Gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels with defined degree of functionalization as a versatile toolkit for 3D cell culture and extrusion bioprinting

Gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) is a semi-synthetic hydrogel which consists of gelatin derivatized with methacrylamide and methacrylate groups. These hydrogels provide cells with an optimal biological environment (e.g., RGD motifs for adhesion) and can be quickly photo-crosslinked, which provides shape fidelity and stability at physiological temperature. In the present work, we demonstrated how GelMA hydrogels can be synthesized with a specific degree of functionalization (DoF) and adjusted to the intended application as a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture platform. The focus of this work lays on producing hydrogel scaffolds which provide a cell promoting microenvironment for human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAD-MSCs) and are conductive to their adhesion, spreading, and proliferation. The control of mechanical GelMA properties by variation of concentration, DoF, and ultraviolet (UV) polymerization conditions is described. Moreover, hAD-MSC cell viability and morphology in GelMA of different stiffness was evaluated and compared. Polymerized hydrogels with and without cells could be digested in order to release encapsulated cells without loss of viability. We also demonstrated how hydrogel viscosity can be increased by the use of biocompatible additives, in order to enable the extrusion bioprinting of these materials. Taken together, we demonstrated how GelMA hydrogels can be used as a versatile tool for 3D cell cultivation

Gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogels with defined degree of functionalization as a versatile toolkit for 3D cell culture and extrusion bioprinting

Gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) is a semi-synthetic hydrogel which consists of gelatin derivatized with methacrylamide and methacrylate groups. These hydrogels provide cells with an optimal biological environment (e.g., RGD motifs for adhesion) and can be quickly photo-crosslinked, which provides shape fidelity and stability at physiological temperature. In the present work, we demonstrated how GelMA hydrogels can be synthesized with a specific degree of functionalization (DoF) and adjusted to the intended application as a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture platform. The focus of this work lays on producing hydrogel scaffolds which provide a cell promoting microenvironment for human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAD-MSCs) and are conductive to their adhesion, spreading, and proliferation. The control of mechanical GelMA properties by variation of concentration, DoF, and ultraviolet (UV) polymerization conditions is described. Moreover, hAD-MSC cell viability and morphology in GelMA of different stiffness was evaluated and compared. Polymerized hydrogels with and without cells could be digested in order to release encapsulated cells without loss of viability. We also demonstrated how hydrogel viscosity can be increased by the use of biocompatible additives, in order to enable the extrusion bioprinting of these materials. Taken together, we demonstrated how GelMA hydrogels can be used as a versatile tool for 3D cell cultivation

The Effect of Deltamethrin-Treated Net Fencing Around Cattle Enclosures on Outdoor-biting Mosquitoes in Kumasi, Ghana.

Classic vector control strategies target mosquitoes indoors as the main transmitters of malaria are indoor-biting and -resting mosquitoes. However, the intensive use of insecticide-treated bed-nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying have put selective pressure on mosquitoes to adapt in order to obtain human blood meals. Thus, early-evening and outdoor vector activity is becoming an increasing concern. This study assessed the effect of a deltamethrin-treated net (100 mg/m(2)) attached to a one-meter high fence around outdoor cattle enclosures on the number of mosquitoes landing on humans. Mosquitoes were collected from four cattle enclosures: Pen A - with cattle and no net; B - with cattle and protected by an untreated net; C - with cattle and protected by a deltamethrin-treated net; D - no cattle and no net. A total of 3217 culicines and 1017 anophelines were collected, of which 388 were Anopheles gambiae and 629 An. ziemanni. In the absence of cattle nearly 3 times more An. gambiae (p<0.0001) landed on humans. The deltamethrin-treated net significantly reduced (nearly three-fold, p<0.0001) culicine landings inside enclosures. The sporozoite rate of the zoophilic An. ziemanni, known to be a secondary malaria vector, was as high as that of the most competent vector An. gambiae; raising the potential of zoophilic species as secondary malaria vectors. After deployment of the ITNs a deltamethrin persistence of 9 months was observed despite exposure to African weather conditions. The outdoor use of ITNs resulted in a significant reduction of host-seeking culicines inside enclosures. Further studies investigating the effectiveness and spatial repellence of ITNs around other outdoor sites, such as bars and cooking areas, as well as their direct effect on vector-borne disease transmission are needed to evaluate its potential as an appropriate outdoor vector control tool for rural Africa

