Optimization of lens size and ion source parameters for gas chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabolomics using hydrogen as a carrier gas.

Practical and robust SERS platform based on ag/COF composites for on-site quantification of antibiotic contaminants in food and environment.

Synthesis of a silica-based nano-buffer containing carbonate/bicarbonate anions as a probable green additive for ruminant nutrition

SERS-enabled rapid detection of difenoconazole residues in tomatoes for food safety applications.

The precise determination of uranium (U) isotope ratios in geological samples is crucial for tracing redox processes and reconstructing paleoenvironments. However, the widespread application of U isotopes is often limited by the difficulty of obtaining a 233U-236U double spike for correction of instrumental isotopic fractionation. In this study, a single-column purification procedure was used to separate U from geological samples using a self-made tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO) extraction resin. This procedure takes advantage of the high adsorption selectivity of U on the TOPO resin, achieving low procedural blanks, quantitative U recovery (100.1 ± 1.6%), and effective separation from major and matrix elements (e.g., Ti, Fe, Zn, Pb, Zr, and Th). A combined standard-sample bracketing and internal normalization (C-SSBIN) method, using NIST SRM 981 Pb as the normalization element, was applied to correct instrumental isotopic fractionation during U isotope measurements by MC-ICP-MS. Repeated measurements of the standard solutions GBW04428 and HPS U yielded a long-term external reproducibility (2SD) for δ238U of ±0.064‰, comparable to that achieved by double spike methods in previous studies. Repeated analyses of a suite of geological and environmental reference materials (BCR-2, GSR-1, GSR-3, SGR-1b, GSR-12, NOD-P-1, JCP-1, and seawater) yielded δ238U values in excellent agreement with published data, demonstrating the accuracy and robustness of the protocol. Overall, this protocol enables the quantitative recovery of high-purity U and high-precision U isotope determination, providing an alternative to the double spike technique and promoting its wider application in geochemistry.

To ensure the reliable operation of speech systems across diverse environments, noise addition methods have emerged as the standard solution. However, existing methods offer limited coverage of real-world scenes and depend on pre-existing noise libraries and scene metadata. This paper presents prompt-based Dynamic Generative Scene-based Noise Addition (DGSNA), a novel approach driven by generative language models that integrates Dynamic Generation of Scene-based Information (DGSI) with Scene-based Noise Addition for Speech (SNAS). The DGSI module, with a BET (Background, Examples, Task) prompt framework, dynamically generates logic-compliant scene-based information, including scene dimensions, sound sources, and microphone positions, thereby addressing the challenges of scene enumeration and detailed description. Complementing this, the SNAS module employs a Time–Frequency Diffusion-based (TFD) Text-to-Audio model to synthesize scene-specific noise. By integrating this noise with clean speech via Room Impulse Response (RIR) filters, the module streamlines the traditionally labor-intensive process of replicating diverse acoustic environments. Experimental results show that DGSNA significantly enhances the robustness of speech recognition and keyword spotting models, achieving relative improvements of up to 11.32%. Furthermore, DGSNA is highly compatible with existing noise addition techniques.

Purpose : The aim of the work is to study the architecture of public buildings and complexes in Novosibirsk, influenced by political, economic, and cultural conditions of the mid- 1950s and late 1980s. Methodology/approach : The historical and systematic approach, comparative and field analysis, using scientific, literary sources and archival data, professional periodicals. For the better understanding of sociocultural conditions, the article analyzes the development of foreign architecture, as well as urban planning and natural and landscape conditions. This period plays a significant role in the city development. Despite the extensive construction and widespread use of standardized solutions, there are still unique public buildings and complexes that contribute to the rich tapestry of Novosibirsk architecture. Research findings : The identification of the architecture of this period with global trends, its uniqueness and originality, which allow for a broader understanding of the urban development and construction of new facilities, taking into account the urban planning culture.

2D disposable stochastic strip for ultrasensitive assay of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in sapropel.

The study of DDIs has evolved significantly over the years, early in-vitro detections could help identify potential interactions before clinical use, enhancing drug efficacy and patient safety. This work therefore focused on finding in-vitro DDI (incompatibility) between the two commonly prescribed antibiotics Ciprofloxacin (CFX) and Metronidazole (MTZ) in neutral, acidic and basic mediums using derivative spectroscopy. The spectral measurements were performed on UV-Visible spectrophotometer at 0, 4 and 24 hours. Standard solutions (100ppm) and working solutions (3-11ppm) of both drugs were prepared in water, while mixture contained 5ppm of each drug. AGREE calculator software was used to figure out the environmental impact of the used spectrophotometric method. A zero-crossing method was employed for simultaneous quantification of CFX and MTZ in admixture. It was observed that a mixture having 5ppm CFX and MTZ showed a recovery percentage of 87.704% ± 0.001041 and 78.226% ± 0.002379 respectively in neutral medium at 4 hours, along with AGREE score of 0.8. The proposed method was greener (eco-friendly). The findings concluded that although the two drugs were compatible in acidic and basic mediums, these might be incompatible in neutral environment upon simultaneous administration.

