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Strontium-90 emits beta-particles and decays into yttrium-90. At this time, the beta-particles released affect a human body, and liquid scintillation counting is used to detect such beta-particles. In general, cocktail method that mixes samples and liquid scintillators is used in conventional liquid scintillator counters. In the cocktail method, the degree of miscibility or solubility between samples and scintillators, precipitation phenomena, etc. reduce the reproducibility of the experiment. A new method for measuring beta-particles after separating samples and scintillators from each other is presented. In addition, several experiments are conducted to investigate the efficiency and tendency of the new method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The machine‐readable formal language of classification expert systems has become a standard for applying plot assignment rules in vegetation classification. Here we present an efficient algorithm implementing the vegetation classification expert system in the statistical programming language R. Methods: The principal idea of the R implementation is to solve the assignments to vegetation types not sequentially plot by plot but to parse the assignment rules into (nested) components that each can be evaluated by simultaneous vector‐based processing of all plots in a database. Results and conclusions: We demonstrate the algorithm taking the EUNIS classification expert system of European habitat types (EUNIS‐ESy) as an example. The R code version of the vegetation classification expert system is particularly useful in large vegetation‐plot databases because it solves all logical operations vector‐wise across all plots, allowing for efficient evaluation of membership expressions and formulas. Another advantage of the R implementation is that membership formulas are not only readable but can also be produced as a machine‐written result, for example as the output of classification algorithms run in R. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To create a comprehensive, consistent and unequivocal phytosociological classification of European marsh vegetation of the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea. Location: Europe. Methods: We applied the Cocktail method to a European data set of 249,800 vegetation plots. We identified the main purposes and attributes on which to base the classification, defined assignment rules for vegetation plots, and prepared formal definitions for all the associations, alliances and orders of the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea using formal logic. Each formula consists of the combination of "functional species groups", cover values of individual species, and in the case of high‐rank syntaxa also of "discriminating species groups" created using the Group Improvement (GRIMP) method. Results: The European Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea vegetation was classified into 92 associations grouped in 11 alliances and six orders. New syntaxa (previously invalidly published according to the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature) were introduced: Bolboschoeno maritimi‐Schoenoplection tabernaemontani, Glycerio maximae‐Sietum latifolii, Glycerio notatae‐Veronicetum beccabungae, Schoenoplectetum corymbosi and Thelypterido palustris‐Caricetum elongatae. Based on a critical revision, some other syntaxa were rejected or excluded from the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea. Conclusions: This work provides the first consistent classification of the class Phragmito‐Magnocaricetea at the European scale, which is an important tool for nature conservation. Our classification largely respects previously existing concepts of syntaxa, but it also proposes modifications to the recently published EuroVegChecklist. This work also provides a protocol that can be used for extending the current classification to new syntaxa and geographical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The inhibition risk of shikonin on UGT enzymes was firstly investigated. • Shikonin significantly inhibited UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A9/PROG, and UGT2B7/AZTG activities in human and rat liver microsomes. • Shikonin exhibited no time-dependent inhibition on UGT activities. • Shikonin displayed competitive inhibition on UGT isoforms. Shikonin, a natural red colorant, is widely used for food garnishment and cosmetic ingredient in the world. Shikonin also possesses a variety of pharmacological actions, including anti-inflammation and anti-cancer activities. However, little is known about its effects on the UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of shikonin on the UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A6, UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 activities via the human and rat liver microsomal assay and cocktail approach. The results showed shikonin inhibited human and rat liver microsomal UGT activity only in a dose-dependent manner. The further enzyme kinetic studies demonstrated that shikonin was not only a competitive inhibitor of human UGT1A1, UGT1A9, and UGT2B7, but also presented competitive inhibition on rat UGT1A1 and AZTG reactions. In conclusion, shikonin as a reversible inhibitor of UGT enzyme has a high-risk potential to cause the possible toxicity, especially drug-drug or food-drug interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along with the prevalence of drug combination therapies, an increasing number of cases about drug-drug interactions (DDI) have been reported, which has drawn a lot of attention due to the potential toxicity and/or therapeutic failure. Pharmacokinetic interactions based on drug metabolic enzymes should be responsible for a great many of DDI. UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) as the main phase II metabolic enzymes are involved in the metabolism of many endogenous and exogenous substrates. Herein, we designed and optimized a validated cocktail method for the simultaneous evaluation of drug-mediated inhibition of the main five UGT isoforms using respective specific