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Objectives The reported prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) varies widely. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of airflow obstruction and COPD in unselected PLWHIV and identify characteristics that increase the risk of nonreversible airflow obstruction in order to guide case finding strategies for COPD. Methods All adults attending the Chronic Viral Illness Service were invited to participate in the study, regardless of smoking status or history of known COPD/asthma. Individuals underwent spirometric testing both before and after use of a salbutamol bronchodilator. Airflow obstruction was defined as forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) < 0.7 post‐bronchodilation, whereas COPD was defined as FEV 1/FVC < 0.7 post‐bronchodilation and Medical Research Council (MRC) score > 2. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors associated with airflow obstruction, reported as adjusted odds ratios (aORs). Results Five hundred and three participants successfully completed spirometry testing. The median (Q1; Q3) age was 52 (44; 58) years. The median (Q1; Q3) CD4 count was 598 (438; 784) cells/μL and the median (Q1; Q3) nadir CD4 count was 224 (121; 351) cells/μL. There were 119 (24%) current smokers and 145 (29%) former smokers. Among those screened, 54 (11%) had airflow obstruction whereas three (1%) of the participants had COPD. Factors that were associated with airflow obstruction included a history of smoking [aOR 2.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1; 4.7], older age (aOR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2; 2.2), and lower CD4 count (aOR 0.8; 95% CI 0.7; 1.0). Conclusions Airflow obstruction was relatively uncommon. Our findings suggest that PLWHIV who are ≥50 years old, smokers and those with nadir CD4 counts ≤ 200 cells/μL could be targeted to undergo spirometry to diagnose chronic airflow obstruction.

Experiments were conducted to identify environmental factors that influence the survival of rainbow smelt Osmerus mordax during their early life stages. Developing rainbow smelt embryos and yolk-sac larvae were cultured under controlled conditions with different dissolved oxygen (DO; 1·09, 2·18, 4·37 and 6·55 mg l−1, pH (4·0, 4·5, 5·0, 5·5, 6·0 and 7·0), nitrate (0·7, 3·6, 7·3, 14·6 and 29·2 mg l−1), phosphate (0·04, 0·21, 0·42, 2·08 and 4·17 mg l−1) and salinity (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30) levels. Rainbow smelt embryos were also incubated with simulated tidal salinity fluctuations (2–28), ultraviolet radiation (irradiances of 2·8, 6·2 and 5·1 W m−2) and under natural conditions in two rainbow smelt spawning rivers. In the laboratory, hatch was only impaired under the lowest DO and pH conditions (0 and 13% hatch, respectively) and at highest constant salinity levels (0% hatch). Larval survival was only affected by pH levels ≤5·0. The experiment that compared hatch under natural conditions was terminated when embryos became covered with silt and fungus. These results suggest that water acidification, sediment and fungal growth may affect rainbow smelt survival during their early life stages.

Cavity spot is a major disease of carrots, causing cavities on the surface of the root. Available commercial varieties show a range of susceptibility but no significant resistance. Seed progeny from 46 tissue culture-derived carrot (Daucus carota) somaclones were screened for viability, then 19 selected somaclone families were sown under glasshouse conditions, along with commercial cultivars (Bertan, Nandor, Bolero and Vita Longa) as controls. Mature roots were exposed to Pythium violae in a cavity spot bioassay to determine their response as measured by disease incidence and severity. Some somaclones formed fewer lesions than the least susceptible control cultivar, Vita Longa. Seven somaclonal families that showed a range of susceptibility were sown under field conditions and the assessment was repeated. Although there was little relationship between glasshouse and field-trial results, under field conditions one of the somaclones had a mean incidence of disease, as estimated by transformed data, of 1·9 compared with 37·9 for the most susceptible somaclone and 3·5 for Bolero, the most resistant commercial cultivar. The results indicated that significant genetic variation in susceptibility to cavity spot disease was present in the somaclones.

