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    75 Bedroom Ideas You’ll Love – October, 2022 | Houzz - October 24, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Your bedroom is the place you go to relax and escape everyday life. When designed correctly, bedrooms are soothing sanctuaries full of cozy bedding and peaceful decor that make you feel both happy and calm. As you browse bedroom furniture ideas and wall decor inspiration, make sure to save them to an ideabook and make notes on any bedroom designs and themes that make you feel at home! The fact that bedrooms are personal spaces often shared with another person makes decorating tricky. One crucial tip to keep in mind as you consider bedroom ideas is to forego popular trends or styles in favor of what makes you happy. If there arent any significant bedroom remodeling changes, determining your furniture layout is the first (and biggest) decision you will need to make. Once you've settled on a bedroom layout, take the time to select colors and decor that reflect your personality, but also take into consideration the serene nature of a bedroom. If adding new decorations and furniture isn't enough of an aesthetic change, you can turn your bedroom makeover into a full blown remodel by creating your own master bedroom suite, complete with a sitting room and master bathroom. How do I pick bedroom colors and decorating ideas? Although your bedroom color scheme is often a personal opinion, there are some paint colors that are more relaxing and better suited for your sleeping area. Studies have found that people with blue bedrooms often get more sleep because of the calmness it elicits. Brighter colors may lead to a better mood, but they also might keep you up longer at night. If you have a significant other with opposing tastes, consider master bedroom colors falling within the neutral range such as variations of green, gray or brown to keep everyone happy. Sharing many bedroom pictures that youve saved to your ideabook can be a great way to help your significant other get a sense of your bedroom remodeling ideas. If youre looking for feng shui bedroom design ideas, then consider that its recommended you use warm earthy colors to create a welcoming environment, or softer blues and greens to create a tranquil ambiance. Bright colors, such as fuchsia and orange, are too stimulating in huge blocks, so use them as accents around the room to brighten up the space and provide hints of passion, an important part of a romantic bedroom. When it comes to bedroom decorating ideas, your options are endless. When nailing down your bedroom design, its helpful to start by tackling the more permanent things, like furniture. Artwork and photographs that put you at ease are a great addition (although some advise against having family photos around, as they can hinder that sexy bedroom vibe), and mirrors are a must-have if you use the space for dressing. When considering bedroom ideas, bedding is always important your duvet and decorative pillows should play nicely with the paint color and bedroom wall decor, but can also be swapped out easily, which makes it easy to incorporate an interesting print or texture. Lastly, add some accessories to style your nightstand or dresser; just be careful not to go overboard too many knickknacks can make your room feel cluttered and disorganized, which can actually cause sleep trouble. If you keep these bedroom decorating ideas and color considerations in mind you should be well on your way to creating the perfect bedroom design. How do I determine my bedroom layout? By the time you add dressers, nightstands, armoires and a bed, your sleeping space can easily get cramped this is why figuring out the proper layout is essential to achieving the ideal bedroom design. The ultimate goal is to create a room that provides enough storage, yet still has enough space to move around. Before you buy a new furniture set, be sure to consider the bedroom size. Even though you might need three dressers and two nightstands in your bedroom, you might not have the space for them. Measure the furniture and visualize or tape out where it will go so you can judge what will actually fit. Be sure to leave plenty of walking space, and double check that drawers and cabinets have enough room to open properly. When picking a spot for your bed, consider all the windows and doors. Placing a bed underneath a window or close to the door can be a bad idea, especially for light sleepers, as even the smallest crack of light can cause sleep disturbance. When it comes to feng shui bedrooms, a free-flowing layout is crucial. The ideal placement for your bed is as far away from the door as possible, but still in a position that lets you see the entrance; usually, the corner diagonally across from the door is the best spot. Try and avoid having your head under a window due to the ebb and flow of energy going in and out; this causes disturbed and interrupted sleep. Do not position your bed so as to have your feet point out the door while youre sleeping; this is called the Death Position as the deceased are carried out feet first, and sleeping this way is said to drain your life force. How can I create a master bedroom suite? For those looking for a master bedroom ideas to create an oasis, consider adding a sitting room, master bathroom and walk-in closet. Create your own personal reading nook by adding a relaxing chaise lounge or sofa. In your master bedroom suite you can even have a fireplace, wet bar or coffee bar for cold winter nights and chilly mornings. Finally, ensure you get time in the bathroom every morning by installing one just for you. You can add a relaxing bathtub and makeup vanity for a complete getaway from it all, and also incorporate a good-sized closet in your master bedroom design. Browse more popular ideas on Houzz or check out our promo and coupon codes to get great deals on bedroom furniture and decor!

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    75 Bedroom Ideas You'll Love - October, 2022 | Houzz

    Carlsbad’s Grand Blanc: a modern masterpiece with giant paintings of Slash, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis – San Diego Reader - September 30, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Never mind the art gallery, how about the six bars and eight fireplaces?

    Anyone whos been paying attention will be quick to tell you that times are getting tough in the real estate market. Interest rates have more than doubled since the beginning of the year, putting a squeeze on buyers who are increasingly hesitant to pay sellers sky-high listing prices. And down on the normal human end of the scale, growing families are finding themselves trapped by their old sub-3% rates and so unable to move up to bigger houses with dramatically higher mortgage payments. That leaves would-be first time buyers stuck in a rental market that is itself spiraling out of control.

    For Unreal-caliber houses and the type of people who own them, the solution appears to be simply standing pat and waiting for the market to improve. A scant 14 houses in San Diego County hit the market over the last month that featured an asking price of $8 million or more, and close to half of those are re-listings of old inventory that weve already visited at some point. But if youre a house flipper who happened to take on an incredibly ambitious project that happened to wrap up right as the market began to turn, what choice do you have but to sell? That brings us to Grand Blanc, a modern Art Deco masterpiece, as the Zillow listing remarks by way of introducing us to the 11,300-square-foot mansion at 2034 Arenal Road in Carlsbad. The home, which features six bedrooms and a whopping 12 baths, has every amenity of modern living imaginable including an art gallery, home gym, wellness room, elevator, guard house, full smart home capabilities, game room, home theater, multiple kitchens [and] laundry rooms.

    Our tour begins at the semicircular stone-paved (or is that just stamped-and-dyed concrete?) driveway with a port cochere at the main entrance. There, the black glass pivot entry door leads you into a grand foyer and gallery reminiscent of a boutique hotel. Inside, weve got a pleasant circular chandelier that does pretty well at pulling off a candlelit aesthetic, but Im not sure I like all the fake plants stuffed into the ceiling above it.

    The living area off the foyer has 18 exposed wood ceilings, and the walls are painted in what the listing calls Rolex green, which is a much bolder choice than Gentrification gray. I think it works well, and some orange crushed velvet chairs and throw pillows add further pop the home is being offered furnished, so if youre flush with cash, I hope you enjoy some of these weird choices as much as I do.

