connor Ryan , Agrawal Satyanisth , Aoun Elie , Kulkarni Abhijit
Published: November 2012

Although the therapeutic benefits of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) usually outweigh the risks, there can be rare complications, including stent migration leading to perforation, intestinal obstruction or penetration. An 87-year-old woman presented with symptomatic choledocholithiasis. Two previous endoscopic attempts at stone removal were unsuccessful. On repeat ERCP at our institution, multiple large stones were removed, but complete duct clearance could not be achieved. A plastic biliary stent was placed with plans to reattempt in 6 weeks. Postoperatively, she had mild back pain radiating into her right leg that gradually worsened to the point where she was unable to ambulate. An abdominal CT scan showed the distal aspect of the biliary stent extending through the wall of the duodenum with the tip positioned within the right psoas muscle. The stent was successfully removed via a rat-toothed forceps. Our case illustrates an extremely rare complication of biliary stent placement.
Quality of advance care planning policy and practice in residential aged care facilities in Australia
Authors: Silvester William , Fullam Rachael S , Parslow Ruth A , Lewis Virginia J , Sjanta Rebekah , Jackson Lynne , White Vanessa , Gilchrist Jane
Published: November 2012

Objectives

To assess existing advance care planning (ACP) practices in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) in Victoria, Australia before a systematic intervention; to assess RACF staff experience, understanding of and attitudes towards ACP.

Design

Surveys of participating organisations concerning ACP-related policies and procedures, review of existing ACP-related documentation, and pre-intervention survey of RACF staff covering their role, experiences and attitudes towards ACP-related procedures.

Setting

19 selected RACFs in Victoria.

Participants

12 aged care organisations (representing 19 RACFs) who provided existing ACP-related documentation for review, 12 RACFs who completed an organisational survey and 45 staff (from 19 RACFs) who completed a pre-intervention survey of knowledge, attitudes and behaviour.

Results

Findings suggested that some ACP-related practices were already occurring in RACFs; however, these activities were inconsistent and variable in quality. Six of the 12 responding RACFs had written policies and procedures for ACP; however, none of the ACP-related documents submitted covered all information required to meet ACP best practice. Surveyed staff had limited experience of ACP, and discrepancies between self reported comfort, and levels of knowledge and confidence to undertake ACP-related activities, indicated a need for training and ongoing organisational support.

Conclusions

Surveyed organisations â policies and procedures related to ACP were limited and the quality of existing documentation was poor. RACF staff had relatively limited experience in developing advance care plans with facility residents, although attitudes were positive. A systematic approach to the implementation of ACP in residential aged care settings is required to ensure best practice is implemented and sustained.
SYMMETRIES, NEWTONOID VECTOR FIELDS AND CONSERVATION LAWS IN THE LAGRANGIAN k-SYMPLECTIC FORMALISM
Authors: BUA LUCÍA , BUCATARU IOAN , SALGADO MODESTO
Published: November 2012

In this paper, we study symmetries, Newtonoid vector fields, conservation laws, Noether's theorem and its converse, in the framework of the k-symplectic formalism, using the Frölicher–Nijenhuis formalism on the space of k1-velocities of the configuration manifold.

For the case k = 1, it is well known that Cartan symmetries induce and are induced by constants of motions, and these results are known as Noether's theorem and its converse. For the case k > 1, we provide a new proof for Noether's theorem, which shows that, in the k-symplectic formalism, each Cartan symmetry induces a conservation law. We prove that, under some assumptions, the converse of Noether's theorem is also true and we provide examples when this is not the case. We also study the relations between dynamical symmetries, Newtonoid vector fields, Cartan symmetries and conservation laws, showing when one of them will imply the others. We use several examples of partial differential equations to illustrate when these concepts are related and when they are not.
DYNAMIC EVOLUTION OF FINANCIAL NETWORK AND ITS RELATION TO ECONOMIC CRISES
Authors: GAO YA-CHUN , WEI ZONG-WEN , WANG BING-HONG
Published: November 2012

