Electrochemical Oxidation of Low-Concentration Methane on Pt/Pt and Pt/CP under Ambient Conditions.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, and its rapid conversion at low concentrations under ambient conditions is a challenging process where combustion is not an option. Herein, we report an electrochemical method to address this problem. It was achieved by applying an oxidation potential to electrochemically activate methane followed by conducting an anodic cyclic voltammogram to fully oxidize activated methane to carbon dioxide on platinized Pt mesh (Pt/Pt) and carbon paper (Pt/CP).

Correction: Golovko et al. Ambient Dose and Dose Rate Measurement in SNOLAB Underground Laboratory at Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. 2023, , 1945.

We have found a discrepancy in the reported exposure time for passive sensors, specifically TLDs, in the original manuscript entitled "Ambient Dose and Dose Rate Measurement in SNOLAB Underground Laboratory at Sudbury, Ontario, Canada" [...

Single-Lesion Skin Cancer Risk Stratification Triage Pathway.

Importance: Access to timely dermatologic care remains a challenge, especially for patients with new skin lesions. Assessing the efficiency of new triage pathways may assist in better resource allocation and shorter time to care.

Objective: To evaluate whether a rule-based triage system was associated with better skin cancer risk stratification of patients and reduced wait times.

An analytical approach for unsupervised learning rate estimation using rectified linear units.

Unsupervised learning based on restricted Boltzmann machine or autoencoders has become an important research domain in the area of neural networks. In this paper mathematical expressions to adaptive learning step calculation for RBM with ReLU transfer function are proposed. As a result, we can automatically estimate the step size that minimizes the loss function of the neural network and correspondingly update the learning step in every iteration.

Study on high-precision three-dimensional reconstruction of pulmonary lesions and surrounding blood vessels based on CT images.

The adoption of computerized tomography (CT) technology has significantly elevated the role of pulmonary CT imaging in diagnosing and treating pulmonary diseases. However, challenges persist due to the complex relationship between lesions within pulmonary tissue and the surrounding blood vessels. These challenges involve achieving precise three-dimensional reconstruction while maintaining accurate relative positioning of these elements.

Revisiting ultrasmall phosphine-stabilized rhodium-doped gold clusters AuRh ( = 5, 6, 7, 8): geometric, electronic, and vibrational properties.

Incorporation of other transition metals in Au nanoclusters has been thriving recently due to its effect on their electronic and photophysical properties. Here, the ultrasmall phosphine-stabilized Rh-doped gold clusters AuRh ( = 5, 6, 7, 8), with metal core structures represented as fragments of a rhodium-centered icosahedron, are considered. The geometric and electronic properties of these nanoclusters are revisited and analyzed using density functional theory (DFT).

In Situ Incorporation of Atomically Precise Au Nanoclusters within Zeolites for Ambient Temperature CO Oxidation.

Preserving ultrasmall sizes of metal particles is a key challenge in the study of heterogeneous metal-based catalysis. Confining the ultrasmall metal clusters in a well-defined crystalline porous zeolite has emerged as a promising approach to stabilize these metal species. Successful encapsulation can be achieved by the addition of ligated metal complexes to zeolite synthesis gel before hydrothermal synthesis.

Unveiling Insights: Harnessing the Power of the Most-Frequent-Value Method for Sensor Data Analysis.

The paper explores the application of Steiner's most-frequent-value (MFV) statistical method in sensor data analysis. The MFV is introduced as a powerful tool to identify the most-common value in a dataset, even when data points are scattered, unlike traditional mode calculations. Furthermore, the paper underscores the MFV method's versatility in estimating environmental gamma background blue (the natural level of gamma radiation present in the environment, typically originating from natural sources such as rocks, soil, and cosmic rays), making it useful in scenarios where traditional statistical methods are challenging.

Evolution and impact of a dedicated ultrasound clinic on clinical rheumatology practice at an academic medical center.

Background: Rheumatologic ultrasonography (RhUS) has grown in scope and application over the past 20 years. While many studies have shown the benefits of RhUS, few have investigated the efficacy of a dedicated clinic. This study explores the impact of a dedicated ultrasound clinic on patients and rheumatologists at an academic medical center (AMC).

