Beta-caryophyllene is a dietary cannabinoid

The psychoactive cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. and the arachidonic acid-derived endocannabinoids are nonselective natural ligands for cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB(1)) and CB(2) receptors. Although the CB(1) receptor is responsible for the psychomodulatory effects, activation of the CB(2) receptor is a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of inflammation, pain, atherosclerosis, and osteoporosis. Here, we report that the widespread plant volatile (E)-beta-caryophyllene [(E)-BCP] selectively binds to the CB(2) receptor (K(i) = 155 +/- 4 nM) and that it is a functional CB(2) agonist. Intriguingly, (E)-BCP is a common constituent of the essential oils of numerous spice and food plants and a major component in Cannabis. Molecular docking simulations have identified a putative binding site of (E)-BCP in the CB(2) receptor, showing ligand pi-pi stacking interactions with residues F117 and W258. Upon binding to the CB(2) receptor, (E)-BCP inhibits adenylate cylcase, leads to intracellular calcium transients and weakly activates the mitogen-activated kinases Erk1/2 and p38 in primary human monocytes. (E)-BCP (500 nM) inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proinflammatory cytokine expression in peripheral blood and attenuates LPS-stimulated Erk1/2 and JNK1/2 phosphorylation in monocytes. Furthermore, peroral (E)-BCP at 5 mg/kg strongly reduces the carrageenan-induced inflammatory response in wild-type mice but not in mice lacking CB(2) receptors, providing evidence that this natural product exerts cannabimimetic effects in vivo. These results identify (E)-BCP as a functional nonpsychoactive CB(2) receptor ligand in foodstuff and as a macrocyclic antiinflammatory cannabinoid in Cannabis.

Zur Keimungsgeschichte der Zuckerrübe

Von Professor Dr. R. Schander

Informatio de quinque propositionibus, ex Iansenii theologia collectis : quae Episcopi Galliae romano Pontifici ad censuram obtulere /

Mode of access: Internet.

Competitive interactions between four foliose lichens on north and south facing rock surfaces

Competition between four foliose lichen species which have distinct aspect distributions on slate rock in South Gwynedd, Wales, U.K. was studied in the field using a factorial experimental design. The lichens were grown as fragments glued to pieces of slate in monoculture and in two-, three- and four-species mixtures. The pieces of slate were placed to face a northerly or southerly direction. Growth in area (mm2) was used as a measure of performance in the experiment. The growth in area of Parmelia conspersa in south facing plots was not reduced in the presence of any of its competitors but its growth was reduced in the presence of Parmelia saxatilis in north facing plots. The growth of Parmelia glabratula ssp. fuliginosa was reduced in the presence of P. conspersa and P. saxatilis in south and north facing plots. Physcia orbicularis was reduced by P. conspersa in south facing plots and by both P. glabratula ssp. fuliginosa and P. saxatilis in north facing plots. The growth of P. saxatilis was increased by P. glabratula ssp. fuliginosa in south facing plots but was not reduced by any of its competitors in north facing plots. Significant two and three factor interactions suggested that the results from the three- and four-species mixtures were not always predictable from the results of the two-species mixtures. The results of the experiment may help to explain the existing aspect distribution of the four species on slate rock in South Gwynedd.

A Test of the Biogenicity Criteria Established for Microfossils and Stromatolites on Quaternary Tufa and Speleothem Materials Formed in the “Twilight Zone” at Caerwys, UK

Natural Resources Wales and Steven Griffiths are thanked for access to Caerwys quarry and permission to work on the site. Sebastiaan Edelman and Thomas Logeman assisted with fieldwork and provided some of the field photographs. Bouke Lacet (Sedimentology laboratory, VU University Amsterdam) prepared the thin-sections. Three anonymous reviewers helped to sharpen the manuscript, and Sherry Cady provided valuable editorial advice and assistance. A.T.B. was inspired by Martin Brasier. He dedicates this manuscript to his father’s memory.

A Test of the Biogenicity Criteria Established for Microfossils and Stromatolites on Quaternary Tufa and Speleothem Materials Formed in the “Twilight Zone” at Caerwys, UK

Natural Resources Wales and Steven Griffiths are thanked for access to Caerwys quarry and permission to work on the site. Sebastiaan Edelman and Thomas Logeman assisted with fieldwork and provided some of the field photographs. Bouke Lacet (Sedimentology laboratory, VU University Amsterdam) prepared the thin-sections. Three anonymous reviewers helped to sharpen the manuscript, and Sherry Cady provided valuable editorial advice and assistance. A.T.B. was inspired by Martin Brasier. He dedicates this manuscript to his father’s memory.