    A large black-and-white room follows. Mirrors line the walls, a black fireplace (one of eight!) occupies one end, and a green-canopied bar (one of six, possibly more impressive than the eight fireplaces!) is situated at the center. A cozy-for-1100-square-feet dining area follows, with more velvet-look armchairs surrounding the table; they look comfortable, but that might not be the best choice of material for a zone dedicated to the consumption of food. The kitchen (one of the kitchens?) boasts a center island (with sink and dishwasher) that appears to be bigger than my entire kitchen as its defining feature. The requisite commercial grade appliances are all here, and the ceiling cutouts for the skylights are nicely done, but this room doesnt stand out as much as some of the others weve seen.

    What I assume is the main bedroom comes next. Its plenty spacious, and has a full wall of glass that Im sure opens onto the garden beyond. Theres another bar with what looks like a wine fridge in here, but why is the television sitting on a table in commoner fashion, instead of being affixed to the wall with some sort of fancy backlit mounting hardware?

    Dig the Chanel logo chandeliers!

    Another small living room follows; given the order of the photos, Im going to assume this is a private sitting area off the main suite, because we move from there straight into a closet that looks like a mall boutique, complete glass display cabinets, fancy chandeliers, and its own stone-topped center island. The bathroom that follows is modern but basic, though I do like the glass blocks that afford both light and privacy to whomever is spending time in the soaking tub at one end. Now its time for a quick glance at an outdoor patio, which is filled with expensive-looking lounge furniture and flanked by a handful of mature palm trees. I see the glass blocks from the bathroom here, so maybe this is an outdoor retreat, accessible only from the main bedroom?

    Back inside, were headed down a winding wood-and-wrought-iron staircase to what I assume is the art gallery, which has a glass atrium ceiling that allows light to stream through the house to view a myriad of custom paintings and sculptures. It also looks like there may be a koi pond of some sort at the bottom of the staircase. If the art is included, I hope you like giant paintings of Slash, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis, interspersed with some black and gray squiggles and splotches on canvas. Moving on, we get another sitting area outfitted with gas fireplace topped by green stone, a second kitchen, and another living area where the couches focus half on a giant TV and half on a wall of wine bottles backed by yellow marble. Then theres the home theater, yet another living room with yet another fireplace and bar, and phew, were back outside on a rolling grass lawn that the listing says occupies fully one of the nearly two acres of property, which is adjacent to the Omni La Costa resorts golf course. A covered patio out back houses outdoor lounge seating and, yes, another bar, this one looking out toward the Roman-style lap pool and cauldron-like black spa perched above.

    This newly remodeled and furnished trophy estate is offered for sale for the first time, the listing concludes, which is close enough to the truth, given the homes current appearance. Originally built in 1985 (according to public records) or 1992 (per the listing), Grand Blanc last sold in April 2021 for a reported $3.5 million, a full $500,000 more than the asking price at the time. The buyer was Method Development Holdings LLC, billed as a full-service design, planning, and remodeling company that specializes in high-end residential projects. Following an extensive remodel that appears to have involved the removal of copious amounts of purple and black carpet among many other things, the home was re-listed in late June with an asking price of $14,950,000. After that listing failed to attract a buyer, Grand Blanc went back up for sale in mid-September with an asking price of $11,950,000 that remains unchanged to date.

    2034 Arenal Road| Carlsbad, 92009

    Current owner: Method Development Holdings LLC | Listing price: $11,950,000 | Beds: 6 | baths: 12 | House size: 11,300

    Read more:
    Carlsbad's Grand Blanc: a modern masterpiece with giant paintings of Slash, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis - San Diego Reader

    Trump renovated Oval Office toilet as he wouldn’t use ‘the same bathroom as his Black predecessor’ Obama – MEAWW - September 30, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A new book has claimed former President Donald Trump told some White House guests he had a personal "secret bathroom" just off the Oval Office renovated after taking over from his predecessor Barack Obama, adding that one of the guests took his language to contain racial undertones.

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    The claim is included in New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman's new book on Trump, entitled 'Confidence man'. The book, slated to hit bookshelves Tuesday, October 4, reportedly includes an account of the bizarre comment about the bathroom which the former POTUS would allegedly refer to as the 'Monica room' -- apparently referring to former President Bill Clinton's escapades with White House intern Monica Lewinsky.

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    "When Trump showed visitors his workplace, he invited some to peer into what he periodically described as his 'secret bathroom,' which he occasionally presented with the claim he had renovated the entire space down to the toilet," Haberman wrote in an excerpt obtained by the Daily Mail. "'You understand what I'm talking about?' Trump said to one guest," the author wrote of a comment the unnamed White House guest took as a reference to Trump's disgust with Obama. The statement was strange and vague and open to interpretation as to why he emphasized the changes, but the guest interpreted it to mean Trump did not want to use the same bathroom as his Black predecessor," Haberman added.

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    However, there have been reported claims that no such renovation ever took place. "Trump's claim of a full remodeling happened to be untrue, officials said at the time: only the toilet seat was replaced, which was customary during a change in the office holder," Haberman wrote in an odd footnote. "The most significant addition he made might have been the collection of hairsprays that some visitors took note of."

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    It's worth noting that Trump has strongly denied allegations of racism, once describing himself as the "least racist person in the world." The 45th President's spokeswoman Liz Harrington slammed the claims made by Haberman. "This is so ridiculous. The world is on fire and this is seriously the best she can come up with?" Harrington said in a statement to the Daily Mail. "It is so absurd. Some anonymous person making up more fake stories to try to smear President Trump," she added.

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    Meanwhile, Trump's bathroom issues are a significant focus in several parts of the book, which also features photos of alleged torn-up documents in a White House toilet bearing words resembling the former president's handwriting. Another passage claims that bathrooms in the residence were "stocked with Trump-branded toiletries." Haberman also claims that White House staff "repeatedly stopped [the president] when he tried to press cash into the hands of military aides serving as valets." She also claims Trump decked up his renovated room with a large TV and various "knick-knacks," including a professional wrestling belt gifted by retired wrestling promoter Vince McMahon.

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    Trump renovated Oval Office toilet as he wouldn't use 'the same bathroom as his Black predecessor' Obama - MEAWW

    Houzz – Home Design, Decorating and Remodeling Ideas and Inspiration … - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Even if you're the kind of person who makes everything a DIY project, there's always a point when a home remodeling or decorating project could use a professional set of eyes. Whether you are redoing your backyard, need some help planning your living room or can't figure out where to put the kitchen sink, a quality home professional can help you do it right. Hiring a qualified home professional puts their years of schooling, certifications, training and experience right at your fingertips.

    But before you start sending out dozens of emails and making phone calls, sit down and think about your project. What's your budget? What is the scope of your project? Will you need more than one type of professional to complete your home improvement project? Can you afford to complete the full project now, or should you tackle it bit by bit?

    Once you've settled on your projects priorities, budget and scope, it's time to start researching home design professionals. Don't sell yourself short and settle on the first professional you set your sights on. Make sure that you're working with someone local, who can get to the jobsite easily and efficiently. Look into the persons reviews, ask to speak with former clients and to see previous jobs in person. Take a good look at their portfolio photos: How similar are these projects to your own? Be honest that mansion might look beautiful, but it might not have a lot in common with your little bungalow.

