Are web corpora inferior? The Case of Czech and Slovak

Our paper describes an experiment aimed to assessment of lexical coverage in web corpora in comparison with the traditional ones for two closely related Slavic languages from the lexicographers’ perspective. The preliminary results show that web corpora should not be considered ― inferior, but rather ― different

A Functional Proteomic Method for Biomarker Discovery

The sequencing of the human genome holds out the hope for personalized medicine, but it is clear that analysis of DNA or RNA content alone is not sufficient to understand most disease processes. Proteomic strategies that allow unbiased identification of proteins and their post-transcriptional and -translation modifications are an essential complement to genomic strategies. However, the enormity of the proteome and limitations in proteomic methods make it difficult to determine the targets that are particularly relevant to human disease. Methods are therefore needed that allow rational identification of targets based on function and relevance to disease. Screening methodologies such as phage display, SELEX, and small-molecule combinatorial chemistry have been widely used to discover specific ligands for cells or tissues of interest, such as tumors. Those ligands can be used in turn as affinity probes to identify their cognate molecular targets when they are not known in advance. Here we report an easy, robust and generally applicable approach in which phage particles bearing cell- or tissue-specific peptides serve directly as the affinity probes for their molecular targets. For proof of principle, the method successfully identified molecular binding partners, three of them novel, for 15 peptides specific for pancreatic cancer

Analysis of differentially expressed genes in leaf rust infected bread wheat involving seedling resistance gene Lr28

Genome-wide transcriptome analysis of seedling resistance to leaf rust conferred by Lr28 gene in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes during incompatible interaction. A virulent leaf rust race 77-5 was used for inoculation of resistant (HD2329 + Lr28) and susceptible (HD2329 - Lr28) wheat NILs and cDNA-AFLP analyses was carried out. As many as 223 differential transcripts appeared following leaf rust inoculation; these included 122 transcripts that appeared exclusively in resistant NIL, whereas 39 transcripts appeared both in resistant and susceptible NILs. Sequence analyses of 37 transcripts, which appeared in the resistant NIL revealed that 15 transcripts had homology with genes involved in protein synthesis, signal transduction, transport, disease resistance and metabolism. The functions of remaining 22 transcripts could not be determined; these included six novel genes reported for the first time in wheat. Specific primers could be designed for 18 of the 37 transcripts, which included genes with putative and unknown functions. Quantitative real time PCR analysis was conducted using these 18 pairs of primers. A majority (13) of these transcripts appeared within 48 h reaching a peak value at 96 h in resistant NIL signifying their role in providing leaf rust resistance

Characterization of root phenotype and germination behaviour of backcross derived Golden Rice lines.

<p>A) Comparison of primary root length among the seedlings of transgene homozygous, null and Swarna The embryonic axis showed rapid elongation in transgene homozygous seedlings resulting in longer primary root. The picture was taken at three days post germination. B) Orientation of the primary root in the transgene homozygous and null seedlings upon germination A typical curvature pointing towards gravity as seen in the Null seedling was absent in the transgene homozygous seedling. The picture was taken at two days post germination C) Comparative view of root system in the transgene homozygous and null plants The seedlings were grown in hydroponics with Hoagland nutrient solution and the roots of 20 days old seedlings were analyzed in Root Scanner device. The total root length and root volume of homozygous plants was significantly higher than those of nulls D) ABA insensitive germination of the transgene homozygous seeds The upper panel shows the germination under control (water) and the bottom panel shows the germination under the exogenous supply of ABA (1ppm). ABA repressed the germination in nulls (bottom left) while it does not have any effect on the germination of homozygous seeds (bottom right).</p