Datenschutz an Österreichs Schulen: Freie Open Source Software

Der Beitrag geht der Frage nach, wie Österreich aktuell mit Datenschutz im Schulbereich umgeht, bringt Beispiele anderer Zugänge ein und formuliert Fragen, welche zur konstruktiven Problemlösung angegangen werden müssen

Blood-feeding behavior of anopheles gambiae and anopheles melas in Ghana, Western Africa

金沢大学理工研究域自然システム学系Anopheles gambiae is the predominant malaria vector species in Ghana, western Africa, with a strong local presence of Anopheles melas Theobald along the southern coast. We studied the biting behavior of these two species of the Anopheles gambiae complex inland and at the coast in Ghana, with special attention to the local peoples\u27 preference for outdoor sleeping. We collected mosquitoes at two sites in 2007, representing the moist semideciduous forest zone and the strand and mangrove zone, and the sampling was repeated in the dry and rainy seasons. Sampled mosquitoes were examined for species, parity and size (wing length), and we identified the hosts of their bloodmeals. We interviewed 288 of the village people to determine where and when they slept outdoors. Our study confirmed that An. gambiae is the only species of the An. gambiae complex in the Ashanti region and revealed that An. melas is highly dominant on the western coast of Ghana. Both species showed high human blood rates in indoor resting mosquito samples. More people sleep outside on the coast than inland. An. melas demonstrated high exophily. An. gambiae bit people more frequently indoors and did so more often during the dry season than in the rainy season. We suggest that the degree of exophily in An. melas may be affected by humidity and the availability of human as well as by the mosquitoes\u27 innate habits. © 2010 Entomological Society of America

OPTN recruitment to a Golgi-proximal compartment regulates immune signalling and cytokine secretion.

Optineurin (OPTN) is a multifunctional protein involved in autophagy and secretion, as well as nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and IRF3 signalling, and OPTN mutations are associated with several human diseases. Here, we show that, in response to viral RNA, OPTN translocates to foci in the perinuclear region, where it negatively regulates NF-κB and IRF3 signalling pathways and downstream pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. These OPTN foci consist of a tight cluster of small membrane vesicles, which are positive for ATG9A. Disease mutations in OPTN linked to primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) cause aberrant foci formation in the absence of stimuli, which correlates with the ability of OPTN to inhibit signalling. By using proximity labelling proteomics, we identify the linear ubiquitin assembly complex (LUBAC), CYLD and TBK1 as part of the OPTN interactome and show that these proteins are recruited to this OPTN-positive perinuclear compartment. Our work uncovers a crucial role for OPTN in dampening NF-κB and IRF3 signalling through the sequestration of LUBAC and other positive regulators in this viral RNA-induced compartment, leading to altered pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion

Theoretical description of deformed proton emitters: nonadiabatic coupled-channel method

The newly developed nonadiabatic method based on the coupled-channel Schroedinger equation with Gamow states is used to study the phenomenon of proton radioactivity. The new method, adopting the weak coupling regime of the particle-plus-rotor model, allows for the inclusion of excitations in the daughter nucleus. This can lead to rather different predictions for lifetimes and branching ratios as compared to the standard adiabatic approximation corresponding to the strong coupling scheme. Calculations are performed for several experimentally seen, non-spherical nuclei beyond the proton dripline. By comparing theory and experiment, we are able to characterize the angular momentum content of the observed narrow resonance.Comment: 12 pages including 10 figure

Functional outcome of traumatic spinopelvic instabilities treated with lumbopelvic fixation.

