Neural-interface devices have the potential to isolate and transduce both afferent (sensory) and efferent (motor) neural signals of the peripheral nerve to and from electrical signals in ...instrumentation for stimulation and recording to produce fine control of advanced prosthetics. In order to potentiate the full spectrum of possible applications, the persistent foreign-body response needs to be addressed. Here we describe the cellular and extracellular components of chronically implanted polyimide threads suspended within a tricomponent hydrogel. The results of these experiments will contribute to design modifications for future fabrications of tissue-engineered-electronic-nerve-interface (TEENI) devices.
The complex structure of the catalytic active phase, and surface‐gas reaction networks have hindered understanding of the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction mechanism by supported ...Na2WO4/SiO2 catalysts. The present study demonstrates, with the aid of in situ Raman spectroscopy and chemical probe (H2‐TPR, TAP and steady‐state kinetics) experiments, that the long speculated crystalline Na2WO4 active phase is unstable and melts under OCM reaction conditions, partially transforming to thermally stable surface Na‐WOx sites. Kinetic analysis via temporal analysis of products (TAP) and steady‐state OCM reaction studies demonstrate that (i) surface Na‐WOx sites are responsible for selectively activating CH4 to C2Hx and over‐oxidizing CHy to CO and (ii) molten Na2WO4 phase is mainly responsible for over‐oxidation of CH4 to CO2 and also assists in oxidative dehydrogenation of C2H6 to C2H4. These new insights reveal the nature of catalytic active sites and resolve the OCM reaction mechanism over supported Na2WO4/SiO2 catalysts.
In the current study, with the aid of state‐of‐the‐art spectroscopic techniques, transient kinetic analysis, and implementation of robust experimental methodologies, we resolve the nature of catalytic active sites and reaction mechanism for oxidative coupling of methane over supported Na2WO4/SiO2 catalysts.
Severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) causes neurological disease in the peripheral and central nervous system (PNS and CNS, respectively) of some patients. It is not clear whether ...SARS‐CoV‐2 infection or the subsequent immune response are the key factors that cause neurological disease. Here, we addressed this question by infecting human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived CNS and PNS neurons with SARS‐CoV‐2. SARS‐CoV‐2 infected a low number of CNS neurons and did not elicit a robust innate immune response. On the contrary, SARS‐CoV‐2 infected a higher number of PNS neurons. This resulted in expression of interferon (IFN) λ1, several IFN‐stimulated genes and proinflammatory cytokines. The PNS neurons also displayed alterations characteristic of neuronal damage, as increased levels of sterile alpha and Toll/interleukin receptor motif‐containing protein 1, amyloid precursor protein and α‐synuclein, and lower levels of cytoskeletal proteins. Interestingly, blockade of the Janus kinase and signal transducer and activator of transcription pathway by Ruxolitinib did not increase SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, but reduced neuronal damage, suggesting that an exacerbated neuronal innate immune response contributes to pathogenesis in the PNS. Our results provide a basis to study coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) related neuronal pathology and to test future preventive or therapeutic strategies.
Physician-scientists and scientists in all the health professions are vital members of the U.S. biomedical workforce, but their numbers at academic health centers are declining. Mentorship has been ...identified as a key component in retention of faculty members at academic health centers. Effective mentoring may promote the retention of clinician-scientists in the biomedical workforce. The authors describe a holistic institutional mentoring program to support junior faculty members engaged in clinical and translational science at the University of Utah. The clinical and translational scholars (CATS) program leverages the resources of the institution, including the Center for Clinical and Translational Science, to augment departmental resources to support junior faculty investigators and uses a multilevel mentoring matrix that includes self, senior, scientific, peer, and staff mentorship. Begun in the Department of Pediatrics, the program was expanded in 2013 to include all departments in the school of medicine and the health sciences. During the two-year program, scholars learn management essentials and have leadership training designed to develop principal investigators. Of the 86 program participants since fiscal year 2008, 92% have received extramural awards, 99% remain in academic medicine, and 95% remain at the University of Utah. The CATS program has also been associated with increased inclusion of women and underrepresented minorities in the institutional research enterprise. The CATS program manifests institutional collaboration and coordination of resources, which have benefited faculty members and the institution. The model can be applied to other academic health centers to support and sustain the biomedical workforce.
