bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Potential of Increased Meat Intake to Improve Iron Nutrition in Rural Kenyan Schoolchildren
Authors: Grillenberger  , Murphy  , Neumann  , Bwibo  , Verhoef  , Hautvast
Published: October 2007

Schoolchildren in developing countries often have inadequate intakes of iron, due primarily to poor bioavailability. Increasing meat in the diet could improve both the amount of iron consumed and its availability. The effect of increases in intakes of meat and ascorbic acid on absorbed iron was investigated by theoretically modifying the habitual diet of rural Kenyan schoolchildren. The projected changes in the amount of absorbed iron and prevalence of inadequate iron intakes were calculated for 78 children (6–9 years of age). The prevalence of inadequate iron intakes decreased from 77% to 54% through the theoretical addition of 50 g beef or 100 mg ascorbic acid and to 23% through the addition of both to dinner each day. To reduce the prevalence of inadequate iron intake to 5%, the addition of 100 g meat plus 150 mg ascorbic acid would be necessary. The combined addition of meat and ascorbic acid to a meal has the potential to reduce the projected prevalence of inadequate iron intakes among these schoolchildren.
Hintergrund eines neuen Arztbildes
Authors: Gebbers
Published: October 2007

Das Überleben der Menschheit ist in einer noch nie da gewesenen Weise von den drei Weltkrankheiten Übervölkerung, Umweltzerstörung und Vernichtungspotential der modernen Waffenarsenale bedroht. Diese selbstverschuldeten Gefahren müssten zu neuen Verantwortlichkeiten, zum Überdenken der ärztlichen Aufgaben und Handlungen führen. Sie bilden mit den daraus entstehenden Konsequenzen den Hintergrund für ein neues Arztbild.
Paraduodenale Hernie: Fallbericht einer intraoperativen Zufallsdiagnose
Authors: Descloux  , Wiens
Published: October 2007

Wir berichten über den Fall einer 65-jährigen Patientin mit Divertikulitis. Eine Hartmann-Operation wurde durchgeführt. Intraoperativ wurde die Diagnose einer linken paraduodenalen Hernie gestellt. Der Bruchsack wurde inzidiert. Die Hernie wurde auf den präoperativen CT-Bildern erst nachträglich gesehen.
Therapierefraktäre arterielle Hypertonie bei einem jungen Patienten
Authors: Gnehm  , Keller  , Nüesch  , Zeller  , Kiss  , Battegay
Published: October 2007

Wir stellen den Fall eines 41-jährigen Patienten mit therapierefraktärer arterieller Hypertonie vor. Diese war im Anschluss an eine in kurativer Absicht erfolgte Chemotherapie vor vier Jahren bei Seminom Stadium II b aufgetreten. Nach Ausschluss möglicher sekundärer Ursachen für die vorliegende therapierefraktäre Hypertonie (welche aktuell mit einer 5er-Therapie behandelt wurde) erfolgte wegen Verdacht auf eine Medikamentenmalcompliance eine kontrollierte Medikamentenabgabe in unserer Tagesklinik. Der Patient klagte nach anderthalb Stunden über Schwindel und vegetative Begleitsymptome, parallel konnten signifikante BD- und Pulsabfälle dokumentiert werden. Aufgrund der schwierigen psychosozialen Situation (Rentenstreit und schwerwiegende finanzielle Probleme, belastender Ehekonflikt) und der vermuteten narzisstischen Persönlichkeitsstörung wurde zugunsten der Erhaltung des Patienten-Arzt-Bündnisses die medikamentöse Malcompliance nicht offen kommuniziert, sondern die aktuelle medikamentöse Therapie auf eine Zweiertherapie reduziert. Im zweiten Teil des Fallberichtes werden die häufigsten Gründe einer therapierefraktären arteriellen Hypertonie, insbesondere das Problem der Malcompliance, diskutiert.
Seismicity and geodetic anomalies in a wide area preceding the Niigata‐Ken‐Chuetsu earthquake of 23 October 2004, central Japan
Authors: Ogata Yosihiko
Published: October 2007

The ordinary short‐term occurrence rate of earthquakes in a region is predicted using the Epidemic Type Aftershock Sequence (ETAS) model of triggering seismicity. Any anomalous seismic activity, such as quiescence and activation, can be quantified by identifying significant deviation from the predicted rate. Such anomalies are revealed to have occurred during the three year period leading up to the 2004 Chuetsu earthquake of M6.8 (Mw6.6), central Japan. The quiescence and activation, which took place in the zone of negative and positive increments of the Coulomb failure stress, respectively, were possibly caused by aseismic slip on or near the focal fault plane. Such slip is further supported by transient crustal movement around the rupture source. Time series records of the baseline distances between permanent GPS stations deviated from the predicted trends, with the deviations mostly consistent with the coseismic horizontal displacements of the stations due to the Chuetsu earthquake. The cumulated preceding slip is estimated to be roughly equivalent to Mw6.
Semianalytical formulation on the scattering of proximity equilibration cell closed ring photonic band gap structures
Authors: Liu Yunhong , Alexopoulos Nicolaos G.
Published: October 2007