The aim of this study was to assess the functional outcome after lumbopelvic fixation (LPF) using the SMFA (short musculoskeletal functional assessment) score and discuss the results in the context of the existing literature. The last consecutive 50 patients who underwent a LPF from January 1st 2011 to December 31st 2014 were identified and administered the SMFA-questionnaire. Inclusion criteria were: (1) patient underwent LPF at our institution, (2) complete medical records, (3) minimum follow-up of 12 months. Out of the 50 recipients, 22 questionnaires were returned. Five questionnaires were incomplete and therefore seventeen were included for analysis. The mean age was 60.3 years (32-86 years; 9m/8f) and the follow-up averaged 26.9 months (14-48 months). Six patients (35.3%) suffered from a low-energy trauma and 11 patients (64.7%) suffered a high-energy trauma. Patients in the low-energy group were significantly older compared to patients in the high-energy group (72.2 vs. 53.8 years; p = 0.030). Five patients (29.4%) suffered from multiple injuries. Compared to patients with low-energy trauma, patients suffering from high-energy trauma showed significantly lower scores in daily activities (89.6 vs. 57.1; p = 0.031), mobility (84.7 vs. 45.5; p = 0.015) and function (74.9 vs. 43.4; p = 0.020). Our results suggest that patients with older age and those with concomitant injuries show a greater impairment according to the SMFA score. Even though mostly favorable functional outcomes were reported throughout the literature, patients still show some level of impairment and do not reach normative data at final follow-up

Myosin VI-Dependent Actin Cages Encapsulate Parkin-Positive Damaged Mitochondria.

Mitochondrial quality control is essential to maintain cellular homeostasis and is achieved by removing damaged, ubiquitinated mitochondria via Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Here, we demonstrate that MYO6 (myosin VI), a unique myosin that moves toward the minus end of actin filaments, forms a complex with Parkin and is selectively recruited to damaged mitochondria via its ubiquitin-binding domain. This myosin motor initiates the assembly of F-actin cages to encapsulate damaged mitochondria by forming a physical barrier that prevents refusion with neighboring populations. Loss of MYO6 results in an accumulation of mitophagosomes and an increase in mitochondrial mass. In addition, we observe downstream mitochondrial dysfunction manifesting as reduced respiratory capacity and decreased ability to rely on oxidative phosphorylation for energy production. Our work uncovers a crucial step in mitochondrial quality control: the formation of MYO6-dependent actin cages that ensure isolation of damaged mitochondria from the network

Comprehensive application of a coupled-channel complex scaling method to the KbarN-piY system

We have applied the coupled-channel complex scaling method (ccCSM) to K^{bar}N-\pi Y system. One advantage of ccCSM is that resonant states as well as scattering states can be treated in the same framework. For the interactions in the system, we have constructed a meson-baryon potential-matrix by basing on the chiral SU(3) theory and respecting the K^{bar}N scattering length obtained in the Martin's analysis. For future purpose to apply it more complicated system such as K^{bar}NN, we adopt a local Gaussian form in the r-space. We have investigated both the non-relativistic (NR) and the semi-relativistic (SR) kinematics. In the SR case, two types of the potentials are obtained. To test the constructed potentials, we have calculated scattering amplitudes and searched resonances. One resonance pole, corresponding to \Lambda(1405), is found in isospin I=0 system around (1419, -20) MeV ((1425, -25) or (1419, -13) MeV) on complex-energy plane with the NR (SR) kinematics. Mean distance between meson and baryon in the resonant state is 1.3 - i0.3 fm (1.2 - i0.5 fm) for NR (SR), in which the states are treated as Gamow states. In addition, we have observed a signature of another pole in lower-energy region involving large decay width, although they are unstable against the change of scaling angle \theta. This may correspond to the lower pole of the double-pole of \Lambda(1405) discussed in literature to date.Comment: 51 pages, 17 figures, to appear in Nuclear Physics