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We demonstrated that the activity gap between metal-organic frameworks (Fe) and horseradish peroxidase could be bridged by simulating the binding-pocket structure and adding active centers. This customized structure promoted the activation and enrichment of substrates, and addition of gold nanoparticles led to activity superposition and synergistic enhancement.

Carbendazim (CBZ) has been widely used in agricultural production to control fruits and vegetables diseases, but it can also destroy the human endocrine system. Therefore, sensitive detection of CBZ has attracted increasing attention worldwide. In this study, Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs) decorated on CdS microsphere (Pd NPs/CdS) was prepared by the in-situ photoreduced method, and based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) effect of noble metal and Schottky junction between Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs) and CdS microsphere, the photocurrent after introducing Pd NPs is 7.7 times higher than that of bare CdS microsphere. In view of the outstanding photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of Pd NPs/CdS and the high specificity of the aptamer, the as-fabricated PEC aptasensor for CBZ detection possesses the excellent detection performance including a broad linear ranging from 1.0 × 10

A heteroatom oxygen doping strategy was developed to prepare oxygen-doped carbon nitride (OCN). The performance and mechanism of its peroxidase-like activity were studied for the first time. The greatly improved peroxidase-like activity could be attributed to the promoted electron transferability.

This paper presents a novel building technique for the formwork of thin shell structures with 3d-printed bending-active mesh sheets. To enhance the structural stiffness of the flexible plastic materials, bending-active form is applied to utilize the geometry stiffening effect through the large deformation of bending. As it is the main problem to determine the final geometry of the bent surface, design methods with consideration of the numerical simulation is researched and both simulations via dynamic relaxation and finite element method are presented. Several demonstrator pavilions and the building process are shown to test the feasibilities of the presented building techniques in the real shell project. It is expected that this method could be applied into more thin shell projects to realize an efficient building technology with less exhaust of materials.

Colorimetric biosensors have been widely applied to mycotoxins testing. However, the colorimetric assay previously reported used a single color to detect one mycotoxin, and there were few reports on the simultaneous detection of multiple mycotoxins. In this work, a colorimetric biosensor for dual mycotoxins detection was developed. A Fe3O4/GO based platform for aflatoxins B1 (AFB1) detection and a Fe3O4@Au based platform for ochratoxin A (OTA) detection were fabricated. The quantification of OTA and AFB1 was respectively achieved by the release of thymolphthalein under alkaline conditions and 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine was catalyzed by Au NPs under acidic conditions. Because of different conditions, two sensing methods didn’t interfere with each other but could provide a higher detection efficiency. The detection range of AFB1 is 5–250 ng·ml−1 and that of OTA is 0.5–80 ng·ml−1. This biosensor has been successfully applied in real sample detection, which has a broad application prospect in fields of food safety.

In care for older adults, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) like agitation and aggression are distressing for patients and their caretakers, often resulting in premature institutionalization with increased costs of care. To improve mood and mitigate symptoms, as a non-pharmaceutical approach, emotion-oriented therapy like reminiscence work is adopted in face-to-face communication. Telecommunication support is expected to be provided by robotic media as a bridge for digital divide for those with dementia and facilitate social interaction both verbally and nonverbally. The purpose of this case study is to explore the conditions in which robotic media can effectively attract attention from older adults with dementia and promote their well-being. As a pilot study, we introduced the pillow-phone Hugvie®, a huggable humanly shaped communication medium to five residents with dementia at a care facility, to investigate how the following conditions work for the elderly when they use the medium; 1) no sound, 2) radio, non-interactive, 3) daily conversation, and 4) reminiscence work. As a result, under condition 4, reminiscence work, the five participants kept concentration in interacting with the medium for a longer duration than other conditions. In condition 4, they also showed larger amount of utterances than under other conditions. These results indicate that providing topics related to personal histories through robotic media could affect communication positively and should, therefore, be further investigated. In addition, the issue of ethical implications by using persuasive technology that affects emotions and behaviors of older adults is also discussed., {"references":["Population Division, United Nations, World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision, New York, 2017.","D. Brooker, and L. Duceb, \"Well-being and activity in dementia: A comparison of group reminiscence therapy, structured goal-directed group activity, and unstructured time,\" Aging & Mental Health, 4, pp. 354-358, 2000.","B. A. Purves, A. Phinney, W. Hulko, G. Puurveen, A. J. Astell, \"Developing CIRCA-BC and exploring the role of the computer as a third participant in conversation,\" American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias, Vol. 30, No.1, pp. 101-107, 2014.","N. Kuwahara, S. Abe, K. Yasuda, and K. Kuwabara, \"Networked reminiscence therapy for individuals with dementia by using photo and video sharing,\" Proc. ASSETS, pp. 125-132, 2006.","M. Alaoui, and M. 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Oxygen vacancy is an intrinsic defect in metal oxide semiconductors and has a crucial influence on their physicochemical and electronic properties. To boost the electrochemiluminescence (ECL) efficiency of the graphite-like carbon nitride (g-C3N4), the wet-chemical-calcination method was developed to introduce an oxygen vacancy in Eu-doped g-C3N4 nanostructures for the first time. The morphology and structure characterization suggest that the Eu element was present in the matrix of the europia (Eu2O3) clusters. Because of the effect of oxygen vacancy promoting catalytic activity, the doping of Eu caused a great positive shift of onset potential and large signal amplification in cathodic ECL signals compared with pure g-C3N4. Furthermore, a novel and ultrasensitive ECL aptasensor was realized with 17β-estradiol (E2) as a prototype target by adsorption of E2 aptamer onto the Eu2O3-doped g-C3N4 (Eu2O3- g-C3N4) surface via van der Waals force. Given the specific recognition between aptamer and E2, the ECL signal decreased with the increasing concentration of E2, because the formation of E2-aptamer complex impeded the diffusion of luminophor molecules and the electrons approaching the surface of the electrode. Under the optimal cases, the as-prepared ECL aptasensor showed superior performances and also manifested outstanding selectivity toward E2. The present conceptual strategy offers a novel methodology to boost the sensitivity of the ECL sensor and promote the activity of ECL reagents.