Fungal Planet description sheets: 868-950

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Chaetomella pseudocircinoseta and Coniella pseudodiospyri on Eucalyptus microcorys leaves, Cladophialophora eucalypti, Teratosphaeria dunnii and Vermiculariopsiella dunnii on Eucalyptus dunnii leaves, Cylindrium grande and Hypsotheca eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus grandis leaves, Elsinoe salignae on Eucalyptus saligna leaves, Marasmius lebeliae on litter of regenerating subtropical rainforest, Phialoseptomonium eucalypti (incl. Phialoseptomonium gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus grandis × camaldulensis leaves, Phlogicylindrium pawpawense on Eucalyptus tereticornis leaves, Phyllosticta longicauda as an endophyte from healthy Eustrephus latifolius leaves, Pseudosydowia eucalyptorum on Eucalyptus sp. leaves, Saitozyma wallum on Banksia aemula leaves, Teratosphaeria henryi on Corymbia henryi leaves. Brazil, Aspergillus bezerrae, Backusella azygospora, Mariannaea terricola and Talaromyces pernambucoensis from soil, Calonectria matogrossensis on Eucalyptus urophylla leaves, Calvatia brasiliensis on soil, Carcinomyces nordestinensis on Bromelia antiacantha leaves, Dendryphiella stromaticola on small branches of an unidentified plant, Nigrospora brasiliensis on Nopalea cochenillifera leaves, Penicillium alagoense as a leaf endophyte on a Miconia sp., Podosordaria nigrobrunnea on dung, Spegazzinia bromeliacearum as a leaf endophyte on Tilandsia catimbauensis, Xylobolus brasiliensis on decaying wood. Bulgaria, Kazachstania molopis from the gut of the beetle Molops piceus. Croatia, Mollisia endocrystallina from a fallen decorticated Picea abies tree trunk. Ecuador, Hygrocybe rodomaculata on soil. Hungary, Alfoldia vorosii (incl. Alfoldia gen. nov.) from Juniperus communis roots, Kiskunsagia ubrizsyi (incl. Kiskunsagia gen. nov.) from Fumana procumbens roots. India, Aureobasidium tremulum as laboratory contaminant, Leucosporidium himalayensis and Naganishia indica from windblown dust on glaciers. Italy, Neodevriesia cycadicola on Cycas sp. leaves, Pseudocercospora pseudomyrticola on Myrtus communis leaves, Ramularia pistaciae on Pistacia lentiscus leaves, Neognomoniopsis quercina (incl. Neognomoniopsis gen. nov.) on Quercus ilex leaves. Japan, Diaporthe fructicola on Passiflora edulis × P. edulis f. flavicarpa fruit, Entoloma nipponicum on leaf litter in a mixed Cryptomeria japonica and Acer spp. forest. Macedonia, Astraeus macedonicus on soil. Malaysia, Fusicladium eucalyptigenum on Eucalyptus sp. twigs, Neoacrodontiella eucalypti (incl. Neoacrodontiella gen. nov.) on Eucalyptus urophylla leaves. Mozambique, Meliola gorongosensis on dead Philenoptera violacea leaflets. Nepal, Coniochaeta dendrobiicola from Dendriobium lognicornu roots. New Zealand, Neodevriesia sexualis and Thozetella neonivea on Archontophoenix cunninghamiana leaves. Norway, Calophoma sandfjordenica from a piece of board on a rocky shoreline, Clavaria parvispora on soil, Didymella finnmarkica from a piece of Pinus sylvestris driftwood. Poland, Sugiyamaella trypani from soil. Portugal, Colletotrichum feijoicola from Acca sellowiana. Russia, Crepidotus tobolensis on Populus tremula debris, Entoloma ekaterinae, Entoloma erhardii and Suillus gastroflavus on soil, Nakazawaea ambrosiae from the galleries of Ips typographus under the bark of Picea abies. Slovenia, Pluteus ludwigii on twigs of broadleaved trees. South Africa, Anungitiomyces stellenboschiensis (incl. Anungitiomyces gen. nov.) and Niesslia stellenboschiana on Eucalyptus sp. leaves, Beltraniella pseudoportoricensis on Podocarpus falcatus leaf litter, Corynespora encephalarti on Encephalartos sp. leaves, Cytospora pavettae on Pavetta revoluta leaves, Helminthosporium erythrinicola on Erythrina humeana leaves, Helminthosporium syzygii on a Syzygium sp. bark canker, Libertasomyces aloeticus on Aloe sp. leaves, Penicillium lunae from Musa sp. fruit, Phyllosticta lauridiae on Lauridia tetragona leaves, Pseudotruncatella bolusanthi (incl. Pseudotruncatellaceae fam. nov.) and Dactylella bolusanthi on Bolusanthus speciosus leaves. Spain, Apenidiella foetida on submerged plant debris, Inocybe grammatoides on Quercus ilex subsp. ilex forest humus, Ossicaulis salomii on soil, Phialemonium guarroi from soil. Thailand, Pantospora chromolaenae on Chromolaena odorata leaves. Ukraine, Cadophora helianthi from Helianthus annuus stems. USA, Boletus pseudopinophilus on soil under slash pine, Botryotrichum foricae, Penicillium americanum and Penicillium minnesotense from air. Vietnam, Lycoperdon vietnamense on soil. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

Matrix effects on the optical response of silver nanoclusters

We report absorption spectra for Ag(7), Ag(9), and Ag(11) in an argon matrix grown at a temperature of 28 K and compare them with previous spectra of the same species measured in matrices of argon grown at lower temperatures as well as in neon matrices. We discuss the discrepancies in the light of the matrix crystallinity and show that this leads to an understanding of the influence of the matrix on the optical response of small clusters.

