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Phylogenetic position of Mediterranean Astereae and character evolution of daisies (Bellis, Asteraceae) inferred from nrDNA ITS sequences.

Phylogenetic analyses of nrITS sequences of Asteraceae revealed that the Bellis group is a natural assemblage comprising all the species of Bellis and Bellium, but not Rhynchospermum. In contrast, we propose to include the genera Bellis, Bellium, and Bellidastrum in the subtribe Bellidinae in the interest of circumscribing natural groups. Our results also suggest an early diversification in the western Mediterranean Basin of two monophyletic lineages, Bellis and Bellium. Three major groups can be distinguished within BELLIS: (1) the B. perennis group, containing five annual and perennial species with three ploidy levels (diploid, octoploid, and decaploid), which are distributed throughout the Mediterranean Basin despite lack of pappus; (2) the Bellis sylvestris group, with five annual and perennial species primarily from the western Mediterranean, in which there are five ploidy levels (diploid, tetraploid, hexaploid, octoploid, and decaploid); and (3) a basal grade consisting of three diploid, perennial species which displays remarkable diversification of morphologies. Striking characteristics, such as an annual life form, polyploidy, and loss of pappus, seem to have occurred in parallel several times and in different geographical areas during the early diversification of Bellis species in the western Mediterranean. Character evolution reconstructions allow us to describe a putative ancestor of the genus Bellis (proto-Bellis).

Asteraceae↗

The refusal of treatment in anorexia nervosa, an ethical conflict with three characters: "the girl, the family and the medical profession". Discussion in a French legislative context.

Anorexic patients are prone to refuse treatment despite life-threatening complications. The therapist's ethical code can be torn between duty to protect life, and law that demands respect of the patient's autonomy. The age of these girls introduces a third participant in this ethical conflict with three characters: "the girl, her family and the physician". Even if her decision to refuse treatment can appear unreasonable, the patient suffering from anorexia nervosa remains "competent" to receive information concerning her state of health and to make up her own mind about what to do next. French law only recognises for the therapist a real duty to make efforts to convince the patient of the absolute necessity of treatment. However it appears important to confront these legal obligations with different situations created by the disease in order to help pave the way to finding medical solutions capable of conciliating the objective of the best treatment, the own ethical code of the physician and the respect of current legislation.

Anorexia Nervosa↗

Beta-alanine-hydrochloride (2:1) crystal: structure, 13C NMR and vibrational properties, protonation character.

The crystal structure of beta-alanine-hydrochloride (2:1) complex (2A-HCl) has been determined by X-ray diffraction method at 298 and 100 K as monoclinic, space group C2/c, Z=4. The crystal comprises chloride anions and protonated beta-alanine dimers: two beta-alanine zwitterions are joined by strong, symmetric (Ci) hydrogen bond with the O...O distance of 2.473 A at room temperature. Powder FT-IR and FT-Raman as well as solid state 13C NMR spectra provide insights into the solid structure of this complex, character of its hydrogen bonds and the beta-alanine protonation.

Anions↗

Beta-alanine-oxalic acid (1:1) hemihydrate crystal: structure, 13C NMR and vibrational properties, protonation character.

The crystal structure of beta-alanine-oxalic acid (1:1) hemihydrate complex has been reinvestigated by X-ray diffraction method at 293 K. Formation of monoclinic crystal system belonging to C2/c space group and consisting of semi-oxalate chains, diprotonated beta-alanine dimers and water molecules bonded to both these units is confirmed. New results are obtained for distances in the carboxylic groups and hydrogen bonds. These structural observations are used for protonation degree monitoring on the carboxylic oxygen atoms. They are in accordance with our vibrational study. The 13C NMR spectra provide insights into the solid structure of this complex, character of its hydrogen bonds and the beta-alanine protonation.

Alanine↗

Sarcosine-maleic acid (1:1) crystal: structure, 13C NMR and vibrational properties, protonation character.

