179566 research outputs found
Sort by
Computational methods for inertial microfluidics:recent advances and future perspectives
No full textNumerical modeling has played a pivotal role in advancing inertial microfluidics, tracing its development from inception and offering deeper insights into the microscale phenomena governing inertial focusing. These computational approaches have simultaneously supported the proliferation of on-chip technologies. Initially adopted across diverse industries for passive and high-throughput operations such as trapping, separation, and sorting of particles, the greatest potential of inertial microfluidics lies in biomedical applications, where it serves as a cornerstone for processing cells in clinical and research settings. As the range of applications continues to expand, microfluidic devices are evolving into increasingly complex systems capable of handling diverse cell types and particles within miniature chip architectures. This growing complexity necessitates the enhancement of conventional numerical techniques and the integration of innovative computational approaches to address these emerging challenges. This review aims to provide an overview of the available numerical techniques, highlighting their advantages and limitations. We explore recent strides in computational inertial microfluidics, emphasizing advancements within the last four years and the emergence of innovative methodologies such as smoothed particle hydrodynamics. Furthermore, we describe the nascent role of machine learning in inertial microfluidics, noting its limited adoption compared to conventional microfluidics and highlighting the potential to transform the field, as well as challenges that need to be overcome.</p
Computed tomography assessment of the conus medullaris and dural sac termination in adult sheep
No full textThis study aimed to describe the termination of the conus medullaris (CM) and dural sac (DS) in sheep using computed tomography (CT) myelography. Forty-adult Merino-mixed sheep underwent CT imaging after a lumbosacral intrathecal injection of iodinated contrast. The vertebral level of CM and DS termination was recorded. The CM was visible in 28 animals and terminated at S1 in 14 (50 %; 95 % CI: 30.6-69.4 %) and at S2 in 14 (50 %; 95 % CI: 30.6-69.4 %). The DS was evaluable in 33 animals and ended caudal to the sacrococcygeal junction (Cd-SC) in 31 (93.9 %; 95 % CI: 79.8-99.3 %) and at the sacral level (SACR) in 2 (6.1 %; 95 % CI: 0.7-20.2 %). No terminations cranial to the lumbosacral space (Cr-LS) were observed. These findings have implications for neuraxial anaesthesia in sheep. The CM ends caudal to the lumbosacral space, and the DS often extends beyond the sacrococcygeal space. Careful site selection is essential to minimise the risk of iatrogenic spinal cord injury during lumbosacral or sacrococcygeal epidural injections.</p
The situated and everyday cultivation of transcultural capital in educational and home settings for migrant youth in Scotland
No full textScholars have identified that many young migrants employ transcultural capital to navigate difference in everyday life. In some cases, this enables migrants to resist social marginalisation, articulate empathy and challenge social hierarchies. This paper focuses on the significance and potential of the school, family and neighbourhood environments in the everyday cultivation of transcultural capital. To do this, we highlight the narratives of young migrants (age 16–18) in their final years of compulsory education, derived from a larger mixed-methods study on educational transitions in Scotland. This paper argues that (1) there is considerable variability between young migrants in the identification, development and mobilisation of transcultural capital and such capital is not to be assumed for migrant young people; (2) the ability to realise transcultural capital as an asset is highly situated in everyday contexts. This paper concludes that in order for transcultural capital to be mobilised, institutional contexts including schools need to have greater awareness of the processes through which transcultural capital can be nurtured for young migrants and a more intentional approach to fostering it
SV2A is expressed in synapse subpopulations in mouse and human brain:implications for PET radiotracer studies
No full textSynapse pathology is a feature of most brain diseases and there is a pressing need to monitor the onset and progression of this pathology using brain imaging in living patients. A major step toward this goal has been the development of small-molecule radiotracers that bind to synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) for use in positron emission tomography (PET). Changes in SV2A radiotracer binding in PET are widely interpreted to report differences in the density of all synapses throughout brain region However, the expression of SV2A at single-synapse level across regions of adult mouse and human brain has not been comprehensively characterised. Here, We employed high-resolution synaptome mapping in adult mouse (n=7) and human (n=3) brain tissue. Synaptic proteins were labelled using fluorescent immunohistochemistry, imaged using confocal microscopy and quantified using image analysis tools. Brain-wide SV2A expression was assessed in presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals.</p
Enhancing Clinical Cancer Research Through Sharing of Data and Biospecirnens
No full textIMPORTANCE Molecular analyses of biospecimens collected from study participants are essential for identifying biomarkers that can tailor treatments to specific subsets of patients who are most likely to benefit. Sharing of data and biospecimens from clinical trials enables personalized, patient-centric use of cancer therapies and accelerates the development of new treatments.OBJECTIVE To describe obstacles to sharing data and biospecimens and to propose strategies to enhance access and collaboration.EVIDENCE REVIEW This is a Special Communication authored by 53 academic investigators and patient representatives from the breast cancer community with extensive experience in conducting clinical and translational research. The article also evaluates the impact of biomarker research on specifying responsive subpopulations in the 29 registrational clinical trials that have led to approval of a new drug for treatment of breast cancer between 2017 and 2024.FINDINGS Clinical trial participants are increasingly asked to provide tissue and/or body fluid biospecimens for biomarker research that is typically controlled by the sponsoring pharmaceutical company, but published biomarker studies are rare. Among 29 breast cancer registrational studies reported in the past 7 years. none resulted in biomarker research that restricted a drug's approved indication. Herein, strategies to maximize the value of clinical data and biospecimens contributed by participants are proposed, thereby supporting the shared goals of the pharmaceutical industry and academia to improve patient care. These strategies include (1) establishing coleadership structures involving academia and patients in clinical trial design and conduct, (2) ensuring that informed consent forms state that data and biospecimens will be shared with academia for future research. (3) requiring the sharing of clinical data as a condition for regulatory approval, and (4) enabling access to biospecimens and translational research data for independent studies on biomarkers that may indicate drug efficacy and toxicity.CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Data and biospecimen sharing from registrational trials has been suboptimal. Improving clinical data. biospecimens. and biospecimens' related data sharing requires concrete actions and a multidimensional stakeholder approach to accelerate the impact of clinical cancer research on the quality of patient care.<br/
Access Repository Dashboard
Do you manage Edinburgh Research Explorer? Access insider analytics, issue reports and manage access to outputs from your repository in the CORE Repository Dashboard!