Recovery Rate Research Articles

Predicting recoverability of collapsed food webs through perturbation and dimension reduction

Abstract Biodiversity collapse, driven by increasing environmental changes, poses significant threats to ecosystem stability and the provision of essential ecosystem services. Understanding the recoverability of collapsed food webs thus is crucial for devising effective conservation strategies. This study delves into the theoretical exploration of the recoverability of food webs from a collapsed state. Through simple tools like dimension reduction, propagation of species-specific perturbation, and dynamical simulations, we explore whether simple tri-trophic food webs can be recovered from a collapsed state. Our study examines in detail the topological features of food webs that could either facilitate or impede their recovery. We demonstrate that the recoverability of complex food webs can be predicted by using a simple dimension-reduced model, with certain structural factors that could constrain the full recovery of collapsed food webs. Furthermore, we found that such a simple dimension-reduced model can accurately capture the rate of recovery for complex collapsed food webs. In addition, dynamic simulations highlighted the significance of topological features such as connectance and the number of predator links in determining recoverability. Our dimension-reduced modeling framework offers insights into the feasibility of restoring entire complex predator–prey networks through species-specific interventions. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of ecosystem resilience and aids in the development of targeted conservation strategies.

Optimization of Biomass to Bio-Syntetic Natural Gas Production: Modeling and Assessment of the AIRE Project Plant Concept

This study focuses on the modeling, simulation, and optimization of an integrated biomass gasification and methanation process to produce bio-synthetic natural gas (Bio-SNG) as part of the AIRE project. The process was simulated using Aspen Plus® software, incorporating experimental results from pilot-scale gasification setups. Key steps involved syngas production in a dual fluidized bed gasifier and its subsequent conversion to Bio-SNG in a methanation section. Heat integration strategies were implemented to enhance system results demonstrate that optimized heat recovery, achieved by utilizing exothermic methanation reactions to preheat gasification inputs, eliminates the need for auxiliary fuel in the gasification process. The optimized system achieved a thermal recovery rate of 80%, a cold gas efficiency of 79%, a Bio-SNG production rate of 0.4 Nm3/kgBiom, and a methane content of 85 vol.%. These optimizations reduced CO2 emissions by 10% while increasing overall energy efficiency. This work highlights the potential of integrating biomass gasification and methanation processes with heat recovery for sustainable methane production. The findings provide a basis for scaling up the process and further exploring syngas utilization pathways to produce renewable energy carriers.

Self-Enhanced Near-Infrared Copper Nanoscale Electrochemiluminescence Probe for the Sensitive Detection of Ciprofloxacin in Foods

Ciprofloxacin (CIP), a widely used broad-spectrum antibiotic, poses a serious threat to human health and environmental safety due to its residues. The complementary monomers molecularly imprinted electrochemiluminescence sensor (MIECLS) based on a polyvinylpyrrolidone-functionalized copper nanowires (CuNWs@PVP) luminescent probe was constructed for the ultra-sensitive detection of CIP. CuNWs with low cost and high conductivity exhibited near-infrared electrochemiluminescence (NIR ECL) properties, yet their self-aggregation and oxidation led to a weakened emission phenomenon. PVP with solvent affinity and large skeleton was in situ attached to CuNWs surface to avoid CuNWs sedimentation and aggregation, and self-enhanced ECL signals were achieved. The bifunctional monomers molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) possessed complementary active centers that increased their affinity with CIP, enhancing the accurate and sensitive detection of the target substances. The linear range of CIP using MIECLS was 5.00 × 10−9–5.00 × 10−5 mol L−1 with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 2.59 × 10−9 mol L−1, while the recovery rates of CIP in the spiking recovery experiment were 84.39% to 92.48%. The combination of bifunctional monomer MIP and NIR copper-based nano-luminescent probe provides a new method for the detection of CIP in food.

Impact of hypertension in diabetes on surgical outcomes after cervical laminoplasty - a retrospective, multi-institutional study of 1002 patients.

