Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems and related composition, to provide a rodent model having a target microbiome profile formed by a target presence, a target proportion and/or a target total load of a target prokaryote of a target taxon, based on absolute quantification of the target prokaryote. Further provided are rodents obtained by the methods herein described and related use in testing methods performed in connection with physiological or pathological conditions in an individual preferably a human individual. Also provided herein is a tailcup device and related use to prevent coprophagia in rodents.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for absolute quantification of a target 16S rRNA and/or of a target prokaryotic taxon, based on amplifying and sequencing a same 16S rRNA recognition segment in which target 16S rRNA conserved regions flank 16S rRNA variable regions, conserved and variable among a plurality of sample 16S rRNAs and/or of a sample prokaryotic taxon of higher taxonomic rank with respect to the target taxon. In the methods and systems, absolute abundance of the a plurality of sample 16S rRNAs and/or of the sample prokaryotic taxon detected by the amplifying, is multiplied by the relative abundance of the target 16S rRNA and/or of a target prokaryotic taxon detected by the sequencing to provide the absolute quantification in accordance with method and systems of the disclosure.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for absolute quantification of a target 16S rRNA and/or of a target prokaryotic taxon, based on amplifying and sequencing a same 16S rRNA recognition segment in which target 16S rRNA conserved regions flank 16S rRNA variable regions, conserved and variable among a plurality of sample 16S rRNAs and/or of a sample prokaryotic taxon of higher taxonomic rank with respect to the target taxon. In the methods and systems, absolute abundance of the a plurality of sample 16S rRNAs and/or of the sample prokaryotic taxon detected by the amplifying, is multiplied by the relative abundance of the target 16S rRNA and/or of a target prokaryotic taxon detected by the sequencing to provide the absolute quantification in accordance with method and systems of the disclosure.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for absolute quantification of a target 16S rRNA and/or of a target prokaryotic taxon, based on amplifying and sequencing a same 16S rRNA recognition segment in which target 16S rRNA conserved regions flank 16S rRNA variable regions, conserved and variable among a plurality of sample 16S rRNAs and/or of a sample prokaryotic taxon of higher taxonomic rank with respect to the target taxon. In the methods and systems, absolute abundance of the a plurality of sample 16S rRNAs and/or of the sample prokaryotic taxon detected by the amplifying, is multiplied by the relative abundance of the target 16S rRNA and/or of a target prokaryotic taxon detected by the sequencing to provide the absolute quantification in accordance with method and systems of the disclosure.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems and related composition, to provide a rodent model having a target microbiome profile formed by a target presence, a target proportion and/or a target total load of a target prokaryote of a target taxon, based on absolute quantification of the target prokaryote. Further provided are rodents obtained by the methods herein described and related use in testing methods performed in connection with physiological or pathological conditions in an individual preferably a human individual. Also provided herein is a tailcup device and related use to prevent coprophagia in rodents.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and systems for absolute quantification of a target 16S rRNA and/or of a target prokaryotic taxon, based on amplifying and sequencing a same 16S rRNA recognition segment in which target 16S rRNA conserved regions flank 16S rRNA variable regions, conserved and variable among a plurality of sample 16S rRNAs and/or of a sample prokaryotic taxon of higher taxonomic rank with respect to the target taxon. In the methods and systems, absolute abundance of the a plurality of sample 16S rRNAs and/or of the sample prokaryotic taxon detected by the amplifying, is multiplied by the relative abundance of the target 16S rRNA and/or of a target prokaryotic taxon detected by the sequencing to provide the absolute quantification in accordance with method and systems of the disclosure.

Abstract: Polymeric composition and related methods and systems for regulating the structure of hydrogels are described. In particular, by varying the physiochemical properties of the polymeric composition, the structure of the hydrogels can be reversibly compressed or decompressed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a device and a cell culture system comprising a substrate that generates significant chemical ion signatures adapted for culturing stem cells. This disclosure further provides unique surface properties, such as surface wettability, along with defined polymer microspot environments in an array, for effectively supporting the propagation and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells in vitro. Methods of culturing, maintenance, differentiating stem cells as well as reprogramming somatic cells into stem cells using the device and the cell culture system with the suitable substrates, along with suitable culture media, are also provided.