Application of the Sm1-7-qPCR system for identifying S. mansoni DNA in experimentally infected mice.

Schistosomiasis presents a significant public health challenge, especially in regions with inadequate sanitation. Current diagnostic methods, including the Kato-Katz technique, often lack sensitivity in detecting low parasite loads, prompting the search for more precise alternatives. This study introduces the Sm1-7-qPCR system as a highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for identifying S.

Fast EEG/MEG BEM-Based Forward Problem Solution for High-Resolution Head Models.

A fast BEM (boundary element method) based approach is developed to solve an EEG/MEG forward problem for a modern high-resolution head model. The method utilizes a charge-based BEM accelerated by the fast multipole method (BEM-FMM) with an adaptive mesh pre-refinement method (called b-refinement) close to the singular dipole source(s). No costly matrix-filling or direct solution steps typical for the standard BEM are required; the method generates on-skin voltages as well as MEG magnetic fields for high-resolution head models within 90 seconds after initial model assembly using a regular workstation.

Characterizing features affecting local ancestry inference performance in admixed populations.

In recent years, significant efforts have been made to improve methods for genomic studies of admixed populations using local ancestry inference (LAI). Accurate LAI is crucial to ensure that downstream analyses accurately reflect the genetic ancestry of research participants. Here, we test analytic strategies for LAI to provide guidelines for optimal accuracy, focusing on admixed populations reflective of Latin America's primary continental ancestries-African (AFR), Amerindigenous (AMR), and European (EUR).

Gold nanoparticles supported onto zwitterionic polymer capillary monoliths meant for efficient enrichment of microcystins in water.

The release of microcystin (MCs) in aquatic ecosystems poses a substantial risk to the safety of irrigation and drinking water. In view of the challenges associated with monitoring MCs in water bodies, given their low concentration levels (μg/L to ng/L) and the presence of diverse matrix interferences, there is an urgent need to develop an efficient, cost-effective and selective enrichment technique for MCs prior to its quantification. In this work, a gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-functionalized zwitterionic polymer monolith was described and further applied for the affinity enrichment of MCs.

Prevalence of lipophilic phycotoxins with different forms in the benthic environments of a typical mariculture bay.

Lipophilic phycotoxins (LPTs) are toxic and lipophilic secondary metabolites produced by toxic microalgae, which pose a serious threat to marine shellfish culture industries. LPTs were systematically investigated in bottom seawater, suspended particulate matter (SPM), sediment, and sediment porewater of Laizhou Bay, a typical mariculture bay in China, to understand the chemical diversity and environment behaviors of LPTs in the benthic environments. Okadaic acid (OA), pectenotoxin-2 (PTX2), dinophysistoxin-1 (DTX1), azaspiracid-2 (AZA2), gymnodimine (GYM), pectenotoxin-2 seco acid (PTX2 SA), 7-epi- pectenotoxin-2 seco acid (7-epi-PTX2 SA), 13-desmethylspirolide C (SPX1), yessotoxin (YTX) and homo YTX (h-YTX) were detected in the benthic environment of Laizhou Bay in spring, indicating that LPTs are rich in chemical diversity.

Risk assessment and monitoring of tranquilizers in live seafood: Analysis of natural essential oil and 2-phenoxyethanol by GC-MS/MS.

An analytical method for nine tranquilizer compounds, including eight major natural oil components and 2-phenoxyethanol, was developed using gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and validated under CODEX and National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation guidelines. Subsequently, 315 live seafood samples under Korean preference for sashimi (eight species) were monitored with sales distribution channels and place of origin. A total of 76 detection cases in 65 seafood samples contained the target tranquilizer compounds at concentrations ranging from 2.

Subsidy implementation patterns and electric vehicle adoption.

Many local governments provide subsidies to promote electric vehicles (EVs). These subsidies are characterised by different implementation patterns: they are provided by different levels of government, sometimes jointly financed, or retroactively implemented. However, the potential impacts of different subsidy implementation patterns on EV adoption remain unclear.

Carbocation charge as an interpretable descriptor for the catalytic activity of hydrolytic nanozymes.

