Mercury pollution for marine environment at Farwa Island, Libya

Coimmobilization of pyranose dehydrogenase as an enzyme catalyst, osmium redox polymers [Os­(4,4′-dimethoxy-2,2′-bipyridine)₂(poly­(vinylimidazole))₁₀Cl]⁺ or [Os­(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)₂(poly­(vinylimidazole))₁₀Cl]⁺ as mediators, and carbon nanotube conductive scaffolds in films on graphite electrodes provides enzyme electrodes for glucose oxidation. The recombinant enzyme and a deglycosylated form, both expressed in Pichia pastoris, are investigated and compared as biocatalysts for glucose oxidation using flow injection amperometry and voltammetry. In the presence of 5 mM glucose in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (50 mM phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.4, with 150 mM NaCl), higher glucose oxidation current densities, 0.41 mA cm^–2, are obtained from enzyme electrodes containing the deglycosylated form of the enzyme. The optimized glucose-oxidizing anode, prepared using deglycosylated enzyme coimmobilized with [Os­(4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine)₂(poly­(vinylimidazole))₁₀Cl]⁺ and carbon nanotubes, was coupled with an oxygen-reducing bilirubin oxidase on gold nanoparticle dispersed on gold electrode as a biocathode to provide a membraneless fully enzymatic fuel cell. A maximum power density of 275 μW cm^–2 is obtained in 5 mM glucose in PBS, the highest to date under these conditions, providing sufficient power to enable wireless transmission of a signal to a data logger. When tested in whole human blood and unstimulated human saliva maximum power densities of 73 and 6 μW cm^–2 are obtained for the same fuel cell configuration, respectively

Additional file 1: of Time utilization and perceived psychosocial work environment among staff in Swedish primary care settings

Time study data collection form. The file contains the form where the participants recorded the time (min) they spent on each work task, every hour, every day, over two separate weeks, Monday to Friday, during office hours. The form contained three main categories (called work tasks) and a number of subcategories for each main category. (DOCX 26 kb

Additional file 2: of Time utilization and perceived psychosocial work environment among staff in Swedish primary care settings

Comparisons between professionals in COPSOQ scores. The means and SD of COPSOQ scales were compared between professions with the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey test. (DOCX 18 kb

Cox regressions of MMP-9 in relation to CHD incidence with progressive adjustments.

<p>Cox regressions of MMP-9 in relation to CHD incidence with progressive adjustments.</p

Descriptive characteristics of the study population, and associations with MMP-9.

<p>Descriptive characteristics of the study population, and associations with MMP-9.</p

Cox regressions of MMP-9 in relation to a composite measure of CHD-events and cerebral infarction.

<p>Cox regressions of MMP-9 in relation to a composite measure of CHD-events and cerebral infarction.</p

Miniature Biofuel Cell as a Potential Power Source for Glucose-Sensing Contact Lenses

A microscale membrane-less biofuel cell, capable of generating electrical energy from human lachrymal liquid, was developed by utilizing the ascorbate and oxygen naturally present in tears as fuel and oxidant. The biodevice is based on three-dimensional nanostructured gold electrodes covered with abiotic (conductive organic complex) and biological (redox enzyme) materials functioning as efficient anodic and cathodic catalysts, respectively. Three-dimensional nanostructured electrodes were fabricated by modifying 100 μm gold wires with 17 nm gold nanoparticles, which were further modified with tetrathiafulvalene-tetracyanoquinodimethane conducting complex to create the anode and with <i>Myrothecium verrucaria</i> bilirubin oxidase to create the biocathode. When operated in human tears, the biodevice exhibited the following characteristics: an open circuit voltage of 0.54 V, a maximal power density of 3.1 μW cm^–2 at 0.25 V and 0.72 μW cm^–2 at 0.4 V, with a stable current density output of over 0.55 μA cm^–2 at 0.4 V for 6 h of continuous operation. These findings support our proposition that an ascorbate/oxygen biofuel cell could be a suitable power source for glucose-sensing contact lenses to be used for continuous health monitoring by diabetes patients

Charge pump design.

<p>Overall scheme of the charge pump design divided into different modules connected to electronics for sensing, sampling, and wireless radio transmission of data.</p

Bench-top device test.

<p>Photographs of the set-up for the bench-top device test, showing (A) the oxygen sensitive wireless self-powered biodevice, <i>i.e.</i> an EFC (electrochemical cell containing the anodes, 1, and cathodes, 2) connected to the wireless operational unit (white box, 3) and a control device (voltmeter, 4) and (B) a computer with the developed control software and receiver (CC2530 radio highlighted with the white arrow, 5), placed roughly 4 m from the device.</p

Wireless carbohydrate sensing.

<p>Recorded signal from the carbohydrate sensitive self-contained biodevice in buffers with varying lactose concentrations.</p