Advances in Plasmonic Technologies for Point of Care Applications

Demand for accessible and affordable healthcare for infectious and chronic diseases present significant challenges for providing high-value and effective healthcare. Traditional approaches are expanding to include point-of-care (POC) diagnostics, bedside testing, and community-based approaches to respond to these challenges. Innovative solutions utilizing recent advances in mobile technologies, nanotechnology, imaging systems, and microfluidic technologies are envisioned to assist this transformation.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (RO1 AI093282)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (RO1 AI081534)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (U54EB15408)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (R21 AI087107

Nanostructured Optical Photonic Crystal Biosensor for HIV Viral Load Measurement

Detecting and quantifying biomarkers and viruses in biological samples have broad applications in early disease diagnosis and treatment monitoring. We have demonstrated a label-free optical sensing mechanism using nanostructured photonic crystals (PC) to capture and quantify intact viruses (HIV-1) from biologically relevant samples. The nanostructured surface of the PC biosensor resonantly reflects a narrow wavelength band during illumination with a broadband light source. Surface-adsorbed biotarget induces a shift in the resonant Peak Wavelength Value (PWV) that is detectable with <10 pm wavelength resolution, enabling detection of both biomolecular layers and small number of viruses that sparsely populate the transducer surface. We have successfully captured and detected HIV-1 in serum and phosphate buffered saline (PBS) samples with viral loads ranging from 104 to 108 copies/mL. The surface density of immobilized biomolecular layers used in the sensor functionalization process, including 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (3-MPS), N-gamma-Maleimidobutyryl-oxysuccinimide ester (GMBS), NeutrAvidin, anti-gp120, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were also quantified by the PC biosensor

How Are Entrepreneurial Intentions Affected by Emotional Intelligence and Creativity?

Entrepreneurship is important for developed countries to sustain their welfare levels and for developing countries to increase their level of welfare. Many entrepreneurs contribute significantly to the national economy of their countries. The purpose of our research is to determine how graduate students' entrepreneurial intentions are related to emotional intelligence and what role creativity plays in this process. This quantitative research study was conducted with graduate students at a private university in the southwest region of the USA. The data were collected from 399 participants via an online survey and analyzed by completing a Structural Equation Modelling. The results showed that entrepreneurial intentions are affected directly and positively by problem-solving skills, emotional self-awareness, and impulse control. Additionally, we found that problem-solving skills affect creativity directly and positively while creativity does not have a direct effect on entrepreneurial intentions

Gıda sektörü çalışanlarının burun, boğaz ve gaita kültürü sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi

Amaç: Bu kesitsel çalışmada, bir Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Aile Hekimliği Kliniği’ne gıda sektörü alanında çalışmak için başvuran kişilerin burun, boğaz ve gaita kültürü sonuçlarının değerlendirilmesi amaçlandı. Yöntem: Çalışmaya Ocak 2017- Kasım 2019 tarihleri arasında Karabük Üniversitesi Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Aile Hekimliği Polikliniği’ne, gıda sektöründe çalışmak amacıyla sağlık raporu talebi için başvuran bireylerin yaş, cinsiyet gibi demografik verileri ile burun, boğaz ve gaita kültürü sonuçları retrospektif olarak analiz edildi. Bulgular: Çalışmaya dahil edilen 971 kişinin %38,2’si (n=371) kadın, %61,8’i (n=600) erkek, yaş ortalaması 32,0±11,1 yıl idi. Çalışmamızda kültür sonuçlarında üreme tespit edilen bireylerin çoğunun 20-39 yaş aralığında olduğu ve bu yaş grubunda burun kültüründe Metisiline Dirençli Staphylococcus aureus taşıyıcılığının özellikle kadın bireylerde istatistiksel anlamlı olarak yüksek olduğu görüldü (

The association of MMP-13 rs2252070 with non-small cell lung cancer in the Turkish population

