A Bifunctional Fluorescence Probe Based on AIE-ICT Strategy for Visual Detection of Cu2+/Co2+ in Complex Matrix.

A novel fluorescence chemical sensor-based probe 1-{[(E)-(2-aminophenyl)azanylidene]methyl}naphthalen-2-ol (AMN) was designed and synthesized, which performed a "naked eye" detection ability toward Cu2+ and Co2+ based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorescence strategy. It has sensitive detection ability for Cu2+ and Co2+. In addition, the color changed from yellow-green to orange under the sunlight, realizing the rapid identification of Cu2+/Co2+, which has the potential of on-site visual detection under the "naked eye". Moreover, different "on" and "off" fluorescence expressions were exhibited under excessive glutathione (GSH) in AMN-Cu2+ and AMN-Co2+ systems, which could be employed to distinguish Cu2+ from Co2+. The detection limits for Cu2+ and Co2+ were measured to be 8.29 × 10-8 M and 9.13 × 10-8 M, respectively. The binding mode of AMN was calculated to be 2:1 by Jobs' plot method analysis. Ultimately, the new fluorescence sensor was applied to detect Cu2+ and Co2+ in real samples (tap water, river water, and yellow croaker), and the results were satisfying. Therefore, this high-efficiency bifunctional chemical sensor platform based on "on-off" fluorescence detection will provide significant guidance for the advance development of single-molecule sensors for multi-ion detection.

Genetic Algorithm-Based Online-Partitioning BranchyNet for Accelerating Edge Inference.

In order to effectively apply BranchyNet, a DNN with multiple early-exit branches, in edge intelligent applications, one way is to divide and distribute the inference task of a BranchyNet into a group of robots, drones, vehicles, and other intelligent edge devices. Unlike most existing works trying to select a particular branch to partition and deploy, this paper proposes a genetic algorithm (GA)-based online partitioning approach that splits the whole BranchyNet with all its branches. For this purpose, it establishes a new calculation approach based on the weighted average for estimating total execution time of a given BranchyNet and a two-layer chromosome GA by distinguishing partitioning and deployment during the evolution in GA. The experiment results show that the proposed algorithm can not only result in shorter execution time and lower device-average energy cost but also needs less time to obtain an optimal deployment plan. Such short running time enables the proposed algorithm to generate an optimal deployment plan online, which dynamically meets the actual requirements in deploying an intelligent application in the edge.

A Transparent Semiconducting Surface for Capturing and Releasing Single Cells from a Complex Cell Mixture.

Selective isolation of individual target cells from a heterogeneous population is technically challenging; however, the ability to retrieve single cells can have high significance in various aspects of biological research. Here, we present a new photoelectrochemical surface based on a transparent electrode that is compatible with high-resolution fluorescence microscopy for isolating individual rare cells from complex biological samples. This is underpinned by two important factors: (i) careful design of the electrode by patterning discrete Au disks of micron dimension on amorphous silicon-indium tin oxide films and (ii) orthogonal surface chemistry, which modifies the patterned electrode with self-assembly layers of different functionalities, to selectively capture target cells on the Au disks and resist cell binding to the amorphous silicon surface. The co-stimulation of the surface using light from a microscope and an electric potential triggers the reductive desorption of the alkanethiol monolayer from the Au disks to release the single cells of interest from the illuminated regions only. Using circulating tumor cells as a model, we demonstrate the capture of cancer cells on an antibody-coated surface and selective release of single cancer cells with low expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecules.

