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Background To deal with patients suffering from dyspnoea, it is crucial for general practitioners to know the prevalences of different diseases causing dyspnoea in the respective area and season, the likelihood of avoidable life-threatening conditions and of worsening or recovery from disease. Aim Aim of our project was to conduct a systematic review of symptom-evaluating studies on the prevalence, aetiology, and prognosis of dyspnoea as presented to GPs in a primary care setting. Methods We did a systematic review of symptom-evaluating studies on dyspnoea in primary care. For this we included all studies investigating the complaint “dyspnoea” as a primary or secondary consulting reason in general practice. Apart from qualitative studies, all kind of study designs independent from type of data assessment, outcome measurement or study quality were included. Symptom-evaluating studies from other settings than primary care and studies which exclusively included children (age

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with chronic low back pain patients at primary care setting. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to identify predictors for transition from localized chronic low back pain to chronic widespread pain in general practice. In contrast to the typically investigated risk factors, this study also focuses intensively on protective factors, which decrease the probability of chronic widespread pain. For this, we investigated the resources resilience and coping strategies, which are suspected as potential protective factors for incident chronic pain syndromes. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In primary care, about a quarter of chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients suffer from chronic widespread pain (CWP). METHODS: Patients suffering from localized chronic low back pain were included and evaluated after a 6 and 12 months follow up period regarding the development of CWP. Potential risk factors (sociodemographic data, pain characteristics, depression, anxiety, somatization), protective factors (resilience, coping strategies), and sample characteristics were assessed at baseline. Predictor identification was done by multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The one-year-incidence for the onset of CWP among CLBP patients was 23.8%. We identified the three risk factors female gender, long duration of back pain and a high rate of psychosomatic symptoms for the onset of CWP among CLBP patients. Coping resources and resilience had no impact on the transition from CLBP to CWP. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that CWP is no independent entity, but rather a particularly negative occurrence on a continuum of chronic pain. Processes of somatization play a major role in the development of this extreme.

Tremendous progress has been achieved over the past 25 years or more of research on the molecular mechanisms of floral organ identity, patterning, and development. While collections of floral homeotic mutants of Antirrhinum majus laid the foundation already at the beginning of the previous century, it was the genetic analysis of these mutants in A. majus and Arabidopsis thaliana that led to the development of the ABC model of floral organ identity more than 20 years ago. This intuitive model kick-started research focused on the genetic mechanisms regulating flower development, using mainly A. thaliana as a model plant. In recent years, interactions among floral homeotic proteins have been elucidated, and their direct and indirect target genes are known to a large extent. Here, we provide an overview over the advances in understanding the molecular mechanism orchestrating A. thaliana flower development. We focus on floral homeotic protein complexes, their target genes, evidence for their transport in floral primordia, and how these new results advance our view on the processes downstream of floral organ identity, such as organ boundary formation or floral organ patterning.

For studies of the evolution of development in angiosperms, early‐diverging eudicot taxa are of particular interest for comparisons with established core eudicot model plants, such as Arabidopsis. Here we provide a detailed description of shoot and floral development of the basal eudicot California poppy (Eschscholzia californica). Rosette formation in the vegetative phase is accompanied by increased leaf complexity and shoot apex size. The flowering phase is characterized by internode elongation, formation of dissected cauline leaves, terminal flowers, and basipetal inflorescence branching. For developing flowers and fruits, we have defined 14 stages according to important landmark events, from inflorescence primordium initiation through seed dispersal. Floral organ initiation, morphogenesis, increase in floral meristem size, and the surface structure of mature floral organs are recorded in detail. The duration of the later floral stages, as well as the path of pollen tube growth in the gynoecium, is doc...

When one reads Maurice Halbwachs’s Les Cadres sociaux de la mémoire, it is noticeable that the sociologist-philosopher has almost completely obliterated from his thoughts the war he has just lived through. At the very time when an arsenal of unprecedented memories born of the consequences of the Great War was being put into place, here was a man theorizing the notion of collective memory while simultaneously forgetting, in the numerous examples punctuating his work on the subject, to think about the weight of the recent past including his own personal past. This article aims to understand these gaps.

