bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The diagnostic and clinical impact of the genetic variability of the S (surface) gene of hepatitis B virus / Diagnostische und klinische Relevanz der genetischen Variabilität des S- (surface) Gens des Hepatitis B Virus
Authors: Weber B.
Published: August 2004

The genetic variability of hepatitis B virus (HBV) represents
a challenge for the sensitivity of immunodiagnosis,
especially for the detection of surface antigen (HBsAg).
There are two types of variants of HBV. Naturally occurring
variants are the results of random changes selected
over years of population pressure. These variants include
HBV genotypes and unusual sequences, which may be
poorly detected by immunoassays. The selected variants
are mutants that arise in individuals under medically (vaccine,
hepatitis B immune globulin and antiviral therapy)
or naturally (chronic hepatitis B) induced immune pressure.
HBV S-gene mutants have been identified in successfully
immunized people worldwide. Based on the
assumption that current vaccines containing S protein do
not cross-protect against S gene mutants, a mathematical
model predicts the disappearance of wild-type HBV
in areas with HBsAg endemicity and the emergence of S
gene mutants in approximately 100 years as a consequence
of universal HBV vaccination. Mutant viruses
may escape detection by commercial HBsAg kits. There
are several reports on HBsAg negative carriers (HBV-DNA
positive) of S gene mutants with immunosilent
infection or "unusual" serologic constellations. Although
S gene mutants have been found to be associated with
a more severe clinical course of HBV infection and hepatocellular
carcinoma, the clinical significance of the
genetic variability of HBV genotypes and HBsAg mutants
needs to be further investigated. Detection of HBsAg
needs to be improved by the introduction of new HBsAg
assays able to recognize S gene mutants described so
far and with a lower detection threshold than current immunoassays in order to detect smallest amounts of
HBsAg in low-level carriers. There is also a need for more
complete epidemiological data on the prevalence of
HBsAg mutants in Western Europe and assays for the
(differential) screening of mutants need to be developed
and evaluated.
Die Situation des Qualitätsmanagements in Österreich / Quality Management in Austria
Authors: Schweiger Ch. R.
Published: August 2004

This article deals with the situation of quality management
in Austrian medical laboratories. Starting in 1994
after several rounds of discussion, the Society for Good
Analytical und Laboratory Practise (GALP) was founded
by the two major societies for laboratory medicine und
clinical chemistry. This society had the purpose to work
out strategies for quality management for Austrian medical
laboratories. The major outcome of the activities was
the adoption of ISO 9002:1994 as the model for quality
management in medical laboratories and the publication
of a guideline for the implementation of ISO 9002:1994
in the medical laboratories. This guideline was the basis
for many medical laboratories in Austria to seek ISO
9001/2:1994 certification. Currently most medical laboratories
(except those in hospitals, where certification is
not so prevalent) are ISO 9000 certified.
The next major development in quality management
was the adoption of the third medical device guideline of
the European Union (IVD-Guideline) and its national
implementation in the Austrian Law on Medical Devices.
This law includes several clauses, which can be used by
the ministry of health to require quality management systems
in medical laboratories and to establish rules for
certification agencies in this field. However, the implementation
of these clauses in the law is weak due to the
lack of resources on side of the ministry. Nevertheless,
European Union demands will lead to more effective
measures as they did in the field of clinical studies. The
development of EN ISO 15189:2003, which will be published
in German language in December 2003, will lead
to a change from certification to accreditation, at least in
the high quality segment of medical laboratories. This will
bring Austria in line with the international situation.
Currently, quality does not have any impact on reimbursement
of medical laboratories in Austria, so quality matters only in terms of cost but not in terms of higher
earnings. Therefore quality is motivated by idealistic factors
which tend to lose when economic pressures rise.
In the future, changes in this field will be necessary too.
Proteolytic degradation of cardiac troponin I does not influence the TOSOH
AIA-PACK cTnI 2G assay, a second generation test for the determination
of troponin I / Der proteolytische Abbau des kardialen Troponin I hat keinen Einfluss auf den TOSOH AIA-PACK cTnI 2G Assays,
ein Test der zweiten Generation zur Bestimmung des Troponins
Authors: Brinkmann T. , Götting C. , Kleesiek K.
Published: August 2004

