Unemployment Convergence in Central and Eastern European Countries: Driving Forces and Cluster Behavior

Employing a nonlinear logistic smooth transition autoregression system and comovement analysis, we find that the German business cycle has acted as a common driver affecting the cyclical behavior of unemployment rates in Central and Eastern European countries. In addition, we identify two convergence clubs in unemployment dynamics. The first comprises the Baltic States, Hungary, and Poland, and the second group of countries is composed of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Interestingly, this classification matches the labor market policies and institutional divergences observed among these countries

Proteomic and genetic approaches to identifying defence-related proteins in rice challenged with the fungal pathogen Rhizoctonia solani

Sheath blight, caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani, is a major disease of rice world-wide, but little is known about the host response to infection. The objective of this study was to identify proteins and DNA markers in resistant and susceptible rice associated with response to infection by R. solani. Replicated two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis experiments were conducted to detect proteins differentially expressed under inoculated and non-inoculated conditions. Tandem mass spectra analysis using electrospray ionization quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (ESI Q-TOF MS) was carried out for protein identification with the NCBI non-redundant protein database. Seven proteins were increased after inoculation in both susceptible and resistant plants. Six of the seven proteins were identified with presumed antifungal, photosynthetic and proteolytic activities. An additional 14 proteins were detected in the response of the resistant line. Eleven of the 14 proteins were identified with presumed functions relating to antifungal activity, signal transduction, energy metabolism, photosynthesis, molecular chaperone, proteolysis and antioxidation. The induction of 3-β- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase was detected for the first time in resistant rice plants after pathogen challenge, suggesting a defensive role of this enzyme in rice against attack by R. solani. The chromosomal locations of four induced proteins were found to be in close physical proximity to genetic markers for sheath blight resistance in two genetic mapping populations. The proteomic and genetic results from this study indicate a complex response of rice to challenge by R. solani that involves simultaneous induction of proteins from multiple defence pathways. © 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Staggered versus overlap fermions: a study in the Schwinger model with Nf=0,1,2N_f=0,1,2

We study the scalar condensate and the topological susceptibility for a continuous range of quark masses in the Schwinger model with $N_f=0,1,2$ dynamical flavors, using both the overlap and the staggered discretization. At finite lattice spacing the differences between the two formulations become rather dramatic near the chiral limit, but they get severely reduced, at the coupling considered, after a few smearing steps.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, v2: 1 ref corrected, minor change

The mystery of Mystriosaurus: Redescribing the poorly known Early Jurassic teleosauroid thalattosuchians Mystriosaurus laurillardi and Steneosaurus brevior

The genus Mystriosaurus, established by Kaup in 1834, was one of the first thalattosuchian genera to be named. The holotype, an incomplete skull from the lower Toarcian Posidonienschiefer Formation of Altdorf (Bavaria, southern Germany), is poorly known with a convoluted taxonomic history. For the past 60 years, Mystriosaurus has been considered a subjective junior synonym of Steneosaurus. However, our reassessment of the Mystriosaurus laurillardi holotype demonstrates that it is a distinct and valid taxon. Moreover, we find the holotype of “Steneosaurus” brevior, an almost complete skull from the lower Toarcian Whitby Mudstone Formation of Whitby (Yorkshire, UK), to be a subjective junior synonym of M. laurillardi. Mystriosaurus is diagnosed in having: a heavily and extensively ornamented skull; large and numerous neurovascular foramina on the premaxillae, maxillae and dentaries; anteriorly oriented external nares; and four teeth per premaxilla. Our phylogenetic analyses reveal M. laurillardi to be distantly related to Steneosaurus bollensis, supporting our contention that they are different taxa. Interestingly, our analyses hint that Mystriosaurus may be more closely related to the Chinese teleosauroid (previously known as Peipehsuchus) than any European form

The Viviparous12 Maize Mutant Is Deficient In Abscisic Acid, Carotenoids, And Chlorophyll Synthesis