This study aimed to elucidate the association between comorbid hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) (HT in DM) and clinical outcomes after cervical laminoplasty. This retrospective multi-institutional study enrolled patients who underwent laminoplasty between 2008 and 2017. The primary outcome was the recovery rate of JOA score. The secondary outcome was in-hospital all-cause postoperative complications. This study included 1002 patients (mean age, 66 years; 30% women) who were divided into 4 groups based on the presence of medically-treated HT and/or DM. The overall incidence of DM was 17%, and the prevalence of HT was 47% in diabetic patients. Patients with HT in DM showed similar preoperative JOA scores compared to those without both HT and DM. However, patients with HT in DM showed poorer postoperative JOA scores and worse JOA-RR (non-HT/DM, 48%; DM, 43%; HT, 37%; HT in DM, 28%; p < 0.05). Patients with HT in DM tended to have a higher risk of postoperative complications (2.5%, 5.4%, 3.0%, and 7.4%; p = 0.09), especially C5 palsy (0.8%, 3.0%, 1.7%, and 4.9%; p = 0.04). After adjusting confounders, the presence of HT in DM was an independent risk factor for failure to achieve the JOA-RR MCID (JOA-RR < 42%) (OR = 3.6). Approximately half of patients with DM had HT. HT in DM was closely associated with unfavorable surgical outcomes, including an increased incidence of in-hospital postoperative complications and an elevated risk of C5 palsy. In contrast, patients with DM alone demonstrated relatively favorable outcomes.

Dipicolylaminofluorene Derivatives for Fluorescent Sensing of Copper(II) Ion and Glyphosate

AbstractThe contamination of water by toxic herbicides poses a significant environmental challenge, necessitating the development of reliable detection tools. In this study, novel dipicolylamino derivatives of fluorene and fluorenone were synthesized via Sonogashira cross‐coupling reactions with high yields. These compounds demonstrated exceptional selectivity for fluorescence turn‐off by Cu(II) ions, with detection limits of 0.99 μM and 1.11 μM in a DMSO‐HEPES buffer system. Investigations using Job's plot, fluorescence recovery with EDTA, and mass spectrometry revealed that the sensing mechanism involves complexation between the compounds and Cu(II) ions. Notably, the Cu(II)‐fluorene complex exhibited a selective fluorescence turn‐on response to glyphosate, achieving a detection limit of 0.93 μM. Quantitative analysis in real water samples demonstrated good recovery rates, underscoring the practical utility of these fluorene and fluorenone derivatives in environmental monitoring.

Single-Port Robotic Transvesical Partial Prostatectomy: A Novel Approach for Focal Treatment in Prostate Cancer.

