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Plasmonic nanoantennas have proven to be efficient transducers of electromagnetic to mechanical energy and vice versa. The sudden thermal expansion of these structures after an ultrafast optical pulsed excitation leads to the emission of hypersonic acoustic waves to the supporting substrate, which can be detected by another antenna that acts as a high-sensitivity mechanical probe due to the strong modulation of its optical response. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a nanoscale acoustic lens comprised of 11 gold nanodisks whose collective oscillation at gigahertz frequencies gives rise to an interference pattern that results in a diffraction-limited surface acoustic beam of about 340 nm width, with an amplitude contrast of 60%. Via spatially decoupled pump–probe experiments, we were able to map the radiated acoustic energy in the proximity of the focal area, obtaining a very good agreement with the continuum elastic theory.

A monoanionic phosphoramide ligand is introduced, which forms a series of lanthanum complexes with the ligand in both anionic and neutral forms. Stoichiometric control alone provides monometallic complexes with either two or three phosphoramide ligands. Alternatively, a combination of anionic and neutral proteo ligands featuring intramolecular hydrogen bonding can be obtained. The anionic form of the ligand binds lanthanum as a bi- or monodentate ligand, depending on the steric demand at the metal center, while the protonated ligand binds exclusively through the phosphoramide oxygen donor.

High-valent cerium complexes of alkyl and benzyl ligands are unprecedented due to the incompatibility of the typically highly oxidizing Ce4+ion and the reducing alkyl or benzyl ligand. Herein we report the synthesis and isolation of the first tetravalent cerium alkyl and benzyl complexes supported by the tri-tert-butyl imidophosphorane ligand, [NP(tBu)3]1–. The Ce4+monoiodide complex, [Ce4+I(NP(tert-butyl)3)3] (1-CeI), serves as a precursor to the alkyl and benzyl complexes, [Ce4+(Npt)(NP(tert-butyl)3)3] (2-CeNpt) (Npt = neopentyl, CH2C(CH3)3) and [Ce4+(Bn)(NP(tert-butyl)3)3] (2-CeBn) (Bn = benzyl, CH2Ph). The bonding and structure of these complexes are characterized by single-crystal XRD, NMR and UV–vis–NIR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and DFT studies.

Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are an extremely common set of more than 50 disorders characterized by persistent and recurring gastrointestinal symptoms. Most of these patients can be diagnosed and managed by primary care physicians. Treatment includes patient education and reassurance, eliminating triggers, dietary modification, and pharmacologic management. Primary care physicians should consider referral to gastroenterologists when patients exhibit red flag symptoms such as blood in stool, abnormal laboratory findings, involuntary weight loss, age of presentation greater than 50 years, or certain concerning family history.

Background COVID-19 disease often requires invasive ventilatory support. Trans-laryngeal intubation of the trachea may cause laryngeal injury, possibly compounded by coronavirus infection. Fibreoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) provides anatomical and functional assessment of the larynx, guiding multidisciplinary management. Our aims were to observe the nature of laryngeal abnormalities in patients with COVID-19 following prolonged trans-laryngeal intubation and tracheostomy, and to describe their impact on functional laryngeal outcomes, such as tracheostomy weaning.Methods A retrospective observational cohort analysis was undertaken between March and December 2020, at a UK tertiary hospital. The Speech and Language Therapy team assessed patients recovering from COVID-19 with voice/swallowing problems identified following trans-laryngeal intubation or tracheostomy using FEES. Laryngeal pathology, treatments, and outcomes relating to tracheostomy and oral feeding were noted.Results Twenty-five FEES performed on 16 patients identified a median of 3 (IQR 2–4) laryngeal abnormalities, with 63% considered clinically significant. Most common pathologies were: oedema (n = 12, 75%); abnormal movement (n = 12, 75%); atypical lesions (n = 11, 69%); and erythema (n = 6, 38%). FEES influenced management: identifying silent aspiration (88% of patients who aspirated (n = 8)), airway patency issues impacting tracheostomy weaning (n = 8, 50%), targeted dysphagia therapy (n = 7, 44%); ENT referral (n = 6, 38%) and reflux management (n = 5, 31%).Conclusions FEES is beneficial in identifying occult pathologies and guiding management for laryngeal recovery. In our cohort, the incidence of laryngeal pathology was higher than a non-COVID-19 cohort with similar characteristics. We recommend multidisciplinary investigation and management of patients recovering from COVID-19 who required prolonged trans-laryngeal intubation and/or tracheostomy to optimise laryngeal recovery.

