Advances in flame synthesis of nano-scale architectures for chemical, biomolecular, plasmonic, and light sensing.

Flame spray pyrolysis (FSP), a key technique under the broader category of flame aerosol synthesis, is being increasingly explored for the design of advanced miniaturized sensor architectures with applications including chemical, biomolecular, plasmonic, and light sensing. This review provides an overview of the advantages of FSP for the fabrication of nanostructured materials for sensing, delving into synthesis strategies and material structures that meet the increasing demands for miniaturized sensor devices. We focus on the fundamentals of FSP, discussing reactor configurations and how process parameters such as precursor compositions, flow rates, and temperature influence nanoparticle characteristics and their sensing performance. A detailed analysis of nanostructures, compositions, and morphologies made by FSP and their applications in chemical, chemiresistive, plasmonic, biosensing, and light sensing is presented. This review identifies the challenges and opportunities of FSP, exploring current limitations and potential improvements for industrial translation. We conclude by highlighting future research directions aiming to establish guidelines for the flame-based design of nano-scale sensing architectures.

Emerging trends in metal oxide-based electronic noses for healthcare applications: a review.

An electronic nose (E-nose) is a technology fundamentally inspired by the human nose, designed to detect, recognize, and differentiate specific odors or volatile components in complex and chaotic environments. Comprising an array of sensors with meticulously designed nanostructured architectures, E-noses translate the chemical information captured by these sensors into useful metrics using complex pattern recognition algorithms. E-noses can significantly enhance the quality of life by offering preventive point-of-care devices for medical diagnostics through breath analysis, and by monitoring and tracking hazardous and toxic gases in the environment. They are increasingly being used in defense and surveillance, medical diagnostics, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and product validation and authentication. The major challenge in developing a reliable E-nose involves miniaturization and low power consumption. Various sensing materials are employed to address these issues. This review presents the key advancements over the last decade in E-nose technology, specifically focusing on chemiresistive metal oxide sensing materials. It discusses their sensing mechanisms, integration into portable E-noses, and various data analysis techniques. Additionally, we review the primary metal oxide-based E-noses for disease detection through breath analysis. Finally, we address the major challenges and issues in developing and implementing a portable metal oxide-based E-nose.

The effect of colchicine on cholesterol crystal formation, expansion and morphology: a potential mechanism in atherosclerosis.

Background: Inflammation is pivotal to the progression of atherosclerosis. Cholesterol crystals (CCs) that grow and enlarge within the plaque core can cause plaque rupture and trigger inflammation as they deposit into the atherosclerotic bed. Thus, agents that affect CC formation, expansion, and morphology may reduce cardiovascular (CV) risk independent of lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory therapy. Objective: Because colchicine is highly concentrated in leukocytes that can enter the atherosclerotic plaque core, we tested its effect on the formation and growth of CCs in bench experiments to determine whether it may have direct effects on CCs, independent of its known anti-inflammatory actions. Method: Different dosages of colchicine mixed with cholesterol (0.05-5 mg/ml/g of cholesterol) were used to influence the formation CCs and volume expansion in vitro. These were compared to control samples with cholesterol in ddH2O without colchicine. In an ex vivo study, fresh atherosclerotic human plaques were incubated with and without colchicine in a water bath at 37°C for 48 h to assess the impact of colchicine on CC morphology. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to analyze CC morphology in samples from the various treatment groups. Results: The addition of colchicine to cholesterol caused a substantial dose-dependent reduction in volume (p < 0.05). Pairwise comparisons of volume reduction, showed a significant reduction in volume at 5 mg/ml/g when compared to control (p < 0.02) but the calculated Cohen's d effect size was large for five of the six pairwise comparisons. By SEM, CCs from both in vitro and ex vivo samples treated with colchicine had evidence of dissolution and changes in their morphology as evidenced by the loss of their sharp edges. In contrast, CCs in untreated specimens retained their typical geometric structure. Conclusions: Colchicine can reduce CC formation and expansion and alter CC morphology. These previously unappreciated effects of colchicine may contribute to its clinical benefit in patients with CV disease independent of its anti-inflammatory effects.

Structural Engineering Three-Dimensional Nano-Heterojunction Networks for High-Performance Photochemical Sensing.

