Species concepts and relationships in wild and cultivated potatoes

Wild and cultivated potatoes (Solanum section Petota) present challenges to taxonomists arising from lack of clearly defined morphological character differences among many species, phenotypic plasticity, a range of ploidy levels from diploid to hexaploid, and hybrid speciation and introgression. Taxonomic treatments of the group have differed greatly regarding numbers of species and hypotheses of their interrelationships at the series level. Recent morphological phenetic studies and molecular studies have confirmed the general lack of clearly defined species, have shown the need to use a number of character states with overlapping ranges for species delimitation (polythetic support), and have suggested the need for the reduction of species in section Petota. Molecular studies have sometimes confirmed hypotheses of hybridization and sometimes have failed to support them. Molecular studies have suggested the need for a reconsideration of the traditionally held series concepts. Currently, section Petota contains 196 wild species and a single cultivated species, Solanum tuberosum, with eight landrace cultivar groups, exclusive of the modern cultivars that are not yet classified into cultivar groups. The number of wild species likely will decrease with future study. These points are here illustrated by (1) a discussion of published species level studies in Solanum series Longipedicellata, the Solanum brevicaule complex, and the cultivated landrace populations of potatoes; (2) reinvestigations of hybridization in S. chacoense, S. raphanifolium and S. xrechei; and (3) studies of ingroup and outgroup relationships of section Petota

The nomenclatural history of Fritillaria eduardii and the correct names of its varieties

Material of a new fritillary was mentioned in four publications by Eduard Regel in 1884, but he used different names for this material. In the first publication it was named Fritillaria eduardii, but in the following publications the material was described as two varieties of F. imperialis L., both odourless, one with purplish flowers and one with yellow or yellow-red flowers. Both colour varieties, but especially the latter, have been taken into cultivation. Morphological observations and crossing experiments have established that both varieties do not belong to F. imperialis and should be accommodated in F. eduardii. New names for these varieties are proposed, following E. Regel's intention as closely as possibl

De Private Equity Golf

In de laatste decennia heeft private equity zich ontwikkeld tot een belangrijke component van ondernemingsfi nanciering. Private equity is een bron van fi nanciering voor start-up ondernemingen, private middelgrote ondernemingen, ondernemingen die geherstructureerd worden of onder nemingen die hun beursnotering willen beëindigen. De ontwikkelingsgang van private equity kent een golfpatroon dat gekenmerkt wordt door perioden van expansie en perioden van verschansing. Dit artikel beschrijft aan de hand van de recente literatuur de privateequitygolf, en de consequenties voor de verschillende partijen in de markt voor private equity, zoals de ondernemingen die privaat gefi nancierd worden, de investeringsmaatschappijen en de verschaffers van privaat vermogen

Consolidation Waves

This paper explains why consolidation acquisitions occur in waves and it predicts the differing role each firm is likely to play in the consolidation game. We propose that whether a firm assumes the role of rival consolidator, target, or passive observer depends on the position of the firm relative to the entity that merges first. Our model predicts that an initial acquisition triggers a wave of follow-on acquisitions, where the process of asset accumulation by the consolidator is accelerated since the value of follow-on acquisitions is enhanced by the more concentrated industry structure. An initial consolidation can trigger a consolidating acquisition by a rival in a remote market segment, while some firms prefer to be a target and others remain passive observers that await the outcome of the consolidation process rather than merge amongst themselves. Fragmentation, demand uncertainty, and investment costs determine the timing of acquisitions

Private Equity Waves

This study presents a dynamic model for the private equity market in which information revelation and uncertainty rationally explain the cyclical pattern of investment flows into private equity. The net benefit of private equity over public equity is i) uncertain and ii) agents have private information about the benefits of their investment. When these distinguishing characteristics determine investment behavior in private equity markets, rational investment waves may arise endogenously. Investment behavior reveals private information on the benefits of private equity financing and may trigger a cascade when investors jump on the bandwagon and invest irrespective of their private information content. We argue that the procyclical behavior of private equity volumes is strengthened by the revelation of information on the benefits of private equity investments. The occurrence and length of such waves in the market for private equity depend on the capabilities of agents

Acquisitions as a Real Options Bidding Game

This paper uses a unified treatment of real options and game theory to examine value appropriation in takeovers within a competitive environment of imperfect information. The integrated model considers a potential target as a shared real option on a bundle of resources. Competing potential buyers may sequentially perform due diligence and incur costs (option premium) to become informed about their firm-specific target value (underlying value) before making a bid (exercise price). The first player’s bid provides a signal on its own and rivals’ target value, thereby affecting potential bidders’ option value. The level of information costs and the option value, affected by heterogeneity between bidders (correlation), their expected target value, and uncertainty, determine value appropriation in acquisitions

