Solvent-selective routing for centrifugally automated solid-phase purification of RNA

The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-014-1477-9.We present a disc-based module for rotationally controlled solid-phase purification of RNA from cell lysate. To this end, multi-stage routing of a sequence of aqueous and organic liquids into designated waste and elution reservoirs is implemented by a network of strategically placed, solvent-selective composite valves. Using a bead-based stationary phase at the entrance of the router, we show that total RNA is purified with high integrity from cultured MCF7 and T47D cell lines, human leucocytes and Haemophilus influenzae cell lysates. Furthermore, we demonstrate the broad applicability of the device through the in vitro amplification of RNA purified on-disc using RT-PCR and NASBA. Our novel router will be at the pivot of a forthcoming, fully integrated and automated sample preparation system for RNA-based analysis.Peer reviewe

Applying th e Agent Metaph or to Learning Content Management Systems and Learning Object Repositories Christophe r Brooks, Scott Bate man, Gord McCalla, Ji m Gre e

This pape r pre se nts a syste ms appr ach t facilitat e e ffe ctive le arning bje ct acquisiti n thr ugh the use f c mmunicati n s, m de ling, and the age nt me taph r. By changing the e mphasis that is usually place d n me tadata cre ati n and inte rpre tati n (which can be pr ble matic) we in ste ad f cus n the pragmatics f e nd use data facilitate d thr ugh age n t ne g tiati n