Extrusion-based bioprinting, also known as 3D bioplotting, is a powerful tool for the fabrication of tissue equivalents with spatially defined cell distribution. Even though considerable progress has ...been made in recent years, there is still a lack of bioinks which enable a tissue-like cell response and are plottable at the same time with good shape fidelity. Herein, we report on the development of a bioink which includes fresh frozen plasma from full human blood and thus a donor/patient-specific protein mixture. By blending of the plasma with 3 w/v% alginate and 9 w/v% methylcellulose, a pasty bioink (plasma-alg-mc) was achieved, which could be plotted with high accuracy and furthermore allowed bioplotted mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and primary osteoprogenitor cells to spread within the bioink. In a second step, the novel plasma-based bioink was combined with a plottable self-setting calcium phosphate cement (CPC) to fabricate bone-like tissue constructs. The CPC/plasma-alg-mc biphasic constructs revealed open porosity over the entire time of cell culture (35 d), which is crucial for bone tissue engineered grafts. The biphasic structures could be plotted in volumetric and clinically relevant dimensions and complex shapes could be also generated, as demonstrated for a scaphoid bone model. The plasma bioink potentiated that bioplotted MSC were not harmed by the setting process of the CPC. Latest after 7 days, MSC migrated from the hydrogel to the CPC surface, where they proliferated to 20-fold of the initial cell number covering the entire plotted constructs with a dense cell layer. For bioplotted and osteogenically stimulated osteoprogenitor cells, a significantly increased alkaline phosphatase activity was observed in CPC/plasma-alg-mc constructs in comparison to plasma-free controls. In conclusion, the novel plasma-alg-mc bioink is a promising new ink for several forms of bioprinted tissue equivalents and especially gainful for the combination with CPC for enhanced, biofabricated bone-like constructs.
Abstract Background Mortality in cardiogenic shock (CS) remains high. Early risk stratification is crucial to make adequate treatment decisions. Objectives This study sought to develop an ...easy-to-use, readily available risk prediction score for short-term mortality in patients with CS, derived from the IABP-SHOCK II (Intraaortic Balloon Pump in Cardiogenic Shock) trial. Methods The score was developed using a stepwise multivariable regression analysis. Results Six variables emerged as independent predictors for 30-day mortality and were used as score parameters: age >73 years, prior stroke, glucose at admission >10.6 mmol/l (191 mg/dl), creatinine at admission >132.6 μmol/l (1.5 mg/dl), Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction flow grade <3 after percutaneous coronary intervention, and arterial blood lactate at admission >5 mmol/l. Either 1 or 2 points were attributed to each variable, leading to a score in 3 risk categories: low (0 to 2), intermediate (3 or 4), and high (5 to 9). The observed 30-day mortality rates were 23.8%, 49.2%, and 76.6%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Validation in the IABP-SHOCK II registry population showed good discrimination with an area under the curve of 0.79. External validation in the CardShock trial population (n = 137) showed short-term mortality rates of 28.0% (score 0 to 2), 42.9% (score 3 to 4), and 77.3% (score 5 to 9; p < 0.001) and an area under the curve of 0.73. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a stepwise increase in mortality between the different score categories (0 to 2 vs. 3 to 4: p = 0.04; 0 to 2 vs. 5 to 9: p = 0.008). Conclusions The IABP-SHOCK II risk score can be easily calculated in daily clinical practice and strongly correlated with mortality in patients with infarct-related CS. It may help stratify patient risk for short-term mortality and might, thus, facilitate clinical decision making. (Intraaortic Balloon Pump in Cardiogenic Shock II IABP-SHOCK II; NCT00491036 )
Calcium phosphate cements (CPC) and mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBG) are two degradable biomaterial groups widely under investigation concerning their applicability to treat bone defects. MBG-CPC ...composites were recently shown to possess enhanced degradation properties in comparison to pure CPC. In addition, modification of MBG allows an easy incorporation of therapeutically effective ions. Additive manufacturing of such composites enables the fabrication of patient-specific geometries with further improved degradation behavior due to control over macroporosity. In this study, we developed composites prepared from a non-aqueous carrier-liquid (cl) based CPC paste and MBG particles suitable for extrusion-based additive manufacturing (3D plotting). CPC with the addition of up to 10 wt % MBG were processible by adjusting the amount of cl. Scaffolds consisting of a 4, 6 and 8%-MBG-CPC composite were successfully manufactured by 3D plotting. While mechanically characterization of the scaffolds showed an influence of the MBG, no changes of microstructure were observed. During degradation of the composite, the release of Ca
and Sr
ions could be controlled by the MBG composition and plotted scaffolds with macropores showed a significant higher release than bulk samples of comparable mass. These findings demonstrate a high flexibility regarding ion release of the developed composites and suggest utilizing the drug binding capacities of MBG as a prospective delivery system for biologically active proteins.
