Crop-specific GMO matrix-multiplex PCR: A cost-efficient screening strategy for genetically modified maize and cotton events approved globally

Crop-specific GMO matrices of 199 genetically modified (GM) events, comprising 143 GM maize events with 75 genetic elements and 56 cotton events with 45 genetic elements, were developed to screen globally approved GM maize and cotton events. As per the compiled information in the matrix, frequently present genetic elements were identified using GMOSeek algorithm: eight genetic elements ([P-35S] [r-act] [T-35S] [T-nos] [pinII] [pat] [aad-1] [cp4 epsps]) in maize and four ([P-35S] [T-nos] [pat] [nptII]) in cotton. Based on the cost-efficiency, feasibility of plexing and coverage of GM events, maize-specific tetraplex PCR, targeting Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter (P-35S), Agrobacterium tumefaciens nos terminator (T-nos), Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S terminator (T-35S) and endogenous alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh1) gene, with limit of detection (LOD) up to 0.5% was developed. For screening of GM cotton events, pentaplex PCR, targeting P-35S, T-nos, neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII), phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (pat) and endogenous stearoyl-ACP desaturase (Sad1) gene, with LOD up to 0.25% was developed. Practical applicability of multiplex PCR assays was confirmed with six maize samples of proficiency testing and eight spiked cotton samples. The reported tetraplex and pentaplex PCR assays could efficiently screen 94% of maize and 93% of cotton events approved globally. The developed GMO matrices in combination with multiplex PCR could facilitate checking the GM status of seed samples or food and feed products, and monitoring for presence of authorized GMOs in food and supply chain. This approach can be easily employed by low resource GM testing laboratories in the developing countries, as the multiplex PCR assays are easy to operate with less time and cost inputs. The GMO matrices being presented herein are based on the current information of approved GM events of maize and cotton, which can be further upgraded by including new approved GM events. As most of the newly approved GM events are stacked versions of already commercialized GM events, the developed multiplex PCR assays could also be employed to screen for their presence.     

国内筛分设备的现状和展望

介绍了我国筛分设备的发展概况、筛分机械行业现状及存在的问题,并提出了发展方向。     

不同保鲜方式下鲜食玉米品质变化规律的研究

目的 探索不同贮藏方式下鲜食玉米各品质指标的变化规律。方法 针对不同类型鲜食玉米（甜玉米、糯玉米和甜糯玉米）,选取常温（25℃）、保鲜温度（4℃）2种温度下真空包装（蒸煮、非蒸熟）、普通保鲜袋、特制袋子、仪器等不同处理,通过试剂盒测定不同处理下氨基酸、淀粉、糖类的变化趋势和规律。结果 甜玉米蒸煮后氨基酸含量更高,而糯玉米和甜糯玉米蒸煮后氨基酸含量降低;甜玉米蒸煮后可溶性糖和葡萄糖含量变高,糯玉米蒸煮后蔗糖含量变高,甜糯玉米蒸煮后果糖、葡萄糖和蔗糖含量变高;短期保鲜时,可以采用4℃真空和4℃特制袋子+保鲜剂+吸水纸两种处理,中长期保鲜时,可采用4℃蒸煮后进行真空保存,该方法优于非蒸煮。结论 甜玉米、糯玉米和甜糯玉米在不同保鲜时间、不同处理间各指标的变化趋势不同,4℃真空+保鲜剂+吸水纸和4℃特制袋子+保鲜剂这2种处理相比而言则起不到最优的作用,说明短期保存中,4℃真空已不需要额外添加保鲜剂,而4℃特制袋子+保鲜剂处理中一定要添加吸水纸,否则保鲜效果将变差。     

田湾核电厂址事故后果评价中天气取样方案的比较研究

本文基于田湾核电厂址1998年9月1日至1999年8月31日一整年的逐时气象数据、SF6实测扩散参数和评价区(40km×40km)各网格(2km×2km)人口分布等实测资料,对依据秦山、田湾核电厂址和惠安拟选核电厂址多年逐时气象数据统计分析后提出的五个天气取样候选方案,估算了某假想事故在评价区内造成的集体剂量,得到事故集体剂量余补累积概率分布函数(即CCFD曲线)。同时应用整年“逐时滑移”事故释放起始时刻方法计算了事故集体剂量的CCFD曲线,即“标准”CCFD曲线,并将五类天气取样候选方案获得的95%累积概率水平事故集体剂量值与由“标准”CCFD曲线得到的相应值作比较。结果表明,天气取样候选方案四最佳,此方案给出的95%累积概率水平事故集体剂量与由“标准”CCFD曲线得到的相应值的相对偏差仅为3%。     