probe substrates (estradiol for UGT1A1, chenodeoxycholic acid for UGT1A3, serotonin for UGT1A6, propofol for UGT1A9/PROG and zidovudine for UGT2B7/AZTG) in human and rat liver microsomes by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC MS/MS). Moreover, we investigated the risk of interactions among UGT probe substrates, and validated the cocktail method by known positive inhibitors of UGT isoforms. To minimize the substrates interaction, we developed two cocktail subgroups which were further optimized via exploring the experimental conditions. In particular, the cocktail inhibition assay for rapid assessment of in vitro rat UGTs was firstly reported and the values of K m in the liver microsomes from humans and rats were close to each other in the specific UGT subtype. In conclusion, this study has successfully established the cocktail approach to explore UGT activity, especially for UGT inhibition in a fast and efficient way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe the classification approach and protocols that were used in the project Vegetation of the Czech Republic and relate them to the comparative framework for broad-scale plot-based vegetation classification proposed by De Cáceres et al. (2015). This description should facilitate comparison of this national vegetation classification with vegetation classifications in other countries. Location: Czech Republic. Methods: The project Vegetation of the Czech Republic, realized from 1997 to 2013, was based on the analyses of vegetationplot records from the Czech National Phytosociological Database. Associations were defined as the basic hierarchical level using formal definitions created with the Cocktail method. These formal definitions were included in a computer expert system for automatic identification of associations. Evaluation and characterization of associations were based on the groups of plot records assigned to the particular associations by the expert system. Higher classification levels were classified by type-based grouping of associations. A novel statistical method for determining diagnostic species of vegetation types was developed within the project. All the analytical procedures used and developed for the project were included in the JUICE program. Results: The national vegetation classification system was published in a four-volume monograph from 2007 to 2013. It consists of five hierarchical levels with nested vegetation types, including 9 formations, 39 classes, 138 alliances, 496 associations and for some associations also variants. At the same time the project infrastructure, including the expert system and the JUICE program, was published online. Conclusions: The national vegetation classification of the Czech Republic provided novel classification approach and protocols. Several elements of these protocols have been subsequently applied in other countries. At the national level, the classification has found various applications both in nature conservation and in basic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study intends to assess the application of Cocktail method in the classification of large vegetation databases. For this purpose, Buxus hyrcana dataset consisted of 442 relevés with 89 species were used and by the modified TWINSPAN. For running the Cocktail method, first primarily classification was done by modified TWINSPAN, and by performing phi analysis in the groups resulted five species were selected which had the highest fidelity value. Then sociological species groups were formed by examining co-occurrence of these 5 species with other species in the database. 21 plant communities belongs to 6 variant, 17 sub associations, 11 associations, 4 alliance, 1 order and 1 class were recognized by assigning 379 releves to the sociological species groups by using logical formulas. Also, 63 releves by the logical formula were not assigned to any sociological species groups, by FPFI index were assigned to the sociological species groups which had the most index value. According to 91% classification agreement with Brown-Blanquet classification and Cocktail classification, we suggest Cocktail method to vegetation scientists as an efficient alternative of Braun-Blanquet method to classify large vegetation databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Formalized classifications synthesizing vegetation data at the continental scale are being attempted only now, although they are of key importance for nature conservation planning. Therefore, we aim to provide a vegetation classification and to describe themain biogeographical patterns of floodplain forests and alder carrs in Europe. Location: Europe. Methods: A database of more than 40 000 vegetation plots of floodplain forests and alder carrs across Europe was compiled. After geographic stratification, 16 392 plots were available for classification, which was performed using the supervised method Cocktail. We also searched for new associations using semi-supervised Kmeans classification. Themain biogeographic patterns and climate-related gradients in species composition were determined using detrended correspondence analysis and cluster analysis. Results: Thirty associations of floodplain forests and alder carrs were distinguished, which belong to five alliances. The Alnion incanae includes riparian, seepage and hardwood floodplain forests in the nemoral and hemiboreal zones (dominated by Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior) and in the boreal zone (dominated by A. incana). The Osmundo-Alnion represents oceanic vegetation dominated by Alnus glutinosa, Fraxinus angustifolia and F. excelsior distributedmostly on the Iberian Peninsula and composed of species with Atlantic distribution and Iberian endemics. The Populion albae comprises floodplain forests frequently dominated by Fraxinus angustifolia, Populus alba and P. nigra that arewidespread in floodplains of large rivers under summer-dry climates in the Mediterranean region. The Platanion orientalis represents eastern Mediterranean floodplain forests dominated by Platanus orientalis. The Alnion glutinosae includes forest swamps dominated by Alnus