Automated Reverse Vending Aluminum Can Crusher (ARVACC)

Through the years, the price of aluminum has been increasing due to economic factors globally. In spite of it, people still tend to overlook the fact that the aluminum scrap thrown away is recyclable and beneficial only scavengers collecting these aluminum scrap are the ones who partake in the process of recycling. Aside from that, there is currently no reverse vending machine that crushes aluminum cans and gives off the equivalent monetary value in the Philippines. Therefore, the problem is how to design and fabricate an automated reverse vending aluminum can crusher. The Automated Reverse Vending Aluminum Can Crusher (ARVACC) was able to attain high level of confidence in achieving the set parameters for accepting and rejecting aluminum cans inserted. The machine\u27s coin dispenser can accumulate coins for more than one (1) transaction. It has the ability to display OFFLINE when the bin is already full or if there is no money available. It effectively reduces the can\u27s volume by as much as 33% of the original size and has a minimum transaction of one (1) can. Overall, the machine was able to achieve the objectives set and was able to prove that it is reliable enough to be placed in public

From Microcytosis to Macrodiagnosis

A 12-year-old Hispanic girl presented with fatigue, lightheadedness, and intermittent headaches. She was depressed and appeared pale to her mother. Her examination was unremarkable except for palpebral conjunctival pallor and was otherwise noncontributory. She had a profound hypoproliferative microcytic anemia with low iron level, low transferrin saturation, and a normal ferritin level. The patient experienced improvement in clinical symptoms following transfusion of packed red blood cells and oral iron therapy. At follow-up 2 months later, she presented with similar symptoms and persistent microcytic anemia with low iron levels. Her ferritin level was increased along with markedly elevated C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. An oral iron challenge demonstrated lack of absorption, and hepcidin level was also significantly elevated. Thorough gastrointestinal and rheumatologic evaluations were performed to search for a source of inflammation. Key components of the patient's social history supplemented by serology, radiographic, and pathologic findings ultimately cinched an unexpected diagnosis

Nanoparticle-Encapsulated Chlorhexidine against Oral Bacterial Biofilms

<div><p>Background</p><p>Chlorhexidine (CHX) is a widely used antimicrobial agent in dentistry. Herein, we report the synthesis of a novel mesoporous silica nanoparticle-encapsulated pure CHX (Nano-CHX), and its mechanical profile and antimicrobial properties against oral biofilms.</p><p>Methodology/Principal Findings</p><p>The release of CHX from the Nano-CHX was characterized by UV/visible absorption spectroscopy. The antimicrobial properties of Nano-CHX were evaluated in both planktonic and biofilm modes of representative oral pathogenic bacteria. The Nano-CHX demonstrated potent antibacterial effects on planktonic bacteria and mono-species biofilms at the concentrations of 50–200 µg/mL against <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>, <i>Streptococcus sobrinus</i>, <i>Fusobacterium nucleatum</i>, <i>Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans</i> and <i>Enterococccus faecalis</i>. Moreover, Nano-CHX effectively suppressed multi-species biofilms such as <i>S. mutans, F. nucleatum</i>, <i>A. actinomycetemcomitans</i> and <i>Porphyromonas gingivalis</i> up to 72 h.</p><p>Conclusions/Significance</p><p>This pioneering study demonstrates the potent antibacterial effects of the Nano-CHX on oral biofilms, and it may be developed as a novel and promising anti-biofilm agent for clinical use.</p></div

Synergistic Antibacterial Effects of Nanoparticles Encapsulated with Scutellaria baicalensis and Pure Chlorhexidine on Oral Bacterial Biofilms

Scutellaria baicalensis (SB) is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating infectious and inflammatory diseases. Our recent study shows potent antibacterial effects of nanoparticle-encapsulated chlorhexidine (Nano-CHX). Herein, we explored the synergistic effects of the nanoparticle-encapsulated SB (Nano-SB) and Nano-CHX on oral bacterial biofilms. Loading efficiency of Nano-SB was determined by thermogravimetric analysis, and its releasing profile was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatographyusing baicalin (a flavonoid compound of SB) as the marker. The mucosal diffusion assay on Nano-SB was undertaken in a porcine model. The antibacterial effects of the mixed nanoparticles (Nano-MIX) of Nano-SB and Nano-CHX at 9:1 (w/w) ratio were analyzed in both planktonic and biofilm modes of representative oral bacteria. The Nano-MIX was effective on the mono-species biofilms of Streptococcus (S.) mutans, S. sobrinus, Fusobacterium (F.) nucleatum, and Aggregatibacter (A.) actinomycetemcomitans (MIC 50 μg/mL) at 24 h, and exhibited an enhanced effect against the multi-species biofilms such as S. mutans, F. nucleatum, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and Porphyromonas (P.) gingivalis (MIC 12.5 μg/mL) at 24 h that was supported by the findings of both scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal scanning laser microscopy (CLSM). This study shows enhanced synergistic antibacterial effects of the Nano-MIX on common oral bacterial biofilms, which could be potentially developed as a novel antimicrobial agent for clinical oral/periodontal care

The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC, µg/mL) of the preventive effect of Nano-CHX on the mixed-species oral biofilms in a time-dependent assay from 24 to 72 h.

<p>The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC, µg/mL) of the preventive effect of Nano-CHX on the mixed-species oral biofilms in a time-dependent assay from 24 to 72 h.</p

The characteristics of the Nano-CHX particles.