红曲霉菌种的筛选

本实验通过平板分离和紫外诱变两种方法对红曲霉菌种进行了筛选,选出的红曲霉菌种产色能力强、稳定性好,其产色率比出发菌株提高了32%。     

Glycerolipids as selective thrombin inhibitors from the fungus Stereum hirsutum

A dry extract of Stereum hirsutum exhibited a significant inhibitory activity on thrombin (34%). A bioassay oriented fractionation of the extract of Stereum hirsutum has led to the isolation of two active fractions. On the basis of spectroscopic data, chemical reactions, and GC-MS analysis, complex mixtures of diacylglycerophospholipids (DAGPs) and diacylglycerols (DGs) have been isolated and identified. Docking studies suggest that some isolated compounds could bind to the thrombin active site in a similar manner as previously reported phosphonate thrombin inhibitors.     

Isolation of exopolysaccharide‐producing bacteria and yeasts from Tibetan kefir and characterisation of the exopolysaccharides

Fifteen organisms were isolated from Tibetan kefir. Six of them were exopolysaccharide (EPS)‐producing strains cultured in skim milk medium, which included two yeasts (Kazachstania unispora), one acetic acid bacterium (Acetobacter okinawensis) and three lactic acid bacteria (Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides). The protein oxidative damage protection assay revealed that preincubation of exopolysaccharides (EPSs) could restore the levels of protein oxidation in a dose‐dependent manner. The SEM images indicated that there were great differences in the microstructures and surface morphologies among the EPSs. The GC analysis of the EPSs showed that all of the EPSs were composed of more than one kind of monosaccharide.     

It is premature to test older drivers with the SIMARD-MD

Background

A new tool, the SIMARD-MD, has been proposed to help physicians identify cognitively impaired drivers who may be unfit to drive, but little empirical evidence is available to justify its use. We analyzed data from a cohort of older Canadian drivers who had undergone cognitive testing to: (1) correlate the SIMARD-MD with other tools that measure cognition (e.g., trail-making test), (2) identify how many drivers, using published cut-offs on the SIMARD-MD, would be recommended to lose their license, or be considered fit to drive, or be required to undergo further driving assessment, and (3) determine if the SIMARD-MD is biased by level of education as many cognitive tools are.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from 841 drivers aged 70 and over from seven Canadian sites who are enrolled in a 5-year cohort study were used for the analyses. Scores on the SIMARD-MD were correlated with scores on the other cognitive measures. The recommendations that would be made based on the SIMARD-MD scores were based on published cut-off values suggested by the authors of the tool. The impact of education status was examined using linear regression controlling for age.

Results

Correlations between the SIMARD-MD and other cognitive measures ranged from .15 to .86. Using published cut-off scores, 21 participants (2.5%) would have been recommended to relinquish their licenses, 428 (50.9%) would have been deemed fit to drive, and 392 (46.6%) would have been required to undergo further testing. We found a difference of 8.19 points (95% CI = 4.99, 11.40, p < .001) in favor of drivers with post-secondary education versus those without, representing over 11% of the mean score.

Discussion

The SIMARD-MD is unlikely to be valuable to clinicians because it lacks sufficient precision to provide clear recommendations about fitness-to-drive. Recommendations based solely on the SIMARD-MD may place many seniors at risk of losing their transportation mobility or incurring unnecessary stress and costs to prove they are safe to drive. Furthermore, the education bias may create an unwanted structural inequity. Hence, adoption of the SIMARD-MD as a tool to determine fitness-to-drive appears premature.     

Quick Analysis Methods for Random Balance,Screening Experiments

A short expository account of random balance ia given, in which some different types of sampling are distinguished. As a quick significance test of effectiveness of single factors, a simple analysis of variance method is recommended. For the sake of sensitivity, it is suggested that the number of levels of quantitative factors should preferably be less than five. The degree of unbalance of a random balance design is studied, largely through an example, and a desirable upper bound is suggested for the number of levels of any factor, namely one eighth of the total number of observations.     

Glycerolipids as Selective Thrombin Inhibitors from the Fungus Stereum Hirsutum

ABSTRACT

A dry extract of Stereum hirsutum exhibited a significant inhibitory activity on thrombin (34%). A bioassay oriented fractionation of the extract of Stereum hirsutum has led to the isolation of two active fractions. On the basis of spectroscopic data, chemical reactions, and GC-MS analysis, complex mixtures of diacylglycerophospholipids (DAGPs) and diacylglycerols (DGs) have been isolated and identified. Docking studies suggest that some isolated compounds could bind to the thrombin active site in a similar manner as previously reported phosphonate thrombin inhibitors.