Elucidating optimal vaccine adjuvants for harnessing age-specific immune pathways to enhance magnitude, breadth, and durability of immunogenicity remains a key gap area in pediatric vaccine design. A better understanding of age-specific adjuvants will inform precision discovery and development of safe and effective vaccines for protecting children from preventable infectious diseases.

Purpose: Validation of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to treat obesity is hampered by evidence that participants can distinguish real from the traditional-control condition. Correctly guessing the real condition precludes knowing if it is neuromodulation or expectation that suppresses food craving and eating. Therefore, this study tested the putative efficacy of tDCS to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) to reduce food craving and eating when an alternative control condition was used that would be difficult to distinguish from the real condition. Methods: N= 28 adults with a 26–50 BMI range received a typical 20-min 2 mA current session of tDCS targeting the DLPFC as the real condition and a same duration/current tDCS session targeting the sensorimotor cortex (SMC), a region not expected to affect appetite, as the control. Food image craving ratings, in-lab food consumption, and momentary ratings of physical sensations were measured. Results: DLPFC failed to reduce food craving and consumption compared to SMC stimulation. When interviewed, 71% of participants were unable to guess real from control conditions. Those who guessed DLPFC tDCS as real attributed their guess to increased number and frequency of sensations. However, their sensation ratings during tDCS did not differ between conditions. Conclusions: The results question if tDCS suppresses craving and eating at all, or if the DLPFC is the best target to do so. The results also indicate that alternate-site constant stimulation as the control method may strengthen the scientific evaluation of tDCS to treat obesity. Level of evidence: Level I, experimental study.

Understanding the mechanistic link between plant functional traits and foraging patterns across seasons and grazing intensities is crucial for implementing sustainable grazing systems and predicting ecological successions. We assessed the interaction effects of grazing intensity, season, and leaf functional traits on herbivore grazing patterns in a native grassland composed of functionally diverse patches in four 10–14 ha paddocks managed under lenient or moderate grazing intensities. Seasonal botanical composition was estimated in permanent 20 × 20 cm patches. Defoliation events of species in patches were recorded every 7–10 d, four times during summer-autumn, and five times during winter and spring. Leaf dry matter content, specific area, tensile strength, and width of dominant grass species were measured seasonally, and species were allocated to functional groups. The proportion of total defoliation events occurring in each functional group and their selectivity index were estimated for each period and season. We tested the relationship between trait community weighted mean in the pasture and that grazed by cattle for each quadrant and period within seasons. Cows focused grazing on resource-acquisitive strategy species with wider and more tender leaves during summer-autumn under both grazing intensities. As herbage mass and accumulation decreased during winter, cows shifted their foraging strategy toward shorter patches and previously rejected, tougher-thinner leaves and resource-conservative strategy species stockpiled from summer-autumn, not overgrazing the resource-acquisitive species. However, this general pattern was modulated by grazing intensity; cows grazed taller patches and more tender and wider-leaved species under lenient than moderate grazing intensity. Thus, the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of desired and rejected stockpiled patches of different functional groups was managed by integrating seasonality, grazing intensity, and leaf functional traits. Therefore, the general principle of foraging selectivity toward desired species can be altered by management practices and inherent species attributes, maintaining communities of species of different ecosystem functions in equilibrium.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a large number of diseases worldwide. There are few vaccines to constrain this disease and the value of them is high. In this sense, the antigens of the vaccine platform Soberana, the receptor binding domain from SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, both the monomeric (mRBD) and dimeric (dRBD) forms, have been developed. This study encompassed several analyses by different techniques like circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) and Gel Filtration- High Performance Liquid ChLC of mRBD and dRBD. Monomer and dimer exhibited similar far-UV CD spectral characteristics with 54% of β-sheet content. Similar conformational features according to near-UV CD and FS studies were observed in both RBD. Stress stability studies by far-UV CD, FS, biological activity and GF-HPLC at 37 °C showed that mRBD is very stable. On the other hand, dRBD fluorescent emission showed a shift towards higher wavelengths as the incubation time increases, suggesting exposition of tryptophan residues, unlike what happens with mRBD. Biological activity outcome confirms these results. GF-HPLC profiles showed that in mRBD, the product of molecular stress are dimers and does not increase over time. However, dRBD showed dimer fragmentation as the main degradation species. This study reveals the usefulness of CD techniques for the analysis of degradation of RBD molecules as well as showed the difference in stability of both RBD molecules. Besides, our work provides useful insights into the production of a key protein used in diagnosis and therapeutics to fight COVID-19 pandemia.