We have evaluated the cardiac troponin I (cTnI) enzyme
immunoassay AIA-PACK cTnI 2G (Tosoh Bioscience).
The interassay precision at different cTnI levels (0.30
6.70 ng/ml-1) showed coefficients of variation (CV)
between 5.00% and 4.71% on the AIA 600 II instrument.
These data are in accordance with the functional sensitivity
(0.04 ng/ml-1) and analytical sensitivity (0.02 ng/ml-1) specified by the manufacturers.
Comparative troponin I measurements in serum samples
were performed on the AIA-600 II analyser (Tosoh
Bioscience) and the Dimension RxL analyser (Dade Behring).
The cTnI concentration of serum samples (n=226)
ranged from 0 ng/ml-1 to 114 ng/ml-1. Regression analysis
of the cTnI values obtained showed a close correlation
between both results (RxL=0.96 AIA+0.38;
r=0.960).
To induce proteolytic in vitro degradation of the cTnI
molecule, patient serum samples (n=20) were incubated
at 37C for 24 h and the cTnI concentration was determined
before and after the incubation with both analysers.
The cTnI concentration measured with the AIA-600
II analyser showed nearly identical values before and
after the incubation period. However, cTnI measured with the Dimension RxL analyser showed decreased cTnI values
in a range of 10 to 50% after the incubation period.
The AIA-PACK cTnI 2G assay uses two different monoclonal
antibodies against two epitopes in the proteolytic
stable region of the cTnI molecule (between position 40
and 90 of the cTnI amino acid sequence). Therefore,
measurement of cTnI in serum remains precise and specific in spite of in vitro proteolysis.
Evaluation of total Hepatitis C virus core antigen quantification / Evaluierung eines Tests zur Quantifizierung des Hepatitis C Kern Antigens
Authors: Hass I. , Stelzl E. , Haas J. , Marth E. , Kessler H. H.
Published: August 2004

Infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are pandemic. The
WHO estimates a worldwide prevalence of 3%. For monitoring
of chronic hepatitis C, assays for direct virus
detection are employed. In this study, an improved version
of the Ortho® trak-C assay™ (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics,
Raritan, NJ) for detection of the HCV core
antigen was evaluated. Precision, interassay, and intraassay
variation were determined and a total of 115 clinical
specimens were investigated. When precision of the
Ortho® trak-C assay™ was evaluated, the assay gave
positive results in those samples above the expected
detection limit. Interassay coefficients of variation ranged
between 6–25%, while intra-assay coefficients of variation
were found to be between 19%. When clinical samples
were tested with the Ortho trakC assay and
compared with results obtained with the Cobas Ampli
Prep/Cobas Amplicor HCV Monitor Test (Roche Molecular
Systems, Inc., Branchburg, NJ), 66% of all positive
values were found to be within a +-0.5 log difference of
the level obtained with the molecular assay. In conclusion,
the Ortho® trak-C™ assay showed a good test performance
and proved to be suitable for the
routine-diagnostic laboratory.
Can CA19-9 kinetics replace imaging procedures in response evaluation
of patients undergoing chemotherapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer? / Kann die Kinetik des CA19-9 bei der Response-Evaluation von chemotherapeutisch behandelten
Patienten mit metastasierendem Pankreaskarzinom bildgebende Verfahren ersetzen?
Authors: Stemmler H. J. , Stieber P. , Heinemann V.
Published: August 2004

Background: Response evaluation by standard imaging
procedures such as computed tomography (CT) may be
difficult in patients undergoing chemotherapy for
advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer. The aim of
the study was to determine whether kinetics of CA19-9
levels can replace imaging procedures in evaluating the
response to chemotherapy in these patients.

Patients and methods: Patients with advanced or
metastatic pancreatic cancer were included in the study.
Patients received a combination chemotherapy consisting
of gemcitabine (1000 mg m−2 d1, 8, 15) and cisplatin
(50 mg m−2 d1, 15) repeated on day 29. Treatment was
continued until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression
occurred. CA19-9 levels were measured directly
before each cytotoxic treatment cycle. CA19-9 response
was defined by a ≥50% decrease in CA19-9 serum levels
within two months after treatment initiation.

Results: A total of 77 patients with initially elevated
CA19-9 levels were included for evaluation (f/m = 26/61;
stage 3/4 = 24/63). Out of 15 patients who had responded
to chemotherapy regarding imaging criteria (CR 4, PR
11, OR 19.5%), 14 patients were classified as CA19-9
responders. Although 62 patients had not responded to
chemotherapy by CT-imaging criteria, 29 patients fulfilled
the criterion of a CA19-9 responder. The low value of
CA19-9 kinetics in predicting imaging results (positive
predictive value 32.5%) seems to be clinically irrelevant
since CA19-9 responders, independent of imaging criteria,
have a significant improvement of survival time
compared to non-responders (295 days; 95%CI:
285–445 vs 174 days; 95%CI: 134–198; p = 0.022).

Conclusion: CA19-9 kinetics are unable to predict
tumor response regarding imaging criteria. However, the
kinetic of CA19-9 in a patient undergoing chemotherapy
for pancreatic cancer seems to be a reliable indicator in
predicting survival.
Ist die Tumormarker-Profilauswertung wirklich (fuzzy) logisch? / Is the analysis of tumor marker profiles (fuzzy) logical?
Authors: Bitterlich N.
Published: August 2004

Fuzzy-based procedures of multiparametric pattern recognition
have been established in technical diagnostics and industrial automation for more than 10 years. The
consideration of fuzziness has broken new ground in
computer-aided decision support which still goes on
successfully today. The capability of this methodology
significantly benefits from the inclusion of knowledge,
experience, and applied examples. A further advantage
of these procedures consists in the terminological transparency
and ease of comprehension. Instead of abstract
mathematical formulas, the algorithms are described by
verbal rules. This aspect particularly facilitates the interdisciplinary
cooperation between users and mathematicians,
and in this way facilitates a time- and cost-effective
system development as well.

