MU Biodesign and Innovation Program

Jump Starting Technologies, Patent Issues, & Translational Medicine Poster SessionThe MU Biodesign and Innovation Program (MUBIP) centers its efforts off two tiers: (1) formal educational training through a biodesign and innovation fellowship and (2) interdisciplinary faculty collaboration. The Department of Surgery and College of Engineering on the University of Missouri campus in Columbia recognizes the growing need to improve patient care and desire to impact this arena through the collaborative development of MUBIP. MUBIP goals are to successfully bring new medical technologies and health care solutions into the market while producing high quality innovative professionals with the desire and knowledge to continue producing new medical technologies within our program, the University of Missouri, MU Biodesign affiliates, corporations or through the establishment of new companies resulting in economic gains. Formal Educational Training: The education tier is focused primarily on the fellowship. The experience simulates, in a compressed one-year timeframe, the phases of a start-up medical device company. The fellowship consists of a three member team including a surgeon, engineering with at least a masters degree, and business professional with a MBA. The fellowship team start date is July 1 and ends June 30. The fellowship year structure is divided into three phases that provide observation and hands-on experience in clinical, engineering and business environments. Phase 1 is clinical immersion; Phase 2 engineering design and development, finishing with Phase 3, business practices. Each phase is approximately 4 months with overlap throughout the year. In addition to observation and hands on training in each phase the fellows attend lectures related to the biodesign process, surgery, engineering and business. Lectures are presented by faculty from the Department of Surgery, College of Engineering, entrepreneurs, angel fund investors, venture capitalists, industry leaders, founders from start up companies, and other successful biodesign related individuals from the community and nationwide. Faculty, staff, residents and students are welcome to attend these lectures. Interdisciplinary Faculty Collaborations: Interdisciplinary faculty collaboration is the other tier of MUBIP. MUBIP goal is to facilitate collaboration between faculty within the University of Missouri Campus through interdisciplinary research and education. With the MUBIP mission focused to improve health care through invention and implementation of new medical technologies, we believe this can be accomplish through MUBIP guidance and support from the faculty members collaborating to build on existing relationships and form new relationships to invent innovative medical technologies. Conclusion: MU Biodesign & Innovation Program is a new innovative way to grow, build and promote new medical technologies to improve patient care. The education is a novel way to help surgeons, engineers and business people learn the process from napkin to market and prepare them for a future in medical device development. This program has the ability to impact future patient care with a generation of knowledgeable successful inventors. Collaboration is a key factor to continue improving patient care. Technologies, research and knowledge continue to grow; however, to maximize the potential of new inventions and improve patient care, it is crucial to bring engineers and surgeons together to be leaders in today's changing world

2,2′-[4,10-Bis(carb­oxy­meth­yl)-4,10-diaza-1,7-diazo­niacyclo­dodecane-1,7-di­yl]diacetate dihydrate

In the title compound, C16H28N4O8·2H2O, the 12-membered macrocycle has twofold crystallographic symmetry and the asymmetric unit comprises one half-mol­ecule. The four carbox­yl/carboxyl­ate groups reside on the same side of the macrocycle. The mol­ecule is a double zwitterion with two of the carb­oxy­lic acid H atoms transferred to the two N atoms on the opposite sides of the macrocycle, resulting in both N atoms having positive charges and leaving the two resulting carboxyl­ate groups with negative charges. The two remaining carb­oxy­lic acid groups and the carboxyl­ate groups form O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds with the crystal water mol­ecules. The H atoms bound to the N atoms within the macrocyle are engaged in two equivalent hydrogen bonds with the adjacent N atoms

Linking galaxy structural properties and star formation activity to black hole activity with IllustrisTNG

