Optimized machine learning approaches to combine surface-enhanced Raman scattering and infrared data for trace detection of xylazine in illicit opioids.

Infrared absorption spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy were integrated into three data fusion strategies-hybrid (concatenated spectra), mid-level (extracted features from both datasets) and high-level (fusion of predictions from both models)-to enhance the predictive accuracy for xylazine detection in illicit opioid samples. Three chemometric approaches-random forest, support vector machine, and -nearest neighbor algorithms-were employed and optimized using a 5-fold cross-validation grid search for all fusion strategies. Validation results identified the random forest classifier as the optimal model for all fusion strategies, achieving high sensitivity (88% for hybrid, 92% for mid-level, and 96% for high-level) and specificity (88% for hybrid, mid-level, and high-level).

Trust in scientists and their role in society across 68 countries.

Science is crucial for evidence-based decision-making. Public trust in scientists can help decision makers act on the basis of the best available evidence, especially during crises. However, in recent years the epistemic authority of science has been challenged, causing concerns about low public trust in scientists.

Perceptions of science, science communication, and climate change attitudes in 68 countries - the TISP dataset.

Science is integral to society because it can inform individual, government, corporate, and civil society decision-making on issues such as public health, new technologies or climate change. Yet, public distrust and populist sentiment challenge the relationship between science and society. To help researchers analyse the science-society nexus across different geographical and cultural contexts, we undertook a cross-sectional population survey resulting in a dataset of 71,922 participants in 68 countries.

A test of the Grant-Stebbins pollinator-shift model of floral evolution.

Pollinators are thought to play a key role in driving incipient speciation within the angiosperms. However, the mechanisms underlying floral divergence in plants with generalist pollination systems, remains understudied. Brunsvigia gregaria displays significant geographical variation in floral traits and are visited by diverse pollinator communities.

Acute aortic occlusion: A point-of-care ultrasound case report.

Introduction: Acute aortic occlusion (AAO) is a rare vascular emergency with significant associated morbidity and mortality.

Methods: This case report discusses a 39-year-old gentleman with methamphetamine-associated cardiomyopathy (MACM) who presented with bilateral lower limb ischaemia. A POCUS was performed to rapidly evaluate the patient on arrival, which demonstrated AAO.