Bidirectional association between attitudes toward own aging and quality of life in Chinese older adults: A prospective cohort study.

Although positive attitudes toward own aging (ATOA) have been shown to be associated with higher levels of quality of life (QoL) among older adults, the potential interrelationship between ATOA and QoL has not been fully explored. A sample of 2129 older adults aged 60 and above who participated in the three waves of the Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey was used. QoL was measured using three indicators, including self-rated health, loneliness, and life satisfaction. The cross-lagged analysis results showed that the bidirectional association between ATOA and QoL was not significant, while positive ATOA predicted better self-rated health, higher life satisfaction, and less loneliness. And there are no gender or age differences in the above relationships. In addition, economic status, sleep quality, and activity participation were common influences on self-rated health, life satisfaction, and loneliness, as well as important factors affecting ATOA. Several variables, such as demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and health status, also influenced QoL and ATOA. Measures to promote positive ATOA can help improve QoL. In addition, emphasis should be placed on improving economic status, sleep quality, and activity participation levels to enhance QoL and ATOA in older adults, with appropriate interventions targeting other factors affecting QoL and ATOA.

Dielectric barrier discharge-induced chemical vapor generation for highly sensitive analysis of iodine in seawater by ICP-MS.

BACKGROUND: The accurate determination of iodine in seawater is essential to understanding its impact on the environment and human health. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a widely used technique for elemental analysis due to its high sensitivity, speed, and low limit of detection (LOD). However, its capability in the detection of iodine in complex matrix samples is still limited by the low sample introduction efficiency of pneumatic nebulization and the high ionization energy of iodine. Dielectric barrier discharge microplasma-induced vapor generation (DBD-µPIVG) is a sample introduction technique that has been widely coupled with atomic spectrometry due to its high vapor generation efficiency, rapid reaction speed, high anti-interference capability, and environmental friendliness. RESULTS: A new method was developed for the rapid and sensitive determination of iodine using DBD-µPIVG coupled with ICP-MS. The DBD-µPIVG sample introduction technique can convert both iodide and iodate to their volatiles with a vapor generation efficiency of 70 %. The experimental conditions were optimized in detail, and the LOD for iodine was 0.04 µg L-1, which was lower compared to pneumatic nebulization and comparable to that after the extraction treatment. The relative standard deviation (RSD) obtained after 11 replicate determinations was 2.4%. Furthermore, the potential mechanism and anti-interference performance of the proposed method were also carefully investigated. SIGNIFICANCE: Compared to other analytical methods for iodine analysis, this approach is environmentally friendly, exhibits high anti-interference capability and enables accurate determination of iodine in complex matrix samples. The high vapor generation efficiency of DBD-µPIVG improves the sensitivity for iodine detection and expands the applicable elemental range of DBD-µPIVG. Finally, the proposed method was successfully applied to analyze the iodine content in seawater samples obtained from the Chinese coastal waters and retains great potential for assessing the distribution of iodine in different sea areas.

Field Detection of Uranyl in Coastal Water of China Using a Portable Device via DNA Photocleavage.

The urgent need for field detection of uranium in seawater is 2-fold: to provide prompt guidance for uranium extraction and to prevent human exposure to nuclear radiation. However, current methods for this purpose are largely hindered by bulky instrumentation, high costs of developed materials, and severe matrix interferences, which limit their further application in the field. Herein, we demonstrated a portable and label-free strategy for the field detection of uranyl in seawater based on the efficient photocleavage of DNA. Further experiments confirmed the generation of ultraviolet (UV) light-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as O2•- and •OH, which fragmented oligomeric DNA in the presence of uranyl and UV light. Detailed studies showed that DNA significantly enhances uranyl absorption in the UV-visible region, leading to the generation of more ROS. A fluorescence system for the selective detection of uranyl in seawater was established by immobilizing two complementary oligonucleotides with the fluorescent dye SYBR Green I. The strategy of UV-induced photocleavage offers high selectivity, excellent interference immunity, and high sensitivity for uranyl, with a detection limit of 6.8 nM. Additionally, the fluorescence can be visually detected using a 3D-printed miniaturized device integrated with a smartphone. This method has been successfully applied to the on-site detection of uranyl in seawater in 18 Chinese coastal cities and along the coast of Hainan Island within 3 min for a single sample. The sample testing and field analysis results indicate that this strategy has promising potential for real-time monitoring of trace uranyl in China's coastal waters. It is expected to be utilized for the rapid assessment of nuclear contamination and nuclear engineering construction.

