This paper presents the construction and characterization of an amperometric immunosensor based on the graphene/gold nanoparticles (AuNPs/GO) nanocomposite for the detection of the bladder cancer biomarker, apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1). The morphological analysis of the AuNPs/GO nanocomposite demonstrated an almost spherical shape of AuNPs and the successful coverage of their surface by graphene oxide. An increased G peak and decreased D peak after the association of AuNPs with GO, implied a reduction in graphene defects. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated a significant decrease in the quantity of oxygen-containing functional groups in the AuNPs/GO nanocomposite, as compared to the original GO. Furthermore, the developed sensor demonstrated commendable sensitivity and selectivity, with a wide linear range for Apo-A1 detection. Importantly, the immunosensor exhibited remarkable stability over a period of 14 days, signifying its potential for practical applications.

The present study compared the effectiveness of virtual influencers (VIs) to human influencers through the theoretical lens of the uncanny valley and parasocial relationship using an online experiment. Specifically, we posited that highly humanlike VIs may evoke the feeling of the uncanny valley, as compared to human influencers or cartoonlike influencers, which, in turn, would act as a psychological barrier to building a parasocial relationship with the specific type of virtual influencer and decrease advertising attitude. The results indicated that people do feel the uncanniness from both highly humanlike and cartoonish influencers as compared to human influencers. This particular psychological experience negatively influenced the parasocial relationship, which, in turn, negatively affected the attitude toward a social media advertisement featuring the VIs. However, importantly, this effect was moderated by individual differences in anthropomorphism. This is one of the first studies that directly compared the effectiveness of different types of social media influencers in a rigorously designed experimental setting and expands the previous research on Vis, uncanny valley, and parasocial relationship. Both theoretical and managerial contributions of the study were discussed.

Novel ionic liquid-functionalized carbon quantum dots (IL-CDs) were prepared by hydrothermal method, and characterized with FT-IR, TEM and XPS. The IL-CDs exhibited narrower particle size distribution with more uniform dispersion and the surface potential changes from negative to positive due to the function of IL. IL-CDs could be quenched (“turned off”) after adding ascorbic acid (AA), and as an “on–off”, fluorescent probe could be established for direct analysis AA. The linear range of AA was 0.34–30.00 μg/mL and the LOD was 0.11 μg/mL. The method was successfully applied to the determination of AA in real samples with satisfactory results.

In this study, we investigated the disease, insect damage, growth, and yield characteristics of sorghum and foxtail millet in an organic paddy-upland rotation system at Anseong-si Gyeonggi province, Korea, in 2016. Seven varieties of sorghum and foxtail millet are used in this study. A rotational upland field and continuously cropped upland field were compared in order to establish an optimum cultural method and to select the best sorghum and foxtail varieties for a paddy-upland rotation system. The incidence rate of major diseases was higher for sorghum than for foxtail millet. Moktaksusu (22.8%) had the highest incidence rate among sorghum varieties. Hwanggeumchal (7.0%) had the highest incidence rate among foxtail millet varieties. DS202 (89.3%) was the most severely damaged by Ostrinia furnacalis larva, which is the main pest of sorghum and maize. The weed numbers, and the weed fresh and dry weights were lower in the rotational upland field than in the continuously cropped upland field. Futhermore, the number of weed plants decreased by 42% and the dry weight of weeds decreased by 33% in the rotational upland field compared to the continuously cropped upland field. The culm length of sorghum and foxtail millet were 7.9 cm, and 3.4 cm longer, respectively, in the rotational upland field than in the continuously cropped upland field. The average yield of sorghum per 10 a increased by 90% in the rotational upland field compared to continuously cropped upland field. However, there was no significant difference between the rotational upland field and the continuously cropped upland field for foxtail millet. The most suitable varieties for a paddy-upland rotation system were judged to be Hwanggeumchal, Donganmae, and DS202 for sorghum, and Samdachal, Samdamae, Dahwangmae for foxtail millet.