Influencing the coupling between network building blocks in CdSe/CdS dot/rod aerogels by partial cation exchange.

The assembly of CdSe/CdS dot/rod nanocrystals (NCs) with variable length of ZnS tips into aerogel networks is presented. To this end, a partial region selective cation exchange procedure is performed replacing Cd by Zn starting at the NC tip. The produced aerogel networks are investigated structurally and optically. The networks of tip-to-tip connected NCs have an intricate band structure with holes confined to the CdSe cores while electrons are delocalized within the CdS also within connected building blocks. However, the ZnS tips act as a barrier of variable length and strength between the NC building blocks partly confining the electrons. This results in NC based aerogel networks with tunable strength of coupling between building blocks.

High maternal folic acid intake around conception alters mouse blastocyst lineage allocation and expression of key developmental regulatory genes.

Folate, a cofactor for the supply of one-carbon groups, is required by epigenetic processes to regulate cell lineage determination during development. The intake of folic acid (FA), the synthetic form of folate, has increased significantly over the past decade, but the effects of high periconceptional FA intake on cell lineage determination in the early embryo remains unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of maternal high FA (HFA) intake on blastocyst development and expression of key regulatory genes. C57BL/6 adult female mice were fed either Control diet (1 mg FA) for 4 weeks before conception and during the preimplantation period (Con-Con); Control diet for 4 weeks preconception, followed by HFA (5 mg FA) diet during preimplantation (Con-HFA); or HFA diet for 4 weeks preconception and during preimplantation (HFA-HFA). At E3.5, blastocyst cell number, protein, and mRNA expression were measured. In HFA-HFA blastocysts, trophectoderm cell numbers and expression of CDX2, Oct-4, and Nanog were reduced compared with Con-Con blastocysts; Con-HFA blastocysts showed lower CDX2 and Oct-4 expression than Con-Con blastocysts. These findings suggest periconceptional HFA intake induces changes in key regulators of embryo morphogenesis with potential implications for subsequent development.

Cooperative Shear in Bulk Metallic Glass Composites Containing Metastable ß-Ti Dendrites.

We report a novel plastic deformation mechanism of bulk metallic glass composites (BMGCs) containing metastable ß-Ti dendrites. Plastic deformation of the BMGCs beyond the ultimate tensile strength is mediated by cooperative shear events, which comprise a shear band in the glassy matrix and a continuous ω-Ti band with a thickness of ∼10 nm in the ß-Ti dendrite. The cooperative shear leads to serrated shear avalanches. The formation of narrow ω-Ti bands is caused by high local strain rates during the cooperative shear. The cooperative shear mechanism enriches the deformation mechanisms of BMGCs and also deepens the understanding of ω-Ti formation.

The Telemedicine for Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease (TELE-IBD) Clinical Trial: Qualitative Assessment of Participants' Perceptions.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), comprising Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis, affects 1 to 3 million people in the United States. Telemedicine has shown promise in IBD. The objective of this study, telemedicine for patients with IBD (TELE-IBD), was to compare disease activity and quality of life (QoL) in a 1-year randomized clinical trial of IBD patients receiving telemedicine versus standard care. Treatment groups experienced improvements in disease activity and QoL, but there were no significant differences between groups. Study adherence to the text-based intervention was less than 80%, the targeted goal. OBJECTIVE: To understand adherence to remote monitoring, the goal of this qualitative assessment was to obtain TELE-IBD trial participants' perceptions, including their recommendations for future monitoring. METHODS: In this study, patients attending 3 tertiary referral centers with worsening IBD symptoms in the previous 2 years were eligible for randomization to remote monitoring via SMS text messages (short message service, SMS) every other week, weekly, or standard care. Participants (n=348) were evenly enrolled in the treatment groups, and 259 (74.4%) completed the study. For this study, a purposive sample of adherent (N=15) and nonadherent (N=14) patients was drawn from the TELE-IBD trial population. Adherence was defined as the completion of 80% (278/348) or more of the weekly or every other week self-assessments. Semistructured interviews conducted by phone surveyed (1) the strengths and benefits of TELE-IBD, (2) challenges associated with using TELE-IBD, and (3) how to improve the TELE-IBD intervention. Interviews were recorded, professionally transcribed, and coded based on a priori concepts and emergent themes with the aid of ATLAS.ti, version.7 qualitative data analysis software. RESULTS: Participants' discussions centered on 3 elements of the intervention: (1) self-assessment questions, (2) action plans, and (3) educational messages. Participants also commented on text-based platform, depression and adherence, TELE-IBD system in place of office visit, and their recommendations for future TELE-IBD systems. Adherent and nonadherent participants prefer a flexible system that is personalized, including targeted education messages, and they perceive the intervention as effective in facilitating IBD self-management. CONCLUSIONS: Participants identified clear benefits to the TELE-IBD system, including obtaining a better understanding of the disease process, monitoring their symptoms, and feeling connected to their health care provider. Participants' perceptions obtained in this qualitative study will assist in improving the TELE-IBD system to be more responsive to patients with IBD.

