High Reproducibility Research Articles

Study on the predictions of acoustic characteristics of microspeakers based on the specific airflow resistance of ventilation materials: Mesh type

In this study is presented a method for predicting the acoustic characteristics of microspeakers with mesh-type ventilation materials that combines specific airflow resistance with equivalent circuit model. The specific airflow resistances of eight types of ventilation materials were quantified using a self-made measurement system. These materials were then used to simulate the acoustic properties of 40 φ and 20 φ microspeakers, respectively. The results were compared with simulation results obtained using Dr. Maa’s porous plate acoustic impedance and actual measurements. After applying a stable correction factor, the self-made measurement system accurately determined specific airflow resistance values with high reproducibility and stability. A regression curve based on scanning electron microscope obtained porosity and measured specific airflow resistance effectively predicted the specific airflow resistance of materials with known porosity. Applying these values to acoustic simulations, the proposed method significantly improved accuracy, outperforming Dr. Maa’s method by a factor of six, and closely matched actual measurements. This innovative approach is versatile and applicable to various conditions and types of ventilation materials, as well as enhances predictions of their impact on electro-acoustic product performance.

Revolutionizing sensing technologies: Crafting a green, ultra-sensitive bismuth optical sensor via fixation of 5-(2′,4′-dimethyl-phenylazo)-6-hydroxypyrimidine-2,4-dione on PVC membrane

An innovative and exceptionally responsive optical sensing device engineered to selectively identify Bi(III) ions in water-based solutions. The sensing component, 5-(2′,4′-dimethylphenylazo)-6-hydroxypyrimidine-2,4-dione (DMPAHPD), is incorporated into a plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane. The sensor demonstrates an exceptional selectivity for Bi(III) within a broad dynamic range spanning from 7.5 × 10−10 to 4.2 × 10−5 M at pH 2.25. Notably, it achieves lower quantification and detection limits of 7.25 × 10−10 and 2.15 × 10−10 M, respectively. The optode membrane’s response to Bi(III) proves to be entirely reversible, demonstrating remarkable selectivity for Bi(III) ions over a diverse range of other cations and anions. The sensor exhibits favorable performance characteristics, including good reversibility, a wide dynamic range, a prolonged lifespan, sustained response stability over the long term, and high reproducibility. This visual chemical sensor exhibits potential for real-world usage, offering consistent outcomes when assessing Bi(III) levels in matrices such as water, soil, plants, biological and synthetic mixtures. Importantly, the sensor’s performance is comparable to corresponding data achieved from inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES).

Use of two-point and six-point Dixon MRI for fat fraction analysis in the lumbar vertebral bodies and paraspinal muscles in healthy dogs: comparison with magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Fatty degeneration of the vertebral bodies and paravertebral muscles is associated with the presence, severity, and prognosis of spinal disease such as intervertebral disc degeneration. Therefore, the fat fraction (FF) of the vertebral bodies and paraspinal muscles has been considered a potential biomarker for assessing the pathophysiology, progression, and treatment response of spinal disease. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is considered the reference standard for fat quantification; however, it has limitations of a long acquisition time and is technically demanding. Chemical shift-encoding water-fat imaging, called the Dixon method, has recently been applied for rapid fat quantification with high spatial resolution. However, the Dixon method has not been validated in veterinary medicine, and we hypothesized that the Dixon method would provide a comparable assessment of the FF to MRS but would be faster and easier to implement in dogs. In this prospective study, we assessed the FF of the lumbar vertebral bodies and paravertebral muscles from the first to sixth lumbar vertebrae using MRS, the two-point Dixon method (LAVA-FLEX), and the six-point Dixon method (IDEAL-IQ) and compared these techniques. The FFs of vertebral bodies and paravertebral muscles derived from LAVA-FLEX and IDEAL-IQ showed significant correlations and agreement with those obtained with MRS. In particular, the FFs obtained with IDEAL-IQ showed higher correlations and better agreement with those obtained with MRS than those derived by LAVA-FLEX. Both Dixon methods showed excellent intra- and interobserver reproducibility for FF analysis of the vertebral bodies and paraspinal muscles. However, the test-retest repeatability of vertebral body and paraspinal muscle FF analysis was low for all three sequences, especially for the paraspinal muscles. The results of this study showed that LAVA-FLEX and IDEAL-IQ have high reproducibility and that their findings were highly correlated with the FFs of the lumber vertebral bodies and paraspinal muscles determined by MRS in dogs. The FF analysis could be performed much more easily and quickly using LAVA-FLEX and IDEAL-IQ than using MRS. In conclusion, LAVA-FLEX and IDEAL-IQ can be used as routine procedures in spinal magnetic resonance imaging in dogs for FF analysis of the vertebral bodies and paraspinal muscles.

