ThePulmonaria dacica group: Its affinities with central and south-east European allies and with the genusParaskevia (Boraginaceae)

Comparative morphological, karyological and chorological studies prove the distinctness of the SE European and Asiatic populations of<em>Pulmonaria mollis</em> s.l., to be treated as<em>P. dacica</em> (Figs. 4, 5).<em>P. mollis</em> s.str. is interpreted as a relatively young taxon, which probably has evolved from an older stock of<em>P. dacica</em> ancestors during the Pleistocene (Figs. 6, 8) and might have migrated, perhaps with oak woodland communities, from SE to C. Europe. A similar evolution can be postulated for S—SE European dysploid<em>P. rubra-carnica-stiriaca-vallarsae</em> group; this may have involved still unknown tetraploids (<em>P. carnica</em>?, Fig. 7). This group is linked via the hypertriploid species<em>P. vallarsae</em> with the<em>P. saccharata</em> group and at least the eastern species of the<em>P. australis</em> group. The monotypic genus<em>Paraskevia</em> apparently marks the earliest divergence from the common Tertiary ancestral stock (Fig. 8). It exhibits a tetraploid chromosome number (2n = 28) but has preserved the most primitive characters. — Some comments on the systematics and nomenclature of<em>P. australis</em> and<em>Paraskevia</em> are added.     

Lignites of Kutch,western India: Dinoflagellate biostratigraphy and palaeoclimate

The Eocene epoch in the Indian subcontinent was marked by widespread deposition of lignite and coal. While several of these deposits formed during the Early Eocene, corresponding to Early Eocene hyperthermal events, the lignites of Kutch in western India formed later during the Middle Eocene. An integrated biostratigraphy based on dinoflagellates and foraminifera assigns a Bartonian age to the succession, which likely corresponds to the time of the Middle Eocene warming. The spores, pollen, dinoflagellates and foraminifera suggest a restricted marine, near shore depositional environment adjacent to tropical rainforest. The lignites of Kutch suggest high precipitation during or just preceding the warm climate of the Middle Eocene.     

Contributions to the sociology and chorology of contrasting plant communities in the southern part of the ‘Wienerwald’ (Austria)

Five plant communities contrasting in successional status and human impact from the southern part of the ‘Wienerwald’ (Austria) are analyzed using vegetation relevés, spectra of area types and a newly proposed disjunction quotient. A climax community (<em>Asperulo-Fagetum</em>), a subclimax community (<em>Querco-Carpinetum</em> s.l.), an anthropogenous substitute community (<em>Mesobromion</em>) and two natural, non-climax permanent communities (<em>Euphorbio saxatilis-Pinetum nigrae</em> and <em>Fumano-Stipetum eriocaulis</em>) are recognized. The disjunction quotient is defined as the number of partial (discontinous) areas divided by the size of the total area of distribution of a species. In particular, the average disjunction quotients of the species in the first two communities reflect relatively table environments only slightly influenced by man, with many ancient, stable taxa. These communities are characterized by species with well-delimited, stable distribution areas. The species in the <em>Mesobromion</em> community have very low average disjunction quotients as its component species are widely and continuously distributed and are often promoted by man. In contrast to these communities, the species linked to the natural permanent, non-climax communities of extreme habitats, have high distribution quotients i.e. small, disconinuous areas; this illustrates the relic character of these plant communities and of the eastern edge of the Alps is a whole. Using the highly variable disjunction quotient of all species and communities examined, the concepts of climax and permanent communities (of different origin) are discussed with regard to European conditions.     

