The room temperature phosphine-free synthesis of near-infrared emitting HgSe quantum dots

Luminescent mercury selenide (HgSe) quantum dots have been synthesised by a phosphine-free method using oleic acid as a capping agent. The modification of experimental conditions such as temperature resulted in particles of various sizes (15–100 nm) and morphologies not previously seen in HgSe, with emission tuneable between 1000 nm and 1350 nm

Investigation of thermal behavior of α-PbO and β-PbO in O2 atmosphere

The compounds α-lead oxide (α-PbO) and β-lead oxide (β-PbO) were purchased from Merck co. and used for thermal investigations in laboratory. The compound was heated in a thermogravimeter at different temperature, from 25 to 400 °C. The used gas atmosphere was O2. The received products were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The received product Pb3O4 was confirmed by XRD. The textures of two different morphologies of α-PbO, β-PbO and the product Pb3O4 is investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques

Investigation of thermal behavior of α-PbO and β-PbO in O2 atmosphere

The compounds α-lead oxide (α-PbO) and β-lead oxide (β-PbO) were purchased from Merck co. and used for thermal investigations in laboratory. The compound was heated in a thermogravimeter at different temperature, from 25 to 400 °C. The used gas atmosphere was O2. The received products were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. The received product Pb3O4 was confirmed by XRD. The textures of two different morphologies of α-PbO, β-PbO and the product Pb3O4 is investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) techniques

High Energy Proton Induced X-Ray Emission and its Applications

High energy protons of energies between 30 and 60 MeV are particularly valuable in particle induced X-ray analysis of elements in the rare earth region and above. Transmission samples of thickness up to 100 μm can be used, and damage to both biological and mineral samples is minimal. Detection limits are estimated, and the use of Fourier transformation techniques in the analysis of data is discussed in some detail. The quality of the raw data from mineralogical and biological experiments is such as to permit immediate identification of all elements above Germanium present at the part per million level or above in a sample. Particle induced K X-ray spectra from Au ore, sperrylite, rutheniridosmine and autonite are shown, indicating that all elements from As to U are readily identified when K X-rays are generated by protons of appropriately high energy

Dysregulation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway mediates megakaryocytic hyperplasia in myeloproliferative neoplasms

published_or_final_versio

Mosquito electrocuting traps for directly measuring biting rates and host-preferences of Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles funestus outdoors

Background: Mosquito biting rates and host preferences are crucial determinants of human exposure to vectorborne diseases and the impact of vector control measures. The human landing catch (HLC) is a gold standard method for measuring human exposure to bites, but presents risks to participants by requiring some exposure to mosquito vectors. Mosquito electrocuting traps (METs) represent an exposure-free alternative to HLCs for measuring human exposure to malaria vectors. However, original MET prototypes were too small for measuring whole-body biting rates on humans or large animals like cattle. Here a much larger MET capable of encompassing humans or cattle was designed, and its performance was evaluated relative to both the original small MET and HLC and for quantifying malaria vector host preferences. Methods: Human landing catch, small human-baited METs (MET-SH), and large METs baited with either a human (MET-LH) or calves (MET-LC) were simultaneously used to capture wild malaria vectors outdoors in rural southern Tanzania. The four capture methods were compared in a Latin-square design over 20 nights. Malaria vector host preferences were estimated through comparison of the number of mosquitoes caught by large METs baited with either humans or cattle. Results: The MET-LH caught more than twice as many Anopheles arabiensis than either the MET-SH or HLC. It also caught higher number of Anopheles funestus sensu lato (s.l.) compared to the MET-SH or HLC. Similar numbers of An. funestus sensu stricto (s.s.) were caught in MET-LH and MET-SH collections. Catches of An. arabiensis with human or cattle-baited large METs were similar, indicating no clear preference for either host. In contrast, An. funestus s.s. exhibited a strong, but incomplete preference for humans. Conclusions: METs are a sensitive, practical tool for assessing mosquito biting rates and host preferences, and represent a safer alternative to the HLC. Additionally these fndings suggest the HLC underestimate whole-body human exposure. MET collections indicated the An. funestus s.s. population in this setting had a higher than expected attack rate on cattle, potentially making eliminating of this species more difiicult with human-targeted control measures. Supplementary vector control tools targeted at livestock may be required to effectively tackle this species

