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The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is predisposed to ureteral ectopia and associated diseases of the urinary tract as well as the kidneys, which can have severe to lethal consequences. Due to the clustered occurrence of clinical signs in 11 % of Entlebucher Mountain dogs in the absence of a genetic test for ureteral ectopia, screening was introduced in 2008 to allow phenotype-based breeding selection. The ureteral orifices of the dogs are visualized by ultrasound and existing urinary retention or urinary incontinence is documented. The diagnostic findings were evaluated centrally with assignment to one of five phenotypes depending on the localization of the ureteral orifices and the renal and ureteral shape. Breeding approval and mating restrictions are the responsibility of the respective breeding associations and predominantly Entlebucher Mountain Dogs with extravesical ectopic ureters and/or clinical signs were excluded from breeding. The effect of phenotype-based selective mating on the incidence of ureteral ectopia and its clinical signs, as well as possible factors influencing the expression of the phenotype, were determined in the birth cohorts after the introduction of screening. Analysis of the data set of 1456 phenotyped Entlebucher Mountain Dogs showed, that at 11 % versus 5 %, males were more frequently assigned to the extravesical phenotype than females. The effect of phenotype-based breeding selection was examined in a subpopulation consisting of phenotyped parents and their offspring (n = 876). The prevalence of the extravesical phenotype decreased from 24 % in the 2005 to 2007 birth cohorts to 1,4 % in the 2015 to 2017 birth cohorts. Since 2015 almost no Entlebucher Mountain Dogs with incontinence, hydroureter or hydronephrosis have been recorded. It was feared that the additional selection measures to control ureteral ectopia in the small Entlebucher Mountain Dog population would intensify the inbreeding increase. However, this has so far remained absent. Therefore, as long as no genetic test is available, it is recommended to continue phenotype-based breeding selection with exclusion of dogs with extravesical ureteral ectopia and/or hydroureter/hydronephrosis/urinary incontinence, while keeping an eye on the development of the inbreeding coefficient.Der Entlebucher Sennenhund ist prädisponiert für die ureterale Ektopie und damit für assoziierte Erkrankungen der Harnwege sowie der Nieren, was schwerwiegende bis letale Folgen haben kann. Aufgrund des gehäuften Auftretens klinischer Symptome bei 11 % der Entlebucher Sennenhunde wurde in Ermangelung eines Gentests auf ureterale Ektopie 2008 ein Screening eingeführt, um eine Phänotyp-basierte Zuchtselektion zu ermöglichen. Die Uretermündungen der Hunde werden in der Regel mittels Ultraschall lokalisiert und bestehender Harnrückstau oder Harninkontinenz wird dokumentiert. Die Befundung erfolgte zentral mit einer Zuordnung zu einem von fünf Phänotypen in Abhängigkeit von der Lokalisation der Uretermündungen sowie der Nieren – und Ureterengestalt. Die Zuchtzulassung und Verpaarungsbeschränkungen obliegen den jeweiligen Zuchtverbänden, wobei überwiegend Entlebucher Sennenhunde mit extravesikal ektopischen Ureteren und/oder klinischen Symptomen von der Zucht ausgeschlossen wurden. Die Auswirkung der Phänotyp-basierten selektiven Verpaarung auf das Auftreten der ureteralen Ektopie und deren klinischen Symptome sowie mögliche Einflussfaktoren auf die Ausprägung des Phänotyps wurden in den Geburtsjahren nach Einführung des Screenings ermittelt. Die Analyse des Datensatzes mit 1456 phänotypisierten Entlebucher Sennenhunden zeigte, dass mit 11 % versus 5 % Rüden häufiger als Hündinnen dem extravesikalen Phänotyp zugeteilt wurden. Die Auswirkung der Phänotyp-basierten Zuchtselektion wurde an einer Teilpopulation, bestehend aus phänotypisierten Elterntieren und ihren Nachkommen (n = 876), untersucht. Die Prävalenz des extravesikalen Phänotyps nahm von 24 % bei den Geburtsjahren 2005 bis 2007 auf 1,4 % bei den Geburtsjahren 2015 bis 2017 ab. Seit 2015 wurden nahezu keine Entlebucher Sennenhunde mehr mit Inkontinenz, Hydroureter oder Hydronephrose erfasst. Befürchtet wurde, dass die zusätzlichen Selektionsmassnahmen zur Bekämpfung der ureteralen Ektopie in der kleinen Entlebucher Sennenhundepopulation den Inzuchtanstieg verstärken würde. Dies blieb bisher jedoch aus. Daher wird, solange kein genetischer Test zur Verfügung steht, empfohlen, die Phänotyp-basierte Zuchtselektion mit Ausschluss von Hunden mit extravesikaler ureteraler Ektopie und/oder Hydroureter/Hydronephrose/Harninkontinenz vorerst weiterzuführen und gleichzeitig die Entwicklung des Inzuchtkoeffizienten im Auge zu behalten.Le Bouvier de l’Entlebuch est prédisposé à l’ectopie urétérale et aux maladies associées des voies urinaires ainsi que des reins, ce qui peut entraîner des conséquences fatales. En raison de l’apparition de signes cliniques chez 11 % des chiens et en l’absence d’un test génétique pour l’ectopie urétérale, un dépistage a été introduit en 2008 pour permettre une sélection d’élevage basée sur le phénotype. Les orifices urétraux des chiens ont été visualisés par échographie et la rétention ou l’incontinence urinaire existante documentée. Les résultats du diagnostic ont été évalués de manière centralisée avec attribution à l’un des cinq phénotypes en fonction de la localisation des orifices urétéraux ainsi que de la forme des reins et des uretères. L’approbation pour la reproduction et les restrictions d’accouplement relèvent de la responsabilité des associations d’élevage respectives et les bouviers de l’Entlebuch présentant des uretères ectopiques extravésicaux et/ou des signes cliniques ont majoritairement été exclus de la reproduction. L’effet de cet accouplement sélectif basé sur le phénotype sur l’incidence de l’ectopie urétérale et de ses signes cliniques ainsi que les facteurs possibles influençant l’expression du phénotype ont été déterminés dans les cohortes de naissance après l’introduction du dépistage. L’analyse de l’ensemble des données de 1456 Bouviers de l’Entlebuch phénotypés a montré que, à 11 % contre 5 %, les mâles étaient plus fréquemment affectés au phénotype extravésical que les femelles. L’effet de la sélection d’élevage basée sur le phénotype a été examiné dans une sous-population composée de parents phénotypés et de leur progéniture (n = 876). La prévalence du phénotype extravésical est passée de 24 % dans les cohortes de naissance de 2005 à 2007 à 1,4 % dans les cohortes de naissance de 2015 à 2017. Depuis 2015, presque aucun bouvier d’Entlebuch présentant une incontinence, un hydrouretère ou une hydronéphrose n’a été enregistré. Une possible augmentation de la consanguinité due aux mesures de sélection supplémentaires visant à contrôler l’ectopie urétérale ne s’est pas produite. Par conséquent, tant qu’aucun test génétique n’est disponible, il est recommandé de poursuivre la sélection d’élevage basée sur le phénotype avec exclusion des chiens présentant une ectopie urétérale extravésicale et/ou une hydrouretère/hydronéphrose/incontinence urinaire, tout en surveillant l’évolution du coefficient de consanguinité.Il bovaro dell’Entlebuch è predisposto all’ectopia ureterale e quindi alle malattie che sono correlate al tratto urinario e renale con possibili conseguenze letali. A causa della frequente comparsa di segni clinici nell’11 % dei cani e in assenza di un test genetico per l’ectopia ureterale, nel 2008 è stato introdotto uno screening per consentire la selezione fenotipica dei riproduttori. Gli orifizi ureterali dei cani sono solitamente localizzato tramite ecografia e viene documentata la presenza di ritenzione o incontinenza urinaria. I risultati sono stati valutati in modo centralizzato e si è assegnato il risultato a uno dei cinque fenotipi a seconda della localizzazione degli orifizi ureterali e della forma dei reni e degli ureteri. L’autorizzazione all’allevamento e le restrizioni all’accoppiamento sono di competenza delle rispettive associazioni di allevatori e i bovari dell’Entlebuch con ureteri ectopici extravescicali e/o con segni clinici sono stati prevalentemente esclusi dalla riproduzione. L’effetto dell’accoppiamento selettivo, basato sul fenotipo per rapporto all’incidenza dell’ectopia ureterale e dei suoi segni clinici, nonché dei possibili fattori che influenzano l’espressione del fenotipo, è stato determinato nelle coorti di nascita dopo l’introduzione dello screening. L’analisi del set di dati di 1456 bovari dell’Entlebuch fenotipizzati ha dimostrato che, con una percentuale dell’11 % rispetto al 5 %, i maschi erano più frequentemente assegnati al fenotipo extravescicale rispetto alle femmine. L’effetto della selezione riproduttiva basata sul fenotipo è stato esaminato in una subpopolazione composta da genitori fenotipizzati e dalla loro discendenza (n = 876). La prevalenza del fenotipo extravescicale è diminuita dal 24 % nelle coorti di nascita dal 2005 al 2007 all’1,4 % nelle coorti di nascita dal 2015 al 2017. Dal 2015 non sono stati registrati quasi più bovari dell’Entlebuch con incontinenza, idrouretere o idronefrosi. Non si è riscontrato un possibile aumento della consanguineità dovuto alle misure di selezione aggiuntive per controllare l’ectopia ureterale. Pertanto, finché non è disponibile un test genetico, si raccomanda di continuare la selezione fenotipica con l’esclusione dei cani con ectopia ureterale extravescicale e/o idrouretere/idronefrosi/incontinenza urinaria, facendo particolare attenzione all’andamento del coefficiente di consanguineità.

