Additive manufacturing is a promising method for producing customized three-dimensional (3D) bioactive constructs for regenerative medicine. Here, we report 3D printed highly osteogenic scaffolds using nanoengineered ionic-covalent entanglement ink (NICE) for bone tissue engineering. This NICE ink consists of ionic-covalent entanglement reinforced with Laponite, a two-dimensional (2D) nanosilicate (nSi) clay, allowing for the printing of anatomic-sized constructs with high accuracy. In addition, the 3D printed structure is able to maintain high structural stability in physiological conditions without any significant swelling or deswelling. While the presence of nSi imparts osteoinductive characteristics to the NICE scaffolds, this was further augmented by depositing pluripotent stem cellderived extracellular matrix (ECM) on the surface of the scaffolds. This was achieved by stimulating human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iP-hMSCs) with 2-chloro-5nitrobenzanilide, a PPARγ inhibitor that enhances Wnt pathway, resulting in the deposition of an ECM characterized by high levels of collagens VI and XII found in anabolic bone. The osteoinductive characteristics of these bioconditioned NICE (bNICE) scaffolds is demonstrated through osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow derived human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). A significant increase in the expression of osteogenic gene markers including bone morphogenic protein-2, osteocalcin and osteopontin was observed on ECM-coated scaffolds compared to bare scaffolds, as well as improved mineralization. This approach of augmenting the bioactivity of 3D printed scaffolds by depositing an anabolic bone ECM will provide a unique strategy to design personalized bone graft geometries for in situ bone regeneration.Received: ((will be filled in by the editorial staff))Revised: ((will be filled in by the editorial staff))

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals and healthcare institutions lacked an adequate supply of masks and other personal protective equipment. Moreover, protocols that were in place to ensure healthcare workers had appropriately sized masks consumed precious time and resources. Any determination of a user’s correct respirator size demanded an in-person assessment and had the potential to waste multiple respirators. Here we introduce IBARS (Image-based Application for Respirator Sizing), a novel tool which provides respirator size recommendations based on a facial image and basic user demographics. This solution obviates the need for an in-person assessment, providing an accurate size recommendation within seconds. The application has the potential to reduce time-per-worker respirator fitting, reduce overall respirator usage, and increase safety by providing hospitals with a non-contact option for sizing. Furthermore, future applications may assist healthcare institutions optimize supply chains by providing rapid assessments and re-assessments of appropriate respirator sizes used by their workers. Early testing indicated accuracy of 71.3% for the software (N=16), and further testing is underway at Houston Methodist Hospital.

FIG. 2. Proposed new algorithm for management of hypertensive emergency to account for possible simultaneously increased intracranial pressure. Based off of the Brain, Arteries, Retina, Kidney, and/or Heart (BARKH) strategy. 3

Mechanical ventilators are beneficial in treating and managing various respiratory diseases, including interstitial pneumonia associated with Coronavirus infection (COVID-19). The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has led to the emergence of a worldwide need for more accessible and affordable mechanical ventilatory devices. This project, known as the Third Coast Ventilator, aims to create a low-cost, open-source solution to the ventilator shortage created by the COVID-19 pandemic; this device can additionally be implemented in developing countries with limited medical resources, where ventilators are often inaccessible. Using readily available components found within hospitals and local stores, our team designed a prototype that can be assembled and functional within an hour. Our testing demonstrated accurate tidal volume delivery while modulating commonly used ranges of inspiratory to expiratory ratios, air flow rates, and respiratory rates. These promising results are an important step toward our goal of creating a low-cost, open-source, globally accessible ventilator in areas where shortages exist.