glutinosa distributed mostly in the nemoral and hemiboreal zones. The main biogeographic patterns within European floodplain forests and alder carrs reflect the climatic contrasts between the Mediterranean, nemoral, boreal andmountain regions. Oceanic floodplain forests differ fromthose in the rest of Europe. The hydrological regime appears to be themost important factor influencing species compositionwithin regions. Conclusions: This study is the first applying a formalized classification at the association level for a broad vegetation type at the continental scale. The proposed classification provides the scientific basis for the necessary improvement of the habitat classification systems used in European nature conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Most vegetation classification systems developed for large areas include various inconsistencies. Therefore, we (1) propose a new consistent Cocktail-based approach to redefine the traditional phytosociological classification of species-poor vegetation; (2) apply it to create a classification protocol for aquatic vegetation; (3) implement this protocol in a computer expert system; and (4) test it with a data set previously classified using an older version of the Cocktail method. Methods The new approach uses formal logic to provide formal definitions of vegetation units. In the classification protocol for aquatic vegetation we defined consistent criteria for delimitation of associations according to the concepts that are predominantly used in phytosociology, based on species cover, dominance patterns and functional species groups. We applied these criteria in a computer expert system running in the JUICE 7.0 program, and applied them to a test data set of 12 171 vegetation plots from the Czech Republic containing at least one aquatic species. The new classification was compared with (1) the previous national Cocktail classification based on species cover values and in few cases on sociological species groups, and (2) a non-formalized expert-based classification. Results Thirteen functional species groups were created to build logical formulas of 64 aquatic associations and 5297 (44% of the total data set) vegetation plots were assigned to these associations, i.e. by 4% and 12% more than in the previous Cocktail and expert-based classifications, respectively. There was 94% and 83% classification agreement with the previous Cocktail and expert-based classification. Conclusions The new approach produces a formal, consistent and unequivocal classification of species-poor vegetation with several advantages over similar approaches. It provides not only a set of formal definitions of vegetation units, but also a set of rules for building such definitions. All associations with common characteristics are defined by structurally identical formulas, ensuring consistency of the classification. While similar approaches for species-rich vegetation use sociological species groups, which are not applicable to species-poor vegetation, the new approach introduces the use of functional species groups, which reflect vegetation physiognomy and spatial structure and, in combination with species dominance, enable the classification of species-poor vegetation in a similar manner as in traditional phytosociology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions What is the diversity and main vegetation types in mesic grasslands on the Iberian Peninsula? What are the main diagnostic species of each type? What are the main environmental gradients that drive patterns of species composition? To what extent does biogeography influence community diversity? Location Iberian Peninsula (Portugal and Spain, including the French Pyrenees). Methods Formal definitions based on the Cocktail method were used to establish a typology of mesic grasslands of the Arrhenatheretalia order. This method was applied to a stratified data set of 3485 relevés, also including other types of perennial grassland. Semi-supervised classification based on the K-means algorithm was used to assign almost 757 relevés into the vegetation types defined by Cocktail and to identify new ones. The types were compared by means of detrended correspondence analysis ( DCA) using climate data, altitude and Ellenberg indicator values as explanatory variables. Results Fourteen ecologically well-defined associations were distinguished in the Arrhenatheretalia order: five in the Arrhenatherion alliance, two in Triseto-Polygonion and seven in Cynosurion. Soil reaction, summer aridity and altitude were identified as the most important determinants of species composition. These lithological and bioclimatic gradients are related to the biogeographic diversity of the study area, which is the main driver of community diversity in Arrhenatheretalia grasslands; it is more important than the management practices expressed in the concept of alliances. The classification and ordination analyses also showed a clear differentiation in community diversity according to biogeographic sectors (eastern Cantabrian-Atlantic, Galician-Portuguese, Carpetan-Leonese, Pyrenean, Orocantabrian/western Pyrenean and Oroiberian/Catalan-Valencian). In addition, moisture and nutrient content were more important than altitude in differentiating Arrhenatherion and Triseto-Polygonion communities in the Pyrenees. Conclusions We suggest a simplification of the traditional classification of the Iberian Arrhenatheretalia grasslands. For this revised classification, we propose an electronic expert system with consistent rules for assigning vegetation observations to the associations defined, and a list of the diagnostic species of each vegetation type. These results can be applied to identify and monitor the hay meadows included in Annex I of the European Habitats Directive, taking into account the biogeographic context of the indicator species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specific species-rich high-altitude vegetation of the classCarici rupestris-Kobresietea bellardiiOhba 1974 (CK), with the occurrence of many arctic-alpine and endemic species, was chosen for a case study. The analyses were based on a dataset of 37,204 phytosociological relevés from the Slovak Vegetation Database. The traditional classification of the class CK, based on cluster analyses, was reproduced satisfactorily by means of formalised classification, based on the formal definitions created by the Cocktail method together with the frequency-positive fidelity index affiliation. Unequivocal assignment criteria for all eight associations of both alliances [Oxytropido-ElynionBr.