A Test of the Biogenicity Criteria Established for Microfossils and Stromatolites on Quaternary Tufa and Speleothem Materials Formed in the “Twilight Zone” at Caerwys, UK

Natural Resources Wales and Steven Griffiths are thanked for access to Caerwys quarry and permission to work on the site. Sebastiaan Edelman and Thomas Logeman assisted with fieldwork and provided some of the field photographs. Bouke Lacet (Sedimentology laboratory, VU University Amsterdam) prepared the thin-sections. Three anonymous reviewers helped to sharpen the manuscript, and Sherry Cady provided valuable editorial advice and assistance. A.T.B. was inspired by Martin Brasier. He dedicates this manuscript to his father’s memory.

Systematics of African Amphicyonidae, with descriptions of new material from Napak (Uganda) and Grillental (Namibia)

The Early Miocene Napak XV locality (ca 20.5 Ma), Uganda, has yielded an interesting assemblage of fossils, including the very well represented amphicyonid Hecubides euryodon. The remarkable find of a nearly complete mandible, unfortunately with poorly preserved dentition, together with new dental remains allow us to obtain a better idea about the morphology and variability of this species. Additionally, we describe a newly discovered mandible of Hecubides euryodon from the Grillental-VI locality (Sperrgebiet, Namibia), which is the most complete and diagnostic Amphicyonidae material found in this area. Comparisons with Cynelos lemanensis from Saint Gérand le Pouy (France), the type locality, and with an updated sample of the species of amphicyonids described in Africa leads us to validate the genus Hecubides. Hecubides would be phylogenetically related to the medium and large size species of Amphicyonidae from Africa, most of them now grouped into the genera Afrocyon and Myacyon, both endemic to this continent.

Étude des stratégies favorisant le transfert des apprentissages chez les adultes ayant suivi une formation intensive

Certaines sources affirment que les apprenants adultes ne retiennent que 10% des apprentissages faits lors d'une session de formation. Le but visé par cette recherche est donc d'identifier les stratégies favorisant le transfert des apprentissages chez les adultes. Pour ce faire, le chercheur a d'abord consulté les auteurs Malcolm Knowles, Alan B. Knox, Patricia K. Cross et Claudette Montpetit entre autres, pour établir les caractéristiques des adultes. Ces derniers ont une expérience de vie et de travail, des attentes et des connaissances qui les distinguent des jeunes étudiants, ce qui exige des stratégies d'enseignement différentes, qui tiennent compte de ces éléments. Ceci étant posé, les recherches effectuées par Jean-Marc Pilon et R. R. Haccoun, C. Jeanrie, A. Bernard, D. Desjardins et N. Murtada du groupe GRAFT ont été déterminantes pour le chercheur. Ces derniers ont recommandé l'application de certaines stratégies avant, pendant et après la formation, dans le but d'augmenter le transfert des apprentissages chez les adultes. Le devis de recherche montre que cette étude de cas s'est faite en appliquant ces stratégies auprès de trois groupes d'apprenants adultes s'inscrivant à une session intensive de perfectionnement suite à un changement technologique survenant dans leur milieu de travail. Les résultats de la recherche ont démontré par ailleurs que ces stratégies pouvaient effectivement favoriser le transfert des apprentissages surtout celles mises en place après la formation et qui, dans certains cas peuvent même être l'ultime élément déclencheur dans la décision de transférer les apprentis sages. En conclusion, le lecteur pourra constater que la phase « pendant l'activité de formation » est la seule sur laquelle le formateur a une emprise. Pour les autres, soit celles avant et après le perfectionnement, il revient au conseiller pédagogique de convaincre les gestionnaires de l'importance de ces activités. Mais en-a-t-il le pouvoir, le loisir et surtout est-il lui-même conscient de l'importance de cette démarche?

Un análisis bibliométrico de microcurrículos de Ciencia Política en Colombia

Dado lo anterior, este artículo plantea la necesidad de abrir la reflexión sobre los contenidos y lecturas que unen a los programas de Ciencia Política en el país, aun a sabiendas de que la fragmentación ha sido una realidad inocultable y que la propia vocación multidisciplinar del estudio de la política es necesaria. No se trata, pues, de un estudio cuyo objetivo sea homologar y homogenizar una disciplina que por su propia naturaleza debe ser abierta, plural y desregulada. Se trata más bien de un trabajo que busca responder a preguntas como: ¿Hay elementos comunes entre estos programas? ¿Hay ele-mentos divergentes? En general, ¿cuáles son las tendencias que se vislumbran en la enseñanza de la Ciencia Política en Colombia? ¿Qué —y cómo— se está enseñando a los estudiantes que aspiran a ser politólogos en el país?