Based on the integration of existing programming languages and framework technologies, this paper designs and implements a Web-based situational plotting system. This system combines Web-oriented and ...map services, it uses Leaflet framework and SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) technology design and implementation, classify the symbols and generate corresponding situational symbol frameworks, which can be extended to different areas such as emergency rescue, logistics coordination, communication planning, and realize the situational symbol mapping and editing, map browsing, and plotting Sample set saving and uploading functions have good real-time, cross-platform and interactive features. At the same time, aiming at the problem of generating linear plotting symbols, a plotting algorithm based on Centripetal Catmull-Rom curve is proposed, which avoids sharp angle and self-intersections in the process of plotting linear symbols. The experimental results prove that compared with the traditional curve plotting algorithm, the proposed algorithm has the characteristics of fewer control points and good fitting effects, which improves the plotting efficiency.
Calcium phosphate cements (CPC) and mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBG) are two well studied biomaterial groups widely under investigation on their applicability to treat bone defects in orthopaedics ...and maxillofacial surgery. Recently the extrusion properties of CPC-MBG composites using a pasty CPC based on a hydrophobic carrier-liquid were studied in our group demonstrating that such composites are suitable for low temperature 3D plotting. Based on this work, we show in this study that by variation of the MBG content in the composite the degradation of the final scaffolds can be influenced. Furthermore, by modifying the cement phase and/or the MBG with therapeutically active ions like strontium, the released ion concentration can be varied over a wide range. In a second step the MBG was functionalized exploiting the high specific surface area of the glass as a carrier system for proteins like lysozyme or grow factors. We developed a protocol that allows the incorporation of protein-laden MBG in CPC pastes without impairing the extrudability of the CPC-MBG composites. Additionally, we found that released proteins from pure MBG or 3D plotted composite-scaffolds maintained their biological activity. Therefore, the combination of CPC and MBG allows the creation of a highly flexible composite system making it a promising candidate for bone tissue engineering.
Calcium phosphate cements and mesoporous bioactive glasses are two promising degradable biomaterials for the regenerative treatment of bone defects. The combination of both materials to a 3D printable composite enables the creation of implants with patient specific geometry. By varying the composition of the composite, the degradation behaviour can be influenced and especially the release of therapeutically active ions is tailorable over a wide range. We demonstrated this for strontium, as it has been shown to stimulate bone formation. Moreover, the bioactive glass can be used as a carrier system for drugs or growth factors and we show the successful combination of such functionalised glass particles and a cement paste without affecting the printability.
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Stable isotope analysis provides a powerful tool to identify the energy sources which fuel consumers, to understand trophic interactions and to infer consumer trophic position (TP), an important ...concept that describes the ecological role of consumers in food webs. However, current methods for estimating TP using stable isotopes are limited and do not fulfil the complete potential of the isotopic approach. For instance, researchers typically use point estimates for key parameters including trophic discrimination factors and isotopic baselines, and do not explicitly include variance associated with these parameters when calculating TP.
We present “tRophicPosition,” an r package incorporating a Bayesian model for the calculation of consumer TP at the population level using stable isotopes, with one or two baselines. It combines Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations through JAGS and statistical and graphical analyses using R. We model consumer and baseline observations using relevant statistical distributions, allowing them to be treated as random variables. The calculation of TP—a random parameter—for one baseline follows standard equations linking 15N enrichment per trophic level and the trophic position of the baseline (e.g. a primary producer or primary consumer). In the case of two baselines, a simple mixing model incorporating δ13C allows for the differentiation between two distinct sources of nitrogen, thus including heterogeneity derived from alternatives sources of δ15N.
Methods currently implemented in “tRophicPosition” include loading, plotting and summarizing stable isotope data either from multiple sites and/or communities or a local assemblage; loading trophic discrimination factors from an internal database or generating them; defining and initializing a Bayesian model of TP; sampling posterior parameters; analysing, comparing and plotting posterior estimates of TP and other parameters; and calculating a parametric (non‐Bayesian) TP estimate. Additionally, full documentation including examples, multiple vignettes and code are available for download.