A novel semianalytical methodology is used to analyze a periodic array of printed metallic closed ring elements in a multilayered dielectric structure. This approach is unique in that it is the first methodology capable in modeling structures with resonant implants and interelement dimensions well beyond the effective medium theory. In addition, it yields computational efficiency by 2 orders of magnitude over standard computational methods in computing the scattering parameters for proximity equilibration cell (PEC) closed ring multilayered (electromagnetic band gap and photonic band gap (PBG)) structures. Moreover, it provides physical insight in the implementation of metallic implants for practical applications. This methodology satisfies the Kramers‐Kronig relations and causality, and therefore it allows for the development of semianalytical expressions for the composite's wave impedance, index of refraction, as well as the permittivity and permeability parameters accounting for full dispersion. For general artificial multilayered structures (PBG metamaterials) with centrosymmetric scattering matrices, the composite may be replaced by an equivalent homogeneous dispersive magneto‐dielectric material and may be used for the design of integrated circuits, filters, and antennas using standard methods. Otherwise, use of the scattering matrix approach to obtain the effective parameters is valid only for semi‐infinite structures. The upper band edge is determined by the host material uniquely and the bandwidth is determined by the shunt susceptance for different PEC ring inclusions.
Caledonian basement of the western Barents Sea
Authors: Ritzmann Oliver , Faleide Jan Inge
Published: October 2007

Major crustal units in the western Barents Sea have been defined on the basis of depth‐converted seismic reflection data, gravity and magnetic anomaly data. The seismic data revealed three types of crustal reflectivity below the sedimentary rock units, i.e., transparency, strong lower crustal reflectivity, and thoroughly reflective. The crustal structures obtained from the seismic reflection data are supported by 2D density and magnetic modeling. Three NE‐SW‐striking crustal units have been observed south of Bjørnøya. Changes in reflectivity in southwestern Barents Sea are accompanied by gravity and/or magnetic anomalies. North of Bjørnøya, two basement provinces could be distinguished. The observed outlines of the crustal blocks in the southwestern Barents Sea match with Caledonian main thrusts onshore northern Norway. We were therefore able to outline the continuation of Scandian nappe complexes in the southwestern Barents Sea. The crustal unit to the west of the Loppa High region is supposed to be a fragment of Laurentia, since the Loppa High region aligns with the Uppermost Allochthon nappes onshore, and is therefore expected to be the collision zone between Baltica and Laurentia. The southeastern crustal unit aligns with the Lower to Upper Allochthons and their Fennoscandian basement onshore. A compilation of all known thrusts and sutures in the western Barents Sea revealed the complexity of the Iapetus closure. It challenges the concept of two Caledonian main branches (NE and N). The thrusts/sutures are fan‐shaped distributed across the western Barents Sea, resembling the structure of the Late Paleozoic–Mesozoic/Paleocene rift basins and basement highs in the southwestern Barents Sea.
Balancing local order and long-ranged interactions in the molecular theory of liquid water
Authors: Shah J. K. , Asthagiri D. , Pratt L. R. , Paulaitis M. E.
Published: October 2007

A molecular theory of liquid water is identified and studied on the basis of computer simulation of the TIP3P model of liquid water. This theory would be exact for models of liquid water in which the intermolecular interactions vanish outside a finite spatial range, and therefore provides a precise analysis tool for investigating the effects of longer-ranged intermolecular interactions. We show how local order can be introduced through quasichemical theory. Long-ranged interactions are characterized generally by a conditional distribution of binding energies, and this formulation is interpreted as a regularization of the primitive statistical thermodynamic problem. These binding-energy distributions for liquid water are observed to be unimodal. The Gaussian approximation proposed is remarkably successful in predicting the Gibbs free energy and the molar entropy of liquid water, as judged by comparison with numerically exact results. The remaining discrepancies are subtle quantitative problems that do have significant consequences for the thermodynamic properties that distinguish water from many other liquids. The basic subtlety of liquid water is found then in the competition of several effects which must be quantitatively balanced for realistic results.
Bond breaking with auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo
Authors: Al-Saidi W. A. , Zhang Shiwei , Krakauer Henry
Published: October 2007

Bond stretching mimics different levels of electron correlation and provides a challenging test bed for approximate many-body computational methods. Using the recently developed phaseless auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo (AF QMC) method, we examine bond stretching in the well-studied molecules BH and N2 and in the H50 chain. To control the sign/phase problem, the phaseless AF QMC method constrains the paths in the auxiliary-field path integrals with an approximate phase condition that depends on a trial wave function. With single Slater determinants from unrestricted Hartree-Fock as trial wave function, the phaseless AF QMC method generally gives better overall accuracy and a more uniform behavior than the coupled cluster CCSD(T) method in mapping the potential-energy curve. In both BH and N2, we also study the use of multiple-determinant trial wave functions from multiconfiguration self-consistent-field calculations. The increase in computational cost versus the gain in statistical and systematic accuracy are examined. With such trial wave functions, excellent results are obtained across the entire region between equilibrium and the dissociation limit.
Viscoelasticity and Stokes-Einstein relation in repulsive and attractive colloidal glasses
Authors: Puertas Antonio M. , De Michele Cristiano , Sciortino Francesco , Tartaglia Piero , Zaccarelli Emanuela
Published: October 2007

We report a numerical investigation of the viscoelastic behavior in models for steric repulsive and short-ranged attractive colloidal suspensions, along different paths in the attraction strength vs packing fraction plane. More specifically, we study the behavior of the viscosity (and its frequency dependence) on approaching the repulsive glass, the attractive glass, and in the reentrant region where viscosity shows a nonmonotonic behavior on increasing attraction strength. On approaching the glass lines, the increase of the viscosity is consistent with a power-law divergence with the same exponent and critical packing fraction previously obtained for the divergence of the density fluctuations. Based on mode-coupling calculations, we associate the increase of the viscosity with specific contributions from different length scales. We also show that the results are independent of the microscopic dynamics by comparing Newtonian and Brownian simulations for the same model. Finally, we evaluate the Stokes-Einstein relation approaching both glass transitions, finding a clear breakdown which is particularly strong for the case of the attractive glass.
Generation of coherent wave packets of kinetic Alfvén waves in solar plasmas
Authors: Singh H. D. , Sharma R. P.
Published: October 2007