However, the utilization of fuzzy systems is effectual
only if the problem is suitable for fuzzy treatment. As an
example, these requirements are examined in the analysis
of tumor marker profiles. The illustration of basic ideas
and principles provides the understanding of the
mathematical data evaluation without direct confrontation
with algorithms. As a result, an increase of sensitivity
on high specificity is achievable. The particular steps of
calculation seem to conform to the subjective decision
making when tumor markers are analyzed.
Diagnostik von Hypophysenadenomen / Diagnostics of pituitary adenomas
Authors: Klingmüller D. , Saller B. , Quabbe H.-J.
Published: August 2004

Pituitary adenomas are rare benign tumors with delayed
manifestation which can include headaches and symptoms
of nerve compression, such as visual field disturbances
or endocrine dysfunction. Endocrine abnormalities
can be the result of overproduction of pituitary
hormones, pituitary insufficiency, or a combination of
both. The evaluation of suspected pituitary tumors
should include the determination of the presence and
type of hormone hypersecretion as well as hyposecretion,
combined with pituitary imaging. Screening for pituitary
dysfunction is achieved by assessing the pituitary
and target hormone concentrations in blood, maybe followed
by dynamic tests of the pituitary function.
Diagnostik des Wachstumshormonmangels und des Wachstumshormonexzesses
(Akromegalie) / Diagnostics of growth hormone deficiency and excess (acromegaly)
Authors: Herrmann B. L. , Mann K. , Janssen O. E.
Published: August 2004

Growth hormone (GH) is synthesized in the anterior lobe
of the pituitary gland and has a plasma half-life of
19 minutes. GH-secretion is regulated by hypothalamic
releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulation and somatostatin
inhibition. The major effect of GH is the stimulation of
insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) synthesis and secretion
by the liver. However, GH also has other biological
effects through other mediators. Serum-IGF-1 is bound
to IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) and to acid-labile
subunit (ALS). The GH/IGF-1-axis is evaluated when
either GH-deficiency (GHD) or GH-excess (acromegaly)
are suspected. GHD is confirmed by a diminished GHresponse
to insulin-induced hypoglycemia (normal range
GH >5 μg/l) or to administration of GHRH+arginine
(normal range GH >9 μg/l). Acromegaly has distinct clinical
signs and is confirmed when GH can not be suppressed
below 1 μg/l by an oral glucose tolerance test
in combination with elevated IGF-1 levels adjusted for
age.
Primary aldosteronism: Diagnosis and differential diagnosis / Primärer Hyperaldosteronismus: Diagnose und Differentialdiagnose
Authors: Schirpenbach C. , Seiler L. , Beuschlein F. , Reincke M.
Published: August 2004

Primary aldosteronism, characterized by hypertension
and low-to-normal potassium levels, has lately been recognized
as a rather frequent cause of secondary hypertension.
The two principle reasons for primary
aldosteronism are bilateral adrenal hyperplasia and
aldosterone-producing adenoma. Screening for primary
aldosteronism is performed by measuring the aldosterone/
renin ratio, which has good accuracy even if the
patient is under medication. The diagnosis needs to be
confirmed by further diagnostic procedures and, since
the therapy of the subtypes varies, differential diagnosis
is required. Bilateral adrenal hyperplasia is treated
through medication, whereas hypertension due to adenoma
can be cured or improved by adrenalectomy.
Aviditätsuntersuchungen spezifischer IgG in Seren von Syphilispatienten / Investigations of avidity of specific IgG in sera of patients with syphilis
Authors: Blatz R. , Kruppa A. , Rodloff A. C.
Published: August 2004

Background: Syphilis is among the infections that are
characterized best by serologic methods. Nevertheless,
in single cases evaluation may be difficult. The aim of
this study was to investigate the avidity of specific IgG
to achieve additional information.

Patients and methods: In 182 previously analyzed
sera from syphilitic patients the avidity of Treponema pallidum-
specific IgG was estimated by means of ELISA
(endpoint detection).

Results:
Treponema pallidum-specific IgG reached
postinfectious avidity values of 20% after about four
weeks and of 40% after six months without therapy. Values
above 60% could be detected only in special cases.
Between avidity and specific IgM–but not avidity and
Cardiolipin microflocculation test -, a reverse proportional
relationship exists. Persistence of specific IgM is evidenced
by the avidity values.

Conclusions: Avidity detection of specific IgG gives
evidence of the time of primary infection. The estimation
of avidity besides conventional diagnostics in syphilis
may confirm cases suspected of reinfections, give additional
information in problematic cases or in cases for an
expert's certificate.
Anwendung der HPLC-Tandem-Massenspektrometrie in der klinischen Chemie / The use of HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry in clinical chemistry
Authors: Vogeser M.
Published: August 2004