Behavioral predictors of weight-loss program (WLP) outcomes are needed and important because they can be modified. Eating calorie-dense palatable foods (PFs) outside of hunger contributes to obesity. This study assessed if habitual motives to consume PFs could predict weight-loss outcomes. N= 171 Black and N= 141 White adults in a reduced-calorie program completed the Palatable Eating Motives Scale (PEMS). Body weight and body mass index (BMI) lost after 3 and 6 months were analyzed controlling for initial BMI and demographics. Greater PEMS motive scores meant more frequent habitual intake of PFs for that motive. Whites vs. Blacks had higher scores on most of the PEMS motives: Social, Coping, and Reward Enhancement. In Whites at 3 months, greater Reward Enhancement scores and initial BMI predicted more BMI loss (p< 0.05). At 6 months, greater Reward Enhancement and lower Conformity scores predicted more weight (p< 0.05) and BMI loss (Conformity: p< 0.05; Reward Enhancement: p= 0.05). PEMS motives did not predict outcomes for Blacks. The results provide preliminary evidence for the PEMS to predict WLP outcomes. White patients who eat PFs primarily for their rewarding properties and less to conform should fare better in Lifestyle programs while group or family-based interventions may be more efficacious when conformity is the main motive. Lower motive scores among Blacks suggest that eating PFs outside of hunger may go unrecognized or underreported and warrants further investigation. The findings highlight the motive-based heterogeneity of obesity and how it may be used to predict outcomes and customize interventions to improve WLP outcomes. Level IV, multiple time series.

Consumption of fast food and street food is increasingly common among Vietnamese, particularly in large cities. The high daily demand for these convenient food services, together with a poor management system, has raised concerns about food hygiene and safety (FHS). This study aimed to examine the FHS knowledge and practices of food processors and sellers in food facilities in Hanoi, Vietnam, and to identify their associated factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,760 food processors and sellers in restaurants, fast food stores, food stalls, and street vendors in Hanoi in 2015. We assessed each participant's FHS knowledge using a self-report questionnaire and their FHS practices using a checklist. Tobit regression was used to determine potential factors associated with FHS knowledge and practices, including demographics, training experience, and frequency of health examination. Overall, we observed a lack of FHS knowledge among respondents across three domains, including standard requirements for food facilities (18%), food processing procedures (29%), and food poisoning prevention (11%). Only 25.9 and 38.1% of participants used caps and masks, respectively, and 12.8% of food processors reported direct hand contact with food. After adjusting for socioeconomic characteristics, these factors significantly predicted increased FHS knowledge and practice scores: (i) working at restaurants and food stalls, (ii) having FHS training, (iii) having had a physical examination, and (iv) having taken a stool test within the last year. These findings highlight the need of continuous training to improve FHS knowledge and practices among food processors and food sellers. Moreover, regular monitoring of food facilities, combined with medical examination of their staff, should be performed to ensure food safety.

SOBERANA 02 has been evaluated in phase I and IIa studies comparing homologous versus heterologous schedule (this one, including SOBERANA Plus). Here, we report results of immunogenicity, safety, and reactogenicity of SOBERANA 02 in a two- or three-dose heterologous scheme in adults.

In some areas of Vietnam, stigmatisation of HIV-infected children by parents in the community represents a major barrier to integration of such youth into public schools. To investigate parental perceptions of integration, researchers interviewed a total of 60 parents from one rural and one urban school district within Hanoi, Vietnam. Resistance to integration stemmed largely from misinformation about disease transmission and worry about protecting HIV-negative children. Educational campaigns targeted at parents, combined with higher levels of trust in the preparedness of teachers to handle situations involving HIV-positive children, could decrease current stigma and opposition to integration into public primary schools.