Introduction and Objective: Given the favorable cancer-specific survival rates in localized prostate cancer and the negative impact of whole-gland treatments on functional outcomes, the field is moving toward precision strategies such as focal therapy and organ-sparing surgery. We aim to report medium-term functional and oncologic outcomes for the initial Single-Port Robotic Transvesical Partial Prostatectomy (SP-TVRAPP) patient cohort. Materials and Methods: We analyzed a prospectively maintained database of 20 patients who underwent SP-TVRAPP between February 2021 and March 2024. Inclusion criteria were prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤10 ng/mL, clinical stage ≤ cT2b, ISUP Grade Group ≤3, unilateral lesions on multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) with positive biopsy cores on the same side, and preoperative IIEF-5 ≥ 17. We also considered bilateral prostate cancer in the anterior zone and invisible mpMRI tumors confirmed by unilateral positive biopsies. Results: At baseline, patients had an average age of 61 years, a median PSA of 4.8 ng/mL (interquartile range [IQR]: 3.7-7.7), and a median Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score of 24 (IQR: 18-25). All procedures were completed without complications, need for additional ports, or conversion. After a median hospital stay of 4.2 hours, 94% of cases were discharged without opioid prescriptions, and Foley catheters were removed after approximately 4 days. At 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months postprocedure, potency rates, defined as a SHIM score ≥17, were 45.0%, 77.7%, 83.3%, and 87.5%, respectively. When potency was defined as having erections sufficient for penetration, the rates were 80.0%, 88.8%, 88.8%, and 93.7% for the same time intervals. Regarding urinary function, 60.0% were continent at 1 week, increasing to 85.0% by 6 weeks, 88.8% at both 3 and 6 months, and reaching 93.7% at 12 months postsurgery. Oncologically, 30.0% experienced upgrading and 40.0% upstaging within this cohort. Negative surgical margins were attained in 85.0% of the cases and the median PSA was 0.4 ng/mL 12 months after SP-TVRAPP. Two men were found to have residual GG1 cancer in the protocol biopsies and are currently on active surveillance. At a mean follow-up of 15.5 months (0.2-34.8) months, none of the patients has required secondary interventions, and all remain free of both clinically significant residual prostate cancer and metastatic disease. Conclusions: SP-TVRAPP represents a promising treatment for certain patients with localized prostate cancer. This targeted surgical method has been associated with faster postoperative recovery and has demonstrated high rates of early recovery in erectile function and urinary continence while ensuring oncologic safety.

MiR-182 promoter hypermethylation predicts the better outcome of AML patients treated with AZA + VEN in a real-world setting

Background5-Azacytidine (AZA) combined with the BCL2 inhibitor Venetoclax (VEN) is the standard treatment for elderly acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients or those who are unfit for intensive chemotherapy (elderly or unfit AML). However, an effective and rapid predictive biomarker to predict treatment outcome remains elusive.MethodsmiR-182 promoter methylation was measured in 94 AZA + VEN-treated elderly or unfit AML patients and 20 normal controls (NCs) samples. To determine whether miR-182 promoter methylation is a predictive marker of clinical outcomes in AZA + VEN-treated AML patients in a real-world setting, we analyzed and compared the complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery (CRi) rate, overall survival (OS), and leukemia free-survival (LFS) across different methylation groups: miR-182 promoter hypomethylation (median value < 20.21%) and hypermethylation (> 20.21%) in a retrospective study.ResultsThe average methylation frequency was markedly higher in 94 AZA + VEN-treated elderly or unfit AML patients than that in 20 NCs. However, some AML patients (11.7%) still presented low miR-182 promoter methylation (< 10%). The average time to obtain CR/CRi was shorter in AML patients with miR-182 promoter hypermethylation than AML with hypomethylation. Moreover, the median OS and LFS were longer in AML patients with miR-182 promoter hypermethylation than AML with hypomethylation. Finally, the area under the curve (AUC) for 1-year mortality was 0.831, for 2-year was 0.788, and for 3-year was 0.800.ConclusionsAML patients with miR-182 promoter hypermethylation have better outcomes. miR-182 promoter methylation is a predictive biomarker for AZA + VEN-treated AML patients.

Pilot-Scale Production of Sericin-Derived Oligopeptides (SDOs) from Yellow Silk Cocoons: Peptide Characterization and Specifications

