Cases Concerning Sovereignty over Islands before the International Court of Justice and the Dokdo/Takeshima Issue

The article analyzes the recent jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice in relation to disputes concerning sovereignty over islands and considers the potential implications of this jurisprudence for the resolution of the Dokdo/Takeshima issue. It does so by examining the principles and rules of international law applied by the Court to the determination of title to territory, especially those concerning the question of original title and its interplay with state conduct in general (effectivités). The article also pays special attention to the different legal techniques applied by the Court in resolving each particular dispute and the Court's practical approach to dealing with questions of historical facts and other evidentiary matters in relation to small and uninhabited islands.     

Saponin production is not qualitatively changed upon callus regeneration in the medicinal shrub Maesa perlarius

Maesa perlarius is a medicinal plant that produces maesabalides, which possess selective and strong anti-leishmania activity. In this study, M. perlarius plants were regenerated from leaf-derived calli. Shoots were induced in Murashige and Skoog medium in the presence of thidiazuron in combination with α-naphthalene acetic acid. In contrast to seed-derived plants, callus-derived regenerants were tetraploid showing typical characteristics of higher ploidy phenotypes. We assessed the impact of indirect plant regeneration and associated increase in ploidy on the production of saponin by means of LC–MS analysis. Tetraploid M. perlarius produce a saponin profile, which was not significantly different from seed grown plants. Based on this study, we concluded that saponin production in M. perlarius is not qualitatively changed by a genome-doubling event.     

Separating Drought Effects from Roof Artifacts on Ecosystem Processes in a Grassland Drought Experiment

1

Given the predictions of increased drought probabilities under various climate change scenarios, there have been numerous experimental field studies simulating drought using transparent roofs in different ecosystems and regions. Such roofs may, however, have unknown side effects, called artifacts, on the measured variables potentially confounding the experimental results. A roofed control allows the quantification of potential artifacts, which is lacking in most experiments.

2

We conducted a drought experiment in experimental grasslands to study artifacts of transparent roofs and the resulting effects of artifacts on ecosystems relative to drought on three response variables (aboveground biomass, litter decomposition and plant metabolite profiles). We established three drought treatments, using (1) transparent roofs to exclude rainfall, (2) an unroofed control treatment receiving natural rainfall and (3) a roofed control, nested in the drought treatment but with rain water reapplied according to ambient conditions.

3

Roofs had a slight impact on air (+0.14°C during night) and soil temperatures (−0.45°C on warm days, +0.25°C on cold nights), while photosynthetically active radiation was decreased significantly (−16%). Aboveground plant community biomass was reduced in the drought treatment (−41%), but there was no significant difference between the roofed and unroofed control, i.e., there were no measurable roof artifact effects.

4

Compared to the unroofed control, litter decomposition was decreased significantly both in the drought treatment (−26%) and in the roofed control treatment (−18%), suggesting artifact effects of the transparent roofs. Moreover, aboveground metabolite profiles in the model plant species Medicago x varia were different from the unroofed control in both the drought and roofed control treatments, and roof artifact effects were of comparable magnitude as drought effects.

5

Our results stress the need for roofed control treatments when using transparent roofs for studying drought effects, because roofs can cause significant side effects.     

Metformin Protects Rat Hepatocytes against Bile Acid-Induced Apoptosis

Background

Metformin is used in the treatment of Diabetes Mellitus type II and improves liver function in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Metformin activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the cellular energy sensor that is sensitive to changes in the AMP/ATP-ratio. AMPK is an inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Both AMPK and mTOR are able to modulate cell death.

Aim

To evaluate the effects of metformin on hepatocyte cell death.

Methods

Apoptotic cell death was induced in primary rat hepatocytes using either the bile acid glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA) or TNFα in combination with actinomycin D (actD). AMPK, mTOR and phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt were inhibited using pharmacological inhibitors. Apoptosis and necrosis were quantified by caspase activation, acridine orange staining and Sytox green staining respectively.

Results

Metformin dose-dependently reduces GCDCA-induced apoptosis, even when added 2 hours after GCDCA, without increasing necrotic cell death. Metformin does not protect against TNFα/ActD-induced apoptosis. The protective effect of metformin is dependent on an intact PI3-kinase/Akt pathway, but does not require AMPK/mTOR-signaling. Metformin does not inhibit NF-κB activation.

Conclusion

Metformin protects against bile acid-induced apoptosis and could be considered in the treatment of chronic liver diseases accompanied by inflammation.     

Epidemiology and Management of Cysticercosis and Taenia solium Taeniasis in Europe,Systematic Review 1990–2011

Background

Cysticercosis is caused by the invasion of human or pig tissues by the metacestode larval stage of Taenia solium. In Europe, the disease was endemic in the past but the autochthonous natural life cycle of the parasite is currently completed very rarely. Recently, imported cases have increased in parallel to the increased number of migrations and international travels. The lack of specific surveillance systems for cysticercosis leads to underestimation of the epidemiological and clinical impacts.

Objectives

To review the available data on epidemiology and management of cysticercosis in Europe.

Methods

A review of literature on human cysticercosis and T. solium taeniasis in Europe published between 1990–2011 was conducted.

Results

Out of 846 cysticercosis cases described in the literature, 522 cases were autochthonous and 324 cases were imported. The majority (70.1%) of the autochthonous cases were diagnosed in Portugal from 1983 and 1994. Imported cases of which 242 (74.7%) diagnosed in migrants and 57 (17.6%) in European travellers, showed an increasing trend. Most of imported cases were acquired in Latin America (69.8% of migrants and 44.0% of travellers). The majority of imported cases were diagnosed in Spain (47.5%), France (16.7%) and Italy (8.3%). One third of neurosurgical procedures were performed because the suspected diagnosis was cerebral neoplasm. Sixty eight autochthonous and 5 imported T. solium taeniasis cases were reported.