Comparing the pRIFLE, AKIN, KDIGO, and modified KDIGO criteria in neonates after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: While several standardized criteria for acute kidney injury (AKI) have been studied, there is no consensus on which criteria to use in neonates after cardiac surgery. The goal of this research was to compare the AKI incidence and outcomes according to the pediatric Risk, Injury, Failure and Loss, and End-Stage (pRIFLE), AKI Network (AKIN), Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), and modified KDIGO (mKDIGO) criteria in neonates following congenital cardiac surgery. METHODS: A clinical database of all neonates undergoing congenital cardiac surgery admitted to the Cantonese cardiac center from 2014 to 2020 was retrospectively analyzed. AKI was based on the pRIFLE, AKIN, KDIGO, and mKDIGO classification. The predictive abilities for postoperative outcomes were compared by receiver operating curves, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of AKI definitions with postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: In the study population of 522 patients, 177, 110, 131, and 114 neonates had AKI according to the pRIFLE, AKIN, KDIGO, and mKDIGO criteria, respectively. After multivariate analysis, all definitions were found to be significant predictors of increased mortality. The AUCs for mortality were substantially different with pRIFLE (AUC, 0.795), AKIN (AUC, 0.724), KDIGO (AUC, 0.819), and mKDIGO (AUC, 0.831) (P < 0.01) across the entire population, whereas the mKDIGO system was more accurate than the pRIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO systems. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of AKI varied across all definitions. However, the mKDIGO system was more accurate in predicting in-hospital mortality than the pRIFLE, AKIN, and KDIGO systems in neonates after heart surgery.

Zero-valent iron core-iron oxide shell nanoparticles coated with silica and gold with high saturation magnetization.

A new type of gold-coated magnetic nanoparticle with strongly magnetic zero-valent iron core-iron oxide shell were synthesized. The small size of the magnetic cores and the zero-valent iron ensured superparamagnetic behaviour and high saturation magnetization of the overall nanoparticles. The nanoparticles showed stability against magnetic aggregation and good colloidal stability, which is important for many biomedical applications.

A metabolomics study of Qianliexin capsule treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia induced by testosterone propionate in the rat model.

A metabolomics investigation of the treatment effect of Qianliexin (QLX) capsules was conducted on rats with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) induced by testosterone propionate. Establishment of the BPH model was confirmed using the prostatic index. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining for TGF-ß, EGFR, collagen, IL-1 ß, TNF-α was performed and changes in urine volume were measured. Urine and serum samples were collected from three groups, including a control group, a BPH model group and a QLX-treated group and subjected to metabolomics profiling based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Pharmacodynamics analysis showed that the QLX group had significantly lower histopathological damage, fibrosis damage, and inflammation and higher urine output compared with the model group. Twenty-two potential biomarkers were identified in urine samples and 23 metabolites were identified in plasma samples. Alterations in metabolic patterns were evident in all sample types. The treatment effects of QLX appear to involve various metabolic pathways including lipid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism and purine generation and significantly reduced the pathological symptoms and related biochemical indicators of BPH and improved the level of potential marker metabolites. This comprehensive study suggested that differential markers provided insights into the metabolic pathways involved in BPH and the treatment effects of QLX.

Development of extraction separation technology based on deep eutectic solvent and magnetic nanoparticles for determination of three sex hormones in milk.

A rapid, reliable and eco-friendly method for the determination of three sex hormones in five kinds of milk was developed and validated by combining vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (VALLME) and magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE). Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) such as choline chloride/urea were considered as the extraction solvent in VALLME and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MMWCNTs) were used as the adsorbent which could adsorb DESs on the surface. The optimum experimental conditions were as follows: amount of MMWCNTs for 10 mg, volume of acetone for 4 mL, no sodium chloride and extraction pH at 7. After the optimization of several main variables, satisfactory sensitivity levels were achieved as low as 1.0-1.3 ng mL-1 and 2.5-4.5 ng mL-1 for the limit of method detections and the limit of method quantitation, respectively. The recoveries of the three hormones in different milk samples were in the range of 80.1%-116.4%. Consequently, this method is suitable for monitoring the trace amount of sex hormones in milk matrices.

Controlling hydrogen evolution reaction activity on Ni core-Pt island nanoparticles by tuning the size of the Pt islands.

Pt islands with different sizes were grown on amorphous Ni nanoparticles, allowing the tuning of the Pt-Ni interface without changing the hydrogen binding energy of the Pt sites. As a result, the HER activity of the electrocatalysts increases by decreasing the size of the Pt islands due to the greater surface area of the Pt-Ni interfaces.

Patterned Molecular Films of Alkanethiol and PLL-PEG on Gold-Silicate Interfaces: How to Add Functionalities while Retaining Effective Antifouling.

