Trace level detection of melamine and cyanuric acid extracted from pet liquid food (milk) using a SERS Au nanogap substrate.

This study reported an application of Au nanogap substrates for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements to quantitatively analyze melamine and its derivative products at trace levels in pet liquid food (milk) combined with a waveband selection approach, namely variable importance in projection (VIP). Six different concentrations of melamine, cyanuric acid, and melamine combined with cyanuric acid were created, and SERS spectra were acquired from 550 to 1620cm-1. Detection was possible up to 200 pM for melamine-contaminated samples, and 400 pM concentration detection for other two groups. The VIP-PLSR models obtained correlation coefficient (R2) values of 0.997, 0.985, and 0.981, with root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) values of 18.492 pM, 19.777 pM, and 15.124 pM for prediction datasets. Additionally, partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to classify both pure and different concentrations of spiked samples. The results showed that the maximum classification accuracy for melamine was 100%, for cyanuric acid it was 96%, and for melamine coupled with cyanuric acid it was 95%. The results obtained clearly demonstrated that the Au nanogap substrate offers low-concentration, rapid, and efficient detection of hazardous additive chemicals in pet consuming liquid food.

Vapor phase detection of explosives by surface enhanced Raman scattering under ambient conditions with metal nanogap structures.

Non-invasive and passive detection of explosives in the vapor phase is advantageous for military, counter-terrorism, and homeland security applications. Detection of explosives using SERS has been an active research topic. However, the vapor pressures of most explosives are low at room temperature, and consequently, the vapor phase detection by SERS is highly challenging without intentionally heating explosive powder to increase the vapor pressure. In this work, we report the rapid and sensitive detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) in the vapor phase, using a gold nanogap (AuNG) SERS substrate. The AuNG SERS substrate was fabricated with electron beam evaporation, rapid thermal annealing, and wet etching. SERS measurements were carried out with an incident power as low as 0.56 mW at 785 nm. To prevent the condensation effect, the TNT and 2,4-DNT powders inside the cuvette were taken out before inserting the nanogap substrate. Our SERS results demonstrate the feasibility of the non-invasive detection of vapor phase explosives under ambient conditions.

Clinical characteristics of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo after traumatic brain injury.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the characteristics of brain injury and to assess the relationship between them and treatment outcomes in patients with traumatic benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (t-BPPV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three consecutive patients who were diagnosed with BPPV within 2 weeks after head trauma were included. RESULTS: Cerebral concussion, intracranial hemorrhages (ICH), skull fracture without ICH, and hemorrhagic contusion were observed in 68%, 24%, 5%, and 3% of t-BPPV patients, respectively. BPPV with single canal involvement was observed in 52 (83%) patients and that with multiple canal involvement was observed in 11 (17%) patients. The number of treatment sessions was not significantly different according to the cause of head trauma (p = 0.252), type of brain injury (p = 0.308) or location of head trauma (p = 0.287). The number of recurrences was not significantly different according to the cause of head trauma (p = 0.308), type of brain injury (p = 0.536) or location of head trauma (p = 0.138). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that there were no significant differences in treatment sessions until resolution and the mean number of recurrences according to the type of brain injury.

Clinical diagnoses of patients showing caloric inversion.

OBJECTIVES: When air irrigation is used for caloric stimulation in patients with a perforated ear, warm irrigation may elicit a nystagmus that initially beats in the opposite direction of what is expected for warm irrigations, which is referred to as "caloric inversion". This study aimed to investigate the disease group in which caloric inversion appeared in patients who underwent caloric testing and to classify the patterns of caloric inversion. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of bithermal caloric test results that were collected in our dizziness clinic between 2005 and 2022. Caloric inversion was defined when nystagmus induced by caloric stimulation appeared in the opposite direction to that expected. The incidence of caloric inversion among all patients who underwent bithermal caloric tests was calculated. To confirm the clinical diagnoses of the patients with caloric inversion, their clinical records were reviewed. RESULTS: Out of 9923 patients who underwent bithermal caloric tests, 29 patients (0.29%) showed a caloric inversion. The most common clinical diagnosis was chronic otitis media (21 of 29, 72%). Of the 21 patients with chronic otitis media, 20 patients showed a caloric inversion by warm air irrigation and one patient showed caloric inversion by cold air stimulation. Patients with clinical diagnoses other than chronic otitis media such as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood and recurrent vestibulopathy showed caloric inversion by warm air irrigation. Caloric inversion by warm water irrigation was observed in patients with lateral semicircular canal cupulopathy and recurrent vestibulopathy. Two patients (one with Meniere's disease and one with age-related dizziness) showed caloric inversion by cold water irrigation. CONCLUSION: Caloric inversion can be observed in various diseases other than chronic otitis media with tympanic membrane perforation. Special care should be taken in the interpretation of caloric test results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.

