Search

Leaf spectra, trait data, and phylogenies for plant species collected by the Canadian Airborne Biodiversity Observatory (CABO).

The amount and patterns of phylodiversity in a community are often used to draw inferences about the local and historical factors affecting community assembly and can be used to prioritize communities and locations for conservation. Because measures of phylodiversity are based on the topology and branch lengths of phylogenetic trees, which are affected by the number and diversity of taxa in the tree, these analyses may be sensitive to changes in taxon sampling and tree reconstruction methods. To investigate the effects of taxon sampling and tree reconstruction methods on measures of phylodiversity, we investigated the community phylogenetics of the Ordway‐Swisher Biological Station (Florida), which is home to over 600 species of vascular plants. We studied the effects of (a) the number of taxa included in the regional phylogeny; (b) random versus targeted sampling of species to assemble the regional species pool; (c) including only species from specific clades rather than broad sampling; (d) using trees reconstructed directly for the taxa under study compared to trees pruned from a larger reconstructed tree; and (e) using phylograms compared to chronograms. We found that including more taxa in a study increases the likelihood of observing significantly nonrandom phylogenetic patterns. However, there were no consistent trends in the phylodiversity patterns based on random taxon sampling compared to targeted sampling, or within individual clades compared to the complete dataset. Using pruned and reconstructed phylogenies resulted in similar patterns of phylodiversity, while chronograms in some cases led to significantly different results from phylograms. The methods commonly used in community phylogenetic studies can significantly impact the results, potentially influencing both inferences of community assembly and conservation decisions. We highlight the need for both careful selection of methods in community phylogenetic studies and appropriate interpretation of results, depending on the specific questions to be addressed.

Premise Putatively single-copy nuclear (SCN) loci, which are identified using genomic resources of closely related species, are ideal for phylogenomic inference. However, suitable genomic resources are not available for many clades, including Melastomataceae. We introduce a versatile approach to identify SCN loci for clades with few genomic resources and use it to develop probes for target enrichment in the distantly related Memecylon and Tibouchina (Melastomataceae). Methods We present a two-tiered pipeline. First, we identified putatively SCN loci using MarkerMiner and transcriptomes from distantly related species in Melastomataceae. Published loci and genes of functional significance were then added (384 total loci). Second, using HybPiper, we retrieved 689 homologous template sequences for these loci using genome-skimming data from within the focal clades. Results We sequenced 193 loci common to Memecylon and Tibouchina. Probes designed from 56 template sequences successfully targeted sequences in both clades. Probes designed from genome-skimming data within a focal clade were more successful than probes designed from other sources. Discussion Our pipeline successfully identified and targeted SCN loci in Memecylon and Tibouchina, enabling phylogenomic studies in both clades and potentially across Melastomataceae. This pipeline could be easily applied to other clades with few genomic resources.

Phragmites australis (common reed) is a widespread perennial grass of wetland habitats, with cryptic native and introduced subspecies in North America. We determined the relative abundance of the subspecies and the distributions of plastid DNA haplotypes throughout British Columbia, Canada, at the northwestern distribution limit of common reed in North America. Of 203 specimens assigned to subspecies using molecular markers, we identified only 9 plants as the introduced ssp. australis; all remaining samples were the native ssp. americanus. The two subspecies co-occurred at only one locality. We identified four native haplotypes (one widespread in British Columbia and three others more localized) and two introduced haplotypes. Using plants of known haplotype, we assessed the utility of different morphological traits and trait combinations for distinguishing native and introduced subspecies in this geographic region. No single morphological trait was diagnostic, but principal components analysis and identification indices based on combinations of traits consistently separated the native and introduced subspecies in our sample. Two- or three-trait combinations of ligule length, lemma length and stem anthocyanic coloration gave the best separation. These indices could reduce the need for confirmation of the introduced subspecies using molecular tools, facilitating efforts to monitor and control this invasive plant.

