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The research reported here was conducted to follow up on observations of durable adult‐plant resistance to net form net blotch in several Australian varieties of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Over 11 years, isolates of Pyrenophora teres f. teres were collected and used to inoculate barley varieties. The resistance of five varieties (Clipper, Schooner, Sloop SA, Buloke and Scope) endured until the ninth year. To investigate the genetic control of this durable resistance, doubled haploid lines developed from the F1 generation of a cross between Sloop SA and the susceptible variety Fathom were inoculated with an isolate that appeared fully virulent on Fathom and were evaluated for adult plant resistance. Six quantitative trait loci were mapped: three with resistance from Sloop SA and three with resistance from Fathom. Effects were additive across loci and transgressive segregation provided a few lines with better resistance than Sloop SA. Although the resistance investigated here is no longer effective, insights gained from this research could help guide ongoing efforts in resistance breeding and disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the clinical course of low back pain is essential to informing treatment recommendations and patient stratification. Our aim was to update our previous systematic review and meta-analysis to gain a better understanding of the clinical course of acute, subacute and persistent low back pain. Methods: To update our 2012 systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched the Embase, MEDLINE and CINAHL databases from 2011 until January 2023, using our previous search strategy. We included prospective inception cohort studies if they reported on participants with acute (< 6 wk), subacute (6 to less than 12 wk) or persistent (12 to less than 52 wk) nonspecific low back pain at study entry. Primary outcome measures included pain and disability (0–100 scale). We assessed risk of bias of included studies using a modified tool and assessed the level of confidence in pooled estimates using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tool. We used a mixed model design to calculate pooled estimates (mean, 95% confidence interval [CI]) of pain and disability at 0, 6, 12, 26 and 52 weeks. We treated time in 2 ways: time since study entry (inception time uncorrected) and time since pain onset (inception time corrected). We transformed the latter by adding the mean inception time to the time of study entry. Results: We included 95 studies, with 60 separate cohorts in the systematic review (n = 17 974) and 47 cohorts (n = 9224) in the meta-analysis. Risk of bias of included studies was variable, with poor study attrition and follow-up, and most studies did not select participants as consecutive cases. For the acute pain cohort, the estimated mean pain score with inception time uncorrected was 56 (95% CI 49–62) at baseline, 26 (95% CI 21–31) at 6 weeks, 22 (95% CI 18–26) at 26 weeks and 21 (95% CI 17–25) at 52 weeks (moderate-certainty evidence). For the subacute pain cohort, the mean pain score was 63 (95% CI 55–71) at baseline, 29 (95% CI 22–37) at 6 weeks, 29 (95% CI 22–36) at 26 weeks and 31 (95% 23–39) at 52 weeks (moderate-certainty evidence). For the persistent pain cohort, the mean pain score was 56 (95% CI 37–74) at baseline, 48 (95% CI 32–64) at 6 weeks, 43 (95% CI 29–57) at 26 weeks and 40 (95% CI 27–54) at 52 weeks (very low–certainty evidence). The clinical course of disability was slightly more favourable than the clinical course of pain. Interpretation: Participants with acute and subacute low back pain had substantial improvements in levels of pain and disability within the first 6 weeks (moderate-certainty evidence); however, participants with persistent low back pain had high levels of pain and disability with minimal improvements over time (very low–certainty evidence). Identifying and escalating care in individuals with subacute low back pain who are recovering slowly could be a focus of intervention to reduce the likelihood of transition into persistent low back pain. Protocol registration: PROSPERO — CRD42020207442 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calibration of unknown model parameters is a common task in many ocean model applications. We present an adjoint‐based optimization of an unstructured mesh shallow water model for the Baltic Sea. Spatially varying bottom friction parameter is tuned to minimize the misfit with respect to tide gauge sea surface height (SSH) observations. A key benefit of adjoint‐based optimization is that computational cost does not depend on the number of unknown variables. Adjoint models are, however, typically very laborious to implement. In this work, we leverage a domain specific language framework in which the discrete adjoint model can be obtained automatically. The adjoint model is both exactly compatible with the discrete forward model and computationally efficient. A gradient‐based quasi‐Newton method is used to minimize the misfit. Optimizing spatially‐variable parameters is typically an under‐determined problem and can lead to over‐fitting. We employ Hessian‐based regularization to penalize the spatial curvature of the friction field to overcome this problem. The SSH dynamics in the Baltic Sea are simulated for a 3‐month period. Optimization of the bottom friction parameter results in significant improvement of the model performance. The results are especially encouraging in the complex Danish Straits region, highlighting the benefit of unstructured meshes. Domain specific language frameworks enable automated model analysis and provide easy access to adjoint modeling. Our application shows that this capability can be enabled with few efforts, and the optimization procedure is robust and computationally efficient. Plain Language Summary: Ocean circulation models have several unknown parameters that must be tuned for each application in order to produce physically meaningful results. The tuning process can be a very laborious and time consuming task. In this paper, we investigate an automated way to tune the model's friction at the sea bed to minimize the model's error in predicted sea surface height (SSH). The method is based on a novel way of defining the model's equations which enables solving such optimization problems automatically. The methodology is tested in the Baltic Sea. The modeled SSH is compared against observations at several tide gauges. We show that by optimizing the bottom friction, the model's capability to predict SSH improves significantly. Moreover, we show that the optimization process is robust and computationally efficient. Key Points: Adjoint‐based optimization is used to optimize bottom friction coefficient in 2D water elevation model for the Baltic SeaThe discrete adjoint model is automatically generated by leveraging a symbolic representation of the discrete forward model equationsThe optimization method is robust and results in significant improvement in the sea surface height performance at tide gauge locations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To define the clinical phenotype of SSc patients with antibodies against Sjogren's syndrome (SS)/scleroderma autoantigen 1 (SSSCA1), and to examine the association between these antibodies and cancer in SSc patients. Methods We conducted a case–control study using data from 209 patients with SSc and cancer, and 205 SSc patients without cancer. All were randomly selected from the Johns Hopkins Scleroderma Center Research Registry. Antibodies against SSSCA1 were assayed by immunoprecipitation of 35S-methionine-labelled protein generated by in vitro transcription and translation. We performed logistic regression analysis to examine the relationship between anti-SSSCA1 antibodies and cancer. Results Among the 414 study patients, 