Surface functionalization of silica nanoparticles supports colloidal stability in physiological media and facilitates internalization in cells.

The influence of the surface functionalization of silica particles on their colloidal stability in physiological media is studied and correlated with their uptake in cells. The surface of 55 ± 2 nm diameter silica particles is functionalized by amino acids or amino- or poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-terminated alkoxysilanes to adjust the zeta potential from highly negative to positive values in ethanol. A transfer of the particles into water, physiological buffers, and cell culture media reduces the absolute value of the zeta potential and changes the colloidal stability.

Consistent detection of QTLs for crown rust resistance in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) across environments and phenotyping methods.

Crown rust, caused by Puccinia coronata f. sp. lolii, is one of the most important diseases of temperate forage grasses, such as ryegrasses (Lolium spp.

Genetic mapping reveals a single major QTL for bacterial wilt resistance in Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.).

Bacterial wilt caused by Xanthomonas translucens pv. graminis (Xtg) is a major disease of economically important forage crops such as ryegrasses and fescues. Targeted breeding based on seedling inoculation has resulted in cultivars with considerable levels of resistance.

Fatty acids in colostrum from mothers of children at high risk of atopy in relation to clinical and laboratory signs of allergy in the first year of life.

Background: It remains controversial whether fatty acid (FA) composition of breast milk relates to development of atopy in the infant. This study evaluates FA in colostrum from mothers of children at high risk of atopy in association with atopy at the age of 1 year.

Methods: The FA of colostrum were analyzed for 218 children (60 with low birth weight between 1500 and 2500 g, 84 with a history of maternal atopy, and 74 with an elevated cord blood immunoglobulin (Ig)E of >0.