Sorption-spectrophotometric determination of bismuth ion (III) using immobilised xylenol orange on modified polyacrylonitrile

ABSTRACT This study presents a new sorption-spectrophotometric method for determining bismuth (III) ions using a new adsorbent for PPM-1 fibre immobilised with xylenol orange. The complex exhibited a maximum reflectance at 550 nm and absorption at 530 nm, indicating stable formation. The method demonstrated high sensitivity with a detection limit of 0.1 µg/mL and high selectivity, minimising interference from other metal ions. Optimal pH for complex formation was 1.37, with faster response and higher sensitivity in the immobilised state (detection limit 0.12 µg/mL, formation time 10 minutes). The complex adhered to the Bouguer-Lambert-Beer law within 3–42 µg/25 mL. Interferences from Cu2+, Ag+, Pd2+, and Fe3+ were reduced when the reagent was immobilised. Conductometric analysis confirmed the stable formation of the complex. Validation using model mixtures and pharmaceutical preparations showed accurate bismuth determination with an error margin of 0.005. For example, a mixture containing 25 µg of bismuth with zinc and cadmium yielded 25.20 µg, and De-nol had a found content of 49.50 µg for 50.00 µg added. IR spectroscopy confirmed complex formation with significant shifts in absorption bands. SEM and EDS analysis validated the reagent’s effective immobilisation and interaction with bismuth ions. The method provides a rapid, accurate, and environmentally friendly approach for bismuth analysis, demonstrating high reproducibility, sensitivity, and selectivity, suitable for environmental monitoring and pharmaceutical quality control.

Micrometer-Scale Graphene-Based Liquid Cells of Highly Concentrated Salt Solutions for In Situ Liquid-Cell Transmission Electron Microscopy.

In situ liquid-cell transmission microscopy has attracted much attention as a method for the direct observations of the dynamics of soft matter. A graphene liquid cell (GLC) has previously been investigated as an alternative to a conventional SiN x liquid cell. Although GLCs are capable of scavenging radicals and providing high spatial resolutions, their production is fundamentally stochastic, and a significant compositional change in liquids encapsulated in GLCs has recently been pointed out. We found that graphene-based liquid cells were formed in nano- to micrometer sizes with high reproducibility when the concentration of the encapsulated aqueous salt solution was high. In contrast, when we revisited conventional fabrication methods, water-encapsulated GLC was formed with low yield, and any electron diffraction spots from ice were not confirmed by a cooling experiment. The reason for this was the presence of intrinsic defects in the graphene, the presence of which we confirmed by the etch-pit method. The shrinkage of a water-encapsulated cell and a decrease in the bubble area in an aqueous (NH4)2SO4 solution cell suggested that volatile water molecules and gas molecules can leak from the cells during the fabrication and observation processes. Further revision of the conditions for the formation of liquid cells and a reduction in the number of intrinsic graphene defects are expected to lead to the provision of graphene-based liquid cells capable of encapsulating dilute aqueous solutions or pure water.

Recyclable MXene film as SERS sensor with high sensitivity and flexibility adjusted with ZnO quantum dots

Developing flexible substrates with high sensitivity, good reproducibility and recyclability is a major challenge in surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) research. Herein, we prepare a recyclable Ti3C2 MXene/ZnO quantum dots (Ti3C2/ZnO) heterostructure film as an efficient SERS sensor with remarkable flexibility using vacuum assisted filtration technique. Benefiting from the more charge transfer (CT) paths, higher CT efficiency provided by oxygen vacancies (OVs) in ZnO QDs and Schottky barrier between Ti3C2 and ZnO QDs, the limit of detection (LOD) for 4-mercaptopyridine (4-MPY) molecules was as low as 1×10−7 M. In addition, the prepared flexible SERS film provided uniform and stable signals for both temporal (storage at room temperature for 60 days) and spatial (RSD = 10.7 %) scales due to the optimal distribution of ZnO QDs in the macroscopic assembly of Ti3C2/ZnO hybrid with excellent reliability and durability. Moreover, the prepared novel flexible SERS sensor achieved self-cleaning by photocatalytically degrading methylene blue (MB) residues extracted from the surface of orange peels and showed exceptional reusability during the detection process. Thus, this high-efficiency and low-cost flexible recyclable SERS sensor may be useful for the in-situ molecular detection in food security and environmental protection.