Background The PRADO program was designed to improve post-discharge patient care in heart failure (HF). In this context, prediction of readmission or death in HF is of critical importance and is currently based on a limited number of variables selected by experts/literature. Artificial intelligence (AI) allows to include a non-limited and non-selected number of variables. Purpose The objective was to predict the probability of HF readmission and/or death inpatients with a new diagnosis of HF included or not in the PRADO program at the cardiologist's discretion, using medical records and machine learning models, without a priori. Methods This pilot monocentric study included all patients having a first HF admission between January 1st, 2015 and December 31, 2018, enrolled by data record (ICD-10) from the department of cardiology Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital. One thousand variables extracted from electronic health records/local hospital discharge database (PMSI) were used to create models. Data from the national PMSI were also included using the Hawkes process. Models were constructed on patients admitted between 2015 and 2017 to predict 1 and 3 months probability of HF readmission and HF readmission or mortality. Discrimination was tested using the area under the ROC curves (AUC) inpatients admitted in 2018. Results The discrimination value was limited overall ( Table 1 ). It was better for the 1 month than for the 3 months prediction of clinical outcomes. The models predicted better the composite outcome than HF readmissions and performed better for non-PRADO patients. Conclusion The predictive value of these models using AI in our population is limited and performed better at 1 month than 3 months. The better discriminating value in non-PRADO patients might result from different clinical profiles, from the arbitrary nature of the selection by cardiologists and from the limited sample size compared to the high number of variables included in the models.

Introduction Les donnees recueillies dans le DPI presentent un interet certain pour l’aide a la decision medicale, sous reserve qu’elles soient exploitables dans le cadre de travaux de recherche. L’objectif de notre etude etait d’evaluer la capacite d’exploitation de ces donnees pour predire, a un mois, le risque de rehospitalisation des patients insuffisants cardiaques. Methodes L’etude a porte sur les patients adultes hospitalises dans le service de cardiologie du groupe hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph (GHPSJ) pour un premier episode d’insuffisance cardiaque (HIC) entre 2015 et 2017. Les donnees PMSI locales ont permis d’inclure les patients et de caracteriser leur eventuel parcours hospitalier en amont et en aval de l’HIC. Les donnees du DPI ont permis de caracteriser l’HIC : compte rendu d’hospitalisation, observations medicales et soignantes, prescriptions medicamenteuses, resultats d’examens complementaires (resultats d’analyses de biologie medicale, ECG, echocardiographie, coronarographie). La prediction du risque de rehospitalisation a ete construite avec un modele classificatoire de Foret Aleatoire. Ce modele a ete entraine et teste sur deux cohortes differentes. La performance a ete evaluee par l’aire sous la courbe ROC (AUC). Resultats Notre etude a porte sur 905 patients ; 1048 variables ont ete extraites par requetage SQL. Un important travail de nettoyage des donnees (donnees manquantes ou incoherentes) et de gestion de problemes (perdus de vue, acces aux donnees textuelles, vision tronquee du parcours hospitalier) a ete necessaire. Les donnees textuelles n’ont pas pu etre analysees. Le taux de rehospitalisation des patients etait de 11,5 % a un mois. L’AUC etait de 0,97 pour la cohorte d’entrainement et de 0,67 pour la cohorte de test. Discussion/Conclusion L’analyse des donnees du DPI pour des travaux de recherche necessite une phase prealable de qualification importante. Une normalisation de ces donnees avec recours a des outils d’interoperabilite semantique constitue une piste qui faciliterait le developpement d’etudes multicentriques. Les resultats predictifs issus du modele IA sont perfectibles. Plusieurs aspects sont a reconsiderer, comme les criteres d’inclusion, le sur-ajustement du modele ou une validation prospective.

Background Prediction of readmission or death in heart failure (HF) is of critical importance and is currently based on a limited number of variables selected by experts/literature. Artificial intelligence (AI) allows to include a non-limited and non-selected number of variables. Purpose The objective was to predict the probability of HF readmission and/or death inpatients with a new diagnosis of HF, using medical records and machine learning models, without a priori. Methods This pilot monocentric study included all patients having a first HF admission between January 1st, 2015 and December 31, 2018, enrolled by data record (ICD-10) from the department of cardiology Paris Saint-Joseph Hospital. One thousand variables extracted from electronic health records/local hospital discharge database (PMSI) were used to create models. Data from the national PMSI were also included using the Hawkes process. Models were constructed on patients admitted between 2015 and 2017 to predict 1 and 3 months probability of HF readmission (n = 905 and n = 829 respectively) and HF readmission or mortality (n = 923 and n = 868 respectively). Discrimination was tested using the area under the ROC curves (AUC) inpatients admitted in 2018. Results At 1 month, AUC was 0.56 [95%CI 0.47–0.66] (n = 294) and 0.55 [95%CI 0.47–0.64] (n = 302) for the HF readmission and the composite outcome respectively. At 3 months, AUCs were 0.51 [95%CI 0.41–0.59] (n = 224) and 0.52 [95%CI 0.45–0.60] (n = 235) respectively. Conclusion The predictive value of these models using AI in this population is limited and performed better at 1 month than 3 months. Potential biases include the accuracy of HF diagnosis (based on ICD-10) and the limited size of the derivation cohort compared to the number of variables included in the models. This approach should therefore be assessed in a larger population.