The static topology properties of financial networks have been widely investigated since the work done by Mantegna, yet their dynamic evolution with time is little considered. In this paper, we comprehensively study the dynamic evolution of financial network by a sliding window technique. The vertices and edges of financial network are represented by the stocks from S&P500 components and correlations between pairs of daily returns of price fluctuation, respectively. Furthermore, the duration of stock price fluctuation, spanning from January 4, 1985 to September 14, 2009, makes us to carefully observe the relation between the dynamic topological properties and big financial crashes. The empirical results suggest that the financial network has the robust small-world property when the time evolves, and the topological structure drastically changes when the big financial crashes occur. This correspondence between the dynamic evolution of financial network and big financial crashes may provide a novel view to understand the origin of economic crisis.
RELATIONS BETWEEN INTERMEDIATE STATISTICS AND QUANTUM STATISTICS
Authors: MA PENG-FEI , ZHOU CHI-CHUN , CHEN YU-ZHU , PANG HAI
Published: November 2012

We provide the relations among intermediate, Bose and Fermi statistics through a simplified quantum dot model. We show that the high-temperature (near-classical) behavior of the intermediate statistics is like the Bose statistics: We develop the virial expansion of the intermediate statistics, and find that the first n (maximum occupation number on a single state) expansion coefficients are the same as the corresponding Bose virial coefficients. We also show that under low-temperature (near-quantum) conditions, the n-intermediate statistics on a single state behaves more like the Fermi statistics on an n-degenerate state.
STRUCTURAL TRANSITIONS OF BiI3 UNDER PRESSURE
Authors: SUN XIAO-XIAO , REN ZHI-RU , WANG DAO-GUANG
Published: November 2012

High pressure studies of BiI 3 at 0 K are performed using first-principles pseudopotential calculations within the framework of density functional theory. The calculations indicate that BiI 3 undergoes a structural transition from rhombohedral R-3 phase to monoclinic P2 1/c phase at 7 GPa which is accompanied by a 5.8% volume collapse. In addition, we find that P2 1/c phase prevails about 60 GPa range and transforms to cubic Fm-3m phase at 68 GPa, and finally takes the orthorhombic Pnma phase at high pressures up to 133 GPa. The structural and electronic properties of four competitive structures are also calculated. The analysis of density of states reveals that BiI 3 has semiconductor-metal transition at about 61 GPa, which also demonstrates the metallic nature of both Fm-3m and Pnma phases.
HOMOMORPHIC EXPANSIONS FOR KNOTTED TRIVALENT GRAPHS
Authors: BAR-NATAN DROR , DANCSO ZSUZSANNA
Published: November 2012

It had been known since old times (works of Murakami–Ohtsuki, Cheptea–Le and the second author) that there exists a universal finite type invariant ("an expansion") Z old for knotted trivalent graphs (KTGs), and that it can be chosen to intertwine between some of the standard operations on KTGs and their chord-diagrammatic counterparts (so that relative to those operations, it is "homomorphic"). Yet perhaps the most important operation on KTGs is the "edge unzip" operation, and while the behavior of Z old under edge unzip is well understood, it is not plainly homomorphic as some "correction factors" appear. In this paper we present two equivalent ways of modifying Z old into a new expansion Z, defined on "dotted knotted trivalent graphs" (dKTGs), which is homomorphic with respect to a large set of operations. The first is to replace "edge unzips" by "tree connected sums", and the second involves somewhat restricting the circumstances under which edge unzips are allowed. As we shall explain, the newly defined class dKTG of KTGs retains all the good qualities that KTGs have — it remains firmly connected with the Drinfel'd theory of associators and it is sufficiently rich to serve as a foundation for an "algebraic knot theory". As a further application, we present a simple proof of the good behavior of the LMO invariant under the Kirby II (band-slide) move, first proven by Le, Murakami, Murakami and Ohtsuki.
BLACK HOLE PROBES OF AUTOMORPHIC SPACE
Authors: SCHIMMRIGK ROLF
Published: November 2012

Over the past few years the arithmetic Langlands program has proven useful in addressing physical problems. In this paper it is shown how Langlands' reciprocity conjecture for automorphic forms, in combination with a representation theoretic notion of motives, suggests a framework in which the entropy of automorphic black holes can be viewed as a probe of spacetime that is sensitive to the geometry of the extra dimensions predicted by string theory. If it were possible to produce black holes with automorphic entropy in the laboratory their evaporation would provide us with information about the precise shape of the compact geometry.
RELAXING THE IMPACT OF EXTREME UNITS IN DATA ENVELOPMENT ANALYSIS
Authors: SMIRLIS YIANNIS G. , DESPOTIS DIMITRIS K.
Published: November 2012