Novel Quantitative Liver Steatosis Assessment Method With Ultrasound Harmonic Imaging.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent liver disorder in Western countries, with approximately 20%-30% of the MASLD patients progressing to severe stages. There is an urgent need for noninvasive, cost-effective, widely accessible, and precise biomarkers to evaluate liver steatosis. This study aims to assess and compare the diagnostic performance of a novel reference frequency method-based ultrasound attenuation coefficient estimation (ACE) in both fundamental (RFM-ACE-FI) and harmonic (RFM-ACE-HI) imaging for detecting and grading liver steatosis. An Institutional Review Board-approved prospective study was carried out between December 2018 and October 2022. A total number of 130 subjects were enrolled in the study. The correlation between RFM-ACE-HI values and magnetic resonance imaging proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF), as well as between RFM-ACE-FI values and MRI-PDFF were calculated. The diagnostic performance of RFM-ACE-FI and RFM-ACE-HI was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, as compared to MRI-PDFF. The reproducibility of RFM-ACE-HI was assessed by interobserver agreement between two sonographers. A strong correlation was observed between RFM-ACE-HI and MRI-PDFF, with R = 0.88 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.83-0.92; P < .001), while the correlation between RFM-ACE-FI and MRI-PDFF was R = 0.65 (95% CI: 0.50-0.76; P < .001). The area under the ROC (AUROC) curve for RFM-ACE-HI in staging liver steatosis grades of S ≥ 1 and S ≥ 2 was 0.97 (95% CI: 0.91-0.99; P < .001) and 0.98 (95% CI: 0.93-1.00; P < .001), respectively, and 0.76 (95% CI: 0.65-0.85) and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.70-0.88) for RFM-ACE-FI, respectively. Great reproducibility was achieved for RFM-ACE-HI, with an interobserver agreement of R = 0.97 (95% CI: 0.94-0.99; P < .001). The novel RFM-ACE-HI method offered high liver steatosis diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility, which has important clinical implications for early disease intervention and treatment evaluation.

Comparison of a Fully Automated Platform and an Established ELISA for the Quantification of Neurofilament Light Chain in Patients With Cognitive Decline.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the most-used method for neurofilament light chain (NfL) quantification in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Recently, fully automated immunoassays for NfL measurement in CSF and blood have allowed high reproducibility among laboratories, making NfLs suitable for routine use in clinical practice. In this study, we compared the Uman Diagnostics NF-light ELISA with the fully automated platform Lumipulse. We enrolled 60 patients with cognitive decline, including Alzheimer disease (AD). CSF NfL levels were measured by a NF-light ELISA kit (UmanDiagnostics), and chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) on the Lumipulse G1200 platform (Fujirebio Diagnostics). Serum NfLs levels were measured by CLEIA on the Lumipulse G1200. We found a significant, very strong correlation [Spearman rho = 0.94 (0.90-0.96)] between CLEIA and ELISA in CSF, and a significant moderate correlation between CSF and serum with both analytical methods [CLEIA vs serum CLEIA 0.41 (0.16-0.61); ELISA vs serum CLEIA 0.40 (0.15-0.60)]. It is worth noting that CSF CLEIA measurements were approximately 136.12 times higher than the serum measurements. Our findings show a robust correlation between ELISA Uman Diagnostic and the standardized Lumipulse G1200 platform for CSF NfL measurements.