Edaphic factors affect the quality of onions (Allium cepa). Two experiments were carried out in the field and glasshouse to investigate the effects of N (field: 0, 120 kg ha(-1); glasshouse: 0, 108 kg ha(-1)), S (field: 0, 20 kg ha(-1); glasshouse: 0, 4.35 kg ha(-1)) and soil type (clay, sandy loam) on onion quality. A conducting polymer sensor electronic nose (E-nose) was used to classify onion headspace volatiles. Relative changes in the E-nose sensor resistance ratio (%dR/R) were reduced following N and S fertilisation. A 2D Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the E-nose data sets accounted for c. 100% of the variations in onion headspace volatiles in both experiments. For the field experiment, E-nose data set clusters for headspace volatiles for no N-added onions overlapped (D-2 = 1.0) irrespective of S treatment. Headspace volatiles of N-fertilised onions for the glasshouse sandy loam also overlapped (D-2 = 1.1) irrespective of S treatment as compared with distinct separations among clusters for the clay soil. N fertilisation significantly (P < 0.01) reduced onion bulb pyruvic acid concentration (flavour) in both experiments. S fertilisation increased pyruvic acid concentration significantly (P < 0.01) in the glasshouse experiment, especially for the clay soil, but had no effect on pyruvic acid concentration in the field. N and S fertilisation significantly (P < 0.01) increased lachrymatory potency (pungency), but reduced total soluble solids (TSS) content in the field experiment. In the glasshouse experiment, N and S had no effect on TSS. TSS content was increased on the clay by 1.2-fold as compared with the sandy loam. Onion tissue N:water-soluble SO42- ratios of between five and eight were associated with greater %dR/R and pyruvic acid concentration values. N did not affect inner bulb tissue microbial load. In contrast, S fertilisation reduced inner bulb tissue microbial load by 80% in the field experiment and between 27% (sandy loam) and 92% (clay) in the glasshouse experiment. Overall, onion bulb quality discriminated by the E-nose responded to N, S and soil type treatments, and reflected their interactions. However, the conventional analytical and sensory measures of onion quality did not correlate with %dR/R.

Selenium (Se) is an essential plant micronutrient, but is toxic at high tissue concentrations. It is chemically similar to sulphur (S), an essential plant macronutrient. The interactions between Se and S nutrition were investigated in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Arabidopsis plants were grown on agar containing a complete mineral complement and various concentrations of selenate and sulphate. The Se/S concentration ratio in the shoot ([Se](shoot)/[S](shoot)) showed a complex dependence on the ratio of selenate to sulphate concentration in the agar ([Se](agar)/[S](agar)). Increasing [S](agar) increased shoot fresh weight (FW) and [S](shoot), but decreased [Se](shoot). Increasing [Se](agar) increased both [Se](shoot) and [S](shoot), but reduced shoot FW. The reduction in shoot FW in the presence of Se was linearly related to the shoot Se/S concentration ratio. These data suggest (i) that Se and S enter Arabidopsis through multiple transport pathways with contrasting sulphate/selenate selectivities, whose activities vary between plants of contrasting nutritional status, (ii) that rhizosphere sulphate inhibits selenate uptake, (iii) that rhizosphere selenate promotes sulphate uptake, possibly by preventing the reduction in the abundance and/or activity of sulphate transporters by sulphate and/or its metabolites, and (iv) that Se toxicity occurs because Se and S compete for a biochemical process, such as assimilation into amino acids of essential proteins.

During Cavity Spot disease of carrot (Daucus carota), the surface of the root is penetrated by the fungus Pythium violae causing surface lesions and cell breakdown. Commercial varieties range from the very susceptible Bertan, to the less susceptible Bolero with Narbonne intermediate while the gene bank cultivar Purple Turkey was much less susceptible. Examination of the colonization process in vitro by scanning electron microscopy of Narbonne showed that fungal proliferation occurred in the first 2 days of colonization but this species had disappeared from lesions by day 7. No lesions were evident on Purple Turkey although the fungus had penetrated the root which itself was composed of small regularly arranged cells. Examination of the activity of defence related enzymes during in vitro colonization showed that phenylalanine–ammonia lyase and chitinase activities remained low throughout the first 7 days of infection of commercial cultivars, Bolero and Bertan. Peroxidase and β–glucosidase activity in Bolero increased briefly on day 3 but otherwise were uniformly low. Enzyme activities were generally higher in Purple Turkey. The small cell size within the root and higher constitutive levels of the enzymes may constitute the basis for resistance in Purple Turkey. Potentially this cultivar may provide a source of germplasm for improving the resistance of commercial carrots to Cavity Spot.