The technology of liquid chromatography-tandem mass
spectrometry opens the perspective of a more widespread
use of highly specific mass spectrometric assays
in a routine clinical laboratory setting as compared to gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry. After the first years
of routine application of liquid chromatography-tandem
mass spectrometry in a growing number of laboratories,
it has become evident that this technique will become a
substantial part of the methodological spectrum of laboratory
medicine. This is due to the very wide range of
potential analytes to be measured with no limitation by
molecular mass, the straightforward sample preparation
not requiring chemical derivatization and due to the rugged
instrumentation with limited maintenance requirements.
This review gives a survey of the technical
principles of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry,
describes the basics of method development
and typical routine applications, discusses strengths and
limitations of the technique, and highlights the perspectives
for future developments of the technology.
Genexpressionsanalysen bei akuten Leukämien: Diagnostik der Zukunft? / Gene expression profiling in acute leukemia: diagnostics of the future?
Authors: Haferlach T. , Kohlmann A. , Schnittger S. , Dugas M. , Kern W. , Schoch C.
Published: August 2004

A comprehensive diagnosis in leukemia relies on a
combination of several methods. Cytomorphology, cytochemistry,
cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization,
multiparameter flow cytometry, and molecular
methods are applied in parallel. Recently, gene expression
profiling using microarrays has made it possible to
measure the expression of thousands of genes in one
step. The respective specific signature leads to a molecular
fingerprint of the tumor sample. Therefore, gene
expression profiling may lead to a better molecular classification,
insights into pathophysiology of malignant and
benign diseases as well as to new treatment options.
This can be approached best by using well-defined
tumor subtypes. Thus, leukemias are a very informative
model system. Furthermore, gene expression profiling
may lead to new targeted therapies and can detect genes
to be used for minimal residual disease studies. Very
recent studies also mention the possibility of using gene
expression profiling for prognostication. In conclusion,
microarrays may lead to a single platform for leukemia
diagnosis with quick and very robust and even cheaper
results. Therefore, this new method should be further validated
in parallel to the standard work-flow and has to
be proven before substituting other methods in the
future.
Patientennahe Laboratoriumsdiagnostik (Point-of-Care-Testing): Empfehlungen zum Einsatz von unterschiedlichem Probenmaterial für die Diagnostik des Diabetes mellitus / Bedside testing in laboratory diagnostics (point-of-care testing): recommendations for the use of different testing materials in the diagnostics of Diabetes mellitus
Authors: Haeckel R. , Hänecke P. , Koschinsky T. , Luppa P. , Schlebusch H. , Wahl H. G.
Published: August 2004

Besides venous plasma exclusively recommended by the
WHO other five sample systems are used for the diagnostics
of glucose intolerance particularly at point-of-care
testing. It appears problematic to use conversion
factors for the calculation of different decision limits if
these are derived from those limits determined for
venous plasma. It therefore seems urgently required to
agree on only one sample system.
Qualitätssicherung der patientennahen Sofortdiagnostik (Point-of-Care-Testing) im Krankenhaus: Muster für eine hausinterne Richtlinie / Quality assurance in bedside testing at the hospital: sample guidelines for internal use
Authors: Hänecke P. , Haeckel R. , Koschinsky T. , Luppa P. , Schlebusch H. , Wahl H. G.
Published: August 2004

The following recommendations are based on the
instructions of the “Richtlinie der Bundesärztekammer
zur Qualitätssicherung quantitativer laboratoriums-medizinischer
Untersuchungen” according to the decision of
the executive board of the Bundesärztekammer (RiliBäk)
as of August 24th 2001. They have exemplary character
for hospitals in which the internal quality control of point-of-care testing is under the responsibility of the central
laboratory. The recommendations focus on blood glucose,
but are also applicable to other analytes with only
slight modifications.
Das pränatale/frühkindliche Immunsystem und Allergie – Ergebnisse humaner und tierexperimenteller Studien / Prenatal and early postnatal immune system and allergy – outcomes of human and animal studies
Authors: Blümer N. , Herz U. , Renz H.
Published: August 2004

Based on epidemiological and clinical observations there
is strong evidence for a prenatal and early postnatal
priming of allergic diseases. The pregnant mother in her
specific environment influences the allergic development
of her offspring considerably. Certain living conditions
(high microbial exposure, probiotic nutrition) during pregnancy
and in the early postnatal living period were identified
as protective for the development of allergies (hay
fever, asthma, atopic dermatitis). Nevertheless, these epidemiological
and clinical studies are only able to find
associations between the maternal environment and the
allergic phenotype of the child. It is not possible to show
a direct causal relationship between the maternal
immune status and the development of allergies in the
child. Therefore, it is mandatory to analyze this relationship
using animal experiments. First animal studies try to
implicate the maternal immunity in the allergic development
in the neonate. The development of the neonatal
immune system was analyzed after modulation of the
maternal immune system. Sensitized mouse mothers
influence the adaptive immune system of the neonate
essentially. This is true for the T-cell mediated immune
response as well as the B-cell mediated antibody
response. Maternal sensitization (OVA, Der p1) inhibits,
for example, a specific anti-IgE response in the neonates
to the same allergen. Treatment of these neonates of
sensitized mothers with a heterologous allergen does not
alter the specific anti-IgE response. Using this mouse
model it was possible to show that an experimentally
induced asthmatic phenotype of the mouse mother could
be transmitted to the neonate. These results of human
and animal studies clearly demonstrate that the maternal
immune status influences the development of the neonatal
immune system. For future therapeutical strategies
of allergy prevention, the described results could be very
helpful.
Topical immunomodulators in the treatment of atopic dermatitis / Topische Immunmodulatoren bei der Behandlung der atopischen Dermatitis
Authors: Breuer K. , Kapp A. , Werfel T.
Published: August 2004

