A practical guide for translating in-person simulation curriculum to telesimulation.

This article provides a road map, along with recommendations, for the adoption and implementation of telesimulation at a large scale. We provide tools for translating an in-presence simulation curriculum into a telesimulation curriculum using a combination off-the-shelf telecommunication platform. We also describe the roles and tasks that emerged within the simulation team when planning and delivering a telesimulation curriculum.

Multiscale Representation of Observation Error Statistics in Data Assimilation.

Accounting for realistic observation errors is a known bottleneck in data assimilation, because dealing with error correlations is complex. Following a previous study on this subject, we propose to use multiscale modelling, more precisely wavelet transform, to address this question. This study aims to investigate the problem further by addressing two issues arising in real-life data assimilation: how to deal with partially missing data (e.

Metal clad waveguide (MCWG) based imaging using a high numerical aperture microscope objective.

Evanescent-field based methods such as surface plasmon resonance (SPR) have been used very effectively for label-free imaging of microscopic biological material in close proximity to a sensing surface. However, the shallow probing depth of SPR (typically less than ~200 nm) can be problematic when imaging relatively thick biological objects such as cells or bacteria. In this paper, we demonstrate how metal-clad waveguides (MCWG) can be used to achieve deeper probing depth compared to SPR while maintaining good imaging spatial resolution.

Prognostic Value of the Persistence of C1q-Binding Anti-HLA Antibodies in Acute Antibody-Mediated Rejection in Kidney Transplantation.

Background: The differential pathogenicity of anti-HLA donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) is not fully understood. The presence of complement-binding DSAs helps in better defining the prognosis of acute antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). The evolution of these antibodies after the treatment of ABMR is unknown.

Differentiation of human dendritic cell subsets for immune tolerance induction.

Objectives: Since no further progress was achieved, in order to improve the long-term organ transplantation outcome, the immune tolerance appears as an interesting therapeutic goal. Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized cells participating in the homeostasis of the immune response. Moreover, subsets of DCs, identified in humans, appear to have their respective competences in immune response modulation.

The Quebec Respiratory Health Education Network: Integrating a model of self-management education in COPD primary care.

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) self-management education program with coaching of a case manager improves patient-related outcomes and leads to practice changes in primary care. COPD patients from six family medicine clinics (FMCs) participated in a 1-year educational program offered by trained case managers who focused on treatment adherence, inhaler techniques, smoking cessation, and the use of an action plan for exacerbations. Health-care utilization, health-related quality of life (HRQL), treatment adherence, inhaler technique, and COPD knowledge were assessed at each visit with validated questionnaires.

Unexpected impairment of TNF-α-induced maturation of human dendritic cells in vitro by IL-4.

Background: An efficient strategy for programming dendritic cells (DCs) for cancer immunotherapy is the optimization of their maturation so that they can efficiently stimulate cancer-specific T cell responses. Interleukin (IL)-4 has appeared as an essential cytokine, widely used in vitro with granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to differentiate monocytes into immature DCs (iDC) and to prevent macrophage formation. Conflicting data have been published regarding the effect of IL-4 on functional DC maturation.

Reduced Graphene Oxide/Tin-Antimony Nanocomposites as Anode Materials for Advanced Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Reduced graphene oxides loaded with tin-antimony alloy (RGO-SnSb) nanocomposites were synthesized through a hydrothermal reaction and the subsequent thermal reduction treatments. Transmission electron microscope images confirm that SnSb nanoparticles with an average size of about 20-30 nm are uniformly dispersed on the RGO surfaces. When they were used as anodes for rechargeable sodium (Na)-ion batteries, these as-synthesized RGO-SnSb nanocomposite anodes delivered a high initial reversible capacity of 407 mAh g(-1), stable cyclic retention for more than 80 cycles and excellent cycle stability at ultra high charge/discharge rates up to 30C.

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor interaction with β1 integrin is required for platelet-derived growth factor-AB-induced human mesenchymal stem/stromal cell migration.

Introduction: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are well described for their role in tissue regeneration following injury. Migratory properties of endogenous or administrated MSC are critical for tissue repair processes. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a chemotactic growth factor that elicits mesenchymal cell migration.

Benefits of an asthma education program provided at primary care sites on asthma outcomes.

Background: Although it is a key-recommendation of all recent asthma guidelines, self-management education is still insufficiently offered in primary care settings.

Aims Of The Study: To demonstrate the benefits of an educational program offered at the site of primary care (Family Medicine Clinics- FMC) by trained asthma educators on patient outcomes and healthcare use.

Methods: This was a one-year pre-post intervention study.

Subeutectic growth of single-crystal silicon nanowires grown on and wrapped with graphene nanosheets: high-performance anode material for lithium-ion battery.

A novel one-pot synthesis for the subeutectic growth of (111) oriented Si nanowires on an in situ formed nickel nanoparticle catalyst prepared from an inexpensive nickel nitrate precursor is developed. Additionally, anchoring the nickel nanoparticles to a simultaneously reduced graphene oxide support created synergy between the individual components of the c-SiNW-G composite, which greatly improved the reversible charge capacity and it is retention at high current density when applied as an anode for a Li-ion battery. The c-SiNW-G electrodes for Li-ion battery achieved excellent high-rate performance, producing a stable reversible capacity of 550 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles at 6.

Engineered Si electrode nanoarchitecture: a scalable postfabrication treatment for the production of next-generation Li-ion batteries.

A novel, economical flash heat treatment of the fabricated silicon based electrodes is introduced to boost the performance and cycle capability of Li-ion batteries. The treatment reveals a high mass fraction of Si, improved interfacial contact, synergistic SiO2/C coating, and a conductive cellular network for improved conductivity, as well as flexibility for stress compensation. The enhanced electrodes achieve a first cycle efficiency of ∼84% and a maximum charge capacity of 3525 mA h g(-1), almost 84% of silicon's theoretical maximum.

