Improvement of seed quality of medicinal plants and herbs in organic farming

As in vegetable growing or grain cropping the seed quality is an important factor for the successful cultivation of medicinal plants and herbs. In spite of intensive efforts made by specialised seed producers there are recurring problems with important quality parameters (e.g. germination capacity, emergence or seed health). The lack of sufficient study results is typical for special purpose crops, also concerning the particular host-parasite relationship and its methodical verification. Few experiences with the improvement of seed quality of medicinal plants and herbs are available. The intention of the study is to test physical and biological methods of seed treat-ment for their practicability in medicinal plants and herb cultivation. Fundamental information on the pathogens is also examined. Moreover there is a focus on further aspects of the production techniques (e.g. harvesting time) as a means to improve the seed quality

Genetic tools for the investigation of Roseobacter clade bacteria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The <it>Roseobacter </it>clade represents one of the most abundant, metabolically versatile and ecologically important bacterial groups found in marine habitats. A detailed molecular investigation of the regulatory and metabolic networks of these organisms is currently limited for many strains by missing suitable genetic tools.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Conjugation and electroporation methods for the efficient and stable genetic transformation of selected <it>Roseobacter </it>clade bacteria including <it>Dinoroseobacter shibae</it>, <it>Oceanibulbus indolifex</it>, <it>Phaeobacter gallaeciensis</it>, <it>Phaeobacter inhibens</it>, <it>Roseobacter denitrificans </it>and <it>Roseobacter litoralis </it>were tested. For this purpose an antibiotic resistance screening was performed and suitable genetic markers were selected. Based on these transformation protocols stably maintained plasmids were identified. A plasmid encoded oxygen-independent fluorescent system was established using the flavin mononucleotide-based fluorescent protein FbFP. Finally, a chromosomal gene knockout strategy was successfully employed for the inactivation of the anaerobic metabolism regulatory gene <it>dnr </it>from <it>D. shibae </it>DFL12^T.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A genetic toolbox for members of the <it>Roseobacter </it>clade was established. This provides a solid methodical basis for the detailed elucidation of gene regulatory and metabolic networks underlying the ecological success of this group of marine bacteria.</p

JProGO: a novel tool for the functional interpretation of prokaryotic microarray data using Gene Ontology information

A novel program suite was implemented for the functional interpretation of high-throughput gene expression data based on the identification of Gene Ontology (GO) nodes. The focus of the analysis lies on the interpretation of microarray data from prokaryotes. The three well established statistical methods of the threshold value-based Fisher's exact test, as well as the threshold value-independent Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Student's t-test were employed in order to identify the groups of genes with a significantly altered expression profile. Furthermore, we provide the application of the rank-based unpaired Wilcoxon's test for a GO-based microarray data interpretation. Further features of the program include recognition of the alternative gene names and the correction for multiple testing. Obtained results are visualized interactively both as a table and as a GO subgraph including all significant nodes. Currently, JProGO enables the analysis of microarray data from more than 20 different prokaryotic species, including all important model organisms, and thus constitutes a useful web service for the microbial research community. JProGO is freely accessible via the web at the following address

Diet-Induced Obesity Is Associated with an Impaired NK Cell Function and an Increased Colon Cancer Incidence

Obesity is associated with an increased colon cancer incidence, but underlying mechanisms remained unclear. Previous studies showed altered Natural killer (NK) cell functions in obese individuals. Therefore, we studied the impact of an impaired NK cell functionality on the increased colon cancer risk in obesity. In vitro investigations demonstrated a decreased IFN-γ secretion and cytotoxicity of human NK cells against colon tumor cells after NK cell preincubation with the adipokine leptin. In addition, leptin incubation decreased the expression of activating NK cell receptors. In animal studies, colon cancer growth was induced by injection of azoxymethane (AOM) in normal weight and diet-induced obese rats. Body weight and visceral fat mass were increased in obese animals compared to normal weight rats. AOM-treated obese rats showed an increased quantity, size, and weight of colon tumors compared to the normal weight tumor group. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated a decreased number of NK cells in spleen and liver in obesity. Additionally, the expression levels of activating NK cell receptors were lower in spleen and liver of obese rats. The results show for the first time that the decreased number and impaired NK cell function may be one cause for the higher colon cancer risk in obesity

