Role of geometrical cues in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell survival, growth and osteogenic differentiation

Mesenchymal stem cells play a vital role in bone formation process by differentiating into osteoblasts, in a tissue that offers not a flat but a discontinuous three-dimensional (3D) topography in vivo. In order to understand how geometry may be affecting mesenchymal stem cells, this study explored the influence of 3D geometry on mesenchymal stem cell-fate by comparing cell growth, viability and osteogenic potential using monolayer (two-dimensional, 2D) with microsphere (3D) culture systems normalised to surface area. The results suggested lower cell viability and reduced cell growth in 3D. Alkaline phosphatase activity was higher in 3D; however, both collagen and mineral deposition appeared significantly lower in 3D, even after osteogenic supplementation. Also, there were signs of patchy mineralisation in 3D with or without osteogenic supplementation as early as day 7. These results suggest that the convex surfaces on microspheres and inter-particulate porosity may have led to variable cell morphology and fate within the 3D culture. This study provides deeper insights into geometrical regulation of mesenchymal stem cell responses applicable for bone tissue engineering

Transcription profiling reveals potential mechanisms of dysbiosis in the oral microbiome of rhesus macaques with chronic untreated SIV infection.

A majority of individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have inadequate access to antiretroviral therapy and ultimately develop debilitating oral infections that often correlate with disease progression. Due to the impracticalities of conducting host-microbe systems-based studies in HIV infected patients, we have evaluated the potential of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infected rhesus macaques to serve as a non-human primate model for oral manifestations of HIV disease. We present the first description of the rhesus macaque oral microbiota and show that a mixture of human commensal bacteria and "macaque versions" of human commensals colonize the tongue dorsum and dental plaque. Our findings indicate that SIV infection results in chronic activation of antiviral and inflammatory responses in the tongue mucosa that may collectively lead to repression of epithelial development and impact the microbiome. In addition, we show that dysbiosis of the lingual microbiome in SIV infection is characterized by outgrowth of Gemella morbillorum that may result from impaired macrophage function. Finally, we provide evidence that the increased capacity of opportunistic pathogens (e.g. E. coli) to colonize the microbiome is associated with reduced production of antimicrobial peptides

Breeding tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important vegetable crop cultivated in the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Low productivity in India is due to occurrence of both biotic and abiotic stresses. Among the biotic stresses, tomato leaf curl disease, bacterial wilt, early blight and Groundnut Bud Necrosis Virus disease have become serious production constraints causing considerable yield loss in the major tomato growing areas of the country. Adoption of multiple disease resistant varieties or F1 hybrids would be the most appropriate way to address these diseases. At ICAR-IIHR, Bengaluru systematic breeding strategies were employed to pyramid genes for resistance to early blight, bacterial wilt and tomato leaf curl diseases and to develop advanced breeding lines& F1 hybrids with triple disease resistance. Stable source of resistance to early blight and bi-partite begomo-virus (Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus) has been identified in Solanum habrochaites LA-1777. Validation with molecular markers linked to tomato leaf curl virus resistance revealed that LA-1777 carryTy2 and other putative resistant genes. Several high yielding dual purpose hybrids were also developed for fresh market and processing with high level of resistance to multiple diseases. Cherry tomato lines have also been bred for high TSS, total carotenoids, total phenols, flavonoids, vitamin C, acidity and lycopene content. IIHR-249-1, IIHR-2101 (Solanum habrochaites LA-1777), IIHR- 2866 and IIHR-2864 recorded high values for quality parameters like total carotenoids, lycopene, vitamin C, total phenols, flavonoids and TSS. Drought tolerant root stock has been developed by an interspecific cross between S. habrochaites LA-1777 and S. lycopersicum (15 SB SB). Resistant sources have also been identified against Tuta absoluta, a serious insect pest reported from major tomato growing areas in the country in recent time. High temperature tolerant breeding lines are in pipe line

Porous calcium phosphate glass microspheres for orthobiologic applications

Orthobiologics is a rapidly advancing field utilising cell-based therapies and biomaterials to enable the body to repair and regenerate musculoskeletal tissues. This paper reports on a cost-effective flame spheroidisation process for production of novel porous glass microspheres from calcium phosphate based glasses to encapsulate and deliver stem cells. Careful selection of the glass and pore forming agent, along with a manufacturing method with the required processing window enabled the production of highly porous glass microspheres via a single-stage manufacturing process. The morphological and physical characterisation revealed porous microspheres with tailored surface and interconnected porosity (up to 76±5%) with average pore size of 55±8 µm and surface areas ranging from 0.34 to 0.9 m2g-1. Furthermore, simple alteration of the processing parameters produced microspheres with alternate unique morphologies, such as with solid cores and surface porosity only. The tuneable porosity enabled control over their surface area, degradation profiles and hence ion release rates. Furthermore, biocompatibility of the microspheres was assessed using human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) via direct cell culture experiments and analysis confirmed that they had migrated to within the centre of the microspheres. The novel microspheres developed have huge potential for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications

The dawn of the dead : (improbable) art after aI-zombie apocalypse

In recent years there has been growing interest in artificial neural networks (ANNs) which are quickly becoming the primary device for machine learning. Used for finding patterns in large data sets, ANNs were also recently employed in many artistic contexts: as tools for artists, semi-independent creators of content, and even as invisible "critics" which / who predict our aesthetic preferences. The aim of this paper is to speculate about the disruptive effect of these ‘alien agencies’ on the (modernist) aesthetic regime of art centred around the notion of autonomy. The author examines how neural networks and connectionist epistemologies may potentially affect the most common ways of producing, circulating, and valorising art. He claims that the possibility of automatizing creativity and art criticism may lead to the emergence of a new aesthetic regime based on forms of dynamic, distributed and probabilistic governance

Assessing audience’s willingness to curb digital piracy: A gender perspective

Rising incidences of piracy in the entertainment/creative industry in Nigeria are increasing concerns about the sustainability of the industry and the livelihood of content creators. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) aims to end poverty at all levels and in all places by the year 2030, but this goal faces a challenge if personal and corporate investments of moviemakers are lost to piracy. Studies have shown that profit-seeking pirates are not the only ones who do damage to the industry, but end-users also share unauthorised digital contents. The purpose of this research is to investigate the connection between gender and willingness of the audience, who in this case are undergraduate students of a government-owned university in Lagos, to see piracy curbed. Multistage sampling was used to cluster the population into faculties and departments. A sample of 199 was selected purposively based on the respondents’ knowledge of digital piracy, and a 20-item questionnaire was used for data gathering. Using t-test to analyse the data, the result shows that there was no significant difference between the views of female and male respondents. Cohen’s d analysis also indicates that there is a negligible effect size. While respondents participated in digital file-sharing, they did not consider their stoppage of the habit relevant to curbing piracy in Nigeria. Hence, the study recommends proper enlightenment of end-users to understand their significant role in digital piracy