Wire frame representation of 3D moulded bra cup and its application to example-based design

Fabric or foam sheet moulding is an important manufacturing technique for the apparel industry, in particular for bra production. It is the most economical and convenient method to seamlessly form a garment part into a specified 3D shape. This paper proposes an example-based method for designing moulded bra cups. In this study, a total of 10 typical moulded bra cup specimens were scanned using the Steinbichler Comet white light scanner. Parameterization based remeshing and registration algorithm was used to characterize the 3D shapes of the convex surface of the scanned bra cups. Using an example-based method, virtual master moulds were constructed based on the 3D surfaces of the investigated bra cups after eliminating the style lines and size differences. Then a new bra cup design can be developed from the master mould, either by drawing the style lines in the virtual environment or using scissors to cut the moulded plastic shot along the desired style lines. Different sizes can also be made by grading the wire frame model in 3D manner. The present method will provide a scientific tool for the product development of new bra cups which was conventionally very time-consuming and ineffective.     

A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the identification of Nicotiana tabacum in tobacco products

A simple and specific real-time PCR assay based on TaqMan^® technology has been developed for the identification of cultured tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) in various commodities such as cigars, cigarettes and reconstituted tobacco. The TaqMan^® assay targets a sequence of the putrescine N-methyltransferase gene family encoding an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the biosynthesis of nicotine. To reduce the possibility of false negatives, universal plant chloroplast primers were also used in a separate real-time PCR reaction to give indication if DNA is amplifiable in the matrix. The TaqMan^® assay successfully identified tobacco in over 40 commercial tobacco products, while negative results were obtained from the assay for DNA extracted from a variety of other botanical products. In our study, two commercial DNA isolation kits were used, namely, the Qiagen DNeasy^® Plant Mini kit and the Qiagen Gentra^® Puregene^® kit. They produced good quality DNAs in sufficient quantities for real-time PCR analysis. In a few cases, an additional purification step with the Promega DNA IQ™ system had to be implemented to obtain amplifiable DNA.     

The Pathogen of Crown Gall Disease on Flowering Cherry and its Sensitivity to Strain K1026

Six strains of crown gall bacteria were isolated from flowering cherry. It was revealed by Otten paper electrophoresis that of the six strains, only BYH18-4 possessed the octopine type Ti plasmid, the remainder having nopaline type Ti plasmid. BYH5-1 was identified by physiological and biochemical tests to be Agrobacterium tumefaciens (originally biovar 1). The other five were A. rhizogenes (originally biovar 2). It was demonstrated with Stonier's method of double layer medium that flowering cherry crown gall bacteria exhibited different sensitivities to agrocin produced by biocontrol strain K1026. Strain K1026 on greenhouse-grown sunflower seedlings exerted a relatively potent inhibitory action on flowering cherry crown gall bacteria. Artificial inoculation showed that K1026 produced 67–99% inhibition of flowering cherry crown gall disease, compared with the treatment of inoculation with crown gall bacteria only.     

Prioritizing Zoonotic Diseases: Differences in Perspectives Between Human and Animal Health Professionals in North America

Zoonoses pose a significant burden of illness in North America. Zoonoses represent an additional threat to public health because the natural reservoirs are often animals, particularly wildlife, thus eluding control efforts such as quarantine, vaccination and social distancing. As there are limited resources available, it is necessary to prioritize diseases in order to allocate resources to those posing the greatest public health threat. Many studies have attempted to prioritize zoonoses, but challenges exist. This study uses a quantitative approach, conjoint analysis (CA), to overcome some limitations of traditional disease prioritization exercises. We used CA to conduct a zoonoses prioritization study involving a range of human and animal health professionals across North America; these included epidemiologists, public health practitioners, research scientists, physicians, veterinarians, laboratory technicians and nurses. A total of 699 human health professionals (HHP) and 585 animal health professionals (AHP) participated in this study. We used CA to prioritize 62 zoonotic diseases using 21 criteria. Our findings suggest CA can be used to produce reasonable criteria scores for disease prioritization. The fitted models were satisfactory for both groups with a slightly better fit for AHP compared to HHP (84.4% certainty fit versus 83.6%). Human‐related criteria were more influential for HHP in their decision to prioritize zoonoses, while animal‐related criteria were more influential for AHP resulting in different disease priority lists. While the differences were not statistically significant, a difference of one or two ranks could be considered important for some individuals. A potential solution to address the varying opinions is discussed. The scientific framework for disease prioritization presented can be revised on a regular basis by updating disease criteria to reflect diseases as they evolve over time; such a framework is of value allowing diseases of highest impact to be identified routinely for resource allocation.     