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease
that often begins in early infancy and runs a course of
exacerbation and remission. Over the last decades topical
corticosteroids have represented the therapy of
choice for the treatment of flares. However, due to potential
side effects, topical steroids are not generally accepted
by the patients and physicians. The macrolides
tacrolimus and pimecrolimus exert their immunomodulatory
effects via inhibition of the phosphatase calcineurin,
which normally dephosphorylates the transcription
factor NF-AT in T-lymphocytes. This leads to a decreased
transcription of several proinflammatory cytokines. Moreover,
the immunomodulators have shown to influence
also mast cells and antigen presenting cells. The proinflammatory
effect of Tacrolimus and Pimecrolimus
could be confirmed in various clinical studies on children
and adult patients with atopic dermatitis. Various reports
demonstrate a potential clinical effect also in other cutaneous
skin diseases.
Intercropping faba bean with some legume crops for control of Orobanche crenata
Authors: Bakheit B. R. , Allam A. Y. , Galal A. H.
Published: August 2004

Experiments involving the intercropping faba bean with each of lupin, fenugreek and Egyptian clover as well as growing faba bean alone were carried out at Assiut University on a farm naturally infested with Orobanche in two seasons. The major objective of the study was to investigate the effect of different intercropping combinations with faba bean on the infestation with Orobanche. The results obtained revealed that intercropping faba bean with each of lupin, fenugreek and Egyptian clover markedly reduced the Orobanche crenata Forsk infestation of faba bean. the number of branches, the height of the first pod, the number of pods, the seed yield and the number and dry weight of Orobanche spikes were significantly affected by the intercropping treatments, but these had no significant influence on plant height, straw yield or 100-seed weight. intercropping faba bean with each of lupin, fenugreek and Egyptian clover increased the faba bean seed yield, consequently the economic return was also increased.
Effect of conditioning apple shoots with meta-topolin on the morphogenic activity of in vitro leaves
Authors: Dobránszki J. , Magyar-Tábori K. , Jámbor-Benczúr E. ,   et al.
Published: August 2004

The effects of a new type of aromatic cytokinin, meta-topolin, on the morphology and histology of apple leaves and its post-effects on the subsequent shoot regeneration fromin vitroleaves were studied in cv. Royal Gala. The media applied for pre-treatment differed from each other in their cytokinin composition: medium No. 1 contained no cytokinin, No. 2 was supplemented with 0.5 mg l-1benzyladenine, while Nos. 3-6 contained meta-topolin, the new type of cytokinin, in four concentrations (0.5-1.0-1.5-2.0 mg l-1). After a 3-week pre-treatment on these media shoot regeneration was induced on two test regeneration media containing thidiazuron (0.2 mg l-1) or benzyladenine (5.0 mg l-1). Irrespective of the pre-treatments, high regeneration (97-100%) was observed on all the regeneration media. however, the conditioning of apple shoots for three weeks on medium supplemented with meta-topolin in a concentration range between 0.5 and 1.5 mg l-1caused a significant decrease in the rate of vitrified shoots (down to 13.4%) and increased the number of regenerated shoots per leaf segment significantly (up to 15.1). There was a positive correlation between the histological status and regeneration capacity ofin vitroleaves. According to these results, meta-topolin, as a new source of cytokinin, could increase the morphogenic potential of apple leaves.
Effects of the length of incubation period and herbicides on nitrogenase activity of pea (Pisum sativum L.)
Authors: Singh G. ,   D. Wright
Published: August 2004

In a pot experiment the effects of the length of incubation period and the pre-emergence application of terbutryn/terbuthylazine at 2.80 kg a.i. ha-1 or post-emergence application of bentazone at 2.88 kg a.i. ha-1 on the nitrogenase activity in intact pea plants were measured in situ by the acetylene reduction assay. An incubation period of 10 min resulted in the highest nitrogenase activity. As the length of the incubation period increased to 30 or 60 min the total as well as the specific nitrogenase activity decreased. Terbutryn/terbuthylazine decreased the total nitrogenase activity at all three (i.e. vegetative, flowering and seed-filling) stages, whereas bentazone resulted in a significant decrease at the flowering stage only. However, terbutryn/terbuthylazine-treated plants had the highest specific nitrogenase activity both at the flowering and seed-filling stages.
Nitrogen effect on the incidence of Strigahermonthica (Del.) Benth in upland rice
Authors: Adagba M. A. , Lagoke S. T. O. , Imolehin E. D.
Published: August 2004