Abstract
The complex structure of the catalytic active phase, and surface‐gas reaction networks have hindered understanding of the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction mechanism by supported ...Na
2
WO
4
/SiO
2
catalysts. The present study demonstrates, with the aid of in situ Raman spectroscopy and chemical probe (H
2
‐TPR, TAP and steady‐state kinetics) experiments, that the long speculated crystalline Na
2
WO
4
active phase is unstable and melts under OCM reaction conditions, partially transforming to thermally stable surface Na‐WO
x
sites. Kinetic analysis via temporal analysis of products (TAP) and steady‐state OCM reaction studies demonstrate that (
i
) surface Na‐WO
x
sites are responsible for selectively activating CH
4
to C
2
H
x
and over‐oxidizing CH
y
to CO and (
ii
) molten Na
2
WO
4
phase is mainly responsible for over‐oxidation of CH
4
to CO
2
and also assists in oxidative dehydrogenation of C
2
H
6
to C
2
H
4
. These new insights reveal the nature of catalytic active sites and resolve the OCM reaction mechanism over supported Na
2
WO
4
/SiO
2
catalysts.
The National Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) Consortium 2.0 has developed common metrics as a collaborative project for all participating sites. Metrics address several important ...aspects and functions of the consortium, including workforce development. The first workforce development metrics to be proposed for all CTSA hubs include the proportion of CTSA-supported trainees and scholars with sustainable careers in translational research and the diversity and inclusiveness of programs.
The University of Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS), a CTSA hub, has been actively engaged in mentoring translational scientists for the last decade. We have developed programs, processes, and institutional policies that support translational scientists, which have resulted in 100% of our KL2 scholars remaining engaged in translational science and in increasing the inclusion of individuals under-represented in medicine in our research enterprise. In this paper, we share details of our program and what we believe are evidence-based best practices for developing sustainable translational research careers for all aspiring junior faculty members.
The University of Utah Center for Clinical and Translational Science has been integral in catalyzing interactions across the campus to reverse the negative trends seen nationally in sustaining clinician scientists. Our programs and processes can serve as a model for other institutions seeking to develop translational scientists.
Both the pattern of mediator release during the late-phase response (LPR) and the reduction of the LPR with corticosteroid pretreatment have suggested that basophils, not mast cells, represent the ...main source of histamine in the late response to nasal antigen challenge. We tested this hypothesis by examining alcian blue-stained cytospin slides of nasal washings obtained before and for 11 hours after nasal antigen challenge in 11 asymptomatic subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis. In a double-blind manner, subjects received placebo or topical flunisolide (50 micrograms, each nostril, twice daily) for 1 week before antigen challenge. One month later, the challenge was repeated with the alternate pretreatment. On placebo-treatment days, a twelve-fold increase occurred in the number and a threefold increase in the percentage of alcian blue-stained positive cells in nasal washings in the LPR compared to baseline. At least 68% of these alcian blue-stained positive cells were basophils, as determined by light microscopic criteria. Alcian blue-stained cell influx correlated with increases in histamine levels in nasal washes (p less than 0.001). Topical steroid pretreatment blocked the influx of alcian blue-stained positive cells, as well as other inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, neutrophils, and mononuclear cells. Symptoms and mediator release were also blocked. These data demonstrate an influx of basophils and suggest that these cells are responsible for the histamine release observed in the LPR. Our findings indicate that pharmacologic control of basophil histamine release may represent a strategy for the treatment of a variety of chronic allergic diseases that are believed to resemble the LPR.
Low back pain is an epidemic affecting millions of people each year. A loss of muscle function, often observed due to muscle fatigue, is predicted to cause increased spinal loading due to ...co-activation of antagonistic muscles. Research suggests that increased loading can cause damage to the intervertebral disc leading to low back pain. However, little in vivo data exist to validate this hypothesis. The purpose of this research was to assess the complex interplay between muscle function and interbody loading in vivo in the cervical spine. To accomplish this goal, novel tools were developed, tested, and validated, including implantable wireless force sensors and a multi-channel EMG system. A novel interbody implant was placed in the cervical spine of a goat and interbody force measurements were collected during dynamic activities. Interbody forces were collected simultaneously with dynamic muscle activation and recruitment data. Results from in vivo testing demonstrate repeatable patterns of muscle activation and interbody force that are dependent on head and neck kinematics. Preliminary results also suggest that loss of muscle function can lead to the adoption of kinematic compensation techniques. These data demonstrate for the first time correlations between muscle activation and recruitment patterns and interbody force.
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) devices such as the keyboard and the mouse are among the most contaminated regions in an operating room (OR). This paper proposes a sterile, intuitive HCI to navigate ...MRI images using freehand gestures. The system incorporates contextual cues and intent of the user to strengthen the gesture recognition process. Experimental results showed that while performing an image navigation task, mean intent recognition accuracy was 98.7% and that the false positive rate of gesture recognition dropped from 20.76% to 2.33% with context integration at similar recognition rates.
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