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At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Characterization of Anopheles darlingi (Diptera: Culicidae) larval habitats in Belize, Central America.

Surveys for larvae of Anopheles darlingi Root were conducted in April, May, and August 1994 in riverine habitats of central Belize (Cayo and Belize districts). An. darlingi was present during both the dry and wet seasons. Larvae were encountered most frequently in patches of floating debris along river margins. The floating mats were often formed by bamboo hanging over the banks and dense submersed bamboo roots. Larvae were found less frequently in lake margins, small lagoons, and ground pools with submersed roots and patches of floating leaves or vegetation. In addition to their association with floating debris, larvae of An. darlingi were associated positively with shade and submersed plants in riverine environments. Samples from river habitats showed the larvae of Anopheles albimanus Wiedemann to be strongly associated with sun-exposed sites containing green or blue-green algae. Unlike An. darlingi, An. albimanus was an ubiquitous mosquito, the immatures of which occurred in a wide variety of riverine and nonriverine aquatic habitats. Based on published reports and our experience, the association of An. darlingi with river systems was verified, and its distribution in Central America and Mexico was mapped.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

The outcome of ankylosing spondylitis: a study of 100 patients.

The outcome was studied in 100 patients with adult-onset primary ankylosing spondylitis (AS). After a mean disease duration of 16 yr, 51.5% of the patients were employed in full-time work. Cessation of work occurred at a mean disease duration of 15.6 yr, and was significantly associated with female sex, low levels of education, acute anterior uveitis, 'bamboo spine' and the co-existence of non-rheumatic diseases. Functional outcome was studied by analysing activities of daily living, and revealed similar findings in males and females. Most of the loss of function occurred during the first 10 yr of disease, and correlated significantly with the occurrence of peripheral arthritis, spinal X-ray changes of AS and development of 'bamboo spine'. After > 20 yr of disease, > 80% of the patients still complained of daily pain and stiffness, and > 60% reported daily use of drugs.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2003

Stationary core-annular flow through a horizontal pipe.

A theoretical investigation has been made of core-annular flow: the flow of a high-viscosity liquid core surrounded by a low-viscosity annular liquid layer through a horizontal pipe. Special attention is paid to the question how the buoyancy force on the core, caused by a possible density difference between the core and the annular layer, is counterbalanced. From earlier studies it is known that at the core surface ripples are present that have the shape of "bamboo" waves or "snake" waves. They generate pressure variations and secondary flows in the annular layer that can cause a net hydrodynamic force on the core. Using hydrodynamic-lubrication theory (assuming the core to be rigid) it has been shown that for snake waves the lubrication force can counterbalance the buoyancy force. For bamboo waves that is not the case.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

Spin waves in nickel nanorings of large aspect ratio.

The spin dynamics of high-aspect-ratio nickel nanorings in a longitudinal magnetic field have been investigated by Brillouin spectroscopy and the results are compared with a macroscopic theory and three-dimensional micromagnetic simulations. Good agreement is found between the measured and calculated magnetic field dependence of the spin wave frequency. Simulations show that as the field decreases from saturation, the rings switch from a "bamboo" to a novel "twisted bamboo" state at a certain critical field, and predict a corresponding dip in the dependence of the spin wave frequency on the magnetic field.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

Simplified rapid non-radioactive PCR-SSCP method applied to K-ras mutation analysis.

A newly modified non-RI, PCR-SSCP method is presented and applied to K-ras analysis of colorectal tumors. It comprises five steps: (1) sampling of tiny pieces of fresh solid tissue by scraping with disposable bamboo combs (thin bars made of bamboo, 3 x 3 x 120 mm in size); (2) one-step DNA extraction with lysis buffer containing proteinase K, Nonidet P-40 and Tween 20; (3) PCR with 108 bp, c-ki-ras 2 gene primers; (4) SSCP analysis with 10% formamide-added polyacrylamide gels; and (5) detection with silver staining. In comparison with conventional RI- or non-RI-PCR-SSCP, It can give reliable and clear results in a much shorter time (within a total of 6 h). This novel approach should allow more frequent use of molecular diagnosis in biopsies and surgical pathology.

DNA Mutational Analysis↗

PubMed2004

Role of Cannomys badius as a natural animal host of Penicillium marneffei in India.