Ambient Dose and Dose Rate Measurement in SNOLAB Underground Laboratory at Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.

The paper describes a system and experimental procedure that use integrating passive detectors, such as thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs), for the measurement of ultra-low-level ambient dose equivalent rate values at the underground SNOLAB facility located in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Because these detectors are passive and can be exposed for relatively long periods of time, they can provide better sensitivity for measuring ultra-low activity levels. The final characterization of ultra-low-level ambient dose around water shielding for ongoing direct dark matter search experiments in Cube Hall at SNOLAB underground laboratory is given.

Degradation of sulfamethoxazole in water by AgNbO photocatalyst mediated by persulfate.

In this paper, silver niobate (AgNbO) material was synthesized by a solid-state reaction. AgNbO was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) measurement. The photocatalytic activity of AgNbO was investigated in degradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) under visible light, which is a widely used antibiotic with significant threats towards health and aquatic organisms.

Graphene Bridge for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution with Gold Nanocluster Co-Catalysts.

Herein, the UV light photocatalytic activity of an AuNC-AlSrTiO-rGO nanocomposite comprising 1 wt% rGO, 0.05 wt% Au(PPh)Cl (AuNC), and AlSrTiO evaluated for H production. The synthesis of AuNC-AlSrTiO-rGO nanocomposite followed two distinct routes: (1) AuNC was first mixed with AlSrTiO followed by the addition of rGO (AuNC-AlSrTiO:rGO) and (2) AuNC was first mixed with rGO followed by the addition of AlSrTiO (AuNC-rGO:AlSrTiO).

Simplified efficiency calibration methods for semiconductor detectors used in criticality dosimetry.

"Oversimplified" and "simplified" methods based on true coincidence summing effect used in uncomplicated determination of the photo-peak efficiency of the semiconductor High Purity Germanium (HPGe) detector system are suggested and verified. The methods and calibrated Co radioactive source may be used to commission any HPGe detector to use during potential criticality event. The determined accuracy of the semiconductor HPGe detector system using this method is a few percent (for the detector system used in this study it was ≃8% for "oversimplified" and ≃5% for "simplified" methods accordingly) reasonable, expected, and good enough to use for estimation of neutron dose from irradiated human blood in a potential criticality event.

Pulse-shape discrimination against low-energy Ar-39 beta decays in liquid argon with 4.5 tonne-years of DEAP-3600 data.

The DEAP-3600 detector searches for the scintillation signal from dark matter particles scattering on a 3.3 tonne liquid argon target. The largest background comes from beta decays and is suppressed using pulse-shape discrimination (PSD).

Current status of eye-lens dosimetry in Canada.

For occupational exposures in planned exposure situations International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) publication 118 recommends an equivalent dose limit for the lens of the eye of 20 mSv yraveraged over five years with no single year exceeding 50 mSv. This constitutes a reduction from the previous limit of 150 mSv yr. The Canadian nuclear regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, responded to the ICRP recommendation by initiating amendments to thethrough a discussion paper which was published for comment by interested stakeholders in 2013.

Emergent electronic properties in Co-deposited superatomic clusters.

We report an intercluster compound based on co-deposition of the Au cluster [Au(PPh)](NO) and the fulleride KC(THF). Electronic properties characteristic for a charge interaction between superatoms emerge within the solid state material [Au(PPh)](NO)(C), as confirmed by UV-VIS and Raman spectroscopy and I-V measurements. These emergent properties are related to the superatomic electronic states of the initial clusters.

Photocatalytic Degradation of Ethiofencarb by a Visible Light-Driven SnInS Photocatalyst.

This work reports the preparation and detailed characterization of stannum indium sulfide (SnInS) semiconductor photocatalyst for degradation of ethiofencarb (toxic insecticide) under visible-light irradiation. The as-prepared SnInS showed catalytic efficiency of 98% in 24 h under optimal operating conditions (pH = 3, catalyst dosage of 0.5 g L).

Size-activity threshold of titanium dioxide-supported Cu cluster in CO oxidation.