Our previous research demonstrated the health benefits of sericin-derived oligopeptides (SDOs) from yellow silk cocoons, particularly their hypoglycemic and antihypertensive properties. This study aims to produce SDOs at a pilot scale, preparing them for large commercial production as a novel food ingredient, and investigates the impact of scale-up on their characteristics and specifications. We compared the productivity of SDOs generated from 25 L and 300 L batches via the hydrolysis of sericin using 5% Neutrase (E/S) at 50 °C for 4 h. The 300 L production scale outperformed the 25 L scale, achieving a hydrolysis degree (DH) of 8.63%, a solid recovery rate of 94.35%, and enhanced inhibitory actions for dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The characterization of peptides was carried out in ultrafiltered SDOs. Peptides &lt; 3 kDa demonstrated optimal enzyme inhibition and were then fractionated by size exclusion chromatography into nine distinct fractions. Of the nine fractions, F1, F8, and F9 had significant enzyme inhibitory activity. LC-MS/MS analysis revealed 32 unique peptide sequences, with YPDLPYH exhibiting significant dual inhibitory effects on both DPP-IV (IC50 1.35 mM) and ACE (IC50 18.10 μM). The maximum residue limit (MRL) for trace metals, pesticide residues, and microbiological contamination in SDOs complies with food regulations. SDOs exhibited stability at 4, 25, and 45 °C for six months, based on their physical characteristics and biological activity. Considering their investigated characteristics, SDOs could be manufactured at a pilot capacity and used as a functional food component in commercial applications designed to improve metabolic health.

Self-referenced Digital Spectral Chromatic Local Surface Plasmon Resonance in Ultrasensitive Severe Sepsis Interleukin-6 Detection.

Clinical monitoring of cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), enables a timely diagnosis and can significantly improve patient prognosis. In this study, we developed a rapid, label-free, ultrasensitive, and low matrix-effect method called chromatic digital nanoplasmon-metry (cDiNM) to detect IL-6 in human blood plasma. Utilizing a multiple filter configuration, two nonadjacent specific transmission wavelength bands are extracted. One is centered within the full-width-at-half-maximum (fwhm) range where the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) response of the 80 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is strongest, while the other band is narrowed and blue-shifted from the peak to a region with minor intensity change. Scattering images of AuNPs passing through these two bands are then captured simultaneously and independently via the red and green channels of a color scientific complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (sCMOS) camera. This configuration allows every AuNPs' spectral chromatic image contrast to be a self-referenced subtractive analysis LSPR and facilitates evaluation of their changes induced by the IL-6 binding across numerous individual AuNPs. This method achieves IL-6 detection in blood plasma within 45 min, requiring only 0.5 mL of a 10-fold diluted, label-free sample, with a limit of detection and quantification (LOD and LOQ) of less than 19.2 and 87.8 fg/mL, respectively, and a recovery rate of 96%. In summary, cDiNM provides rapid and accurate IL-6 monitoring with promising potential for clinical application in sepsis patient care.

Recovery rates of white spruce and balsam fir on seismic lines in NW Alberta, Canada

Anthropogenic disturbances have significantly impacted Alberta's boreal forest, particularly through an extensive network of seismic lines created during oil and gas exploration. These linear disturbances (3-10 m wide) fragment woodland caribou habitat, leading to the loss and degradation of ecosystem services. Natural tree regeneration on seismic lines can help reduce predator presence in caribou habitats; thus, achieving a minimum density of 2000 stems per hectare (sph) with trees at least 3 m tall is considered essential for recovery. However, there are currently no regulatory mandates for seismic line restoration, resulting in limited understanding of forest recovery dynamics, particularly tree regrowth rates. This study aimed to address this gap by comparing the growth of two common conifer species—white spruce and balsam fir—on seismic lines versus adjacent mature forests in northwest Alberta's upland conifer mixedwood stands. Findings indicate that both species may take approximately 30 to 50 years to achieve the 3 m height and 2000 sph target necessary for potential predator-use reduction. While it remains uncertain how this regeneration rate will affect woodland caribou habitat restoration, further investigations through modeling exercises will explore its implications for land use planning.

