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Adolescent-onset schizophrenia (AOS) is rare, under-studied, and associated with more severe cognitive impairments and poorer outcomes than adult-onset schizophrenia. Neuroimaging has shown altered regional activations (first-order effects) and functional connectivity (second-order effects) in AOS compared to controls. The pairwise maximum entropy model (MEM) integrates first- and second-order factors into a single quantity called energy, which is inversely related to probability of occurrence of brain activity patterns. We take a combinatorial approach to study multiple brain-wide MEMs of task-associated components; hundreds of independent MEMs for various sub-systems are fit to 7 Tesla functional MRI scans. Acquisitions were collected from 23 AOS individuals and 53 healthy controls while performing the Penn Conditional Exclusion Test (PCET) for executive function, which is known to be impaired in AOS. Accuracy of PCET performance was significantly reduced among AOS compared to controls. A majority of the models showed significant negative correlation between PCET scores and the total energy attained over the fMRI. Across all instantiations, the AOS group was associated with significantly more frequent occurrence of states of higher energy, assessed with a mixed effects model. An example MEM instance was investigated further using energy landscapes, which visualize high and low energy states on a low-dimensional plane, and trajectory analysis, which quantify the evolution of brain states throughout this landscape. Both supported patient-control differences in the energy profiles. Severity of psychopathology was correlated positively with energy. The MEM's integrated representation of energy in task-associated systems can help characterize pathophysiology of AOS, cognitive impairments, and psychopathology., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest All authors declare no conflicts of interest associated with this work.

Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

Co 2 C nanoparticles (NPs) are amongst transition metal carbides whose magnetic properties have not been well explored. An earlier study (Roy et al 2021 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 33 375804) showed that a pellet made from Co 2 C NPs exhibits exchange bias (EB) effect below a temperature, T EB = 50 K and a spin glass (SG) feature emerges below T SG = 5 K. In the current study we use magnetic, electrical transport, specific heat, and muon spin rotation ( μ SR) measurements to explore further the magnetic properties of a pellet made with 40 nm diameter pure Co 2 C NPs. We uncover the onset of Kondo localization at Kondo temperature T K (= 40.1 K), which is close to the onset temperature ( T EB ) of the EB effect. A crossover from the Kondo-screened scenario to the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction-dominated regime is also observed for T < T K . Temperature-dependent specific heat measurement further supports the Kondo localization scenario in the pellet and shows the heavy fermionic nature of the strongly correlated electronic state in Co 2 C. The zero field μ SR asymmetry spectra in the low-temperature regime are characterized by two distinct fast and slow relaxation rates. The spectra show the absence of long-range magnetic order in the sample. However, our analysis suggests the NPs-pellet shows the presence of a dominant magnetically disordered fraction and a smaller fraction with short-range order. Muons in the disordered fraction exhibit a slower relaxation rate, while muons in the smaller fraction with short-range order exhibit a faster relaxation rate. We observe an increase in this fast relaxation rate between T EB and T SG . This increase below T EB ∼ 50 K suggests a slowing down of the fluctuating local magnetic environment around muons. Transverse field- μ SR asymmetry spectra show the emergence of a stable, multi-peaked local magnetic field distribution in the pellet below T EB . Longitudinal field μ SR spectra shows distinct changes in the dynamics of fluctuations suggesting the presence of a frozen glassy like state below 6 K. Based on our results, we suggest that below T EB, the pellet of Co 2 C NPs develops a magnetic interface that separates the two magnetic fractions; one is a disordered fraction, and the other is a fraction with short-range order. The exchange interaction that sets in below T EB at the interface couples the two fractions, leading to a suppression of the fluctuations. With the suppression of magnetic fluctuations below T EB , strong correlation effects in the electronic state of Co 2 C lead to Kondo localization., (© 2023 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

The present work aims to comprehensively analyze the diffusion of plant metabolites from the polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels for controlled release applications. For this study, a mathematical model based on free volume theory has been utilized to simulate the diffusion of low molecular weight plant metabolites. The results demonstrate that the mesh size of the crosslinked network, thereby the diffusion coefficient of the natural compound can be computed using the current framework. The proposed model has also been validated using the experimental data. The diffusion period has been observed to vary within a wide range of 3.42 h for Cinnamaldehyde to 49.25 h for Grandinin. An empirical parametric relationship between the diffusion time and molecular weight of both the hydrogels and natural compounds is established. It appears that the reported modeling approach will be clinically useful for improving the design of the sustained drug delivery systems.