31 (7%) were anti-SSSCA1 antibody positive. Antibody-positive patients were more likely to have severe RP, a lower minimum ejection fraction, a trend towards more severe heart involvement and a lower baseline diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide percent predicted than anti-SSSCA1-negative patients. Patients with cancer were significantly more likely to be anti-SSSCA1 positive compared with those without cancer [22/209 (11%) vs 9/205 (4%), respectively; P  = 0.018]. Among patients with cancer, there was a trend towards longer cancer–SSc interval in anti-SSSCA1-positive patients compared with anti-SSSCA1-negative patients. Patients with anti-SSSCA1 antibodies had an increased adjusted risk of cancer (odds ratio 2.46, 95% CI 1.06, 5.70) compared with anti-SSSCA1-negative patients. Conclusions These data suggest anti-SSSCA1 antibody status may be of utility as a cancer biomarker in SSc. Anti-SSSCA1-positive patients with SSc may be more likely to have severe Raynaud's and cardiac involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Direct acting oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are now commonly prescribed medications. Urgent reversal of their anticoagulant effect is sometimes required in emergency situations. In Australia, a specific reversal agent for factor Xa (FXa)‐inhibitor DOAC is not available. Instead, two non‐specific haemostatic agents, activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC) and 3 factor‐prothrombin complex concentrate (3F‐PCC), are used off‐label despite a paucity of evidence for their effectiveness or safety. Aims: To provide further insight into the efficacy and safety of 3F‐PCC and aPCC for the reversal of the anticoagulant effect of FXa inhibitor DOACs. Methods: We conducted a single‐centre retrospective cohort study to investigate the use of aPCC and 3F‐PCC for patients on FXa‐inhibitor DOAC who present with a significant bleeding event or who require urgent surgery. The primary outcome was haemostatic efficacy according to prespecified criteria. Safety outcomes included the thromboembolic event rate and all‐cause mortality during the hospital admission. Results: A total of 51 patients was included in the study (36 patients who had a spontaneous bleeding event and 15 non‐bleeding patients who required urgent perioperative management). Thirty‐one patients received aPCC and 20 patients received 3F‐PCC. Haemostasis was adjudicated as effective in all assessable patients (n = 50; 100%). Thromboembolic events occurred in three patients who received aPCC and one patient who received 3F‐PCC. All‐cause mortality was 7.8% (four patients). Conclusions: Both aPCC and 3F‐PCC are useful adjuncts for the management of patients who require urgent reversal of the anticoagulant effect of FXa‐inhibitor DOAC. However, the risk of thromboembolism in this patient group requires careful consideration. Prospective, comparator studies are needed along with the development of guidelines that reflect the availability of haemostatic agents in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regenerating tropical forests are increasingly important for their role in the global carbon cycle. Carbon stocks in above‐ground biomass can recover to old‐growth forest levels within 60–100 years. However, more than half of all carbon in tropical forests is stored below‐ground, and our understanding of carbon storage in soils during tropical forest recovery is limited.Importantly, soil carbon accumulation does not necessarily reflect patterns in above‐ground biomass carbon accrual during secondary forest succession, and factors related to past land use, species composition and soil characteristics may influence soil carbon storage during forest regrowth.Using tree census data and a measure of tree community shade tolerance (species‐specific light response values), we assessed the relationship between soil organic carbon stocks and tree functional groups during secondary succession along a chronosequence of 40‐ to 120‐year‐old naturally regenerating secondary forest and old‐growth tropical forest stands in Panama.While previous studies found no evidence for increasing soil C storage with secondary forest age, we found a strong relationship between tree functional composition and soil carbon stocks at 0–10 cm depth, whereby carbon stocks increased with the relative influence of light‐demanding tree species. Light demanding trees had higher leaf nitrogen but lower leaf density than shade‐tolerant trees, suggesting that rapid decomposition of nutrient‐rich plant material in forests with a higher proportion of light‐demanding species results in greater accumulation of carbon in the surface layer of soils.Synthesis. We propose that soil carbon storage in secondary tropical forests is more strongly linked to tree functional composition than forest age, and that the persistence of long‐lived pioneer trees could enhance soil carbon storage as forests age. Considering shifts in tree functional groups could improve estimates of carbon sequestration potential for climate change mitigation by tropical forest regrowth. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Article describes how temporary changes to the qualified opportunity zone (QOZ) tax incentive, combined with new reliance regulations that clarify the requirements for qualified opportunity zone businesses (QOZBs) to modify their written plans to expend working capital in response to the ongoing coronavirus emergency, will make more individuals and entities eligible for federal tax stimulus by increasing flexibility for the qualified opportunity funds (QOFs) and QOZBs in which they invest to redeploy their capital into qualifying business development projects in a QOZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperfluorescent organic light‐emitting diodes (HF‐OLEDs) enable a cascading Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from a suitable thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) assistant host to a fluorescent end‐emitter to give efficient OLEDs with relatively narrowed electroluminescence compared to TADF‐OLEDs. Efficient HF‐OLEDs require optimal FRET with minimum triplet diffusion via Dexter‐type energy transfer (DET) from the TADF assistant host to the fluorescent end‐emitter. To hinder DET, steric protection of the end‐emitters has been proposed to disrupt triplet energy transfer. In this work, the first HF‐OLEDs based on structurally well‐defined macromolecules, dendrimers is reported. The dendrimers contain new highly twisted dendrons attached to a Cibalackrot core, resulting in high solubility in organic solvents. HF‐OLEDs based on dendrimer blend films are fabricated to show external quantum efficiencies of >10% at 100 cd m−2. Importantly, dendronization with the bulky dendrons is found to have no negative impact to the FRET efficiency, indicating the excellent potential of the dendritic macromolecular motifs for HF‐OLEDs. To fully prevent the undesired triplet diffusion, Cibalackrot dendrimers HF‐OLEDs are expected to be further improved by adding additional dendrons to the Cibalackrot core and/or increasing dendrimer generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To evaluate the association between cigarette smoking and the odds of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD). Methods We performed a case–control study of patients with IgG4-RD compared in a 1:5 ratio with age-, race- and sex-matched controls. We included cases evaluated at the Massachusetts General Hospital, a hospital within the Mass General Brigham (MGB) System. Controls were identified from the MGB Biobank. Smoking status at the date of IgG4-RD diagnosis or corresponding index date was determined. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the association between cigarette smoking and the odds of having IgG4-RD. Results There were 234 IgG4-RD cases and 1170 controls. The mean age (59 years), sex (62% male) and race (75% white) were well balanced. IgG4-RD cases were more likely to be current smokers compared with controls [25 (11%) vs 70 (6%); odds ratio (OR) 1.79 (95% CI 1.08, 2.95)]. This association was strongest among female cases [13 (14%) vs 19 (4%);, OR 3.79 (95% CI 1.71, 8.39)] and those with retroperitoneal fibrosis [RPF; 13 (28%) vs 13 (6%);, OR 6.93 (95% CI 2.78, 17.26)] or normal IgG4 concentrations [21 (21%) vs 21 (4%); OR 6.22 (95% CI 3.09, 12.49)]. When RPF cases were excluded, there was no longer an association between current smoking and the odds of having IgG4-RD [12 (6%) vs 57 (6%); OR 0.95 (95% CI 0.49, 1.86)]. Conclusion Being a current smoker is associated with greater odds of having IgG4-RD, especially among women and those with RPF or normal IgG4 concentrations. Current smoking is the first recognized modifiable risk factor for IgG4-RD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ground-state rotational spectra of three symmetric-top isotopomers (CH3)3 14N···H 79Br, (CH3)3 14N···H 81Br, and (CH3)3 14N···D 79Br of the heterodimer of trimethylamine and hydrogen bromide have been detected by pulsed-nozzle, Fourier-transform microwave spectroscopy. The spectroscopic constants B0, DJ, DJK, χ(14N), and χ(Br) have been determined for each of the isotopomers and for (CH3)3 14N···H 81Br have the values 1161.6294(2) MHz, 0.148(5) kHz, 7.77(2) kHz, -2.883(7) MHz, and 99.645(7) MHz, respectively. A comparison of the 14N– and 81 Br–nuclear-quadrupole coupling constants χ(14N) and χ(Br) with those expected on the basis of a hydrogen-bonded model (CH3)3N···HBr and an ion-pair model (CH3)3NH+···Br- leads to the conclusion that in the heterodimer trimethylamine-hydrogen bromide there is a significant extent of proton transfer from HBr to (CH3)3N. The value of the intermolecular stretching force constant kσ=82(3) N m-1 determined from DJ is also compared with those expected for the limiting models of the dimer and is found to lie close to that associated with the ion-pair limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:Co-Phenylcaine Forte is a nasal spray routinely prescribed by otolaryngologists in Australia. The taste of Co-Phenylcaine Forte is typically described as unpleasant. This study sought to improve the overall patient experience associated with Co-Phenylcaine Forte by generating a Co-Phenylcaine Forte formulation, referred to as Co-Phenylcaine Zest, which contains an added vanilla flavour and masking agent.Methods:Participants were randomised to receive two actuations of Co-Phenylcaine Forte in each nostril followed by two actuations of Co-Phenylcaine Zest, or vice versa. There was a 6–36-hour washout period between each treatment. After the administration of each spray, participants completed a questionnaire to rate various sensory attributes of each formulation on seven-point ordinal scales. Patients reported their overall formulation preference after receiving both treatments.Results:A total of 86 participants completed the trial. Seventy-four per cent of patients preferred Co-Phenylcaine Zest, 21 per cent preferred Co-Phenylcaine Forte and 5 per cent had no preference (p < 0.001). The satisfaction score associated with Co-Phenylcaine Zest was 1.22 points greater than with Co-Phenylcaine Forte (p < 0.001).Conclusion:A novel formulation of Co-Phenylcaine Forte was created by adding a flavour and a masking agent; this formulation was preferred by most patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ambient air pollution and temperature have been linked with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Metabolic syndrome and its components--abdominal obesity, elevated fasting blood glucose concentration, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia--predict cardiovascular disease, but the environmental causes are understudied. In this study, we prospectively examined the long-term associations of air pollution, defined as particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm (PM2.5), and temperature with the development of metabolic syndrome and its components. Using covariate-adjustment Cox proportional hazards models, we estimated associations of mean annual PM2.5 concentration and temperature with risk of incident metabolic dysfunctions between 1993 and 2011 in 587 elderly (mean = 70 (standard deviation, 7) years of age) male participants in the Normative Aging Study. A 1-µg/m³ increase in mean annual PM2.5 concentration was associated with a higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.06, 1.52), an elevated fasting blood glucose level (HR= 1.20, 95% CI: 1.03,1.39), and hypertriglyceridemia (HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.00,1.30). Our findings for metabolic syndrome and high fasting blood glucose remained significant for PM2.5 levels below the Environmental Protection Agency's health-safety limit (12 µg/m³). A 1°C increase in mean annual temperature was associated with a higher risk of developing elevated fasting blood glucose (HR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.14, 1.56). Men living in neighborhoods with worse air quality--with higher PM2.5 levels and/or temperatures than average--showed increased risk of developing metabolic dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tendon vibration illusion has been extensively used to manipulate the perceived position of one’s own body part. However, findings from previous research do not seem conclusive sregarding the perceptual effect of the concurrent stimulation of both agonist and antagonist tendons over one joint. On the basis of recent data, it has been suggested that this paired stimulation generates an inconsistent signal about the limb position, which leads to a perceived shrinkage of the limb. However, this interesting effect has never been replicated. The aim of the present study was to clarify the effect of a simultaneous and equal vibration of the biceps and triceps tendons on the perceived location of the hand. Experiment 1 replicated and extended the previous findings. We compared a dual tendon stimulation condition with single tendon stimulation conditions and with a control condition (no vibration) on both ‘upward-downward’ and ‘towards-away from the elbow’ planes. Our results show a mislocalisation towards the elbow of the position of the vibrated arm during dual vibration, in line with previous results; however, this did not clarify whether the effect was due to arm representation contraction (i.e., a ‘telescoping’ effect). Therefore, in Experiment 2 we investigated explicitly and implicitly the perceived arm length during the same conditions. Our results clearly suggest that in all the vibration conditions there was a mislocalisation of the entire arm (including the elbow), but no evidence of a contraction of the perceived arm length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pathological limb pain patients show decreased attention to some stimuli on the painful limb and increased attention to others, a paradox that has dogged the field for over a decade. We hypothesized that pathological pain involves a spatial inattention confined to bodily representations. Patients showed inattention to the painful side for visual processing of body parts but not letters, tactile processing but not auditory, and body-part bisection tasks but not line bisection tasks. We propose the new term "somatospatial inattention" to describe bodily-specific spatial inattention associated with pathological limb pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the genetic basis of micronutrient concentration in wheat grain may provide useful information to breed for biofortified varieties through marker assisted selection (MAS). One hundred and thirty eight doubled haploid progeny of a cross between the wheat cultivars 'Berkut' and 'Krichauff' were evaluated for 2 years at