higginsianum. This locus named RCH2 (for recognition of C. higginsianum) maps in an extensive cluster of disease-resistance loci known as MRC-J in the Fer-1 Arabidopsis ecotype Ws-0. By analyzing natural variations within the MRC-J region, we found that alleles of RRS1 (resistance to Ralstonia solanacearum 1) from susceptible ecotypes

contain single nucleotide polymorphisms that may affect the encoded protein. Consistent with this finding, two susceptible mutants, rrs1-1 and rrs1-2, were identified by screening a T-DNA-tagged mutant library for the loss of resistance to C. higginsianum. The screening identified an additional susceptible mutant (rps4-21) that has a 5-bp deletion in the neighboring gene, RPS4-Ws, find more which is a well-characterized R gene that provides resistance to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato strain DC3000 expressing avrRps4

(Pst-avrRps4). The rps4-21/rrs1-1 double mutant exhibited similar levels of susceptibility to C. higginsianum as the single mutants. We also found that both RRS1 and RPS4 are required for resistance to R. solanacearum and Pst-avrRps4. Thus, RPS4-Ws and RRS1-Ws function as a dual resistance gene system that prevents infection by three distinct pathogens.”
“The mechanical properties of poly(1-butene) reinforced by pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and polypropylene-grafted MWNTs (PP-g-MWNTs) were evaluated. The incorporation of pristine MWNTs to PB led to an improvement in stiffness, but not in strength, ductility, and toughness. In comparison, PP-g-MWNTs were able to improve the stiffness, strength, and toughness of PB significantly, without compromising the ductility. The mechanical properties of PB improved with

increasing amount of PP-g-MWNTs up to an effective MWNT content of 1.5 wt%. Further increase in the effective MWNT content led to a downturn in mechanical properties due to the existence of MWNTs bundles as observed by microscopy. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polyrn Sci 113: 1165-1172, 2009″
“Background: The Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial (SPORT) is a prospective, multicenter study S63845 concentration of operative versus nonoperative treatment of lumbar intervertebral disc herniation. It has been suggested that epidural steroid injections may help improve patient outcomes and lower the rate of crossover to surgical treatment.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-four patients included in the intervertebral disc herniation arm of the SPORT who had received an epidural steroid injection during the first three months of the study and no injection prior to the study (the ESI group) were compared with 453 patients who had not received an injection during the first three months of the study or prior to the study (the No-ESI group).

Results: There was a significant difference in the preference for surgery between groups (19% in the ESI group compared with 56% in the No-ESI group, p < 0.001).