Nanoscale heterojunction networks are increasingly regarded as promising functional materials for a variety of optoelectronic and photocatalytic devices. Despite their superior charge-carrier separation efficiency, a major challenge remains in the optimization of their surface properties, with surface defects playing a major role in charge trapping and recombination. Here, we report the effective engineering of the photocatalytic properties of nanoscale heterojunction networks via deep ultraviolet photoactivation throughout their cross-section. For the first time, in-depth XPS analysis of very thick (∼10 µm) NixOy-ZnO films reveals localized p-n nanoheterojunctions with tunable oxygen vacancies (Vo) originating from both NixOy and ZnO nanocrystals. Optimizing the amount of oxygen vacancies leads to a 30-fold increase in the photochemoresistive response of these networks, enabling the detection of representative analyte concentrations down to 2 and 20 ppb at an optimal temperature of 150 °C and room temperature, respectively. Density functional theory calculations reveal that this performance enhancement is presumably due to an 80% increase in the analyte adsorption energy. This flexible nanofabrication approach in conjunction with straightforward vacancy control via photoactivation provides an effective strategy for engineering the photocatalytic activity of porous metal oxide semiconductor networks with applications in chemical sensors, photodetectors, and photoelectrochemical cells.

Cholesterol crystals induce mechanical trauma, inflammation, and neo-vascularization in solid cancers as in atherosclerosis.

Background and aims: Cancer and atherosclerosis share common risk factors and inflammatory pathways that promote their proliferation via vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Because CCs cause mechanical injury and inflammation in atherosclerosis, we investigated their presence in solid cancers and their activation of IL-1ß, VEGF, CD44, and Ubiquityl-Histone H2B (Ub-H2B), that promote cancer growth. Methods: Tumor specimens from eleven different types of human cancers and atherosclerotic plaques were assessed for CCs, free cholesterol content and IL1-ß by microscopy, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical analysis. Breast and colon cancer cell lines were cultured with and without CCs to select for expression of VEGF, CD44, and Ub-H2B. Western blot and immunofluorescence were performed on cells to assess the effect of CCs on signaling pathways. Results: Cancers displayed higher CC content (+2.29 ± 0.74 vs +1.46 ± 0.84, p < 0.0001), distribution (5.06 ± 3.13 vs 2.86 ± 2.18, p < 0.001) and free cholesterol (3.63 ± 4.02 vs 1.52 ± 0.56 µg/mg, p < 0.01) than cancer free marginal tissues and similarly for atherosclerotic plaques and margins (+2.31 ± 0.51 vs +1.44 ± 0.79, p < 0.02; 14.0 ± 5.74 vs 8.14 ± 5.52, p < 0.03; 0.19 ± 0.14 vs 0.09 ± 0.04 µg/mg, p < 0.02) respectively. Cancers displayed significantly increased expression of IL1-ß compared to marginal tissues. CCs treated cancer cells had increased expression of VEGF, CD44, and Ub-H2B compared to control. By microscopy, CCs were found perforating cancer tumors similar to plaque rupture. Conclusions: These findings suggest that CCs can induce trauma and activate cytokines that enhance cancer growth as in atherosclerosis.

Impact of thermal radiation and internal heat generation on Casson nano-fluid flowing by a curved stretchable surface with suspension of carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

The function of present work is to inspect heat transmission of radiative nanofluid in regard to boundary layer description. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) dependent fluid is being evaluated and it flows overtop a curved stretching surface. Special features, like thermal radiation and internal heat generation, which corresponds to heat transmission along the flow have been incorporated. Dual nature of carbon nanotubes, that is, single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as well as multiple walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) together with blood (base fluid) have been utilized for the composition of nanofluid. The rheological properties of blood have been captured using Casson fluid model. Appropriate transformations have been applied to reduce the modeled system of nonlinear partial differential equations into a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). To achieve the desired numerical solution of obtained system of ODEs, NDSolve technique is employed using Mathematica. Numerous parameters appearing in governing equations, exert influence on focused physical quantities. Graphs have been engaged to capture these variations for both SWCNTs and MWCNTs. Likewise, numeric charts have been displayed to investigate impressions on skin friction coefficient and Nusselt number for distinct parameters.

Deep Learning Techniques for Vehicle Detection and Classification from Images/Videos: A Survey.

