Phylogeny of Physarida (Amoebozoa, Myxogastria) Based on the Small-Subunit Ribosomal RNA Gene, Redefinition of Physarum pusillum s. str. and Reinstatement of P. gravidum Morgan.

Myxomycetes (also called Myxogastria or colloquially, slime molds) are worldwide occurring soil amoeboflagellates. Among Amoebozoa, they have the notable characteristic to form, during their life cycle, macroscopic fruiting bodies, that will ultimately release spores. Some 1,000 species have been described, based on the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of their fruiting bodies.

Impact of large industrial emission sources on mortality and morbidity in Chile: A small-areas study.

Chile suffers significant pollution from large industrial emitters associated with the mining, metal processing, paper production, and energy industries. The aim of this research was to determine whether the presence of large industrial facilities (i.e.

Two-gene phylogeny of bright-spored Myxomycetes (slime moulds, superorder Lucisporidia).

Myxomycetes, or plasmodial slime-moulds, are one of the largest groups in phylum Amoebozoa. Nonetheless, only ∼10% are in the database for the small subunit (SSU) ribosomal RNA gene, the most widely used gene for phylogenetics and barcoding. Most sequences belong to dark-spored Myxomycetes (order Fuscisporida); the 318 species of superorder Lucisporidia (bright-spored) are represented by only eleven genuine sequences.

Exploring slime mould diversity in high-altitude forests and grasslands by environmental RNA analysis.

In spite of the ecological importance of protists, very little data is available on their distribution in soil. This investigation is the first of its kind on what could be the major components of the soil protistan community, the Myxomycetes, or plasmodial slime-moulds, a monophyletic class in the phylum Amoebozoa. Myxomycetes have a complex life cycle culminating in the formation of mainly macroscopic fruiting bodies, highly variable in shape and colour, which can be found in every terrestrial biome.

18S rDNA phylogeny of lamproderma and allied genera (Stemonitales, Myxomycetes, Amoebozoa).

The phylogenetic position of the slime-mould genus Lamproderma (Myxomycetes, Amoebozoa) challenges traditional taxonomy: although it displays the typical characters of the order Stemonitales, it appears to be sister to Physarales. This study provides a small subunit (18S or SSU) ribosomal RNA gene-based phylogeny of Lamproderma and its allies, with new sequences from 49 specimens in 12 genera. We found that the order Stemonitales and Lamproderma were both ancestral to Physarales and that Lamproderma constitutes several clades intermingled with species of Diacheopsis, Colloderma and Elaeomyxa.

Genetic structure of two protist species (Myxogastria, Amoebozoa) suggests asexual reproduction in sexual Amoebae.

Plasmodial slime molds (Myxogastria or Myxomycetes) are common and widespread unicellular organisms that are commonly assumed to have a sexual life cycle culminating with the formation of often macroscopic fruiting bodies that efficiently disseminate spores. However, laboratory studies based on mating compatibility revealed the coexistence of asexual as well as sexual strains. To test this hypothesis in natural populations, we investigated the genetic variability of two species of the genus Lamproderma.

Two new species of nivicolous Lamproderma (myxomycetes) from the mountains of Europe and America.

As a result of the revision of European and American collections of genus Lamproderma two new nivicolous myxomycete species, Lamproderma argenteobrunneum and L. kowalskii, are described. The new species are characterized by the silvery-brown sporothecae, the areolate peridium and the ferruginous-brown spores in mass.

Association of reading disability on chromosome 6p22 in the Afrikaner population.

The genetic basis of reading disability (RD) has long been established through family and twin studies. More recently genetic linkage studies have identified genomic regions that appear to harbor susceptibility genes for RD. Association studies have been shown to have greater power for detecting genes of modest effect, particularly in genetically isolated populations.

Evolution of dark-spored Myxomycetes (slime-molds): molecules versus morphology.

The Myxomycetes are a major component of soil amoebae, displaying a complex life cycle that terminates in the formation of often macroscopic fruiting bodies. The classification of Myxomycetes is controversial and strongly depends on the weight given by different authors to morphological and developmental characters. We used a molecular approach to establish the phylogenetic relationships in the dark-spored orders Stemonitales and Physarales.

Predictive assessment of reading.

Study 1 retrospectively analyzed neuropsychological and psychoeducational tests given to N=220 first graders, with follow-up assessments in third and eighth grade. Four predictor constructs were derived: (1) Phonemic Awareness, (2) Picture Vocabulary, (3) Rapid Naming, and (4) Single Word Reading. Together, these accounted for 88%, 76%, 69%, and 69% of the variance, respectively, in first, third, and eighth grade Woodcock Johnson Broad Reading and eighth grade Gates-MacGinitie.

Breakthrough invasive pulmonary aspergillosis despite empirical voriconazole therapy for febrile neutropenia: case report and review of the literature.

We report the development of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in a patient treated for acute myeloid leukaemia during empirical voriconazole therapy for febrile neutropenia. The patient failed to respond to the institution of salvage combination therapy with amphotericin B and voriconazole, but survived after adjunctive surgical resection.

Utility of the lateral chest radiograph in the evaluation of patients with a positive tuberculin skin test result.

Study Objectives: In the United States, chest radiographs are performed on patients with positive tuberculin skin test (TST) results. It is not known whether, in addition to a single posteroanterior radiograph, a lateral chest radiograph is clinically indicated or cost-effective. We sought to determine the utility of the lateral chest radiograph in evaluating TST-positive adults.

Continuing the search for dyslexia genes on 6p.

This study is a continuation and extension of the work with Orton Developmental Dyslexia (DD) pedigrees [Grigorenko et al., 1997; 2000, Grigorenko et al., 2001].

Repeat bedside percutaneous dilational tracheostomy is a safe procedure.

Objective: Previous tracheostomy has been considered a relative contraindication for percutaneous dilational tracheostomy. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy in critically ill patients with a history of previous tracheostomy.

Design: Retrospective, single-center case series of all consecutive patients requiring repeat tracheostomy for continued mechanical ventilatory support.