Reagent Strips and Conventional Tests for Acid Production from Mannitol and Coagulase Activity of Staphylococcus: a Comparative Study

A total of 244 Staphylococcus strains were tested simultaneously for acid production from mannitol and for coagulase activity with reagent-impregnated paper strips and with their conventional counterparts. Significant correlation was obtained with 97.9% of the strains for mannitol and with 95% for the coagulase test. The paper strip method is a combined test for both mannitol and coagulase tests, thus making it more convenient and simpler than conventional methods. The results are obtained rapidly within 6 hr by the paper strip method. However, as the paper strip method is designed for the aerobic system, the conventional tests were also carried out under aerobic conditions to compare the results.     

四种材料作为异色瓢虫产卵载体的适合性比较

比较了蚕豆苗叶片、甘蓝叶片、小油菜叶片和纸条作为人工扩繁异色瓢虫Harmoniaaxyridis(Pallas)时产卵载体的适合性。异色瓢虫对这 4种产卵载体有明显的选择性 ,多在蚕豆苗叶片和甘蓝叶片上产卵 ,纸条上次之 ,在小油菜叶片上产卵很少。在产卵载体对单雌产卵量影响方面 ,蚕豆苗叶片、甘蓝叶片和纸条 3者之间的差异不显著 ,且产于这 3种载体上的卵块在 ( 1 0± 1 )℃下冷藏的孵化率没有明显差异。由于纸条不会出现枯萎现象 ,易制成卵卡 ,所以可用作卵商品化时的产卵载体 ,而蚕豆苗叶片和甘蓝叶片可作为保留虫源或繁殖时的产卵载体。     

INSERTION OF STRIPS OF CELLOPHANE OR POROUS FILTERS IN THE FUTURE COURSE OF THE ADVANCING CLEAVAGE FURROW OF THE NEWT EGG *

In the area between the equatorial and the upper vegetal regions of the egg of the newt, Cynops (Triturus) phrrhogaster, strips of cellophane, ordinary filter paper or Millipore filter respectively were inserted transversely at short distances ahead of the advancing cleavage furrow. When a cellophane strip is inserted across the future path of the furrow at 0.5–0.7 mm beyond the furrow tip, the furrow stops on reaching the position of the inserted cellophane strip. If, however, a strip of the Millipore filter is inserted at the same distances ahead of the cleavage furrow, the furrow reaches the one side of the Millipore filter strip and soon appears on the opposite side of it, just as the furrow jumps across the strip, to continue the previous course. Similar tendency is observed in the experiments on insertion of strips of the ordinary filter paper. It is suggested that certain propagating factors which are necessary to induce formation of the cleavage furrow can go through the pores of the Millipore filter to precede the advancing tip of the cleavage furrow.     

试纸条技术在转基因农作物检测中的应用

简述了试纸条技术的基本原理及试纸条技术在转基因农作物检测中的优势与不足 ,并对试纸条技术对转基因农作物检测的应用进行了展望。     

Statistical Efficiency in Distance Sampling

Distance sampling is a technique for estimating the abundance of animals or other objects in a region, allowing for imperfect detection. This paper evaluates the statistical efficiency of the method when its assumptions are met, both theoretically and by simulation. The theoretical component of the paper is a derivation of the asymptotic variance penalty for the distance sampling estimator arising from uncertainty about the unknown detection parameters. This asymptotic penalty factor is tabulated for several detection functions. It is typically at least 2 but can be much higher, particularly for steeply declining detection rates. The asymptotic result relies on a model which makes the strong assumption that objects are uniformly distributed across the region. The simulation study relaxes this assumption by incorporating over-dispersion when generating object locations. Distance sampling and strip transect estimators are calculated for simulated data, for a variety of overdispersion factors, detection functions, sample sizes and strip widths. The simulation results confirm the theoretical asymptotic penalty in the non-overdispersed case. For a more realistic overdispersion factor of 2, distance sampling estimation outperforms strip transect estimation when a half-normal distance function is correctly assumed, confirming previous literature. When the hazard rate model is correctly assumed, strip transect estimators have lower mean squared error than the usual distance sampling estimator when the strip width is close enough to its optimal value (± 75% when there are 100 detections; ± 50% when there are 200 detections). Whether the ecologist can set the strip width sufficiently accurately will depend on the circumstances of each particular study.     