This study provides atomistic insights into the interface between a single-site catalyst and a transition metal chalcogenide support and reveals that peak catalytic activity occurs when edge/support redox cooperativity is maximized. A molecular platform MCo6Se8(PEt3)4(L)2(1-M, M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, and Zn) was designed in which the active site (M)/support (Co6Se8) interactions are interrogated by systematically probing the electronic and structural changes that occur as the identity of the metal varies. All 3d transition metal 1-M clusters display remarkable catalytic activity for coupling tosyl azide and tert-butyl isocyanide, with Mn and Co derivatives showing the fastest turnover in the series. Structural, electronic, and magnetic characterization of the clusters was performed using single crystal X-ray diffraction, 1H and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electronic absorption spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and computational methods. Distinct metal/support redox regimes can be accessed in 1-M based on the energy of the edge metal’s frontier orbitals with respect to those of the cluster support. As the degree of electronic interaction between the edge and the support increases, a cooperative regime is reached wherein the support can deliver electrons to the catalytic site, increasing the reactivity of key metal-nitrenoid intermediates.

This unit describes a rodent model of binge eating based on cyclic restriction, refeeding, footshock, and intermittent access to palatable food. These conditions mimic dieting, stress, and “junk” food indulgence, respectively, all common etiological and maintenance factors in human binge eating. Four groups of rats are used: one subjected to cyclic food restriction, another to acute footshock stress, another to both of these (R + S), and a control. Neither cyclic restriction nor stress alone produces binge eating, but the R + S rats, despite satiety, double their intake of palatable food in a discrete period of time (i.e., binge) when stressed. This protocol recapitulates critical properties of human binge eating, namely preference for palatable food, dieting‐ and stress‐induced vulnerability to binging, and eating for reward versus metabolic need. This protocol permits study of the psychobiological underpinnings of binge eating and possibly also of addiction, impulsivity, and depression, which are co‐morbid with binge eating.

Mixture‐based peptide synthetic combinatorial libraries (SCLs) represent a valuable source for the development of novel agents to control infectious diseases. Indeed, a number of studies have now proven the ability of identifying active peptides from libraries composed of thousands to millions of peptides in cell‐based biosystems of varying complexity. Furthermore, progressing knowledge on the importance of endogenous peptides in various immune responses lead to a regain in importance for peptides as potential therapeutic agents. This article is aimed at providing recent studies in our laboratory for the development of antimicrobial or antiviral peptides derived from mixture‐based SCLs using cell‐based assays, as well as a short review of the importance of such peptides in the control of infectious diseases. Furthermore, the use of positional scanning (PS) SCL‐based biometrical analyses for the identification of native optimal epitopes specific to HIV‐1 proteins is also presented. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 71: 103–116, 2003

Mixture-based peptide synthetic combinatorial libraries (SCLs) represent a valuable source for the development of novel agents to control infectious diseases. Indeed, a number of studies have now proven the ability of identifying active peptides from libraries composed of thousands to millions of peptides in cell-based biosystems of varying complexity. Furthermore, progressing knowledge on the importance of endogenous peptides in various immune responses lead to a regain in importance for peptides as potential therapeutic agents. This article is aimed at providing recent studies in our laboratory for the development of antimicrobial or antiviral peptides derived from mixture-based SCLs using cell-based assays, as well as a short review of the importance of such peptides in the control of infectious diseases. Furthermore, the use of positional scanning (PS) SCL-based biometrical analyses for the identification of native optimal epitopes specific to HIV-1 proteins is also presented. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers (Pept Sci) 71: 103–116, 2003

“Dry” synthesis conditionsleading to the controlled formation of a hybrid interface are used in preparing tailored mesotextured hybrid materials comprising covalently bonded dendrimers (see picture) and [Ti16O16(OEt)32] clusters. Thus, the formation of a continuous inorganic phase is hindered. The shape of the organic blocks dictates a local symmetry, which is repeated to form a longer range ordered texture. The versatility of the dendrimer tips permits the formation of these tailored phases. R=CH2OH, CH2CH=CHCOOH.

