Abstract: The present disclosure provides a kit and method for constructing a long-acting depression animal model. The present disclosure adopts Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) (or Mycobacterium bovis (M bovis)) and low-dose pertussis toxin (PTX) for combined induction, which greatly reduces modeling cost. A mouse model constructed by the method of the present disclosure can clearly distinguish a time interval of pathological behaviors from a time interval of depression-like behaviors and has prominent face validity and predictive validity. The method of the present disclosure is simple and convenient and does not require a large number of tedious daily operations as the depression model construction by chronic unpredictable stress, chronic restraint stress, social defeat, mother-child separation, or the like. The mouse model of the present disclosure can provide a valuable long-term intervention window for research on antidepressant therapy.

Abstract: An application of a prokaryotic Argonaute protein with only a cleavage activity of a target ribonucleic acid (RNA) in RNA editing is provided. The Argonaute protein is derived from a mesophilic prokaryotes Verrucomimicrobia bacterium, and its amino acid sequence is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or a protein with high similarity to SEQ ID NO: 1 and the same function. This protein has binding activity to a single-stranded guide DNA and nuclease activity only to the target RNA complementarily paired with the single-stranded guide DNA. Therefore, the protein can be utilized for in vitro and in vivo targeted RNA editing, providing a new powerful tool for RNA editing.

Abstract: An image processing method and a computer system. The method may be applied to a cloud-side server in a cloud mobile phone. The server may be a virtualization server, a host operating system and a guest operating system are deployed on the server, a user mode graphics driver is deployed in the guest operating system, and a kernel mode graphics driver is deployed in the host operating system. The user mode graphics driver and the kernel mode graphics driver collaborate with each other to implement image rendering of the server. Then, the server may send a rendered image to the cloud mobile phone. Accordingly, an instruction translation process is reduced, to reduce overheads of a processor and improve image processing efficiency.

Abstract: Provided herein, among other things, is a method for deaminating a double-stranded nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the method may comprise contacting a double-stranded DNA substrate that comprises cytosines and a double-stranded DNA deaminase having an amino acid sequence that is at least 80% identical to any of SEQ ID NOS: 21, 40, 47, 49, 50, 55, 58, 59, 62, 63, 65, 67, 70, 71, 76, 106, 107, 110, 112, 114, 117, 163 and/or 164 to produce a deamination product that comprises deaminated cytosines. Enzymes and kits for performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: Providing herein, among other things, is a method comprising incubating a double-stranded nucleic acid having a nick with a nick translating activity, a ligase, and a nucleotide mix comprising at least one modified nucleotide, to generate a product comprising a patch of a newly synthesized strand of a duplex nucleic acid containing a plurality of modified nucleoside monophosphates that are at or adjacent to the site of the nick. In some embodiments, the method may be used to map damaged nucleoside monophosphates in a nucleic acid. Compositions and kits for use in performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: An image processing method and a computer system. The method may be applied to a cloud-side server in a cloud mobile phone. The server may be a virtualization server, a host operating system and a guest operating system are deployed on the server, a user mode graphics driver is deployed in the guest operating system, and a kernel mode graphics driver is deployed in the host operating system. The user mode graphics driver and the kernel mode graphics driver collaborate with each other to implement image rendering of the server. Then, the server may send a rendered image to the cloud mobile phone. Accordingly, an instruction translation process is reduced, to reduce overheads of a processor and improve image processing efficiency.

Abstract: Providing herein, among other things, is a method comprising incubating a double-stranded nucleic acid having a nick with a nick translating activity, a ligase, and a nucleotide mix comprising at least one modified nucleotide, to generate a product comprising a patch of a newly synthesized strand of a duplex nucleic acid containing a plurality of modified nucleoside monophosphates that are at or adjacent to the site of the nick. In some embodiments, the method may be used to map damaged nucleoside monophosphates in a nucleic acid. Compositions and kits for use in performing the method are also provided.

Abstract: Provided herein, among other things, is a method for reducing sequencing errors caused by mechanical DNA fragmentation. In some embodiments, this method may comprise: (a) obtaining a DNA sample; (b) mechanically fragmenting the DNA sample to produce a template; (c) treating the fragmented DNA with a plurality of DNA repair enzymes; and (d) obtaining a sequence of the fragmented DNA. The treatment step (c) reduces the number of fragmentation induced errors.

Abstract: In described examples, an apparatus includes a metal plate having a plurality of defined areas forming touch sensors on a first planar surface, and having an opposing planar surface. The metal plate is arranged to be deformable in the plurality of defined areas by a human touch. A circuit board has a plurality of conductive sensors on a first surface arranged with the plurality of conductive sensors facing and spaced from the opposing planar surface of the metal plate, the conductive sensors placed in correspondence with the defined areas on the metal plate so that deflection sensors are formed in the defined areas by the conductive sensors and the opposing planar surface of the metal plate. Methods are described.