A chemometric approach using I-optimal design for optimising Pb(II) removal using bentonite-chitosan composites and beads

This paper reports adsorption studies of Pb(II) ions onto Bentonite-Chitosan (Bt-Ch) composites or beads when using an I-optimal design experiment approach. Three adsorption factors (pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration) were optimised whilst simultaneously investigating multiple adsorbents. The Bt-Ch composites and beads (type A and B) adsorbents were made using weight ratios 90%/10% and differed characteristically due to their preparation methods of solution blending and precipitation, respectively. A batch procedure was used for adsorption experiments, and the amounts of Pb(II) ions (adsorbed onto Bt-Ch composites/beads) were analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Adsorption experimental parameters were analysed and optimised by using a response surface method (I-optimal design) generated from Design-Expert® 13.0 software. The main achievements of this study were to intensify the understanding and application of I-optimal experimental designs, which allow simultaneous determination of adsorption capacities and efficiencies across multiple adsorbents in an economical manner. A reduced quadratic model provided the best fit for the experimental data and exhibited minimal deviation between predicted and experimental values. This was evidenced by the very small covariance (CV) values of 1.81% and 1.33% observed for adsorption capacity and adsorption efficiency, respectively, also suggesting high reproducibility. It was observed that the adsorption factors studied (pH, adsorbent dose, and initial concentration) have a more pronounced effect on the adsorption capacity (F-value = 714.37) compared to adsorption efficiency (F-value = 140.62). Adsorbent dosage was found to have the greatest effect on adsorption capacity, while the initial pH of Pb(II) solution had the greatest effect on adsorption efficiency. Under optimal conditions, the adsorption capacities of beads-A (73.2 mg/g) and beads-B (77.6 mg/g) were found to be higher than that of the corresponding composite (51.7 mg/g). Whilst the optimum adsorption efficiency values for all three adsorbents were ∼100% (with ranges of pH 2–5, initial concentrations 50–200 mg/L, and adsorbent dosage 0.05–0.5 mg). The desirability indexes for the optimised conditions for these respective responses (and each adsorbent) were found to be within the ranges of 0.892–0.974 and 0.945–0.967 for adsorption capacity and adsorption efficiency, respectively. These high desirability index values for both responses indicate that the optimised conditions lead to very good performance for both measures. The information obtained in this study provides detailed understanding of the adsorption phenomena of the adsorbents studied. It gives confidence in the use of I-optimal designs to be applied as a chemometric tool for the specific adsorbents studied herein and others.

Automated Production of [68Ga]Ga-Desferrioxamine B on Two Different Synthesis Platforms.

Background/Objectives: PET imaging of bacterial infection could potentially provide added benefits for patient care through non-invasive means. [68Ga]Ga-desferrioxamine B-a radiolabelled siderophore-shows specific uptake by human-pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa and sufficient serum stability for clinical application. In this report, we present data for automated production of [68Ga]Ga-desferrioxamine B on two different cassette-based synthesis modules (Modular-Lab PharmTracer and GRP 3V) utilising commercially obtainable cassettes together with a licensed 68Ge/68Ga radionuclide generator. Methods: Quality control, including the determination of radiochemical purity, as well as a system suitability test, was set up via RP-HPLC on a C18 column. The two described production processes use an acetic acid/acetate buffer system with ascorbic acid as a radical scavenger for radiolabelling, yielding ready-to-use formulations with sufficient activity yield. Results: Batch data analysis demonstrated radiochemical purity of >95% by RP-HPLC combined with ITLC and excellent stability up to 2 h after synthesis. Specifications for routine production were set up and validated with four masterbatches for each synthesis module. Conclusions: Based on this study, an academic clinical trial for imaging of bacterial infection was initiated. Both described synthesis methods enable automated production of [68Ga]Ga-desferrioxamine B in-house with high reproducibility for clinical application.

Enhanced osteointegration and osteogenesis of osteoblast cells by laser-induced surface modification of Ti implants

Dental and orthopedic implants have become routine medical technologies for tooth replacement and bone fixation. Despite significant progress in implantology, achieving sufficient osseointegration remains a challenge, often leading to implant failure over the long term. Nanotechnology offers the potential to mimic the natural patterns of living tissues, providing a promising platform for tissue engineering and implant surface design. Among the various methods for developing nanostructures, High-Regular Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (HR-LIPSS) techniques stand out for their ability to fabricate highly ordered nanostructures with excellent long-range repeatability and production efficiency. In this study, we utilized an innovative technical approach to generate traditional laser-induced superficial LIPSS nanostructures, followed by detailed surface analysis using classical microscopy and physicochemical methods. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that nanostructured LIPSS surfaces can significantly enhance cell adhesion and proliferation while providing an optimal environment for cell metabolism. Given the high reproducibility, low cost, and potential of HR-LIPSS techniques to support cell growth and differentiation, this novel technology has the potential to impact both the industrial development of new implants and clinical outcomes after implantation.

