Absorption mechanism of SO3 on various alkaline absorbents in the presence of SO2.

Sulfur trioxide (SO3) as a condensable particle matter has a significant influence on atmospheric visibility, which easily arouses formation of haze. It is imperative to control the SO3 emission from the industrial flue gas. Three commonly used basic absorbents, including Ca(OH)2, MgO and NaHCO3 were selected to explore the effects of temperature, SO2 concentration on the SO3 absorption, and the reaction mechanism of SO3 absorption was further illustrated. The suitable reaction temperature for various absorbents were proposed, Ca(OH)2 at the high temperatures above 500°C, MgO at the low temperatures below 320°C, and NaHCO3 at the temperature range of 320-500°C. The competitive absorption between SO2 and SO3 was found that the addition of SO2 reduced the SO3 absorption on Ca(OH)2 and NaHCO3, while had no effect on MgO. The order of the absorption selectivity of SO3 follows MgO, NaHCO3 and Ca(OH)2 under the given conditions in this work. The absorption process of SO3 on NaHCO3 follows the shrinking core model, thus the absorption reaction continues until NaHCO3 was exhausted with the utilization rate of nearly 100%. The absorption process of SO3 on Ca(OH)2 and MgO follows the grain model, and the dense product layer hinders the further absorption reaction, resulting in low utilization of about 50% for Ca(OH)2 and MgO. The research provides a favorable support for the selection of alkaline absorbent for SO3 removal in application.

Removal and monitoring of residual nucleic acids from core streptavidin inclusion bodies for increased refolding yield.

Commercial production of recombinant streptavidin (SAV) using soluble expression route is cost-prohibitive, resulting from its inherent toxicity toward commercially available Escherichia coli hosts (such as BL21) and low productivity of existing manufacturing processes. Quality challenges can also result from binding of streptavidin in the host cells. One way to overcome these challenges is to allow formation of inclusion bodies (IBs). Nevertheless, carried-over cellular contaminants during IBs preparation can hinder protein refolding and application of SAV in nucleic acid-based applications. Hence, removing associated contaminants in recombinant IBs is imperative for maximum product outcomes. In this study, the IBs isolation method from our group was improved to remove residual DNA found in refolded core SAV (cSAV). The improvements were attained by incorporating quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions (qPCR) for residual DNA monitoring. We attained 99 % cellular DNA removal from cSAV IBs via additional wash and sonication steps, and the addition of benzonase nuclease during lysis. A 10 % increment of cSAV refolding yield (72 %) and 83 % reduction of residual DNA from refolding of 1 mg cSAV IBs were observed under extensive sonication. Refolding of cSAV was not affected and its activity was not compromised. The optimized process reported here highlights the importance of obtaining cSAV IBs with minimal contaminants prior to refolding to increase product yield, and the usefulness of the qPCR method to monitor nucleic acid removed from each step of the process.

Construction of a novel Au@Os mediated TMB-H2O2 platform with dual-signal output for rapid and accurate detection of ziram in food.

The 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine-H2O2 (TMB-H2O2) platform has gained widespread use for rapid detection of various analytes in foods. However, the existing TMB-H2O2 platforms suffer from limited accuracy, as their signal output is confined to the visible region, which is prone to interference from various food colorants in real samples. To address this challenge, a novel Au@Os-mediated TMB-H2O2 platform is developed for both rapid and accurate detection of analytes in foods. The prepared Au@Os NPs exhibit remarkable peroxidase-like activity, making the platform display dual absorption peaks in visible and near-infrared (NIR) regions, respectively. This Au@Os-mediated TMB-H2O2 platform exhibited three linear ranges across different concentrations of ziram from 1-100, 150-600, and 800-2000 nM with limit of detection (LOD) 7.9 nM and limit of quantification (LOQ) 24.15 nM respectively. Further, the Au@Os-mediated TMB-H2O2 platform was also used for rapid and accurate detection of ziram in real food samples like apple, tomato, and black tea.

Reliability of Wearable Technology to Monitor Core Temperature Among Helicopter-Based EMS Crews.

