Some poisonous plants of Slovenia

Od 3299 vrsta biljaka koje čine biljni pokrivač Slovenije, 110 sadržava otrovne tvari. Većina je opisana u toksikološkim priručnicima. Autor opisuje samo one koje imaju bobičast plod ili plod s košticom. Prema stupnju toksičnosti razdijeljene su u tri skupine: jako toksična grupa, toksična grupa i slabo toksična grupa. Nakon uzimanja samo nekoliko boba iz jako toksične grupe očekujemo teške simptome. U literaturi su opisani smrtni slučajevi (Atropa belladonna, Daphne spec.). Znakovi teškog otrovanja nastaju poslije uzimanja veće količine plodova iz toksične grupe (Solanum dulcamara, Paris quadrifolia, Solanum nigrum, Taxus baccata). U slabo toksičnoj grupi su biljke koje uzrokuju teškoće tek poslije uzimanja više od četiri bobice (Rhamnus cathartica, Polygonatum spec., Hedera helix, Ligustrum vulgare, Convallaria maialis). Svakoj vrsti pridodani su osnovni podaci: rasprostranjenost po Sloveniji, mjesto rasta, aktivni princip i klinička slika otrovanja.Of the 3299 plant species growing in Slovenia 110 are poisonous. This paper deals with only those species which fruit in berries. They are divided according to the degree of toxicity into three groups (Krienke): - a very toxic group. Ingestion of only a few berries produces serious symptoms (e. g. Atropa belladonna, Daphne mezereum); - a toxic group. Symptoms of serious poisoning develop after ingestion of a larger quantity of berries (e. g. Solanum dulcamara, Solanum nigrum, Paris quadrifolia); - a slightly toxic group. Symptoms are possible after ingestion of more than four berries (e. g. Rhamnus cathartica, Polygonatum spec.). The distribution area in Slovenia, the habitat, the toxic substance and its effects on humans are given for each poisonous plant species

Human-animal interactions in the salt puna during the middle holocene: the case of Cueva Salamanca 1, Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca

Se presentan aquí los análisis zooarqueológicos realizados en el registro óseo del sitio arqueológico Cueva Salamanca 1, ubicado en Antofagasta de la Sierra, en la Puna Catamarca, a 3.665 msnm. El sitio presenta la mayor parte de las ocupaciones entre ca. 8100 y 7400 años AP y otras más esporádicas hasta el 4500 AP en la capa 2, en la que se centran los análisis, además de otras posteriores más puntuales. Los resultados sugieren una explotación intensiva de camélidos, especialmente de grupos familiares. Ésta abarcó tanto a vicuñas como a guanacos, que se presentan en una proporción relativamente alta. La explotación de estos camélidos incluyó el procesamiento para la extracción de nutrientes extra- e intra-óseos, así como otros usos. El registro arqueofaunístico analizado es consistente con los escenarios demográfico y paleoambiental propuestos para la región, mostrando una ocupación más estable de este sector intermedio de la cuenca a comienzos del Holoceno Medio y luego una menos intensiva a medida que recrudecen las condiciones de aridez, acompañada de una estrecha interacción con los diferentes camélidos silvestres.This paper presents the zooarchaeological analysis of the bone record from Cueva Salamanca 1 archaeological site, located in Antofagasta de la Sierra, in the Puna of Catamarca, at 3.665 masl. The site has most occupations between ca. 8100-7400 years BP and other, more sporadic ones up to 4500 BP in layer 2 -on which this analysis is focused-, and a few more intermittent later ones. The results suggest an intensive exploitation of camelids, especially of family groups. It included both vicuñas and guanacos, which are represented in relatively high proportions. The exploitation of these camelids involved the processing for extra- and intra-bone nutrient extraction, as well as other uses. The archaeofaunal record analyzed is consistent with the demographic and paleoclimatic settings proposed for the region, and shows a more stable occupation of this intermediate sector of the basin at the beginning of Middle Holocene, followed by a less intensive one as dry conditions increased, along with a tight interaction with different wild camelids.Fil: Mondini, Nora Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Antropología de Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Filosofia y Humanidades. Museo de Antropologia; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Marozzi, Antonela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto de Antropología de Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Filosofia y Humanidades. Museo de Antropologia; ArgentinaFil: Pintar, Elizabeth L.. Austin Community College; Estados Unido