Infection by Penicillium marneffei in human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in India has recently been described; the aim of our study was to survey wild rodents and their associated environment in order to identify the natural populations of this fungus. Surveys recovered P. marneffei from the internal organs of 10 (9.1%) of 110 bamboo rats (Cannomys badius) examined from Manipur state, India, an area endemic for penicilliosis marneffei. Identification of the isolates was based on a detailed study of their morphological characteristics, in vitro conversion to fission yeast form, and exoantigen tests. Multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) of the isolates revealed five genotypes. No genotypes were shared between sample sites, and all bamboo rats were infected with a single genotype within sample sites, demonstrating spatial genetic heterogeneity. One MLMT genotype was identical to that seen in a human isolate, suggesting that either coinfection from a common source or host-to-host transmission had occurred. This demonstrates the utility of an MLMT-based approach to elucidating the epidemiology of P. marneffei.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Function of the heterocercal tail in sharks: quantitative wake dynamics during steady horizontal swimming and vertical maneuvering.

The function of the heterocercal tail in sharks has long been debated in the literature. Previous kinematic data have supported the classical theory which proposes that the beating of the heterocercal caudal fin during steady horizontal locomotion pushes posteroventrally on the water, generating a reactive force directed anterodorsally and causing rotation around the center of mass. An alternative model suggests that the heterocercal shark tail functions to direct reaction forces through the center of mass. In this paper, we quantify the function of the tail in two species of shark and compare shark tail function with previous hydrodynamic data on the heterocercal tail of sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus. To address the two models of shark heterocercal tail function, we applied the technique of digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) to quantify the wake of two species of shark swimming in a flow tank. Both steady horizontal locomotion and vertical maneuvering were analyzed. We used DPIV with both horizontal and vertical light sheet orientations to quantify patterns of wake velocity and vorticity behind the heterocercal tail of leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) and bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium punctatum) swimming at 1.0Ls(-1), where L is total body length. Two synchronized high-speed video cameras allowed simultaneous measurement of shark body position and wake structure. We measured the orientation of tail vortices shed into the wake and the orientation of the central jet through the core of these vortices relative to body orientation. Analysis of flow geometry indicates that the tail of both leopard and bamboo shark generates strongly tilted vortex rings with a mean jet angle of approximately 30 degrees below horizontal during steady horizontal swimming. The corresponding angle of the reaction force is much greater than body angle (mean 11 degrees ) and the angle of the path of motion of the center of mass (mean approximately 0 degrees ), thus strongly supporting the classical model of heterocercal tail function for steady horizontal locomotion. Vortex jet angle varies significantly with body angle changes during vertical maneuvering, but sharks show no evidence of active reorientation of jet angle relative to body angle, as was seen in a previous study on the function of sturgeon tail. Vortex jet orientation is significantly more inclined than the relatively horizontal jet generated by sturgeon tail vortex rings, demonstrating substantial differences in function in the heterocercal tails of sharks and sturgeon. We present a summary of forces on a swimming shark integrating data obtained here on the tail with previous data on pectoral fin and body function. Body orientation plays a critical role in the overall force balance and compensates for torques generated by the tail. The pectoral fins do not generate lift during steady horizontal locomotion, but play an important hydrodynamic role during vertical maneuvering.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Molecular authentication of the animal crude drug Sailonggu (bone of Myospalax baileyi).

Two pairs of allele-specific diagnostic primers (SL1L/SL1H and SL2L/SL2H) for distinguishing the Chinese crude drug Sailonggu (bone of plateau zokor, Myospalax baileyi) from its substitutes were designed based on complete sequences of mitochondrial 12S rRNA and cytochrome b genes of the original animals of Myospalacinae, bamboo rat Rhizomys sinensis and black lipped pika Ochotona curzoniae. Total DNA was extracted from crude drug samples and original animals. Allele-specific diagnostic PCRs were performed using these primers with the total DNA as a template annealing at 65 degrees C. Positive amplifications were obtained from all DNA templates of Sailonggu and M. baileyi, whereas negative amplifications resulted from those of other zokors, the bamboo rat and black lipped pika. These results indicate that Sailonggu samples can be definitely distinguished from their substitutes by diagnostic PCR, and no incorrect discrimination was found under the same reaction conditions. Each of the two diagnostic primer pairs can be used to distinguish crude drug Sailonggu from its substitutes or adulterants. The three Sailonggu samples studied were diagnosed as genuine Sailonggu. In addition, the results of sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis are congruent with that of the allele-specific diagnostic PCR.

Alleles↗

PubMed2006

Decreased hardness of dietary fiber-rich foods by the enzyme-infusion method.