Field trials were conducted in the dry (Experiment I) and wet (Experiment II) seasons of 1997 at Samaru (11°11' N, 7°38' E, 686 m above sea level) in the northern Guinea Savanna ecological zone of Nigeria to study the effects of nitrogen rates on the reaction of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties to Striga hermonthica (Del.) Benth. The results indicate that FARO 48, a variety normally susceptible to Striga hermonthica, exhibited resistance. FARO 11 exhibited tolerance, while FARO 38, FARO 46 and FARO 45 exhibited susceptibility. The application of 90 and 120 kg N/ha delayed and reduced Striga emergence on the crop, induced a low crop reaction score and produced grain yields that were the maximum or significantly higher than the least. No significant differences in Striga infestation were observed between nitrogen rates of 30-120 kg N/ha. The significant interaction between upland rice varieties and nitrogen rates indicates that the susceptible varieties require higher rates of nitrogen to ameliorate the effect of Striga compared with the resistant varieties.
Chemical composition of Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) in Hungary
Authors: Kovács M. , Engloner A. , Németh N. ,   et al.
Published: August 2004

under the influence of the prognosticated climatic changes, the increasing rate of degradation and the extension of uncultivated lands, it is expected that the dominance of some C4 plants will increase. Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) is the most common C4 species in Hungary. The chemical composition of Cynodon dactylon and its substrate was investigated on 3 soil types (Arenosol, Solonchak soil and a waste place) typical of the country. It was established that in comparison with other perennial C4 grasses (Andropogon ischaemum, Chrysopogon gryllus, Cleistogenes serotina) the total element content of Cynodon dactylon was the highest. A detailed quantitative and qualitative knowledge of the chemical components of C4 plants could help to determine the expected changes in the chemical composition of the uppermost soil layer and in its mineralization dynamics on areas dominated by these plants. As a result of the expansion of Cynodon dactylon the element concentration and the chemical composition of the soils might change, thus influencing successional processes as well.
Variations in germination and longevity of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seeds harvested at different stages of maturation
Authors: Oladiran J. A. , Kortse P. A.
Published: August 2004

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) seeds of the cultivars Tatashe and Rodo, extracted from fruits sequentially harvested at different maturation stages, were tested for germinability (when freshly harvested) and longevity (over a period of about 17 weeks). Seed dry weight increased with fruit maturation and was maximum when the fruits turned red-ripe. Over-ripening of the fruits for 10 days on the mother plant did not result in a significant seed weight increase, signifying that the seeds were already fully filled when the fruits turned red-ripe. The seeds of the two cultivars started germinating as from 28 days after anthesis (DAA) and peaked at 71.5% and 40% for Tatashe and Rodo respectively, at 44 DAA. The viability of the seeds of Tatashe declined as storage progressed and the more mature the seeds were, the longer they survived. In Rodo, seed viability increased till the end of the storage period due to dormancy, which became progressively broken with age; seeds from more mature fruits survived better. In a second experiment, when fruits of Tatashe were harvested at the colour breaking, red-ripe and over-ripe stages, seed viability and longevity were best from over-ripe fruits.
Effect of seed treatment on the emergence of inbred lines of maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Záborszky S. , Nagy E. , Szőke C.
Published: August 2004

The emergence time and emergence percentage of four inbred lines with different degrees of chilling tolerance (Mo 17, HMv 5316, HMv 5301, HMv 5478) and the dry mass of young shoots were examined in a seed dressing experiment carried out in pots and sown early under field conditions, on soil infected with pathogens or free of infection (control). The advantage of seed dressing was manifested for all the traits examined, with the exception of emergence time, and the dressing agents were found to exhibit a certain degree of variety specificity. The time to emergence was determined chiefly by the genotype of the inbred lines. Differences were observed when the inbred lines were ranked on the basis of the emergence time and the emergence percentage. This was in agreement with the fact that no correlation was observed between the emergence percentage and the emergence time. Genotype HMv 5316 proved to be best on the basis of emergence time and HMv 5301 for emergence percentage. The poorest results for all the traits examined were recorded for Mo 17, which is in agreement with the poor chilling tolerance of this inbred line. In summary, the following conclusions can be drawn: if the chilling tolerance and growth vigour of the genotypes are to be satisfactorily described, traits characteristic of initial plant development (dry mass of the shoots, size of the leaf area, etc.) should also be considered in addition to the emergence time and emergence percentage.
QTL analysis of wheat quality traits
Authors: Bekes F. , Ma W. , Gale K.
Published: August 2004

This paper aims to give an overview on the different aspects of QTL analysis of quality traits of wheat through the brief introduction of molecular genetics, cereal chemistry and the statistical methods developed and applied recently in this area. Some examples are also provided, based on the author's research activity carried out in the National Wheat Molecular Marker Program (NWMMP) established in Australia in 1996.
Comparative mapping and QTL analysis of early spring adaptation traits in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)
Authors: Karsai I. , Mészáros K. , Szűcs P. ,   et al.
Published: August 2004

The possibilities latent in molecular marker-based QTL analyses are presented through the example of studying winter survival and heading date in barley (Hordeum vulgareL.). The whole range of QTL experiments consists of several important steps, through which answers are found to the following questions: (1) How many QTLs are involved and where do they map, (2) How does the environment influence the effect of a QTL region (environment × QTL interactions), (3) When and where are the genes determining the given trait expressed (QTL dynamics), (4) What interactions occur between these QTLs and pathways leading to specific phenotypes, and (5) How consistent is the effect of a QTL region in different genetic backgrounds and in a wider range of germplasms (comparative mapping and association studies)? This knowledge then makes it possible to continue these experiments in the direction of marker-assisted selection and/or gene isolation through marker saturation of the relevant chromosomal regions and map-based cloning. The latter can give an insight into the exact mechanism through which the gene determines the phenotype.
Book review
Authors: Kovács G.
Published: August 2004

