A versatile microrespirometer for routine use

A new design of microrespirometer suitable for routine laboratory work has been described.     

A versatile vector system for multiple gene expression in plants

Today, cloning vectors that have been specifically designed to facilitate the fusion, overexpression or down-regulation of a variety of genes in plant cells are available from various sources. In most cases, their basic design allows the cloning of a single target gene, typically under a specific promoter, in parallel with the expression of selection and/or marker genes from the same vector. However, new and versatile systems now exist that expand the user's choice to a large number of promoters and terminators, and various autofluorescent tags confer the ability to express multiple genes from a single transformation vector.     

A method of remote physiological monitoring of a fully mobile primate in a single animal cage

A system was designed to allow the physiological monitoring of a fully mobile, unstressed baboon (Papio anubis) in a single animal cage for the purpose of measuring the changes occurring in a hyperbaric environment. It was required to operate for at least three months, both inside a pressure chamber and outside, and to measure the following parameters: electroencephalogram (EEG, three channels), electrooculogram (EOG), electromyelogram (EMG, two channels), electrocardiogram (ECG), arterial blood pressure, respiration and body temperature. Also in the system were catheters through which blood samples could be taken and intravenous drugs given. The overall system consisted of a harness and jacket, an umbilical and back pack, a combined electrical and fluid transmission swivel and a monitoring implant and catheters.     

A new and versatile reagent for incorporating multiple primary aliphatic amines into synthetic oligonucleotides.

A novel and versatile phosphoramidite, N-Fmoc-O1-DMT-O2-cyanoethoxydiisopropylamino-phosphinyl-3-am ino-1,2-propanediol (1, Fig. 1), has been synthesized and used to incorporate primary aliphatic amines into synthetic oligonucleotides. Its convenient preparation and use in solid phase oligonucleotide synthesis is described. Using phosphoramidite 1, an amino-modified oligonucleotide probe complementary to M13mp18 DNA was constructed with five primary amines attached to the 5'-terminus. The amino-modified oligonucleotide was subsequently labeled with biotin and employed in a dot-blot hybridization assay. As little as 0.5 ng of M13mp18 target DNA was colorimetrically detected.     

A versatile apparatus for performing anaerobic optical titrations with provision for multiple sampling of the reaction mixture.

An all-glass device sultable for the oxido-reductive titrations of air-sensitive compounds is deseribed. The device has a provision for monltoring the optical spectrum and for sampling the reaction mixture with direct transfers of the sample into electron-paramagnetic resonance sample tubes. The performance of the device is evaluated and an example of its use is given.     

A guinea pig cage for easy cleaning.

A simple cage and rack system was designed for holding guinea pigs in a laboratory environment. The shoe box solid floor cage, made of plastic, has 2 holes for "outside of cage" watering and "outside of cage" feeding. All of the accessory equipments such as automatic watering devices and feeders were set on rack shelves to design the cage simply. This system has satisfactorily functioned for about one year in our laboratory and has substantially saved labor in the washing process.     

A versatile microstirrer and oxygen electrode system for a spectrophotometer cuvette.

A microstirring device is described which measures only 1 × 1 × 0.4 cm outsidedimensions and is thus suitable for insertion beneath most spectrophotometer cuvettes without displacing the cuvette from the light path and without the need for modification of the spectrophotometer. The top of the cuvette remains accessible for a specially designed cuvette lid and electrode. This combined equipment is particularly suitable for the simultaneous measurement of two parameters, one with the electrode and the other by spectrophotometry. The design of the lid also permits the addition of reactants, including O₂, during monitoring. The equipment has been used to measure the oxygen-binding isotherm of human hemoglobin using 0.1 mg of protein. The curve so obtained was identical with curves found in the literature and obtained under the same conditions of pH, temperature, etc.     

A versatile microperifusion system.

