First assessment of the plant phenology index (PPI) for estimating gross primary productivity in African semi-arid ecosystems

The importance of semi-arid ecosystems in the global carbon cycle as sinks for CO2 emissions has recently been highlighted. Africa is a carbon sink and nearly half its area comprises arid and semi-arid ecosystems. However, there are uncertainties regarding CO2 fluxes for semi-arid ecosystems in Africa, particularly savannas and dry tropical woodlands. In order to improve on existing remote-sensing based methods for estimating carbon uptake across semi-arid Africa we applied and tested the recently developed plant phenology index (PPI). We developed a PPI-based model estimating gross primary productivity (GPP) that accounts for canopy water stress, and compared it against three other Earth observation-based GPP models: the temperature and greenness model, the greenness and radiation model and a light use efficiency model. The models were evaluated against in situ data from four semi-arid sites in Africa with varying tree canopy cover (3 to 65 percent). Evaluation results from the four GPP models showed reasonable agreement with in situ GPP measured from eddy covariance flux towers (EC GPP) based on coefficient of variation, root-mean-square error, and Bayesian information criterion. The PPI-based GPP model was able to capture the magnitude of EC GPP better than the other tested models. The results of this study show that a PPI-based GPP model is a promising tool for the estimation of GPP in the semi-arid ecosystems of Africa.Comment: Accepted manuscript; 12 pages, 4 tables, 9 figure

Compulsory admissions of patients with mental disorders : State of the art on ethical and legislative aspects in 40 European countries

Copyright: This record is sourced from MEDLINE/PubMed, a database of the U.S. National Library of MedicineBACKGROUND.: Compulsory admission procedures of patients with mental disorders vary between countries in Europe. The Ethics Committee of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) launched a survey on involuntary admission procedures of patients with mental disorders in 40 countries to gather information from all National Psychiatric Associations that are members of the EPA to develop recommendations for improving involuntary admission processes and promote voluntary care. METHODS.: The survey focused on legislation of involuntary admissions and key actors involved in the admission procedure as well as most common reasons for involuntary admissions. RESULTS.: We analyzed the survey categorical data in themes, which highlight that both medical and legal actors are involved in involuntary admission procedures. CONCLUSIONS.: We conclude that legal reasons for compulsory admission should be reworded in order to remove stigmatization of the patient, that raising awareness about involuntary admission procedures and patient rights with both patients and family advocacy groups is paramount, that communication about procedures should be widely available in lay-language for the general population, and that training sessions and guidance should be available for legal and medical practitioners. Finally, people working in the field need to be constantly aware about the ethical challenges surrounding compulsory admissions.Peer reviewe

Compulsory admissions of patients with mental disorders : State of the art on ethical and legislative aspects in 40 European countries

Background. Compulsory admission procedures of patients with mental disorders vary between countries in Europe. The Ethics Committee of the European Psychiatric Association (EPA) launched a survey on involuntary admission procedures of patients with mental disorders in 40 countries to gather information from all National Psychiatric Associations that are members of the EPA to develop recommendations for improving involuntary admission processes and promote voluntary care. Methods. The survey focused on legislation of involuntary admissions and key actors involved in the admission procedure as well as most common reasons for involuntary admissions. Results. We analyzed the survey categorical data in themes, which highlight that both medical and legal actors are involved in involuntary admission procedures. Conclusions. We conclude that legal reasons for compulsory admission should be reworded in order to remove stigmatization of the patient, that raising awareness about involuntary admission procedures and patient rights with both patients and family advocacy groups is paramount, that communication about procedures should be widely available in lay-language for the general population, and that training sessions and guidance should be available for legal and medical practitioners. Finally, people working in the field need to be constantly aware about the ethical challenges surrounding compulsory admissions.Peer reviewe

Comparative Study on the Removal of Various Phenoxyalkanoic Acid Herbicides from Aqueous Solutions on Polycaprolactone and Activated Carbon