Severe preeclampsia increases lifetime-risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). It remains unclear when this risk translates to subclinical atherosclerosis and whether this is related to cardiovascular health (CVH) after pregnancy. Our aims were (1) to determine CVH after severe preeclampsia, (2) to relate CVH to carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and (3) to relate CVH to chronological and vascular age.A prospective cohort study was performed in women with previous severe pre-eclampsia. CVH, proposed by the American Heart Association, was assessed one year after pregnancy. The CVH score (range 0-14) includes seven metrics (blood pressure, total-cholesterol, glucose, smoking, physical activity, diet and body mass index [BMI]), each weighted as poor (0), intermediate (1) or ideal (2). Vascular age was determined by CIMT. We related CVH to delta age (chronological age - vascular age).In 244 women, the median CVH score was 10 (90% range 7.0, 13.0). Low CVH (10) was associated with a larger CIMT than high CVH (≥12) (median 626.3 μm vs. 567.0 μm, respectively). Higher CVH was also associated with a lower vascular age (-2.0 years, 95%CI -3.3, -0.60). Women with low CVH had a larger delta age (22.5 years [90% range -3.9, 49.6) than women with high CVH (16.5 years [90% range -11.9, 43.3).CVH is inversely related to subclinical atherosclerosis and to vascular age one year after severe preeclampsia. Especially low CVH is associated with a large difference between chronological age and vascular age. CVH counseling might provide the opportunity for timely cardiovascular prevention.

