An unusual growth form of Cladonia furcata: The trampling-resistant primary thallus colonizing a paved pathway

Lichens are well known to be susceptible to damage by trampling. Fruticose species, with their highly branched structure, are particularly sensitive and Bayfield et al. (1981) described substantial damage to Cladonia uncialis, C. arbuscula, C. rangiferina, and C. impexa on paths in lichen-rich heath communities in north-east Scotland. Less visible communities, biotic soil crusts in arid and semi-arid areas with their cover of crustose lichens, are also easily disturbed by walking, car driving, or grazing and recovery can take decades. We report here an interesting situation where a lichen (Cladonia furcata) is apparently being maintained and even spread in a habitat because trampling prevents it from completing its monocarpic life cycle

Diversity of Lecidea (Lecideaceae, Ascomycota) species revealed by molecular data and morphological characters

The diversity of lichens, especially crustose species, in continental Antarctica is still poorly known. To overcome difficulties with the morphology based species delimitations in these groups, we employed molecular data (nuclear ITS and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences) to test species boundaries within the genus Lecidea. Sampling was done along a north–south transect at five different areas in the Ross Sea region (Cape Hallett, Botany Bay to Mount Suess, Taylor Valley, Darwin Area and Mount Kyffin). A total of 153 specimens were collected from 13 localities. Phylogenetic analyses also include specimens from other regions in Antarctica and non-Antarctic areas. Maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses agreed in placing the samples from continental Antarctica into four major groups. Based on this phylogenetic estimate, we restudied the micromorphology and secondary chemistry of these four clades to evaluate the use of these characters as phylogenetic discriminators. These clades are identified as the following species Lecidea cancriformis, L. andersonii as well as the new species L. polypycnidophora Ruprecht & Türk sp. nov. and another previously unnamed clade of uncertain status, referred to as Lecidea sp. (L. UCR1)

Citizen journalism is as old as journalism itself: An interview with Stuart Allan

Professor Stuart Allan from Cardiff University in the UK is one of the leading scholars in contemporary journalism studies. He has made a significant contribution to the development of this research field, having authored or edited seventeen books to date (many of which have been translated into multiple languages), as well as a wide range of journal articles and book chapters. He is a co-founder of the peer-reviewed journal Journalism Education, and serves on the editorial board of ten journals, including Digital Journalism, Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism, and New Media & Society. Although he is a man of many interests, Allan’s personal scholarship in journalism studies revolves around four themes: 1) journalism and democracy, where his attention has focused on the evolving role of the journalist in public life (Allan, 2010, 2012; Carter, Branston, and Allan, 1998; Fowler-Watt and Allan, 2013); 2) online news, with a particular interest in citizen journalism and what he terms citizen witnessing (Allan, 2006, 2013; Thorsen and Allan, 2014); 3) the changing nature of war, conflict and crisis reporting (Allan and Zelizer, 2004; Matheson and Allan, 2009; Zelizer and Allan, 2013); and 4) science journalism, with a special interest in how it is evolving in digital contexts (Allan, Adam and Carter, 2000; Allan, 2002; Anderson, Petersen, Wilkinson and Allan, 2009). Further research interests include journalism and human rights, media history, photojournalism, and young people’s civic engagement with digital media

Quantified vegetation change over 42 years at Cape Hallett, East Antarctica

This paper reports on the remapping of a carefully documented vegetation plot at Cape Hallett (72°19′S 170°16′E) to provide an assessment of the rates of vegetation change over decadal time scales. E.D. Rudolph, in 1962, mapped in detail the vegetation of a site approximately 28 m by 120 m at Cape Hallett, Victoria Land, Antarctica. This site was relocated and remapped in January 2004 and changes were assessed using GIS techniques. This appears to be the longest available time period for assessing vegetation change in Antarctica. The analysis indicated that considerable change had occurred in moss and algae distribution patterns and this seems to have been caused by increased water supply, particularly in wetter areas. There was also evidence of some change in lichen distribution. The extent of the change indicates that vegetation cover can be used for monitoring change in areas as extreme as the Ross Sea region. For this analysis to be successful it was important that the mapping techniques used were totally explicit and could easily be replicated. Fortunately, Rudolph had defined his cover classes and the site was also clearly marked. The application of GIS mapping techniques allows the mapping to be more explicitly defined and easily replicated