Metabolic Enzyme Alterations and Astrocyte Dysfunction in a Murine Model of Alexander Disease With Severe Reactive Gliosis

Alexander disease (AxD) is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). In this report, a mouse model of AxD (<em>GFAP</em><sup><em>Tg</em></sup>;<em>Gfap</em><sup>+/<em>R236H</em></sup>) was analyzed that contains a heterozygous R236H point mutation in murine <em>Gfap</em> as well as a transgene with a <em>GFAP</em> promoter to overexpress human GFAP. Using label-free quantitative proteomic comparisons of brain tissue from <em>GFAP</em><sup><em>Tg</em></sup>;<em>Gfap</em><sup>+/<em>R236H</em></sup> <em>versus</em> wild-type mice confirmed upregulation of the glutathione metabolism pathway and indicated proteins were elevated in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway, which had not been reported previously in AxD. Relative protein-level differences were confirmed by a targeted proteomics assay, including proteins related to astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. Of particular interest was the decreased level of the oligodendrocyte protein, 2-hydroxyacylsphingosine 1-beta-galactosyltransferase (Ugt8), since <em>Ugt8</em>-deficient mice exhibit a phenotype similar to <em>GFAP</em><sup><em>Tg</em></sup>;<em>Gfap</em><sup>+/<em>R236H</em></sup> mice (<em>e.g.</em>, tremors, ataxia, hind-limb paralysis). In addition, decreased levels of myelin-associated proteins were found in the <em>GFAP</em><sup><em>Tg</em></sup>;<em>Gfap</em><sup>+/<em>R236H</em></sup> mice, consistent with the role of Ugt8 in myelin synthesis. Fabp7 upregulation in <em>GFAP</em><sup><em>Tg</em></sup>;<em>Gfap</em><sup>+/<em>R236H</em></sup> mice was also selected for further investigation due to its uncharacterized association to AxD, critical function in astrocyte proliferation, and functional ability to inhibit the anti-inflammatory PPAR signaling pathway in models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Within Gfap<sup>+</sup> astrocytes, Fabp7 was markedly increased in the hippocampus, a brain region subjected to extensive pathology and chronic reactive gliosis in <em>GFAP</em><sup><em>Tg</em></sup>;<em>Gfap</em><sup>+/<em>R236H</em></sup> mice. Last, to determine whether the findings in <em>GFAP</em><sup><em>Tg</em></sup>;<em>Gfap</em><sup>+/<em>R236H</em></sup> mice are present in the human condition, AxD patient and control samples were analyzed by Western blot, which indicated that Type I AxD patients have a significant fourfold upregulation of FABP7. However, immunohistochemistry analysis showed that UGT8 accumulates in AxD patient subpial brain regions where abundant amounts of Rosenthal fibers are located, which was not observed in the <em>GFAP</em><sup><em>Tg</em></sup>;<em>Gfap</em><sup>+/<em>R236H</em></sup> mice.     

Management of adenomas and toxic multinodular goiters with Iodine 131

In accordance with all the guidelines of the various international scientific societies, treatment using radioiodine (RAI) of autonomous toxic adenomas and toxic multinodular goiters is highly recommended and its effectiveness its efficacy has now been widely demonstrated and established. RAI treatment is effective to normalise thyroid function, remove functional autonomy and reduce thyroid volume. According to published data on several thousand patients treated with RAI, the success rates ranges between 85% and 100%. Moreover, with more than 70 years of experience, this treatment does not present any particular risk for patients. However, as regards pregnancy, there are no absolute contra-indications to radioiodine treatment. To date, these results include a relatively high rate of hypothyroidism in the long term and approximately one patient out of five treated, will require thyroid hormone substitution. It would be more effective to harmonise and work up on dosimetric personalized models allowing the calculation of the effective dose to be delivered to the autonomous nodule to be treated while preserving the normal thyroid parenchyma in order to optimise the patient's outcome and to favor extensive euthyroidism.     

Ecological succession and its impact on malaria vectors and their predators in borrow pits in western Ethiopia

