Phase separation and thermal crystallization of SiO/SiO2 superlattices results in ordered arranged silicon nanocrystals. The preparation method which is fully compatible with Si technologies enables independent control of particle size as well as of particle density and spatial position by using a constant stoichiometry of the layers. Transmission electron microscopy investigations confirm the size control in samples with an upper limit of the nanocrystal sizes of 3.8, 2.5, and 2.0 nm without decreasing the silicon nanocrystal density for smaller sizes. The nanocrystals show a strong luminescence intensity in the visible and near-infrared region. A size-dependent blueshift of the luminescence and a luminescence intensity comparable to porous Si are observed. Nearly size independent luminescence intensity without bleaching effects gives an indirect proof of the accomplishment of the independent control of crystal size and number.

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] is a versatile crop due to its multitude of uses as a high protein meal and vegetable oil. Soybean seed traits such as seed protein and oil concentration and seed size are important quantitative traits. The objective of this study was to identify representative protein, oil, and seed size quantitative trait loci (QTL) in soybean. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population consisting of 131 F6-derived lines was created from two prominent ancestors of North American soybeans ('Essex' and 'Williams') and the RILs were grown in six environments. One hundred simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers spaced throughout the genome were mapped in this population. There were a total of four protein, six oil, and seven seed size QTL found in this population. The QTL found in this study may assist breeders in marker-assisted selection (MAS) to retain current positive QTL in modern soybeans while simultaneously pyramiding additional QTL from new germplasm.

Our data indicate that bcl-2 expression is characteristic of the early phase of colorectal carcinogenesis. Its physiologic function as an inhibitor of PCD is preserved in most colorectal carcinomas, whereas p53 is apparently not involved in the regulation of PCD in colorectal neoplasias. bcl-2 expression in colorectal carcinomas is associated with a better clinical course. This correlation became even more evident in the subgroups of patients with carcinomas that also had low PCD index or lacked p53 immunoreactivity.

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00003052.

II.

Exposure to high stress in the cardiovascular intensive care unit can have negative effects on HRQL outcomes of cardiac surgery.

DNA markers for genes conditioning resistance to soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] root infection by [Fusarium solani (Mart.) Sacc. f. sp. gfycine (Burk.)] (Rfsl), sudden death syndrome (SDS), and soybean cyst nematode (SCN; Heterodera glycines Ichinohe; Rhg4 and rhgl) were previously identified in 'Essex' X 'Forrest'. This study tests the effectiveness of those markers in selecting for disease resistance among recombinant inbred lines from 'Flyer' X 'Hartwig'. A total of 535 among 739 lines were scored by two markers, providing four genotypes. A stratified random sample of 50 lines was evaluated for SDS by F. solani root infection severity at two locations and SCN race 3 index of parasitism in the greenhouse. Selection with BLT65 identified 281 among 671 lines with the genomic region that underlies Rhg4-derived SCN resistance. Selection with Satt038 identified 230 among 613 lines containing the genomic region that underlies resistance to SDS (rfsl) and rhgl-derived SCN resistance. A total of 93 out of 535 lines had genomic regions that underlie resistance to both SDS and SCN in Essex X Forrest. Segregation of both markers was not random (P =£ 0.05). Infection severity means for genotypes with the Hartwig allele at Satt038 (28-29%) were lower (P = 0.0001, R* = 28%) than with the Flyer allele (31-42%); irrespective of maturity group. BLT65 was not associated with infection severity. Mean SCN index of parasitism was lower (P s 0.05) only for genotypes carrying the Hartwig allele at both Satt038 and BLT65. Therefore, alleles conferring resistance to SDS and SCN in Essex X Forrest are transferable to other populations.

ments over several years which is expensive, time consuming, and labor intensive (Maughan et al., 1996). Molecular makers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) can assistComponents of yield are often identifiable which aid soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] breeders to combine traits of low heritability, such as yield, with disease resistance. The objective of this the selection of yield (Fehr, 1987;Specht et al., 1999). study was to identify markers linked to yield QTL in two recombinantIn soybeans, the basis of yield improvement is unclear, inbred line (RIL) populations ['Essex' ϫ 'Forrest' (EϫF; n ϭ 100) but maturity and growth habit have major effects (Manand 'Flyer' ϫ 'Hartwig' (FϫH; n ϭ 94)] that also segregate for soybean sur et al., 1996;Orf et al., 1999;Specht et al., 1999). cyst nematode (SCN) resistance genes (rhg1 and Rhg4 ). Each popula-Resistance to disease is usually a strong component of tion was yield tested in four environments between 1996 and 1999. yield in disease infested environments (Njiti et al., 1998). The resistant parents produced lower yields. Heritability of yield Disease resistance in cultivars (particularly SCN resisacross four environments was 47% for EϫF and 57% for FϫH. Yield tance) has consistently been associated with a 1-2% was normally distributed in both populations. High yielding, SCN decrease in yield when disease was absent (Concibido resistant transgressive segregants were not observed. In the EϫF RIL et al., 1997). In addition, many SCN resistant cultivars population, 134 microsatellite markers were compared against yield by ANOVA and MAPMAKER QTL. Regions associated with yield appear to display poor combining ability during interwere identified by SATT294 on linkage group (LG.) C1 (P ϭ 0.006, crossing (Concibido et al., 1997). Sudden death syn-R 2 ϭ 10%), SATT440 on LG. I (P ϭ 0.007, R 2 ϭ 10%), and SATT337 drome (SDS) resistance has also been associated with on LG. K (P ϭ 0.004, R 2 ϭ 10%). Essex provided the beneficial allele low yield potential (Rupe et al., 1993). at SATT337. Mean yields among FϫH RILs were compared against Genetic maps have been useful for soybean genome 33 microsatellite markers from LG. K. In addition 136 markers from analysis. Maps have allowed the identification of many randomly selected LGs were compared with extreme phenotypes by economically important soybean genes conditioning bulk segregant analysis. Two regions on LG. K (20 cM apart) associquantitative trait loci (QTL), including those for disease ated with yield were identified by SATT326 (P ϭ 0.0004, R 2 ϭ 15%)