Current status and prospects of breast cancer imaging-based diagnosis using artificial intelligence.

Breast imaging has several modalities, each unique in terms of its imaging position, evaluation index, and imaging method. Breast diagnosis is made by combining a large number of past imaging features with the clinical course and histological findings. Artificial intelligence (AI), which extracts the features from image data and evaluates them based on comprehensive analysis, has been making rapid progress in this regard. Many previous studies have demonstrated the usefulness and development potential of AI, such as machine learning and deep learning, in breast imaging. However, despite studies showing the good performance of AI models, their overall utilization remains low, since a large amount of diverse imaging data is required, and prospective verification is necessary to prove its high reproducibility and robustness. Sharing information and collaborating with multiple institutions to collect and verify images of different conditions and backgrounds are vital. If image diagnosis using AI can indeed ensure a more detailed diagnosis, such as breast cancer subtypes or prognosis, it can help develop personalized medicine, which is urgently required. The positive results of AI research, using such image information, can make each modality more valuable than ever. The current review summarized the results of previous studies using AI in each evaluation field and discussed the related future prospects.

Well-designed chitosan-based cationic porous polymer: A robust material for effective adsorption of endocrine disrupting chemicals

There is an immediate need for meticulous design of easily accessible, cost-effective, chemically stable and eco-friendly materials for effectively removal of water contaminant. Herein, targeting typical water contaminants, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), three cationic hyper-cross-linked porous polymers (ciHCP-1, ciHCP-2, ciHCP-3) with multiple adsorption sites were designed with 2-hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan (HACC) as precursor. The ciHCP-3 with large surface area (806 m2 g−1) exhibited high sorption capacity (137–366 mg g−1), and fast adsorption kinetics (5 min) for the EDCs, which is superior to the reported sorbents. The adsorption mechanisms can be attributed to the synergistic effect of physisorption and chemisorption. The high preparation reproducibility, physicochemical stability, and reuse capability of ciHCP highlights its great potential in practical water remediation applications.

Plasmonic Au-NPs photodecorated on NiCoLDH nanosheets as a flexible SERS sensor for the real-time detection of fipronil

Rapid extraction and detection of probe molecules from curved surfaces is critical for on-site and real-time detection. In this study, a flexible platform was developed using carbon cloth (CC) to create honeycomb-like nickel cobalt layered double hydroxides (NiCoLDH) nanosheets via a simple electrodeposition technique, which were then decorated with gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) via photodeposition process. The Au-NPs/NiCoLDH/CC was designed as a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate for detecting the broad-spectrum insecticide, Fipronil (FP). The fabricated sensor achieves a superior SERS activity due to the electrodeposited NiCoLDH, which provides the charge-transfer effect, and the photodeposited Au-NPs, which generate efficient SERS hotspots through the electromagnetic effect. The Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation was used to estimate the optimal geometry and frontier molecular orbital diagrams of the FP molecules. The influence of electrodeposition time on NiCoLDH production and Au-NPs decorating quantity was investigated in detail. Furthermore, the flexible SERS sensor has excellent sensitivity, homogeneity, a low limit of detection (LOD), and high reproducibility for FP detection. Even after 40 cycles of bending and torsion, the SERS substrate maintained excellent mechanical endurance. Through a direct-sampling approach, FP molecules on the surfaces and mesocarp region of grapes and tomatoes were successfully detected with lower LOD. These findings highlight the outstanding potential of the produced flexible SERS sensor for real-time and on-site insecticide detection, making it valuable for food security analysis and monitoring.

Intra-Individual Reproducibility of Automated Abdominal Organ Segmentation-Performance of TotalSegmentator Compared to Human Readers and an Independent nnU-Net Model.