BACKGROUND: Excessive heat stress led to more than 400 deaths in the United States from 2011 to 2021. Common methods for heat injury prevention revolve around measurements of the environment and fail to account for the unique individual response to stressors. METHODS: An observational approach was utilized with nine helicopter-based emergency medical services personnel during emergency flights to compare core temperature readings obtained from an ingestible temperature monitoring pill and the estimated core temperature reading of the Slate Safety Band V2 wearable device. Comparison of data was conducted within Microsoft Excel programming to determine the mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean biased error (MBE), and Bland-Altman plot development. FINDINGS: A significant bias (t = 17.58, p < .001) toward the Slate Safety device reading higher with an average difference of -0.48°C (-0.86°F) was found, meaning the average temperature reading is 0.48°C (-0.86°F) higher with the Slate Safety device. A significant correlation of .26 (p < .001) was noted between the ingestible pill and the wearable device with a 95% confidence interval of 0.23 to 0.29. Aggregate core temperature data demonstrated an MSE of 0.43, an RMSE of 0.65, an MAE of 0.54, and an MBE of -0.48. CONCLUSIONS/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE: The ability to monitor the physiological parameters of a worker remotely adds safety tools relative to the risks of heat stress. The slightly higher reading associated with the Slate Safety wearable device provides an added safety margin to protect our workers.

Mapping Public Health Nursing competencies: A comparative document analysis of competency frameworks and practice standards in the USA and Ireland.

The Public Health Nursing discipline plays a crucial role in promoting sustainable health services. The establishment of competency frameworks and practice standards pertaining to Public Health Nursing has emerged as a cornerstone for guiding practice, education, and research. This study aimed to identify contemporary Public Health Nursing competency frameworks and practice standards and establish a robust list of competency domains. This will inform a subsequent phase of this project that will conduct a review of recent scholarly literature to discern prevailing research trends and delineate strategic directives and research priorities for the discipline. A systematic search of three databases and a grey literature search was undertaken by incorporating keywords to identify existing Public Health Nursing-specific competency frameworks and practice standards. Through screening and selection based on our inclusion criteria, three documents were analyzed. A comprehensive document analysis was conducted to generate a unified domain list and associated descriptors. Three competency-based frameworks and practice standards emanating from two countries, the United States of America and the Republic of Ireland met the inclusion criteria. The document analysis identified 16 individual domains. There was consistent evidence of similarity across the three documents. There were minimal divergences featured within the frameworks which are discussed and compelling justifications for inclusion as universal domains are provided. This document analysis has generated a list of 16 common Public Health Nursing competency domains which will be utilized in phase two of this project as a foundational framework for the purpose of analyzing research trends, influencing research priorities, and enhancing the focal areas for future research agendas within the discipline.

Investigation of Folate-Functionalized Magnetic-Gold Nanoparticles Based Targeted Drug Delivery for Liver: In Vitro, In Vivo and Docking Studies.

Magnetic nanoparticles used for targeted drug administration present a promising approach in cancer treatment owing to its notable advantages, such as targeted and enhanced encapsulation ability and improved bio protection compared with conventional drug delivery methods. Au shell-iron core nanoparticles (Fe3O4@Au) were manufactured by a chemical process, coated with dextran to encapsulate curcumin, and functionalized for precision drug delivery using folic acid to combat liver cancer. Dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, and magnetometry were applied to assess the synthesis of the Fe3O4@Au-DEX-CU-FA compound. The mean size, zeta potential, and polydispersity of Fe3O4@Au-DEX-CU-FA were 63.3 ± 2.33 nm, -68.3 ± 1.78 mV, and 0.041 ± 0.008, respectively. Molecular docking models were created to examine the relationship between Fe3O4@Au-CU and BCL-XL, BAK, and to identify potential binding sites. The loading efficiency and release profile tests examined the medication delivery system's ability. MTT assay was subsequently utilized to determine the optimal dosage and therapeutic efficacy of Fe3O4@Au-DEX-CU-FA on cancer SNU-449 and healthy THLE-2 cell lines. Flow cytometry demonstrated that Fe3O4@Au-DEX-CU-FA effectively induced cancer cell death. Fe3O4@Au-DEX-FA showed a regulated release profile of free curcumin at 37 °C and pH values of 7.4 and 5.4. Real-time PCR revealed increased BAK expression and decreased BCL-XL expression. Nude tumor-bearing mice were used for in vivo experiments. Fe3O4@Au-DEX-CU-FA treatment dramatically reduced the swelling size compared with free CU and control treatments. It also resulted in a longer lifespan, expanded splenocyte proliferation, increased IFN-γ levels, and decreased IL-4 levels. The regular cells showed no cytotoxic effect compared with the cancer type, confirming that Fe3O4@Au-DEX-CU-FA maintained its potent anticancer actions. The data suggests that Fe3O4@Au-DEX-CU-FA possesses a promising potential as a therapeutic agent for combating tumors.

