Use of molecular beacon for the detection of fertile male plants in batches of sterile male rapeseed

A assay was developed to detect the level of contaminating male fertile rapeseeds within a population of male sterile Ogu-INRA seeds, based on PCR amplification of DNA and fluorescence technology. A molecular beacon was constructed to recognize a specific sequence of the male fertile plant. However, this sequence was also present in the male sterile plant at a very low concentration because of the recombinant structure of the Ogu-INRA mitochondrial genome. Conditions for quantitative PCR were found to take into account this biological data in order to develop an effective test. A 1% contamination can be detected with the naked eye with an ultraviolet light table or by use of a spectrofluorometer. The sensitivity of this method is dependent upon the molecular beacon concentration.     

A single serum dilution method for the quantitation of neutralizing antibodies to varicella-zoster virus

A one-point serum dilution method for determination of neutralizing antibody in human sera to varicella-zoster (V-Z) virus instead of the serial serum dilution method was investigated. Focus counting was performed under a microscope on day 5 to 6 after inoculation of V-Z virus into 6-well plastic trays in which human embryonic lung cells were grown. A table was constructed to estimate the ND50 titers by the per cent reduction of the focus count from the control at only one dilution of test sera. The estimated ND50 values agreed well with those determined by the serial serum dilution method. Test sera showed a slight nonspecific reactivity at low serum dilutions, but reliable results could usually be obtained at a serum dilution of 1:8 or more. This method, which saves materials and labor, was applied to the quantification of neutralizing antibody against V-Z virus in human sera with satisfactory accuracy and reproducibility.     

Contingency Table Browser ? prediction of early stage protein structure

The Early Stage (ES) intermediate represents the starting structure in protein folding simulations based on the Fuzzy Oil Drop (FOD) model. The accuracy of FOD predictions is greatly dependent on the accuracy of the chosen intermediate. A suitable intermediate can be constructed using the sequence-structure relationship information contained in the so-called contingency table − this table expresses the likelihood of encountering various structural motifs for each tetrapeptide fragment in the amino acid sequence. The limited accuracy with which such structures could previously be predicted provided the motivation for a more indepth study of the contingency table itself. The Contingency Table Browser is a tool which can visualize, search and analyze the table. Our work presents possible applications of Contingency Table Browser, among them − analysis of specific protein sequences from the point of view of their structural ambiguity.     

Demography of the twospotted spider mite,Tetranychus urticae Koch

Summary A simple life table model was constructed for Tetranychus urticae in which daily survivorship of eggs and motil stages, fecundity, and development time was altered to assess the impact of each parameter on the intrinsic rate of increase. r. Interpretation of the trade-offs focused on management considerations.A second aspect of the study concerned age and stage structure in mite populations including the time path of convergence to a stable age distribution and the effect of changes in birth and death rates on the age profile. The stable stage distributions of 7 tetranychid mite species were computed using 25 separate life tables. In spite of the wide range of r-values induced by different experimental conditions, all of the stage distributions were quite similar averaging roughly 66% eggs, 26% immatures, and 8% adults. Several population studies were cited which reported stage distributions of growing mite populations. The empirical evidence suggested that natural mite populations are often quite near this stable distribution.A practical problem involving the extent to which hormoligosis (insecticide stimulation) affects mite population growth rate was addressed using the life table model and laboratory data from controlled studies. The findings suggested that mite populations treated with insecticide may attain a 1.4- to a 4.2-fold difference in population size relative to an untreated population after 2 generations and over a 1,300-fold potential difference after 10 generations.     

Genealogy-based comparative analysis of loose smut resistance of spring common wheat cultivars

Comparative genealogical analysis was conducted for loose smut-resistant and susceptible common wheat cultivars of three regions: Russia, Canada, and India. Pedigree analysis of differentiator varieties revealed several sources of the Ut1, Ut3, and Ut4 genes. Tracking resistance transmission in extended pedigrees allowed identification of resistance donors, sources, and, in some cases, putative genes in Russian, Canadian, and Indian cultivars. A contingency table was constructed with the data on resistance or susceptibility of 839 common and durum wheat cultivars and demonstrated a significant association for resistance to two, loose and stinking, types of smut.     