No Abstract

The definition of epitopes for human B and T cells is fundamental for the understanding of the immune response mechanism and its role in the prevention and cause of human disease. This understanding can be applied to the design of diagnostics and synthetic vaccines. In recent years, the understanding of the specificity of B and T cells has been advanced significantly by the development and use of combinatorial libraries made up of thousands to millions of synthetic peptides. The use of this approach has had four major effects: first, the definition of high affinity ligands both for T cells and antibodies; second, the application of alternative means for identifying immunologically relevant peptides for use as potential preventive and therapeutic vaccines; third, a new appreciation of the requirements for TCR interactions with peptide-MHC complexes in immunogenicity; fourth, the establishment of new principles regarding the level of cross-reactivity in immunological recognition.

Hepatits C (HCV) infection is frequent among hemophilic patients treated with non‐inactivated factor‐concentrates. Both HCV genotype and viral load have been suggested to be important prognostic markers of disease progression and treatment outcome. In addition, co‐infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been associated with increased level of HCV replication and higher risk of developing liver failure. Thus, HCV genotype, viral load, and HIV co‐infection are important factors in HCV infection.

It was hypothesized that rewards made contingent on performance quality would enhance intrinsic motivation, since this type of contingency would provide information about task competence. Children received rewards for successfully (performance-contingent) or simply (task-contingent) completing a series of maze puzzles under conditions that made the reward contingency more or less salient. Subsequent to this manipulation, children were given the opportunity to play with additional maze puzzles or alternative activities during a 5-minute free-choice session, in which they were observed unobtrusively. In general, performance-contingent rewards enhanced children's interest relative to task-contingent rewards and a no-reward control, and these effects were more pronounced when the contingencies were made salient. Sex differences emerged, indicating that performance-contingent rewards were more effective in enhancing the intrinsic motivation of boys. The pattern of data obtained suggests ways in which reward can either facilitate or hinder intrinsic motivation, depending on the reward contingency employed.

Free recall of emotionally positive, neutral, and negative adjectives was used as an indirect assessment of the effects of reward on expectations about intrinsic interest. Reward for performing later activities described as interesting (a ““bonus”” orientation) produced recall of a greater number of emotionally positive adjectives, whereas reward for the same activities described as boring (a ““bribe”” orientation) produced recall of a larger number of negative adjectives. A cued-expectancy analysis suggests that reward serves to polarize initial attitude about forthcoming tasks; these polarized attitudes, like moods, influence the nature of words retrieved from memory.

Two studies examined age-related changes in children's orientations toward strategic peer interaction in middle childhood. In Study 1, first graders did to some extent recognize the pragmatic value of ingratiation in eliciting desired outcomes from a target peer. However, they were less likely than older children (third and fifth graders) and adults both to spontaneously infer an ulterior motive, and to negatively evaluate ingratiation, when ulterior motivation was relatively likely. Study 2 extended work by Feldman and Ruble (1988) by providing additional evidence that the activity partner choices of younger children were based primarily on affective reactions to potential partners, while those of older children were based more on strategic factors. Together these studies provide convergent evidence that younger children focus more on affective properties of peer behavior. The contribution of parallel age-related changes in a number of psychological processes and mechanisms to the development of children's strategic peer orientations are discussed.

The present research examined the hypothesis that subjects prefer controlling strategies, such as reward contingencies, to motivate children over strategies that are less likely to foster an extrinsic motivational orientation. Beliefs about the achievement-related behaviors and personality characteristics of extrinsically and intrinsically oriented children were also investigated to understand the reasons for the adults' apparent preference for extrinsics. To examine these issues, a college-aged and a parent sample were asked to read scenarios describing two elementary schoolchildren who exhibited either an extrinsic orientation toward learning (working to please the teacher) or an intrinsic orientation (approaching learning as an end in itself). The results revealed that, in general, both samples preferred strategies that are more likely to promote an extrinsic orientation than those that are less likely to do so. The data also indicated that the subjects believed that teachers prefer extrinsics to intrinsics and that extrinsics derive more benefit from evaluative feedback. Possible reasons for the perpetuation of such erroneous beliefs and preferences for strategies that have the potential to undermine achievement are discussed.