Ag8 fluorescence in argon

The fluorescence of Ag8 in an argon matrix and in argon droplets is reported. This is the first unambiguous assignment of the fluorescence of a metal cluster larger than the tetramer, indicating that the excited state lifetime is longer than previously thought. It is discussed as a possible result of a matrix cage effect. The excitation spectrum is compared with two-photon-ionization measurements of Ag8 in helium droplets and to known absorption data. The agreement is excellent. We propose that the excited states relax rapidly through vibrational coupling to a long-lived state, from which the fluorescence occurs.

Temporal control of amplified femtosecond pulses with a deformable mirror in a stretcher

We correct the spectral phases of amplified femtosecond pulses by using a deformable mirror in the stretcher. After the correction the peak intensity is multiplied by 1.5 as a consequence of increasing the contrast by 100x . The spectral phase interferometry for direct electric field reconstruction is used to characterize the pulse temporally.

Effect of social class and nutrient intake on height and plasma insulin-like growth factor in Andean Equadorian children

The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of insulin-like growth factor (IGFI) determination as an index of nutritional status and growth in Equadorian schoolboys. Plasma IGFI was measured in 144 healthy boys, 9 years old, who were classified by their social class in four groups: 1 (n = 29); 2 (n = 49); 3 (n = 28); 4 (n = 8). Children in groups 1 and 2, of the lower socio-economic class, had significantly reduced caloric and protein intakes compared to children in groups 3 and 4 (P less than 0.01). Mean heights were significantly lower in groups 1 and 2 (P less than 0.001 and less than 0.05, respectively). The mean plasma IGFI in group 1 was 561 +/- 64 mU/ml and significantly lower than that in groups 2-4 (872 +/- 75, 986 +/- 94, and 1238 +/- 190 mU/ml in groups 2, 3 and 4, respectively) (P less than 0.01). The effect of caloric and nitrogen supplementation was studied in 36 children taken from groups 1 and 2 combined, and divided into three subgroups; they were given (1) an animal protein supplement of 18 g/day with 860 kcal/day (n = 12), (2) a vegetable protein supplement of 17.8 g/day based on a traditional Andean food with 862 kcal/day (n = 12), and (3) a placebo (n = 12). The IGFI levels increased significantly after 7 and 14 days in both subgroups 1 and 2. These results demonstrate that plasma IGFI reflects the nutritional status and responds to a short-term diet supplementation. It may provide a reliable means of assessing the effect of nutritional programs intended to improve the growth of children in underdeveloped countries.

Prenatal diet, nutrient intake and pregnancy outcome in urban Ecuadorian primiparas

A nutritional survey was conducted in an urban public maternity hospital, Hospital Gineco-Obstétrico Isidro Ayora (HGOIA), located in Quito, Ecuador. Seventy-four primiparas in the third trimester of pregnancy were recruited to assess the influence of sociedemographic factors on food patterns and nutrient intake, and the interrelationship between prenatal nutrient intake, maternal weight gain and pregnancy outcome. Results of the regression analysis indicated that maternal education was the factor most strongly associated with nutrient intake, followed by monthly per capita income. Maternal nutrient intake was next analyzed and compared with the WHO (1974, 1985) and NRC (1980) recommended daily allowances. Results also indicated the average daily intake of energy, protein, phosphorus, vitamins C and A, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin met or exceeded the recommended daily allowances. Dietary calcium and iron intake, however, were below recommendations. Sodium and fat intake were both relatively high. Higher dietary fat intake was associated with increased birth weight, while lower protein intake was associated with increased risk of delivering a low-birth weight baby. Maternal weight gain during the third trimester predicted baby birth weight and height but not head circumference.

Increased frequency of HLA-DR3 and complotype SC01 in Mexican mestizo patients with amoebic abscess of the liver

Our preliminary study (31 patients) of HLA frequencies and amoebic abscess of the liver (AAL) in Mexican mestizos was extended to include 110 patients with this condition. The previously found increase in HLA-B16 was not confirmed, but the frequency of HLA-DR3 was again found significantly increased in patients with AAL when compared to the normal, ethnically matched control population, both in its isolated (35.5% vs 12.7%) and in the HLA-A2, DR3 haplotypic version (20.9% vs 4.5%). Moreover, seven of the 17 HLA specificities that were found to be individually different at P (yet not at PC) level in patients with AAL when compared to the control population, were actually HLA-DR3 containing haplotypes. HLA-DR3 may thus encode a risk factor(s) for AAL, at least in the Mexican mestizo population. Furthermore a significant increase in the complotype SC01 and its haplotypic version SC01, DR4 were identified in 45 non selected patients with AAL when compared to normal controls (31.1% vs 6.7% and 17.8% vs 0% respectively). Even though a relationship between allelic forms of complement components and their function has not been fully established, this complotype could represent a risk factor as well, since complement appears to play a role in host defence against amoebic invasion. Finally, no extended haplotype preference was found in these AAL patients.