Flavour in fresh onions is dominated by volatile sulphenic and thiosulphenic acids that are liberated once alk(en)yl cysteine sulphoxide (ACSO) flavour precursors are cleaved by the enzyme alliinase after tissue disruption. The levels of pyruvate and ACSOs in over 100 samples of onions marketed in the UK were measured, and compared with assessment by taste-panels. There was a linear relationship between the content of ACSOs and pyruvate. Measurements of pyruvate indicated that the marketing classification of some types of onion did not correspond to their pyruvate levels. A significant linear relationship was found between a sensory measure of strength and pyruvate over the range 1.2–9.3 µmol pyruvate g−1 fresh weight. In most cases, when a flavour classification of sweet, mild or strong was applied to a sample of onions based on pyruvate content, the taste-panels agreed with the categorization. The taste-panels were unable to identify a sweet flavour in onions, except at low levels of pyruvate. Taste-panels were able to define a likeability character (attractiveness of flavour) for onions, which correlated with the level of pyruvate. However, for some varieties, the flavour classification or likeability did not correspond to predictions based on pyruvate levels alone. Pyruvate measurements were seen as a suitable method for routine quality control once the characteristics of a variety of onion had been established, but initial evaluations should include well-designed taste-panel assessments. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry

Quality discrimination for spring onions using conventional methods of sensory appraisal and analytical tests is difficult, expensive and time-consuming. Discrimination of spring onion characteristics with electronic nose (E-nose) technology was investigated. Plants of cv. White Lisbon were grown in a glasshouse in pots containing clay (Alluvial gley) or sandy loam (Brown earth). Irrigation regimes were regular watering to near field capacity (-0.01 MPa soil water potential, SWP) or re-watering to near field capacity when available moisture level was depleted to either less than or equal to50% (-0.80 MPa SWP) or less than or equal to25% (-1.19 MPa SWP). The E-nose sensor response (%dR/R) was significantly (P 0.05). Two-dimension Principal Component Analysis (PCA) plots showed significant (D-2>3.0) differences among data set clusters. Increases in water-deficit level reduced separations between data set clusters for plants grown on both clay and on sandy loam. Regular irrigation increased pyruvic acid concentration by 43% on the clay as compared with 8% increase in mild water-deficit stressed plants on clay versus severely stressed plants. In contrast, pyruvic acid concentration was reduced by 8% in regularly watered plants grown on the sandy loam as compared with 8% increase in mild water-deficit stressed plants on sandy loam versus severely stressed plants. In conclusion, significant (D-2>3.0) separations of data set clusters in association with water-deficit stress but not soil type were evident on the 2D PCA plots. However, while the E-nose has demonstrated potential for discrimination of spring onion quality, further detailed work is required to characterise the interactions of spring onion volatile components with conducting polymer sensors.

The extent to which resistance to leek rust (Puccinia allii) in commercially useful cultivars of leek (Allium ampeloprasum) could be developed by selection within current commercial cultivars or their recent predecessors was investigated. Differences in resistance among commercial cultivars was not great. However, a wide range of resistance levels was found in both half-sib and inbred progeny derived from these cultivars. In a crop simulation, one of the breeding lines showed a reduction in the rate of new pustule appearance of 44% compared to cv. Wintra. It is concluded that selection within modern cultivar level material is a potentially productive strategy for the commercial development of leek rust resistance in the short to medium term.

SummaryCarrot roots from a range of environments, developmental stages and cultivars showed variation in splitting susceptibility from 3.8% to 72.5%. Estimates of tissue tensile strength, fracture toughness and residual strain for roots from these sources were not related to estimates for damage. The measurement of release of intrinsic stress from whole-root sections showed some relationship with damage in that the most susceptible cultivars also displayed greater release of stress. These same varieties had larger storage cells in their outer parenchyma. Developmental variation in tissue strength induced by different sowing dates and years was inconsistent between years. Increases in strength of root tissue with advancing date during the autumn observed in field experiments, were not related to temperature changes imposed in controlled environment. Variation in water and solute potentials was generally greater than variation in turgor potential, which remained well conserved in all experiments. Fracture t...

