A Label-Free and Ultrasensitive Immunosensor for Detection of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin Based on Graphene FETs.

We report on a label-free immunosensor based on graphene field effect transistors (G-FETs) for the ultrasensitive detection of Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG), as an indicator of pregnancy and related disorders, such as actopic pregnancy, choriocarcinoma and orchic teratoma. Pyrene based bioactive ester was non-covalently anchored onto the graphene channel in order to retain the sp² lattice. The G-FET transfer characteristics showed repeatable and reliable responses in all surface modifying steps using a direct current (DC) readout system. The hCG concentration gradient showed a detection limit of ~1 pg·mL-1. The proposed method facilitates the cost-effective and viable production of graphene point-of-care devices for clinical diagnosis

Improved efficiency of graphene/Si Schottky junction solar cell based on back contact structure and DUV treatment

© 2017 Elsevier Ltd A graphene/Si Schottky junction solar cell is commonly fabricated by using the top-window structure. However, reported devices have many drawbacks such as a small active area of 0.11 cm 2 , s-shape in the J-V curves, recombination process of charge carriers at the graphene/textured Si interface, high cost and a complex fabrication process. Here, we report a novel graphene/Si Schottky junction solar cell with a back contact-structure, which has benefits of a simpler fabrication process, lower fabrication cost, and larger active area in comparison with a device fabricated with the previous structure. Additionally, we found that the PMMA residue left on graphene surfaces is the key to eliminate the s-shape in the J-V curves. Thus, the deep UV treatment of the CVD graphene is applied within the wet transfer process to effectively remove the PMMA residue, suppress the behavior of s-shaped kink in J-V curves and enhance the solar cell efficiency. As a result, the recorded power conversion efficiency of 10% is achieved for graphene/textured Si devices without chemical doping and anti-reflection coating, and this value is improved to 14.1% after applying chemical doping. Doped devices also show great stability and retain 84% of the efficiency after 9 days storage in air

Entanglement conditions for two-mode states: Applications

We examine the implications of several recently derived conditions [Hillery and Zubairy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 050503 (2006)] for determining when a two-mode state is entangled. We first find examples of non-Gaussian states that satisfy these conditions. We then apply the entanglement conditions to the study of several linear devices, the beam splitter, the parametric amplifier, and the linear phase-insensitive amplifier. For the first two, we find conditions on the input states that guarantee that the output states are entangled. For the linear amplifier, we determine in the limit of high and no gain, when an entangled input leads to an entangled output. Finally, we show how application of two two-mode entanglement conditions to a three-mode state can serve as a test of genuine three-mode entanglement.Comment: 7 pages, no figures, replaced with published versio

Evaluation of common risk factors of acne in teenagers in Batticaloa district

Acne, or acne vulgaris, is a common skin problem that starts when oil and dead skin cells obstruct the pores. It is leads to psychological dissatisfaction of personality specially among teenagers and adolescents all over the world, including Sri Lanka. In the recent years concern raised regarding acne without gender difference, because people like to be pretty and attractive in the society. Furthermore, majority of the school students are worried about the impact of acne as they are prone to suffer by acne and they naturally feel to be pretty because of their young stage and psycho social believes and thoughts. Therefore, this study was intended to recognize and evaluate the risk factors of acne among school teenagers of Batticaloa district. Respondents of the study included the students from four leading schools in the Batticaloa during the study period. Data collected by interviewer administered questionnaire with the permission of relevant principals of the school. Analysis of data performed by statistical software (SPSS 16.0) and p value <0.05 was considered as significant for all analysis. Majority of participant were Tamil (141=73.44%) ethnic group and most of them resided at urban 136 (70.83%) local authority. The skin type of more than half of the respondents was oily. Onset age of acne lesions for many respondents (39=20.31%) was 16 years. Almost most of them (187=97.40%) had the acne lesion on the face. Acne marks significantly (X2=38.342, p=0.000) leads to major psychological worries on males compared to female students. Food habit with oily meals had significant association to the development of acne, (X2=58.521, p=0.000). Food habit, Body weight, types of skin were identified as the most significant risk factors. Marks of acne is the very serious end results and which has the significant impact on formation of psychological problems among the students specifically in males

Preparation and Characterization of Poly(1-vinylpyrroli done-co-vinyl acetate)/Poly(methyl methacrylate) Polymer Electrolyte based on TPAI and KI

