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Retinoblastoma is a rare pediatric tumor of the retina, caused by the homozygous loss of the Retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) tumor suppressor gene. Previous microarray studies have identified changes in the expression profiles of coding genes; however, our understanding of how non-coding genes change in this tumor is absent. This is an important area of research, as in many adult malignancies, non-coding genes including LNC-RNAs are used as biomarkers to predict outcome and/or relapse. To establish a complete and in-depth RNA profile, of both coding and non-coding genes, in Retinoblastoma tumors, we conducted RNA-seq from a cohort of tumors and normal retina controls. This analysis identified widespread transcriptional changes in the levels of both coding and non-coding genes. Unexpectedly, we also found rare RNA fusion products resulting from genomic alterations, specific to Retinoblastoma tumor samples. We then determined whether these gene expression changes, of both coding and non-coding genes, were also found in a completely independent Retinoblastoma cohort. Using our dataset, we then profiled the potential effects of deregulated LNC-RNAs on the expression of neighboring genes, the entire genome, and on mRNAs that contain a putative area of homology. This analysis showed that most deregulated LNC-RNAs do not act locally to change the transcriptional environment, but potentially function to modulate genes at distant sites. From this analysis, we selected a strongly down-regulated LNC-RNA in Retinoblastoma, DRAIC, and found that restoring DRAIC RNA levels significantly slowed the growth of the Y79 Retinoblastoma cell line. Collectively, our work has generated the first non-coding RNA profile of Retinoblastoma tumors and has found that these tumors show widespread transcriptional deregulation.

Retinoblastoma is a rare pediatric tumor of the retina, caused by the homozygous loss of the Retinoblastoma 1 (RB1) tumor suppressor gene. Previous microarray studies have identified changes in the expression profiles of coding genes; however, our understanding of how non-coding genes change in this tumor is absent. This is an important area of research, as in many adult malignancies, non-coding genes including LNC-RNAs are used as biomarkers to predict outcome and/or relapse. To establish a complete and in-depth RNA profile, of both coding and non-coding genes, in Retinoblastoma tumors, we conducted RNA-seq from a cohort of tumors and normal retina controls. This analysis identified widespread transcriptional changes in the levels of both coding and non-coding genes. Unexpectedly, we also found rare RNA fusion products resulting from genomic alterations, specific to Retinoblastoma tumor samples. We then determined whether these gene expression changes, of both coding and non-coding genes, were also found in a completely independent Retinoblastoma cohort. Using our dataset, we then profiled the potential effects of deregulated LNC-RNAs on the expression of neighboring genes, the entire genome, and on mRNAs that contain a putative area of homology. This analysis showed that most deregulated LNC-RNAs do not act locally to change the transcriptional environment, but potentially function to modulate genes at distant sites. From this analysis, we selected a strongly down-regulated LNC-RNA in Retinoblastoma, DRAIC, and found that restoring DRAIC RNA levels significantly slowed the growth of the Y79 Retinoblastoma cell line. Collectively, our work has generated the first non-coding RNA profile of Retinoblastoma tumors and has found that these tumors show widespread transcriptional deregulation.

Inkjet printing has been actively pursued as a means of realizing integrated electronic devices. To date, the vast majority of work on this topic has centered on the development of inks and process integration, while little research has focused on the details of pattern generation. In this work, we first examine inkjet-printed conductive lines. We show several different printed-line morphologies and explain the causes of these forms of varying utility. More generally, we develop and demonstrate a methodology to optimize the raster-scan printing of patterned, two-dimensional films. We show that any fixed line spacing can not maintain the constant perimeter contact angle necessary for arbitrary patterned footprints. We propose and demonstrate a printing algorithm that adjusts line spacing to print optimal features. Our work analyzing patterned drops reveals that drop contact angle is a function of position and shape. Numerical solutions to the Young-Laplace equation enable us to predict the sharpest corners possible in a rectangular bead with a given wetting behavior. We verify our computational results with printed rectangles on substrates with variable wetting. Finally, we motivate future research directions including general solutions to a patterned drop's surface in any corner and the behavior of line junctions and other concave corners of printed lines.

Inkjet printing has been actively pursued as a means of realizing integrated electronic devices. To date, the vast majority of work on this topic has centered on the development of inks and process integration, while little research has focused on the details of pattern generation. In this work, we first examine inkjet-printed conductive lines. We show several different printed-line morphologies and explain the causes of these forms of varying utility. More generally, we develop and demonstrate a methodology to optimize the raster-scan printing of patterned, two-dimensional films. We show that any fixed line spacing can not maintain the constant perimeter contact angle necessary for arbitrary patterned footprints. We propose and demonstrate a printing algorithm that adjusts line spacing to print optimal features. Our work analyzing patterned drops reveals that drop contact angle is a function of position and shape. Numerical solutions to the Young-Laplace equation enable us to predict the sharpest corners possible in a rectangular bead with a given wetting behavior. We verify our computational results with printed rectangles on substrates with variable wetting. Finally, we motivate future research directions including general solutions to a patterned drop's surface in any corner and the behavior of line junctions and other concave corners of printed lines.