Diagnosis and Therapeutic Management of Chronic Gastritis in Dogs Using Triple Therapy

Chronic gastritis, characterized by persistent vomiting and gastric mucosal inflammation, possess a significant challenge in veterinary practice. This six-month study aimed to diagnose and evaluate the therapeutic management of chronic gastritis in dogs using triple therapy. In this study chronic gastritis was diagnosed on the basis of history, clinical signs, haemato-biochemical parameters and endoscopy. Among the 30 dogs examined via endoscopy, 14 were confirmed positive based on visible gastric mucosal alterations. The parameters like age, sex and breed of each dog having chronic gastritis were recorded to study the distribution of condition. The highest cases of chronic gastritis were seen in dogs aged 1-3 years. Retrievers had the most cases among breeds and males were affected more than females. For therapeutic study, 12 confirmed cases of chronic gastritis were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups as G1 and G2, each group comprising of six dogs. However, six apparently healthy dogs were included as a healthy control group (G3). Group G1 received the Amoxicillin with sulbactam, Metronidazole and Pantoprazole while group G2 received Ofloxacin, Ornidazole and Esomeprazole. Endoscopic evaluations on day 0 and day 10 showed significant improvement in both groups, with G1 achieving an 83.33% recovery rate compared to 66.66% in G2. G1 treated with Amoxicillin with sulbactam, Metronidazole and Pantoprazole demonstrated greater reductions in vomiting frequency and endoscopic lesions, alongside better normalization of haemato-biochemical parameters.

Near infrared-emitting carbon dots for the detection of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP): a non-enzymatic approach for the early identification of stroke and glioblastoma.

Immunoassay techniques are widely recognized for their sensitivity and selectivity in biomarker detection; however, their high cost, time-consuming protocols and limited stability often pose significant limitations. In this study, we address these challenges by developing an antibody-free fluorescent platform for the detection of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a biomarker released from astrocytes, which plays a critical role in neurological diseases such as ischemic stroke and glioblastoma (GBM). Glutamic acid (GA), a neurotransmitter prevalent in the brain, was selected to quench a near-infrared (NIR) emitting carbon dot-based probe, exploiting the potential interaction between GA and GFAP. The probe demonstrated a turn-on response towards GFAP in the presence of various co-existing biomolecules and ions with a detection limit of 1.8 pg mL-1. A real sample assay conducted in human serum further validated the performance of the probe, achieving a recovery rate of 85% to 97%, underscoring the potential of the probe as a reliable and cost-effective tool for GFAP detection in clinical settings.

Programming an Amplified and Self-Calibrated Electrochemical Biosensor with High Sensitivity, Reproducibility, and Stability for ORAOV 1 Detection.

The ability to accurately detect oral cancer overexpressed 1 (ORAOV 1) offers significant potential for the noninvasive and rapid diagnosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Present here is an amplified and self-calibrated electrochemical (EC) biosensor for ORAOV 1 detection. This cutting-edge EC biosensor adopts a fuel-driven DNA molecular machine to induce target recycling, thereby amplifying the signals. Meanwhile, by integrating UiO-66 with graphene oxide (GO), the resulting GO@UiO-66 nanomaterials can effectively load substantial amounts of methylene blue (MB), thereby enhancing the EC performance and dramatically improving detection sensitivity. Furthermore, a ratiometric output mode is being developed by using highly conductive GO@UiO-66/MB and silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) as electroactive tags. By leveraging this ratiometric strategy, which incorporates a built-in self-calibration factor that effectively eliminates systematic errors, the reproducibility, stability, and accuracy of the biosensor can be significantly enhanced. Experimental results demonstrate that this newly developed EC biosensor exhibits ultrahigh sensitivity, with a detection limit as low as 0.28 aM, and a broad linear range from 0.01 fM to 1 pM. Notably, it offers greater reproducibility, stability, and anti-interference capability compared to single-signal output modes. Meanwhile, the detection of ORAOV 1 in human saliva samples has been exemplified with a satisfactory recovery rate and anti-interference capability. More importantly, it can discriminate oral cancer patients from clinical samples with high accuracy (AUC = 1). This approach provides new insights into the noninvasive and early diagnosis of OSCC in clinical applications.

