Advances in three-dimensional rapid prototyping of microfluidic devices for biological applications

The capability of 3D printing technologies for direct production of complex 3D structures in a single step has recently attracted an ever increasing interest within the field of microfluidics. Recently, ultrafast lasers have also allowed developing new methods for production of internal microfluidic channels within the bulk of glass and polymer materials by direct internal 3D laser writing. This review critically summarizes the latest advances in the production of microfluidic 3D structures by using 3D printing technologies and direct internal 3D laser writing fabrication methods. Current applications of these rapid prototyped microfluidic platforms in biology will be also discussed. These include imaging of cells and living organisms, electrochemical detection of viruses and neurotransmitters, and studies in drug transport and induced-release of adenosine triphosphate from erythrocytes

Terror from behind the keyboard: conceptualising faceless detractors and guarantors of security in cyberspace

By reflecting on active public-domain government documents and statements, this article seeks to develop securitisation theory’s articulation of the dichotomy between legitimate and illegitimate violence as it is reflected in British government policy. This dichotomy has (re)developed through a process wherein GCHQ and MI5 are portrayed as ‘faceless guarantors’ of security, in Manichean juxtaposition to the discursively-created phantom cyberterrorists, who are presented as ‘faceless detractors’ of security. It has previously been stated that the terrorism discourse associated with the present ‘War on Terror’ is attributed, in part, to mechanics of fantasy. I argue that, within the securitised discourse of cyberterrorism, the limits of fantasy possesses a murky nuance, which in turn, allows for a deeper - or at least more entrenched - securitisation. The official discourse surrounding the intelligence services’ online surveillance apparatus operates with a similar opaque quality, but this is upheld by securitising actors as a strength to be maintained

Effect of channel geometry on ion-concentration polarization-based preconcentration and desalination

Polarization of the ion-selective systems results in the formation of ion-depleted and ion-concentrated zones in the electrolyte layers adjacent to the system. One can employ ion-concentration polarization for the removal of chargedlarge molecules and small ions from the flowing liquid. Removal of large molecules from the flowing solution and their local accumulation is often referred to as preconcentration, removal of small ions as desalination. Here, we study the effect of the channel geometry on the removal of charged species from their water solutions experimentally. Straight, converging, and diverging channels equipped with a pair of heterogeneous cation-exchange membranes are compared in terms of their effect on preconcentration of an observable fluorescein dye and on desalination of water solution of potassium chloride. Our results show that preconcentration of the dye is not significantly affected by the channel geometry. The distance of the preconcentration band from one of the membranes was approximately the same in all tested channel geometries. The major difference was in the location of the band within the channel, when the conical channels localized the band at one of the channel walls. The straight channel showed a slightly broader range of applicable flow rates. The semibatch desalination of 0.01M KCl solution turned out to be more efficient in conical channels, which was associated with a larger volume of the channel available for the accumulation of the concentratedsolution. Our results suggest that conical channels can be advantageously used in transforming the ion-concentrationpolarization- based semibatch desalination into a fully continuous one

Dysfagie a faktory spojené s rizikem podvýživy: Pětiletá multicentrická studie

Aims: To describe the associations between dysphagia and malnutrition risk and to identify predictors for dysphagia in a group of persons at risk of malnutrition in hospitals and nursing homes. Design: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the years 2012-2016. Methods: The risk of malnutrition was assessed using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool for Adults (MUST). The data were compared regarding malnutrition risk and dysphagia. Regression analyses were conducted to identify variables that were associated with the risk of malnutrition and dysphagia. Results: Patients (N = 17,580) were included in the study sample. The prevalence of dysphagia was 6.6% and the prevalence of malnutrition risk was 18.9%. A multivariable logistic regression analysis resulted in the identification of dysphagia and cancer as variables with the highest odds ratios with regard to malnutrition risk. Patients with cancer, stroke or respiratory diseases represent a high-risk group for the co-occurrence of dysphagia and risk of malnutrition. Conclusions: Screening for dysphagia should be carried out on patients at risk of malnutrition as an integral part of their admission to a healthcare institution and especially on the higher risk group of patients with cancer, a stroke or a respiratory disease. Impact: What problem did the study address? This study identified the relationship between dysphagia and malnutrition risk and associated factors. What were the main findings? Dysphagia among patients in the research sample was associated with more than two times higher prevalence of the malnutrition risk. Where and on whom will the research have an impact? Thorough malnutrition risk and dysphagia screening lead to better nursing care.Cíl: Popsat souvislosti mezi dysfagií a rizikem podvýživy a identifikovat prediktory dysfagie u skupiny osob s rizikem podvýživy v nemocnicích a pečovatelských domovech. Design: Sekundární analýza průřezových dat z let 2012-2016. Metody: Riziko podvýživy bylo hodnoceno pomocí Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool pro dospělé (MUST). Údaje byly porovnány z hlediska rizika podvýživy a dysfagie. Byly provedeny regresní analýzy pro identifikaci proměnných, které byly spojeny s rizikem podvýživy a dysfagie. Výsledky: Do vzorku bylo zahrnuto 17 580 pacientů. Prevalence dysfagie byla 6,6 % a prevalence rizika podvýživy 18,9 %. Multivariabilní logistická regresní analýza vedla k identifikaci dysfagie a nádorového onemocnění, jako proměnných s nejvyšším odds ratiem (OR) s ohledem na riziko podvýživy. Pacienti s nádorovým onemocněním, cévní mozkovou příhodou nebo onemocněním dýchacích cest představují vysoce rizikovou skupinu pro společný výskyt dysfagie a rizika podvýživy. Závěr: Screening dysfagie by měl být prováděn u pacientů s rizikem podvýživy jako nedílná součást jejich přijetí do zdravotnického zařízení a zejména u rizikových skupin pacientů s nádorovým onemocněním, cévní mozkovou příhodou nebo respiračním onemocněním. Dopad: Jakým problém se studie zabývala? Tato studie identifikovala vztah mezi dysfagií a rizikem podvýživy a souvisejícími faktory. Jaká byla hlavní zjištění? Dysfagie mezi pacienty ve výzkumném vzorku byla spojena s více než dvakrát vyšší prevalencí rizika podvýživy. Kde a na koho bude mít výzkum dopad? Důkladný screening rizika podvýživy a dysfagie vede k lepší ošetřovatelské péči