The Aquatic Heteroptera (Hemiptera) of Marshes in the Florida Everglades

The Everglades is a large subtropical wetland that has been modified heavily by humans and now is undergoing restoration. Aquatic and semiaquatic Heteroptera (Hemiptera) in the infraorders Gerromorpha and Nepomorpha were collected in the Florida Everglades using standardized 1-m2throw-traps. Sampling efforts were conducted in marshes distributed from southern Everglades National Park, north throughout the Water Conservation Areas to Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. In total, 12,833 individuals were identified representing 17 species in 13 genera and 8 families (Belostomatidae, Corixidae, Gerridae, Mesoveliidae, Naucoridae, Nepidae, Veliidae). The naucorid Pelocoris femoratus (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Naucoridae) was by far the most abundant species, whereas 2 other species, Belostoma lutarium (Stål) (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) and Neogerris hesione Kirkaldy (Hemiptera: Gerridae), were widespread but less abundant. Two species, Abedus immaculatus (Say) (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) and Pelocoris balius La Rivers (Hemiptera: Naucoridae) had localized distributions, whereas all other species were collected rarely. We discuss the abundance and distribution of species recorded, along with unique traits and the biology of the aquatic Heteroptera in the Everglades and implications for the restoration of the Everglades

Biomechanical Tolerance of Whole Lumbar Spines in Straightened Posture Subjected to Axial Acceleration

Quantification of biomechanical tolerance is necessary for injury prediction and protection of vehicular occupants. This study experimentally quantified lumbar spine axial tolerance during accelerative environments simulating a variety of military and civilian scenarios. Intact human lumbar spines (T12‐L5) were dynamically loaded using a custom‐built drop tower. Twenty‐three specimens were tested at sub‐failure and failure levels consisting of peak axial forces between 2.6 and 7.9 kN and corresponding peak accelerations between 7 and 57 g. Military aircraft ejection and helicopter crashes fall within these high axial acceleration ranges. Testing was stopped following injury detection. Both peak force and acceleration were significant (p \u3c 0.0001) injury predictors. Injury probability curves using parametric survival analysis were created for peak acceleration and peak force. Fifty‐percent probability of injury (95%CI) for force and acceleration were 4.5 (3.9–5.2 kN), and 16 (13–19 g). A majority of injuries affected the L1 spinal level. Peak axial forces and accelerations were greater for specimens that sustained multiple injuries or injuries at L2–L5 spinal levels. In general, force‐based tolerance was consistent with previous shorter‐segment lumbar spine testing (3–5 vertebrae), although studies incorporating isolated vertebral bodies reported higher tolerance attributable to a different injury mechanism involving structural failure of the cortical shell. This study identified novel outcomes with regard to injury patterns, wherein more violent exposures produced more injuries in the caudal lumbar spine. This caudal migration was likely attributable to increased injury tolerance at lower lumbar spinal levels and a faster inertial mass recruitment process for high rate load application. Published 2017. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA

Letter to the Editor Concerning Simultaneous, Single-Particle Measurements of Size and Loading Give Insights into the Structure of Drug-Delivery Nanoparticles

The vexing error of excess variance in the sizing of single particles degrades accuracy in applications ranging from quality control of nanoparticle products to hazard assessment of nanoplastic byproducts. The particular importance of lipid nanoparticles for vaccine and medicine delivery motivates this comment on a publication$^{\textrm{1}}$ in ACS Nano. In ref 1, the benchmark measurements of a nanoparticle standard manifest large errors of the size distribution that contradict the claim of validation. Such errors can bias the correlation of fluorescence intensity as an optical proxy for the molecular loading of lipid nanoparticles and give misleading insights from power-law models of intensity$-$size data. Looking forward, measurement error models have the potential to address this widespread issue.Comment: Peer reviewed and pending acceptance by ACS Nan

