Droplet digital PCR as a useful tool for the quantitative detection of Enterovirus 71

Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a contagious viral disease that frequently affects infants and children and present with blisters and flu-like symptoms. This disease is caused by a group of enteroviruses such as enterovirus 71 (EV71) and coxsackievirus A16 (CA16). However, unlike other HFMD causing enteroviruses, EV71 have also been shown to be associated with more severe clinical manifestation such as aseptic meningitis, brainstem and cerebellar encephalitis which may lead to cardiopulmonary failure and death. Clinically, HFMD caused by EV71 is indistinguishable from other HFMD causing enteroviruses such as CA16. Molecular diagnosis methods such as the use of real-time PCR has been used commonly for the identification of EV71. In this study, two platforms namely the real-time PCR and the droplet digital PCR were compared for the detection quantitation of known EV71 viral copy number. The results reveal accurate and consistent results between the two platforms. In summary, the droplet digital PCR was demonstrated to be a promising technology for the identification and quantitation of EV71 viral copy number.

Non-cellulosic cell wall polysaccharides are subject to genotype × environment effects in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) grain

Sorghum is a staple food for half a billion people and, through growth on marginal land with minimal inputs, is an important source of feed, forage and increasingly, biofuel feedstock. Here we present information about non-cellulosic cell wall polysaccharides in a diverse set of cultivated and wild Sorghum bicolor grains. Sorghum grain contains predominantly starch (64–76) but is relatively deficient in other polysaccharides present in wheat, oats and barley. Despite overall low quantities, sorghum germplasm exhibited a remarkable range in polysaccharide amount and structure. Total (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan ranged from 0.06 to 0.43 (w/w) whilst internal cellotriose:cellotetraose ratios ranged from 1.8 to 2.9:1. Arabinoxylan amounts fell between 1.5 and 3.6 (w/w) and the arabinose:xylose ratio, denoting arabinoxylan structure, ranged from 0.95 to 1.35. The distribution of these and other cell wall polysaccharides varied across grain tissues as assessed by electron microscopy. When ten genotypes were tested across five environmental sites, genotype (G) was the dominant source of variation for both (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan and arabinoxylan content (69–74), with environment (E) responsible for 5–14. There was a small G × E effect for both polysaccharides. This study defines the amount and spatial distribution of polysaccharides and reveals a significant genetic influence on cell wall composition in sorghum grain.

Linear electro-optic effect and temperature coefficient of birefringence in 4-nitro-4script-methylbenzylidene aniline single crystals

A study of the linear electro?optic effect in single crystals of the organic compound, 4?nitro�4??methylbenzylidene aniline is reported. The reduced half?wave voltages have been found to have values 2.8, 1.3, and 1.1 kV at 632.8, 514.5, and 488.0 nm, respectively and the corresponding values of the largest linear electro?optic coefficient have been calculated. The thermal variation of the birefringence has also been investigated and the temperature variation of the refractive index difference is found to have the value, d?n/dT = 15.8 × 10?5 K?1.

Letras, Nº 71, 2015

Contenido: El azaroso viaje de la hispanidad en nuestra Argentina de hoy / Javier Roberto González -- Viajes en palabras : entre historias de vidas y de culturas / Sofía Carrizo Rueda -- "Fuesse paral Papa et contól la sua fazienda" : la escritura ejemplar del viaje en el Conde Lucanor / Juan Paredes -- La poética del libro de viaje entre la Edad Media y el siglo XXI / Julio Peñate Rivero -- Relatos de viaje y paradigmas culturales / Luis Alburquerque García -- Espacio y desplazamiento en el viaje de Santa Oria / Javier Roberto González -- El inédito Ms. BNM 17.806 y los itinerarios de la Sagrada Escritura : edición y estudio de un texto ignorado / María Mercedes Rodríguez Temperley -- Dilemas del paraíso : viaje, utopía y mundanidad en la literatura árabe / Daniel Del Percio -- El viaje dantesco y su funcionalidad metapoética en El sueño y el Infierno de los enamorados del Marqués de Santillana / Cinthia Hamlin -- La aventura no cumplida : el camino del caballero andante hacia el ocaso / Mónica Nasif -- Benjamín de Tudela y los motivos del viaje : la educación del judío y el encuentro con la propia identidad a través del otro / María Gabriela Pauer -- El motivo del viaje en la literatura de sentencias / Alicia Esther Ramadori -- La travesía del caballero andante : mapas e itinerarios en el Amadis de Gaula / María del Rosario Valenzuela Munguía -- El viaje del héroe en el Libro del caballero Zifar, el caso de Zifar y Roboán / Simón Andrés Villegas -- La dinámica del viaje en el contexto del Ms. Esc. K-III-4 : Libro de Apolonio, Vida de Santa María Egipciaca, Libro de los tres reyes de Oriente -- Reseñas

Sapientia, 1964, Vol. XIX, nº 71 (número completo)

Contenido: Concepto y ser / Octavio N. Derisi – La memoria metafísica según el libro X de las “Confesiones” / Mariano N. Castex – Las cosas bellas / Omar Argerami – El fundamento divino de la esencia y existencia del hombre / Octavio N. Derisi – Notas y comentarios -- Bibliografía

Cruise Report 71-S-1: Bottomfish

(PDF contains 4 pages.)

Cruise Report 71-S-2: Prawns

(PDF contains 4 pages.)

Cruise Report 71-S-3

(PDF contains 7 pages.)

Cruise Report 71-S-5: Bottomfish

(PDF contains 8 pages.)

Cruise Report 71-S-6: Sportfish Investigations

(PDF contains 1 pages.)

Cruise Report 71-S-7: Crab

(PDF contains 6 pages.)

Cruise Report 71-S-8: Crab

(PDF contains 3 pages.)