β-glycerophosphate, not low magnitude fluid shear stress, increases osteocytogenesis in the osteoblast-to-osteocyte cell line IDG-SW3.

Aim: As osteoblasts deposit a mineralized collagen network, a subpopulation of these cells differentiates into osteocytes. Biochemical and mechanical stimuli, particularly fluid shear stress (FSS), are thought to regulate this, but their relative influence remains unclear. Here, we assess both biochemical and mechanical stimuli on long-term bone formation and osteocytogenesis using the osteoblast-osteocyte cell line IDG-SW3.

Membrane-based microfluidic systems for medical and biological applications.

Microfluidic devices with integrated membranes that enable control of mass transport in constrained environments have shown considerable growth over the last decade. Membranes are a key component in several industrial processes such as chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnological, food, and metallurgy separation processes as well as waste management applications, allowing for modular and compact systems. Moreover, the miniaturization of a process through microfluidic devices leads to process intensification together with reagents, waste and cost reduction, and energy and space savings.

Assessing friction and damage of cell monolayers on soft substrates .

In the area of surgical applications, understanding the interaction between medical device materials and tissue is important since this interaction may cause complications. The interaction often consists of a cell monolayer touching the medical device that can be mimicked . Prominent examples of this are contact lenses, where epithelial cells interact with the contact lens, or stents and catheters, which are in contact with endothelial cells.

Corrigendum: 3D organ-on-a-chip: the convergence of microphysiological systems and organoids.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.

Camouflage efficiency in a colour-polymorphic predator is dependent on environmental variation and snow presence in the wild.

Colour polymorphism can be maintained by colour morph-specific benefits across environmental conditions. Currently, the amount and the duration of snow cover during winter decrease especially in northern latitudes, which can alter the potential for camouflage of animals with light and dark morphs. Tawny owls, , are colour-polymorphic avian predators with dark (brown) and light (grey) colour morphs, where the grey morph is presumed to enjoy camouflage benefits under snowy conditions.