The complete chloroplast genome sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the Bichetii grass (Asparagaceae).

of Asparagaceae is a valuable ornamental plant native to the tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and Australia. The plant also has medicinal properties and is used as source for folk medicine. Despite being commercially important, genetic studies of are still limited.

Mechanical Resistance of the Largest Denticle on the Movable Claw of the Mud Crab.

Decapod crustaceans have tooth-like white denticles that are present only on the pinching side of the claws. In the mud crab, , a huge denticle exists on the movable finger of the dominant claw. This is mainly used to crush the shells of the crab's staple food.

Mechanical Resistance and Tissue Structure of Claw Denticles of Various Sizes in the Mud Crab, .

Decapod crustaceans have tooth-like denticles on their claw fingers, which come into direct contact with predators and prey. Since the denticles are subject to more frequent and intense stress than other parts of the exoskeleton, they must be especially resistant to wear and abrasion. We clarified the mechanical resistance and tissue structure of the denticles arranged in a line on the fixed finger of the mud crab, which has huge claws.

Differentiation of Salmonella vaccinated and infected animals by serological detection of antibody to T3SS effector SsaK in an indirect ELISA.

The differentiation of animals that are vaccinated and those that are naturally infected with Salmonella is difficult by conventional serological tests. We have shown here an indirect Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Salmonella infection based on the presence of a Type III secretory effector SsaK in the sera.

Transcriptional landscape of cultured under environmental and clinical conditions.

, a Gram-negative pathogen, is the causative agent of melioidosis in humans. This bacterium can be isolated from the soil, stagnant and salt-water bodies, and human and animal clinical specimens. While extensive studies have contributed to our understanding of pathogenesis, little is known about how a harmless soil bacterium adapts when it shifts to a human host and exhibits its virulence.

Quality evaluation of Pinellia tuber by LC-TOF/MS targeted to ephedrine.

Pinellia tuber (PTE, , , , , , , , ) is derived from the tuber of Pinellia ternata Breitenbach (Araceae), which is a crude drug used in traditional Japanese Kampo medicine for the purpose of antiemesis and expectoration. Since the separation of ephedrine from PTE in 1978, it has been listed as a PTE component in textbooks and internet information. Therefore, there are harmful effects on appropriate use in clinical practice because PTE is dealt with as a crude drug for doping target, and traditional Japanese Kampo medicine containing PTE must be carefully administered to the elderly.

Superconducting Joining Concept for Internal Magnesium Diffusion-Processed Magnesium Diboride Wires.

A superconducting joint of unreacted monofilament internal magnesium diffusion-processed magnesium diboride (MgB) wires was fabricated by exploiting the phenomenon of magnesium diffusion into the boron layer inside the superconducting joint. Unprecedentedly, the joint was able to carry an almost identical transport current compared to the bare wire in a 2-7 T magnetic field at 20 K. The joint also exhibited very low joint resistance of 2.

Development of repeatable arrays of proteins using immobilized DNA microplate (RAPID-M) technology.

Background: Protein microarrays have enormous potential as in vitro diagnostic tools stemming from the ability to miniaturize whilst generating maximum evaluation of diagnostically relevant information from minute amounts of sample. In this report, we present a method known as repeatable arrays of proteins using immobilized DNA microplates (RAPID-M) for high-throughput in situ protein microarray fabrication. The RAPID-M technology comprises of cell-free expression using immobilized DNA templates and in situ protein purification onto standard microarray slides.

Global transcriptional analysis of Burkholderia pseudomallei high and low biofilm producers reveals insights into biofilm production and virulence.

Background: Chronic bacterial infections occur as a result of the infecting pathogen's ability to live within a biofilm, hence escaping the detrimental effects of antibiotics and the immune defense system. Burkholderia pseudomallei, a gram-negative facultative pathogen, is distinctive in its ability to survive within phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells, to persist in vivo for many years and subsequently leading to relapse as well as the development of chronic disease. The capacity to persist has been attributed to the pathogen's ability to form biofilm.

High prevalence of hepatitis E virus in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes a food- and water-borne disease in humans, and Japanese wild boar (Sus scrofa leucomystax) meat is one of the most important sources of infection in Japan. We tested 113 serum samples from wild boar captured in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan from 2010 to 2012. Serum samples were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using virus-like particles as antigen and nested reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR).

Observation of the magnetic skyrmion lattice in a MnSi nanowire by Lorentz TEM.

We report here the real-space observation of skyrmions and helical magnetic domains in a MnSi nanowire (NW) using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM). The MnSi NW was thinned to a rectangular cross-section by focused-ion beam milling to reduce obstructive Fresnel fringes. Helimagnetic domains, imaged as alternating bright and dark contrast stripes with an 18 nm period, were observed to be the spontaneous magnetic ground state at 6 K, while the hexagonal skyrmion lattice (SkX) with a domain diameter of 18 nm was observed under a normal magnetic field of 210 mT.

Multiple-antigen ELISA for melioidosis--a novel approach to the improved serodiagnosis of melioidosis.

Background: Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, is endemic to Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Clinical manifestations of disease are diverse, ranging from chronic infection to acute septicaemia. The current gold standard of diagnosis involves bacterial culture and identification which is time consuming and often too late for early medical intervention.

Function of feline signaling lymphocyte activation molecule as a receptor of canine distemper virus.

Morbilliviruses use signaling lymphocyte activation molecule (SLAM) as a receptor for their entry to cells. In this study, a complete gene encoding SLAM of a domestic cat was identified. The identity of feline SLAM with canine one was 73%, and feline SLAM formed the same cluster with those of carnivores.

Immunogenic Burkholderia pseudomallei outer membrane proteins as potential candidate vaccine targets.

Background: Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a disease of significant morbidity and mortality in both human and animals in endemic areas. There is no vaccine towards the bacterium available in the market, and the efficacy of many of the bacterium's surface and secreted proteins are currently being evaluated as vaccine candidates.

Methodology/principal Findings: With the availability of the B.