All current commercial cultivars of leeks are open-pollinated and one of the major problems with the crop is poor uniformity with much of the variation being genetic in origin. Inbred lines and single cross hybrids were produced to try to reduce the genetic variation. Inbreds were generated by single seed descent from 5400 plants taken from six commercial cultivars and performance data for uniformity, yield and quality are presented for the S1-S3 generations. A few relatively vigorous inbred lines were obtained but overall, inbreeding depression was very severe with no compensating increase in uniformity as measured by coefficients of variation. In contrast, the experimental hybrids gave significant uniformity, yield and quality benefits compared to open-pollinated commercial cultivars and can be used as the basis for developing a range of commercial hybrid cultivars.

A biological metal extinction (bacterial leaching) process has been developed to extract metals from sludge. Although the removal of metals from sludge is a significant step, an, biological hazard must be eliminated before the sludge can be used on land. Earlier studies established that indicator bacteria were not reduced significantly during bacterial leaching. Whether pathogens also would survive or be destroyed in the acidic environment of the bacterial leaching process was not determined. This study was intended to answer this question. A series of batch units performing bacterial leaching was operated with varying sludge concentrations spiked with attenuated Salmonella typhimurium. The concentrations of Salmonella typhimurium and total coliforms in the sludge were determined

Interpretations from 18 contiguous 3-D seismic surveys, covering more than 17,000 km2, show a wide variety of diagnostic geomorphic elements that indicate mass wasting was an important process in shaping the top surface of the Wyandot Formation, an Upper Cretaceous chalk unit deposited across wide areas off the coast of Nova Scotia. These geomorphic elements include a series of clearly defined ~80 m high head scarps extending more than 100 km across the margin, multiple 20 to 80 m high side scarps defining up to 40 km long failure corridors, and an irregular planform fabric above areas interpreted to correspond to bedding plane detachments, variably modified by overlying deformed strata. The latter morphology includes large >1 km wide slide blocks or erosional remnants. In addition, multiple intervals of chaotic seismic facies are recognized directly above the top Wyandot Formation seismic marker. These geomorphic features are attributed to a complex history of slope failure originating from a series of shelf-perched delta systems located 40 to 60 km landward from the paleo-continental slope break. These deltas prograded over the Wyandot Formation in the Late Cretaceous through early Paleogene. This study indicates that significant quantities of resedimented chalk may have been deposited on the outer shelf and upper slope. Such deposits could form important gas reservoirs, as demonstrated in the North Sea (e.g. Ekofisk field). However, the degree to which overlying prodelta muds were mixed with the Wyandot chalk during failure is unclear and likely has a direct bearing on the reservoir potential of resedimented chalks off Nova Scotia.

Summary Results are presented for the performance of improved inbred lines of Brussels sprouts grown in replicated and fully guarded plots. Some lines were identified which out-performed the reference F1 hybrid, Gower, for the yield of marketable sprouts and for sprout quality. No lines were found which were superior for both of these traits. These results support earlier contentions that inbred line performance in Brussels sprouts could be improved to levels comparable with those of commercial F1 hybrids. The genetic gains required to achieve commercial parity with hybrids for all agronomically important traits continue to be large. Therefore, the use of inbred lines as commercial cultivars can only be viewed as a long term objective. Previous studies have identified additive x additive epistasis and the segregation of many loci as important factors limiting the genetic gains to be expected from a single cycle of crossing and inbreeding. In addition to these factors the current study identifies areas of difficulty encountered when attempting to screen and select large numbers of inbred lines, produced either by single seed descent or by anther culture, in a single season. Evidence is presented which suggests that imperfect visual selection and/or genotype × seasonal interactions may substantially reduce the efficiency of selections based upon a single trial of very many unreplicated lines.

