Developed Method Research Articles

Determination of three methylimidazole compounds in cosmetics by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Methylimidazole compounds are byproducts formed during the caramel-coloring process and are used in various cosmetics. In addition metronidazole is an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drug commonly used in modern medicine and is used in cosmetics to treat acne in the short-term. The illegal addition of metronidazole during cosmetics production can result in residual 2-methylimidazole (2-MEI), which, along with 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI), is a class 2B carcinogen. Therefore, establishing efficient, accurate, and sensitive analytical techniques for analyzing methylimidazole compounds in cosmetics is an urgent objective. In this study, a high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method for simultaneously determining 1-methylimidazole (1-MEI), 2-MEI, and 4-MEI in cosmetics was developed. Cosmetics samples were extracted via ultrasonication in acetonitrile and purified using a mixed cation-exchange (MCX) solid-phase extraction (SPE) column, with subsequent drying under a stream of nitrogen and redissolution in acetonitrile. The resulting solution was then filtered through a 0.22 μm organic filter membrane for further testing. The analytes were separated using an XBridge® shield RP18 chromatographic column (150 mm×4.6 mm, 3.5 μm) and isocratically eluted with 20 mmol/L ammonium formate solution (containing 0.1% formic acid)-acetonitrile (98∶2, v/v). The target compounds were ionized by electrospray ionization (ESI) source, analyzed in multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, and quantified using the external standard method, with the peak area of the quantitative ion and the mass concentration of the compound taken as the longitudinal and transverse coordinates, respectively. Matrix-matching working curves were also constructed. 1-MEI exhibited good linear relationships in the range of 5-200 μg/L, with correlation coefficients (r2)≥0.9994, while 2-MEI and 4-MEI showed good linearities in the range of 2-100 μg/L with r2≥0.9984. The three methylimidazole compounds exhibited limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) of 10-30 μg/kg and 25-100 μg/kg, respectively. Under three spiked levels (LOQ, 2LOQ, 10LOQ), the recoveries of three methylimidazole compounds were 80.9%-107.9%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs, n=6) of 1.2%-12.8%. The practicability of the method was examined using 48 cosmetic samples; 4-MEI was detected in nine samples at contents of 26-1000 μg/kg, while two samples contained 240 and 267 μg/kg of 2-MEI, respectively. 1-MEI was not detected in any of the 48 samples tested. The developed method is simple, fast, and highly sensitive, and provides methodological support for assessing risks and monitoring the three methylimidazole compounds in cosmetics through screening.

Determination of 42 antimicrobials in disinfection products by dispersive solid phase extraction-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Antimicrobials inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms thereby alleviating skin and other problems caused by microorganisms. Antimicrobials are classified into different categories, including antibacterials, antifungals, and antivirals, among others, and include azoles, sulfonamides, tetracyclines, quinolones, and many other classes of synthetic and natural compound. The inappropriate or excessive use of antimicrobials can damage skin and other human organs and increase antimicrobial resistance. Relevant regulations and standards clearly state that antimicrobials are prohibited for use as ingredients in disinfection products. However, since antimicrobials enhance the disinfection or antibacterial effect of a product, with a significant short-term effect, antimicrobials are occasionally illegally added to disinfectant products, including those intended for human use. Therefore, establishing testing methods that provide technical support for enforcing regulations is an urgent objective. Herein, a method was established for the analysis of 42 antimicrobials in disinfection products, that is applicable to common types of disinfection-product matrix, including creams, gels, and aqueous solutions, using high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) combined with dispersive solid phase extraction. The 42 antimicrobials comprise antibacterials, antifungals, and antivirals, and include seven sulfonamides, ten quinolones, three lincosamides, five tetracyclines, three macrolides, eight azoles, three purine nucleoside analogs, one furan, one nonpolyene antifungal, and one steroid. Briefly, 0.2 g of a sample was first dispersed in 2 mL of water and then extracted with 10 mL of 0.5% formic acid in acetonitrile, with 3 g of anhydrous Na2SO4 added to remove water. After centrifugation, 5 mL of the supernatant was cleaned using dispersive solid phase extraction with EMR-Lipid as the adsorbent. Lipids, waxes, surfactants, and moisturizing lubricants are commonly used as cream and gel matrices. Matrix substances containing long carbon chains dissolved in acetonitrile were removed using the EMR-Lipid adsorbent. Target analytes were separated on a Poroshell 120 EC-C18 analytical chromatography column (150 mm×3.0 mm, 2.7 μm), with 0.1% formic acid in acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution used as mobile phases under gradient-elution conditions. The target analytes in the test solution were detected in positive ionization (ESI+) and multi-reaction-monitoring (MRM) modes. Analytes were characterized in terms of their retention times and selected ions, and quantified using the external-standard method. The main factors affecting method response, recovery, and sensitivity, such as the extraction method and solvent, purification method and adsorbent, mobile phase, and MS conditions, were examined during sample pretreatment and instrumental analysis. The 42 antimicrobials were effectively separated under the optimized experimental conditions; the target compounds exhibited linear working curves in the 0.25-5.0 mg/kg concentration range, with correlation coefficients (r) greater than 0.99. Limits of detection (LODs) for the 42 antimicrobials were determined from the signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) of their chromatographic peaks. LODs of 0.03-0.10 mg/kg were determined for the three matrices using 0.2-g samples and 10-mL test solution. Recoveries of 80.3-109.8%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of less than 9.8%, were obtained by determining three levels of each target analyte added to the three blank matrices; this process was repeated for six parallel samples. The developed method was used to analyze antimicrobials in commercially available disinfection products, with two sample batches testing positive. The established method is simple, accurate, precise, and suitable for the rapid screening and quantification of antimicrobials in disinfection products. This study provides powerful technical support for regulating the illegal addition of related antimicrobials to disinfection products.

