Composition and Conservation Value of Epiphytic Lichen Communities on Common Ash in North-Western Alps: A First Assessment

In the western sector of the Alps, and particularly in the Aosta Valley, lichenological communities on broad-leaved trees have received very little attention, and information about lichen species associated with common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.) are still scanty. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed epiphytic lichen communities of ash trees to estimate their composition, their conservation value, and their association with some key environmental variables. Our results show that lichen communities appear to be different in terms of occurrence and frequencies in different sampling sites. The tested environmental variables contribute to shape the lichen communities, which are significantly different (p Lecanora impudens and Rinodina polyspora) were included in the red list of Italian epiphytic lichens

Inferences on the susceptibility of wood of different tree species to heterobasidion annosum sensu lato primary infections and on the range of pathogen spores dispersal

Stumps play a pivotal role in the epidemiology of the fungal forest pathogens Heterobasidion spp. because they are the main courts of primary airborne infections. The aims of this study were (i) to determine the susceptibility of seven tree species (i.e., Larix sibirica, Picea abies, Picea sitchensis, Pinus contorta, Pinus strobus, Pinus sylvestris and Pseudotsuga menziesii) to primary infection by H. annosum and H. parviporum through comparative inoculation experiments of conidia on wood discs in controlled conditions; (ii) to compare the susceptibility of wood discs of the same tree species to natural airborne infections in two Latvian Norway spruce forest stands infested either by H. annosum or H. parviporum; (iii) to explore the rates of infection of wood discs at increasing distances from spore sources in these two forests to make inferences on the range of spores dispersal. Results obtained by spraying wood discs with conidial suspensions in controlled conditions are in agreement with those obtained by exposing wood discs to the natural airborne inoculum in the forests, as clearly supported by the significant correlation (r = 0.79; p Pinus species, followed by P. abies and P. sitchensis. Susceptibility was lowest for L. sibirica and P. menziesii. The area colonized by Heterobasidion spp. in the sapwood of wood discs was much greater than that colonized in the heartwood. A sharp decrease in the rate of infection of wood discs with distance from spore sources (i.e., fruiting bodies) was observed, further confirming the importance of local spore sources in the epidemiology of Heterobasidion spp. Taken together, these findings could help designing tactics to manage these fungal forest pathogens

Thrombocytopenia and Mortality Risk in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: An Analysis From the START Registry

Background: Thrombocytopenia is associated with increased mortality in the general population, but few data exist in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) taking oral anticoagulants. We investigated factor determinants of thrombocytopenia in a large cohort of patients affected by AF and its association with total mortality. Methods and Results: Multicenter prospective cohort study, including 5215 patients with AF from the START (Survey on Anticoagulated Patients Register) registry, 3877 (74.3%) and 1338 (25.7%) on vitamin K or non\u2013vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants, respectively. Thrombocytopenia was defined by a platelet count <150 7109/L. Determinants of thrombocytopenia were investigated, and all-cause mortality was the primary survival end point of the study. Thrombocytopenia was present in 592 patients (11.4%). At multivariable logistic regression analysis, chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR], 1.257; P=0.030), active cancer (OR, 2.065; P=0.001), liver cirrhosis (OR, 7.635; P<0.001), and the use of diuretics (OR, 1.234; P=0.046) were positively associated with thrombocytopenia, whereas female sex (OR, 0.387; P<0.001) and the use of calcium channel blockers (OR, 0.787; P=0.032) were negatively associated. During a median follow-up of 19.2 months (9942 patient-years), 391 deaths occurred (rate, 3.93%/year). Mortality rate increased from 3.8%/year to 9.9%/year in patients with normal platelet count and in those with moderate-severe thrombocytopenia, respectively (log-rank test, P=0.009). The association between moderate-severe thrombocytopenia and mortality persisted after adjustment for CHA2DS2 VASc score (hazard ratio, 2.431; 95% CI, 1.254\u20134.713; P=0.009), but not in the fully adjusted multivariable Cox regression analysis model. Conclusions: Thrombocytopenia is common in patients with AF. Despite an increased incidence of mortality, thrombocytopenia was not associated with mortality at multivariable analysis. Thrombocytopenia may reflect the presence of comorbidities associated with poor survival in AF