Déterrer, démêler et réarticuler les corps du génocide au Rwanda

This paper is concerned with the mass graves and exhumed bodies of victims of the Rwanda genocide and war of the 1990s. A government-led programme of exhumation of mass burials and individual graves has taken place over the last decade. The exhumation of mass graves has been undertaken, in the main, by Tutsi genocide survivors who work under the supervision of state officials. Post-unearthing, these bodies are unravelled, and the remnants of soft flesh, clothing, personal possessions and bones are separated from each other. Skeletal structures are fully disarticulated and the bones pooled into a vast collective, for placement within memorials. The outcome of these exhumations is that remains almost always lack individual identity at the point of reinterring. A productive analytical comparison is found in examining exhumations of Spanish Civil War graves, where the fates of individual dead are closely entangled with the lives of survivors. Here there is a clear contrast with exhumations in Rwanda, in the possible re-articulation of identities with specific human remains. But a similarity is also critical: in both cases the properties of human remains, as unsettling materials, garner specific 'affects', which drive forward national political projects that aim to consolidate particular collective memories of conflict, albeit that this kind of 'material agency' is mobilized to very different ends in each case

Geschlechtersensible Forschung in der Epidemiologie

Schaefer I, Ingeborg J. Geschlechtersensible Forschung in der Epidemiologie. Clio - die Zeitschrift für Frauengesundheit. 2012;74(37):16-18

Exposure and response prevention therapy augmented with naltrexone in kleptomania: a controlled case study using galvanic skin response for monitoring

BACKGROUND Kleptomania is a disease that shares features with obsessive compulsive spectrum disorders (OCD) and with substance abuse disorders (SAD). This is underlined by therapeutic approaches in kleptomania ranging from cognitive behavioural therapy and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors that are effective in OCD, and opioid antagonists that are currently being used in SAD. However, almost no literature exists about exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy in kleptomania. Furthermore, there is a clear lack of objective markers that would allow a therapeutic monitoring. AIM To show the effectiveness of ERP therapy in kleptomania in a single case report. METHOD An ERP therapy under real-world conditions and later augmentation with the opioid antagonist naltrexone is described. Continuous measurements of galvanic skin response (GSR) before, during and after therapy sessions are reported in association with changes of the Kleptomania Symptom Assessment Scale (KSAS) self-questionnaire. RESULTS While KSAS scores showed a clear treatment response to ERP sessions, the GSR was significantly lower during ERP treatment in comparison with baseline measures. However, during augmentation with naltrexone, GSR measures increased again and clinical severity did not further improve. CONCLUSIONS This case shows the possible usefulness of ERP-like approaches and therapy monitoring using electrophysiological markers of arousal for individualized treatment in kleptomania

EEG-arousal regulation as predictor of treatment response in patients suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder

OBJECTIVES Aim of this study was to analyze whether electroencephalogram (EEG)-based CNS-arousal markers differ for patients suffering from obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) that either respond or do not respond to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or their combination. Further the study aimed to identify specific response-predictors for the different therapy approaches. METHODS CNS-arousal from 51 unmedicated patients during fifteen-minute resting state was assessed using VIGALL (Vigilance Algorithm Leipzig). Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores were used to assess response or non-response after three to six months following therapy (CBT, n=18; SSRI, n=11 or combination, n=22). Differences between Responders (R) and Non-Responders (NR) were identified using multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) models. RESULTS MANCOVA revealed that Responders spent significant less time at the highest CNS-arousal stage 0. Further, low amounts of the highest CNS-arousal stages were specifically predictive for a response to a combined treatment approach. CONCLUSIONS The fact that CNS-arousal markers allowed discrimination between Responders and Non-Responders and also between Responders of different treatment arms underlines a possible clinical value of EEG-based markers. SIGNIFICANCE These results encourage further research on EEG-arousal regulation for determining pathophysiological subgroups for treatment response