The carotenoid/viviparous maize (Zea mays L.) mutant vp12 is a single locus mutation that results in lemon-coloured endosperms, viviparous embryos and albino seedlings. This work presents the first molecular and biochemical analysis of vp12. Levels of ABA were measured during embryo development and also in isolated organs under water deficit stress. ABA levels were lower in developing embryos of mutants than in non-mutant siblings at all stages analysed. In addition, under water deficit, mutant organs accumulated less ABA than corresponding non-mutant sibling organs. Furthermore, immature mutant embryos accumulated transcripts for several ABA or water deficit-responsive genes, Em, glb1, glb2, rab17, and vp1. These results indicated that vp12 is deficient in ABA accumulation, but not in the ABA signal transduction pathway. Analysis of carotenoid extracts showed that mutant endosperms accumulated lower amounts of coloured precursors than non-mutant endosperms. The expression of key enzymes in the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway was also analysed in vp12 endosperms. Western analysis indicated that phytoene synthase (PSY) was present at equal levels in normal and mutant endosperms. In addition, phytoene desaturase (PDS) transcript levels were similar in non-mutant and mutant tissues. Transcripts for geranylgeranyl, pyrophosphate synthase (GGPPS), on the other hand, accumulated at lower levels in mutant endosperms than in non-mutant ones. However, Southern analysis of genomic DNA from normal and mutant tissues indicated that the gene encoding GGPPS is unlikely to be directly affected in vp12. Finally, vp12 seedlings grown under dim-light conditions produced white leaves, showing that vp12 is deficient in chlorophyll as well as carotenoid synthesis.4831112591268Anderson, I.C., Robertson, D.S., Role of carotenoids in protecting chlorophyll from photodestruction (1960) Plant Physiology, 35, pp. 531-534Anderson, I.C., Robertson, D.S., Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of some pigment mutants in corn (1963) Abstract. Plant Physiology, 38, pp. iiiBadillo, A., Steppuhn, J., Deruere, J., Camara, B., Kuntz, M., Structure of a functional geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase gene from Capsicum annuum (1965) Plant Molecular Biology, 27, pp. 425-428Bartley, G.E., Scolnik, P.A., Molecular biology of carotenoid biosynthesis in plants (1994) Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology, 45, pp. 287-301Belanger, F.C., Kriz, A.L., Molecular charactenzation ol the major maize embryo globulin encoded by the Glb1 gene (1989) Plant Physiology, 91, pp. 636-643Bostock, R.M., Quatrano, R.S., Regulation of Em gene expression in rice. Interaction between osmotic stress and abscisic acid (1992) Plant Physiology, 98, pp. 1356-1363Buckner, B., Buckner, D.J., Distribution of carotenoids and Y1 mRNA in maize kernels (1994) Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter, 68, pp. 45-46Buckner, B., Kelson, T.L., Robertson, D.S., Cloning of the y1 locus of maize, a gene involved in the biosynthesis of carotenoids (1990) The Plant Cell, 2, pp. 867-876Butler, W.M., Cuming, A.C., Differential molecular responses to abscisic acid and osmotic stress in viviparous maize embryos (1993) Planta, 189, pp. 507-515Chandler, P.M., Robertson, M., Gene expression regulated by abscisic acid and its relation to stress tolerance (1994) Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology, 45, pp. 113-145Coe Jr., E.H., Neuffer, M.G., Hoisington, D.A., The genetics of corn (1988) Corn and Corn Improvement, pp. 81-258. , Sprague GF, Dudley JW, eds. ASA-CSSA-SSSA PressDavis, L.G., Dibrer, M.D., Battey, J.F., Silver staining of gels for proteins or RNA (1986) Basic Methods in Molecular Biology, pp. 315-317. , Battey JF, ed. New York: ElsevierDellaporta, S.L., Plant DNA Miniprep and Micropep: Versions 2.1-2.3 (1994) The Maize Handbook, pp. 522-525. , Freeling M, Walbot V, eds. Springer-VerlagGiraudat, J., Parcy, F., Bertauche, N., Gosti, F., Leung, J., Morris, P.-C., Bouvier-Durand, M., Vartanian, N., Current advances in abscisic acid action and signaling (1994) Plant Molecular Biology, 26, pp. 1557-1577Giuliano, G., Bartley, G.E., Scolnik, P.A., Regulation of carotenoid biosynthesis during tomato development (1993) The Plant Cell, 5, pp. 379-387Goodwin, T.W., Biosynthesis of carotenoids: An overview (1993) Methods in Enzymology, 214, pp. 330-340Grumbach, K.H., Evidence for the existence of two β-carotene pools and two biosynthetic β-carotene pathways in the chloroplast (1979) Zeitschrift für Naturforschung, 34 C, pp. 1205-1208Hable, W.E., Oishi, K.K., Maize phytoene desaturase maps near the viviparous5 locus (1995) Plant Physiology, 108, pp. 1329-1330Harlow, E., Lane, D., Immunoblotting (1988) Antibodies, a Laboratory Manual, pp. 471-510. , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory PressKriz, A.L., Wallace, M.S., Paiva, R., Globulin gene expression in embryos of maize viviparous mutants. Evidence for regulation of the Glb1 gene by ABA (1990) Plant Physiology, 92, pp. 538-542Li, Z.