This work presents the numerical simulations to study the filamentation of kinetic Alfvén waves in solar plasmas. Using the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation model, we study the effect of changing the initial perturbation on filament formation and their nonlinear dynamics. The spectral indices of the power spectrum are calculated with different initial conditions of the simulations. The relevance of the present investigation in coronal heating and solar wind acceleration/turbulence is also pointed out.
Multilayered metal capping barrier including CuSiN, for sub-65-nm technology nodes
Authors: Liu B. , Xu K. W. , Song Z. X. , Bell T.
Published: October 2007

A highly reliable interface of an ultrathin CuSiN self-aligned barrier between Cu film and nanoporous SiC:H film has been developed in the present work for the 65nm node and below. It is shown that the multilayer of CuSiN (4nm)∕SiC:H (15nm)∕SiCN:H (10–15nm) as a capping barrier have the enough ability to prevent copper diffusion at elevated temperatures even up to 500°C, good barrier hermeticity, and appropriate mechanical characteristics. With this kind of barrier stack, higher interfacial adhesion between the Cu film and dielectric barrier is achieved. The mechanisms involved have been analyzed based on detailed characterization studies.
Single molecule λ-DNA stretching studied by microfluidics and single particle tracking
Authors: Wang Jun , Lu Chang
Published: October 2007

DNA stretching has been an intensively studied topic due to its involvement in the cellular functions. In this work, we studied DNA stretching based on microfluidics and single particle tracking techniques. Microfluidics generates well-defined flow field within microscale channels and potentially allows the incorporation of chemical and biological assays with the single molecule experiments. Single DNA molecules were tethered to the channel bottom (glass) at one end and to fluorescent microbeads at the other end. The microscale flow exerted hydrodynamic force on the microbead with a magnitude dependent on the flow rate. The force-extension curves of the single DNA molecules were obtained by localizing the fluorescent microbead with nanometer precision at different flow rates. We were able to obtain DNA force-extension curves which fit the wormlike chain model very well. Furthermore, we also observed plateaus at low forces (15–30pN) in these curves when the hydrodynamic force was kept constant for a duration of 10s at each flow rate. One possible reason is that stretching force with long duration lowers the activation barrier for the conformational changes of a double-stranded DNA molecule. We expect that this approach will be useful for studying the force associated with biological events involving single DNA molecules in general.
Efficient stochastic simulations of complex reaction networks on surfaces
Authors: Barzel Baruch , Biham Ofer
Published: October 2007

Surfaces serve as highly efficient catalysts for a vast variety of chemical reactions. Typically, such surface reactions involve billions of molecules which diffuse and react over macroscopic areas. Therefore, stochastic fluctuations are negligible and the reaction rates can be evaluated using rate equations, which are based on the mean-field approximation. However, in case that the surface is partitioned into a large number of disconnected microscopic domains, the number of reactants in each domain becomes small and it strongly fluctuates. This is, in fact, the situation in the interstellar medium, where some crucial reactions take place on the surfaces of microscopic dust grains. In this case rate equations fail and the simulation of surface reactions requires stochastic methods such as the master equation. However, in the case of complex reaction networks, the master equation becomes infeasible because the number of equations proliferates exponentially. To solve this problem, we introduce a stochastic method based on moment equations. In this method the number of equations is dramatically reduced to just one equation for each reactive species and one equation for each reaction. Moreover, the equations can be easily constructed using a diagrammatic approach. We demonstrate the method for a set of astrophysically relevant networks of increasing complexity. It is expected to be applicable in many other contexts in which problems that exhibit analogous structure appear, such as surface catalysis in nanoscale systems, aerosol chemistry in stratospheric clouds, and genetic networks in cells.
Conventional and nonconventional global Alfvén eigenmodes in stellarators
Authors: Kolesnichenko Ya. I. , Lutsenko V. V. , Weller A. , Werner A. , Yakovenko Yu. V. , Geiger J. , Fesenyuk O. P.
Published: October 2007

Conditions of the existence of the Global Alfvén Eigenmodes (GAE) and Nonconventional Global Alfvén Eigenmodes (NGAE) predicted for stellarators by Ya. I. Kolesnichenko et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 165004 (2005)] have been obtained. It is found that they depend on the nature of the rotational transform and that conditions for NGAE can be most easily satisfied in currentless stellarators. It is shown that the plasma compressibility may play an important role for the modes with the frequency about or less than that of the Toroidicity-induced Alfvén Eigenmodes. It is found that features of the Alfvén continuum in the vicinity of the k‖=0 radius (k‖ is the longitudinal wave number) can be very different, depending on a parameter which we refer to as “the sound parameter.” Specific calculations modeling low-frequency Alfvén instabilities in the stellarator Wendelstein 7-AS [A. Weller et al., Phys. Plasmas 8, 931 (2001)] are carried out, which are in reasonable agreement with the observations. It is emphasized that experimental data on low-frequency Alfvénic activity can be used for the reconstruction of the profile of the rotational transform. The mentioned results are obtained with the use of the equations derived in this paper for the GAE/NGAE modes and of the codes COBRAS and BOA-fe.
Study of inorganic fullerenes and carbon nanotubes by in situ Raman tribometry
Authors: Joly-Pottuz L. , Martin J. M. , Belin M. , Dassenoy F. , Montagnac G. , Reynard B.
Published: October 2007