A method to determine the stable isotope ratio of a plant's water source using the plant's transpired water is proposed as an alternative to standard xylem extraction methods. The method consists of periodically sampling transpired waters from shoots or leaves enclosed in sealed, transparent bags which create a saturated environment, preclude further evaporation and allow the progressive mixing of evaporated transpired water and un-evaporated xylem water. The method was applied on trees and shrubs coexisting in a non-irrigated area where stable isotope ratios of local environmental waters are well characterized. The results show Eucalyptus globulus (tree) and Genista monspessulana (shrub) using water sources of different isotopic ratios congruent with groundwater and soil water respectively. In addition, tritium concentrations indicate that pine trees (Pinus sylvestris) switch water source from soil water in the winter to groundwater in the summer. The method proposed is particularly useful in remote or protected areas and in large scale studies related to water management, environmental compliance and surveillance, because it eliminates the need for destructive sampling and greatly reduces costs associated with laboratory extraction of xylem waters from plant tissues for isotopic analyses.

This paper describes the rapid prototype development of an inaugural capability for an Integrated Coastal Observation and Flood Warning System (ICOFWS), initially focused in the tidal Potomac River. A collaboration of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) Forecast Offices in Wakefield and Sterling, Virginia, and Mitretek Systems developed the capability for a high-resolution hydrodynamic storm-surge model, coupled with the newest generation Weather Research and Forecast model and high resolution digital elevation LIDAR data, to predict land inundation from storm events in the Washington Metropolitan Area and the tidal Potomac River. This prototype capability then uses emerging Geographic Information Systems (GIS) visualization technologies to present forecast information in a manner that can be integrated into operations systems of local jurisdiction emergency managers and other planners. Initial steps have been taken to document a proposed process to bring this capability into operational status within the standard NWS forecast cycle as a tool to support storm surge products. It is being explored for use by partners of the Chesapeake Bay Observing System (CBOS) within the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (MACOORA) to demonstrate the interaction of organizations operating in, and providing support within, the Chesapeake Bay region, as well as potential use of this collaborative procedure within other IOOS regional associations throughout the United States. This focused systems engineering approach allows for the more-rapid-than-typical development of prototype systems that can be evaluated for use within the broader IOOS and Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) to provide more timely support to those with the responsibility to prepare for, and react to, environmental effects on critical infrastructure and our society

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is botanically included in the Liliaceae and species are found across a wide range of latitudes and altitudes in Europe, Asia, N. America and Africa. World onion production has increased by at least 25% over the past 10 years with current production being around 44 million tonnes making it the second most important horticultural crop after tomatoes. Because of their storage characteristics and durability for shipping, onions have always been traded more widely than most vegetables. Onions are versatile and are often used as an ingredient in many dishes and are accepted by almost all traditions and cultures. Onion consumption is increasing significantly, particularly in the USA and this is partly because of heavy promotion that links flavour and health. Onions are rich in two chemical groups that have perceived benefits to human health. These are the flavonoids and the alk(en)yl cysteine sulphoxides (ACSOs). Two flavonoid subgroups are found in onion, the anthocyanins, which impart a red/purple colour to some varieties and flavanols such as quercetin and its derivatives responsible for the yellow and brown skins of many other varieties. The ACSOs are the flavour precursors, which, when cleaved by the enzyme alliinase, generate the characteristic odour and taste of onion. The downstream products are a complex mixture of compounds which include thiosulphinates, thiosulphonates, mono-, di- and tri-sulphides. Compounds from onion have been reported to have a range of health benefits which include anticarcinogenic properties, antiplatelet activity, antithrombotic activity, antiasthmatic and antibiotic effects. Here we review the agronomy of the onion crop, the biochemistry of the health compounds and report on recent clinical data obtained using extracts from this species. Where appropriate we have compared the data with that obtained from garlic (Allium sativum L.) for which more information is widely available.