Detecting and classifying vehicles as objects from images and videos is challenging in appearance-based representation, yet plays a significant role in the substantial real-time applications of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSs). The rapid development of Deep Learning (DL) has resulted in the computer-vision community demanding efficient, robust, and outstanding services to be built in various fields. This paper covers a wide range of vehicle detection and classification approaches and the application of these in estimating traffic density, real-time targets, toll management and other areas using DL architectures. Moreover, the paper also presents a detailed analysis of DL techniques, benchmark datasets, and preliminaries. A survey of some vital detection and classification applications, namely, vehicle detection and classification and performance, is conducted, with a detailed investigation of the challenges faced. The paper also addresses the promising technological advancements of the last few years.

Exploring Views and Expectations of Clinicians, Nurses, and Kidney Transplant Recipients Regarding Protocol Development of a Study to Investigate Feasibility of the Implantable Doppler Probe in Kidney Transplantation: Patient-Public Involvement Consultations.

OBJECTIVES: The shortage of donor organs is the most limiting factor in kidney transplant practice today. New monitoring technologies are being investigated to reduce graft loss due to vascular complications. We assessed the feasibility of a novel blood flow monitoring device, the implantable Doppler probe, in kidney transplant surgery. This patient-public involvement consultation explored the views and expectations of the stakeholders (kidney transplant recipients, surgeons, clinicians, and nurses with direct experience of the implantable Doppler probe) on the protocol development of our feasibility study. Our objective was to improve the protocol, understand stakeholder perceptions regarding research in postoperative graft surveillance, and identify potential confounding factors to the research and challenges to implementation of implantable Doppler probe in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted semi-structured interviews containing open-ended questions with 12 stakeholders. We performed thematic analysis of the data at the latent level by an inductive approach according to a 6-phase guide by Braun and Clarke using NVivo 12 software. RESULTS: Three key themes emerged. (1) Experiences with the implantable Doppler probe as a monitoring device showed that it was well received by the patients; however, there was a clinical equipoise among the health care professionals. (2) Recognition of the need for research in the early postoperative graft monitoring displayed stakeholder understanding regarding the role of a blood flow monitoring device to improve surgical outcomes. (3) Recommendations for smooth conduct of the proposed study include suggestions for improvement of the study protocol, informative sessions for the patients and nurses, and innovative ideas to improve the monitoring device. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-public involvement consultation was crucial for the research design of our proposed feasibility study. Useful strategies and a patient- centered approach were incorporated to mitigate the potential challenges to the conduct of the research.

Synthesis and Characterization of Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Grafted with Copolymer of Polyaniline and Polypyrrole Biocomposite for Adsorption of Dyes.

The emerging concepts of sustainable textiles and controlled production strategy demands ideally zero emissions of contaminants into the aquatic environment. However, the currently in-practiced conventional processes in textiles dispose of a number of contaminants especially super toxic synthetic dyes as effluents. In recent years, nanomaterials have become attractive choice for eco-friendly removal of organic dyestuff. Accordingly, this article reports synthesis and characterization of biocomposite wherein copolymer of polyaniline (PANI) and Polypyrrole (PPY) was grafted onto hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC). Further, adsorption properties of as-prepared composite were evaluated using textile dyes Rhodamine B (RhB) and methyl Orange (MO)- as model adsorbate. The characterization of novel biocomposite (HEC/PANI-PPy) was carried out using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analyzer (BET), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The operational parameters such as dye initial concentration, adsorbent amount, pH and contact time were also studied to evaluate the efficiency level of the prepared biocomposite. Interestingly, the composite-mediated adsorption of RhB and MO followed pseudo-second order and the Langmuir isotherm. It is found that the adsorption capacity HEC/PANI-PPy is 30.06 and 29.3 for RhB and MO respectively. Thus, HEC/PANI-PPy is an inexpensive and highly efficient adsorbent that could be employed for could be employed for the separation and removal of toxic organic dyes from polluted textile effluents.

