Legionella pneumophila was present in 19.6% (9/46) of the samples and L. pneumophila serogroup 1 in 6.5% (3/46). Quantification by both culture and quantitative real-time PCR revealed high concentrations of legionellae in potting soils, ranging between 10(3) CFU/g and 10(5) CFU/g and 10(4) genomic units (GU)/g and 10(6) GU/g, respectively. Thus, potting soils may represent an alternative reservoir for Legionella spp. in Switzerland.”
“Copolymers based on tung oil (TO) and presenting a very wide range of properties were obtained.
Depending on the chemical composition, materials fitted for structural or functional applications were prepared. The use of divinylbenzene (DVB) as a comonomer in the cationic polymerization of the triglyceride allowed us to obtain polymers with a high thermal stability in an ample temperature range BI 2536 concentration Proteasome inhibitor and with a room-temperature modulus close to 1 GPa for percentages of TO up to 40 wt % styrene (St) as a partial replacement of DVB in a copolymer containing 50 wt % TO resulted in a material with shape-memory behavior with
switch temperatures in the range 2540 degrees C. The mechanical properties and shape-memory behavior of copolymers with different chemical compositions were analyzed. It was observed that an increase in the DVB content increased the glass-transition temperature and modulus, which was associated with an increase in the crosslinking density and the contribution of the rigid aromatic structure of the comonomer. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011″
“Background: Chloroquine
resistance (CR) decreased after the removal of chloroquine from national treatment guidelines in Malawi, Kenia and Tanzania. In this investigation the prevalence of the chloroquine resistance (CQR) conferring mutant pfcrt allele and its associated chromosomal haplotype were determined before and after the change in Gabonese national treatment guidelines from chloroquine (CQ) to artesunate plus amodiaquine (AQ) in 2003.
Methods: The prevalence of the wild type pfcrt allele was assessed in 144 isolates from the years 2005 – 07 by PCR fragment restriction digest and direct sequencing. For haplotype analysis of the chromosomal regions flanking the pfcrt locus, microsatellite analysis was done on a total of 145 isolates obtained in 1995/96 (43 isolates), 2002 find more (47 isolates) and 2005 – 07 (55 isolates).
Results: The prevalence of the mutant pfcrt allele decreased from 100% in the years 1995/96 and 2002 to 97% in 2005 – 07. Haplotype analysis showed that in 1995/96 79% of the isolates carried the same microsatellite alleles in a chromosomal fragment spanning 39 kb surrounding the pfcrt locus. In 2002 and 2005 – 07 the prevalence of this haplotype was 62% and 58%, respectively. Pfcrt haplotype analysis showed that all wild type alleles were CVMNK.
Conclusion: Four years after the withdrawal of CQ from national treatment guidelines the prevalence of the mutant pfcrt allele remains at 97%.