WOS: 000299135300005The removal of various phenoxyalkanoic acid herbicides as single solutes (2,4-D; 2,4-DP; 2,4-DB; 2,4,5-T; MCPA) from aqueous solutions were studied by using biodegradable poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL). A comparative study was achieved by using powdered and granular activated carbon as an adsorbent in a batch system. The equilibrium was studied at 25, 35, and 45 degrees C. The results were correlated by using Freundlich Langmuir, Temkin, Redlich-Peterson, and Sips equations. To determine the best fit isotherm, three error analysis methods were used to evaluate the data: correlation coefficient (R-2), residual root-mean-square error, and normalized deviation (Delta Q). The results show that all the isotherm models provide an appropriate fitting to the experimental data for the adsorption onto PCL. Adsorption of the studied herbicides onto granular activated carbon, powdered activated carbon, and poly(e-caprolactone) decreased in the order of 2,4-DB > 2,4,5-T > 2,4-DP > 2,4-D > MCPA. The thermodynamic parameters (Delta G degrees, Delta H degrees, Delta S degrees) for the adsorption process were calculated, and the results suggest that the nature of adsorption is endothermic and the process is spontaneous and favorable. Overall the results show that biodegradable poly(e-caprolactone) is a promising alternative adsorbent to be used in water treatment. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000452. (C) 2011 American Society of Civil Engineers.Institute for Technical Chemistry, Section for Water and Geotechnology Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe; TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK); EBILTEMEge University; Ege University Research CenterEge UniversityThe writers wish to express their thanks to Professor Dr. W. H. Holl and the Institute for Technical Chemistry, Section for Water and Geotechnology Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, for their support, which enabled this work. This project was supported by TUBITAK, EBILTEM, and Ege University Research Center

Efficacy of amitriptyline in the treatment of subjective tinnitus

WOS: 000171541900009PubMed: 11771024We investigated the effect of amitriptyline, a tricyclic antidepressant, on patients with subjective tinnitus. The study group consisted of 37 adult patients admitted to the Ear, Nose, and Throat and Audiology Department of Hacettepe University. The amitriptyline group consisted of 20 patients and the placebo group consisted of 17 patients. All of the patients were evaluated using a questionnaire, audiologic evaluation, high-frequency audiometry, impedancemetric tests, auditory brainstem response, tinnitus frequency, and loudness matching assessed by audiometric methods at the beginning and end of the study. The patients in the amitriptyline group received 50 mg/day amitriptyline in the first week and 100 mg/day for the following 5 weeks. In the placebo group, the patients received tablets consisting of lactose starch for 6 weeks, with a dosage of 1 tablet/day. The subjective complaints of the patients in the amitriptyline group decreased, and the "present" symptoms resulted in fewer complaints. The severity of tinnitus decreased in the amitriptyline group by means of subjective and audiometric methods. In the placebo group, no significant change was observed. The success of treatment was 95% in the amitriptyline group and 12% in the placebo group. Amitriptyline therapy was concluded to be effective

Efficacy of topotecan treatment on an experimental model of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions

WOS: 000171586800006PubMed: 11589980Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of topotecan (Hycamtin(R)), a topoisomerase I inhibiting anticancer agent, on Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAEs) of the rabbits. We planned to investigate whether this test might provide a method for monitoring early ototoxic influence of drug administration to the cochlea. Methods: The study was conveyed in two groups each consisting of five rabbits with a total of ten ears. Rabbits in group I received i.v. topotecan (0.5 mg/kg once daily) for 3 days. Rabbits in group II received i.v. topotecan (0.25 mg/kg once daily) for 3 days. Cochlear function was serially monitored using transient evoked otoacoustic emissions before administration (BA) and on the 4th and 15th days after administration of topotecan. TEOAEs were analysed in terms of mean stimulus, stability and emission amplitude at 1.0-4.0 kHz. Results: For group I and II, intergroup and intragroup, differences were not statistically significant in the mean stimulus, stability and emission amplitudes at 1.0-4.0 kHz. Conclusions: We evaluated the potential role of TEOAEs in early identification of cochlear dysfunction induced by, topotecan. It was concluded that topotecan did not have ototoxic effects on the cochlea in the early period of administration. TEOAEs may be useful: to monitor the cochlear function and to detect the late stage of ototoxicity especially in the presence of potentially toxic factors for the prevention of permanent damage. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Isolation and characterization of biologically active glycosides from endemic Cephalaria species in Anatolia