two locations on the eastern Gangetic plains of India under timely (November) sown conditions. Grains were evaluated for Zn and Fe concentrations by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence. Using composite interval mapping, three QTLs were identified; two for Zn (1B and 2B) with a QTL (2B) co-located for Fe and the third (1A), for protein. The QTL located on chromosome 1B (flanked by wmc036- cfa2129) and 2B (flanked by gwm120- wpt2430) for Zn explained up to 23.1 and 35.9 % of mean phenotypic variation respectively, whereas up to 22.2 % was explained by the Fe QTL co-located with the Zn QTL on chromosome 2B. A QTL for grain protein was detected on chromosome 1A and flanked by the markers, wpt9592 and GBM1153 which explained up to 17.7 % of the total phenotypic variation. With their detection over consecutive seasons, the detected QTLs appeared robust and useful for MAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alexithymia, or a lack of emotional awareness, is prevalent in some chronic pain conditions and has been linked to poor recognition of others' emotions. Recognising others' emotions from their facial expression involves both emotional and motor processing, but the possible contribution of motor disruption has not been considered. It is possible that poor performance on emotional recognition tasks could reflect problems with emotional processing, motor processing or both. We hypothesised that people with chronic facial pain would be less accurate in recognising others' emotions from facial expressions, would be less accurate in a motor imagery task involving the face, and that performance on both tasks would be positively related. A convenience sample of 19 people (15 females) with chronic facial pain and 19 gender-matched controls participated. They undertook two tasks; in the first task, they identified the facial emotion presented in a photograph. In the second, they identified whether the person in the image had a facial feature pointed towards their left or right side, a well-recognised paradigm to induce implicit motor imagery. People with chronic facial pain performed worse than controls at both tasks (Facially Expressed Emotion Labelling ( FEEL) task P < 0·001; left/right judgment task P < 0·001). Participants who were more accurate at one task were also more accurate at the other, regardless of group ( P < 0·001, r2 = 0·523). Participants with chronic facial pain were worse than controls at both the FEEL emotion recognition task and the left/right facial expression task and performance covaried within participants. We propose that disrupted motor processing may underpin or at least contribute to the difficulty that facial pain patients have in emotion recognition and that further research that tests this proposal is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper applies metric-based mesh adaptation methods to advection-dominated tracer transport modelling problems in two and three dimensions, using the finite element package Firedrake. In particular, the mesh adaptation methods considered are built upon goal-oriented estimates for the error incurred in evaluating a diagnostic quantity of interest (QoI). In the motivating example of modelling to support desalination plant outfall design, such a QoI could be the salinity at the plant inlet, which could be negatively impacted by the transport of brine from the plant's outfall. Four approaches are considered, one of which yields isotropic meshes. The focus on advection-dominated problems means that flows are often anisotropic; thus, three anisotropic approaches are also considered. Meshes resulting from each of the four approaches yield solutions to the tracer transport problem which give better approximations to QoI values than uniform meshing, for a given mesh size. The methodology is validated using an existing 2D tracer transport test case with a known analytical solution. Goal-oriented meshes for an idealised time-dependent desalination outfall scenario are also presented. • Derivation of a goal-oriented error estimate for tracer transport modelling. • Implementation and comparison of four goal-oriented mesh adaptation approaches. • Validation against an established test case with an analytical solution. • Application of goal-oriented adaptation to an idealised desalination outfall problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The inheritance of tolerance to high temperature stress was investigated using QTL analysis on a doubled haploid population. [•] Seven stable QTL were identified for HSI of traits, mapping to chromosomes 1D, 6B, 2D and 7A. [•] Three QTLs related to HSI of grain filling duration, two to thousand grain weights and one each to grain yield and canopy temperature. [•] The QTL analysis for the direct traits GY, TGW, GFD and CT led to detection of 22 QTLs spread over to 17 chromosomal regions. [•] A QTL for TGW on chromosome 6B under normal sown co-located with HSI (TGW) QTL QHTgw.bhu-6BL. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This Article evaluates Congress' constitutional authority to resurrect the "compelling state interest" test in the context of local zoning and landmark ordinances that impose a substantial burden on religious exercise. It analyzes the constitutionality of the three land use provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 ("RLUIPA") from the perspective of the Spending Clause, the Commerce Clause, and Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment. This Article then uses empirical data regarding religious building projects and zoning appeals in the city of Chicago to illustrate contemporary patterns of discriminatory land use regulation in a major American city. Based on this data, the Article concludes that RLUIPA's land use provisions are a constitutional means of preventing widespread discrimination against religious minorities pursuant to facially neutral zoning and landmark laws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: High temperature during grain filling stage causes significant yield losses to wheat in south Asia and many other parts of the world. One hundred and forty doubled haploid (DH) wheat lines (including parents), derived from the cross Berkut (heat susceptible)×Krichauff (heat tolerant), were grown in six environments comprising two dates of sowing in three consecutive years (2007–2008, 2008–2009, and 2009–2010) at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. The objective was to assess DH lines for heat tolerance and to identify superior lines under hot humid environments of the eastern Gangetic plains (EGP) of India. Considerable variation was observed for grain yield (GY), thousand grain weight (TGW), grain fill duration (GFD), and canopy temperature (CT). Likewise, considerable variation was also observed for heat susceptibility index (HSI) of GY, TGW, and GFD. The DH lines were grouped into four categories based on the HSI and around 5–10% lines were categorized as heat tolerant. A few lines yielded significantly more than the better parent and possessed good expression of other traits. The most promising 20 lines have been listed as sources of heat tolerance, with 3 lines better yielding than the superior parent Krichauff. The results demonstrated that it is possible to obtain lines that perform better for yield and yield related traits in heat stressed environments of the EGP of India. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article focuses on the Australian Synchroton (AS) operation. It states that the AS will receive 100 million dollars funding for its operation that could help increase demand for its services. It says that as part of the upgrade of the AS a top-up injection mode was introduced. It mentions the imaging and medical beamline project of AS that offers 2D imaging of live animals, computed tomography of small objects, and micro-beam radiation therapy.