International guidelines for treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition advise against giving standard oral rehydration solutions (ORS) for dehydration secondary to diarrhoea. Instead, they recommend exclusive use of low-sodium rehydration solution for malnutrition (ReSoMal), due to concerns about both sodium and fluid overload. Supportive evidence is lacking, warranting reappraisal of this guidance. We aimed to assess the safety and superiority of standard WHO-ORS versus ReSoMal. GASTROSAM was a phase 2, factorial, open-label, superiority randomised controlled trial conducted at six hospitals in four African countries (Kenya, Niger, Nigeria, and Uganda). Children aged 6 months to 12 years with severe acute malnutrition who were admitted to hospital with severe (stratum A) or moderate (stratum B) dehydration and diarrhoea were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive ReSoMal or low-osmolarity WHO-ORS. A simultaneous randomisation in stratum A compared two intravenous strategies versus an oral control rehydration strategy (results reported elsewhere). Children with severe dehydration (stratum A) received their allocated ORS as soon as possible. The primary endpoint was change in sodium concentration at 24 h from baseline in all randomised participants and analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. Children with lived experience were not involved in the study design. The trial is registered on the ISRCTN registry (ISRCTN76149273) and the Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202103852542919). Between Sept 2, 2019, and Oct 27, 2024, 415 eligible children were enrolled (218 [53%] male; 197 [47%] female); 272 were enrolled into stratum A (137 to ReSoMal and 135 to WHO-ORS) and 143 were enrolled into stratum B (69 to ReSoMal and 74 to WHO-ORS). Children were followed up for 28 days; 11 (3%) were lost to follow-up or withdrew. The primary endpoint was assessed in 387 (93%) of 415 participants. The increase in sodium concentration was similar in both groups (5·3 mmol/L [SD 8·1] with ReSoMal vs 5·0 mmol/L [7·6] with WHO-ORS; mean difference for WHO-ORS vs ReSoMal -0·6 [95% CI -1·9 to 0·7], p=0·37). There was no difference in day 28 mortality between the WHO-ORS and ReSoMal groups (19 [9%] vs 24 [12%]; adjusted hazard ratio 0·76 [95% CI 0·41 to 1·41], p=0·39). Fluid overload events (pulmonary oedema and cardiac overload) were actively monitored: none was observed. WHO-ORS resulted in similar outcomes to ReSoMal, and neither strategy led to fluid overload. This finding informs the simplification of guidelines supporting the use of WHO-ORS for the management of dehydration in children regardless of nutritional status. Joint Global Health Trials Scheme of the UK Medical Research Council, UK Department for International Development, Wellcome, and Médecins Sans Frontières.

Modular PVDF-PEI membrane-based SERS sensor for rapid on-site detection of methamphetamine in complex matrices.

The increasing demand for monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) as therapeutic agents highlights the ever-growing necessity of optimizing sample-selection procedures; the rate-limiting step of therapy development. One such mAb property test is viscosity, which affects syringeability, concentration dose, and patient experience. Current viscometry methods, such as cone and plate rheometry, although accurate, are limited by low throughput, high sample volume requirements, and lack of automation, driving up the cost and time of mAb development. This paper introduces an innovative imaging-based viscometry application that significantly mitigates these issues. By integrating a wide-field camera with a fluorescence microscope and Python-based single particle tracking (SPT) software, this approach allows for rapid, low-volume (down to 2μl) viscosity measurements of mAb solutions. Using 200 nm yellow-green fluorescent polystyrene beads as tracers, the system ensures accurate macroviscosity assessments of protein solutions and the capability for high-throughput analysis. The platform's precision and sensitivity were validated using bovine serum albumin and viscosity standard solutions, followed by a single-blinded study using Immunoglobulin G1 and G2 (IgG1/IgG2) solutions of varying concentrations (⩽150 mg ml-1) and viscosities (2-31 cP). When compared to the unblinded values, the SPT blinded sample analysis resulted in a linear fit ofR2= 0.97 and an average error of 2.1 cP. Our findings suggest that this novel platform can substantially streamline and enhance the mAb development process, offering a feasible solution to one of the industry's pressing challenges.