Liquid metal (LM)-based polymer composites are currently new breakthrough and emerging classes of soft multifunctional materials (SMMs) having immense transformative potential for soft technological applications. Currently, room-temperature LMs, mostly eutectic gallium‑indium and Galinstan alloys are used to integrate with soft polymer due to their outstanding properties such as high conductivity, fluidity, low adhesion, high surface tension, low cytotoxicity, etc. The microstructural alterations and interfacial interactions controlling the efficient integration of LMs with rubber are the most critical aspects for successful implementation of multifunctionality in the resulting material. In this review article, a fundamental understanding of microstructural alterations of LMs to the formation of well-defined percolating networks inside an insulating rubber matrix has been established by exploiting several existing theoretical and experimental studies. Furthermore, effects of the chemical modifications of an LM surface and its interfacial interactions on the compatibility between solid rubber and fluid filler phase have been discussed. The presence of thin oxide layer on the LM surface and the effects and challenges it poses to the adequate functionalization of these materials have been discussed. Plausible applications of SMMs in different soft matter technologies, like soft robotics, flexible electronics, soft actuators, sensors, etc. have been provided. Finally, the current technical challenges and further prospective to the development of SMMs using non‑silicone rubbers have been critically discussed. This review is anticipated to infuse a new impetus to the associated research communities for the development of next generation SMMs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest There are no conflicts to declare., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nanosized robots with self-propelling and navigating capabilities have become an exciting field of research, attributable to their autonomous motion and specific biomolecular interaction ability for bio-analysis and diagnosis. Here, we report magnesium (Mg)-Fe 3 O 4 -based Magneto-Fluorescent Nanorobot ("MFN") that can self-propel in blood without any other additives and can selectively and rapidly isolate cancer cells. The nanobots viz; Mg-Fe 3 O 4 -GSH-G4-Cy5-Tf and Mg-Fe 3 O 4 -GSH-G4-Cy5-Ab have been designed and synthesized by simple surface modifications and conjugation chemistry to assemble multiple components viz; (i) EpCAM antibody/transferrin, (ii) cyanine 5 NHS (Cy5) dye, (iii) fourth generation (G4) dendrimers for multiple conjugation and (iv) glutathione (GSH) by chemical conjugation onto one side of Mg nanoparticle. The nanobots propelled efficiently not only in simulated biological media, but also in blood samples. With continuous motion upon exposure to water and the presence of Fe 3 O 4 shell on Mg nanoparticle for magnetic guidance, the nanobot offers major improvements in sensitivity, efficiency and speed by greatly enhancing capture of cancer cells. The nanobots showed excellent cancer cell capture efficiency of almost 100% both in serum and whole blood, especially with MCF7 breast cancer cells., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

It is interesting to explore the connections between the exchange bias effect (EBE) and magnetic anisotropy (MA). It is often found that materials exhibiting a strong EBE also have enhanced MA. Here we explore 40 nm diameter Co 2 C nanoparticles (NPs) that exhibit ferromagnetism with a blocking temperature exceeding 300 K. We report the first observation of EBE in these Co 2 C NPs below 50 K. The effect arises from the exchange coupling of frozen ferromagnetic spins with a freely rotatable spin component. The dynamics of the freely rotatable component freezes in a temperature range between 5 K to 20 K resulting in low-temperature coexistence of a glassy behavior along with ferromagnetism. In fact, Co 2 C displays a unique separation of onset temperatures of spin freezing (∼20 K), vanishing of EBE (∼50 K), and magnetic blocking (⩾450 K). Our calculations show that Co 2 C NPs have a core-shell structure. Our study suggests that modifying chemical co-ordination in the shell is one of the effective routes to manipulating MA compared to manipulating EBE., (© 2021 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Functional elastomers with incredible toughness and stretchability are indispensable for applications in soft robotics and wearable electronics. Furthermore, coupled with excellent electrical and thermal properties, these materials are at the forefront of recent efforts toward widespread use in cutting-edge electronics and devices. Herein, we introduce a highly deformable eutectic-GaIn liquid metal alloy-embedded natural rubber (NR) architecture employing, for the first time, industrially viable solid-state mixing and vulcanization. Standard methods of rubber processing and vulcanization allow us to fragment and disperse liquid metals into submicron-sized droplets in cross-linked NR without compromising the elastic properties of the base matrix. In addition to substantial boosts in mechanical (strain at failure of up to ∼650%) and elastic (negligible hysteresis loss) performances, the tearing energy of the composite was enhanced up to 6 times, and a fourfold reduction in the crack growth rate was achieved over a control vulcanizate. Moreover, we demonstrate improved thermal conductivity and dielectric properties for the resulting composites. Therefore, this work provides a facile and scalable pathway to develop liquid metal-embedded soft elastomeric composites that could be instrumental toward potential applications in soft-matter engineering.