Diabetes and the Motivated Patient: Understanding Perlocutionary Effect in Health Communication.

Health care providers (HCP) understand the importance of keeping patients motivated but may be unaware how their words may have unintended negative effects upon their patient's lives. People with diabetes report being told by their HCP that they are "cured" or that they are praised for strides made in weight loss and/or lowered blood glucose, and interpret these messages in unexpected ways. For this paper, we focus upon one case to illustrate the depth and nuance of the patient-provider communication as it emerged within a larger interview-based ethnographic study. Audio-recorded interviews and transcriptions were analyzed discursively. Discourse analysis reveals the ways ideology affects how the patient responds to HCP's utterances and how this affects diabetes self-care. Findings indicate significant perlocutionary effects upon health outcomes, varying both positively and/or negatively. This study points to the importance of carefully considering the power of words and whenever possible knowing the patient's ideological orientation to their world. HCPs should be explicit and deliberate with their communication. Sensitization to the various ways patients hear and react to messages in a clinical setting may lead to improved health outcomes, especially for those with chronic health conditions such as diabetes mellitus.

Brittle-to-Ductile Transition in Metallic Glass Nanowires.

When reducing the size of metallic glass samples down to the nanoscale regime, experimental studies on the plasticity under uniaxial tension show a wide range of failure modes ranging from brittle to ductile ones. Simulations on the deformation behavior of nanoscaled metallic glasses report an unusual extended strain softening and are not able to reproduce the brittle-like fracture deformation as found in experiments. Using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations we provide an atomistic understanding of the deformation mechanisms of metallic glass nanowires and differentiate the extrinsic size effects and aspect ratio contribution to plasticity. A model for predicting the critical nanowire aspect ratio for the ductile-to-brittle transition is developed. Furthermore, the structure of brittle nanowires can be tuned to a softer phase characterized by a defective short-range order and an excess free volume upon systematic structural rejuvenation, leading to enhanced tensile ductility. The presented results shed light on the fundamental deformation mechanisms of nanoscaled metallic glasses and demarcate ductile and catastrophic failure.

Nut allergy prevalence and differences between Asian-born children and Australian-born children of Asian descent: a state-wide survey of children at primary school entry in Victoria, Australia.

BACKGROUND: Asian infants born in Australia are three times more likely to develop nut allergy than non-Asian infants, and rates of challenge-proven food allergy in infants have been found to be unexpectedly high in metropolitan Melbourne. To further investigate the risk factors for nut allergy, we assessed the whole-of-state prevalence distribution of parent-reported nut allergy in 5-year-old children entering school. METHODS: Using the 2010 School Entrant Health Questionnaire administered to all 5-year-old children in Victoria, Australia, we assessed the prevalence of parent-reported nut allergy (tree nut and peanut) and whether this was altered by region of residence, socio-economic status, country of birth or history of migration. Prevalence was calculated as observed proportion with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Risk factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression and adjusted for appropriate confounders. RESULTS: Parent-reported nut allergy prevalence was 3.1% (95% CI 2.9-3.2) amongst a cohort of nearly 60 000 children. It was more common amongst children of mothers with higher education and socio-economic index and less prevalent amongst children in regional Victoria than in Melbourne. While children born in Australia to Asian-born mothers (aOR 2.67, 95% CI 2.28-3.27) were more likely to have nut allergy than non-Asian children, children born in Asia who subsequently migrated to Australia were at decreased risk of nut allergy (aOR 0.1, 95% CI 0.03-0.31). CONCLUSION: Migration from Asia after the early infant period appears protective for the development of nut allergy. Additionally, rural regions have lower rates of nut allergy than urban areas.