Combinations of additive manufacturing methods such as inkjet printing and various 3D printing techniques have led to advances in customizable electronic devices by reducing the need for the complex assembly of individually fabricated components. Such combinations are particularly attractive for the fabrication of electrochemical sensing platforms, where the sizes and spatial configurations of electrodes enable (or limit) the sensitivity of the sensors. However, to realize the potential of the combined fabrication methods, the parameters of each printing technique must be mutually compatible. For instance, electrochemical sensing assemblies consisting of inkjet-printed metals on 3D-printed plastics require post-processing steps that convert nanoparticular metals in precursor ink to conformal, mechanically stable, conductive films with negligible alteration to the underlying plastic substrate. While traditional sintering techniques convert inks to conductive metal films, the use of high temperatures are not compatible with structures printed via fused deposition modeling, for instance. In this proof-of-concept study, commercial gold inks were inkjet-printed onto 3D-printed poly-(lactic acid) (PLA) substrates. Optimization of the printing parameters and IR sintering resulted in stable, electrochemically active working electrodes. Surface characterization via scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of a homogeneous coating, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data revealed the presence of gold on the surface. Electrical characterization via a four-point probe demonstrated a low sheet resistance, indicating the suitability of these electrodes for electrochemical measurements. Electrochemical data revealed that these gold electrodes are electrochemically active, and the diffusion-limited behavior of a redox probe was observed as expected. Additionally, these electrodes were tested for detecting lead in standard solutions, showing a linear response to lead concentrations, which indicates their potential in sensing applications. However, the detection range is significantly higher than the EPA-approved limit for lead concentrations in water, suggesting that electrode sensitivity requires further improvement. These findings have implications for fabricating inkjet-printed gold electrodes as sensors while highlighting the need for additional modifications to meet regulatory detection limits for heavy metal analysis.

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing driven by artisanal small-scale fisheries is a critical threat to global biodiversity and is exemplified by the commercial extinction of Caspian sturgeons (Acipenser and Huso). A key knowledge gap persists regarding the scale and behavioral dynamics of these operations. We tested the hypothesis that persistent high-volume sturgeon poaching is sustained not by fleet growth but by an intensification of fishing effort per boat, a behavioral adaptation to state containment policies. We administered structured questionnaires to 53 members of 24 sturgeon fishing brigades (SFBs) in Dagestan, Russia, from 2020 to 2021 and verified the data collected with written catch records. To overcome data limitations, we developed a seasonal (September to June) analytical model. This included indirect standardization to control for seasonality and factor analysis to deconstruct catch trends. Survival analyses (Kaplan-Meier) were used to validate changes in the timing and intensity of fishing activity. From 2018 to 2021, the 24 SFBs harvested an estimated 82,193kg of sturgeon across 319 trips. Active SFBs decreased from 21 to 17. However, fishing effort intensified dramatically, with fishing months per brigade increasing by nearly 50%, from 4.33 to 6.42. This resulted in a 49% increase in catch per brigade. Concurrently, catch volume per fishing month declined, indicating reduced efficiency. Our findings suggest that state containment policies have not curbed poaching and may have instead spurred effort intensification. Based on our expertise and contextual analyses, we hypothesize that the state's hatchery program functions not only as an ecological intervention but also as a political compensatory mechanism, creating a conservation paradox where supplementation of sturgeon numbers inadvertently subsidizes the illegal fishery, which drives lethal bycatch of the endangered Caspian seal (Pusa caspica). The autonomy of Dagestani communities, rooted in socioeconomic exclusion, renders standard conservation solutions infeasible, locking the system into a feedback loop of overexploitation.

The increasing contamination of water resources by heavy metal ions causes a significant environmental and public health challenge. In this study, a novel eco-friendly adsorbent synthesized from Citrullus lanatus (water-melon) seed starch. Water-melon seed starch ascorbic acid (WMSSAA) resin characterization was carried out by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis as well as Thermogravimetric (TG) - Differential Thermal (DT) analysis. The WMSSAA resin was further investigated for removal of toxic heavy metal ions from the standard aqueous solutions by batch adsorption method. The distribution coefficient and percentage removal of heavy metal ions by WMSSAA resin were determined under the influence of pH range of 2-8. FTIR spectral data favors the formation of chemically modified resin. These data clearly reveal functionalities present on resin. Rough and uneven morphology of resin is confirmed by SEM analysis. The moderate to good thermal stability of resin has been investigated by TG-DTA. The functionality present on resin provides sites for significant adsorption of heavy metal ions Cd2+, Ni2+, Pb2+, Zn2+. Citrullus lanatus Seeds are agricultural waste. This work applies green chemistry principle through formation of active adsorbent from waste seeds. The work contributes towards sustainable waste water treatment protocol. The results demonstrated that the synthesized resin exhibited high adsorption efficiency, suggesting its potential as a low-cost and sustainable alternative for wastewater treatment.