Two-dimensional (2D) topological surface states in a three-dimensional topological insulator (TI) should produce uniform 2D surface current distribution. However, our transport current imaging studies on Bi 2 Se 3 thin film reveal non-uniform current sheet flow at 15 K with strong edge current flow. This is consistent with other imaging studies on thin films of Bi 2 Se 3 . In contrast to strong edge current flow in thin films, in single crystal of Bi 2 Se 3 at 15 K our current imaging studies show the presence of 3.6 nm thick uniform 2D sheet current flow. Above 70 K, this uniform 2D sheet current sheet begins to disintegrate into a spatially non-uniform flow. The flow becomes patchy with regions having high and low current density. The area fraction of the patches with high current density rapidly decreases at temperatures above 70 K, with a temperature dependence of the form [Formula: see text]. The temperature scale of 70 K coincides with the onset of bulk conductivity in the crystal due to electron doping by selenium vacancy clusters in Bi 2 Se 3 . Thus our results show a temperature dependent competition between surface and bulk conductivity produces a temperature dependent variation in uniformity of current flow in the topological insulator.

India came under the grip of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and is now seeing rising graph. Cancer patients are specially in the high-risk group because of their immunocompromised status on one hand and progressive disease on the other hand. Hence, cancer care facility needs to prepare a clear strategy to manage their space, staff and supplies so that optimum patient care can be continued in the face of COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, infection prevention measures need to be robust to reduce in-hospital transmission. The working area of anesthesia and Critical Care is spread over the whole hospital such as operating room, ICU, isolation area, out-patient dept (OPD) area, various diagnostic areas and in-patient dept (IPD) to attend code blue calls. In this article, we describe the preparedness and initial response measures of the anesthesia and Critical Care department of a stand-alone tertiary level cancer care centre in eastern part of India. These include engineering controls such as identification and preparation of an isolation operating room, administrative measures such as modification of workflow, introduction and adequate supply of personal protective equipment for staff and formulation of clinical guidelines for anesthetic management. These containment measures are necessary to continue care of cancer patients, optimize the quality of care provided to COVID-19 positive cancer patients and to reduce the risk of viral transmission to other patients or healthcare providers., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2021 Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology.)

In the current context of green mobility and sustainability, the use of new generation natural fillers, namely, α-cellulose, has gained significant recognition. The presence of hydroxyl groups on α-cellulose has generated immense eagerness to map its potency as filler in an elastomeric composite. In the present work, α-cellulose-emulsion-grade styrene butadiene rubber (E-SBR) composite is prepared by conventional rubber processing method by using variable proportions of α-cellulose (1 to 40 phr) to assess its reinforce ability. Rheological, physical, visco-elastic and dynamic-mechanical behavior have clearly established that 10 phr loading of α-cellulose can be considered as an optimized dosage in terms of performance parameters. Morphological characterization with the aid of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) also substantiated that composite with 10 phr loading of α-cellulose has achieved the morphological threshold. With this background, synthetic filler (silica) is substituted by green filler (α-cellulose) in an E-SBR-based composite. Characterization of the compound has clearly established the reinforcement ability of α-cellulose.