To learn more about the attitudes of German general practitioners (GPs) concerning euthanasia and the frequency of its performance in Germany.500 GPs from all parts of Germany were randomly selected from telephone listings, and were sent a postal questionnaire with anonymous return envelopes. Participants were asked to make decisions based on hypothetical scenarios involving terminally ill patients and were questioned about their attitudes towards active euthanasia or physician assisted suicide (PAS).The questionnaire was returned by 48% of all 481 eligible GPs (mean age 51 years, 68% male). Although the option of performing euthanasia was rarely chosen in hypothetical scenarios, its performance was considered acceptable by 34% (active euthanasia) and 80% (PAS). Seventy-seven percent of respondents believed that a comparison between euthanasia today and the atrocities committed during the 3rd Reich was not appropriate. Sixty-two percent of respondents had received requests for active euthanasia and 73% for PAS. Thirteen percent and 38% of respondents seem to have performed euthanasia themselves in the past.The majority of German GPs reject active euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS). Nonetheless, requests for and performance of euthanasia do not seem to be a rare occurrence. Only a small proportion of respondents are willing to perform euthanasia at a patient's request under the current legislation which make these acts illegal in Germany. German history seems to play only a minor role in shaping respondents' attitudes towards active euthanasia or PAS.

Chronic back pain is one of our society's most important health problems, causing long periods of sick leave and early retirements. Recently the German Society of General Practice and Family Medicine (DEGAM) published an evidence-based guideline for low back pain. It has been developed according to the 10-step concept of guideline development of the DEGAM, aiming for early detection of complicated clinical conditions, avoidance of unnecessary diagnostic tests and prevention of chronicity. Complicated, uncomplicated and radicular pain are defined by patient history and a short clinical examination. Imaging and further diagnostic tests are reserved for patients at risk. Basic therapy consists of structured advice. The aim of the guideline is to get patients back to their usual activity supported by effective pain relief. Psychosocial factors which are important for the prognosis should be evaluated already during the first consultation. Manual therapy might help in acute pain. Patients with persistent pain symptoms and long periods of sick leave should be transferred to multiprofessional management including pain treatment, behavioural therapy and physiotherapy. A randomised controlled trial has been set up to study the efficacy of guideline implementation.

Class B floral homeotic genes play a key role in specifying the identity of male reproductive organs (stamens) and petals during the development of flowers. Recently, close relatives (orthologues) of these genes have been found in diverse gymnosperms, the sister group of the flowering plants (angiosperms). The fact that such genes have not been found so far, despite considerable efforts, in mosses, ferns or algae, has been taken as evidence to suggest that B genes originated 300–400 million years ago in a lineage that led to extant seed plants. Gymnosperms do not develop petals, and their male reproductive organs deviate considerably from angiosperm stamens. So what is the function of gymnosperm B genes? Recent experiments revealed that B genes from diverse extant gymnosperms are exclusively expressed in male reproductive organs (microsporophylls). At least for some of these genes it has been shown that they can partially substitute for the Arabidopsis B genes AP3 and PI in ectopic expression experiments,...

MADS-box genes encode a family of transcription factors which control diverse developmental processes in flowering plants ranging from root to flower and fruit development. Sequencing of (almost) the complete Arabidopsis genome enabled the identification of (almost) all of the Arabidopsis MADS-box genes. MADS-box genes have been divided in two large groups, termed type I and type II genes. The type II genes comprise the MEF2-like genes of animals and fungi and the MIKC-type genes of plants. The majority of MIKC-type genes are of the MIKC(c)-type, which includes all plant MADS-box genes for which expression patterns or mutant phenotypes are known. By phylogeny reconstruction, almost all of the MIKC(c)-type genes can be subdivided into 12 major gene clades, each clade comprising 1-6 paralogs from Arabidopsis and putative orthologs from other seed plants. Here we first briefly describe the deep branching of the MADS-box gene tree to place the MIKC(c)-type genes into an evolutionary context. For every clade of MIKC(c)-type genes we then review what is known about its members from Arabidopsis and well-studied members from other phylogenetically informative plant species. By gene sampling and phylogeny reconstructions we provide minimal estimates for the ages of the different clades. It turns out that 7 of the 12 major gene clades, i.e., AG-, AGL6-, AGL12-, DEF+GLO- (B), GGM13- (B(s)), STMADS11- and TM3-like genes very likely existed already in the most recent common ancestor of angiosperms and gymnosperms about 300MYA. Three of the other clades, i.e., AGL2-, AGL17-, and SQUA-like genes, existed at least already in the most recent common ancestor of monocots and eudicots about 200 MYA. Only for two gene clades, AGL15-like genes (2 genes in Arabidopsis) and FLC-like genes (6 genes) members from plants other than Brassicaceae have not been reported yet. Similarly, only one ancient clade known from other flowering plant species, TM8-like genes, is not represented in Arabidopsis. These findings reveal that the diversity of MADS-box genes in Arabidopsis is rather ancient and representative for other flowering plants. Our studies may thus help to predict the set of MADS-box genes in all other flowering plants, except for relatively young paralogs. For the different gene clades we try to identify ancestral and derived gene functions and review the importance of these clades for seed plant development and evolution. We put special emphasis on gene clades for which insights into their importance has rapidly increased just recently.

