Application of FTIR two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) analysis in characterizing environmental behaviors of microplastics: A systematic review.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment, continuously undergo aging processes and release toxic chemical substances. Understanding the environmental behaviors of MPs is critical to accurately evaluate their long-term ecological risk. Generalized two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS) is a powerful tool for MPs studies, which can dig more comprehensive information hiding in the conventional one-dimensional spectra, such as infrared (IR) and Raman spectra. The recent applications of 2D-COS in analyzing the behaviors and fates of MPs in the environment, including their aging processes, and interactions with natural organic matter (NOM) or other chemical substances, were summarized systematically. The main requirements and limitations of current approaches for exploring these processes are discussed, and the corresponding strategies to address these limitations and drawbacks are proposed as well. Finally, new trends of 2D-COS are prospected for analyzing the properties and behaviors of MPs in both natural and artificial environmental processes.

The Application of Organoids in the Study of Antiviral Innate Immunity.

Antiviral innate immunity plays a critical role in the defense against viral infections, yet its complex interactions with viruses have been challenging to study using traditional models. Organoids, three-dimensional (3D) tissue-like structures derived from stem cells, have emerged as powerful tools for modeling human tissues and studying the complex interactions between viruses and the host innate immune system. This chapter summarizes relevant applications of organoids in antiviral innate immunity studies and provides detailed information and experimental procedures for using organoids to study antiviral innate immunity.

Expanding the solvent diversity and perovskite compatibility of SnO2 inks that are directly deposited on perovskite layers.

Tin oxide (SnO2) is an attractive electron transport material (ETM) for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) due to its optoelectronic properties, low-temperature solution processability, cost, and stability. However, solvent incompatibilities have largely limited its application to devices with SnO2 deposited below the perovskite. To expand its utility in other device structures, including inverted PSCs and tandem devices, alternate deposition strategies are needed. This study addresses the solvent scope and perovskite compatibility of acetate-stabilized yttrium-doped SnO2 (Y:SnO2) dispersions. We show that dispersions in several lower alcohols and select polar aprotic solvents can be directly deposited on perovskite using scalable and low-temperature processes. Further, they are compatible with various perovskite formulations, including those with mixed cations and mixed anions. The study expands the applicability of SnO2 as a solution-processible and cost-effective ETM as an alternative to fullerene-based organic ETMs and serves as a guide for its use in PSCs and tandem devices.

Analysis on the application of FMEA in 'instrument and equipment surface cleaning and disinfection' in hospitals based on standardization and cleaning and disinfection information system management.

Purpose: To analyze the application of 'instrument and equipment surface cleaning and disinfection' in hospitals based on standardization and the management of cleaning and disinfection information systems. Methods: Employees and all cleaning and disinfected instruments and equipment from 56 inpatient departments in our hospital were selected as the subjects of observation. The period before the intervention (January 2023) was designated as the control group, while the period after the intervention (July 2023) was designated as the study group. In the control group, the instruments and equipment under routine management were disinfected. The research team applied the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method to clean and disinfect the surfaces of instruments and equipment on the basis of standardization and cleaning and disinfection information system management. Employees' theoretical knowledge points and operational skill scores before and after the intervention were compared and evaluated. The changes in the risk priority coefficient (RPN) values of high-risk factors were analyzed. Fifty-six clinical medical staff from 56 inpatient departments in the hospital were selected to evaluate the clinical satisfaction of the cleaning and disinfection management of instruments and equipment before and after the intervention, and the clinical satisfaction of the two groups was compared. Results: The scores of theoretical knowledge and operational skills of the staff in the research group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The passing rates of theoretical knowledge and operational skills in the control group and the research group were 44.64 and 94.64% respectively, and 55.36 and 96.43%, respectively. The qualified rate of theoretical knowledge and operational skills of staff in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). The RPN scores of medical personnel, environment, system and system guarantee factors in the control group were 80, 80, 80, and 100, respectively. The RPN scores of medical personnel factors, environmental factors, system factors and system guarantee factors in the research group were 6, 24, 24, and 36, respectively. Conclusion: Through standardization and cleaning and disinfection information system management, the theoretical knowledge and technical operation capabilities of cleaning can be effectively improved.

Biosurfactant production by Bacillus cereus GX7 utilizing organic waste and its application in the remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated environments.

