Effects of trypsin and pepsin detection on chronic otitis media with effusion.

Chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) is a common cause of hearing loss in children and adults. Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is often overlooked in the clinical management of COME complicated by LPR. This study aimed to investigate the presence and concentration of trypsin and pepsin in the middle ear effusion (MEE), as well as the recurrence rate of otitis media with effusion (OME) in COME patients with trypsin-/pepsin-positive MEE after acid-suppressive treatment (AST).

Copper-cobalt dual-site on N-doped carbon nanotube with dual-promoted synergy for glucose electrochemical detection.

Doping specific active sites and accelerating the decisive step of glucose catalysis to construct highly active glucose sensing electrochemical catalysts remains a major challenge for glucose sensing. Herein, we report the detailed design of Cu-Co dual active site N-doped carbon nanotube (CuCo-NCNTs) obtained by electrodeposition modification, programmed warming and calcination for electrochemical glucose detection. In the CuCo-NCNTs material system, Cu serves as the main active site for glucose sensing.

Alkaline liquid-derived NaTi11.5MoVO/C-40 material with controlled electron transfer rate for sensitive electrochemical detection of dopamine.

The neurotransmitter dopamine (DA) is associated with many physiological and pathological processes, so the importance of low detection limits and high sensitivity analysis cannot be overstated, especially for early disease detection. Here, 2 M NaOH aqueous solution is used to precipitate metal ions in an ethanol solution containing carbon black (CB), and then nanocomposite catalysts (NaTi11.5MoVO/C-40 (40 denoted as 40 mg CB)) were obtained by calcining the precipitation.

Enhanced electrochemical glucose sensing of Co/Cu-MOF by hydroxyl adsorption induced reactive oxygen species.

Exploring the factors affecting the electrochemical catalytic signal of an organic-metal material sensor and analyzing the decisive steps of the glucose oxidation behavior are challenging problems. Here, we designed a copper-cobalt-based organic backbone with excellent sensing properties based on the nanostructure of "ultramicroelectrodes", and explored the role of different hydroxyl adsorption capacities in the sensing process of glucose oxidation. Dimethylimidazole was used as a starting substrate, and then copper and cobalt ions were introduced by hydrothermal treatment to prepare a copper-cobalt-based organic backbone (Co/Cu-MOF) with good electrochemical glucose sensing ability.

Fabrication and simulation of a layered ultrahigh thermal conductive material made of self-assembled graphene and polydopamine on a copper substrate.

A composite material of graphene (G) and polydopamine (PDA) on a copper (Cu) substrate (G/PDA@Cu) was fabricated successfully by sequential immersion deposition in a dopamine solution and an aqueous graphene oxide suspension before annealing. Optimum preparation conditions were explored by the orthogonal experimental method. The morphology and chemical composition of G/PDA@Cu were studied systematically by a series of characterization techniques.

Effect of Thermal Annealing on Conformation of MEH-PPV Chains in Polymer Matrix: Coexistence of H- and J-Aggregates.

In diluted solid solution using poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polystyrene (PS), both aggregated and extended conformations could be formed according to the weight ratio. Aggregated conformation in as-cast MEH-PPV/PMMA film presented a J-aggregate-like photoluminescence (PL) emission. After annealing at 160 °C, its PL showed characteristics of both J- and H-aggregates at the same time; however, extended conformation showed an oligomer-like emission, which was not sensitive to either measurement temperature or annealing temperature.

Spectrophotometric determination of the activity of alkaline phosphatase and detection of its inhibitors by exploiting the pyrophosphate-accelerated oxidase-like activity of nanoceria.

The oxidase-like activity of nanoceria is low. This limits its practical applications. It is demonstrated here that pyrophosphate ion (PPi) can improve the oxidase-like activity of nanoceria.

Reduced graphene oxide nanosheets modified with plasmonic gold-based hybrid nanostructures and with magnetite (FeO) nanoparticles for cyclic voltammetric determination of arsenic(III).

The authors have fabricated reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (rGO) supported with FeO nanoparticles and Ag/Au hollow nanoshells. The material was placed on a glassy carbon electrode which is shown to enable highly sensitive determination of As(III) which is first preconcentrated from solution at a potential of -0.35 V (versus Ag/AgCl) for 100 s.

Highly sensitive fluorescent detection of glutathione and histidine based on the Cu(ii)-thiamine system.

In this work, we propose a fluorescence method for the simultaneous detection of glutathione (GSH) and histidine (His) based on the Cu(ii)-thiamine (Cu(ii)-TH) system. It is well established that non-fluorescent thiamine (TH) can be oxidized by Cu(ii) to generate fluorescent thiochrome (TC) under alkaline conditions. The introduction of GSH and His can inhibit the oxidation of TH by Cu(ii) due to the strong affinity between Cu(ii) and GSH or His.

