Efficient and Rapid Analysis of Polysomes and Ribosomal Subunits in Cells and Tissues Using Ribo Mega-SEC

Polysome profile analysis is a popular method for separating polysomes and ribosomal subunits and is typically achieved using a sucrose density gradient (SDG). This has remained the gold standard method since ribosomes were first discovered; however, this method is time-consuming and requires multiple steps from making the gradient and long ultracentrifugation to collecting and analyzing the fractions. Each of these steps in the SDG workflow can introduce potential technical variation that affects the reproducibility of gradient profiles between samples. To address these limitations, we have developed a flexible, alternative approach for analyzing polysomes and ribosomal subunits based on size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), termed ‘Ribo Mega-SEC.’ In comparison with the SDG method, Ribo Mega-SEC involves a single step using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (uHPLC). The entire workflow, from injecting the lysate to collecting the fractions, can be performed in as little as 15 min, with high reproducibility. By varying the pore size of the SEC column, polysomes and ribosomal subunits can be separated using extracts from either human or mouse cultured cell lines or from tissue samples, Drosophila embryos, or budding yeast. The resulting separated fractions are suitable for analysis using a wide range of subsequent analytical techniques including mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics, RNA-Seq, electron microscopy (EM), and multiple biochemical assays

Intravenous Leiomyomatosis

Leiomyomas are benign tumors arising from smooth muscle of the uterus. Intravenous leiomyomatosis is characterized by intraluminal growth of benign smooth muscle into either venous or lymphatic vessels outside the limits of myoma. It commonly extends into the pelvic veins and manifests asworm-like protrusions of tumor emanating from veins at the parametrial margins of hysterectomy specimen. The tumor can cause life-threatening symptoms if it involves inferior vena cava or right atrium. We report a case of intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus managed at our institution.Keywords: Intravenous leiomyomatosis, myometrium, uteru

Genogroup I picobirnavirus in diarrhoeic foals: Can the horse serve as a natural reservoir for human infection?

Picobirnaviruses (PBV) are small, non-enveloped viruses with a bisegmented double-stranded RNA genome. In this study a PBV strain, PBV/Horse/India/BG-Eq-3/2010, was identified in the faeces of a 10 month old weaned female foal with diarrhoea in January 2010 from Kolkata, India. Surprisingly, sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis of a short stretch of the RNA dependent RNA polymerase gene revealed close genetic relatedness (> 98% nucleotide identity) to a human genogroup I PBV strain (Hu/GPBV1) detected earlier from the same part of India. Our observations together with earlier findings on genetic relatedness between human and animal PBV warrant further studies on zoonotic potential

Rain attenuation on satellite communication links

Tropical countries like Singapore experience high rainfall rate all year round. As such it is essential to ensure that satellite links are kept reliable under these adverse conditions. Effects due to rain can greatly degrade the signal and link performance, especially under heavy rainfall condition. This project aims to study the effects of rain on satellite communication links. Prior to analysis of rain attenuation, other effects affecting the signal quality had to be removed. One of the effects to be considered was scintillation. Another key aspect to be considered was the Low-noise Block downconverter (LNB) gain variation. Effects of rainfall and temperature attenuation on the signal were also analysed. This analysis was performed with the aid of MATLAB which was used to process the data from the beacon receiver and the weather station. This report elaborates the methodology used in suppressing scintillation using appropriate filtering techniques and LNB gain variation on the received signal during post-processing. The results will show the optimum parameters to be used to achieve the project goals.Bachelor of Engineerin

Understanding gifted adolescents in Singapore : a Dabrowskian perspective

The purpose of the study was to provide a framework for understanding the characteristics of the intellectually gifted adolescents in Singapore based on Dabrowski's (1996) overexcitabilities (OEs). As OEs highlight the heightened sensitivity and intensity of the gifted, they serve as an appropriate framework for analyzing and understanding the gifted adolescents' affective needs (Piechowski, 1997; Ackerman, 1997a). Gifted pupils (n=240) from Secondary One to Four formed the gifted sample. Of these 240 gifted pupils, data from 60 Secondary Two and Three pupils were used in a comparison analyses. The comparison group was made up of 60 Secondary Two and Three pupils from the mainstream, who were classified as "non-gifted" for the purpose of this study. All the subjects completed the 50-item Likert-scale Overexcitability Questionnaire-Two (OEQII).Master of Educatio

THE COLOURED PROGRESSIVE MATRICES : SINGAPOREAN NORMING AND PREDICTIVE VALIDITY STUDY

Bachelor'sBACHELOR OF SOCIAL SCIENCES (HONOURS

Diffusion channels for broccoli storage

This thesis focuses on diffusion channel design for broccoli storage, an important cash crop and consumer commodity in Canada. Experiments were first conducted to determine the respiration rate of broccoli in modified atmosphere conditions created by the produce metabolic activity inside closed chambers, at four different temperatures in the cold room of 3, 7, 13, and 24$sp circ$C. The respiration rate decreased with a reduction of O$sb2$ concentration inside the chamber. A model to predict the respiration rate of broccoli as a function of O$sb2$ concentration at different temperatures was developed. Experiments were then carried out to determine the cross sectional area and length of diffusion channel leading to various final O$sb2$ (steady-state) concentrations during the storage of broccoli. Combinations of cross sectional area of 0.04, 0.18, and 1.15 cm$sp2$ and length of 0.6, 3, 7, 12, 18, and 25 cm were tested. The carbon dioxide produced through respiratory process was absorbed by placing hydrated lime inside the chambers such that the two-component molecular diffusion model by Ratti et al. (1993) could be evaluated. The length and cross sectional area of diffusion channel have a significant effect on the final level of O$sb2$ (steady-state) concentration. The Ratti model then served as a basis for a modified model for predicting the length of diffusion channel required to obtain a given O$sb2$ concentration as a function of the mass of stored broccoli and the cross sectional area of the diffusion channel. (Abstract shortened by UMI.