Salmon lice Lepeophtheirus salmonis are an ecologically and economically important parasite of wild and farmed salmon. In Scotland, Norway, and Eastern Canada, L. salmonis have developed resistance to emamectin benzoate (EMB), one of the few parasiticides available for salmon lice. Drug resistance mechanisms can be complex, potentially differing among populations and involving multiple genes with additive effects (i.e., polygenic resistance). Indicators of resistance development may enable early detection and countermeasures to avoid the spread of resistance. Here, we collect sensitive Pacific L. salmonis and sensitive and resistant Atlantic L. salmonis from salmon farms, propagate in laboratory (F1), expose to EMB in bioassays, and evaluate either baseline (Atlantic only) or induced transcriptomic differences between populations. In all populations, induced responses were minor and a cellular stress response was not identified. Pacific lice did not upregulate any genes in response to EMB, but downregulated degradative enzymes and transport proteins at 50 ppb EMB. Baseline differences between sensitive and now resistant Atlantic lice were much greater than responses to exposures. All resistant lice overexpressed degradative enzymes, and resistant males, the most resistant group, overexpressed collagenases to the greatest extent. These results indicate an accumulation of baseline expression differences related to resistance.

Introduction Le stade de suppleance de l’insuffisance renale chronique est frequemment utilise pour evaluer le pronostic de la nephropathie a IgA primitive (NIgA), l’evolution clinique apres la suppleance est peu documentee. Cette etude decrit les caracteristiques et la survie des patients avec une NIgA debutant un traitement de suppleance en France entre 2010 et 2014. Patients/Materiels et methodes A partir des donnees issues du registre national REIN, les patients debutant un traitement de suppleance (dialyse ou greffe preemptive) entre 2010 et 2014 avec une NIgA prouvee par biopsie renale ont ete identifies et leurs evolutions comparees aux glomerulonephrites primaires (GN1) ou secondaires (GN2) prouvees par biopsie renale, polykystose renale autosomique dominante (PKRAD) et diabete. Nous avons utilise des regressions logistiques ajustees pour analyser l’acces aux traitements de suppleance, et des modeles de risque competitif (changement de traitement) de Fine-Gray pour comparer la mortalite. Observation/Resultats Parmi les 17 138 patients ayant debute la dialyse, la NIgA etait la plus frequente des GN en 2010 avec (242,8/10,000 initiations de dialyses) comparees aux GN1 (hyalinose segmentaire et focal primitive 161,5/10,000 ; GN extra-membraneuse 69,4/10,000) et GN2 (lupus 29,3/10,000 ; vascularite a ANCA 110,5/10,000). L’incidence etait de 575,5/10,000 pour la PKRAD et 2257,5/10,000 pour le diabete. Ces incidences etaient stables jusqu’en 2014. Le groupe NIgA a le plus faible taux de comorbidites cardiovasculaires (22,9 %). Compare aux NIgA, les autres nephropathies ont moins acces a la dialyse peritoneale (DP) que l’hemodialyse (HD) (GN1 OR 0,74 [0,59–0,92] ; GN2 OR 0,40 [0,30–0,53] ; PKRAD OR 0,54 [0,45–0,65] ; diabete OR 0,68 [0,51–0,92]). Le taux de mortalite (TM) a 6 ans avec la dialyse en 1er traitement est de 15 % [12,4–17,4] pour NIgA, 24,2 % [20,5–27,7] pour GN1, 33,1 % [29,1–36,5] pour GN2, 16,8 % [14,8–18,7] pour PKRAD, 54,2 % [52,8–55,6] pour le diabete. Comparee aux NIgA, la mortalite des patients dialyses est plus faible pour les PKRAD (HR 0,78 [0,64–0,94]), non significative pour les GN1 (HR 1,17 [0,95–1,44]), plus importante pour les GN2 (HR 1,74 [1,42–2,12]) et le diabete (HR 1,39 [1,14–1,70]). Par rapport a l’HD en 1er traitement, la survie n’est pas significativement differente pour le groupe greffe preemptive (HR 0,46 [0,17–1,28]) et DP (HR 0,77 [0,44–1,33]). Le TM du groupe NIgA est de 2,9 % [0–5,6] pour la greffe preemptive. Pour le groupe dialyse en attente de greffe, le TM est de 6,7 % [0,9–12,3] pour la NIgA et de 18 % [3,1–30,6] pour la PKRAD. Discussion/Conclusion Premiere etude decrivant les caracteristiques et la survie des patients incidents au stade suppleance avec une NIgA prouvee par biopsie renale. L’analyse n’objective pas une meilleure survie des patients greffes preemptivement compares aux dialyses en attente de greffe.

