Spatial spillovers of violent conflict amplify the impacts of climate variability on malaria risk in sub-Saharan Africa.

Africa carries a disproportionately high share of the global malaria burden, accounting for 94% of malaria cases and deaths worldwide in 2019. It is also a politically unstable region and the most vulnerable continent to climate change in recent decades. Knowledge about the modifying impacts of violent conflict on climate-malaria relationships remains limited. Here, we quantify the associations between violent conflict, climate variability, and malaria risk in sub-Saharan Africa using health surveys from 128,326 individuals, historical climate data, and 17,429 recorded violent conflicts from 2006 to 2017. We observe that spatial spillovers of violent conflict (SSVCs) have spatially distant effects on malaria risk. Malaria risk induced by SSVCs within 50 to 100 km from the households gradually increases from 0.1% (not significant, P>0.05) to 6.5% (95% CI: 0 to 13.0%). SSVCs significantly promote malaria risk within the average 20.1 to 26.9 °C range. At the 12-mo mean temperature of 22.5 °C, conflict deaths have the largest impact on malaria risk, with an approximately 5.8% increase (95% CI: 1.0 to 11.0%). Additionally, a pronounced association between SSVCs and malaria risk exists in the regions with 9.2 wet days per month. The results reveal that SSVCs increase population exposure to harsh environments, amplifying the effect of warm temperature and persistent precipitation on malaria transmission. Violent conflict therefore poses a substantial barrier to mosquito control and malaria elimination efforts in sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings support effective targeting of treatment programs and vector control activities in conflict-affected regions with a high malaria risk.

A promising electrochemical sensor based on PVP-induced shape control of a hydrothermally synthesized layered structured vanadium disulfide for the sensitive detection of a sulfamethoxazole antibiotic.

The presence of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in natural waters has become a significant concern recently because of its detrimental effects on human health and the ecological environment. To address this issue, it is of utmost urgency to develop a reliable method that can determine SMX at ultra-low levels. In our research, we utilized PVP-induced shape control of a hydrothermal synthesis method to fabricate layer-like structured VS2, and employed it as an electrode modification material to prepare an electrochemical sensor for the sensitive determination of SMX. Thus, our prepared VS2 electrodes exhibited a linear range of 0.06-10.0 µM and a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 47.0 nM (S/N = 3) towards SMX detection. Additionally, the electrochemical sensor presented good agreement with the HPLC method, and afforded perfect recovery results (97.4-106.8%) in the practical analysis. The results validated the detection accuracy of VS2 electrodes, and demonstrated their successful applicability toward the sensitive determination of SMX in natural waters. In conclusion, this research provides a promising approach for the development of electrochemical sensors based on VS2 composite materials.

Roles of ß-catenin in innate immune process and regulating intestinal flora in Qi river crucian carp (Carassius auratus).

In mammals, ß-catenin participates in innate immune process through interaction with NF-κB signaling pathway. However, its role in teleost immune processes remains largely unknown. We aimed to clarify the function of ß-catenin in the natural defense mechanism of Qi river crucian carp (Carassius auratus). ß-catenin exhibited a ubiquitous expression pattern in adult fish, as indicated by real-time PCR analysis. Following lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyI: C) and Aeromonas hydrophila (A. hydrophila) challenges, ß-catenin increased in gill, intestine, liver and kidney, indicating that ß-catenin likely plays a pivotal role in the immune response against pathogen infiltration. Inhibition of the ß-catenin pathway using FH535, an inhibitor of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, resulting in pathological damage of the gill, intestine, liver and kidney, significant decrease of innate immune factors (C3, defb3, LYZ-C, INF-γ), upregulation of inflammatory factors (NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-8), and downregulation of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, increase of Malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Following A. hydrophila invasion, the mortality rate in the FH535 treatment group exceeded that of the control group. In addition, the diversity of intestinal microflora decreased and the community structure was uneven after FH535 treatment. In summary, our findings strongly suggest that ß-catenin plays a vital role in combating pathogen invasion and regulating intestinal flora in Qi river crucian carp.

Advancements in Polymer-Assisted Layer-by-Layer Fabrication of Wearable Sensors for Health Monitoring.

