Training mechanical engineering students to utilize biological inspiration during product development

The use of bio-inspiration for the development of new products and devices requires new educational tools for students consisting of appropriate design and manufacturing technologies, as well as curriculum. At the University of Maryland, new educational tools have been developed that introduce bio-inspired product realization to undergraduate mechanical engineering students. These tools include the development of a bio-inspired design repository, a concurrent fabrication and assembly manufacturing technology, a series of undergraduate curriculum modules and a new senior elective in the bio-inspired robotics area. This paper first presents an overview of the two new design and manufacturing technologies that enable students to realize bio-inspired products, and describes how these technologies are integrated into the undergraduate educational experience. Then, the undergraduate curriculum modules are presented, which provide students with the fundamental design and manufacturing principles needed to support bio-inspired product and device development. Finally, an elective bio-inspired robotics project course is present, which provides undergraduates with the opportunity to demonstrate the application of the knowledge acquired through the curriculum modules in their senior year using the new design and manufacturing technologies.     

Uptake and Population-Level Impact of Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) on Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae: The Washington State Community-Level Randomized Trial of EPT

BackgroundExpedited partner therapy (EPT), the practice of treating the sex partners of persons with sexually transmitted infections without their medical evaluation, increases partner treatment and decreases gonorrhea and chlamydia reinfection rates. We conducted a stepped-wedge, community-level randomized trial to determine whether a public health intervention promoting EPT could increase its use and decrease chlamydia test positivity and gonorrhea incidence in women.ConclusionsA public health intervention promoting the use of free PDPT substantially increased its use and may have resulted in decreased chlamydial and gonococcal infections at the population level.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01665690","term_id":"NCT01665690"}}NCT01665690     

Impact of host proteases on reovirus infection in the respiratory tract

Virion uncoating is an essential early event in reovirus infection. In natural enteric infections, rapid proteolytic uncoating of virions is mediated by pancreatic serine proteases. The proteases that promote reovirus disassembly and cell entry in the respiratory tract remain unknown. In this report, we show that endogenous respiratory and inflammatory proteases can promote reovirus infection in vitro and that preexisting inflammation augments in vivo infection in the murine respiratory tract.     

Potent hFPRL1 (ALXR) agonists as potential anti-inflammatory agents

We report the discovery of potent agonists for the human formyl-peptide-like 1 receptor (hFPRL1). These compounds did not act at a closely related receptor denoted human formyl peptide receptor (hFPR) up to 10 microM concentration. Recent studies have indicated that agonizing this receptor may promote resolution of inflammation. In an exploratory study, a novel hFPRL1 agonist showed efficacy in a mouse ear inflammation model following oral administration.     

Thyroid hormone treatment of cultured chondrocytes mimics in vivo stimulation of collagen X mRNA by increasing BMP 4 expression

During endochondral bone formation, chondrocytes undergo terminal differentiation, during which the rate of proliferation decreases, cells become hypertrophic, and the extracellular matrix is altered by production of collagen X, as well as proteins required for matrix mineralization. This maturation process is responsible for most longitudinal bone growth, both during embryonic development and in postnatal long bone growth plates. Among the major signaling molecules implicated in regulation of this process are the positive regulators thyroid hormone (T3) and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). Both T3 and BMPs are essential for endochondral bone formation and cannot compensate for each other, suggesting interaction of the two signaling pathways. We have analyzed the temporal and spatial expression patterns of numerous genes believed to play a role in chondrocyte maturation. Our results show that T3 stimulates collagen X gene expression in cultured chondrocytres with kinetics and magnitude similar to those observed in vivo. Stimulation of collagen X gene expression by T3 occurs only after a significant delay, implying that this hormone may act indirectly. We show further that T3 rapidly stimulates production of BMP 4, concomitant with a decrease in the BMP inhibitor Noggin, potentially resulting in a net increase in BMP signaling. Finally, inhibition of BMP signaling with exogenous Noggin prevents T3 stimulation of collagen X expression, indicating that BMP signaling is essential for this process. These data position thyroid hormone at the top of a T3/BMP cascade, potentially explaining why both pathways are essential for chondrocyte maturation. J. Cell. Physiol. 219: 595–605, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Large‐Scale Zostera marina (eelgrass) Restoration in Chesapeake Bay,Maryland, USA. Part II: A Comparison of Restoration Methods in the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers

In response to systemic losses of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the Chesapeake Bay (east coast of North America), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) and Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MD DNR) have considered SAV restoration a critical component in Bay restoration programs. In 2003, the CBP created the “Strategy to Accelerate the Protection and Restoration of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation in the Chesapeake Bay” in an effort to increase SAV area. As part of this strategy, large‐scale eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration efforts were initiated in the Patuxent and Potomac Rivers in Maryland. From 2004 to 2007, nearly 4 million Z. marina seeds were dispersed over 10 ha on the Patuxent River and almost 9 million seeds over 16 ha on the Potomac River. Z. marina seedling establishment was consistent throughout the project (<4%); however, restored eelgrass survival was highly dependent on restoration site. Restoration locations on the Patuxent River experienced initial Z. marina seedling germination, but no long‐term plant survival. Restored Z. marina on the Potomac River has persisted and expanded, both vegetatively and sexually, beyond initial seeding areas. Healthy Z. marina beds now cover approximately five acres of the Potomac River bottom for the first time in decades. The differential success of Z. marina restoration efforts in the two rivers is evidence for the necessity of carefully considering site‐specific characteristics when using large‐scale seeding methods to achieve successful SAV restoration.     

Evaluating a Large‐Scale Eelgrass Restoration Project in the Chesapeake Bay

Approximately 90,000 shoots of eelgrass (Zostera marina) were planted over 3 years (2003–2005) at Piney Point (PP) in the lower Potomac River estuary in the Chesapeake Bay (mid‐Atlantic coast of North America) following 3 years of habitat evaluation using a Preliminary Transplant Suitability Index (PTSI) and test plantings. Initial survival was high for the 2003 and 2004 plantings; however, most of the eelgrass died during the summer following the fall planting. Habitat quality and restoration success were monitored for the 2005 plantings and compared to a nearby restoration site (St. George Island [SGI]). Eelgrass planted at PP in the fall of 2005 declined through the summer of 2006 with some recovery in the spring of 2007, but was gone by the end of the summer of 2007. The summer decline from late July to mid‐August of 2006 coincided with water temperatures greater than 30°C, hypoxic oxygen (0–3 mg/L) concentrations, and low percent light at leaf level (PLL < 15%). Epiphyte loads were much heavier at PP than at SGI, despite similar water quality. We suggest that this was the result of higher wave exposure at PP. All of these factors are likely to have contributed to the mortality of the 2005 plantings. Submerged aquatic vegetation habitat quality based on the PTSI, median PLL during the growing season, and test plantings did not explain the decline of the plantings. Restoration site selection criteria should be expanded to include the effects of wave exposure on self‐shading and epiphyte loads, and the potential for both short‐term exposures to stressful conditions and long‐term changes in habitat quality.