A universal theory for predicting the catalytic activity of hydrolytic nanozymes has yet to be developed. Herein, by investigating the polarization and hydrolysis mechanisms of nanomaterials towards amide bonds, carbocation charge was identified as a key electronic descriptor for predicting catalytic activity in amide hydrolysis. Through machine learning correlation analysis and the Sure Independence Screening and Sparsifying Operator (SISSO) algorithm, this descriptor was interpreted to associate with the d-band center and Lewis acidity on the nanomaterial surface.

Innovative analytical methodology for skin anti-aging compounds discovery from plant extracts: Integration of High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography-in vitro spectrophotometry bioassays with multivariate modeling and molecular docking.

Skin aging, characterized by reduced elasticity, wrinkles, and changes in pigmentation, presents significant challenges in the cosmetics industry. Identifying compounds that can help mitigate these effects is crucial to developing effective anti-aging treatments and improving skin health. An advanced analytical approach for identifying skin anti-aging compounds within complex natural mixtures must be developed to achieve this.

Integration of paper-based colorimetric microdevice and magnetic nanoparticles affinity for high-throughput capture of antimicrobial resistance-reversing agent from complex natural products.

Efficient analysis of active ingredient in complex natural products is crucial for drug discovery, but developing a simple method for this is challenging. The discovery of drugs against bacterial resistance is urgent because drug-resistant bacteria produce β-lactamases, which inactivate antibiotics and increase infection risks, particularly the AmpC β-lactamase. Here, an integrated analytical model based on colorimetric sensing and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) affinity chromatography was developed for screening AmpC β-lactamase inhibitors.

Determination and validation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH4) in katsuobushi, plant-based food supplements, and cocoa bean shells using GC-MS/MS.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are primarily generated through the incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of organic materials in various industrial processes. Foods may become contaminated with environmental PAHs found in air, soil, or water, or through industrial food processing methods such as smoking, roasting, drying, and grilling. The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan has established maximum levels for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and indicative values for BaP as well as PAH4 (the sum of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) in foods as operational guidelines.

Bio-inspired chitosan/polydopamine-nanoparticle based sorbent bead: A versatile platform for separation and HPLC analysis of tetracycline antibiotics from various sample matrix.

This study introduces an innovative bio-based sorbent bead crafted by integrating chitosan (CS) biopolymers, Fe(NO3)3 and polydopamine nanoparticles (PDA NPs) via glutaraldehyde crosslinking. The primary focus of this study was the concurrent separation of diverse tetracycline antibiotics (TCs), followed by rigorous reversed-phase liquid chromatography analysis. The fabricated CS/Fe@PDA sorbent beads were comprehensively characterized using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, revealing a surface rich in active carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and oxygen (O) moieties.

Nanoparticle-mediated light-driven LAMP combined with test strips for sensitive and rapid visual detection of antibiotic resistance genes.

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are markers of drug-resistant pathogens, monitoring them contributes to prevent resistance to drugs. The detection methods for ARGs including PCR and isothermal amplification are sensitive and selective. However, it may take several hours or cannot be used on spot.

Prioritization of climate change mitigation strategies for coastal regions using the Analytic Hierarchy Process.

This study utilizes the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to prioritize climate change mitigation strategies for coastal regions systematically. The AHP, a robust data-driven decision-making framework, was employed to evaluate five strategies: Mangrove Restoration, Zoning and Building Codes, Seawalls, Coral Reef Protection, and Relocation Programs. The analysis revealed that Mangrove Restoration emerged as the most effective strategy, achieving the highest score of 0.

Exploring machine learning tools in a retrospective case-study of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer treated with first-line immunotherapy: A feasibility single-centre experience.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) models are emerging as promising tools to identify predictive features among data coming from health records. Their application in clinical routine is still challenging, due to technical limits and to explainability issues in this specific setting. Response to standard first-line immunotherapy (ICI) in metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) is an interesting population for machine learning (ML), since up to 30% of patients do not benefit.

Midwives' experience of managing emergencies during labour and birth in a community setting: a mixed-methods systematic review.