Postnatal brain circuit assembly is driven by temporally regulated intrinsic and cell-extrinsic cues that organize neurogenesis, migration, and axo-dendritic specification in post-mitotic neurons. While cell polarity is an intrinsic organizer of morphogenic events, environmental cues in the germinal zone (GZ) instructing neuron polarization and their coupling during postnatal development are unclear. We report that oxygen tension, which rises at birth, and the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL)-hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (Hif1α) pathway regulate polarization and maturation of post-mitotic cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). At early postnatal stages with low GZ vascularization, Hif1α restrains CGN-progenitor cell-cycle exit. Unexpectedly, cell-intrinsic VHL-Hif1α pathway activation also delays the timing of CGN differentiation, germinal zone exit, and migration initiation through transcriptional repression of the partitioning-defective (Pard) complex. As vascularization proceeds, these inhibitory mechanisms are downregulated, implicating increasing oxygen tension as a critical switch for neuronal polarization and cerebellar GZ exit., Competing Interests: Declaration of Interests The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Spatial arrangement for cells and the opportunity thereof have implications in cell regeneration and cell proliferation. 3D inverse space (3DIS) substrates with micron-sized pores are fabricated under controlled environmental conditions from polymers such as poly(lactic- co -glycolic) acid (PLGA), poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(styrene) (PS). The characterization of 3DIS substrates by optical microscopy, scanning probe microscopy (SPM), etc. shows pores within 1-18 μm diameter and prominent surface roughness extending up to 3.9 nm in height over its base. Conversely, to compare two-dimensional (2D) versus 3DIS substrates, the crucial variables of cell height, cell spreading area and cell volume are compared using lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cells. The results indicate an average cell thickness of ∼6 μm on a glass substrate whereas cells on PLGA 3DIS were ∼12 μm in height, occasionally reaching 20 μm, with a 40% decreased cell spreading area. A549 cells cultured on polymer 3DIS substrates show a cell regeneration growth pattern, dependent on the available spatial volume. Furthermore, PLGA 3DIS cell culture systems with and without graded doxorubicin (DOX) pre-treatment result in potent cell inhibition and cell proliferation, respectively. Additionally, standard DOX administration to A549 cells in the PLGA 3DIS system revealed altered drug sensitivity. 3DIS demonstrates utility in facilitating cellular regeneration and mimicking cell proliferation in defined spatial arrangements., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts to declare., (This journal is © The Royal Society of Chemistry.)

Self-propelling magnetic nanorobots capable of intrinsic-navigation in biological fluids with enhanced pharmacokinetics and deeper tissue penetration implicates promising strategy in targeted cancer therapy. Here, multi-component magnetic nanobot designed by chemically conjugating magnetic Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles (NPs), anti-epithelial cell adhesion molecule antibody (anti-EpCAM mAb) to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) loaded with an anticancer drug, doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) is reported. Autonomous propulsion of the nanobots and their external magnetic guidance is enabled by enriching Fe 3 O 4 NPs with dual catalytic-magnetic functionality. The nanobots propel at high velocities even in complex biological fluids. In addition, the nanobots preferably release DOX in the intracellular lysosomal compartment of human colorectal carcinoma (HCT116) cells by the opening of Fe 3 O 4 NP gate. Further, nanobot reduce ex vivo HCT116 tumor spheroids more efficiently than free DOX. The multicomponent nanobot's design represents a more pronounced method in targeting tumors with self-assisted anticancer drug delivery for 'far-reaching' sites in treating cancers.

Cancer diagnosis and its stage-wise assessment are determined through invasive solid tissue biopsies. Conversely, cancer imaging is enriched through emission tomography and longitudinal high-resolution analysis for the early detection of cancer through altered cell morphology and cell-deformation. Similarly, in post multiple chemo-cycle exposures, the tumor regression and progression thereafter are not well understood. Here, we report chemo-cycles of doxorubicin (Dox) carrying nanoparticles (NPs) to be highly indicative of cell deformation and a progressive indicator of phenotypic expressions of acquired drug resistance (ADR). We designed graphene (G) based nanocarriers by chemically conjugating multiple components: (i) G; (ii) iron oxide (Fe3O4) NPs; and (iii) Dox through a cysteine (Cys) linker (G-Dox and G-Cys-Fe3O4-Dox). Although Dox underwent cell diffusion, the G-based nanocarriers followed a receptor-mediated endocytosis which created a profound impact on the cell membrane integrity. ADR owing to Dox and G-based nanocarriers was analyzed through a cytotoxicity assay, cell morphology deformation parameters and cellular uptake kinetic patterns. Interestingly, after the third chemo-cycle, G-Dox incubated cells showed the greatest decrease in the alteration of the nuclear surface area (NSA) of ∼28%, a ∼40% reduction of the cell surface area (CSA) and a ∼32% increase in the cell roundness (CRd). Our results suggested that the G-based nanocarriers induced the cell deformation process, subsequently resulting in ADR. Although the G-based nanocarriers initiated ADR, G-Dox was most cytotoxic to cancer cells and induced the maximum cell morphology deformation within our scope of study. This outcome implies caution is needed when using G-based nanocarriers and other multi-component nanosystems for Dox delivery as they lead to possible phenotypic expressions of drug resistance in cancer cells.