How does psychosocial safety climate cross-level influence work engagement and job burnout: the roles of organization-based self-esteem and psychological detachment.

BACKGROUND: Existing researches on nurses' work engagement and job burnout have mostly stayed at the individual level, and limited researches test the cross-level effects of psychosocial safety climate (PSC). The study aimed to explore the cross-level mediating effect of organization-based self-esteem (OBSE) and the moderating effect of psychological detachment between the relationship of PSC and work engagement and job burnout in nurses. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted during November to December 2022 at a tertiary hospital in a northeastern province of China. Data was collected from 1832 nurses through an online questionnaire. Correlation analyses and hierarchical linear modeling were used to test study hypotheses. RESULTS: The results showed that PSC was positively associated with work engagement, and negatively associated with job burnout. OBSE mediated the effect of PSC on work engagement, as well as job burnout. Additionally, psychological detachment played a moderating role between PSC and work engagement, but no moderating effect was found between PSC and job burnout. CONCLUSIONS: PSC at the organizational level increases work engagement and reduces job burnout by stimulating nurses' high levels of OBSE. Psychological detachment, as a situational factor, enhances the positive influence of PSC on work engagement. The implementation of measures to improve the PSC levels of the organization, and the levels of OBSE and psychological detachment among nurses could help to promote their good work performance.

Assessment of total mercury in urban particulate matter by filter fiber assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion coupling with microplasma assisted-cold vapor generation.

BACKGROUND: The evaluation of particle-bound mercury (PBM) exposure is a crucial aspect of assessing the global cycle of mercury (Hg) and its adverse effects on human health and ecosystems. Nevertheless, the precise and reliable measurement of PBM remains a formidable task because of the costly and cumbersome equipment required, as well as the inadequate sensitivities exhibited by current analytical techniques. In this study, we provided a unique and straightforward approach utilising filter fiber-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion (FF-MSPD) in conjunction with single-drop solution electrode discharge-induced cold vapor generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (SD-SEGD-CVG-AFS) for the precise quantification of PBM. The PBM contained in a small filter was efficiently extracted with 200 µL of eluent (0.2 % L-cysteine and 4 % HCOOH) by FF-MSPD and subsequently converted to Hg0 using SD-SEGD-CVG, before being subjected to examination using AFS. RESULTS: The resulted limit of detection (LOD, 3σ) was 0.17 pg m-3, obtained with a sample volume of 12 m3, which was much higher than that of the techniques published in the literatures. The aforementioned technique was effectively utilised for the detection of mercury in 19 samples of PM2.5 and PM10 which were collected over a span of several months. SIGNIFFCANCE: Contrast to conventional methods, the proposed method offers a range of distinct advantages, including simplified operation, absence of memory effects, enhanced sensitivity, substantial reduction in reagent usage, and decreased secondary pollution. These advantages are particularly valuable for advancing research on the fate, transport, and exposure routes of environmental mercury.

A simple aptamer-dye fluorescence sensor for detecting Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and its metabolite in urban sewage.

This work developed an aptamer-dye complex as a label-free ratiometric fluorescence sensor for rapid analysis of THC and its metabolite in sewage samples. Integrated with a portable fluorescence capture device, this sensor exhibited excellent sensitivity with visualization of as low as 0.6 µM THC via naked-eye observation, and THC analysis can be accomplished within 4 min, which would be a complementary tool for quantifying THC in sewage samples to estimate cannabis consumption.