Background: For women at low risk of complications during labour and birth, in the United Kingdom, planned birth in a 'community' setting (at home or a freestanding midwifery unit) is generally safe, and intrapartum emergencies are uncommon. Limited exposure may affect midwives' experience of managing an emergency.

Aim: Identify and synthesise available evidence about midwives' experiences of managing intrapartum emergencies during labour in a community setting.

Midwives' experiences of receiving maternity care and predictors of their overall birth experiences.

Background: Limited research has been conducted on midwives' experiences of receiving maternity care. Midwives may bring a degree of their own personal lives to their work, including their own birthing experience.

Aim: To explore midwives' experiences of giving birth and receiving maternity care and predictors of overall birth experience.

Estimating cardiovascular mortality in patients with hypertension using machine learning: The role of depression classification based on lifestyle and physical activity.

Purpose: This study aims to harness machine learning techniques, particularly the Random Survival Forest (RSF) model, to assess the impact of depression on cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality among hypertensive patients. A key objective is to elucidate the interplay between mental health, lifestyle, and physical activity while comparing the effectiveness of the RSF model against the traditional Cox proportional hazards model in predicting CVD mortality.

Methods: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2007 to 2014 were used for comprehensive depression screening.

A workflow to assess the recoverability of secondary raw materials via physical separation.

Printed circuit boards represent an extraordinarily challenging fraction for the recycling of waste electric and electronic equipment. Due to the closely interlinked structure of the composing materials, the selective recycling of copper and closely associated precious metals from this composite material is compromised by losses during mechanical pre-processing. This problem could partially be overcome by a better understanding of the influence of particle size and shape on the recovery of finely comminuted and well-liberated metal particles during mechanical separation.

Bootstrap Principle for the Spectrum and Scattering of Strings.

We show that the Veneziano amplitude of string theory is the unique solution to an analytically solvable bootstrap problem. Uniqueness follows from two assumptions: faster than power-law falloff in high-energy scattering and the existence of some infinite sequence in momentum transfer at which higher-spin exchanges cancel. The string amplitude-including the mass spectrum-is an output of this bootstrap.

Extreme Synergy in the Random-Energy Model.

The random-energy model (REM), a solvable spin-glass model, has impacted an incredibly diverse set of problems, from protein folding to combinatorial optimization, to many-body localization. Here, we explore a new connection to secret sharing. We derive an analytic expression for the mutual information between any two disjoint thermodynamic subsystems of the REM.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of deep brain stimulation versus treatment as usual for treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Objective: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective neurosurgical option for patients with treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Despite being more costly than neuroablative procedures of comparable efficacy, DBS has gained popularity over the years for its reversibility and adjustability. Although the cost-effectiveness of DBS has been investigated extensively in movement disorders, few economic analyses of DBS for psychiatric disorders exist.

Smartphone-Assisted Fluorescence Determination of Inorganic Phosphorus Using a Samarium Metal-Organic Framework.

Inorganic phosphori are widely used in food, whose quantitative detection method is of significance. This work presents a Sm-DDB (HDDB = 1,3-di(3',5'-dicarboxylphenyl)benzene), which acts as a ratiometric fluorescence sensor to monitor PO, HPO, and (PO) with high sensitivity. The determination factors of pH, MOF dosage, and fluorescence response time are optimized as 7.

Exploring data literacy self-perception among Indonesian high school students.

Data is becoming increasingly ubiquitous today, and data literacy has emerged an essential skill in the workplace. Therefore, it is necessary to equip high school students with data literacy skills in order to prepare them for further learning and future employment. In Indonesia, there is a growing shift towards integrating data literacy in the high school curriculum.

Determinants of vacancy formation and migration in high-entropy alloys.

Vacancies are crucial for the radiation resistance, strength, and ductility of high-entropy alloys (HEAs). However, complex electronic interactions resulting from chemical disorder prohibit the quantification of vacancy formation energy () and migration barriers (). Herein, we propose an electronic descriptor χ (electronegativity χ and valence-electron number ) to quantify the bonding strength of constituents on the basis of the tight-binding model, which allows us to build analytical models to achieve the site-to-site quantification of and .