The United States Department of Energy, Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) Direct Energy Conversion (DEC) project has as its goal the development of a direct energy conversion process suitable for commercial development. We define direct energy conversion as any fission process that returns usable energy without an intermediate thermal process. Enough of the project has been completed, roughly two thirds, to indicate that a viable direct energy device is possible. This paper reports on the progress of the DEC project. Three concepts are under development: Fission Electric Cell using magnetic insulation, Magnetic Collimator using magnetic fields to direct fission fragments to collectors, and Gas Vapor Core Reactor using magnetohydrodynamics to generate electrical current. Included in this paper area a short project description, an abbreviated summary of the work completed to date, a description of ongoing and future project activities, and a discussion of the potential for future research and development.Copyright © 2002 by ASME

The aim of this study was to analyze plasma DNA from primary and metastatic breast cancer cases for tumor-specific alterations and to compare these findings with immunocytochemistry and estimation of cytokeratin 19 (CK19) mRNA for detection of micrometastases. DNA was extracted from plasma, lymphocytes, and microdissected tumor tissue sections obtained from 71 patients with breast cancer and 9 controls. DNA samples were analyzed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and/or microsatellite instability (MI) by PCR with two polymorphic markers (DM-1 and D16S400). Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (QPCR) and immunocytochemistry were used for detection of CK19 mRNA and protein. Breast cancer plasma DNA displayed frequent LOH (31.3%) and MI (11.6%) supported by the same alteration in microdissected tumor DNA. Most notably, 10 of the 39 patients with primary breast cancer showed LOH (n = 6) or MI (n = 4). We compared plasma tumor DNA, plasma and bone marrow QPCR, and blood and bone marrow immunocytochemistry in 32 of the patients with primary cancer. Of these, only one patient had immunocytochemically detectable carcinoma cells in the blood, and three showed abnormally high levels of plasma CK19 mRNA. All four of these patients had plasma DNA alterations. We then compared bone marrow findings: of the 10 primary breast cancers that showed LOH or MI, 6 had elevated CK19 mRNA and 5 had immunocytochemically positive cells. Tumor DNA is readily detectable in plasma of primary and metastatic breast cancer patients, and plasma DNA alterations (LOH and MI) reflect those seen in the tumor. The application of microsatellite analyses to plasma DNA may be useful in assessing tumor burden in breast cancer patients, particularly when combined with QPCR, and is preferable for patients with breast cancer, for whom sequential bone marrow aspiration is undesirable.

Dentists attempt to overcome patients' fears by using various oral, intramuscular, intravenous, and inhalational anxiolytic agents. This article discusses the use of oral midazolam as an alternative to oral diazepam in the management of the pediatric patient.

We report for the first time in the recent North American literature, the case of a patient with rupture of a hepatic hydatid cyst into the gallbladder, with subsequent obstruction of the cystic duct by a daughter cyst acting as a ball-valve and causing acute acalculous cholecystitis.

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome is a rare anomaly consisting of a deficiency in the production of hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase that leads to the overproduction of purine and the accumulation of uric acid. Major manifestations include mental retardation and self-destructive behavior resulting in self-mutilation through biting and scratching. Because no medical treatment exists to alleviate the symptoms of self-mutilation, direct dental intervention is the only way these behaviors can be affected. A unique case of this type involving two male identical twins is reported.

Astronomers responsible for the planning of astronomical observations are showing an interest in scheduling technology. This interest is related to the increasing cost of acquiring high-quality astronomical data, in terms of the technology of contemporary observing methods, and the human expertise needed to obtain successful results using that technology. Telescope time has always been, and is likely to remain, a scarce resource. Tactical planning to make the best use of the limited time available is now essential, and tools are beginning to appear which help astronomers schedule a set of observations over a number of sequential nights. Such tools are of use to duty astronomers making service observations on behalf of colleagues, as well as helping visiting astronomers make the best use of a short period of stay. The majority of planning programs, such as those inspired by the Hubble Space Telescope, choose to address the longterm scheduling problems rather than offer a shortterm solution that can be modified interactively during the course of observations. The constraints embodied in the development, in conjunction with staff at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, of one such program -- NightWatch are described.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

This article discusses factors influencing back injury in ballet dancers and describes a back rehabilitation program. This program, which applies principles of motor skill acquisition in a progressive manner, has been modified for the young ballet dancer to incorporate aspects of dance class.