Photosynthetic responses of three common mosses from continental Antarctica

Predicting the effects of climate change on Antarctic terrestrial vegetation requires a better knowledge of the ecophysiology of common moss species. In this paper we provide a comprehensive matrix for photosynthesis and major environmental parameters for three dominant Antarctic moss species (Bryum subrotundifolium, B. pseudotriquetrum and Ceratodon purpureus). Using locations in southern Victoria Land, (Granite Harbour, 77°S) and northern Victoria Land (Cape Hallett, 72°S) we determined the responses of net photosynthesis and dark respiration to thallus water content, thallus temperature, photosynthetic photon flux densities and CO2 concentration over several summer seasons. The studies also included microclimate recordings at all sites where the research was carried out in field laboratories. Plant temperature was influenced predominantly by the water regime at the site with dry mosses being warmer. Optimal temperatures for net photosynthesis were 13.7°C, 12.0°C and 6.6°C for B. subrotundifolium, B. pseudotriquetrum and C. purpureus, respectively and fall within the known range for Antarctic mosses. Maximal net photosynthesis at 10°C ranked as B. subrotundifolium > B. pseudotriquetrum > C. purpureus. Net photosynthesis was strongly depressed at subzero temperatures but was substantial at 0°C. Net photosynthesis of the mosses was not saturated by light at optimal water content and thallus temperature. Response of net photosynthesis to increase in water content was as expected for mosses although B. subrotundifolium showed a large depression (60%) at the highest hydrations. Net photosynthesis of both B. subrotundifolium and B. pseudotriquetrum showed a large response to increase in CO2 concentration and this rose with increase in temperature; saturation was not reached for B. pseudotriquetrum at 20°C. There was a high level of variability for species at the same sites in different years and between different locations. This was substantial enough to make prediction of the effects of climate change very difficult at the moment

Financial reporting and the public finance management act (PFMA) in the Western Cape

Magister Administrationis - MAdminThe study focused on financial reporting in the public sector with the view to understanding the impact of the present financial management system in South Africa is adding value to the measurable outcomes-based objective process as required by the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The study determines the role of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in financial reporting, in relation to the business plan (strategy) and measurable outcomes and results of the Department of Community Safety. The primary objective of this study was to perform an assessment of financial reporting and its effectiveness in terms of the PFMA as the legislative framework and the MTEF as a financial management tool. The secondary objectives were to: (1) to provide a theoretical perspective of public financial management and reporting in government; (2) to provide an verview of policies, legislation and strategies; (3) to record and develop a case study of financial reporting in the Western Cape Provincial Government within the Department of Community Safety (WCPG); (4) to present the research findings on financial management, and (5), to apply the theoretical framework to the case study in order to develop findings.South Afric

Polymorphism in glutathione S-transferase P1 is associated with susceptibility to chemotherapyinduced leukemia

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) detoxify potentially mutagenic and toxic DNA-reactive electrophiles, including metabolites of several chemotherapeutic agents, some of which are suspected human carcinogens. Functional polymorphisms exist in at least three genes that encode GSTs, including GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1. We hypothesize, therefore, that polymorphisms in genes that encode GSTs alter susceptibility to chemotherapy-induced carcinogenesis, specifically to therapy-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML), a devastating complication of long-term cancer survival. Elucidation of genetic determinants may help to identify individuals at increased risk of developing t-AML. To this end, we have examined 89 cases of t-AML, 420 cases of de novo AML, and 1,022 controls for polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1. Gene deletion of GSTM1 or GSTT1 was not specifically associated with susceptibility to t-AML. Individuals with at least one GSTP1 codon 105 Val allele were significantly over-represented in t-AML cases compared with de novo AML cases [odds ratio (OR), 1.81; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.11–2.94]. Moreover, relative to de novo AML, the GSTP1 codon 105 Val allele occurred more often among t-AML patients with prior exposure to chemotherapy (OR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.39–5.09), particularly among those with prior exposure to known GSTP1 substrates (OR, 4.34; 95% CI, 1.43–13.20), and not among those t-AML patients with prior exposure to radiotherapy alone (OR,1.01; 95% CI, 0.50–2.07). These data suggest that inheritance of at least one Val allele at GSTP1 codon 105 confers a significantly increased risk of developing t-AML after cytotoxic chemotherapy, but not after radiotherapy