Designing TiO2 Nanotubular Arrays with Au-CoOx Core-Shell Nanoparticles for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Methanol and Lignin Oxidation.

One-dimensional (1D) ordered TiO2 nanotubes exhibit exceptional charge transfer capabilities, making them suitable candidates for constructing visible-light-active photoanodes in selective PEC oxidation reactions. Herein, we employed a facile and easily scalable electrochemical method to fabricate Au-CoOx-deposited ordered TiO2 nanotubular array photoanodes. The improved visible light absorption capacity of TiO2-Au-CoOx, with unhampered 1D channels and the controlled integration of Au between TiO2 and CoOx, along with their synergistic interaction, have been identified as the most promising strategy for enhanced PEC performance, as evidenced by an IPCE of 3.7% at 450 nm. Furthermore, the robust interfacial charge transfer pathway from CoOx to the TiO2 surface via the Au mediator promotes the migration of photogenerated electrons and enables the accumulation of holes on the surface of CoOx. These holes are then efficiently utilized by oxidants such as methanol or lignin to generate value-added products, highlighting the potential of this system for advanced PEC applications.

Adult attachment and love psychological stress among college students: the mediating role of core self-evaluation and the moderating role of meaning in life.

BACKGROUND: With college students going into dating relationships, dating partners become their new attachment figures. We aimed to investigate the relationship between adult attachment, and love psychological stress among college students, which also explored the roles of core self-evaluation and meaning in life. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey on 813 college students using the adult attachment scale, core self-evaluation scale, meaning in life scale, and love psychological stress scale. We constructed a moderated mediation model to analyze the relationship between adult attachment and love psychological stress, as well as the mediating effect of core self-evaluation and the moderating effect of meaning in life. RESULTS: The results showed that after controlling for single parent or not, adult attachment significantly negatively predicted love psychological stress of college students. Core self-evaluation partially mediated the relationship between adult attachment and love psychological stress of college students. The second half of the mediation model was moderated by meaning in life, that is, with the increase of meaning in life, the negative predictive effect of core self-evaluation on love psychological stress of college students gradually strengthened. The findings of this study demonstrate the detrimental impact of adult attachment on love psychological stress of college students, as well as the mediating core self-evaluation and the moderating role of meaning in life. CONCLUSIONS: The mediating and moderating effect of adult attachment between love psychological stress, as well as the mediating effect of core self-evaluation and the moderating effect of meaning in life were confirmed. Overall, promoting the healthy development of adult attachment and helping them shape a positive meaning in life can enhance individuals' core self-evaluation, thus alleviating love psychological stress among college students. It can also provide references for mental health education in colleges and universities.

A Case of Breast Papillary Carcinoma in an Elderly Black Male Patient With Pathology, Ultrasound, and Mammogram Imaging Findings.

The patient was an 84-year-old man who presented with a palpable, left breast mass. Following ultrasound, mammography, and ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy, the lesion was diagnosed as papillary carcinoma. Findings included a complex, cystic mass on ultrasound; a well-circumscribed, high-density lesion on mammogram; and a lack of highlighting of myoepithelial cells within fibrovascular cores on immunostaining. With this case report, we aim to add to the literature an additional example of breast papillary carcinoma in a male patient and its corresponding imaging and pathologic findings.

