An internal pilot study of a novel rectal mucocellular sampling device to allow next-generation sequencing for colorectal disease.

Background: The ORI-EGI-02 study was designed to test the hypothesis that rectal mucus collected using a novel rectal sampling device (OriCol™), contains sufficient human deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of the required quality for Next Generation Sequencing (NGS), for colorectal disease genetic signature discovery.

Methods: Using National Institute for Health and Care Research methodology, an internal pilot study was performed in January 2020-May 2021, at four sites in the United Kingdom, to assess the process of recruitment, consent, specimen acquisition and viability for analysis. Following an OriCol test, the sample was stabilized with a buffer solution to preserve the material, which was posted to the laboratory.

Countering elevated CO induced Fe and Zn reduction in Arabidopsis seeds.

Growth at increased concentrations of CO induces a reduction in seed zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe). Using Arabidopsis thaliana, we investigated whether this could be mitigated by reducing the elevated CO -induced decrease in transpiration. We used an infrared imaging-based screen to isolate mutants in At1g08080 that encodes ALPHA CARBONIC ANHYDRASE 7 (ACA7).

Short- and Long-Term Effects of UVA on Arabidopsis Are Mediated by a Novel cGMP Phosphodiesterase.

Although UVA radiation (315-400 nm) represents 95% of the UV radiation reaching the earth's surface, surprisingly little is known about its effects on plants [1]. We show that in Arabidopsis, short-term exposure to UVA inhibits the opening of stomata, and this requires a reduction in the cytosolic level of cGMP. This process is independent of UVR8, the UVB receptor.

Transformation of Uranyl Peroxide Studtite, [(UO)(O)(HO)](HO), to Soluble Nanoscale Cage Clusters.

The dissolution behavior of uranyl peroxide studtite, [(UO)(O)(HO)](HO), was examined under a wide range of alkaline aqueous environments with and without the addition of hydrogen peroxide. In the absence of added HO, studtite dissolved in aqueous solutions with a tetraethylammonium hydroxide to uranium molar ratio greater than 0.5, and the resulting species in solution characterized by Raman spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) is the uranyl peroxide nanocluster U, [(UO)(O)(OH)].

KIN7 Kinase Regulates the Vacuolar TPK1 K Channel during Stomatal Closure.

Stomata are leaf pores that regulate CO uptake and evapotranspirational water loss. By controlling CO uptake, stomata impact on photosynthesis and dry matter accumulation. The regulation of evapotranspiration is equally important because it impacts on nutrient accumulation and leaf cooling and enables the plant to limit water loss during drought [1].