Acute Kidney Injury In Hospitalized Covid-19 Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Background: Published studies have reported that acute kidney injury (AKI) and other kidney related manifestations are associated with COVID-19 and linked with poor outcome. This study aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of AKI in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Methods: This retrospective study of 154 patients involved retrieving data from hospital records confirm COVID-19 infection admitted to the Northwest General Hospital & Research Center, Peshawar from 1st April to 31st July 2020. AKI was defined using kidney disease. Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO)" guidelines. Results: Incidence of AKI was 37.01%. Age, gender, intensive care (ICU) requirement, number of comorbid, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), arrhythmias among comorbid and fever and shortness of breath among symptoms were found to be significantly differed between AKI and non-AKI patients. Numerous differences of laboratory results such as serum sodium, potassium, total leukocyte count, absolute lymphocyte count and platelets between both groups were observed (p<0.05). Inflammatory markers including lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), ferritin, d-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly raised in AKI group. Overall mortality was observed to be 38 (24.7%). Moreover, age, ICU requirement; COAD, creatinine, serum sodium, inflammatory markers (LDH, ferritin, d-dimers and CRP), total leukocyte count, absolute lymphocyte count, platelets and support requirement were significantly differed between survivors and non-survivors. Mortality was significantly higher among AKI group, i.e., 52.6% compared to 8.2% in non-AKI group (p<0.001). Conclusion: AKI is common among hospitalized COVID-19 patients and is associated with mortality. In all, AKI patients less than half of the patients survived.

The Comparative Pharmaco- and Histokinetics of the Therapeutic Dose of Estradiol Valerate and Bromocriptine in Common Quails.

The current study is aimed at examining the overall effects of steroids on the tissues of organisms and pharmacotherapeutics and pharmaco-histokinetics of several steroids, including Bromocriptine as mesylate and estradiol valerate in common quails (Coturnix coturnix). A total of 100 birds were used for pharmaco-histokinetics. The research was carried out in two separate trials, one during the fall season and the other during the spring season. Each experiment lasted for five, ten, fifteen, and twenty days. Each study group used 20 birds while basing their experiments on a control group of 5. At the stretch of five, ten, fifteen, and twenty days in each season, therapeutic dosages were administered to a sum of two groups representing two separate steroid trial groups. Each steroid was administered to each bird in a therapeutic dose, which was three drops administered twice daily. Clinical symptoms include despondency, sluggishness, and variations in weight and temperature that almost all treated birds display. However, only in trials conducted in the fall was a sizable degree of body enlargement in one treated bird noticed. The winter testing showed a mortality rate. Four birds have died in the twenty-day group. One bird died when treated with estradiol valerate, and three birds died treated with Bromocriptine as mesylate. Both the male and female birds showed signs of having lost some of their body weight. The treated birds' kidney, stomach, hearts, and livers exhibited some edema. In comparison, almost all birds show enteritis, which indicates that steroids mainly affect the intestine. There were apparent differences in the histological analysis of heart and skeletal muscle and some treated birds with the control group. The kidney, liver, and intestine show the major histopathological change in all treated birds.

Quantifying the Soil Arthropod Diversity in Urban Forest in Dera Ghazi Khan.

Arthropods can be either large or too small to be seen from the microscope. Their legs are jointed and perform a specific function in the soil. Several arthropods have been identified to date. Therefore, it is essential to identify them in a different type of soil. An experiment to quantify the soil arthropods in the urban forests of D.G. Khan was conducted at the Zoology lab of Ghazi University on four tree plants, i.e., neem (Azadirachta indica), mango (Mangifera indica), guava (Psidium guajava), and phalsa (Grewia asiatica). Soil samples were taken from different areas and on different months. The diversity of arthropods was analyzed through the Shannon index. The results were all significant. The total number of arthropods found in the experiment was 5151, with the following distributions: millipedes were 132 in neem, 133 in guava, 113 in mango, and 121 in phalsa; centipedes were 136 in neem, 142 in guava, 118 in mango, and 132 in phalsa; springtails were 138 in neem, 130 in guava, 120 in mango, and 134 in phalsa. There were a total of 12 different species of arthropods found. Neem (Azadirachta indica) have mites, centipede, and ants; guava (Psidium guajava) have centipedes and ants. Mango (Mangifera indica) have millipedes, centipedes, mites, springtail, and ants, and phalsa (Grewia asiatica) have mites, ants, and centipedes. The study reveals that millipedes, centipedes, springtails, and ants were found abundantly in the urban forest area of D.G. Khan, resulting in increased organic matter decomposition and appropriate distribution of nutrients through the soil having beneficial effects on the terrestrial ecosystem.

Immune Tolerance vs. Immune Resistance: The Interaction Between Host and Pathogens in Infectious Diseases.