A high-order generalised differential quadrature element method for simulating 2D and 3D incompressible flows on unstructured meshes

In this paper, a high-order generalised differential quadrature element method (GDQE) is proposed to simulate two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) incompressible flows on unstructured meshes. In this method, the computational domain is decomposed into unstructured elements. In each element, the high-order generalised differential quadrature (GDQ) discretisation is applied. Specifically, the GDQ method is utilised to approximate the partial derivatives of flow variables and fluxes with high-order accuracy inside each element. At the shared interfaces between different GDQ elements, the common flux is computed to account for the information exchange, which is achieved by the lattice Boltzmann flux solver (LBFS) in the present work. Since the solution in each GDQ element solely relies on information from itself and its direct neighbouring element, the developed method is authentically compact, and it is naturally suitable for parallel computing. Furthermore, by selecting the order of elemental GDQ discretisation, arbitrary accuracy orders can be achieved with ease. Representative incompressible flow problems, including 2D laminar flows as well as 3D turbulent simulations, are considered to evaluate the accuracy, efficiency, and robustness of the present method. Successful numerical simulations, especially for scale-resolving 3D turbulent flow problems, confirm that the present method is efficient and high-order accurate.

Simultaneous determination of 17 perfluoroalkyl substances in beef by EMR-Lipid dispersive solid-phase extraction and ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The ability to accurately analyze perfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) levels in beef is imperative in order to effectively assess food-safety risks and ensure consumer safety because PFASs are harmful and prevalent in beef. In this study, we developed a rapid and accurate method for the simultaneously determination of the 17 PFASs in beef using dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) and ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), and optimized the mobile phase system, extraction solvent, and d-SPE materials. Samples were finally extracted using 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in acetonitrile, cleaned using d-SPE with PSA, C18, GCB, and EMR-Lipid, separated using an Acquity Premier BEH C18 column (100 mm×2.1 mm, 1.7 μm) with 0.5 mmol/L ammonium fluoride aqueous solution and methanol as the mobile phases at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. Analytes were detected in negative ion switching mode (ESI-) with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scanning, and quantitatively analyzed using the internal standard method. The 17 PFASs exhibited linearity in the 0.2-20.0 μg/L range under the optimal experimental conditions, with correlation coefficients of 0.9915-0.9999. The method delivered limits of detection (LODs) of 0.003-0.007 μg/kg and limits of quantification (LOQs) of 0.01-0.02 μg/kg. The 17 PFASs exhibited recoveries of 71.1%-127.4% with RSDs of 0.6%-14.4% when spiked at three levels (0.05, 0.5, and 1.8 μg/kg). We optimized the mobile phase system, which revealed that, compared with 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mmol/L ammonium formate or ammonium acetate in aqueous methanol, 0.5 mmol/L ammonium fluoride in aqueous methanol exhibited higher sensitivities for all the 17 PFASs, with PFASs bearing long-chain carboxylic acids (C10-C18) showing 1-2 fold increases in sensitivity. PFASs do not dissociate in acidic environments, favoring their entry into the organic phase. Therefore, we investigated the effect of extractant acidity, which revealed that the 17 PFASs were better extracted using 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in acetonitrile. The beef matrix has a complex composition; consequently, d-SPE adsorbents were required to purify samples and reduce matrix effects. The purification effects of four adsorbents (PSA, C18, GCB, and EMR-Lipid) toward the 17 PFASs and the amount of EMR-Lipid used were investigated, which revealed that 100 mg PSA+80 mg C18+40 mg GCB+150 mg EMR-Lipid exhibited superior matrix-purification behavior. We also investigated the effects of various injection solutions and types of syringe filter, with pure methanol selected for reconstitution and high-speed supernatant centrifugation applied prior to injection. The developed method is simple, rapid, sensitive, and reproducible, and can be used to simultaneously, rapidly, and accurately determine various perfluoroalkyl compounds in beef.

Algae content prediction based on transfer learning and mean impact value

