Scalable electrospinning using a desktop, high throughput, self-contained system.

Electrospinning is a specialized processing technique for the formation of submicron diameter fibers of polymeric and ceramic materials using an electrostatic field. The process has multiple advantages over other nano- and micro- fiber synthesis methods; however, generally suffers from very low fabrication speeds, making it undesirable for scalability. This work assesses the performance of a needle-less, self-contained, high throughput electrospinning system.

Photocatalytic Desulfurization of Thiophene with Chevrel Phase NiMoS Synthesized by SHS.

The Chevrel phase compounds CuMoS, NiMoS, and FeMoS, synthesized by self-propagating high temperature synthesis, were evaluated as photocatalysts for visible light photocatalytic desulfurization. Investigations began with reflectance measurements from which absorbance spectra were calculated using the Kubelka-Munk transformation. The absorbance data was then used to create Tauc plots to find the direct and indirect bandgaps of the Chevrel phase compounds.

Diagnostic agreement between emergency medical service and emergency department physicians, a prospective multicentre study.

Introduction: Early and adequate preliminary diagnosis reduce emergency department (ED) and hospital stay and may reduce mortality. Several studies demonstrated adequate preliminary diagnosis as stated by emergency medical services (EMS) ranging between 61 and 77%. Dutch EMS are highly trained, but performance of stating adequate preliminary diagnosis remains unknown.

How to Build Live-Cell Sensor Microdevices.

There is a lot of discussion on how viruses (such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2) are transmitted in air, potentially from aerosols and respiratory droplets, and thus it is important to monitor the environment for the presence of an active pathogen. Currently, the presence of viruses is being determined using primarily nucleic acid-based detection methods, such as reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. Antigen tests have also been developed for this purpose.

Polymorphic Biological and Inorganic Functional Nanomaterials.

This perspective involves two types of functional nanomaterials, amyloid fibrils and metal oxide nanowires and nanogrids. Both the protein and the inorganic nanomaterials rely on their polymorphism to exhibit diverse properties that are important to sensing and catalysis. Several examples of novel functionalities are provided from biomarker sensing and filtration applications to smart scaffolds for energy and sustainability applications.

Towards skin-acetone monitors with selective sensitivity: Dynamics of PANI-CA films.

Most research aimed at measuring biomarkers on the skin is only concerned with sensing chemicals in sweat using electrical signals, but these methods are not truly non-invasive nor non-intrusive because they require substantial amounts of sweat to get a reading. This project aims to create a truly non-invasive wearable sensor that continuously detects the gaseous acetone (a biomarker related to metabolic disorders) that ambiently comes out of the skin. Composite films of polyaniline and cellulose acetate, exhibiting chemo-mechanical actuation upon exposure to gaseous acetone, were tested in the headspaces above multiple solutions containing acetone, ethanol, and water to gauge response sensitivity, selectivity, and repeatability.

Novel, Inexpensive, and Scalable Amyloid Fibril Formation Method.

Wheat flour was used as a source of protein for the in vitro synthesis of Amyloid fibrils to develop a novel and inexpensive fabrication method. Amyloid fibrillation was confirmed by Thioflavin T Fluorescence, using confocal microscopy. A morphological study was carried out by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), which revealed the high aspect ratio of the amyloid fibrils formed via a novel process.

Future Trends in Semiconducting Gas-Selective Sensing Probes for Skin Diagnostics.

This paper presents sensor nanotechnologies that can be used for the skin-based gas "smelling" of disease. Skin testing may provide rapid and reliable results, using specific "fingerprints" or unique patterns for a variety of diseases and conditions. These can include metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and cholesterol-induced heart disease; neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's; quality of life conditions, such as obesity and sleep apnea; pulmonary diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; gastrointestinal tract diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome and colitis; cancers, such as breast, lung, pancreatic, and colon cancers; infectious diseases, such as the flu and COVID-19; as well as diseases commonly found in ICU patients, such as urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and infections of the blood stream.

Exhaled nitric oxide detection for diagnosis of COVID-19 in critically ill patients.

Background: COVID-19 may present with a variety of clinical syndromes, however, the upper airway and the lower respiratory tract are the principle sites of infection. Previous work on respiratory viral infections demonstrated that airway inflammation results in the release of volatile organic compounds as well as nitric oxide. The detection of these gases from patients' exhaled breath offers a novel potential diagnostic target for COVID-19 that would offer real-time screening of patients for COVID-19 infection.

Effect of (100) and (001) Hexagonal Faceting on Isoprene and Acetone Gas Selectivity.

The hexagonal WO3 polymorph, -WO3, has attracted attention due to its interatomic channels, allowing for a greater degree of intercalation compared to other WO3 polymorphs. Our research group has previously demonstrated -WO3 to be a highly sensitive gas sensing material for a flu biomarker, isoprene. In this work, the gas sensing performance of this polymorph has been further investigated in two distinct configurations of the material produced by different processing routes.

Single Exhale Biomarker Breathalyzer.

A single exhale breathalyzer comprises a gas sensor that satisfies the following stringent conditions: high sensitivity to the target gas, high selectivity, stable response over extended period of time and fast response. Breathalyzer implementation includes a front-end circuit matching the sensitivity of the sensor that provides the readout of the sensor signal. We present here the characterization study of the response stability and response time of a selective Nitric Oxide (NO) sensor using designed data acquisition system that also serves as a foundation for the design of wireless handheld prototype.

Super Water-Repellent Cellulose Acetate Mats.

