Small artificial waterbodies are widespread and persistent emitters of methane and carbon dioxide.

Inland waters play an active role in the global carbon cycle and emit large volumes of the greenhouse gases (GHGs), methane (CH4 ) and carbon dioxide (CO2 ). A considerable body of research has improved emissions estimates from lakes, reservoirs and rivers but recent attention has been drawn to the importance of small, artificial waterbodies as poorly quantified but potentially important emission hotspots. Of particular interest are emissions from drainage ditches and constructed ponds. These waterbody types are prevalent in many landscapes and their cumulative surface areas can be substantial. Furthermore, GHG emissions from constructed waterbodies are anthropogenic in origin and form part of national emissions reporting, whereas emissions from natural waterbodies do not (according to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines). Here, we present GHG data from two complementary studies covering a range of land uses. In the first, we measured emissions from nine ponds and seven ditches over a full year. Annual emissions varied considerably: 0.1-44.3 g CH4  m-2  year-1 and -36-4421 g CO2  m-2  year-1 . In the second, we measured GHG concentrations in 96 ponds and 64 ditches across seven countries, covering subtropical, temperate and sub-arctic biomes. When CH4 emissions were converted to CO2  equivalents, 93% of waterbodies were GHG sources. In both studies, GHGs were positively related to nutrient status (C, N, P), and pond GHG concentrations were highest in smallest waterbodies. Ditch and pond emissions were larger per unit area when compared to equivalent natural systems (streams, natural ponds). We show that GHG emissions from natural systems should not be used as proxies for those from artificial waterbodies, and that artificial waterbodies have the potential to make a substantial but largely unquantified contribution to emissions from the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use sector, and the global carbon cycle.

In-vivo isolation of circulating tumor cells in non-small cell lung cancer patients by CellCollector.

In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can provide information on patient prognosis and treatment efficacy. Currently CTCs are mostly isolated in vitro from small volumes of patient blood samples. The aim of the study was to assess a medical device for in vivo isolation of CTCs directly from the blood of NSCLC patients. The device was inserted in a cubital vein through a standard cannula for thirty minutes. The interaction of target CTCs with the CellCollector was mediated by an antibody directed against the epithelial cell adhesion molecule. There were 60 applications of the wire in 48 stage I-IIIB NSCLC patients and 12 non-cancer patients. The device was well tolerated in all applications without side effects. We obtained in vivo isolation of CTCs in 32 of 34 NSCLC patients (94.1%) with a median (range) of 13 (0-300) CTCs. In the non-cancer patients, no CTCs were detected. The safety and efficacy of an in vivo CTC detection method directly from the bloodstream of patients with NSCLC has been demonstrated. This proof of concept study may have important clinical implications, as the implementation of the device into clinical practice may improve early detection, prognosis and therapy monitoring of NSCLC patients.

Full spinal cord regeneration after total transection is not possible due to entropy change.

Transected spinal cord regeneration is a main challenge of regenerative medicine. The mainstream of research is focused on the promotion of spinal axons growth, which is strongly inhibited in mammals. Assuming that the inhibition of the axonal growth may be ever overcome, the complexity of neural reconnections may be the second serious stand to overcome. Peripheral nerve axons regeneration seem to form a random pattern of their targets reconnections. The hypothesis is that due to the laws of entropy or irreversible information loss the full spinal cord restoration after the transection is not possible. The hypothesis is discussed based on several assumptions. Simplifying the dissertation spinal cord is represented by 2millions of pyramidal axons. After the transection each of these axons has to make a growth and reconnect with exactly matching targets below the transection, in the same number. Axons are guided by neurotrophic factors and afterwards reconnected with neuroplasticity mechanisms. Assuming random reconnections, there are 2,000,000! permutations [Formula: see text] , therefore the chance of ideally random but correct reconnection of pyramidal axons with adequate targets is 1/2,000,000!. Apart from pyramidal axons, there are other axons, like extrapyramidal, sensory and associative. Empirical data and analysis of neurotrophic factors and organogenesis mechanisms may seem to slightly contradict the hypothesis, but strictly adhering to the second law of thermodynamics and entropy laws the full restoration of the transected cord may never be possible.