Detection of blood clots using a whole stent as an active implantable biosensor

Many cardiovascular problems stem from blockages that form within the vasculature and often treatment includes fitting a stent through percutaneous coronary intervention. This offers a minimally invasive therapy but re-occlusion through restenosis or thrombosis formation often occurs post-deployment. Research is ongoing into the creation of smart stents that can detect the occurrence of further problems. In this study, it is shown that selectively metalizing a non-conductive stent can create a set of electrodes that are capable of detecting a build-up of material around the stent. The associated increase in electrical impedance across the electrodes is measured, testing the stent with blood clot to mimic thrombosis. It is shown that the device is capable of sensing different amounts of occlusion. The stent can reproducibly sense the presence of clot showing a 16% +/−3% increase in impedance which is sufficient to reliably detect the clot when surrounded by explanted aorta (one sample t-test, p = 0.009, n = 9). It is demonstrated that this approach can be extended beyond the 3D printed prototypes by showing that it can be applied to a commercially available stent and it is believed that it can be further utilized by other types of medical implants

A comparative study of extracellular vesicle-associated and cell-free DNA and RNA for HPV detection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose: This study compares the detection sensitivity of two separate liquid biopsy sources, cell-free (cf) DNA/RNA and extracellular vesicle (EV)-associated DNA/RNA (EV-DNA/RNA), to identify circulating Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA/RNA in plasma obtained from patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPCSCC). We also report on the longitudinal changes observed in HPV-DNA levels in response to treatment. Experimental design: A prospective study was conducted that included 22 patients with locally advanced disease and six patients with metastatic OPCSCC. Twenty-three patients had HPV-related OPCSCC defined by p16 immunohistochemistry. Levels of circulating HPV-DNA and HPV-RNA from plasma-derived cf-DNA/RNA and EV-DNA/RNA were quantified using digital droplet PCR. Results: Circulating HPV-DNA was detected with higher sensitivity in cf-DNA compared to EV-DNA at 91% vs. 42% (p = \u3c 0.001). Similarly, circulating tumoral HPV-RNA was detected at a higher sensitivity in cf-RNA compared to EV-RNA, at 83% vs. 50% (p = 0.0019). In the locally advanced cohort, 100% (n = 16) of HPV-OPCSCC patients demonstrated a reduction in circulating HPV-DNA levels in cf-DNA following curative treatment, with 81% of patients demonstrating complete clearance to undetectable levels. However, in metastatic HPV-OPCSCC patients (n = 4), HPV-DNA levels did not correlate with treatment response. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that although HPV-DNA/RNA can be detected in EV associated DNA/RNA, cf-DNA/RNA is the more sensitive liquid biopsy medium. As circulating HPV-DNA levels were found to only correlate with treatment response in the locally advanced but not metastatic setting in our small cohort of patients, the use of HPV-DNA as a dynamic biomarker to monitor treatment response requires further evaluation. © 2020, The Author(s)

A comparative study of extracellular vesicle-associated and cell-free DNA and RNA for HPV detection in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma

Purpose: This study compares the detection sensitivity of two separate liquid biopsy sources, cell-free (cf) DNA/RNA and extracellular vesicle (EV)-associated DNA/RNA (EV-DNA/RNA), to identify circulating Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) DNA/RNA in plasma obtained from patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPCSCC). We also report on the longitudinal changes observed in HPV-DNA levels in response to treatment. Experimental design: A prospective study was conducted that included 22 patients with locally advanced disease and six patients with metastatic OPCSCC. Twenty-three patients had HPV-related OPCSCC defined by p16 immunohistochemistry. Levels of circulating HPV-DNA and HPV-RNA from plasma-derived cf-DNA/RNA and EV-DNA/RNA were quantified using digital droplet PCR. Results: Circulating HPV-DNA was detected with higher sensitivity in cf-DNA compared to EV-DNA at 91% vs. 42% (p = \u3c 0.001). Similarly, circulating tumoral HPV-RNA was detected at a higher sensitivity in cf-RNA compared to EV-RNA, at 83% vs. 50% (p = 0.0019). In the locally advanced cohort, 100% (n = 16) of HPV-OPCSCC patients demonstrated a reduction in circulating HPV-DNA levels in cf-DNA following curative treatment, with 81% of patients demonstrating complete clearance to undetectable levels. However, in metastatic HPV-OPCSCC patients (n = 4), HPV-DNA levels did not correlate with treatment response. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates that although HPV-DNA/RNA can be detected in EV associated DNA/RNA, cf-DNA/RNA is the more sensitive liquid biopsy medium. As circulating HPV-DNA levels were found to only correlate with treatment response in the locally advanced but not metastatic setting in our small cohort of patients, the use of HPV-DNA as a dynamic biomarker to monitor treatment response requires further evaluation. © 2020, The Author(s)