Background Assessing and optimizing cardiovascular health ( CVH ) early in life, such as in pregnancy, could lead to a longer lifetime spent in better CVH and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. This might especially benefit women with a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy ( HDP ) who are more likely to develop atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesized that CVH in pregnancy is related to later life CVH and carotid intima‐media thickness ( CIMT ), and that these associations differ between women with a normotensive pregnancy and women with an HDP . Methods and Results This study was conducted within the prospective population‐based Generation R Study. CVH in pregnancy was based on 5 metrics (blood pressure, total‐cholesterol, glucose, smoking, and body mass index). Postpartum CVH additionally included physical activity and diet scores, according to the American Heart Association classification. Postpartum CVH and CIMT were measured 10 years after pregnancy. Results were analyzed for women with a normotensive pregnancy and those with an HDP . Women with a normotensive pregnancy (n=1786) and women with an HDP (n=138) were evaluated from early pregnancy until 10 years postpartum. Better CVH in early pregnancy was associated with a smaller CIMT and better postpartum CVH in all women, especially in those with an HDP ( CIMT : −9.82 μm [95% CI : −17.98, −1.67]). Conclusions Already in pregnancy, better CVH is associated with a smaller CIMT and better CVH 10 years postpartum, especially in women with an HDP . As pregnancy is an incentive for women to improve lifestyle, assessing CVH in pregnancy might help improve postpartum CVH and reduce cardiovascular disease risk.