Abstract: A ball stud system that provides a ball stud that will not loosen easily under the application of repetitive side loading on the ball portion of the stud. The ball stud is secured to the vehicle steering knuckle arm using the combination of a tapered nut and tapered washer. The tapered nut includes slots and the pin of the ball stud an aperture. A cotter pin may be placed through the slots and aperture in order to further prevent rotation of the nut.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for repairing a polynucleotide so that it can be copied with improved fidelity and/or yield in, for example, an amplification reaction. This involves the use of a reaction mixture that includes a ligase and a cofactor selected from NAD+ or ATP and incubating the polynucleotide with the reaction mixture in the absence of Endonuclease VI. The reaction mixture may further contain an AP endonuclease and a polymerase. If used, these enzymes may be selected according to their ability to withstand high temperatures. For example, the reaction mixture may be used prior to a polynucleotide synthesis reaction in which case enzymes that are not thermophilic may be used. The repair reaction is not time sensitive with respect to seconds, minutes or hours of incubation in the enzyme mixture in as much as the repair is effected rapidly and prolonged incubation is not generally adverse.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for repairing a polynucleotide so that it can be synthesized efficiently with improved fidelity and yield in, for example, an amplification reaction. This involves the use of a reaction mixture that includes a ligase and a cofactor selected from NAD+ or ATP and incubating the polynucleotide with the reaction mixture in the absence of Endonuclease VI. The reaction mixture may further contain an AP endonuclease and a polymerase. These enzymes are optionally selected according to their ability to withstand high temperatures so they can be included in an amplification mixture. The reaction mixture may be used prior to a polynucleotide synthesis reaction in which case enzymes that are not thermophilic may be used. The repair reaction is not time sensitive with respect to seconds, minutes or hours of incubation in the enzyme mixture.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for repairing a polynucleotide so that it can be copied with improved fidelity and/o yield in, for example, an amplification reaction. This involves the use of a reaction mixture that includes a DNA ligase and an effective amount of at least one endonuclease as well as a cofactor selected from NAD+ or ATP.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for repairing a polynucleotide so that it can be synthesized efficiently with improved fidelity and yield in, for example, an amplification reaction. This involves the use of a reaction mixture that includes a ligase and a cofactor selected from NAD+ or ATP and incubating the polynucleotide with the reaction mixture in the absence of Endonuclease VI. The reaction mixture may further contain an AP endonuclease and a polymerase. These enzymes are optionally selected according to their ability to withstand high temperatures so they can be included in an amplification mixture. The reaction mixture may be used prior to a polynucleotide synthesis reaction in which case enzymes that are not thermophilic may be used. The repair reaction is not time sensitive with respect to seconds, minutes or hours of incubation in the enzyme mixture.

Abstract: A ball stud system that provides a ball stud that will not loosen easily under the application of repetitive side loading on the ball portion of the stud. The ball stud is secured to the vehicle steering knuckle arm using the combination of a tapered nut and tapered washer. The tapered nut includes slots and the pin of the ball stud an aperture. A cotter pin may be placed through the slots and aperture in order to further prevent rotation of the nut.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for repairing a polynucleotide so that it can be copied with improved fidelity and/or yield in, for example, an amplification reaction. This involves the use of a reaction mixture that includes a ligase and a cofactor selected from NAD+ or ATP and incubating the polynucleotide with the reaction mixture in the absence of Endonuclease VI. The reaction mixture may further contain an AP endonuclease and a polymerase. If used, these enzymes may be selected according to their ability to withstand high temperatures. For example, the reaction mixture may be used prior to a polynucleotide synthesis reaction in which case enzymes that are not thermophilic may be used. The repair reaction is not time sensitive with respect to seconds, minutes or hours of incubation in the enzyme mixture in as much as the repair is effected rapidly and prolonged incubation is not generally adverse.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are provided for repairing a polynucleotide so that it can be synthesized efficiently with improved fidelity and yield in, for example, an amplification reaction. This involves the use of a reaction mixture that includes a ligase and a cofactor selected from NAD+ or ATP and incubating the polynucleotide with the reaction mixture in the absence of Endonuclease VI. The reaction mixture may further contain an AP endonuclease and a polymerase. These enzymes are optionally selected according to their ability to withstand high temperatures so they can be included in an amplification mixture. The reaction mixture may be used prior to a polynucleotide synthesis reaction in which case enzymes that are not thermophilic may be used. The repair reaction is not time sensitive with respect to seconds, minutes or hours of incubation in the enzyme mixture.