The purpose of this study is to assess segmentation reproducibility of artificial intelligence-based algorithm, TotalSegmentator, across 34 anatomical structures using multiphasic abdominal CT scans comparing unenhanced, arterial, and portal venous phases in the same patients. A total of 1252 multiphasic abdominal CT scans acquired at our institution between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2022, were retrospectively included. TotalSegmentator was used to derive volumetric measurements of 34 abdominal organs and structures from the total of 3756 CT series. Reproducibility was evaluated across three contrast phases per CT and compared to two human readers and an independent nnU-Net trained on the BTCV dataset. Relative deviation in segmented volumes and absolute volume deviations (AVD) were reported. Volume deviation within 5% was considered reproducible. Thus, non-inferiority testing was conducted using a 5% margin. Twenty-nine out of 34 structures had volume deviations within 5% and were considered reproducible. Volume deviations for the adrenal glands, gallbladder, spleen, and duodenum were above 5%. Highest reproducibility was observed for bones (- 0.58% [95% CI: - 0.58, - 0.57]) and muscles (- 0.33% [- 0.35, - 0.32]). Among abdominal organs, volume deviation was 1.67% (1.60, 1.74). TotalSegmentator outperformed the reproducibility of the nnU-Net trained on the BTCV dataset with an AVD of 6.50% (6.41, 6.59) vs. 10.03% (9.86, 10.20; p < 0.0001), most notably in cases with pathologic findings. Similarly, TotalSegmentator's AVD between different contrast phases was superior compared to the interreader AVD for the same contrast phase (p = 0.036). TotalSegmentator demonstrated high intra-individual reproducibility for most abdominal structures in multiphasic abdominal CT scans. Although reproducibility was lower in pathologic cases, it outperforms both human readers and a nnU-Net trained on the BTCV dataset.

A quantitative real-time PCR assay for rapid detection and quantification of Amyloodinium ocellatum parasites in seawater samples

Amyloodinium ocellatum is one of the most important ectoparasites of marine fish, causing amyloodiniosis and mass mortality in aquaculture. To date, no diagnostic method has been developed to detect and quantify parasite abundance in seawater. In this study, a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay using the ITS-F3 and ITS-R3 primer pair based on the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS rDNA) of A. ocellatum was successfully established for the detection and quantification of dinospores in seawater. The dinospores were collected by suction filtration of seawater using a vacuum pump, and examination by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the dinospores were adsorbed on the surface of the cellulose acetate membrane. The linear relationship between seawater parasite abundance and Ct values followed the model y = −3.0607 x + 29.919 with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.985. The results of the assay showed high reproducibility and no cross-reactivity with other aquatic pathogens. The assay successfully detected dinospores (100 % success rate) at concentrations of 8 and 10 cell per 300 mL of seawater. The protective fluid buffer effectively protected the dinospores DNA from degradation for over 96 h. The method was used to investigate the life span of dinospores in seawater and the incubation patterns of tomonts in the tank, the results showed that a small fraction of dinospores can survive for more than 7 days in seawater and the process of dinospores incubation from the tomonts persisted up to 84 h. This study provides a valuable quantitative diagnostic tool to assist in the early monitoring and understanding of disease progression in amyloodinosis.

Integrating Multiple Strategies Using Biotechnology to Design High‐Performance Electrocatalysts for Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution

AbstractCombining multiple design strategies often enhances catalyst performance but usually comes with high costs and low reproducibility. A technique that enhances catalyst performance in multiple strategies is urgently needed. Herein, a novel bioregulation technique is introduced, allowing simultaneous control over morphology, particle size, doping, interface engineering, and electronic properties. Bioregulation technique utilizes the soluble extracellular polymer from Aspergillus niger as a templating agent to construct high‐performance catalysts for hydrogen and oxygen evolution reaction (HER and OER). This technique controls catalyst morphology, introduces biological N and S doping, and regulates the electronic structure of the catalyst surface. Biomolecule modification enhances surface hydrophilicity, and the nanostructure increases surface roughness and gas‐release efficiency. Theoretical calculations show that the bioregulation technique shortens the d/p‐band center, optimizing reaction intermediate adsorption and desorption. The Bio‐Pt/Co3O4 catalyst with trace Pt on the surface, designed with these strategies, achieves HER (η10 of 42 mV), OER (η10 of 221 mV), and overall water‐splitting performance (1.51 V at 10 mA cm−2), maintaining stability for over 50 h, outperforming most Pt‐based catalysts. Notably, using spent lithium‐ion battery cathodes leachate, rich in Co2⁺, successfully replicates the experiment. This approach holds promise as a mainstream method for synthesizing high‐performance materials in the future.