G. G. Khachatourian, A. McHunghen, R. Scorza, Wai-Kit Nip, Y. H. Hui: Transgenetic Plants and Corps
Screening drought tolerance criteria in maize
Authors: Farshadfar E. , Sutka J.
Published: August 2004

Six pure lines of maize were tested in a randomized complete block design with three replications under irrigated and rainfed conditions. Genetic variation was found between the genotypes for yield potential (Yp), stress yield (Ys), tolerance index (TOL), geometric mean productivity (GMP), harmonic mean (HM) and stress tolerance index (STI). Stress tolerance index was corrected using a correction coefficient (ki) and thus a modified stress tolerance index (MSTI) was introduced as the optimal selection criterion for drought-tolerant genotypes. The results of three-D plotting indicated that the most desirable genotype for irrigated and rainfed conditions was the genotype K1515, for non-stressed conditions K18 and for stress conditions K104/3, K760/7 and K126/10.
Seed yield of sugar beet as affected by stand density and harvesting date
Authors: Rajić M. , Čačić N. , Sklenar P. , Denčić S.
Published: August 2004

A three-year field trial was conducted to study the effect of plant population and harvesting dates on the yield of cleaned 2.0-6.0 mm seed and the seed yield (g) per plant. The highest seed yield was obtained with a spacing of 50 × 12 cm, or 160,000 plants/ha. A decrease in the plant-to-plant spacing to 9 cm decreased the yield by an average of 70 kg/ha over the three study years. The seed yield decreased to an even greater extent when the plant-to-plant spacing was 16 or 24 cm. The seed yields increased the most between the first and second harvesting dates: 400 kg/ha, or 50 kg/ha a day. On the last harvesting date, the seed yield was as low as 5-8 kg/ha. The yield loss was somewhat higher in the most densely sown treatment. The effect of spacing and harvesting date on seed yield per plant was similar to that on total seed yield.
Nitrogenous gas production in the soil air as affected by different N fertiliser forms and water supplies in model experiments
Authors: Debreczeni K. , Berecz K. , Fischl K. , Wittmann Z.
Published: August 2004

large-pot model experiments were conducted with maize under greenhouse conditions with the aim of studying the effect of different N fertiliser forms, water supplies and crop residues on the nitrogenous gas production in the rooting zone. Nitrogen fertiliser was applied in the form of KNO3 or NH4Cl. The experiment was done at two soil moisture levels, with or without the incorporation of maize crop residues into the soil, and with or without test plants. Gas traps were placed in the pots at a soil depth of 20 cm. During the growing season, the trapped soil air was analysed for NOx, N2O and N2. Practically the same N amounts evolved in the soil air with both chemical forms of N fertiliser at both soil moisture levels. expressed as a percentage of fertiliser N, the total amount of gaseous N evolved averaged 12.8% and 12.9% in the planted, and 23.8% and 24.3% in the unplanted pots with KNO3 and NH4Cl fertiliser, respectively. Higher soil moisture and the incorporation of crop residues resulted in higher NOx-N and N2O-N ratios within the total gaseous N evolved in the rooting zone.
Significance of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübn.) in maize production
Authors: Szőke C , Zsubori Z. , Pók I , Rácz F. , Illés O. , Szegedi I.
Published: August 2004

The European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübn.), which is to be found almost universally in Europe and America, is an extremely important pest from the economic point of view. Losses caused by the pest range from 250-1000 kg/ha depending on the degree of infestation, the year and the yield averages. This fact justifies protection measures in Hungary on the whole of the seed production and sweetcorn fields and on 40% of the commercial maize sowing area. In addition to the direct damage, indirect losses are also considerable, since the injuries caused by the pest facilitate infection by Fusarium species. For the above reasons it is worth reviewing the habits of this pest, the extent of the economic loss resulting from the damage, and ways of controlling it.
Tetraploid wheat species Triticum timopheevii and Triticum militinae in common wheat improvement
Authors: Järve K , Jakobson I. , Enno T.
Published: August 2004

Timopheevii wheats are discussed as donors for improving the disease resistance of common wheat. Attention is paid to the comparison of the morphological and chromosomal characteristics ofTriticum timopheeviiandT. militinae, their crossability withT. aestivumand their response to fungal diseases. The possible origin ofT. militinaefrom an introgressive hybridization betweenT. timopheeviiand an unknown species is discussed. Major genes for resistance to various fungal diseases, transferred to common wheat fromT. timopheevii,are listed.
Memory and Translation
Authors: K. Melby Alan
Published: August 2004

This paper begins with the following question: What is the relation between memory and translation? If a computer, which can be given a very large amount of memory, stored millions and millions of documents and their human translations would that computer then be able to translate just like a human? The paper then explores a limitation to automatic translation based on memory. This limitation is explained in terms of the Black Box Myth of translation. However, despite this limitation, the usefulness of computers is explored as productivity tools for human translators. Then the study asks what properties might be needed in a computer, besides memory, in order to allow it to translate like a human and how to tell whether a computer has acquired human translation skills. A variation of the Turing Test is proposed as a diagnostic, along with various intermediate translation-based tests for theories of meaning. The paper ends with some philosophical speculation about the possible role of free will in language, including translation, and how a certain position on this question might influence future studies in the area of translation and cognition.
Writing and Revising Processes in Professional Translation
Authors: Breedveld Hella
Published: August 2004