A note on the consistency of life tables for total populations with those for their subpopulations

Abstract

The life table for the total population, when constructed from the overall age‐specific mortality rates, becomes inconsistent with the life tables for its between‐heterogeneous subpopulations. The consistent life table for the total population can be derived from those for the subpopulations, when the latter are constructed with radixes proportional to the distribution of these subpopulations at birth. As an example, this consistency approach is used to reconstruct the total life table for the United States for 1984 from those for white males, white females, nonwhite males, and nonwhite females, and to compare it with the corresponding life table computed by the conventional method by the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. The expectation of life at birth for the total population by the consistency approach is found to be 74.37, which is 0.38 year lower than the NCHS number of 74.75.     

New probability matrices for identification of Streptomyces

The character state data obtained for clusters defined in a previous phenetic classification were used to construct two probabilistic matrices for Streptomyces species. These superseded an original published identification matrix by exclusion of other genera and the inclusion of more Streptomyces species. Separate matrices were constructed for major and minor clusters. The minimum number of diagnostic characters for each matrix was selected by computer programs for determination of character separation indices (CHARSEP) and a selection of group diagnostic properties (DIACHAR). The resulting matrices consisted of 26 phena x 50 characters (major clusters) and 28 phena x 39 characters (minor clusters). Cluster overlap (OVERMAT program) was small in both matrices. Identification scores were used to evaluate both matrices. The theoretically best scores for the most typical example of each cluster (MOSTTYP program) were all satisfactory. Input of test data for randomly selected cluster representatives resulted in correct identification with high scores. The major cluster matrix was shown to be practically sound by its application to 35 unknown soil isolates, 77% of which were clearly identified. The minor cluster matrix provides tentative probabilistic identifications as the small number of strains in each cluster reduces its ability to withstand test variation. A diagnostic table for single-membered clusters, constructed using the CHARSEP and DIACHAR programs, was also produced.     

Genealogy-Based Comparison of Loose Smut Resistance for Spring Common Wheat Cultivars

Comparative genealogical analysis was conducted for loose smut-resistant and susceptible common wheat cultivars of three regions: Russia, Canada, and India. Pedigree analysis of differentiator varieties revealed several sources of theUt1, Ut3, and Ut4 genes. Tracing resistance transmission in extended pedigrees allowed identification of resistance donors, sources, and, in some cases, putative genes in Russian, Canadian, and Indian cultivars. A contingency table was constructed with the data on resistance or susceptibility of 839 common and durum wheat cultivars and demonstrated a significant association for resistance to two, loose and stinking, types of smut.     

Cross checking censuses and a model of the annual cycle of mortality and reproduction in capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris)

Improved management of capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) for meat and hide production requires better knowledge of the status of the population throughout the year, its density, as well as monthly rates of mortality and reproduction. This study was made on 50,500 ha of a ranch in the Llanos of Venezuela. A model of the annual cycle of mortality and reproduction of a hypothetical population of 50,000 capybaras was constructed, based on age composition information from 1,269 capybaras harvested in March over a period of 7 years. Age was determined by the lens technique and the growth curve of the lens and a table of lens weights and corresponding age are presented. Because censuses of wildlife are dependent on assumptions which frequently are fulfilled to an unknown degree and fiducial limits may be large, here three cross checking censuses were made. The censuses varied from 3 to 8% of their mean. The analytical model predicted a 26.02% reduction of the population during the 2 months when the annual harvest occurred and the strip censuses showed a reduction of 27.63%, a degree of agreement lending credibility to both the model and the censuses. A table of the annual cycle of births based on age composition of a cohort of 358 capybaras is presented showing births throughout the year but with a peak in September and 56% being born from August to November. The mean monthly probability of dying for adult capybaras was calculated to be 0.075 based on a sample of 1.199 animals greater than 12 months old. The oldest capybaras were estimated to be 5 years of age.     