The crystal structure of sarcosine-maleic acid (1:1) complex has been determined by X-ray diffraction method at 293 K as monoclinic, space group C2/c, Z=8. The crystal unit consists of semi-maleate and sarcosinium ions with two strong hydrogen bonds: the intramolecular one in the maleic part of the complex and the intermolecular one between sarcosinium and semi-maleate carboxylic groups. Phase transitions in this crystal are excluded. Its structure is in accordance with FT-IR, FT-Raman and 13C NMR study. Properties of the titled crystal and a family of similar amino acid-maleic acid systems are compared and discussed. Special attention is paid for relations between different structural and spectroscopic parameters as well as for character of hydrogen bonds formed in these crystalline complexes.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

Estimates of genetic variance for some selected morphometric characters: a twin study.

Results on genetic variability in some of the morphometric characters on head and face, body girths and skin folds, based on 45 MZ and 67 like-sex DZ twin pairs, are presented. The data were subjected to a method which eliminated possible biases in the estimated genetic variances that could result from heterogeneity of total variances between zygosities of the 17 head and face measurements, heterogeneity was observed for only bizygomatic diameter. Head breadth means differed between MZ and DZ twins, indicating bias in the trait's genetic variance analysis. The results indicated a significant genetic component in these morphometric traits. For 11 girth and skinfold measurements, the t'-test based on hierarchical structure of twin data, also failed to reveal any appreciable difference between the mean values of MZ and DZ twins. Heterogeneity of total variance between zygosities was observed for three skinfold measurements, ie, biceps, triceps and suprailiac. The girth measurements, however, did not reveal any heterogeneity of total variances between the zygosities. The estimates of genetic variance revealed stronger genetic component for the girths than for the skinfolds.

Anthropometry↗

Sex differences in the inheritance of some anthropometric characters in twins.

Biometrical genetical techniques have been applied to the analysis of certain anthropometric characters measured in 134 pairs of adult twins. After allowing for assortative mating it appears that there is a family environment (E2) component for variation in height larger than previously reported. "Fatness" traits - weight, ponderal index, and skinfold thickness - all show higher heritabilities in males and substantial E2 components in females, and reasons for this are discussed. The same is true for cephalic index and forearm length but the reason for these differences is not so obvious. Head length shows a much higher heritability than head breadth. A larger sample of DZ opposite-sex pairs would allow more powerful discrimination, but the variety of patterns of variation revealed by the model-fitting approach used here justify its use over more traditional techniques.

Anthropometry↗

A genetic model of interpopulation variation and covariation of quantitative characters.

Evolutionary consequences of natural selection, migration, genotype-environment interaction, and random genetic drift on interpopulation variation and covariation of quantitative characters are analysed in terms of a selection model that partitions natural selection into directional and stabilizing components. Without migration, interpopulation variation and covariation depend mainly on the pattern and intensities of selection among populations and the harmonic mean of effective population sizes. Both transient and equilibrium covariance structures are formulated with suitable approximations. Migration reduces the differentiation among populations, but its effect is less with genotype-environment interaction. In some special cases of genotype-environment interaction, the equilibrium interpopulation variation and covariation is independent of migration.

Environment↗

Some quantitative characters used in the identification of Taenia hydatigena, T. ovis, T. pisiformis and t. multiceps adult worms, and T. multiceps metacestodes.

Measurements were made of gravid worm lengths, scolex diameter, rostellum diameter, sucker diameter, and large and small rostellar hooks of adult Taenia hydatigena, T. multiceps, T. ovis and T. pisiformis obtained from dogs in North Wales. Values recorded agreed closely with published values. None of these characters could be used to differentiate reliably between the species except that, of the worms examined, those with large rostellar hooks greater than 228 microns were T. pisiformis and those with large hooks less than 168 microns were T. multiceps. The range of hook lengths of the different species overlapped considerably. Reliable identification required examination of mature proglottis morphology of specimens which were relaxed before fixation. Relaxed mature proglottides often showed a characteristic shape. Lengths of rostellar hooks of scolices from T. multiceps coenuri followed the same frequency distribution as adult worm books. A strong correlation was shown between coenurus volume and the number of scolices on the coenurus membrane, with a poor correlation between coenurus age and volume.

