Genetic analysis is of great importance for the detection of pathogenic bacteria. Bacterial identification must become simpler, less expensive, and more rapid than the traditional methods. In this study, a low-cost, label-free, and wireless paper-based bipolar electrode electrochemiluminescence (pBPE-ECL) analysis system was constructed for the rapid and sensitive genetic detection of pathogenic bacteria. Wax-screen printing was used to form hydrophilic channels on filter paper, and a carbon ink-based bipolar electrode and driving electrodes were screen-printed into the channels. The "light-switch" molecule [Ru(phen)dppz] (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline; dppz = dipyridophenazine) was used to intercalate into the base pairs of the double-stranded DNA PCR amplification products, and the complexs were then applied to the paper-based bipolar electrode to perform the ECL assays; the ECL of [Ru(phen)dppz] is quenched in aqueous solution, but this molecule displays intense ECL when intercalated into double-stranded DNA. Under optimized experimental conditions, as little as 10 copies/μL of the genomic DNA of Listeria monocytogenes could be detected. Additionally, the system could also specifically distinguish Listeria monocytogenes from Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Staphylococcus aureus. This label-free, simple, and rapid method has potential in point-of-care applications for pathogen detection.

Most of the FPGA's area and delay are due to routing. Considering routability at earlier steps of the CAD flow would both yield better quality and faster design process. In this paper, we discuss the metrics that affect routability in packing logic into clusters. We are presenting a routability-driven clustering method for cluster-based FPGAs. Our method packs LUTs into logic clusters while incorporating routability metrics into a cost function. Based on our routability model, the routability in timing-driven packing algorithm is analyzed. We integrate our routability model into a timing-driven packing algorithm. Our method yields up to 50% improvement in terms of the minimum number of routing tracks compared to VPack (16.5% on average). The average routing area improvement is 27% over VPack and 12% over t-VPack.

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We study the coil-to-globule transitions of both homopolymers and multiblock copolymers using integrated tempering sampling method, which is a newly proposed enhanced sampling method that can efficiently sample the energy space with low computational costs. For homopolymers, the coil-to-globule structure transition temperatures (Ttr) are identified by the radius of gyration of the chain. The transition temperature shows a primary scaling dependence on the chain length (N) with Ttr ∼ N(-1/2). For multiblock copolymers, the coil-to-globule transition can be identified as first order, depending on the block size and the difference in attractive interactions of blocks. The influence of mutating a small portion of strongly attractive blocks to weakly attractive blocks on the coil-to-globule transition is found to be related to the position of the mutation.

Background: Since numerical calorie labels have limited effects on less-calorie food ordering, an alternative called physical activity calorie equivalent (PACE) labels, which exhibit calories using visible symbols and the minutes of exercise to burn off the calories, may be more effective in reducing calories ordered. Methods: By using a choice experiment (CE) approach, the aims of this study were to estimate the effects of PACE labels on consumer preferences for healthy and unhealth food. Red date walnuts and potato chips were used as the representatives of healthy and unhealthy foods respectively in this study. Moreover, future time perspective (FTP) is an individual trait variable of consumers, which has been recognized as a significant driver of healthy behaviors. We also included FTP into the interaction with PACE labels. Results: Firstly, the results were opposite between the healthy and unhealthy food groups. Respondents showed significantly more positive attitudes toward red date walnuts (i.e., healthy food) with PACE labels, while they showed significantly more negative preferences for chips (i.e., unhealthy food) with PACE labels. Secondly, people with higher FTP are preferred red date walnuts with PACE labels, while PACE labels on chips could undermine the preferences of respondents with higher FTP. Thirdly, we found that women (vs. men) were less inclined to choose healthy food with standard calorie labels and labels showing the minutes of running to burn off the calories, as well as that the elderly (vs. younger) people in the healthy food group preferred the labels showing the minutes of running to burn off the calories. People with a higher body mass index (BMI) were reluctant to purchase walnuts with the information about the minutes of walking. Conclusions: Results from this study showed that PACE labels have significant effects on consumers’ preferences for food products.