    Reach out to multiple professionals especially for larger projects and don't settle for the first bid you hear. Comparing multiple professionals' bids and experiences can help you find the one thats best for you. Ask a lot of questions now, so you won't have unexpected answers later.

    Find a home design professional on Houzz. Narrow down your search by type of professional and location. Browse portfolio photos, read client reviews and contact each professional for more information. Check out the information in the specialized professional sections too for tips on how to hire the right professional for your project.

    Go here to read the rest:
    Houzz - Home Design, Decorating and Remodeling Ideas and Inspiration ...

    25 Fantastic Home Remodeling Statistics for Every Homeowner – ComfyLiving - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    If you own a home, you know that there are few things more exciting than embarking on a remodeling project. Of course, it takes a lot of hard work and can become quite costly. So before you start your latest project to create the perfect kitchen unit, take a read through the following home remodeling statistics and facts.

    In this article, youll find some interesting info on home improvement projects. For example, well give you all the details on home improvement in America, some insight into the home improvement industry, and some interesting facts on DIY and home remodeling.

    Right, its time to dive right into these 25 facts and stats about home improvement to get you in the mood for some DIY!

    In this section, well be looking at the United States in particular. Well be discussing facts and statistics to do with home remodeling in the country.

    (Houzz & Home)

    A further 14% of homeowners who were renovating were millennials, and around 0.3% were Generation Z homeowners.

    (Houzz & Home)

    Other challenges included keeping to the budget theyd set, sourcing the correct products, facing unexpected issues, keeping to a schedule, financing the renovation, educating themselves, and choosing style details.

    (Houzz & Home)

    Existing home remodeling statistics show that the kitchen remains the most popular and expensive room in the home to renovate or remodel. This is no doubt because of all the fittings, utilities, and equipment that require upgrading.

    (Forbes)

    Furthermore, around 40% of the 137 million homes in the country are about 50 years old or older. This means their looks likely need updating and the existing infrastructure needs work.

    (NAHB)

    In addition to this information, we also know that around 38% of the total number of houses were built before 1970, which means that between 1970 and 1980, around 12% or more US houses were built. The home renovation statistics from before 2022 give us a good idea of how old most American houses are.

    (Consumer Reports)

    The five projects include putting in an alarm system; updating the heating, plumbing, and electrical units; putting in a new roof; installing gas and smoke sensors; and, finally, installing a generator. All of these will help with reducing your home insurance premiums.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    System upgrades were the second most popular, accounting for 15.7% of improvements. General property improvements were the third most popular and accounted for 13.7% of improvements.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    This home remodeling fact is from 2013, and it looks like married couples with children between the ages of 55 and 64 spend the most on home improvements.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    34% of all DIY home improvements were done by homeowners under the age of 34. 21% were done by people between the ages of 35 and 44, 18% were done by those between the ages of 45 and 54, and 14% were done by people between the ages of 55 and 64.

    (HousingWire)

    The other four cities are Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    Home remodeling data shows that these people spent around 4.4% of their earnings on home improvement, whereas homeowners who earn the most only spent around 1.5% of their total income on improving their homes.

    Here, well be focusing on the home improvement industry as a whole.

    (Statista)

    Furthermore, sales from home centers in 2018 in the United States amounted to around $244 billion. This is only a section of the home renovations market.

    (Statista)

    If you take into account all the different types of stores selling DIY products, these sales amounted to around $407.1 billion. This shows a portion of home improvement revenue.

    (Statista)

    This impressive number was achieved by just one of the top-ranking DIY retailers in the United States in one year. Home Depot is one of the most popular hardware stores in the United States.

    (Statista)

    They were rated 840 out of 1,000 in customer satisfaction in 2019. Other highly ranked companies in this category were Menards, Lowes, and Home Depot.

    (US Department of Labor)

    There were 4,779 deaths among those working in the private sector. This works out to around 1,008 construction-related deaths in the US in that year.

    (US Department of Labor)

    These four include fatal falls, being hit by objects, being caught between objects or structures, and electrocution, according to construction industry and home improvement injury statistics.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    This is even larger than during the housing boom that happened between 2004 and 2007, when growth per year was at around 4.6%.

    (Statista)

    By 2023, worldwide revenue for the smart home security market alone is expected to be about $31 billion.

    How much do people spend on home improvement? In this section, well be exploring the amount of money used when it comes to home remodeling.

    (Global Market Insights)

    It was expected to grow in the following yearspreviously projected to climb at a CAGR of 4.5%. However, the market might have taken a dip in 2020 due to current circumstances, according to home improvement market research.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    Furthermore, its anticipated that by 2024, it will register at more than $5 trillion, according to home remodeling statistics.

    (Forbes)

    Home improvement is becoming increasingly popular, and people seem willing to spend quite a bit on renovations and remodels, according to home improvement industry analysis.

    (Build Review)

    In US dollars, that works out to around $69.27 billion. However, with much of the world on lockdown in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus, we may find that the home remodeling statistics for 2020 are very different from what was expected.

    (JCHS of Harvard University)

    The improvements included interior and exterior replacements, system upgrades, kitchen remodels, disaster repairs, and more.

    (Statista)

    This didnt vary by much compared to the previous year, which reached $1 trillion.

    We hope youve found these 25 home remodeling statistics leading up to 2022 helpful and interesting. You should now have a more in-depth knowledge of the home remodeling industry, the costs involved, and even some fun industry facts. When its time to start your own remodeling project, you should be more than prepared.

    (Statista)

    The amount the average American spends on home refurbishment, exterior home renovation, and other home renovation projects is on the rise. In 2018, they spent around $7,560 on home improvement endeavors. This was up $900 from the previous year.

    Home improvement projects can be anything from a kitchen remodel to a bathroom renovation. These also include security system upgrades and appliance updates.

    (Global Market Insights)

    Worldwide, the size of the home improvement market in 2018 was worth around $800 billion. Its expected to grow even more in the next few years, with a 4.5% CAGR at least until 2025.

    (Millionacres)

    According to DIY industry statistics from 2018, the average homeowner in the United States spends around $1,105 a year on house maintenance. An additional $416 is spent on emergencies around the home, which can include urgent maintenance projects.

    (Realtor Magazine)

    Kitchen renovations are the most popular home improvement. This is likely because theres a lot to do in the kitchen, with so many appliances and features to update and upgrade as the years go on.

    Home remodeling statistics show that other popular home improvements outside remodeling the entire house are bathroom renovations, adding bedrooms or rooms, replacing doors or windows, building decks, doing repairs, finishing basements, and fixing or replacing roofing.

    Continue reading here:
    25 Fantastic Home Remodeling Statistics for Every Homeowner - ComfyLiving

    Mitchell City Council approves bid to turn old pool room at Rec Center into fitness area – Mitchell Republic - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    MITCHELL After being sidelined for several years, the old pool room inside the Mitchell Recreation Center will be getting a facelift and transforming into a fitness room.

    The Mitchell City Council approved Mueller Lumbers $627,040 bid on Monday to take the project on, which entails remodeling some of the walls in the old pool room and installing heating and air conditioning units.

