Ultra-fast conductive media for RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays.

The use of RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays (REMSAs) for analysis of RNA-protein interactions have been limited to lengthy assay time and qualitative assessment. To vastly improve assay efficiency, feasibility and quality of data procured from REMSAs, we combine here some of the best-known labeling and electrophoretic techniques. Nucleic acid fragments are end-labeled with fluorescent tags, as opposed to the radioactive or biotin tags. The fluorescent probes may be detected directly from the electrophoresis gel, eliminating the need for cumbersome membrane transfer and immunoblotting. Modifying the REMSA protocol to include low-molarity, lithium borate conductive media and near-infrared-labeled probes allows for a reduction assay time, quantitative comparison between experimental conditions and crisp band resolution (i.e., optimized results)

Collaborative information seeking with ant colony ranking in real-time

In this paper we propose a new ranking algorithm based on Swarm Intelligence, more specifically on the Ant Colony Optimization technique, to improve search engines’ performances and reduce the information overload by exploiting users’ collective behavior. We designed an online evaluation involving end users to test our algorithm in a real-world scenario dealing with informational queries. The development of a fully working prototype – based on the Wikipedia search engine – demonstrated promising preliminary results

Endocrinologic, neurologic, and visual morbidity after treatment for craniopharyngioma

Craniopharyngiomas are locally aggressive tumors which typically are focused in the sellar and suprasellar region near a number of critical neural and vascular structures mediating endocrinologic, behavioral, and visual functions. The present study aims to summarize and compare the published literature regarding morbidity resulting from treatment of craniopharyngioma. We performed a comprehensive search of the published English language literature to identify studies publishing outcome data of patients undergoing surgery for craniopharyngioma. Comparisons of the rates of endocrine, vascular, neurological, and visual complications were performed using Pearson’s chi-squared test, and covariates of interest were fitted into a multivariate logistic regression model. In our data set, 540 patients underwent surgical resection of their tumor. 138 patients received biopsy alone followed by some form of radiotherapy. Mean overall follow-up for all patients in these studies was 54 ± 1.8 months. The overall rate of new endocrinopathy for all patients undergoing surgical resection of their mass was 37% (95% CI = 33–41). Patients receiving GTR had over 2.5 times the rate of developing at least one endocrinopathy compared to patients receiving STR alone or STR + XRT (52 vs. 19 vs. 20%, χ2P < 0.00001). On multivariate analysis, GTR conferred a significant increase in the risk of endocrinopathy compared to STR + XRT (OR = 3.45, 95% CI = 2.05–5.81, P < 0.00001), after controlling for study size and the presence of significant hypothalamic involvement. There was a statistical trend towards worse visual outcomes in patients receiving XRT after STR compared to GTR or STR alone (GTR = 3.5% vs. STR 2.1% vs. STR + XRT 6.4%, P = 0.11). Given the difficulty in obtaining class 1 data regarding the treatment of this tumor, this study can serve as an estimate of expected outcomes for these patients, and guide decision making until these data are available

Infection of stem bases and grains of winter wheat by Fusarium culmorum and F. graminearum and effects of tillage method and maize-stalk residues

The effects of tillage (ploughing vs minimum tillage) and application of chopped maize stalks on winter wheat cv. Here-ward by Fusarium culmorum and F. graminearum were investigated in two 2-year experiments in eastern England. Supplementary inoculum of each fungus (five isolates) was applied to the ground to the first wheat crop in each experiment. Infection of shoot bases (spring), stem bases (summer) and harvested grain were determined by isolating the fungi on agar media and by quantitative PCR. Stem bases were infected more frequently by F. culmorum (up to 35% where inoculum was applied) than F. grammearum (up to 22% where inoculum applied; otherwise scarce). Despite mist-irrigation to encourage ear infection, the incidence of pathogens in grain was usually low, always less than 4% for F. culmorum, but up to 30% for F grammearum where inoculum was applied to the ground. Lack of rainfall probably limited the dispersal of conidia from the ground to the ears. Ascospores, produced by F. graminearum (Gibberella zeae) but not F. culmorum, are less dependent on rainfall for dispersal. Infection of grains by F. grammearum was usually correlated significantly with stem infection and sometimes, negatively, with grain yield. Both conidia and ascospores were produced on the previous crop's debris, apparently in small amounts, throughout much of the year. Little horizontal (plot to plot) dispersal was evident. Non-inversion cultivation and maize-stalk amendments tended to decrease stem-base disease, presumably through the effects of microbial antagonism or competition. However, the incidence of F. grammearum was increased in stem bases where maize stalks were present and in grain by both the presence of maize stalks and minimum tillage. The results support experimental data and UK survey data that non-inversion tillage increases the risk of ear infection, especially by F. grammearum, and hence of mycotoxin contamination of grain. Maize presents an additional risk where weather conditions do not limit the proliferation of the pathogens. This is consistent with evidence from surveys that the region in which the wheat crop is grown is the main risk factor for ear infection and mycotoxin accumulation in grain