Animals↗

Arginine metabolism in infected cell cultures as a marker character for the differentiation of orthopoxviruses.

Arginine has been shown to be essential for the replication of several orthopoxviruses in mouse sarcoma 180 cells and in chick embryo fibroblast cultures. Both host systems are characterized by their inabilities to utilize citrulline for the biosynthesis of arginine due to deficiencies in the requisite cellular enzymes and cell multiplication is absolutely dependent on the availability of exogenous arginine. Virus replication in such cells maintained with citrulline results from the induction of virus-specific enzymes. Significant virus yields in the absence of exogenous arginine or citrulline can arise from the replenishment of intracellular amino acid pools by increased utilization of arginyl residues in cellular proteins. The extent of the phenotypic expression of these characters in infected cells permitted significant discrimination between the viruses examined. Distinctions could be drawn between rabbitpox, ectromelia, cowpox, buffalopox and vaccinia strains. However, cowpox could not be distinguished from other viruses isolated from diseased animals in European zoos.

Animals↗

Bacteriological characters of strains of Staphylococcus aureus submitted to a reference laboratory related to methicillin resistance.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains present an increasing clinical problem. Analysis of 2679 strains submitted to a reference laboratory in the first quarter of 1983 and 3050 strains submitted in summer 1984 showed 479 and 593 multi-resistant strains. The proportion of methicillin-resistant strains classified as epidemic rose from 5.9 to 10.2%. Other methicillin-resistant strains continued to occur but other methicillin-sensitive multi-resistant strains appeared to fall. A strain with defined characters could be recognized in the Thames regions.

Bacitracin↗

Phylogeny, evolution and host-parasite relationships of the order Proteocephalidea (Eucestoda) as revealed by combined analysis and secondary structure characters.

In a manner similar to many other groups of organisms, the tapeworm order Proteocephalidea poses a difficult phylogenetic problem if treated on the basis of single-gene analysis. Since the biogeography and host distribution of proteocephalideans make these tapeworms a potentially interesting model for evolutionary and co-evolutionary studies, we tried to resolve their phylogenetic relationships by applying a multi-gene approach. The ITS2 sequences and V4 hypervariable loop of 18S rRNA were obtained for 43 and 35 proteocephalidean taxa, respectively, and combined with other sequences available in the GenBank. The phylogenetic analysis of the combined DNA set was confronted with characters derived from ITS2 secondary structures. Using this approach, a species-rich Neotropical lineage of proteocephalideans could be reliably resolved. The phylogenetic relationships within this group show a high degree of phylogeny-independent host distribution. The reconstruction of ITS2 secondary structure revealed a universal 4-domain arrangement, which is conserved across a wide range of Neodermata. Several motifs of the secondary structure could be mapped to the phylogenetic tree as possible clade synapomorphies.

Animals↗

The imperative character of medical technology and the meaning of "anticipated decision regret".

Medical-technical possibilities are often experienced as being strongly compelling. This imperative character of medical technology not only applies to the medical profession, but also to patients who frequently find it very difficult to refuse medical examinations or treatments. This article discusses the technological imperative with regard to patients. It attempts to discover relationships with decision theory, particularly concerning "anticipated decision regret." The fact that prevention of regret plays an important role in the use of medical technology is illustrated through a number of examples: liver transplantation, prenatal diagnosis, screening, and in vitro fertilization.

Decision Theory↗

Relating electrospray ionization response to nonpolar character of small peptides.