To improve the prediction accuracies of algae contents in different water bodies, this paper proposes a chlorophyll-A prediction model method based on transfer learning(TL) and mean impact value(MIV) algorithm. Firstly, we preprocess the data collected from the Huai River, including remove the missing data and standardize the preserving data. Then, the MIV algorithm is used to reduce the dimensionality of the data and determine the input variables of the model. Based on the selected input variables, the TL algorithm is introduced to establish the chlorophyll-A prediction model. The developed method can effectively enhance the prediction accuracy, especially when the number of samples is small. The simulation results verify the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed prediction model.

Determination of seven phenoxy carboxylic acid herbicides in water using dispersive solid phase extraction coupled with ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry based on metal-organic framework composite aerogel

Phenoxy carboxylic acid herbicides (PCAs) are difficult to degrade and, thus, pose significant threats to the environment and human health. The limit for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid is 30 μg/L in China's standards for drinking water quality, 70 μg/L in the United States' drinking water standards, and 30 μg/L in the World Health Organization's guidelines for drinking water quality. Therefore, the development of an effective detection method for trace PCAs in water is a crucial endeavor. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are novel porous materials that possess advantages such as a large specific surface area, adjustable pore size, and abundant active sites. They exhibit excellent adsorption capability for various compounds. However, the applications of MOFs as adsorbents are limited. For example, the process of isolating powdered MOFs from aqueous solutions is laborious, and microporous MOFs exhibit limited surface affinity, which decreases their mass transfer efficiency in the liquid phase. MOF crystals can be embedded in a substrate to overcome these limitations. Aerogels are obtained by drying hydrogels, which are hydrophilic polymers with a three-dimensional crosslinked network structure. Spongy aerogel materials exhibit unique structural properties such as high porosity, large pore volume, ultralow density, and easy tailorability. When MOFs are combined with an aerogel, their efficient and selective adsorption properties are preserved. In addition, MOF aerogels exhibit a hierarchical porous structure, which enhances the affinity and mass transfer efficiency of the MOF for target molecules. At present, MOF aerogels are primarily prepared by freeze-drying or using supercritical carbon dioxide. These drying processes require significant amounts of energy and time. Hence, the development of greener and more efficient methods to prepare skeleton aerogels is urgently needed. In this study, we prepared an environment-friendly aerogel at ambient temperature and pressure without the use of specialized drying equipment. This ambient-dried MOF composite aerogel was then used for the dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) of seven PCAs from environmental water, followed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). The key parameters affecting the efficiency of DSPE, including the extraction conditions, ratio of MIL-101(Fe)-NH2 to sodium alginate, pH of the aqueous samples, extraction time, ionic strength (salinity), and elution conditions, such as the elution solvent ratio, elution time, and elution volume, were investigated to obtain optimal extraction efficiency. The adsorbent could adsorb the target contaminants within 12 min, and the analytes could be completely desorbed within 30 s by elution with 4 mL of 1.5% (v/v) formic acid in methanol solution. The water samples could be analyzed without pH adjustment. The main adsorption mechanisms were electrostatic interactions and π-π conjugation. Thus, a new method based on MOF aerogels coupled with UHPLC-MS/MS was developed for the determination of the seven PCA residues in water. The calibration curves for the seven PCAs showed good linearity (r2≥0.9986), with limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) ranging from 0.30 to 1.52 ng/L and from 1.00 to 5.00 ng/L, respectively. Good intra- and inter-day precision values of 6.5%-17.1% and 7.4%-19.4%, respectively, were achieved under low (8 ng/L), medium (80 ng/L), and high (800 ng/L) spiking levels. The developed method was applied to the detection of PCAs in surface water, seawater, and waste leachate, and the detected mass concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 19.3 ng/L. Spiked recovery experiments were conducted at mass concentrations of 8, 80, and 800 ng/L, and the recoveries ranged from 61.7% to 120.3%. The proposed method demonstrates good sensitivity, precision, and accuracy, and has potential applications in the detection of trace PCAs in environmental water.

