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genes. Tey succeeded in categorizing hundreds of cells, one by one, to define the types of ILCs found in human tonsils.
By analyzing the gene expression profiles (or transcriptome) of individual cells, the researchers found that one of the formerly known main groups could be subdivided. “We’ve identified three new subgroups of ILC3s that evince different gene expression patterns and that differ in how they react to signaling molecules and in their ability to secrete proteins,” said Dr. Mjösberg at Karolinska Institutet’s Department of Medicine. “All in all, our study has taught us a lot about this relatively uncharacterized family of cells and our data will serve as an important resource for other researchers.”
3-D Printer Fabricates Stable, Human-Scale Tissue of Any Shape
Printed ear, bone and muscle structures matured into functional tissue and developed a system of blood vessels when implanted in animals—and are of the right size, durability and function for use in humans. Te Integrated Tissue and Organ Printing System (ITOP), developed over a 10-year period by scientists at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), overcomes the challenges of current 3-D printers based on jetting, extrusion and laser-induced forward transfer, that is, they are unable to produce structures with sufficient size or strength to implant in the body. Te ITOP system deposits both biodegradable, plastic-like materials to form the tissue “shape” and water-based gels that contain the cells, and forms a strong, temporary outer structure. Te printing process does not harm the cells.
A major challenge of tissue engineering is ensuring that implanted structures live long enough to integrate with the body. Te Wake Forest Baptist scientists addressed this in two ways. Tey optimized the water-based “ink” that holds the cells so that it promotes cell health and growth, and they printed a lattice of micro-channels throughout the structures. Tese channels allow nutrients and oxygen from the body to diffuse into the structures and keep
them live while they develop a system of blood vessels. “Our results indicate that the bio-ink combination we used, combined with the micro-channels, provides the right environment to keep the cells alive and to support cell and tissue growth,” said Anthony Atala, M.D., director at WFIRM.
Smart Shoes Convert Mechanical Motion to Electrical Energy to Charge Mobile Devices
Mechanical engineers have devised a novel technology that captures energy produced by humans during walking and stores it for later use. Te technology holds promise as a source of power for those living in remote regions and areas that lack adequate electrical power grids. Power-generating shoes could be particularly
useful for soldiers in the field carrying heavy batteries to power their radios, GPS units and night-vision goggles.
According to Tom Krupenkin, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, “Human walking carries a lot of energy. Teoretical estimates show that it can produce up to 10 watts per shoe, and that energy is just wasted as heat. A total of 20 watts from walking is not a small thing, especially compared to the power requirements of the majority of modern mobile devices.”
Krupenkin says tapping into just a small amount of that energy is enough to power a wide range of mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptop computers and flashlights. For example, a typical smartphone requires less than two watts. However, traditional approaches to energy harvesting and conversion don’t work well for the relatively small displacements and large forces of footfalls, according to the researchers.
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