Recent advancements in polymer-assisted layer-by-layer (LbL) fabrication have revolutionized the development of wearable sensors for health monitoring. LbL self-assembly has emerged as a powerful and versatile technique for creating conformal, flexible, and multi-functional films on various substrates, making it particularly suitable for fabricating wearable sensors. The incorporation of polymers, both natural and synthetic, has played a crucial role in enhancing the performance, stability, and biocompatibility of these sensors. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of LbL self-assembly, the role of polymers in sensor fabrication, and the various types of LbL-fabricated wearable sensors for physical, chemical, and biological sensing. The applications of these sensors in continuous health monitoring, disease diagnosis, and management are discussed in detail, highlighting their potential to revolutionize personalized healthcare. Despite significant progress, challenges related to long-term stability, biocompatibility, data acquisition, and large-scale manufacturing are still to be addressed, providing insights into future research directions. With continued advancements in polymer-assisted LbL fabrication and related fields, wearable sensors are poised to improve the quality of life for individuals worldwide.

Efficacy and Safety of Nerve Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Breast Cosmetic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the postoperative analgesic efficacy and safety of nerve block (NB) in patients undergoing breast surgery for cosmetic purposes. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Libraries were searched from inception to September 2022, to identify all eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Continuous data are presented as mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), whereas dichotomous data are provided as odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI. This meta-analysis was performed in RevMan 5.4. RESULTS: A total of 10 RCTs with 565 patients were meta-analyzed. Compared to the control group, the pain score of the NB group was significantly lower at postoperative 2, 3-4, 6-8, 12-16 and 24 h. Opioid consumption in the first postoperative 24 h was significantly lower in the NB group (MD = - 9.02, 95% CI - 14.29 to - 3.75, P < 0.05), I2 = 95%). In addition, the NB group showed a prolonged time to first postoperative analgesic requirement (MD = 43.15, 95% CI 4.74-81.56, P < 0.05, I2 = 96%), decreased incidence of additional postoperative analgesia (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.07-0.28, P < 0.05, I2 = 0%) and reduced incidence of postoperative nausea or vomiting (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.22-0.48; P < 0.05; I2 = 0%). There was no significant difference in operation duration between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Nerve block is an effective and safe option for postoperative analgesia after breast cosmetic surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE II: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Recurrence and Complications of Peri-operative Steroid Injection of Keloids: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Keloid scars are a particularly challenging fibroproliferative wound healing disorder with a variety of proposed management approaches including concurrent surgery and intralesional steroid injection. We aimed to identify the optimum time for triamcinolone injection of keloids, by comparing the recurrence and complication occurrence in patients who received pre-, intra- or post-operative injection. Studies reporting on the rate of recurrence and complication occurrence following treatment of keloid scarring with concurrent surgical excision and intralesional steroid injection were identified from the PubMed, Web of science and Embase databases. The I-squared (I2) statistic was used to quantify the variability in study estimates due to heterogeneity and to determine whether the fixed or random effect models will be employed. Publication bias was visualized through funnel plots and tested with the Egger's test. We found that the recurrence rate was significantly lower with post-operative injection compared to intra-operative injection (p < 0.001) and pre-operative injection (p = 0.009). A significant difference between intra-operative and pre-operative injection was not found (p = 0.46). In conclusion, post-operative steroid injection after surgical excision results in lower keloid recurrence compared to pre- and intra-operative injection.Level of Evidence IV "This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 ."

Label-Free, High-Throughput, Sensitive, and Logical Analysis Using Biomimetic Array Based on Stable Luminescent Copper Nanoclusters and Entropy-Driven Nanomachine.

The development of an array for high-throughput and logical analysis of biomarkers is significant for disease diagnosis. DNA-templated copper nanoclusters (CuNCs) have a strong potential to serve as a label-free photoluminescence source in array platforms, but their luminescent stability and sensitivity need to be improved. Herein, we report a facile, sensitive, and robust biomimetic array assay by integrating with stable luminescent CuNCs and entropy-driven nanomachine (EDN). In this strategy, the luminescent stability of CuNCs was improved by adding fructose in CuNCs synthesis to offer a reliable label-free signal. Meanwhile, the DNA template for CuNCs synthesis was introduced into EDN with excellent signal amplification ability, in which the reaction triggered by target miRNA would cause the blunt/protruding conformation change of 3'-terminus accompanied by the production or loss of luminescence. In addition, a biomimetic array fabricated by photonic crystals (PCs) physically enhanced the emitted luminescent signal of CuNCs and achieved high-throughput signal readout by a microplate reader. The proposed assay can isothermally detect as low as 4.5 pM of miR-21. Moreover, the logical EDN was constructed to achieve logical analysis of multiple miRNAs by "AND" or "OR" logic gate operation. Therefore, the proposed assay has the advantages of label-free property, high sensitivity, flexible design, and high-throughput analysis, which provides ideas for developing a new generation of facile and smart platforms in the fields of biological analysis and clinical application.

