Cross-sensitization between poppy seed and buckwheat in a food-allergic patient with poppy seed anaphylaxis

The opium poppy, Papaver somniferum L., is the source of both poppy seeds and opium. The commercially available seeds are widely used as ingredients for various kinds of food. IgE-mediated sensitization to poppy seeds is rare, but, if present, clinical symptoms are usually severe. Cross-sensitizations between poppy seeds and other food allergens have been described with sesame, hazelnut, rye grain and kiwi fruit. We report the case of a 17-year-old female with an apparently food-allergic reaction after ingestion of a poppy seed cake. Allergological workup revealed a poppy seed anaphylaxis and led to the identification of a novel cross-sensitization with buckwheat. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

King eider migration and seasonal interactions at the individual level

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2008Seasonal interactions describe how events during one season of the annual cycle of a migratory bird affect its fitness in subsequent seasons. Understanding the strength and mechanism of seasonal interactions is important to predict how migratory birds will respond to future challenges caused by habitat loss and climate change. This dissertation explores seasonal interactions between different stages of the annual cycle in an arctic-breeding sea duck, the King Eider (Somateria spectabilis). Concerns over recent population declines and potential effects of climate change on marine habitats used by the species highlight the need for a better understanding of its life history. I used satellite telemetry to describe migration routes, timing of migration events, and geographic regions used by King Eiders throughout the year. I found highly variable movement patterns, and wide dispersion of King Eiders to three regions in the Bering Sea during winter. I then developed stable isotope techniques to examine seasonal interactions at the individual level. First, I examined the relative contribution of body reserves to egg production using stable isotope analysis of egg components and blood. I found that most birds use only small proportions of body reserves to produce eggs, but rather rely on nutrients obtained on breeding grounds to form a clutch. Thus, contrary to general expectation, King Eiders use an income strategy to produce eggs, and I hypothesize that they may retain body reserves for incubation. Body reserves may reflect the residual body condition from the previous winter. I further examined whether females wintering in different regions in the Bering Sea had different rates of nest survival. The northern Bering Sea has a higher benthic biomass and is closer to breeding grounds than winter regions farther south. However, nest survival rates of female King Eiders in northern Alaska did not differ between females that had wintered in the northern or southern Bering Sea. Overall, I found large individual variation in movement and breeding strategies, and little evidence for strong seasonal interactions between winter, spring, and summer. This indicates that King Eiders are a very adaptable species that depend on resources acquired on breeding grounds to a larger extent than previously assumed

Step-Parent Adoptions in Nova Scotia and British Columbia

The basic purpose of this article is to examine that area of the law which deals with adoption by step-parents. In particular, the law of Nova Scotia and British Columbia will be considered. The approach taken will be to focus on the relevant statute law and selected cases which deal with the subject under scrutiny. Reference will also be made to recent developments in the law relating to adoption in England. Additionally, the latter part of this paper will deal with some alternatives to the granting of adoptions to step-parents. The particular issues and problems raised by step-parent adoptions, however, are best understood if viewed against the background of the history and practice of conventional adoptions

Generation of N00N-like interferences with two thermal light sources

Measuring the $M$th-order intensity correlation function of light emitted by two statistically independent thermal light sources may display N00N-like interferences of arbitrary order $N = M/2$. We show that via a particular choice of detector positions one can isolate $M$-photon quantum paths where either all $M$ photons are emitted from the same source or $M/2$ photons are collectively emitted by both sources. The latter superposition displays N00N-like oscillations with $N = M/2$ which may serve, e.g., in astronomy, for imaging two distant thermal sources with $M/2$-fold increased resolution. We also discuss slightly modified detection schemes improving the visibility of the N00N-like interference pattern and present measurements verifying the theoretical predictions.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure

Effect of the major histocompatibility complex on early mouse development

The class I molecules of the murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the H-2 complex, are of utmost importance in the recognition of self vs. nonself, and in the regulation of the immune response. In recent years, a great deal of interest has centered on the role of the MHC in nonimmune phenomena. Among these traits are those associated with reproduction and development. We have shown that a gene, Ped (preimplantation embryo development) is associated with the H-2 complex. Ped gene expression is apparent at the first cleavage division and affects the rate of subsequent cleavages. Therefore, the Ped gene product, whose nature is unknown, must be expressed at this time. It is possible that the Ped gene product is a class I molecule of the H-2 complex, and that the control of the rate of development is one of the many pleiotrophic effects of these cell surface molecules. The first goal of this dissertation was the development of a highly sensitive assay to detect class I antigens on the embryo cell surface. Using this assay, we have followed the expression of several MHC antigens during early embryo development. The de novo synthesis of MHC molecules by the embryos was proven by stripping the proteins off the cell surface with enzymes and measuring the reappearance of the antigens. One of the class I MHC antigens was purified and used in blocking studies to further confirm the presence of class I antigens on the embryonic cell surface;The second goal of this dissertation was to map the Ped gene within the mouse MHC. The data show that the Ped gene maps to the Qa-2 region of the H-2 complex. Classical segregation analysis was done to prove linkage of the Ped gene to the H-2 complex. Indeed, the Ped gene was shown to segregate with genes encoded in the H-2 complex. The function of Qa-2 antigens is unknown. Based on the work presented in this thesis, one of the Qa-2 antigens may be the Ped gene product