<p>A transmission electron microscopic image of single nanoparticle (A). The thermogravimetric analysis on the weight losses of i) CHX between 150–500°C (80.6%); ii) blank nanoparticles between 150–500°C (1.3%); and iii) Nano-CHX between 150–500°C (23.1%) (B). The release profile of CHX (%) from the Nano-CHX assessed by UV/visible absorption spectroscopy at 254 nm (C).</p

The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC, µg/mL) of Nano-CHX against the planktonic mode and mono-species biofilms of pathogenic oral bacteria at 24 h.

<p>Significant difference from the planktonic mode,</p><p>*<i>p</i><0.05,</p><p>**<i>p</i><0.01.</p><p>The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC, µg/mL) of Nano-CHX against the planktonic mode and mono-species biofilms of pathogenic oral bacteria at 24 h.</p

Molecular and clinicopathologic characteristics of CNS embryonal tumors with BRD4::LEUTX fusion.

Central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumors are a heterogeneous group of high-grade malignancies, and the increasing clinical use of methylation profiling and next-generation sequencing has led to the identification of molecularly distinct subtypes. One proposed tumor type, CNS tumor with BRD4::LEUTX fusion, has been described. As only a few CNS tumors with BRD4::LEUTX fusions have been described, we herein characterize a cohort of 9 such cases (4 new, 5 previously published) to further describe their clinicopathologic and molecular features. We demonstrate that CNS embryonal tumor with BRD4::LEUTX fusion comprises a well-defined methylation class/cluster. We find that patients are young (4&nbsp;years or younger), with large tumors at variable locations, and frequently with evidence of leptomeningeal/cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dissemination. Histologically, tumors were highly cellular with high-grade embryonal features. Immunohistochemically, 5/5 cases showed synaptophysin and 4/5 showed OLIG2 expression, thus overlapping with CNS neuroblastoma, FOXR2-activated. DNA copy number profiles were generally flat; however, two tumors had chromosome 1q gains. No recurring genomic changes, besides the presence of the fusion, were found. The LEUTX portion of the fusion transcript was constant in all cases assessed, while the BRD4 portion varied but included a domain with proto-oncogenic activity in all cases. Two patients with clinical follow up available had tumors with excellent response to chemotherapy. Two of our patients were alive without evidence of recurrence or progression after gross total resection and chemotherapy at 16 and 33&nbsp;months. One patient relapsed, and the last of our four patients died of disease one month after diagnosis. Overall, this case series provides additional evidence for this as a distinct tumor type defined by the presence of a specific fusion as well as a distinct DNA methylation signature. Studies on larger series are required to further characterize these tumors

Project Baby Bear: Rapid precision care incorporating rWGS in 5 California children’s hospitals demonstrates improved clinical outcomes and reduced costs of care

Genetic disorders are a leading contributor to mortality in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units (ICUs). Rapid whole-genome sequencing (rWGS)-based rapid precision medicine (RPM) is an intervention that has demonstrated improved clinical outcomes and reduced costs of care. However, the feasibility of broad clinical deployment has not been established. The objective of this study was to implement RPM based on rWGS and evaluate the clinical and economic impact of this implementation as a first line diagnostic test in the California Medicaid (Medi-Cal) program. Project Baby Bear was a payor funded, prospective, real-world quality improvement project in the regional ICUs of five tertiary care children's hospitals. Participation was limited to acutely ill Medi-Cal beneficiaries who were admitted November 2018 to May 2020, were &lt;1 year old and within one week of hospitalization, or had just developed an abnormal response to therapy. The whole cohort received RPM. There were two prespecified primary outcomes-changes in medical care reported by physicians and changes in the cost of care. The majority of infants were from underserved populations. Of 184 infants enrolled, 74 (40%) received a diagnosis by rWGS that explained their admission in a median time of 3&nbsp;days. In 58 (32%) affected individuals, rWGS led to changes in medical care. Testing and precision medicine cost $1.7 million and led to$2.2-2.9 million cost savings. rWGS-based RPM had clinical utility and reduced net health care expenditures for infants in regional ICUs. rWGS should be considered early in ICU admission when the underlying etiology is unclear

Clinicopathologic and Molecular Features of Intracranial Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumors

Desmoplastic small round cell tumors (DSRCTs) are highly aggressive sarcomas that most commonly occur intra-abdominally, and are defined by EWSR1-WT1 gene fusion. Intracranial DSRCTs are exceptionally rare with only seven previously reported fusion-positive cases. Herein, we evaluate the clinical, morphologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular features of five additional examples. All patients were male (age range 6-25 years; median 11 years), with four tumors located supratentorially and one within the posterior fossa. The histologic features were highly variable including small cell, embryonal, clear cell, rhabdoid, anaplastic, and glioma-like appearances. A prominent desmoplastic stroma was seen in only two cases. The mitotic index ranged from <1 to 12/10 HPF (median 5). While all tumors showed strong desmin positivity, epithelial markers such as EMA, CAM 5.2, and other keratins were strongly positive in only one, focally positive in two, and negative in two cases. EWSR1-WT1 gene fusion was present in all cases, with accompanying mutations in the TERT promoter or STAG2 gene in individual cases. Given the significant histologic diversity, in the absence of genetic evaluation these cases could easily be misinterpreted as other entities. Desmin immunostaining is a useful initial screening method for consideration of a DSRCT diagnosis, prompting confirmatory molecular testing. Demonstrating the presence of an EWSR1-WT1 fusion provides a definitive diagnosis of DSRCT. Genome-wide methylation profiles of intracranial DSRCTs matched those of extracranial DSRCTs. Thus, despite the occasionally unusual histologic features and immunoprofile, intracranial DSRCTs likely represent a similar, if not the same, entity as their soft tissue counterpart based on the shared fusion and methylation profiles