-Bl. (1948) 1949 andFestucion versicolorisKrajina 1933] of the class CK were formulated. The formal delimitations followed the traditional ones very well. It was demonstrated that the results of applying the formal definitions created on the basis of a large, geographically stratified dataset capturing the occurrence of all vegetation types in Slovakia were highly similar in comparison with the traditional classification based on the results of cluster analysis. The reliability and the pros and cons of the expert system are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a syntaxonomical revision and statistical determination of diagnostic, constant and dominant species of higher syntaxa of Poland based on relevés stored in the Polish Vegetation Database. All the analyses were performed on a data set consisting of 43,686 relevés containing 2,853 species of vascular plants, bryophytes, algae and lichenized fungi. The data set was subjected to formalized and hierarchical classification, which revealed 44 classes and 153 alliances. The vegetation of Poland is divided into the classes: Zosteretea marinae, Charetea, Elyno-Seslerietea, Violetea calaminariae, Stellarietea mediae, Cakiletea maritimae, Salicetea herbaceae, Isoëto-Nano-Juncetea, Oxycocco-Sphagnetea, Ammophiletea arenariae, Potametea, Thero-Salicornietea, Carici- Kobresietea, Festuco-Puccinellietea, Erico-Pinetea, Juncetea trifidi, Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea, Lemnetea, Quercetea pubescentis, Littorielletea uniflofae, Koelerio-Corynephoretea, Rosopendulinae-Pinetea mugo, Cymbalario-Parietarietea, Bidentetea tripartitae,Alnetea glutinosae, Scheuchzerio-Caricetea, Robinietea, Montio-Cardaminetea, Thlaspietea rotundifolii, Festuco-Brometea, Salicetea purpureae, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Mulgedio-Aconitetea, Carpino- Fagetea, Calluno-Ulicetea, Quercetea robori-petraeae, Vaccinio-Piceetea, Polygono arenastri-Poëtea, Asplenietea trichomanis, Phragmito-Magno-Caricetea,Artemisietea vulgaris, Epilobietea angustifolii, Galio-Urticetea, Rhamno- Prunetea. In order to determine a diagnostic species for alliances and classes, statistical measures of fidelity were used. A revised list of vegetation units of Poland is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wuniu early tea (Camellia sinensis) is an important beverage consumed in China. Up to date, a lot of methods for identifying and chemical analysing have been done. However, there is no report on the effects of Wuniu early tea on cytochrome P450 isozymes. Therefore, the present objective of our study was to evaluate the potential effects of Wuniu early tea on cytochrome P450 isozymes P2C9, P1A2, P2C19 and P2B6 in rats with a cocktail approach including, matching probe drugs of tolbutamide, phenacetin, omeprazole and bupropion. These four probe drugs were simultaneously administered to rats after repeated Wuniu early tea administration. The pharmacokinetics of the probes in the plasma was simultaneous determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The t1/2 and AUC(0-∞) of tolbutamide increased significantly and CLz decreased remarkably in test rats after repeated Wuniu early tea administration. However, the main pharmacokinetic parameters of the other three probe drugs were not significantly different between control and test rats. The findings in this study suggested that Wuniu early tea could inhibit cytochrome P2C9 while did not influence on cytochrome P1A2, cytochrome P2C19 and cytochrome P2B6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To test whether species groups (i.e. assemblages of species co-occurring in nature) that are statistically derived at one scale (broad, medium, or fine scale) can be transferred to another scale, and to identify the driving forces that determine species groups at the various scales. Location Northern Bohemia (Czech Republic, central Europe) in the Ještědský hřbet mountain range and its neighbourhood. Methods Three data sets were sampled: a floristic data set at the broad scale, another floristic data set at the intermediate scale, and a vegetation data set at the habitat scale. First, in each data set, species groups were produced by the COCKTAIL algorithm, which ensures maximized joint occurrence in the data set using a fidelity coefficient. Corresponding species groups were produced in the individual data sets by employing the same species for starting the algorithm. Second, the species groups formed in one data set, i.e. at a particular scale, were applied crosswise to the other data sets, i.e. to the other scales. Correspondence of a species group formed at a particular scale with a species group at another scale was determined. Third, to highlight the driving factors for the distribution of the plant species groups at each scale, canonical correspondence analysis was carried out. Results Twelve species groups were used to analyse the transferability of the groups across the three scales, but only six of them were found to be common to all scales. Correspondence of species groups derived from the finest scale with those derived at the broadest scale was, on average, higher than in the opposite direction. Forest (tree layer) cover, altitude and bedrock type explained most of the variability in canonical correspondence analysis across all scales. Main conclusions Transferability of species groups distinguished at a fine scale to broader scales is better than it is in the opposite direction. Therefore, a possible application of the results is to use species groups to predict the potential occurrence of missing species in broad-scale floristic surveys from fine-scale vegetation-plot data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]