Comparative evaluation of incorporation of ferrule in premolars endocrown designs to check any alterations in their fracture resistance: A pilot study.

Introduction: Endocrown preparation of endodontically treated teeth as final restoration has been extensively studied for different teeth. Bindl et al. questioned the application of endocrowns for premolars due to the pulp chamber space's smaller dimensions, which diminish bonding surface area. The addition of ferrule into the endocrown preparations of premolars has not been extensively studied. Aims and Study Design: Comparative evaluation of incorporation of the ferrule in premolars endocrown designs to check any alterations in their fracture resistance. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 40 maxillary first premolars without cracks or caries, extracted for orthodontic or periodontal purposes. The teeth were individually mounted with cold-cure acrylic resin. Group A: Composite endocrown without ferrule and Group B: Composite endocrown with ferrule. An endocrown former was prepared with elastomeric polyvinyl siloxane material (GC Exaclear). Endocrowns were then prepared with dual-cure core build-up composite-Core-x flow (Dentsply Maillefer, Switzerland) using the endocrown former so that morphologically, they all were almost identical. Endocrowns are cemented by dual-cure resin cement following manufacturer instructions. The fracture resistance of endocrowns with and without ferrule was evaluated and compared. Results and Observations: The data were tabulated in Microsoft Excel and analyzed with SPSS version 24 software. The variables were presented with mean, standard deviation, and independent t-test. The P ≤ 0.05 is considered statistically significant. Group B (with ferrule) showed higher fracture resistance (622.06 N) than Group A (537.59 N) (without ferrule). Independent t-test showed that the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.008). Conclusion: Comparing the failure load findings, it could be concluded that ferrule-containing endocrown needed greater loads than ordinary endocrown restorations for failure.

Assessing core outcome set uptake in randomized controlled trials for chronic kidney disease: Cross-sectional analysis.

Main problem: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive condition that affects millions of people worldwide. A standardized core outcome set (COS) was developed for CKD by the International Consortium for Health Outcomes and Measurements in 2019. This study aims to evaluate the frequency of measurement for these outcomes before and after the publication of the COS. Methods: A literature search was done to gather the phase III/IV clinical trials evaluating chronic kidney disease through ClinicalTrials.gov. Data extraction of included studies was completed in a masked, duplicate fashion. The included studies were evaluated for characteristics such as survival, burden of disease, patient-reported health-related quality of life, and treatment modality-specific outcomes. Results: Our results showed that the majority of all COS domains were inadequately measured in CKD clinical trials before and after publication of the COS. Despite the increase in COS measurements following publication, the average percent of COS outcomes measured was less than 40 % per year even after four years. Conclusion: There is a notable deficiency in the complete measurement of COS among all domains both before and after COS publication. We suggest efforts be made to improve the adoption of consistent outcome measures that would benefit the growing population of patients affected by CKD.

"I could 100% see myself getting hurt if I did it wrong": a qualitative exploration of exercise perceptions in people with chronic low back pain.

PURPOSE: Traditionally, a specific "core" exercise focus has been favoured for chronic low back pain (CLBP) which contrasts holistic exercise approaches. This study aims to explore the perceptions of exercise in people with CLBP and whether exercise itself can convey implicit messages regarding its use in CLBP management in the absence of a clinical narrative. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Participants were asked about their CLBP history, views of exercise for CLBP, and current exercise behaviours through online semi-structured interviews. Then, participants watched the interviewer perform the deadlift, Jefferson curl, and bird dog and were asked if they thought each individual exercise was beneficial for CLBP, and why. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis through a critical realism and social constructivism lens. RESULTS: All participants (n = 16) viewed all exercises as beneficial for health and pain relief, but perceived efficacy varied. "Core" exercises were deemed crucial for CLBP relief, while spinal flexion and external load were often perceived as potentially injurious. Distrust towards healthcare practitioners also influenced exercise perceptions. CONCLUSION: People with CLBP perceive different exercises to either relieve pain or improve health. Healthcare practitioners can influence these perceptions, highlighting the need for consideration of exercise perceptions in clinical contexts.

