Sensor-on-Microtips: Design and Development of Hydrothermally Grown ZnO on Micropipette Tips as a Modified Working Electrode for Detection of Glucose.

Miniaturization of electrochemical components has become less common in the last decade, with the focus predominantly being the design and development of state-of-the-art microelectrodes for achieving small volume analysis of samples. However, such microelectrodes involve cumbersome processing procedures to convert the base material for the required application. A potential paradigm shift in such miniaturization could be achieved by using cheaper alternatives such as plastics to build electrochemical components, such as micropipette tips made of polypropylene, which are commercially available at ease.

Concurrent intrapericardial-pulmonary hydatidosis: an unusual multisystem echinococcosis.

A 46-year-old male presented with breathlessness for a few months. He had been operated twice for liver hydatid cysts and once for right pulmonary hydatid cysts at other hospitals. Now he was found to have one hydatid cyst in the upper lobe of the left lung and multiple hydatid cysts adjoining left heart border.

Cleanroom and Template Free Fabrication of Single Polygonal Shaped Microneedle.

For painless skin penetration, microneedles require optimal geometry due to human skin's inherent elastic properties. The fabrication of desired shape microneedle is very critical. To our knowledge, the polygonal geometry microneedle has not been investigated before.

Fabrication and Analysis of Energy Efficient Low-Cost Wireless Gas Sensor Based on ZnO Thin Films.

Industrialization can be greatly appreciated only by limiting the downside of the proposed technology. In this aeon, the recurrent monitoring of industries is statutory in detecting harmful gases and explosions for the global environment safety. Hence, employing specific gas sensors for detecting malicious gases benefits the welfare of the society.

Vanadium oxide nanostructures for chemiresistive gas and vapour sensing: a review on state of the art.

This review (with 200 references) summarises the state of the art of gas and vapour sensors based on the use of vanadium oxide (VO; with V occurring in various valencies) nanostructures. Following an introduction that covers the discussion of VO and their stable forms, the first large section covers experimental techniques employed for preparing VO nanostructures, with methods such as precipitation, hydrothermal synthesis, electrospinning, polyol techniques, laser deposition, and magnetron sputtering. The next section deals with VO-based sensors for oxidising gases such as nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and ozone.

Advanced Artificial Electronic Skin Based pH Sensing System for Heatstroke Detection.

Heatstroke is a serious illness that can potentially damage many victims every year. Many intelligent physical sensors have been developed to prevent heatstroke fatalities. However, it remains a challenge to fabricate skin-adhesive, small, and low-cost sensors for heatstroke detection to overcome the weaknesses of the physical sensors.

Investigation on CH sensing characteristics of hierarchical VO nanoflowers operated at relatively low temperature using chemiresistive approach.

Methane (CH) gas, the second most potent greenhouse gas share a substantial role in contributing to the global warming and it is a necessary pre-requisite to detect the release of CH into the environment at its early stage to combat climate change. In that front, this work is focussed to develop an effective CH gas sensor using vanadium pentoxide (VO) thin films that works at an operating temperature of ∼100 °C. To understand the effect of sputtering power towards the structural characteristics of VO films, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) analysis were performed from which the orthorhombic polycrystalline structure of VO thin films was confirmed with varied texture co-efficient.

Development of an acetone sensor using nanostructured CoO thin films for exhaled breath analysis.

In recent times, the development of breath sensors for the detection of Diabetic Keto-Acidosis (DKA) has been gaining prominent importance in the field of health care and advanced diagnostics. Acetone is one of the prominent biomarkers in the exhaled breath of persons affected by DKA. In this background, nanostructured cobalt oxide sensing elements were fabricated using a spray pyrolysis technique at different deposition temperatures (473 to 773 K in steps of 100 K) towards the fabrication of an acetone sensor.

Advanced TiO-SiO-Sulfur (Ti-Si-S) Nanohybrid Materials: Potential Adsorbent for the Remediation of Contaminated Wastewater.

In this present work, TiO-SiO-sulfur (Ti-Si-S) nanohybrid material was successfully prepared using TiO nano powder, TEOS sol-gel precursor, and elemental sulfur as raw material by sol-gel process and hydrothermal method at 120 °C temperature. Raman spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, TEM, and N absorption-desorption characterized the synthesized nanohybrid material. The characterization results confirmed the homogeneous distribution of sulfur in the nanohybrid material.

Dose Calculation Accuracy of AAA and AcurosXB Algorithms for Small Central and Interface Lung Lesions - Verification with Gafchromic Film Dosimetry.

Dose calculation for small field radiotherapy with heterogeneity often involves discrepancies, so that algorithms used by treatment planning systems (TPS) should be evaluated with reference to achieving optimal treatment results. Accuracy of two model based algorithms, AcurosXB (AcXB) and the analytical anisotropic algorithm (AAA) from Eclipse TPS, were here tested. Measurements are made using Gafchromic EBT3 films with indigenously generated lung phantoms irradiated with 6 MV photons.

Radiation-Induced Second Cancer Risk from External Beam Photon Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: Impact on in-Field and Out-of-Field Organs.