Roll-to-roll hot embossing could revolutionize the manufacturing of multifunctional polymer films with the ability to process large area at a high rate with reduced cost. The continuous hot embossing of the films, however, has been hindered due to the lack of durable and flexible molds, which can replicate micro and nanofeatures with reliability over several embossing cycles. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time the fabrication of a flexible polymer (polyimide) mold from the commercially available sheet by a maskless photolithography approach combined with inductively coupled plasma etching and its potential application to the roll-to-roll hot embossing process. The flexible polyimide mold consisted of holes with controlled dimensions: diameter: 14 μm, spacing: 16.5 μm, and depth: 6.8 μm. The reliability of flexible polyimide mold was tested and implemented by embossing micron-sized features on a commercial thermoplastic polymer, polyamide, and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) sheet. The polyimide mold replicated micron-sized features on polymer substrates (polyamide and TPE) with excellent fidelity and was durable even after numerous embossing cycles., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest.

A new biomimetic stimuli-responsive adaptive elastomeric material, whose mechanical properties are altered by a water treatment is reported in this paper. This material is a calcium sulphate (CaSO 4 ) filled composite with an epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) matrix. By exploiting various phase transformation processes that arise when CaSO 4 is hydrated, several different crystal structures of CaSO 4 · xH 2 O can be developed in the cross-linked ENR matrix. Significant improvements in the mechanical and thermal properties are then observed in the water-treated composites. When compared with the untreated sample, there is approximately 100% increase in the dynamic modulus. The thermal stability of the composites is also improved by increasing the maximum degradation rate temperature by about 20 °C. This change in behavior results from an in situ development of hydrated crystal structures of the nanosized CaSO 4 particles in the ENR matrix, which has been verified using Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray scattering. This work provides a promising and relatively simple pathway for the development of next generation of mechanically adaptive elastomeric materials by an eco-friendly route, which may eventually also be developed into an innovative biodegradable and biocompatible smart polymeric material.

Currently, material extrusion 3D printing (ME3DP) based on fused deposition modeling (FDM) is considered a highly adaptable and efficient additive manufacturing technique to develop components with complex geometries using computer-aided design. While the 3D printing process for a number of thermoplastic materials using FDM technology has been well demonstrated, there still exists a significant challenge to develop new polymeric materials compatible with ME3DP. The present work reports the development of ME3DP compatible thermoplastic elastomeric (TPE) materials from polypropylene (PP) and styrene-(ethylene-butylene)-styrene (SEBS) block copolymers using a straightforward blending approach, which enables the creation of tailorable materials. Properties of the 3D printed TPEs were compared with traditional injection molded samples. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of the 3D printed sample were lower than the injection molded samples. However, no significant differences could be found in the melt rheological properties at higher frequency ranges or in the dynamic mechanical behavior. The phase morphologies of the 3D printed and injection molded TPEs were correlated with their respective properties. Reinforcing carbon black was used to increase the mechanical performance of the 3D printed TPE, and the balancing of thermoplastic elastomeric and mechanical properties were achieved at a lower carbon black loading. The preferential location of carbon black in the blend phases was theoretically predicted from wetting parameters. This study was made in order to get an insight to the relationship between morphology and properties of the ME3DP compatible PP/SEBS blends.

Recent studies showed that silk and human hair fibers develop thermoelectric properties at optimal water, temperature and light conditions. The nature of charge carriers and the role of water in mediating charge conduction in these fibers is an unexplored issue. By studying four different classes of natural fibers, viz., silk cocoon, human hair, jute and corn silk, we uncover their common electrical transport properties and its dependence on water concentration and temperature. All these fibers uniformly exhibit nonlinear, hysteretic current - voltage characteristics, which scale with water concentration. The optimal electrical conductivity shows thermally activated hopping transport mechanism. Scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and dielectric measurements of silk cocoon fibers showed the electronic density of states and dielectric properties of the hydrated medium enhances with water concentration. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) study reveals that the charge carriers in these membranes are electronic in nature. Our results are explained through the mechanism of hopping of a Polaron, which is an electron surrounded by positive charge fluctuations created by water molecules. The mechanism unravels the peculiar role water plays in mediating electrical activity in these membranes and also opens the possibility for exploring such charge transport mechanism in other biological membranes.

