Enzymatic/Immunoassay Dual‐Biomarker Sensing Chip: Towards Decentralized Insulin/Glucose Detection

Performing bioassay formats based on enzyme and antibody recognition reactions with a single detection chip remains an unmet challenge owing to the different requirements of such bioassays. Herein, we describe a dual‐marker biosensor chip, integrating enzyme and antibody‐based assays for simultaneous electrochemical measurements of insulin (I) and glucose (G). Simultaneous G/I sensing has been realized by addressing key fabrication and operational challenges associated with the different assay requirements and surface chemistry. The I immunosensor relies on a peroxidase‐labeled sandwich immunoassay, while G is monitored through reaction with glucose oxidase. The dual diabetes biomarker chip offers selective and reproducible detection of picomolar I and millimolar G concentrations in a single microliter sample droplet within less than 30 min, including direct measurements in whole blood and saliva samples. The resulting integrated enzymatic‐immunoassay biosensor chip opens a new realm in point‐of‐care multiplexed biomarker detection.     

Sub-Angstrom oscillation amplitude non-contact atomic force microscopy for lateral force gradient measurement

We report the first results from novel sub-Angstrom oscillation amplitude non-contact atomic force microscopy developed for lateral force gradient measurements. Quantitative lateral force gradients between a tungsten tip and Si(1 1 1)-(7 × 7) surface can be measured using this microscope. Simultaneous lateral force gradient and scanning tunnelling microscope images of single and multi atomic steps are obtained. In our measurement, tunnel current is used as feedback. The lateral stiffness contrast has been observed to be 2.5 N/m at single atomic step, in contrast to 13 N/m at multi atomic step on Si(1 1 1) surface. We also carried out a series of lateral stiffness-distance spectroscopy. We observed lateral stiffness-distance curves exhibit sharp increase in the stiffness as the sample is approached towards the surface. We usually observed positive stiffness and sometimes going into slightly negative region.     

Quantum Contagion: A Quantum-Like Approach for the Analysis of Social Contagion Dynamics with Heterogeneous Adoption Thresholds

Modeling the information of social contagion processes has recently attracted a substantial amount of interest from researchers due to its wide applicability in network science, multi-agent-systems, information science, and marketing. Unlike in biological spreading, the existence of a reinforcement effect in social contagion necessitates considering the complexity of individuals in the systems. Although many studies acknowledged the heterogeneity of the individuals in their adoption of information, there are no studies that take into account the individuals’ uncertainty during their adoption decision-making. This resulted in less than optimal modeling of social contagion dynamics in the existence of phase transition in the final adoption size versus transmission probability. We employed the Inverse Born Problem (IBP) to represent probabilistic entities as complex probability amplitudes in edge-based compartmental theory, and demonstrated that our novel approach performs better in the prediction of social contagion dynamics through extensive simulations on random regular networks.     

Natural convection flow under a magnetic field in an inclined square enclosure differentialy heated on adjacent walls

Steady, laminar, natural-convection flow in the presence of a magnetic field in an inclined square enclosure differentially heated along the bottom and left vertical walls while the other walls are kept isothermal was considered. The governing equations were solved numerically for the stream function, vorticity and temperature ratio using the differential quadrature method for various Grashof and Hartmann numbers, inclination angle of the enclosure and direction of the magnetic field. The orientation of the enclosure changes the temperature gradient inside and has a significant effect on the flow pattern. Magnetic field suppresses the convective flow and its direction also influences the flow pattern, causing the appearance of inner loops and multiple eddies. The surface heat flux along the bottom wall is slightly increased by clockwise inclination and reduced by half by the counterclockwise inclination. The surface heat flux along the upper portion of the left side wall is reversed by the rise of warmer fluids due to the convection currents for no inclination and clockwise inclination of the enclosure.     

Impedimetric Aptasensor Based on Disposable Graphite Electrodes Developed for Thrombin Detection

The impedimetric aptasensor for Thrombin (THR) was developed for the first time herein by measuring changes at the charge‐transfer resistance, R_ct upon to protein? aptamer complex formation. After covalent activation of pencil graphite electrode (PGE) surface using covalent agents, amino linked aptamer (APT) was immobilized onto activated PGE surface. Then APT‐THR interaction was explored by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). After the optimization of experimental conditions (e.g., APT and THR concentration, immobilization and interaction times), the selectivity of impedimetric aptasensor was tested in the presence of other biomolecules: factor Va and bovine serum albumine (BSA) both in buffer media, or in diluted fetal bovine serum (FBS).     

