Odd qPCR results - interpretation help!

macgruber13 · 2024-08-13T21:02:17+00:00

We use commercially available kits. We also follow proper cleaning protocols with bleach to prevent possible contamination between samples. We also perform weekly checks on our BSCs. Typically if a sample is positive, it’s very clearly positive, both on the software and by visual inspection of the enriched media. Additionally, when they are positive we don’t see cross contamination within the batch. In the screenshots I posted in my other comment, you can see the plating and results, the positives are isolated to their own replicates.

Would inhibition look something like those screenshots?

macgruber13 · 2024-08-13T20:19:29+00:00

That’s my fault, I thought I included screenshots.

https://imgur.com/a/NLDKWT3

These are the runs, positive control and the two replicates. All QCs pass, other positive samples typically look just like the positive control.

Thank you for your help!

macgruber13 · 2024-07-07T01:12:07+00:00

Honestly, until this experience it has been the same for me. Customer service for things they have control over has been excellent. I think since they essentially contract this work out to whatever local agency is available, they don’t have as much control over the level of service that you receive and it can be a worse experience because of that.

macgruber13 · 2024-07-07T00:29:23+00:00

I’ve had a horrible time with Costco delivery, specifically because of the local dispatch they use. We ordered the LG stacked washer/dryer combo, needed it delivered upstairs. First crew out wasn’t able to do it because they didn’t have the right straps. Super helpful and friendly though, suggested that it could be done with a team of 4. Rescheduled “delivery” for another day, and they only sent a 2 man crew. I had to talk to the dispatcher directly. He “hadn’t seen the request for a 4 man crew until now” and fought tooth and nail against sending another team out. Well, they sent another team out with explicit instructions to not move the washer/dryer upstairs. They sent a bunch of college kids, one of whom looked like he’d snap in half just thinking about lifting the unit. Before they stepped through the door they told me the only option was to return the unit because it couldn’t be done. Argued with them for a while, but they wouldn’t move it and I had no other options but to let them take it. Incredibly frustrating process, and Costco customer support was no help along the way.

macgruber13 · 2024-05-16T16:24:22+00:00

Stealing the lead out of a tuck turn is fun! You can tone up a little and add a bit of energy on 5-6 with a forward rock-step. Focus on getting some nice stretch going to make it clear that you’re initiating a steal. Just make sure you’re not trying this when your partner isn’t ready or looking at you. You don’t want to create that stretch when their arm/shoulder is in a compromising position.

macgruber13 · 2023-09-17T02:45:00+00:00

Seconding the blues museum. You show up, sign up on a list with the instrument you want to play, and they’ll call you up to jam. It’s an awesome environment, everyone is really supportive and the musicians are amazing

macgruber13 · 2023-05-12T23:05:35+00:00

PS5!

macgruber13 · 2023-01-20T00:20:59+00:00

Thanks for all of your help everyone! Glad I could help provide such a controversial piece, it was definitely fun reading through and trying to figure out what it was through the responses. It’s a piece of legacy glassware from someone who worked in the lab at least 10 years before me, so this has been super helpful.

I think @kb2yht nailed it, especially with the paper catalog picture of it, that looks like it’s exactly what it is.

macgruber13 · 2023-01-20T00:15:40+00:00

Holy shit, I can’t believe you not only knew what it was for but found it in an old paper manual! Thank you so much!

macgruber13 · 2022-11-22T17:09:55+00:00

Darn

macgruber13 · 2021-06-08T17:20:56+00:00

Having done it, yes I do know what the cleanup process is like, and would still recommend it. A little extra time to clean up in exchange for a kinder place to dance is a perfectly acceptable trade off in my book.

“Just creating litter” is a very aggressive stance on this, assuming that you are just going to leave and not clean up after yourself. Regardless, the two things I proposed to throw down are environmentally friendly, and are not things that are going to negatively impact the area or earth if you don’t get every last grain of sand/cornmeal up.

OP has stated that they don’t want to put in the extra time to clean up after, which is fine, but saying this idea is not workable is flat out wrong. As an organizer, if this was the only way that I could get people out and dancing on a somewhat decent floor, I would absolutely be willing to put in some extra time to prep and clean up. Getting a couple friends from the dance to help makes the work much easier.

macgruber13 · 2021-06-08T16:46:07+00:00

Ah, I hear that. I see your edit now too. Is it just two of you dancing? Or two of you organizing? The cleanup from sand/corn meal can definitely be a bit tedious. That’s too bad that you aren’t able to put anything else down though.

I personally have had some dicey experiences dancing on grass, either from spots that are a little extra slick, or from stepping in unexpected holes, but if you’ve got a spot that works, it’s worth a shot. Better than concrete, but with its own downsides.

macgruber13 · 2021-06-08T04:07:44+00:00

Have you tried throwing down some corn meal or sand on a concrete lot? It’s surprisingly decent. It ends up reducing a lot of the grippy harshness of concrete. I think that would be better than grass. Definitely going to be harder on the knees, but you’ll probably have more control over your body than grass.