Aim To investigate the frequencies of different and relevant underlying etiologies of chest pain in general practice. Methods We systematically searched PubMed and EMBASE. Two reviewers independently rated the eligibility of publications and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. We extracted data to calculate the relative frequencies of different underlying conditions and investigated the variation across studies using forest plots, I2, tau2, and prediction intervals. With respect to unexplained heterogeneity, we provided qualitative syntheses instead of pooled estimates. Results We identified 11 eligible studies comprising about 6500 patients. The overall risk of bias was rated as low in 6 studies comprising about 3900 patients. The relative frequencies of different conditions as the underlying etiologies of chest pain reported by these studies ranged from 24.5 to 49.8% (chest wall syndrome), 13.8 to 16.1% (cardiovascular diseases), 6.6 to 11.2% (stable coronary heart disease), 1.5 to 3.6% (acute coronary syndrome/myocardial infarction), 10.3 to 18.2% (respiratory diseases), 9.5 to 18.2% (psychogenic etiologies), 5.6 to 9.7% (gastrointestinal disorders), and 6.0 to 7.1% (esophageal disorders). Conclusion This information may be of practical value for general practitioners as it provides the pre-test probabilities for a range of underlying diseases and may be suitable to guide the diagnostic process.

BEL1-like homeobox genes encode plant-specific transcription factors, at least some of which are important for ovule development. Here we report MELBEL1-MELBEL4,the first BEL1-like genes from a non-flowering plant, the gymnosperm Gnetum gnemon. Our analyses suggest that there was already at least one BEL1-like gene present in the most recent common ancestor of extant seed plants about 300 million years ago. Multiple sequence alignments revealed that since this time, not only the DNA-binding homeodomain, but also a protein-protein interaction domain upstream of the homeodomain, termed the BEL domain, has been highly conserved. Sequence comparison of the BEL domain with upstream domains that have been conserved in other TALE homeodomain proteins, i.e. MEIS, KNOX, and PBC, revealed only weak sequence similarity. However, since homology has been shown for MEIS, KNOX, and PBC domains and since KNOX and BEL domains directly interact in vivo, it appears likely that the BEL domain was also derived from an ancestral upstream (MEINOX) domain.

