Effects of activated charcoal effects on induction and development of microtubers in potato (Solanurn tuberosum L.)

The aim of this research was to compare hormone-free medium with media with regulator substances (activated charcoal, cytokinins, polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor and chlorocholine chloride) used for microtuber induction and development. Explants of cvs Monalisa, Primura and Spunta were multiplied subculturing nodal segments on plant growth regulator-free Murashige & Skoog (1962) (MS) medium. When the plantlets had 6–8 nodes, single-node stem segments were excised and transferred to eight tuberisation media, each consisting of MS basal components supplemented with sucrose (8% w/v) and various regulator substances. The control was a regulator-free medium including only sucrose. Results were expressed as the number and weight of microtubers per nodal explant.
The cultivars showed wide variations in the mean weight of microtubers, ranging from 44.6 mg (Primura) to 77.5 mg (Spunta), and nearly all plants produced tubers. Medium containing activated charcoal gave the highest rate of tuberisation and the largest microtubers. It thus played a role in optimising conditions for rapid, mass tuberisation of these cultivars, and produced large microtubers for field planting.     

Technical External Quality Assessment for SurePath® stained liquid-based cytology gynaecological cervical samples using control material – a novel approach

Aims and objective: The Technical External Quality Assessment Scheme (TEQA) introduced in Wales is based on NHSCSP publication No 19 [External Quality Assessment Scheme for the Evaluation of Papanicolaou Staining in Cervical Cytology] which sets out the policies and standard operating procedures for the TEQA of Papanicolaou staining of gynaecological cervical samples. As part of a development plan for the TEQA scheme in Wales, the use of a control sample was introduced to the assessment process – a common control sample can provide a consistent assessment parameter independent of the recommended slide selection process [External Quality Assessment Scheme for the Evaluation of Papanicolaou Staining in Cervical Cytology, NHSCSP Publication No 19, February 2004] enabling direct comparison of staining standards for laboratories within the region; this counters selection variation bias, establishing a process that may be more representative of routine staining results. Methods: A cervical sample was selected in line with the criteria described in publication 19 [External Quality Assessment Scheme for the Evaluation of Papanicolaou Staining in Cervical Cytology, NHSCSP Publication No 19, February 2004]. Thirteen slides were prepared by the scheme facilitator from this anonymized sample. These control slides were subsequently ‘fixed’ but not stained, then distributed to the laboratories participating in the TEQA scheme. The slides were stained using their standard regime, then returned to the facilitator for assessment. The slides showed consistent staining with no significant inter‐laboratory variation, however, the eosinophilic stained components exhibited an artificial colouration, which slightly altered the expected stained appearance; this was thought to be due to ‘cross‐reactivity’ of the spray fixative with the preserving agent. To address this artefact, a further development of control procedures was devised utilizing a pooled control sample procedure. Residual material from a number of similar samples was pooled and distributed in aliquots to participant laboratories for standard processing and staining; the completed slides were returned to the scheme facilitator for assessment. Results: The pooled sample slides were assessed at the next scheduled quarterly TEQA assessment. The overall scoring for these samples produced an acceptable level of Papanicolaou staining for 12 of the laboratories – only one laboratory produced a marginal score. The artefactual presentation of eosinophilia was not seen. Discussion/conclusion: This method of producing control material establishes consistency in the TEQA comparative assessment process, counters selection bias and reduces the time demands associated with slide selection. It may also prove useful in identifying technical problems within laboratories during sample preparation prior to or during staining, including equipment or process faults. This technique is now well established locally as an enhancement of the current TEQA scheme for the assessment of slide staining. We feel that this enhancement could be incorporated as a new initiative in the current National TEQA scheme as a complement to the established selection process.     

