Graphene-Based Opto-Electronic Platform for Ultra-Sensitive Biomarker Detection at Zeptomolar Concentrations.

A ground-breaking graphene-based biosensor designed for label-free detection of immunoglobulin M (IgM) achieving a remarkable concentration of 100 zeptomolar (10 m), is reported. The sensor is a two-terminal device and incorporates a millimeter-wide gold interface, bio-functionalized with ≈10 anti-IgM antibodies and capacitively coupled to a bare graphene electrode through a water-soaked paper strip. In this configuration, few affinity binding events trigger a collective electrostatic reorganization of the protein layer, leading to an extended surface potential (SP) shift of the biofunctionalized Au surface.

Diagnostic methods and protocols for rapid determination of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections: a comparative analysis.

Purpose: To evaluate diagnostic performance of four diagnostic methods for rapid determination of methicillin resistance in S. aureus positive blood cultures (BCs).

Methods: Clinical and spiked BCs were subjected to the evaluation of the following methods and protocols: a.

An integrative review of the effects of high-intensity interval training on the autonomic nervous system.

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) has gained prominence as a time-efficient and effective exercise modality to improve cardiovascular (CV) fitness, metabolic health, and physical performance. Therefore, our aim was to synthesize current clinical research on the effects of HIIT on the Autonomic Nervous System. We conducted the search for studies in the Directory of Open Access Journals, Embase, Virtual Health Library, Pubmed, and Scielo databases, in January of 2024.

Electronically Coupled Heterojunctions Based on Graphene and Cu2-xS Nanocrystals: The Effect of the Surface Ligand.

Optoelectronic devices combining single-layer graphene (SLG) and colloidal semiconducting nanocrystal (NC) heterojunctions have recently gained significant attention as efficient hybrid photodetectors. While most research has concentrated on systems using heavy metal-based semiconductor NCs, there is a need for further exploration of environmentally friendly nanomaterials, such as CuS. Chemical ligands play a crucial role in these hybrid photodetectors, as they enable charge transfer between the NCs and SLG.

Influence of ESBL colonization status on gut microbiota composition during allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

After allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT), the diversity of the intestinal microbiota significantly decreases. The changes can be rapid and are thought to be caused by chemotherapy, antibiotics, or intestinal inflammation. Most patients are exposed to prophylactic and therapeutic antibiotics during neutropenia and several patients are colonized by ESBL bacteria.

The Role of Lymphadenectomy in the Surgical Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

: Lymphadenectomy in the operative management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial, with no recommendation for routine practice. Our study aimed to assess the effects of lymphadenectomy in addition to hepatic resection (HR) compared to HR alone for adults with HCC. : This systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines until March 2023, searching and selecting the relevant literature comparing lymph node dissection or sampling, combined with HR, and with no lymph node removal.

Employer Perspective on Pain Fellowship Education: A Survey to Understand the Current State of Pain Medicine Training.

Background: Pain medicine care has expanded to encompass a wider range of conditions, necessitating updated education and training for pain specialists to utilize emerging technologies effectively. A national survey was conducted through several verified Pain organizations regarding pain physician employers' perspectives on pain medicine fellowship training and education. The survey aimed to gather insights from a diverse range of geographic locations, practice types (academic and private practice), and practice settings.

Disentangling Sources of Momentum Fluctuations in Xe+Xe and Pb+Pb Collisions with the ATLAS Detector.

High-energy nuclear collisions create a quark-gluon plasma, whose initial condition and subsequent expansion vary from event to event, impacting the distribution of the eventwise average transverse momentum [P([p_{T}])]. Disentangling the contributions from fluctuations in the nuclear overlap size (geometrical component) and other sources at a fixed size (intrinsic component) remains a challenge. This problem is addressed by measuring the mean, variance, and skewness of P([p_{T}]) in ^{208}Pb+^{208}Pb and ^{129}Xe+^{129}Xe collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.

