scholarly journals Internal transcribed spacer primer evaluation for vascular plant metabarcoding

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Kolter ◽  
Birgit Gemeinholzer
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Continuous Quality ◽  
Dna Metabarcoding ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Continuous Quality Assurance ◽  
Biodiversity Decline ◽  
Its Primers ◽  
Mock Communities

The unprecedented ongoing biodiversity decline necessitates scalable means of monitoring in order to fully understand the underlying causes. DNA metabarcoding has the potential to provide a powerful tool for accurate and rapid biodiversity monitoring. Unfortunately, in many cases, a lack of universal standards undermines the widespread application of metabarcoding. One of the most important considerations in metabarcoding of plants, aside from selecting a potent barcode marker, is primer choice. Our study evaluates published ITS primers in silico and in vitro, through mock communities and presents newly designed primers. We were able to show that a large proportion of previously available ITS primers have unfavourable attributes. Our combined results support the recommendation of the introduced primers ITS-3p62plF1 and ITS-4unR1 as the best current universal plant specific ITS2 primer combination. We also found that PCR optimisation, such as the addition of 5% DMSO, is essential to obtain meaningful results in ITS2 metabarcoding. Finally, we conclude that continuous quality assurance is indispensable for reliable metabarcoding results.

Guidelines for teleradiology practice: Results of the Tyrolean teleradiology pilot project

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 48-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Soegner ◽  
Th Rettenbacher ◽  
A Smekal ◽  
D Zur Nedden
Keyword(s):  
Data Security ◽  
Data Exchange ◽  
District Hospital ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Technical Equipment ◽  
Medical Specialties ◽  
Continuous Quality ◽  
Global View ◽  
Continuous Quality Assurance ◽  
The University

summary The Tyrolean telemedicine pilot project linked the University Clinic of Innsbruck and the district hospital in Reutte. Five medical specialties were investigated: teleradiology, telepathology, teledermatology, tele-ophthalmology and tele-oncology. A Tyrolean ‘four-column model of quality management in telemedicine’ was introduced to ensure a global view of the project and to avoid mistakes. In teleradiology, a 12-step workflow was developed, which described the medical responsibilities at each stage. We found that the defined teleradiology workflow and the technical equipment for data security and data exchange worked without problems in over 79% of a total of 424 cases. To ensure continuous quality assurance, the whole teleradiology workflow was ISO 9001:2000 certified.

scholarly journals 2173 RNA-nanoparticles to enhance and track dendritic cell migration

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (S1) ◽  
pp. 26-26
Author(s):  
Adam J. Grippin ◽  
Elias J. Sayour ◽  
Brandon Wummer ◽  
Adam Monsalve ◽  
Tyler Wildes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Iron Oxide ◽  
Lymph Nodes ◽  
Cell Tracking ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Imaging Modality ◽  
Cationic Lipids ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Vaccine Site ◽  
Stimulatory Capacity

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Despite aggressive chemotherapy, surgical resection, and radiation therapy, glioblastoma remains almost universally fatal. In a pilot, randomized, and blinded clinical trial, we recently demonstrated that administration of RNA-loaded DC vaccines was associated with significantly improved progression-free and overall survival in patients with glioblastoma (Mitchell et al., Nature, 2015). Furthermore, clinical outcomes correlated with DC migration to vaccine-site draining lymph nodes measured by Indium-111 labeling of RNA-loaded DCs and SPECT/CT imaging. Although these studies demonstrated that tracking DC migration may be an important clinical biomarker for response to DC vaccination, the complexity and regulatory requirements associated with nuclear labelling to track DC migration limits widespread application of this technique. We have therefore developed RNA-loaded magnetic nanoparticles (RNA-NPs) to enhance DC migration to LNs and track that migration with a widely available imaging modality (i.e., MRI). METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Cationic liposomes were loaded with iron oxide nanoparticles with or without cholesterol. The resulting nanoparticles were complexed with RNA and used to transfect DCs ex vivo. RNA-NP-loaded DsRed+ DCs were then injected intradermally into mice and tracked noninvasively with T2-weighted 11T MRI before excision and quantification with flow cytometry. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In vitro experiments demonstrate that iron oxide loading does not reduce RNA-NP-mediated transfection of DCs. Additionally, replacement of cationic lipids with cholesterol increased RNA-NP transfection of the DC2.4 cell line and enhanced the T cell stimulatory capacity of treated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs). Compared to electroporation, RNA-NPs enhanced DC migration to lymph nodes and reduced T2 MRI intensity in DC-bearing lymph nodes. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: This data suggests that iron oxide-loaded RNA-NPs enable noninvasive cell tracking with MRI and enhance DC migration to lymph nodes. We have further shown that inclusion of cholesterol in RNA-NPs augments the stimulatory capacity of transfected DCs. Future work will consider effects of RNA-NPs on antitumor immune responses and the utility of MRI-detected DC migration as a biomarker of vaccine efficacy.

scholarly journals Combinatorial microfluidic droplet engineering for biomimetic material synthesis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (10) ◽  
pp. e1600567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lukmaan A. Bawazer ◽  
Ciara S. McNally ◽  
Christopher J. Empson ◽  
William J. Marchant ◽  
Tim P. Comyn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Strategy ◽  
Emulsion Droplet ◽  
Material Synthesis ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
Carrier Fluid ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
In Vitro Protein Expression ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Vitro Protein

Although droplet-based systems are used in a wide range of technologies, opportunities for systematically customizing their interface chemistries remain relatively unexplored. This article describes a new microfluidic strategy for rapidly tailoring emulsion droplet compositions and properties. The approach uses a simple platform for screening arrays of droplet-based microfluidic devices and couples this with combinatorial selection of the droplet compositions. Through the application of genetic algorithms over multiple screening rounds, droplets with target properties can be rapidly generated. The potential of this method is demonstrated by creating droplets with enhanced stability, where this is achieved by selecting carrier fluid chemistries that promote titanium dioxide formation at the droplet interfaces. The interface is a mixture of amorphous and crystalline phases, and the resulting composite droplets are biocompatible, supporting in vitro protein expression in their interiors. This general strategy will find widespread application in advancing emulsion properties for use in chemistry, biology, materials, and medicine.