Effects of High Temperature and Water Re-Curing on the Flexural Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Steel–Basalt Hybrid Fiber-Reinforced Concrete

Fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) has become increasingly important in recent decades due to its superior mechanical properties, especially flexural strength and toughness, compared to normal concrete. FRC has also received significant attention because of its superior fire resistance performance compared to non-fiber concrete. In recent years, studies on the mechanical performance, fire design, and post-fire repair of thermally damaged fibrous and non-fibrous concrete have gained importance. In particular, there are very few studies in the literature on the mechanical performance and flexural behavior of steel and basalt hybrid fiber concretes after high temperature and water re-curing. This study aims to determine the mechanical properties and toughness of concrete containing steel fiber (SF) and basalt fiber (BF) after ambient and high temperature (400 °C, 600 °C, and 800 °C). Additionally, this study aimed to examine the changes in fire-damaged FRCs as a result of water re-curing. In this context, high temperature and water re-curing were carried out on non-fibrous concrete (control) and four different fiber compositions: in the first mixture, only steel fibers were used, and in the other two mixtures, basalt fibers were substituted at 25% and 50% rates instead of steel fibers. Furthermore, in the fifth mixture, basalt fibers were replaced by polypropylene fibers (PPFs) to make a comparison with the steel and basalt hybrid fiber-reinforced mixture. This study examined the effects of different fiber compositions on the ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and compressive and flexural strength of the specimens at ambient temperature and after exposure to elevated temperatures and water re-curing. Additionally, the load–deflection curves and toughness of the mixtures were determined. The study results showed that different fiber compositions varied in their healing effect at different stages. The hybrid use of SF and BF can improve the flexural strength before elevated temperature and particularly after 600 °C. However, it caused a decrease in the recovery rates, especially after re-curing with water in terms of toughness. Water re-curing provided remarkable improvement in terms of mechanical and toughness properties. This improvement was more evident in steel–polypropylene fiber-reinforced concretes.

The Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitor Saxagliptin as a Candidate Treatment for Disorders of Consciousness: A Deep Learning and Retrospective Clinical Analysis.

Despite advancements in the neuroscience of consciousness, no new medications for disorders of consciousness (DOC) have been discovered in more than a decade. Repurposing existing US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs for DOC is crucial for improving clinical management and patient outcomes. To identify potential new treatments among existing FDA-approved drugs, we used a deep learning-based drug screening model to predict the efficacy of drugs as awakening agents based on their three-dimensional molecular structure. A retrospective cohort study from March 2012 to October 2024 tested the model's predictions, focusing on changes in Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores in 4047 patients in a coma from traumatic, vascular, or anoxic brain injury. Our deep learning drug screens identified saxagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor, as a promising awakening drug for both acute and prolonged DOC. The retrospective clinical analysis showed that saxagliptin was associated with the highest recovery rate from acute coma among diabetes medications. After matching patients by age, sex, initial GCS score, coma etiology, and glycemic status, brain-injured patients with diabetes on incretin-based therapies, including dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues, recovered from coma at significantly higher rates compared to both brain-injured patients with diabetes on non-incretin-based diabetes medications (95% confidence interval of 1.8-14.1% higher recovery rate, P = 0.0331) and brain-injured patients without diabetes (95% confidence interval of 2-21% higher recovery rate, P = 0.0272). Post matching, brain-injured patients with diabetes on incretin-based therapies also recovered at a significantly higher rate than patients treated with amantadine (95% confidence interval for the difference 2.4-25.1.0%, P = 0.0364). A review of preclinical studies identified several pathways through which saxagliptin and other incretin-based medications may aid awakening from both acute and chronic DOC: restoring monoaminergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, reducing brain inflammation and oxidative damage, clearing hyperphosphorylated tau and amyloid-β, normalizing thalamocortical glucose metabolism, increasing neural plasticity, and mitigating excitotoxic brain damage. Our findings suggest incretin-based medications in general, and saxagliptin in particular, as potential novel therapeutic agents for DOC. Further prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm their efficacy and safety in DOC.

Quality comparison of autotransfusion devices in cardiac surgery: a prospective observational cohort study.

