Laser-induced stress wave thermometry applied to silicon wafer processing: Modeling and experimentation

We present a methodology correlating the group velocity of guided plate waves to temperature in anisotropic silicon substrate. The model is developed through numerical solution and manipulation of the dispersion relations, while elastic constants and plate thickness are treated as functions of temperature. Analytical results demonstrate that adequate thermal resolution is provided by both the lowest-order antisymmetric and symmetric dispersive Lamb wave modes to serve as an effective diagnostic in a noncontact thermometry scheme applicable during rapid thermal processing of silicon waters. Validation is made through a combination of experimentation using laser-generated ultrasound in silicon wafers and analysis employing the Gabor wavelet transform to extract frequency- and temperature-dependent group velocities from the dispersive Lamb waves.     

Determination of Toluene and Ethanol in Urine by Headspace and Cryotrapping Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Toluene is the major volatile organic compound found in glue and is often used as a hallucinogenic for abusers. Use with alcohol increases the risk of adverse effects from toluene exposure. In this study, a headspace and cryotrapping gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the determination of toluene and ethanol in urine. Experimental and instrumental variables were investigated to optimize the method for sensitivity. Excess sodium sulfate was used as the salting-out reagent before the headspace protocol. Linear least squares regression with a 1/x weighting factor was used to construct calibration curves from 0.002 to 0.4?µg?mL^?1 for toluene and 10 to 2000?µg?mL^?1 for ethanol. The correlation coefficients exceeded 0.9993. The limits of detection were 0.0005?µg?mL^?1 for toluene and 0.21?µg?mL^?1 for ethanol. Intraday and interday precisions were within 5.4 and 11.5%, while intraday and interday accuracies were between ?11.3 to ?4.0% and ?11.0 to 1.2%, respectively. The method validation results for selectivity and stability were satisfactory. The validation results were used to estimate the expanded uncertainty and the contribution of individual steps in the method for the quantification of toluene and ethanol. The relative expanded uncertainties were 14.1% for toluene and 4.6% for ethanol.     

Carbon nanoparticle modified screen printed carbon electrode as a disposable electrochemical immunosensor strip for the detection of Japanese encephalitis virus

The authors describe a disposable electrochemical immunosensor strip for the detection of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV). The assay is based on the use of a screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) that were prepared from starch nanoparticles and deposited on the SPCE working electrode whose surface was functionalized with 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane. Next, antibody of JEV was immobilized on the surfaces of the CNPs. The analytical performance of immunosensor strip was characterized using cyclic voltammetry (with hexacyanoferrate as the redox probe) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The deposition of CNPs enhances the electron transfer kinetics and current intensity of the SPCE by 63% compared to an unmodified SPCE. Under optimized conditions, the calibration plot is linear within the 5–20 ng·mL^?1 JEV concentration range, the limit of detection being 2 ng·mL^?1 (at an S/N ratio of 3), and the assay time is 20 min. This immunosensor strip was successfully applied to the detection of JEV in human serum samples. It represents a cost-effective alternative to conventional diagnostic tests for JEV.

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Graphical abstract A disposable carbon nanoparticles modified screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) immunosensor strip for Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) detection is described. A limit of detection of 2 ng·mL^?1 and an assay time of 20 min were achieved.

     

Effect of Extract and Synthesized Derivatives of Isolated Compound from Symplocos chinensis f. Pilosa Ohwi on Neuropathic Pain in Mice

Neuropathic pain is described as the “most terrible of all tortures that a nerve wound may inflict.” The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the antinociceptive effect of Symplocos chinensis f. pilosa Ohwi water extract (SCW) and synthesized derivatives of the isolated compound. The antinociceptive effect was tested using the acetic acid-induced writhing and 5% formalin tests. Antinociceptive effects on neuropathic pain were evaluated using the von Frey test with chronic constriction injury (CCI) and surgical nerve injury (SNI) models and tail-flick test with a vincristine-induced pain model. An Ames test was also conducted. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) was isolated and derivatives were synthesized with various acid groups. Among the plant water extracts, SCW showed significantly effective activity. Additionally, SCW presented antinociceptive effects in the neuropathic pain models. The SCW water fraction resulted in fewer writhes than the other fractions, and isolated 5-HMF was identified as an effective compound. Because 5-HMF revealed a positive response in the Ames test, derivatives were synthesized. Among the synthesized derivations, 5-succinoxymethylfurfural (5-SMF) showed the best effect in the neuropathic pain model. Our data suggest that SCW and the synthesized compound, 5-SMF, possess effective antinociceptive activity against neuropathic pain.     

Simultaneous determination of benzene,toluene, ethylbenzene,and xylene metabolites in human urine using electromembrane extraction combined with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry

For the first time, electromembrane extraction combined with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry was applied for the determination of urinary benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene metabolites. S‐Phenylmercapturic acid, hippuric acid, phenylglyoxylic acid, and methylhippuric acid isomers were extracted from human urine through a supported liquid membrane consisting of 1‐octanol into an alkaline acceptor solution filling the inside of a hollow fiber by application of an electric field. Various extraction factors were investigated and optimized using response surface methodology, the statistical method. The optimum conditions were established to be 300 V applied voltage, 15 min extraction time, 1500 rpm stirring speed, and 5 mM ammonium acetate (pH 10.2) acceptor solution. The method was validated with respect to selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantification, recovery, and reproducibility. The results showed good linearity (r² > 0.995), precision, and accuracy. The extract recoveries were 52.8–79.0%. Finally, we applied this method to real samples and successfully measured benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene metabolites.     

Real minimal hypersurfaces in complex two-plane Grassmannians

We give a pinching condition for compact minimal hypersurfaces in complex two-plane Grassmannians G ₂(? ^m+2) in terms of sectional curvature and the squared norm of the shape operator.     

Should we measure plutonium concentrations in marine sediments near Fukushima?

Pu contamination originating from Fukushima accident has not been detected in marine sediment samples collected outside a 30 km circle around the plant. It is shown, by means of numerical modelling, that if any impact from the accident has occurred, this would remain in a very close area to Fukushima because of the low Pu mobility in the marine environment. Since the situation inside the 30 km zone remains unknown, further studies on the determination of Pu isotopes in sediments within this area are required.