CRISPR-Cas9 and CRISPR-Cpf1 mediated targeting of a stomatal developmental gene EPFL9 in rice.

CRISPR-Cas9/Cpf1 system with its unique gene targeting efficiency, could be an important tool for functional study of early developmental genes through the generation of successful knockout plants. The introduction and utilization of systems biology approaches have identified several genes that are involved in early development of a plant and with such knowledge a robust tool is required for the functional validation of putative candidate genes thus obtained. The development of the CRISPR-Cas9/Cpf1 genome editing system has provided a convenient tool for creating loss of function mutants for genes of interest.

Quantitative analysis of the patellofemoral motion pattern using semi-automatic processing of 4D CT data.

Purpose: To present a semi-automatic method with minimal user interaction for quantitative analysis of the patellofemoral motion pattern.

Methods: 4D CT data capturing the patellofemoral motion pattern of a continuous flexion and extension were collected for five patients prone to patellar luxation both pre- and post-surgically. For the proposed method, an observer would place landmarks in a single 3D volume, which then are automatically propagated to the other volumes in a time sequence.

Sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction of low-dose chest CT: effect on image quality and radiation dose.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study is to compare sinogram-affirmed iterative reconstruction (SAFIRE) and filtered back projection (FBP) reconstruction of chest CT acquired with 65% radiation dose reduction. MATERIALS AND METHODS.

Developing a strategy for studying critical thinking in a nurse telehealth setting: a participatory approach.

Telehealth nursing is a specialized area of nursing practice that has grown in response to the emergence of new technologies and consumer demand for health care services in the community. HealthLinkBC Nursing Services provides symptom triage and health education to residents of British Columbia and Yukon over the phone. Unlike traditional nursing care, telenurses are limited in terms of information they receive from callers.