Introduction of the Simple One-Step stool Xpert Ultra method to detect TB in children and adults.

In 2020, the National TB Programme (NTP) of Vietnam conducted an implementation pilot of the Simple One-Step (SOS) stool processing method using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Ultra) among children and people living with HIV (PLHIV) with signs and symptoms of TB. Using data from this pilot and collecting information on healthcare workers´ (HCWs) perceptions, we assessed the feasibility, acceptability and potential impact of routine stool testing for TB. HCWs perceived collection of stools from children as least stressful of all sample types, stool processing as acceptable and the SOS stool method as easy to perform.

Towards single electron transistor-based photon detection with microplasma-enabled graphene quantum dots.

Single-electron transistors (SETs) represent a new generation of electronic devices with high charge sensitivity, high switching speed, and low power consumption. Here a simple and controlled fabrication of graphene quantum dot (GQD)-based SETs for photon detectors has been demonstrated. The plasma-synthesized GQDs exhibit stable photoluminescence and are successfully used as the Coulomb islands between heteroepitaxial spherical-gold/platinum (HS-Au/Pt) nanogap electrodes.

Developing Conductive Highly Ordered Zinc Oxide Nanorods by Acetylacetonate-Assisted Growth.

Highly ordered vertically grown zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO NRs) were synthesized on ZnO-coated SiO/Si substrate using zinc acetylacetonate hydrate as a precursor via a simple hydrothermal method at 85 °C. We used 0.05 M of ZnO solution to facilitate the growth of ZnO NRs and the immersion time was varied from 0.

Hybrid cluster precursors of the LaZrO insulator for transistors: lowering the processing temperature.

Solution processing of ternary and multinary amorphous metal oxide insulators at processing temperatures below 250 °C remains challenging. Here, we report that the synthesis of a hybrid cluster structure, where the metal oxide core is coordinated by ligands and the different metal elements are incorporated into one core, is an effective strategy for the low-temperature processing of the ternary LaZrO insulator. Solvothermal treatment at 160-180 °C facilitated the development of a cluster structure.

Electrochemical Immunoassay Using Open Circuit Potential Detection Labeled by Platinum Nanoparticles.

In this work, a simple electrochemical immunoassay based on platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) using open circuit potential (OCP) detection was developed. The detection of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) as a model analyte, was demonstrated by direct electrical detection of PtNPs in hydrazine solution using OCP measurement without any application of either potential or current to the system. Disposable screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) were utilized for the development of our immunosensor, which required a sample volume as small as 2 μL.