Nanoparticles such as inorganic fullerenes of metal dichalcogenides or carbon nanotubes have been recently used as lubricant additives and they present excellent tribological properties. Raman spectroscopy is a useful technique to follow modification of these two structures. We developed an original tribometer able to perform in situ Raman analyses during sliding steel on a sapphire flat. These analyses gave unique information on real-time structural changes of nanoparticles inside the contact area: inorganic fullerenes are tribologically active by a progressive exfoliation process and carbon nanotubes is changed to amorphous carbon. Lubrication mechanism of these particles are explained in the light of analytical results.
Suppression of interface state generation upon electron injection in nitrided oxides grown on 4H-SiC
Authors: Rozen John , Dhar Sarit , Pantelides S. T. , Feldman L. C. , Wang Sanwu , Williams J. R. , Afanas’ev V. V.
Published: October 2007

The flatband voltage stability of SiO2∕SiC metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors upon electron injection can be enhanced by the introduction of nitrogen in a thermal gate oxide. We show that it is due to the suppression of negative charge buildup in interface states during injection. We discuss the role of nitrogen in this effect and how it might be linked to the passivation of interface defects.
Higher dimensional multiparameter unitary and nonunitary braid matrices: Even dimensions
Authors: Abdesselam B. , Chakrabarti A. , Dobrev V. K. , Mihov S. G.
Published: October 2007

A class of (2n)2×(2n)2 multiparameter braid matrices are presented for all n(n⩾1). Apart from the spectral parameter θ, they depend on 2n2 free parameters mij(±), i,j=1,…,n. For real parameters, the matrices R(θ) are nonunitary. For purely imaginary parameters, they became unitary. Thus, a unification is achieved with odd dimensional multiparameter solutions presented before.
Nonvolatile nanocrystal charge trap flash memory devices using a micellar route to ordered arrays of cobalt nanocrystals
Authors: Lee Chiyoung , Kwon Jeong-Hwa , Lee Jang-Sik , Kim Yong-Mu , Choi Yoojung , Shin Hyunjung , Lee Jaegab , Sohn Byeong-Hyeok
Published: October 2007

This study demonstrates that self-assembled diblock copolymer micelles can be used as a template to assemble cobalt (Co) nanocrystal (NC) arrays for use as charge storage layers in charge trap flash memory devices. Diblock copolymer micelles embedded with Co were synthesized on p-Si substrates having a thin tunneling oxide of HfO2. The micelle templates were completely removed by oxygen plasma treatment and reduction procedures, resulting in ordered arrays of Co NCs. The nonvolatile memory devices exhibit program/erase characteristics, as confirmed by their capacitance-voltage responses, current-voltage responses, endurance characterization, and nanoscale device measurement using scanning nonlinear dielectric microscopy.
Radical Ring-Opening Polymerization of Phosphorus Heterocycles: Computational Design of Suitable Phosphetane Monomers
Authors: Coote Michelle L. , Hodgson Jennifer L. , Krenske Elizabeth H. , Namazian Mansoor , Wild S. Bruce
Published: October 2007

High-level ab initio calculations have been used to determine the propensities of various phosphetanes towards radical ring-opening polymerization. At the G3(MP2)-RAD level of theory, the propagation rate constants of 1-methylphosphetane (7.5 × 104 L mol–1 s–1), 1-phenylphosphetane (4.6 × 105 L mol–1 s–1), cis,cis-2,4-dichloro-1-phenylphosphetane (3.8 × 107 L mol–1 s–1), cis,cis-2,4-difluoro-1-phenylphosphetane (3.0 × 107 L mol–1 s–1), and 1-phenyl-3-oxaphosphetane (4.0 × 106 L mol–1 s–1) are very high, rendering them unsuitable for copolymerization with common alkenes. In contrast, the propagation rate constants of 1-tert-butylphosphetane (1.7 × 103 L mol–1 s–1) and cis,cis-2,4-dimethyl-1-phenylphosphetane (9.2 × 102 L mol–1 s–1) indicate that either incorporation of a t-butyl substituent at phosphorus or alkylation at the 2- and/or 4-positions will produce monomers with more compatible reactivities for copolymerization with alkenes. In the case of 1-tert-butylphosphetane, however, homolytic substitution of the propagating radical with the t-butyl substituent at P will be competitive with the propagation step and could affect the microstructure of the polymer. The borane adduct and the oxide of 1-phenylphosphetane were both found to be unreactive towards radical ring-opening. The calculations suggest that, for chiral phosphetanes, the ring-opening reaction is enantioselective at phosphorus and the resulting polymer will be isotactic.
Recent Advances in Star Polymer Design: Degradability and the Potential for Drug Delivery
Authors: Wiltshire James T. , Qiao Greg G.
Published: October 2007

