Towards a simplified taxonomy of Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (Brassicaceae)

Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. is a species with a cosmopolitan distribution which shows considerable morphological variation. Numerous authors have recognised widely differing numbers of varieties, microspecies or other infraspecific subdivisions (segregates) of this species. In an attempt to clarify this situation, we grew British material of the species under controlled conditions through to the F) generation to remove environmental variation, and assessed the plants on the basis of a range of morphological criteria, namely leaf shape, capsule size and also length of time taken to flower. Analysis of these characteristics consistently produced four basic groups, which had been previously described. Herbarium specimens could also nearly always be assigned to one of these groups. Limited chromosome counts suggest that two of these groups are diploid and two are tetraploid. We suggest this fourfold division into broad groups reflects the major genetic separations within the species, but that there is also considerable phenotypic plasticity shown by C. bursapastoris in response to factors such as shade or trampling. These four groups appear to differ in their geographic.al distribution in Britain. KEYWORDS: Shepherd's Purse, morphological variation, leaf characters, capsule characters, chromosom

Force spectroscopy using bimodal frequency modulation atomic force microscopy

Cataloged from PDF version of article.We propose a force-spectroscopy technique where a higher order mode of a cantilever is excited simultaneously with the first. Resonance tracking of both vibration modes through a frequency modulation scheme provides a way to extract topographical information and the gradient of the tip-sample interaction within a single surface scan. We provide an analytic treatment of the scheme, derive expressions relating frequency shifts of the higher mode and the tip-sample forces, and offer two methods of improving the accuracy of reconstruction of the force gradient. Finally, we confirm our predictions by numerical simulations. © 2011 American Physical Society

Maternal and neonatal effects of adding morphine to low‑dose bupivacaine for epidural labor analgesia

Aim: Labor is one of the most painful experiences a woman may face during her lifetime. One of the most effective methods used for eliminating this pain is epidural analgesia. The aim of this study to determine the impact of adding morphine to low‑dose bupivacaine epidural anesthesia on labor and neonatal outcomes, and maternal side effects.Materials and Methods: This is a prospective randomized double‑blind study comparing two regimens of anesthetic agents used for epidural anesthesia in labor. A total of 120 pregnant women were randomized into two groups with 60 subjects in each study arm. A catheter was inserted, and 0.1% bupivacaine + 2 μg/mL fentanyl in 15 mL saline were given to Group bupivacaine‑fentanyl (Group BF), while 0.0625% bupivacaine + 2 μg/ml fentanyl + 2 mg morphine in 15 mL saline were given to Group bupivacaine‑fentanyl‑morphine (Group BFM) with no test dosing from the needle. No morphine was added to the subsequent epidural injections in Group BFM.Results: The total dose of bupivacaine was significantly lower in Group BFM relative to Group BF (P = 0.0001). The visual analogu scalescores at 15, 30, and 45 min were significantly lower in Group BF compared to thosein Group BFM (P = 0.0001, P = 0.001, and P = 0.006, respectively). The second stage of labor was significantly shorter in Group BFM relative to Group BF (P = 0.027 and P = 0.003, respectively). The satisfaction with analgesia following the first dose was higher in the nonmorphine group (P = 0.0001). However, maternal postpartum satisfaction was similar in both groups. Either nausea or vomiting was recorded in eight patients in Group BFM.Conclusion: We believe that epidural analgesia comprised of a low‑dose local anaesthetic and 2 mg morphine provides a painless labor that significantly reducesthe use of local anesthetic without changing the efficiency of the analgesic, ensuring the mother’s satisfaction without leading to an adverse effect on the mother or foetus, while mildly (but significantly) shortening the second stage of labor.Key words: Bupivacaine, epidural analgesia, fentanyl, morphine, painless labo

Cooling and heating by adiabatic magnetization in the Ni50_{50}Mn34_{34}In16_{16} magnetic shape memory alloy

We report on measurements of the adiabatic temperature change in the inverse magnetocaloric Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{34}$In$_{16}$ alloy. It is shown that this alloy heats up with the application of a magnetic field around the Curie point due to the conventional magnetocaloric effect. In contrast, the inverse magnetocaloric effect associated with the martensitic transition results in the unusual decrease of temperature by adiabatic magnetization. We also provide magnetization and specific heat data which enable to compare the measured temperature changes to the values indirectly computed from thermodynamic relationships. Good agreement is obtained for the conventional effect at the second-order paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition. However, at the first order structural transition the measured values at high fields are lower than the computed ones. Irreversible thermodynamics arguments are given to show that such a discrepancy is due to the irreversibility of the first-order martensitic transition.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in the Physical Review