The use of biosurfactants represents a promising technology for remediating hydrocarbon pollution in the environment. This study evaluated a highly effective biosurfactant strain-Bacillus cereus GX7's ability to produce biosurfactants from industrial and agriculture organic wastes. Bacillus cereus GX7 showed poor utilization capacity for oil soluble organic waste but effectively utilized of water- soluble organic wastes such as starch hydrolysate and wheat bran juice as carbon sources to enhance biosurfactant production. This led to significant improvements in surface tension and emulsification index. Corn steep liquor was also effective as a nitrogen source for Bacillus cereus GX7 in biosurfactant production. The biosurfactants produced by strain Bacillus cereus GX7 demonstrated a remediation effect on oily beach sand, but are slightly inferior to chemical surfactants. Inoculation with Bacillus cereus GX7 (70.36%) or its fermentation solution (94.38%) effectively enhanced the degradation efficiency of diesel oil in polluted seawater, surpassing that of indigenous degrading bacteria treatments (57.62%). Moreover, inoculation with Bacillus cereus GX7's fermentation solution notably improved the community structure by increasing the abundance of functional bacteria such as Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas in seawater. These findings suggest that the Bacillus cereus GX7 as a promising candidate for bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbons.

ProVIA-Kids - outcomes of an uncontrolled study on smartphone-based behaviour analysis for challenging behaviour in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities or autism spectrum disorder.

Introduction: Challenging behaviour (CB) is a common issue among children with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual and developmental disability. Mental health applications are low-threshold cost-effective tools to address the lack of resources for caregivers. This pre-post study evaluated the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of the smartphone app ProVIA-Kids using algorithm-based behaviour analysis to identify causes of CB and provide individualized practical guidance to manage and prevent CB. Methods: A total of 18 caregivers (M = 38.9 ± 5.0) of children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (44%), intellectual and developmental disabilities (33%) or both (22%) aged 4-11 years (M = 7.6 ± 1.8) were included. Assessments were performed before and after an 8-week intervention period. The primary outcome was the change in parental stress. Caregiver stress experience due to CB was also rated daily via ecological momentary assessments within the app. Secondary outcomes included the intensity of the child's CB, dysfunctional parenting, feelings of parental competency as well as caregivers' mood (rated daily in the app) and feedback on the app collected via the Mobile Application Rating Scale. Results: We observed increases in parental stress in terms of conscious feelings of incompetence. However, we also saw improvements in parental stress experience due to CB and overreactive parenting, and descriptive improvements in CB intensity and caregiver mood. Discussion: ProVIA-Kids pioneers behaviour analysis in a digital and automated format, with participants reporting high acceptance. Pilot results highlight the potential of the ProVIA-Kids app to positively influence child behaviour and caregiver mental health over a longer intervention period. Registration: The study was registered at https://www.drks.de (ID = DRKS00029039) on May 31, 2022.

A new method for quantifying glyoxalase II activity in biological samples.

Glyoxalase II (Glo II) is a crucial enzyme in the glyoxalase system, and plays a vital role in detoxifying harmful metabolites and maintaining cellular redox balance. Dysregulation of Glo II has been linked to various health conditions, including cancer and diabetes. This study introduces a novel method using 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (2,4-DNPH) to measure Glo II activity. The principle behind this approach is the formation of a colored hydrazone complex between 2,4-DNPH and pyruvate produced by the Glo II-catalyzed reaction. Glo II catalyzes the hydrolysis of S-D-lactoylglutathione (SLG), generating D-lactate and reduced glutathione (GSH). The D-lactate is then converted to pyruvate by lactate dehydrogenase, then reacting with 2,4-DNPH to form a brown-colored hydrazone product. The absorbance of this complex, measured at 430 nm, allows for the quantification of Glo II activity. The study rigorously validates the 2,4-DNPH method, demonstrating its stability, sensitivity, linearity, and resistance to interference from various biochemical substances. Compared to the existing UV method, this 2,4-DNPH-Glo II assay shows a strong correlation. The new protocol for measuring Glo II activity using 2,4-DNPH is simple, cost-effective, and accurate, making it a valuable tool for researchers and medical professionals. Its potential for widespread use in various laboratory settings, from academic research to clinical diagnostics, offers significant opportunities for future research and medical applications.

