Abstract Lentinula edodes (L. edodes), which imparts various health benefits to humans, is considered a novel source of soluble dietary fiber (SDF). In this study, ultrasonic-assisted hot-water method was used to extract SDF (U-SDF) from L. edodes, and physicochemical, antioxidant and hypoglycemic properties of the U-SDF were investigated. Physicochemical properties of U-SDF showed that water solubility, water holding capacity, swelling capacity, and oil holding capacity were higher than that the SDF extracted using hot water method without ultrasonication. The DPPH, •OH, and •O2- radical clearance rates indicated that U-SDF exhibited better antioxidant activities. U-SDF also exhibited notable α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition activities. Treatment with U-SDF alleviated glucose and peroxidation metabolism disorders in vivo. Histological analysis indicated that U-SDF improved the oxidative tissue damage in diabetic mice. These results provided a theoretical basis for the development and utilization of SDF derived from L. edodes.

Abstract Zea mays L. has been the most cultivated crop and the crop with the largest yield in China since 2012. We constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library for the maize inbred line Qi319, which may be used as a key source for disease-resistant maize breeding in China. The BAC contains 270,720 clones, with an average insert size of 90 kb. The coverage of the library is about 10.43 genome equivalents when considering a haploid genome size of 2300 Mb, providing a 99.99% likelihood of isolating any maize gene or sequence in the library. An average of 12 clones were obtained by polymerase chain reaction screening by using primer pairs linked to the genes for resistance to maize southern rust and rough dwarf. The results indicate that the library can satisfy the requirements for recovering specific sequences. The library is available to researchers to whom it may be of interest.

摘要 目的 旨在调查布基纳法索在 2010 年展开的第一次全国经杀虫剂处理的蚊帐运动之后，高基线疾病传播地区的儿童疟疾是否减少。 方法 我们从 2009 和 2011 年的疟疾调查中获取了两周到 36 个月大的儿童感染恶性疟原虫寄生虫血症的患病率数据。我们通过比较 2010 年开展该运动前后努纳卫生地区的卫生管理信息系统中的数据，评估了 5 岁以下儿童的死亡率。我们分析了努纳卫生和人口监测系统中 2008 年到 2012 年间的数据。 结果 蚊帐运动与报道的经杀虫剂处理的蚊帐使用量增长相关。据报道，2009 年，73% (630/869) 的儿童睡在蚊帐中。2011 年，92% (449/487) 的儿童睡在蚊帐中。该运动对雨季后感染恶性疟原虫寄生虫血症的儿童比例没有影响；2009 年该比例为 52% (442/858)，2011 年则为 53% (263/499)。该运动开展后，疟疾病例显著增长，同时感染其它疾病的儿童数量也显著增长。该运动与儿童死亡率的变化毫无关联。 结论 布基纳法索在 2010 年开展的经杀虫剂处理的蚊帐运动与 5 岁以下儿童的疟疾求医行为或全因死亡率的降低不相关。最合理的解释是，在该运动开展前，蚊帐在研究区域的高使用率对蚊虫媒介已产生影响，因此使该运动的影响受到限制。

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Résumé Objectif Étudier si la première campagne nationale visant à utiliser des moustiquaires imprégnées d'insecticide au Burkina Faso, menée en 2010, a été suivie d'une baisse des cas de paludisme infantile dans un district ayant un taux élevé de transmission de la maladie. Méthodes Nous nous sommes procuré des données sur la prévalence de la parasitémie dePlasmodium falciparum chez les enfants âgés de 2 semaines à 36 mois à partir des enquêtes sur le paludisme menées en 2009 et 2011. Nous avons évalué la morbidité chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans en comparant les données du système d'information sanitaire du district de Nouna avant et après la campagne de 2010. Nous avons analysé les données sur la mortalité de 2008 à 2012 provenant du système de surveillance sanitaire et démographique de Nouna. Résultats La campagne pour l'utilisation de moustiquaires a été associée à une augmentation de l'utilisation de moustiquaires imprégnées d'insecticide. En 2009, d'après l'enquête menée, 73% des enfants (630/869) dormaient sous une moustiquaire. En 2011, ils étaient 92% (449/487). La campagne n'a pas eu d'effet sur la proportion de jeunes enfants présentant une parasitémie deP. falciparum après la saison des pluies: ils étaient 52% (442/858) en 2009 et 53% (263/499) en 2011. Les cas de paludisme ont sensiblement augmenté après la campagne, comme le nombre d'enfants atteints d'autres maladies. La campagne n'était associée à aucun changement de la mortalité infantile. Conclusion La campagne de 2010 pour l'utilisation de moustiquaires imprégnées d'insecticide au Burkina Faso n'a pas été associée à une diminution des consultations pour paludisme ou de la mortalité, toutes causes confondues, chez les enfants de moins de 5 ans. L'explication la plus probable est liée au taux élevé d'utilisation de moustiquaires dans la zone étudiée avant la campagne, qui pourrait avoir eu un effet sur les moustiques vecteurs de la maladie et avoir limité l'impact de la campagne.