BaB2P2O8F2: A Fluoroborophosphate with [B2P2O8F2]∞ Layers and Deep-Ultraviolet Cutoff Edge.

A fluoroborophosphate, BaB2P2O8F2, was successfully obtained. Its structure contains a novel [B2P2O8F2]∞ layer containing six-membered rings, which is formed by the fundamental building block composed of three types of non-π-conjugated groups, [PO4], [BO4], and [BO2F2]. BaB2P2O8F2 has a deep-ultraviolet (DUV) cutoff edge (λ < 200 nm) and a tiny birefringence (Δn = 0.007 at 532 nm), which originates from the constituent non-π-conjugated groups. The title compound enriches the versatility of the fluoroborophosphates, encouraging further research into DUV materials in fluoroborophosphate systems.

Rational Design of the First Ammonium Magnesium Borate with Deep-Ultraviolet Cutoff Edge and Moderate Birefringence and Further Investigation into the Nature of Ammonium in the Borate System.

Through the rational design of the experimental method, the first combination of ammonium and magnesium in the borate system was successfully achieved. In this paper, a case of ammonium magnesium borate, (NH4)2{Mg(H2O)2[B6O7(OH)6]2}·2H2O, was successfully synthesized by a mild hydrothermal method at a relatively low temperature. A brief review was performed to show the participation of NH4+ in the recent development of optical materials. By discussing the optimum synthesis method of ammonium-containing borates and the main factors affecting the dimensionality of B-O anionic groups in their structures, the design strategy for synthesizing ammonium-containing borate and adjusting its structure has been put forward. Relevant experimental measurement results and the first-principles calculation results show that the title compound has a deep-UV cutoff edge (<200 nm) and moderate birefringence (Δncal. = 0.064 @546 nm), which indicates its potential application in the deep-UV region.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Postoperative Complications After Rhinoplasty: A Multi-Institutional ACS-NSQIP Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the popularity of rhinoplasty, outcome research has been mainly limited to single-surgeon or single-institution reports. Therefore, we performed a multi-institutional analysis to present a broader portrait of the postoperative outcomes and risk factors for adverse events after rhinoplasty surgery. METHODS: We reviewed the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database (2009-2019) to identify patients who underwent rhinoplasty. The postoperative outcomes of interest included 30-day mortality, reoperation, readmission, and surgical and medical complications. We also analyzed risk factors for complication occurrence, including patient comorbidities and preoperative laboratory values. RESULTS: We identified 835 patients, 72% (n=602) of whom underwent a primary, 21% (n=175) a secondary, and 6.7% (n=58) a cleft nasal deformity procedure. The average patient age was 41±17 years, with most patients being female (n=472; 57%) and white (n=643; 77%). Complications rates were generally low, with reoperation (n=19; 2.3%) and superficial incisional infection (n=9; 1.1%) account for the most common general and surgical adverse event, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed male sex ( P =0.04) and higher ASA scores ( P <0.0001) as risk factors for complications. Low serum albumin ( P =0.04) and hematocrit ( P =0.003) levels were associated with the occurrence of any complication, whereas low serum albumin ( P =0.02) also correlated with the incidence of surgical adverse events. CONCLUSION: Complication rates after rhinoplasty were overall low and seemed to correlate with male sex and ASA scores. We identified preoperative albumin and hematocrit as predictive biomarkers of adverse events. Preoperative nutritional optimization and management of low hematocrit may improve postoperative outcomes.

An Overview to Molecularly Imprinted Electrochemical Sensors for the Detection of Bisphenol A.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used extensively in plastics and resins. However, its endocrine-disrupting properties pose risks to human health and the environment. Thus, accurate and rapid detection of BPA is crucial for exposure monitoring and risk mitigation. Molecularly imprinted electrochemical sensors (MIES) have emerged as a promising tool for BPA detection due to their high selectivity, sensitivity, affordability, and portability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in MIES for BPA detection. We discuss the operating principles, fabrication strategies, materials, and methods used in MIES. Key findings show that MIES demonstrate detection limits comparable or superior to conventional methods like HPLC and GC-MS. Selectivity studies reveal excellent discrimination between BPA and structural analogs. Recent innovations in nanomaterials, novel monomers, and fabrication techniques have enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and stability. However, limitations exist in reproducibility, selectivity, and stability. While challenges remain, MIES provide a low-cost portable detection method suitable for on-site BPA monitoring in diverse sectors. Further optimization of sensor fabrication and characterization will enable the immense potential of MIES for field-based BPA detection.

