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Abstract Probe and primer design for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection can be very challenging for A-T DNA-rich targets, requiring long sequences with lower specificity and stability, while G-C-rich DNA targets present limited design options to lower GC-content sequences only. We have developed the MGB Eclipsee™ Probe System, which is composed of the following elements: MGB Eclipse probes and primers, specially developed software for the design of probes and primers, a unique set of modified bases and a Microsoft Excel macro for automated genotyping, which ably solves, in large part, this challenge. Fluorogenic MGB Eclipse probes are modified oligo-nucleotides containing covalently attached duplex-stabilising dihydrocyclopyrroloindole tripeptide (DPI3), the MGB ligand (MGB™ is a trademark of Epoch Biosciences, Bothell, WA), which has the combined properties of allowing the use of short sequences and providing great mismatch discrimination. The MGB moiety prevents probe degradation during polymerase chain reaction (PCR), allowing the researcher to use real time data; alternatively, hybridisation can be accurately measured by a post-PCR two-colour melt curve analysis. Using MGB Eclipse probes and primers containing modified bases further enhances the analysis of difficult SNP targets. G- or C-rich sequences can be refractory to analysis due to Hoogsteen base pairing. Substitution of normal G with Epoch's modified G prevents Hoogsteen base pairing, allowing both superior PCR and probe-based analysis of GC-rich targets. The use of modified A and T bases allows better stabilisation by significantly increasing the Tm of the oligonucleotides. Modified A creates A-T base pairs that have a stability slightly lower than a G-C base pair, and modified T creates T-A base pairs that have a stability about 30 per cent higher than the unmodified base pair. Together, the modified bases permit the use of short probes, providing good mismatch discrimination and primers that allow PCR of refractory targets. The combination of MGB Eclipse probes and primers enriched with the MGB ligand and modified bases has allowed the analysis of refractory SNPs, where other methods have failed.

The aim of our research was to study parents' perception of SDF use for caries treatment in children. The cross-sectional survey was organized among 154 parents of children aged 1-6 years. The parents' knowledge and experience in receiving SDF treatment for children, their opinion on the advantages and disadvantages of SDF use for caries treatment, their satisfaction with SDF treatment were analyzed. SciStat.com software was used for statistics, proportions (%) and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were calculated; the differences were assessed by Chi-square test at p-value < 0.05. The analysis of the obtained data revealed that most parents were poorly informed (57.1%) or uninformed (9.7%) about SDF use for caries treatment in children. Only 40.3% parents mentioned dentists as the source of information. Parental acceptance of SDF application for primary teeth was 27.9%. The parents declared that dentists rarely explain positive and negative aspects of the SDF. Many parents did not know the advantages and disadvantages of SDF. Meanwhile, 42.2% of the parents considered black color of caries lesions caused by SDF application as its main drawback. Only 17.5% of the parents reported that their own children received caries treatment with SDF application. Among them 18.5% were satisfied with this treatment completely, 48.1% partly, and 33.3% were unsatisfied. Insufficient awareness of the parents about caries treatment with SDF use is an important barrier for its implementation. The darkening of caries lesions was the main drawback of SDF use and the leading cause of the parental incompliance with SDF treatment for their children. Clinical article [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the development of organic semiconductor and passive material formulations optimized for photolithographic integration using existing photo-resist materials and technology. These materials can be coated and patterned to produce organic thin-film transistors suitable for integration into mass production processes with charge carrier mobility of greater than 2 cm2/Vs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrate the co-development of organic semiconductors, passive materials and formulations with process optimization to enable the manufacture of high performance Organic Thin Film Transistor (OTFT) arrays suitable for mass production of printable display backplanes. These materials can be printed or coated to fabricate top and bottom gate OTFT's with charge carrier mobility greater than amorphous silicon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]