Subnanometer traceability of localization microscopy

In localization microscopy, subnanometer precision is possible but supporting accuracy is challenging, and no study has demonstrated reliable traceability to the International System of Units (SI). To do so, we measure the positions of nanoscale apertures in a reference array by traceable atomic-force microscopy, creating a master standard. We perform correlative measurements of this standard by optical microscopy, correcting position errors from optical aberrations by a Zernike calibration. We establish an uncertainty field due to localization errors and scale uncertainty, with regions of position traceability to within a 68 % coverage interval of +/- 1.0 nm. These results enable localization metrology with high throughput, which we apply to measure working standards, validating the subnanometer accuracy of lithographic pitch

Molecular epidemiology of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp on swine farms in Ontario, Canada

A subset of swine farms in Ontario, Canada have been monitored for Cryptosporidium and Giardia. Fecal samples were collected from different stages of production as well as from manure pits. G. duodenalis cysts and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in the manure samples using immunofluorescence microscopy. A nested PCR and sequencing method was performed to determine the genotypes. A mixed multivariable method was used to compare the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in samples from different sources

Metal Ion Dependence of the Asymmetric Transamination of Phenylpyruvic Acid by Pyridoxamine in the Presence of β-Cyclodextrin

Transamination reactions of phenylpyruvic acid and pyridoxamine in the presence of metal ions and B-cyclodextrin as a chiral auxiliary have been investigated in neutral aqueous solution. The rate and extent of the transamination, and the asymmetric induction observed in the reaction depend upon the nature of the metal ion. In particular, while Zn2+and C02+yield preferentially the aldimine complex of L-phenylalanine, Cu2\u27 yields preferentially the complex of D-phenylalanine and Ni2+only the racemic product. It is proposed that the ketimine complexes are bound to B-cyclodextrin through the phenyl group of the keto acid residue and that the stereoselectivity of the reaction is originated by some direct interaction of the hydroxyl groups of the cyclodextrin moiety and the metal ions. Although the extent of asymmetric induction is modest in these simple systems (10-20°/0 optical purities), the present results show that transition metal complexes can play a prominent role in determining the steric course of the asymmetric reaction

A lateral nanoflow assay reveals nanoplastic fluorescence heterogeneity

Colloidal nanoplastics present technological opportunities, environmental concerns, and measurement challenges. To meet these challenges, we develop a lateral nanoflow assay from sample-in to answer-out. Our measurement system integrates complex nanofluidic replicas, super-resolution optical microscopy, and comprehensive statistical analyses to measure polystyrene nanoparticles that sorb and carry hydrophobic fluorophores. An elegant scaling of surface forces within our silicone devices hydrodynamically automates the advection and dominates the diffusion of the nanoparticles. Through steric interaction with the replica structure, the particle size distribution reciprocally probes the unknown limits of replica function. Multiple innovations in the integration and calibration of device and microscope improve the accuracy of identifying single nanoparticles and quantifying their diameters and fluorescence intensities. A statistical model of the measurement approaches the information limit of the system, discriminates size exclusion from surface adsorption, and reduces nonideal data to return the particle size distribution with nanometer resolution. A Bayesian statistical analysis of the dimensional and optical properties of single nanoparticles reveals their fundamental structure-property relationship. Fluorescence intensity shows a super-volumetric dependence, scaling with nanoparticle diameter to nearly the fourth power and confounding basic concepts of chemical sorption. Distributions of fluorescivity - the product of the number density, absorption cross section, and quantum yield of an ensemble of fluorophores - are ultrabroad and asymmetric, limiting ensemble analysis and dimensional or chemical inference from fluorescence intensity. These results reset expectations for optimizing nanoplastic products, understanding nanoplastic byproducts, and applying nanoplastic standards