A novel technique is reported for softening plant tissues while retaining their shape by impregnating them with macerating enzymes under reduced pressure after defrosting the frozen plants. Samples were removed immediately from the enzyme solution after the freeze-infusion treatment, and the hardness was measured. Six enzymes and three enzymes were respectively chosen from 18 commercial enzymes for softening burdock roots and bamboo shoots. The tissue degradation due to impregnation of the tissues with the enzymes and the reaction time were investigated. Burdock roots and bamboo shoots were progressively softened during the reaction: the hardness reached 1.0 x 10(4) N/m(2) or less. The water-soluble dietary fiber contents increased as a result of the freeze-infusion treatment. This softening technique, which retained the food shape, could enhance the production of food products for elderly persons and those under nursing care. Foods produced by this method can replace current minced and liquid dietary components.

Arctium↗

PubMed2006

Mode of grasp, materials, and grooved chopstick tip on gripping performance and evaluation.

This study evaluated the effects of the mode of grasping, chopstick materials, and the groove of the chopstick-tip on gripping performance of 32 participants, among whom 16 were accustomed to using chopsticks with a pliers-grasping mode and the other 16 with a scissors-grasping mode. Based on a random sequence, 8 kinds of chopsticks with different combinations (materials: bamboo, wood, plastic, and stainless steel, with and without grooves in the chopstick-tip) were used to carry out the action of gripping two different objects (peanuts and longan). The time to finish gripping 50 pieces of peanut and longan, the number which fell on the table when gripping, the subjective effort and the subjective preference were measures of efficiency of pinching for 8 kinds of chopsticks. Analysis showed that chopstick materials significantly affect time of gripping. The large object (such as longan) could be gripped more easily with the pliers-grasping mode or gripped with the grooved chopstick-tip. However, for small objects (such as peanuts), there was no significant difference in performance whether the chopstick-tip was grooved or not. A combination of bamboo chopsticks with grooved tips used with a pliers-grasping seem preferrable for more favorable gripping performance.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Augmenting in vitro shoot multiplication by vipul (triacontanol) and adventitious rhizogenesis by rice bran extract in Dendrocalamus strictus.

Like other bamboo species, Dendrocalamus strictus flowers gregariously after a prolonged intermast period of 48 years and constitutes an ideal material for in vitro clonal propagation. In this study, MS liquid medium containing 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mL/L vipul (Godrej Agrovet, Ltd., Sachin, India), a commercial formulation of triacontanol, with or without BA (3.0 mg/L) was tested for in vitro shoot multiplication and 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 mL/L of 20% (w/v) alcoholic/aqueous rice bran extract (alone or in combination) with NAA (3 mg/L) used for in vitro adventitious rhizogenesis in single node culture derived shoots of Dendrocalamus strictus.. After a multiplication cycle for 4-5 week, vipul (0.5 mL/L) with BA (3.0 mg/L) in the culture medium induced 4.59 fold shoot multiplication rate whereas application of BA and vipul alone had corresponding values of 3.29 and 0.53 fold respectively. Maximum vipul concentration (2 mL/L) with BA (3 mg/L) exhibited shoot multiplication higher than (or equal to) that of BA alone. Maximum in vitro rooting percentage (55.66%) was obtained on half MS medium enriched with alcoholic rice bran extract (2.5 mL/L) and NAA (3 mg/L). This is the first investigation reporting amelioration of in vitro shoot multiplication rate by triacontanol and rooting percentage by rice bran extract in explants from mature bamboo culms. The protocol is economical and rapid for in vitro clonal propagation of Dendrocalamus strictus.

Fatty Alcohols↗

PubMed2003

[Cloning and sequencing of ACC oxidase gene from sugarcane].