Background Knowledge of phytoplankton structure is important information in water quality control. Lake restoration and sanitation measures in particular must be evaluated on the organismic level to valuate biological effects and assess the risk of potentially toxic Cyanobacteria blooms. We used and comparatively tested three independent methods for phytoplankton analysis in a hypertrophic reservoir under restoration. Methods Nine unialgal cultures and outdoor samples were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography pigment analysis, microscopical cell counting, and flow cytometric (FCM) light scatter and fluorescence analysis to measure the percentage contribution of the major algal groups to chlorophyll a and biovolume. The FCM instrument settings and identification criteria were developed using a single excitation wavelength at 514 nm to differentiate nine algal species representing the major groups of algae. Fluorescence was detected at 585, 620, 650, and 680 nm. Results The results show that FCM is the only method for determining changes in the phytoplankton composition on both a chlorophyll a and biovolume basis. Conclusions Each of the three methods has specific advantages and disadvantages, and should be chosen depending on the experimental problem. FCM sorting allows the combination of all three and offers further new perspectives. Cytometry 48:45–57, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Introduction: In the tumor micro-environment, extracellular ATP is sequentially hydrolyzed to adenosine by the ecto-nucleotidases CD39 (ATP→AMP) and CD73 (AMP→adenosine). Adenosine, through activation of the A2a receptor (A2aR), is a potent inhibitor of T-cell activation, resulting in an immunosuppressed phenotype. Thus, inhibition of A2aR has recently generated great interest in immuno-oncology. We present the characterization of a novel, selective, and highly potent small molecule antagonist of A2aR which is slated to enter the clinic in 2017. Methods: The cellular potency of A2aR antagonists was assessed as a function of decreased cAMP levels in CHO cells stably over-expressing hA2aR, a Gs coupled receptor, following stimulation with the agonist NECA. Experiments were conducted in the presence and absence of human serum. Selectivity against the Gi-coupled receptor A1R was assessed similarly as a function of cAMP elevation in CHO cells stably expressing hA1R, following pretreatment with forskolin and stimulation with NECA. The ability of AB928 to reverse adenosine-mediated immune suppression (25 μM) of human or mouse CD8+ T-cells was determined using standard CD3/CD28 activation conditions. CD25 expression and cytokine release were measured by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of AB928 were assessed in rodent and non-rodent species to facilitate calculation of a projected human dose. Results: AB928 represents a novel series of potent and selective compounds designed to inhibit adenosine-mediated A2aR activation. This molecule is different from most known A2aR antagonists in that it does not cross the blood brain barrier. AB928 inhibited NECA-mediated A2aR activation with a potency of Conclusions: AB928 is a potent, selective and peripherally restricted antagonist of the A2aR receptor which is slated to enter clinical development in 2017. Citation Format: Matt J. Walters, Joanne B. Tan, Annette Becker, Fangfang Yi, Tim Park, Manmohan R. Leleti, Brandon Rosen, Ehesan Sharif, Laurent Debien, Steve Young, Wan Hsin Lim, Stefan Garrido-Shaqfeh, Juan C. Jaen, Jay P. Powers. Characterization of the potent and selective A2aR antagonist AB928 for the treatment of cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4572. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4572

INTRODUCTION: In the tumor micro-environment (TME) Adenosine (ADO) dampens the immune response towards cancer cells by inhibiting the cytotoxic activity of effector cells and promoting the proliferation of immunosuppressive cells. Extracellular ADO is generated by the two ecto-nucleotidases CD39 (ATP→AMP) and CD73 (AMP→ADO). In immune cells ADO signals primarily through the G-protein coupled receptor A2aR. Inhibition of ADO generation and signaling have been shown to be promising therapeutic approaches for the treatment of cancer. METHODS: Potent and highly selective small molecule inhibitors for A2aR, CD73 and CD39 have been designed and synthesized by the Medicinal Chemistry Department at Arcus Biosciences. Enzymatic assays: CD39 and CD73 activity was assayed by quantitating hydrolysis of ATP or AMP, respectively. Inorganic phosphate was detected using a colorimetric (malachite green) protocol. ADO receptor assays: The potency of A2aR antagonists and selectivity towards related receptors was determined by measuring cAMP elevation in stably-expressing CHO cells following NECA (ADO mimic) stimulation. CD8+ T cell assays: Activation, proliferation and effector function of CD8+ T cells were quantified following compound treatment in the presence and absence of ATP. Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR): Cytokine levels were determined in an MLR assay after compound treatment in the presence and absence of ATP. Tumor models: CT26 and B16F10 syngeneic tumor models were used to assess the therapeutic effect of the inhibitors. RESULTS: Potent and highly selective small molecules have been generated to block either ADO generation or ADO signaling. The therapeutic potential of these molecules was assessed in CD8+ T cell assays, MLR assays and in various tumor models. CD73 inhibition blocked the conversion of AMP to ADO. CD39 inhibition blocked the conversion of ATP to AMP and A2aR inhibition abolished the increases in intracellular cAMP following ADO stimulation. The compounds are highly selective relative to related enzymes/receptors, as well as a large panel of unrelated targets. Inhibition of any one of the three targets robustly reversed adenosine-mediated inhibition of proliferation, CD25 expression, and IFN-γ and granzyme B production by human CD8+ T-cells. Robust inhibition of tumor growth in combination with anti-PD1 antibody was observed for several of these compounds. CONCLUSIONS: Highly potent and selective inhibitors of each of the 3 molecular targets involved in the ATP/adenosine pathway have been identified. Their ability to interfere with the extracellular generation of ADO and the immune-suppressive effects of ADO, as well as their effects on experimental tumor biology, have been demonstrated in various in vitro and in vivo models. Citation Format: Ulrike Schindler, Joanne B. Tan, Matt Walters, Annette Becker, Fangfang Yin, Ada Chen, Yu Chen, Wan Hsin Lim, Steve Young, Manmohan Leleti, Jay Powers, Juan C. Jaen. Small-molecule inhibitors of CD73, CD39 and A2aR: Three anti-cancer targets in the ATP/adenosine signaling pathway [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2640. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-2640