Background and Aims: In patients undergoing transurethral resection of prostate (TURP), it is vital to restrict the level of block to T 10 dermatome during spinal anaesthesia. Low-dose bupivacaine causes minimum haemodynamic alterations, but may provide insufficient surgical anaesthesia. Dexmedetomidine, a selective α 2 -adrenoreceptor agonist, is a potent anti-nociceptive agent when given intrathecally. The aim of this study was to compare the adjuvant effects of intrathecal dexmedetomidine with low-dose bupivacaine spinal anaesthesia versus a higher dose of bupivacaine in patients undergoing TURP., Methods: The study was designed as a prospective, double-blind, randomised trial that included sixty patients of American Society of Anesthesiologists Grade I-III scheduled for TURP. They were allocated into two groups: Group I receiving only hyperbaric bupivacaine intrathecally and Group II receiving dexmedetomidine with low dose bupivacaine. The time to regression of two dermatomes from the peak sensory block level was the primary outcome of the study., Results: With comparable baseline and demographic attributes, both groups had similar peak sensory block levels (T 9 ). Patients in Group II had quicker onset with the time to reach T 10 being faster (10.72 ± 3.50 vs. 12.72 ± 3.90 min, P = 0.041), longer duration of motor block (200 ± 18.23 vs. 190 ± 10.15 min, P = 0.011) and increased time to first analgesic requirement (300 ± 25.30 vs. 220 ± 15.12 min, P = 0.0001)., Conclusion: Intrathecal dexmedetomidine with low-dose bupivacaine provides faster onset, prolonged sensory and motor block and reduced rescue analgesic requirement in patients undergoing TURP., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest.

By investigating temperature dependent structural and magnetic properties of cobalt (Co) embedded within nanoporous anodized alumina template, we observe changes in the easy axis of Co magnetization and an unusual increase in its saturation magnetization below a temperature T cr . Analysis of our M(H) data reveals that the magnetized volume of the sample increases rapidly as T falls below T cr . To understand these features we perform micro-magnetic simulations for a single Co-nanopillar wherein by varying its magneto-crystalline anisotropy energy we are able to show that the changes observed near T cr are related to the changes in the magnetic anisotropy of the nanopillar. We propose crystallographic structural distortions trigger changes in the balance between shape and magneto-crystalline anisotropy in our nanopillar. Our results suggest interplay between magnetism, structure and magnetic anisotropy in low dimensional Co-nanopillars, which can be modified with temperature of the system.

Under the influence of a constant drive the moving vortex state in 2H-NbS 2 superconductor exhibits a negative differential resistance (NDR) transition from a steady flow to an immobile state. This state possesses a high depinning current threshold ([Formula: see text]) with unconventional depinning characteristics. At currents well above [Formula: see text], the moving vortex state exhibits a multimodal velocity distribution which is characteristic of vortex flow instabilities in the NDR regime. However at lower currents which are just above [Formula: see text], the velocity distribution is non-Gaussian with a tail extending to significant negative velocity values. These unusual negative velocity events correspond to vortices drifting opposite to the driving force direction. We show that this distribution obeys the Gallavotti-Cohen Non-Equilibrium Fluctuation Relation (GC-NEFR). Just above [Formula: see text], we also find a high vortex density fluctuating driven state not obeying the conventional GC-NEFR. The GC-NEFR analysis provides a measure of an effective energy scale (E eff ) associated with the driven vortex state. The E eff corresponds to the average energy dissipated by the fluctuating vortex state above [Formula: see text]. We propose the high E eff value corresponds to the onset of high energy dynamic instabilities in this driven vortex state just above [Formula: see text].

Detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the blood circulation holds immense promise as it predicts the overall probability of patient survival. Therefore, CTC-based technologies are gaining prominence as a "liquid biopsy" for cancer diagnostics and prognostics. Here, we describe the design and synthesis of two distinct multicomponent magnetic nanosystems for rapid capture and detection of CTCs. The multifunctional Magneto-Dendrimeric Nano System (MDNS) composed of an anchoring dendrimer that is conjugated to multiple agents such as near infrared (NIR) fluorescent cyanine 5 NHS (Cy5), glutathione (GSH), transferrin (Tf), and iron oxide (Fe 3 O 4 ) magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) for simultaneous tumor cell-specific affinity, multimodal high resolution confocal imaging, and cell isolation. The second nanosystem is a self-propelled microrocket that is composed of carbon nanotube (CNT), chemically conjugated with targeting ligand such as transferrin on the outer surface and Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles in the inner surface. The multicomponent nanosystems described here are highly efficient in targeting and isolating cancer cells thus benefiting early diagnosis and therapy of cancer.