We sought to conduct a quality improvement initiative to compare the wash quality and speed of autologous red blood cell (RBC) processing of four autotransfusion devices during cardiac surgery. Using a prospective observational cohort study approach, we prospectively evaluated four commercially available autologous cell savage devices (autoLog IQ™, Medtronic plc, Minneapolis, MN, USA [135mL]; Xtra™, LivaNova, plc, Houston, TX, USA [125mL, 225mL]; Cell Saver® Elite®+, Haemonetics Corp., Boston, MA, USA [125mL, 225mL]; and CATSmart®, Fresenius Kabi AG, Bad Homburg vor der Höhe, Germany) in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Device settings were determined by manufacturer recommendations for optimal wash quality. We collected pre- and postprocessing samples, volumes, and processing times from each device to calculate removal ratios of heparin, potassium, plasma free hemoglobin (PfHb), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, reinfusion concentrations of heparin and potassium, and red blood cell (RBC) recovery rates. A total of 130 consecutive patients underwent autologous cell salvage, but 15 cases were excluded because of incomplete data. All devices removed > 99% heparin, > 95% potassium, > 94% platelets, and > 85% PfHb from collected shed blood. Comparison of processing sets showed significant differences in median [interquartile range] WBC removal ratios, ranging from 26 [19-33]% to 59 [42-68]%, and median heparin reinfusion concentrations, which ranged from 0.09 [0.08-0.11] to 0.63 [0.55-0.70] U·mL-1 processed red cells. Median RBC recovery rates also showed significant differences between processing sets, ranging from 8 [8-10] mL RBC·min-1 to 24 [22-25] mL RBC·min-1. Wash quality and processing speed differed between autotransfusion devices and processing sets. These findings may have clinical implications when large volumes of shed blood are processed and reinfused.

Antiprotein Corona-Fouling Effect of the Double-Stranded DNA Coating Layer on the Gold Nanoparticles-Small Molecule Adsorbent Probe.

The formation of a protein corona (PC) can significantly impact the detection ability of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)-small molecule adsorbent probes based on competitive adsorption. To alleviate this problem, in this study, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was introduced to modify the AuNP probes to mitigate the negative effect of PCs on the detection of small molecules by taking the AuNPs-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) probe-based detection of ambroxol hydrochloride (AMB) as a study model. It was found that based on the dsDNA-modified AuNPs-DCF probe (dsDNA@AuNPs-DCF), the accuracy for the detection of AMB was significantly improved, which might be attributed to the isolation of proteins from the surface of AuNPs while still allowing small molecules to access the surface due to the introduction of rigid dsDNA. Further, the effect of the strand length and the number of dsDNA modified on the surface of AuNPs on the antifouling performance was then investigated, and it was found that the LOD value of AMB in artificial milk samples by dsDNA10bp90@AuNPs-DCF probes (with 10 base strand length and 90:1 ratio of dsDNA to AuNPs) is decreased more than 2-fold compared with that by the AuNPs-DCF probe. Moreover, based on dsDNA10bp90@AuNPs-DCF probes, the recovery rates of AMB analyzed in commercial milk samples greatly improved compared with that with the AuNPs-DCF probe, particularly when the samples contained AMB with much lower concentrations. This study demonstrates a dsDNA-based antiprotein corona-fouling strategy for the AuNPs-small molecule adsorbent probe, which provides beneficial ideas for dealing with the interference resulting from PCs to the studying of biological samples.