Divergence history of the Carpathian and smooth newts modelled in space and time.

Information about demographic history is essential for the understanding of the processes of divergence and speciation. Patterns of genetic variation within and between closely related species provide insights into the history of their interactions. Here, we investigated historical demography and genetic exchange between the Carpathian (Lissotriton montandoni, Lm) and smooth (L. vulgaris, Lv) newts. We combine an extensive geographical sampling and multilocus nuclear sequence data with the approximate Bayesian computation framework to test alternative scenarios of divergence and reconstruct the temporal and spatial pattern of gene flow between species. A model of recent (last glacial period) interspecific gene flow was favoured over alternative models. Thus, despite the relatively old divergence (4-6 mya) and presumably long periods of isolation, the species have retained the ability to exchange genes. Nevertheless, the low migration rates (ca. 10(-6) per gene copy per generation) are consistent with strong reproductive isolation between the species. Models allowing demographic changes were favoured, suggesting that the effective population sizes of both species at least doubled as divergence reaching the current ca. 0.2 million in Lm and 1 million in Lv. We found asymmetry in rates of interspecific gene flow between Lm and one evolutionary lineage of Lv. We suggest that intraspecific polymorphism for hybrid incompatibilities segregating within Lv could explain this pattern and propose further tests to distinguish between alternative explanations. Our study highlights the importance of incorporating intraspecific genetic structure into the models investigating the history of divergence.

[Changing the internal cost allocation (ICA) on DRG shares : Example of computed tomography in a university radiology setting]. / Umstellung der internen Leistungsverrechnung (ILV) auf DRG-Anteile : Beispiel der Computertomographie einer universitären Radiologie.

BACKGROUND: In hospitals, the radiological services provided to non-privately insured in-house patients are mostly distributed to requesting disciplines through internal cost allocation (ICA). In many institutions, computed tomography (CT) is the modality with the largest amount of allocation credits. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work is to compare the ICA to respective DRG (Diagnosis Related Groups) shares for diagnostic CT services in a university hospital setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data from four CT scanners in a large university hospital were processed for the 2012 fiscal year. For each of the 50 DRG groups with the most case-mix points, all diagnostic CT services were documented including their respective amount of GOÄ allocation credits and invoiced ICA value. As the German Institute for Reimbursement of Hospitals (InEK) database groups the radiation disciplines (radiology, nuclear medicine and radiation therapy) together and also lacks any modality differentiation, the determination of the diagnostic CT component was based on the existing institutional distribution of ICA allocations. RESULTS: Within the included 24,854 cases, 63,062,060 GOÄ-based performance credits were counted. The ICA relieved these diagnostic CT services by € 819,029 (single credit value of 1.30 Eurocent), whereas accounting by using DRG shares would have resulted in € 1,127,591 (single credit value of 1.79 Eurocent). The GOÄ single credit value is 5.62 Eurocent. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic CT service was basically rendered as relatively inexpensive. In addition to a better financial result, changing the current ICA to DRG shares might also mean a chance for real revenues. However, the attractiveness considerably depends on how the DRG shares are distributed to the different radiation disciplines of one institution.

Unprecedented transformation of [I(-)·I3(-)] to [I4(2-)] polyiodides in the solid state: structures, phase transitions and characterization of dipyrazolium iodide triiodide.

Dipyrazolium iodide triiodide, [C3N2H5(+)]2[I(-)·I3(-)], has been synthesized and studied by means of X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, dielectric measurements, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Two reversible, solid-solid phase transitions (Imma (I) ↔ (II) ↔Pbam (III)) at 254 K and 182/188 K respectively have been revealed. The anionic network experiences spectacular changes associated with a huge rebuilding of the inorganic network from [I(-)·I3(-)] to [I4(2-)]. The low frequency dielectric relaxation process occurs in phase II with the activation energy of ca. 34 kJ mol(-1). The molecular motion of the pyrazolium cations in [C3N2H5(+)]2[I(-)·I3(-)] has been studied by means of proton magnetic resonance studies ((1)H NMR). The ferroelastic properties of all phases have been confirmed by polarizing microscopy observations. The molecular mechanism of the phase transitions in the compound is proposed.

