The transcriptomic landscape of normal and ineffective erythropoiesis at single-cell resolution.

The anemias of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) are generally macrocytic and always reflect ineffective erythropoiesis yet result from diverse genetic mutations. To delineate shared mechanisms that lead to cell death, we studied the fate of single erythroid marrow cells from individuals with DBA or MDS-5q. We defined an unhealthy (vs healthy) differentiation trajectory using transcriptional pseudotime and cell surface proteins.

Novel metrics for quantifying bacterial genome composition skews.

Background: Bacterial genomes have characteristic compositional skews, which are differences in nucleotide frequency between the leading and lagging DNA strands across a segment of a genome. It is thought that these strand asymmetries arise as a result of mutational biases and selective constraints, particularly for energy efficiency. Analysis of compositional skews in a diverse set of bacteria provides a comparative context in which mutational and selective environmental constraints can be studied.

Whole genome sequence and comparative analysis of Borrelia burgdorferi MM1.

Lyme disease is caused by spirochaetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato genospecies. Complete genome assemblies are available for fewer than ten strains of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, the primary cause of Lyme disease in North America. MM1 is a sensu stricto strain originally isolated in the midwestern United States.

Printing your own inkjet microarrays.

DNA arrays are now the tools of choice for high-throughput DNA/RNA analysis. While many technologies exist for mass-producing arrays, there are just a few ways to economically produce small batches of custom oligonucleotide arrays for prototyping experiments and specialized applications. Inkjet printing, adapted from the world of office electronics to the world of molecular biology, is one such method.

Maximum static inspiratory and expiratory pressures with different lung volumes.

Background: Maximum pressures developed by the respiratory muscles can indicate the health of the respiratory system, help to determine maximum respiratory flow rates, and contribute to respiratory power development. Past measurements of maximum pressures have been found to be inadequate for inclusion in some exercise models involving respiration.

Methods: Maximum inspiratory and expiratory airway pressures were measured over a range of lung volumes in 29 female and 19 male adults.

Effects of caffeine on performance of low intensity tasks.

31 college age men and women who consume less than three caffeinated beverages per week agreed to participate as subjects in research on the effects of acute caffeine intake on low intensity task performance. All subjects performed two randomly administered test conditions: (1) caffeine (5 mg/kg) and (2) placebo on separate visits following an initial 1-hr. orientation visit.