Publications

This manuscript describes the fabrication and use of a three-dimensional magnetic trap for diamagnetic objects in an aqueous solution of paramagnetic ions; this trap uses permanent magnets. It demonstrates trapping of polystyrene spheres, and of various types of living cells: mouse fibroblast (NIH-3T3), yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), and algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii). For a 40mM solution of gadolinium (III) diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (Gd·DTPA) in aqueous buffer, the smallest cell (particle) that could be trapped had a radius of ∼2.5μm. The trapped particle and location of the magnetic trap can be translated in three dimensions by independent manipulation of the permanent magnets. This letter a1so characterizes the biocompatibility of the trapping solution.

We demonstrate record performance heterogeneously integrated telecom wavelength and datacom wavelength lasers, processed simultaneously on the same wafer. Tunable lasers for telecom applications and uncooled 2x8 WDM laser arrays for datacom applications are presented.

No abstract is provided for this article.

A method to create networks of intricate fluidic channels formed from metals and ceramics is proposed and demonstrated. The method exploits buckle delamination of a thin compressed film bonded to a substrate. A low adhesion layer coinciding with the desired layout of the channel network is laid down prior to deposition of the film. Once triggered, the buckle delamination propagates along the low adhesion pathways driven by release of the elastic energy stored in the film, assembling the entire channel network without external intervention. Strips, tapered strips and a selection of grids are demonstrated for diamond-like carbon films bonded to Si substrates with gold providing low adhesion. Control of the film thickness (15 to 260) and the width of the low adhesion regions (200 to microns) enables the cross-sectional area of the channel to be defined precisely with height determined by the buckle amplitude (40 to 500). The channel network has been integrated with a microfluidic interface formed from polydimethylsiloxane. Pressure-driven flow of two miscible streams shows convectively enhanced mixing in these nanoscale buckled channels.

Abstract Objective: Our objective was to examine the association between adherence to dietary patterns and weight change in women. Research Methods and Procedures: Women (51,670, 26 to 46 years old) in the Nurses’ Health Study II were followed from 1991 to 1999. Dietary intake and body weight were ascertained in 1991, 1995, and 1999. A Western pattern, characterized by high intakes of red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets and desserts, and potatoes, and a prudent pattern, characterized by high intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, and salad dressing, were identified with principal component analysis, and associations between patterns and change in body weight were estimated. Results: Women who increased their Western pattern score had greater weight gain (multivariate adjusted means, 4.55 kg for 1991 to 1995 and 2.86 kg for 1995 to 1999) than women who decreased their Western pattern score (2.70 and 1.37 kg for the two time periods), adjusting for baseline lifestyle and dietary confounders and changes in confounders over time ( p < 0.001 for both time periods). Furthermore, among women who increased their prudent pattern score, weight gain was smaller (multivariate‐adjusted means, 1.93 kg for 1991 to 1995 and 0.66 kg for 1995 to 1999) than among women who decreased their prudent pattern score (4.83 and 3.35 kg for the two time periods) ( p < 0.001). The largest weight gain between 1991 and 1995 and between 1995 and 1999 was observed among women who decreased their prudent pattern score while increasing their Western pattern score (multivariate adjusted means, 6.80 and 4.99 kg), whereas it was smallest for the opposite change in patterns (0.87 and −0.64 kg) ( p < 0.001). Discussion: Adoption of a Western dietary pattern is associated with larger weight gain in women, whereas a prudent dietary pattern may facilitate weight maintenance.

Background: Hormonal contraception is commonly used worldwide, but its systemic effects across lipoprotein subclasses, fatty acids, circulating metabolites and cytokines remain poorly understood. Methods: A comprehensive molecular profile (75 metabolic measures and 37 cytokines) was measured for up to 5841 women (age range 24–49 years) from three population-based cohorts. Women using combined oral contraceptive pills (COCPs) or progestin-only contraceptives (POCs) were compared with those who did not use hormonal contraception. Metabolomics profiles were reassessed for 869 women after 6 years to uncover the metabolic effects of starting, stopping and persistently using hormonal contraception. Results: The comprehensive molecular profiling allowed multiple new findings on the metabolic associations with the use of COCPs. They were positively associated with lipoprotein subclasses, including all high-density lipoprotein (HDL) subclasses. The associations with fatty acids and amino acids were strong and variable in direction. COCP use was negatively associated with albumin and positively associated with creatinine and inflammatory markers, including glycoprotein acetyls and several growth factors and interleukins. Our findings also confirmed previous results e.g. for increased circulating triglycerides and HDL cholesterol. Starting COCPs caused similar metabolic changes to those observed cross-sectionally: the changes were maintained in consistent users and normalized in those who stopped using. In contrast, POCs were only weakly associated with metabolic and inflammatory markers. Results were consistent across all cohorts and for different COCP preparations and different types of POC delivery. Conclusions: Use of COCPs causes widespread metabolic and inflammatory effects. However, persistent use does not appear to accumulate the effects over time and the metabolic perturbations are reversed upon discontinuation. POCs have little effect on systemic metabolism and inflammation.

Background: Respiratory diseases are an occupational health problem among farmers. In contrast, farming environment during childhood has been reported to protect from atopic sensitization and asthma. The prospective association between farming environment during infancy and lung function in adulthood has not been studied earlier. Aims: Investigate the prospective associations between farming environment during infancy and lung function at age 31. Methods: In a prospective birth cohort study, 5676 subjects born in northern Finland in 1966 were followed up at the age of 31 years. Prenatal exposure to the farming environment was documented prior to or at birth. At age 31, information on health status, current occupation and childhood pet exposure was collected by questionnaire. Forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured by spirometry and ratio of FEV1: FVC calculated (FEV%). Multivariate linear regression models were used to adjust for multiple potential confounders. Results: To be born into a farmer family was associated with higher FEV1 (37 ml; 95% CI 5 to 68 ml) and FVC (40 ml; 95% CI 5 to 75 ml) at age 31. Having farm animals during infancy was associated with higher FEV1 (30 ml; 95% CI 1 to 60 ml). No associations were seen with FEV%. Having dogs in childhood showed similar associations. There was some suggestion for a dose-depended association with number of animal species during childhood and higher FEV1 and FVC at age 31, especially among women. Conclusion: Childhood in a farming environment may protect from restrictive-type lung function impairment during adulthood.