Exercise itself can convey implicit messages to people with chronic low back pain irrespective of an accompanying clinical narrative.'Core' exercises are perceived as beneficial whereas exercises involving spinal flexion or loading may be perceived as dangerous.Exercise for reducing pain is perceived as distinctly different from gym related exercises or other exercises for improving health.Healthcare practitioners must consider their client's exercise perceptions when using exercise as an intervention for chronic low back pain.

Dramatic Impact of Materials Combinations on the Chemical Organization of Core-Shell Nanocrystals: Boosting the Tm3+ Emission above 1600 nm.

This article represents the first foray into investigating the consequences of various material combinations on the short-wave infrared (SWIR, 1000-2000 nm) performance of Tm-based core-shell nanocrystals (NCs) above 1600 nm. In total, six different material combinations involving two different types of SWIR-emitting core NCs (α-NaTmF4 and LiTmF4) combined with three different protecting shell materials (α-NaYF4, CaF2, and LiYF4) have been synthesized. All corresponding homo- and heterostructured NCs have been meticulously characterized by powder X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy techniques. The latter revealed that out of the six investigated combinations, only one led to the formation of a true core-shell structure with well-segregated core and shell domains. The direct correlation between the downshifting performance and the spatial localization of Tm3+ ions within the final homo- and heterostructured NCs is established. Interestingly, to achieve the best SWIR performance, the formation of an abrupt interface is not a prerequisite, while the existence of a pure (even thin) protective shell is vital. Remarkably, although all homo- and heterostructured NCs have been synthesized under the exact same experimental conditions, Tm3+ SWIR emission is either fully quenched or highly efficient depending on the type of material combination. The most efficient combination (LiTmF4/LiYF4) achieved a high photoluminescence quantum yield of 39% for SWIR emission above 1600 nm (excitation power density in the range 0.5-3 W/cm2) despite significant intermixing. From now on, highly efficient SWIR-emitting probes with an emission above 1600 nm are within reach to unlock the full potential of in vivo SWIR imaging.

Fracture strength of cad-cam milled polyetheretherketone (PEEK) post-cores vs conventional post-cores; an in vitro study.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the fracture strength and fracture modes of post-cores produced with CAD-CAM from modified polyetheretherketone (PEEK) materials with other custom-produced post-cores. Methods: Sixty human mandibular first premolars with equal root sizes were used. The teeth were divided into six groups (n = 10), and root canal treatment was performed. The teeth were separated from the roots over 2 mm from the cemento-enamel junction. As a result of the decoronation process, a 1 mm wide shoulder line was obtained for all teeth. For the fracture strength test, 10 mm deep post spaces were created on the teeth with a 1.6 mm diameter driller. Post-core groups consisted: everStick® glass fiber post-core (Group GF), zirconia post-core (Group Z), metal (Cr-Co) post-core (Group M), PEEK post-core without filler (Group UP), PEEK post-core with 20% TiO2 Filler (Group TP), and post-core with 20% ceramic filler (Group CP). Following the application of posts to post spaces, copings were created and cemented on the samples. With the universal tester, a force was applied to the long axis of the tooth with a slope of 135°. The mean fracture strength (N) between the groups was statistically evaluated using one-way ANOVA, and pairwise mean differences were detected using post hoc Tukey's HSD test among the groups. Results: According to the results of the statistical analysis, a significant difference was found between the groups in terms of mean fracture resistance (p < 0.05). Group Z (409.34 ± 45.72) was significantly higher than Group UP (286.64 ± 37.79), CP (298.00 ± 72.30), and TP (280.08 ± 67.83). Group M (376.17 ± 73.28) was significantly higher than Group UP (286.64 ± 37.79) and Group TP (280.08 ± 67.83). There were no statistically significant differences between the means of the other groups (p > 0.05). Among all the groups, Group Z exhibited a higher prevalence of repairable failure modes, while the rest of the groups predominantly experienced irreparable failure modes. Conclusion: In our study, zirconia and metal post-core samples showed higher average fracture strength values than PEEK post-cores groups. Repairable failure modes were more common in the zirconia post-cores, whereas the opposite was observed in the other groups. Further experimental and clinical trial studies are needed before PEEK materials can be used as post materials in the clinic.