Age- and sex-related variations in extracellular vesicle profiling for the assessment of cardiovascular risk: the EVaging index.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer valuable diagnostic and prognostic insights for cardiovascular (CV) diseases, but the influence of age-related chronic inflammation ("inflammaging") and sex differences on EV profiles linked to CV risk remains unclear. This study aimed to use EV profiling to predict age and stratify patients by CV risk. We developed an EVaging index by analyzing surface antigen profiles of serum EVs from 625 participants, aged 20 to 94 years, across varying CV risk groups.

[The CCM Project "Phenotypic and molecular screening methodologies for the detection of coloniza-tions due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE)"].

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs) are globally considered to be a major threat to public health. National and international guidelines emphasize the importance of routine active surveillance policies to prevent their transmission. Consequently, screening for the evaluation of the status of colonization by CREs in hospitalized patients in Italy is considered essential to contain and control the spread of these microorganisms and their evolution towards infection.

Employing the Artificial Intelligence Object Detection Tool YOLOv8 for Real-Time Pain Detection: A Feasibility Study.

Introduction: Effective pain management is crucial for patient care, impacting comfort, recovery, and overall well-being. Traditional subjective pain assessment methods can be challenging, particularly in specific patient populations. This research explores an alternative approach using computer vision (CV) to detect pain through facial expressions.

Application of Poly(lactic Acid) Composites in the Automotive Sector: A Critical Review.

The introduction of bio-based matrices in automotive applications would, in principle, increase their sustainability and, in case the use of secondary raw materials is also involved, even result in reduced resource depletion. The bio-based polymer composite matrix that has been mainly brought forward towards industrial application is poly(lactic acid) (PLA), which has often been proposed as the replacement for matrices based on polyolefins in fields such as packaging and short-term commodities since, in general, it matches the needs for conventional thermoplastic production processes. The passage to the automotive sector is not obvious, though: problems affecting durability, the relation with water and the environment, together with the requirement for outstanding mechanical and impact performance appear very stringent.

Search for the Exclusive W Boson Hadronic Decays W^{±}→π^{±}γ, W^{±}→K^{±}γ and W^{±}→ρ^{±}γ with the ATLAS Detector.

A search for the exclusive hadronic decays W^{±}→π^{±}γ, W^{±}→K^{±}γ, and W^{±}→ρ^{±}γ is performed using up to 140  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collisions recorded with the ATLAS detector at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV. If observed, these rare processes would provide a unique test bench for the quantum chromodynamics factorization formalism used to calculate cross sections at colliders. Additionally, at future colliders, these decays could offer a new way to measure the W boson mass through fully reconstructed decay products.

Endovascular therapy in patients with acute intracranial non-terminal internal carotid artery occlusion (ICA-I).

Background: Acute intracranial occlusion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) can be distinguished into (a) occlusion of the terminal ICA, involving the proximal segments of the middle or anterior cerebral artery (ICA-L/-T) and (b) non-terminal intracranial occlusions of the ICA with patent circle of Willis (ICA-I). While patients with ICA-L/-T occlusion were included in all randomized controlled trials on endovascular therapy (EVT) in anterior large vessel occlusion, data on EVT in ICA-I occlusion is scarce. We thus aimed to evaluate effectiveness and safety of EVT in ICA-I occlusions in comparison to ICA-L/-T occlusions.

Direct localized growth of graphene on a substrate: a novel nickel-catalyzed CVD process assisted by H plasma.

An original metal catalyzed CVD methodology assisted by hydrogen plasma for the direct deposition of few-layer graphene on a substrate is presented. Graphene is grown at 900 °C directly on the surface of the substrate of technological interest by carbon diffusion through a nickel film by using methane (CH) as the carbon precursor. Hydrogen atoms in the H-plasma downstream are used to promote the solubilization of carbon atoms in Ni, thus favouring the growth of graphene at the Ni/substrate interface.