Magnetically Selective Versatile Transport of Microrobotic Carriers.

Field-driven transport systems offer great promise for use as biofunctionalized carriers in microrobotics, biomedicine, and cell delivery applications. Despite the construction of artificial microtubules using several micromagnets, which provide a promising transport pathway for the synchronous delivery of microrobotic carriers to the targeted location inside microvascular networks, the selective transport of different microrobotic carriers remains an unexplored challenge. This study demonstrated the selective manipulation and transport of microrobotics along a patterned micromagnet using applied magnetic fields.

Magnetic Lateral Ladder for Unidirectional Transport of Microrobots: Design Principles and Potential Applications of Cells-on-Chip.

Functionalized microrobots, which are directionally manipulated in a controlled and precise manner for specific tasks, face challenges. However, magnetic field-based controls constrain all microrobots to move in a coordinated manner, limiting their functions and independent behaviors. This article presents a design principle for achieving unidirectional microrobot transport using an asymmetric magnetic texture in the shape of a lateral ladder, which the authors call the "railway track.

Effect of the Graphene- Ni/NiFeO Composite on Bacterial Inhibition Mediated by Protein Degradation.

Recent investigations have demonstrated that nickel ferrite nanoparticles and their derivatives have toxicity effects on bacterial cells. In this study, we have prepared nickel ferrite nanoparticles (Ni/NiFeO) and nickel/nickel ferrite graphene oxide (Ni/NiFeO-GO) nanocomposite and evaluated their toxic effects on cells ATCC 25922. The prepared nanomaterials were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry techniques.

Reversible right-sided heart failure and pulmonary hypertension caused by scurvy in a 7-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder and a review of the literature.

Scurvy, a condition caused by vitamin C deficiency, is rare, especially in high-income countries. Symptoms of scurvy are typically characterised by dermatological disorders such as poor wound healing and tooth loss, but there is not usually cardiac involvement. A case of reversible pulmonary hypertension and right-sided heart failure owing to scurvy in a 7-year-old boy with autism spectrum disorder is reported.

Extracellular Vesicle Release Promotes Viral Replication during Persistent HCV Infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection promotes autophagic degradation of viral replicative intermediates for sustaining replication and spread. The excessive activation of autophagy can induce cell death and terminate infection without proper regulation. A prior publication from this laboratory showed that an adaptive cellular response to HCV microbial stress inhibits autophagy through beclin 1 degradation.

Autonomous Magnetic Microrobots by Navigating Gates for Multiple Biomolecules Delivery.

The precise delivery of biofunctionalized matters is of great interest from the fundamental and applied viewpoints. In spite of significant progress achieved during the last decade, a parallel and automated isolation and manipulation of rare analyte, and their simultaneous on-chip separation and trapping, still remain challenging. Here, a universal micromagnet junction for self-navigating gates of microrobotic particles to deliver the biomolecules to specific sites using a remote magnetic field is described.

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea Secondary to Right Ventricular Myxoma: A Novel Presentation of an Unusual Tumor.

A 14-month-old male presented with paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and grade III/VI systolic ejection murmur at the upper left sternal border with an S4 gallop and was subsequently found to have a right ventricular cardiac myxoma. Prior presentations of these tumors have been with exertional syncope and murmur, asymptomatic murmur, or exertional dyspnea; the presentation of such a tumor with paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea is novel.

Study design and rationale to assess Doxycycline Efficacy in preventing coronary Artery Lesions in children with Kawasaki disease (DEAL trial) - A phase II clinical trial.

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is the most common acquired heart disease in children of the developed world, and triggers progressive coronary artery lesions (CAL) in 30% of cases if left untreated. Despite standard anti-inflammatory treatment for KD, CAL (dilation or aneurysm) still occurs in 5-10% of children, increasing their risk for fatal coronary artery complications. CAL is mediated by enhanced matrix metalloproteinase activity and elastin breakdown induced by the inflammatory process in the coronary artery wall.

Comparative Analyses of Smear Layer Removal Using Four Different Irrigant Solutions in the Primary Root Canals - A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study.

Introduction: A clinician's path to success is a clean root canal system with three dimensional seal. Mechanical instrumentation of root canals alone leaves behind a smear layer covering the dentinal walls. Instrumentation must always be supported by use of irrigants which are considered as an essential prerequisite for root canal debridement.

Facile synthesis of bovine serum albumin conjugated low-dimensional ZnS nanocrystals.

We present a facile synthesis of bovine serum albumin (BSA) conjugated low-dimensional ZnS nanocrystals. The experimental parameters such as effects of BSA concentration and precursor vol ratios of Zn:S on the formation of ZnS nanoparticles in BSA matrix were investigated. The ZnS crystalline sizes of 1.

Underdiagnosis of Conditions Associated with Sudden Cardiac Death in Children--Is it the Absence of a Comprehensive Screening Program or a True Low Prevalence?