Abstract Objective To investigate if the first national insecticide-treated bed-net campaign in Burkina Faso, done in 2010, was followed by a decrease in childhood malaria in a district with high baseline transmission of the disease. Methods We obtained data on the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparumparasitaemia in children aged 2 weeks to 36 months from malaria surveys in 2009 and 2011. We assessed morbidity in children younger than 5 years by comparing data from the Nouna health district's health management information system before and after the campaign in 2010. We analysed mortality data from 2008 to 2012 from Nouna's health and demographic surveillance system. Findings The bed-net campaign was associated with an increase in the reported use of insecticide-treated nets. In 2009, 73% (630/869) of children reportedly slept under nets. In 2011, 92% (449/487) did. The campaign had no effect on the proportion of young children with P. falciparumparasitaemia after the rainy season; 52% (442/858) in 2009 and 53% (263/499) in 2011. Cases of malaria increased markedly after the campaign, as did the number of children presenting with other diseases. The campaign was not associated with any changes in child mortality. Conclusion The 2010 insecticide-treated net campaign in Burkina Faso was not associated with a decrease in care-seeking for malaria or all-cause mortality in children younger than 5 years. The most likely explanation is the high coverage of nets in the study area before the campaign which could have had an effect on mosquito vectors, limiting the campaign's impact.

Resumen Objetivo Investigar si la primera campaña nacional de mosquiteros tratados con insecticida en Burkina Faso, que se llevó a cabo en 2010, tuvo como resultado un descenso del paludismo infantil en un distrito con una referencia elevada de transmisión de la enfermedad. Métodos Se obtuvieron datos sobre la prevalencia de parasitemia porPlasmodium falciparum en niños de edad entre las 2 semanas y los 36 meses de encuestas sobre la malaria de 2009 y 2011. Se evaluó la morbilidad en niños menores de 5 años mediante la comparación de los datos del sistema de gestión de información sanitaria del departamento de salud de Nouna antes y después de la campaña de 2010. Se analizaron los datos de mortalidad desde 2008 hasta 2012 del sistema de vigilancia sanitaria y demográfica de Nouna. Resultados La campaña de distribución de mosquiteros se relacionó con un aparente aumento del uso de redes tratadas con insecticida. En 2009, aparentemente el 73% (630/869) de los niños dormía bajo mosquiteros. En 2011, lo hacía el 92% (449/487). La campaña no tuvo efecto en la proporción de niños pequeños con parasitemia por P. falciparum después de la temporada de lluvias; el 52% (442/858) en 2009 y el 53% (263/499) en 2011. Los casos de malaria aumentaron notablemente después de la campaña, igual que lo hizo el número de niños que mostraban otras enfermedades. La campaña no se relacionó con ningún cambio en la mortalidad infantil. Conclusión La campaña de distribución de mosquiteros tratados con insecticida realizada en 2010 en Burkina Faso no estuvo relacionada con un descenso en la atención médica relacionada con la malaria o la mortalidad a causa de la misma en niños menores de 5 años. La explicación más lógica es la gran cobertura de redes en el área del estudio antes de la campaña, lo que podría haber tenido un efecto en los mosquitos vectores, limitando el impacto de la campaña.

Online auctions are one of the most effective ways of negotiation of salable goods over the internet. Software agents are increasingly being used to represent humans in online auctions. These agents can systematically monitor a wide variety of auctions and can make rapid decisions about what bids to place in what auctions. To be successful in open multi-agent environments, agents must be capable of adapting different strategies and tactics to their prevailing circumstances. This paper presents a software test-bed for studying autonomous bidding strategies in simulated auctions for procuring goods. It shows that agents’ bidding strategy explore the attitudes and behaviors that help agents to manage dynamic assessment of prices of goods given the different criteria and scenario conditions. Our agent also uses fuzzy techniques for the decisión making: to make decisions about the outcome of auctions, and to alter the agent’s bidding strategy in response to the different criteria and market conditions.

We investigated inheritance and carried out gene fine mapping of aroma in crosses between the aromatic elite hybrid rice Oryza sativa indica variety Chuanxiang-29B (Ch-29B) and the non-aromatic rice O. sativa indica variety R2 and O. sativa japonica Lemont (Le). The F1 grains and leaves were non-aromatic while the F2 non-aroma to aroma segregation pattern was 3:1. The F3 segregation ratio was consistent with the expected 1:2:1 for a single recessive aroma gene in Ch-29B. Linkage analysis between simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and the aroma locus for the aromatic F2 plants mapped the Ch-29B aroma gene to a chromosome 8 region flanked by SSR markers RM23120 at 0.52 cM and RM3459 at 1.23 cM, a replicate F2 population confirming these results. Three bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones cover chromosome 8 markers RM23120 and RM3459. Our molecular mapping data from the two populations indicated that the aroma locus occurs in a 142.85 kb interval on BAC clones AP005301 or AP005537, implying that it might be the same gene reported by Bradbury et al (2005a; Plant Biotec J. 3:363-370). The flanking markers Aro7, RM23120 and RM3459 identified by us could greatly accelerate the efficiency and precision of aromatic rice breeding programs.