Paper Electrophoretic Studies on the Diastatic Enzymes of Molds

A detailed procedure for the separation of diastatic enzymes of molds was established, which was based on their electrophoretic behaviours on a paper strip. For the detection of enzymes, a bioautographical method was newly devised. Comparing the enzymatic images appeared on the paper strip, the authors classified mold enzyme systems into five types.     

Distortion-Free Mounting of Frozen Sections by Handling on Paper Supports

Frozen sections are cut from the specimen until the level of interest is reached. A strip of paper (bond or similar writing paper) 5 cm long and about 1 cm wider than the specimen is moistened with water, closely applied to the surface of the specimen and frozen onto it. As the section is cut, the end of the paper strip above the knife is grasped and turned backward toward the other end of the strip. The section is then applied to an albumenized glass slide, firmed and thawed by finger pressure, and the paper removed. After thorough drying, the preparation is ready for further processing. When properly performed, mounted sections whose details coincide to those of the uncut block can be obtained. If thawing on the knife is prevented by cooling the knife, the technic can be performed without a cryostat, but it is also feasible to use a cryostat if a favorable temperature is maintained. The authors obtained 30 μ serial sections, suitable for stereotaxic mapping, from rabbit brain by this method.     

A novel measuring system for the determination of paramagnetic particle labels for use in magneto-immunoassays

Coated micrometer-sized paramagnetic particles (PMPs) are readily available and widely used in immunoassays, mainly for separation and as a solid phase. We have described in a separate paper a model sandwich assay in which ≈1×10⁵ to 1×10⁶ PMPs (2.8 μm diameter) are immobilised on a plastic strip at the end of the assay. In this paper, we describe the design of an instrument that is capable of determining the number of PMPs on the plastic strip. The paper also describes a method of making standard plastic strips with known numbers of PMPs on them. A strip, when placed in a coil of wire in parallel with a capacitor, causes the resonant frequency of the coil to decrease because of the presence of the PMPs. The decrease in frequency relates directly to the number of PMPs on the strip. A circuit based on a voltage-controlled oscillator and a phase-locked loop is used to accurately measure the resonant frequency of the coil. The instrument is capable of detecting at least 1×10⁵ PMPs immobilised on a plastic strip and has a linear response (r=0.99) for up to at least 3.33×10⁶ PMPs. In terms of the iron content of the PMPs, the detection limit is ≈1.2 μg Fe in the paramagnetic particles and the sensitivity is ≈3 Hz per μg of Fe. The instrument is small and compact and together with a suitable magneto-immunoassay will have many applications, including near-patient monitoring.     

Modification and evaluation of the Carba NP test by use of paper strip for simple and rapid detection of carbapenemase-producing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterobacteriaceae</Emphasis>

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) isolates have now emerged worldwide. We therefore modified the phenotypic Carba NP test by use of a filter paper strip for easily and rapidly identifying CPE in routine laboratory. A collection of 56 CPE and carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas spp. isolates (including 28 NDM-1, 11 IMP-14a, 1 IMP-1, 1 IMP-4, 1 IMP-9, 1 IMP-15, 4 VIM-2, 1 VIM-1, 1 IMP-14a with VIM-2, 3 OXA-48, 3 OXA-181 and 1 KPC-2 producers) and 41 non-CPE isolates (including 19 ESBL, 7 pAmpC, 3 AmpC, 9 ESBL with pAmpC and 3 non-ESBL & non-AmpC producers) as confirmed by the PCR methods were tested by the paper strip method using pharmaceutical imipenem/cilastatin as a substrate. Bacterial colonies of each isolate were applied directly on filter paper strips dropped with either imipenem-phenol red (test strip) or phenol red solution alone (control strip). The reaction was read within 5 min. This test failed to detect 3 OXA-181, 2 OXA-48 and 3 IMP-14a producers (85.7 % sensitivity), whereas no false positives were seen (100 % specificity). Further evaluation of the paper strip test in 267 CPE screening-positive isolates from three hospitals by their medical technologists showed 92.0 % sensitivity (100 % for NDM producers) and 100 % specificity compared with the PCR methods. Because of its ease, rapidness and cost effective, the paper strip test has a potential for routine CPE testing in low-resource laboratories particularly in areas with high prevalence of NDM enzymes, leading to appropriate antimicrobial therapy and infection control strategy.     