A monolithically integrated widely tunable narrow-linewidth light source was realized on an InP-based quantum dot (QD) gain material. The quasi zero-dimensional nature of QDs and the resulting low linewidth enhancement factor enabled standalone distributed feedback (DFB) lasers with intrinsic linewidths as low as 110 kHz. An integrated device comprising four DFB lasers with on-chip micro-heaters, a 3 dB-coupler network, and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), which covers the entire C+ telecom band, exhibits a linewidth of below 200 kHz independent of the SOA operation current.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) are highly metastatic with poor prognosis, mainly due to delayed detection. We hypothesized that intercellular communication is critical for metastatic progression. Here, we show that PDAC-derived exosomes induce liver pre-metastatic niche formation in naive mice and consequently increase liver metastatic burden. Uptake of PDAC-derived exosomes by Kupffer cells caused transforming growth factor β secretion and upregulation of fibronectin production by hepatic stellate cells. This fibrotic microenvironment enhanced recruitment of bone marrow-derived macrophages. We found that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was highly expressed in PDAC-derived exosomes, and its blockade prevented liver pre-metastatic niche formation and metastasis. Compared with patients whose pancreatic tumours did not progress, MIF was markedly higher in exosomes from stage I PDAC patients who later developed liver metastasis. These findings suggest that exosomal MIF primes the liver for metastasis and may be a prognostic marker for the development of PDAC liver metastasis.

The ability of plants to monitor their surroundings, for instance the perception of bacteria, is of crucial importance. The perception of microorganism-derived molecules and their effector proteins is the best understood of these monitoring processes. In addition, plants perceive bacterial quorum sensing (QS) molecules used for cell-to-cell communication between bacteria. Here, we propose a mechanism for how N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), a group of QS molecules, influence host defense and fortify resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana against bacterial pathogens. N-3-oxo-tetradecanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (oxo-C14-HSL) primed plants for enhanced callose deposition, accumulation of phenolic compounds, and lignification of cell walls. Moreover, increased levels of oxylipins and salicylic acid favored closure of stomata in response to Pseudomonas syringae infection. The AHL-induced resistance seems to differ from the systemic acquired and the induced systemic resistances, providing new insight into inter-kingdom communication. Consistent with the observation that short-chain AHLs, unlike oxo-C14-HSL, promote plant growth, treatments with C6-HSL, oxo-C10-HSL, or oxo-C14-HSL resulted in different transcriptional profiles in Arabidopsis. Understanding the priming induced by bacterial QS molecules augments our knowledge of plant reactions to bacteria and suggests strategies for using beneficial bacteria in plant protection.

The present invention is directed to methods of prognosing, treating, or managing treatment of cancer in a subject. These methods involve selecting a subject having cancer, obtaining, from the selected subject, a sample containing exosomes, recovering the exosomes from the sample, and isolating the double-stranded DNA from within the exosomes. The isolated double-stranded DNA is then used to detect the presence or absence of one or more genetic mutations associated with cancer, quantify the amount of isolated double-stranded DNA from the recovered exosomes in the sample, detect the methylation status of the isolated double- stranded DNA, or quantify the amount isolated double-stranded DNA able to enter a recipient cell. The prognosing, treating, or managing treatment is carried out based on this information.

Total war and mental shocks. A. Becker. The doctors who examined "shell shocked" patients during the Great War had quickly to loose the impression they were malingering. But it was very dijficult for them to reconstitute the mental itinerary of their patients, to read them as a narration about helpless men and women taken in the chaos of war. On the contrary, they accused heredity, degenerescence and German barbarity much more than the conditions of total war, either at the front or in the prisoners camps for soldiers, in occupied territories or civilians camps for the general population. Social darwinism was adapted to the intellectual struggle: the "fitted" for brutality, the Germans, were totally prepared to try to destroy the French "race". Nevertheless the "good" race resisted and the traumatised (the one, who, at a certain point, failed to keep up with war, death, etc.) had to be hidden or desappear in oblivion., Becker Annette. Guerre totale et troubles mentaux. In: Annales. Histoire, Sciences Sociales. 55ᵉ année, N. 1, 2000. pp. 135-151.