Development, validation and high-throughput analysis of sequence markers in nonmodel species.

DNA sequences derived from multiple regions of the nuclear genome are essential for historical inferences in the fields of phylogeography and phylogenetics. The appropriate markers should be single-copy, variable, easy to amplify from multiple samples and easy to sequence using high-throughput technologies. This may be difficult to achieve for species lacking sequenced genomes and particularly challenging for species possessing large genomes, which consist mostly of repetitive sequences. Here, we present a cost-effective, broadly applicable framework for designing, validating and high-throughput sequencing of multiple markers in nonmodel species without sequenced genomes. We demonstrate its utility in two closely related species of newts, representatives of urodeles, a vertebrate group characterized by large genomes. We show that over 80 markers, c. 600 bp each, developed mainly from 3' untranslated transcript regions (3'UTR) may be effectively multiplexed and sequenced. Data are further processed using standard, freely available bioinformatic tools, producing phase-resolved sequences. The approach does not require barcoded PCR primers, and the cost of library preparation is independent of the number of markers investigated. We hope that this approach will be of broad interest for researchers working at the interface of population genetics and phylogenetics, exploring deep intraspecific genetic structure, species boundaries and phylogeographies of closely related species.

No evidence for nuclear introgression despite complete mtDNA replacement in the Carpathian newt (Lissotriton montandoni).

Patterns of interspecific introgression may vary geographically, and the distribution of introgressed variants can yield insight into the historical dynamics of genetic interactions between hybridizing species. Urodele amphibians, often characterized by limited mobility, deep intraspecific genetic structuring and vulnerability to climatic changes, constitute suitable models for such historical inferences. Here, we combine an extensive survey of the mitochondrial (mtDNA) and nuclear (15 microsatellites) genomes in the Carpathian newt, Lissotriton montandoni (Lm) with species distribution modelling (SDM). Populations of the smooth newt, L. vulgaris (Lv) from the areas surrounding the Lm range were also sampled to test whether gene flow between these hybridizing species extends beyond the area of strict syntopy. The extent of introgression differs dramatically between the mitochondrial genome and the nuclear genome. While multiple, spatially and temporally distinct introgression events from Lv resulted in complete mtDNA replacement in Lm, there was little evidence of recent interspecific nuclear gene flow in the assayed markers. Microsatellite differentiation within Lm defines three units, probably derived from separate glacial refugia, located in the northern, eastern and southern part of the Carpathians. In situ survival and range fragmentation of Lm are supported by SDM, corroborating the role of the Carpathians as a major refugial area. Our results, in combination with previous reports of extensive introgression of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, emphasize the complexity of historical gene exchange between Lm and Lv.

Isolated true surface wave in a radiative band on a surface of a stressed auxetic.

We demonstrate that a surface resonance (pseudosurface wave) may transform into a true surface wave, i.e., acquire an infinite lifetime, at a single isolated point within a bulk band (radiative region) in a model of a stressed auxetic material. In contrast with the secluded supersonic elastic surface waves, the one found here does not belong to a dispersion line of true surface waves. Therefore we propose to call it an isolated true surface wave (ITSW). The ITSW manifests itself by a deltalike peak in the local density of states and by anomalies in reflection coefficients. The phenomenon may be useful in redirecting energy and/or information from the bulk to the surface in devices supporting guided acoustic waves.

Effect of surrounding tissue on propagation of axisymmetric waves in arteries.