Invasive alien plants and South African rivers: a proposed approach to the prioritization of control operations

1. A number of parallel initiatives in South Africa have been addressing the prioritization and management of invasive alien plant species, the prioritization of rivers for the conservation of biodiversity, and broad‐scale planning for water resource management. This paper has combined aspects of these approaches to develop a composite index of prioritization of quaternary catchments for alien plant control purposes. 2. We calculated, for each quaternary catchment, a simple composite index that combined estimates of (i) the number of invasive alien plant species present; (ii) the potential number of invasive alien plant species that would be present if they occupied the full range as determined by climatic envelope models; (iii) the degree of habitat loss in rivers; and (iv) the degree of water stress. Each of the four components contributed between one and four to the combined index, which had a range of values between four and 16. 3. We used a geographic information system to map the distribution of priority catchments for invasive alien plant control. Of the 1911 quaternary catchments in South Africa and Lesotho, just over one‐third (650) were in the highest priority category with an index of 13 or more. A relatively small proportion (273, or 14%) of the catchments had the maximum scores of 15 or 16. 4. The approach identified priority areas that have not currently been identified as such, and should provide decision makers with an objective and transparent method with which to prioritize areas for the control of invasive alien plants. We anticipate debate about the way in which components of the index are calculated, and the weight given to the different components, and that this will lead to the transparent evolution of the index. Improvements would also come about through the addition of a more comprehensive list of species, and through the addition of further components.     

魔芋试管苗及种芋工厂化生产栽培技术研究

魔芋试管苗及种芋栽培试验结果表明 :试管苗采用土壤、蛭石 -珍珠岩和液体培养均可获得 2～ 2 0 g的种芋 ;种芋栽培以蛭石 -珍珠岩或透气性良好的土壤作基质最好 ,煤灰中有害物质对魔芋产生毒害作用     

Undergraduate education in gerodontology in Germany: the Leipzig Programme

Objective: To evaluate students’ attitude towards the clinical component of the Leipzig Programme of undergraduate Education in Gerodontology (LPEG). Background: Undergraduate student education has long been recognised as a mainstay of fostering the aims of gerodontology. Extramural clinical education with direct exposure to various groups of vulnerable elderly is known to contribute to the formation of positive attitudes. LPEG has been designed to include didactic components and six visits to a long‐term care facility (LTC) spread over 4 of the 5 years of the dental course. Methods: A structured questionnaire with 10 items was administered to 230 students (60.9% female) on three occasions in 2004–05. Total return was 411 questionnaires. The mean age of respondents was 24.3 (SD 2.67) years. Students were asked to indicate the degree of their agreement with seven statements presented using a 5‐point scale. A choice of responses which characterised the course was offered to mark all those deemed agreeable. Results: The vast majority of students responded positively. In the students perception there was no significant difference (Kruskal–Wallis p = 0.24) in the amount of knowledge acquired between subjects participating once, twice or three times. ‘Interesting’ and ‘feel pity for patients’ were the two items that received the most support. Respondents expressed the wish to accompany up to 10 patients during their course with a mean of 3.5 (SD 2.9) but 31 (7.5%) subjects did not wish to see any frail elderly patients at all. Conclusion: The LPEG is well received by dental students. A complex subject including overarching social skills has been integrated seamlessly into the dental curriculum.     

The collection and processing of human brain tissue for research

To further understand the neuroanatomy, neurochemistry and neuropathology of the normal and diseased human brain, it is essential to have access to human brain tissue where the biological and chemical nature of the tissue is optimally preserved. We have established a human brain bank where brain tissue is optimally processed and stored in order to provide a resource to facilitate neuroscience research of the human brain in health and disease. A donor programme has been established in consultation with the community to provide for the post-mortem donation of brain tissue to the brain bank. We are using this resource of human brain tissue to further investigate the basis of normal neuronal functioning in the human brain as well as the mechanisms of neuronal dysfunction and degeneration in neurodegenerative diseases. We have established a protocol for the preservation of post-mortem adult human brain tissue firstly by snap-freezing unfixed brain tissue and secondly by chemical fixation and then storage of this tissue at -80 degrees C in a human brain bank. Several research techniques such as receptor autoradiography, DNA and RNA analysis, are carried out on the unfixed tissue and immunohistochemical and histological analysis is carried out on the fixed human tissue. Comparison of tissue from normal control cases and from cases with neurodegenerative disorders is carried out in order to document the changes that occur in the brain in these disorders and to further investigate the underlying pathogenesis of these devastating neurological diseases.     

Microsporidia and the Society for Invertebrate Pathology [corrected]: a personal point of view

In this overview, I trace the history of the study of microsporidia, with special emphasis on the collegial relationships that developed at the international level and were fostered by the establishment of the Society for Insect Pathology, which later became the Society for Invertebrate Pathology. Study of these organisms of invertebrates in the early days seemed to be mere curiosities, but it soon became clear that they were major disease-causing agents in insects, and later even in vertebrates, especially humans with compromised immune systems. Though microsporidia have not proven effective as pesticides, they do play a role in the regulation of insect populations, especially insects such as the gypsy moth, grasshoppers, and occasionally mosquitoes.     