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is a nonparametric linear programming technique for measuring the relative efficiency of decision making units (DMUs) on the basis of multiple inputs and outputs. DEA assessments, however, are proved to be sensitive to extreme units that deviate substantially in their input/output patterns. In this paper we introduce an approach for handling extreme observations in DEA, i.e., observations that exhibit irregularly high values in some outputs and/or low values in some inputs. Unlike the usual practice of removing such observations, we retain them in the production possibility set reducing their impact on the other units. Our modeling approach is based on the concept of diminishing returns, assuming that the contribution of an output (input) to the efficiency score diminishes as the output increases beyond a pre-specified level, i.e., the level beyond which a value is characterized as extreme. According to our approach the original data set is transformed to an augmented data set, where standard DEA models can then be applied, remaining thus in the grounds of the standard DEA methodology. We illustrate our approach with a numerical example.
MICROWAVE-INDUCED THERMOACOUSTIC IMAGING FOR EARLY BREAST CANCER DETECTION
Authors: JI ZHONG , FU YONG , YANG SIHUA
Published: November 2012

Microwave-induced thermoacoustic tomography (TAT) is a noninvasive, nonionizing modality based on the inherent differences in microwave absorption of malignant breast tissues and normal adipose-dominated breast tissues. In this paper, a TAT system based on multielement acquisition system was built to receive signals. Slices from different layers in the sample were composed into a three-dimensional (3D) volume. Based on the 3D volume, inherent differences in microwave absorption between different biological tissues can be converted into structure information. Our experimental results of some mimicked and human tumors indicate that TAT may potentially be used to detect early-stage breast cancers with high contrast.
The geochemistry of niobium and its distribution and relative mobility in agricultural soils of Europe
Authors: Scheib A. J. , Flight D. M. A. , Birke M. , Tarvainen T. , Locutura J. ,   GEMAS Project Team
Published: November 2012

The Geochemical Mapping of Agricultural and Grazing Land Soil (GEMAS) project provides soil geochemical data for over 50 elements at a density of 1 sample per 2500 km
2
across the European continent. Median baseline total concentrations of niobium (Nb) determined by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry in the <2 mm fraction of 2108 ploughed agricultural soil (0–20 cm) and 2024 grazing land (0–10 cm) samples are 13 and 12 mg/kg, respectively. These concentration levels are more than 23 times higher than the median extractable concentration of Nb obtained by aqua regia digestion. Thus >95% of Nb in soils can be considered ‘immobile’.

All anomalous soil concentrations can be related to geogenic processes. Many of the elevated Nb concentrations are underlain by Hercynian granitic intrusions and alkaline volcanic rocks. High Nb levels also correspond to the occurrence of residual soils over karst areas of southeast Europe and, to some extent, loess deposits of central and Eastern Europe. Lowest Nb concentrations are found in soils developed on most recent glacial sediments of northern Europe.

Comparison of the aqua regia extractable concentrations of Nb in both sample types collected within <450 m of each other show that concentrations are on average 0.12 mg/kg (15.4%) higher in grazing land soils, suggesting an influence of different land-use practises.
Anthropogenic versus lithological influences on soil geochemical patterns in Cyprus
Authors: Cohen David R. , Rutherford Neil F. , Morisseau Eleni , Christoforou Irene , Zissimos Andreas M.
Published: November 2012

The relative influences of parent lithology and anthropogenic effects on the soil geochemistry of Cyprus have been evaluated using a high density soil survey. Cyprus contains a number of lithologically distinct terranes, including the ultramafic–mafic Troodos Ophiolite Complex, which hosts a number of Cyprus-type Cu deposits, and the surrounding carbonate-rich marine sedimentary units. Cyprus also has a long history of human settlement and resource exploitation. Top-soils (0–25 cm depth) and sub-soils (50–75 cm) were grid-sampled across the southern two-thirds of the island at a density of 1 site per
c
. 1 km
2
. The aqua regia-extractable and total element contents of the <2-mm fraction were determined using a range of analytical techniques. For most elements the soil geochemistry is dominated by parent lithology and subsequent regolith processes. Major urban areas, industrial zones, Cu mines and some other locations display elevated contents of Pb, Cu, Hg, Sn and Zn, especially in top-soil. The northern Polis Valley displays elevated Hg in sub-soil which appears unrelated to either geological features or modern anthropogenic influences. Contaminated areas are typified by significant differences between top-soil and sub-soil element concentrations as well as changes in multivariate geochemical patterns.
Rare earth elements in Greenland: known and new targets identified and characterised by regional stream sediment data
Authors: Steenfelt Agnete
Published: November 2012