Implications of paper vs stainless steel biological indicator substrates for formaldehyde gas decontamination

Aims: This study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of biological indicators currently being employed during formaldehyde decontamination. Data suggest that detectable amounts of formaldehyde are absorbed into the paper strips contained in currently used biological indicators. Absorbed formaldehyde has the potential to inhibit the growth of indicator spores, thus leading to false negative results. Indicators composed of either stainless steel carriers or paper strips were investigated to determine whether stainless steel carriers can be used as an alternative to paper strip indicators. Methods and Results: Biological indicators were exposed to formaldehyde gas and were tested for the presence of formaldehyde and any possible inhibition of spore growth. Absorbed formaldehyde was detected in the paper strip carriers while no formaldehyde was detected from any of the stainless steel carriers. Exposed paper strips were found to inhibit growth of up to 1 × 10⁶ spores while the stainless steel carriers did not inhibit the growth of spores. Conclusions: During decontamination, biological indicators composed of paper spore strips absorb formaldehyde and inhibit growth of any surviving spores. Stainless steel carriers do not absorb formaldehyde and are an ideal alternative substrate for biological indicators. Significance and Impact of the Study: The popular paper strip biological indicator can lead to false negative results during decontamination and is unsuitable for validating formaldehyde decontamination.     

木贼类营养器官凯氏带类型的新观察

该研究用石蜡切片法比较观察了5种木贼科植物营养器官的内皮层及凯氏带,首次报道了2层内皮层及其凯氏带的形态特征及分布规律,并讨论各种类型的凯氏带及其与厚壁组织的协作防御机制。结果表明:(1)5种木贼的地下茎和根都只有1条凯氏带,其中4种木贼的地上茎有2条凯氏带。(2)木贼类营养器官具有3种凯氏带类型,即2层公共内皮层上各具有1条凯氏带、1层散生内皮层上的1条凯氏带、1层公共内皮层上的1条凯氏带。(3)木贼类地下茎和根都有发达的厚壁组织或致密的表皮。(4)问荆地上茎外侧内皮层具有复合内皮细胞。研究认为,木贼类植物凯氏带数量不能作为分类的依据;地下茎和根虽然只有1条凯氏带,但地下部分都有发达的厚壁组织或(和)与其紧密相连的表皮,推测厚壁组织或(和)表皮可能具有与凯氏带相同的功能;3种类型凯氏带的防御能力由强到弱依次是:2层公共内皮层上的凯氏带 1层散生内皮层上的凯氏带 1层公共内皮层上的凯氏带。     

Laboratory testing of a lethal ovitrap for Aedes aegypti

Laboratory tests were conducted to determine the feasibility of making the mosquito ovitrap lethal to Aedes aegypti (L.) when they attempt to oviposit in the trap. Heavy-weight velour paper strips (2.54 x 11 cm) were used as an alternative to the wooden paddle normally provided as a substrate for mosquito oviposition. The paper strips were pretreated with insecticide solutions and allowed to dry before being used in oviposition cups of 473 ml capacity, filled with water initially to within 2.5 cm of the brim. Insecticides chosen for their quick knock-down efficacy were bendiocarb 76% WP (1.06 mg a.i./strip) and four pyrethroids: permethrin 25% WP (0.16 mg a.i./strip), deltamethin 4.75% SC (0.87 mg a.i./strip), cypermethrin 40% WP (2.81 mg a.i./strip), and cyfluthrin 20% WP (0.57 mg a.i./ strip). For experimental evaluation, two oviposition cups (one with an insecticide-treated strip and one with an untreated strip) were placed in cages (cubic 30 cm) with gravid female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes (aged 6-8 days) from a susceptible laboratory strain. Mortality-rates of female mosquitoes were 45% for bendiocarb, 47% for permethrin, 98% for deltamethrin, 100% for cypermethrin, and 100% for cyfluthrin. Young instar larvae added to the treated cups died within 2h. After water evaporation from the cups for 38 days, fresh mosquito females had access to previously submerged portions of the velour paper paddle, and mortality rates of 59% or more occurred. Cups that had water (360 ml) dripped into them, to simulate rain, produced female mosquito mortality rates of > 50% and all larvae died within 3 h of being added. These tests demonstrate that the ovitrap can be made lethal to both adults and larvae by insecticidal treatment of the ovistrip. Field efficacy trials are underway in Brazil to access the impact of this simple, low-cost, environmentally benign approach on populations of the dengue vector Ae. aegypti.     