Becker Annette. Racisme, barbarie, civilisation : les enjeux de la Grande Guerre. In: Cahiers de la Méditerranée, n°61, 1, 2000. Politique et altérité. La Société Française face au racisme (XXe siècle) [Actes du colloque de Nice, décembre 1999] pp. 159-169.

Le paradoxe naît du fait que la région du Nord veut à la fois se fondre dans l’unité nationale responsable de la victoire et ne pas voir oublier ses drames particuliers. Comment commémorer à la fois l’héroïsme des poilus et les souffrances exceptionnelles des populations civiles envahies et occupées ? Mais les deux positions sont à peu près inconciliables, et la mémoire de l’occupation, des déportations ou du travail forcé, ne dépassera jamais le cadre régional dans les années Vingt et Trente. On a offert aux combattants du Nord, comme à ceux du reste du pays, l’exclusivité du souvenir, à peine partagé ici avec les résistants fusillés. La spécificité de l’occupation n’est donc que secondairement représentée sur les monuments commémoratifs de la région. En revanche, comme partout en France, le pacifisme endeuillé l’emporte., Becker Annette. Des monuments différents? La commémoration dans le nord de la France, 1914-1940. In: Mélanges de l'École française de Rome. Italie et Méditerranée, tome 112, n°2. 2000. Les images de la Grande Guerre en France, Allemagne et Italie. Actes de la table ronde organisée par l’École française de Rome en collaboration avec l’Università di Roma «La Sapienza» et le Deutsches historisches Institut in Rom, 6 et 7 novembre 1998. pp. 515-528.

Evolutionary developmental genetics (evodevotics) is a novel scientific endeavor which assumes that changes in developmental control genes are a major aspect of evolutionary changes in morphology. Understanding the phylogeny of developmental control genes may thus help us to understand the evolution of plant and animal form. The principles of evodevotics are exemplified by outlining the role of MADS-box genes in the evolution of plant reproductive structures. In extant eudicotyledonous flowering plants, MADS-box genes act as homeotic selector genes determining floral organ identity and as floral meristem identity genes. By reviewing current knowledge about MADS-box genes in ferns, gymnosperms and different types of angiosperms, we demonstrate that the phylogeny of MADS-box genes was strongly correlated with the origin and evolution of plant reproductive structures such as ovules and flowers. It seems likely, therefore, that changes in MADS-box gene structure, expression and function have been a major cause for innovations in reproductive development during land plant evolution, such as seed, flower and fruit formation.

If, strictly speaking, it was not the first world war which engendered the sur-realist movement, it was certainly its catalyst. Most of the future surrealists, writers or artists, belonged to the war generation. One can only be struck by the coincidence that so many of them were doctors or nurses during the war years and had contact with shell-shock victims or were shell-shocked themselves. Yet, if the surrealists often claimed their dual origins — war and mad- ness — they practically never linked the two; in short, from the end of 1918 shell-shock seemed no longer to be of interest to them. What is the solution to this paradox?

The evolutionary origin of the angiosperms (flowering plants sensu stricto ) is still enigmatic. Answers to the question of angiosperm origins are intimately connected to the identification of their sister group among extinct and extant taxa. Most phylogenetic analyses based on morphological data agree that among the groups of extant seed plants, the gnetophytes are the sister group of the angiosperms. According to this view, angiosperms and gnetophytes are the only extant members of a clade called “anthophytes” to emphasize their shared possession of flower-like reproductive structures. However, most phylogeny reconstructions based on molecular data so far did not support an anthophyte clade, but also could not clarify the case because support for alternative groupings has been weak or controversial. We have isolated 13 different homologs of MADS-type floral homeotic genes from the gnetophyte Gnetum gnemon . Five of these genes fall into monophyletic gene clades also comprising putatively orthologous genes from flowering plants and conifers, among them orthologs of floral homeotic B and C function genes. Within these clades the Gnetum genes always form distinct subclades together with the respective conifer genes, to the exclusion of the angiosperm genes. This provides strong molecular evidence for a sister-group relationship between gnetophytes and conifers, which is in contradiction to widely accepted interpretations of morphological data for almost a century. Our phylogeny reconstructions and the outcome of expression studies suggest that complex features such as flower-like reproductive structures and double-fertilization arose independently in gnetophytes and angiosperms.

