Stabilization of self‐assembled microdroplets using short chain alcohols

The condensation of water vapor on a volatile polymeric solution leads to a porous surface after evaporation of both solvent and water. However, the stabilization of the water microdroplet is of great importance, which can be achieved using specific polymer or adding a third substance to the polymer solution. Short chain alcohols (methanol, ethanol, and n‐propanol) are utilized to fabricate a self‐assembled porous honeycomb film of linear, low molecular weight polystyrene using the breath figure technique. A combination of breath figure processing and the effect of alcohol on a water droplet can stabilize the pattern and make pores on the surface of the polymer film. The quality of the porous honeycomb film is strongly dependent on the type of alcohols and the concentration of polymer. In a specific range of polymer and alcohol concentration, pores cover all the surface of the polymer film. This method offers the possibility of producing a honeycomb structure with no trace of additive residual after the fabrication process and avoiding polymer modification. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 709–718     

Ultrafast gas chromatography coupled to electronic nose to identify volatile biomarkers in exhaled breath from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: A pilot study

An analytical method to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the exhaled breath from patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using a ultrafast gas chromatography system equipped with an electronic nose detector (FGC eNose) has been developed. A prospective study was performed in 23 COPD patients and 33 healthy volunteers; exhalation breathing tests were performed with Tedlar bags. Each sample was analyzed by FCG eNose and the identification of VOCs was based on the Kovats index. Raw data were reduced by principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical discriminant analysis [canonical analysis of principal coordinates (CAP)]. The FCG eNose technology was able to identify 17 VOCs that distinguish COPD patients from healthy volunteers. At all stages of PCA and CAP the discrimination between groups was obvious. Chemical prints were correctly classified up to 82.2%, and were matched with 78.9% of the VOCs detected in the exhaled breath samples. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated the sensitivity and specificity to be 96% and 91%, respectively. This pilot study demonstrates that FGC eNose is a useful tool to identify VOCs as biomarkers in exhaled breath from COPD patients. Further studies should be performed to enhance the clinical relevance of this quick and ease methodology for COPD diagnosis.     

Diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection with the (13)C-urea breath test by means of GC-MS analysis

The diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection by GC-MS detection of the (13)CO(2) enrichment in (13)C-urea breath test ((13)C-UBT) samples is reported. This study aimed to optimize the (13)C-UBT with regards to the diagnostic cut-off value, sampling time, and frequency. The H. pylori status of 103 dyspeptic patients was obtained by histological examination, the rapid urease test as well as with the GC-MS (13)C-UBT. Analytical and diagnostic accuracies were determined by comparison of the GC-MS (13)C-UBT results with that of the analytical and diagnostic gold standards, namely GC-isotope ratio MS (IRMS) and histology. The (13)CO(2) enrichment values obtained with GC-MS analysis, correlated favorably (r(2) = 0.993) with those obtained by GC-IRMS analysis. When compared to histology, the GC-MS (13)C-UBT had a diagnostic sensitivity of 92% and a specificity of 93%. The positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy were 95, 89, and 92%, respectively. It was concluded that SIM GC-MS is capable of analyzing nonradioactive (13)C-UBT samples, with a precision and accuracy sufficient to distinguish between H. pylori positive and negative patients.     

Detection of acetone in the human breath as diabetes biomarker based on PPy/WO3 nanocomposite sensor by FFT continuous cyclic voltammetry method

This research represents a novel detection method of acetone level in the exhaled breath samples (RH=88 %) based on polypyrrole/tungsten oxide (PPy/WO₃) nanocomposite sensor. The PPy/WO₃ sensor was fabricated by the deposition of nanocomposite on/between interdigitated electrodes (IDEs) through electrospray coating and was then characterized by FE-SEM imaging. In this detection method, the coulometric signal of the sensor was calculated using Fast Fourier Continuous Cyclic Voltammetry (FFTCCV), where cyclic voltammetry (CV) was applied to the sensor in the defined potential rang and then charge changes of the sensor was obtained by integration of the current in all scanned potential ranges. FFTCCV method enhances the sensitivity of the sensor when exposed to the gas mixtures containing acetone. In addition to its fast coulometric response time (≤5 s) in the two linear ranges of 0.7–2.8 ppm and 2.8–28.2 ppm (R²=0.99), FFTCCV method provides the low detection limit of 70 ppb, and high sensitivity toward acetone at the optimum values of the parameters. The fabricated sensor showed great selectivity toward acetone when exposed to humid air and some exhaled gas like carbon dioxide, ammonia, methanol, ethanol and alkyl amines. The results were very satisfying as the sensor was capable to detect different acetone levels in human exhaled breath as non-invasive diagnosis of diabetes with a good correlation (R²≃0.9) to the routine blood sugar test taken by different commercial glucometers results.     