Suspended Load Estimation in Data Scarce Rivers

AbstractSediment rating curves (SRCs) are tools of satisfactory reliability in the attempt to describe the sediment regime in catchments with limited or poor-quality records. The study valorised the most suitable SRC development method for the estimation of the coarse suspended sediment load at the outlet of nine Mediterranean sub-watersheds. Four established grouping techniques were assessed, to minimize the uncertainty of the results, namely simple rating curve, different ratings for the dry and wet season of the year, hydrographic classification, and broken line interpolation, at three major Greek rivers (Aliakmon, Acheloos – upper route, Arachthos). The methods’ performance was benchmarked against sediment discharge field records, utilizing statistical measures and graphical analyses. The necessary observations were conducted by the Greek Public Power Corporation. The results were site/station dependent, and no methodology emerged as universally accepted. The analysis designated that the simple rating curve performs best at the cross-sections Moni Ilarion, Moni Prodromou, and Arta bridge, the different ratings for the dry and wet season of the year at Grevena bridge and Gogo bridge, the hydrographic classification at Velventos and Plaka bridge, and the broken line interpolation at Avlaki dam and Tsimovo bridge. In this regard, the study advocates the use of multiple SRC methods. Despite its limitations, the method merits a rather simple and cost-effective generation of a (continuous, detailed, sufficiently accurate) synthetic suspended sediment discharge timeseries, with high interpolating, extrapolating and reproducibility potential. The success of the application could benefit, among others, water quality restoration and dam management operations.

Analytical Validation of Cxbladder® Detect, Triage, and Monitor: Assays for Detection and Management of Urothelial Carcinoma.

Background: Cxbladder® assays are reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) tests incorporating five genetic biomarkers (CDK1, MDK, IGFBP5, HOXA13, and CXCR2) to provide risk stratification for urothelial carcinoma (UC) in patients with hematuria or undergoing surveillance for recurrent disease. This study evaluated the analytical validity of the Cxbladder Detect, Triage, and Monitor assays. Methods: Pre-specified acceptance criteria, including the assays' fundamental aspects (sample and reagent stability, RNA extraction quality, RT-qPCR linearity, and analytical sensitivity and specificity), accuracy and precision, and reproducibility between laboratories. Results: Cxbladder had an analytical sensitivity of 12.5-31.1 RNA copies/mL urine for the CDK1, MDK, IGFBP5, and HOXA13 UC biomarkers and 68.9 RNA copies/mL for the inflammatory biomarker CXCR2. All the pre-specified analytical criteria were met. Cxbladder had diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive values of 77%, 94%, 68%, and 96%, respectively, for Detect; 95%, 46%, 20%, and 98% for Triage; and 91%, 39%, 21%, and 96% for Monitor. Cxbladder had high analytical accuracy (≤10.63% inaccuracy across all biomarkers) and good reproducibility (>85% concordance between laboratories). Conclusions: Cxbladder accurately and reproducibly detects UC biomarker expression and can aid clinicians in risk stratification of hematuria patients or those undergoing surveillance for recurrent UC.

Advancing Protein Detection and Analysis Based on Ag/Au PHCN for Enhanced SERS Sensitivity and Specificity in Biomolecular Diagnostics.

In the realm of disease diagnostics, particularly for conditions such as proteinuria and hemoglobinuria, the quest for a method that combines accurate, label-free detection of protein compositions and their conformational changes remains a formidable challenge. In this study, we introduce an innovative Ag/Au plasmonic hybrid coupling nanoarray (Ag/Au PHCN) architecture marked by sub-10 nm interparticle gaps. These nanoarrays, leveraging plasmonic hybrid coupling and synergistic enhancement mechanisms, create a plethora of uniform surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) hotspots. The Ag/Au PHCN substrates demonstrated unparalleled sensitivity in the unmarked detection of hemoglobin (HGB), bovine serum albumin (BSA), and cytochrome C (Cyt.C) in bodily fluids, incorporating the advantages of high sensitivity, high reproducibility, durability, recyclability, and biocompatibility. Notably, the detection limits for BSA and HGB are unprecedented at 0.5 and 5 ng/mL, respectively. This achievement sets a new benchmark for label-free protein detection using two-dimensional nanostructures. Crucially, the Ag/Au PHCNs possess the novel capability to discern protein conformational changes post denaturation, underscoring their potential in probing protein functionalities. Most importantly, these nanoarrays can differentiate between normal and proteinuria-affected urine samples and monitor protein content variations over time, heralding a new era in clinical diagnostics with particular relevance to proteinuria and hemoglobinuria detection.