Myelin ensheathment and drug responses of oligodendrocytes are modulated by stiffness of artificial axons.

Myelination is a key biological process wherein glial cells such as oligodendrocytes wrap myelin around neuronal axons, forming an insulative sheath that accelerates signal propagation down the axon. A major obstacle to understanding myelination is the challenge of visualizing and reproducibly quantifying this inherently three-dimensional process in vitro. To this end, we previously developed artificial axons (AAs), a biocompatible platform consisting of 3D-printed hydrogel-based axon mimics designed to more closely recapitulate the micrometer-scale diameter and sub-kilopascal mechanical stiffness of biological axons.

Moving from guideline recommendations to practical, reasonable proposals: Biosafety considerations, breeding performance and challenges during specific pathogen-free animal facility enlargement.

Extending an existing animal facility is a challenging process that requires consideration of both engineering and biological aspects. In this sense, integration with ongoing activities must not alter the animals' microbiological condition or welfare, as they usually remain in the facility while these activities occur. The objective of this work was to describe and evaluate the practical biosafety considerations during the enlargement of a specific pathogen-free (SPF) rodent facility.

Alternative Magnification Devices for Microsurgical Training. Comparative analysis.

Aim: Determine if low-cost magnification devices (USB computer microscope, smartphone) enable the acquisition and maintenance of basic microsurgical skills by comparing skills learned using these devices against those learned using a surgical microscope. Determine whether skills acquired using these devices can be transferred to the surgical microscope.

Material And Methods: Twelve neurosurgical participants, ranging from faculty to postgraduate year-1 trainees, were randomly divided into three groups for training using a surgical microscope, smartphone, or USB microscope.

The Purple Tomato Story; From Laboratory Bench to the Consumer.

A world apart from academic research, the path from developing a polyphenol-rich crop to a product available to consumers is not one taken by many research scientists. Here we review the steps taken to commercialize anthocyanin-enriched purple tomatoes in the USA. In describing some of the difficulties encountered and the work that was necessary for a successful commercial launch of a new biotech product, we hope to encourage others to believe that there is a viable route to market, and an appetite for polyphenol-enriched foods that can protect health.

Effectiveness of the AZD1222 vaccine against COVID-19 hospitalization in Europe: final results from the COVIDRIVE test-negative case-control study.

Marketing authorization holders of vaccines typically need to report brand-specific vaccine effectiveness (VE) to the regulatory authorities as part of their regulatory obligations. COVIDRIVE (now id. DRIVE) is a European public-private partnership for respiratory pathogen surveillance and studies of brand-specific VE with long-term follow-up.