Development of teaching materials with agricultural insight to introduce of agriculture in primary school students

Agriculture is one of the supports for national food needs, so it must continue to be preserved. Unfortunately, nowadays, the sustainability of agriculture is increasingly worrying. Many young people are no longer interested in becoming farmers or working in the agricultural sector. A solution like this must be immediately sought so that regeneration is maintained. This research aimed to develop teaching materials with agricultural insight to introduce of agriculture in primary school students in Indonesia. The research used the research and development (RD) method. Development was carried out using the Borg and Gall model, including: research and informing collecting, planning, preliminary development, and preliminary field testing and main product revision. The research results indicated that: i) the teaching material that was successfully developed was in the form of a textbook entitled “I love agriculture”. This book contains ten materials on agricultural, and ii) the test results showed that the agriculturaloriented teaching materials are of good quality. From the product eligibility test involving material experts and media experts, the average assessment score was 86.25%, while the average assessment score from students reached 85.25%. This research implied that students could get to know and love agriculture through learning activities at school.

Preparation of fluorescent carbon dots by flow-assisted melt polymerization for tetracycline detection in medical wastewater

Tetracycline (TC) is one of the most important therapeutic drugs that is widely used in hospitals. However, its harmful effects on human health and various ecosystems cannot be ignored. Owing to its poor metabolic activity and low biodegradability, TC commonly discharges as the parent compound and accumulates readily in sludges and soils by precipitation from wastewater, which can induce the evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria; therefore, it has been listed as one of the new pollutants with potential ecotoxicological risk. The control measures and environmental management of TC pollutants in environmental water samples require precise determination of TC pollutant concentrations. Carbon dots (CDs) are an emerging type of fluorescent material with numerous advantages such as easy preparation, low cost, low toxicity, and good biocompatibility. Consequently, they have attracted widespread attention in the field of TC detection. Herein, we synthesized TE-CDs with good blue-fluorescence performance via flow-assisted melt polymerization using tricarboxylic acid and ethylenediamine as raw precursors. The morphology and structure of the prepared TE-CDs were characterized. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results showed that the prepared TE-CDs were well dispersed, with an average diameter of (2.43±0.48) nm. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the TE-CDs had an amorphous carbon structure. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterizations showed that the surface of the TE-CDs was rich in hydrophilic groups, such as amino, hydroxyl, and carboxyl groups, which indicated that TE-CDs had good water solubility and were advantageous for detecting TC in medical wastewater. Subsequently, the optical properties of the TE-CDs were investigated. The fluorescence emission spectra of the TE-CDs were recorded at various excitation wavelengths. The emission spectra of the TE-CDs exhibited excitation wavelength dependence and when the excitation wavelength changes from 300 nm to 400 nm, their fluorescence intensity decreased to varying degrees. The TE-CDs exhibited optimal fluorescence intensity at an excitation wavelength of 368 nm, while the emission wavelength was 448 nm. TC could effectively quench the blue fluorescence of the CDs, and by utilizing this property, the detection of TC concentration could be achieved. After the addition of TC, the fluorescence of the system immediately reached an extreme value, and no significant change was observed within 10 min. An incubation time of 20 s was selected to obtain precise results. Additionally, the TE-CDs exhibited stable fluorescence intensity over a wide pH range. The fluorescence stability of the TE-CDs was investigated, and no significant