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We assessed the importance of glycosaminoglycans and sulfur-mediated bonds for the mechanical properties of lens capsules by comparing the stress-strain responses from control and treated pairs of bovine source. No significant change in mechanical properties was observed upon reduction of disulfide bonds. However, removal of glycosaminoglycan chains resulted in a significantly stiffer lens capsule, whereas high concentrations of reducing agent, which is expected to reduce the recently reported sulfilimine bond of collagen IV, resulted in a significantly less stiff lens capsule. A comparison of the diffraction patterns of the control and strongly reduced lens capsules indicated structural rearrangements on a nanometer scale.

Members of the genus Plagiostomainhabit leaves, stems, twigs, and branches of woody and herbaceous plants predominantly in the temperate Northern Hemisphere. An account of all known species of Plagiostomaincluding Cryptodiaportheis presented based on analyses of morphological, cultural, and DNA sequence data. Multigene phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences from four genes (β-tubulin, ITS, rpb2, and tef1-α) revealed eight previously undescribed phylogenetic species and an association between a clade composed of 11 species of Plagiostomaand the host family Salicaceae. In this paper these eight new species of Plagiostomaare described, four species are redescribed, and four new combinations are proposed. A key to the 25 accepted species of Plagiostomabased on host, shape, and size of perithecia, perithecial arrangement in the host, and microscopic characteristics of the asci and ascospores is provided. Disposition of additional names in Cryptodiaportheand Plagiostomais also discussed.

The Gnomoniaceaeare characterised by ascomata that are generally immersed, solitary, without a stroma, or aggregated with a rudimentary stroma, in herbaceous plant material especially in leaves, twigs or stems, but also in bark or wood. The ascomata are black, soft-textured, thin-walled, and pseudoparenchymatous with one or more central or eccentric necks. The asci usually have a distinct apical ring. The Gnomoniaceaeincludes species having ascospores that are small, mostly less than 25 μm long, although some are longer, and range in septation from non-septate to one-septate, rarely multi-septate. Molecular studies of the Gnomoniaceaesuggest that the traditional classification of genera based on characteristics of the ascomata such as position of the neck and ascospores such as septation have resulted in genera that are not monophyletic. In this paper the concepts of the leaf-inhabiting genera in the Gnomoniaceaeare reevaluated using multiple genes, specifically nrLSU, translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α), and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2) for 64 isolates. ITS sequences were generated for 322 isolates. Six genera of leaf-inhabiting Gnomoniaceaeare defined based on placement of their type species within the multigene phylogeny. The new monotypic genus Ambarignomoniais established for an unusual species, A. petiolorum. A key to 59 species of leaf-inhabiting Gnomoniaceae is presented and 22 species of Gnomoniaceaeare described and illustrated.

Tribe Ustilaginoideae (Hypocreales, Ascomycetes) is made up of three anamorph genera, Munkia, Neomunkiaand Ustilaginoidea.Species of Munkiaand Neomunkiadevelop on the culms of bamboo (Chusqueaspp.) and have a neotropical distribution while species of Ustilaginoideainfect the florets of various grasses and are pantropical in distribution. In this study we evaluated the phylogeny of the tribe and assessed hypotheses regarding its affinity to clavicipitalean teleomorphic groups. To support phylogenetic analyses, morphology of representatives of several key species of Ustilaginoideae was examined also. Phylogenetic analyses using sequences of the large subunit of the ribosomal RNA gene suggest that members of Ustilaginoideae are distinct from teleomorphic genera of Clavicipitaceae and that Ustilaginoideae should be recognized as a monophyletic group within Hypocreales. However, phylogenetic analyses did not resolve the placement of Ustilaginoideae in Clavicipitaceae or Hypocreaceae, suggesting that it might be a distinct lineage within Hypocreales. This evaluation supported the monophyly of tribes Balansieae and Clavicipeae in the family Clavicipitaceae.

Purpose: The early outcomes of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with primary closure (PC) versus vein patch closure (saphenous vein [SVP] and jugular vein [JVP]) and polytetrafluoroethylene patch closure (PTFE-PC) were compared. Methods: Three hundred ninety-nine CEAs were randomized into the following groups: 135 PC, 134 PTFE-PC, and 130 vein patch closure (SVP alternating with JVP). Surviving patients underwent a carotid color duplex ultrasonographic scan 1 month after surgery. Demographic characteristics were similar in all groups. Results: The incidence of perioperative cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) was 4.4% for PC, 0.8% for PTFE-PC, and 0% for vein patch closure (PC vs vein patch, p = 0.0165; PC vs all patching [vein and PTFE], p = 0.007). The perioperative CVA and reversible ischemic neurologic deficit (RIND) combined rates for all patching were superior to PC (1.5% vs 5.2%; p = 0.04). These combined rates were also superior for vein patch closure when compared with PC (0.8% vs 5.2%; p = 0.037). The mean diameter of the internal carotid artery was similar in patients who had perioperative neurologic deficits and those who did not. After 1 month of follow-up, 11.9% of the PC arteries were narrowed 50% or more in contrast to 2.3% for PTFE-PC, 3.1% for SVP, and 10.3% for JVP (PC vs all patching, p = 0.008; PC vs PTFE-PC, p = 0.0017; PC vs SVP, p = 0.028). In contrast, early postoperative dilation of the internal carotid artery to more than twice the measured diameter was not significantly higher in patched arteries than in PC arteries. The mean operative and hemostasis times were significantly longer for patching than for PC. Conclusions: Patch closure is less likely than PC to cause perioperative CVA, RIND, and early internal carotid artery stenosis. (J Vasc Surg 1996;24;998-1007.)

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