A model of an artery consisting of a thin-walled flexible tube filled with a Newtonian incompressible liquid and surrounded by an external viscoelastic tissue is studied. The dispersion relations and attenuation lengths are determined for the lowest axially symmetric propagation modes: the Young, Lamb, and torsional modes. The numerical calculations confirm a low attenuation of the Young mode and a relatively weak dependence of its phase velocity on the elastic parameters of the surrounding medium. The Lamb and torsional modes show a nonzero frequency (a gap) at zero wave vector except for the limiting case of the absence of surroundings. The attenuation of the Lamb mode at zero frequency and the gap frequency turns out to be particularly sensitive to the elastic parameters of the surroundings. However, the spatial attenuation of the Lamb mode extends over a length of the order of 10cm at the viscoelastic parameters corresponding to human tissues. Such lengths are comparable to the size of human organs. Three kinds of local axially symmetric perturbations have been studied, and the corresponding amplitude ratios of the Lamb to the Young mode calculated. The amplitude of the Lamb mode turns out to exceed that of the Young mode by a factor of ten at some frequencies with perturbations involving axial motions. Physiological consequences of this effect are discussed.

Simple acoustic multiplexer.

Simple structures enabling the multiplexing of acoustic waves are presented. Such structures are constructed out of two monomode acoustic wires and two masses bound together, and to the wires by springs. We show analytically that these simple structures can transfer with selectivity and in one direction one acoustic wavelength from one wire to the other, leaving neighbor acoustic wavelengths unaffected. We give closed-form relations enabling to obtain the values of the relevant physical parameters for this multiplexing phenomena to happen at a chosen wavelength. Finally, we illustrate this general theory by an application.

Development of an odd-Z-projectile reaction for heavy element synthesis: 208Pb(64Ni,n)271Ds and 208Pb(65Cu,n)(272)111.

Seven 271Ds decay chains were identified in the bombardment of 208Pb targets with 311.5 and 314.3 MeV 64Ni projectiles using the Berkeley Gas-filled Separator. These data, combined with previous results, provide an excitation function for this reaction. From these results, an optimum energy of 321 MeV was estimated for the production of (272)111 in the new reaction 208Pb(65Cu,n). One decay chain was observed, resulting in a cross section of 1.7(+3.9)(-1.4) pb. This experiment confirms the discovery of element 111 by the Darmstadt Group who used the 209Bi(64Ni,n)(272)111 reaction.

Simple nanometric plasmon multiplexer.

We present a simple multiplexing structure made of two discrete plasmon wires coupled by two metal nanoclusters. We show that this simple nanosystem can transfer one plasmon wavelength from one wire to the other. Closed-form relations between the transmission coefficients and the nanocluster distances are given to optimize the desired directional plasmon ejection.

Chemical investigation of hassium (element 108).

The periodic table provides a classification of the chemical properties of the elements. But for the heaviest elements, the transactinides, this role of the periodic table reaches its limits because increasingly strong relativistic effects on the valence electron shells can induce deviations from known trends in chemical properties. In the case of the first two transactinides, elements 104 and 105, relativistic effects do indeed influence their chemical properties, whereas elements 106 and 107 both behave as expected from their position within the periodic table. Here we report the chemical separation and characterization of only seven detected atoms of element 108 (hassium, Hs), which were generated as isotopes (269)Hs (refs 8, 9) and (270)Hs (ref. 10) in the fusion reaction between (26)Mg and (248)Cm. The hassium atoms are immediately oxidized to a highly volatile oxide, presumably HsO(4), for which we determine an enthalpy of adsorption on our detector surface that is comparable to the adsorption enthalpy determined under identical conditions for the osmium oxide OsO(4). These results provide evidence that the chemical properties of hassium and its lighter homologue osmium are similar, thus confirming that hassium exhibits properties as expected from its position in group 8 of the periodic table.

On the sure criticality of tasks in activity networks with imprecise durations.