change in fluorescence intensity was observed after standing for 10 d, indicating that the prepared TE-CDs had excellent fluorescence stability. The fluorescence intensity of the TE-CDs decreased to varying degrees within the range of 2-200 mg/L TC until complete quenching occurred. TC mass concentration in the range of 4-20 mg/L showed a good linear relationship (R2=0.9978) with the fluorescence quenching intensity of the TE-CDs. The limit of detection was 0.2 mg/L. A preliminary investigation was undertaken to explore the quenching mechanism of the TE-CDs fluorescence by TC. Upon addition of TC, a significant reduction in the fluorescence lifetime of the TE-CDs was observed. During the quenching process, no new substances were observed by UV absorption spectroscopy. Additionally, no significant changes in the 1H NMR spectra of the TE-CDs were noted before and after the addition of TC, indicating the absence of an interaction between the TE-CDs and TC. Therefore, the quenching mechanism may involve dynamic quenching. The selectivity and anti-interference ability of the developed method were evaluated; in the presence of interfering substances, TC quenched the fluorescence of the TE-CDs, indicating that the TE-CDs had good selectivity and anti-interference performance towards TC. The method was applied to the quantitative detection of TC in medical wastewater, with recoveries of 96.5%-119.8% and relative standard deviations of 0.8%-2.6%. In conclusion, the analytical performance of the proposed method is comparable with that of previously reported detection methods; moreover, the method has the advantages of low operational cost, simple preparation process, time-saving, and good repeatability. Therefore, the TE-CDs can be used as chemical sensors for the detection of TC in medical wastewater and have good practical applications.

Case Study Analysis on the Flood Mitigation Effects of Improving a Drainage System Using Low Impact Development Techniques

Low-impact development (LID) techniques aim to minimize the hydrological and environmental impacts associated with watershed development by preserving the natural state as much as possible, reducing impervious surfaces, managing stormwater on a small scale at the point of generation, and promoting decentralized stormwater management. In this study, the flood reduction effects of LID techniques were analyzed using PCSWMM by comparing traditional development methods in the Songsan Green City development project. In this process, the LID technique considers nonstructural methods of diversifying drainage directions and structural methods of introducing vegetated swales to improve the drainage system. The results showed that the LID approach, introduced to improve the drainage system, had a significant effect on reducing floods and inundation compared to traditional development methods. The results of this study suggest the potential of using LID techniques in structural and nonstructural approaches to improve urban flooding and inundation problems.

Development of Konseling-Ku.id website to improve Islamic guidance and counseling services

In the current era of the industrial revolution 4.0, digital technology-based innovations are urgently needed and are growing rapidly. The development method in this study is the Borg and Gall development model. The researcher made a development in the form of a website media named "konseling-ku.id". The purpose of research and development is to produce "Website Development "konseling-ku.id" to improve Islamic counseling guidance services. Based on the analysis of data from the development research results regarding konseling-ku.id websites in avery clear category, based on an assessment of usefulness, convenience, accuracy, attractiveness, and clarity that have been validated by two expert validators. The results of the qualitative analysis data are used as input to revise the product until the final product is produced on the konseling-ku.id website to improve the Islamic guidance and counseling services that have been theoretically accepted. The results of research and development show the effectiveness of counseling services through the https://konseling-ku.id/ website because it can provide convenience and benefits for peer counselors, professional counselors and counselors to conduct counseling that is not limited by distance and time.