Gene expression relevant to promotion of neoplastic transformation was investigated by measuring proteins differentially synthesized in two mouse epidermal JB6 cell lines sensitive (P+) or resistant (P-) to tumor promoter induced transformation. One dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of proteins from cells that had been pulse labeled with 35S-methionine after various times of exposure to the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) revealed two protein bands whose intensity increased after 20-24 hr exposure to TPA. Cell fractionation showed that these proteins of 15 and 16 kDa were localized in the nuclear, not the cytosolic, fraction. Parallel studies with 32P-labeled cells showed no evidence for phosphorylation of these proteins. Comparison of P- with P+ cells showed that the observed induction of p15/16 synthesis at 20 hr was specific for P+ cells, with little evidence for stimulated synthesis in P- cells during a 48 hr period. We thus conclude that the tumor promoter produces a late stimulation in the rate of synthesis of 15 and 16 kDa nuclear proteins preferentially in promotion sensitive cells.

In New Zealand, the planting of cypresses is hindered by cypress canker disease caused by Seiridium cardinale (W.W. Wagener) B. Sutton & I.A.S. Gibson and S. cupressi (Guba) Boesew.). Pruning is widely practiced in established plantations to improve timber quality, although knowledge of its effect on disease incidence remains imperfect. Stubs of freshly cut branches on 275 trees of Cupressus macrocarpa Gordon & Leyland were inoculated with an isolate of either S. cardinale or S. cupressi to investigate the potential for pruning wounds to act as infection courts. In total, 75% of stubs inoculated at the edge, and 60% of those inoculated at the centre, became infected and produced stem cankers after 1 year, whereas cankers were formed on only 2% of non-inoculated control stubs. Incidence of cankers differed significantly between isolates. A second experiment was conducted at the same site 2 years later when stand infestation had increased, this time without inoculating but instead relying on ambient field inoculum. Stem cankers were produced on 11% of stubs on 162 trees, as a result of natural infection following pruning during periods of light rain in spring and summer. This investigation confirmed the ability of Seiridium species to invade through fresh pruning wounds on C. macrocarpa, and strengthens the recommendation to remove diseased plant material early, to maintain a low level of natural-spore inoculum within stands. It also indicates that pruning during wet weather should be avoided. Cleaning or disinfecting implements among trees may also be appropriate when conducting silvicultural operations in diseased plantations.

The conductive properties of bulk SrNb x Ti 1-x O 3 (SNT) and porous SrNb x Ti 1-x O 3 -yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) composites for x = 0.01, 0.05, and 0.20 have been examined under relevant solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) operating temperatures and redox cycling conditions. The porous composite conductivities were approximately 1 order of magnitude lower than the corresponding bulk material. In order to obtain reasonable conductivity levels for SOFCs, samples were prereduced at 1400°C in H 2 . The conductivity of prereduced samples increased with increasing Nb content when directly measured in humidified H 2 ; however, when considering the conductivities measured after redox cycling, there appears to be no benefit to using higher dopant levels. After redox cycling at 800°C, a composite conductivity of 1 S/cm at 800°C in humidified H 2 (3% H 2 O) was achieved for x = 0.01 and 0.05 and a composite conductivity of 0.5 S/cm was achieved for x = 0.20. Fuel cell power densities of 415 mW/cm 2 at 700°C and 640 mW/cm 2 at 800°C were achieved in humidified H 2 (3% H 2 O) with a porous SNT-YSZ anode infiltrated with 1 wt % Pd and 3 wt % CeO 2 , a 50 μm thick YSZ electrolyte, and an La 0.8 Sr 0.2 FeO 3 (LSF), LSF-YSZ cathode. The implications of these results for the development of redox-stable anodes are discussed.

This report documents a rare manifestation of aneurysmal disease of the popliteal artery. We describe a popliteal aneurysm presenting with acute venous hypertension due to a spontaneously occurring arteriovenous fistula. The fistula was defunctionalized by treating the aneurysm with a standard technique of exclusion and bypass with resolution of the symptoms of venous hypertension and maintenance of normal distal perfusion.

This study compared scores on the 40-item Narcissistic Personality Inventory for 14 Asian, 58 Caucasian, and 16 Hispanic American college women. Asian American women had significantly lower narcissism scores than Caucasian American women and also scored significantly lower on four of the seven component scales. Hispanic and Caucasian women had similar scores on narcissism. These results may be based on an ethnic response set and/or the influence of cultural values present in many traditional Asian cultures which are seemingly antithetical to narcissism and include modesty, respect for authority, and the valuing of relationship over individualism. The importance of including ethnic information in research is stressed.

