The present insight into plasmon effects on the nanoscale seems sufficiently advanced to allow the development of surface-plasmon-polariton- (SPP-) based optical devices. Therefore quantitative information describing SPP phenomena is required. We investigate a SPP beam splitter constituted by silver nanoparticles on a silver thin film, fabricated by electron-beam lithography. We acquire quantit...

The presence of Gram-negative bacteria in cuticle and alimentary tract of cockroaches collected from four selected areas of Dhaka city was investigated. Using detection key, a total of 12 cockroaches were identified as Periplaneta americana (58.33%), Blattella germanica (33.33%) and Blatta orientalis (8.33%). From these three species 54 different bacterial isolates were obtained. Out of them, 3...

At least 16 taxa of cicadellids and delphacids were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of a phytoplasma in the clover proliferation group, designated 16SrVI. Nucleic acid extracts from individual insects or groups of 5-10 were tested using PCR primers designed from the DNA sequence of 16S-23S rRNA or ribosomal protein genes of the pathogen. The beet leafhopper, Circulife...

OBJECTIVE To estimate prevalence of fecal shedding of Salmonella spp among horses in the US horse population and prevalence of Salmonella spp in grain or other concentrate used as horse feed on equine operations in the United States. DESIGN Cross-sectional survey. SAMPLE POPULATION Horses on 972 operations in 28 states. PROCEDURE Fecal samples were collected from horses resident at each o...

Plant parasitic nematodes remain a major challenge to crop production that has hitherto received minmum research attention in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper gives the diversity of nematode genera and species associated with cereal crops and indicates the possibility of nemadode population build up due to production intensification especially in soils with high sand content. Twenty-two nematode ...

The majority of HIV-infected patients develop Candida spp-associated clinical oral lesions. Studies have shown that asymptomatic oral colonization of Candida spp may lead to oral lesions or become a source of disseminated infections. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of periodontal conditions on Candida spp prevalence and Candida spp carriage in the oral cavity of HIV-infected pat...

INTRODUCTION Wound healing is a complex cascade of events with various cellular and biochemical processes that result in reconstruction and regeneration of damaged tissue. The objective of the current study was to scientifically evaluate the medicinal plants said to produce wound healing activity in traditional Iranian medicine (TIM). MATERIAL AND METHODS Electronic databases were searched fo...

OBJECTIVE This observational study described the characterization of bacteria isolated from the lower respiratory tract of ventilated patients hospitalized in intensive care units. The demonstration of isolated microorganism resistance to antibiotics and a time-trend analysis of infection comparing a 48-month period were also other objectives. METHOD Semi-quantitative assays of 1254 samples t...

AIMS Aim of this study was to monitor the environment at the Transplant Unit-Hemato-Oncology Clinic, University Hospital Olomouc (Olomouc, Czech Republic) and identify risks for the patients. METHODS AND RESULTS Microorganisms were cultivated under standard aerobic conditions. Strains were biochemically identified using the BD Phoenix™ PID Panel (USA). Legionella pneumophila was identified by...