More than a feeling? Toward a theory of customer delight

PurposeResponding to an increasing call for a more comprehensive conceptualization of customer delight, the purpose of this paper is to expand the theory of customer delight and to examine the implications of such an expanded view for service theory and practice.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents the results of three qualitative studies. The first study explores customer delight through self-reported consumption experiences in customer-selected contexts, followed by one-on-one in-depth interviews. The second involves focus groups and the third examines self-reported incidents of delightful customer experiences.FindingsThis research finds that customer delight goes beyond extreme satisfaction and joy and surprise to include six properties that—individually or in combination—characterize customer delight. An expanded conceptualization of how customer delight can be defined is proposed in which customer delight is associated with various combinations of six properties – the customer experiencing positive emotions, interacting with others, successful problem-solving, engaging customer’s senses, timing of the events and sense of control that characterizes the customer's encounter.Research limitations/implicationsIt is clear from the findings of this research that there is no single property that is associated with delight. Through the facilitation of multiple properties, managers have the potential to create a multitude of routes to delight. It is recommended that future research (1) identify and explicate these alternative routes for engendering delight using the six properties identified, and (2) develop a general typology based on service context and characteristics, customer segment, etc. that further stimulates scholarship on delight, and offers more industry-specific insights for managers.Practical implicationsInsights from this investigation will encourage managers and service designers to think more broadly and creatively about delight. Doing so will open up new opportunities for achieving customer delight, beyond merely focusing on extreme satisfaction or surprise and joy strategies currently dominating discussions of customer delight.Originality/valueThis paper makes several contributions to the service literature. First, it extends current conceptualizations of customer delight and offers an expanded definition. Next, it demonstrates how this new understanding extends the existing literature on delight. Finally, it proposes an agenda for future delight research and discusses managerial implications, opening up new opportunities for firms to design delightful customer experiences.</jats:sec

Further analysis of burkholderia pseudomallei mf2 and identification of putative dehalogenase gene by pcr

Halogenated organic compounds are extensively and widely used as pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics that contribute to the pollution. This research was aimed to further analyze and characterize a bacterium that has the ability to utilize 2,2-dichloropropionic acid (2,2-DCP) as a model to study dehalogenase enzyme production. Microscopic observation, biochemical tests and PCR technique were carried out in order to characterize the isolated bacterium. Strain MF2 showed its ability to grow on 10 mM 2,2-DCP liquid minimal medium with doubling time of 13 h with maximum chloride ion released of 19.8 μmolCl–/mL. The 16S rDNA analysis suggested that strain MF2 belongs to the genus Burkholderia. This was supported by the microscopic observation and biochemical tests. Dehalogenase gene was observed when using only primers dehIfor1 and dehIrev2 derived from group I deh PCR primer sequences, whereas no amplification using dhlB-314-forward and dhlB-637-reverse (group II dehalogenase) and haloacetate dehalogenase (H2-1157-forward and H2-1662-reverse) PCR primer sequences. The results suggested that, possibly, dehalogenase from MF2 was related to group I deh. In conclusion, strain MF2 showed the ability to utilize 2,2-DCP as sole source of carbon and energy. Further analysis revealed the MF2 strain consisted of dehalogenase gene that could be used for degradation of man-made halogenated compounds present in the environment. Using existing dehalogenase PCR primers, it was possible to amplify the dehalogenase genes sequence

A prenatally detected adrenal cyst treated by adrenal-sparing surgery: case report and review of the literature

A neonatal case of left adrenal cyst detected in utero and successfully treated by adrenal-sparing surgery is presented and discussed with review of the literature. Incidentally discovered prenatal adrenal masses present a diagnostic dilemma. Benign and malignant conditions can present as a fetal suprarenal mass. There is a wide spectrum of management modalities ranging from followup by serial sonographic scanning during pregnancy to early primary excision of the mass. We report a neonate with prenatal diagnosis of a cystic mass arising from the left adrenal gland. Postnatal excision of the mass without adrenalectomy was carried out. Frozen sections of the mass and a biopsy of the left adrenal gland confirmed the benign nature of the cyst and normal adrenal tissue. The uniloculated cyst was reported as a pseudocyst. After surgery, the recovery was uneventful, and the patient was discharged 4 days postoperatively in good condition. On the basis of this case and review of the literature, we may conclude that early primary surgical excision is recommended for either diagnosis or treatment if the results of prenatal or postnatal imaging studies are unreliable for the precise diagnosis of suprarenal mass. Adrenal-sparing surgery is recommended if pathological evaluation of frozen sections has confirmed the benign nature of the mass.Keywords: adrenal-sparing surgery, neonates, prenatal diagnosis, suprarenal cys