An experimental shared fibre access system for subscriber loop application is described. The system known as MACNET, involves the use of a passive optical coupler located in the street near the cluster of customers served by the network. The experimental system was designed primarily for the delivery of narrowband telecommunication services but the overlay of distributive video has also been demonstrated. The successful development and the experience gained from the experimental system has led to detailed studies for a trial system based on the provision of a fixed access capacity. A particular implementation of this trial system is discussed, as well as an overlay for bi-directional video transmission.

Qualitative and quantitative studies show that diploid plants produced by anther culture (AC) from a double cross population of Brussels sprouts have arisen from spontaneously doubled haploid cells. The mean performance and distribution of lines produced by AC is compared to an equivalent array of inbred lines produced by single seed descent (SSD). There was no evidence of any difference in vigour between the AC and SSD samples. The tests are sufficiently sensitive to establish (with a 90 per cent confidence) that any true difference between the means, for vigour related traits, must be less than 15 per cent of the mean performance of SSD material. Additional evidence identifies genetic segregation for stability to micro-environmental factors within both the AC and SSD lines.

SUMMARY Previous work at the National Vegetable Research Station indicated that cross-pollination of Brussels sprouts by honeybees could be improved when parent lines with similar flowering characteristics were used. During 1973-5 inbred lines were tested at three sites for matching ability based on flowering times, plant height and flower colour. One pair of inbreds satisfied all criteria at all sites, and a further twelve gave satisfactory results. Two pairs visually matched in 1973 were grown in larger plots in 1973-4 to assess the effect of matching on honeybee behaviour. Results showed that matching improved cross-pollination by honeybees between the parent lines.

Morphology and geographic variation of pollen grains of three genera of the Rosaceae (Dryas, Fragaria, Holodiscus) of western Canada were studied using the light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Dryas spp. pollen is tricolporate with a weakly developed fusiform aperture in the colpus, which upon expansion of the grain becomes a large rectangular opening. Sculpturing consists of ridges and valleys (striate or rugulate), the latter containing perforations, which grades to a network of ridges and perforations (reticulate) at colpus margins. Ridges are parallel to the colpus or form looping patterns. Dryas integrifolia and Dryas octopetala pollen in silicone oil usually are larger than those of Dryas drummondii. Fragaria spp. pollen is tricolporate with a well-developed complex equatorial aperture. Fragaria chiloensis and F. vesca exhibit a lobed and equatorially extended endoaperture, which is overarched by sexine. Fragaria virginiana usually has a less distinct endoaperture. Fragaria species have a fusiform colpus operculum. Sculpturing consists of nonasastomosing ridges parallel to the colpus and valleys containing obscure microperforations. Holodiscus discolor pollen is tricolporate. Sculpturing is striate to reticulostriate, consisting of ridges and valleys with perforations. A distinct zone, either lacking ridges or of densely packed ridges, borders the colpus.

Dominant S-alleles have been found to confer stronger self-incompatibility than recessive S-alleles in Brussels sprouts' inbred lines, but the overall effect is small and the degree of self-incompatibility associated with dominant S-alleles is often as great as that from recessives. Within the group of recessive S-alleles differences have been found in their ability to give good self-incompatibility. The implications in relation to breeding F1 hybrid Brussels sprouts are discussed.

Oxygen diffusion in albite has been determined by the integrating (bulk 18O) method between 750° and 450° C, for a P H2O of 2 kb. The original material has a low dislocation density (

SUMMARY The feasibility of producing commercially acceptable inbred lines of Brussels sprouts is investigated. Two experiments are described which examined the nature and extent of heterosis in this crop using the techniques of biometrical genetics. They indicate incomplete dominance for several production traits, lower F1 uniformity and the presence of inbreds that outyield some F1's. These results strongly suggest that recombinant inbred lines, possibly outyielding the better F1's could be produced. Five crosses were identified for inbreeding by SSD and 1000 lines are being produced from each. The principles upon which these crosses were identified are described.