Croton macrostachyus Leaf Extract-Mediated Green Synthesis of ZnO Nanoparticles and ZnO/CuO Nanocomposites for the Enhanced Photodegradation of Methylene Blue Dye with the COMSOL Simulation Model.

The photodegradation of organic pollutants using metal oxide-based catalysts has drawn great attention as an effective method for wastewater treatment. In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and zinc oxide/copper oxide nanocomposites (ZnO/CuO NCs) were fabricated using the leaf extract of Croton macrostachyus as a nontoxic, natural reducing and stabilizing agent. The synthesized samples were characterized by employing X-ray diffraction, microscopic, spectroscopic, and electrochemical methods. The results confirmed the successful synthesis of ZnO NPs and ZnO/CuO NCs with well-defined crystalline structures and morphologies. The prepared samples were tested for the photodegradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light irradiation. Compared to ZnO NPs, ZnO/CuO NCs showed greatly improved photocatalytic performances, particularly with the sample prepared with the 20 mol % Cu precursor (97.02%). The enhancement could be related to the formed p-n heterojunction, which can suppress the recombination of charge carriers and extend the photoresponsive range. A theoretical study of the photocatalytic activity of ZnO/CuO NCs against MB dye degradation was also conducted by using COMSOL Multiphysics software. The results of the simulation are in reasonable agreement with those of the experiment. This study contributes to the development of sustainable and effective photocatalytic materials that are suitable for application in environmental remediation, particularly in the treatment of wastewater.

Cerebellopontine angle tumor presenting as acute audiovestibular syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Acute audiovestibular deficits may be a harbinger of vestibular schwannoma (VS). OBJECTIVE: To investigate clinical and laboratory features of 25 consecutive patients with VS presenting with acute audiovestibular deficits. METHODS: A symptomatic combination of acute audiovestibular deficits was investigated. Audiometric and vestibular function tests, and internal auditory canal magnetic resonance imaging (IAC MRI) results were evaluated. RESULTS: Varying combinations of symptoms may develop in VS patients with acute audiovestibular deficits, of whom sudden hearing loss (HL) without acute vertigo or acute facial nerve palsy (FNP) was most common. The most common audiometric configuration was high-tone hearing loss, and no patient showed low-tone hearing loss. IAC MRI demonstrated that the tumor had an intracanalicular portion and attachment to the bony IAC wall in all patients and widened the IAC wall in some patients. CONCLUSION: Different symptomatic combinations of acute audiovestibular deficits may develop in patients with VS. Awareness about the possibility of VS as a cause of sudden HL, acute vertigo, and acute FNP, as well as subsequent IAC MRI scanning is vital to earlier diagnosis of VS in these patients.

Dual-Dewetting Process for Self-Assembled Nanoparticle Clusters in Wafer Scale.

Plasmonic molecules, which are geometrically well-defined plasmonic metal nanoparticle clusters, have attracted significant attention due to their enhancement of light-matter interactions owing to a stronger electric field enhancement than that by single particles. High-resolution lithography techniques provide precise positioning of plasmonic nanoparticles, but their fabrication costs are excessively high. In this study, we propose a lithography-free, self-assembly fabrication method, termed the dual-dewetting process, which allows the control of the size and density of gold nanoparticles. This process involves depositing a gold thin film on a substrate and inducing dewetting through thermal annealing, followed by a second deposition and annealing. The method achieves a uniform distribution of particle size and density, along with increased particle density, across a 6-inch wafer. The superiority of the method is confirmed by a 30-fold increase in the signal intensity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering following the additional dewetting with an 8 nm film, compared to single dewetting alone. Our findings indicate that the dual-dewetting method provides a simple and efficient approach to enable a variety of plasmonic applications through efficient plasmonic molecule large-area fabrication.

Design of a bidirectional TM01(TE01)-LP01 mode converter with a metasurface-on-fiber.

Mode conversion is crucial for coupling a light source to a desired waveguide. While traditional mode converters such as fiber Bragg gratings and long-period fiber gratings exhibit high transmission and conversion efficiency, the mode conversion of two orthogonal polarizations remains challenging. Here, we present a bidirectional metasurface mode converter that can convert the transverse electric (TE)01 or transverse magnetic (TM)01 mode to the fundamental mode (LP01) with orthogonal polarization, and vice versa. The mode converter is located on a facet of a few-mode fiber and connected to a single mode fiber. Through simulations, we find that 99.9% of the TM01 or TE01 mode is converted into the x- or y-polarized LP01 mode, and that 99.96% of the x- or y-polarized LP01 mode is converted to the TM01 or TE01 mode. Furthermore, we expect a high transmission of over 84.5% for all mode conversions, up to 88.7% for TE01 to y-polarized LP01 conversion.