Fluorescence assay for alkaline phosphatase based on ATP hydrolysis-triggered dissociation of cerium coordination polymer nanoparticles.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a significant biomarker for diagnostics. Simple, selective and sensitive detection of ALP activity is thus of critical importance. In this study, an artful fluorescence assay for ALP is proposed based on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis-triggered disassociation and fluorescence quenching of cerium coordination polymer nanoparticles (CPNs).

Fluorometric determination of sulfide ions via its inhibitory effect on the oxidation of thiamine by Cu(II) ions.

A fluorometric assay is described for sulfide ions determination. It is based on the finding that the oxidation of the non-fluorescent substrate thiamine (TH) by Cu(II) in basic solution to form fluorescent thiochrome is inhibited by sulfide ions. This results in a decrease in fluorescence intensity which is proportional to the concentration of sulfide ions.

Free-Standing Monolayered Metallic Nanoparticle Networks as Building Blocks for Plasmonic Nanoelectronic Junctions.

The effective coupling of optical surface plasmons (SPs) and electron transport in a plasmonic-electronic device is one of the fundamental issues in nanoelectronics and the emerging field of plasmonics, and offer promise in providing a solution to next generation nanocircuits in which all coupling is in the near field. Attempts toward this end, however, are limited because of the integration challenge to compatible nanodevices. To date, direct electrical detection of SP-electron coupling from metallic nanostructures alone are not reported, and thus it remains a great experimental challenge.

Fine-tuning the LSPR response of gold nanorod-polyaniline core-shell nanoparticles with high photothermal efficiency for cancer cell ablation.

Gold nanorods (GNRs) with suitable aspect ratios have strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption and scattering in the 650-900 nm near-infrared region, which make them attractive for in vitro or in vivo imaging and photothermal cancer therapy. However, they often suffer from cytotoxicity and instability for practical applications, and therefore need further surface modification to solve these issues. In this study, GNRs coated with biocompatible polyaniline (PANI) were used as a stable and highly efficient photothermal agent for cancer cell ablation.

Bacteriorhodopsin/Ag nanoparticle-based hybrid nano-bio electrocatalyst for efficient and robust H2 evolution from water.

Searching for novel hybrid electrocatalysts with high activity and strong durability for a direct electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is extremely desirable but still remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a novel solid carbon cloth-supported hybrid nano-bio electrocatalyst, decorated with Ag nanoparticles and proton-pumping bacteriorhodopsin (bR) (Ag/bR/CP) that were prepared by in situ electroless deposition and vesicle fusion technology, respectively. When applied as a hydrogen evolution cathode, the Ag/bR/CP shows a low onset overpotential of 63 mV, good durability (no detectable change in its catalytic activity for up to 1000 cycles in alkaline media), and enhanced HER performance under 550 nm irradiation, attributed to the activation of Ag and synergistic effects following light absorption, demonstrated by photoelectrochemical measurements.

Synthesis of a hierarchical three-component nanocomposite structure system with enhanced electrocatalytic and photoelectrical properties.

Effective control over the morphology and size of Pd/Pt nanoparticles is currently of immense interest because their electronic, optical, and catalytic properties are superior to pure platinum nanoparticles. However, control over the nanoparticle shape is still challenging. Therefore, a novel design and synthetic route needs to be developed to obtain a high-performance catalyst.

A novel detection technique of hydrazine hydrate: modality change of hydrogen bonding-induced rapid and ultrasensitive colorimetric assay.

Ultrasensitive visual detection of hydrazine hydrate using a Au nanoparticles-based colorimetric sensing system (ANCSS) is reported for the first time, which is based on the hydrogen bonding recognition and the modality change of hydrogen bonding from "linear" (simple hydrogen bond interactions) to "nonlinear" (a complicated hydrogen bond network) between as-modified Au nanoparticles (Au NPs).

Adsorption and desorption of antimony acetate on sodium montmorillonite.

The adsorption of antimony acetate (Sb(OAc)(3)) on sodium montmorillonite (Na-MMT) was studied at five different initial concentrations, and data from the adsorption isotherm were modeled using the Langmuir, Freundlich and D-R isotherm equations. The kinetics of adsorption was also discussed using three kinetic models: the pseudo-first-order, the pseudo-second-order and the intraparticle diffusion model. The rate constants of pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion kinetics, and the amount of Sb(OAc)(3) adsorbed at equilibrium were determined.