Introduction Dans le cadre d’une etude evaluant un score predictif dans la survenue d’un deces par evenement cardiovasculaire a 10 ans (SCORE) chez les patients d’une unite specialisee d’hypertension arterielle tertiaire (UHT), nous avons chaine les donnees hospitalieres de ces patients avec leur statut vital et leurs causes de deces le cas echeant issus du Registre national d’identification des personnes physiques (RNIPP). Nous nous proposons de faire un retour d’experience sur les resultats obtenus. Methodes Pour cette etude retrospective, monocentrique, nous avons inclus tous les patients ayant eu leur premiere visite dans l’UHT a l’hopital europeen Georges-Pompidou entre juin 2000 et decembre 2014. Les informations concernant le genre, la date et le lieu de naissance, les noms et prenoms de ces patients ont ete extraites de leur dossier administratif et de leur numero d’inscription au repertoire de l’Insee (NIR), notamment pour la commune de naissance obtenue a partir du code commune. Pour les patients pour lesquels ces informations etaient disponibles, le statut vital et les causes de deces ont pu etre demandes au Centre de recherche en epidemiologie et sante des populations (CESP) qui constitue l’intermediaire entre le RNIPP et la base de donnees nationale des causes de deces (CepiDc). Le fichier provenant du CESP comprend des patients identifies de facon exacte et des patients identifies avec une ou plusieurs discordances par rapport aux informations que nous avions fournies. Un traitement a du etre effectue pour traiter ces discordances et etablir la liste definitive des patients identifies. Les discordances concernant les noms et prenoms ont ete traitees de maniere automatique : le patient a ete considere comme identifie si une seule lettre du nom ou du prenom etait discordante apres suppression de la casse et des separateurs ou si pour deux lettres discordantes les deux premieres etaient les memes. Si la date de naissance etait discordante, le patient etait considere comme non identifie. Pour les patients nes a l’etranger, une discordance sur la ville de naissance (mais pas sur le pays) amenait le patient a etre considere comme identifie. Resultats Sur les 17 135 patients ayant eu une premiere visite entre juillet 2000 et decembre 2014, 15 438 (90 %) ont ete envoyes au CESP pour identification. Les donnees manquantes pour l’identification etaient essentiellement la ville de naissance, souvent non renseignee dans le dossier administratif et non recuperable via le NIR renseigne, qui est celui de l’ayant-droit. Parmi les patients envoyes, 1963 (12,7 %) n’ont pas ete identifies par le CESP ; 9940 (65 %) etaient identifies avec une ou plusieurs discordances mais apres le traitement automatique realise, seuls 811 (5,3 %) patients n’ont pas ete consideres comme identifies (date de naissance : 66 ; lieu de naissance : 23 ; nom : 724 ; prenom : 14). Les femmes etaient 61 % a etre identifiees contre 80 % des hommes. Au final, 4471 (26 %) patients n’ont pas ete inclus pour cause de donnees erronees/manquantes. Conclusion L’utilisation des bases de donnees nationales est un outil important pour la recherche epidemiologique qui peut etre limitee par la qualite des bases de donnees hospitalieres. Notre cas d’etude avec elaboration d’un algorithme ad hoc a permis de recuperer seulement 74 % des statuts vitaux des patients, avec un fort desequilibre en faveur des hommes.