An Investigation into the Prevalence of Clostridioides difficile in Irish Pig Abattoirs and Pork Meat Products as a Potential Source of Human Infection

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile), once considered a predominantly nosocomial pathogen, is increasingly implicated in community-acquired infections (CA-CDIs). This study investigates the prevalence, ribotypes, and antimicrobial susceptibility of C. difficile in Irish pork products and abattoirs, with a focus on the potential public health implications. A total of 180 retail pork products and 150 pig carcase swabs from three abattoirs were examined, alongside 30 environmental lairage samples. The C. difficile isolates were characterised through ribotyping and tested in terms of antimicrobial susceptibility. No C. difficile was isolated from the retail pork, while the carcase swabs yielded a low recovery rate (0.66%). However, the lairage areas were contaminated with C. difficile (33%), and six different ribotypes were identified, including the clinically relevant RT078. The ribotypes exhibited susceptibility to the antibiotics used to treat C. difficile infection (CDI) (fidaxomicin, vancomycin, and metronidazole) but showed resistance to tetracycline (9%) and ciprofloxacin (100%). These findings align with the international findings on antimicrobial resistance in C. difficile and suggest that strict EU food safety standards could mitigate retail pork contamination risks. Nevertheless, the environmental exposure during slaughtering and handling processes presents potential transmission risks for workers.

All-printed WO3 films on Ag-interdigitated electrode derived from aqueous screen-printable inks for room-temperature ammonia gas detection

Abstract In this work, all-printed tungsten oxide (WO3) sensors were fabricated from nanoparticle-based screen-printable inks, where the WO3 nanoparticles were hydrothermally synthesized with varied HCl concentrations towards enhanced room-temperature detection of ammonia gas. The monoclinic phase of calcined WO3 powders with square nanoplate-like morphology and porosities identified from XRD, FESEM micrographs and BET surface area analysis, respectively. The silver-precursor ink derived interdigitated electrodes (Ag-IDEs) were found to be crystalline with an average finger-width and Ag-film thickness of 1 ± 0.4 mm and ~3.8 µm, respectively. The rheological behaviour of the formulated WO3 inks using hydroxyethyl cellulose depicted a thixotropic fluid-like behaviour and exhibited a viscosity of ~ 9×104 mPa-s, which is a key requirement for screen-printing. The rheological study of the formulated WC-inks revealed thixotropic nature with all WC-inks showing viscosity of 85 ± 3 Pa-S, with a recovery rate of 80% in the recovery stage. This work explains the role of pH on hydrothermally synthesized WO3, and by correlating the gas sensing characteristics of fabricated screen-printed sensors from formulated inks, where WC-15 gas-sensor showed maximum gas response of ~340 towards 100 ppm of ammonia gas. This facile, and cost-efficient method of fabricating chemiresistive gas-sensors paved a way for development of flexible and printable devices towards ppb-level detection of NH3 gas and its monitoring.

Novel Electrochemical Sensor Based on Cu-MOF/MWCNT-COOH for the Simultaneous Detection of Ascorbic Acid and Dopamine.

By utilizing carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) to strengthen the interaction between the electrode and the analytes and improve the conductivity of the composite material and in conjunction with the superior catalytic properties of copper-based metal-organic framework (MOFs), a novel electrochemical sensor was fabricated from a Cu-MOF/MWCNT-COOH composite, specifically designed for the simultaneous and distinct detection of ascorbic acid (AA) and dopamine (DA). Electrochemical analyses were conducted on the innovative Cu-MOF/MWCNT-COOH electrode through both CV and DPV, revealing unique electrochemical behaviors for AA and DA. The sensor not only showed exceptional electrocatalytic properties but also distinguished itself by its broad dynamic response ranges, covering concentrations from 3 to 1800 μM for AA and from 2 to 180 μM for DA, with detection limits (S/N = 3) of 3.00 μM for AA and 0.32 μM for DA. Furthermore, this electrochemical detection platform exhibited robust reproducibility and selectivity. Examinations of serum samples yielded the recovery rates of AA and DA which were 101.9% and 102.1%, respectively, confirming the sensor's capability to perform reliably under varied biological conditions. The findings confirm the sensor's potential of the proposed method for the simultaneous, sensitive, and reliable detection of AA and DA. In conclusion, the electrochemical sensor has a promising potential for practical applications.