Das komplexe wasserhaltige Chlorid [(CH3)2NH2][PrCl4(H2O)2] wurde erstmals dargestellt und die Kristallstruktur anhand von Einkristalldaten bestimmt. Die Verbindung kristallisiert orthorhombisch in der Raumgruppe Cmca (Z = 8) mit a = 1796,6(2) pm, b = 940,7(1) pm und c = 1238,4(2) pm. Die Anionenteilstruktur wird gemas [PrCl4/2Cl2(H2O)2]– von Ketten kantenverknupfter Trigondodekaeder [PrCl6(H2O)2]3– aufgebaut, die von Dimethylammoniumkationen ([(CH3)2NH2]+) zusammengehalten werden. Um die Wechselwirkungen des Praseodymkations (Pr3+) mit seinen Liganden zu untersuchen, wurden magnetische Messungen durchgefuhrt. Die Interpretation erfolgte mittels ligandenfeldtheoretischer Berechnungen unter Anwendung des Angular-Overlap-Modells. Preparation, Crystal Structure, and Magnetism of [(CH3)2NH2][PrCl4(H2O)2] The complex water containing chloride [(CH3)2NH2][PrCl4(H2O)2] has been prepared for the first time and the crystal structure has been determined from single crystal X-ray diffraction data. The compound crystallizes orthorhombically in the space group Cmca (Z = 8) with a = 1796.6(2) pm, b = 940.7(1) pm, and c = 1238.4(2) pm. The anionic part of the structure is built up by chains of edge-connected trigondodecahedra [PrCl6(H2O)2]3– according to [PrCl4/2Cl2(H2O)2]–, which are held together by dimethylammonium cations ([(CH3)2NH2]+). In order to study the interactions between the praseodymium cation (Pr3+) and the ligands magnetic measurements were carried out. The magnetic data were interpreted by ligand field calculations applying the angular overlap model.

Crystal structures of the new complex lanthanide chlorides with organic cations [(CH3)2NH2]4[LnCl6]Cl (Ln=Ho–Tm) have been determined. The air sensitive compounds have been prepared by the reaction of LnCl3·xH2O with [(CH3)2NH2]Cl in ethanol/butanol. The complex chlorides are isotypic with each other and crystallize in the orthorhombic space group P21212 (Z=2). The magnetic behaviour of these complex lanthanide chlorides has been studied. The magnetic data were interpreted by ligand field calculations applying the angular overlap model.

From 1918 to the middle of the 1920s, the 1.35 million French dead of the Great War invaded the whole of the symbolic and affective space of the nation. The grandiose ceremonies of 14 July 1919 and 11 November 1920, the construction everywhere of monuments to the dead, transformed millions of private grievings into a state affair which, much more than the joy of victory and the pride of heroism, gave expression to a crushing sadness.

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Multimorbidity is a health issue mostly dealt with in primary care practice. As a result of their generalist and patient-centered approach, long-lasting relationships with patients, and responsibility for continuity and coordination of care, family physicians are particularly well placed to manage patients with multimorbidity. However, conflicts arising from the application of multiple disease oriented guidelines and the burden of diseases and treatments often make consultations challenging. To provide orientation in decision making in multimorbidity during primary care consultations, we developed guiding principles and named them after the Greek mythological figure Ariadne. For this purpose, we convened a two-day expert workshop accompanied by an international symposium in October 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany. Against the background of the current state of knowledge presented and discussed at the symposium, 19 experts from North America, Europe, and Australia identified the key issues of concern in the management of multimorbidity in primary care in panel and small group sessions and agreed upon making use of formal and informal consensus methods. The proposed preliminary principles were refined during a multistage feedback process and discussed using a case example. The sharing of realistic treatment goals by physicians and patients is at the core of the Ariadne principles. These result from i) a thorough interaction assessment of the patient’s conditions, treatments, constitution, and context; ii) the prioritization of health problems that take into account the patient’s preferences – his or her most and least desired outcomes; and iii) individualized management realizes the best options of care in diagnostics, treatment, and prevention to achieve the goals. Goal attainment is followed-up in accordance with a re-assessment in planned visits. The occurrence of new or changed conditions, such as an increase in severity, or a changed context may trigger the (re-)start of the process. Further work is needed on the implementation of the formulated principles, but they were recognized and appreciated as important by family physicians and primary care researchers. Please see related article: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7015/12/222. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12916-014-0223-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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