Spatial control of surface functionalization and interactions is essential for microarray-based analysis. This study reports the fabrication of two-dimensional molecular films with site-specific functionalities, forming microarrays at discrete locations. Arrays of microsized gold disks were produced on a silicate membrane using microfabrication. On these arrays, orthogonal self-assembly of molecules was performed that can specifically bind to gold or silicate. The gold array elements were functionalized with a range of alkanethiols and the silicate with polymeric poly-l-lysine-grafted-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLL-PEG). The surface functionalization on the gold disk array and the surrounding substrate was characterized at each step using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to show that alkanethiols are specifically attached to the gold. PLL-PEG was used to provide resistance against nonspecific protein and cell adsorption and attached exclusively to the silicate. The effectiveness of the surface chemistry was validated by the selective self-assembly of a gold nanoparticle monolayer array on the gold regions. In a more sophisticated example, selective adhesion of MCF-7 cells to anti-EpCAM antibody modified gold areas of the gold-silicate surface was demonstrated to give a cell microarray. This study provides a general approach to fabricate chemical patterns on silicon-based devices with the convergence of microfabrication and material-specific surface modification, which may be useful to expand the functionalities and potential applications for patterned biomolecular films. Importantly, the ability to pattern surfaces with different surface chemistries is not limited to planar surfaces using this orthogonal surface-coupling approach.

Functionalized Silicon Electrodes in Electrochemistry.

Avoiding the growth of SiOx has been an enduring task for the use of silicon as an electrode material in dynamic electrochemistry. This is because electrochemical assays become unstable when the SiOx levels change during measurements. Moreover, the silicon electrode can be completely passivated for electron transfer if a thick layer of insulating SiOx grows on the surface. As such, the field of silicon electrochemistry was mainly developed by electron-transfer studies in nonaqueous electrolytes and by applications employing SiOx-passivated silicon-electrodes where no DC currents are required to cross the electrode/electrolyte interface. A solution to this challenge began by functionalizing Si-H electrodes with monolayers based on Si-O-Si linkages. These monolayers have proven very efficient to avoid SiOx formation but are not stable for a long-term operation in aqueous electrolytes due to hydrolysis. It was only with the development of self-assembled monolayers based on Si-C linkages that a reliable protection against SiOx formation was achieved, particularly with monolayers based on α,ω-dialkynes. This review discusses in detail how this surface chemistry achieves such protection, the electron-transfer behavior of these monolayer-modified silicon surfaces, and the new opportunities for electrochemical applications in aqueous solution.

Amorphous silicon on indium tin oxide: a transparent electrode for simultaneous light activated electrochemistry and optical microscopy.

Herein is reported a new type of transparent electrode, prepared by depositing a thin layer of amorphous silicon film on indium tin oxide, which enables photoswitchable electrochemistry and optical imaging to be performed simultaneously. This offers the opportunity to visualise a spatially controlled electrochemical event on an unstructured electrode surface.

Nanoparticle cross-linked collagen shields for sustained delivery of pilocarpine hydrochloride.

Glaucoma is a common progressive eye disorder which remains the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Current therapy involves frequent administration of eye drops which often results in poor patient adherence and therapeutic outcomes. The aim of this study was to overcome these limitations by developing a novel nanoparticle cross-linked collagen shield for sustained delivery of pilocarpine hydrochloride (PHCl). Three metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs); titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) capped zinc oxide (ZnO/PVP), were evaluated for their cytotoxicity as well as shield transparency before selecting ZnO/PVP NPs as the ideal candidate. Cross-linked collagen shields were then characterized for their mechanical strength, swelling capacity and bioadhesive properties, with ZnO/PVP NP cross-linked shields showing the most favorable characteristics compared to plain films. The shield with the best properties was then loaded with PHCl and in vitro release of zinc ions as well as PHCl was measured without and with further cross-linking by ultraviolet irradiation. The concentration of zinc ions released was well below the IC50 rendering them safe for ocular use. Moreover, collagen shields cross-linked with ZnO/PVP NPs released PHCl over a period of 14 days offering a promising sustained release treatment option for glaucoma.