Aim: To evaluate the role of MMP-13 rs2252070 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the Turkish population. Method: A total of 95 NSCLC patients and 94 healthy controls were included in this study. The MMP-13 rs2252070 variant was genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)&nbsp;method. The results of the analyses were evaluated for statistical significance. Results: There was no G/G homozygous genotype in the patient or control groups. The prevalence of genotypes of A/A and A/G profiles for the MMP-13 rs2252070 variant was 34.7% and 65.3%, respectively, in patients and 46.8% and 53.2%, respectively, in the control group. No significant difference was found between the patient and control groups in terms of MMP-13 rs2252070 genotype distribution and allele frequency (p= 0.091, OR: 0.605, CI 95%:0.337-1.086; p: 0.199, OR: 1.337, CI 95%: 0.858-2.083, respectively). Conclusions: Our results in this study showed no association between MMP-13 rs2252070 and NSCLC. To fully comprehend the mechanisms underlying NSCLC development, more research is required

Xenon difluoride dry etching for the microfabrication of solid microneedles as a potential strategy in transdermal drug delivery

Although hypodermic needles are a "gold standard" for transdermal drug delivery (TDD), microneedle (MN)-mediated TDD denotes an unconventional approach in which drug compounds are delivered via micron-size needles. Herein, an isotropic XeF2 dry etching process is explored to fabricate silicon-based solid MNs. A photolithographic process, including mask writing, UV exposure, and dry etching with XeF2 is employed, and the MN fabrication is successfully customized by modifying the CAD designs, photolithographic process, and etching conditions. This study enables fabrication of a very dense MNs (up to 1452 MNs cm-2 ) with height varying between 80 and 300 µm. Geometrical features are also assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 3D laser scanning microscope. Roughness of the MNs are improved from 0.71 to 0.35 µm after titanium and chromium coating. Mechanical failure test is conducted using dynamic mechanical analyzer to determine displacement and stress/strain values. The coated MNs are subjected to less displacement (≈15 µm) upon the applied force. COMSOL Multiphysics analysis indicates that MNs are safe to use in real-life applications with no fracture. This technique also enables the production of MNs with distinct shape and dimensions. The optimized process provides a wide range of solid MN types to be utilized for epidermis targeting

Embolization of Ruptured Hepatic Hydatid Cyst to Pulmonary Artery in an Elderly Patient : Multidetector computed tomography findings

Pulmonary embolism due to hydatid disease is an unusual condition resulting from the rupture of a hydatic heart cyst or the opening of liver hydatidosis into the venous circulation. A 78-year old male patient complaining of dyspnea, cough and severe chest pain was admitted to our emergency department. A multidetector computed tomography of the chest revealed the presence of multiple nodules in both lungs especially in left and multiple hypodense filling defect in left main pulmonary artery and its branches. In addition, coronal reformatted multidetector computed tomography images also showed two hypodense cystic parenchymal masses on the left lobe of the liver with a cystic embolus in the right atrium. Pulmonary embolism should be kept in mind in patients who have hepatic hydatidosis if suddenly chest pain and dyspnoea occurs, especially in regions where hydatidosis is endemic

Analysis of the Volumes of the Posterior Cranial Fossa, Cerebellum, and Herniated Tonsils Using the Stereological Methods in Patients with Chiari Type I Malformation

Objective. The aim of this study was to determine the posterior cranial fossa volume, cerebellar volume, and herniated tonsillar volume in patients with chiari type I malformation and control subjects using stereological methods. Material and Methods. These volumes were estimated retrospectively using the Cavalieri principle as a point-counting technique. We used magnetic resonance images taken from 25 control subjects and 30 patients with chiari type I malformation. Results. The posterior cranial fossa volume in patients with chiari type I malformation was significantly smaller than the volume in the control subjects (P < 0.05). In the chiari type I malformation group, the cerebellar volume was smaller than the control group, but this difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In the chiari type I malformation group, the ratio of cerebellar volume to posterior cranial fossa volume was higher than in the control group. We also found a positive correlation between the posterior cranial fossa volume and cerebellar volume for each of the groups (r = 0.865, P < 0.001). The mean (±SD) herniated tonsillar volume and length were 0.89 ± 0.50 cm3 and 9.63 ± 3.37 mm in the chiari type I malformation group, respectively. Conclusion. This study has shown that posterior cranial fossa and cerebellum volumes can be measured by stereological methods, and the ratio of these measurements can contribute to the evaluation of chiari type I malformation cases