Species identification of dermatophytes in paraffin-embedded biopsies with a new polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 region and comparison with histopathological features.

BACKGROUND: Dermatophytosis is a very common skin infection with a broad clinical spectrum. Biopsies are often used to confirm the diagnosis, especially when the clinical presentation is unusual. Not uncommonly, organisms are hard to find even with periodic acid-Schiff stains. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for dermatophytes can be used in such cases. OBJECTIVES: To test a new PCR assay allowing species identification of dermatophytes on paraffin-embedded biopsies, and to reassess histopathological criteria for diagnosis of dermatophytosis. METHODS: In total, 121 biopsies of 92 patients with clinical suspicion of tinea were included. In 42 samples the clinical diagnosis had been confirmed histopathologically, and in 79 no fungal elements had been identified. PCRs targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS)2 region of dermatophytes were performed on the biopsies with subsequent sequencing. Sections were reassessed for the presence/absence of hyphae/spores, pattern and composition of infiltrate, and epidermal/follicular changes. Patient charts were reviewed for clinical data. RESULTS: The new ITS2 PCR assay detected 94% of the dermatophyte infections (compared with 79% identified by microscopy). Trichophyton rubrum was the dominant species (89%), and other species identified were Trichophyton verrucosum (2%), Microsporum canis (4%), Epidermophyton floccosum (2%) and Trichophyton interdigitale (4%). In particular, infections with T. interdigitale and manifestations with prominent spongiosis were not diagnosed histologically. Intracorneal neutrophils, which have been emphasized as a histopathological clue to dermatophytosis, were present in only 46% of PCR-positive samples. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular species identification of dermatophytes via ITS2 PCR can easily be implemented in a routine dermatopathology setting. It is fast and highly specific and improves the sensitivity of histopathological diagnosis of dermatophytosis.

[Imaging in structural heart disease : Impact on interventional therapy]. / Bildgebung bei struktureller Herzerkrankung : Bedeutung für die interventionelle Therapie.

For the treatment of structural heart disease, current options in the catheterization laboratory include MitraClip® implantation for treating severe mitral regurgitation, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and occlusion of the left atrial appendage (LAA). These treatment options are based on a precise diagnosis provided by modern cardiac imaging, which is indispensable for treatment recommendations. Its importance for supporting the invasive procedures in the catheterization laboratory is less well known. Due to enhanced soft tissue characterization, it complements fluoroscopy and invasive angiography and thus enormously improves the safety of the procedures. In addition, it allows individualized follow-up care. The current article gives an overview of the clinically most frequently used procedures.

Which infants with eczema are at risk of food allergy? Results from a population-based cohort.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between early onset eczema and food allergy among infants has never been examined in a population-based sample using the gold standard for diagnosis, oral food challenge. OBJECTIVE: We characterised the risk of challenge-proven food allergy among infants with eczema in the general population. METHODS: One-year-old infants (n = 4453 meeting criteria for this analysis) were assessed for history of eczema, received a nurse-administered eczema examination and underwent skin prick testing to peanut, egg and sesame. Those with a detectable wheal to one of the test foods underwent an oral food challenge irrespective of wheal size. The risk of food allergy, stratified by eczema severity and age of onset, was estimated using multivariate logistic regression with population sampling weights. RESULTS: One in five infants with eczema were allergic to peanut, egg white or sesame, compared to one in twenty-five infants without eczema (OR 6.2, 95% CI 4.9, 7.9, P < 0.001). The prevalence of peanut allergy was low in the absence of eczema (0.7% 95% CI 0.4, 1.1). Infants with eczema were 11.0 times more likely to develop peanut allergy (95% CI 6.6, 18.6) and 5.8 times more likely to develop egg allergy (95% CI 4.6, 7.4) by 12 months than infants without eczema. 50.8% of infants (95% CI 42.8, 58.9) with early eczema onset (<3 months) who required doctor-prescribed topical corticosteroid treatment developed challenge-proven food allergy. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Eczema, across the clinical severity spectrum in infancy, is a strong risk factor for IgE-mediated food allergy. Infants with eczema were six times more likely to have egg allergy and 11 times more likely to have peanut allergy by 12 months than infants without eczema. Our data suggest that a heightened awareness of food allergy risk among healthcare practitioners treating infants with eczema, especially if early onset and severe, is warranted.