All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality Attributable to Seasonal Influenza: A Nationwide Matched Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Although influenza poses substantial mortality burden, most studies have estimated excess mortality using time-aggregated data. Here, we estimated mortality risk and population attributable fraction (PAF) attributed to seasonal influenza using individual-level data from a nationwide matched cohort. METHODS: Individuals with influenza during four consecutive influenza seasons (2013-2017) (n = 5,497,812) and 1:4 age- and sex-matched individuals without influenza (n = 20,990,683) were identified from a national health insurance database. The endpoint was mortality within 30 days after influenza diagnosis. All-cause and cause-specific mortality risk ratios (RRs) attributed to influenza were estimated. Excess mortality, mortality RR, and PAF of mortality were determined, including for underlying disease subgroups. RESULTS: Excess mortality rate, mortality RR, and PAF of all-cause mortality were 49.5 per 100,000, 4.03 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.63-4.48), and 5.6% (95% CI, 4.5-6.7%). Cause-specific mortality RR (12.85; 95% CI, 9.40-17.55) and PAF (20.7%; 95% CI, 13.2-27.0%) were highest for respiratory diseases. In subgroup analysis according to underlying disorders, PAF of all-cause mortality was 5.9% (95% CI, 0.6-10.7%) for liver disease, 5.8% (95% CI, 2.9-8.5%) for respiratory disease, and 3.8% (95% CI, 1.4-6.1%) for cancer. CONCLUSION: Individuals with influenza had a 4-fold higher mortality risk than individuals without influenza. Preventing seasonal influenza may lead to 5.6% and 20.7% reductions in all-cause and respiratory mortality, respectively. Individuals with respiratory disease, liver disease, and cancer may benefit from prioritization when establishing influenza prevention strategies.

Au nanogap SERS substrate for the carbaryl pesticide determination in juice and milk using chemomterics.

Conventional spectroscopic methods like IR, and Raman are not very effective at detecting low levels of pesticides or harmful chemicals in food matrices. A quick, highly accurate approach that can identify pesticides present in different food products at lower levels must be developed in order to address this problem and ensure food safety. In this study, a highly sensitive and uniform wafer-scale Au nanogap surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate was used for the quantitative analysis of carbaryl pesticide levels in standard solution, mango juice, and milk samples using chemometrics. Carbaryl was detected up to 3 ppb concentration levels for all three group of samples. However, due to the higher sensitivity, uniformity, and enhancement factors of the SERS substrate used in this investigation, the limit of detection (LOD) values for the standard solution, mango juice, and milk were 0.37 ppb, 0.57 ppb, and 0.15 ppb at 1380 cm-1, 1380 cm-1, and 1364 cm-1 wavenumber ranges. In order to predict different carbaryl concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ppb), the variable importance in projection (VIP) method combined with partial least squares regression (PLSR) and attained the coefficient of determination (R2) values of 0.994, 0.989, and 0.978 along with minimum root mean square error (RMSE) values of 0.112, 0.190, and 0.278 ppb for the prediction datasets. Furthermore, PLS-DA was able to distinguish between pure and adulterated samples with the highest classification accuracy of 100 % for a standard solution, and mango juice and 94.4 % for milk samples. Considering this, we can conclude that the SERS Au Nanogap substrate can rapidly and effectively detect carbaryl pesticides quantitatively and qualitatively in mango juice and milk.

The Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of the Largest Outbreak of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli in Korea.

BACKGROUND: The largest outbreak of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 occurred at a preschool in South Korea from June 12 to 29, 2020. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of EHEC infection in this outbreak. METHODS: Epidemiological investigation was performed on all 184 children and 19 workers at the preschool using a standard questionnaire to assess symptoms, food intake, attendance, and special activity history. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of confirmed cases was performed to determine genetic relevance. RESULTS: During this outbreak, 103 children were affected, whereas only one infection was identified in adults. Of the 103 pediatric patients, 85 had symptoms (82.5%), including diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloody stool, fever, and vomiting. Thirty-two patients (31.1%) were hospitalized, 15 (14.6%) were diagnosed with hemolytic uremic syndrome, and 4 (3.9%) received dialysis treatment. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis identified 4 genotypes with high genetic relevance (92.3%). Epidemiological investigation revealed that this outbreak might have occurred from ingesting foods stored in a refrigerator with a constant temperature above 10°C, which was conducive to bacterial growth. Despite several measures after outbreak recognition, new infections continued to appear. Therefore, the preschool was forced to close on June 19 to prevent further person-to-person transmission. CONCLUSION: Our findings from the response to the largest outbreak will help prepare countermeasures against future EHEC outbreak.