The plant hormone ethylene is not only responsible for the initiation of fruit ripening, senescence and dormancy but also for regulating many other plant developmental processes, such as seed germination, root initiation, growth, floral differentiation, sex differentiation and responding to environment stresses. One of the rate-limiting steps for ethylene biosynthesizing in plant is catalyzed by 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) oxidase. Understanding of ethylene expressive pattern in plant is an entrance to understand the roles of ethylene on plant. In this paper, two degenerate oligonucleotide primers were designed, coding for two conservative amino acid regions in ACC oxidase protein family, the sequences of the two primers were TAGAGCTCGATGC[TA]TG [CT]GA[GA]AA[AC]TGGGG and CGTCTAGAGCTTC[GA]AATCTTGGCTCCTT respectively. A PCR amplification was performed on sugarcane (Saccharum L. Hybrid cv. ROC16) DNA template, and produced a fragment of 940 bp. By using the program of BLAST on NCBI GenBank database, the sequence presented a very high match with the ACC oxidase genes from other plants, 63 searched out sequences were all ACC oxidase genes. After alignment on PCgene program, the identities of the cloned fragment with ACC oxidase genes from rice and bamboo were both reaching about 88%. So we can concluded that the cloned sequence was a member of ACC oxidase genes fragment from sugarcane. The sequence has been submitted to the GenBank database, the accession number is AF442821. According to the ACC oxidase protein family, a 'intron' of 103 bp was excluded and the sequence coded 279 amino acids, which spanned 88% of the putative whole sequence in length. Alignment and phylogenetic analysis of the amino acid sequence deduced from this fragment and the ACC oxidase sequences of other plants retrieved from GenBank were carried out by using PCgene program. The putative amino acid sequence shared a homology of 86% with the ACC oxidases of bamboo and rice, 74.6% with banana, 70% with tomato and potato and 68% with melon and carnation, which showed that the homology of sugarcane ACC oxidase with monocot was higher than with dicot. The results of phylogenetic analysis showed that ACC oxidase from sugarcane and ACC oxidases from rice clustered together firstly, and then came those from banana, ACC oxidases of dicot from potato, tomato, petunia, melon, Arabidopsis thaliana and carnation came subsequently. It indicated that sugarcane ACC oxidase had a closer phylogenetic affinities to the monocot ACC oxidase sequences than to the dicot ACC oxidases sequences. The clustering results of ACC oxidase molecules accorded with morphological classification system.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

PubMed2003

Has Aedes albopictus established in California?

Significant numbers of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, were detected on the west coast of the USA in mid-June 2001, in containerized oceanic shipments of "lucky bamboo" (Dracaena spp.) originating from South China. Wholesale nurseries in California importing large quantities of lucky bamboo became the focal points of infestation. Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District immediately implemented an adulticiding protocol at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbors, followed by larviciding soon after the shipment was delivered to the wholesale nursery. Intensive surveys are currently being conducted above ground and in the underground storm drain systems using battery-operated CDC/CO2-baited light traps and ovitraps, both enhanced with an attractant (water rinse of tiger shrimps), to determine extent of infestation and perhaps establishment of Ae. albopictus locally.

Aedes↗

PubMed2004

Goitrogenic content of Indian cyanogenic plant foods & their in vitro anti-thyroidal activity.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Consumption of cyanogenic foods has been considered as one of the etiological factors in certain instances for the persistence of endemic goitre. The present study was undertaken to study the cyanogenic glucosides, glucosinolates and thiocyanate content in edible portion of certain selected plant foods of Indian origin. Further in vitro anti-thyroidal activity using raw, boiled and cooked extracts of these plants with and without excess iodide was also studied. METHODS: Cyanogenic plant foods generally vegetables were collected from different areas of West Bengal and Tripura. Cassava was obtained from Meghalaya and Kerala and their cyanogenic glucosides, glucosinolates and thiocyanate were estimated. Thyroid peroxidase activity (TPO) of human thyroid was assayed from microsomal fraction following I3- from iodide. The anti-TPO activities of the plants were assayed after adding raw, boiled and cooked extracts in the assay medium with and without extra iodide. Relative antithyroidal potency of the plant extracts was also evaluated in terms of the concentration (IC50) necessary to produce 50 per cent inhibition of TPO activity. PTU equivalence of the plant foods was also determined. RESULTS: Cabbage and cauliflower were rich in glucosinolates, bamboo shoot and cassava were rich in cyanogenic glucosides, mustard, turnip and radish were relatively rich in thiocyanate however all the constituents were present in each plant. Boiled extracts showed maximum inhibition of TPO activity followed by cooked and raw extracts. Excess iodide was found relatively effective for raw extract but less effective for boiled and cooked extracts in reversing anti-TPO activity. Inhibition constant (IC50) was found highest with bamboo shoot and least with cabbage. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Raw, boiled and cooked extracts of the plants showed anti-thyroidal activity in vitro. Excess iodide reversed the anti-TPO activity to same extent but could not neutralise it.

Antithyroid Agents↗

PubMed2005

Risk factors for Indian kala-azar.