Behavioural evidence of colour vision in free flying stingless bees.

Colour vision was first demonstrated with behavioural experiments in honeybees 100 years ago. Since that time a wealth of quality physiological data has shown a highly conserved set of trichromatic colour receptors in most bee species. Despite the subsequent wealth of behavioural research on honeybees and bumblebees, there currently is a relative dearth of data on stingless bees, which are the largest tribe of the eusocial bees comprising of more than 600 species. In our first experiment we tested Trigona cf. fuscipennis, a stingless bee species from Costa Rica in a field setting using the von Frisch method and show functional colour vision. In a second experiment with these bees, we use a simultaneous colour discrimination test designed for honeybees to enable a comparative analysis of relative colour discrimination. In a third experiment, we test in laboratory conditions Tetragonula carbonaria, an Australian stingless bee species using a similar simultaneous colour discrimination test. Both stingless bee species show relatively poorer colour discrimination compared to honeybees and bumblebees; and we discuss the value of being able to use these behavioural methods to efficiently extend our current knowledge of colour vision and discrimination in different bee species.

Chemical vapor deposition of twisted bilayer and few-layer MoSe2 over SiO(x) substrates.

The chemical vapor deposition of monolayer and few-layer transition metal dichalcogenides is a rapidly developing area of materials science due to the exciting electrical, optical, thermal and mechanical properties of transition metal dichalcogenides in their layered form. These properties make these innovative materials potentially relevant to wide-ranging commercial applications. One of these promising materials is MoSe2; however, just recently, a few research groups have been able to demonstrate its synthesis via chemical vapor deposition. Moreover, only oriented few-layer MoSe2 has been exhibited by synthetically formed material using chemical vapor deposition thus far. Here, we confirm twisted-layer MoSe2 can also form during chemical vapor deposition. Twisted-layer transition metal dichalcogenides alter their properties as compared to their oriented counterparts. Therefore, twisted-layer structures are of interest because they can tune their properties.

Magnetic aerogels from FePt and CoPt3 directly from organic solution.

Here the synthesis of magnetic aerogels from iron platinum and cobalt platinum nanoparticles is presented. The use of hydrazine monohydrate as destabilizing agent triggers the gelation directly from organic solution, and therefore a phase transfer to aqueous media prior to the gelation is not necessary. The aerogels were characterized through Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Powder X-Ray Diffraction Analysis and Argon Physisorption measurements to prove the formation of a porous network and define their compositions. Additionally, magnetization measurements in terms of hysteresis cycles at 5 K and 300 K (M-H-curves) as well as zero field cooled-field cooled measurements (ZFC-FC measurements) of the dried colloids and the respective xero- and aerogels were performed, in order to analyze the influence of the gelation process and the network structure on the magnetic properties.

Correlating semiconductor nanoparticle architecture and applicability for the controlled encoding of luminescent polymer microparticles.

Luminophore stained micro- and nanobeads made from organic polymers like polystyrene (PS) are broadly used in the life and material sciences as luminescent reporters, for bead-based assays, sensor arrays, printable barcodes, security inks, and the calibration of fluorescence microscopes and flow cytometers. Initially mostly prepared with organic dyes, meanwhile luminescent core/shell nanoparticles (NPs) like spherical semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly employed for bead encoding. This is related to their narrower emission spectra, tuneability of emission color, broad wavelength excitability, and better photostability. However, correlations between particle architecture, morphology, and photoluminescence (PL) of the luminescent nanocrystals used for encoding and the optical properties of the NP-stained beads have been rarely explored. This encouraged us to perform a screening study on the incorporation of different types of luminescent core/shell semiconductor nanocrystals into polymer microparticles (PMPs) by a radical-induced polymerization reaction. Nanocrystals explored include CdSe/CdS QDs of varying CdS shell thickness, a CdSe/ZnS core/shell QD, CdSe/CdS quantum rods (QRs), and CdSe/CdS nanoplatelets (NPLs). Thereby, we focused on the applicability of these NPs for the polymerization synthesis approach used and quantified the preservation of the initial NP luminescence. The spectroscopic characterization of the resulting PMPs revealed the successful staining of the PMPs with luminescent CdSe/CdS QDs and CdSe/CdS NPLs. In contrast, usage of CdSe/CdS QRs and CdSe QDs with a ZnS shell did not yield luminescent PMPs. The results of this study provide new insights into structure-property relationships between NP stained PMPs and the initial luminescent NPs applied for staining and underline the importance of such studies for the performance optimization of NP-stained beads.