Rats' preferences for corn versus wood-based bedding and nesting materials

Corn by-products can be used as bedding and nesting products. Corn-cob bedding resists ammonia build-up and corn-husk nesting material resists dampness. It is not clear whether these advantages are at the expense of animal comfort. Corn cob was compared to aspen chip bedding, and corn husk to paper strip nesting material. Data from 20 rats with differential early bedding experience suggested that they prefer aspen chip, but are also biased towards the bedding they were raised on. Data from 10 rats with no prior nesting material experience suggested that paper strip was preferred over cornhusk. Thus, corn-cob products are not recommended except in situations where air quality and/or flooding are significant problems.     

植草带宽度对蜘蛛和步甲群落动态及比邻玉米田害虫发生的影响

农田边界植草带是农田系统各斑块间生物物种迁移和群落演替、物质和能量交换的主要区域,对维持农业生物多样性及提高农田生产力具有重要意义。基于作物-害虫-天敌互作有机整体对植草带宽度的响应,选取不同宽度植草带(2 m、4 m、6 m)及其比邻农田并以对应宽度作物边界作为对照,采用地表陷阱法对蜘蛛和步甲进行取样调查,探究植草带宽度对蜘蛛和步甲种群结构、迁移扩散规律以及对农田害虫控制潜力的影响。结果表明:植草带内蜘蛛和步甲个体数均显著高于对照条带,4 m、6 m植草带的蜘蛛和步甲多度显著高于2 m植草带,且物种丰富度和多度显著高于其对照条带。此外,不同宽度植草带蜘蛛和步甲群落存在较高的异质性,蜘蛛和步甲群落结构差异显著;在4 m和6 m植草带及其比邻玉米田内,蜘蛛和步甲多度在植草带和植草带与比邻玉米田交界处显著高于农田内部,且随距离的增加,蜘蛛物种多度呈显著降低趋势,植草带宽度和距离共同决定蜘蛛和步甲的空间分布;Monte Carlo检验结果表明,植草带宽度、植被Margalef指数对农田中蜘蛛和步甲群落结构的影响均达到显著水平,蜘蛛主要优势科和步甲主要优势种主要分布在6 m植草带比邻玉米田内;4 m、6 m植草带比邻的玉米田中蜘蛛和步甲对玉米害虫的益害比显著高于2 m植草带比邻的玉米田,且4 m、6 m植草带显著增加了玉米籽粒的百粒重及比邻农田的玉米总产量。本研究对植草带涵养捕食性天敌预防害虫发生的最适宽度进行探索,综合考虑植草带耕地占用、天敌涵养和生物控害潜力等因素,确定4 m宽度植草带是具有推广价值的农田边界模式。     

Perceptions and preferences on denture marking in an Indian sample

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00499.x Perceptions and preferences on denture marking in an Indian sample Aim: Denture marking is useful in institutional settings and post‐mortem identification. Numerous markers have been developed, and their advantages and limitations assessed previously; however, patient perception to denture marking is paramount. We evaluated this in an Indian sample and also gauged their preference for different markers. Materials and methods: One‐hundred and one edentulous patients seeking prosthodontic treatment in our institution were shown four denture markers (stainless steel matrix band, paper strip with name inscribed on it, patient photograph and optically readable laminated bar code) and asked whether they wanted similar markers in their dentures; patients were also asked to rank the markers based on preference and indicate their satisfaction with it. Results: Approximately two‐thirds of patients (65/101) were uninterested in getting their dentures marked; among the 36 who agreed, 10 preferred the stainless steel band followed by photographs (9), paper strip (6) and bar code (2); nine gave multiple responses and were excluded from analyses. Sixteen patients expressed dissatisfaction with the photographic marker and bar code, while this number reduced for the stainless steel band (13) and paper strip (10). Conclusions: The results are in contrast to European studies wherein the majority of patients agreed to denture marking, indicating patient background (e.g. education level) may affect perception to denture marking; amongst those who agreed to marking, most preferred, or were satisfied with, the stainless steel and paper strip markers over photographic marker and a complex method such as bar‐coding, implying that simple methods harbouring basic patient information may suffice in the Indian context.     