Increasing demand for lanthanides encouraged inspection of stream sediment data for Greenland. The database of the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland contains analytical data for
c
. 10600 samples covering 70% of the ice-free margin of Greenland. Data for La, Eu and Yb are considered representative for the suite of seven rare earth elements (REEs) determined in the samples, and spatial distribution of background values as well as of anomalies (La>364 ppm, Eu>7.4 ppm, Yb>16 ppm) shows that certain provinces are enriched in one, two or all three elements.

Stream sediment REE-anomalous samples from South Greenland derived from the most important rock associations hosting REE deposits, i.e. carbonatite, peralkaline syenite, alkaline granite or non-alkaline granite, show that the REE fractionation for samples derived from each of these rock associations is distinct and can form the basis for defining screens. When applied to data from the whole of Greenland it is possible to identify samples likely derived from the same associations. Samples from diverse lithologies also occupy distinct parts in diagrams of La-Yb, Yb-Eu and La/Yb-Eu/Yb variation. Stream sediment REE properties reflect those of source rocks because REE are preferably contained in minerals that survive in the stream sediment environment.
Source of anomalous gold concentrations in termite nests, Moolart Well, Western Australia: implications for exploration
Authors: Stewart Aaron D. , Anand Ravi R. , Balkau Jens
Published: November 2012

The Moolart Well gold deposit lies in the Duketon Greenstone Belt in the Western Australian Goldfields in an area that has seen nearly 150 years of Au exploration with limited success due to the transported cover masking deposits. Here, the site displays no anomaly indicative of underlying mineralization within surface soils. Termites have the ability to burrow to the subsoil and contribute to the development of soil profiles through bioturbation. This study discusses the use of mounds formed by the termite
Tumulitermes tumuli
from a site where shallow ferruginised palaeochannel sediments with secondary Au enrichment overlays deeper primary mineralization.

A series of samples from termite nests and surrounding soil were sampled along a transect from background areas to over mineralization. Various fractions of these samples were analysed with ICP-MS/AES.
Tumulitermes tumuli
is able to bring sub-surface mineralized material to the surface from 1 to 4 m depth. Termite mounds over mineralization and soil immediately adjacent to the mounds display an Au anomaly in both <250 and >250 µm fractions. Very high concentrations (>5000 ppb) were found in >2000 µm fractions in nests over mineralization as a result of vertical transport of anomalous pisolitic gravels by termites. These results suggest termite-driven local soil heterogeneity and termite mounds being a consistent geochemical and mineralogical sample medium for the discovery of ore deposits beneath weathered cover and shallow sediments.
Medical geologists during the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration
Authors: Guly Henry
Published: November 2012

Although the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration is best remembered for races to the South Pole, the majority of expeditions at the time had scientific aims with geology as one of the important sciences to be studied. Almost all the expeditions carried a doctor, who was usually expected to contribute to the science of the expedition and was often appointed more for his non-medical skills than his medical ones. On the
Scotia
expedition, Dr J. Harvey Pirie was appointed as doctor, bacteriologist and geologist, and on the
Discovery
expedition, Dr Reginald Koettlitz was appointed as botanist, but had earlier spent three years as geologist in the Arctic. Ernest Gourdon, the geologist on both French expeditions, was a medical student at the time (although some sources speak of him a being medically qualified) and he obtained doctorates in both geology and medicine for his work in the Antarctic. Perhaps the most important geological discovery of the era was made by Dr Edward Wilson who was a zoologist and artist rather than a geologist, but had a wide interest in natural history. This paper describes these doctors and their contribution to geology on these expeditions.
Materia medica in the seventeenth-century Paper Museum of Cassiano dal Pozzo
Authors: Rolfe W. D. Ian
Published: November 2012