    All of the walls will be redone, along with a new ceiling. There will be a bunch of electronics to become a workout facility when its done, Public Works Director Joe Schroeder said of the project.

    Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Nelson said the project will also install a heating and air conditioning system in the back gym of the Recreation Center. Nelson added that more workout equipment will be brought into the fitness room.

    The approved bid for the project revealed how drastically construction costs have increased in recent years, as it came in roughly $216,000 over the budgeted amount. Puetz Design Build submitted the only other bid, which came in at a little under $769,000.

    Considering the previous bids on the project that were much lower did not include the HVAC systems, Schroeder said it contributed to the higher bids this time around. The city had received bids for the old pool room project roughly a year ago, but they were rejected after the city opted to shelve the project.

    Schroeder pointed to the rising costs of construction material like hardware as major factors for the most recent bids coming in as high as they were.

    They are saying equipment and other items are at least starting to level. What theyre saying is the smaller stuff like hardware is still skyrocketing, Schroeder said. As far as the building world goes, prices are still increasing.

    Mayor Bob Everson characterized the construction industry as very volatile and said its become challenging for city officials to put an accurate price tag on projects for budgeting purposes.

    In response to a question from the council whether the project could be shelved once again in hopes of construction and building materials tapering off below where they are now, Nelson indicated costs are expected to consistently rise

    One of the contractors indicated he had normally seen product price increases of 3% per year. But as of the last two years, they have been going up 22% per year, Nelson said.

    The project completion date is set for November 2023.

    View post:
    Mitchell City Council approves bid to turn old pool room at Rec Center into fitness area - Mitchell Republic

    OKCPS Board of Ed. approves resolution calling for school bond election – KFOR Oklahoma City - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    SITEFEEDER PATTERNBond Project(s)Emerson North HSALTERNATIVEOffice And Outdoor Court RenovationEmerson South HSALTERNATIVERestrooms, Parking, And Outdoor Area RenovationPutnam Heights AcademyALTERNATIVEOutdoor Play Area RenovationBelle Isle Enterprise MS5th & 6thAPPLICATIONBuilding To Be RepurposedBelle Isle Enterprise MS7th & 8thAPPLICATION5 Classroom & Competitive Gymnasium AdditionBelle Isle High School(9th to 12th)APPLICATIONNew Belle Isle High SchoolClassen SAS HS at NortheastAPPLICATIONCafeteria Renovation And New Outdoor Eating CourtyardClassen SAS MSAPPLICATIONCafeteria Renovation And New Outdoor Eating CourtyardAuditorium RenovationSoutheast HSAPPLICATIONCafeteria Renovation And Outdoor Eating CourtyardAuditorium & Aviation Program Space RenovationsSoutheast MSAPPLICATION4 Classroom AdditionAdelaide Lee ESCHHSNew Elementary School Combined With ShidlerBodine ESCHHSTrack And Fencing RenovationCapitol Hill HSCHHSNew High SchoolCapitol Hill MSCHHSNew Middle School Combined With WheelerCesar Chavez ESCHHSSoccer Field RenovationFillmore ESCHHSTrack & Fencing RenovationNew Walking TrailHayes ESCHHSParking, Fence, And Media Center RenovationHeronville ESCHHSParking And Bus Lane ReconfigurationShidler ESCHHSNew Elementary School Combined With Adelaide LeeWebster MSCHHS2 Classroom AdditionWheeler MSCHHSNew Middle School Combined With Capitol HillDouglass HSDOUGLASSMiller Stadium Press Box And Softball FieldFlexible Space AdditionEugene Field ESDOUGLASSMain Entrance Renovation and Perimeter FenceFD Moon MSDOUGLASSOutdoor Learning AreaGym & Locker Room RenovationHorace Mann Pre- KDOUGLASSBuilding To Be RepurposedMartin Luther King ESDOUGLASSParking And Playground Surface RenovationThelma Parks ESDOUGLASSRenovate Outdoor Play Area And New Walking TrailWilson ESDOUGLASSRepurposing Of GymnatoriumBritton ESJMEHS2 Classroom AdditionJohn Marshall Enterprise HSJMEHSPractice Field RenovationFlexible Space AdditionJohn Marshall Enterprise MSJMEHSMedia Center RenovationMulti-Building RenovationJohnson Pre-KJMEHSBuilding To Be RepurposedMonroe ESJMEHSParking And Fence RenovationCreate New Drop-Off AreaNichols Hills Enterprise ESJMEHS4 Classroom AdditionQuail Creek ESJMEHS6 Classroom AdditionRidgeview ESJMEHSWalking Trail And Shade AreaBuchanan ESNW CLASSENUpdate Parking, Outdoor Play Area, And FenceCleveland ESNW CLASSENParking And Track RenovationEsperanza ESNW CLASSENFencing And Acoustical Gym RenovationHawthorne ESNW CLASSENPerimeter Fence And Outdoor ClassroomKaiser ESNW CLASSEN2 Classroom Addition And Parking Lot RenovationMark Twain ESNW CLASSENHalf-Court And West Parking Lot RenovationMary Golda Ross MSNW CLASSENUpgrade Fine Arts AreaNW Classen HSNW CLASSEN16 Classroom AdditionFemale Softball FacilityFlexible Space AdditionRockwood ESNW CLASSENFence Renovation And New Outdoor ClassroomTaft 5th Grade at LinwoodNW CLASSENBuilding To Be RepurposedNew Middle School Combined With TaftTaft MSNW CLASSENNew Middle School Combined With LinwoodVan Buren ESNW CLASSENConnect Sidewalks To Create Walking TrailUpgrade FenceVan Buren Pre- KNW CLASSENBuilding To Be RepurposedSandy L. Garrett Early Childhood at GatewoodNW CLASSENParking ImprovementsRogers MSSTAR SPENCERGym And Locker Room RenovationPractice Field AdditionSpencer ESSTAR SPENCERDrop-Off Lane And Outdoor Area RenovationStar Spencer HSSTAR SPENCERTwidwell Stadium RenovationCompetitive GymFlexible Space AdditionsWillowbrook ESSTAR SPENCEROutdoor Classroom And New Walking TrailAdams ESUS GRANTRenovate Drop-Off And Outdoor Play AreaArthur ESUS GRANTCreate A Walking TrailParking And Fence RenovationCoolidge ESUS GRANTParking And Courtyard RedesignHillcrest ESUS GRANTRestroom, Track, And Fence RenovationJefferson MSUS GRANT3 Classroom AdditionLocker Room RenovationCompetitive Gym AdditionPrairie Queen ESUS GRANTParking And Outdoor Play Area RenovationRoosevelt MSUS GRANTGym And Locker Room RenovationSouthern Hills ESUS GRANTParking Lot Renovation And New Walking TrailUS Grant HSUS GRANT12 Classroom Addition and New Little Generals AreaCafeteria Expansion And Outdoor Eating AreaFlexible Space Addition

    Read more from the original source:
    OKCPS Board of Ed. approves resolution calling for school bond election - KFOR Oklahoma City

    Wow House: A Retreat Nestled In The Rolling Hills Of Upper Makefield – Patch - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    NEWTOWN, PA Designed by renowned architect, Ann Capron, this luxury old-world style provincial country home is nestled in the beautiful surroundings of Upper Makefield Township.