Sudden death syndrome (SDS) caused by Fusarium virguliforme is one of the major yield-limiting soil borne diseases of soybean (Glycine max). The SDS has been reported from 21 U.S. states and is known to occur in Africa, North America, and South America. In the U.S. the losses due to SDS was estimated at $3.06 billion for a period from 1988 to 2010. Since 1983, several management approaches have been investigated to reduce SDS and yet, continued efforts are necessary to develop long term disease management programs and to sustain disease below economic threshold levels. Integrating available control measures is an option, but adaptability and real-world assessments are equally important. Support of several funding agencies to better understand the disease in identifying suitable control measures to reduce yield losses in commercial cultivations has been indispensable in accomplishing these goals. In spite of sustained efforts, SDS continued to spread within the U.S. and reported in seven other countries since its first report in 1971.Comprehensive reviews have previously been published on this disease by Roy et al. [98], Leandro et al. [58], and Hartman et al. [32]. In this review, updated information on geographic distribution and economic significance of SDS, epidemiology, factors affecting SDS, and management options for SDS including screening techniques have been compiled. Also, discussed significant gaps in use of plant, fungi and bacteria based biocontrol agents in addressing management of SDS.Keywords: Soybean sudden death syndrome, SDS, Fusarium virguliforme, biocontrol, global reports, yield losses due to SDS, epidemiological factors, greenhouse and field screening. ______________________________________________________________________________This is a manuscript of an article from CAB Reviews 11 (2016): 039, doi: 10.1079/PAVSNNR201611039. Navi, S. S.; Yang, X. B. 2016. Sudden death syndrome -a growing threat of losses in soybeans. CAB International, Wallingford, UK. Aoki et al., and F. virguliforme,90] is an economically significant soil-borne disease, and a risk to many soybean production areas worldwide. The disease was first observed by H.J. Walters in Arkansas, United States in 1971[100], but it was only in 1983 that the disease was named as sudden death syndrome (SDS) of unknown etiology [40]. As of this review, the disease has been reported in three continents, North America (Canada and United States), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay), and Africa (South Africa), and within the United States 21 states (Fig. 1) Whether the pathogens causing SDS have been introduced in to new regions or if they have been present in the soil in production fields of these countries for some time without being detected is unknown. After the SDS was detected in Iowa [150], Scherm and Yang [114] developed a risk assessment model to determine potential geographic range of development of this disease, which was considered a southern disease by then, in North America. They predi...

We tested the hypotheses that supplemental intake of the diet supplement Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) could delay brain atrophy in double transgenic amyloid precursor protein (APP) / presenilin 1 (PS1), single transgenic APP and PS1 as well as wild type mice by volume MR image in vivo. One hundred and twelve mice (28 APP/PS1, 28 APP, 28 PS1 and 28 wild types) were studied. Half of each genotype group (n = 14 per group) was treated with CoQ10 2400 mg/kg/day, and the other half with placebo for 60 days. Magnetic resonance (MR) images were used to obtain the volumes of the hemispheres and hippocampi. APP / PS1, APP, PS1 and wild type mice treated with CoQ10 exhibited significantly less atrophy in hemisphere and hippocampus than those receiving placebo. The neuro-protective effect of the CoQ10 on hemispheric volume, and hippocampal volume was related to genotype; greater in APP/PS1 than APP and PS1 mice and less in wild type mice. Our result indicated that CoQ10 may have therapeutic potential in the prevention and treatment of MCI and AD.

At present, there is consensus among many relevant international agencies that unintended effects should be paid particular attention in the process of edible safety assessment of genetically modified plants (GMPs) and their products, especially in regard to some long-term and potential food safety issues. However, with respect to the current risk assessment of GMPs, serious dissension on the apprehension of unintended effects exists. The present paper interprets and systematically analyses this dissension in order to review development on the definition, source and manifestation of unintended effects in GMPs. First, differences in the various concepts of unintended effect are discussed and compared. Then the mechanisms whereby unintended effects may arise during GMP breeding are analysed and the main unexpected variation manifestations in GMPs are presented. With regard to the safety assessment of unintended effects in GMPs, the current evaluation strategy, detection methods and several assessment cases are expounded. In addition, the unique assessment standard for unintended effects in GMPs in China is outlined.