2.0μm附近模拟呼吸气体中~(13)CO_2/~(12)CO_2同位素丰度的高精度实时在线测量

采用可调谐二极管激光吸收光谱技术,结合一新型多通池搭建了一套模拟呼吸气体中CO_2同位素丰度的测量装置.气体的压强、温度和流速被很好地控制且均能保持长期的稳定性;采用三次多项式拟合光谱基线,对光谱进行归一化,很好地消除了功率变化对测量结果的影响;利用移窗-回归技术消除频率漂移对同位素丰度测量的影响.实验结果表明:移窗-回归法的引入不仅延长了系统的稳定时间,还提高了系统的测量精度;小波去噪的应用获得了比多光谱平均法高2倍的信噪比;系统的稳定时间为100 s;Kalman滤波后系统测量精度为0.067‰.     

Breath Figures of Nanoscale Bricks: A Universal Method for Creating Hierarchic Porous Materials from Inorganic Nanoparticles Stabilized with Mussel‐Inspired Copolymers

High‐performance catalysts and photovoltaics are required for building an environmentally sustainable society. Because catalytic and photovoltaic reactions occur at the interfaces between reactants and surfaces, the chemical, physical, and structural properties of interfaces have been the focus of much research. To improve the performance of these materials further, inorganic porous materials with hierarchic porous architectures have been fabricated. The breath figure technique allows preparing porous films by using water droplets as templates. In this study, a valuable preparation method for hierarchic porous inorganic materials is shown. Hierarchic porous materials are prepared from surface‐coated inorganic nanoparticles with amphiphilic copolymers having catechol moieties followed by sintering. Micron‐scale pores are prepared by using water droplets as templates, and nanoscale pores are formed between the nanoparticles. The fabrication method allows the preparation of hierarchic porous films from inorganic nanoparticles of various shapes and materials.

     

改进的口腔微生物种群模型及其Lyapunov稳定性

考察人体口腔异味现象,利用恒化器建模方法,改进了人体口腔系统中微生物种群关系的模型,利用Lyapunov稳定性理论分析了系统的平衡点及其稳定性.进而得到结论,口腔异味作为疾病,需要专业医治才能治愈.数值模拟结果证实了理论分析的正确性.     

水滴模板法构筑蜂窝状有序多孔膜*

水滴模板法是利用凝结并自组织有序排列的水滴为模板构筑有序蜂窝状多孔薄膜的方法。这种方法具有方便、快速、廉价、作为模板的水滴可以自然蒸发而除去,且孔洞的尺寸可以通过改变相关的实验参数方便的进行调控的优点,因而近年来受到了人们的广泛关注。本文介绍了利用水滴模板法构筑有序多孔薄膜的实验方法,探讨了形成机理和相关实验条件对多孔薄膜结构的影响,并结合当前的研究热点针对多孔薄膜的进一步应用,着重综述了水滴模板法在不同性质的成膜材料体系的应用、多孔薄膜中亚有序结构的引入以及提高多孔薄膜稳定性的方法。最后,本文展望了利用水滴模板法构筑有序多孔薄膜这一研究领域的发展前景。     

Breath Biomarkers in Diagnostic Applications

The detection of chemical compounds in exhaled human breath presents an opportunity to determine physiological state, diagnose disease or assess environmental exposure. Recent advancements in metabolomics research have led to improved capabilities to explore human metabolic profiles in breath. Despite some notable challenges in sampling and analysis, exhaled breath represents a desirable medium for metabolomics applications, foremost due to its non-invasive, convenient and practically limitless availability. Several breath-based tests that target either endogenous or exogenous gas-phase compounds are currently established and are in practical and/or clinical use. This review outlines the concept of breath analysis in the context of these unique tests and their applications. The respective breath biomarkers targeted in each test are discussed in relation to their physiological production in the human body and the development and implementation of the associated tests. The paper concludes with a brief insight into prospective tests and an outlook of the future direction of breath research.     

基于视频的精确放疗摆位系统研究

重点介绍了中国科学院等离子体物理研究所“精确放射治疗系统”课题组在基于视频的摆位方法领域的最新研究成果,如基于双目视觉的摆位系统、基于轮廓匹配的位置测量系统和呼吸门控系统。简要介绍了这些方法的原理、应用场合及应用前景。This paper introduces the newest research production on patient positioning method in accurate radiotherapy brought by Accurate Radiotherapy Treating System （ARTS） research team of Institute of Plasma Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, such as the positioning system based on binocular vision, the position-measuring system based on contour matching and the breath gate controlling system for positioning. Their basic principle, the application occasion and the prospects are briefly depicted.