    Listing Description: Welcome to beautifully renovated 9 Weatherfield Drive, offering 6,461 square feet of new living space. The owners have professionally fashioned an enhanced level of luxury to complement the salient architecture of 9 Weatherfield.

    Built by renowned home builder, George Michael, 9 Weatherfields location within the scenic rolling hills and farmland of Upper Makefield provides a welcoming retreat-like setting. Weatherfield Drive winds naturally through the estate community leading to a bend where the property driveway curves and rises slightly to the rustic Pennsylvania bluestone steps.

    One enters through solid, well-crafted double Addison iron doors with operable double pane tempered glass inserts. New polished Italian porcelain tiles grace an exquisite entry hall highlighted by classic style millwork and new black wrought iron balusters, complemented from above with a stately candle-style black tiered chandelier. The theme continues into the adjacent living areas, all of which feature traditional, refinished natural red oak floors and the elegant custom millwork. Quality of workmanship is present throughout.

    Extensive remodeling includes new HardiPlank facade, smart home technology, exterior video surveillance system, new architectural roof, new windows with plantation shutters, in-law/au pair suite with second kitchen, gym and wine room. All baths are professionally enriched with upscale Restoration Hardware home fixtures and vanities. Door hardware has also been upgraded.

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    For more information click here. See more photos of the listing below, courtesy of Regional Sales Center:

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    Wow House: A Retreat Nestled In The Rolling Hills Of Upper Makefield - Patch

    Enhancement strategy for effective vascular regeneration following myocardial infarction through a dual stem cell approach | Experimental &… - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    Generation of CD31+ endothelial cells derived from hiPSCs and their in vitro characterization

    Several previous studies reported successful generation of ECs from hiPSCs (hiPSC-ECs) using a combination of small molecules, including a GSK3 inhibitor22. Based on previous reports, we generated hiPSC-ECs from hiPSCs using the GSK3 inhibitor CHIR99021 (Supplementary materials and methods, Supplementary Fig. 1a). To produce hiPSC-ECs expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP) to facilitate cell tracking in the heart tissues in further experiments, we produced hiPSCs expressing GFP signals by transfecting GFP lentiviral particles, enriched them by FACS based on GFP expression, and used them to differentiate into ECs (Supplementary Fig. 1b). qRT-PCR results verified that the expression level of OCT4, a pluripotency marker, was significantly reduced, and the expression level of CD31, a specific marker for EC, was significantly increased in the hiPSCs differentiating into the EC lineage (Supplementary Fig. 1c, Supplementary Table 1). On differentiation Day 7, we observed that approximately 25.08% of the differentiating hiPSC-ECs were positive for human CD31 antibody, and subsequently, we enriched these CD31+ cells by FACS. Following FACS, the enriched CD31+ hiPSC-ECs were maintained in human endothelial serum-free medium with cytokines, including VEGF, to maintain their characteristics as EC lineage cells (Supplementary Fig. 1c). The CD31+ hiPSC-ECs displayed a typical cobblestone-like EC morphology and expressed similar mRNA levels of EC-specific markers, such as cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-Cadherin), Von Willebrand factor (vWF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), compared with human umbilical cord endothelial cells (HUVECs) (Supplementary Fig. 1c, d). The results from flow cytometry analysis further demonstrated that the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs were 97.19% and 85.53% positive for CD31 and CD144, respectively (Supplementary Fig. 1e). In addition, the immunofluorescence results confirmed that the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs expressed abundant levels of the CD31 and vWF proteins (Supplementary Fig. 1f). At the functional level, the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs displayed the capacity for uptake of Ac-LDL (Supplementary Fig. 1g) and the formation of a capillary-like network on top of Matrigel (Supplementary Fig. 1h).

    To determine if the CD31+ hiPSC-ECs (hiPSC-ECs afterward) could form de novo vessels via a vasculogenesis-dependent mechanism in MI-induced hearts, we intramyocardially injected hiPSC-ECs at two different sites in the border zone of the MI-induced rat hearts. MI was generated by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery in the heart. hiPSC-ECs continuously expressing the green fluorescence (GFP) signal were used for tracking purposes. To visualize the functional vessels in the MI-induced hearts, we performed perfusion staining with isolection-B4 (IB4) conjugated with a red fluorescent dye, rhodamine, into the heart prior to tissue harvest 8 weeks after injection with hiPSC-ECs. Fluorescent image analyses showed that the number of IB4+ capillaries in the hiPSC-EC-injected hearts was significantly higher than that in the MI control hearts (Fig. 1a).

    a Representative images of blood vessels stained with IB4-rhodamine (red) in the infarct zone, border zone, and remote zone and at 8 weeks after injection of hiPSC-ECs and their quantification summary. For quantification, the number of capillaries in five randomly selected fields (mm2) in each heart was counted. n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 100m. b Representative image of blood vessels newly formed by iPSC-ECs-GFP (green), IB4-rhodamine (red) and DAPI (blue). Scale bars: 20m. cj Rats undergoing MI were intramyocardially injected with hiPSC-ECs or control cells, followed by echocardiography analysis. c The schematic timeline from MI modeling and transplantation of iPSC-EC to measurement of cardiac function. d Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF), (e) left fractional shortening (FS), (f) left ventricular internal diastolic dimension (LVIDd), (g) left ventricular internal systolic dimension (LVIDs), (h) septal wall thickness (SWT), (i) posterior wall thickness (PWT), and (j) relative wall thickness (RWT). n=6. *p<0.05. k Representative images showing cardiac fibrosis after staining with Massons trichrome in the hearts harvested 8 weeks after cell treatment. Quantification results of cardiac fibrosis (l) and viable myocardium (m). n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 2000m.

    Next, to evaluate the potential and magnitude of the contribution of hiPSC-ECs to vasculogenesis in the MI hearts, we traced the GFP and RFP signals from hiPSC-ECs within cardiac tissues. Confocal microscopy images demonstrated a considerable number of vessels, double-positive for both IB4 and GFP signals from hiPSC-ECs, in the infarct region of the heart tissues receiving hiPSC-ECs at 8 weeks post-injection. Interestingly, a substantial number of hiPSC-ECs were incorporated into the host capillary network, and many of them were located in the perivascular area (Fig. 1b). The results clearly suggest that hiPSC-ECs could reconstruct de novo vessels in ischemic hearts.

