Increasingly, research is moving towards more interdisciplinary endeavours. Effective collaboration between people from different disciplines necessary to maximize the potential benefits of interdisciplinarity for future activity. This paper analyses an approach fostering skills required successful cross-disciplinary perspective group early-career researchers. Our reflection on how specially designed encounters can help shape initiatives draws discussion a four-day workshop, post-event...

We conducted a large-scale genome-wide association study in UK Caucasians to identify susceptibility alleles for lung cancer, analyzing 1529 cases and 2707 controls. To increase the likelihood of identifying disease-causing alleles, we genotyped 1476 nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) 871 candidate cancer genes, biasing SNP selection toward those predicted be deleterious. Statistically significant associations were identified 64 nsSNPs, generating significance level P =...

At present, there are few technologies which enable the detection, identification and viability analysis of protozoan pathogens including Cryptosporidium and/or Giardia at single (oo)cyst level. We report use Microfluidic Impedance Cytometry (MIC) to characterise AC electrical (impedance) properties parasites demonstrate rapid discrimination based on species. Specifically, MIC was used identify live inactive C. parvum oocysts with over 90% certainty, whilst also detecting damaged excysted...

Oocysts of the waterborne protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum are highly resistant to chlorine disinfection. We show here that both silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and ions significantly decrease oocyst viability, in a dose-dependent manner, between concentrations 0.005 500 μg/ml, as assessed by an excystation assay shell/sporozoite ratio. For percent excystation, results statistically significant for μg/ml AgNPs, with reductions from 83% control 33% AgNPs. Ag ions, were at 5,000 but...

Thalidomide is reported to suppress levels of several cytokines, angiogenic and growth factors including TNF-α, basic fibroblast factor (bFGF), vascular endothelial (VEGF) interleukin-6 (IL-6). The resulting anti-angiogenic, immunomodulatory suppressive effects form the rationale for investigating thalidomide in treatment malignancies. We have evaluated use high-dose oral (600 mg daily) patients with renal carcinoma. 25 (all men; median age, 51 years; range 34–76 years) advanced measurable...

We introduce a novel combination of deformability-induced lift force (<italic>F</italic>_D) and secondary Dean flow in spiral microchannel translated into label-free purification approach applicable to mammalian cells, processing millions cells per min, up high purities recovery.

Abstract Nature‐based learning environments for early childhood are expanding, as is research into their affordances and pedagogies. Engineering in these not well studied. Previous work considered engineering experiences through the lens of ‘designerly play’, finding that natural materials, space larger creations constructions, altered group dynamics less gendered environments, promote play. Other frameworks have been applied. In this study, we identified ways which preschool‐aged children...

To assess whether DNA repair gene variants influence the clinical behaviour of lung cancer we examined impact a comprehensive panel 109 non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in 50 genes on overall survival (OS) 700 patients. Fifteen nsSNPs were associated with OS, significantly greater than that expected (P = 0.04). SNPs prognosis mapped primarily to two pathways--nucleotide excision (NER): ERCC5 D1104H 0.004); ERCC6 G399D 0.023), Q1413R 0.025), POLE 0.014) and base repair:...

Abstract Inertial focusing is a microfluidic based separation and concentration technology that has expanded rapidly in the last few years. Throughput high compared to other approaches although sample volumes have typically remained millilitre range. Here we present strategy for achieving rapid volume processing with stacked cascaded inertial systems, allowing of particles large size range, demonstrated here from 30 μm–300 μm. The system on curved channels, novel toroidal configuration stack...

Detecting waterborne pathogens is a challenging task because of their low concentration in water and wide diversity. In order to ease this detection process, the potential microfluidics investigated paper. Spiral channels are designed for separating particles, single device without any external forces or additional buffer, depending on size at high flowrates. This paper focuses first impact channel length, flowrate, particle separation efficiency polystyrene beads relevant sizes (4–7μm). The...

The manufacturing of clinical cellular therapies is a complex process frequently requiring manipulation cells, exchange buffers and volume reduction. Current processes rely on either low throughput open centrifugation-based devices, or expensive closed-process alternatives. Inertial focusing (IF) microfluidic devices offer the potential for high-throughput, inexpensive equipment which can be integrated into closed system, but to date no IF have been approved use in cell therapy...

Algorithms and methods were developed to synthesize complex chemical waveforms in open volumes by using a scanning-probe microfluidic platform. Time-dependent variations oscillations of one or several species around the scanning probe, such as formation sine waves, damped oscillations, generation more patterns, are demonstrated. Furthermore, we show that intricate bursting chaotic calcium found biological microdomains can be reproduced cell used probe study receptor functionalities function...

The Gly388Arg polymorphism in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) gene has been reported to influence prognosis a wide variety of cancer types. To determine whether is marker for lung prognosis, we genotyped 619 patients with incident disease and examined relationship between genotype overall survival. While employed comprehensive set statistical tests, including those sensitive detection differences early survival, our data provide little evidence support tenet that FGFR4...

Stem cell products, including manufactured red blood cells, require efficient sorting and purification methods to remove components potentially harmful for clinical application. However, standard approaches cellular downstream processing rely on the use of specific expensive labels (e.g. FACS or MACS). Techniques relying inherent mechanical physical properties cells offer high-throughput scalable alternatives but knowledge phenotype is required. Here, we characterized first time...

Public engagement activities based on microfluidics are being increasingly delivered and reported in the literature. Here, we evaluate success of a novel approach to outreach recently undertaken with schoolchildren aged 12–13. Unlike previous work, problem-based learning was adopted whereby participants were asked design test microfluidic system solve research challenge. Our aim develop understanding design, manufacture operation via involvement full engineering cycle product, from ideas...

This study developed and applied a new job card methodology to investigate what 5-year-old children in Scotland understand relation engineers engineering. Children were shown images of different jobs asked identify the select cards showing engineers. The was utilized pre- post-intervention determine whether an intervention combining engineer role model imagery hands-on activities (specifically Let’s do Engineering) would successfully broaden perspectives engineering, there be any differences...