Polymer electrolytes are promising materials for electrochemical device applications, such as , high energy density rechargeable batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, electrochromic displays, etc. Polymer blend electrolytes based on (PVP-co-VAc) and ( PMMA) with different weight ratio of Tetra propyl ammonium iodide (TPAI) and Potassium iodide (KI),  salts using DMSO as solvent. The gel electrolytes were  prepared by solution cast technique. More details can be found in the full paper. Keywords: Gel electrolyte ,Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy , Poly(1-vinylpyrrolidone-co- vinyl acetate), poly(methyl meth acryl ate), FTIR

Efficiency enhancement of photovoltaic performance of quasi-solid state dye sensitized solar cell with TPAI and KI binary iodide salt mixture

Quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells have drawn the attention of scientists and technologists as a potential candidate to supplement future energy needs. The conduction of iodide ions in quasi-solid-state polymer electrolytes and the performance of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) containing such electrolytes can be enhanced by incorporating iodides having appropriate cations. Gel-type electrolytes, were prepared by solution cast technique, based on PVP-co-VAc + PMMA host polymers and mixture of salts Potassium iodide (KI) and tetrapropyl ammonium iodide (TPAI) salts have been used to provide the conducting ions. The salt composition in the binary mixture was varied in order to optimize the performance of solar cells. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements showed that the electrolyte (C6) which contain (KI%25: 5%TPAI) have highest conductivity S/cm at 298 K. The DSSCs with TPAI or KI as the only iodide salt showed the efficiencies 4.136%and 2.532 %, respectively, under AM 1.5(1000 Wm-2) illumination  while the DSSC with mixed cations with (TPAI25%:KI5%) molar ratio shows the  efficiency of 3.179%. Keywords: Binary Iodide, Gel Polymer Electrolyte, Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Case of left hip acute pediatric septic arthritis - polymicrobial etiology

Septic arthritis is a true orthopedic emergency, involving a severe bacterial, viral, or fungal joint infection that triggers inflammation and the degeneration of joint tissues. It typically affects joints such as the knee, hip, shoulder, or wrist. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to avoid long-term complications. Herein, we describe the case of an 8-year-old male patient who presented with complaints of spontaneous onset of hip pain and an abnormal gait. The patient was diagnosed with left hip septic arthritis and underwent a left hip arthrotomy under general anesthesia (GA). The patient was administered intravenous antibiotics for 21 days while being kept on non-weight-bearing mobilization. After 3 weeks, the patient's intravenous antibiotics were switched to oral antibiotics for the next 3 weeks. On the second follow-up visit, the patient showed significant improvement, with laboratory findings within normal limits

Coenzyme Q10 dose-escalation study in hemodialysis patients: safety, tolerability, and effect on oxidative stress.

BackgroundCoenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation improves mitochondrial coupling of respiration to oxidative phosphorylation, decreases superoxide production in endothelial cells, and may improve functional cardiac capacity in patients with congestive heart failure. There are no studies evaluating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of varying doses of CoQ10 in chronic hemodialysis patients, a population subject to increased oxidative stress.MethodsWe performed a dose escalation study to test the hypothesis that CoQ10 therapy is safe, well-tolerated, and improves biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients receiving hemodialysis therapy. Plasma concentrations of F2-isoprostanes and isofurans were measured to assess systemic oxidative stress and plasma CoQ10 concentrations were measured to determine dose, concentration and response relationships.ResultsFifteen of the 20 subjects completed the entire dose escalation sequence. Mean CoQ10 levels increased in a linear fashion from 704 ± 286 ng/mL at baseline to 4033 ± 1637 ng/mL, and plasma isofuran concentrations decreased from 141 ± 67.5 pg/mL at baseline to 72.2 ± 37.5 pg/mL at the completion of the study (P = 0.003 vs. baseline and P &lt; 0.001 for the effect of dose escalation on isofurans). Plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations did not change during the study.ConclusionsCoQ10 supplementation at doses as high as 1800 mg per day was safe in all subjects and well-tolerated in most. Short-term daily CoQ10 supplementation decreased plasma isofuran concentrations in a dose dependent manner. CoQ10 supplementation may improve mitochondrial function and decrease oxidative stress in patients receiving hemodialysis.Trial registrationThis clinical trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov [NCT00908297] on May 21, 2009