Comparison of total phenolic content and composition of individual phenolic acids in testae and testa-removed kernels of 15 Valencia-type peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) genotypes

A successful peanut breeding to obtain genotypes with greater phenolic content requires information on type and content of phenolic compounds in parental peanut genotypes. The aim of this study was to investigate the total phenolic contents and phenolic acid profiles of 15 Valencia-type peanut genotypes both in peanut testae and testa-removed kernels (cotyledons and embryonic axes). Total phenolic content and phenolic acid profiles were analyzed using Folin-Ciocalteu method and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC),  respectively. The total phenolic contents of testae and testa-removed kernels varied from 2.47 ± 0.96 to 84.53 ± 5.57 and 0.07 ± 0.01 to 0.12 ± 0.01 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry weight, respectively. Testae of  KK4 and ICG14710 genotypes had the greatest and least total phenolic content, respectively. The peanut  testae with pink color (NM044, NM071, ICG15042 and KK4) had significantly greater phenolic content than those with gray (ICG397 and ICG14710) and yellow (NM001) colors. The present study demonstrates that  p-coumaric and vanillic acids were the two predominant phenolic acids in the testae of nearly all peanut  genotypes tested, except for KK4 genotype whose predominant phenolic acid in its testa was  p-hydroxybenzoic acid. All the testa-removed kernels tested contained significantly greater amount of  p-coumaric acid than other identified phenolic acids. These results would be useful for peanut breeding to  obtain peanut genotypes with greater phenolic acid and other favorable traits.Key words: Valencia peanuts, peanut testae, phenolic acids, p-coumaric acid, vanillic acid

The Development for Product of Local Folk-weaving Material by the Weaving Group of Paihoochang Banglen, District, Nakhon Pathom Province

Thai local folk-weaving, there are all regions in Thailand, is one of the essential factors for life in progress with Human civilization. Patterns which are present on fabric, show that the individual and culture. Changing period comes to be a part of economy and social, was affect to lifestyle, cultural and folk’s belief of man. The effect of changing is the way of folk handiwork that have to adjust become modernization.The objective of the study was to examine the opinions toward 5 products made of local folk material, Paihoochang Banglen district, Nakhon Pathom Province which were facial tissue boxes, hanging hand towels, bolster cushions, bags, tablecloths and to study the basic background of the customers who appreciated with handicraft. The research considered the styles, sizes, practical uses and attractiveness on different products. The 200 evaluators were accidentally sample from those interested in model handicraft presented in 4 department stores of Nakhon Pathom. The statistic analysis was done by using the computer program. The finding indicated that most of the evaluators were female who were about 31 – 40 years of age, single and graduated in Bachelor degree level. Their occupations were running private business with over 20,000 baht income per month. The purpose for buying products was the souvenirs. The motivation for buying was the practical use. The result of customer satisfaction affected handicraft product from local folk weaving showed that the average highest satisfaction in styles of product was the hanging hand towels B. The satisfaction of sizes of product showed the average highest were the hanging hand towels A, B. The satisfaction of practical use of product showed the average highest was the hanging hand towels A

Development of an Item Bank of Order and Graph by Applying Multidimensional Item Response Theory

This study aimed to develop an item bank of Order and Graph of Mattayomsuksa 1 level (grade 7). The samples were 4,800 lower secondary students from 34 schools in northeastern area of Thailand, academic year 2011 chosen through multi-stage random sampling. The research tool used in the study was a multiple choicetest of an Order and Graph lesson by applying multidimensional item response theory. Parameter were analyzed by confi rmatory factor analysis by applying multidimensional normalogive model with guessing of the program normalogive harmonic analysis robust method (NOHARM). Discrimination power and Easiness intercept were equated through non–orthogonal procrustes method. The study results indicated that there were 59 items out of 140 passed the test standard.Key words: Item bank; Cognitive process; Multidimensional item response theory (MIRT

Methods for genetic manipulation of Burkholderia gladioli pathovar cocovenenans

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Burkholderia gladioli </it>pathovar <it>cocovenenans </it>(BGC) is responsible for sporadic food-poisoning outbreaks with high morbidity and mortality in Asian countries. Little is known about the regulation of virulence factor and toxin production in BGC, and studies in this bacterium have been hampered by lack of genetic tools.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Establishment of a comprehensive antibiotic susceptibility profile showed that BGC strain ATCC33664 is susceptible to a number of antibiotics including aminoglycosides, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines and trimethoprim. In this study, we established that gentamicin, kanamycin and trimethoprim are good selection markers for use in BGC. Using a 10 min method for preparation of electrocompetent cells, the bacterium could be transformed by electroporation at high frequencies with replicative plasmids containing the pRO1600-derived origin of replication. These plasmids exhibited a copy number of > 100 in BGC. When co-conjugated with a transposase expressing helper plasmid, mini-Tn<it>7 </it>vectors inserted site- and orientation-specifically at a single <it>glmS</it>-associated insertion site in the BGC genome. Lastly, a <it>Himar1 </it>transposon was used for random transposon mutagenesis of BGC.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A series of genetic tools previously developed for other Gram-negative bacteria was adapted for use in BGC. These tools now facilitate genetic studies of this pathogen and allow establishment of toxin biosynthetic pathways and their genetic regulation.</p

Identification of genes required for soil survival in Burkholderia thailandensis by transposon-directed insertion site sequencing.