麻黄蚜实验种群的生命表

麻黄蚜虫EphedraphisgobicaSzelegiewicz是危害中药材———草麻黄的重要害虫之一。通过室内饲养 ,构建了该蚜虫的实验种群生命表。结果表明 :该蚜虫的内禀增长率 (rm)、周限增长率 (λ)、净增殖率 (R0 )、种群世代平均周期 (T)和种群加倍时间 (t)分别是 :0 2 60 ,1 2 98,1 9 2 48,1 1 3 5 4和 2 661。     

Tabular excel editor for analysis of aligned nucleotide sequences

Excel platform was used for transition of results of multiple aligned nucleotide sequences obtained using the BLAST network service to the form appropriate for visual analysis and editing. Two macros operators for MS Excel 2007 were constructed. The array of aligned sequences transformed into Excel table and processed using macros operators is more appropriate for analysis than initial html data.     

Cleavage of dengue virus NS1-NS2A requires an octapeptide sequence at the C terminus of NS1.

The length of amino acid sequence at the NS1-NS2A juncture of dengue virus that is required for specific cleavage effected by the cis-acting function of NS2A was identified by deletion analysis. Recombinant DNA sequences of NS1-NS2A, each containing a deletion in NS1 followed by a sequence of 3 to 20 amino acids at the C terminus of NS1 preceding the cleavage site, were constructed and expressed with vaccinia virus as a vector. The NS1 product of recombinant vaccinia virus-infected cells was immunoprecipitated and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The occurrence of cleavage between NS1 and NS2A was indicated by the appearance of shortened NS1. Failure to cleave this site yielded a large NS1-NS2A fusion protein. This analysis indicated that a minimum length of eight amino acids at the NS1 C terminus preceding the NS1-NS2A juncture is required for cleavage to take place. Comparison of this eight-amino-acid sequence of the NS1 C terminus of dengue type 4 virus with the analogous sequences of 12 other flaviviruses suggests that the consensus cleavage site sequence is as follows: (table; see text)     

马铃薯甲虫自然种群生命表的组建及影响因子

应用作用因子生命表方法,组建了马铃薯2代马铃薯甲虫自然种群生命表,并采用排除分析法分析了作用因子对马铃薯甲虫种群数量的控制作用.结果表明:马铃薯甲虫卵期和1龄幼虫期的存活率分别为79.1％和69.3％,显著低于其他虫态的存活率,表明该阶段为马铃薯甲虫种群生存的脆弱阶段,是马铃薯甲虫防治的关键时期.“自然死亡”的排除作用控制指数最大(1.87);其次为“捕食及其他”,排除作用控制指数为1.51;寄生性天敌对马铃薯甲虫没有控制作用.如果排除所有天敢等因子的作用,马铃薯甲虫自然种群趋势指数将增长2.8倍.表明天敌等自然因子虽对马铃薯甲虫种群数量有一定的控制作用,但控制能力较弱.     

Relationship between DNA acid-solubility and frequency of single-strand breaks near apurinic sites

Using [32P]DNA alkylated with [3H]methyl methanesulfonate, depurinated by heating at 50 degrees C for various periods, then treated with sodium hydroxide, a table was constructed giving the DNA fraction soluble in 5% perchloric acid at 0 degree C as a function of the frequency of strand breaks. The alkaline treatment placed a break near each apurinic site; the apurinic sites were counted in two ways which gave consonant results: by the loss of [3H]methyl groups and by reaction with [14C]methoxyamine. The 32P label of DNA was used to measure the acid-solubility.     

Exploring contingency tables with correspondence analysis

An algorithm for correspondence analysis is described and implementedin SAS/IML (SAS Institute, 1985a). The technique is shown, throughthe analysis of several biological examples, to supplement thelog-linear models approach to the analysis of contingency tables,both in the model identification and model interpretation stagesof analysis. A simple two-way contingency table of tumor datais analyzed using correspondence analysis. This example emphasisesthe relationships between the parameters of the log-linear modelfor the table and the graphical correspondence analysis results.The technqiue is also applied to a three-way table of surveydata concerning ulcer patients to demonstrate applications ofsimple correspondence analysis to higher dimensional tableswith fixed margins. Finally, the diets and foraging behaviorsof birds of the Hubbard Brook Forest are each analyzed and thena simultaneous display of the two separate but related tablesis constructed to highlight relationships between the tables. Received on August 29, 1988; accepted on April 25, 1989     

