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Soft actuators have demonstrated potential in a range of applications, including soft robotics, artificial muscles, and biomimetic devices. However, the majority of current soft actuators suffer from the lack of real‐time sensory feedback, prohibiting their effective sensing and multitask function. Here, a promising strategy is reported to design bilayer electrothermal actuators capable of simultaneous actuation and sensation (i.e., self‐sensing actuators), merely through two input electric terminals. Decoupled electrothermal stimulation and strain sensation is achieved by the optimal combination of graphite microparticles and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the form of hybrid films. By finely tuning the charge transport properties of hybrid films, the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of self‐sensing actuators is remarkably enhanced to over 66. As a result, self‐sensing actuators can actively track their displacement and distinguish the touch of soft and hard objects. Proposed self‐sensing actuators offer simultaneous actuation and sensation through two input electric terminals. Decoupled electrothermal stimulation and strain sensation are achieved by the hybridization of graphite microparticles and carbon nanotubes. The nearly zero thermal coefficient of resistance and high piezoresistive response of hybrid films significantly enhance the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the proposed self‐sensing actuators.

Hybrid quantum systems (HQSs) have attracted several research interests in the last years. In this Letter, we report on the design, fabrication, and characterization of a novel diamond architecture for HQSs that consists of a high quality thin circular diamond membrane with embedded near-surface nitrogen-vacancy centers (NVCs). To demonstrate this architecture, we employed the NVCs by means of their optical and spin interfaces as nanosensors of the motion of the membrane under static pressure and in-resonance vibration, as well as the residual stress of the membrane. Driving the membrane at its fundamental resonance mode, we observed coupling of this vibrational mode to the spin of the NVCs by Hahn echo signal. Our realization of this architecture will enable futuristic HQS-based applications in diamond piezometry and vibrometry, as well as spin-mechanical and mechanically mediated spin-spin coupling in quantum information science.

Pyrite nanocrystals (PNCs) is a potential alternative to conventional quantum dots due to their favorable properties such as sustainability, cost-effectiveness, low toxicity and tunable luminescence. In this work, we explored peroxidase-like activity of FeS 2 PNCs, synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. Nanozymic properties of PNCs were studied with TMB as a substrate. The reaction mechanism was evaluated by Michaelis-Menten equation and the radical scavengers. Utilizing the great enzyme-mimic activity of PNCs we were developed a sensitive colorimetric sensor for determination of ceftriaxone in the range of 0.5–20 nM, and detection limit was 0.13 nM. On the basis of clear color change in the solution, a simple but sensitive smartphone-based platform in the range 10–40 nM with the detection limit of 7.8 nM was also developed. Applicability of these sensors was studied for analysis of various water samples, demonstrating their great potential for real analytical applications.

Tb doped carbon dots (Tb-CDs) were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and the existence of Tb in the obtained CDs was confirmed by the several characterization methods. Tb-CDs were exploited to design a ratiometric fluorescence sensor for deferasirox (DFX) assay. CDs and Tb acted as reference and sensing probs in the sensor. In the presence of DFX, the fluorescence intensity of CDs remained unchanged, while Tb emission increased. The fluorescence ratio of Tb to CDs was proportional to the DFX concentration at the range of 0.1 to 2.5 µM. Additionally, the fluorescence color altered from blue (CDs emission) to green (Tb emission) with increasing DFX concentration. We employed this color variation to establish a smartphone based sensor for the DFX detection. The linear range of established sensor was 0.5–15 µM. The detection limit (3S) for the ratiometric and smartphone based sensor was calculated to be 0.08 and 0.4 µM, respectively. Both sensors were applied to measure DFX in human serum samples with satisfactory results.

Spontaneous abortion (SA) is considered one of the most prevalent adverse outcomes of pregnancy. SA may occur due to genetic susceptibility and various maternal factors such as nutritional status. The aim of this study was to assess how dietary carotenoids and the FTO gene are related to SA. This case–control study included 192 women with a history of SA as the case group and 347 healthy women without history of SA as the control group. To evaluate carotenoid intake, a valid 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used. The FTO gene was genotyped for the presence of the rs9939609 polymorphism using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain (ARMS-PCR). The results indicated a significant negative association between dietary intake of β-cryptoxanthin and SA in carriers of the TT genotype of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism after adjustment for age, BMI, physical activity, smoking, alcohol drinking, and calorie intake (β = −0.28, P = 0.02). No association was found between SA with dietary intake of beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, and lycopene among carriers of different FTO genotypes. The FTO genotype may have an effect on the association between SA and carotenoid intake. Dietary intake of β-cryptoxanthin may act as a protective factor against SA only in carriers of the TT genotype of the FTO rs9939609 polymorphism.

Prenatal drug exposure, as a common public health concern, is associated with an increased risk of adverse effects on early embryo development. To investigate the development of - embryo from experimentally Kerack-addicted mice. Twenty-five female mice were studied in five groups: control, vehicle, and three experimental groups of Kerack-dependent mice (I, II, and III) which received different doses of Kerack for 14 days. After the establishment of addiction model (7 days), experimental groups I, II, and III were given Kerack intraperitoneally at the doses of 5, 35, and 70 mg/kg, twice a day for a period of 7 days, respectively. The vehicle group received normal saline and lemon juice whilst the control group just received water and food. Morulae were obtained through oviduct flashing. The survived embryos were cultured in T6+ 5mg/ml bovine serum albumin. The developmental rates up to hatched stage daily and embryo quality (differential staining and Tunnel staining) were also assessed. The developmental potential of embryos obtained from the addicted mother was significantly decreased in comparison with control group. There was a significant reduction in the rate of blastocyst formation in the high dose Kerack dependent group. However, in addicted mice there was reduction in the total cell number (40.92% vs. 65.08% in control) and, inner cell mass percentage (17.17% vs. 26.15% in control) while apoptotic cells numbers were increased (7.17 vs. 1.46 in control) (p<0.05). The Kerack addiction during pregnancy retards preimplantation development and induces apoptosis.