The use of polymers as drug delivery devices represents an exciting area of development in the biomedical industry. This paper briefly highlights some of the different types of macromolecules that have attracted attention as potential drug delivery devices, with a particular focus on the class of star polymers known as core cross-linked star (CCS) polymers. The ability to control the rate at which encapsulated molecules can be released is an important factor in the design of efficient drug delivery devices. In this regard, several different techniques to incorporate degradable functionality into CCS polymers are examined as a potential means of controlling release kinetics.
Educational status and cardiovascular risk profile in Indians
Authors: Reddy K. Srinath , Prabhakaran Dorairaj , Jeemon Panniyammakal , Thankappan K. R. , Joshi Prashant , Chaturvedi Vivek , Ramakrishnan Lakshmy , Ahmed Farooque
Published: October 2007

The inverse graded relationship of education and risk factors of coronary heart disease (CHD) has been reported from Western populations. To examine whether risk factors of CHD are predicted by level of education and influenced by the level of urbanization in Indian industrial populations, a cross-sectional survey (
n
= 19,973; response rate, 87.6%) was carried out among employees and their family members in 10 medium-to-large industries in highly urban, urban, and periurban regions of India. Information on behavioral, clinical, and biochemical risk factors of CHD was obtained through standardized instruments, and educational status was assessed in terms of the highest educational level attained. Data from 19,969 individuals were used for analysis. Tobacco use and hypertension were significantly more prevalent in the low- (56.6% and 33.8%, respectively) compared with the high-education group (12.5% and 22.7%, respectively;
P
< 0.001). However, dyslipidemia prevalence was significantly higher in the high-education group (27.1% as compared with 16.9% in the lowest-education group;
P
< 0.01). When stratified by the level of urbanization, industrial populations located in highly urbanized centers were observed to have an inverse graded relationship (i.e., higher-education groups had lower prevalence) for tobacco use, hypertension, diabetes, and overweight, whereas in less-urbanized locations, we found such a relationship only for tobacco use and hypertension. This study indicates the growing vulnerability of lower socioeconomic groups to CHD. Preventive strategies to reduce major CHD risk factors should focus on effectively addressing these social disparities.
Assessment of a juvenile and trash excluder device in a Vietnamese shrimp trawl fishery
Authors: Eayrs Steve , Hai Nguyen Phong , Ley Janet
Published: October 2007

Eayrs, S., Hai, N. P., and Ley, J. 2007. Assessment of a juvenile and trash excluder device in a Vietnamese shrimp trawl fishery. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 1598–1602. In this study, we (i) identified why Vietnamese shrimp fishers land juvenile fish illegally; (ii) identified groups of fishers that would use a bycatch reduction device (BRD) to exclude these fish; (iii) studied the hydrodynamic performance of a juvenile and trash excluder device (JTED) in a flume tank; and (iv) assessed the performance of this device under commercial fishing conditions. Based on the responses of 65 fishers to a questionnaire, we found that juvenile fish are now an important economic component of the total catch, and that fishers operating larger boats were more willing to use a JTED to exclude these fish than fishers operating smaller boats. The hydrodynamic study of a JTED identified the location of low-velocity regions around the device and codend, and this information can be used to identify the location of a secondary BRD to allow more fish to escape. The at-sea assessment of this device found that 73% of juvenile fish, 16% of valuable fish, and 8% of shrimp were excluded by the JTED, although most valuable fish and shrimp were smaller than the minimum legal landing size. Overall, this loss represents a 9% reduction in revenue. Yield-per-recruit analysis indicated that this could be offset by not catching fish less than the minimum legal landing size.
First Report of the Rust Phragmidium violaceum on Pennsylvania Blackberry in California
Authors: Aime M. C. , Rossman A. Y.
Published: October 2007

In April 2005, a rust fungus on Pennsylvania blackberry, Rubus pensilvanicus Poiret (= R. abactus Bailey), was collected in Humboldt County, CA. Although native to eastern North America, this host is an escaped cultivar that occurs in disturbed areas throughout California. Morphological and molecular data suggest that this rust is Phragmidium violaceum (Schultz) G. Winter. To confirm the identification of the specimen from California, an ~1,000-bp section of ribosomal DNA from the 28S large subunit was amplified and sequenced with rust-specific primers (M. C. Aime, unpublished data) (Genbank Accession No. EF672358). This sequence was 100% homologous to sequences of this rust species from Oregon and France. Widespread in Europe and introduced into Australasia as a biological control agent, P. violaceum has recently been reported from Oregon on Himalayan and evergreen blackberries, R. armeniacus Focke and R. laciniatus Willd. (2). Finding this rust in California about the same time as in Oregon suggests that its distribution may be widespread, possibly existing in the United States for some time. To our knowledge, this the first report from California and of the rust species on this plant host (1). The specimen from California is infected with urediniospores but lacks teliospores; it has been deposited at the U.S. National Fungus Collections as BPI 877816.

References: (1) D. F. Farr et al. Fungal Databases. Systematic Botany and Mycology Laboratory. Online publication. USDA, ARS, 2007. (2) N. Osterbauer et al. Online publication. doi:10.1094/PHP-2005-0923-01-BR. Plant Health Progress, 2005.
First Report of Summer Patch of Kentucky Bluegrass Caused by Magnaporthe poae in Colorado
Authors: Swift C. E. , Blessinger A. , Brandt N. , Tisserat N.
Published: October 2007

The ectotrophic, root-infecting fungus Magnaporthe poae is the cause of summer patch of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis). The disease is widely distributed in the mid-Atlantic Region of the United States and west to central Nebraska and Kansas (2). It also has been found in certain locations of Washington and California (2) but has not been confirmed in the Rocky Mountain Region. In August 2005 and 2006, tan patches and rings of dead turf ranging from 10 to 30 cm in diameter were observed in Kentucky bluegrass swards in Grand Junction and Greeley, CO, respectively. The sites, separated by approximately 360 km, are located west and east of the Continental Divide. A network of ectotrophic hyphae were observed on diseased root segments collected from both sites. A fungus morphologically similar to M. poae (2) was consistently isolated from these segments. DNA was extracted from mycelium of one isolate from each location and amplified by PCR with the M. poae species-specific primers MP1 and MP2 (1). A 453-bp DNA fragment was consistently amplified from DNA of both isolates, diagnostic of M. poae. To our knowledge, this is the first report of summer patch in Colorado and indicates that M. poae may be widely distributed in the central Rocky Mountain Region.