Background Self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs) are effective for improving dysphagia in patients with incurable esophageal cancer but are also associated with recurrent dysphagia and adverse events. In the past decades, new SEMSs have been introduced, but also patients’ risk profiles have altered. It is unknown if these changes have affected SEMS outcomes. Methods This retrospective cohort study was conducted in a tertiary referral center in the Netherlands. Patients who underwent palliative esophageal SEMS placement for malignant dysphagia between 1994 and 2017 were included. The primary outcome was to assess shifts over time with respect to recurrent dysphagia and adverse events after SEMS placement. Results 997 patients who underwent SEMS placement were included. Recurrent dysphagia occurred in 309 patients (31 %) and remained stable, although with a trend towards an increase over time (hazard ratio [HR] 1.02 per 1-year increase; P = 0.05). Migration rate significantly increased over time (HR 1.04 per 1-year increase; P = 0.01). SEMS-related complications occurred in 461 patients (46.2 %), with 207 (20.7 %) major and 336 (33.7 %) minor complications. Prior chemoradiotherapy was significantly associated with major complications (HR 1.69; P Conclusions Despite the introduction of novel esophageal SEMS designs, recurrent dysphagia has not declined over the years. Stent-related complications have increased in recent years, which seems to be mainly associated with more frequent use of chemoradiotherapy prior to SEMS placement.

The chapter identifies the motivational structures that underlie arms agreements and arms understandings. With a special focus on the ABM negotiations, it argues that the key questions have to do with figuring out what the purpose of an agreement is, what we would want to call an agreement, what types of agreements there are and how to evaluate them. The Test Ban Treaty and SALT talks and agreements are also thoroughly discussed.

Introduction & objectifs L’hydromorphone est un opiace utilise frequemment lorsque les doses de morphine orale deviennent trop importante. Il est egalement prescrit dans le cadre de la rotation des opioides par exemple lorsqu’un effet indesirable invalidant ne permet pas d’augmenter la dose d’opiace. La PIC mettait a disposition une solution d’hydromorphone a 5 mg/mL depuis de nombreuses annees avec une stabilite empirique de 6 mois, en se basant sur la formulation d’autres hopitaux. Une infirmiere a demande a un pharmacien pourquoi la solution est incolore ou legerement jaune selon les emballages. Un probleme de stabilite a ete suspecte. Sachant que l’hydromorphone est 5 × plus puissant que la morphine, et que la marge therapeutique des opiaces est faible, nous avons tente d’etablir une nouvelle formulation en etudiant les donnees des solutions orales et injectables trouvees dans la litterature. Les objectifs sont le developpement et l’etude de la stabilite a long terme d’une solution orale d’hydromorphone HCl a 5 mg/mL. Methodes La nouvelle formule a ete stabilisee avec un tampon citrate et de l’edetate de sodium. La composition pour 1 mL est de : – 5 mg hydromorphone HCl Ph. Eur ; – 2 mg sodium citrate Ph. Eur ; – 2 mg acide citrique monohydrate Ph. Eur ; – 0,5 mg sodium edetate Ph. Eur ; – 1 mg meproester sodique (E219/217) ; – ad 1 mL eau. La teneur et le pH ont ete determines sur trois echantillons a t = 0, 1, 3 ; 6 ; 9 ; 12 et 18 mois, de novembre 2014 a mai 2016. Durant cette periode, la solution a ete conservee a 20 °C et a l’abri de la lumiere. L’analyse a ete effectuee avec une methode validee en chromatographie liquide a ultra haute performance (UHPLC), la separation est effectuee sur une colonne Waters® Acquity BEH Hilic, la phase mobile etant un melange hydro-organique tamponne et la detection a 282 nm par un spectrophotometre a barrette de diodes. La morphine HCl a ete utilisee comme standard. Resultats La formulation retenue presente les caracteristiques suivantes : – la solution est incolore et limpide ; – le pH des solutions est constant. Apres 18 mois, la teneur etait de 5,03 mg/mL ± 0,10 mg/mL pour un stockage a une temperature ambiante (20 °C ± 5 °C) et a l’abri de la lumiere. Discussion & conclusions La formulation retenue permet de mettre a disposition des unites de soins une solution d’hydromorphone HCl a 5 mg/mL dont la stabilite est d’au moins 18 mois. Dans un contexte plus large, il est important de remettre en question les donnees de stabilite de certaines formulations hospitalieres. L’anciennete d’une formule n’est pas une garantie de stabilite.