Core-Shell Semiconductor-Graphene Nanoarchitectures for Efficient Photocatalysis: State of the Art and Perspectives.

Semiconductor photocatalysis holds great promise for renewable energy generation and environment remediation, but generally suffers from the serious drawbacks on light absorption, charge generation and transport, and structural stability that limit the performance. The core-shell semiconductor-graphene (CSSG) nanoarchitectures may address these issues due to their unique structures with exceptional physical and chemical properties. This review explores recent advances of the CSSG nanoarchitectures in the photocatalytic performance. It starts with the classification of the CSSG nanoarchitectures by the dimensionality. Then, the construction methods under internal and external driving forces were introduced and compared with each other. Afterward, the physicochemical properties and photocatalytic applications of these nanoarchitectures were discussed, with a focus on their role in photocatalysis. It ends with a summary and some perspectives on future development of the CSSG nanoarchitectures toward highly efficient photocatalysts with extensive application. By harnessing the synergistic capabilities of the CSSG architectures, we aim to address pressing environmental and energy challenges and drive scientific progress in these fields.

Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Older Adults' Balance: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is considered a mind and body practice of Chinese origin, considered as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, and recommended by the World Health Organization as a therapeutic approach to prevent falls. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of TCC on older adult's balance. METHODS: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials was conducted by two independent reviewers using the ROB2 tool to assess the risk of bias under the following databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PEDro, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and LILACS. A meta-analysis of the selected articles for the dynamic and static balance criteria was conducted in a population of older adults (over 65 years) with publications from 2010 to 2024. RESULTS: Eighteen randomized clinical trials fulfilled the criteria. TCC improves dynamic balance in the timed up and go and gait speeds tests, and static balance in the single-leg test and functional reach test when compared with the control group in the meta-analysis. Adverse events were found in only one study, and the training parameters were heterogeneous. CONCLUSION: TCC improves older adults with both dynamic and static balance. The results of the parameters indicate a direction in which TCC is prescribed for clinical practice with minimal or no risk of adverse effects.

Co-occurrence between key HAB species and particle-attached bacteria and substrate specificity of attached bacteria in the coastal ecosystem.

The ecological dynamics of particle-attached bacteria (PAB) were observed through changes in the core phytoplankton phycosphere, and were associated with the dynamics of free-living bacteria (FLB) using metabarcoding and microscopic analyses over 210 days (with weekly sampling intervals) in the Jangmok coastal ecosystem, South Korea. Cluster analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling classified the phytoplankton community into six groups comprising core phytoplankton species, including the harmful algal species Akashiwo sanguinea (dinoflagellate) in late autumn, Teleaulax amphioxeia (cryptomonads) in early winter and spring, Skeletonema marinoi-dohrnii complex (diatom) in winter, Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissima (diatom) in early spring, and diatom complexes such as Chaetoceros curvisetus and Leptocylindrus danicus in late spring. We identified 59 and 32 indicators in PAB and FLB, respectively, which rapidly changed with the succession of the six core phytoplankton species. The characteristics of PAB were mainly divided into "Random encounters" or "Attraction of motivation by chemotaxis." When Akashiwo sanguinea bloomed, bacteria of the genera Kordiimonas and Polaribacter, which are commonly observed in PAB and FLB, indicated "Random encounter" characteristics. In addition, Sedimenticola of PAB was uniquely presented in Akashiwo sanguinea, exhibiting characteristics of "Attraction of motivation by chemotaxis." In contrast, FLB followed the strategy of "Random encounters" because it was not affected by specific habitats and energy sources. Thus, many common bacteria were PAB and FLB, thereby dictating the bacteria's strategy of "Random encounters." "Attraction of motivation by chemotaxis" has characteristics of the species-specific interactions between PAB and specific harmful algal species, and is potentially influenced by organic matter of core phytoplankton cell surface and/or EPS released from phytoplankton.

Core-satellite-structured magnetic nanozyme enables the ultrasensitive colorimetric detection of multiple drug residues on lateral flow immunoassay.

