Piezoelectric biosensors for organophosphate and carbamate pesticides: a review

Due to the great amount of pesticides currently being used, there is an increased interest for developing biosensors for their detection. Among all the physical transducers, piezoelectric systems have emerged as the most attractive due to their simplicity, low instrumentation costs, possibility for real-time and label-free detection and generally high sensitivity. This paper presents an overview of biosensors based on the quartz crystal microbalance, which have been reported in the literature for organophosphate and carbamate pesticide analysis

MIP-based sensors: Promising new tools for cancer biomarker determination

Detecting cancer disease at an early stage is one of the most important issues for increasing the survival rate of patients. Cancer biomarker detection helps to provide a diagnosis before the disease becomes incurable in later stages. Biomarkers can also be used to evaluate the progression of therapies and surgery treatments. In recent years, molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) based sensors have been intensely investigated as promising analytical devices in several fields, including clinical analysis, offering desired portability, fast response, specificity, and low cost. The aim of this review is to provide readers with an overview on recent important achievements in MIP-based sensors coupled to various transducers (e.g., electrochemical, optical, and piezoelectric) for the determination of cancer biomarkers by selected publications from 2012 to 2016

Design of an Affibody-Based Recognition Strategy for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) Detection by Electrochemical Biosensors

In this study, we have designed and realized three simple electrochemical bioassays for the detection of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) cancer biomarker using magnetic beads coupling screen-printed arrays. The different approaches were based on a sandwich format in which affibody (Af) or antibody (Ab) molecules were coupled respectively to streptavidin or protein A-modified magnetic beads. The bioreceptor-modified beads were used to capture the HER2 protein from the sample and sandwich assay was performed by adding the labeled secondary affibody or the antibody. An enzyme-amplified detection scheme based on the coupling of secondary biotinylated bioreceptor with streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase enzyme conjugate was then applied. The enzyme catalyzed the hydrolysis of the electro-inactive 1-naphthyl-phosphate to the electro-active 1-naphthol, which was detected by means of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Each developed assay has been studied and optimized. Furthermore, a thorough comparison of the analytical performances of developed assays was performed. Finally, preliminary experiments using serum samples spiked with HER2 protein were also carried out

WELL-BEING AND RISK PERCEPTION IN PREADOLESCENCE: THE ROLE OF CARDIAC VAGAL TONE

openIl presente lavoro di tesi mira ad analizzare la relazione tra percezione del rischio, benessere e tono cardiaco vagale, inteso come indice fisiologico di autoregolazione. In particolare, è stata studiata la relazione diretta tra benessere e percezione del rischio, tra benessere e tono cardiaco vagale, e l’esistenza di un’eventuale interazione tra percezione del rischio e tono cardiaco vagale nell’influenzare la condizione di benessere. Il tutto è stato indagato all’interno di una specifica fascia dell’età evolutiva: la preadolescenza. I risultati hanno mostrato significatività solo quando venivano considerate tutte e tre le variabili, ma esclusivamente nell'accezione di benessere come minor presenza di problemi internalizzanti, piuttosto che esternalizzanti. Dopo aver discusso l'esito delle analisi dei dati, si affrontano i limiti dello studio che potrebbero aver influenzato i risultati e i suggerimenti che ne derivano per le ricerche future. Si conclude con delle riflessioni sulle implicazioni operative in campo educativo

Development of a Sensorized Timber Processor Head Prototype – Part 1: Sensors Description and Hardware Integration

Forest operations are in constant development to provide increasingly higher standards of economic and environmental sustainability. The latest innovation trends are concentrated in the generation, storage and management of data related to the harvesting process, timber products and logistics operations. Current technologies provide productivity and position, but only physical parameters are made available for timber products. The possibility of providing a comprehensive quality evaluation of roundwood early in the supply chain and linking the information to each log provides a new tool for optimization of the whole forest-timber supply chain. Current in-field methods for grading logs are based on visual rating scales, which are subjective, operator-dependent and time-consuming. As an alternative, a sensorized processor head was developed, featuring the following sensors: near infrared (NIR) spectrometer and hyperspectral cameras to identify surface defects, stress wave and time of flight sensors to estimate timber density, hydraulic flow sensor to estimate cross-cutting resistance and delimbing sensors to estimate branches number and approximate position. The prototype also deployed an RFID UHF system, which allowed the identification of the incoming tree and individually marked each log, relating the quality parameters recorded to the physical item and tracing it along the supply chain. The tested sensors were installed and designed to be independent, nevertheless, their integrated use provides a comprehensive evaluation of timber quality. This paper presents the technical solutions adopted, the main hindrances found and some preliminary results of the operative prototype as tested in laboratory and in forest operational conditions