Multifunctional TiO2-C/MnO2 core-double-shell nanowire arrays as high-performance 3D electrodes for lithium ion batteries.

The unique TiO2-C/MnO2 core-double-shell nanowires are synthesized for the first time using as anode materials for lithium ion batteries (LIBs). They combine both advantages from TiO2 such as excellent cycle stability and MnO2 with high capacity (1230 mA h g(-1)). The additional C interlayer intends to improve the electrical conductivity.

Identification of the molecular mechanisms in cellular processes that elicit a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) response using simultaneous surface plasmon-enhanced fluorescence (SPEF) microscopy.

Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has developed into a powerful approach for label-free monitoring of cellular behavior. Most cellular responses, however, involve a complex cascade of molecular events which makes identifying the specific components of cellular behavior dynamics contributing to the aggregate SPR signal problematic. Recently, a number of groups have used surface plasmon-enhanced fluorescence (SPEF) microscopy on living cells.

High yield production and purification of few layer graphene by gum arabic assisted physical sonication.

Exploiting the emulsification properties of low cost, environmentally safe Gum Arabic we demonstrate a high yield process to produce a few layer graphene with a low defect ratio, maintaining the pristine graphite structure. In addition, we demonstrate the need for and efficacy of an acid hydrolysis treatment to remove the polymer residues to produce 100% pure graphene. The scalable process gives yield of up to 5 wt% graphene based on 10 g starting graphite.

Granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor stimulation of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells promotes CD34+ cell migration via a matrix metalloproteinase-2-dependent mechanism.

Human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) can be mobilized into the circulation using granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), for graft collection in view of hematopoietic transplantation. This process has been related to bone marrow (BM) release of serine proteases and of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Yet, the role of these mediators in HSC egress from their niches remains questionable, because they are produced by nonstromal cells (mainly neutrophils and monocytes/macrophages) that are not a part of the niche.

Integrated active mixing and biosensing using surface acoustic waves (SAW) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) on a common substrate.

This article presents a device incorporating surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing and surface acoustic wave (SAW) actuation integrated onto a common LiNbO(3) piezoelectric substrate. The device uses Rayleigh-type SAW to provide active microfluidic mixing in the fluid above the SPR sensor. Validation experiments show that SAW-induced microfluidic mixing results in accelerated binding kinetics of an avidin-biotin assay.

Transient RNA silencing of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 modulates lung cancer cell invasion.

Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) is a potent inhibitor of plasmin which activates metalloproteinases (MMPs) involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. Its secretion in ECM makes TFPI-2 a potential inhibitor to regulate tumour invasion and metastasis. Moreover, TFPI-2 is frequently downregulated, particularly in aggressive cancers.

Surface Plasmon Resonance Monitoring of Cell Monolayer Integrity: Implication of Signaling Pathways Involved in Actin-Driven Morphological Remodeling.

Morphological changes occurring in individual cells largely influence the physiological functions of various cell layers. The control of barrier function of epithelia and endothelia is a prime example of processes highly dependent on cellular morphology and cell layer integrity. Here, we applied the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique to the quantification of cellular activity of an epithelial cell monolayer stimulated by angiotensin II.

Biosensing based on surface plasmon resonance and living cells.

We propose the combination of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with living cells as a biosensing method. Our detection scheme is based on the premise that cellular activity induced by external agents is often associated with changes in cellular morphology, which in turn should lead to a variation of the effective refractive index at the interface between the cell membrane and the metal layer. We monitored surface plasmon resonance signals originating from a gold surface coated with cells on a custom apparatus after injection of various agents known to influence cellular activity and morphology.

Monitoring of native chemical ligation on solid substrate by surface plasmon resonance.

During the last years native chemical ligation (NCL) gained in popularity as a method allowing the chemical synthesis of large peptides and entire proteins. NCL is particularly well-suited for chemoselective and nondenaturing attachment of biomolecules on solid substrates. In the present work, we show the feasibility of monitoring of peptide synthesis, NCL and its catalysis on silicon oxide modified gold surfaces by surface plasmon resonance (SPR).

CCL5-enhanced human immature dendritic cell migration through the basement membrane in vitro depends on matrix metalloproteinase-9.

The proinflammatory chemokine CC chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) is a potent chemoattractant of immature dendritic cells (iDCs). It remains to be elucidated whether CCL5 may also enhance iDC migration through the basement membrane by affecting matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 secretion. In this study, iDCs were differentiated in vitro from human monocytes of healthy donors.

Mycophenolic acid-treated human dendritic cells have a mature migratory phenotype and inhibit allogeneic responses via direct and indirect pathways.

Immature dendritic cells (DCs) can induce T-cell hyporesponsiveness, thus interfering with the process of DC maturation in a pro-inflammatory context, may therefore provide a novel approach to inducing allograft tolerance. We have studied the effects of mycophenolic acid (MPA), an immunosuppressive agent currently used in transplantation, using an in vitro model of a mixed human DC/alloreactive CD4(+) T lymphocyte culture. DCs differentiated from monocytes were exposed to MPA during maturation.

Effect of oestrous cycle and early pregnancy on uterine production and expression of immune regulatory factors in gilts.

This study was undertaken to characterize uterine immune factors involved in the establishment of pregnancy in gilts. Thirty crossbred Yorkshire-Landrace gilts of similar age and weight were observed twice a day for oestrous behaviour with intact boars. On the day of first standing oestrus (Day 0) and 12h later, 15 gilts were inseminated with pooled semen from Duroc boars of proven fertility.