Nonpolar regions in biological molecules are investigated as a determining factor governing their electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometric response. Response is compared for a series of peptides whose C-terminal residue is varied among amino acids with increasingly nonpolar side chains. Increased ESI response is observed for peptides with more extensive nonpolar regions. The basis for this increase is examined by comparing values of nonpolar surface area and Gibbs free energy of transfer for the different amino acid residues. Comparisons of response with octadecylamine are also made, and this highly surface-active ion is observed to outcompete all other analytes in ESI response. These observations are rationalized on the basis of the equilibrium partitioning model, which is used successfully to fit experimental data throughout the concentration range for several two-analyte systems. This model suggests that because excess charge exists on ESI droplet surfaces, an analyte's relative affinity for the droplet surface determines its relative ESI response. Increased nonpolar character, which leads to enhanced affinity for the surface phase, results in more successful competition for excess charge and higher ESI response.

Algorithms↗

A kinetic method to evaluate the two-state character of solvent-induced protein denaturation.

We present a kinetic method to determine the concentration of native molecules in protein folding transitions. It is based on the observation that frequently native protein molecules unfold slowly when transferred to unfolding conditions, whereas folding intermediates unfold rapidly. The fraction of native molecules in a folding transition can thus be determined by kinetic unfolding assays in a two-step procedure. Aliquots of the protein are first equilibrated at different concentrations of denaturant and then transferred to constant unfolding conditions to determine the amplitude of unfolding. This amplitude is a direct measure for the concentration of native molecules in the sample. The two-state character of a solvent-induced unfolding transition can thus be examined. When the fractional change of a spectral property in a transition follows the decrease in the concentration of the native molecules, as measured by the unfolding assays, then the presence of intermediates that differ from the unfolded protein in this property can be definitely excluded. This test complements the calorimetric test for intermediates in thermal unfolding transitions. By using this method, we show that the NaCl-induced folding transition of the reduced and carboxymethylated form of a variant of ribonuclease T1 is well described by the two-state approximation. In the unfolding of apo-alpha-lactalbumin, the measured profile for the native protein coincides with the fluorescence-detected transition, but not with the transition that is monitored by amide circular dichroism. This confirms that a partially folded intermediate is present in the folding transition of apo-alpha-lactalbumin.

Circular Dichroism↗

Studies of dirhodium(II) tetra(trifluoroacetate). 5. Remarkable examples of the ambidentate character of dimethyl sulfoxide.

The ambidentate character of dimethyl sulfoxide, already known for dirhodium carboxylates, has been remarkably manifested in new ways. Three novel complexes of dirhodium(II) tetra(trifluoroacetate) with the DMSO ligand, namely, [Rh2(O2CCF3)4]m(DMSO)n with m:n = 7:8 (1), 1:1 (2), and 3:2 (3), have been obtained by deposition from the vapor phase, and their crystal structures have been determined by X-ray crystallography. The crystallographic parameters are as follows: for 1, monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with a = 28.261(2) A, b = 16.059(4) A, c = 17.636(2) A, beta = 92.40(4) degrees, and Z = 2; for 2, triclinic space group P1 with a = 8.915(2) A, b = 10.592(2) A, c = 11.916(2) A, alpha = 84.85(1) degrees, beta = 88.86(1) degrees, and gamma = 65.187(8) degrees, and Z = 2; and for 3, triclinic space group P1 with a = 8.876(2) A, b = 9.017(2) A, c = 19.841(3) A, alpha = 101.91(2) degrees, beta = 97.144(8) degrees, gamma = 100.206(9) degrees, and Z = 1. In the oligomeric molecule of 1, six DMSO ligands bridge seven dirhodium tetra(trifluoroacetate) units in a bidentate fashion via S and O atoms, and two additional DMSO molecules terminate the chain. In the structure of the monoadduct Rh2(O2CCF3)4(DMSO) (2), the dirhodium blocks are bridged through the O atoms of DMSO ligands, forming a one-dimensional polymeric chain. Compound 3 also has an infinite chain structure with the molecules of dimethyl sulfoxide acting in a bidentate mu-DMSO-S,O mode. Every second DMSO molecule is missing in 3, so that two of every three Rh2(O2CCF3)4 units are associated through the O atoms of carboxylate groups to give the overall composition [Rh2(O2CCF3)4]3(DMSO)2.

Journal Article↗