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of conditions associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) among all children and children with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the State of Hawai'i, where no comprehensive screening program is conducted for such conditions. A retrospective chart review was conducted from the single tertiary pediatric hospital in Hawai'i, from offices of all pediatric cardiologists in Hawai'i, and the Hawai'i State Department of Health from 1/1/2000 to 12/31/2013. Children aged 0-18 years were included in the study.

Electrochemical biosensor for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA detection based on gold nanotubes array electrode platform.

The template assisted electrochemical deposition technique was used for the synthesis of gold nanotubes array (AuNTsA). The morphological structure of the synthesized AuNTsA was observed by scanning electron microscopy and found that the individual nanotubes are around 1.5 μm in length with a diameter of 200 nm.

Protein immobilization onto electrochemically synthesized CoFe nanowires.

CoFe nanowires have been synthesized by the electrodeposition technique into the pores of a polycarbonate membrane with a nominal pore diameter of 50 nm, and the composition of CoFe nanowires varying by changing the source concentration of iron. The synthesized nanowire surfaces were functionalized with amine groups by treatment with aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) linker, and then conjugated with streptavidin-Cy3 protein via ethyl (dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide and N-hydroxysuccinimide coupling chemistry. The oxide surface of CoFe nanowire is easily modified with aminopropyltriethoxysilane to form an amine terminating group, which is covalently bonded to streptavidin-Cy3 protein.

On-chip magnetometer for characterization of superparamagnetic nanoparticles.

An on-chip magnetometer was fabricated by integrating a planar Hall magnetoresistive (PHR) sensor with microfluidic channels. The measured in-plane field sensitivities of an integrated PHR sensor with NiFe/Cu/IrMn trilayer structure were extremely high at 8.5 μV Oe(-1).

Magnetophoretic circuits for digital control of single particles and cells.

The ability to manipulate small fluid droplets, colloidal particles and single cells with the precision and parallelization of modern-day computer hardware has profound applications for biochemical detection, gene sequencing, chemical synthesis and highly parallel analysis of single cells. Drawing inspiration from general circuit theory and magnetic bubble technology, here we demonstrate a class of integrated circuits for executing sequential and parallel, timed operations on an ensemble of single particles and cells. The integrated circuits are constructed from lithographically defined, overlaid patterns of magnetic film and current lines.

Highly efficient bienzyme functionalized nanocomposite-based microfluidics biosensor platform for biomedical application.

This report describes the fabrication of a novel microfluidics nanobiochip based on a composite comprising of nickel oxide nanoparticles (nNiO) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), as well as the chip's use in a biomedical application. This nanocomposite was integrated with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannels, which were constructed using the photolithographic technique. A structural and morphological characterization of the fabricated microfluidics chip, which was functionalized with a bienzyme containing cholesterol oxidase (ChOx) and cholesterol esterase (ChEt), was accomplished using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy.

An organic substrate based magnetoresistive sensor for rapid bacteria detection.

A point-of-care diagnostic system has been developed to detect pathogenic bacteria rapidly, of which system contains a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor in cooperation with a magnetic bead coated by specific antibody against bacteria. MR sensor with Teflon passivation layer has been fabricated on organic substrate, being flexible and low cost material, and passivated by Teflon layer for maintaining flexibility. The performance of the MR sensor is demonstrated using Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1 and its detection limit was found to be 1.

Ultrasonic alignment of bio-functionalized magnetic beads and live cells in PDMS micro-fluidic channel.

In this work, we demonstrated the alignment of polystyrene latex microspheres (diameter of 1 ~45 μm), bio-functionalized superparamagnetic beads (diameter 2.8 μm), and live cells (average diameter 1 ~2 μm) using an ultrasonic standing wave (USW) in a PDMS microfluidic channel (330 μm width) attached on a Si substrate for bio-medical applications. To generate a standing wave inside the channel, ultrasound of 2.

Coronary artery dilation in acute Kawasaki disease and acute illnesses associated with Fever.

Background: In the absence of a specific test, the diagnosis of clinically incomplete Kawasaki disease (KD) can be challenging. The 2004 American Heart Association guidelines state that the diagnosis of KD is supported by the presence of coronary artery dilation documented by echocardiography. However, the specificity of coronary artery dilation and its prevalence in children with other acute illnesses associated with fever has not been studied.

Streptococcal emm types in Hawaii: a region with high incidence of acute rheumatic fever.

Background: The clinical epidemiology of group A streptococcal (GAS) infections in Hawaii seems different from that in the continental United States with frequent skin infections and endemically high rates of acute rheumatic fever (ARF).

Methods: GAS emm types in Hawaii were determined to identify any possible association between the emm types and specific clinical manifestations. A convenience sample of 1482 Hawaii GAS isolates collected between February 2000 and December 2005 was used.