CdS quantum dots/C60 tubular micromotors with chemical/multi‐light‐controlled propulsion and “on‐the‐fly” acceleration capabilities are described. In situ growth of CdS quantum dots on the outer ...fullerene layer imparts this layer with light‐responsive properties in connection to inner Pt, Pd or MnO2 layers. This is the first time that visible light is used to drive bubble‐propelled tubular micromotors. The micromotors exhibit a broad absorption range from 320 to 670 nm and can be wirelessly controlled by modulating light intensity and peroxide concentration. The built‐in accelerating optical system allows for the control of the velocity over the entire UV/Vis light spectra by modulating the catalyst surface chemistry. The light‐responsive properties have been also exploited to accelerate the chemical dealloying and propulsion of micromotors containing a Cu/Pd layer. Such dual operated hybrid micromotors hold considerable promise for designing smart micromachines for on‐demand operations, motion‐based sensing, and enhanced cargo transportation.
Light power: CdS quantum dots/C60 tubular micromotors with chemical/multi‐light‐controlled propulsion and “on‐the‐fly” chemical acceleration capabilities are described. The built‐in accelerating optical system allows for the control of the velocity over the entire UV/Vis light spectrum by modulating the catalyst surface chemistry.
Tubular micromotors composed of a hybrid single-wall carbon nanotube (SW)–Fe2O3 outer layer and powered by a MnO2 catalyst are used for phenylenediamines isomers detection and discrimination. ...Catalytic decomposition of H2O2 as fuel results in the production of oxygen bubbles and hydroxyl radicals for phenylenediamines dimerization to produce colorful solutions in colorimetric assays. The combination of Fe2O3 nanoparticles along with the irregular SW backbone results in a rough catalytic layer for enhanced hydroxyl radical production rate and improved analytical sensitivity. Such self-propelled micromotors act as peroxidase-like mobile platforms that offer efficient phenylenediamines detection and discrimination in just 15 min. Factors influencing the colorimetric assay protocol, such as the navigation time and number of motors, have been investigated. Low limits of detection (5 and 6 μM) and quantification (17 and 20 μM) were obtained for o-phenylenediamine and p-phenylenediamine, respectively. The magnetic properties of the outer SW–Fe2O3 hybrid layer allow the reusability of the micromotors in the colorimetric assay. Such attractive performance holds considerable promise for its application in sensing systems in a myriad of environmental, industrial, and health applications.
Aims
The purposes of this study were: (i) to evaluate the reliability of vaginal palpation, vaginal manometry, vaginal dynamometry; and surface (transperineal) electromyography (sEMG), when ...evaluating pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength and/or activation; and (ii) to determine the associations among PFM strength measured using these assessments.
Methods
One hundred and fifty women with pelvic floor disorders participated on one occasion, and 20 women returned for the same investigations by two different raters on 3 different days. At each session, PFM strength was assessed using palpation (both the modified Oxford Grading Scale and the Levator ani testing), manometry, and dynamometry; and PFM activation was assessed using sEMG.
Results
The interrater reliability of manometry, dynamometry, and sEMG (both root‐mean‐square RMS and integral average) was high (Lin's Concordance Correlation Coefficient CCC = 0.95, 0.93, 0.91, 0.86, respectively), whereas the interrater reliability of both palpation grading scales was low (Cohen's Kappa k = 0.27‐0.38). The intrarater reliability of manometry (CCC = 0.96), and dynamometry (CCC = 0.96) were high, whereas intrarater reliability of both palpation scales (k = 0.78 for both), and of sEMG (CCC = 0.79 vs 0.80 for RMS vs integral average) was moderate. The Bland‐Altman plot showed good inter and intrarater agreement, with little random variability for all instruments. The correlations among palpation, manometry, and dynamometry were moderate (coefficient of determination r2 ranged from 0.52 to 0.75), however, transperineal sEMG amplitude was only weakly correlated with all measures of strength (r2 = 0.23‐0.30).
Conclusions
Manometry and dynamometry are more reliable tools than vaginal palpation for the assessment of PFM strength in women with pelvic floor disorders, especially when different raters are involved. The different PFM strength measures used clinically are moderately correlated; whereas, PFM activation recorded using transperineal sEMG is only weakly correlated with PFM strength. Results from perineal sEMG should not be interpreted in the context of reporting PFM strength.
Abstract
Objectives
To determine whether two independent examiners can agree on a diagnosis of myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). To evaluate interexaminer reliability in identifying myofascial trigger ...points in upper quarter muscles. To evaluate the reliability of clinical diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of MPS. To evaluate the validity of clinical diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of MPS.
Design
Validity and reliability study.
Setting
Provincial Hospital. Toledo, Spain.
Participants
Twenty myofascial pain syndrome patients and 20 healthy, normal control subjects, enrolled by a trained and experienced examiner.
Methods
Ten bilateral muscles from the upper quarter were evaluated by two experienced examiners. The second examiner was blinded to the diagnosis group. The MPS diagnosis required at least one muscle to have an active myofascial trigger point. Three to four days separated the two examinations. The primary outcome measure was the frequency with which the two examiners agreed on the classification of the subjects as patients or as healthy controls. The kappa statistic (K) was used to determine the level of agreement between both examinations, interpreted as very good (0.81–1.00), good (0.61–0.80), moderate (0.41–0.60), fair (0.21–0.40), or poor (≤0.20).
Results
Interexaminer reliability for identifying subjects with MPS was very good (K = 1.0). Interexaminer reliability for identifying muscles leading to a diagnosis of MPS was also very good (K = 0.81). Sensitivity and specificity showed high values for most examination tests in all muscles, which confirms the validity of clinical diagnostic criteria in the diagnosis of MPS.