We study the connection between active galactic nuclei (AGN) and their host galaxies through cosmic time in the large-scale cosmological IllustrisTNG simulations. We first compare BH properties, i.e. the hard X-ray BH luminosity function, AGN galaxy occupation fraction, and distribution of Eddington ratios, to available observational constraints. The simulations produce a population of BHs in good agreement with observations, but we note an excess of faint AGN in hard X-ray (L_x ~ 10^{43-44} erg/s), and a lower number of bright AGN (L_x>10^{44} erg/s), a conclusion that varies quantitatively but not qualitatively with BH luminosity estimation method. The lower Eddington ratios of the 10^{9} Msun BHs compared to observations suggest that AGN feedback may be too efficient in this regime. We study galaxy star formation activity and structural properties, and design sample-dependent criteria to identify different galaxy types (star-forming/quiescent, extended/compact) that we apply both to the simulations and observations from the candels fields. We analyze how the simulated and observed galaxies populate the specific star formation rate - stellar mass surface density diagram. A large fraction of the z=0 M_{star}>10^{11} Msun quiescent galaxies first experienced a compaction phase (i.e. reduction of galaxy size) while still forming stars, and then a quenching event. We measure the dependence of AGN fraction on galaxies' locations in this diagram. After correcting the simulations with a redshift and AGN luminosity-dependent model for AGN obscuration, we find good qualitative and quantitative agreement with observations. The AGN fraction is the highest among compact star-forming galaxies (16-20% at z~1.5-2), and the lowest among compact quiescent galaxies (6-10% at z~1.5-2).Comment: 35 pages, 22 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Can functional magnetic resonance imaging studies help with the optimization of health messaging for lifestyle behavior change? A systematic review

Unhealthy behaviours, including smoking, poor nutrition, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles, are global risk factors for non-communicable diseases and premature death. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) offers a unique approach to optimize health messages by examining how the brain responds to information relating to health. Our aim was to systematically review fMRI studies that have investigated variations in brain activation in response to health messages relating to (i) smoking; (ii) alcohol consumption; (iii) physical activity; (iv) diet; and (v) sedentary behaviour. The electronic databases used were Medline/PubMed, Web of Science (Core Collection), PsychINFO, SPORTDiscuss, Cochrane Library and Open Grey. Studies were included if they investigated subjects aged ≥10 years and were published before January 2017. Of the 13,836 studies identified in the database search, 18 studies (smoking k=15; diet k=2; physical activity/sedentary behavior k=1) were included in the review. The prefrontal cortex was activated in seven (47%) of the smoking-related studies and the physical activity study. Results suggest that activation of the ventromedial, dorsolateral and medial prefrontal cortex regions were predictive of subsequent behavior change following exposure to aversive anti-smoking stimuli. Studies investigating the neurological responses to anti-smoking material were most abundant. Of note, the prefrontal cortex and amygdala were most commonly activated in response to health messages across lifestyle behaviors. The review highlights an important disparity between research focusing on different lifestyle behaviors. Insights from smoking literature suggests fMRI may help to optimize health messaging in relation to other lifestyle behaviors

Training Tomorrows Entrepreneurs Today

Jump Starting and Moving New Technologies to Marketplace PanelThe MU Biodesign and Innovation Program (MUBIP) is focused on improving health care through invention and implementation of new medical technologies. The focus of the program is formal educational training of three fellows with a focus on biodesign and innovation. Additionally, the program is dedicated to the development and facilitation of interdisciplinary collaboration between faculty and students to increase innovation at the University of Missouri. With the financial support of the Department of Surgery, the School of Engineering and the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC) the MUBIP is in its 3rd successful year. The program brings the brightest young minds with an M.D. degree, an engineer with a masters or PhD, and a business professional with an MBA together as a design team. The fellowship year structure is divided into three phases. Phase 1 is clinical immersion; Phase 2 engineering design and development, finishing with Phase 3, business practices. Each phase is approximately 4 months with overlap throughout the year. In addition to observation and hands on training in each phase the fellows attend lectures related to the biodesign process. Lectures are presented by faculty and staff from the Department of Surgery, College of Engineering, entrepreneurs, angel fund investors, venture capitalists, industry leaders, founders from startup companies, and other successful biodesign related individuals from the community and nationwide

Expanded rock blast modeling capabilities of DMC{_}BLAST, including buffer blasting

A discrete element computer program named DMC{_}BLAST (Distinct Motion Code) has been under development since 1987 for modeling rock blasting. This program employs explicit time integration and uses spherical or cylindrical elements that are represented as circles in 2-D. DMC{_}BLAST calculations compare favorably with data from actual bench blasts. The blast modeling capabilities of DMC{_}BLAST have been expanded to include independently dipping geologic layers, top surface, bottom surface and pit floor. The pit can also now be defined using coordinates based on the toe of the bench. A method for modeling decked explosives has been developed which allows accurate treatment of the inert materials (stemming) in the explosive column and approximate treatment of different explosives in the same blasthole. A DMC{_}BLAST user can specify decking through a specific geologic layer with either inert material or a different explosive. Another new feature of DMC{_}BLAST is specification of an uplift angle which is the angle between the normal to the blasthole and a vector defining the direction of explosive loading on particles adjacent to the blasthole. A buffer (choke) blast capability has been added for situations where previously blasted material is adjacent to the free face of the bench preventing any significant lateral motion during the blast

