Flexibility and Adaptation: Key Elements for Preserving Research Continuity During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Limiting the spread of the coronavirus by social-distancing has eclipsed nearly all normal daily activities and routines. Healthcare services for those with COVID-19 and protection of vulnerable populations have escalated exponentially. State and local governments are mandating closure of non-essential businesses while classifying operations of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies as essential. Education of students at all levels is, for the most part, virtual across the U.S

Myo/Nog Cells: The Jekylls and Hydes of the Lens

Herein, we review a unique and versatile lineage composed of Myo/Nog cells that may be beneficial or detrimental depending on their environment and nature of the pathological stimuli they are exposed to. While we will focus on the lens, related Myo/Nog cell behaviors and functions in other tissues are integrated into the narrative of our research that spans over three decades, examines multiple species and progresses from early stages of embryonic development to aging adults. Myo/Nog cells were discovered in the embryonic epiblast by their co-expression of the skeletal muscle-specific transcription factor MyoD, the bone morphogenetic protein inhibitor Noggin and brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1. They were tracked from the epiblast into the developing lens, revealing heterogeneity of cell types within this structure. Depletion of Myo/Nog cells in the epiblast results in eye malformations arising from the absence of Noggin. In the adult lens, Myo/Nog cells are the source of myofibroblasts whose contractions produce wrinkles in the capsule. Eliminating this population within the rabbit lens during cataract surgery reduces posterior capsule opacification to below clinically significant levels. Parallels are drawn between the therapeutic potential of targeting Myo/Nog cells to prevent fibrotic disease in the lens and other ocular tissues

Tracking and ablating subpopulations of epiblast cells in the chick embryo

The early chick embryo contains subpopulations of cells that express lineage-specific transcription factors. We have developed protocols to examine the role of these cells during development that involve labeling them for cell tracking purposes and ablating them within the epiblast. The procedures take advantage of the fact that subpopulations of epiblast cells differentially express cell surface antigens recognized by monoclonal antibodies. Embryos are removed from the shell and incubated on the yolk with an antibody. Cells that bind the antibody are either tagged with a fluorescent secondary antibody or lysed with complement. For long-term analyses, embryos are returned to a host shell and placed in an incubator. This method of whole embryo manipulation ex-ovo and incubation in-ovo supports normal development into the fetal period

DNA Dendrimers Localize Myod mRNA in Presomitic Tissues of the Chick Embryo

MyoD expression is thought to be induced in somites in response to factors released by surrounding tissues; however, reverse transcription-PCR and cell culture analyses indicate that myogenic cells are present in the embryo before somite formation. Fluorescently labeled DNA dendrimers were used to identify MyoD expressing cells in presomitic tissues in vivo. Subpopulations of MyoD positive cells were found in the segmental plate, epiblast, mesoderm, and hypoblast. Directly after laying, the epiblast of the two layered embryo contained ∼20 MyoD positive cells. These results demonstrate that dendrimers are precise and sensitive reagents for localizing low levels of mRNA in tissue sections and whole embryos, and that cells with myogenic potential are present in the embryo before the initiation of gastrulation

Hand Operated Tabletop Letterpress Assembly Instructions 1.0

A group of RIT Mechanical Engineering students spent the 2014-2015 academic year in their senior design class collaborating with the RIT Cary Graphic Arts Collection to design and fabricate a 21st century hand-operated platen press. The press that was designed during this engineering exercise met several requirements: be under 30 lbs fit in a 24 inch square table top space be manufactured with a majority of components which could be purchased from a standard parts supplier be able to print with commonly manufactured ink rollers, ink, letterpress chases, spacing and furniture the platen and packing had to be adjustable to accommodate many thicknesses of substrates the press had to accommodate vintage metal and wood type, as well as modern relief and polymer plates the quailty of the prints had to match excellent printing that could be obtained with vintage platen presses The Cary Collection offers the the students\u27 parts list, drawings, and assembly instructions under a Creative Commons license. The parts and limited machining time is estimated to be about $600. The Cary Collection assumes no liability in the resulting presses made using these documents; we are merely sharing scholarly work of a student group to the greater printing community

Estate planning: important changes in tax law

https://egrove.olemiss.edu/dl_dhs/1052/thumbnail.jp