    Given that vascular regeneration improved through vasculogenesis leads to functional recovery from MI, we hypothesized that intramyocardial injection of hiPSC-ECs into MI hearts may promote cardiac function. Subsequently, we performed serial echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular (LV) function and cardiac remodeling from PRE (1-week post-MI and prior to cell treatment), and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after cell treatment. In this study, we employed a MI model that cells were transplanted one week after induction of MI to mimic the clinical situation of MI patients as close as possible. The results of echocardiography demonstrated that both ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS) in all experimental groups were significantly lower compared with the sham group that did not receive any intervention. (Supplementary Fig. 2ag). Of importance, the hearts receiving hiPSC-ECs displayed significantly higher EF and FS than those in the MI control group until 8 weeks after the cell treatment (Fig. 1cd). Among several parameters for cardiac remodeling, such as left ventricular internal diastolic dimension (LVIDd), left ventricular internal systolic dimension (LVISd), septal wall thickness (SWT), posterior wall thickness (PWT), and relative wall thickness (RWT), the LVIDd and LVIDs in the hiPSC-EC-treated hearts were significantly lower than those in MI control hearts, indicating that hiPSC-ECs protected the hearts from adverse cardiac remodeling. (Fig. 1ei and Supplementary Fig. 2h). Similarly, the results of Massons trichrome staining obtained using cardiac tissue harvested at 8 weeks post-cell treatment showed that the area of fibrosis (%) in the hiPSC-EC-injected group was considerably smaller and the viable myocardium (%) was larger than that in the MI control group (Fig. 1jm). Based on these results, we confirmed that hiPSC-ECs can directly contribute to de novo vessel formation in vivo in MI-exposed hearts, resulting in enhanced cardiac function.

    Subsequently, we investigated our central hypothesis of whether simultaneous induction of both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis could lead to comprehensive vascular regeneration and functional improvement in the MIhearts. Since we already verified that hiPSC-ECs successfully achieved vasculogenesis in the MI hearts, we sought to identify an additional cellular source that can induce complementary angiogenesis from the blood vessels in the host heart and finally decided to test genetically modified human mesenchymal stem cells engineered to continuously release human SDF-1 protein (SDF-eMSCs)23. The SDF-eMSCs were indistinguishable from normal BM-MSCs. The SDF-eMSCs exhibited a homogeneous spindle-shaped cell morphology, representing hMSCs (Supplementary materials and methods, Supplementary Fig. 3a). The SDF-eMSCs had a high proliferative potential based on the gradual increase in population doubling levels (PDL) during the culture times compared to normal BM-MSCs24 (Supplementary Fig. 3b). The SDF-eMSCs expressed several markers specific for human MSCs, such as CD90, CD44, CD105 and CD73, without the expression of CD34, CD11b, CD19, CD45 and HLA-DR (Supplementary Fig. 3c). The SDF-eMSCs stably secreted human SDF-1 protein, as determined by human SDF-1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis (Supplementary Fig. 3d). The results from SDF-eMSC karyotyping revealed a normal human karyotype of the SDF-eMSCs without chromosomal abnormalities, suggesting the genetic stability of the SDF-eMSCs (Supplementary Fig. 3e).

    To investigate whether SDF-eMSCs could augment the angiogenic potential of ECs, we performed various types of in vitro experimental analyses with SDF-eMSCs. Among the first, to determine whether SDF-eMSCs influenced the gene expression associated with ECs and angiogenic properties, we treated 30% conditioned media (CM) harvested from cultured SDF-eMSCs or BM-MSCs to the cultured hiPSC-ECs for 3 days and performed qRT-PCR analyses. The expression levels of stromal-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1), tyrosine kinase with Ig and epidermal growth factor homology domain 2 (Tie-2), vWF, E-selectin (CD62), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were significantly higher in the hiPSC-ECs treated with SDF-eMSC-CM than in the hiPSC-ECs exposed to BM-MSC-CM (Fig. 2a). In particular, the increased expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 is known to be involved in angiogenesis in the presence of activated ECs25,26,27,28,29. Next, in EC migration assays, as shown in Fig. 2, the addition of conditioned media from the SDF-eMSCs (SDF-eMSC-CM) significantly enhanced the migration of hiPSC-ECs or HUVECs compared with the migration of the ECs treated with CM from human bone marrow-derived MSCs (BM-MSC-CM), suggesting that cytokines released from the SDF-eMSCs bolster the mobility of ECs (Fig. 2b and Supplementary Fig. 4a). In addition, to test whether SDF-eMSCs directly promote the angiogenic potential of ECs, we performed Matrigel tube formation assays, a representative experiment to evaluate the vessel formation potential of cells. The results from Matrigel tube formation assays demonstrated that the number of branches formed in both the hiPSC-ECs and the HUVECs treated with 30% CM harvested from the cultured SDF-eMSCs was significantly greater than that in the BM-MSC-CM-treated ECs (Fig. 2c and Supplementary Fig. 4b). Interestingly, treatment with SDF-eMSC-CM not only promoted tube formation by the hiPSC-ECs but also contributed to the maintenance of vessels formed from the hiPSC-ECs. Unlike the hiPSC-EC-generated vessels exposed to BM-MSC-CM that began to disrupt the vessel structure within 24h of vessel formation, treatment with SDF-eMSC-CM supported the integrity of vessels for up to 48h.

    a qRT-PCR analysis of relative mRNA expression associated with ECs and angiogenesis in the hiPSC-ECs treated with the conditioned media (CM) from cultured bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC-CM) or SDF engineered MSCs (SDF-eMSC-CM) for 3 days. The y-axis represents the relative mRNA expression of target genes to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). n=3. *p<0.05. b EC migration assay. Representative images of migrated hiPSC-ECs and quantification of the migrated area (%). The hiPSC-ECs were placed in transwells (top), and regular media (EGM, EBM) or the conditioned media (CM) collected from different cell sources (BM-MSC-CM and SDF-eMSC-CM) were placed in transwells (bottom) for 7h. n=3. *p<0.05. c Tube formation assay. The hiPSC-ECs were cultured in 24-well plates coated with Geltrex with regular media (EGM, EBM) or conditioned media (CM) (BM-MSC-CM and SDF-eMSC-CM) for 9, 24, or 48h. Representative images of tube formation and quantification summary for the number of junctions. n=3. *p<0.05.

    To provide a cellular reservoir where SDF-eMSC-PAs can constantly release SDF-1 to MI hearts, we produced a patch encapsulating SDF-eMSC (SDF-eMSC-PA) by mixing SDF-eMSCs with a 2% heart-derived decellularized extracellular matrix (hdECM)-based bioink and loaded it onto the polycaprolactone (PCL) mesh (Fig. 3 and Supplementary Fig. 5). Subsequently, to confirm whether SDF-eMSC-PAs are functional and can efficiently release SDF-1, we cultured SDF-eMSC-PAs in vitro for 28 days (Supplementary Fig. 5a) and collected supernatants at various time points for three days to generate the release kinetics of the SDF1-eMSC-PAs using the SDF-1 ELISA kit. The cumulative release curve showed that although the initial concentration of SDF-1 was higher in the SDF-cytokine-PAs (300ng/ml) than in the SDF-eMSC-PAs on Day 0, no SDF-1 was detectable in the SDF-cytokine-PAs from Day 7. However, the expression of SDF-1 released from the SDF-eMSC-PAs increased consistently until Day 21 (Supplementary Fig. 5b), suggesting that SDF-eMSCs continuously secreted SDF-1 within the patch.

    a Procedures for manufacturing a cardiac patch encapsulating SDF-engineered MSCs (SDF-eMSC-PA) with a polycaprolactone (PCL) platform produced by a 3D printing system. b Optical image within the hdECM patch. SDF-eMSC-PAs were prelabeled with the red florescence dye DiI for tracing. Scale bars: 1mm. c Image of epicardially transplanted SDF-eMSC-PAs in the MI-induced heart. d Macroscopic view of hearts at 8 weeks after PA transplantation.