Different applications of concept maps in Higher Education

Purpose: The aim of this work is to show different applications of concept maps in higher education, concretely in qualifications of the Polytechnic University of Valencia. Design/methodology/approach: Different methodologies have been used depending on the application of concept maps: as evaluation tool, as knowledge organizing tool, and as meaningful learning tool. Findings: Students consider the concept maps useful principally to select key ideas, to achieve a comprehensive view of the lesson, and to bring up the subject. Moreover, concept maps promote the meaningful and active learning, help students to understand, follow-up, and learn subjects with a high load of contents. Research limitations/implications: The most important limitation is the use of the concept maps in subjects with a high number of students. Practical implications: The realization of concept maps allows the student to develop generic competences. Originality/value: The originality of this work is to show how a same tool can be used in different subjects of different qualifications. © Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management, 2011.Bes Piá, A.; Blasco-Tamarit, E.; Muñoz Portero, MJ. (2011). Different applications of concept maps in Higher Education. Journal of Industrial Engineering and Management. 4(1):81-102. doi:10.3926/jiem.2011.v4n1.p81-102Senia811024

Scrotal cancer: Incidence, survival and second primary tumours in the Netherlands since 1989

Background: Since the 1970s there have been few epidemiological studies of scrotal cancer. We report on the descriptive epidemiology of scrotal cancer in the Netherlands. Methods: Data on all scrotal cancer patients were obtained from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR) in the period 1989-2006 and age-standardised incidence rates were calculated also according to histology and stage. Relative survival was calculated and multiple primary tumours were studied. Results: The overall incidence rate varied around 1.5 per 1 000 000 person-years, most frequently being squamous cell carcinoma (27%), basal cell carcinoma (19%) and Bowen's disease (15%). Overall 5-year relative survival was 82%, being 77% and 95% for patients with squamous and basal cell carcinoma, respectively. In all, 18% of the patients were diagnosed with a second primary tumour. Conclusion: The incidence rate of scrotal cancer did not decrease, although this was expected; affected patients might benefit from regular checkups for possible new cancers

Volume 06

Introduction from Dean Dr. Charles Ross Caught Between Folklore and the Cold War: The Americanization of Russian Children\u27s Literature by Kristen Gains Graphic Design by Amanda Willis Graphic Design by Holly Backer Prejudices in Swiss German Accents by Monika Gutierrez Photography by Cara O\u27Neal Photography by Sara Nelson Edmund Tyrone\u27s Long Journey through Night by Sasha Silberman Photography by Jessica Beardsley Photography by Jamie Gardner and Edward Peeples The Republican Razor: The Guillotine as a Symbol of Equality by Jamie Clift Graphic Design by Matthew Sakach Genocide: The Lasting Effects of Gender Stratification in Rwanda By Tess Lione and Emily Wilkins Photography by Kelsey Holt and Jessica Page Morocco and the 20 February Movement by Charles Vancampen, Gilbert Hall, Jenny Nehrt, Kasey Dye, Amanda Tharp, Jamie Leeawrik, & Ashley McGee Photography by Emily Poulin Photography by Michael Kropf Improving Performance of Arbitrary Precision Arithmetic Using SIMD Assembly Code Instructions by Nick Pastore Art by Austin Polasky and Morgan Glasco Art by Laura L. Kahler The Effects of the Neutral Response Option on the Extremeness of Participant Responses by Melinda L. Edwards and Brandon C. Smith Graphic Design by Mariah Asbell Graphic Design by Cabell Edmunds College Bullying: An Exploratory Analysis by Amelia D. Perry Photography by Alyssa Hayes Death-Related Crime: Applying Bryant\u27s Conceptual Paradigm of Thanatological Crime to Military Settings by Irina Boothe Graphic Design by Perry Bason Graphic Design by James Earl

