University of Graz

4 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Immunology and Infection

Microwave Assisted Rapid Diagnosis of Plant Virus Diseases by Transmission Electron Microscopy

Bernd Zechmann^1,2, Gerhard Graggaber¹, Günther Zellnig¹

¹Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Graz, ²Institute for Electron Microscopy and Fine Structure Research, Graz University of Technology

This study describes a method that allows the rapid and clear diagnosis of plant virus diseases in about half a day by using a combination of microwave assisted plant sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy and negative staining methods.

Engineering

Robotic Sensing and Stimuli Provision for Guided Plant Growth

Mostafa Wahby¹, Mary Katherine Heinrich^1,5, Daniel Nicolas Hofstadler², Julian Petzold¹, Igor Kuksin³, Payam Zahadat^2,4, Thomas Schmickl², Phil Ayres⁵, Heiko Hamann¹

¹Institute of Computer Engineering, University of Lübeck, ²Institute of Biology, Artificial Life Lab, University of Graz, ³Cybertronica UG, ⁴Department of Computer Science, IT University of Copenhagen, ⁵Centre for IT and Architecture, Royal Danish Academy

Distributed robot nodes provide sequences of blue light stimuli to steer the growth trajectories of climbing plants. By activating natural phototropism, the robots guide the plants through binary left-right decisions, growing them into predefined patterns that by contrast are not possible when the robots are dormant.

JoVE Journal

Manufacturing Simple and Inexpensive Soil Surface Temperature and Gravimetric Water Content Sensors

Armin Howell¹, Colin Tucker¹, Edmund E. Grote¹, Maik Veste^2,3, Jayne Belnap¹, Gerhard Kast⁴, Bettina Weber^5,6, Sasha C. Reed¹

¹Southwest Biological Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, ²Centre for Energy Technology Brandenburg, ³Institute of Environmental Sciences, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, ⁴Umweltanalytische Produkte GmbH, ⁵Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Graz, ⁶Multiphase Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry

Accurately measuring temperature and water content of the upper 5 mm of the soil surface can improve our understanding of environmental controls on biological, chemical, and physical processes. Here we describe a protocol for manufacturing, calibrating, and conducting measurements with soil surface temperature and moisture sensors.

Chemistry

A Package of Established Analytical Tools to Investigate the Solid-State Alteration of Lipid-Based Excipients

Sharareh Salar-Behzadi^1,2, Carolina Corzo¹, Peter Laggner¹

¹Research Center Pharmaceutical Engineering, GmbH, ²Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Graz

This publication shows the application of x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry as gold standards for investigating the solid-state of lipid-based excipients (LBEs). Understanding the solid-state alteration in LBEs and its effect on the performance of pharmaceutical products thereof is the key factor for manufacturing robust lipid-based dosage forms.