Kinetic evidence in favor of glyoxalase III and against deglycase activity of DJ-1.

DJ-1, a protein encoded by PARK7 plays a protective role against neurodegeneration. Since its glyoxalase III activity catalyzing methylglyoxal (MG) to lactate was discovered, DJ-1 has been re-established as a deglycase decomposing the MG-intermediates with amino acids and nucleotides (hemithioacetal and hemiaminal) rather than MG itself, but it is still debatable. Here, we have clarified that human DJ-1 directly recognizes MG, and not MG-intermediates, by monitoring the detailed catalytic processes and enantiomeric lactate products. The hemithioacetal intermediate between C106 of 15 N-labeled DJ-1 (15N DJ-1) and MG was also monitored by NMR. TRIS molecule formed stable diastereotopic complexes with MG (Kd , 1.57 ± 0.27 mM) by utilizing its three OH groups, which likely disturbed the assay of deglycase activity. The low kcat of DJ-1 for MG and its MG-induced structural perturbation may suggest that DJ-1 has a regulatory function as an in vivo sensor of reactive carbonyl stress.

Spontaneous Nystagmus in Patients With Posterior Semicircular Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the incidence of spontaneous nystagmus (SN) in posterior semicircular canal (PSCC) benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and its effect on treatment outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. METHODS: This study included 50 patients with idiopathic unilateral PSCC BPPV between July 2021 and May 2022. The presence of SN was investigated, and the results of the bithermal caloric test and video head impulse test (vHIT) were compared. RESULTS: SN was observed in 13 (26%) of the 50 patients presenting PSCC BPPV. The direction of SN was mainly unidirectional and horizontal in 12 of the 13 patients with a slow-phase velocity ranging from 2 to 4°/s. One patient presented an upbeating torsional SN at the initial evaluation. The mean vHIT gain of the PSCC on the affected side was significantly lower in patients with SN than those without SN (p = .004, Mann-Whitney U test). The proportion of patients who recovered within 2 sessions of the repositioning maneuver was significantly higher in those without SN than that in those with SN (p < .001, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the treatment outcomes of PSCC BPPV were significantly worse in patients with SN than those without SN. Examining the presence of SN in patients with PSCC BPPV may be helpful in counseling the patients on prognosis, and it is expected that more sessions of canalith repositioning maneuver may be required to treat PSCC BPPV in patients with SN than those without SN.

Amplitude modulating frequency overrides carrier frequency in tACS-induced phosphene percept.

The amplitude modulated (AM) neural oscillation is an essential feature of neural dynamics to coordinate distant brain areas. The AM transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has recently been adopted to examine various cognitive functions, but its neural mechanism remains unclear. The current study utilized the phosphene phenomenon to investigate whether, in an AM-tACS, the AM frequency could modulate or even override the carrier frequency in phosphene percept. We measured the phosphene threshold and the perceived flash rate/pattern from 12 human subjects (four females, aged from 20-44 years old) under tACS that paired carrier waves (10, 14, 18, 22 Hz) with different envelope conditions (0, 2, 4 Hz) over the mid-occipital and left facial areas. We also examined the phosphene source by adopting a high-density stimulation montage. Our results revealed that (1) phosphene threshold was higher for AM-tACS than sinusoidal tACS and demonstrated different carrier frequency functions in two stimulation montages. (2) AM-tACS slowed down the phosphene flashing and abolished the relation between the carrier frequency and flash percept in sinusoidal tACS. This effect was independent of the intensity change of the stimulation. (3) Left facial stimulation elicited phosphene in the upper-left visual field, while occipital stimulation elicited equally distributed phosphene. (4) The near-eye electrodermal activity (EDA) measured under the threshold-level occipital tACS was greater than the lowest power sufficient to elicit retinal phosphene. Our results show that AM frequency may override the carrier frequency and determine the perceived flashing frequency of AM-tACS-induced phosphene.

The Light Cupula Phenomenon: A Scoping Review.

Direction-changing positional nystagmus (DCPN), which refers to the change in the direction of nystagmus with different head positions, is a well-known characteristic of horizontal semicircular canal BPPV. The supine head roll test is commonly used to diagnose horizontal canal BPPV. However, persistent geotropic DCPN observed during this test cannot be explained by the conventional explanations of canalolithiasis or cupulolithiasis. To account for this unique nystagmus, the concept of a "light cupula" has been recently introduced. In this review, we provide an overview of the historical background, clinical features and diagnostic methods, proposed mechanisms, and treatment strategies associated with the light cupula phenomenon based on the available literature to date.