Dried Blood Spots and Miniaturized Ultrasonic Nebulization Microplasma Optical Emission Spectrometry for Point-of-Care Testing of Blood Lithium.

Despite the significant importance of blood lithium (Li) detection in the treatment of bipolar disorder (BD), its point-of-care testing (POCT) remains a great challenge due to tedious sample preparation and the use of large-footprint atomic spectrometers. Herein, a system coupling dried blood spots (DBS) with a point discharge optical emission spectrometer equipped with a miniaturized ultrasonic nebulizer (MUN-µPD-OES) was developed for POCT of blood Li. Three microliters of whole blood were used to prepare a dried blood spot on a piece of filter paper to which 10 µL of eluent (1% (v/v) formic acid and 0.05% (v/v) Triton-X) was added. Subsequently, the paper was placed onto the vibrating steel membrane of the ultrasonic nebulizer and powered on to generate aerosol. The aerosol was directly introduced to the µPD-OES for quantification of Li by monitoring its atomic emission line at 670.8 nm. The proposed method minimized matrix interference caused by high levels of salts and protein. It is worth noting that the MUN suitably matches the needs of DBS sampling and can provide aerosolized introduction of Li into the assembled µPD-OES, thus eliminating all tedious sample preparation and the need for a commercial atomic spectrometer. Calibration response is linear in the therapeutic range and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.3 µg L-1 is well below the Li minimum therapeutic concentration (2800 µg L-1). Li in mouse blood was successfully detected in real-time using MUN-µPD-OES after intraperitoneal injection of lithium carbonate, confirming that the system holds great potential for POCT of blood Li for patients with BD.

Portable purge and trap-microplasma optical emission spectrometric device for field detection of iodine in water.

Iodine is essential for human growth and can enter the body through food, water, and air. Analyzing its presence in the environment is crucial for ensuring healthy human development. However, current large-scale instruments have limitations in the field analysis of iodine. Herein, a miniaturized purge and trap point discharge microplasma optical emission spectrometric (P&T-µPD-OES) device was developed for the field analysis of iodine in water. Volatile iodine molecules were produced from total inorganic iodine (TII) through a basic redox reaction under acidic conditions, then the purge and trap module effectively separated and preconcentrated iodine molecules. The iodine molecules were subsequently atomized and excited by the integrated point discharge microplasma and an iodine atomic emission line at 206.24 nm was monitored by the spectrometer. Under optimal conditions, this proposed method had a detection limit of 16.2 µg L-1 for iodine and a precision better than 4.8%. Besides, the accuracy of the portable device was validated by successful analysis of surface and groundwater samples and a comparison of the mass spectrometry method. This proposed portable, low-power device is expected to support rapid access to iodine levels and distribution in water.

Arsenic field test kits based on solid-phase fluorescence filter effect induced by silver nanoparticle formation.

Millions of people worldwide are affected by naturally occurring arsenic in groundwater. The development of a low-cost, highly sensitive, portable assay for rapid field detection of arsenic in water is important to identify areas for safe wells and to help prioritize testing. Herein, a novel paper-based fluorescence assay was developed for the on-site analysis of arsenic, which was constructed by the solid-phase fluorescence filter effect (SPFFE) of AsH3-induced the generation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) toward carbon dots. The proposed SPFFE-based assay achieves a low arsenic detection limit of 0.36 µg/L due to the efficient reduction of Ag+ by AsH3 and the high molar extinction coefficient of AgNPs. In conjunction with a smartphone and an integrated sample processing and sensing platform, field-sensitive detection of arsenic could be achieved. The accuracy of the portable assay was validated by successfully analyzing surface and groundwater samples, with no significant difference from the results obtained through mass spectrometry. Compared to other methods for arsenic analysis, this developed system offers excellent sensitivity, portability, and low cost. It holds promising potential for on-site analysis of arsenic in groundwater to identify safe well locations and quickly obtain output from the global map of groundwater arsenic.

