Cortinarius is the largest genus of ectomycorrhizal fungi worldwide. Recent molecular studies have shown high levels of morphological homoplasy within the genus. Importantly, DNA phylogenies can reveal characteristics that have been either over- or underemphasized in taxonomic studies. Here we sequenced and phylogenetically analysed a large set of pan-European and North American collections tax...

We conducted a phylogenetic analysis to characterize relationships among Bromus and test the monophyly of five of the seven morphologically distinct groups within Bromus (Poaceae: Pooideae) that have been treated as sections, subgenera, or genera. We sequenced the chloroplast trnL (UAA) intron, the 3!-end of the chloroplast ndhF gene, and the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the nuclear ri...

BACKGROUND The recently proposed recircumscription of the genus Atraphaxis (incl. Atraphaxis section Ovczinnikovia O.V. Yurtseva ex. S. Tavakkoli and Polygonum sect. Spinescentia Boissier (=A. sect. Polygonoides S. Tavakkoli, Kaz. Osaloo & Mozaff.) makes this genus fairly heterogeneous and therefore almost undefinable based on morphology. A critical comprehensive reappraisal of the group is nec...

a phylogenetic analysis of astragalus sect. alopecuroidei based on nrdna its as well as morphological character data is presented. a total of fifty informative morphological characters were analyzed to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships for 23 taxa of the sect. alopecuroidei and two species of sect. laxiflori plus a. sieversianus and a. caryolobus as outgroups. the present analysis revealed...

Phenolic compounds, which are known to regulate root formation, are found abundantly in difficult-toroot Protea cynaroides stem cuttings. In this study, analysis of total phenol content was carried out on blanched and unblanched cuttings to observe its fluctuation throughout the entire rooting period (120 days) and establish its relationship with root formation. Results showed that blanching si...

The Botryosphaeriaceae includes several species that are serious canker and leaf pathogens of Proteaceae. In the present study, sequence data for the ITS nrDNA region were used in conjunction with morphological observations to resolve the taxonomy of species of Botryosphaeriaceae associated with Proteaceae. Neofusicoccum luteum was confirmed from Buckinghamia and Banksia in Australia, and on Pr...

BACKGROUND Periprosthetic bone loss is considered to be a potentially contributing factor in aseptic loosening of acetabular hip components, but no studies have shown this association. The lack of association might be caused by insufficient image quality because of metal artifacts and challenges in measuring bone density (BMD) in complex anatomic structures which might be overcome using dual-en...

BACKGROUND To investigate the feasibility of using dual-energy CT (DECT) for tissue segmentation and kilovolt (kV) dose calculations in pre-clinical studies and assess potential dose calculation accuracy gain. METHODS Two phantoms and an ex-vivo mouse were scanned in a small animal irradiator with two distinct energies. Tissue segmentation was performed with the single-energy CT (SECT) and DE...

Recent work on the nature of luck widely endorses the thesis that an event is good or bad luck for an individual only if it is significant for that individual. In this paper, I explore this thesis, showing that it raises questions about interests, well-being, and the philosophical uses of luck. In Sect. 1, I examine several accounts of significance, due to Pritchard (2005), Coffman (2007), and ...