A case-control study was conducted to understand the risk factors associated with kala-azar in disease-endemic areas of Bihar, India. A total of 134 kala-azar cases treated at the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna and 406 healthy controls selected randomly from the neighborhoods of cases in their native villages were included in the study. Univariate analysis showed that education, a history of other diseases in the previous year, a history of kala-azar in the family, type of walls in houses, presence of a granary inside houses, presence of vegetation around houses, bamboo trees near houses, and irregular spraying around houses with DDT were risk factors. Multivariate analysis showed that a history of other diseases in the previous year (odds ratio [OR] = 3.6, P = 0.002), a history of kala-azar in the family (OR = 1.8, P = 0.03), mud-plastered walls in houses, (OR = 2.4, P = 0.0001], a granary inside houses (OR = 4.3, P = 0.0001), presence of bamboo trees around houses (OR = 2.3, P = 0.001), and houses not sprayed with DDT in the past six months (OR = 3.4, P = 0.0001) were significant risk factors for kala-azar. These results will be useful in developing kala-azar control programs for identifying intervention strategies such as better housing, regular and proper insecticide spraying, and promoting health awareness to the community residing in disease-endemic areas for reducing transmission and incidence of this disease.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

[Temporal and spatial dynamics of reproductive modules of endangered plant Disanthus cercidifolius var. longipes natural populations].

Based on field observation data, this paper studied the flowering phenology and the temporal and spatial dynamics of the reproductive modules of endangered plant Disanthus cercidifolius var. longipes natural populations. The results showed that there were certain differences of the flowering phenology among the populations in different communities, e. g., in pure forest, the average flowering duration of individuals was the longest (75 d), while the flowering synchrony was the lowest (0.717 d), but in bamboo forest, the flowering duration of individuals was the shortest (47 d), while its flowering synchrony was the highest. The numbers of reproductive branches and inflorescences were increased with increasing individual age, and reached the highest at the age of 30 - 35 yr. At the elevation of 810 m, the numbers of individual reproductive branches and inflorescences reached the peak, and there were significant differences among the crown levels. The reproductive branch number of individuals and the inflorescences per reproductive branch were the highest in pure forest, being 411.39 and 7. 857, respectively, while the inflorescences per reproductive branch in bamboo forest were notably lower than those in other communities. The abortive ratio of reproductive modules of young individuals was higher than that of the older ones in the flower-bud, flowering, and fruit phases. The abortion of reproductive modules had no correlation with their distributed elevation, but some correlations existed with their development time, distributed crown levels and communities. The major factor affecting the abortive ratio of individual reproduction modules was probably the illumination condition in the distributed communities.

Flowers↗

PubMed1991

Influence of vegetation on the spatial distribution of Toxorhynchites moctezuma ovipositions in the field.

The influence of the vegetation surrounding black-painted calabash ovitraps on the number of eggs of the mosquito Toxorhynchites moctezuma they attracted was investigated using oviposition data gathered from a seasonal-deciduous forest in Trinidad, West Indies. More eggs were laid into ovitraps situated either within or directly adjacent to trees or bamboo stools than those not associated with trees or bamboo. This result is discussed in terms of the initial oviposition-site searching behavior of female Toxorhynchites.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

[Temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of nitrogen losses in hilly area of Taihu Lake].

Four typical land uses in hilly area of Taihu Lake were studied on temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of nitrogen losses in surface runoff under natural rainfall through experiment in situ. The medium value of event mean concentration (EMC) of ammonia nitrogen (NH4(+) -N) which dominated agricultural N in surface runoff accounted for 44.5% of total nitrogen (TN), while nitrite nitrogen (NO2(-) -N) accounted for 1.8%. Concentration of nitrogen in runoff had significantly seasonal variation which was related to meteorologic conditions such as rainfall, temperature, and agricultural activities. Temporal variabilities of site mean concentration (SMC) for TN, NH4(+) -N, NO3(-) -N and NO2(-) -N were decreased sequentially. The highest SMC value of TN, NH(+) -N and NO3(-) -N in upland runoff and N2(-) -N in bamboo grove were observed. The spatial distribution of nitrogen losses was determined by fertilizer application and vegetation coverage. Spatial variabilities for SMC of nitrogen were less than temporal variabilities. It was found that transportation fluxes of nitrogen in surface runoff from upland and vegetable plot were higher than that from chestnut orchard and bamboo forest which have significantly related to surface runoff volume.

China↗