Risk Factors and Complications in Reduction Mammaplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Reduction mammaplasty (RM) has become established as the standard effective method for treating macromastia, but reports on the risk factors that predispose to postoperative complications have been conflicting. This meta-analysis aimed to pool the available data to identify predictors of complications following RM. METHODS: The PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases were screened from inception to 1 Jan 2022, and studies were included based on predefined criteria. The perioperative risk factors BMI, smoking, age, diabetes, radiation therapy, and tissue resection weight were extracted and their correlation with complications assessed. RESULTS: A total of 40 studies comprising of 5908 patients were included. BMI ≥ 30kg/m2 (OR = 1.65, 95% CI 1.35-2.02; p < 0.01) and ≥ 40 kg/m2 (OR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.26-3.08; p < 0.01), smoking (OR = 2.57, 95% CI 2.01-3.28; p < 0.01), diabetes (OR = 2.21, 95% CI 1.19-4.07; p < 0.05), a unilateral resection weight ≥ 1000 g (OR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.02-3.05; p < 0.05), and radiation therapy (OR = 11.11, 95% CI 2.01-3.28; p < 0.01) were associated with higher rates of postoperative complications. Obese patients (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) were more likely to experience fat necrosis (OR = 3.00, 95% CI 1.37-6.57; p < 0.01) and infection (OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.15-2.40; p < 0.05). Smokers had a 2.03 times higher risk of infection (95% CI 1.24-3.31; p < 0.01) and 2.34 times higher risk of dehiscence (95% CI 1.38-3.98; p < 0.01). No association between complication occurrence and age 40 or 50 years or total tissue resection weight ≥ 1000 g was identified. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis provides evidence that obesity, smoking, diabetes, unilateral resection weight ≥ 1000 g, and preoperative radiation therapy predispose to complication occurrence in RM. This information can optimize the ability of surgeons to provide preoperative patient education, perioperative assessment, and postoperative care planning. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Nonsurgical Chin Augmentation Using Hyaluronic Acid: A Systematic Review of Technique, Satisfaction, and Complications.

BACKGROUND: Nonsurgical chin augmentation using hyaluronic acid (HA) has become a common procedure in cosmetic practices. This is offered to patients that prefer a nonsurgical, temporary method to correcting underdeveloped or retruded chin and restoring the volume loss. This systematic review highlights the main HA injection technique and associated patient satisfaction and complications of chin augmentation to further guide practitioners. METHODS: A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched using the appropriate keywords. Data collected from each study included patient satisfaction and complications, in addition to injection protocol and technique. RESULTS: A total of 1305 studies were found based on search criteria. After full-text screening for inclusion and exclusion criteria, 8 studies were included. A total of 917 patients underwent HA chin augmentation, with different injection protocols. Most patients were satisfied with the results, and there were only 2 relatively major complications reported. The most common adverse events were local responses at the injection sites (swelling, bruising, pain, redness, and itching). There were no reports of vascular complications. CONCLUSIONS: HA filler is an effective temporary method to correct chin retraction and absorption for chin augmentation, with a high degree of patient satisfaction and a low risk of severe complications. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry profiling and unveiling the transformation of ginsenosides by the dual conditions of citric acid and high-pressure steaming.

