The iCLEF 2004 experiment at the University of Alicante has focused on how to assist users in the localization of the correct answer in passages written in a language different from the one of the query. The language of the users is Spanish and the language of the documents/passages English. In order to help users, a first system shows, together with the passage in English, the relevant domains...

The interaction of a high-molecular-weight salivary glycoprotein (agglutinin) with Streptococcus sanguis M5 leads to the formation of bacterial aggregates. We have previously shown that the SSP-5 surface antigen from S. sanguis M5 binds the salivary agglutinin and therefore may be involved in the aggregation process. Here we report the transformation of a nonaggregating Enterococcus faecalis st...

The closest wild relatives of maize, Zea mays ssp. mays are various Zea taxa known as "teosinte." Hybrids between maize and the teosinte taxon, Zea mays ssp. mexicana, often occur when the 2 are sympatric in Mexico. Measuring the spontaneous hybridization rate of the 2 taxa would shed light on the mechanisms contributing to the evolution and persistence of these hybrid swarms. We conducted a se...

This study was embarked upon to obtain laboratory strains of lactic acid bacteria from some traditional fermented foods, with potential for the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs), which is an important factor in assuring the proper consistency and texture of fermented food. One hundred and fifteen strains of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) were isolated and characterized from some fermented dai...

Forest trees frequently form species complexes, complicating taxonomic classification and gene pool management. This is certainly the case in Eucalyptus, and well exemplified by the Eucalyptus globulus complex. This ecologically and economically significant complex comprises four taxa (sspp. bicostata, globulus, maidenii, pseudoglobulus) that are geographically and morphologically distinct, but...

In a complex soil environment, competitive and environmental factors interact with individual traits to influence plant’s root growth patterns ability compete for resources. Here, we examine how of focal plant, Plantago lanceolata L., responds resource heterogeneity presence two neighbor species, Centaurea jacea L.and Poa pratensis L. A full factorial experiment tested the effects nutrient hete...

Thoracoscopic talcage (TT) is a safe and effective prophylactic treatment for patients suffering from recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP). Empirically, TT is considered equally effective in the treatment of persistent secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (SSP), although this has not yet been proved. In this study, the efficacy and safety of TT was prospectively evaluated in 28 patien...

BACKGROUND Personality is considered as an important aspect that can affect symptoms and social function in persons with schizophrenia. The personality questionnaire Swedish universities Scales of Personality (SSP) has not previously been used in psychotic disorder. AIMS To investigate if SSP has a similar internal consistency and factor structure in a psychosis population as among healthy co...