The notion of the necessary criticality (both with respect to path and to activity) of a network with imprecisely defined (by means of intervals or fuzzy intervals) activity duration times is introduced and analyzed. It is shown, in the interval case, that both the problem of asserting whether a given path is necessarily critical and the problem of determining an arbitrary necessarily critical path (more exactly, a subnetwork covering all the necessarily critical paths) are easy. The corresponding solution algorithms are proposed. However, the problem of evaluating whether a given activity is necessarily critical does not seem to be so easy. Certain conditions are formulated which, in some situations (but not in all possible situations), allow the necessary criticality of activities to be evaluated. The results obtained for networks with interval activity duration times are generalized to the case of networks with fuzzy activity duration times. Two effective algorithms for calculating the degree of necessary criticality of a fixed path, as well as an algorithm for determining the paths that are necessarily critical to the maximum degree, are proposed.

Comparison of biooxidation with carbon dioxide assimilation during bacterial growth on ferrous ion or elemental sulfur.

Biomass and oxygen uptake activity profiles of a mixed bioleaching culture were studied and compared at various temperatures. Bacteria were grown on ferrous ion or elemental sulfur in a Micro-Oxymax respirometer apparatus that allowed measurement of both oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide assimilation. Balanced growth was observed between 10 degrees C and 35 degrees C, with an optimum at 30 degrees C, on both energy sources. No significant growth was observed at the lowest temperature used, 5 degrees C, or at the highest temperature used, 40 degrees C. The oxygen to carbon dioxide molar yield was 50:1 when growing on ferrous ion but only 17:1 when growing on elemental sulfur. Upon transfer from a sulfide ore to a new energy source, greater numbers in the inoculum reduced the duration of the lag phase. Lag phase duration was also reduced by proximity to the optimum growth temperature. A longer lag phase decreased the achievable growth rate of the cells exponentially, significantly affecting biooxidation activity.

Virtual modelling of the surgical anatomy of the petrous bone.

The surgical anatomy of the petrous bone is difficult to learn and to imagine due to the porous structure. Obviously the surgeon's training is based on cadaver dissections as we are still lacking good, versatile models of the temporal bone and its important structures. The clearly visible, rapid development of computer science provides us with new possibilities that should be immediately engaged in modelling and simulating the human anatomy. The virtual, three-dimensional computer model of the bony pyramid was created based on the tomographic x-ray 1 mm slices and evaluated in accordance to its usefulness in learning and planning the neurosurgical approaches to the petrous region. The model was created in the virtual reality markup language, in order to make it available through the Internet. The basic anatomy of the main surgical approaches used in this region was visualised and evaluated in accordance with the real, intraoperative anatomy. The model could be easily accessed through the Internet. It was user-friendly and intuitive. The model seemed to be helpful in planning the basic approaches to the petroclival region. Computer science, with the help of the virtual modelling techniques, gives us a powerful method of learning and training surgical anatomy and approaches, although cadaveric dissection still remains the main point of the surgeon's training.

Anomalous X-ray diffraction with soft X-ray synchrotron radiation.

Anomalous diffraction with soft X-ray synchrotron radiation opens new possibilities in protein crystallography and materials science. Low-Z elements like silicon, phosphorus, sulfur and chlorine become accessible as new labels in structural studies. Some of the heavy elements like uranium exhibit an unusually strong dispersion at their M(V) absorption edge (lambdaMV = 3.497 A, E(MV) = 3545 eV) and so does thorium. Two different test experiments are reported here showing the feasibility of anomalous X-ray diffraction at long wavelengths with a protein containing uranium and with a salt containing chlorine atoms. With 110 electrons the anomalous scattering amplitude of uranium exceeds by a factor of 4 the resonance scattering of other strong anomalous scatterers like that of the lanthanides at their L(III) edge. The resulting exceptional phasing power of uranium is most attractive in protein crystallography using the multi-wavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) method. The anomalous dispersion of an uranium derivative of asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (hexagonal unit cell; a = 123.4 A, c = 124.4 A) has been measured for the first time at 4 wavelengths near the M(V) edge using the beamline ID1 of ESRF (Grenoble, France). The present set up allowed to measure only 30% of the possible reflections at a resolution of 4 A, mainly because of the low sensitivity of the CCD detector. In the second experiment, the dispersion of the intensity of 5 X-ray diffraction peaks from pentakismethylammonium undecachlorodibismuthate (PMACB, orthorhombic unit cell; a = 13.003 A, b = 14.038 A, c = 15.450 A) has been measured at 30 wavelengths near the K absorption edge of chlorine (lambdaK = 4.397 A, EK= 2819.6 eV). All reflections within the resolution range from 6.4 A to 3.4 A expected in the 20 degree scan were observed. The chemical state varies between different chlorine atoms of PMACB, and so does the dispersion of different Bragg peaks near the K-edge of chlorine. The results reflect the performance of the beamline ID1 of ESRF at wavelengths beyond 3 A at the end of 1998. A gain by a factor 100 for diffraction experiments with 4.4 A photons was achieved in Autumn 1999 when two focusing mirrors had been added to the X-ray optics. Further progress is expected from area detectors more sensitive to soft X-rays. Both CCD detectors and image plates would provide a gain of two orders of measured intensity. Image plates would have the additional advantage that they can be bent cylindrically and thus cover a larger solid angle in reciprocal space. In many cases, samples need to be cooled: closed and open systems are presented. A comparison with the state of art of soft X-ray diffraction, as it had been reached at HASYLAB (Hamburg, Germany), and as it is developing at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (USA), is given.