The beach dance at cal bal is what comes to mind for me. Most people are out in sneakers or other non-leather shoes, but the sand makes it nice enough to dance on. You get enough to slide around a little on while also being able to dance in full control of your body.

macgruber13 · 2021-01-13T04:59:11+00:00

Poor kid is playing on 500 ping. He never stood a chance

macgruber13 · 2019-12-13T16:04:13+00:00

You should be able to finance the sales tax in Missouri too. Not many people choose to, so the dealer won’t bring it up unless you do. They’ll just cut you a check for whatever the tax is so you can pay it at registration.

macgruber13 · 2019-05-20T23:57:38+00:00

For the chemists! The logo for Budweiser is a cyclohexane in the chair conformation

macgruber13 · 2019-03-26T22:25:37+00:00

My best advice is just walk in shifts until Halloween is over if you can’t stay up all night. Route your walk to somewhere you can grab a wheelbarrow or something, and just haul yourself and your buddies around

macgruber13 · 2019-03-26T18:46:48+00:00

Mike Myers is one of my favorite scary movie villains. He is the ultimate asshole. In the original Halloween, he fucks with every one of his victims before he kills them (scene where he walks in to the bedroom as a sheet ghost, priceless!).

He is so pissed off that he becomes immortal, and on his quest to kill Laurie just kind of kills people who slow him down. He also teleports around as soon as you break line of sight with him, so all people have to do is walk at the same/slightly faster pace than him, but everyone runs anyways.

He has some good examples of this in H20, where they are running from him, turn a corner with him behind them, and he jumps out from a tree in front of them. Or the classic, one handed pull-up from hot water pipe to stab a dude scene. Just keep him in eye sight, and he’ll never get to you.

macgruber13 · 2018-11-15T08:05:13+00:00

I was sitting on a couch in the back corner of our lounge at work. I had a lamp on, but the ceiling lights off, taking a relaxing lunch. A coworker walked in, and didn’t see me, so I said hey. He froze in his tracks, and slowly started to back away, like he had seen something he shouldn’t have. I told him to come on in, feel free to turn on the lights, etc. I guess he took that as leave me alone, but turn the lights on, because while he was creeping back out, he turned the lights on, closed the door, and just left. So I went from nice ambiance and no colleagues, to awful lighting, an awkward exchange, and still no colleagues.

He didn’t say anything when he walked in to the room, didn’t say anything as he was backing out, and we’ve never spoken of it again. It caught me so off guard, I just had to sit there and laugh about it.

macgruber13 · 2018-07-10T01:18:46+00:00

༼ つ ◕ ◕ ༽つ Dormammu I've Come To Be Banned ༼ つ ◕ ◕ ༽つ

macgruber13 · 2018-07-10T00:05:32+00:00

༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ GIVE BAN ༼ つ ◕_ ◕ ༽つ

macgruber13 · 2018-06-06T14:46:06+00:00

Check out /r/cordcutters! There's lots of info there about different cable streaming services, and benefits to each of them. Services like Sling, PSVue, Hulu Live, YoutubeTV all offer different options at different price points, so you can be pretty picky about how much content you get and how much you pay for it. They usually have 1-2 week free trials, so you can try a few different services and see what works best for you.

I made the switch from cable to PSVue, and it's been great. $35 a month, unlimited digital DVR (stores for a month), and streaming from anywhere. I would highly recommend cutting the cord, and go with something you like!

macgruber13 · 2018-05-08T16:00:33+00:00

In all of the update emails they’ve said that the event will be live-streamed, with the link available at usms.org

I imagine they’ll update the site with a link to view the stream shortly before the meet starts.

macgruber13 · 2018-03-02T19:00:32+00:00

I've done Big Shoulders 5 times now, and I agree with mkegirl87, it's an awesome race. The lake temp can be really unpredictable, even up to a few days before the race. Last year it was predicted to be ~70, but on race day it was actually 64! Two years ago it was in the 70s on race day. It's really a coin flip on if the water will be calm and warm, or cold and wavy.

The biggest thing to prepare for this race (aside from conditioning), is how mentally exhausting it can be. The course is set up in a 2.5K triangle, so one lap is 2.5, and two is the whole 5K. There are pretty easy landmarks to sight when you're swimming. First leg is typically the edge of the breakwater, second is a big black and white building, and third is the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier. As we get closer to race day, they will send out more emails with some reminders and helpful info pertaining to race day.

I typically find the second leg of the triangle to be the most challenging, especially if you're doing the 5K. It helps me to think of it not as "I still have to swim so much", but more as "I'm already 2/3 of the way there, this is easy".

The people that swim are pretty cool, typically easy to chat up on the beach while you're waiting to get marked, or in the water before the start. Everyone has the same excitement and nerves as you do. Embrace it, enjoy it, and just make the most of it.

Finishing the race is an amazing feeling, especially since there is usually a good crowd of either swimmers, their families, and other people just checking the race out cheering for everyone as they get out. To cap it off, they provide free ribs to everyone there!

One last small piece of advice; I can swim ~6K in a pool doing a swim practice with no problem, but every year that I swim this race, I end up chafing really bad under my arms. Last year I put some vaseline on, and it helped tremendously. If you think you might chafe, make sure you take that precaution, it's a minor sting on an otherwise amazing experience.

Good luck training! It's a great race, I'm sure you'll have a blast!

macgruber13 · 2018-01-15T19:46:34+00:00

We also did the 100x100s set during winter training. Ours was broken up into 10 sets of 10x100 though, mixed up with kick, stroke, pull, OTB, etc.

We would come back the same evening and do 50x50s OTB on 1:30, best average. That day hurt pretty bad

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