Developing a severe gust load spectrum for transport aircraft based on measured load data

PurposeDeveloping severe load spectrum of transport aircraft structures is crucial for enhancing the fatigue damage correlation between full-scale fatigue testing results and operational service. The lack of consensus on severe spectrum development methods for transport aircraft has prompted the current research, resulting in a proposed approach for a severe gust load spectrum based on the acceleration cumulative exceedance surface.Design/methodology/approachThe measured load data were analyzed using a model based on the cumulative exceedance number surface to describe the variation in exceedance numbers. An improved sampling method based on multivariate Markov Chain Monte Carlo was employed to obtain the fleet fatigue damage distribution, enabling the determination of the severity of severe spectrum and the corresponding cumulative exceedance number surface, and a severe gust load spectrum was developed based on the surface.FindingsThe method that characterizes load spectrum variation using the cumulative exceedance surface minimizes the randomness of peak-trough pairs by incorporating the correlation of load spectrum peaks and troughs. This approach reduces the variation in fleet fatigue damage, thereby lowering the requirements for the severity of severe spectrum fatigue damage.Originality/valueThe proposed methodology extends from a one-dimensional curve to a two-dimensional surface, accounting for the correlation between peak and trough values to develop a severe spectrum. This approach more accurately describes the variation in acceleration cumulative exceedance numbers, directly benefiting fatigue damage calculation. This study provides valuable references for developing severe spectrum for transport aircraft.

The guideline for the treatment and prevention of lower respiratory tract infections caused by human respiratory syncytial virus (2024 edition)

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major pathogen causing lower respiratory tract infections in humans. It is particularly a common cause of hospitalization among high-risk groups such as infants, tots, and the old people, imposing a heavy burden on families and society. The standardized treatment and prevention of this disease are increasingly emphasized by healthcare professionals. However, there are currently no standardized guidelines in China for lower respiratory tract infections caused by RSV. Therefore, our group for this guideline has developed the "Guidelines for the treatment and prevention of lower respiratory tract infections caused by human respiratory syncytial virus (2024 edition)" based on the latest evidence-based medical evidence and guideline development methods. The aim is to provide guidance to relevant healthcare professionals and improve prevention and treatment levels.

Simultaneous extraction and quantification of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants in Solanum lycopersicum L. varieties marketed in Saudi Arabia

Abstract Several varieties of Solanum lycopersicum L. are consumed in Saudi Arabia, including the most expensive Ramis tomato, which is claimed to be rich in antioxidants. However, there is a lack of studies on the extraction and quantification of antioxidants in tomatoes marketed in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a straightforward method to extract and quantify phenolics and carotenoids in tomatoes consumed in Saudi Arabia. The developed method used glass coverslips for homogenisation and a methanol-petroleum ether mixture for extraction. In 15 investigated varieties, antioxidants were abundantly present in the skin part (2.0 ± 0.72 mg/g of phenolics and 229.50 ± 21.10 μg/g of carotenoids) compared to the pulp (0.67 ± 0.20 mg/g of phenolics and 107.70 ± 21.10 μg/g of carotenoids). Generally, the Saudi varieties contained higher amounts of antioxidants than the imported varieties. The antioxidant content of the Ramis cultivar depends on the cultivation location. For instance, Ramis Awjam shows high amounts of phenolics (2.72 mg/g in the skin extract and 0.63 mg/g in the pulp) and carotenoids (338.04–388.41 μg/g in the skin and 173.93–205.75 μg/g in the pulp). This study provides valuable insights that can assist in selecting the cultivar and location of tomatoes with the maximum antioxidant quantities.

A bioanalytically validated RP-HPLC method for simultaneous quantification of rivaroxaban, paracetamol, and ceftriaxone in human plasma: a combination used for COVID-19 management

Rivaroxaban is a direct oral anticoagulant medication that has been found to be beneficial for the management of thromboembolic events linked to the Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which has resulted in more than 6 million deaths worldwide. Hence, a sensitive, selective, and green bioanalytically validated method was developed using RP-HPLC coupled with DAD for the simultaneous determination of rivaroxaban in human plasma, and two co-administered drugs, namely, paracetamol, an analgesic, and ceftriaxone, an antibiotic, that are used in the management of COVID-19. An Exsil 100 ODS C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm) was used as the stationary phase, and acetonitrile: water: methanol at a ratio of 60:30:10 (v/v/v) was used in isocratic mode as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 0.7 ml/min. The method was validated over a concentration range of 0.1–10.0 µg/mL for rivaroxaban, and 1.0–15.0 µg/mL for paracetamol and ceftriaxone. The lower limits of detection (LLODs) were found to be 0.03, 0.32, and 0.32 µg/ml for rivaroxaban, paracetamol, and ceftriaxone, respectively. Moreover, the lower limits of quantitation (LLOQs) were found to be 0.1, 0.96, and 0.98 µg/ml. The developed method showed excellent accuracy and precision for the determination of the aforementioned drugs. Four metrics were used to evaluate the greenness of the developed method. The results revealed that the suggested method is green, with values of 81 and 0.6 for the analytical eco-scale and analytical greenness assessment (AGREE), respectively.