Abstract: Although the developers of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) grouped items into three subscales, factor analyses indicate that a five-factor model better characterizes PANSS data. However, lack of consensus on which model to use limits the comparability of PANSS variables across studies. We counted “votes” from published factor analyses to derive consensus models. One of these combined superior fit in our Caucasian sample (n=458, CFI=.970), and in distinct Japanese sample (n=164, CFI=.964), relative to the original three-subscale model, with a sorting of items into factors that was highly consistent across the studies reviewed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Total scattering from nanocrystalline materials recorded on the Australian Synchrotron powder diffraction beamline has been analysed to produce atomic pair distribution functions (PDFs) for structural analysis. The capability of this beamline, which uses the massively parallel Mythen II detector, has been quantified with respect to PDF structure analysis. Data were recorded to a wavevector magnitude, Q, of 20.5 Å-1, with successful PDFs obtained for counting times as short as 10 s for crystalline LaB6 and 180 s for nanocrystalline (47 A) anatase. This paper describes the aspects of a PDF experiment that are crucial to its success, with reference to the outcomes of analysis of data collected from nanocrystalline TiO2 and microcrystalline LaB6 and IrO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrolides can be clinically effective in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, little is known about how these drugs affect pathophysiological features of CRS in vivo. In the present study, patients with CRS were subjected to long-term treatment with clarithromycin. Nasal lavages with and without histamine (40 and 400 μg ml−1) were carried out prior to and late into the treatment period. Histamine was included as a tool to produce plasma exudation, a process known to move free cellular products from the mucosal tissue into the airway lumen thereby enriching nasal surface liquids with such products. Interleukin-8 (IL-8), myeloperoxidase (MPO), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), α2-macroglobulin and fucose were monitored as indices of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, neutrophil and eosinophil granulocyte activities, plasma exudation and mucinous secretion, respectively. Clarithromycin reduced the lavage fluid levels of IL-8 at the low-dose histamine observation ( P<0·001). There was a trend towards reduced MPO by the treatment, whereas ECP was significantly reduced at the low-dose histamine observation ( P<0·05). α2-Macroglobulin was reduced by clarithromycin (saline lavages) ( P = 0·05), whereas fucose was unaffected. The exudative responsiveness to high-dose histamine was significantly reduced by the treatment ( P<0·05). Furthermore, significantly lower levels of fucose were observed at the low-dose histamine observation ( P<0·01). We conclude that long-term clarithromycin treatment likely exerts an anti-inflammatory effect in CRS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reduced mycorrhizal colonisation (rmc) mutant of tomato forms different phenotypes with different arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Our aim was to characterise microscopically the cellular responses in plant and fungus in order to reveal how these varied when colonisation was blocked at different stages. Synchronised colonisation coupled with vital staining, autofluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) were used to determine how long the AM fungi stay alive during the interactions with rmc, whether nuclear repositioning occurred in the same way as in wild-type interactions and whether there was evidence for deployment of defence responses. The results showed that (1) all the AM fungi tested were attracted to roots of rmc, on which they developed active external mycelium and appressoria, the latter sometimes in higher numbers than on the wild type; (2) plant cellular responses, such as nuclear movement, occurred only when the AM fungus was able to penetrate the epidermal cells of rmc; and (3) plant defence responses such as autofluorescence were observed only transiently and callose deposition was not involved in blocking AM fungi in rmc. The results demonstrate that multi-step AM colonisation is not only an outcome of cellular processes influenced by both plant and fungus, but is also modified by the capacity of different AM fungi to respond to the plant phenotype induced by the rmcmutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fructans (fructo-oligosaccharides) are prebiotics that are thought to selectively promote the growth of colonic bifidobacteria, thereby improving human gut health. Fructans are present in the grain of wheat, a staple food crop. In the research reported here, we aimed to detect and map loci affecting grain fructan concentration in wheat using a doubled-haploid population derived from a cross between a high-fructan breeding line, Berkut, and a low-fructan cultivar, Krichauff. Fructan concentration was measured in grain samples grown at two locations in Australia and one in Kazakhstan. Fructan concentration varied widely within the population, ranging from 0.6 to 2.6% of grain dry weight, and was quite repeatable, with broad-sense heritability estimated as 0.71. With a linkage map of 528 molecular markers, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected on chromosomes 2B, 3B, 5A, 6D and 7A. Of these, the QTLs on chromosomes 6D and 7A had the largest effects, explaining 17 and 27% of the total phenotypic variance, respectively, both with the favourable (high-fructan concentration) alleles contributed from Berkut. These chromosome regions had similar effects in another mapping population, Sokoll/Krichauff, with the favourable alleles contributed from Sokoll. It is concluded that grain fructan concentration of wheat can be improved by breeding and that molecular markers could be used to select effectively for favourable alleles in two regions of the wheat genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pyrenophora teres, the causal agent of net blotch of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), induces distinctive long dark brown lesions (the net form) or dark brown spots (the spot form), both with surrounding chlorosis. Proteins isolated from P. teres f. teres (the net form) and P. teres f. maculata (the spot form) induce host-specific necrosis. In this study, the activity of these proteinaceous toxins was further characterised. The toxins were heat stable and their activity in planta was temperature and light dependent suggesting a role in targeting metabolically active and light-dependent organelles such as the chloroplast. In addition, proteinase K treatment after toxin treatment did not affect symptom induction by the toxins suggesting they are actively internalised. Adult barley plants were less sensitive to the toxins than younger plants, highlighting a potential adult resistance mechanism. Characterisation of these host-specific proteinaceous toxins produced by P. teres further assists our understanding of the role of such selective toxins in disease induction in plants. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Increased thickness of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been shown to be associated with higher rates of cervical metastasis. Most of the previous studies have focused on SCC of the oral tongue. There are few studies that have examined solely carcinoma of the floor of the mouth and these studies differ in the thickness of tumour that is associated with significantly increased rates of cervical metastasis. Methods: Patients with SCC of the floor of the mouth of all stages who were treated with excision and neck dissection were identified. Primary tumour thickness and other pathological features were determined in the pathological specimens and were correlated to the incidence of pathological cervical lymph node metastasis. Fisher’s exact test and the unpaired t-test were used for statistical analysis. Results: Fifty-three patients were studied (43 men and 10 women). The median age was 56.5 years (range 43—86 years). The median tumour thickness in patients with lymph node metastases (14.6 mm) differed significantly from those without metastases (8.6 mm) ( P = 0.004). When T1 and T2 cases were looked at in isolation, the median tumour thickness of cases with lymph node metastases (11.1 mm) again was significantly greater than those without metastases (4.6 mm) ( P = 0.04). Subgrouping tumours into those ≥7.5 mm or <7.5 mm showed a significantly increased rate of lymph node metastasis (57% compared with 12%, P = 0.001). There was no statistically significant association between perineural invasion or tumour differentiation and the presence of lymph node metastases. Conclusion: Tumour thickness has been shown to be directly related to rates of cervical lymph node metastasis in floor of mouth SCC. The primary tumour thickness associated with significantly increased rates of metastasis is similar to that shown in previous studies examining SCC of the oral tongue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late maturity α-amylase (LMA) in wheat is a genetic defect that may result in the accumulation of unacceptable levels of high pI α-amylase in grain in the absence of germination or weather damage. During germination, gibberellin produced in the embryo triggers expression of α-Amy genes, the synthesis of α-amylase and, subsequently, cell death in the aleurone. LMA also involves the aleurone and whilst LMA appears to be independent of the embryo there is nevertheless some evidence that gibberellin is involved. The aim of this investigation was to determine whether the increase in α-amylase activity in LMA-prone genotypes, like α-amylase synthesis by aleurone cells in germinating or GA-challenged grains, is followed by aleurone cell death. Programmed cell death was seen in aleurone layers from developing, ripe and germinated grains using confocal microscopy and fluorescent probes specific for dead or living cells. Small pockets of dying cells were observed distributed at random throughout the aleurone of ripening LMA-affected grains and by harvest-ripeness these cells were clearly dead. The first appearance of dying cells, 35 d post-anthesis, coincided with the later part of the ‘window of sensitivity’ in grain development in LMA-prone wheat cultivars. No dead or dying cells were present in ripening or fully ripe grains of control cultivars. In germinating grains, dying cells were observed in the aleurone adjacent to the scutellum and, as germination progressed, the number of dead cells increased and the affected area extended further towards the distal end of the grain. Aside from the obvious differences in spatial distribution, dying cells in 20–24 h germinated grains were similar to dying cells in developing LMA-affected grains, consistent with previous measurements of α-amylase activity. The increase in high pI α-amylase activity in developing grains of LMA-prone cultivars, like α-amylase synthesis in germinating grains, is associated with cell death, providing further evidence for the involvement of gibberellin in the LMA response. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: We have examined the structure and phase behaviour of strontium-doped Ce1−x Sr x CoO3−δ and found that the perovskite form is stabilised over a relatively narrow solid solution range (x >0.85). A combination of electron, powder X-ray and neutron diffraction has revealed tetragonal superstructures of the basic perovskite unit; (I4/mmm) 2a p ×2a p ×4a p (x =0.90) and (P4/mmm) a p × a p ×2a p (x =0.95). Magnetisation measurements show ferromagnetic behaviour under applied magnetic fields. Low temperature neutron diffraction of Ce0.10Sr0.90CoO2.80 in zero field reveals a magnetic cell of dimension 2a p ×2a p ×4a p with an ordered cobalt moment of 1.7B.M. at 25K. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The ordered double perovskite Ba2BiTaO6 is shown to undergo a first-order rhombohedral to monoclinic (I2/m) phase transition, which can be induced by either lowering the temperature or through the application of pressure. The structures in both phases have been refined from high resolution neutron powder diffraction data at various temperatures, while the high pressure measurements utilised synchrotron X-ray diffraction data. The rhombohedral structure is characterised by out-of-phase tilts about the [111] axis. In the monoclinic structure the tilt axis has changed to be about the [110] axis; however, the magnitude of the tilts in the two structures is remarkably similar. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Septoria tritici blotch (STB) of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), caused by the fungal pathogen Mycosphaerella graminicola (Fuckel) J. Schröt. in Cohn (anamorph: Septoria tritici Roberge in Desmaz.), occurs naturally in all wheat production areas around the world. Two genes for resistance to this disease, Stb2 and Stb3, have been identified in wheat germplasm and together confer resistance to the most prevalent strains of M. graminicola in Australia and the USA. However, so far neither gene has been mapped in the wheat genome and their linkage relationships to other markers are not known. The objectives of this study were to identify molecular markers linked to the STB resistance genes Stb2 and Stb3 and to map these genes in the wheat genome. Genetic families of doubled-haploid populations segregating for Stb2 and Stb3 were evaluated in the greenhouse for STB reaction during the spring and fall seasons of 2002 and 2003. Genomic DNA isolated from each segregating population was analyzed with microsatellite or simple-sequence repeat (SSR) markers in bulked-segregant analysis to identify those that cosegregated with the STB phenotypes. Linkage analysis identified five SSR markers near the Stb2 gene on the distal region of the short arm of chromosome 3B. Loci Xgwm389 and Xgwm533.1 were approximately 1 cM distal to Stb2, which itself was 3.7 cM distal to Xgwm493. In addition to Stb2, this genomic region contains multiple genes conferring resistance to taxonomically diverse fungal pathogens of wheat, including a major quantitative trait locus for resistance to