Utilisation of an embedded specialist nurse and collaborative care pathway increases potential organ donor referrals in the emergency department.

Objective: To review the impact of an embedded specialist nurse in organ donation (SN:OD) and the utilisation of a collaborative care pathway on potential solid organ donor referrals in an emergency department (ED) over a 24-month period.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of adult patient deaths within the department, (n=311) during a 24-month period. Referral rates to the organ donation team (ODT) were compared before and after the introduction of a SN:OD and collaborative care pathway.

Turbulence in ferrofluids in channel flow with steady and oscillating magnetic fields.

The turbulent flow of a ferrofluid in channel flow is studied using direct numerical simulation. The method of analysis is an extension of that used for Newtonian fluids, with additional features necessary to model the ferrofluid. The analysis is applied to low Reynolds number turbulence in the range of existing experimental data in a capillary.

Effects of an oscillating magnetic field on homogeneous ferrofluid turbulence.

This paper presents the results from direct numerical simulations of homogeneous ferrofluid turbulence with a spatially uniform, applied oscillating magnetic field. Due to the strong coupling that exists between the magnetic field and the ferrofluid, we find that the oscillating field can affect the characteristics of the turbulent flow. The magnetic field does work on the turbulent flow and typically leads to an increased rate of energy loss via two dissipation modes specific to ferrofluids.

Experimental and model investigation of the time-dependent 2-dimensional distribution of binding in a herringbone microchannel.

A microfluidic device known to mix bulk solutions, the herringbone microchannel, was incorporated into a surface-binding assay to determine if the recirculation of solution altered the binding of a model protein (streptavidin) to the surface. Streptavidin solutions were pumped over surfaces functionalized with its ligand, biotin, and the binding of streptavidin to those surfaces was monitored using surface plasmon resonance imaging. Surface binding was compared between a straight microchannel and herringbone microchannels in which the chevrons were oriented with and against the flow direction.

Concentration gradient immunoassay. 2. Computational modeling for analysis and optimization.

A novel microfluidic surface-based competition immunoassay, termed the concentration gradient immunoassay (described in detail in a companion paper (Nelson, K.; Foley, J.; Yager, P.

High-throughput screening of enzyme inhibition using an inhibitor gradient generated in a microchannel.

A new rapid microfluidic method for measuring enzyme inhibition is presented. The assay relies upon the creation of a uniform concentration of substrate and a microfluidically generated concentration gradient of inhibitor using a single microchannel and a single initial inhibitor concentration. The IC(50) values of two enzyme inhibitors were determined using the new technique and validated using a conventional microtiter plate assay.

Combinatorial mixing of microfluidic streams.

We have devised a microfluidic mixer design that produces all the mixture combinations of a given number of dilutions of the input compounds. As proof of the concept, we present a device that generates four titrations of two dye solutions, blue and yellow, and combinatorially mixes the blue titrations with the yellow titrations to deliver the sixteen mixture combinations in separate outlet microchannels. Our device features four different flow levels made by stacking nine laser-cut Mylar laminates.

Experiment and simulation of laminar and turbulent ferrofluid pipe flow in an oscillating magnetic field.

Laminar and turbulent pipe flow of a ferrofluid with an imposed linearly polarized, oscillating, magnetic field is examined here. Experimental results show a fractional pressure drop dependence on flow rate, magnetic field strength, and oscillation frequency. Calculations are presented, which show that ferrofluid theory can explain the flow phenomena in laminar and turbulent pipe flow.