Serially Checked Spherical Aberration Can Evaluate the Anti-Myopia Effect of Orthokeratology Lens in Children.

We aimed to investigate the changes in higher-order aberrations (HOAs) after wearing orthokeratology (OK) lenses in myopic patients. The study included 15 eyes from ten myopic patients, whose refractive error was myopia less than -4.5 diopters (D) and astigmatism less than 1.5 D. Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were measured, and Zywave® aberrometry was performed at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months following OK lens wear. The mean age was 11.5 years (range: 9-15 years). There was a significant improvement in UCVA (p ≤ 0.001) and a decrease in the spherical equivalent measured with auto-refraction at 6 months (p ≤ 0.001). Total HOAs significantly increased after OK lens wear (p ≤ 0.001), with spherical aberration increasing approximately 3.9-fold (p = 0.05). Spherical aberration demonstrated statistically significant positive correlations with the change in spherical equivalent at 3 and 6 months (p = 0.007 and 0.003, respectively). After wearing properly prescribed OK lens, all subjects had significantly improved UCVA and decreased myopic spherical equivalent, with increased total HOAs and positive spherical aberration at 1 month, and the changes were maintained at 6 months. Serially checked spherical aberration could evaluate the anti-myopia effect of the orthokeratology lens in children.

Change in Diagnosis of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: The present study investigated the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Patients and Methods: The medical records of BPPV patients who were evaluated in the outpatient department (OPD) and emergency room (ER) during (435 patients) and before (517 patients) the COVID-19 pandemic were retrospectively reviewed. Dix-Hallpike and supine head-roll tests were used to classify the subtype of BPPV as posterior semicircular canal (PSCC), geotropic lateral semicircular canal (geotropic LSCC), or apogeotropic lateral semicircular canal (apogeotropic LSCC) BPPV. Results: More patients with PSCC BPPV were diagnosed at the OPD compared with those who were diagnosed at the ER both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, more patients with LSCC BPPV were diagnosed at the ER compared with those who were diagnosed at the OPD during the same periods. The mean time interval between vertigo onset and initial evaluation was remarkably longer during the pandemic in patients with PSCC BPPV. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the incidences of BPPV subtypes according to hospital visit type were not significantly different before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because hospital visits were delayed in patients with PSCC BPPV during the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine or e-health could be suitable alternatives to face-to-face medical care for these patients.

New Therapeutic Maneuver for Horizontal Semicircular Canal Cupulolithiasis: A Prospective Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: There are debates on whether mastoid oscillation has any benefit or harm in treating horizontal semicircular canal (HSCC) cupulolithiasis. The goal of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of the new maneuver using only inertia and gravity and compare it with the previously reported cupulolith repositioning maneuver using mastoid vibration (CuRM). METHODS: We enrolled 57 patients diagnosed with HSCC cupulolithiasis. Patients were randomly allocated to the previously reported CuRM or the new maneuver (briefly, 30° head rotation to the affected side and thereafter bidirectional side-lying) using simply inertia and gravity, and their immediate and short-term effects were evaluated. RESULTS: The immediate success rate did not differ significantly between the CuRM (8 of 22, 36.4%) and the new maneuver (10 of 35, 28.6%) groups (p = 0.538, Pearson's chi-square test). The late resolution rates at the first follow-up of the CuRM (75%, 9 of 12) and new maneuver groups (82.6%, 19 of 23) were very high, and there was no statistical difference between them (p = 0.670, Fisher's exact test). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the new maneuver was effective for treating HSCC cupulolithiasis with an immediate success rate of 28.6% (10 of 35). Although it did not show better results than the existing maneuver using vibration, there was no statistical difference. Considering the debate on the effectiveness of oscillation, we believe our new maneuver is a conservative alternative that uses only inertia and gravity, and it can be easily performed in clinics where oscillation equipment is not available.

Downbeat Nystagmus and Bilateral Sudden Hearing Loss by Suicidal Aspirin Intoxication.

Ototoxic side effects such as sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus can be caused by acute salicylate intoxication. Bilateral symmetric sensori- neural hearing loss involving all tested frequencies is a typical pattern of hearing loss in acute salicylate intoxication, which usually resolves within 2 or 3 days without any specific treatment for ototoxicity. Herein, we report a case of suicidal aspirin intoxication resulting in sudden bilateral hearing loss and vertigo. The patient exhibited spontaneous downbeat nystagmus, and the mechanism underlying this characteristic nystagmus is discussed.