Distributed Bio-Oil Reforming

This presentation by Bob Evans at the 2007 DOE Hydrogen Program Annual Merit Review Meeting provides information about NREL's distributed bio-oil reforming efforts

The human body at cellular resolution: the NIH Human Biomolecular Atlas Program

Abstract: Transformative technologies are enabling the construction of three-dimensional maps of tissues with unprecedented spatial and molecular resolution. Over the next seven years, the NIH Common Fund Human Biomolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP) intends to develop a widely accessible framework for comprehensively mapping the human body at single-cell resolution by supporting technology development, data acquisition, and detailed spatial mapping. HuBMAP will integrate its efforts with other funding agencies, programs, consortia, and the biomedical research community at large towards the shared vision of a comprehensive, accessible three-dimensional molecular and cellular atlas of the human body, in health and under various disease conditions

Real World Learning and Authentic Assessment

As students increasingly adopt a consumerist lifestyle academics are under pressure to assess and mark more students’ assignments in quicker turn around periods. In no other area is the marketisation shift between student and academic more apparent in the accountability that academics now need to demonstrate to students in their grading and feedback (Boud & Molloy, 2013). When evaluating their higher education experience students are most likely to complain about their grading or feedback (Boud & Molloy, 2013) and National Student Survey results consistently indicate that this category, more than any other, has the highest student dissatisfaction rates (Race, 2014)

Real World Learning: Simulation and Gaming

Simulations and games are being used across a variety of subject areas as a means to provide insight into real world situations within a classroom setting; they offer many of the benefits of real world learning but without some of the associated risks and costs. Lean, Moizer, Derham, Strachan and Bhuiyan aim to evaluate the role of simulations and games in real world learning. The nature of simulations and games is discussed with reference to a variety of examples in Higher Education. Their role in real world learning is evaluated with reference to the benefits and challenges of their use for teaching and learning in Higher Education. Three case studies from diverse subject contexts are reported to illustrate the use of simulations and games and some of the associated issues

New Industrial Park Energy Supply for Economical Energy Conservation

The new industrial park energy supply (NIPES) concept is an attractive approach for providing a stable, long-term domestic energy source for industrial plants at reasonable cost and reasonable financial risk. The NIPES concept consists of a system of energy supply stations and steam transmission lines that supply process heat and electricity to multiple users in an industrial park(s) setting. The energy supply stations grow along with the industrial park(s) as new industries are attracted by a reliable, reasonably priced energy source. This paper describes the generic NIPES concept and summarizes the results of the evaluation of a specific NIPES system for the Lake Charles, Louisiana, area. The economics of the specific NIPES system is compared to that of individual user-owned coal-fired facilities for new industrial plants and of individual user-owned oil-fired facilities for existing industrial plants. The results indicate substantial savings associated with the NIPES system for both new and existing users and/or a potential for high return on investment by third-party investors

Bone marrow-derived cells home to and regenerate retinal pigment epithelium after injury. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci

PURPOSE. To determine whether hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs) can home to and regenerate the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) after induced injury. METHODS. Enriched HSCs/HPCs from green fluorescent protein (gfp) transgenic mice were transplanted into irradiated recipient mice to track bone marrow-derived cells. Physical damage was induced by breaching Bruch's membrane and inducing vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFa) expression to promote neovascularization. RPE damage was also induced by sodium iodate injection (40 mg/kg) into wild-type or albino C57Bl/6 mice. Cell morphology, gfp expression, the presence of the Y chromosome, and the presence of melanosomes were used to determine whether the injured RPE was being repaired by the donor bone marrow. 2 Attempts to repair the RPE include transplantation of RPE cells into the subretinal space. Animal studies, RPE transplantation in humans, and macular relocation surgery have all shown that replacing diseased RPE with healthier RPE can rescue photoreceptors, prevent further visual loss, and even promote visual improvement. RESULTS. 3,4 Also, recent work on human RPE patch graft transplantation demonstrates survival and rescue of photoreceptors for a substantial time after grafting and holds some promise. Rescue of RPE and photoreceptors beyond the area of donor cell distribution suggests that diffusible factors are also involved in the rescue process. However, some problems exist, including the ability to obtain an adequate source of autologous RPE and that homologous cells have been associated with rejection. Fetal or adult transplanted RPE cells attach to Bruch's membrane with poor efficiency and do not proliferate. 5 These transplantation procedures are complex, associated with high complication rates, and often result in only short-term success. RPE integrity is an essential component for retinal function and visual health. The RPE consists of a monolayer of cuboidal cells that separates the photoreceptors and the choroid. 8 Adult stem cells of the bone marrow include hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which are multipotent and have been shown to transdifferentiate into multiple tissues such as endothelium, 9,10 epithelium, 9 -11 myocardium, 12 and liver. 13,14 These cells represent a renewable source of cells within our bodies and harnessing the regenerative ability of the HSCs may aid in the cure of degenerative diseases. In our model, the bone marrow transplantation was performed using CD117 (c-kit) cells. This technique enriches for HSCs and hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). 15 In addition to HSC/HPC transdifferentiation, the ability for the HSCs/HPCs to home to an area of injury is a quintessential characteristic. When injury occurs, cytokines and chemokines are released into the blood, causing an inflammatory response. HSCs/HPCs home along this chemokine gradient to repair areas of injury. Stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) has been shown to be the primary cytokine for HSC/SPC mobilization. 16 -18 SDF-1 has also been shown to be upregulated in damaged tissues thus facilitating recruitment of stem-progenitor cells to promote repair. 21 In this article we examined two models of injury. Our first model consisted of physical damage to the RPE layer by needle rupture of Bruch's membrane and then injection of recombinant adenoassociated virus vascular endothelial growth factor A (rAAV-VEGFa) into the subretinal space. This leads to choroidal neovascularization

Vascular Endothelial Cell-Specific Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF) Is Necessary for Development of Chronic Hypoxia-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension

Chronic hypoxia frequently complicates the care of patients with interstitial lung disease, contributing to the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH), and premature death. Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a matricellular protein of the Cyr61/CTGF/Nov (CCN) family, is known to exacerbate vascular remodeling within the lung. We have previously demonstrated that vascular endothelial-cell specific down-regulation of CTGF is associated with protection against the development of PH associated with hypoxia, though the mechanism for this effect is unknown. In this study, we generated a transgenic mouse line in which the Ctgf gene was floxed and deleted in vascular endothelial cells that expressed Cre recombinase under the control of VE-Cadherin promoter (eCTGF KO mice). Lack of vascular endothelial-derived CTGF protected against the development of PH secondary to chronic hypoxia, as well as in another model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary hypertension. Importantly, attenuation of PH was associated with a decrease in infiltrating inflammatory cells expressing CD11b or integrin αM (ITGAM), a known adhesion receptor for CTGF, in the lungs of hypoxia-exposed eCTGF KO mice. Moreover, these pathological changes were associated with activation of—Rho GTPase family member—cell division control protein 42 homolog (Cdc42) signaling, known to be associated with alteration in endothelial barrier function. These data indicate that endothelial-specific deletion of CTGF results in protection against development of chronic-hypoxia induced PH. This protection is conferred by both a decrease in inflammatory cell recruitment to the lung, and a reduction in lung Cdc42 activity. Based on our studies, CTGF inhibitor treatment should be investigated in patients with PH associated with chronic hypoxia secondary to chronic lung disease