References: (1) T. E. Bunting et al. Phytopathology 86:398, 1996. (2) B. B. Clarke and A. B. Gould, eds. Turfgrass Patch Diseases Caused by Ectotrophic Root-Infecting Fungi. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1993.
Broadening the Genetic Basis of Verticillium longisporum Resistance in Brassica napus by Interspecific Hybridization
Authors: Rygulla W. , Snowdon R. J. , Eynck C. , Koopmann B. , von Tiedemann A. , Lühs W. , Friedt W.
Published: October 2007

Verticillium wilt caused by the vascular fungal pathogen Verticillium longisporum is one of the most important pathogens of oilseed rape (Brassica napus sp. oleifera) in northern Europe. Because production of this major oilseed crop is expanding rapidly and no approved fungicides are available for V. longisporum, long-term control of the disease can only be achieved with cultivars carrying effective quantitative resistance. However, very little resistance to V. longisporum is available within the gene pool of oilseed rape, meaning that interspecific gene transfer from related species is the only possibility for broadening levels of resistance in current varieties. The amphidiploid species B. napus can be resynthesized by crossing the two progenitor species Brassica oleracea and Brassica rapa, hence resistant accessions of these two diploid species can be used as resistance donors. In this study a total of 43 potential B. rapa and B. oleracea resistance donors were tested with regard to their reaction to a mixture of two aggressive V. longisporum isolates, and resistances from diverse lines were combined by embryo rescue-assisted interspecific hybridization in resynthesized rapeseed lines. Progenies from crosses of the two B. rapa gene bank accessions 13444 and 56515 to the B. oleracea gene bank accessions BRA1008, CGN14044, 8207, BRA1398, and 7518 showed a broad spectrum of resistance in pathogenicity tests. Of 45 tested resynthesized lines, 41 lines exhibited a significantly higher level of resistance than the moderately V. longisporum-tolerant oilseed rape cultivar Express. These lines represent a promising basis for the combination of different resistance resources in new varieties.
Host–Pathogen Interactions in Douglas-Fir Seedlings Infected by Phellinus sulphurascens
Authors: Sturrock R. N. , Islam M. A. , Ekramoddoullah A. K. M.
Published: October 2007

Several aspects of the host–pathogen interaction between Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and the fungal pathogen Phellinus sulphurascens were investigated in an in vitro inoculation system using young seedlings and fungal mycelia. Light microscopy confirmed that P. sulphurascens mycelia can successfully penetrate host epidermal cells within 3 days postinoculation (dpi). Extensive fungal colonization and cortical cell decay occurred within 14 dpi. Western immunoblot studies showed significant upregulation (five to sixfold) of four specific pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins in infected roots. These proteins were a Douglas-fir thaumatin-like protein (PmTLP), an endochitinase protein (ECP), a Douglas-fir PR10 (DF-PR10) protein (PsemI), and a 10.6-kDa antimicrobial peptide (PmAMP1). The highest accumulation of PmTLP and PmAMP1 occurred at 12 dpi, whereas accumulations of the ECP and DF-PR10 proteins peaked at 7 dpi. For both inoculated and control Douglas-fir seedlings, only one of the four PR proteins, PmAMP1, was clearly detectable in needles. Immunolocalization experiments using fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated secondary antibodies confirmed accumulation of all four PR proteins mainly in and around cell walls of root cortical tissues. Overall, the highest immunofluorescence was observed in infected roots at 12 dpi, whereas labeling in control roots was negligible at all sample times. The ECP produced the highest fluorescence; the DF-PR10 the lowest. Upregulation and localization of these PR proteins in cortical tissues of inoculated roots suggest that they play a defensive role in response to infection by P. sulphurascens. This in vitro inoculation system will facilitate further proteomic and genomic studies of this important pathosystem.
Dynamics of QoI Sensitivity in Mycosphaerella fijiensis in Costa Rica During 2000 to 2003
Authors: Amil A. F. , Heaney S. P. , Stanger C. , Shaw M. W.
Published: October 2007

From 1997 onward, the strobilurin fungicide azoxystrobin was widely used in the main banana-production zone in Costa Rica against Mycosphaerella fijiensis var. difformis causing black Sigatoka of banana. By 2000, isolates of M. fijiensis with resistance to the quinolene oxidase inhibitor fungicides were common on some farms in the area. The cause was a single point mutation from glycine to alanine in the fungal target protein, cytochrome b gene. An amplification refractory mutation system Scorpion quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay was developed and used to determine the frequency of G143A allele in samples of M. fijiensis. Two hierarchical surveys of spatial variability, in 2001 and 2002, found no significant variation in frequency on spatial scales <10 m. This allowed the frequency of G143A alleles on a farm to be estimated efficiently by averaging single samples taken at two fixed locations. The frequency of G143A allele in bulk samples from 11 farms throughout Costa Rica was determined at 2-month intervals. There was no direct relationship between the number of spray applications and the frequency of G143A on individual farms. Instead, the frequency converged toward regional averages, presumably due to the large-scale mixing of ascospores dispersed by wind. Using trap plants in an area remote from the main producing area, immigration of resistant ascospores was detected as far as 6 km away both with and against the prevailing wind.
Diversity ofRalstonia solanacearumInfecting Eggplant in the Philippines
Authors: Ivey Melanie L. Lewis , Gardener Brian B. McSpadden , Opina Nenita , Miller Sally A.
Published: October 2007