Oxidation products of α- and β-amyrins: potential tracers of abiotic degradation of vascular-plant organic matter in aquatic environments

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 732 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.-A. Galeron ◽  
F. Vaultier ◽  
J.-F. Rontani
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Degradation Products ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Oxidation Products ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Rhône River ◽  
Abiotic Degradation ◽  
Suspended Particulate ◽  
Rhone River

Environmental contextHow can we know what happens to organic matter in aquatic environments? Although several compounds exist that can be used to trace the origin and state of organic matter, not many are sufficiently stable and specific to trace degradation processes, but α- and β-amyrins can fulfil that role. Such knowledge will help us better understand and better quantify carbon fluxes in riverine and marine environments. AbstractIn order to fulfil the current need for stable and specific tracers to monitor vascular-plant organic matter degradation in aquatic environments, α-amyrin (urs-12-en-3β-ol) and β-amyrin (olean-12-en-3β-ol) were oxidised in vitro and their abiotic degradation products quantified in environmental samples from the Rhône River in France. Although they appear inert to photooxidation, they are clearly affected by autoxidation and the tracer potential of the resulting products was confirmed. Autoxidation of α- and β-amyrins produces urs or olean-12-en-3-one, 3β-hydroxy-urs or olean-12-en-11-one, urs or olean-12-en-3β,11α-diol and urs or olean-12-en-3,11-dione. 3β-Hydroxy-urs-12-en-11-one and 3β-hydroxy-olean-12-en-11-one, the main oxidation products detected, were selected as autoxidation tracers. These compounds, specific to autoxidation, were detected in dry leaves of Smilax aspera and in suspended particulate matter samples collected in the Rhône River and evidenced the importance of autoxidation in the degradation of organic matter of terrestrial origin.

A National Network of University Affiliated Facilities for Interdisciplinary Training, Exemplary Service, Dissemination, and Research for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

1986 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 232-239
Author(s):  
Melvyn I. Semmel ◽  
Jean K. Elder
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Evaluation System ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Current Status ◽  
National Network ◽  
Unique Character ◽  
Continuous Quality ◽  
History Of ◽  
History Of The University ◽  
Continuous Quality Assurance

The unique character and history of the University Affiliated Facilities (UAF) grant program, monitored by the Administration on Developmental Disabilities (ADD), necessitates a comprehensive evaluation system designed for continuous quality assurance. The current ADD peer review system which led to the invitations to the UAFs represented in this issue of JASH is described. Each UAF received a 3-year ADD grant award after being judged exemplary in one or more programmatic facets of the federally mandated Developmental Disabilities Act of 1984 (P.L. 98-527). The article discusses the current status of UAF programs and considers selective, pressing issues confronting the network resulting from contemporary social, legal, and professional expectations related to the needs and rights of persons with developmental disabilities.

Quantitating carbon monoxide production from heme by vascular plant preparations in vitro

2011 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendrik J. Vreman ◽  
Ronald J. Wong ◽  
David K. Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Vascular Plant

Hand-made cloning approach: potentials and limitations

2005 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 97 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Vajta ◽  
P. M. Kragh ◽  
N. R. Mtango ◽  
H. Callesen
Keyword(s):  
Somatic Cell ◽  
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Technical Problem ◽  
Domestic Animals ◽  
Widespread Application ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Common ◽  
Biological Problem

Two major drawbacks hamper the advancement of somatic cell nuclear transfer in domestic animals. The first is a biological problem that has been studied extensively by many scientists and from many viewpoints, including the cell, molecular and developmental biology, morphology, biochemistry and tissue culture. The second is a technical problem that may be responsible for 50% or more of quantitative and/or qualitative failures of routine cloning experiments and is partially the result of the demanding and complicated procedure. However, even the relatively rare documented efforts focusing on technique are usually restricted to details and accept the principles of the micromanipulator-based approach, with its inherent limitations. Over the past decade, a small alternative group of procedures, called hand-made cloning (HMC), has emerged that has the common feature of removal of the zona pellucida prior to enucleation and fusion, resulting in a limited (or no) requirement for micromanipulators. The benefits of HMC are low equipment costs, a simple and rapid procedure and an in vitro efficiency comparable with or higher than that of traditional nuclear transfer. Embryos created by the zona-free techniques can be cryopreserved and, although data are still sparse, are capable of establishing pregnancies and resulting in the birth of calves. Hand-made cloning may also open the way to partial or full automation of somatic cell nuclear transfer. Consequently, the zona- and micromanipulator-free approach may become a useful alternative to traditional cloning, either in special situations or generally for the standardisation and widespread application of somatic cell nuclear transfer.

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