To a practitioner in the social sciences, game theory primarily helps to identify situations in which interdependent decisions are somehow problematic; solutions often require venturing into the social sciences. Game theory is usually about anticipating each other's choices; it can also cope with influencing other's choices. To a social scientist the great contribution of game theory is probably the payoff matrix, an accounting device comparable to the equals sign in algebra.

dict the kinds of societies that will be faced with the most severe impacts of climate change 50 years or a century from now: What sort of lives will people lead? What kinds of technologies will they use? Still, we do know some things about the future effects of climate change, and with high confidence. Above all, we know that “developing” countries will experience the greatest impacts from climate change. (I put “developing” in quotes because many of the places to which this term refers are, in fact, not developing; today they are, regrettably, simply poor.) For the countries most vulnerable to climate change, the most reliable defense lies in economic development itself. The advanced industrial countries that have been primarily responsible for bringing about climate change will most likely not experience its most severe impacts. They have a responsibility to assist both poor and genuinely developing countries to find a path of development that does not exacerbate global harm. More urgent, it is unlikely that China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, and other large emitters of greenhouse gases can be induced to participate in massive changes in energy supply and use without substantial assistance from the countries that can afford to assist. Bilateral aid is probably not the right approach for mobilizing such aid and directing it toward the most promising investments. For example, a bilateral relation between China and the United States to help finance Chinese energy improve

The aim of our study was to diagnose aneuploidy in equine spermatozoa by multicolour fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique using specific molecular probes for equine sex chromosomes and autosome pair four (EGFR probe) labeled by different fluorochromes. These were applied on decondensed spermatozoa of four stallions. In total, more than 8800 sperm cells were examined. The total frequency of aberrant cells was 0.496%: aneuploidy of XX (0.135%), YY (0.023%), XY (0.102%), diploidy (0.057%), lack of sex chromosome (0.18%). In one stallion the ratio of normal X- and Y-bearing cells was different from the expected 1:1 ratio (p = 0.0002), in all three other stallions this ratio was close to 1:1. The present study demonstrated that the FISH technique is a powerful method to identify sex chromosome aberrations in equine spermatozoa and allows for the determination of the ratio between X-Y-spermatozoa.

Zusammenfassung Effizienz und Gleichheit, ökonomische Vernunft und politische Ethik werden oft so konzeptualisiert, als stünden sie in einem natürlichen, unüberwindbaren Gegensatz zueinander. Dies erschwert die Lösung politischer Probleme in der Praxis. Dieser Artikel geht der Frage nach, welchen Beitrag ökonomische Vernunft leisten kann - und welchen sie nicht leisten kann -, um zur Klärung ethisch relevanter Probleme beizutragen. Hierzu wird ein kontraktualistischer Ansatz sozialer Verantwortung vorgestellt, der geeignet ist, solche vermeintlichen Gegensätze aufzulösen und dadurch Potentiale wechselseitiger Besserstellung zu realisieren. Der Ansatz wird anhand zahlreicher Beispiele illustriert. Dazu zählen Benzingutscheine, Mietpreisobergrenzen, gesetzliche Mindestlöhne, die Krankenversicherung, die Kilometerpauschale, das Kindergeld und die Sicherheit im zivilen Luftverkehr.

In the course of a routine paternity test for White Shepherd dogs using microsatellite T2201 an apparent non-Mendelian inheritance was seen. It could be shown that the observed phenomenon was caused by a G > C transversion within the reverse primer binding site of one maternal allele leading itself to a ‘null’ allele. Using an alternative primer complementing for the transversion the ‘null’ allele and all other known alleles of the microsatellite T2201 in White Shepherd dogs can be amplified under standard polymerase chain reaction conditions. Although the frequency of this ‘null’ is very low (0.08) we recommend the use of the alternative primer for paternity testing and related applications (e.g. genotype data bank) in this breed. Eine G > C Transversion innerhalb der Primerbindungsstelle ist fur ein ‘Null ’Allel des Mikrosatelliten T2201 in Weissen Schaferhunden verantwortlich Wahrend der Durchfuhrung einer Abstammungskontrolle fur Weisse Schaferhunde wurde fur den Mikrosatelliten T2201 ein nicht-mendelistisches Vererbungsmuster beobachtet. Es konnte nachgewiesen werden, dass es sich um das Phanomen eines ‘‘Null’’ Alleles handelt, welches durch eine G > C Transversion in der Bindungsstelle des einen Primer hervorgerufen wurde. Mit einem alternativen Primer, der diese Transversion komplementiert, konnen das mutierte Allel und alle anderen bekannten Allele des Mikrosatelliten T2201 beim Weissen Schaferhund unter normalen PCR-Bedingungen amplifiziert werden. Obwohl die Frequenz des “Null” Alleles (0.08) sehr klein ist, sollte der alternative Primer fur Abstammungskontrollen und ahnliche Anwendungen (z.B. Genotypendatenbank) bei dieser Rasse verwendet werden.

Cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies of an intersex horse have been carried out. The investigated animal had overall male body conformation; however, its external genitalia consisted of incompletely developed vulva and penis. The X and Y chromosome painting probes detected three cell lines in the examined horse: 63,X, 64,XX and 65,XX with a fragment of a Y chromosome (del Y). The DNA analysis with the PCR and PCR/RFLP methods showed absence of SRY,AMELY and ZFY genes as well as of six Y microsatellite markers (YM2, YP9, YJ10, YE1, YH12, and YA16). These results suggest that the Y chromosome fragment detected in the investigated animal was the result of a deletion of a euchromatic fragment comprising the above-mentioned markers.

We have analysed the chromosomes of three wild and endangered canid species: the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), the bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis) and the fennec fox (Fennecuszerda) using classical and molecular cytogenetic methods. For the first time detailed and encompassing descriptions of the chromosomes are presented including the chromosomal assignment of nucleolar organizer regions and the 5S rRNA gene cluster. We propose a karyotype nomenclature with ideograms including more than 300 bands per haploid set for each of these three species which will form the basis for further research. In addition, we propose four basic different patterns of karyotype organization in the family Canidae. A comparison of these patterns with the most recent molecular phylogeny of Canidae revealed that the karyotype evolution of a species is not always strongly connected with its phylogenetic position. Our findings underline the need and justification for basic cytogenetic work in rare and exotic species.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory authority over cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products and authorised it to assert jurisdiction over other tobacco products. As with other Federal agencies, FDA is required to assess the costs and benefits of its significant regulatory actions. To date, FDA has issued economic impact analyses of one proposed and one final rule requiring graphic warning labels (GWLs) on cigarette packaging and, most recently, of a proposed rule that would assert FDA’s authority over tobacco products other than cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. Given the controversy over the FDA's approach to assessing net economic benefits in its proposed and final rules on GWLs and the importance of having economic impact analyses prepared in accordance with sound economic analysis, a group of prominent economists met in early 2014 to review that approach and, where indicated, to offer suggestions for an improved analysis. We concluded that the analysis of the impact of GWLs on smoking substantially underestimated the benefits and overestimated the costs, leading the FDA to substantially underestimate the net benefits of the GWLs. We hope that the FDA will find our evaluation useful in subsequent analyses, not only of GWLs but also of other regulations regarding tobacco products. Most of what we discuss applies to all instances of evaluating the costs and benefits of tobacco product regulation and, we believe, should be considered in FDA's future analyses of proposed rules., Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (Grant 71484)

Self-assembled ordered SiGe islands were obtained on two types of modulated Si(001) surfaces: the vicinal surface with step-bunching and the surface with periodic stripes or pits pre-patterned by holographic lithography or e-beam lithography. The intrinsic growth instability during Si homoepitaxy on vicinal Si(001) surfaces introduces quasi-periodic bunched steps, which serve as templates for the subsequent SiGe island growth. When only one dot row fits into one period, quasi-periodically ordered SiGe islands can be obtained. On pre-patterned substrates, it is found that islands preferentially grow at the bottom of trenches or pits, resulting in 1D or 2D ordered islands with homogeneous size. The arrangement of these ordered islands can be intentionally changed. By growing multilayer SiGe islands separated by thin Si spacer layers on pre-patterned substrates, three-dimensional island crystals can be realized. Such site-controlled islands are suited for a characterization of the properties of a single island and the interplay between islands after overgrowth, making feasible device applications on a single island and island ensembles.