Activation of Tissue Remodeling Precedes Obliterative Bronchiolitis in Lung Transplant Recipients

Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) and Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS) are frequent complications in the lung transplant recipient, and are the leading cause of mortality after transplantation. The mechanisms responsible for OB remain elusive, but inflammatory and tissue remodeling responses are implicated. We hypothesized that alterations in markers of tissue remodeling in BALF of lung transplant recipients could predict development of OB. To test this, we identified 13 lung transplant recipients who developed both BOS and histologic OB (OB group) at median post-operative day (POD) 485 (range 73–2070). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained at median POD 387 (range 45–2205), which preceded the onset of OB and BOS by a median of 140 days (range 60–365). As a control, BALF was also obtained from a group of 21 stable recipients without OB (non-OB group) at median POD 335 (range 270–395). BALF was examined for gelatinolytic activity, fibronectin gene transcription, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) expression. Gelatin zymography of BALF from the OB group showed increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity over that of the non-OB group (p < 0.005). Similarly, BALF from the OB group induced greater fibronectin expression in fibroblasts compared to the non-OB group (p < 0.03). The induction of fibronectin also correlated with the amount of TGF-β1 protein in BALF (r = 0.71) from the OB group. We conclude that activation of tissue remodeling precedes the onset of OB, and analysis of gelatinolytic and/or fibronectin-inducing activity in BALF can serve as an early, pre-clinical marker for OB

Changing people, changing lives through public participation and social transformation: A south African case study of a rural development programme

During 2009, in what seemed to be a return to RDP-style thinking, the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) was adopted nationally to tackle not only underdevelopment, poverty, unemployment, and other social ills, but also to enable ‘rural people to take control of their destiny’ with the support of ‘well-structured community organisations’ called Council of Stakeholders (CoS). Most existing studies, however, tend to devalue the CRDP, describing it as ill-conceived. This study investigated three Western Cape wards in South Africa, finding that both governmental and non-governmental actors had a less negative view and were actively trying to pursue a new form of co-operation. It is the only programme that attempts to be truly intergovernmental and community-based. The study’s results suggest that the CRDP can contribute to a deep process of change and empowerment. This change, in turn, could contribute to desired larger-scale changes and concerted collective action to drive development in locally appropriate ways

Coupling of electronic and nuclear motion in a negative ion resonance: Experimental and theoretical study of benzene

We present calculated and measured elastic and vibrational excitation cross sections in benzene with the objective to assess the reliability of the theoretical method and to shed more light on how the electronic motion of the incoming electron is coupled with the nuclear motion of the vibrations. The calculation employed the discrete momentum representation method which involves solving the two-channel Lippmann- Schwinger equation in the momentum space. The electron-molecule interaction was described by the exact static-exchange potential extended by a density-functional theory correlation-polarization interaction that models the molecular response in the field of the incoming electron. Cross sections were calculated for all 20 vibrational modes from near threshold until 20 eV. They were convoluted with a simulated instrumental profile for comparison with electron energy-loss spectra or appropriately summed for overlapping vibrations for comparison with measured cross sections plotted as a function of electron energy. An electron spectrometer with hemispherical analyzers was employed for the measurements. Good agreement of theory with experiment was obtained for the spectral profiles at 8 eV, and a nearly quantitative agreement was obtained at 3 and 4.8 eV. The theoretical results provided new insight into the excitation process, and it showed that more modes are excited than predicted by simple symmetry rules. Spectra showing the details of boomerang structure in the 1.15 eV π* resonance were recorded and are presented, although this aspect of experiment cannot be compared with the current theory