Transposon-directed insertion site sequencing was used to identify genes required by Burkholderia thailandensis to survive in plant/soil microcosms. A total of 1,153 genetic loci fulfilled the criteria as being likely to encode survival characteristics. Of these, 203 (17.6 %) were associated with uptake and transport systems; 463 loci (40.1 %) coded for enzymatic properties, 99 of these (21.4 %) had reduction/oxidation functions; 117 (10.1 %) were gene regulation or sensory loci; 61 (5.3 %) encoded structural proteins found in the cell envelope or with enzymatic activities related to it, distinct from these, 46 (4.0 %) were involved in chemotaxis and flagellum, or pilus synthesis; 39 (3.4 %) were transposase enzymes or were bacteriophage-derived; and 30 (2.6 %) were involved in the production of antibiotics or siderophores. Two hundred and twenty genes (19.1 %) encoded hypothetical proteins or those of unknown function. Given the importance of motility and pilus formation in microcosm persistence the nature of the colonization of the rhizosphere was examined by confocal microscopy. Wild type B. thailandensis expressing red fluorescent protein was inoculated into microcosms. Even though the roots had been washed, the bacteria were still present but they were motile with no attachment having taken place, perhaps being retained in a biofilm

Structural Basis for Dual-Inhibition Mechanism of a Non-Classical Kazal-Type Serine Protease Inhibitor from Horseshoe Crab in Complex with Subtilisin

Serine proteases play a crucial role in host-pathogen interactions. In the innate immune system of invertebrates, multi-domain protease inhibitors are important for the regulation of host-pathogen interactions and antimicrobial activities. Serine protease inhibitors, 9.3-kDa CrSPI isoforms 1 and 2, have been identified from the hepatopancreas of the horseshoe crab, Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda. The CrSPIs were biochemically active, especially CrSPI-1, which potently inhibited subtilisin (Ki = 1.43 nM). CrSPI has been grouped with the non-classical Kazal-type inhibitors due to its unusual cysteine distribution. Here we report the crystal structure of CrSPI-1 in complex with subtilisin at 2.6 Å resolution and the results of biophysical interaction studies. The CrSPI-1 molecule has two domains arranged in an extended conformation. These two domains act as heads that independently interact with two separate subtilisin molecules, resulting in the inhibition of subtilisin activity at a ratio of 1:2 (inhibitor to protease). Each subtilisin molecule interacts with the reactive site loop from each domain of CrSPI-1 through a standard canonical binding mode and forms a single ternary complex. In addition, we propose the substrate preferences of each domain of CrSPI-1. Domain 2 is specific towards the bacterial protease subtilisin, while domain 1 is likely to interact with the host protease, Furin. Elucidation of the structure of the CrSPI-1: subtilisin (1∶2) ternary complex increases our understanding of host-pathogen interactions in the innate immune system at the molecular level and provides new strategies for immunomodulation

EFSA Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) Panel; Scientific Opinion on the risk posed by pathogens in food of non-animal origin. Part 1 (outbreak data analysis and risk ranking of food/pathogen combinations)

Food of non-animal origin (FoNAO) is consumed in a variety of forms, and a major component of almost all meals. These food types have the potential to be associated with large outbreaks as seen in 2011 associated with VTEC O104. A comparison of the incidence of human cases linked to consumption of FoNAO and of food of animal origin (FoAO) was carried out to provide an indication of the proportionality between these two groups of foods. It was concluded that outbreak data reported as part of EU Zoonoses Monitoring is currently the only option for EU-wide comparative estimates. Using this data from 2007 to 2011, FoNAO were associated with 10% of the outbreaks, 26% of the cases, 35% of the hospitalisations and 46% of the deaths. If the data from the 2011VTEC O104 outbreak is excluded, FoNAO was associated with 10% of the outbreaks, 18% of cases, but only 8% of the hospitalisations and 5% of the deaths. From 2008 to 2011 there was an increase in the numbers of reported outbreaks, cases, hospitalisations and deaths associated with food of non-animal origin. In order to identify and rank specific food/pathogen combinations most often linked to human cases originating from FoNAO in the EU, a model was developed using seven criteria: strength of associations between food and pathogen based on the foodborne outbreak data from EU Zoonoses Monitoring (2007-11), incidence of illness, burden of disease, dose-response relationship, consumption, prevalence of contamination and pathogen growth potential during shelf life. Shortcomings in the approach using outbreak data were discussed. The top ranking food/pathogen combination was Salmonellaspp. and leafy greens eaten raw followed by (in equal rank) Salmonellaspp. and bulb and stem vegetables, Salmonellaspp. and tomatoes, Salmonellaspp. and melons, and pathogenic Escherichia coli and fresh pods, legumes or grain