Fusarium head blight (caused by Fusarium graminearum Schwabe). The SSR marker Xgdm132 was linked to the Stb3 gene at a distance of approximately 3 cM on the short arm of chromosome 6D. The microsatellite markers identified in this study should facilitate marker-assisted selection and pyramiding of Stb2 and Stb3 with other STB resistance genes for more durably resistant wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores an accepted but under researched feature of national categories: their complex relationship with social constructions of place. We argue that social psychological work on national identification and mobilization would benefit from closer attention to this relationship. In order to develop this argument, we analyse a series of newspaper accounts published on behalf of the Countryside Alliance, a coalition formed to preserve rural 'ways of life' in the UK and, more specifically, to defend extant practices of hunting. Applying a discourse analytic method, we show how the Alliance has exploited the rhetoric of place in order to portray the preservation of hunting as an issue of national significance. By associating British identity with the 'rural idyll' of the English countryside, the organization has appealed to a place construction in which hunting and its associated activities become cast as essential expressions of the national character. Building on relevant work in geography and discursive psychology, we trace some wider implications of this process for social psychological research on category construction, reification and collective mobilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf epicuticular wax and cuticle ultrastructure were assessed in four eucalypt species Eucalyptus platypus, Eucalyptus spathulata, Eucalyptus yalatensis and Eucalyptus viridis, and in their interspecific hybrid progeny. In parent species, epicuticular wax appeared as digitate­edged platelets. Leaves of E. yalatensis showed parallel-stacked platelets and abundant surface wax cover, while other species showed random or parallel-oriented platelets forming a less dense cover. Distinct cuticular papillae were evident on E. yalatensis leaves but not in the other species. Leaf surfaces of E. platypus and E. spathulata were indistinguishable. Epistomatal cavities were present in all species and were lined with digitate­edged platelets, except for those in E. viridis leaves, which contained amorphous wax. Subsurface cuticular channels connecting epistomatal cavities were detected in some species. The wax and cuticle morphology of E. spathulata 3 E: yalatensis and E. spathulata 3 E: viridis hybrids indicated maternal, paternal, intermediate, and transgressive modes of inheritance. Hybrids from reciprocal crosses between E. spathulata and E. platypus were similar and indistinguishable from the parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the interactional construction of neighbour relationships in the context of disputational talk. Neighbour dispute data were recorded in two contexts: community mediation and televised documentaries. The data were transcribed and subsequently analysed using an approach that combined ethnomethodological methods with discursive psychology, focusing on participants' orientations to and constructions of spatial categories and place formulations. Three broad themes emerged from our analysis. First, we found that the construction and regulation of normative neighbour relationships were formulated in a discourse of spatial practice. Second, we found that, through complaints about spatial transgressions and 'good' and 'bad' neighbours, the moral order was reproduced and maintained. Finally, we found that, although participants were oriented to a distinction between 'private' and 'public' spaces, talk about boundaries revealed the highly contingent nature of spatial division. We suggest that in order to better understand neighbour relationships, social psychologists must explore the way people construct and account for the spaces they interact within. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension may be associated with an increase in oxidative stress as a possible mechanism for the increased vascular tone and organ injury. Previously, we reported an increased production of reactive oxygen species and endothelial cell death in the microcirculation of hypertensive rats. We hypothesize that xanthine oxidase (XO) may be a potential source of oxidants induced by glucocorticoid-induced hypertension. Male Wistar rats were administered dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg/day) for 5 days to induce hypertension. After general anesthesia, cremaster muscle was collected for analysis of XO and xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) activities. The mean blood pressure and XO levels in cremaster muscle were significantly increased in the dexamethasone-treated rats compared with controls. There was a strong age-dependent rise in total XO + XDH activity in all groups. To inhibit XO, we administered allopurinol (ALLO, 0.4 mg/mL) in the drinking water to a subset of control and dexamethasone-treated rats during a 5-day treatment. The ALLO significantly reduced the mean arterial blood pressure in the dexamethasone-treated rats. Although in the cremaster muscle the total XO + XDH levels were not completely reduced with ALLO, the XO levels of the dexamethasone-treated + ALLO rats were reduced to levels of the control + ALLO group. These results suggest that dexamethasone induces an elevated level of XO activity in the cremaster muscle. The enhanced XO activity can be attenuated by chronic allopurinol treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Controlled self- and cross-pollinations were conducted on flowers of five mature Eucalyptus nitens trees. Levels of self-sterility of the trees ranged from 25.8 to 93.6%. Pollen tube numbers in styles and ovule penetration by pollen tubes was investigated 2 weeks after pollination by fluorescence microscopy. There were no significant differences between treatments in the number of pollen tubes present in styles or in the percentage of ovules penetrated by pollen tubes. Embryology of material harvested 2 and 4 weeks after pollination was investigated by bright-field microscopy. Fertilisation had taken place by 2 weeks after pollination with nearly every ovule showing evidence of fertilisation. Cross-pollination resulted in a greater proportion of healthy, developing ovules, at both 2 and 4 weeks after pollination, compared with self-pollination. The proportion of degenerating ovules increased from 2 to 4 weeks after pollination. The reduced ability of E. nitens to set self-pollinated seed compared with cross-pollinated seed appears to be controlled by a post-zygotic mechanism. Differences in ovule size may potentially assist in the identification of trees incapable of setting self-pollinated seed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a model for determining the structure of the hydrated aluminum phosphate, kingite determined by ab initio powder diffraction methods. Crystal structure of kingite; Summary of crystallographic data and refinement conditions for kingite; Powder diffraction pattern of kingite.