One of the most vital supports to sustain human life on the planet earth is the agriculture system that has been constantly challenged in terms of yield. Crop losses due to insect pest attack even after excessive use of chemical pesticides, are major concerns for humanity and environment protection. By the virtue of unique properties possessed by micro and nano-structures, their implementation in Agri-biotechnology is largely anticipated. Hence, traditional pest management strategies are now forestalling the potential of micro and nanotechnology as an effective and viable approach to alleviate problems pertaining to pest control. These technological innovations hold promise to contribute enhanced productivity by providing novel agrochemical agents and delivery systems. Application of these systems engages to achieve: i) control release of agrochemicals, ii) site-targeted delivery of active ingredients to manage specific pests, iii) reduced pesticide use, iv) detection of chemical residues, v) pesticide degradation, vi) nucleic acid delivery and vii) to mitigate post-harvest damage. Applications of micro and nano-technology are still marginal owing to the perception of low economic returns, stringent regulatory issues involving safety assessment and public awareness over their uses. In this review, we highlight the potential application of micro and nano-materials with a major focus on effective pest management strategies including safe handling of pesticides., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Single-stranded DNA-melamine hybrid molecular building blocks were synthesized using a phosphoramidation cross-coupling reaction with a zero linker approach. The self-assembly of the DNA-organic hybrid molecules was achieved by DNA hybridization. Following self-assembly, two distinct types of nanostructures in the form of linear chains and network arrays were observed. The morphology of the self-assembled nanostructures was found to depend on the number of DNA strands that were attached to a single melamine molecule.

Here, we report a non-invasive strategy for isolating cancer cells by autonomously propelled carbon nanotube (CNT) microrockets. H2O2-driven oxygen (O2) bubble-propelled microrockets were synthesized using CNT and Fe3O4 nanoparticles in the inner surface and covalently conjugating transferrin on the outer surface. Results show that self-propellant microrockets can specifically capture cancer cells.

We report calcium phosphate (CaP) nanocapsule crowned multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT-GSH-G4-CaP) as a novel platform for intracellular delivery of an anticancer drug. As a proof-of-concept, CNT-GSH-G4-CaP demonstrates release of anticancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) within intracellular lysosomes from the interior cavity of CNT upon pH triggered CaP dissolution. Importantly, we found that the CNT with a CaP nanolid can efficiently prevent untimely drug release at physiological pH but promotes DOX release at increased acidic milieu as observed in subcellular compartments such as lysosomes (∼5.0). This "zero premature release" characteristic is of clinical significance in delivering cytotoxic drugs, by reducing systemic toxicity and thus beneficial for the effective anticancer treatment. We envision that this pH triggered CaP crowned CNT nanosystem would lead to a new generation of self-regulated platforms for intracellular delivery of a variety of anticancer drugs.

The efficiency of the apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease (APE1) DNA repair enzyme in the processing of abasic site DNA damage lesions at precise location in DNA oligomer duplexes that are adsorbed on clay surfaces was evaluated. Three different forms of clay namely montmorillonite, quaternary ammonium salt modified montmorillonite and its boiled counterpart i.e. partially devoid of organic moiety were used for a comparative study of adsorption, desorption and DNA repair efficiency on their surfaces. The interaction between the DNA and the clay was analysed by X-ray diffraction, Atomic force microscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy and Infrared spectroscopy. The abasic site cleavage efficiency of APE1 enzyme was quantitatively evaluated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Apart from the difference in the DNA adsorption or desorption capacity of the various forms of clay, substantial variation in the repair efficiency of abasic sites initiated by the APE1 enzyme on the clay surfaces was observed. The incision efficiency of APE1 enzyme at abasic sites was found to be greatly diminished, when the DNA was adsorbed over organomodified montmorillonite. The reduced repair activity indicates an important role of the pendant surfactant groups on the clay surfaces in directing APE1 mediated cleavage of abasic site DNA damage lesions., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Advanced delivery systems, such as nano/micro carriers have not been studied significantly for their molecular interactions with serum proteins and other biologically relevant macromolecules. Here, we investigated the effect of surface chemistry of iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles on molecular interactions with human insulin by fluorescence, XRD and FTIR spectroscopy. Nanoparticles of Fe3O4 were chemically modified as Fe3O4-glutathione (GSH) and Fe3O4-GSH-polyamidoamine generation 4 (PAMAM G4) dendrimer. Our results demonstrate that, Fe3O4 and its conjugates such as Fe3O4-GSH, Fe3O4-GSH-G4 quenched insulin fluorescence, indicating strong interactions between insulin protein molecule and Fe3O4. The fluorescence quenching constants Ksv were obtained as 0.0367 x 10(3), 0.0303 x 10(3) and 0.0131 x 10(3) M and the binding constant K were found to be 27.095, 8.404 and 6.026 mM for Fe3O4, Fe3O4-GSH and Fe3O4-GSH-PAMAM G4, respectively. Both the Ksv and K (binding constant) values revealed that the interaction of Fe3O4 with insulin to be stronger over to dendrimer conjugates. In addition, the FTIR spectra suggested that the presence of nanoparticles results in secondary structure alteration in the insulin conformation. The study implies the critical evaluation of new delivery systems in establishing the biocompatibility, especially when delivered by systemic route.