Patient Engagement in a Mobile App-Based Rehabilitation Program for Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: Secondary Data Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Health care professionals use mobile apps to support patients' rehabilitation after total hip or knee arthroplasty. Understanding patient engagement in such mobile health interventions can help tailor these interventions to better support patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate patient engagement in a mobile app-based arthroplasty rehabilitation program and to investigate the association between patient engagement and their characteristics. METHODS: Data were extracted from a pool of 42 participants in the experimental arm of a randomized controlled trial that used a mobile app (WeChat [Tencent Holdings Limited])-based program to support patients' rehabilitation after total hip or knee arthroplasty. The primary outcomes were the number of days the participants accessed the program and completed recommended rehabilitation tasks. Secondary outcomes included data on the participants' posts on a discussion forum, messages sent by the participants, access to the program components, and reading and sharing the program content. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the association between patient engagement and personal characteristics. RESULTS: The participants reported in a rehabilitation diary accessing the program on a mean of 5.2 (SD 2) days per week and completing recommended rehabilitation tasks on a mean of 6.5 (SD 0.8) days per week. The majority (31/42, 74%) posted on the discussion forum, with a mean of 18.1 (SD 21.2) posts. Most participants (37/42, 88%) sent messages to health care professionals, with a mean of 14 (SD 15.9) messages. The program components were visited for a total of 525 times. The program content was read 898 times and shared 82 times in total. Generalized linear models showed that both primary outcomes, the number of days the participants accessed the program (B=6.46, 95% CI 1.98-15.35; χ21=11.1, P=.001) and the number of days they completed rehabilitation tasks (B=2.65, 95% CI 0.45-5.48; χ21=5.7, P=.02), were positively associated with having a high school education or above. In addition, the number of posts on the discussion forum was positively associated with living with family, having a high school education or above, undergoing total knee arthroplasty, having comorbidities, and the score of self-efficacy but was negatively associated with age. The number of messages sent by the participants was positively associated with having a high school education or above, having comorbidities, and the score of self-efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: Patient engagement in mobile arthroplasty rehabilitation is associated with their education level, cohabitation status, age, type of surgery, presence of comorbidities, and sense of self-efficacy. Program developers can consider these characteristics and use strategies, such as family involvement, in the design of mobile arthroplasty rehabilitation programs to enhance patient engagement in such interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621000867897; https://tinyurl.com/mtdw25fp.

Advance toward function, production, and delivery of natural astaxanthin: A promising candidate for food ingredients with future perspectives.

Astaxanthin (AST) exhibits potent antioxidant activity, effectively preventing neurological diseases and cancer. Presently, producing AST from microorganisms like Haematococcus pluvialis and Phaffia rhodozyma is a growing trend. This review summarizes the main research topics on AST in the past five years. AST plays a crucial role in cancer and diabetes prevention, as well as neuroprotection, however, the presence of both free and esterified forms of AST results in differences in their functionality and applications. The primary challenges in industrial production of natural AST lie in breeding high-yield natural producers and developing methods to enhance yield. The use of high-quality food matrix materials and preparation methods is crucial for the delivery system of loaded AST. This study elucidates the bottlenecks and future development directions encountered by natural AST during industrialization, aiming to promote the healthy and rapid growth of the food industry.

Recent Focuses in the Syntheses and Applications of Magnetic Metal-Organic Frameworks.

In this article, we examine the recent uses of magnetic metal-organic frameworks (MMOFs). MMOFs can be used in various fields such as water purification, laboratory, food, environment, etc. Their materials can be composed of different metals and ligands, each of which has its own properties. Also, the presence of a magnetic property in these absorbents adds good features such as easy separation, faster absorption, and better interaction with other particles, which improves their application and performance. In recent years, various types of these compounds have been made, and, in this article, while classifying them, we will discuss the structure and application of some MMOFs.

SimplySmart_v1, a new tool for the analysis of DNA damage optimized in primary neuronal cultures.

BACKGROUND: The increased interest in research on DNA damage in neurodegeneration has created a need for the development of tools dedicated to the analysis of DNA damage in neurons. Double-stranded breaks (DSBs) are among the most detrimental types of DNA damage and have become a subject of intensive research. DSBs result in DNA damage foci, which are detectable with the marker γH2AX. Manual counting of DNA damage foci is challenging and biased, and there is a lack of open-source programs optimized specifically in neurons. Thus, we developed a new, fully automated application, SimplySmart_v1, for DNA damage quantification and optimized its performance specifically in primary neurons cultured in vitro. RESULTS: Compared with control neurons, SimplySmart_v1 accurately identifies the induction of DNA damage with etoposide in primary neurons. It also accurately quantifies DNA damage in the desired fraction of cells and processes a batch of images within a few seconds. SimplySmart_v1 was also capable of quantifying DNA damage effectively regardless of the cell type (neuron or NSC-34). The comparative analysis of SimplySmart_v1 with other open-source tools, such as Fiji, CellProfiler and a focinator, revealed that SimplySmart_v1 is the most 'user-friendly' and the quickest tool among others and provides highly accurate results free of variability between measurements. In the context of neurodegenerative research, SimplySmart_v1 revealed an increase in DNA damage in primary neurons expressing abnormal TAR DNA/RNA binding protein (TDP-43). CONCLUSIONS: These findings showed that SimplySmart_v1 is a new and effective tool for research on DNA damage and can successfully replace other available software.

Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of intestinal cancer: preclinical studies and potential clinical applications.

Intestinal cancer (IC) poses a significant global health challenge that drives continuous efforts to explore effective treatment modalities. Conventional treatments for IC are effective, but are associated with several limitations and drawbacks. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) plays an important role in the overall cancer prevention and therapeutic strategies. Recent years have seen a growing body of research focus on the potential of CHM in IC treatment, showing promising results in managing IC and mitigating the adverse effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This review provides updated information from preclinical research and clinical observation on CHM's role in treatment of IC, offering insights into its comprehensive management and guiding future prevention strategies and clinical practice.

Fabrication of highly flexible biopolymeric chitosan/agarose based bioscaffold with Matricaria recutita herbal extract for antimicrobial wound dressing applications.

A flexible biopolymer-based antimicrobial wound dressing has the potential to alleviate the burden of bacterial infections in wounds by enhancing antimicrobial effectiveness and promoting faster wound healing. This study focuses on the development of a highly flexible chitosan-agarose (CS-AG) bioscaffold, incorporating Matricaria recutita chamomile flower extract (CH) through a conventional casting method. The flexible CS-AG bioscaffold's physiochemical properties were confirmed by FTIR, indicating secondary interactions, and XRD, showing its crystalline structure. The addition of CH to the optimized CS-AG bioscaffold resulted in significant tensile strength (17.28 ± 0.33 MPa), distinctive structural morphology (SEM), surface roughness (AFM), contact angle, improved thermal properties (DSC), and enhanced thermal stability (TGA). Furthermore, the CH-infused bioscaffold significantly increased swelling capacity (~81.09 ± 1.74 % over 48 h), and degradation profile (~52 % over 180 h). The release studies of CS-AG-CH bioscaffold demonstrate controlled release of CH with in the bioscaffold at different pH conditions. The bioscaffold demonstrated effective antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli strains. Additionally, cytotoxicity assays indicated that the bioscaffold supports better cell viability and proliferation in fibroblast (NIH 3T3) cell lines. Consequently, this antimicrobial bioscaffold shows promise as a drug release system and biocompatible wound dressing suitable for tissue engineering applications.

Limitations of effective medium models for tissue phantoms in the THz frequency range.

The absorption of terahertz (THz) radiation by water molecules facilitates its application to several biomedical applications such as cancer detection. Therefore, it is critical for the THz technologies to be characterised with water content in a sample. In this paper, we analyse gelatine phantoms in the THz frequency range, with continuously varying hydration levels as they dry over time. Water molecules in close proximity to the protein molecule, termed 'bound water', feature properties different from the 'free water' molecules at larger distances. We find that a common model for predicting electromagnetic properties of phantoms and tissue samples, which assumes that only the free water varies with hydration while the bound water remains constant, does not agree well with measured results. To gain insight into this behaviour, we simultaneously measured the phantom in Raman spectroscopy, which shows a continuously varying concentration of bound water with hydration level. It follows from this investigation, that the permittivity contributions of neither the biomolecules nor water are expected to be linear with water density. This means that the often used, simple effective medium model will not be accurate for many biological tissues or phantoms.

A Comprehensive Examination of ChatGPT's Contribution to the Healthcare Sector and Hepatology.

Artificial Intelligence and Natural Language Processing technology have demonstrated significant promise across several domains within the medical and healthcare sectors. This technique has numerous uses in the field of healthcare. One of the primary challenges in implementing ChatGPT in healthcare is the requirement for precise and up-to-date data. In the case of the involvement of sensitive medical information, it is imperative to carefully address concerns regarding privacy and security when using GPT in the healthcare sector. This paper outlines ChatGPT and its relevance in the healthcare industry. It discusses the important aspects of ChatGPT's workflow and highlights the usual features of ChatGPT specifically designed for the healthcare domain. The present review uses the ChatGPT model within the research domain to investigate disorders associated with the hepatic system. This review demonstrates the possible use of ChatGPT in supporting researchers and clinicians in analyzing and interpreting liver-related data, thereby improving disease diagnosis, prognosis, and patient care.

Surface Modification of Gold Nanorods: Multifunctional Strategies and Application Prospects.