The diversity of Ralstonia solanacearum strains isolated from eggplant (Solanum melongena) grown in five provinces of the Philippine island group of Luzon was assessed using a recently described hierarchical system. All strains keyed to race 1, biovar 3 or 4. Phylotype-specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) indicated that, like most other strains of Asian origin, all the strains in our Philippine collection belong to phylotype I. Taxometric and phylogenetic analyses of partial endoglucanase gene sequences of strains from this collection and those previously deposited into GenBank revealed at least four subgroups among the otherwise monophyletic phylotype I strains. Nucleotide polymorphisms within each subgroup were infrequent and, among the subgroups identified in this study, variation was always <1.3%, indicating that the large majority of strains could be assigned to a single sequevar. Genomic DNA fingerprinting using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR revealed additional fine-scale genetic variation that was consistent with the endogluconase sequence data. Whole-pattern and band-based analyses of the genomic fingerprint data revealed four and eight distinct genotypes, respectively, within our collection. Eggplant from infested fields in different provinces tended to harbor mixed populations of ERIC genotypes, with the predominant genotype varying by location.
WT1 as a complementary marker of malignant melanoma: an immunohistochemical study of whole sections
Authors: Wilsher M , Cheerala B
Published: October 2007

Aims:  To test the usefulness of WT1 as a diagnostic aid in melanoma diagnosis and prognostication.

Methods and results:  Benign naevi, Spitz naevi, dysplastic naevi and melanoma in situ, primary epithelioid, spindle cell and desmoplastic melanoma, and metastatic melanoma biopsy specimens were collected. Primary melanoma cases were grouped using the 2003 Tumour Node Metastasis classification. Cases were examined using haematoxylin and eosin and WT1‐stained sections. The presence and pattern of WT1 expression were recorded. Benign naevi were uniformly negative with WT1. The majority of Spitz naevi expressed WT1 (83%). The dysplastic naevi/in situ group showed expression of WT1 in 35% of cases. The majority of primary epithelioid melanoma cases showed WT1 expression (88%). The prevalence of expression by each T category was similar, with T1 = 90%, T2 = 75%, T3 = 95% and T4 = 90%. All spindle cell and desmoplastic melanoma cases showed WT1 expression (100%). Ninety per cent of metastatic melanoma cases expressed WT1.

Conclusions:  WT1 is a useful ancillary diagnostic tool in routine melanoma diagnosis. WT1 expression in primary melanoma is unrelated to tumour depth. Its usefulness is limited by the fact that most Spitz naevi express WT1, up to one‐third of dysplastic naevi can express WT1 and not all melanomas demonstrate its expression.
Increased Langerhans cell accumulation after mycobacterial stimuli
Authors: Miranda A , Amadeu T P , Schueler G , Alvarenga F B F , Duppré N , Ferreira H , Nery J A C , Sarno E N
Published: October 2007

Aims:  To evaluate the role of Langerhans cells (LCs) in the local activation of leprosy lesions. LCs, acting as tolerance inducers and immune stimuli, are dendritic cells recently implicated in cutaneous homeostasis. The role of LCs in the defence against mycobacterial infection remains poorly understood.

Methods and results:  The number and distribution of CD1a+ skin cells and HLA‐DR and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)‐1 expression were analysed in leprosy skin lesions and in delayed‐type hypersensitivity (DTH) tests. The results showed a high number of LCs in tuberculin and lepromin tests, in tuberculoid lesions and in the epidermis and dermis during type I and II reactions. In multibacillary lesions, however, the number of LCs was consistently low in comparison with other groups. Increased numbers of LCs were accompanied by marked HLA‐DR and ICAM‐1 expression, suggesting a strong relationship between these immunological events.

Conclusions:  CD1a+ cells are implicated in the local immunological events taking place after mycobacterial stimuli and may account for the local activation of all types of reactional episodes in leprosy.
HER‐2/neu and p27Kip1 in progression of Fallopian tube carcinoma: an immunohistochemical and array comparative genomic hybridization study
Authors: Nowee M E , Dorsman J C , Piek J M J , Kosma V M , Hämäläinen K , Verheijen R H M , Van Diest P J
Published: October 2007

Aims:  To determine expression of p53, HER‐2/neu and p27Kip1 in serous Fallopian tube carcinoma (FTC) in relation to stage and grade, and to investigate DNA copy number changes of HER‐2 and P27KIP1 as a potential mechanism of altered expression status.

Methods and results:  Immunohistochemistry was performed on 28 serous FTCs and 10 normal Fallopian tubes. p53 protein accumulated and p27Kip1 was down‐regulated significantly in early‐stage FTCs compared with normal Fallopian tubes. HER‐2/neu overexpression was absent in normal Fallopian tubes and in all stage I FTCs (n = 6) but present in 57% (12/21) of advanced‐stage FTCs. No differences in expression between grade 2 and 3 tumours were detected. HER‐2 gain/amplification was found by array comparative genomic hybridization in 23% (3/13) of analysed FTCs and all showed overexpression. HER‐2/neu overexpression also occurred without DNA copy number changes in three other cases. For p27Kip1, expression and DNA copy number were unrelated.