Development of non-noble metal cluster catalysts, aiming at concurrently high activity and stability, for emission control systems has been challenging because of sintering and overcoating of clusters on the support. In this work, we reported the role of well-dispersed copper nanoclusters supported on TiO in CO oxidation under industrially relevant operating conditions. The catalyst containing 0.

Au-rGO nanocomposite: immobilization of phosphine-protected gold nanoclusters on reduced graphene oxide without aggregation.

Graphene supported transition metal clusters are of great interest for potential applications, such as catalysis, due to their unique properties. In this work, a simple approach to deposit Au(PPh)Cl (AuNC) on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) an method is presented. Reduction of graphene oxide at native pH (pH ≈ 2) to rGO was performed under aqueous hydrothermal conditions.

Oxygen-deficient bismuth molybdate nanocatalysts: Synergistic effects in boosting photocatalytic oxidative coupling of benzylamine and mechanistic insight.

Herein, bismuth molybdate (BiMoO) nanocatalysts containing oxygen vacancies (OVs) are found to considerably promote the photocatalytic performance toward oxidative coupling of benzylamine to N-benzylidenebenzylamine under visible light irradiation. The structure-activity relationship for this interesting catalyst is revealed for the first time. The oxygen-deficient BiMoO nanoplatelets (BMO-NPs) are synthesized using ethylene glycol-ethanol solvent mixture as a reaction medium in solvothermal method.

Characterization of changes in the configuration of action potentials in the mouse, guinea pig, and pig sinoauricular node after application of channel blockers of the rapid and slow delayed rectifier potassium currents.

We hypothesized that the repolarization phase of action potentials (APs) in mammals with large body mass and high cardiac output could not be reliably controlled by only one of the delayed rectifier potassium I current components. To test this hypothesis experimentally, we performed a comparative study of the response of AP phases to the rapid I channels blocker E-4031 and slow I blocker chromanol 293B in APs spontaneously generated in strips of sinoauricular (SA) tissue from mouse, guinea pig, and pig hearts. Application of a slow channels blocker chromanol 293B caused a decrease of Aps generation frequency in SA area strips from mouse, guinea-pig and pig by 5.

First Results from the DEAP-3600 Dark Matter Search with Argon at SNOLAB.

This Letter reports the first results of a direct dark matter search with the DEAP-3600 single-phase liquid argon (LAr) detector. The experiment was performed 2 km underground at SNOLAB (Sudbury, Canada) utilizing a large target mass, with the LAr target contained in a spherical acrylic vessel of 3600 kg capacity. The LAr is viewed by an array of PMTs, which would register scintillation light produced by rare nuclear recoil signals induced by dark matter particle scattering.

Recent applications of click chemistry for the functionalization of gold nanoparticles and their conversion to glyco-gold nanoparticles.

Glycoscience, despite its myriad of challenges, promises to unravel the causes of, potential new detection methods for, and novel therapeutic strategies against, many disease states. In the last two decades, glyco-gold nanoparticles have emerged as one of several potential new tools for glycoscientists. Glyco-gold nanoparticles consist of the unique structural combination of a gold nanoparticle core and an outer-shell comprising multivalent presentation of carbohydrates.

Pharmacological analysis of the transmembrane action potential configuration in myoepithelial cells of the spontaneously beating heart of the ascidian .

The mechanisms of action potential (AP) generation in the myoepithelial cells of the tunicate heart are not yet well understood. Here, an attempt was made to elucidate these mechanisms by analyzing the effects of specific blockers of K, Na and Ca currents on the configuration of transmembrane APs and their frequency in the spontaneously beating ascidian heart. In addition, an immunocytochemical analysis of heart myoepithelial cells was performed.

Apparatus for the investigation of high-temperature, high-pressure gas-phase heterogeneous catalytic and photo-catalytic materials.

A high-temperature, high-pressure, pulsed-gas sampling and detection system has been developed for testing new catalytic and photocatalytic materials for the production of solar fuels. The reactor is fitted with a sapphire window to allow the irradiation of photocatalytic samples from a lamp or solar simulator light source. The reactor has a volume of only 3.