BACKGROUND: Excessive use of veterinary drugs causes severely environmental pollution and agricultural pollution, and poses great threat to human health. A simple method for the rapid, highly sensitive, and on-site monitoring of veterinary drug residues in complex samples remains lacking. RESULTS: In this study, we propose a catalytically enhanced colorimetric lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) based on a novel core-satellite-structured magnetic nanozyme (Fe-Au@Pt) that can simultaneously and quantitatively detect three common veterinary drugs, namely, gentamicin (GM), streptomycin (STR), and clenbuterol (CLE), within a short testing time (<30 min). The Fe-Au@Pt nanozyme was simply prepared through the self-assembly of numerous Au@Pt nanoparticles on a large Fe3O4 core via electrostatic adhesion, which exhibited the advantages of high peroxidase-like activity, strong magnetic responsiveness, and multiple catalytic sites. Under the dual-signal amplification effect of magnetic enrichment and catalytic enhancement, the proposed nanozyme-LFA allowed the multiplex detection of STR, CLE, and GM with detection limits of 10.1, 6.3, and 1.1 pg/mL, respectively. SIGNIFICANCE: The developed Fe-Au@Pt-LFA achieves direct, simultaneous, and accurate detection of three target drugs in food samples (honey, milk, and pork). The proposed assay shows great potential for application in the real-time monitoring of small-molecule pollutants in complex environment.

Characterization of core microbiota of barley seeds from different continents for origin tracing and quarantine pathogen assessment.

Seeds are important microbial vectors, and seed-associated pathogens can be introduced into a country through trade, resulting in yield and quality losses in agriculture. The aim of this study was to characterize the microbial communities associated with barley seeds, and based on which, to develop technical approaches to trace their geographical origins, and to inspect and identify quarantine pathogens. Our analysis defined the core microbiota of barley seed and revealed significant differences in the barley seed-associated microbial communities among different continents, suggesting a strong geographic specificity of the barley seed microbiota. By implementing a machine learning model, we achieved over 95% accuracy in tracing the origin of barley seeds. Furthermore, the analysis of co-occurrence and exclusion patterns provided important insights into the identification of candidate biocontrol agents or microbial inoculants that could be useful in improving barley yield and quality. A core pathogen database was developed, and a procedure for inspecting potential quarantine species associated with barley seed was established. These approaches proved effective in detecting four fungal and three bacterial quarantine species for the first time in the port of China. This study not only characterized the core microbiota of barley seeds but also provided practical approaches for tracing the regional origin of barley and identifying potential quarantine pathogens.

Magnetic and pH-responsive magnetite/chitosan (core/shell) nanoparticles for dual-targeted methotrexate delivery in cancer therapy.

Methotrexate successful therapy encounters various challenges in chemotherapy, such as poor oral bioavailability, low specificity, side effects and the development of drug resistances. In this study, it is proposed a dual-targeted nanocarrier comprising magnetite/chitosan nanoparticles for an efficient Methotrexate delivery. The formation of the particles was confirmed through morphological analysis using electron microscopy and elemental mappings via energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. These nanoparticles exhibited a size of ≈ 270 nm, a zeta potential of ≈ 24 mV, and magnetic responsiveness, as demonstrated by hysteresis cycle analysis and visual observations under a magnetic field. In addition, these particles displayed high stability, as evidenced by size and surface electric charge measurements, during storage at both 4 ºC and 25 ºC for at least 30 days. Electrophoretic properties were examined in relation to pH and ionic strength, confirming these core/shell nanostructure. The nanoparticles demonstrated a pH-responsive drug release as observed by a sustained Methotrexate release over the next 90 h under pH ≈ 7.4, while complete release occurred within 3 h under acidic conditions (pH ≈ 5.5). In the biocompatibility assessment, the magnetite/chitosan particles showed excellent hemocompatibility ex vivo and no cytotoxic effects on normal MCF-10 A and cancer MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the Methotrexate-loaded nanoparticles significantly enhanced the antitumor activity reducing the half-maximal inhibitory concentration by ≈ 2.7-fold less compared to the free chemotherapeutic.