WOS: 000297321800007Chemical constituents of the aerial parts of four endemic Cephalaria species (Dipsacaceae) in Anatolia, C. scoparia, C. paphlagonica, C. isaurica and C. stellipilis, were investigated. Two new triterpene glycosides from C. scoparia, namely scoposides F (1) and G (2), along with 11 known compounds including phenolic, flavonoid, iridoid and triterpene-type glycosides were isolated from these species. The structures of all compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and chemical evidence. Antioxidant activity of the compounds was tested with CUPRAC method for the first time in addition to the DPPH by using trolox and ascorbic acid as reference antioxidants, respectively. The antimicrobial activity was assessed by MIC assay and the results were given as MIC (mu g/mL) values. New triterpene glycosides scoposides F-G (1 and 2) and the compounds paphlagonoside A (6), paphlagonoside B (7) and isacoside (9), which were not tested previously, exhibited as strong antibacterial activity against Gram (+) and Gram ( ) bacteria. (C) 2011 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [107T028]; EBILTEMEge University [2008BIL003]; Research Grant Office of Ege UniversityEge University [2009FEN080]This work was supported by TUBITAK (107T028), EBILTEM (2008BIL003) and Research Grant Office of Ege University (2009FEN080). TUBITAK, EBILTEM and Izmir Hygiene Institute are gratefully acknowledged for providing HR-ESI/MS, NMR (400 MHz) spectra and GC-MS analysis, respectively. Thanks are also due to H. Sumbul and R.S. Gokturk for their valuable assistance for collection and identification of the plant materials

Phytochemical analysis of the essential oils of 10 endemic Cephalaria species from Turkey

WOS: 000318292300009PubMed ID: 22757667The volatile composition of 10 endemic Cephalaria (Dipsacaceae) species (Cephalaria gazipashensis, Cephalaria lycica, Cephalaria paphlagonica, Cephalaria elmaliensis, Cephalaria stellipilis, Cephalaria scoparia, Cephalaria isaurica, Cephalaria cilicica, Cephalaria elazigensis var. purpurea and Cephalaria davisiana) was investigated. The essential oil mixtures were obtained by steam distillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. Twenty-eight components were identified by GC-FID and GC-MS techniques. While total volatile percentages ranged from 68.99% to 84.57%, the total essential oil yields ranged between 38.15% and 64.05%. Geraniol, -cedrene and p-cymene were determined as the main components. Geraniol was detected as a major component in C. cilicica (14.64%), and -cedrene was detected as a major component with 26.03% for C. lycica, 16.93% for C. scoparia, 13.01% for C. davisiana and 10.94% for C. paphlagonica. Cephalaria scoparia, C. davisiana and C. gazipashensis have considerable amount of p-cymene as 12.86%, 12.70% and 11.16%, respectively. This was the first essential oil report concerning the Cephalaria genus.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [107T028]; EBILTEMEge University [2008BIL003]; Research Grant Office of Ege UniversityEge University [2009FEN080]We are grateful to ARGE-FAR (Ege University) for running GC/GC-MS analysis, and TUBITAK (107T028), EBILTEM (2008BIL003) and Research Grant Office of Ege University (2009FEN080) for their financial support. We also thank to Assist. Prof. Dr H. Ertas for his valuable discussions