A single-step synthesis of super-water-repellent oil sorbents based on cellulose acetate (CA) mats is reported in this paper. Key phenomenological mechanisms involving roughness and changes in chemistry are used to describe the change in hydrophobic behavior of the CA mats. Contact angle calculations followed by Cassie's model apparent contact angle prediction have shown roughness alone is not capable of producing the super-hydrophobicity exhibited by as-spun mats.

Compulsory admissions in southwest Greece 2010-2011: A descriptive report.

Compulsory admissions represent a significant proportion of psychiatric hospitalizations. A wide variation seems to exist internationally regarding legal frameworks, administrative procedures, detention rates and clinical practice. The aim of the present study is to describe qualitative and quantitative features of compulsory admissions in a large administrative area in southwest Greece, in order to identify targets for future research and possible remediation.

Novel Isoprene Sensor for a Flu Virus Breath Monitor.

A common feature of the inflammatory response in patients who have actually contracted influenza is the generation of a number of volatile products of the alveolar and airway epithelium. These products include a number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitric oxide (NO). These may be used as biomarkers to detect the disease.

Metabolic rate monitoring and weight reduction/management.

Engineering research may provide tools to the individual as well as to the public in general, to effectively monitor wellness and health patterns, such as metabolic rate and weight control. Ketone bodies and acetone gas emissions in exhaled breath and skin, in particular, may be used as biomarkers of fatty acid metabolism and may be used in diet control. Two types of technologies, resistive chemosensors and chemomechanical actuators are outlined here as examples of such tools currently under development and of great promise.

The effects of smoking on quality of life recovery after surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: The effects of smoking on quality of life (QoL) results in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients still remain a matter of debate.

Objective: To explore the impact of smoking on QoL and determine how quantity of daily smoking and duration affect QoL results after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Methodology: Patients with CRS were prospectively asked to evaluate their QoL pre- and after ESS.

A selective nanosensor device for exhaled breath analysis.

This paper describes a novel concept of a three-nanosensor array microsystem that may potentially serve as a coarse diagnostic tool handheld breath analyzer to provide a first detection device. The specification and performance of a simple metal oxide nanosensor operating between three distinct temperatures are discussed, focusing on the need for a noninvasive blood cholesterol monitor. Interfacing the sensor array to an integrated circuit for electrical readout and temperature control provides a complete microsystem capable of capturing a single exhaled breath and analyzing it with respect to the relative content of isoprene, carbon dioxide and ammonia gas.

Interview: Revolutionizing personalized medicine with nanosensor technology.

Perena Gouma, PhD, is a Fulbright Scholar and tenured Associate Professor at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the State University of New York Stony Brook, NY, USA. Dr Gouma is a lead researcher in sensor technology, and recently developed a new nanomedicine tool called the 'Nanosensor Device for Breath Acetone Detection', which makes it possible to instantly detect and monitor disease by simply exhaling into a handheld device. Dr Gouma received a BS degree in Applied Physics from the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece, a MS in Advanced Engineering Materials and an MPhil in Organizational Management, both from the University of Liverpool (UK), and a PhD in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Birmingham (UK).

One-year infliximab administration for the treatment of chronic refractory pouchitis.

Aim: To determine the efficacy of infliximab in the treatment of chronic refractory pouchitis, following ileo-pouch anal anastomosis (IPAA) for ulcerative colitis (UC).

Methods: Seven patients (4 females, 3 males) with chronic refractory pouchitis were included in an open study. Pouchitis was diagnosed by clinical plus endoscopic and histological criteria.

Behavioral trends in young children with conductive hearing loss: a case-control study.

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a common condition affecting children and a well-known cause of conductive hearing loss that can potentially lead to speech development disorders. Recent studies, however, have demonstrated the influence of OME on development of attention disorders or social adaptation and acceptance. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the behavioral trends of children with OME based on the Achenbach test.

Oculoauriculovertebral complex with an atypical cause of obstructive sleep apnea.

Oculoauriculovertebral spectrum (OAVS) is a birth defect of unknown etiology, often causing obstructive sleep apnea, due to unilateral retrognathia. We describe an adolescent sleep apnea patient, with usual and unusual signs of OAVS. Apart from mandibular hypoplasia, microtia, external auditory canal atresia and cervical vertebrae anomalies, skull base asymmetry was also noted, resulting in aberrant anatomy of the tympanic cavity, and nasopharyngeal obstruction, which was the main source of the patient's apneas.

Electrospinning for bone tissue engineering.

Bone tissue engineering is a field of significant research interest owing to the large number of bone defects and the limitations in the present techniques to effectively reconstitute the defects. Cell-based bone graft technique has shown promise in overcoming the limitations of the other bone graft techniques currently used. However the success of this technique is dependent on the choice of appropriate material and processing route.

Secondary cutaneous nodular AA amyloidosis in a patient with primary Sjögren syndrome and celiac disease.

We describe a 62-year-old female with primary Sjögren syndrome and myopathy, severe osteoporosis, and vertebral fractures that were attributed to celiac disease. A year after the diagnosis, she developed a skin nodule on the extensor surface of her right elbow, which was due to an amyloid deposit of AA type. Amyloidosis, although relatively common in some chronic inflammatory diseases, has been uncommon in Sjögren syndrome or celiac disease.

Bioassay chamber for angiogenesis with perfused explanted arteries and electrospun scaffolding.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that explanted perfused arteries can serve as the initial endothelial cell culture source to evaluate the onset of angiogenesis in a cellulose acetate electrospun scaffold.

Methods: Electrospun scaffolds with fiber diameters roughly controlled in three broad ranges: 0.01 to 0.