The purpose of this paper is to provide data on development of second primary cancers within or adjacent to tissue irradiated in the treatment of primary head and neck cancers using different techniques and modalities. Materials and methods: We selected five patients with HandN tumors located in base of the tongue for risk assessment. In order to examine the impact of choices of various planning techniques, numbers of beams and beam energy used in treatment plans - 7 and 9 field Intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) plans using 6MV and 10 MV beam energies and a 6MV Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were planned.

Microneedle pH Sensor: Direct, Label-Free, Real-Time Detection of Cerebrospinal Fluid and Bladder pH.

Acid-base homeostasis (body pH) inside the body is precisely controlled by the kidneys and lungs and buffer systems, such that even a minor pH change could severely affect many organs. Blood and urine pH tests are common in day-to-day clinical trials and require little effort for diagnosis. There is always a great demand for in vivo testing to understand more about body metabolism and to provide effective diagnosis and therapy.

ZnO-Based Microfluidic pH Sensor: A Versatile Approach for Quick Recognition of Circulating Tumor Cells in Blood.

The present study is concerned about the development of highly sensitive and stable microfluidic pH sensor for possible identification of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood. The precise pH measurements between silver-silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) reference electrode and zinc oxide (ZnO) working electrode have been investigated in the microfluidic device. Since there is a direct link between pH and cancer cells, the developed device is one of the valuable tools to examine circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in blood.

The effect of influence quantities and detector orientation on small-field patient-specific IMRT QA: comparison of measurements with various ionization chambers.

Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) requires a patient-specific quality assurance (QA) program to validate the treatment plan and a high level of dosimetric accuracy in the treatment delivery. Dosimetric verification generally consists of both absolute- and relative-dose measurements in a phantom using ionization chambers. Measurements were carried out with three different ionization chambers (Scanditronix FC 65G, Exradin A18, and PTW PinPoint 31014) to assess the effects of influence quantities such as the stability, pre- and post-irradiation leakage, stem effect, polarity, and ion recombination on the IMRT point-dose verification with two different orientations.

Substrate Temperature Effects on Room Temperature Sensing Properties of Nanostructured ZnO Thin Films.

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited on glass substrates using chemical spray pyrolysis technique at different substrate temperatures such as 523, 623 and 723 K. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the formation of polycrystalline films with hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure and revealed the change in preferential orientation of the crystal planes. Scanning electron micrographs showed the formation of uniformly distributed spherical shaped grains at low deposition temperature and pebbles like structure at the higher temperature.

Percentage depth dose calculation accuracy of model based algorithms in high energy photon small fields through heterogeneous media and comparison with plastic scintillator dosimetry.

Small fields smaller than 4 × 4 cm2 are used in stereotactic and conformal treatments where heterogeneity is normally present. Since dose calculation accuracy in both small fields and heterogeneity often involves more discrepancy, algorithms used by treatment planning systems (TPS) should be evaluated for achieving better treatment results. This report aims at evaluating accuracy of four model-based algorithms, X-ray Voxel Monte Carlo (XVMC) from Monaco, Superposition (SP) from CMS-Xio, AcurosXB (AXB) and analytical anisotropic algorithm (AAA) from Eclipse are tested against the measurement.

Analysis of direct clinical consequences of MLC positional errors in volumetric-modulated arc therapy using 3D dosimetry system.

In advanced, intensity-modulated external radiotherapy facility, the multileaf collimator has a decisive role in the beam modulation by creating multiple segments or dynamically varying field shapes to deliver a uniform dose distribution to the target with maximum sparing of normal tissues. The position of each MLC leaf has become more critical for intensity-modulated delivery (step-and-shoot IMRT, dynamic IMRT, and VMAT) compared to 3D CRT, where it defines only field boundaries. We analyzed the impact of the MLC positional errors on the dose distribution for volumetric-modulated arc therapy, using a 3D dosimetry system.

Fluorescence spectral diagnosis of malaria: a preliminary study.

Background: Malaria is the most common disease transmitted by the bite by an infected female anopheles mosquito and caused by the plasmodium parasite. It is mostly prevalent in subtropical regions receiving abundant rain and supporting copious mosquito breeding. This disease is generally detected by the microscopic examination of blood films or antigen based rapid diagnostic test.

Analysis of physical parameters and determination of inflection point for Flattening Filter Free beams in medical linear accelerator.

Background: Medical Linear accelerators manufactured without flattening filters are increasing popular in recent days. The removal of flattening filter results in increased dose rate, reduced mean energy, reduction in head leakage and lateral scattering, which have shown advantageous when used for special treatment procedures.

Aim: This study aims to analyze physical parameters of FFF beams and to determine the inflection point for standardizing the beam flatness and penumbra.

Use of flattening filter-free photon beams in treating medulloblastoma: a dosimetric evaluation.

Aim. To evaluate the dosimetric benefits of flattening filter-free (FFF) photon beams in intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and Rapid Arc (RA) over conventional CSI methods. Methods and Materials.