Conclusions:  p53 accumulation and p27Kip1 down‐regulation seem to be early events in Fallopian tube carcinogenesis. HER‐2/neu showed overexpression, caused by gain/amplification in 50%, and may be involved in progression of FTC. These data contribute to a better understanding of the molecular carcinogenesis of FTC and to possible new therapeutic approaches.
Expression of tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand and caspase‐3 in relation to grade of inflammation and stage of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Piekarska A , Kubiak R , Omulecka A , Szymczak W , Piekarski J
Published: October 2007

Aim:  To assess whether the distribution of the recently described proapoptotic ligand, tumour necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL), and the apoptosis effector, caspase‐3 alters with the degree of inflammation and fibrosis present in liver biopsy specimens from patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

Methods and results:  Expression of TRAIL and caspase‐3 was assessed immunohistochemically in liver biopsy specimens obtained from 89 adults with chronic hepatitis C. Expression of TRAIL in hepatocytes correlated inversely with stage of fibrosis (P = 0.001), classified according to the Scheuer score; expression of caspase‐3 in hepatocytes correlated with grade of inflammation (P = 0.012). Expression of TRAIL in hepatocytes was not correlated with grade of inflammation (P > 0.05); expression of caspase‐3 was not correlated with stage of fibrosis (P > 0.05). Maximum expression of proapoptotic TRAIL protein was observed in cases with low grade inflammation (G0) and low stage fibrosis (S1). Maximum expression of caspase‐3 in hepatocytes was observed in cases with high grade inflammation (G3–4) and high stage fibrosis (S3), but not with liver cirrhosis (S4).

Conclusions:  There is a significant decrease in TRAIL expression with increasing grade of inflammation, whereas caspase‐3 expression is significantly increased with advanced fibrosis, short of cirrhosis.
Effects of immune serum and cells on newborn larvae of Trichinella spiralis
Authors: MOLONE ANNE
Published: October 2007

Summary Serum and cells, collected from mice immunized by infection either with newborn larvae (NBL) or per os with infective larvae of Trichinella spiralis, were passively transferred to mice which were challenged with NBL. Serum always gave very strong protection if given before challenge but not if given within 2 h after challenge. Cells from mice immunized with NBL also gave good protection, whereas those from mice immunized per os did not. If NBL were incubated in serum from immunized mice their infectivity was reduced, but if the serum was pre‐absorbed with NBL this effect was lost. Such absorbed serum did not confer immunity on recipient mice.
Development and suppression of a population of late‐adhering macrophages in mouse malaria
Authors: LELCHUK ROSALIA , TAVERNE JANICE , AGOMO P.U. , PLAYFAIR J.H.L.
Published: October 2007

Summary Changes in phagocytic and adherent cell numbers were compared during the course of infections of mice with Plasmodium yoelii (Py) and P. berghei (Pb) and in vaccinated mice challenged with homologous parasites.

Nucleated cells in the spleen increased in number in Py‐infected mice and were maximal at the time of recovery. The number of phagocytic cells increased in parallel, as did the number of blood leucocytes. Rates of increase were accelerated in vaccinated mice. Changes in Pb‐infected mice resembled controls and blood leucocytes showed no consistent increase. In infected mice, the number of spleen and bone marrow cells which adhered to plastic rose above normal. At some stages of infection, cells which did not adhere in 24 h did so in 72 h. Such late‐adhering cells, which resembled macrophages in morphology, were most numerous at the time of recovery. They appeared to be derived from monocyte precursors which matured in culture. Sometimes cells adherent at 24 h suppressed the development of the late‐adhering population. Silica inactivated these suppressive macrophages but did not affect the precursors which developed into late‐adhering cells. It is concluded that malarial infection stimulates the production of precursors of the macrophage‐monocyte series and that their development is regulated by the presence of mature macrophages.
Species specificity of the immediate hypersensitivity to schistosomal proteolytic enzyme
Authors: SENFT A.W. , WELTMAN J.K , GOLDGRABER M.B. , EGYUD L.G. , KUNTZ R.E
Published: October 2007

Summary An acidic proteolytic enzyme which digests host haemoglobin can be isolated and purified from schistosomes. This small glycoprotein is an allergen which sensitizes the host, as shown by immediate hypersensitivity reactions. These are specific for either Schistosoma haematobium or S. mansoni and can be demonstrated by mast cell degranulation in mice or by intradermal skin tests in monkeys.

Although high levels of total IgE may be found in acute and chronic schistosomiasis, there was no evident relationship between the worm burden in monkeys and immediate hypersensitivity reactions to either purified enzyme or crude schistosomal extracts. It is suggested that an in vivo correlation between worm burden and manifestations of the allergic response may be perturbed by high titres of non‐specific IgE or other homocytotropic antibodies, thus accounting for false negative skin test reactions. Alternatively, a return to low or subnormal IgE levels may allow the restoration of the allergic response, giving rise to false positive reactions.

Purified schistosomal antigens offer certain advantages over crude skin test preparations in terms of uniformity of antigen content, dosage and specificity. In addition, the enzyme may represent a species‐specific tool for new immunochemical analyses of schistosomiasis.