This study examined the hypothesis that task mastery is a critical determinant of the effect of reward on intrinsic interest. Because the negative side effects of reward on interest were assumed to result from a shift away from desire for mastery over a challenge toward simple attainment of a reward, reward was expected to undermine interest if offered to perform a challenging but not an unchallenging activity. Moreover, the beneficial effect of competence information on interest was predicted to depend on whether the target activity evoked feelings of mastery. To test the mastery hypothesis, fourth-grade children performed an interesting activity that varied in levels of complexity. Half of the children were provided with competence information, while the other half were not provided with this information. In addition, half of the children were offered a reward for task engagement. The pattern of results provided overall support for predictions based on mastery.

Based on self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 1987, 1991), we assessed the effect of controlling strategies and restricted choice options on students' performance on analytic reason problems. Subjects in the controlling-directives condition were told by their “teacher” that a given strategy was the way students “should” solve a set of analytical problems. Although subjects in the noncontrolling-directives condition were taught the same strategy, they were encouraged to use any strategy they chose to solve the identical problems. The results indicated, as predicted, that subjects in the controlling-directives condition performed significantly worse than subjects in the noncontrolling-directives condition on a subsequent set of analytic reasoning problems, when tested by an experimenter who was unaware of a subject's condition. Interestingly, subjects in the controlling-directives condition regarded the teacher as qualitatively more competent than noncontrolling-directives subjects, in spite of their poorer performance. Furthermore, feelings about the task, mood differences, or perceptions of performance as a function of condition did not account for these findings. The data are discussed as they relate to the theoretical and practical import of the deleterious use of controlling techniques in a number of contexts, as well as adults' erroneous beliefs about controlling strategies.

This paper includes research comprised of field studies and laboratory experiments to examine our diathesis-stress model that students with an extrinsic motivational orientation given evaluative/controlling directives are at risk for maladaptive achievement patterns, including performance, cognitive, and emotional deficits of helplessness. The findings, using our multimethod approach, confirmed our assumptions and indicated that motivational orientation is a more reliable predictor of helplessness than either attributions or perceptions of competence. The pattern of data obtained across studies is discussed in light of other theoretical approaches to understanding achievement patterns in students.

The effect of hydrochloric acid at pH 1.2–3.2 on erythromycin stearate and commercial dosage forms of erythromycin stearate was studied. Under all conditions examined, erythromycin was readily dissolved from the stearate as hydrochloride, and rapidly lost its biological activity in solution. The inclusion of pepsin in the test systems did not affect the results. Although formulation differences somewhat affected the rate of destruction, acid lability was exhibited by all products examined, except enteric‐coated tablets. Amounts of acid considered to be normal in the fasting stomach contents of adults during the time likely for a dose to remain in the stomach caused 70–90% destruction within 15 min after the shells started to rupture. Amounts of hydrochloric acid appreciably less than 1 mEq, representing abnormally small quantities even in the fasting state, caused destruction ranging from 30 to 70% of the doses in 15 min. These results are not reconcilable with published statements that the sensitivity of erythromycin to gastric acid is overcome by providing the antibiotic in the form of stearate salt.

Previous research indicates that helplessness deficits following failure feedback do not occur in children less than about 10 years of age since younger children have not yet developed relatively stable concepts of ability. The present study examined the hypothesis that different processes and experiences will produce helplessness deficits in children even younger than 10 years of age. In our study, we predicted that for children of different ages, failure feedback about ability to complete an achievement-related task would produce helplessness for 11 year olds on a generalization task, but not 8 year olds, consistent with previous research. We also predicted that even 8 year olds would experience helplessness when an experience was presented in which they were unable to operate successfully a physical event (in this case, a slide projector). The pattern of data obtained confirms predictions and is discussed in terms of theories relevant to the formation of different processes affecting helplessness in children of different ages.Copyright 1993, 1999 Academic Press

To evaluate the concordance between viremia and antibody testing in hepatitis C virus (HCV) diagnosis, 682 serum or plasma samples collected from patients with known or suspected HCV infection were tested. An overall concordance of 77% between serological and PCR results was found, 5% was RNA positive/antibody negative and 18% antibody positive/RNA negative. The relationship between HCV infection, risk group and clinical diagnosis was studied in 116 patients: the presence of anti-HCV antibody without viremia was shown in 72.7% of asymptomatic subjects and 17.6% of chronic hepatitis subjects without interferon treatment. However, the detection of HCV-RNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in four out of 38 plasma viremia-negative HCV-seropositive subjects (10.5%), showed that HCV-RNA could persist in PBMC and could begin the viral replication again at different times. The detection of HCV-RNA in PBMC in anti-HCV-positive subjects without viremia could reduce false-negative results of HCV-RNA testing by RT-PCR in serum or plasma.