Gold nanorods (AuNRs), as an important type of gold nanomaterials, have attracted much attention in the nano field. Compared with gold nanoparticls, AuNRs have broader application potential due to their tunable localized surface plasmon resonance properties and anisotropic shapes. Yet, conventional synthesis methods using surfactants have limited the use of AuNRs in a variety of fields such as biomedical applications, plasma-enhanced fluorescence, optics and optoelectronic devices. To solve this problem and improve the stability and biocompatibility of AuNRs, researchers in recent years have used surface modification and functionalization to modify AuNRs, among which the introduction of organic ligands to prepare organic/gold hybrid nanorods has become an effective strategy. Organic materials have better toughness and easy processing, and by introducing organic ligands into the surface of AuNRs, the molecular-level composite of organic and inorganic materials can be realized, thus obtaining hybrid nanorods with excellent properties. This paper reviews the research progress of hybrid nanocomposites, and introduces the synthesis methods of AuNRs and the development of surface ligand modification, then summaries the applications of a wide variety of ligands. Also, the advantages and disadvantages of different ligands and their roles in further self-assembly processes are discussed.

Enhancing Sensitivity in Detecting Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus: Development of a Reverse Transcription-Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a highly fatal disease. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) presents unparalleled sensitivity and enables absolute quantification of viral load. In this prospective study, we enrolled 111 patients with SFTS and collected 259 continuous samples. Our findings unveil a robust reverse transcription (RT)-ddPCR method for SFTS with a limit of detection of 2.46 copies/µL (95% CI, 1.50-11.05), surpassing the sensitivity of RT-quantitative polymerase chain reaction at 103.29 copies/µL (95% CI, 79.69-216.35). Longitudinal cohort analysis revealed significantly higher RT-ddPCR detection rates at days 10 to 11, 13 to 14, and ≥15 of the disease course as compared with RT-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (P < .05). Positive RT-ddPCR results were associated with declined platelet and elevated aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase on the same day vs negative RT-ddPCR samples. RT-ddPCR exhibits commendable diagnostic efficacy in SFTS, and it remains detectable in blood samples from patients with an extended disease course. Furthermore, RT-ddPCR correlates with clinical laboratory tests, furnishing valuable reference data for clinical diagnosis.

Requirements and Key Features of a Mobile Application for Adolescent Self-Care From a Stakeholders Perspective: A Qualitative Study.

Adolescence is characterized by many changes and these changes differentiate adolescents' self-care needs. The use of smartphones and tablets to provide healthcare services has expanded, and the user-centered design could help to create mobile applications based on users' needs. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify the data requirements and key features of mobile application for adolescent self-care from a stakeholder perspective. This study was conducted with a qualitative approach to identify the key features of mobile application for adolescent's self-care as well as educational content axes for five component of self-care using conventional and directed content analysis respectively. From 3 sub-groups 30 participants were selected based on purposive sampling with maximum variety and sampling was performed until data saturation. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews. Participants' informed consent was obtained before the interview. The interview lasted 20-40 min and MAXQDA software version 10 was used for data analysis. In this study, four criteria of acceptability, reliability, transferability, and validity proposed by Guba and Lincoln were used to evaluate and validate the data. After conducting the interviews, 789 initial codes, 12 sub-categories, and 3 categories (app view, app content architecture, app self-care content) were emerged, which reflects the key features of a mobile application and the necessary educational content. The research findings could provide a guide for future mobile application development considering the viewpoints of health professionals, content, and software experts. Addressing the features and requirements in practice could lead to designing efficient and effective mobile applications.

Selective Detection of Picric Acid by Benzodiazepine Containing Enaminone Core as Receptor and Its Application to Real Water Sample Analysis.

Nitroaromatic compounds are highly explosive and illegitimate substances. Over a decade, chemists have been affianced in extensive research on the selective and sensitive detection of these nitroaromatic explosives for homeland security and environmental protection. The benzodiazepine-based enaminone (BDE) receptor has been synthesized by aqueous extract of onion catalyzed three-component reaction between o-phenylenediamine, dimedone with an aldehyde. The BDE probe is well analyzed and applied to a sensor that selectively detects picric acid (PA). UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy were used to investigate the photophysical responses of the receptor (BDE). From the observed results BDE found turn-off fluorescence with the addition of picric acid and the lowest limit of detection and limit of quantification was achieved about 24.6 nM and 73.8 nM. The fluorescence quantum yield was attained about 0.28. The BDE-PA adduct formation was confirmed by 1H NMR titration analysis. The Job's plot analysis was performed through 1H NMR titrations and established the binding stoichiometry ratio of the BDE-PA adduct as 1:1 ratio. Further, DFT calculations supported the observed photophysical responses of BDE-PA adduct to confirm the molecular level interactions. The receptor was effectively applied to approximate level of picric acid in real water sample analysis.