Soil pits excavated for home construction are important larval habitats for malaria vectors in certain parts of Africa. Borrow pits in diverse stages of ecological succession in a maize‐farming region of Western Ethiopia were surveyed to assess the relationships between stage of succession and the structure and composition of invertebrate and plant communities, with particular attention to <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> s.l. and <i>An. coustani</i>, the primary local malaria vectors. An array of 82 borrow pits was identified in a multi‐lobed drainage basin in the community of Woktola. Each pit was evaluated on its physical features and by faunal and floral surveys during August, 2011, at the height of the longer rainy season (kiremt). <i>Anopheles gambiae</i> s.l. and <i>An. coustani</i> were the sole immature anophelines collected, often coexisting with <i>Culex</i> spp. Sedges were the most common plants within these pits, and included <i>Cyperus elegantulus, C. flavescens, C. erectus</i> and <i>C. assimilis</i>. The legume <i>Smithia abyssinica</i>, Nile grass (<i>Acroceras macrum</i>), cutgrass (<i>Leersia hexandra</i>), clover (<i>Trifolium</i> spp.), and the edible herb <i>Centella asiatica</i>, were also common in these habitats. No plant species in particular was strongly and consistently predictive of the presence or absence of mosquito immatures, particularly with regard to <i>An. coustani</i>. The presence of <i>An.gambiae</i> s.l. immatures in borrow pit habitats was negatively correlated with the presence of backswimmers (Notonectidae) (Z = −2.34, P = 0.019). Young (freshly excavated) borrow pits more likely contained immature <i>An. gambiae</i> s.l. (Z =‐2.86, P=0.004). Ecological succession was apparent in older pits, and as they aged, they became less likely to serve as habitats for <i>An. gambiae</i> s.l. (Z=0.26, P=0.796), and more likely to support <i>An. coustani</i> (Z=0.728, P=0.007). As borrow pits age they become less suitable for <i>An. gambiae</i> s.l. breeding and more likely to harbor <i>An. coustani</i>. The abundance of notonectids in habitats was a negative indicator for <i>An. gambiae</i> s.l. abundance. Plant species are not reliable indicators for the presence or absence of malaria vectors in borrow pits.     

Studies with alkylating esters. VI. The chemical and biological activities of the isomers of dimethylmyleran

The <em>meso</em>- and (±)-isomers of dimethylmyleran (DMM) have been synthesised and their chemical reactivity towards selected nucleophiles has been investigated. Both isomers react <em>in vitro</em> by hydrolysis to give 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrofuran and with the thiol groups of cysteine, cysteine ethyl ester and glutathione forming 2,5-dimethyltetrahydrothiophene. As each of these cyclic compounds exists in the <em>cis-</em> and <em>trans</em>-configurations, their production in stereochemically quantitative yields from <em>meso</em>- and (±)-dimethylmyleran respectively, indicates that both isomers react by a bimolecular process and not a unimolecular one as has been generally accepted. A comparison of the activity of the isomers with that of Myleran on anti-fertility action, neutrophildepressant activity and effect on the weight response suggests that these esters could exert their biological actions <em>in vivo</em> by the same mechanism.     

Early human dispersal at the western edge of the Eastern European plain: Data from Ukraine

The current state of research on Lower Palaeolithic sites in Ukraine within its 1991 borders is the focus of this paper. Over the last 10–15 years, many new sites have been discovered in different parts of the eastern European area of the country, reassessed some old materials. In the central European region of the country, in the Ukrainian Transcarpathia, important new stratified Lower Palaeolithic sites have also been found. The current Ukrainian Lower Palaeolithic records demonstrate hominin presence in mountainous areas (Carpathians, Crimea) and the valleys of all major rivers, namely the Dniester, Southern Buh, Dnieper and Severskiy Donets. The article presents a brief review of the main currently known Lower Palaeolithic assemblages. Available geological, geomorphological, biostratigraphical data and ESR dates allow defining their age between 1.2 and 0.4 Myг; sites correlate with few warm phases between MIS 35 and MIS 11. Earlier sites, very tentatively dated at around 2 Myг, gravitate towards the seashore and mountainous areas. Later sites witness steady, though not continuous, colonisation of East European plain fringe areas. The main regularities of geographical setting, chronology, morphological and technological characteristics of assemblages of the Lower Palaeolithic sites of the Western segment of the East European plain are characterised. Typologically, industries are mainly characterised as belonging to Mode I. Core-and-flake industries survives to the Holsteinian. Essential difficulties in lithic raw materials supply could probably be a reason for the rise of a peculiar pattern of technological behaviour that involved mainly bipolar knapping and widely applied trimming technique of shaping the working edges of tools. Some signals of probable population movements penetrated the territory of Ukraine by the Asia Minor “western” trajectory and by Caucasian “eastern” way are revealed.