Presents various recipes for picnic lunches. Ingredients needed to prepare lunches; Indepth look at the method in which to prepare each lunch; Details on the length of time needed to prepare lunches. INSETS: Cool it.;The deli dash picnic..

Presents the recipes for various kinds potatoes. Includes Crunchy Roast Potatoes; Blue Cheese and Soured Cream Jackets; Herb and Parmesan Mash.

Suggests five steps to help create quick, healthy and versatile vegetarian foods. Tossing the minor ingredients; Adding the vegetables; Adding the noodles and tofu; Adding the sauce; Adding the garnishes. INSET: Omelette curls..

Presents recipes for hot vegetarian dishes. Aubergine Casserole With Harissa Sauce and Couscous; Wild Rice Pilaf; Hot Lentil and Tomato Salad; Spicy Bread Spirals; Thai Spiced Noodles With Mushrooms and Spinach; Poppadom Baskets With Creamy Vegetable Korma; Cajun Spiced Potatoes.

Presents party food recipes. Includes Tortilla Rolls; Houmous Falafel; Mini Potato Bites; Artichoke and Pesto Mini Pizzas; Ciabatta Toasts With Garlic Mushrooms; Cheese Crisps. INSET: Bottoms up! (drinks to serve during parties)..

Presents several recipes. Includes Two-Cheese Pasta Bake; Courgette and Mushroom Bread; Pumpkin Casserole; Chocolate Brownie Cake; Pear and Ginger Muffins.

Features several stuffed vegetable recipes. Includes Squash With Rice, Sage and Goat's Cheese; Peppers Filled With Corn, Chillies and Smoked Cheese; Tomatoes Stuffed With Fruity Dhal.

Presents several recipes for a tasty lunch using a portion from supper. Red Lentil and Carrot Soup; Red Cabbage and Mangetout Noodles; Spinach, Feta and Parsley Omelette.

Presents various recipes for ice cream. Strawberry and Amaretti; Pecan, Fudge and Maple Syrup; Chocolate and Banana; Raspberry and Orange; White Chocolate and Passion Fruit; Coconut Cream and Pineapple.

Presents a number of recipes for salads. Includes Grilled Sweet Potato and Beetroot Salad; Rice Noodle Salad with Coconut Dressing; Roasted Potato and Red Onion Salad with Melting Camembert; Grilled Goat's Cheese and Pear Salad; Vegetarian Caesar Salad with Poached Egg and Lemon Dressing; Tips in salad-making.

Presents several recipes for making the Italian rice dish known as risotto. Risotto Alla Milanese; Courgette, Spinach and Pesto Risotto; Creamy Tomato Risotto; Leek and Goat's Cheese Risotto; Rich Mushroom Risotto.

Presents various tarts recipes. Caramelised Shallot Tatin; Beetroot and Dill Tatin With Horseradish Sauce; Honeyed Carrot and Parsnip Tatin; Pepper and Mozzarella Tatin; Fennel and Leek Tatin.

Presents pastry cookery. Fresh Greens, Red Onion and Egg Pie; Mushroom and Courgette Rice Pie; Curried Vegetable Pie; Artichoke Hearth, Spinach and Pine Nut Pie; Potato, Cheese and Onion Pie; Pizza Pie. INSET: Shortcrust pastry..

Features recipes for vegetarian soups. Includes Home-Made Vegetable Stock; Chunky Vegetable Soup With Herb Dumplings; Spiced Lentil Soup; Tortellini and Pesto Soup; Mushroom and Onion Soup With Pastry Crust; Leek and Rice Soup; Noodle Soup; Corn Chowder With Garlic Croutons.

Presents a wrapped around recipes for Christmas. Couscous and Aubergine En Croute; Potato, Mushroom and Roasted Garlic; Rice and Fennel; Roasted Leek and Parsnip; Curried Lentil and Spinach.