In this paper the outlines are drawn of a think-aloud study of text-production processes in translation, with special attention to the distribution of cognitive activities in time. In writing research, it has been found that variability is a key characteristic of writing processes (Breetvelt, van den Bergh and Rijlaarsdam 1994). In translation studies, Candace Séguinot (1997) suggested that variability might be worth studying. The notion of variability allows one to view translation as a changing task situation, where cognitive activities will change in character and function according to the context and the moment in which they occur. It is suggested that, in order to gain insight into variability in translation, we should study the interdependencies between the different activities during the process as a function of time. This paper is a work-in-progress report on the implications of this approach for the analysis of think-aloud protocols.
Testing Methods Affecting the Antagonistic Ability of Pseudomonas Biocontrol Strains
Authors: Jevcsák I. , Oldal Bálint , Ködöböcz L. ,   et al.
Published: August 2004

The antagonistic effect of thirteen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
thirteen strains of other
Pseudomonas
species was studied on the
soil-borne phytopathogenic
Rhizoctonia solani
and
Fusarium solani

fungi.  The inhibition of pathogen colony
growth was tested with two different
in vitro
techniques using the same
type of culture media. In case of the spread slant technique the antagonists
induced a significantly stronger inhibition on the growth of pathogens than in
case of spot transfer. Among the 26 investigated
Pseudomonas
strains,
P.
aeruginosa
strains were generally more effective against the fungal
pathogens.
Rhizoctonia solani
proved to be affected to a greater extent
by the bacterial strains studied than the
Fusarium solani
representative.
The possibility of
in vitro
strain
selection of biocontrol microbes is being further discussed
.
Transformation of Nitrogen Fertilizers in Greenhouse Experiments
Authors: Nótás Erika , Debreczeni K. , Fischl K. ,   et al.
Published: August 2004

The primary (1
st

year) and the after-effects (2
nd
, 3
rd
year) of N
fertilizers (KNO
3
, NH
4
Cl) on the soil-plant-atmosphere
system were studied in a three-year greenhouse pot experiment with and without
maize plants. The two- and three-year balances of the fertilizer N uptake and
gaseous N losses were also analyzed. The cumulative values of the gaseous
losses showed a similar trend in all years, significant differences were not
obtained. On the basis of the three-year balance, the gaseous loss in the
planted and unplanted pots was 18-22% and about 37-39%, respectively.
Consequently, there was a 50% decrease in denitrificated gaseous losses of fertilizer
N due to plant N uptake. The cumulative gaseous loss, calculated by the
difference method, was significantly higher in cases of KNO
3
applications
than in NH
4
Cl treatments, as an assumed  consequence of the intensive denitrification.
It was found that the gaseous loss was not influenced by soil moisture.  In contrast to the gaseous losses, the values
of plant N uptake and soil mineral N content showed significant differences in
the years studied, as a result of the quick transformation of mineral N to
organic N, the non-complete homogenization of the total soil amount, the
seasonal climatic differences in the greenhouse during the years studied, and
consequently the different microbiological activity. The plant N uptake was
found to depend significantly on the fertilizer N form. Results obtained by the
difference method and the
15
N-tracer technique were very similar. In
the case of KNO
3
treatment and higher soil moisture (WHC = 80%)
plant N uptake was more intensive, ranging between 48-57% (calculated by the
difference method), and 35-51% (calculated by the
15
N- tracer
method) in the first year (1993). It can be concluded that 60-100% of the
fertilizer N was used from the soil by plant uptake and gaseous losses, which
depends mainly on the treatments and the soil moisture during the first year.
These values changed between 7-17% in the 1
st
year after-effect and
between 1-5% in the 2
nd
year after-effect.
Correlations Among Different P-Test Methods Studied in a Network of Hungarian P Fertilization Long-term Field Trials
Authors: Magyar Marianna , Csathó P. , Debreczeni K. ,   et al.
Published: August 2004

Five soil P-test
methods were compared on the soils of the network of unified Hungarian P
fertilization long-term field trials. The
effect of P application on the soil P-test values was significant on the
different P levels and sites. The average effect of the sites varied between
1.5-fold (H
2
O method) and 3.7- fold (AL-method). The amounts of
extracted P increased in the order of H
2
O-P < Olsen-P < Pi-P
< AERM-P < AL-P < Corrected AL-P. For studying the relationships
between the P values extracted by the different methods, acidic, calcareous and
all soils groups were taken into account as a basis. A good correlation was
found between the Pi- and AERM-methods in each soil group. Within the acidic
soil group, pH has a much less expressed effect on AL-P values, presumably this
was the reason why the strongest correlation in this soil group was found
between the AL- and the Corr. AL-P methods 
The next step in our research will be to calibrate these soil-P tests
with plant P uptake and yield responses.