Carbon nanostructures such as multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNT) and graphene (G) are potential candidates in a large number of biomedical applications. However, there is limited understanding and connection between the physicochemical properties of diverse carbon nanostructures and biological systems, particularly with regard to cellular responses. It is also crucial to understand how the structure and surface composition of carbon nanostructures affect the cellular internalization process. Here, through in vitro cellular entry kinetics and cytotoxicity studies using MCF-7 breast cancer cells and H460 human lung cancer cells, we show that the structure and surface composition of CNT and G conjugates with various molecules such as PAMAM dendrimers (G4) and G4-poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) are directly related to their cellular internalization ability and toxicity. Interestingly, the cellular association of CNT and G nanoconjugates was observed to be structure and surface composition dependent. We found that CNT conjugates internalized more compared to G conjugates. Furthermore, G4 conjugated CNT internalized more compared to G4-PEG conjugated CNT, whereas, higher internalization was found for G4-PEG conjugated G than G4 conjugated G. We have also correlated the cytotoxicity and cellular uptake mechanisms of CNT, G, and their conjugates through zeta potential measurements, fluorescence quenching studies and by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Altogether these studies suggest different biological activities of the carbon nanostructures, with the shape and surface composition playing a primary role.

Use of ultrasonography for performance of nerve and plexus blocks has made the process simpler and safer. However, at times, variant anatomy of the visualized structures can lead to failure of blocks or complications such as intravascular injections. This is especially true in case of novice operators. We report a case of a variant branch of subclavian artery, possibly the dorsal scapular artery passing through the brachial plexus nerve bundles in the supraclavicular area. Since this variation in anatomy was visualized in the scout scan prior to the performance of the block, it was possible to avoid any accidental puncture. Hence, a thorough knowledge of the ultrasound anatomy is important in order to identify various aberrations and variations. It is also prudent to perform a preliminary scan, prior to performance of the block to localize the target area and avoid any inadvertent complications.

A multicomponent magneto-dendritic nanosystem (MDNS) is designed for rapid tumor cell targeting, isolation, and high-resolution imaging by a facile bioconjugation approach. The highly efficient and rapid-acting MDNS provides a convenient platform for simultaneous isolation and high-resolution imaging of tumor cells, potentially leading towards an early diagnosis of cancer., (Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Background: Increasing frequency of shift-to-shift handoffs coupled with regulatory requirements to evaluate handoff quality make a handoff evaluation tool necessary., Objective: To develop a handoff evaluation tool., Design: Tool development., Setting: Two academic medical centers., Subjects: Nurse practitioners, medicine housestaff, and hospitalist attendings., Intervention: Concurrent peer and external evaluations of shift-to-shift handoffs., Measurements: The Handoff CEX (clinical evaluation exercise) consists of 6 subdomains and 1 overall assessment, each scored from 1 to 9, where 1 to 3 is unsatisfactory and 7 to 9 is superior. We assessed range of scores, performance among subgroups, internal consistency, and agreement among types of raters., Results: We conducted 675 evaluations of 97 unique individuals during 149 handoff sessions. Scores ranged from unsatisfactory to superior in each domain. The highest rated domain for handoff providers was professionalism (median: 8; interquartile range [IQR]: 7-9); the lowest was content (median: 7; IQR: 6-8). Scores at the 2 institutions were similar, and scores did not differ significantly by training level. Spearman correlation coefficients among the CEX subdomains for provider scores ranged from 0.71 to 0.86, except for setting (0.39-0.40). Third-party external evaluators consistently gave lower marks for the same handoff than peer evaluators did. Weighted kappa scores for provider evaluations comparing external evaluators to peers ranged from 0.28 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01, 0.56) for setting to 0.59 (95% CI: 0.38, 0.80) for organization., Conclusions: This handoff evaluation tool was easily used by trainees and attendings, had high internal consistency, and performed similarly across institutions. Because peers consistently provided higher scores than external evaluators, this tool may be most appropriate for external evaluation., (Copyright © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine.)