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Nanostructures of Ti _3 C _2 T _x , one of the members of the MXenes family, have been successfully prepared by chemical etching of Al from Ti _3 AlC _2 ( MAX phase) using Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) for various etching durations at room temperature. The phase, morphological, structural, and chemical analysis was performed using XRD, FESEM, TEM, Raman, and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The surface morphology of as-synthesized Ti _3 C _2 T _x ( MXene) phase is characterized by stacks of layered sheets like structures. Field electron emission (FEE) behaviour was investigated at the base pressure of 1 × 10 ^−8 mbar. The pristine Ti _3 AlC _2 ( MAX ) and Ti _3 C _2 T _x ( MXene ) nanosheets emitters showed values of turn-on field (defined at current density ∼ 1 μ A cm ^−2 ) as 4.18 and 1.67 V μ m ^−1 , respectively. Furthermore, maximum emission current density of ∼ 825 μ A cm ^−2 was extracted from the MXene nanosheets emitter at an applied field of 3.60 V μ m ^−1 , in contrast to ∼71 μ A cm ^−2 drawn at 7.31 V μ m ^−1 from the pristine MAX emitter. The MXene nanosheets emitter exhibited good emission current stabilities at pre-set values ∼ 10 and 100 μ A over 3 h duration. Work function values of the MAX and MXene nanosheets emitters were measured using a retarding field analyzer, and found to be 4.4 and 3.6 eV, respectively. Extensive ab-initio simulations have been performed to provide structural and electronic properties, as well as for estimating the work function of Ti _3 C _2 layered material. The estimated electronic density of states revealed its metallic character. The improved FEE performance exhibited by the 2D layered Ti _3 C _2 T _x ( MXene ) nanosheets emitter is attributed to its unique morphology characterized by high aspect ratio, metallic electronic properties and relatively lower work function.

Abstract Background Genetic testing is becoming an essential tool for breast cancer (BC) diagnosis and treatment pathway, and particularly important for early detection and cancer prevention. The purpose of this study was to explore the diagnostic yield of targeted sequencing of the high priority BC genes. Methods We have utilized a cost-effective targeted sequencing approach of high priority actionable BC genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, ERBB2 and TP53) in a homogeneous patient cohort from Bangladesh (n = 52) by using tumor and blood samples. Results Blood derived targeted sequencing revealed 25.58% (11/43) clinically relevant mutations (both pathogenic and variants of uncertain significance (VUS)), with 13.95% (6/43) of samples carrying a pathogenic mutations. We have identified and validated five novel pathogenic germline mutations in this cohort, comprising of two frameshift deletions in BRCA2, and missense mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2 and ERBB2 gene respectively. Furthermore, we have identified three pathogenic mutations and a VUS within three tumor samples, including a sample carrying pathogenic mutations impacting both TP53 (c.322dupG; a novel frameshift insertion) and BRCA1 genes (c.116G > A). 22% of tissue samples had a clinically relevant TP53 mutation. Although the cohort is small, we have found pathogenic mutations to be enriched in BRCA2 (9.30%, 4/43) compare to BRCA1 (4.65%, 2/43). The frequency of germline VUS mutations found to be similar in both BRCA1 (4.65%; 2/43) and BRCA2 (4.65%; 2/43) compared to ERBB2 (2.32%; 1/43). Conclusions This is the first genetic study of BC predisposition genes in this population, implies that genetic screening through targeted sequencing can detect clinically significant and actionable BC-relevant mutations.

A 3 year old healthy female baby had been stung with a swarm of wasps on her entire body while passing a coconut tree containing wasp nest at Chakoria, Cox’s Bazar. She developed severe pain and itching at the site of stings and swelling of the body within minutes. Immediately she was seen by a local physician and was treated with the injection of hydrocortisone and pheniramine maleate. On the following day, she gradually developed yellowish tint of the whole body (Figure 1), followed by passage of reddish scanty urine. For these reasons, she was referred to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital and was treated with injection cefotaxime, flucloxacillin, hydrocortisone and dopamine.