The Lexical Field of Illnesses and Healing in Ancient Hebrew

Abstract La ricerca in oggetto è un’analisi componenziale dei lessemi indicativi di patologie e una di guarigione in ebraico antico. . Sono così citati sia il tratto distintivo (distinctive feature) che un lessema acquista alla fine e alla luce della ricerca stessa, sia il risultato dell’uso contestualizzato del lessema stesso. Alla fine, un’esatta disamina dei lessemi che indicano le malattie e gli stati di salute in EA, catalogati in un glossario, corredano la ricerca. La ricerca è divisa in tre sezioni principali: l’analisi distribuzionale e classematica, l’analisi paradigmatica e, infine, il glossario finale. L’analisi distribuzionale e classematica valuta ogni singola occorrenza del lessema nel corpus dell’EA (Iscrizioni, EB ed EQ) e individua la classe alla quale il lessema si riferisce. L’analisi paradigmatica si propone l’inserimento nella ricerca della ‘dimensione’ individuata per ogni lessema analizzato. . I rapporti individuati tra i vari lessemi sono di: antonomia graduale se essi si oppongono in base alla marcatezza della malattia descritta dal lessema stesso ovvero polare se l’opposizione avviene in base allo stato patologico stricto sensu. Infine, si attestano rapporti di iperonimia e iponimia. Alla luce delle opposizioni, il significato è da considerarsi come distinto dalla “designazione”, vale a dire dalla specifica e contestuale utilizzazione che la lingua attesta per il lessema. I lessemi analizzati sono: חֳלִי, מַחֲלָֽה e derivati, דְּוַי, דֶבֶר, צָרַעַת e זוֹב , דַּלֶּקֶת , חַרְחֻר, קַּדַּ֔חַת, שַּׁחֶ֙פֶת, גָּרָ֖ב, חֶרֶס*, יַלֶּ֔פֶת, נֶּ֗תֶק, שְׁחִ֥ין, טחור* e מַרְפֵּאThe research is a componential analysis of the lexemes indicative of pathologies and healing in ancient Hebrew. . The distinctive feature that a lexeme acquires at the end and in the light of the research itself, and the result of the contextualized use of the lexeme itself are thus cited. In the end, an exact examination of the lexemes that indicate diseases and health conditions in AH, cataloged in a glossary, accompany the research. . In this study the denotative lexemes of generic diseases (hyperonyms), specific diseases (hyponyms) are analyzed in opposition to a lexeme indicative of a state of recovery from them and of overall health. The research is divided into three main sections: the distributional and classematic analysis, the paradigmatic analysis and, finally, the final glossary. The distributional and classematic analysis assesses each single occurrence of the lexeme in the AH corpus (Inscriptions, BH and QH) and identifies the class to which the lexeme refers. The paradigmatic analysis proposes the insertion in the search of the 'dimension' identified for each lexeme analyzed. . Finally, there are reports of hyperonymy and hyponymy. In the light of the oppositions, the meaning is to be considered as distinct from the "designation", that is, from the specific and contextual use that the language attests to the lexeme. The analyzed lexemes are: חֳלִי, מַחֲלָֽה and derivates, דְּוַי, דֶבֶר, צָרַעַת e זוֹב , דַּלֶּקֶת , חַרְחֻר, קַּדַּ֔חַת, שַּׁחֶ֙פֶת, גָּרָ֖ב, חֶרֶס*, יַלֶּ֔פֶת, נֶּ֗תֶק, שְׁחִ֥ין, טחור* e מַרְפֵּ

Nano-biosensing platforms for detection of cow’s milk allergens: An overview

Among prevalent food allergies, cow milk allergy (CMA) is most common and may persist throughout the life. The allergic individuals are exposed to a constant threat due to milk proteins' presence in uncounted food products like yogurt, cheese, and bakery items. The problem can be more severe due to cross-reactivity of the milk allergens in the food products due to homologous milk proteins of diverse species. This problem can be overcome by proper and reliable food labeling in order to ensure the life quality of allergic persons. Therefore, highly sensitive and accurate analytical techniques should be developed to detect the food allergens. Here, significant research advances in biosensors (specifically immunosensors and aptasensors) are reviewed for detection of the milk allergens. Different allergic proteins of cow milk are described here along with the analytical standard methods for their detection. Additionally, the commercial status of biosensors is also discussed in comparison to conventional techniques like enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The development of novel biosensing mechanisms/kits for milk allergens detection is imperative from the perspective of enforcement of labeling regulations and directives keeping in view the sensitive individuals