Salmon lice Lepeophtheirus salmonis are an ecologically and economically important parasite of wild and farmed salmon. In Scotland, Norway, and Eastern Canada, L. salmonis have developed resistance to emamectin benzoate (EMB), one of the few parasiticides available for salmon lice. Drug resistance mechanisms can be complex, potentially differing among populations and involving multiple genes with additive effects (i.e., polygenic resistance). Indicators of resistance development may enable early detection and countermeasures to avoid the spread of resistance. Here, we collect sensitive Pacific L. salmonis and sensitive and resistant Atlantic L. salmonis from salmon farms, propagate in laboratory (F1), expose to EMB in bioassays, and evaluate either baseline (Atlantic only) or induced transcriptomic differences between populations. In all populations, induced responses were minor and a cellular stress response was not identified. Pacific lice did not upregulate any genes in response to EMB, but downregulated degradative enzymes and transport proteins at 50 ppb EMB. Baseline differences between sensitive and now resistant Atlantic lice were much greater than responses to exposures. All resistant lice overexpressed degradative enzymes, and resistant males, the most resistant group, overexpressed collagenases to the greatest extent. These results indicate an accumulation of baseline expression differences related to resistance.

The northern pike is the most frequently studied member of the Esociformes, the closest order to the diverse and economically important Salmoniformes. The ancestor of all salmonids purportedly experienced a whole-genome duplication (WGD) event, making salmonid species ideal for studying the early impacts of genome duplication while complicating their use in wider analyses of teleost evolution. Studies suggest that the Esociformes diverged from the salmonid lineage prior to the WGD, supporting the use of northern pike as a pre-duplication outgroup. Here we present the first genome assembly, reference transcriptome and linkage map for northern pike, and evaluate the suitability of this species to provide a representative pre-duplication genome for future studies of salmonid and teleost evolution. The northern pike genome sequence is composed of 94,267 contigs (N50 = 16,909 bp) contained in 5,688 scaffolds (N50 = 700,535 bp); the total scaffolded genome size is 878 million bases. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that over 96% of the protein-coding genome is present in the genome assembly. The reference transcriptome was constructed from 13 tissues and contains 38,696 transcripts, which are accompanied by normalized expression data in all tissues. Gene-prediction analysis produced a total of 19,601 northern pike-specific gene models. The first-generation linkage map identifies 25 linkage groups, in agreement with northern pike's diploid karyotype of 2N = 50, and facilitates the placement of 46% of assembled bases onto linkage groups. Analyses reveal a high degree of conserved synteny between northern pike and other model teleost genomes. While conservation of gene order is limited to smaller syntenic blocks, the wider conservation of genome organization implies the northern pike exhibits a suitable approximation of a non-duplicated Protacanthopterygiian genome. This dataset will facilitate future studies of esocid biology and empower ongoing examinations of the Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout genomes by facilitating their comparison with other major teleost groups.

This paper investigates the implementation of sub-resolution assist features (SRAFs) in high performance logic designs for the poly-gate conductor level. We will discuss the concepts used for SRAF rule generation, SRAF data preparation and what we term "binary" optical proximity correction (OPC) to prevent catastrophic line-width problems. Lithographic process window (PW) data obtained with SRAFs will be compared to PW data obtained without SRAF. SRAM cells are shown printed with annular illumination and SRAFs, for both the 130 nm and 100 nm logic nodes as defined by the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS). This study includes a comparison of the experimental results of SRAMs printed from designs corrected with rule-based OPC to those printed from designs corrected with model-based OPC.

Low dielectric constant materials in the back-end-of-line process are needed to reduce resistive-capacitive delays due to continually shrinking interconnect dimensions. Several organic dielectrics which have etch rates similar to photoresists, such as benzocyclobutene and diamond-like carbon, have been explored for compatibility with lithographic processes. In this paper we discuss integration issues from a lithographic perspective, including low-k materials selection and properties, integration sequences, use of hard masks and the effects on reflectivity, resist process compatibility and focus effects using an advanced DUV scanning system.