The immune system is most likely developed to reduce the harmful impact of infections on the host homeostasis. This defense approach is based on the coordinated activity of innate and adaptive immune system components, which detect and target infections for containment, killing, or expulsion by the body's defense mechanisms. These immunological processes are responsible for decreasing the pathogen burden of an infected host to maintain homeostasis that is considered to be infection resistance. Immune-driven resistance to infection is connected with a second, and probably more important, defensive mechanism: it helps to minimize the amount of dysfunction imposed on host parenchymal tissues during infection without having a direct adverse effect on pathogens. Disease tolerance is a defensive approach that relies on tissue damage control systems to prevent infections from causing harm to the host. It also uncouples immune-driven resistance mechanisms from immunopathology and disease, allowing the body to fight infection more effectively. This review discussed the cellular and molecular processes that build disease tolerance to infection and the implications of innate immunity on those systems. In addition, we discuss how symbiotic relationships with microbes and their control by particular components of innate and adaptive immunity alter disease tolerance to infection.

Glomerular Filtration Rate Estimation With Commonly Used Methods Among Healthy Live Kidney Donors of South Punjab, Pakistan.

Background Accurate estimation of the donor's glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is crucial for not only ensuring the medical appropriateness of the donor but also for the prediction of future allograft performance. The aim of this study was to compare the GFR estimation formulas and 24-hour urine creatinine clearance with diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) renal scan GFR. Methods This cross-sectional study was done at the Department of Nephro Urology Dialysis & Renal Transplantation, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Quaid e Azam Medical College, Bahawalpur, Pakistan from September 2018 to September 2021. A total of 92 potential healthy live-related kidney donors of both genders, aged 18 to 60 years having body mass index below 35 kg/m2 were included. GFR was calculated with modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD), Cockcroft-Gault (CG), chronic kidney disease epidemiology (CKD-EPI) equations as well as by 24-hour urine creatinine clearance. DTPA renal scan was done to record GFR findings. GFR was compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) among different methods. Results Out of a total of 92 individuals, 49 (53.3%) were male and 43 (46.7%) female. Mean age and BMI were noted to be 34.62±10.57 years and 24.40±2.71 kg/m2, respectively. Statistically significant differences existed between various methods of GFR estimation (p<0.001). Mean GFR as per DTPA renal scan findings was noted to be 97.32±9.39 ml/min/1.73 m2. Difference of 31.48±20.81, 27.37±21.1, 23.38±6.38, 15.52±37.52 was noted in estimated GFR (ml/min/1.73 m2) with CG formula, MDRD formula, EPI-CKD formula and 24-hour urine creatinine clearance respectively when compared with DTPA renal scan findings. The highest proportion of patients was seen with normal GFR with DTPA renal scan findings as 83 (90.2%) individuals while 24-hour urine creatinine clearance observed these to be 59 (64.1%), CG EPI-CKD formula 44 (47.8%), MDRD formula 39 (42.4%) and 40 (43.5%) with CG formula. Conclusion None of the GFR estimation methods resulted in similar findings. With reference to the DTPA renal scan, 24-hour urine creatinine clearance was the closest GFR estimation followed by CKD-EPI and MDRD equations.

Dynamics and conformational propensities of staphylococcal CntA.

Enzymes use transition metals as co-factors for catalytic roles in biological processes. Notably, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, copper and zinc are abundantly used. Staphylococcus aureus, a commensal bacterium asymptomatically, lies on the human body causing variety of infections. S. aureus is equipped by advanced virulence-regulatory circuits of metal acquisition like Cnt that acquires metals at infection sites by utilizing a nicotianamine-like metallophore staphylopine. Despite significant growth in structural studies, how CntA of Cnt system transmits conformational signal upon staphylopine recognition remains elusive. Here, we analyzed the structural changes adopted by CntA during close-to-open transition by computational approaches. CntA uses a bi-domain architectural form of domain II which performed 37° rigid body rotation and 1.1 Å translation assisted by inter-domain hinge cluster residues. Important clustered communities were found regulating the conformational changes in CntA where communities 4 and 5 are found crucial. Besides open and close states, the fluctuating regions sampled two additional intermediate states which were considered close or open previously. CntA prefers fluctuating the non-conserved regions rather than conserved where domain II turned out to be rigid and maintains a stable fold. Overall, the CntA system is a potential target for structural biologist to hamper such conformational behaviors at family level.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Overcoming the Immunological Barrier in Highly HLA Sensitized Renal Transplant Recipients - A Desensitization Experience from a Transplant Center in Pakistan.

