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university of the free state

5 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Environment

Protocol for Acute and Chronic Ecotoxicity Testing of the Turquoise Killifish Nothobranchius furzeri

Charlotte Philippe^1,2, Arnout F. Gregoir¹, Eli S. J. Thoré¹, Gudrun De Boeck², Luc Brendonck^1,3, Tom Pinceel^1,4

¹Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, University of Leuven, ²Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, University of Antwerp, ³Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, ⁴Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State

In this work, we describe an acute, chronic and multigenerational bioassay to study the effects of single and combined stressors on the Turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. This protocol is designed to study life-history traits (mortality, growth, fecundity, weight) and critical thermal maximum.

Immunology and Infection

Complementary Use of Microscopic Techniques and Fluorescence Reading in Studying Cryptococcus-Amoeba Interactions

Uju L. Madu¹, Olihile M. Sebolai¹

¹Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State

This paper details a protocol for preparing a co-culture of cryptococcal cells and amoebae that is studied using still, fluorescent images and high-resolution transmission electron microscope images. Illustrated here is how quantitative data can complement such qualitative information.

Medicine

Synergizing Antegrade Endoscopic with Bridging Vein Harvesting for Improvement of Great Saphenous Vein Graft Quality from the Lower Leg

Christian Klopsch¹, Alexander Kaminski¹, Friedrich Prall², Pascal Dohmen^1,3

¹Department of Cardiac Surgery, Heart Center Rostock, Rostock University Medical Center, University of Rostock, ²Institute of Pathology, Rostock University Medical Center, University of Rostock, ³Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Free State

Presented here is a protocol for antegrade endoscopic vein harvesting from the lower leg, which can safely be introduced in routine coronary artery bypass grafting. Vein grafts present excellent graft quality following this standardized protocol with positioning of the legs, minimally invasive access to the vein, and antegrade endoscopic vein harvesting.

Medicine

Radiation Planning Assistant - A Web-based Tool to Support High-quality Radiotherapy in Clinics with Limited Resources

Laurence Edward Court¹, Ajay Aggarwal², Hester Burger³, Carlos Cardenas⁴, Christine Chung¹, Raphael Douglas¹, Monique du Toit⁵, Anuja Jhingran¹, Raymond Mumme¹, Sikudhani Muya⁶, Komeela Naidoo⁵, Jerry Ndumbalo⁶, Tucker Netherton¹, Callistus Nguyen¹, Adenike Olanrewaju¹, Jeannette Parkes³, Willie Shaw⁷, Christoph Trauernicht⁵, Melody Xu⁸, Jinzhong Yang¹, Lifei Zhang¹, Hannah Simonds⁹, Beth M. Beadle¹⁰

¹The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, ²Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital, ³Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, ⁴University of Alabama at Birmingham, ⁵Tygerberg Hospital and Stellenbosch University, ⁶Ocean Road Cancer Institute, ⁷University of the Free State, ⁸University of California-San Francisco, ⁹University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, ¹⁰Stanford University

This protocol describes a series of automated tools designed for high-quality radiotherapy autocontouring and autoplanning that are being packaged into a web-based service to maximize robustness and scalability while minimizing operational costs.

Biochemistry

Elucidating β-1,3-Glucanase and Peroxidase Physicochemical Properties of Wheat Cell Wall Defense Mechanism Against Diuraphis noxia Infestation

Siphephelo N.N. Zondo¹, Lintle Mohase², Vicki Tolmay³, Mpho S. Mafa¹

¹Carbohydrates and Enzymology Laboratory (CHEM-LAB), Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State, ²Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Department of Plant Science, Botany, Plant Biochemistry and Physiology, University of the Free State, ³Agricultural Research Council - Small Grain Institute

The present protocol describes procedures used to study and characterize cell wall-related enzymes, mainly β-1,3-glucanase and peroxidase, in wheat plants. Their activity levels increase during wheat-RWA interaction and are involved in the plant defense response through cell wall reinforcement, which deters aphid feeding.