COVID-eVax, an electroporated DNA vaccine candidate encoding the SARS-CoV-2 RBD, elicits protective responses in animal models

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has made the development of safe and effective vaccines a critical priority. To date, four vaccines have been approved by European and American authorities for preventing COVID-19, but the development of additional vaccine platforms with improved supply and logistics profiles remains a pressing need. Here we report the preclinical evaluation of a novel COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on the electroporation of engineered, synthetic cDNA encoding a viral antigen in the skeletal muscle. We constructed a set of prototype DNA vaccines expressing various forms of the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein and assessed their immunogenicity in animal models. Among them, COVID-eVax—a DNA plasmid encoding a secreted monomeric form of SARS-CoV-2 S protein receptor-binding domain (RBD)—induced the most potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody responses (including against the current most common variants of concern) and a robust T cell response. Upon challenge with SARS-CoV-2, immunized K18-hACE2 transgenic mice showed reduced weight loss, improved pulmonary function, and lower viral replication in the lungs and brain. COVID-eVax conferred significant protection to ferrets upon SARS-CoV-2 challenge. In summary, this study identifies COVID-eVax as an ideal COVID-19 vaccine candidate suitable for clinical development. Accordingly, a combined phase I-II trial has recently started

Somatostatin Receptor 1 and 5 Double Knockout Mice Mimic Neurochemical Changes of Huntington's Disease Transgenic Mice

Selective degeneration of medium spiny neurons and preservation of medium sized aspiny interneurons in striatum has been implicated in excitotoxicity and pathophysiology of Huntington's disease (HD). However, the molecular mechanism for the selective sparing of medium sized aspiny neurons and vulnerability of projection neurons is still elusive. The pathological characteristic of HD is an extensive reduction of the striatal mass, affecting caudate putamen. Somatostatin (SST) positive neurons are selectively spared in HD and Quinolinic acid/N-methyl-D-aspartic acid induced excitotoxicity, mimic the model of HD. SST plays neuroprotective role in excitotoxicity and the biological effects of SST are mediated by five somatostatin receptor subtypes (SSTR1-5). and R6/2 mice. Conversely, the expression of somatostatin receptor subtypes, enkephalin and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases were strain specific. SSTR1/5 appears to be important in regulating NMDARs, DARPP-32 and signaling molecules in similar fashion as seen in HD transgenic mice.This is the first comprehensive description of disease related changes upon ablation of G- protein coupled receptor gene. Our results indicate that SST and SSTRs might play an important role in regulation of neurodegeneration and targeting this pathway can provide a novel insight in understanding the pathophysiology of Huntington's disease

Onset and Progression of Behavioral and Molecular Phenotypes in a Novel Congenic R6/2 Line Exhibiting Intergenerational CAG Repeat Stability

In the present study we report on the use of speed congenics to generate a C57BL/6J congenic line of HD-model R6/2 mice carrying 110 CAG repeats, which uniquely exhibits minimal intergenerational instability. We also report the first identification of the R6/2 transgene insertion site. The relatively stable line of 110 CAG R6/2 mice was characterized for the onset of behavioral impairments in motor, cognitive and psychiatric-related phenotypes as well as the progression of disease-related impairments from 4 to 10 weeks of age. 110Q mice exhibited many of the phenotypes commonly associated with the R6/2 model including reduced activity and impairments in rotarod performance. The onset of many of the phenotypes occurred around 6 weeks and was progressive across age. In addition, some phenotypes were observed in mice as early as 4 weeks of age. The present study also reports the onset and progression of changes in several molecular phenotypes in the novel R6/2 mice and the association of these changes with behavioral symptom onset and progression. Data from TR-FRET suggest an association of mutant protein state changes (soluble versus aggregated) in disease onset and progression