Virtually unheard of in health care 30 years ago, marketing research by hospitals is expanding at a notable rate, particularly among larger institutions located in highly competitive urban markets. Research applications are particularly pronounced at for-profit institutions, those heavily involved in managed care programs, and hospitals that are part of an integrated delivery system. However, the majority of hospital administrators surveyed indicated they do not invest in marketing research to track the effectiveness of their own institution's advertising.

Continuous onsite core analysis, coupled with slim hole drilling technology, offers the potential for a step change reduction in costs, and at the same time, adding significant value for exploration risk reduction in remote, environmentally sensitive areas. The added high quality, fit-for-purpose geologic information from continuous slim hole core analysis operations can be acquired at significantly reduced costs compared to conventional drilling.

The skin exposure and the energy transferred to the body (integraldose) increase with the child's growth. Nevertheless the mean body dose (integraldose/body-weight) is the highest in the youngest patient. The probability of roentgenray induced letal malignancy is approximately 1:9000--1:17000. The morbidity risk may be 2--3 times higher at the least.

During roentgen examens of patients in the II. Medizinische Poliklinik the X-ray exposure was determined. It corresponded to the datas described in literature. Two groupes were compared: 518 patients examined with a conventional roentgen-screen-system and 642 patients examined with an image-intensifer-television-system. The results demonstrated that with exception of thoracical X-ray examination the replacing of the old system by the television system brought a remarkable increase of the X-ray exposure. The doses depended of the patients constitution to a high degree.

The exposure received during investigation with the Delta 50 FS body scanner was measured in 150 patients. On the basis of data in IRCP 26, the somatic and genetic risk from the absorbed dose was calculated. The somatic risk per examination varies between 1:40 000 and 1:310 000, depending on the part of the body examined. The genetic risk (probability of radiation induced malformation in off-springs) is of the order of 1:19 000 to 1:1 5 million.

L'etude en RMN 13C des halogeno-2 t-butyl-4 cyclohexanones cis et trans permet de mesurer l'influence de la nature et de la stereochimie des halogenes sur les deplacements chimiques des differents carbones de la molecule. Les increments sont compares a ceux obtenus en serie cyclohexanique. Par comparaison entre les valeurs des deplacements chimiques experimentaux et calcules (a l'aide du jeu d'increments trouves precedemment) on montre sur des molecules mono- et dihalogenees de stereochimie et de conformation connues, que ces increments sont a la fois additifs et fonction lineaire de la valeur de la position de l'equilibre conformationnel. The halogen effects on the chemical shifts of the carbon nuclei of the cis- and trans-2-halogeno-4-tert-butylcyclohexanones are dependent on the nature and the stereochemistry of the halogen and are compared with those in the cyclohexane series. Comparison between observed and calculated chemical shifts of rigid and flexible mono- and dihalogenocyclohexanones shows that the halogen effects are additive and linearly dependent on the value of the conformational equilibrium.

It is shown that the main driving force which determines the conformational equilibrium of the α,α′ dihalogeno cyclohexanones ( trans, cis and gem ) is the difference between the polarizabilities of the substituents (X = F,Cl,Br); this is also the case of the 2-halogeno cyclohexanones (X = F,Cl,Br,I) where the 2-halogen is in competition with the trans 6-hydrogen.

Resume We describe the stereosperific synthesis of cis - and trans -2-fluoro-4-t-butyl cyclohexanone, obtained by the opening of the corresponding cis - and trans -epoxinitriles with hydrofluoric acid in the presence of boron trifluoride. These epoxides are obtained separately from cis -2-bromo-4-t-butylcyclo-hexanone. The fluorine NMR spectra of these rigid molecules are very sensitive to the conformational orientation of the halogen. Taking advantage of this fact, and combining fluorine and proton NMR data, we propose a conformational scale which can be used with accuracy for conformational analysis of fluorinated cyclohexanone derivatives.

