A hybrid CNN feature model for pulmonary nodule malignancy risk differentiation.

The malignancy risk differentiation of pulmonary nodule is one of the most challenge tasks of computer-aided diagnosis (CADx). Most recently reported CADx methods or schemes based on texture and shape estimation have shown relatively satisfactory on differentiating the risk level of malignancy among the nodules detected in lung cancer screening. However, the existing CADx schemes tend to detect and analyze characteristics of pulmonary nodules from a statistical perspective according to local features only. Enlightened by the currently prevailing learning ability of convolutional neural network (CNN), which simulates human neural network for target recognition and our previously research on texture features, we present a hybrid model that takes into consideration of both global and local features for pulmonary nodule differentiation using the largest public database founded by the Lung Image Database Consortium and Image Database Resource Initiative (LIDC-IDRI). By comparing three types of CNN models in which two of them were newly proposed by us, we observed that the multi-channel CNN model yielded the best discrimination in capacity of differentiating malignancy risk of the nodules based on the projection of distributions of extracted features. Moreover, CADx scheme using the new multi-channel CNN model outperformed our previously developed CADx scheme using the 3D texture feature analysis method, which increased the computed area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) from 0.9441 to 0.9702.

Hydrothermal Synthesis of Boron and Nitrogen Codoped Hollow Graphene Microspheres with Enhanced Electrocatalytic Activity for Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Boron and nitrogen codoped hollow graphene microspheres (NBGHSs), synthesized from a simple template sacrificing method, have been employed as an electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Because of their specific hollow structure that consists of boron and nitrogen codoped graphene, the NBGHSs can exhibit even high electrocatalytic activity toward ORR than the commercial JM Pt/C 40 wt %. This, along with their higher stability, makes the NBGHSs particularly attractive as the electrocatalyst for the ORR with great potential to replace the commonly used noble-metal-based catalysts.

Hydrophilic solid-phase extraction of melamine with ampholine-modified hybrid organic-inorganic silica material.

In this work, an ampholine-functionalized hybrid organic-inorganic silica sorbent was successfully used to extract melamine from a milk formula sample by a hydrophilic interaction solid-phase extraction protocol. Primary factors affecting the extraction efficiency of the material such as extraction solvent, elution solvent, sample loading volume, and elution volume have been thoroughly optimized. Under the optimized hydrophilic solid-phase extraction conditions, the recoveries of melamine spiked in milk formula samples ranged from 86.2 to 101.8% with relative standard deviations of 4.1-9.4% (n = 3). The limit of detection (S/N = 3) was 0.32 µg/g. The adsorption capacity toward melamine was 30 µg of melamine per grams of sorbent. Due to its simplicity, rapidity and cost effectiveness, the newly developed hydrophilic solid-phase extraction method should provide a promising tool for daily monitoring of doped melamine in milk formula.

A novel ionic liquid-modified organic-polymer monolith as the sorbent for in-tube solid-phase microextraction of acidic food additives.

A novel ionic liquid-modified organic-polymer monolithic capillary column was prepared and used for in-tube solid-phase microextraction (SPME) of acidic food additives. The primary amino group of 1-aminopropyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride was reacted with the epoxide group of glycidyl methacrylate. The as-prepared new monomer was then copolymerized in situ with acrylamide and N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-8000 and PEG-10,000 as porogens. The extraction performance of the developed monolithic sorbent was evaluated for benzoic acid, 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, cinnamic acid, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, and 3-(trifluoromethyl)-cinnamic acid. Such a sorbent, bearing hydrophobic and anion-exchange groups, had high extraction efficiency towards the test compounds. The adsorption capacities for the analytes dissolved in water ranged from 0.18 to 1.74 µg cm(-1). Good linear calibration curves (R(2) > 0.99) were obtained, and the limits of detection (S/N = 3) for the analytes were found to be in the range 1.2-13.5 ng mL(-1). The recoveries of five acidic food additives spiked in Coca-Cola beverage samples ranged from 85.4 % to 98.3 %, with RSD less than 6.9 %. The excellent applicability of the ionic liquid (IL)-modified monolithic column was further tested by the determination of benzoic acid content in Sprite samples, further illustrating its good potential for analyzing food additives in complex samples.

Application of an ampholine-functionalized hybrid organic-inorganic silica material for the SPE of aromatic amines.

An SPE cartridge based on an ampholine-functionalized hybrid organic-inorganic silica sorbent has been adopted for the analysis of aromatic amines including 4-aminobiphenyl, benzidine, 2-naphthylamine, p-chloroaniline, 2,4,5-trimethylaniline, and 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine. Crucial variables governing the extraction efficiency of the material such as the pH of sample, sample loading volume, solvent used for elution, and elution volume have been thoroughly optimized. The adsorption capacities for the six aromatic amines ranged from 0.17 to 1.82 µg/mg. The recoveries of aromatic amines spiked in textile samples ranged from 78.9 to 103.0%, with RSDs of 1.1-11.9% (n = 3). Moreover, the extraction efficiency of the ampholine-functionalized hybrid organic-inorganic silica sorbent was at least comparable with that of Oasis WCX.

Ampholine-functionalized hybrid organic-inorganic silica material as sorbent for solid-phase extraction of acidic and basic compounds.

A novel sorbent for solid-phase extraction (SPE) was synthesized by chemical immobilization of ampholine on hybrid organic-inorganic silica material. The ampholine-functionalized hybrid organic-inorganic silica sorbent is consisted of aliphatic amine groups, carboxyl groups and long carbon chains, allowing for extraction of both acidic and basic compounds. The retention properties of the developed sorbent were evaluated for 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (HNA), 1-naphthoic acid (NA), 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA), benzoic acid (BA), sorbic acid (SA), vanillic aldehyde (VA), butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (BHB), propyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (PHB), ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (EHB), and methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (MHB). The results show that such a sorbent has three types of interaction, i.e., electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction, and hydrogen bonding, exhibiting high extraction efficiency towards the compounds tested. The adsorption capacities of the analytes ranged from 0.61 to 6.54µgmg(-1). The reproducibility of the sorbent preparation was evaluated at three spiking concentration levels, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 1.0-10.5%. The recoveries of ten acidic and basic compounds spiked in beverage Coca-Cola(®) sample ranged from 82.5% to 98.2% with RSDs less than 5.8%. Under optimum conditions, the ampholine-functionalized hybrid organic-inorganic silica sorbent rendered higher extraction efficiency for acidic compounds than that of the commercially available ampholine-functionalized silica particles, and was comparable to that of the commercial Oasis WAX and Oasis WCX.

Preparation of N,N'-bisethoxyethane[12]amideferrocenophane and its application in anion recognition.

Novel N,N'-bisethoxyethane[12]amideferrocenophane has been synthesized by a condensation reaction and characterized by (1)H NMR and mass spectrum. The anion recognition properties of the compound are evaluated via (1)H NMR, FT-IR, and electrochemical measurement. It is found that N,N'-bisethoxyethane[12]amideferrocenophane exhibits remarkable electrochemical response to H(2)PO(4-) anion in CH(2)C(l2) or CH(3)CN solution, and response to anions can also be observed in CH(3)CN solution containing up to 15% water. Binding constants between the compound and HSO(4-) in different solutions have been determined by UV-vis spectrum titration experiments. The results indicate that the compound shows a selective recognition trend of H(2)PO(4-) > HSO(4-) (F(-)) > Br(-).