Comparison of Pioneer and Native Woodland Species Growing on Top of an Engineered Landfill,Hong Kong: Restoration Programme

This study dealt with a restoration project conducted at South‐East New Territories Landfill in Hong Kong, in order to screen suitable tree and shrub species (both native and pioneer species) for revegetation. For engineered landfills, landfill gas migration and leachate contamination to the topsoil are rarely problematic, but the lack of nutrients and moisture and poor physical soil conditions may jeopardize potential woodland establishment. The growth performance of 25 woody plant species subjected to 12 different soil amelioration and seedlings planting methods was compared. The results showed that the general performance (mortality rate, apical height, crown diameter and basal diameter) of pioneer species (notably Acacia species) was much better than that of native species in all blocks of woodland mix and scrub mix. The notch planting method was effective in helping seedling roots to have better contact with soil for water uptake, which subsequently increased the survival rates of seedlings, leading to a better tree coverage. Soil ameliorations (horticultural soil with fertilizer and horse and pig manure) generally increased the seedling survival rate and improved plant growth. Tree coverage on all the plant trial blocks was mainly established by the three Acacia species. A planting distance of 1 m was recommended for woodland establishment, and such dense seedlings planting would achieve a better tree coverage under a shorter period of time (than the distance of 3 m). Difficulties in woodland establishment were discussed, and the strategies for achieving a better tree growth were recommended. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Extraction and purification of isoflavones from soybeans and characterization of their estrogenic activities

Soybean isoflavones have multiple beneficial health effects especially on estrogen-deficient diseases such as menopausal symptoms. In this study, isoflavones were produced from soybean flour, and the extraction and purification parameters were optimized to give a high yield of total isoflavones, about 0.62 mg of aglycones/g of soybean flour, which is >2 times the initial yield. HPLC analysis and MTT cell proliferation assay using MCF-7 cells revealed that the product thus obtained not only contained a high content of isoflavone aglycones but also had estrogenic activity. MTT data also revealed that both genistein and daidzein exhibited estrogenic effects at lower concentrations and antiproliferative effects at higher concentrations, and 1 microM genistein and 10 microM daidzein exerted significant estrogenic activities, which were not more than that of the endogenous level of 17beta-estradiol (E2). The production method developed can be used as a guideline for manufacturing soy isoflavones, and the MTT assay was demonstrated to be suitable for quality control on isoflavone products. The results on the estrogenic properties of isoflavones can be used as reference data for their effective and safe usages in estrogenic therapy.     

The polarity protein Par-3 directly interacts with p75NTR to regulate myelination

Cell polarity is critical in various cellular processes ranging from cell migration to asymmetric cell division and axon and dendrite specification. Similarly, myelination by Schwann cells is polarized, but the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Here, we show that the polarity protein Par-3 localizes asymmetrically in Schwann cells at the axon-glial junction and that disruption of Par-3 localization, by overexpression and knockdown, inhibits myelination. Additionally, we show that Par-3 directly associates and recruits the p75 neurotrophin receptor to the axon-glial junction, forming a complex necessary for myelination. Together, these results point to a critical role in the establishment of cell polarity for myelination.     

Molecular characterization of low pathogenic avian influenza viruses, isolated from food products imported into Singapore

We have completed the genetic characterization of all eight gene segments for four low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) viruses. The objective of this study was to detect the presence of novel signatures that may serve as early warning indicators of the conversion of LPAI viruses to high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses. This study included three H5N2 and one H5N3 viruses that were isolated from live poultry imported into Singapore as part of the national avian influenza virus (AIV) surveillance program. Based on the molecular criterion of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), sequence analysis with the translated amino acid (aa) sequence of the hemagglutinin (HA) gene revealed the absence of multibasic aa at the HA cleavage site, identifying all four virus isolates as LPAI. Detailed phylogenetic tree analyses using the HA and neuraminidase (NA) genes clustered these isolates in the Eurasian H5 lineage, but away from the HPAI H5 subtypes. This analysis further revealed that the internal genes clustered to different avian and swine subtypes, suggesting that the four isolates may possibly share their ancestry with these different influenza subtypes. Our results suggest that the four LPAI isolates in this study contained mainly avian signatures, and the phylogenetic tree for the internal genes further suggests the potential for reassortment with other different circulating avian subtypes. This is the first comprehensive report on the genetic characterization of LPAI H5N2/3 viruses isolated in South-East Asia.     

The immunostimulatory activity and stability of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) roe lectin

A hexameric rhamnose-specific lectin with a molecular mass of 205kDa and exhibiting some N-terminal sequence similarity to other fish lectins was isolated from roe of the grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) by affinity chromatography on rhamnose-Sepharose and ion exchange chromatography by fast protein liquid chromatography on a Mono S column. The lectin exhibited mitogenic activity toward murine splenocytes with a potency lower than that of the plant lectin ConA. It exerted a stimulatory effect at a concentration of 10 micro g/ml on the phagocytic activity of seabream (Sparus sarba) macrophages. It was unstable toward heat (temperature > or =40 degrees C), acid (0.1M HCl), alkali (0.1M NaOH), trypsin and succinylation.     

Responses of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) cultivars to inoculation with three viruses

The responses of 24 white yam ( Dioscorea rotundata ) cultivars to mechanical and vector transmission with each of three viruses infecting yams were assessed through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and symptom development. The viruses were Dioscorea alata virus (DAV), genus Potyvirus ; Dioscorea alata bacilliform virus (DaBV), genus Badnavirus ; and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), genus Cucumovirus . Only TDr 95-128, a landrace cultivar from Nigeria, developed symptoms of infection with CMV and DaBV following mechanical and vector transmission, respectively. PAS-ELISA showed that nine genotypes remained uninfected by DAV and 11 were uninfected by CMV or DaBV. Genotypes TDr 747 and TDr 1640 both showed resistance to all three viruses.