The Paper Museum comprises
c.
10 000 drawings and prints, most of which are in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. When viewed in their seventeenth-century context, 25 of these drawings depict ‘geological’ material that also served as materia medica: earths, calculi, bezoars, toadstones, corals, calcifying alga, fungus stone, lodestone, eagle-stones, Bologna stone, amber, amulets, figured stones and gems. Some of these are listed in the official 1639 pharmacopoeia of Rome. Eleven of these drawings are reproduced here, nine of them for the first time. A single drawing may depict up to 25 specimens, many of which were in the collections of members of the Academy of the Lynxes (Lincei) or collectors known to them. The archives of Cassiano dal Pozzo (1588–1657) confirm the Lincei's interest both in Paracelsian chemistry and in materia medica. Cassiano owned copies of two fifteenth- and sixteenth-century manuscripts listing more than 34 minerals with their therapeutic uses. The Lincei also published a sixteenth-century manuscript containing 26 ‘minerals suitable for medical use’:
De materia medica Novae Hispaniae
, by Francisco Hernández (1651), whose work in materia medica has been lauded as ‘the most original … in the entire Renaissance’.
Physicians and their contribution to the early history of earth sciences in Austria
Authors: Angetter Daniela Claudia , Hubmann Bernhard , Seidl Johannes
Published: November 2012

The propaedeutic character of academic studies at philosophical faculties of the Habsburg Monarchy during the ‘Vormärz’-period, 1815–1848, prevented research-oriented scientific training at the universities. In 1849 the minister of education Leo Thun-Hohenstein initiated a comprehensive educational reform. The crucial improvement in the system of higher education was that the old Austrian philosophical faculties were transformed into genuine research faculties, thus facilitating scientific studies on a more progressive level. Before this fundamental reform, natural science subjects were offered only at the medical faculty at which the substantial scientific subjects, for example chemistry and natural history, were taught. Pioneers in Austrian geology therefore earned a medical degree before they changed to geology, a science in which they had to be autodidacts. Among these ‘pioneers’ were the famous bohemian balneologist Franz Ambros Reuss (1761–1830), his son August Emanuel Reuss (1811–1873), professor of mineralogy at the Universities of Prague (1849–1863) and Vienna (1863–1873), and Carl Ferdinand Peters (1825–1881), the first professor of mineralogy and geology at Graz University (1864–1881). Members of the succeeding generation include Conrad Clemens Clar (1844–1904) and Theodor Posewitz (1851–1917). These were all outstanding individuals with unique skills and expertise, successfully combining medical and earth sciences in their everyday lives.
Benefits of an Inclusive US Education System
Authors: Gantt Elisabeth
Published: November 2012

Presented is a historical perspective of one scientist's journey from war-torn Europe to the opportunities presented by a flexible US educational system. It celebrates the opening of the science establishment that began in the 1950s and its fostering of basic research, and recognizes individuals who were instrumental in guiding the author's education as well as those with whom she later participated in collaborative algal plant research. The initial discovery and later elucidation of phycobilisome structure are elaborated, including the structural connection with photosystem II. Furthermore, she summarizes some of her laboratory's results on carotenoids and its exploration of the isoprenoid pathway in cyanobacteria. Finally, she comments on the gender gap and how her generation benefited when opportunities for women scientists were enlarged.
How Can We Use Our Knowledge of Alcohol-Tobacco Interactions to Reduce Alcohol Use?
Authors: McKee Sherry A. , Weinberger Andrea H.
Published: November 2012

Currently, 8.5% of the US population meets criteria for alcohol use disorders, with a total cost to the US economy estimated at $234 billion per year. Alcohol and tobacco use share a high degree of comorbidity and interact across many levels of analysis. This review begins by highlighting alcohol and tobacco comorbidity and presenting evidence that tobacco increases the risk for alcohol misuse and likely has a causal role in this relationship. We then discuss how knowledge of alcohol and tobacco interactions can be used to reduce alcohol use, focusing on whether (a) smoking status can be used as a clinical indicator for alcohol misuse, (b) tobacco policies reduce alcohol use, and (c) nicotinic-based medications can be used to treat alcohol use disorders.
The Relationship Between Personality Disorders and Axis I Psychopathology: Deconstructing Comorbidity
Authors: Links Paul S. , Eynan Rahel
Published: November 2012