-H., Matthews, P.D., Burr, B., Wurtzel, E.T., Cloning and characterization of a maize cDNa encoding phytoene desaturase, an enzyme of the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway (1996) Plant Molecular Biology, 30, pp. 269-279Lichtenthaler, H.K., Chlorophylls and carotenoids: Pigments of photosynthetic biomembranes (1987) Methods in Enzymology, 148, pp. 350-382Longeman, J., Schell, J., Willmitzer, L., Improved method for the isolation of RNA from plant tissues (1987) Annals of Biochemistry, 163, pp. 16-20Maluf, M.P., (1996) Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of the Vp12 Mutant of Maize, p. 112. , PhD dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignMarcotte Jr., W.R., Russel, S.H., Quatrano, R.S., Abscisic acid responsive sequences from the Em gene of wheat (1989) The Plant Cell, 1, pp. 969-976McCarty, D.R., Carson, C.B., The molecular genetics of seed maturation in maize (1991) Physiologia Plantarum, 81, pp. 267-272McCarty, D.R., Hattori, T., Carson, C.B., Vasil, V., Lazar, M., Vasil, I.K., The Viviparous-1 developmental gene of maize encodes a novel transcriptional activator (1991) Cell, 66, pp. 895-905Neill, S.J., Horgan, R., Parry, A.D., The carotenoid and abscisic acid content of viviparous kernels and seedlings of Zea mays L (1986) Planta, 169, pp. 87-96Paiva, R., Kriz, A.L., Effect of abscisic acid on embryo-specific gene expression during normal and precocious germination in normal and viviparous maize (Zea mays) embryos (1994) Planta, 192, pp. 332-339Parry, A.D., Neill, S.J., Horgan, R., Measurement of xanthoxin in higher plant tissue using 13C labelled internal standards (1990) Phytochemistry, 29, pp. 1033-1039Parry, A.D., Horgan, R., Carotenoid metabolism and the biosynthesis of abscisic acid (1991) Phytochemistry, 30, pp. 815-821Pla, M., Goday, A., Vilardell, J., Gomez, J., Pagès, M., Differential regulation of ABA-induced 23-25 kDa proteins in embryo and vegetative tissues of the viviparous embryos of maize (1989) Plant Molecular Biology, 13, pp. 385-394Pla, M., Gomez, J., Goday, A., Pagès, M., Regulation of the abscisic acid-responsive gene rab28 in maize viviparous mutants (1991) Molecular and General Genetics, 230, pp. 394-400Quarrie, S.A., Whitford, P.N., Appleford, N.E.J., Wang, T.L., Cook, S.K., Henson, I.E., Loveys, B.R., A monoclonal antibody to (S)-abscisic acid: Its characterisation and use in a radioimmunoassay for measuring abscisic acid in crude extracts of cereal and lupin leaves (1988) Planta, 173, pp. 330-339Robertson, D.S., The genetics of vivipary in maize (1955) Genetics, 40, pp. 745-760Robertson, D.S., Survey of the albino and white endosperm mutants of maize (1975) The Journal of Heredity, 66, pp. 67-74Saab, I.N., Sharp, R.E., Pritchard, J., Voetberg, G.S., Increased endogenous abscisic acid maintains primary root growth and inhibits shoot growth of maize seedlings at low water potentials (1990) Plant Physiology, 93, pp. 1329-1336Sambrook, J., Fritsch, E.F., Maniatis, T., (1989) Molecular Cloning, a Laboratory Manual, , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory PressShah, D.M., Highwake, R.C., Meagher, R.B., Genes encoding actin in higher plants: Intron positions are highly conserved but the coding sequences are not (1983) Molecular and Applied Genetics, 2, pp. 111-126Shure, M., Wessler, S., Fedoroff, N., Molecular identification and isolation of the waxy locus in maize (1983) Cell, 35, pp. 225-233Smith, J.D., McDaniels, S., Lively, S., Regulation of embryo growth and abscisic acid in vitro (1978) Maize Genetics Cooperation Newsletter, 52, pp. 107-108Vilardell, J., Goday, A., Freire, M.A., Torrent, M., Martínez, M.C., Torné, J.M., Pagès, M., Gene sequence, developmental expression, and protein phosphorylation of RAB-17 in maize (1990) Plant Molecular Biology, 14, pp. 423-432Wallace, N.H., Kriz, A.L., Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone corresponding to the maize Globulin-2 gene (1991) Plant Physiology, 95, p. 973Wurtzel, E.T., Use of a Ds chromosome-breaking element to examine maize Vp5 expression (1992) Journal of Heredity, 83, pp. 109-11