Foreign Language Resumen
El análisis de isótopos estables es una poderosa herramienta para identificar qué vías energéticas alimentan a los consumidores, para entender las interacciones tróficas, y también para inferir la posición trófica (PT) de los consumidores, un concepto importante que describe el rol ecológico de los consumidores en las tramas tróficas. Sin embargo, los métodos actuales para estimar la PT utilizando isótopos estables están limitados y no permiten alcanzar el potencial de la aproximación isotópica. Por ejemplo, los investigadores típicamente utilizan estimaciones puntuales de parámetros claves incluyendo factores de discriminación trófica y líneas base isotópicas, y no incorporan explícitamente la varianza asociada con estos parámetros cuando calculan la PT.
Presentamos “tRophicPosition,” un paquete de R para isótopos estables que incorpora un modelo Bayesiano para el cálculo de la PT en consumidores al nivel ecológico de población, con una o dos líneas base. Este paquete combina simulaciones de cadenas de Markov Monte Carlo a través de JAGS y utilizando los análisis estadísticos y gráficos de R. Modelamos las observaciones de consumidores y líneas base utilizando distribuciones estadísticas relevantes, por lo que son tratadas como variables aleatorias. El cálculo de la PT—un parámetro aleatorio—para una línea base considera ecuaciones estándar que vinculan el enriquecimiento en 15N por nivel trófico y el nivel trófico de la línea base (p.e. un productor primario o un consumidor primario). En el caso de dos líneas base, un modelo de mezcla simple incorporando δ13C permite la diferenciación entre dos fuentes distintas de nitrógeno, incluyendo de esta forma la heterogeneidad derivada de fuentes alternativas de δ15N.
Los métodos actualmente implementados en “tRophicPosition” incluyen cargar, graficar y resumir datos de isótopos estables desde múltiples sitios y/o comunidades o ensambles locales; cargar factores de discriminación trófica desde una base de datos interna o generarlos; definir e inicializar un modelo Bayesiano para la PT; muestrear parámetros a posteriori; analizar, comparar y graficar estimaciones a posteriori de la TP y otros parámetros; y calcular una estimación frecuentista (no Bayesiana) para la PT. Adicionalmente, toda la documentación incluyendo ejemplos, distintas viñetas y el código están disponibles para descarga.
Transverse-momentum-dependent distributions (TMDs) are extensions of collinear parton distributions and are important in high-energy physics from both theoretical and phenomenological points of view. ...In this manual we introduce the library
T
M
D
l
i
b
, a tool to collect transverse-momentum-dependent parton distribution functions (TMD PDFs) and fragmentation functions (TMD FFs) together with an online plotting tool, TMDplotter. We provide a description of the program components and of the different physical frameworks the user can access via the available parameterisations.
This work reports the fabrication of fully drawn fluidic electrochemical paper-based analytical devices (ePADs) using a low-cost and rapid dual-step pen-on-paper plotting approach for the enzymatic ...assay of glucose. The desired fluidic patterns were formed on the paper substrate using an inexpensive computer-controlled x-y plotter and a commercial hydrophobic marker pen. Electrodes were further deposited on the devices using a second x-y plotting step with a commercial writing pencil. Enzymatic paper-based biosensors were prepared by immobilizing glucose oxidase and potassium ferricyanide (as a mediator) at the test area of the ePADs; the cost of each biosensor was < 0.05 € in terms of materials. A simple, low-cost and rapid method was further developed for the amperometric enzymatic determination of glucose using the biosensing ePADS. The limit of quantification was 0.08 mmol L−1, the between-device reproducibility (expressed as the % relative standard deviation of the response at 6 different ePADs) was < 12% and the assay time was 120 s. The ePADs were applied to the determination of glucose in food samples with recoveries in the range 94–106%.
•ePADs were fully fabricated by x-y plotting.•A commercial marker pen and writing pencils were used.•Glucose oxidase and a mediator were immobilized on the test area of the ePADs.•Glucose was monitored amperometrically.•The method was applied to food samples.
With this paper, we analyse an ordinary urban process, which has received little attention so far, and propose a new concept to take account of it: plotting urbanism. It is usually subsumed under ...terms like “urban informality” or “incremental urbanism” and not studied as a distinct process. In comparing Lagos, Istanbul and Shenzhen we captured four defining features of plotting urbanism: first, it unfolds in a piecemeal fashion with limited comprehensive planning. Second, it emerges from specific territorial compromises often resulting from conflicts between overlapping modes of territorial regulation, land tenure and property rights. Third, plotting is based on commodification of housing and land, which might accentuate socio‐economic differentiations between property‐owners, who often live in the same area, and their tenants. The term “plotting” highlights the key role of the plot in the process. It also alludes to strategic acts of collaboration for individual and collective benefit.
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