Developing mobile augmented reality in picture book for teaching English for young learners

An effective language and learning process must contain interactive, fun, challenging, motivating aspects and provide more space for students to develop their creativity and independence, according to students' talents and interests; thus, appropriate teaching media can be as assisting tools. When selecting media, you need to consider several things, namely learning objectives, effectiveness, easy to obtain, students, use, not rigid, cost, and quality. One of the developments in learning media that is currently still new is learning media using Augmented Reality. This research aims to develop Augmented Reality-based text book learning media for English language learning. Developing text-book media using an application with a barcode scanner on text-books. This application displays 4D images or animations that have sound and movement so that it will help students to understand English texts. The research method used is the research and development method (Research & Development) while the product development model used is the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, & evaluation. After developemnt anf evalution phase, the findings reveals that the outcome of teaching material product is deemed highly valid and appropriate for teaching English to yong learners, especially for primary school in this research context, as it was supported by the result of validation phase with media experts, subject matter experts, and student trials. Additionally, reflecting on the result of this study, the pedagogical implications of this result discussed further in this research.

Development of Flipbook-Based Learning Media on Entrepreneurial Materials for Class XI SMK Tunas Pembangunan

The purpose of this research is to develop interactive learning media based on flipbooks in office facilities and infrastructure subjects and to determine the feasibility of flipbook-based learning media in the subject of creative products and entrepreneurship class XI at SMK Tunas Pempembangunan. The type of research used is research and development (RnD) using the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) development method. Data collection was conducted using interviews with teachers of SMK Tunas Pempembangunan. The feasibility of learning media is assessed by media experts and material experts. Data analysis was carried out by qualitative and quantitative analysis. Based on research that has been carried out on flipbook-based interactive learning media that has been developed as a result of expert validation, it is known that interactive learning media using heyzine flipbook in the subject of creative products and entrepreneurship class XI is very feasible to use. The average result of media experts is 85.36%. And material experts 92.19%, so it is categorized as "very feasible" as an interactive learning medium.

Organizational health literacy in hospitals and primary health care - developing innovative tools

Abstract Background Organizational health literacy (OHL), particularly in health systems, is vital for supporting public health. Self-assessment tools (SAT), critical for quality assessment/improvement and for empowering relevant stakeholders, could support hospitals and primary healthcare services to promote their role in health literacy responsiveness, and support organizations in identifying strengths and areas of improvement. Methods The SAT for OHL in hospitals (OHL-Hos) and in primary healthcare (OHL-PHC) were developed via a participatory process, based on the “Vienna Concept of a Health Literate Healthcare Organization”. Piloting of the tools in European countries shed light on the tools’ depth and the need for revision. The development of short versions followed a Delphi process with experts from ten to thirteen European countries, respectively, from December 2023 - April 2024. Healthcare service diversity within and between countries was taken into consideration as well as cultural/language adaptation. Shortening OHL-Hos followed four steps: 1) prioritization of the most relevant indicators, 2) considering additional resources, 3) consensus process, 4) refinement of the tool and wording. Results The SATs for both healthcare settings are now established. The SAT for OHL-Hos includes a matrix model of eight standards, 21 sub-standards and 75 indicators. The SAT for OHL-PHC includes seven standards, 19 sub-standards and 69 indicators, covering OHL in organizational structures and processes for staff, patients and the community served with specific focus on navigation, communication, and participation. Both SATs are accompanied by a guide to direct organizations through in the self-assessment process. Conclusions The process of identifying OHL needs and opportunities in the health system, facilitated by participatory methods for tool development, led to innovative SATs for OHL which are currently ready for piloting and implementation in European countries.