Dysphagia in Huntington's disease

Huntington__s disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with an autosomal, dominant mode of inheritance. Patients with HD suffer from dysphagia which can have serious consequences, such as weight loss, dehydration, and pneumonia leading to death. Many patients with HD die of aspiration pneumonia. In order to start monitoring dysphagia in HD patients systematically during different stages of the disease, a new measurement instrument was needed. We developed the Huntington__s Disease Dysphagia Scale. The availability of this new scale now allows prospective monitoring of dysphagia in patients with HD. Another aim was to investigate specific dysphagia features in HD using videofluoroscopy. We found that 78% of our patients suffered from dysphagia. Swallowing difficulties start already in the first stage of HD, and become more severe as the disease progresses. The final aim was to initiate intervention studies on dysphagia in HD. We began by developing a guideline based on best practice. The guideline describes dysphagia problems per stage of HD, and makes recommendations for intervention and clinical advice. One of the recommendations in the European guideline is the chin tuck position while swallowing. As there is no evidence for improvement with this intervention for HD patients, we carried out a videofluoroscopic swallowing test with and without the chin tuck test procedure. No significant differences were found for spilling, aspiration or residue in swallowing with the head in normal upright position or the chin tuck posture. We therefore recommend that the chin tuck intervention should not be used in HD patients.Topaz Vereniging van HuntingtonUBL - phd migration 201

Weight loss in head and neck cancer patients little noticed in general practice

INTRODUCTION: In head and neck cancer patients, weight loss increases morbidity and mortality, and decreases treatment tolerance and quality of life. Early nutritional intervention has beneficial effects on these factors. AIM: We observed patients’ weight courses after specialists’ care and surveyed nutrition-related documentation by general practitioners (GPs). METHODS: From a Head and Neck Oncology Centre (HNOC) study, 68 patients were asked to participate in an extended general practice cohort. Twenty-six patients participated in the prospective three-monthly weight measurements during the year after HNOC care. We extracted nutritional information contained in referral letters (n=24) and medical records from the year before referral (n=45) and after HNOC care (n=26). An impaired nutritional status was assigned to weight loss =10% within six months or Body Mass Index (BMI

Decontamination Systems Information and Research Program

The Decontamination Systems Information and Research Program at West Virginia University consists of research and development associated with hazardous waste remediation problems at the Department of Energy complex and elsewhere. This program seeks to facilitate expedited development and implementation of solutions to the nation`s hazardous waste clean-up efforts. By a unique combination of university research and private technology development efforts, new paths toward implementing technology and speeding clean-ups are achievable. Mechanisms include aggressive industrial tie-ins to academic development programs, expedited support of small business technology development efforts, enhanced linkages to existing DOE programs, and facilitated access to hazardous waste sites. The program topically falls into an information component, which includes knowledge acquisition, technology evaluation and outreach activities and an R and D component, which develops and implements new and improved technologies. Projects began in February 1993 due to initiation of a Cooperative Agreement between West Virginia University and the Department of Energy

A 12-week lifestyle intervention: effects on fatigue, fear, and nutritional status in children with a Fontan circulation

INTRODUCTION: Children and adolescents with a Fontan circulation are less physically active compared to healthy peers. In the current study, effects of a 12-week lifestyle intervention on fatigue, fears regarding exercise, caloric intake, rest energy expenditure (REE), and body composition were measured in children with a Fontan circulation.METHODS: This study was a semi-cross-over randomized controlled trial. The lifestyle intervention consisted of a 12-week high-weight resistance training (three supervised training sessions a week) supported by high-protein diet (&gt;2 g/kg) and tailored recommended caloric intake. Fatigue (measured by the validated PedsQol Multidimensional Fatigue Scale), fears regarding exercise (measured on a fear thermometer), REE (measured using indirect calorimetry), caloric intake and body composition using air displacement plethysmography, and four-skinfold method were measured before and after the intervention and control period.RESULTS: Twenty-seven pediatric Fontan patients, median age 12.9 years (IQR: 10.5-16.2), of the included 28 patients successfully completed the program. Before training, both child- and parent-reported levels of fatigue were significantly worse on all domains (general, sleep/rest, and cognitive fatigue) compared to healthy peers. After training, parent-reported fatigue significantly improved on the general and cognitive fatigue domains [effect size +16 points (7-25), p  &lt; 0.001, and +10 points (2-17), p  = 0.015, compared to the control period]. Before training, fear regarding exercise scored on the fear thermometer was low for both children and parents (median score 1 and 2, respectively, on a scale of 0-8). After training, child-reported fear decreased further compared to the control period [effect size -1.4 points (-2.3 to -0.6), p  = 0.001]. At baseline, children had increased REE +12% compared to reference values, which did not change after exercise. Children ate an average of 637 calories below recommended intake based on REE, caloric deficit became smaller after the intervention, and protein intake increased compared to the control period [-388 calories (-674 to -102), p  = 0.008, and +15 g (0.4-30), p  = 0.044]. Body fat percentage did not change significantly. CONCLUSION: A 12-week lifestyle intervention improved parent-reported fatigue symptoms in the children, further decreased child-reported fears, and increased caloric and protein intake.</p