Phytogeographical differentiation in the Dinaric fir-beech forest (Omphalodo-Fagetum s. lat.) of the western part of the Illyrian floral province

A phytogeographical assessment of the west-Dinaric fir-beech association Omphalodo- -Fagetum s. lat. (Treg. 1957 corr. Puncer 1980) Marin~ek et al. 1993 (=Abieti-Fagetum dinaricum Tregubov 1957 p.p.) in the western part of the Illyrian floral province is provided. The synoptic phytosociological table and the results of hierarchical classification and ordination showed a quite distinct floristic and phytogeographical pattern of differentiation in a northwest-southeast direction. The proportion of Southeast – European-Illyrian (Illyricoid) species decreases towards the northwest while Alpine species decrease in the opposite direction. Stands from the Trnovski gozd plateau form a geographical variant Omphalodo-Fagetum var. geogr. Saxifraga cuneifolia, further divided into two geographical sub-variants, western – subvar. geogr. Anemone trifolia and central-eastern – subvar. geogr. Omphalodes verna. All other stands belong to the geographical variant Omphalodo- Fagetum var. geogr. Calamintha grandiflora, also further divided into two geographical sub-variants, subvar. geogr. Dentaria pentaphyllos and subvar. geogr. Dentaria polyphylla. Although the distribution area of the association is well defined in its northwest part, the question of its south-eastern border is still open. The preliminary results of analyses indicate that the stands southeast of Velebit and Lička Plješivica should be treated as a different association, distinct from Omphalodo-Fagetum. Further phytosociological and phytogeographical research into the entire Illyrian floral province will therefore be needed to resolve the problem of the southern border of the distribution area of the association Omphalodo-Fagetum and the syntaxonomy of south-eastern Dinaric fir-beech stands

Some novelties in the flora and vegetation of Mt Snežnik (SW Slovenia, Liburnian karst)

The first records for Scabiosa graminifolia, Potentilla clusiana and Seseli gouanii are presented for the Mt Snežnik Plateau. One new association, Scabioso silenifoliae-Dryadetum octopetalae ass. nova, and a phytocoenon with Scabiosa silenifolia are described

Notes on the bryophyte flora and vegetation of the central and south-western Balkans.

Puglisi, M., Campisi, P., laku.i., D., surina, B., Di Pietro, R., Privitera, M. Notes on the bryophyte flora and vegetation of the central and south-western Balkans. Lazaroa 34: 107-116 (2013). A study on the bryophyte flora and vegetation was carried out in the mountains at the boundary between Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. The study area included Maja and jezerces massif (Prokletije mts., sE Dinaric Alps) and Mt korab (Šar-Pindos Range) in Macedonia. several records for the bryological flora of Macedonia and Albania are reported. In particular Scapania cuspiduligera and Distichium inclinatum are new records for the Albanian flora. In addition some bryophytic and bryo-chormophytic associations belonging to the phytosociological classes Ctenidietea mollusci and Montio fontanae-Cardaminetea amarae are reported too. © 2013. Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Discontinuation and non-publication of randomised clinical trials supported by the main public funding body in Switzerland: a retrospective cohort study.

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) promotes academic excellence through competitive selection of study proposals and rigorous evaluation of feasibility, but completion status and publication history of SNSF-supported randomised clinical trials (RCTs) remain unclear. The main objectives were to review all healthcare RCTs supported by the SNSF for trial discontinuation and non-publication, to investigate potential risk factors for trial discontinuation due to poor recruitment and non-publication, and to compare findings to other Swiss RCTs not supported by the SNSF. We established a retrospective cohort of all SNSF-supported RCTs for which recruitment and funding had ended in 2015 or earlier. For each RCT, two investigators independently searched corresponding publications in electronic databases. In addition, we approached all principal investigators to ask for additional publications and information about trial discontinuation. Teams of two investigators independently extracted details about study design, recruitment of participants, outcomes, analysis and sample size from the original proposal and, if available, from trial registries and publications. We used multivariable regression analysis to explore potential risk factors associated with discontinuation due to poor recruitment and with non-publication, and to compare our results with data from a previous cohort of Swiss RCTs not supported by the SNSF. We included 101 RCTs supported by the SNSF between 1986 and 2015. Eighty-seven (86%) principal investigators responded to our survey. Overall, 69 (68%) RCTs were completed, 26 (26%) RCTs were prematurely discontinued (all due to slow recruitment) and the completion status remained unclear for 6 (6%) RCTs. For analysing publication status, we excluded 4 RCTs for which follow-up was still ongoing and 9 for which manuscripts were still in preparation. Of the remaining 88 RCTs, 53 (60%) were published as full articles in peer-reviewed journals. Multivariable regression models suggested that discontinued trials were at higher risk for non-publication than completed trials (adjusted OR 7.61; 95% CI 2.44 to 27.09). Compared with other Swiss RCTs, the risk of discontinuation for SNSF-supported RCTs was higher than in industry-initiated RCTs (adjusted OR 3.84; 95% CI 1.68 to 8.74), but not significantly different from investigator-initiated RCTs not supported by the SNSF (adjusted OR 1.05; 95% CI 0.51 to 2.11). We found no evidence that the proportion of discontinued or unpublished RCTs decreased over the last 20 years. One out of four SNSF-supported RCTs were prematurely discontinued due to slow recruitment, 40% of all included RCTs and 70% of all discontinued RCTs were not published in peer-reviewed journals. There is a case to reconsider how public funding bodies such as the SNSF could improve their feasibility assessment and promote publication of RCTs irrespective of completion status