Twitter analytics as indicator of news engagement

The rise of popularity of social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Plurk, Mixi) to share opinions about what's on people's mind has opened possibilities to track the public's activities and sentiments. By using generic identifiers (hashtags #journaal and #RTLnieuws) on two of the most watched news programs (NOS journal provided by the public service broadcaster, and RTL Nieuws by commercial broadcaster RTL) we are able to see the audiences' responsiveness to news broadcasts. This study focuses on explaining engagement activity as a function of type of program, the specific airing time of newscasts, the specific weekday the newscast was broadcasted and specific news events. Findings show that the commercial broadcaster's news cast is more popular in terms of engaging on Twitter. This holds for the general level as well as for the daytime programs

[Oral glucocorticoids for acute rhinosinusitis: an RCT]

Item does not contain fulltextOBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of a short course of oral glucocorticoids in adult patients with acute rhinosinusitis. DESIGN: A double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study conducted in 54 general practices in the Netherlands from December 2008 to March 2011 (NTR1295; http://www.trialregister.nl, search for 1295). METHOD: Adult patients with acute rhinosinusitis were randomly allocated to treatment with prednisolone 30 mg daily or placebo for 7 days. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of patients with resolution of facial pain or pressure on day 7. Secondary outcomes were time to recovery, median duration of symptoms, health-related quality of life, and reported side effects. RESULTS: 185 patients were randomized (prednisolone: n = 93; placebo: n = 92). Two participants withdrew from the study on day 1 and outcomes from 9 participants could not be included in the analysis because of incomplete data, leaving 174 patients (n = 88 and n = 86, respectively) eligible for intention-to-treat analyses. On day 7, 55/88 (62.5%) of patients in the prednisolone group and 48/86 (55.8%) in the placebo group had resolution of facial pain or pressure (difference: 6.7%; 95% CI: -7.9 to 21.2). There was no difference in the course of symptoms or health-related quality of life between groups. Side effects reported were mild and did not differ between groups. CONCLUSION: A short course of oral glucocorticoids seemed to have no clinically relevant beneficial effects in adult patients with acute rhinosinusitis