Glucose Sensing Optionally in Optical and Optoelectrical Modes Based on Au-TiO2 Schottky Nanojunctions

Abstract: In recent years, metallic nanostructures have been extensively researched in the field of plasmonic for optical and optoelectronic applications such as biochemical sensing. However, an additional optoelectronic converter or spectrometer is usually required for the sensing application. Herein, the orderly-patterned Au-TiO2 Schottky junction with an Al film that we coupled, which simultaneously works as an optical reflector and conducting layer, can achieve optical sensing of glucose by exciting surface plasmon resonance associated with the environment, and meanwhile can realize glucose detection with direct electrical-signal readout by collecting the photogenerated carriers inside the Au nanostructures and TiO2 film. When used in optical mode, the designed sensor shows a sensing sensitivity of up to 1200.0 nmRIU-1 in numerical calculation, and the measured value is 346.1 nmRIU-1. When used in optoelectrical mode, the glucose sensor under one-sun illumination obtains a sensitivity of 70.0 µAM-1cm-2 in the concentration range of 0–10 mM, with a detection limit of 0.05 µM (Signal/Noise=3). Simulation and experimental results demonstrated that the Al-film-coupled Au-TiO2 Schottky nanojunction can monitor glucose concentration optionally in optical and optoelectrical modes, which presents an alternative route to the miniaturized, portable, and multi-functioned sensors

Conformational Transitions of Polymer Chains in Solutions Characterized by Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer

The critical overlap concentration C* is an important concept in polymer solutions and is defined as the boundary between dilute and semidilute regimes. In this study, the chain conformational changes of polystyrene (PS) with both high (Mn = 200,000 Da) and low (Mn = 13,000 Da) molecular weights in cis-decalin were compared by intrachain fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The random labeling of donor and acceptor chromophores strategy was employed for long PS chains, whereas chain-end labeling was used for short PS chains. By monitoring the spectroscopic intensity ratio between acceptor and donor, the concentration dependence on chain conformation from dilute to semidilute solutions was determined. Both long and short chains exhibit a conformational transition concentration, above which the polymer chains begin to collapse with concentration significantly. Interestingly, for randomly labeled polymer long chains, such concentration is consistent with C* determined from the viscosity result, below which only slight conformational change of polymer chain takes place. However, for the chain-end labeled short chain, the conformational transition concentration takes place earlier than C*, below which no significant polymer conformation change is observed

Unbiased and Signal-Weakening Photoelectrochemical Hexavalent Chromium Sensing via a CuO Film Photocathode

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensors show great potential for the detection of heavy metal ions because of their low background noise, high sensitivity, and ease of integration. However, the detection limit is relatively high for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) monitoring in addition to the requirement of an external bias. Herein, a CuO film is readily synthesized as the photoactive material via reactive sputtering and thermal annealing in the construction of a PEC sensing photocathode for Cr(VI) monitoring. A different mechanism (i.e., Signal-Weakening PEC sensing) is confirmed by examining the electrochemical impedance and photocurrent response of different CuO film photoelectrodes prepared with the same conditions in contact with various solutions containing concentration-varying Cr(VI) for different durations. The detection of Cr(VI) is successfully achieved with the Signal-Weakening PEC response; a drop of photocathode signal with an increasing Cr(VI) concentration from the steric hindrance effect of the in situ formed Cr(OH)3 precipitates. The photocurrent of the optimized CuO film photocathode linearly declines as the concentration of Cr(VI) increases from 0.08 to 20 µM, with a detection limit down to 2.8 nM (Signal/Noise = 3) and a fitted sensitivity of 4.22 µA·μM−1. Moreover, this proposed sensing route shows operation simplicity, satisfactory selectivity, and reproducibility

Rhein Protects against Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders through Liver X Receptor-Mediated Uncoupling Protein 1 Upregulation in Brown Adipose Tissue

<p>Liver X receptors (LXRs) play important roles in regulating cholesterol homeostasis, and lipid and energy metabolism. Therefore, LXR ligands could be used for the management of metabolic disorders. We evaluated rhein, a natural compound from <i>Rheum palmatum </i>L., as an antagonist for LXRs and investigated its anti-obesity mechanism in high-fat diet-fed mice. Surface plasmon resonance assays were performed to examine the direct binding of rhein to LXRs. LXR target gene expression was assessed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and HepG2 hepatic cells <i>in vitro</i>. C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet were orally administered with rhein for 4 weeks, and then the expression levels of LXR-related genes were analyzed. Rhein bound directly to LXRs. The expression levels of LXR target genes were suppressed by rhein in 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells. In white adipose tissue, muscle and liver, rhein reprogrammed the expression of LXR target genes related to adipogenesis and cholesterol metabolism. Rhein activated uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression in brown adipose tissue (BAT) in wild-type mice, but did not affect UCP1 expression in LXR knockout mice. In HIB-1B brown adipocytes, rhein activated the UCP1 gene by antagonizing the repressive effect of LXR on UCP1 expression. This study suggests that rhein may protect against obesity and related metabolic disorders through LXR antagonism and regulation of UCP1 expression in BAT.</p

Broadband and wide-angle light harvesting by ultra-thin silicon solar cells with partially embedded dielectric spheres

We propose a design of crystalline silicon thin-film solar cells (c-Si TFSCs, 2 mu m-thick) configured with partially embedded dielectric spheres on the light-injecting side. The intrinsic light trapping and photoconversion are simulated by the complete optoelectronic simulation. It shows that the embedding depth of the spheres provides an effective way to modulate and significantly enhance the optical absorption. Compared to the conventional planar and front sphere systems, the optimized partially embedded sphere design enables a broadband, wide-angle, and strong optical absorption and efficient carrier transportation. Optoelectronic simulation predicts that a 2 mu m-thick c-Si TFSC with half-embedded spheres shows an increment of more than 10 mA/cm(2) in short-circuit current density and an enhancement ratio of more than 56% in light-conversion efficiency, compared to the conventional planar counterparts. (C) 2016 Optical Society of Americ

Executive functions in non-suicidal self-injury comorbid first-episode and drug-naïve depression among adolescents

Executive functions(EFs) may be associated with the emergence of non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI) due to their role as behavior controllers. EFs includes three core cognitive processes: inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility(i.e. the ability to selectively alter cognitive strategies to generate appropriate behavior in the changing environment). This study aimed to systematically explore the three core EFs in depressed adolescents with NSSI. The data was obtained from the baseline data of the Chinese adolescent depression Cohort. The adolescents underwent cognitive assessments to yield domain-specific scores in EFs using the Digit Span Backward test(DSB), the Stroop Color-word interference test- color-word condition(Stroop-CW), and the Wisconsin Card Sorting tests(WCST). The significant differences in WCST scores were found between the NSSI group and the non-NSSI group. NSSI frequency was moderately positively correlated with total errors and negatively correlated with the number of categories completed. The number of categories completed in the &quot;&gt;= 200 &#39;&#39; NSSI frequency group was significantly lower than that in the &quot;&lt;= 10 &#39;&#39; NSSI group. The current findings suggested that depressed adolescents who had engaged in NSSI have poorer cognitive flexibility performance compared to adolescents without NSSI. As the frequency of NSSI increased, cognitive flexibility might become worse. These results provide evidence of a connection between executive dysfunctions and NSSI in depressed adolescents.</p