RATIONALE: Many methods have been reported for the production of rare ginsenosides, including heat treatment, acid hydrolysis, alkaline hydrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis, and microbial transformation. However, the conversion of original ginsenosides to rare ginsenosides under the dual conditions of citric acid and high-pressure steam sterilization has rarely been reported. METHODS: In this study, a method involving ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to ion mobility quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was developed for analysis of chemical transformation of protopanaxatriol (PPT)-type ginsenosides Rg1 and Re, protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenoside Rb1 , and total ginsenosides in the dual conditions of citric acid and high-pressure steam sterilization. An internal ginsenoside database containing 126 known ginsenosides and 18 ginsenoside reference compounds was established to identify the transformation products and explore possible transformation pathways and mechanisms. RESULTS: A total of 54 ginsenosides have been preliminarily identified in the transformation products of PPD-type ginsenosides Rg1 and Re, PPD-type ginsenoside Rb1 , and total ginsenosides, and the possible transformation pathways were as follows: Rg1 , Re → 20(S)-Rh12 , 20(R)-Rh12 ; Rg1 , Re → 20(S)-Rh1 , 20(R)-Rh1 → Rk3 , Rh4 , Rh5 ; Rb1 → gypenoside LXXV; Rb1 → 20(S)-Rg3 , 20(R)-Rg3 → Rk1 , Rg5 ; Re → 20(S)-Rg2 , 20(R)-Rg2 → 20(S)-Rf2 , 20(R)-Rf2 , Rg4 , F4 . CONCLUSIONS: The results elucidated the possible transformation pathways and mechanisms of ginsenosides in the dual conditions of citric acid and high-pressure steam sterilization, which were helpful for revealing the mechanisms of ginsenosides and enhanced safety and quality control of pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. Meanwhile, a simple, efficient, and practical method was developed for the production of rare ginsenosides, which has the potential to produce diverse rare ginsenosides on an industrial scale.

Sn3B10O17Cl2 Achieving Birefringence Enhancement by Stereochemical Activity Lone Pair.

Sn3B10O17Cl2 was successfully obtained for the first time under the sealed environment and crystallized in the space group Pbcn belonging to the orthorhombic system, which is featured by the fundamental building blocks [B5O11] that are linked to construct a three-dimensional framework with Cl and Sn atoms located inside and at the edge of the channel to balance the charge. Moreover, the optical performance measurement shows that Sn3B10O17Cl2 owns a cutoff edge of about 280 nm. Theoretical study indicates its large optical anisotropy with the birefringence 0.125@546 nm; meanwhile, the structure-performance relationships were analyzed by the first-principle calculation.

The Three-Dimensional Structure of Porcine Bladder Scaffolds Alters the Biology of Murine Diabetic Wound Healing.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if the various three-dimensional structures of bioscaffolds affect wound healing by investigating the efficacy of different porcine-derived urinary bladder matrix (UBM) structures in treating murine diabetic wound healing. METHODS: The authors studied three different UBM structures: particulate (pUBM), one-layer freeze-dried sheet (fdUBM), and three-layer laminated sheet (lmUBM). Scanning electron microscopy images of the structures were used to calculate a wound-exposed surface-area-to-volume ratio. A 1.0 × 1.0-cm full-thickness dorsal wound was excised on 90 db/db mice. Mice were either untreated (blank, n = 15), treated with one UBM structure (pUBM, n = 15; fdUBM, n = 15; lmUBM, n = 15), or treated with a combination of either the one- or three-layer sheet over the particulate matrix (fdUBM + pUBM, n = 15; lmUBM + pUBM, n = 15). The authors obtained macroscopic images of the wounds and harvested tissues for analyses at multiple time points. RESULTS: The surface area available to interact with the wound was highest in the pUBM group and lowest in the lmUBM group. Greater wound bed thickness was noted in the fdUBM, fdUBM + pUBM, and lmUBM groups compared with the blank group. Cellular proliferation was significantly higher in the fdUBM and fdUBM + pUBM groups than in the blank group. The lmUBM + pUBM group had the highest collagen deposition. The pUBM group induced significantly higher leukocyte infiltration compared with the lmUBM, lmUBM + pUBM, and blank groups. Microvessel density was highest in the fdUBM + pUBM group. Significant differences in the wound closure rate were noted between the blank group and the fdUBM and fdUBM + pUBM groups. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of the three UBM bioscaffold structures highlighted differences in the wound-exposed surface area. Variations in wound healing effects, including collagen deposition, cellular proliferation, and angiogenesis, were identified, with combinations of the structures displaying synergistic effects. This study serves as a platform for future scaffold design and offers promising evidence of the benefits of combining various structures of scaffolds.

Geographic and gender disparities in global education achievement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

School closures induced by the COVID-19 pandemic have negatively impacted on 1.7 billion children, resulting in losses of learning time and a decline of learning scores. However, the learning losses of students exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic at the country level have been quantitatively unaddressed. Here we model the global learning losses of students due to the COVID-19 in 2020. Our results reveal a global average Harmonized Test Scores (HTS) loss of 2.26 points. Learning continuity measures reduce the global average HTS loss by 1.64 points. South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa have high HTS losses (5.82 and 2.94 points), while Europe & Central Asia and North America have low HTS losses (0.85 and 0.93 points). Compared with South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, North America and Europe & Central Asia implement more effective learning continuity measures. HTS losses in low-income and lower-middle-income countries are higher (3.35 and 3.13 points) than those in high-income and upper-middle-income countries (0.99 and 2.31 points). Learning losses of global female students are higher than their male counterparts, and there is significant heterogeneity across national regions. Our results reveal both global learning losses and gender inequality in learning scores due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Global disparities highlight the importance of the need to mitigate education inequality.