Conclusions

Cysticercosis remains a challenge for European care providers, since they are often poorly aware of this infection and have little familiarity in managing this disease. Cysticercosis should be included among mandatory reportable diseases, in order to improve the accuracy of epidemiological information. European health care providers might benefit from a transfer of knowledge from colleagues working in endemic areas and the development of shared diagnostic and therapeutic processes would have impact on the quality of the European health systems.Key words: cysticercosis, neurocysticercosis, Taenia solium, taeniasis, Europe, travellers, migrants.     

PCR-verified microarray analysis and functional in vitro studies indicate a role of α-tocopherol in vesicular transport

Global gene expression profiles of livers from mice, fed diets differing in α-tocopherol content, were compared using DNA microarray technology. Three hundred and eighty nine genes were found to significantly differ in their expression level by a factor of 2 or higher between the high and the low α-tocopherol group. Functional clustering using the EASE software identified 121 genes involved in transport processes. Twenty-one thereof were involved in (synaptic) vesicular trafficking. Up-regulation of syntaxin 1C (Stx1c), vesicle-associated membrane protein 1 (Vamp1), N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (Nsf) and syntaxin binding protein 1 (Stxbp1, Munc18-1) was verified by real time PCR. At a functional level, α-tocopherol increased the secretory response in RBL and PC12 cells. Although here detected in liver, the α-tocopherol-responsive pathways are also relevant to neurotransmission. A role of α-tocopherol in the vesicular transport might not only affect its own absorption and transport but also explain the neural dysfunctions observed in severe α-tocopherol deficiency.     

The effects of manufacturing tolerances and assembly force on the volumetric wear at the taper junction in modular total hip arthroplasty

Abstract

Fretting and corrosion at the taper-head interface in total hip arthroplasty has been reported as a potential cause of early failure of the implant system. The finite element (FE) method can be used to study the mechanics at the taper junction that are difficult to assess experimentally. Taper mismatch is one of the factors that can influence the performance of the taper junction. In this study we have assessed the effect of taper mismatch, in combination with assembly force on the volumetric wear. The study showed that higher assembly forces and smaller mismatches result in the least volumetric wear.     

Phytoplankton configuration in six deep lakes in the peri-Alpine region: are the key drivers related to eutrophication and climate?

The aim of this study was to draw a general picture of the phytoplankton community in peri-Alpine lakes, including for the first time a broad data set of six deep peri-Alpine lakes, belonging to the same geographical region. The objective was to define the main key drivers that influence the phytoplankton community composition in this particular vulnerable region, for which the impacts of climate change have been demonstrated to be stronger than on a global average. The phytoplankton was investigated with a particular focus on cyanobacteria and using a classification approach based on morpho-functional groups. We hypothesized that phytoplankton in peri-Alpine lakes is mainly driven by nutrient loads as well as by water temperatures, variables that are strongly influenced by climate change and eutrophication. Though different phytoplankton configurations among lakes were partly due to their geographical (altitude) position, assemblages were mostly linked to temperature and nutrients. Furthermore, the results confirmed the significant role of the spring fertilization on the seasonal phytoplankton development. Cyanobacteria were related to the increasing annual average of air and water temperature gradient and therefore might become more important under future warming scenario. Air temperatures have a significant impact on water temperature in the uppermost meters of the water column, with a stronger influence on warmer lakes.     

Direct Measurement of Local and Global Contributions in the Binding of Coformycin to Bovine Adenosine Deaminase

A general method is outlined that determines quantitatively the extent to which tight ligand binding to an enzyme active site is facilitated by the adoption of a stabler macromolecular conformation in the complex. The method therefore rejects the general assumption that competitive inhibitor binding to enzyme active sites involves only local (active site) interactions. The procedure involves comparing the unfolding transition state free energies of the free and complexed enzyme from physiological conditions. For the interaction of the transition state analog coformycin with bovine adenosine deaminase we observed that the binding free energy by the physiological enzyme was ~92% due to the assumption of a stabler enzyme conformation in the complex. The significance of these findings in terms of general enzyme catalysis is discussed.     

Description of two new species and phylogenetic reassessment of Perelleschus O’Brien & Wibmer, 1986 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), with a complete taxonomic concept history of Perelleschus sec. Franz & Cardona-Duque, 2013

Parmelioid lichens form the largest monophyletic group within the Parmeliaceae, a family distributed worldwide. The genus Parmelina was described by Hale (1976a) Hale, M. E. Jr. 1976a. A monograph of the lichen genus Parmelina Hale (Parmeliaceae). Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, 33: 1–60.  [Google Scholar] accommodating species from both hemispheres. We have employed parsimony, Bayesian and maximum likelihood analyses of a combined data set of nu ITS, LSU and mt SSU rDNA sequences to (1) test the monophyly of Parmelina and (2) to elucidate the generic status and phylogenetic position of the Australasian species. Twenty-one new sequences were generated in this study. Our results provide evidence that Parmelina is polyphyletic and the species fall into two major well-supported groups (Groups I and II). The Australasian species of Parmelina and two species of Canoparmelia (C. pruinata and C. macrospora) form Group I, which is nested within the parmotremoid genera of Parmeliaceae, Parmelina species from the northern hemisphere including those from western North America and the Mediterranean basin form a monophyletic group (Group II), which is sister to the East Asian temperate genus Myelochroa. Morphological and chemical features were reevaluated considering this observed phylogeny. Some morphological features like lobe morphology, several traits in the excipulum and geography are useful in characterizing the monophyletic lineage of the Australasian Parmelina/Canoparmelina species. This lineage is described as the new genus Austroparmelina. Thirteen new combinations in the new genus are proposed.