Radioactive-electrophoretic assay of adenosine 5'-triphosphate sulfurylase activity in crude extracts with sulfate or selenate as a substrate

An assay method for ATP sulfurylase is presented which employs Na2(35)SO4 as a substrate and measures the production of labeled adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate and 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate by low-voltage, hanging paper strip electrophoresis. The method is applicable to crude bacterial or mammalian extracts and accurately measures picomole amounts of product(s). Na2(75SeO4 can also be employed as a substrate, if the unstable radioactive product, adenosine 5'-phosphoselenate, is converted to elemental 75Se degrees by inclusion of reduced glutathione in the reaction mixture. The same paper strip electrophoretic technique can then be used to separate 75Se degrees from the radiolabeled substrate. The method also has utility for measuring any direct reduction by crude microbial extracts of radioactive selenate to selenite, independent of ATP sulfurylase.     

植被过滤带的研究和应用进展

水资源的人为污染日趋严重.植被过滤带被认为是降低水体污染、特别是非点源污染的最佳措施之一.植被过滤带是位于污染源和水体之间的带状植被区域,其可以使地表径流中的污染物被沉降、过滤、稀释、下渗和吸收.本文综述了植被过滤带的发展历史、结构、污染控制机理和在实际应用当中的设计、经营管理及效益等方面的研究进展.我国对植被过滤带的研究还处于初始阶段,试验或应用结果都很少,因此,需要扩展和加深这方面的研究,取得相关的试验数据,以使这一生态技术更有效地在我国推广和应用.     

Radial widening of the Casparian strip follows induced radial expansion of endodermal cells

The Casparian strip, the barrier to apoplastic transport that is located at the endodermis in roots and stems, is formed by individual endodermal cells and is constructed as a highly organized mesh within the primary wall. Since little is known about the mechanism of formation of the strip, we tried to obtain morphological evidence for the existence, prior to suberization and lignification, of some regulatory system at the expected site of the strip. Endodermal cells in etiolated pea stems were induced to expand in the radial direction by piercing the stems through the cortex before formation of the strip. The radial width of the strip increased significantly with the expansion of the radial walls of these endodermal cells. The expansion of the cells occurred before the formation of the strip. However, strips that had already been formed when the stems were pierced did not increase in width despite an induced expansion of the radial walls. These observations suggest that some positional information exists in the radial wall of endodermal cells that defines the future site of formation of the strip and its width.     

The Casparian strip in pea epicotyls: Effects of light on its development

The Casparian strip, which is specific to roots, was studied in the epicotyls of dark-grown seedlings of pea (Pisum sativum L.) where it was found to have the same morphology and properties as the strip in roots. In dark-grown seedlings, the distance between the upper-most position of the Casparian strip and the bending point of the hook (about 37 mm) did not change during growth of the seedlings. In the uppermost 0.5-mm region of the region in which the Casparian strip could be detected by fluorescence microscopy, the plasma membrane was not firmly attached to the cell wall. The development of the Casparian strip continued for about 42 h after dark-grown seedlings were transferred to the light, indicating that (i) the cells that have been determined to form the Casparian strip in darkness form the strip in the light, and that (ii) it takes about 42 h for the cells to complete formation of the strip. Cells in the hook of dark-grown seedlings did not form a Casparian strip when such seedlings were transferred to the light. The Casparian strip was formed in rapidly elongating internodes of light-grown seedlings when the seedlings were transferred to darkness. Light did not control the formation of the Casparian strip in roots.Abbreviation PBS phosphate-buffered saline     

Definition of lipid membrane structural parameters from neutronographic experiments with the help of the strip function model.

Neutron diffraction is an effective method for investigating model and biological membranes. Yet, to obtain accurate structural information it is necessary to use deuterium labels and much time is needed to acquire experimental data as there are a large number of diffraction reflections to register. This paper offers a way to define the hydrophobic boundary position in lipid membranes with high accuracy and for this purpose it is sufficient to take into consideration three structural factors. The method is based on modeling the density of the neutron diffraction amplitude rho(x) in the direction of the bilayer plane normal by means of a strip function, but it also takes into consideration the fact that the multiplication of the strip function amplitude rho i by the step width zi-zi-1 makes the sum of neutron scattering amplitudes of the atoms included in the step region. On the basis of the analysis of a large number of experimental data for different membranes, the effectiveness of this method in the determination of the position of hydrophilic/hydrophobic boundary is demonstrated, including the case of various rho(x) modifications in the region of polar heads and also the different phase states of membranes. However, it is shown in the present paper that the strip function model is not an adequate instrument for the determination of other structural parameters of membranes.