Correction: Magnetic aerogels from FePt and CoPt3 directly from organic solution.

Correction for 'Magnetic aerogels from FePt and CoPt3 directly from organic solution' by L. Schoske et al., Nanoscale, 2024, 16, 4229-4238, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3NR05892A.

The prevalence and socio-demographic risk factors of clinical eczema in infancy: a population-based observational study.

BACKGROUND: Socio-demographic predictors for the development of clinically observed, infantile eczema have not been formally examined in a large population-based study. Few studies of eczema risk factors have included current, objective eczema outcomes as well as parent-reported history. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to measure the population prevalence of infantile eczema using novel sampling methodology, and identify socio-demographic risk factors for eczema in the first year of life. METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional study of infantile allergy (the HealthNuts study, n = 4972, response rate 74.1%) was conducted from 2008-2011 in Melbourne, Australia. Infants were examined for current eczema at age 12 months (mean 12.7, SD 0.7). Parents provided information about the infants' history of eczema and demographic factors. Factors associated with eczema were modelled using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: The population prevalence of observed eczema at 12 months was 20.3% (95% CI 19.0, 21.5), while cumulative prevalence for parent-reported eczema was 28.0% (95% CI 26.7, 29.4). The strongest predictors of eczema were maternal eczema and asthma (multinomial (M)-OR 1.7, P < 0.001, and M-OR 1.4, P = 0.007), male sex (M-OR 1.4, P < 0.001), and East Asian ethnicity (M-OR 1.6, P < 0.001) with over 80% of infants with all risk factors exhibiting eczema. East Asian parents, particularly recent migrants, reported fewer allergies than other parents. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Approximately, one in three infants developed eczema by 12 months of age. East Asian infants are at increased risk of eczema despite their parents having lower rates of allergy than non-Asian parents. Gene-environment interactions may explain the differential effect seen in this minority group.

Origin of intermittent plastic flow and instability of shear band sliding in bulk metallic glasses.

Intermittent or serrated plastic flow is widely observed in the deformation of bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) or other disordered solids at low temperatures. However, the underlying physical process responsible for the phenomena is still poorly understood. Here, we give an interpretation of the serrated flow behavior in BMGs by relating the atomic-scale deformation with the macroscopic shear band behavior. Our theoretical analysis shows that serrated flow in fact arises from an intrinsic dynamic instability of the shear band sliding, which is determined by a critical stiffness parameter in stick-slip dynamics. Based on this, the transition from serrated to nonserrated flow with the strain rate or the temperature is well predicted and the effects of various extrinsic and intrinsic factors on shear band stability can be quantitatively analyzed in BMGs. Our results, which are verified by a series of compression tests on various BMGs, provide key ingredients to fundamentally understand serrated flow and may bridge the gap between the atomic-scale physics and the larger-scale shear band dynamics governing the deformation of BMGs.

Characterization of plasma cytokines in an infant population cohort of challenge-proven food allergy.