    To finally determine whether simultaneous induction of both vasculogenesis and angiogenesis by using hiPSC-ECs and SDF-eMSC-PAs could lead to comprehensive vascular regeneration and functional improvement in MI-induced hearts, we induced MI by LAD ligation after the formation of five experimental groups as follows: (1) MI control, (2) SDF-eMSC-PA implanted epicardium of MI hearts (PA only, 1106), (3) hiPSC-ECs, intramyocardial injection (EC only, 1106), and (4) combined platform of hiPSC-ECs and SDF-eMSC-PA (EC+PA, 1106 in each) (Fig. 4). We first performed serial echocardiography for all experimental groups at pre, 2, 4 and 8 weeks after cell treatment. All experimental groups were significantly reduced compared with that in the sham group (Supplementary Fig. 6ag). Of interest, cardiac function in the EC+PA group was significantly preserved until 8 weeks compared with its cardiac function at pre, but cardiac function in other groups, such as the control, hiPSC-EC alone and SDF-eMSC-PA alone groups, continuously decreased until 8 weeks. (Fig. 4ad). Adverse cardiac remodeling determined by the LVIDd, LVIDs, SWT, PWT, and RWT was notably reduced in the EC+PA group compared with the other groups (Fig. 4ei and Supplementary Fig. 6h). To further evaluate cardiac function more precisely, we performed LV hemodynamic measurements using an invasive pressure-volume (PV) catheter, which can measure the hemodynamic pressure and volume of the LV. The results of the PV loop at 8 weeks post-cell treatment showed that the EC+PA group had significantly improved cardiac function and prevented adverse cardiac remodeling compared with the other groups (Fig. 5). The two parameters of general cardiac function, stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO), were significantly higher (Fig. 5ac), and the maximum volume (V max), which is the cardiac remodeling index measured at the maximum diastole, was significantly lower in the EC+PA group than in the other groups (Fig. 5d). Although the pressure max (P max) measured at the maximum systole did not differ significantly between groups, the maximum rate of pressure change (dP/dtmax) and the minimum rate of pressure change (dP/dtmin), which indicate the pressure change in LV per second, were increased in the EC+PA group. (Fig. 5ef and Supplementary Fig. 7a). Temporal variation in the occluded inferior vena cava (IVC) was used to evaluate load-independent intrinsic cardiac contractibility. The end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship (EDPVR), which indicates the absence of diastolic dysfunction, did not differ between the groups, whereas the slope of the end-systolic pressure volume relationship (ESPVR), which indicates cardiac contractibility, was significantly improved in the EC+PA group compared with the other groups (Fig. 5gh and Supplementary Fig. 7b). Collectively, these results from LV hemodynamic measurements consistently demonstrate that treatment with the combined platform with hiPSC-ECs and SDF-eMSC-PAs improves cardiac repair in MI hearts.

    a Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). b EF delta change at 8 weeks after cell treatment. c Left fractional shortening (FS). d FS delta change at 8 weeks after cell treatment. e Left ventricular internal diastolic dimension (LVIDd). f Left ventricular internal systolic dimension (LVIDs). g Septal wall thickness (SWT). h Posterior wall thickness (PWT). i Relative wall thickness (RWT). n=611. *p<0.05.

    a Representative images of the hemodynamic pressure and volume (PV) curve at steady state at 8 weeks post-cell treatment. b Stroke volume (SV). c Cardiac output (CO). d Volume max (V max) defining the amount of blood volume in the LV at end-diastole. e dP/dtmax refers to the maximal rate of pressure changes during systole. f The minimal rate of pressure changes during diastole (dP/dtmin). g Slope of end-systolic pressure volume relationship (ESPVR) indicating the intrinsic cardiac contractibility as measured by transient inferior vena cava (IVC) occlusion. h Slope of end-diastolic pressure volume relationship (EDPVR). n=4. *p<0.05.

    Next, we investigated the in vivo behavior of intramyocardially implanted hiPSC-ECs in the presence or absence of SDF-eMSC-PAs. Since hiPSC-ECs constantly express GFP, we could track their fate in heart tissue sections. Confocal microscopic examination of heart tissues harvested at 8 weeks after cell treatment demonstrated that implantation of SDF-eMSC-PAs significantly improved the retention and engraftment of intramyocardially injected GFP-positive hiPSC-ECs. Quantitatively, the proportion of GFP-positive hiPSC-ECs in the EC+PA group was substantially higher than that in the EC group (Fig. 6a). Of interest, while the hiPSC-ECs in the hiPSC-ECs alone group were localized near the injection sites, the hiPSC-ECs in the EC+PA group were distributed throughout the regions of the left ventricle. Given the ability of SDF-eMSC-PAs to improve the survival and retention of injected hiPSC-ECs, we sought to examine whether SDF-eMSC-PAs exerted direct cytoprotective effects in hiPSC-ECs in vitro. Ischemic injury was simulated by exposing hiPSC-ECs to H2O2 (500M). Administration of CM from SDF-eMSCs (SDF-eMSC-CM) significantly improved the viability of both hiPSC-ECs and HUVECs as determined by the LIVE/DEAD assay and CCK-8 assay (Supplementary Fig. 8af). Treatment with SDF-eMSC-CM substantially increased the number of viable cells, suggesting that SDF-eMSC-CM exerts direct cytoprotective effects on ECs against ischemic insults. Subsequently, we performed thorough histological analyses using heart tissues harvested 8 weeks post-cell treatment to examine whether SDF-eMSC-PAs could concurrently promote hPSC-EC-dependent vasculogenesis as well as angiogenesis of host blood vessels. IB4 conjugated with rhodamine was systemically injected to identify the functional endothelium in these experiments. Initially, confocal images demonstrated that the number of total IB4-positive (IB4+) capillaries in both the border zone and infarct zone of the hearts in the EC+PA group was substantially higher than that in the other groups, including the EC group (Fig. 6b). The number of vessels that were GFP negative but positive for IB4 (GFP-/IB4+) was also significantly higher than that in other groups, including the EC-only group (Fig. 6c). These results suggest that the combined approach significantly promoted the angiogenesis of host vessels in MI hearts. More importantly, the number of de novo vessels formed by hiPSC-ECs-GFP+ was substantially higher in the EC+PA group than in the EC-only group, indicating that SDF-eMSC-PAs facilitates hiPSC-EC-dependent vasculogenesis (Fig. 6de and Supplementary Fig. 9a). Notably, the number of larger blood vessels (diameter range: >5 m), one of the indicators of functional blood vessels in the EC+PA group, was significantly higher than that in the EC group. Of interest, many of those larger vessels in the EC+PA group displayed abundant expression of -SMA, a marker for smooth muscle cells, suggesting that these larger vessels (CD31+/-SMA+) may be arteriole-like vessels, indicating that SDF-eMSC-PA played certain roles in vascular ingrowth and maturation (Fig. 6eg and Supplementary Fig. 9b).

    a Representative image of hiPSC-ECs-GFP within the infarct area at 8 weeks post-cell treatment and their quantification summary. n=3. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 1000m. b Representative images of blood vessels stained with IB4-rhodamine (red) in the infarct zone (IZ), border zone (BZ), and remote zone at 8 weeks after cell treatment and a summary of their quantification. n=57. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 100m. c Representative images of blood vessels negative for GFP but positive for IB4 (GFP-/IB4+) in the infarcted area and their quantification summary. hiPSC-ECs-GFP (green), IB4-rhodamine (red) and DAPI (blue). n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 20m. d, e Representative images of GFP and IB4 (GFP+/IB4+)-positive blood vessels in the infarcted area and their quantification. hiPSC-ECs-GFP (green), IB4-rhodamine (red) and DAPI (blue). n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 20m. f, g Diameter of hiPSC-EC-derived GFP-positive blood vessels in the infarcted area and border zone. n=5. *p<0.05.

