Bioanalytical THz sensing techniques have proven to be an interesting and viable tool for the label-free detection and analysis of biomolecules. However, a major challenge for THz bioanalytics is to perform investigations in the native aqueous environments of the analytes. This review recapitulates the status and future requirements for establishing THz biosensing as a complementary toolbox in the repertoire of standard bioanalytic methods. The potential use in medical research and clinical diagnosis is discussed. Under these considerations, this article presents a comprehensive categorization of biochemically relevant analytes that have been investigated by THz sensing techniques in aqueous media. The detectable concentration levels of ions, carbohydrates, (poly-)nucleotides, active agents, proteins and different biomacromolecules from THz experiments are compared to characteristic physiological concentrations and lower detection limits of state-of-the-art bioanalytical methods. Finally, recent experimental developments and achievements are discussed, which potentially pave the way for THz analysis of biomolecules under clinically relevant conditions.
About 80% of all fire fatalities in Germany occur because of fires in homes. It has been known for some time that modern materials (synonym for materials consisting mostly of synthetic polymers) tend to burn differently from older materials (synonym for materials consisting mostly of fibrous cellulosic substances) and it has been acknowledged that the amount of combustible plastics in homes has increased significantly over the last decades. To investigate the influence of modern furniture and ventilation conditions of fires in homes, a series of four large‐scale tests in two living rooms (LRs) with adjacent rooms (ARs) was performed by BAM and the Frankfurt fire service. Two LRs, one with older furniture and one with modern furniture, were tested twice each. Each test started with the ignition of a paper cushion on an upholstered chair. The influence of modern materials on the fire development was investigated, as well as the influence of the ventilation on the fire development. In all settings, an upholstered chair was the first burning item. Results of the test series show that fires in rooms with modern furniture develop faster than fires in rooms with older furniture. This is true for temperature development in the rooms as well as for smoke production. 相似文献
The development of intravital Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) is required to probe cellular and tissue function in the natural context: the living organism. Only in this way can biomedicine truly comprehend pathogenesis and develop effective therapeutic strategies. Here we demonstrate and discuss the advantages and pitfalls of two strategies to quantify FRET in vivo—ratiometrically and time-resolved by fluorescence lifetime imaging—and show their concrete application in the context of neuroinflammation in adult mice. 相似文献
To diminish heart failure development after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), several preclinical studies have focused on influencing the inflammatory processes in the healing response post-AMI. The initial purpose of this healing response is to clear cell debris of the injured cardiac tissue and to eventually resolve inflammation and support scar tissue formation. This is a well-balanced reaction. However, excess inflammation can lead to infarct expansion, adverse ventricular remodeling and thereby propagate heart failure development. Different macrophage subtypes are centrally involved in both the promotion and resolution phase of inflammation. Modulation of macrophage subset polarization has been described to greatly affect the quality and outcome of healing after AMI. Therefore, it is of great interest to reveal the process of macrophage polarization to support the development of therapeutic targets. The current review summarizes (pre)clinical studies that demonstrate essential molecules involved in macrophage polarization that can be modulated and influence cardiac healing after AMI. 相似文献
The indoor air quality (IAQ) was investigated in sixty-four primary school buildings in five Central European countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Slovenia). The concentration of volatile organic compounds, aldehydes, PM2.5 mass, carbon dioxide, radon, as well as physical parameters were investigated during the heating period of 2017/2018. Significant differences were identified for the majority of the investigated IAQ parameters across the countries. The median indoor/outdoor ratios varied considerably. A comprehensive evaluation of IAQ in terms of potential health effects and comfort perception was performed. Hazard quotient values were below the threshold value of 1 with one exception. In contrast, 31% of the school buildings were characterized by hazard index values higher than 1. The maximum cumulative ratio approach highlighted that the concern for non-carcinogenic health effects was either low or the health risk was driven by more substances. The median excess lifetime cancer risk values exceeded the acceptable value of 1 × 10−6 in the case of radon and formaldehyde. PM2.5 mass concentration values exceeded the 24 h and annual guideline values set by the World Health Organization in 56 and 85% of the cases, respectively. About 80% of the schools could not manage to comply with the recommended concentration value for carbon dioxide (1000 ppm). 相似文献
The photoelectrochemical (PEC) activity of microstructured electrodes remains low despite the highly enlarged surface area and enhanced light harvesting. To obtain a deeper understanding of the effect of 3D geometry on the PEC performance, well‐defined WO3/n‐Si and WO3/pn‐Si micropillar arrays are fabricated and subjected to a quantitative analysis of the relationship between the geometry of the micropillars (length, pitch) and their PEC activity. For WO3/n‐Si micropillars, it is found that the photocurrent increases for WO3/n‐Si pillars, but not in proportion to the increase in surface area that results from increased pillar length or reduced pillar pitch. Optical simulations show that a reduced pillar pitch results in areas of low light intensity due to a shadowing effect. For WO3/pn‐Si micropillar photoelectrodes, the p–n junction enhances the photocurrent density up to a factor of 4 at low applied bias potential (0.8 V vs RHE) compared to the WO3/n‐Si. However, the enhancement in photocurrent density increases first and then decreases with reduced pillar pitch, which scales with the photovoltage generated by the p–n junction. This is related to an increased dead layer of the p–n junction Si surface, which results in a decreased photovoltage even though the total surface area increases. 相似文献
3D nanoparticle assemblies offer a unique platform to enhance and extend the functionality and optical/electrical properties of individual nanoparticles. Especially, a self‐supported, voluminous, and porous macroscopic material built up from interconnected semiconductor nanoparticles provides new possibilities in the field of sensing, optoelectronics, and photovoltaics. Herein, a method is demonstrated for assembling semiconductor nanoparticle systems containing building blocks possessing different composition, size, shape, and surface ligands. The method is based on the controlled destabilization of the particles triggered by trivalent cations (Y3+, Yb3+, and Al3+). The effect of the cations is investigated via X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The macroscopic, self‐supported aerogels consist of the hyperbranched network of interconnected CdSe/CdS dot‐in‐rods, or CdSe/CdS as well as CdSe/CdTe core‐crown nanoplatelets is used to demonstrate the versatility of the procedure. The non‐oxidative assembly method takes place at room temperature without thermal activation in several hours and preserves the shape and the fluorescence of the building blocks. The assembled nanoparticle network provides longer exciton lifetimes with retained photoluminescence quantum yields, that make these nanostructured materials a perfect platform for novel multifunctional 3D networks in sensing. Various sets of photoelectrochemical measurements on the interconnected semiconductor nanorod structures also reveal the enhanced charge carrier separation. 相似文献
Nanoparticle‐based voluminous 3D networks with low densities are a unique class of materials and are commonly known as aerogels. Due to the high surface‐to‐volume ratio, aerogels and xerogels might be suitable materials for applications in different fields, e.g. photocatalysis, catalysis, or sensing. One major difficulty in the handling of nanoparticle‐based aerogels and xerogels is the defined patterning of these structures on different substrates and surfaces. The automated manufacturing of nanoparticle‐based aerogel‐ or xerogel‐coated electrodes can easily be realized via inkjet printing. The main focus of this work is the implementation of the standard nanoparticle‐based gelation process in a commercial inkjet printing system. By simultaneously printing semiconductor nanoparticles and a destabilization agent, a 3D network on a conducting and transparent surface is obtained. First spectro‐electrochemical measurements are recorded to investigate the charge–carrier mobility within these 3D semiconductor‐based xerogel networks. 相似文献