Multiplexing LAMP Assays: A Methodological Review and Diagnostic Application.

The loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique is a great alternative to PCR-based methods, as it is fast, easy to use and works with high sensitivity and specificity without the need for expensive instruments. However, one of the limitations of LAMP is difficulty in achieving the simultaneous detection of several targets in a single tube, as the methodologies that allow this rely on fluorogenic probes containing specific target sequences, complicating their adaptation and the optimization of assays. Here, we summarize different methods for the development of multiplex LAMP assays based on sequence-specific detection, illustrated with a schematic representation of the technique, and evaluate their practical application based on the real-time detection and quantification of results, the possibility to visualize the results at a glance, the prior stabilization of reaction components, promoting the point-of-care use, the maximum number of specific targets amplified, and the validation of the technique in clinical samples. The various LAMP multiplexing methodologies differ in their operating conditions and mechanism. Each methodology has its advantages and disadvantages, and the choice among them will depend on specific application interests.

Applying the economic concept of profitability to leaves.

Economic principles can be extended to biological organisms as they optimize the use of resources, but their use in biology has been limited. We applied concepts from traditional economics to the main production unit of plants, the leaf. We quantified the profitability (profit/cost of investment) of leaves from seven biomes worldwide and compared those to the profitability of companies. Here we demonstrate for the first time key similarities and differences between leaf and human economics. First, there was a weak, but positive relationship between profitability and size, both for leaves and companies. Second, environment has a strong effect on profitability, with high values in leaves from biomes with short growth periods and, for companies associated with innovation. Third, shorter longevity of productive units was related to higher profitability. In summary, by comparing economic behaviours of plants and humans there is potential to develop new perspectives on plant ecological strategies and plant evolution.

Linking functional traits with tree growth and forest productivity in Quercus ilex forests along a climatic gradient.

Plant functional traits are highly plastic to changes in climatic factors and nutrient availability. However, the intraspecific plant response to abiotic factors and the overall effect on tree growth and productivity is still under debate. We studied forest productivity for 30 Quercus ilex subsp. ballota forests in Spain along a broad climatic gradient of aridity (mean annual precipitation from 321 to 858 mm). We used linear mixed models to quantify the effect of climatic and edaphic (soil nutrients, topography, and texture) factors on tree functional traits (leaf and branch traits), and subsequently, the effect of such functional traits and abiotic factors on the relative growth rate (RGR) of adult trees. We used piecewise structural equation models (SEMs) to determine the causal effect of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on forest productivity. Our results showed that tree functional traits were mainly explained by climatic and edaphic factors. Functional traits and tree biomass explained forest biomass and RGR, respectively, which ultimately explained forest productivity. In conclusion, intraspecific variability of functional traits has a significant effect on plant biomass and growth, which ultimately may explain forest productivity in Quercus ilex forests.

EMG Characterization and Processing in Production Engineering.

Electromyography (EMG) signals are biomedical signals that measure electrical currents generated during muscle contraction. These signals are strongly influenced by physiological and anatomical characteristics of the muscles and represent the neuromuscular activities of the human body. The evolution of EMG analysis and acquisition techniques makes this technology more reliable for production engineering applications, overcoming some of its inherent issues. Taking as an example, the fatigue monitoring of workers as well as enriched human-machine interaction (HMI) systems used in collaborative tasks are now possible with this technology. The main objective of this research is to evaluate the current implementation of EMG technology within production engineering, its weaknesses, opportunities, and synergies with other technologies, with the aim of developing more natural and efficient HMI systems that could improve the safety and productivity within production environments.

Spatial heterogeneity of soil biochar content affects soil quality and wheat growth and yield.

Biochar (BC) is a carbonaceous material obtained by pyrolysis of organic waste materials and has been proposed as a soil management strategy to mitigate global warming and to improve crop productivity. Once BC has been applied to the soil, its imperfect and incomplete mixing with soil during the first few years and the standard agronomic practices (i.e. tillage, sowing) may generate spatial heterogeneity of the BC content in the soil, which may have implications for soil properties and their effects on plant growth. We investigated how, after two agronomic seasons, the spatial heterogeneity of olive-tree prunings BC applied to a vertisol affected soil characteristics and wheat growth and yield. During the second agronomic season and just before wheat germination, we determined the BC content in the soil by an in-situ visual categorization based on the soil darkening, which was strongly correlated to the BC content of the soil and the soil brightness. We found a high spatial heterogeneity in the BC plots, which affected soil characteristics and wheat growth and yield. Patches with high BC content showed reduced soil compaction and increased soil moisture, pH, electrical conductivity, and nutrient availability (P, Ca, K, Mn, Fe, and Zn); consequently, wheat had greater tillering and higher relative growth rate and grain yield. However, if the spatial heterogeneity of the soil BC content had not been taken into account in the data analysis, most of the effects of BC on wheat growth would not have been detected. Our study reveals the importance of taking into account the spatial heterogeneity of the BC content.

Leaf Mass per Area (LMA) and Its Relationship with Leaf Structure and Anatomy in 34 Mediterranean Woody Species along a Water Availability Gradient.

Leaf mass per area (LMA) is a morphological trait widely used as a good indicator of plant functioning (i.e. photosynthetic and respiratory rates, chemical composition, resistance to herbivory, etc.). The LMA can be broken down into the leaf density (LD) and leaf volume to area ratio (LVA or thickness), which in turn are determined by anatomical tissues and chemical composition. The aim of this study is to understand the anatomical and chemical characteristics related to LMA variation in species growing in the field along a water availability gradient. We determined LMA and its components (LD, LVA and anatomical tissues) for 34 Mediterranean (20 evergreen and 14 deciduous) woody species. Variation in LMA was due to variation in both LD and LVA. For both deciduous and evergreen species LVA variation was strongly and positively related with mesophyll volume per area (VA or thickness), but for evergreen species positive relationships of LVA with the VA of epidermis, vascular plus sclerenchyma tissues and air spaces were found as well. The leaf carbon concentration was positively related with mesophyll VA in deciduous species, and with VA of vascular plus sclerenchymatic tissues in evergreens. Species occurring at the sites with lower water availability were generally characterised by a high LMA and LD.