Optimizing coverage of metal oxide nanoparticle prepared by pulsed laser deposition on nonenzymatic glucose detection.

Metal oxide nanoparticles prepared by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) were applied to nonenzymatic glucose detection. NiO nanoparticles with size of 3 nm were deposited on glassy carbon (GC) and silicon substrates at room temperature in an oxygen atmosphere. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) image showed nanoparticles with the size of 3 nm uniformly scattered on the Si(001) substrate.

Extraction and Refinement Strategy for detection of autism in 18-month-olds: a guarantee of higher sensitivity and specificity in the process of mass screening.

Background: For early detection of autism, it is difficult to maintain an efficient level of sensitivity and specificity based on observational data from a single screening. The Extraction and Refinement (E&R) Strategy utilizes a public children's health surveillance program to produce maximum efficacy in early detection of autism. In the extraction stage, all cases at risk of childhood problems, including developmental abnormality, are identified; in the refinement stage, cases without problems are excluded, leaving only cases with conclusive diagnoses.

Clostridium difficile infection associated with levofloxacin treatment.

Nine cases of Clostridium difficile (CD) infection were observed in the period of six months at a nursing home. Eight of them occurred during or after antibiotic treatment. Levofloxacin was used alone in three cases and in combination with another antibiotic in three other cases.