Effect of some soil properties on root and top growth and mineral content of Washington navel orange and Balady mandarin

Summary Soil and plant investigations were carried on a grove of Washington navel orange and Balady mandarin in the United Arab Republic to find out the cause of the large differences in the tree vigour. During 1965 and 1966 the groundwater level was measured several times, groundwater and soil samples were analysed, new shoots and leaves in three flushes/year were determined. Root intensity at distance and depth were also determined. Roots and leaves were analysed for several mineral contents. Results obtained refer to the depth of water table as the dominant factor responsible for growth differences, whereas salinity as secondary effect mostly was not involved. The number of shoots (for both varieties) was the most effected. Total leaf area (reflecting all other effects) was reduced tremendously by water table change from 171 to 53 cm for orange and from 158 to 89 cm for mandarin. Travelling distance of feeder roots, horizontally or vertically was reduced remarkably and its intensity shifted upward in front of a rising water table. Mineral contents did not change with water table. Yield of both varieties was remarkably reduced with rising water table. Contribution from the Pomology Division, College of Agr., Univ. Alex., Alexandria, U.A.R. Prof., of Pomology Univ., Alex. Director of Soil Salinity Lab., Ministry of Agr. U.A.R. Lecturer of Pomology Univ., Alex.     

用葡萄叶饲养的二斑叶螨实验种群生命表

二斑叶螨Tetranychus urticae Koch近几年在葡萄园内暴发为害,通过室内饲养,组建其取食葡萄叶片时的实验种群生命表,结果表明在室温(21～28℃)下,该虫的内禀增长率(rm)、周限增长率(λ)、净增殖率(R0)、种群世代平均周期(T)和种群加倍时间(t)分别为0.2066,1.2295,39.5929,17.8d和3.35d。     

Survival analysis of mandibular complete dentures with acrylic‐based resilient liners

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2012.00658.x Survival analysis of mandibular complete dentures with acrylic‐based resilient liners Objective: The purpose of this long‐term randomised controlled trial was to compare the longevity of dentures constructed using a conventional acrylic resin (CAR) to that of dentures constructed using an acrylic‐based resilient liner (ARL). Materials and methods: The follow‐up study was essentially carried out by annual telephone calls to each of the 67 participants. The Kaplan–Meier method and life‐table analysis were used for univariate analyses. The Cox proportional‐hazards test was used as a final model for statistically adjusting predictor variables such as sex, clinician type, mandibular denture type and age at denture delivery. Results: The denture type was likely to affect the survival time of the dentures, while the sex and clinician type were not. The group using acrylic‐based resilient denture liners had twice the risk of having shorter denture‐survival times than those using conventional acrylic resin dentures. Younger participants were likely to have a reduced risk of having shorter denture‐survival times than older participants. Conclusion: We conclude that mandibular complete dentures constructed using ARL are twice as likely as dentures constructed using CAR to have shorter denture survival times, mainly because of material deterioration.     

The natural history of the mud-dauber wasp Sceliphron fistularium (Hymenoptera: Sphecidae) in southeastern Brazil

Nests of Sceliphron fistularium were obtained in Colombia and Moji Gua?u, S?o Paulo, Brazil. Complete nests consisted of 1 to 54 sausage-shaped cells, arranged side by side along a horizontal axis, and found attached to electrical wires (Colombia, n = 7) and walls (Colombia, n = 4 and Moji Gua?u, n = 4). The number of cells per nest ranged from 1 to 54, their length varying from 20.8 to 29.7 mm, and their diameter from 7.6 to 11.7 mm. Brood cells were provisioned with spiders of the family Araneidae. Only Alpaida veniliae was collected in Colombia, whereas the most frequent species found in Moji Gua?u was Micrathena swainsoni (62.0%) followed by M. acuta (23.3%). Adults emerged from June to October. The length and diameter of female and male cells were similar. Nevertheless, females were significantly larger than males. The sex ratio of individuals obtained from nests was 1.16 females: 1 male. A life table was constructed, and details of the life cycle of the wasps and parasitoids are presented. The most common mortality factors were either unknown or due to the parasitoid wasp Melittobia sp.