The purpose of this review is (a) to study and systematically review the recent literature examining the co-occurrence and relationships between Axis I psychiatric disorders and Axis II personality disorders, specifically the six originally proposed for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5, and (b) to consider the clinical utility of the current Axis I and Axis II approach in the DSM-IV-TR and apply findings to state a position on the issue of collapsing together Axis I and Axis II. Community surveys or prospective cohort studies were reviewed as a priority. Our review indicates that the associations between clinical disorders and personality disorders clearly varied within each disorder and across the six personality disorders. Our understanding has advanced, particularly related to the clinical utility of comorbidity, and there may be sufficient evidence to support moving borderline personality disorder to Axis I. However, it seems premature to conclude that comorbidity is best conceptualized by having all disorders in a single category or by deleting disorders so that comorbidity is reduced. Our review suggests some priorities for future research into comorbidity, such as including personality disorders in future multivariate comorbidity models.
Immunogenic Cell Death in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Kroemer Guido , Galluzzi Lorenzo , Kepp Oliver , Zitvogel Laurence
Published: November 2012

Depending on the initiating stimulus, cancer cell death can be immunogenic or nonimmunogenic. Immunogenic cell death (ICD) involves changes in the composition of the cell surface as well as the release of soluble mediators, occurring in a defined temporal sequence. Such signals operate on a series of receptors expressed by dendritic cells to stimulate the presentation of tumor antigens to T cells. We postulate that ICD constitutes a prominent pathway for the activation of the immune system against cancer, which in turn determines the long-term success of anticancer therapies. Hence, suboptimal regimens (failing to induce ICD), selective alterations in cancer cells (preventing the emission of immunogenic signals during ICD), or defects in immune effectors (abolishing the perception of ICD by the immune system) can all contribute to therapeutic failure. We surmise that ICD and its subversion by pathogens also play major roles in antiviral immune responses.
The Androgen Receptor in Health and Disease
Authors: Matsumoto Takahiro , Sakari Matomo , Okada Maiko , Yokoyama Atsushi , Takahashi Sayuri , Kouzmenko Alexander , Kato Shigeaki
Published: November 2012

Androgens play pivotal roles in the regulation of male development and physiological processes, particularly in the male reproductive system. Most biological effects of androgens are mediated by the action of nuclear androgen receptor (AR). AR acts as a master regulator of downstream androgen-dependent signaling pathway networks. This ligand-dependent transcriptional factor modulates gene expression through the recruitment of various coregulator complexes, the induction of chromatin reorganization, and epigenetic histone modifications at target genomic loci. Dysregulation of androgen/AR signaling perturbs normal reproductive development and accounts for a wide range of pathological conditions such as androgen-insensitive syndrome, prostate cancer, and spinal bulbar muscular atrophy. In this review we summarize recent advances in understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms of AR action as well as newly recognized aspects of AR-mediated androgen signaling in both men and women. In addition, we offer a perspective on the use of animal genetic model systems aimed at eventually developing novel therapeutic AR ligands.
Trait Impulsivity Is Increased in Bipolar Disorder Patients with Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorders
Authors: Nery Fabiano G. , Hatch John P. , Monkul E. Serap , Matsuo Koji , Zunta-Soares Giovana B. , Bowden Charles L. , Soares Jair C.
Published: November 2012

Background: Up to 60% of bipolar disorder (BD) patients develop alcohol use disorders (AUD) at some point in their lives. The causes of this highly prevalent comorbidity are unknown. High trait impulsivity characterizes both isolated BD and AUD and may be a link to explain the association between BD and AUD. In this study, our aims were to investigate whether BD patients with comorbid AUD would present higher trait impulsivity levels compared to BD patients without comorbid AUD, and whether trait impulsivity levels differ within subgroups of BD according to the subcategory of AUD (abuse vs. dependence, alcoholism alone vs. alcoholism plus drug use disorders). Sampling and Methods: Forty-seven outpatients with BD with comorbid AUD (alcoholic BD group) were compared to 66 outpatients with BD alone (nonalcoholic BD group) and to 90 healthy controls (HC). BD and AUD diagnoses were obtained using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV diagnoses. Impulsivity was assessed using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), a self-report instrument that measures trait impulsivity in three domains: nonplanning, attentional and motor. Results: Alcoholic BD patients scored significantly higher than nonalcoholic BD and HC on the total and on each subscale BIS scores. Within the alcoholic BD patients, alcohol abusers and alcohol dependents did not statistically differ from each other on the BIS-11 scores. BD patients with AUD plus drug use disorders presented statistically higher nonplanning impulsivity than BD patients with AUD alone. Conclusions: This was a cross-sectional study and causal inferences about the relationship between impulsivity and the comorbidity phenomenon cannot be made. Increased impulsivity may be a trait marker for the co-occurrence between BD and AUD, and mediate some severe manifestations of this comorbidity.
Concurrent Validity of the Quality of Object Relations Scale (QORS) in Relation to Proxy Assessment of the Theoretical Scale Constituents
Authors: Lindfors Olavi , Knekt Paul , Virtala Esa , Haaramo Peija
Published: November 2012

