Direct growth of three-dimensional nanoflower-like structures from flat metal surfaces.

Here we report on a facile top-down approach for the direct growth of CoO hierarchical nanoflowers from a bulk Co surface chemical etching and thermal annealing. The effect of the annealing temperature was investigated, showing that amorphous CoO was formed at 250 °C, while crystalline CoO with notable oxygen vacancies was created at 550 °C. The formed 3D nanostructures exhibited excellent oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activities with a low overpotential of 0.

Simultaneous electrochemical detection of guanine and adenine using reduced graphene oxide decorated with AuPt nanoclusters.

A rapid and sensitive electrochemical sensing platform is reported based on bimetallic gold-platinum nanoclusters (AuPtNCs) dispersed on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for the simultaneous detection of guanine and adenine using square wave voltammetry (SWV). The synthesis of AuPtNCs-rGO nanocomposite was achieved by a simultaneous reduction of graphene oxide (GO) and metal ions (Au and Pt) in an aqueous solution. The developed AuPtNCs-rGO electrochemical sensor with the optimized 50:50 bimetallic (Au:Pt) nanoclusters exhibited an outstanding electrocatalytic performance towards the simultaneous oxidation of guanine and adenine without the aid of any enzymes or mediators in physiological pH.

Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 2-[(2-oxo-2-chromen-4-yl)-oxy]acetic acid dimethyl sulfoxide monosolvate.

The title compound, CHO·(CH)SO, is a new coumarin derivative. The asymmetric unit contains two coumarin mol-ecules ( and ) and two di-methyl-sulfoxide solvent mol-ecules ( and ). The dihedral angle between the pyran and benzene rings in the chromene moiety is 3.

The crystal structures of two new coumarin derivatives: 2-(4-{2-[(2-oxo-2-chromen-4-yl)-oxy]acet-yl}piperazin-1-yl)acetamide and -(2,4-di-meth-oxy-benz-yl)-2-[(2-oxo-2-chromen-4-yl)-oxy]acetamide.

The title compounds, 2-(4-{2-[(2-oxo-2-chromen-4-yl)-oxy]acet-yl}piperazin-1-yl)acetamide, CHNO, (I), and -(2,4-di-meth-oxy-benz-yl)-2-[(2-oxo-2-chromen-4-yl)-oxy]acetamide, CHNO, (II), are new coumarin derivatives. In compound (I), the six-membered piperazine adopts a chair conformation. The dihedral angles between the mean planes of the chromene ring and amide plane is 82.

Synthesis and Electrochemical Study of Mesoporous Nickel-Cobalt Oxides for Efficient Oxygen Reduction.

Development of a cost-effective and efficient electrocatalyst for the sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a crucial challenge for clean energy technologies. In this study, we have synthesized various Ni and Co oxide (NCO) nanomaterials via a facile coprecipitation, followed by the calcination method. The morphology of the formed NCO nanomaterials was controlled by varying the percentage of the Ni and Co precursors, leading to the formation of a template-free mesoporous spinel phase structure of Ni CoO.

Design and Electrochemical Study of Platinum-Based Nanomaterials for Sensitive Detection of Nitric Oxide in Biomedical Applications.

The extensive physiological and regulatory roles of nitric oxide (NO) have spurred the development of NO sensors, which are of critical importance in neuroscience and various medical applications. The development of electrochemical NO sensors is of significant importance, and has garnered a tremendous amount of attention due to their high sensitivity and selectivity, rapid response, low cost, miniaturization, and the possibility of real-time monitoring. Nanostructured platinum (Pt)-based materials have attracted considerable interest regarding their use in the design of electrochemical sensors for the detection of NO, due to their unique properties and the potential for new and innovative applications.

Novel cobalt quantum dot/graphene nanocomposites as highly efficient electrocatalysts for water splitting.

A cost-effective, non-noble metal based high-performance electrocatalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is critical to energy conversion and storage processes. Here, we report on a facile and effective in situ strategy for the synthesis of an advanced nanocomposite material that is comprised of cobalt quantum dots (Co QDs, ∼3.2 nm), uniformly dispersed on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a highly efficient OER electrocatalyst platform.

Carbon Nanomaterials Based Electrochemical Sensors/Biosensors for the Sensitive Detection of Pharmaceutical and Biological Compounds.

Electrochemical sensors and biosensors have attracted considerable attention for the sensitive detection of a variety of biological and pharmaceutical compounds. Since the discovery of carbon-based nanomaterials, including carbon nanotubes, C60 and graphene, they have garnered tremendous interest for their potential in the design of high-performance electrochemical sensor platforms due to their exceptional thermal, mechanical, electronic, and catalytic properties. Carbon nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors have been employed for the detection of various analytes with rapid electron transfer kinetics.

Synthesis of BF₃ catalyzed Mannich derivatives with excellent ee from phenylpropanolamine, study of their antimicrobial activity and molecular docking.

Antimicrobial agents 4a-g and 5a-g with very good potency were synthesized with 100% ee from phenylpropanolamine (norephedrine) by BF3 catalyzed three components one pot Mannich reaction in good yields. Obtained compounds were characterized using spectral techniques. Antimicrobial study of these compounds revealed a good to very high potential activity against tested microbes when compared to standard antimicrobial drugs streptomycin and ketoconazole.

Crystal structure of 2-(4-fluoro-3-methyl-phen-yl)-5-{[(naphthalen-1-yl)-oxy]meth-yl}-1,3,4-oxa-diazole.

The title compound, C20H15FN2O2, adopts an almost planar conformation. The oxa-diazole ring makes dihedral angles of 13.90 (1) and 7.

Crystal structure of 2-{[(naphthalen-1-yl)oxy]meth-yl}-5-(2,4,5-tri-fluoro-phen-yl)-1,3,4-oxa-diazole.

In the title compound C19H11F3N2O2, the oxa-diazole ring and the naphthalene ring system are approximately planar (r.m.s.

Au nanoparticle/graphene nanocomposite as a platform for the sensitive detection of NADH in human urine.

Here we report on a facile, rapid, sensitive, selective and highly stable electrochemical sensing platform for β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) based on uncapped Au nanoparticle/reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites without the aid of any redox mediators and enzymes. The Au nanoparticle/rGO composite sensing platform was directly formed on a glassy carbon electrode through an in situ electrochemical reduction of GO and Au(3+) with a 100% usage of the precursors. The as-prepared Au nanoparticle/rGO composites demonstrated excellent direct electrocatalytic oxidation toward NADH, providing a large electrochemical active surface area as well as a favorable environment for electron transfer from NADH to the electrode via the enhanced mobility of charge carriers.

Feasibility of implementing fast-track surgery in pancreaticoduodenectomy with pancreaticogastrostomy for reconstruction--a prospective cohort study with historical control.

Introduction: Fast track programmes have been introduced in pancreatic surgery, but the data are sparse. The aim of this prospective study was to analyse the feasibility of implementing fast track rehabilitation protocol in PD with pancreaticogastrostomy, using historical control for comparison.

Materials And Methods: Between April 2012 and December 2012, twenty patients who underwent PD (with pancreaticogastrostomy) were managed by a fast-track rehabilitation protocol.