Surgical anatomy of anterior petrosectomy.

Neurosurgical procedures in the region of the petroclival region of the skull base require unique knowledge of the local anatomy. The measurements of this region considering the visible anatomical landmarks are helpful both during surgery and while planning the general schemes for the approach. We have evaluated the anatomy of the anterior surface of the petrous bone and of the middle fossa taking into consideration the surgical removal of part of the petrous bone--the anterior petrosectomy. We have measured the distances and angles between the chosen structures in this region. The measurements were taken on 10 skulls, on both sides. The results enrich the algorithm of the anterior petrosectomy.

Feasibility and review of anomalous X-ray diffraction at long wavelengths in materials research and protein crystallography.

The feasibility and a review of progress in the long-wavelengths anomalous dispersion technique is given in the context of the development of beamline ID1 of the ESRF for such studies. First experiments on this beamline and their analyses are described. The first study reports on the use of uranium which exhibits an unusually strong anomalous dispersion at its M(V) absorption edge (lambda(M(V)) = 3.5 A). The anomalous scattering amplitude of uranium with 110 anomalous electrons exceeds the resonance scattering of other strong anomalous scatterers like that of the rare earth ions by a factor of four. The resulting exceptional phasing power of uranium is most attractive in protein crystallography using the MAD method. The anomalous dispersion of a uranium derivative of asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase (hexagonal, a = 124.4 A, c = 123.4 A) has been measured at three wavelengths near the M(V) edge using beamline ID1 of the ESRF. The present set-up allowed the measurement of 10% of the possible reflections at a resolution of 8 A. This is mainly due to the low sensitivity of the CCD camera. The second study, involving DAFS experiments at wavelengths near the K-absorption edge of chlorine (lambda(K) = 4.4 A), reports the use of salt crystals which give rise to much stronger intensities of diffraction peaks than those of protein crystals. In the case of a crystal of pentamethylammonium undecachlorodibismuthate (PMACB, orthorhombic, a = 13.00 A, b = 14.038 A, c = 15.45 A), all reflections within the resolution range from 6.4 A to 3.5 A and the total scan width of 24 degrees were collected. The crystalline structure of PMACB implies two chemically distinct states of the Cl atom. Consequently, different dispersions near the K-edge of chlorine are expected. The dispersion of the intensity of five Bragg peaks of the PMACB crystal has been measured at 30 wavelengths. The relative success of these preliminary experiments with X-rays of long wavelength shows that the measurement of anomalous X-ray diffraction at wavelengths beyond 3 A is feasible. Starting from the experience gained in these experiments, an increased efficiency of the instrument ID1 by two to three orders of magnitude will be achieved in this wavelength range. A comparison with different techniques of anomalous diffraction which rely on the use of argon/ethane-filled multiwire chambers and image plates as detectors for wavelengths near the K-edge of sulfur and phosphorus is also given.