Extracellular matrix (ECM)-derived matrices such as Matrigel are used to culture numerous cell types in vitro as they recapitulate ECM properties that support cell growth, organisation, migration and differentiation. These ECM-derived matrices contain various growth factors which make them highly bioactive. However, they suffer lot-to-lot variability, undefined composition and lack of controlled physical properties. There is a need to develop rationally designed biomaterials that can also recapitulate ECM roles. Here, we report the development of fibronectin (FN)-based 3D hydrogels of controlled stiffness and degradability that incorporate full-length FN to enable solid-phase presentation of growth factors in a physiological manner. We demonstrate, in vitro and in vivo, the effect of incorporating vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) in these hydrogels to enhance angiogenesis and bone regeneration, respectively. These hydrogels represent a step-change in the design of well-defined, reproducible, synthetic microenvironments for 3D cell culture that incorporate growth factors to achieve functional effects.

Remanufacturing is a product recovery strategy resulting in end-of-life products being returned to as new condition or better and receiving a warranty at least equivalent to the original. To differentiate remanufacturing from other forms of product recovery, a clear definition of a remanufactured product is essential. At present two distinct methods for understanding end-of-life recovery strategies exist; a) the use of tools and b) definitions. These current methods fall short however of categorically stating what is and what is not a remanufactured product. Therefore, the responsibility of classifying a product as remanufactured is left to individuals and organizations and so potential exists for products to be incorrectly labelled. By firstly examining the problems associated with using existing methods to determine the status of end-of-life product, and why product identification is important, this paper then goes on to present a new simple innovative method to quickly and accurately determine the status of a product which has undergone an end-of-life recovery strategy, by virtue of a bespoke tool. The tool presented is the result of two rounds of academic and industrial feedback; an initial tool was presented, and underwent critique, at the International Conference on Remanufacturing 2015 with an updated tool then subject to another independent review from academic and industrial stakeholders. The main benefits associated with this tool are, a) a quick way to identify the status of a product, b) a method for researchers to quickly determine the best terminology for end-of-life products which have received a recovery treatment, c) a quick and reliable method to check whether a remanufactured product is labelled as something else, d) an additional way to ensure compliance with existing legislation and standards, and e) an identification of only the essential characteristics of a remanufactured product

SUMMARY: Hearing animals, including many vertebrates and insects, have the capacity to analyse the frequency composition of sound. In mammals, frequency analysis relies on the mechanical response of the basilar membrane in the cochlear duct. These vibrations take the form of a slow vibrational wave propagating along the basilar membrane from base to apex. Known as von Békésy's travelling wave, this wave displays amplitude maxima at frequency-specific locations along the basilar membrane, providing a spatial map of the frequency of sound - a tonotopy. In their structure, insect auditory systems may not be as sophisticated as those of mammals, yet some are known to perform sound frequency analysis. In the desert locust, this analysis arises from the mechanical properties of the tympanal membrane. In effect, the spatial decomposition of incident sound into discrete frequency components involves a tympanal travelling wave that funnels mechanical energy to specific tympanal locations, where distinct groups of mechanoreceptor neurones project. Notably, observed tympanal deflections differ from those predicted by drum theory. Although phenomenologically equivalent, von Békésy's and the locust's waves differ in their physical implementation. von Békésy's wave is born from interactions between the anisotropic basilar membrane and the surrounding incompressible fluids, whereas the locust's wave rides on an anisotropic membrane suspended in air. The locust's ear thus combines in one structure the functions of sound reception and frequency decomposition.