Attending the breast screening programme after breast cancer treatment: A population-based study

IntroductionIn the Netherlands, breast cancer patients are treated and followed at least 5 years after diagnosis. Furthermore, all women aged 50–74 are invited biennially for mammography by the nationwide screening programme. The relation between the outpatient follow-up (follow-up visits in the outpatient clinic for 5 years after treatment) and the screening programme is not well established and attending the screening programme as well as outpatient follow-up is considered undesirable. This study evaluates potential factors influencing women to attend the screening programme during their outpatient follow-up (overlap) and the (re-)attendance to the screening programme after 5 years of outpatient follow-up.MethodsData of breast cancer patients aged 50–74 years, treated for primary breast cancer between 1996 and 2007 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry and linked to the National Breast Cancer Screening Programme in the Northern region. Cox regression analyses were used to study women (re-)attending the screening programme over time, possible overlap with the outpatient follow-up and factors influencing this.ResultsIn total 11 227 breast cancer patients were included, of whom 19% attended the screening programme after breast cancer treatment, 4.4% within 5 years and 15.4% after more than 5 years. Factors that independently influenced attendance within 5 years as well as more than 5 years after treatment were: interval tumours (HR 0.77; 95%CI 0.61–0.97 and HR 0.69; 95%CI 0.53–0.88, ref: screen-detected tumours), receiving adjuvant radiotherapy (HR 0.65; 95%CI 0.47–0.90 and HR 0.66; 95%CI 0.47–0.93; ref: none) and diagnosis of in situ tumours (HR 1.67; 95%CI 1.25–2.23 and HR 1.39; 95%CI 1.05–1.85; ref: stage I tumours). Non-screen related tumours (HR 0.41; 95%CI 0.29–0.58) and recent diagnosis (HR 0.89 per year; 95%CI 0.86–0.92) were only associated with attendance within 5 years after treatment.ConclusionThe interrelation between outpatient follow-up and screening should be improved to avoid overlap and low attendance to the screening programme after outpatient follow-up. Breast cancer patients should be informed that attending the screening programme during the outpatient follow-up is not necessary.     

Threatened gastropods under the evolutionary genetic species concept: redescription and new species of the genus Aylacostoma (Gastropoda: Thiaridae) from High Paraná River (Argentina–Paraguay)

The genus Aylacostoma Spix, 1827, is mainly endemic to South America, and comprises about 30 nominal species, most of which were described based solely on conchological features following the typological approaches of most of the 19^th and the mid‐20^th century authors. Here, we redescribe Aylacostoma chloroticum Hylton Scott, 1954, and describe A ylacostoma brunneum sp. nov . from the High Paraná River (Argentina–Paraguay) by means of morphological and molecular characters. Both are threatened species currently included into an ongoing ex situ conservation programme, as their habitats have disappeared because of damming and the filling up of the Yacyretá Reservoir in the early 1990s. We used DNA sequences from cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes to estimate their genetic distances, and the COI sequences were also used to assess their specific status under the evolutionary genetic species concept by means of the K/θ method. Our results clearly demonstrate that both must be recognized as evolutionary genetic species, despite only minor differences in morphological characters other than in the shells. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London     

Using visible implant elastomer to study ammocoete populations with Cormack–Jolly–Seber models

This study examined the efficacy of marking wild populations of lampreys with visible implant elastomer (VIE) for 6–18 months to examine ammocoete movements using Cormack–Jolly–Seber (CJS) open‐population models. These methods were tested on two lamprey populations in different river systems. American brook lamprey Lethenteron appendix at Dyke Creek apparent survival (φ) was high in the summer and winter (c. 0·7), but declined after flow events in the spring and autumn. Sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus at Oquaga Creek φ in the top‐ranked models varied with stream location and time. Estimates of φ were similar to Dyke Creek during the summer (c. 0·7), but declined after flow events and remained low (c. 0·1) in winter. Open‐population models support current understanding of ammocoete movement, i.e. dispersal is driven by high‐flow events at certain times of the year. The present study provides a framework to study ammocoetes with VIE.