Highly Human Leukocyte antigen sensitized patients have relatively fewer chances of being transplanted successfully and may remain dialysis dependent for a long time. In the last few years with the development of immunomodulatory therapies and advancements in immunological investigations, the chance s of transplantation in these sensitized patients have improved. Desensitization therapies in these patients include plasma exchange, intravenous immune globulins and immunomodulatory agents such as rituximab and bortezomib. These agents used together in desensitization protocols across the world have shown encouraging results in highly Human Leukocyte Antigen sensitized recipients awaiting renal transplant. We used a desensitization protocol using rituximab followed by bortezomib with concurrent plasma exchange sessions and Intravenous Immune Globulins. Our aim was to assess improvement in renal function and quality of life in these patients after desensitization and renal transplantation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first account of desensitization prior to renal transplantation from Pakistan.

Haemoglobinuria And Portal Venous Thrombosis In A Young Male.

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria is a non-malignant stem cell disorder due to acquired somatic mutations in cell surface anchored proteins CD55 and CD59. Both have a compliment inhibitory role and their deficiency leads to intravascular haemolysis. This paper reports a challenging case of a 25 years old male who presented with generalized weakness, exertional dyspnoea and episodic early morning haematuria. Recently, he started developing progressive abdominal distention and dull generalized abdominal pain. Investigations revealed haemoglobin 3.5 g/dl with 10% reticulocytes, total bilirubin 54.5 mg/dl, LDH 3155 U/L, negative Coomb's test and erythroid hyperplasia on bone marrow biopsy. Urine complete exam was significant for haemoglobinuria without red blood cells. Doppler scan of abdomen showed portal vein thrombosis. Loss of expression of CD14, CD16, CD55 and CD59 on leukocytes and erythrocytes was seen on PNH analysis, confirming paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. He was managed with blood transfusions and was advised folic acid and bone marrow transplant.

Graphene-loaded tin oxide nanofibers: optimization and sensing performance.

We investigated the gas sensing characteristics of graphene nanosheet (NS)-loaded SnO2 nanofibers (NFs) that were synthesized by a low-cost facile electrospinning process. The sensing performance was characterized as a function of the graphene content with various gases such as C6H6, C7H8, CO, CO2, and H2S. The loading of graphene NSs significantly improved the gas sensing performances of SnO2 NFs. The optimal amount of graphene NSs was found to be 0.5 wt%. We proposed a sensing mechanism for the enhanced sensing performance based on the chemical sensitization of graphene NSs and the charge transfer through the heterointerfaces between graphene NSs and SnO2 nanograins. The results show that graphene NS-loaded SnO2 NFs are a promising sensing material system that can detect hazardous gaseous species.

Improvement of Toluene-Sensing Performance of SnO2 Nanofibers by Pt Functionalization.

Functionalization of metal nanoparticles (NPs) on oxide materials is a commonly employed technique for enhancing the sensitivity and selectivity of materials for gas sensing applications. In this study, we functionalized electrospinning-synthesized SnO2 nanofibers (NFs) with various amounts of Pt NPs to enhance the toluene-sensing properties. In particular, Pt NPs were prepared by deposition of Pt films by sputtering and subsequent heat treatment. Electronic and chemical sensitizations by the Pt NPs were responsible for the improved toluene sensitivity. The best sensing properties were achieved at an optimized amount of Pt NPs, showing a volcano shape in relation to the amount of Pt NPs. The method used in this study is useful for the development of toluene-sensitive and -selective chemiresistive NF-based gas sensors.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis presenting with multiple intracerebral haemorrhages - A case report.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis also known as Churgg-Strauss syndrome is a systemic multi system vasculitis. Neurological involvement is mostly in the form of peripheral nervous system disease. Central nervous system involvement is relatively uncommon with most cases being secondary to ischaemic infarctions. Intra cerebral haemorrhage is rare and is usually in the form of solitary haemorrhagic lesions. Multiple intra cerebral haemorrhages are exceptionally rare with only one case documented in medical literature. Here, we present the case of a middle aged male who presented to us with multiple intra cerebral haemorrhages, mono neuritis multiplex, renal and respiratory tract involvement and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Upon fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology criteria, he was diagnosed as an exceptionally rare case of EGPA with multiple intra cerebral haemorrhages. He was treated with intra venous corticosteroids and immune suppressants, and made a good recovery.