In July 2015, 179 grapevine plants belonging to 16 grapevine autochthonous cultivars were assessed for sanitary status using DAS ELISA test for the presence of: Grapevine fanleaf virus (GFLV), Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 1 (GLRaV-1), Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 (GLRaV-2)and Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3 (GLRaV-3). Furthermore, surveyfor the phytoplasma presence and laboratory analyses using nested-PCR/RFLP assay was conducted at the beginning of September 2015 on grapevine cultivars which were not positive in DAS ELISA test for the presence of the four viruses. Out of 179 tested plants with DAS ELISA test, 146 (81%) were positive for the presence of at least one virus. The most widespread viruses were GFLaV- 1 and GFLaV- 3 with approximately 80 % of grapevines infected. Nested–PCR/RFLP assay showed that out of 33 tested samples 2 were positive for the presence of phytoplasmas from 16SrXII group. Sanitation of infected grapevine cultivars is needed in near future.

Therapeutic response to metformin, a first‐line drug for type 2 diabetes (T2D), is highly variable, in part likely due to genetic factors. To date, metformin pharmacogenetic studies have mainly focused on the impact of variants in metformin transporter genes, with inconsistent results. To clarify the significance of these variants in glycemic response to metformin in T2D, we performed a large‐scale meta‐analysis across the cohorts of the Metformin Genetics Consortium (MetGen). Nine candidate polymorphisms in five transporter genes (organic cation transporter [OCT]1, OCT2, multidrug and toxin extrusion transporter [MATE]1, MATE2‐K, and OCTN1) were analyzed in up to 7,968 individuals. None of the variants showed a significant effect on metformin response in the primary analysis, or in the exploratory secondary analyses, when patients were stratified according to possible confounding genotypes or prescribed a daily dose of metformin. Our results suggest that candidate transporter gene variants have little contribution to variability in glycemic response to metformin in T2D.

Aim To compare morphologic variations of occipital sulci patterns in patients with schizophrenia and migraine headache regarding gender and laterality using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and visual evoked potentials (VEPs) as well as damage of visual pathway in patients with schizophrenia. Methods This study included 80 patients. Brain scans and visual evoked potential responses recorded over the occipital cortex were performed to analyze the occipital region of both hemispheres. Average total volumes of both hemispheres and average values of latency of the healthy population were used for comparison. Results There was statistically significant difference between subjects considering gender (p=0.012). Parameters of body of the calcarine sulcus (p=0.0325) showed statistically significant positive correlation with P100 latency (p=0.0449), inferior sagittal sulcus (p=0.0443) had significant positive correlation with P100 latency (p=0,0413), lateral occipital sulcus (p=0.0411) and P100 latency (p=0.0321) showed statistically significant difference only of left hemisphere in male patients with schizophrenia with shallower depth of the sulcus and P100 latency prolongation. Conclusion The consistency of the findings reveals distinct multiple brain regions, which show changes in the gray matter of patients with chronic forms of schizophrenia. The neurocognitive deficits of schizophrenia show highly consistent cross-sectional relationships to each type of functional outcome.

We discuss how to perform consistent extractions of anomalous triple gauge couplings (aTGC) from electroweak boson pair production at the LHC in the Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT). After recasting recent ATLAS and CMS searches in pp → W Z(W W ) → ℓ′νℓ+ℓ−(νℓ) channels, we find that: (a) working consistently at order Λ−2 in the SMEFT expansion the existing aTGC bounds from Higgs and LEP-2 data are not improved, (b) the strong limits quoted by the experimental collaborations are due to the partial Λ−4 corrections (dimension-6 squared contributions). Using helicity selection rule arguments we are able to explain the suppression in some of the interference terms, and discuss conditions on New Physics (NP) models that can benefit from such LHC analyses. Furthermore, standard analyses assume implicitly a quite large NP scale, an assumption that can be relaxed by imposing cuts on the underlying scale of the process (s^\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \sqrt{\widehat{s}} $$\end{document}). In practice, we find almost no correlation between s^\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$ \sqrt{\widehat{s}} $$\end{document} and the experimentally accessible quantities, which complicates the SMEFT interpretation. Nevertheless, we provide a method to set (conservative) aTGC bounds in this situation, and recast the present searches accordingly. Finally, we introduce a simple NP model for aTGC to compare the bounds obtained directly in the model with those from the SMEFT analysis.

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) dominate many of the European forest stands. Also, mixtures of European beech and Scots pine more or less occur over all European countries, but have been scarcely investigated. The area occupied by each species is of high relevance, especially for growth evaluation and comparison of different species in mixed and monospecific stands. Thus, we studied different methods to describe species proportions and their definition as proportion by area. 25 triplets consisting of mixed and monospecific stands were established across Europe ranging from Lithuania to Spain in northern to southern direction and from Bulgaria to Belgium in eastern to western direction. On stand level, the conclusive method for estimating the species proportion as a fraction of the stand area relates the observed density (tree number or basal area) to its potential. This stand-level estimation makes use of the potential from comparable neighboring monospecific stands or from maximum density lines derived from other data, e.g. forest inventories or permanent observations plots. At tree level, the fraction of the stand area occupied by a species can be derived from the proportions of their crown projection area or of their leaf area. The estimates of the potentials obtained from neighboring monospecific stands, especially in older stands, were poorer than those from the maximum density line depending on the Martonne aridity index. Therefore, the stand-level method in combination with the Martonne aridity index for potential densities can be highly recommended. The species’ proportions estimated with this method are best approximated by the proportions of the species’ leaf areas. In forest practice, the most commonly applied method is an ocular estimation of the proportions by crown projection area. Even though the proportions of pine were calculated here by measuring crown projection areas in the field, we found this method to underestimate the proportion by 25% compared to the stand-level approach.

Aim To investigate and assess knowledge and attitudes of pharmacists and physicians towards generic drugs prescription in order to evaluate current trends, obstacles to prescribe/dispense generics and suggest possible improvements of rational and economic prescribing having in mind scarce public budgets for drugs. Methods A cross-sectional survey among 450 primary care physicians (prescribers) and pharmacists in four major cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla and Mostar) during the period between January and March 2016 was conducted. The survey (questionnaire) was developed and physicians' and pharmacists' perception was examined using the 5-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics was used to examine respondents' characteristics and their responses to survey questions. The respondents perception based on different characteristics was assessed using ordinal logistic regression. Results Generally, positive attitudes towards generic drugs were found. Majority of respondents, 392 (87.0%) considered generic drugs the same as originators and they could be mutually substituted. Physicians were more likely to prescribe branded drugs, 297 (66.6%), even 391 (86.8%) were aware of generic alternatives. Respondents believed that patients considered generic drugs less effective, 204 (45.4%), and 221 (49.0%) disapproved generic substitution. Conclusion Our findings suggest that further education and more information about benefits of generic drugs should be provided to key stakeholders including patients. Also, clearer generic drugs policies should be introduced in order to improve generic prescribing and potentially improve access and optimize pharmaceutical public expenditures.