    To further investigate whether the vascular regeneration achieved by the combined platform (EC+PA) was sufficient to salvage the myocardium from ischemic insult, we quantified the viable myocardium by immunostaining for cardiac troponin T (cTnT) antibody using the heart tissues harvested from all experimental groups at 8 weeks post-cell treatment. The number of viable cTnT+ cardiomyocytes in the EC+PA group was significantly higher than that in the other groups (Fig. 7a). These results from histological analyses using heart tissues motivated us to test whether SDF-eMSCs (Supplementary Fig. 10a) could confer direct cytoprotective effects on cardiomyocytes against ischemic insults in vitro. Ischemic injury was simulated by exposing cardiomyocytes to H2O2 (500M). The results from both the LIVE/DEAD assay and the cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8) assay demonstrated that the administration of SDF-eMSC-conditioned media (CM) significantly improved the viability of cultured cardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal rats (NRCM) against H2O2 treatment compared with other treatments. These results also suggest that SDF-eMSCs have direct cytoprotective effects against ischemic insults (Supplementary Fig. 11ac).

    a Representative immunostaining images of myocardium stained with cTnT (green) and DAPI (blue) at 8 weeks after cell treatment and quantification of the number of cTnT-positive cardiomyocytes. SDF-eMSCs labeled with DiI within the cardiac patch (red) n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bar: 300m. b Representative images of Massons trichrome staining using heart tissues harvested 8 weeks after cell treatment. c, d Quantification summary of a percentage of fibrosis and viable myocardium. n=5. *p<0.05. Scale bars: 2000m.

    Consequently, the combined treatment group showed a significant decrease in cardiac fibrosis. The results of Massons trichrome staining using cardiac tissue harvested at 8 weeks exhibited an area of fibrosis (%), which was significantly lower in the combined treatment groups than in the other groups (Fig. 7bd). Taken together, our results clearly suggested that the combined treatment resulted in comprehensive cardiac repair through enhanced vascular regeneration and that the SDF-eMSCs contributed at least to some extent indirect protection of myocardium from ischemic injury via consistent secretion of cytoprotective SDF cytokines.

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    Enhancement strategy for effective vascular regeneration following myocardial infarction through a dual stem cell approach | Experimental &...

    How to Create the Best Remote Work Policy for Your Company – Inc. - August 20, 2022 by Mr HomeBuilder

    As an Inc. contributor, I'm a bit biased--I happen to think theirs gives the best practical advice, surmising that the Airbnb Work Policy gives employees more autonomy. Others speak to a managerial perspective on various pros and cons. In Fortune's article, the author notes Elon Musk's remote policy: "Elon Musk says remote workers are just pretending to work. Turns out he's (sort of) right."We disagree, but that's beside the point.

    In fact, all these articles are a bit beside the point. Because for each individual employee, the situation is different, as is the job. A single mother whose childcare provider cancelled last-minute doesn't have a lot of leeway--and one who simply can't find affordable childcare has even less. A surgeon can't work remotely. Anyone who just tested positive for Covid can't meet in person.

    To be sure, companies need employees to be focused on the fundamental purpose: serving customers profitably. But often this does not depend on where the work is done. It depends on the work being done efficiently. Companies who rely on remote work policies that are concerned with where inevitably underserve customers or impose unrealistic ideals on their employees. Or both.

    But what if companies partner with their employees to serve customers--what we call economic engagement? Without partnership, a company busies itself with telling employees what to do, how to do it, and where to do it. No wonder companies that are in the top quartile of economic engagement have double the profit growth of their peers, as our research has shown: A Key Strategy to Double Your Profits.

    At One Week Bath, an independent bathroom remodeling company in Southern California, (full disclosure: I own 30% of the company), we focus solely on what needs to be done to serve our customers profitably. We learned from the pandemic that many jobs don't require time in the office. In response, we scaled down our office space and cost, enabling our employees to avoid twice-a-day LA rush hours and improving their quality of life. We also learned from the pandemic to meet every challenge with the same two principles:

    That's it. We reinforce the practice of partnership with our employees by openly and weekly discussing the company's financial results. We listen to employees' ideas on how to drive those results. We forecast those results together. And when the company succeeds, our incentive plan ensures that every employee shares in that profit.

    Some companies talk about employee engagement. We have economic engagement, and the best team in the industry. And those two basic principles? They allowed us to respond to our customers so well that our repeat and referral revenue soared through the worst of 2020-2021. And we did it without any layoffs and virtually no turnover.

    So, what's our stance on remote work? It's the same two principles--nothing more. Everything else is at the discretion of the employees. Some work--like receiving and staging product for upcoming jobs--is truly hands-on. Krystal and her warehouse team physically go in every day. Others prefer to work remotely and can, like Bonnie and her team in finance and administration. Sales and Design were already doing plenty of remote work. The crews were too, just like Southwest pilots.

    Some suggest employees need to be in the same room to build culture. But partnering with your employees, instead of treating them like hired hands, tends to align people profound ways. SWA boasts a legendary culture, with many of their members remote for decades. Or take our weekly meeting at OWB. Finishing jobs on time has been a challenge. A few weeks ago, crew leader Rudy announced he was wrapping up his job a day early, and the team erupted in spontaneous applause. Rachel said, "What you don't realize is that Rudy's project was the first sale I ever made, and that customer is really demanding. But I just got off the phone with him, and he's just raving about Rudy and his team." Applause gave way to all-out cheering.

    Some might say we're leaving inmates to run the facility. But we don't have a facility. We have a business where every employee has a direct stake in the profits. We don't have a remote work policy. In fact, we have very few "policies." We have smart people who we trust to make decisions, all aimed at serving our customers profitably. Sometimes a new decision improves our services to a customer. Sometimes it doesn't. But we allow our team the room to continually learn and improve.

    This also means Matt (our President and majority owner) and I spend a lot less time on administrative matters and much more on making the business better. It seems to be working. Two years ago, we were at 8 crews. Today we have 14--not to mention a record backlog, frequent referrals, and a robust remote operation. If you need policies, direct them toward serving customers profitably. Leave the rest to a well-motivated team; just make sure you're motivating them.

    The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

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