Impact of the 2016 Presidential election and restrictive immigration climate on the work and wellbeing of Bangladeshi immigrant community frontline workers in New York City, U.S.A.

Community-based organizations (CBOs) are key players in mitigating the impact of restrictive policy changes on immigrant communities. The ability of these organizations to help diffuse the stress caused by restrictive, rapidly changing immigration policies depends, in part, on the capacity and health of their workforce. This study presents findings from a qualitative study conducted with 10 Bangladeshi community frontline workers working in various CBOs and advocacy organizations to understand their experience navigating a heightened anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim climate.

A calibration-free approach to detecting microRNA with DNA-modified gold coated magnetic nanoparticles as dispersible electrodes.

Gold coated magnetic nanoparticles (Au@MNPs), modified with DNA sequences give dispersible electrodes that can detect ultralow amounts of microRNAs and other nucleic acids but, as with most other sensors, they require calibration. Herein we show how to adapt a calibration free approach for electrochemical aptamer-based sensors on bulk electrodes to microRNA (miR-21) detection with methylene blue terminated DNA modified Au@MNPs. The electrochemical square wave voltammetry signal from the DNA-Au@MNPs when collected at a bulk electrode under magnetic control, decreases upon capture of miR-21.

Rapid and ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of circulating tumor DNA by hybridization on the network of gold-coated magnetic nanoparticles.

An accurate and robust method for quantifying the levels of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is vital if this potential biomarker is to be used for the early diagnosis of cancer. The analysis of ctDNA presents unique challenges because of its short half-life and ultralow abundance in early stage cancers. Here we develop an ultrasensitive electrochemical biosensor for rapid detection of ctDNA in whole blood.

Stressors, Legal Vulnerability and Bangladeshi Parent and Child Well-Being in New York City.

A growing body of research is documenting the impact of parental legal status on familial and child well-being in the U.S. This study adds to the literature by examining the relation of legal vulnerability with the health and mental health of Bangladeshi immigrant parents and their children.

Impact of the Coverage of Aptamers on a Nanoparticle on the Binding Equilibrium and Kinetics between Aptamer and Protein.

Knowledge of the interaction between aptamer and protein is integral to the design and development of aptamer-based biosensors. Nanoparticles functionalized with aptamers are commonly used in these kinds of sensors. As such, studies into how the number of aptamers on the nanoparticle surface influence both kinetics and thermodynamics of the binding interaction are required.

Single particle detection of protein molecules using dark-field microscopy to avoid signals from nonspecific adsorption.

A massively parallel single particle sensing method based on core-satellite formation of Au nanoparticles was introduced for the detection of interleukin 6 (IL-6). This method exploits the fact that the localized plasmon resonance (LSPR) of the plasmonic nanoparticles will change as a result of core-satellite formation, resulting in a change in the observed color. In this method, the hue (color) value of thousands of 67 nm Au nanoparticles immobilized on a glass coverslip surface is analyzed by a Matlab code before and after the addition of reporter nanoparticles containing IL-6 as target protein.