Eight cores taken on the eastern flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from 3°N to 60°N document climatic shifts over the last 225,000 years. Southward penetration of polar water elimiontated the coccolith carbonate, heightened the amount of ice-rafted mineral detritus, and drastically altered the foraminiferal assemblages. Only a single polar foraminiferan, left-coiled Globigerina pachyderma , remained to dominate the cold waters, whereas diverse subpolar species and abundant Coccolithophorida fluorished in warmer times. The major glacial pulses occured from roughly 30,000–15,000 Y.B.P. (the late Wisconsin maximum) and from 160,000–135,000 Y.B.P. Shorter and less severe cold periods are present on at least four occasions in the last 225,000 years. Conversely, marked northward incursions of species typical of the present subtropical gyre happened at least six times, the three strongest being: slightly post Terminations I (8000 Y.B.P.) and the oldest approximately 175,000 Y.B.P. The continuing similarity through late Pleistocene time for foraminiferal and coccolithophorid assemblages in the six northernmost cores suggests there has existed a uniform water mass with minimal variations from 45°N to above 55°N. The southern margin (42–45°N) of this faunally-defined unit in the eastern Atlantic coincides with the southward limit of late Pleistocence polar water penetration.

The relevance of harmonic mappings to the SU(N) self-dual Yang-Mills field equations is clarified.

During roentgen examens of patients in the II. Medizinische Poliklinik the X-ray exposure was determined. It corresponded to the datas described in literature. Two groupes were compared: 518 patients examined with a conventional roentgen-screen-system and 642 patients examined with an image-intensifer-television-system. The results demonstrated that with exception of thoracical X-ray examination the replacing of the old system by the television system brought a remarkable increase of the X-ray exposure. The doses depended of the patients constitution to a high degree.

The skin exposure and the energy transferred to the body (integraldose) increase with the child's growth. Nevertheless the mean body dose (integraldose/body-weight) is the highest in the youngest patient. The probability of roentgenray induced letal malignancy is approximately 1:9000--1:17000. The morbidity risk may be 2--3 times higher at the least.

Several antibiotics have been shown by use of radioactive labeling to accumulate in phagocytes. The most prominent representatives of this group are clindamycin and erythromycin, which can be concentrated by human [both normal and chronic granulomatous disease (CGD)] PMNs up to 40 times the extracellular concentration [5, 7]. The question as to whether the intracellular antibacterial activity of antibiotics parallels their intracellular concentration is more difficult to answer and has directly been addressed by a few studies only. For example, Silva et al. [9] incubated normal and CGD PMNs with 0.05 mg/liter clindamycin (MIC = 0.06 mg/liter) during, prior to, or after phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus and found no significant improvement of intracellular killing with both normal and CGD PMNs. This result contradicts the uptake studies. We therefore reevaluated the problem by using a fluorochrome microassay that allows simultaneous determination of uptake and killing of bacteria under the influence of subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics. In order to test the intracellular activity of antibiotics it would be advantageous to employ either phagocytes with impaired killing function or microorganisms which survive intracellularly to a high degree. We tried both approaches: azide-treated or CGD PMNs were used for phagocytosis of staphylococci, thus establishing high intracellular survival rates due to defective granulocyte function; normal PMNs were used for phagocytosis of Listeria, which survived to 60% intracellularly without addition of antibiotics.

For chest X-ray in the ward and for intraoperative cholangiography the registered doses were low. A limitation of the exposures or the operations was not necessary. For osteosynthesis operations the doses for the patient and the staff could be kept low by preparing the operation adequately, by using modern image-intensifer units with grid and automatic regulation in fluoroscopy, and with discipline in using fluoroscopy. During one week a surgeon could do eight osteosynthesis operations without reaching legally imposed dose limit. The control area could be restricted to a space around the patient with a radius of two meters.

The exposure received during investigation with the Delta 50 FS body scanner was measured in 150 patients. On the basis of data in IRCP 26, the somatic and genetic risk from the absorbed dose was calculated. The somatic risk per examination varies between 1:40 000 and 1:310 000, depending on the part of the body examined. The genetic risk (probability of radiation induced malformation in off-springs) is of the order of 1:19 000 to 1:1 5 million.

The one-bond coupling constant 1J13CH for the halogenated carbon in α-halogenocyclohexanones is more important when the CH bond is in the equatorial then in the axial position. When a conformational equilibrium is present, the resulting coupling is a linear function of the equilibrium constant.