Explores the transformation of the notion of child-rearing and childhood in the United States (U.S.). Changes in the conception of childhood; Number of children being raised by a stay-at-home and nonemployed moms in 1999 in the U.S. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics; Child-rearing thoughts of John Locke; Conception of childhood by John Wesley based on the Christian doctrine of original sin; Childhood concept of Jean-Jacques Rousseau.

Examines the role of metal ion in the inclusion process of para-toluenesulfonate and para-nitrophenolate. Derivation of pendant donor macrocyclic ligands; Correlation between X-ray diffraction study and molecular orbital calculations; Consequence of four phenoxymethyl moieties; Analysis on conductivity values of inclusion complex.

Advanced single-cycle flowsheets are being developed by BNFL to reduce the cost of reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. These flowsheets are being intensively investigated using experimental and computational methods together to minimize the amount of experimental work needed. This includes obtaining fundamental data such as reaction kinetics and distribution data, operating miniature contactor rigs and using the high level modelling language, SpeedUp, for simulation purposes. BNFL has considerable experience in flowsheet modelling. The models have progressed from early FORTRAN codes to SpeedUp models owing to the increased complexity of the simulations, the need for flexibility and quality assurance. Current models now provide BNFL with a powerful simulation tool with which to investigate flowsheet designs. An important aspect of modelling development is validation and data reconciliation so that the models can be used with confidence. Miniature contactor rigs at Sellafield were therefore commissioned, in part, to provide experimental data for this process. Some results of these trials are therefore provided. They are used to demonstrate the validation process and show the effectiveness and flexibility of BNFL models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on lignotuber anatomy and patterns of accessory bud development in the cotyledonary nodes of eucalyptus species, Eucalyptus cinerea. Observations of growth patterns and responses to a single defoliation; Visibility of accessory buds in the cotyledonary axils; Bud development in pruned and unpruned seedlings.

Percutaneous A1 pulley release is being increasingly used as an alternative to open surgical release and injection of local steroids for the treatment of the trigger digit. In 31 cases (26 patients), a percutaneous release was performed with a 14-gauge intravenous catheter needle under local anaesthesia in the outpatient setting. We report a 97% successful release and only one case of incomplete release. There were no digital nerve injuries, flexor tendon injuries, bowstringing or infections. By two months, all the patients had no pain at the operative site, and their preoperative range of motion had returned or improved. The percutaneous release is a safe and effective technique which provides significant cost savings. We recommend the percutaneous technique for typical cases of trigger finger with a palpable nodule and reproducible mechanical triggering. We recommend a steroid injection for patients with tenosynovitis and those who do not have reproducible triggering at the time of presentation. The open technique is reserved for complicated cases such as florid tenosynovitis, locked digit, failed percutaneous release or those involving the thumb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The isothermal oxidation resistance of high purity iron-manganese-aluminum alloys containing from 0 to 40% manganese and from 0 to 15% aluminum was investigated at 600, 800, and 1000°C in pure oxygen at a pressure of 200 torr for periods up to 100 hr. They were subsequently examined using SEM and metallographic techniques, and an oxide map showing the alloy structure and general oxidation behavior at 800°C was produced. Scales formed on alloys which contain insufficient aluminum to form protective alumina have structures which depend largely upon the concentration of manganese in the alloy. Alloys which contain more than 7.5% manganese form manganese rich scales, whereas alloys which contain lower levels of manganese form scales that are composed almost entirely of the oxides of iron. Small manganese oxide nodules grow through the alumina scales which form on alloys containing in excess of 9% aluminum. The most oxidation resistant alloys, having compositions within the range Fe-(5-10)%Mn-(6-10)% Al, develop continuous protective alumina scales and are totally ferritic. Austenite is detrimental to the oxidation resistance of duplex alloys as it promotes the breakdown of preexisting alumina scales and the growth of bulky manganese rich oxides. Small additions of chromium are beneficial and reduce the concentration of aluminum required to form protective alumina scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic study is presented of the oxidation of pure iron-chromium-aluminum alloys at 800°C, in pure oxygen, at a pressure of 200 Torr. Oxidation characteristics are described with reference to kinetic measurements, scale topographies and morphologies, and also possible growth mechanisms. An oxide map is used to show that alloys may be classified into four categories depending on the external scale that forms: FeO, CrO, AlO, or AlO with iron-oxide nodules. Alloys containing less than 2-2.5 wt. % aluminum formed either FeO or CrO as an external scale, depending on the chromium content, and internal, rod-like protrusions of AlO. At higher aluminum concentrations, AlO was always present as an external scale, although this was interspersed by iron-oxide nodules at chromium concentrations of less than 5 wt. %. A model based on Wagner's secondary getter concept is proposed for eliminating nodule nucleation. Evidence is also present that indicates that at 800°C, alumina scale decohesion occurs prior to void formation and that voids are the result of thermal etching beneath lifted scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various aspects of the immune status were examined in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and the following observations were made. (1) Ten per cent of the CF patients had elevated or reduced serum IgG concentrations and there seems to be a transient low serum IgA concentration in the same number. Serum IgM concentrations were normal in CF patients. Normal levels of the three serum immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) were detected in the siblings and heterozygotes. (2) Serum IgE concentrations were elevated in 32% of patients with CF but normal concentrations were detected in heterozygotes and siblings. (3) Precipitating antibodies to various antigens and allergens were detected in the sputum of most patients with CF, but their sera contained lower or undetectable titres of these antibodies. (4) The precipitating antibodies in CF sputum to bacteria, to agar, to seminal fluid, to urine and to human serum may be related to a common antigenic determinant of the glycoproteins present in all these fluids. (5) The total protein concentration in the sputum of CF patients seemed to reflect the extent of lung damage. (6) The third component (C3) of serum complement concentration was normal, or moderately elevated in all CF patients tested. (7) Serum transferrin concentrations were normal in CF patients but their prealbumin levels were depressed, suggesting marginal undernutrition. (8) Peripheral blood lymphocyte transformations with PHA and PWM appear to be normal in CF patients. (9) Precipitins to the food antigens and the high percentage of positive sera with reticulin antibodies may be the result of malabsorption from the gut as well as a defect of the SIgA system. (10) The presence of free J-chain in the sputum of patients with CF may be further evidence of SIgA structural abnormality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]