BACKGROUND: Sensitization to food allergens indicates the production of food-specific IgE; however, sensitization is not a definite indicator of allergic reaction upon ingestion (N Engl J Med, 344, 2001, 30: J Allergy Clin Immunol, 120, 2007, 491). Currently, food challenge is the best approach to identify the presence or absence of allergy. While 95% positive predictive values (PPVs) thresholds for sIgE can assist with identifying increased likelihood of allergy among those who are sensitized, there are no specific biological markers that differentiate between allergic and sensitized individuals. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether plasma serum cytokine profiles predict (i) sensitization to peanut and egg and (ii) food allergy among sensitized infants. METHODS: Peanut-sensitized (PT) and egg-sensitized 14-month-old infants and nonsensitized controls enrolled in HealthNuts, a population-based study of food allergy, underwent an oral food challenge (OFC). Blood was collected within 1 h after OFC. Serum levels of Th1, Th2 and regulatory cytokines were determined in allergic (n = 79), sensitized (n = 40) and nonsensitized, nonallergic (n = 37) infants by multiplex assay. RESULTS: Food-sensitized infants had significantly higher plasma IL-4, IL-13, IL-12p70 and lower IL-10 levels compared to nonsensitized infants. IL-10 and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in sensitized compared with allergic infants. Egg-allergic infants had significantly higher IL-13 and IL-12p70 levels compared to peanut-allergic (PA) infants. CONCLUSION: Levels of Th2-related cytokines in plasma are higher in food-sensitized infants, irrespective of clinical food allergy status. In contrast, IL-10 levels appear to predict food allergy among sensitized infants. Differences in IL-13 and IL-12p70 between egg- and peanut-allergic infants could help explain the different resolution rates of the allergies.

New lithium copper borates with BO3 triangles: Li6CuB4O10, Li3CuB3O7, Li8Cu7B14O32, and Li2Cu9B12O28.

Crystal structures of three new lithium copper borates, Li3CuB3O7, Li8Cu7B14O32, and Li2Cu9B12O28, and a new Li6CuB4O10 polymorph were solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. In all of the structures, the boron cations form BO3 triangles, which are connected with each other and with copper polyhedra only via corners in Li6CuB4O10 and Li3CuB3O7 and via both corners and edges in Li8Cu7B14O32 and Li2Cu9B12O28. The Li3CuB3O7 and Li8Cu7B14O32 compounds were synthesized as pure samples with only trace amounts of impurities; hence, their magnetic properties could be investigated and analyzed in terms of underlying magnetic couplings. Other compositions always represented multiphase mixtures. Li3CuB3O7 features infinite Cu,O chains formed by Cu2O6 units consisting of edge-shared CuO4 squares. Together with two apical oxygen atoms with long interatomic Cu-O distances of 2.7-2.8 Å, the Cu2O6 units form chains extended along the a axis. These pseudochains are responsible for strong anisotropic thermal expansion behavior. The temperature dependence of the magnetization between 4 and 380 K for Li3CuB3O7 could be fit well by a spin-dimer model. The magnetic susceptibility of Li8Cu7B14O32 showed a more complex temperature dependence, with two different Curie-Weiss regimes in the temperature range of 2-380 K.

Influence of nanoparticle encapsulation and encoding on the surface chemistry of polymer carrier beads.

Surface-functionalized polymer beads encoded with molecular luminophores and nanocrystalline emitters such as semiconductor nanocrystals, often referred to as quantum dots (QDs), or magnetic nanoparticles are broadly used in the life sciences as reporters and carrier beads. Many of these applications require a profound knowledge of the chemical nature and total number of their surface functional groups (FGs), that control bead charge, colloidal stability, hydrophobicity, and the interaction with the environment and biological systems. For bioanalytical applications, also the number of groups accessible for the subsequent functionalization with, e.g., biomolecules or targeting ligands is relevant. In this study, we explore the influence of QD encoding on the amount of carboxylic acid (COOH) surface FGs of 2 µm polystyrene microparticles (PSMPs). This is done for frequently employed oleic acid and oleylamine stabilized, luminescent core/shell CdSe QDs and two commonly used encoding procedures. This included QD addition during bead formation by a thermally induced polymerization reaction and a post synthetic swelling procedure. The accessible number of COOH groups on the surface of QD-encoded and pristine beads was quantified by two colorimetric assays, utilizing differently sized reporters and electrostatic and covalent interactions. The results were compared to the total number of FGs obtained by a conductometric titration and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, a comparison of the impact of QD and dye encoding on the bead surface chemistry was performed. Our results demonstrate the influence of QD encoding and the QD-encoding strategy on the number of surface FG that is ascribed to an interaction of the QDs with the carboxylic acid groups on the bead surface. These findings are of considerable relevance for applications of nanoparticle-encoded beads and safe-by-design concepts for nanomaterials.