Conclusions
Interrater reliability between two expert examiners identifying subjects with MPS involving upper quarter muscles exhibited substantial agreement. These results suggest that clinical criteria can be valid and reliable in the diagnosis of this condition.
Template‐prepared graphene/Pt and graphene/Au tubular microengines, with extremely high electrocatalytic activity and propulsion efficiency, are described. The new bubble‐propelled graphene/metal ...micromotors are synthesized rapidly and inexpensively by the direct electrodeposition of graphene oxide (GO) within the conical pores of a polycarbonate template membrane followed by deposition of the inner metal layer. The presence of high number of edges and defects in the graphene layer results in highly reactive microporous Pt or Au catalytic structures. The high catalytic activity leads to an ultrafast bubble propulsion (as high as 170 body lengths/sec) and operation at extremely low levels (0.1%) of the peroxide fuel. The effect of such dramatically enhanced catalytic surface area on the bubble growth and motor speed has been theoretically modeled. The template‐prepared graphene‐based microengines display distinct moving trajectories, along with long microbubble tails. The fast catalytic locomotion and attractive performance of the new graphene/Pt micromotors hold considerable promise for diverse applications.
Graphene‐based catalytic tubular microengines with extremely high electrocatalytic activity and propulsion efficiency are described. The effective movement and catalytic activity reflect the porous metallic surface associated with the template‐deposited outer graphene layer. The fast catalytic locomotion and attractive performance of the new graphene/metal micromotors hold considerable promise for diverse applications.
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•Green synthesis of Ag nanoparticles in a one-step using leaf extract of Kalanchoe Daigremontiana was performed.•Formation of Ag nanoflowers with different solvents was obtained.•Ag ...nanoflowers showed a high photocatalytic activity in the removal of methylene blue.•Ag nanoflowers showed high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
The synthesis and applications of anisotropic nanostructures have attracted much attention in the last decade. The nanoflower-type structures are one of the nanomaterials with anisotropic structures most investigated because of owing to high densities of edges, corners, and stepped atoms present on their nano-petals. Here, silver nanoparticles obtained by a one-step green synthesis method using extract from Kalanchoe Daigremontiana´s leaves are reported. To identify the compounds responsible for reduction of silver ions, the functional groups present in plant extract were investigated by UV–vis and FTIR. Ag nanoparticles were characterized by UV–vis, XPS, ζ-potential, XRD, and SEM-EDS. Different solvents were used to eliminate agglomeration of the silver nanoparticles. These solvents produced nanoflower-like morphology with abundant nano-petals. This is the first report of the synthesis of Ag nanoflowers formed by green synthesis method using Kalanchoe Daigremontiana extract. The synthesized Ag nanoflowers are faced center cubic structure in nature with a petal thickness approximately of 25 nm. Photocatalytic activity of the different Ag nanostructures was evaluated through the degradation of methylene blue, where the degradation time as low as 1 min is reported. Furthermore these green synthesized Ag nanoflowers were found to show high antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus.
The development of more efficient electrical storage is a pressing requirement to meet future societal and environmental needs. This demand for more sustainable, efficient energy storage has provoked ...a renewed scientific and commercial interest in advanced capacitor designs in which the suite of experimental techniques and ideas that comprise nanotechnology are playing a critical role. Capacitors can be charged and discharged quickly and are one of the primary building blocks of many types of electrical circuit, from microprocessors to large-sale power supplies, but usually have relatively low energy storage capability when compared with batteries. The application of nanostructured materials with bespoke morphologies and properties to electrochemical supercapacitors is being intensively studied in order to provide enhanced energy density without comprising their inherent high power density and excellent cyclability. In particular, electrode materials that exploit physical adsorption or redox reactions of electrolyte ions are foreseen to bridge the performance disparity between batteries with high energy density and capacitors with high power density. In this review, we present some of the novel nanomaterial systems applied for electrochemical supercapacitors and show how material morphology, chemistry and physical properties are being tailored to provide enhanced electrochemical supercapacitor performance.
The unique properties and great variety of two‐dimensional (2D) nanomaterials make them highly attractive for energy storage applications. Here, an insight into the progress made towards the ...application of 2D nanomaterials for capacitive energy storage is provided. Synthesis methods, and electrochemical performance of various classes of 2D nanomaterials, particularly based on graphene, transition metal oxides, dichalcogenides, and carbides, are presented. The factors that directly influence capacitive performance are discussed throughout the text and include nanosheet composition, morphology and texture, electrode architecture, and device configuration. Recent progress in the fabrication of 2D‐nanomaterials‐based microsupercapacitors and flexible and free‐standing supercapacitors is presented. The main electrode manufacturing techniques with emphasis on scalability and cost‐effectiveness are discussed, and include laser scribing, printing, and roll‐to‐roll manufacture. Various issues that prevent the use of the full energy‐storage potential of 2D nanomaterials and how they have been tackled are discussed, and include nanosheet aggregation and the low electrical conductivity of some 2D nanomaterials. Particularly, the design of hybrid and hierarchical 2D and 3D structures based on 2D nanomaterials is presented. Other challenges and opportunities are discussed and include: control of nanosheets size and thickness, chemical and electrochemical instability, and scale‐up of electrode films.
Advances in the synthesis and applications of 2D nanomaterials for capacitive energy storage are reviewed. Graphene, transition metal oxides, dichalcogenides, and carbides, which are being explored, are described, and key factors that influence their performance are analyzed. Challenges and opportunities in synthesis, electrochemical stability, electrode design, and architecture are thoroughly discussed, and future research opportunities are outlined.
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