Implementation of an Automated High-Throughput Plasmid DNA Production Pipeline.

Biologics sample management facilities are often responsible for a diversity of large-molecule reagent types, such as DNA, RNAi, and protein libraries. Historically, the management of large molecules was dispersed into multiple laboratories. As methodologies to support pathway discovery, antibody discovery, and protein production have become high throughput, the implementation of automation and centralized inventory management tools has become important.

Public health response to a measles outbreak in a large correctional facility, Queensland, 2013.

This report documents the prompt, co-ordinated and effective public health response to a measles outbreak in Queensland in 2013. There were 17 cases in a large, high-security, regional correctional facility, a setting with unique challenges. Recommendations are provided to reduce the likelihood and magnitude of measles outbreaks in correctional facilities.

Measuring Maturity of Use for Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) in British Columbia: The Physician Information Technology Office (PITO).

This article examines British Columbia (BC)'s Physician Information Technology Office's efforts to measure and improve the use of electronic medical records (EMRs) by select practices in BC with an assessment of their progress using a maturity model, and targeted support. The follow-up assessments showed substantial increases in the physicians' scores resulting from action plans that comprised a series of tailored support activities. Specifically, there was an increase from 21% to 83% of physicians who could demonstrate that they used their EMRs as the principal method of record-keeping.

Synthesis of open-shell, bimetallic Mn/Fe trinuclear clusters.

Concomitant deprotonation and metalation of hexadentate ligand platform (tbs)LH6 ((tbs)LH6 = 1,3,5-C6H9(NHC6H4-o-NHSiMe2(t)Bu)3) with divalent transition metal starting materials Fe2(Mes)4 (Mes = mesityl) or Mn3(Mes)6 in the presence of tetrahydrofuran (THF) resulted in isolation of homotrinuclear complexes ((tbs)L)Fe3(THF) and ((tbs)L)Mn3(THF), respectively. In the absence of coordinating solvent (THF), the deprotonation and metalation exclusively afforded dinuclear complexes of the type ((tbs)LH2)M2 (M = Fe or Mn). The resulting dinuclear species were utilized as synthons to prepare bimetallic trinuclear clusters.

The clinical relevance of neuroplasticity in corticostriatal networks during operant learning.

Dopamine and glutamate serve crucial functions in neural plasticity, learning and memory, and addiction. Contemporary theories contend that these two, widely-distributed neurotransmitter systems play an integrative role in motivational and associative information processing. Combined signaling of these systems, particularly through the dopamine (DA) D1 and glutamate (Glu) N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDAR), triggers critical intracellular signaling cascades that lead to changes in chromatin structure, gene expression, synaptic plasticity, and ultimately behavior.

How to cool a burn: a heat transfer point of view.

The objective of this work is to develop and validate a numerical model that can conduct a transient analysis of heat transfer and the corresponding damage in skin burns. Once this model is developed, an examination of the effect of cooling on reducing damage from skin burns is carried out. A finite element numerical model is used to simulate the conduction of heat and the transient progress of irreversible injury in the skin.

Kinetics and solvent-dependent thermodynamics of water capture by a fullerene-based hydrophobic nanocavity.

Kinetic and thermodynamic properties of water encapsulation from organic solution by an open-cage [60]fullerene derivative have been investigated. 2D exchange NMR spectroscopy (EXSY) measurements were employed to determine the association and dissociation constants at 300-330 K (k(a) = 4.3 M(-1) × s(-1) and k(d) = 0.

Gustatory insular cortex lesions disrupt drug-induced, but not lithium chloride-induced, suppression of conditioned stimulus intake.

Rats suppress intake of a normally preferred 0.15% saccharin conditioned stimulus (CS) when it is paired with an aversive agent like lithium chloride (LiCl) or a preferred substance such as sucrose or a drug of abuse. The reward comparison hypothesis suggests that rats avoid intake of a saccharin cue following pairings with a drug of abuse because the rats are anticipating the availability of the rewarding properties of the drug.

Heroin self-administration: I. Incubation of goal-directed behavior in rats.

This study used heroin self-administration to investigate incubation of goal-directed heroin-seeking behavior following abstinence. Male Sprague-Dawley rats self-administered heroin on a fixed ratio 10 (FR10) schedule of reinforcement with licking of an empty spout serving as the operant behavior during 14 daily 3 h sessions. After this acquisition period, all rats received a 90 min extinction session following either 1 day or 14 days of home cage abstinence.

Glutamate-mediated plasticity in corticostriatal networks: role in adaptive motor learning.

Little is known about how memories of new voluntary motor actions, also known as procedural memory, are formed at the molecular level. Our work examining acquisition of lever-pressing for food in rats has shown that activation of glutamate NMDA receptors, within broadly distributed but interconnected regions (e.g.

Appetitive instrumental learning requires coincident activation of NMDA and dopamine D1 receptors within the medial prefrontal cortex.

Through its complex role in cognition, memory, and emotion, the mammalian prefrontal cortex is thought to contribute to the organization of adaptive behavioral actions. In the present studies we examined the role of dopaminergic D1 and glutamatergic NMDA receptors within the prefrontal cortex of the rat during the development of adaptive instrumental learning. Hungry rats with bilateral indwelling cannulas aimed at the medial prefrontal cortex were trained to lever-press for food.

Appetitive instrumental learning is impaired by inhibition of cAMP-dependent protein kinase within the nucleus accumbens.

The medium spiny neurons of the nucleus accumbens receive a unique convergence of dopaminergic and glutamatergic inputs from regions associated with motivational, cognitive, and sensory processes. Long-term forms of plasticity in the nucleus accumbens associated with such processes as appetitive learning and drug addiction may require coactivation of both dopamine D1 and glutamate N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. This notion implies that an intracellular mechanism is likely to be involved in these long-term neuroadaptive processes.

Sensitization of the tail-flick reflex following exposure to either a single prolonged test trial or behavioral testing under the analgesic influence of morphine.

Although the tail-flick response to radiant heat is widely used in nociceptive research, there are indications that this benchmark test possesses some undesirable characteristics. Of present concern is the possibility that the supra-threshold stimuli associated with behavioral testing while under the influence of an effective hypoalgesic manipulation can alter subsequent tail-flick responses. To examine the effects of supra-threshold heating of the tail, we exposed anesthetized rats to either (1) manual restraint of the tail during a single tail-flick trial to a 5- or 7-sec cut-off, or (2) testing while under the analgesic effects of morphine (5 mg/kg/ml).