Ultrasensitive and Simultaneous Detection of Multielements in Aqueous Samples Based on Biomimetic Array Combined with Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy.

Ultrasensitive detection of metallic elements in liquids has attracted considerable attention in fields such as environmental pollution monitoring and drinking water quality control. Hence, it is of great significance to develop a sensitive and simultaneous detection strategy for multiple metal elements in liquid. Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) technology shows unique advantages because of its simple, rapid, and real-time in situ detection, but the laser energy will be greatly attenuated in the liquids; thus, the sensitivity of LIBS for direct detection of metal elements in liquid samples will decrease sharply. In this study, inspired by the structure of Stenocara beetle's back, a superhydrophobic biomimetic interface with hydrophilic array was prepared for enriching low-concentration targets into detection regions, and the biomimetic array LIBS (BA-LIBS) was successfully established. The ultrasensitive and simultaneous detection of nine metal elements in drinking water was realized based on the effective enrichment method. The limits of detection of the nine metal elements in mixed solution ranged from 8.3 ppt to 13.49 ppb. With these excellent properties, this facile and ultrasensitive BA-LIBS strategy might provide a new idea for the prevention and control of metal hazards in the liquid environment.

Strategy for the multi-component characterization and quality evaluation of volatile organic components in Kaixin San by correlating the analysis by headspace gas chromatography/ion mobility spectrometry and headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Kaixin San (KXS) is a prescription traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the effects of "tonifying the kidney and brain" and "improving memory". The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in KXS could effectively improve senile dementia and depression, but only few studies have focused on the overall characterization of VOCs in KXS and the quantitative study of the main active components. METHODS: We have developed a strategy to correlate the results from headspace gas chromatography/ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC/IMS) and headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS) for the comprehensive characterization of VOCs in KXS and the quantitative analysis of the main pharmacodynamic substances. RESULTS: A totsal of 68 low molecular weight VOCs were identified in KXS by HS-GC/IMS at room temperature and atmospheric pressure; 117 VOCs were identified and 10 components (isocalamenediol, α-asarone, ß-asarone, methyl eugenol, isoeugenol methyl ether, camphor, anethol, 2,4-di-tert-butylphol, linalool, asarylaldehyde) as the quality markers of KXS based on HS-GC/MS. CONCLUSIONS: This results from this study provide a foundation for quality control, pharmacodynamic mechanism research and further development of KXS, and provides more convincing data supporting the VOCs of other natural products.

A highly sensitive fluorescence biosensor for detection of Staphylococcus aureus based on HCR-mediated three-way DNA junction nicking enzyme assisted signal amplification.

Sensitive and efficient monitoring of food-borne bacteria is of great importance for food safety control. Herein, a novel biosensor for highly sensitive detection of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was constructed by combining hybridization chain reaction (HCR) and nicking enzyme. Different from the upstream-downstream based circuit, the proposed biosensor integrated HCR circuit and three-way DNA junction nicking enzyme assisted signal amplification (3WJ-NEASA) into a virtuous circle of promotion. In the HCR-mediated 3WJ-NEASA sensing strategy, target DNA of S. aureus initiated the self-assembly between HCR hairpins (H1 and H2), which exposed the gap to capture molecular beacon (MB) and construct the 3WJ structure. Meanwhile, MB increased the stability of HCR nanowires and enhanced the efficiency of the HCR circuit, and thus more 3WJ-NEASA circuits were generated in HCR nanowires. Benefiting from the synergistic amplification coupling HCR and 3WJ-NEASA, this isothermal biosensor can detect as low as 6.7 pM of target DNA in one step within only 30 min. Furthermore, the HCR-mediated 3WJ-NEASA assay has been applied in the detection of S. aureus with a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 1.2 × 101 cfu mL-1, and has exhibited reliable practicability in spiked milk. It is the first time that a DNA biosensor combining HCR and 3WJ-NEASA for dual signal amplification was developed and has been adopted to the sensitive analysis of food-borne bacteria. Additionally, this strategy can serve as a universal platform for monitoring other analytes, and therefore possesses broad application prospects in food safety and environmental monitoring.