The study of neurotransmitters and stress hormones allows the determination of indicators of the current stress load in the body. These species also create a proper strategy of stress protection. Nowadays, stress is a general factor that affects the population, and it may cause a wide range of serious disorders. Abnormalities in the level of neurohormones, caused by chronic psychological stress, can occur in, for instance, corporate employees, health care workers, shift workers, policemen, or firefighters. Here we present a new nanomaterials-based sensors technology development for the determination of neurohormones. We focus on fluorescent sensors/biosensors that utilize nanomaterials, such as quantum dots or carbon nanomaterials. Nanomaterials, owing to their diversity in size and shape, have been attracting increasing attention in sensing or bioimaging. They possess unique properties, such as fluorescent, electronic, or photoluminescent features. In this Review, we summarize new trends in adopting nanomaterials for applications in fluorescent sensors for neurohormone monitoring.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to design, fabricate and test devices based on transformers integrated with low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) modules with isolation between primary and secondary windings at the level between 6 and 12 kV. Design/methodology/approach: Insulating properties of the LTCC were examined. Dielectric strength and volume resistivity were determined for common LTCC tapes: 951 (DuPont), 41020, 41060 (ESL), A6M (Ferro) and SK47 (KEKO). According to the determined properties, three different devices were designed, fabricated and tested: a compact DC/DC converter, a galvanic separator for serial digital bus and a transformer for high-voltage generator. Findings: Breakdown field intensity higher than 40 kV/mm was obtained for the test samples set, whereas the best breakdown field intensity of about 90 kV/mm was obtained for 951 tape. The materials 41020 and 951 exhibited the highest volume resistivity. Fabricated devices exhibited safe operation up to a potential difference of 10 kV, limited by minimum clearance. Long-term stability was assured by over 20 kV strength of inner dielectric. Practical implications: This paper contains description of three devices made in the LTCC technology for application in systems with high-voltage isolation requirement, for example, for power or railway power networks. Originality/value: The results show that LTCC is a suitable material for fabrication of high-voltage devices with integrated passives. Technology and properties of three examples of such devices are described, demonstrating the ability of the LTCC technology for application in reliable high-voltage devices and systems.

The Low Temperature Cofired Ceramic (LTCC) technology has proven to be highly suitable for 3D microstructures manufacturing in electronic devices due to its excellent electrical and mechanical properties. In this paper, a novel idea of implementing the LTCC structures into high-energy particle detectors technology is proposed. It can be applied in High Energy Physics (HEP) laboratories, where such sophisticated sensors are constantly exposed to particles of the TeV energy range for many years. The most advanced applications of the concept are based on dedicated gas amplifier systems coupled with readout microstructures. Typically, the readout microstructures are made in the Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) technology and processed in a sophisticated and patent-protected way. This article presents the manufacturing process and parameters of the novel microstructures made in the LTCC technology. The structures were implemented into the high-energy particle detector, and the first results are presented.