Development of augmented reality media based on Assemblr Edu to enhance the learning outcomes

This study focuses on the development and evaluation of augmented reality (AR) learning media based on the Assemblr Edu application, aimed at enhancing the learning experience of fifth-grade students at SDN Tambaharjo 01. The AR media covers the subject of Community Economic Conditions and Natural Resources and Supporting Factors for Community Economic Activities. The research process included designing the AR content, validating it with experts, and conducting small and large group trials. This study investigates the development and effectiveness of AR learning media based on the Assemblr Edu application to improve learning outcomes in Natural Science and Social Studies for fifth-grade students at SD Negeri Tambaharjo 01. The research employs a quantitative approach with a Research and Development (R&D) method, utilizing the ADDIE development model to create and assess the learning media. The study addresses low student performance in Natural Science and Social Studies by integrating interactive AR technology to make learning more engaging and effective.The developed AR media, which includes 3D and 2D interactive content, was validated by material and media experts, yielding a high validity score of 90.31%. Small and large group trials were conducted, showing significant improvements in student learning outcomes. Pretest and posttest results demonstrated an average score increase from 50 to 85, with a student response rate of 88.46% indicating the media's feasibility. Teachers also rated the AR media highly, with a response score of 91.34%, confirming its practical application in educational settings. The study concludes that the Assemblr Edu-based AR learning media is highly feasible and effective in enhancing student learning outcomes in Natural Science and Social Studies.

Enhanced Hessian locally linear embedding method for rolling bearing fault diagnosis based upon novel variational mode decomposition

Due to the plenty of redundant information contained in the fault feature sets of the original vibration signals of rolling bearings, the diagnostic accuracy is reduced and computational complexity is increased, making it very difficult to achieve accurate and fast fault recognition. So as to address the hard issue, this article develops an Enhanced Hessian Locally Linear Embedding (EHLLE) method for rolling bearing fault diagnosis based upon Novel Variational Mode Decomposition (NVMD). Firstly, NVMD method is utilized to denoise sample vibration signals and the sensitive modes containing main fault information are obtained. Secondly, some time-domain and frequency-domain statistical features are used to construct sample high-dimensional features, the dimensionality of which is reduced by EHLLE. Ultimately, K-Means algorithm is employed to cluster the low-dimensional features, which are utilized to train Support Vector Machine (SVM), and then the trained SVM is applied to the recognition of testing sample low-dimensional features. Two experiments of rolling bearing fault diagnosis demonstrate the effectiveness of NVMD-EHLLE method. Additionally, the superiority of the developed method is verified by comparing with other three typical methods.

In-Syringe Vortex-Assisted Liquid-Liquid Microextraction Based on Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent for Simultaneous Determination of the Two Anticancer Polyphenols Chrysin and Resveratrol.

The simultaneous determination of multiple anticancer drugs in combination therapy poses a significant analytical challenge due to their complex nature and low concentrations. In this study, we propose an in-syringe vortex-assisted liquid-liquid microextraction (IS-VA-LLME), based on a green natural deep eutectic solvent (NaDES) for the simultaneous determination of two coadministered anticancer drugs (resveratrol and chrysin) prior to the HPLC-UV analysis, for the first time. The key parameters affecting the extraction efficiency, such as extraction solvent, vortex time, pH, and ionic strength were optimized. Under optimal conditions, the method demonstrates good linearity over the range of 0.05-15.0 μg/mL for RVT and 0.50-15.0 μg/mL for CHR with low limits of detection (LODs) of 16.78 and 161.60 ng/mL for RVT and CHR, respectively, confirming the high sensitivity of the method. The interday and intraday precision values, expressed as %RSDs, are below 2.0%, indicating good repeatability and reproducibility. Furthermore, the proposed method could be efficiently applied for the determination of the two drugs in human plasma and river water. The obtained results show satisfactory % recoveries (97.80%-102.04%), highlighting the accuracy and reliability of the developed method. The sustainability of the method was comprehensively evaluated using seven different tools. In conclusion, the developed IS-VA-LLME-NaDES allows for enhanced extraction efficiency, reduced extraction time, and improved recovery of the target analytes. This method holds great promise for applications in clinical and environmental research, enabling the precise quantification of these anticancer drugs in complex matrices.