Implementing virtual desktops for clinical research at an academic health center: a case report.

Objectives: To address the challenges of sharing clinical research data through the implementation of cloud-based virtual desktops, enhancing collaboration among researchers while maintaining data security. Materials and Methods: This case study details the deployment of virtual desktops at UMass Chan Medical School (UMass Chan). The process involved forming a Research Informatics Steering Executive workgroup, identifying key requirements, implementing Amazon WorkSpaces, and establishing configurable data management for research support. Results: Key lessons include the significance of collaboration, balancing user-friendliness and functionality, flexibility in data management, maximizing virtual desktop efficiency within budget constraints, and continuous user feedback. The implementation of virtual desktops supports secure collaborative research, advancing medical knowledge and improving healthcare outcomes. Discussion: The structured approach to implementing virtual desktops addresses data security, regulatory compliance, and real-time collaboration challenges. Continuous feedback and iterative improvements have enhanced the system's effectiveness. Conclusion: The successful implementation of virtual desktops at UMass Chan demonstrates the potential for such systems to support secure, collaborative research, offering insights for similar initiatives in other academic health centers.

Behavioural responses to a photovoltaic subretinal prosthesis implanted in non-human primates.

Retinal dystrophies and age-related macular degeneration related to photoreceptor degeneration can cause blindness. In blind patients, although the electrical activation of the residual retinal circuit can provide useful artificial visual perception, the resolutions of current retinal prostheses have been limited either by large electrodes or small numbers of pixels. Here we report the evaluation, in three awake non-human primates, of a previously reported near-infrared-light-sensitive photovoltaic subretinal prosthesis. We show that multipixel stimulation of the prosthesis within radiation safety limits enabled eye tracking in the animals, that they responded to stimulations directed at the implant with repeated saccades and that the implant-induced responses were present two years after device implantation. Our findings pave the way for the clinical evaluation of the prosthesis in patients affected by dry atrophic age-related macular degeneration.

Characterization of the Xanthomonas translucens Complex Using Draft Genomes, Comparative Genomics, Phylogenetic Analysis, and Diagnostic LAMP Assays.

Prevalence of Xanthomonas translucens, which causes cereal leaf streak (CLS) in cereal crops and bacterial wilt in forage and turfgrass species, has increased in many regions in recent years. Because the pathogen is seedborne in economically important cereals, it is a concern for international and interstate germplasm exchange and, thus, reliable and robust protocols for its detection in seed are needed. However, historical confusion surrounding the taxonomy within the species has complicated the development of accurate and reliable diagnostic tools for X. translucens. Therefore, we sequenced genomes of 15 X. translucens strains representing six different pathovars and compared them with additional publicly available X. translucens genome sequences to obtain a genome-based phylogeny for robust classification of this species. Our results reveal three main clusters: one consisting of pv. cerealis, one consisting of pvs. undulosa and translucens, and a third consisting of pvs. arrhenatheri, graminis, phlei, and poae. Based on genomic differences, diagnostic loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) primers were developed that clearly distinguish strains that cause disease on cereals, such as pvs. undulosa, translucens, hordei, and secalis, from strains that cause disease on noncereal hosts, such as pvs. arrhenatheri, cerealis, graminis, phlei, and poae. Additional LAMP assays were developed that selectively amplify strains belonging to pvs. cerealis and poae, distinguishing them from other pathovars. These primers will be instrumental in diagnostics when implementing quarantine regulations to limit further geographic spread of X. translucens pathovars.

Synthesis and biological activity of fluorescent neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam.

Here, we describe the synthesis of two new fluorescent derivatives of thiamethoxam and compared their toxicity on aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum and their mode of action on insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed on the sixth abdominal ganglion. The compound 3 with two 2-chlorothiazole moieties was found to be more toxic using toxicological bioassays 24 h and 48 h after exposure while compound 4 appeared more active using cockroach ganglionic depolarization. Interestingly, thiamethoxam appeared more effective than component 3 and 4, respectively. Our results demonstrated that component 3 and 4 act as agonists of insect nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.

Sensitive detection of Xanthomonas oryzae Pathovars oryzae and oryzicola by loop-mediated isothermal amplification.

Molecular diagnostics for crop diseases can enhance food security by enabling the rapid identification of threatening pathogens and providing critical information for the deployment of disease management strategies. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is a PCR-based tool that allows the rapid, highly specific amplification of target DNA sequences at a single temperature and is thus ideal for field-level diagnosis of plant diseases. We developed primers highly specific for two globally important rice pathogens, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, the causal agent of bacterial blight (BB) disease, and X. oryzae pv. oryzicola, the causal agent of bacterial leaf streak disease (BLS), for use in reliable, sensitive LAMP assays. In addition to pathovar distinction, two assays that differentiate X. oryzae pv. oryzae by African or Asian lineage were developed. Using these LAMP primer sets, the presence of each pathogen was detected from DNA and bacterial cells, as well as leaf and seed samples. Thresholds of detection for all assays were consistently 10(4) to 10(5) CFU ml(-1), while genomic DNA thresholds were between 1 pg and 10 fg. Use of the unique sequences combined with the LAMP assay provides a sensitive, accurate, rapid, simple, and inexpensive protocol to detect both BB and BLS pathogens.

Implementing an "always practice" to redefine skin care management.

With a nosocomial pressure ulcer rate higher than national benchmarks, leaders convened a quality improvement team to address the issue. The authors discuss the implementation of a new skin "always practice" initiative across the continuum of care and its outcomes.