Phosphorus-nitrogen compounds. 14. Synthesis, stereogenism, and structural investigations of novel n/o spirocyclic phosphazene derivatives

The reactions of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazatriene, N3P3Cl6, with N/O donor-type N-alkyl-o-hydroxybenzyl- and o-hydroxynaphthylamines result in novel mono- (3a, 4a and 4b), di- (5a and 5b), and tri- (3b, 6a, and 6b) spirocyclic phosphazene derivatives. The tetrakis-pyrrolidinophosphazene, 3b, has been obtained from the reaction of partly substituted compound 3a with the excess pyrrolidine in tetrahydrofuran. The relationship between the endocyclic NPN (alpha) and exocyclic NPO (alpha') bond angles of the analogous spirocyclic phosphazenes with the deltaP shifts of NPO phosphorus atoms have been presented. It was observed that there is a linearity between alpha angles and deltaP shifts, while no linear relationship has been observed for alpha' angles. In addition, we have found the correlation between Delta(P-N) and deltaNPO shifts, which implies a linear relationship. Delta(P-N)=(a-b), where a and b are the average lengths of two adjacent P-N bonds. The structural investigations of all of the compounds have been made by elemental analyses; mass spectrometry; Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; one-dimensional 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR; distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer; and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy, heteronuclear shift correlation, and heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation homo- and heteronuclear correlation techniques. The solid-state structures of 3a, 4a, 4b, and 5a have been determined by X-ray crystallographic techniques. The asymmetric units of compounds 3a and 4a contain two independent molecules, and 3a has strong intermolecular N-H...N hydrogen bonds linking three phosphazene rings. The molecular structure of 6a looks like a propeller where the chemical environment of P1 is different from that of P2 and P3. On the other hand, compounds 5a and 5b are expected to exist as cis- or trans-geometric isomers and to be in cis (meso) or trans (racemic) configurations. The crystallographic and preliminary chiral solvating agents results show that both of them are trans (racemic). In addition, 6a and 6b are also expected to exist as cis-trans-trans- and cis-cis-cis-geometric isomers; both of them are found to be in cis-trans-trans geometries. According to the two-dimensional spectroscopic data, the possible conformations of 3a and 4a in CDCl3 are the same with the solid-state structures.     

A Novel Benzimidazole-Based Chemosensor for Fluorometric Determination of Zinc Ions

A simple and novel Schiff base chemosensor (BMHM) based on benzimidazole was synthesized. In ethanol–water (1:1, v/v) medium on varying concentrations of Zn²⁺ chemosensor exhibited a strong and quick turn on fluorescence response. The Zn²⁺ recognition was based on the Chelation–enhanced fluorescence effect. The binding constant and limit of detection for BMHM-Zn²⁺ complexation were estimated to be 7.99?×?104 M^?1 and 0.148 µM, respectively. The extreme fluorescent enhancement caused by Zn²⁺ binding in chemosensor BMHM occurred at a pH range of 6–7. The practical use of chemosensor BMHM was tested by determination of Zn²⁺ in real water samples and comparing the results with the data obtained using high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

     

On the methodology of the World Competitiveness Report

A nation with its natural resources, human capabilities, research and educational institutions, government organizations, financial systems, and cultural and social values provides an environment in which firms are created, organized, and managed. The competitive environment a nation provides influences the performance of its firms at home and abroad. Therefore, it is of prime importance for both governments and firms to study the competitive environment of a country in comparison with those of the others. The World Competitiveness Report (WCR), a report annually produced by the Institute for Management Development (IMD) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), both based in Switzerland, is a study that rates and ranks the competitiveness of a certain group of countries (OECD plus 15 newly industrialized countries) and is a widely quoted study in the international media. Although some essence of its methodology is given for a general understanding, details are not provided, perhaps for proprietary reasons since the report is a commercial enterprise itself. The objective of this paper is to uncover the methodology used by the WCR. For this purpose, the methodological information provided in the WCR is used to the fullest extent. However, for the steps where the information is missing or when different interpretations are possible, an approach based on mathematical programming is employed to ‘guess’ the methodology.     

Determination of olanzapine for therapeutic drug monitoring in schizophrenia patients by LC/MS method

Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug from the thienobenzodiazepine family which displays efficacy in patients with schizophrenia and related psychoses. A novel LC/MS method was developed and validated for determination of olanzapine in schizophrenia patients' plasma. A liquid–liquid extraction procedure was carried out using 5 mL diethyl ether–diisopropyl ether mixture (1:1, v/v). Average recovery of the extraction procedure was 94.8%. Chromatographic separation was performed on reversed‐phase C₁₈ column (250 × 2.0 mm, 5 μm) using mixture of deionized water (trifluoro acetic acid 0.1%)–acetonitrile (20:80, v/v) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1 mL/min. Irbesartan was used as internal standart and total run time was 2.5 min. Mass spectrometric analysis were carried out in selective‐ion montoring mode, and detected olanzapine at m/z 313.1 and IS at m/z 429.4 in all forms of the ions. The calibration curve of olanzapine was linear in the range 2–300 ng/mL (r² > 0.9993). The interday and intraday precisions (RSD) were <7.55%, and accuracy was >7.59% (n = 6). The proposed study was successfully validated with respect to the US Food and Drug Administration guidelines.