The slightly vicinal Si(0 0 1) surface is intrinsically unstable against kinetic-step bunching during homoepitaxial growth. The height and period of the step bunches depend on miscut angle, growth temperature, growth rate and epilayer thickness. Using substrates with 4 ∘ miscut along [1 1 0] we optimised our MBE-grown Si-buffers to show one-dimensional step bunches with a typical spacing of 100 nm, and a corrugation height of 4 nm. These Si buffers were capped by 50 A of Si 0.55 Ge 0.45 , which was grown at various temperatures. Only at very low temperatures around 350 ∘ C , the Si 0.55 Ge 0.45 film replicates the underlying ripples of the Si-buffer in a conformal manner. At moderate growth temperatures the stress in the top-layer leads to the formation of {1 0 5}-faceted ridges at the ripple flanks perpendicular to the main structure. This marks the transition from conformal Si/SiGe epilayer growth to strain-driven three-dimensional (3D) island growth for temperatures above 600 ∘ C. The experiments clearly demonstrate that a reduction of the step-bunch spacing to a value approaching the average spacing of the Si 0.55 Ge 0.45 islands under the chosen growth conditions couples the two otherwise independent mechanisms of kinetic (homoepitaxial) step bunching and of strain-induced 3D island growth. This way, long-range ordering of self-organised SiGe dots is achieved that is entirely based on self-organisation phenomena.

The present study, compared the genetic variability of seven dog breeds and a test sample from Switzerland by means of 26 microsatellite markers. Five loci were excluded from further analyses because one was monomorphic, one not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in all breeds and three in linkage disequilibrium with linked loci. The proportion of shared alleles at the individual level of the remaining 21 microsatellite markers combined with the neighbour-joining method allowed for the clustering of the large majority of the individuals in accordance to their breed. The results were confirmed by analyses using a Bayesian approach for clustering and a Monte Carlo re-sampling method for individual assignment or exclusion to a given population.

Human primers specific for the genes LEP, HBB, PAX3, ESR2, TPH1, ABCA4 and ATP2A2 were used to identify clones in a canine BAC library. Subcloning of the positive BACs in plasmids, screening with microsatellite motifs and subsequent sequencing allowed for the identification of eight novel microsatellites. The presence of the gene of interest was confirmed by sequencing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products amplified in the positive BACs. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using the positive BACs as probes allowed for the chromosomal localization of the insert DNAs in two canid species, dog (Canis familiaris) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes). The use of gene-associated microsatellites may accelerate the identification of candidate genes for phenotypic traits in linkage studies.

Summary An existing canine genomic bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library was expanded by adding 115 200 clones with insert lengths not yet represented or under-represented. The final version of the library consists of 211 968 clones with an estimated average insert size of 110 000 base pairs. Clones were grown individually and glycerol permanents were arrayed in 2208 96-well microtitre plates. DNA of each clone was prepared by microwave treatment and organized in a three-dimensional DNA pooling system (92 superpools) allowing for rapid screening by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Screening of the library for 111 microsatellite loci representing all canine chromosomes revealed a recovery rate of 93% and a fourfold genome coverage. In addition, 50 BAC clones containing microsatellites or genes related to ongoing projects in the laboratories of the authors and eight other research groups were successfully recovered. The present library is the first canine BAC library amenable to PCR screening and is an invaluable tool for cloning candidate loci and developing genetic markers in specific chromosomal regions. This library will also enhance mapping efforts in related canid species and is an important source for geneticists studying inherited diseases common to both dog and humans. Interested researchers can access the library following the instructions at http://www.dogmap.ch.

The morphology of annealed patterned Si(0 0 1) wire templates was studied by several techniques. We found an enormous Si-mass transport on the Si surface at usual oxide desorption temperatures around 900°C under UHV conditions. Heat treatment of 5 min transforms the initially rectangular wire profiles with a height of 300 nm to flat ( nm ) and faceted triangular ridges exhibiting thermodynamically preferred {1 1 1} - and {3 1 1} -facets. It was found that the natural SiO2 on the predefined wire pattern must be responsible for the degradation of the wire structure. Removing the SiO2 layer from the Si wires ex situ with an HF dip preserves the rectangular structures during high-temperature annealing. The Si–SiO2 interface was investigated with high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to image the Si wire surface and the natural oxide layer in detail.

Self-organization phenomena in semiconductors are usually based on strain-driven island growth during hetero epitaxial layer deposition. However, kinetic phenomena can become important and even dominating at the low growth temperatures usually employed during molecular beam epitaxy. We report on kinetic step bunching on Si(001), and identify the driving mechanism on the atomic scale via kinetic Monte Carlo simulations. Another phenomena discussed is facet formation during annealing of SiO 2 -covered Si(001) nanostructures at the relatively low temperatures usually employed for oxide desorption. Both phenomena are combined to facilitate perfect ordering of self-assembled Ge dots on facetted Si(001) nanostructure templates.