Background/Aims: Clinical assessment of object relations is essential when evaluating treatability by different types of psychotherapy. The Quality of Object Relations Scale (QORS) is an established interview measure used for assessing object relations, but the validity of the QORS in relation to its theoretical constituents has not been examined. Our aim was to study the concurrent validity of the QORS. Methods: Trained interviewers assessed 263 outpatients seeking psychotherapy due to mood or anxiety disorder, with the QORS and with selected proxy criterion measures representing constituents of object-relational maturity. Results: Discontinuity in relationships and the use of devaluation in relationships were the main determinants of low Quality of Object Relations (low-QOR). Patients with discontinuity in relationships had a four-fold and patients with devaluation in relationships a three-fold risk of belonging to the low-QOR group (p = 0.001) in comparison to those without these relational characteristics. Also poor self-confidence and major separations in childhood predicted the low- versus high-QOR category. Conclusion: The results indicate adequate concurrent validity of the QORS and support its credibility in assessing personality pathology, beyond axis II diagnosis, by trained clinicians.
Correlates Associated with Unipolar Depressive Disorders in a Latino Population
Authors: Correa-Fernández Virmarie , Carrión-Baralt José R. , Alegría Margarita , Albizu-García Carmen E.
Published: November 2012

Background: This study reports the comparison and associations of demographic, clinical and psychosocial correlates with three unipolar depressive disorders: dysthymia (DYS), major depression (MD) and double depression (DD), and examines to which extent these variables predict the disorders. Sampling and Method: Previously collected data from 563 adults from a community in Puerto Rico were analyzed. One hundred and thirty individuals with DYS, 260 with MD and 173 with DD were compared by demographic variables, psychiatric and physical comorbidity, familial psychopathology, psychosocial stressors, functional impairment, self-reliance, problem recognition and formal use of mental health services. Multinomial regression was used to assess the association of the predictor variables with each of the three disorders. Results: Similarities outweighed the discrepancies between the disorders. The main differences observed were between MD and DD, while DYS shared common characteristics with both MD and DD. After other variables were controlled, anxiety, functional impairment and problem recognition most strongly predicted a DD diagnosis, while age predicted a DYS diagnosis. Conclusion: MD, DYS and DD are not completely different disorders, but they do differ in key aspects that might be relevant for nosology, research and practice. A dimensional system that incorporates specific categories of disorders would better reflect the different manifestations of unipolar depressive disorders.
Body Image in Patients with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder after Childhood Sexual Abuse and Co-Occurring Eating Disorder
Authors: Dyer Anne , Borgmann Elisabeth , Kleindienst Nikolaus , Feldmann Jr. Robert E. , Vocks Silja , Bohus Martin
Published: November 2012

Background: Body image is a multidimensional construct with cognitive-affective, behavioral and perceptive components. Survivors of childhood sexual abuse report a disturbance of the cognitive-affective component of their body image but not of the perceptive component. It has not yet been examined whether and how the behavioral component is affected. Also, it is still unknown whether the disturbances might be due to the influence of co-occurring eating disorders. Sampling and Methods: The cognitive-affective and behavioral components of the body image of 84 female participants with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after childhood sexual abuse (31 with a co-occurring eating disorder) and 53 healthy participants were assessed via the Dresden Body Image Inventory (Dresdner Körperbildfragebogen-35, DKB-35) and the Body Image Avoidance Questionnaire (BIAQ). Results: PTSD patients reported significantly higher negative scores on all DKB-35 subscales (p < 0.001) and the BIAQ (p = 0.002; p < 0.001). Results remained consistent after accounting for the influence of co-occurring eating disorders (p = 0.021; p = 0.001; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Results show for the first time that the behavioral component of the body image is impaired in female patients with PTSD in addition to the cognitive-affective component. This is not solely due to a comorbid eating disorder. The effect of established treatments on the body image of PTSD patients should be evaluated and new treatment modules should be developed and tested, if necessary.