Discriminating Tsuga canadensis Hemlock Forest Defoliation Using Remotely Sensed Change Detection

The eastern hemlock (Tsuga Canadensis) is declining in health and vigor in eastern North America due to infestation by an introduced insect, the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges isugue). Adelgid feeding activity results in the defoliation of hemlock forest canopy over several years. We investigated the application of Landsat satellite imagery and change-detection techniques to monitor the health of hemlock forest stands in northern New Jersey. We described methods used to correct effects due to atmospheric conditions and monitor the health status of hemlock stands over time. As hemlocks defoliate, changes occur in the spectral reflectance of the canopy in near infrared and red wavelengths—changes captured in the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. By relating the differences in this index over time to hemlock defoliation on the ground, four classes of hemlock forest health were predicted across spatially heterogeneous landscapes with 82% accuracy. Using a time series of images, we are investigating temporal and spatial patterns in hemlock defoliation across the study area over the past decade. Based on the success of this methodology, we are no expanding out study to monitor hemlock health across the entire Mid-Atlantic region.     

Use of Remote Sensing to Detect Soybean Cyst Nematode-Induced Plant Stress

Integrating remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) technologies offers tremendous opportunities for farmers to more cost effectively manage the causes of crop stress. Initial soybean cyst nematode (SCN) population densities from 995 2-×-3-m quadrats were obtained from a soybean field near Ames, Iowa, in 2000. The percentage of sunlight reflected from each quadrat was measured weekly using a multispectral radiometer beginning in mid-May and continuing through mid-September. Aerial images were obtained at heights above the field ranging from 45 to 425 m on 12 dates during the soybean growing season. This was accomplished using color film and infrared film in conjunction with a filter to measure reflectance in the near-infrared region (810 nm). Satellite images (Landsat 7) were obtained for five dates during the 2000 growing season. Maps depicting initial SCN population densities, soybean yield, soy oil, and soy protein were generated using the GIS software program ArcView. Percentage reflectance (810 nm), aerial image intensity, and satellite image intensity data then were regressed against soybean yield, soy oil, and soy protein concentrations obtained from each geospatially referenced soybean quadrat. Percentage reflectance measurements explained up to 60% of the variation in initial SCN population densities within soybean quadrats and up to 91% of the variation in soybean yield. Aerial image and satellite image intensities explained up to 80% and 47% of the variation in soybean yield, respectively. Percentage reflectance data also explained 36% and 54% of the variation in oil and protein concentrations of the harvested soybeans, respectively. These results indicate that remote sensing coupled with GIS technologies may provide new tools to detect and quantify SCN population densities and their impacts on the quantity and quality of soybean yield.     

Photo-catalytic preparation of silver-coated TiO2 particles for antibacterial applications

Colloidal silver has been known to have unique antimicrobial activity that may be useful in the construction of antibacterial materials (self-cleaning materials) to aid in the fight against bacteria-related infections. In this study, silver-coated TiO₂ (Ag/TiO₂) particles prepared through the photo-reduction of Ag⁺ were investigated as an antibacterial agent against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The deposition of Ag onto the surface was confirmed with SEM and EDS analysis of the post-reaction particles. It was also determined that the initial concentration of Ag⁺ in solution played a significant role in the effective size of the post-irradiation particles. The antibacterial effectiveness of the Ag/TiO₂ was evaluated through the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AgTiO₂ for each species of bacteria. The MIC values for the Ag/TiO₂, on both E. coli and S. aureus, were much lower than the MIC values for Ag metal, and quite comparable to the MIC values for AgNO₃. A disc diffusion/antibiotic sensitivity test was also performed using the Ag/TiO₂ particles and the results compared with the results obtained for Ag metal, AgNO₃ and common antibacterial agents; tetracycline, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and neomycin. The zone of inhibition diameters for the Ag/TiO₂ particles were found to be comparable with those of the other antimicrobial agents.     

Behavioural assessments of neurotoxic effects and neurodegeneration in zebrafish

Altered neurological function will generally be behaviourally apparent. Many of the behavioural models pioneered in mammalian models are portable to zebrafish. Tests are available to capture alterations in basic motor function, changes associated with exteroceptive and interoceptive sensory cues, and alterations in learning and memory performance. Excepting some endpoints involving learning, behavioural tests can be carried out at 4 days post fertilization. Given larvae can be reared quickly and in large numbers, and that software solutions are readily available from multiple vendors to automatically test behavioural responses in 96 larvae simultaneously, zebrafish are a potent and rapid model for screening neurological impairments. Coupling current and emerging behavioural endpoints with molecular techniques will permit and accelerate the determination of the mechanisms behind neurotoxicity and degeneration, as well as provide numerous means to test remedial drugs and other therapies. The emphasis of this review is to highlight unexplored/underutilized behavioural assays for future studies. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Zebrafish Models of Neurological Diseases.     