Distribution of Maternal and Fetal Blood Flow within Cotyledons of the Sheep Placenta

These studies explore the distribution of blood flow among small samples of placental tissue. Labeled microspheres (14 ± 1 pm) were Injected Into the left ventricle of six un-anesthetized ewes and Into the jugular vein of the fetus In utero. A total of 3,576 samples weighing 31. +11. (S.D.) mg were taken from seventeen cotyledons and counted for flow labels. Maternal and fetal flow within the cotyledons were both normally distributed with standard deviations of 44%. The maternal/ fetal flow ratio was less than 0.5 In 9% of the cotyledon, between 0.5 and 1.5 In 70%, and greater than 1.5 In 21%. Errors due to the method were estimated to contribute less than 10% of the flow variances. Maternal and fetal flows were significantly correlated (r = 0.57, p \u3c .001). Spatial flow patterns were visualized using computerized Image processing. The distribution of maternal and fetal flow may be a sensitive determinant of water transfer, and the distribution of their ratio explains about 50% of the uterine—umbilical venous oxygen tension gradient. Analysis of the correlation between samples vs. the distance separating them suggested a weight of roughly 125 mg for hypothetical placental regulatory units

Gravitational Lensing by Nearby Clusters of Galaxies

We present an estimation of the expected number of arcs and arclets in a sample of nearby (z<0.1) clusters of galaxies, that takes into account the magnitude limit of the objects as well as seeing effects. We show that strong lensing effects are not common, but also they are not as rare as usually stated. Indeed, for a given cluster, they present a strong dependence with the magnitude limit adopted in the analysis and the seeing of the observations. We also describe the procedures and results of a search for lensing effects in a sample of 33 clusters spanning the redshift range of 0.014 to 0.076, representative of the local cluster distribution. This search produced two arc candidates. The first one is in A3408 (z=0.042), the same arc previously discovered by Campusano & Hardy (1996), with z=0.073 and associated to the brightest cluster galaxy. The second candidate is in the cluster A3266 (z=0.059) and is near a bright elliptical outside the cluster center, requiring the presence of a very massive sub-structure around this galaxy to be produced by gravitational lensing.Comment: 22 pages including 9 Figures and 2 Tables, submitted to A

Herbicide-resistant weeds : from research and knowledge to future needs

Synthetic herbicides have been used globally to control weeds in major field crops. This has imposed a strong selection for any trait that enables plant populations to survive and reproduce in the presence of the herbicide. Herbicide resistance in weeds must be minimized because it is a major limiting factor to food security in global agriculture. This represents a huge challenge that will require great research efforts to develop control strategies as alternatives to the dominant and almost exclusive practice of weed control by herbicides. Weed scientists, plant ecologists and evolutionary biologists should join forces and work towards an improved and more integrated understanding of resistance across all scales. This approach will likely facilitate the design of innovative solutions to the global herbicide resistance challenge

Mice Expressing Low Levels of CalDAG-GEFI Exhibit Markedly Impaired Platelet Activation With Minor Impact on HemostasisHighlights

OBJECTIVE: The tight regulation of platelet adhesiveness, mediated by the αIIbβ3 integrin, is critical for hemostasis and prevention of thrombosis. We recently demonstrated that integrin affinity in platelets is controlled by the guanine nucleotide exchange factor, CalDAG-GEFI (CD-GEFI), and its target, RAP1. In this study, we investigated whether low-level expression of CD-GEFI leads to protection from thrombosis without pathological bleeding in mice. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Cdg1(low) mice were generated by knockin of human CD-GEFI cDNA into the mouse Cdg1 locus. CD-GEFI expression in platelets from Cdg1(low) mice was reduced by ≈90% when compared with controls. Activation of RAP1 and αIIbβ3 was abolished at low agonist concentrations and partially inhibited at high agonist concentrations in Cdg1(low) platelets. Consistently, the aggregation response of Cdg1(low) platelets was weaker than that of wild-type platelets, but more efficient than that observed in Cdg1(-/-) platelets. Importantly, Cdg1(low) mice were strongly protected from arterial and immune complex-mediated thrombosis, with only minimal impact on primary hemostasis. CONCLUSIONS: Together, our studies suggest the partial inhibition of CD-GEFI function as a powerful new approach to safely prevent thrombotic complications