Innervation zone locations in 43 superficial muscles: Toward a standardization of electrode positioning

Introduction: We describe the innervation zone (IZ) location in 43 muscles to provide information for appropriate positioning of bipolar electrodes for clinical and research applications. Methods: The IZ was studied in 40 subjects (20 men and 20 women) using multichannel surface electromyography (sEMG). Signal quality was checked visually to identify motor unit action potentials and estimate muscle fiber conduction velocity. Results: Results in 33 muscles were classified as excellent or good, because it was possible to identify an area which is favorable for appropriate positioning of an electrode pair without the need to previously determine the IZ location. Conclusions: Knowledge of IZ location will increase standardization and repeatability of sEMG measures. Muscle Nerve 49 :413–421, 2014     

Enantioselective Synthesis and Profiling of Two Novel Diazabicyclooctanone β-Lactamase Inhibitors

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Efficient nickel or copper oxides decorated graphene–polyaniline interface for application in selective methanol sensing

Graphene sheets decorated with nickel or copper oxides that were anchored on polyaniline (denoted as PANI-graphene/NiO and PANI-graphene/CuO) were prepared by a simple, easy to-control electrochemical method and applied as novel materials for sensitive and selective methanol sensing. The fabricated sensors exhibited good electrocatalytic activity, appropriate dynamic linear range (20–1300 mM), sensitivity (0.2–1.5 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻²) and excellent selectivity towards methanol. It should be highlighted from the selectivity tests that no significant interference was observed from ethanol and other alcohols. To our best knowledge, using inexpensive but efficient transition metals like Ni, Cu instead of Pt, Pd and their composites with PANI, graphene would be scientifically novel and practically feasible approach for sensor fabrication that could be potentially used to identify methanol adulteration in counterfeit alcoholic beverages.

PANI/graphene/NiO or PANI/graphene/CuO were prepared by a simple, easy to-control electrochemical method and applied as novel materials for sensitive and selective methanol sensing.     

Optimum fabrication parameters for preparing high performance SERS substrates based on Si pyramid structure and silver nanoparticles

In this work, we propose simple and inexpensive methods to prepare micro/nano hierarchical Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) substrates, in which pyramid structure is created by using anisotropic wet etching of a silicon wafer and a silver thin film is deposited on these pyramid arrays by thermal evaporation. The ensemble is then annealed at 450 °C for 2 hours to form silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The sizes and density of the pyramids and AgNPs are optimized mainly by changing the etching temperature (60–80 °C), the thickness of the Ag-film (15–45 nm) and etching time (3–10 min). The ultraviolet visible (UV-Vis) absorbance spectra show that the AgNPs formed with the 30 nm-thick film exhibit the strongest plasmonic effect. Under these conditions, the spherical AgNPs with sizes of 42–48 nm are densely distributed on the silicon micro-pyramid array. The obtained SERS signal is the strongest at the pyramid base-edge size of 7–10 μm. The enhancement factor obtained from the abamectin probe molecules is as high as 1 × 10⁶ and the SERS substrates enable the detection of abamectin concentrations as low as 5.7 × 10⁻⁹ M. Therefore, this work provides a novel SERS substrate structure that has a high potential for use in medicine and biotechnology or as a food security sensor.

AgNPs@PSi substrate can detect abamectin molecules at concentrations as low as 5.7 × 10⁻⁹ M, with an enhancement factor of 1 × 10⁶. Such a remarkable SERS substrate promises great potential for practical applications in food security.     

Associations between Dietary Patterns and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors—A Longitudinal Analysis among High-Risk Individuals for Diabetes in Kerala,India

The association between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk factors is not well understood among adults in India, particularly among those at high risk for diabetes. For this study, we analyzed the data of 1007 participants (age 30–60 years) from baseline and year one and two follow-ups from the Kerala Diabetes Prevention Program using multi-level mixed effects modelling. Dietary intake was measured using a quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and dietary patterns were identified using principal component analysis. Two dietary patterns were identified: a “snack-fruit” pattern (highly loaded with fats and oils, snacks, and fruits) and a “rice-meat-refined wheat” pattern (highly loaded with meat, rice, and refined wheat). The “snack-fruit” pattern was associated with increased triglycerides (mg/dL) (β = 6.76, 95% CI 2.63–10.89), while the “rice-meat-refined wheat” pattern was associated with elevated Hb1Ac (percentage) (β = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01, 0.07) and central obesity (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.01, 1.34). These findings may help inform designing dietary interventions for the prevention of diabetes and improving cardiometabolic risk factors in high-diabetes-risk individuals in the Indian setting.