A microsystem is described which enables one to correlate secretion from tissue samples with fluorometric recordings of functional parameters and with freezestop measurements of metabolite levels. Small pieces of tissue are placed on nylon gratings or membrane filters and are perifused with different media sequentially while monitoring the tissue fluorescence or collecting the perifusate containing the secretory products. By rapidly pushing a special perifusion chamber into Freon 12 kept at its melting point, the tissue is chilled to −20°C in less than 2 sec. The system has been used to study insulin release and metabolism of isolated pancreatic islets.     

A multiple coring system for use with scuba

A diver-operated coring system which takes undisturbed contiguous samples has been developed. A perspex space-frame localises a number of contiguous thin-walled tubes which can be driven into the sediment and from which core samples can be extracted. The corer consists of transparent tubing and low-pressure gate valve. The system is useful for describing small-scale spatial dispersion and for sampling patchy habitats. It is light, simple, inexpensive and is flexible with respect to the size and number of contiguous cores.     

Fabs-in-tandem immunoglobulin is a novel and versatile bispecific design for engaging multiple therapeutic targets

In recent years, the development of bispecific antibody (bsAb) has become a major trend in the biopharmaceutical industry. By simultaneously engaging 2 molcular targets, bsAbs show unique mechanisms of action that could lead to clinical benefits unattainable by conventional monoclonal antibodies. Various bsAb generation formats have been described, and several are being investigated in clinical development. However, some bsAb constructs have proven to be problematic due to their unfavorable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties, as well as poor manufacturing efficiencies. We describe here a new bispecific design, Fabs-in-tandem immunoglobulin (FIT-Ig), in which 2 antigen-binding fragments are fused directly in a crisscross orientation without any mutations or use of peptide linkers. This unique design provides a symmetric IgG-like bispecific molecule with correct association of 2 sets of VH/VL pairs. We show that FIT-Ig molecules exhibit favorable drug-like properties, in vitro and in vivo functions, as well as manufacturing efficiency for commercial development.     

Design of a metabolic cage for infant rats.

A glass metabolic cage was designed for studies involving newborn rats and small animals up to about 15 g. The metabolic chamber is a jacketed tube, open on both ends and closed with 0-ring clamps. Water is circulated around the cage to maintain a constant and physiologic chamber temperature. Information about the metabolic pathway of nutrients and drugs can thus be studied, and the effects of drugs on metabolism of substrates to CO2 can also be assessed in the newborn animal.     

A model for studies of the deformable rib cage.

An earlier model for the study of rib cage mechanics was modified so that rib deformity in scoliosis could be better represented. The rigid ribs of that model were replaced by five-segment deformable ribs. Literature data on cadaver rib mechanical behavior were used to assign stiffnesses to the new individual model ribs so that experimental and model rib deflections agreed. Shear and tension/compression stiffnesses had little effect on individual rib deformation, but bending stiffnesses had a major effect. Level-to-level differences in mechanical behavior could be explained almost exclusively by level to level differences in the rib shape. The model ribs were then assembled into a whole rib cage. Computer simulations of whole rib cage behaviors, both in vivo and in vitro, showed a reasonable agreement with the measured behaviors. The model was used to study rib cage mechanics in two scolioses, one with a 43 degrees and the other with a 70 degrees Cobb angle. Scoliotic rib cage deformities were quantified by parameters measuring the rib cage lateral offset, rib cage axial rotation, rib cage volume and rib distortion. Rib distortion was quantified both in best-fit and simulated computer tomography (CT) scan planes. Model rib distortion was much smaller in best-fit planes than in CT planes. The total rib cage volume changed little in the presence of the scolioses, but it became asymmetrically distributed.     

A lighting evaluation of a facility for the elderly

A residential facility for the aged was evaluated for their illumination needs. Only the shared facility and grounds immediately surrounding it were considered. The facility evaluated is one of the most modern and the lighting design is considered its best feature. The age of residents occupying the facility ranges from 60 to 85 years. The lighting evaluation included administering a lighting adequacy/inadequacy questionnaire and measurement of actual light levels in the various parts of the facility during the day and after dark hours. The results indicated that lighting in approximately half the areas surveyed was substandard. An attempt to develop recommendations for the lighting needs of the elderly was unsuccessful. It was concluded that realistic illumination level recommendations need to be developed for the elderly.