Improved Thin, Flexible Heat Pipes

Flexible heat pipes of an improved type are fabricated as layers of different materials laminated together into vacuum- tight sheets or tapes. In comparison with prior flexible heat pipes, these flexible heat pipes are less susceptible to leakage. Other advantages of these flexible heat pipes, relative to prior flexible heat pipes, include high reliability and greater ease and lower cost of fabrication. Because these heat pipes are very thin, they are highly flexible. When coated on outside surfaces with adhesives, these flexible heat pipes can be applied, like common adhesive tapes, to the surfaces of heat sinks and objects to be cooled, even if those surfaces are curved

Evolution of V339 Del (Nova Del 2013) since 0.37 to 75 Days after Discovery

We study the evolution of V339 Del (Nova Del 2013) during 0.37 to 75 days after discovery. Spectra from the Liverpool Telescope were collected and analysed to find velocity of ejecta, relative radiation with respect to continuum level, and FWHM of the radiation. The evolution of light curve was explained by adopting an ideal nova light curve as criteria. We found that the evolution of V339 Del during t = 0.37 to 75 days can be explained in 7 phases: 1) Initial rise (t = 0 - 0.6 days, 2) Pre-maximum halt (t = 0.6 to 1.2 days), 3) Final rise (t = 1.2 to 1.5 days), 4) Maximum (t = 1.5 to 2.5 days), 5) Early decline (t = 2.5 to 35 days), 6) Transition (t = 35 to 60 days), and 7) Final decline (t = 60 to approximately 75 days)

The Krushinsky – Molodkina genetic rat strain as a unique experimental model of seizure states

The study of genetic mechanisms, which underlie normal and abnormal behavioral traits, are important not only for fundamental knowledge of CNS function, but also for human well-being, as well as in the aspect of treatment of brain diseases. Accumulation of knowledge concerning the functions of genes, which are expressed in the CNS and are involved in the specific brain functions determined now by the success of molecular genetics, but it could not overshadow the importance of phenotype expression investigation of genetically determined traits, especially pathological ones. Epilepsy, as one of CNS diseases, occupies an important place in the row of these studies. In spite of numerous anticonvulsant drugs a significant proportion of epilepsy cases are still resistant to drug treatments. It means that the study of various aspects of epileptogenesis using animal models should be welcomed as it will help to elucidate those aspects of increased seizure proneness that are now out of scope of research attention. The distinct trait of this domain, which is not easy to analyze genetically, is audiogenic epilepsy (the seizure attack in response to loud sound). The important feature of audiogenic epilepsy is that the intense tonic seizures could be induced and analyzed repeatedly which makes it possible to induce the seizures repeatedly in the course of chronical experiments with the same animal, which is not possible in the cases of pharmacologically or electrically induced seizures. The Krushinsky – Molodkina (KM) inbred rat strain, which was the first among strains selected for audiogenic epilepsy, is briefly characterized. The specific seizure pattern, the rodent proneness for audiogenic epilepsy, as well as abnormal postictal states (catalepsy, in particular) illustrate the importance of this phenomenon not only as a model of certain brain pathology, but also as a matter of general biological importance. The importance of genetic background factor (demonstrated in the case of study of comorbidity (audiogenic epilepsy, anxiety and depression)) could be crucial in the studies of other CNS anomalies. The audiogenic seizures as a physiological phenomenon which often accompanies several brain pathologies had been in the scope of research interests for D.K. Belyaev and his colleagues in his Institute

Nova light curves from the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) - II. The extended catalogue

We present the results from observing nine Galactic novae in eruption with the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI) between 2004 and 2009. While many of these novae reached peak magnitudes that were either at or approaching the detection limits of SMEI, we were still able to produce light curves that in many cases contained more data at and around the initial rise, peak, and decline than those found in other variable star catalogs. For each nova, we obtained a peak time, maximum magnitude, and for several an estimate of the decline time (t2). Interestingly, although of lower quality than those found in Hounsell et al. (2010a), two of the light curves may indicate the presence of a pre-maximum halt. In addition the high cadence of the SMEI instrument has allowed the detection of low amplitude variations in at least one of the nova light curves

Modeling of genetic processes underlying the development of resistance to fipronil in the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say)

The main method of pest control is by applying chemical insecticides. The efficacy of insecticides is reduced due to the development of resistance by pest populations. This is an especially important problem with the Colorado potato beetle. There are different strategies for the use of insecticides to slow the development of resistance. Based on long lasing research, we propose a hypothesis about delaying the development of resistance by applying insecticides at low doses. To test this hypothesis, we have built predictive discrete genetic models of resistance in Colorado potato beetle populations. The model based on the classical equations of population genetics has been supplemented by various factors. Calculations of the survival rates of Colorado potato beetle individuals were carried out taking into account the statistical regularities of the distribution of the toxic substance after treatment by insecticides. We have calculated the survival rates of different genotypes using a lognormal distribution after changing the insecticide dose two-fold or more. The factor of differentiated mortality during the winter was additionally introduced into the model. The use of phenetic markers of nonspecific resistance to environmental factors allowed us to compute the model with mediated intergenic interactions. Various hypotheses about strategies in overcoming resistance have been tested using this model. Calculations demonstrated that the use of insecticides at minimum effective doses (low dose) leads to a slower increase in the proportion of resistant individuals in populations of the Colorado potato beetle for two seasons. Resistance develops much more slowly following alternate treatment with insecticides from different chemical classes. The best strategy is through off-season treatment with insecticides of different chemical classes at lower doses