Highly Selective and Portable Fluorescence Turn-On Detection of Sc3+ in Ore and Water Based on Strong Lewis Acid-Base Coordination.

Detecting scandium (Sc) with high selectivity and sensitivity is a challenging task due to its chemical similarity to other rare earth ions. Our findings show that the fluorescence of the complex fluorescent indicator calcein (CL) is quenched under acidic conditions (pH = 2), and Sc3+ strongly inhibits this process. The results demonstrate that CL forms multimers and precipitates out of the solution under acidic conditions, while Sc3+ causes a significant decrease in the scattering intensity of the solution. Additional experiments revealed that the strong Lewis acid nature of Sc3+ complexes with the carboxyl groups of CL leads to increased dispersion of CL even under acidic conditions, thus enhancing its absorption and fluorescence. The complexation ratio of Sc3+ and CL was investigated through spectral titrations and theoretical calculations. The interaction between Sc3+ and CL is the strongest among rare earth and common metal ions due to the smallest ionic radius, resulting in high selectivity. The fluorescence turn-on strategy had a linear range of 0.04 to 2.25 µM under optimal conditions, with a detection limit of 20 nM for Sc3+. The combination of 3D printing and a smartphone program allows for portable on-site analysis of Sc3+. Mineral and water samples were used to demonstrate the potential of this strategy for the rapid, selective, and sensitive analysis of low levels of Sc3+.

Machine Learning-Assisted Portable Microplasma Optical Emission Spectrometer for Food Safety Monitoring.

To meet the needs of food safety for simple, rapid, and low-cost analytical methods, a portable device based on a point discharge microplasma optical emission spectrometer (µPD-OES) was combined with machine learning to enable on-site food freshness evaluation and detection of adulteration. The device was integrated with two modular injection units (i.e., headspace solid-phase microextraction and headspace purge) for the examination of various samples. Aromas from meat and coffee were first introduced to the portable device. The aroma molecules were excited to specific atomic and molecular fragments at excited states by room temperature and atmospheric pressure microplasma due to their different atoms and molecular structures. Subsequently, different aromatic molecules obtained their own specific molecular and atomic emission spectra. With the help of machine learning, the portable device was successfully applied to the assessment of meat freshness with accuracies of 96.0, 98.7, and 94.7% for beef, pork, and chicken meat, respectively, through optical emission patterns of the aroma at different storage times. Furthermore, the developed procedures can identify beef samples containing different amounts of duck meat with an accuracy of 99.5% and classify two coffee species without errors, demonstrating the great potential of their application in the discrimination of food adulteration. The combination of machine learning and µPD-OES provides a simple, portable, and cost-effective strategy for food aroma analysis, potentially addressing field monitoring of food safety.

Portable Pyrolysis-Point Discharge Optical Spectrometer for In Situ Plastic Polymer Identification by Coupling with Machine Learning.

Rapid and in situ identification of specific polymers is a challenging and crucial step in plastic recycling. However, conventional techniques continue to exhibit significant limitations in the rapid and field classification of plastic products, especially with the wide range of commercially available color polymers because of their large size, high energy consumption, and slow and complicated analysis procedures. In this work, a simple analytical system integrating a miniature and low power consumption (22.3 W) pyrolyzer (Pyr) and a low temperature, atmospheric pressure point discharge optical emission spectrometer (µPD-OES) was fabricated for rapidly identifying polymer types. Plastic debris is decomposed in the portable pyrolyzer to yield volatile products, which are then swept into the µPD-OES instrument for monitoring the optical emission patterns of the thermal pyrolysis products. With machine learning, five extensively used raw polymers and their consumer plastics were classified with an accuracy of ≥97.8%. Furthermore, the proposed method was applied to the identification of the aged polymers and plastic samples collected from a garbage recycling station, indicating its great potential for identification of environmentally weathered plastics. This portable Pyr-µPD-OES system provides a cost-effective tool for rapid and field identification of polymer types of recycled plastic for proper management and resource recycling.