滚环扩增技术及其在生物分子诊断中的应用

滚环扩增技术(RCA)是近年来发展起来的一种新型的核酸扩增技术.该技术是基于连接酶连接、引物延伸、与链置换扩增反应的一种等温核酸扩增方法.在恒温的条件下,可以产生大量的与环型探针互补的重复序列.与传统的核酸扩增方法相比,它具有扩增条件简单,特异性高,能在恒温条件下进行等特点.滚环扩增技术结合荧光、电化学、电化学发光等检...     

Proteases in malaria parasites - a phylogenomic perspective

Malaria continues to be one of the most devastating global health problems due to the high morbidity and mortality it causes in endemic regions. The search for new antimalarial targets is of high priority because of the increasing prevalence of drug resistance in malaria parasites. Malarial proteases constitute a class of promising therapeutic targets as they play important roles in the parasite life cycle and it is possible to design and screen for specific protease inhibitors. In this mini-review, we provide a phylogenomic overview of malarial proteases. An evolutionary perspective on the origin and divergence of these proteases will provide insights into the adaptive mechanisms of parasite growth, development, infection, and pathogenesis.B.     

Optimized enrichment for the detection of Escherichia coli O26 in French raw milk cheeses

Aims: Our main objective was to optimize the enrichment of Escherichia coli O26 in raw milk cheeses for their subsequent detection with a new automated immunological method. Methods and Results: Ten enrichment broths were tested for the detection of E. coli O26. Two categories of experimentally inoculated raw milk cheeses, semi‐hard uncooked cheese and ‘Camembert’ type cheese, were initially used to investigate the relative efficacy of the different enrichments. The enrichments that were considered optimal for the growth of E. coli O26 in these cheeses were then challenged with other types of raw milk cheeses. Buffered peptone water supplemented with cefixim–tellurite and acriflavin was shown to optimize the growth of E. coli O26 artificially inoculated in the cheeses tested. Despite the low inoculum level (1–10 CFU per 25 g) in the cheeses, E. coli O26 counts reached at least 5·10⁴ CFU ml^?1 after 24‐h incubation at 41·5°C in this medium. Conclusions: All the experimentally inoculated cheeses were found positive by the immunological method in the enrichment broth selected. Significance and Impact of the Study: Optimized E. coli O26 enrichment and rapid detection constitute the first steps of a complete procedure that could be used in routine to detect E. coli O26 in raw milk cheeses.     

马铃薯病毒一步法多重RT-PCR检测技术的构建

根据马铃薯病毒PVX、PVY、PVA、PLRV的CP基因序列设计4对特异性引物,通过对试剂浓度和反应条件进行优化,建立了能够同步检测PVX、PVY、PVA、PLRV的一步法多重RT-PCR检测方法。该方法对PVX、PVY、PVA、PLRV扩增出的靶带大小分别为732、422、132和336 bp,凝胶电泳易辨别区分。病毒RNA最低检测限度为7.8 pg/μL,对PVM、PVS、AMV、TMV及PSTVd的扩增为阴性。研究结果表明,该方法特异、灵敏,比两步法多重RT-PCR检测更加快速、简便,提高了检测效率,降低检测成本,为马铃薯病毒的高效检测提供了有效手段。     

A new tool for the molecular identification of Culicoides species of the Obsoletus group: the glass slide microarray approach

Culicoides species of the Obsoletus group (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) are potential vectors of bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV 8), which was introduced into central Western Europe in 2006. Correct morphological species identification of Obsoletus group females is especially difficult and molecular identification is the method of choice. In this study we present a new molecular tool based on probe hybridization using a DNA microarray format to identify Culicoides species of the Obsoletus group. The internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) gene sequences of 55 Culicoides belonging to 13 different species were determined and used, together with 19 Culicoides ITS1 sequences sourced from GenBank, to design species-specific probes for the microarray test. This test was evaluated using the amplified ITS1 sequences of another 85 Culicoides specimens, belonging to 11 species. The microarray test successfully identified all samples (100%) of the Obsoletus group, identifying each specimen to species level within the group. This test has several advantages over existing polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular tools, including possible capability for parallel analysis of many species, high sensitivity and specificity, and low background signal noise. Hand-spotting of the microarray slide and the use of detection chemistry make this alternative technique affordable and feasible for any diagnostic laboratory with PCR facilities.