Abstract Video-based Cognitive radio networks (CRNs) are a sub-type in which some video users send video traffic. In video CRN context, cognitive users must find an optimal rate/power assignment strategy by solving an optimization problem to maximize their perceived quality of experience (QoE) under interference and energy constraints. Due to large dimension of parameter space in dense CRNs, solving this problem using traditional methods such as game theory or other analytical gradient descent-based approaches can lead to large computational burden. Basically, in such scenarios, each cognitive video user actually faces with mean interference effect from its surrounding nodes and must adopt its behavior (rate/power optimization) strategy based on this mean-field interference effect. Because of inherent nature of mean-field game (MFG) theory in distributed solving of high-dimensional optimization problems, it seems to be a good solution candidate in this context. So, in the current paper, we have used MFG for green (energy-efficient) quality control of cognitive users in dense CRNs. We design two different solution approaches based on a finite-difference method (named GMFQ) and machine learning (named D2GMFQ). The first approach is a standard MFG solution but lacks good scalability in very dense CRN scenarios. So, we introduce the second methodology which is fast enough to tackle such cases. Numerical results show that the proposed methods, outperforms similar ones in maximizing sum perceived cognitive user QoEs under energy-efficiency constraints. Specifically, it is determined that about 11 dB and 15 dB gains can be achieved by GMFQ in average comparing with the traditional TCP and UDP streaming scenarios respectively.

Background/Objectives: In several contexts, Dried Sample Spot Devices (DSSDs) offer a convenient and safe alternative for sampling, storage, and shipment, allowing the transport and storage of biological samples at room temperature, reducing shipment costs and improving access to diagnostics in faraway sites. This can be pivotal for the use of the therapeutic drug monitoring of anti-HIV treatment: therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate a UHPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of 12 antiretroviral drugs, including the recently introduced long-acting agents, in Dry Plasma Spots (DPSs). Methods: First, 100 µL of plasma sample and 100 µL of internal standard solution were spotted on each DSSD. After complete drying, DPSs were added with an acidifying solution (ammonium acetate buffer pH 4), and then, each sample underwent extraction with hexane-dichloromethane 50:50 (v/v). After tumbling, the organic phase was evaporated and reconstituted for injection. An Acquity UPLC HSS T3 1.8 µm, 2.1 × 150 mm column at 50 °C enabled separation, performed using H2O + F.A. 0.05% (phase A) and ACN + F.A. 0.05% (phase B) as the mobile phase in gradient elution mode, for a total run time of 15 min. Results: The method was validated over the clinically relevant concentration ranges. For all quality control levels, accuracies ranged from 98.2% to 114.1%, and intra-day and inter-day RSD values ranged from 2.7% to 9.7% and 5.2% to 13.9%, respectively. All analytes demonstrated satisfactory short- and long-term stability in DPSs, confirming the suitability of shipment and storage at room temperature. Conclusions: The method demonstrated robustness and reproducibility in accordance with FDA and EMA guidelines. It ensures satisfactory accuracy and rapid analysis, supporting its application in clinical practice, including for monitoring the newest long-acting drugs.

The article substantiates that commercialization of university research results should be treated not merely as a supplementary source of revenue but as an integrated financial mechanism for the accumulation and reproduction of intellectual capital. The purpose of the study is to identify the economic logic, channels, instruments and institutional conditions under which licensing, collaborative research contracts, spin-off creation, intellectual property transactions, consortium-based projects and entrepreneurial practices within academia convert research outputs into financial flows, market value and long-term strengthening of the university’s human, structural and relational capital. The paper synthesizes the approaches proposed by the OECD, WIPO, the European Commission and the current Ukrainian legal framework regulating higher education, science and technology transfer. It is argued that commercialization becomes productive only when the university possesses a coherent intellectual property policy, a transparent benefit-sharing model, professional technology transfer support, proof-of-concept funding, patenting assistance, standard contractual solutions and a stable culture of cooperation with business. It is proven that with proper design, this mechanism provides not only income from licenses or contract research. This will contribute to the renewal of the laboratory base, better retention of research teams, increased motivation of scientists, expansion of partnerships, reputational strengthening of the university’s image and growth of its ability to reproduce knowledge. A matrix of commercialization channels is proposed. The impact of the latter on the components of intellectual capital is determined. The main barriers for Ukraine and priority areas of institutional improvement are outlined.

Heavy metal contamination of water sources is an increasing human health concern due to industrial activities and the persistence of metals such as Pb (lead) and Zn (zinc). This study looks at the adsorption efficacy of a low-cost and eco-friendly COS (charred okoubaka seed) adsorbent for the removal of Pb(II) and Zn(II) ions from contaminated water. The standard solutions (1,000 ppm) of Pb(II) and Zn(II) prepared from appropriate weight of lead and zinc nitrate, respectively. Each metal solution was treated with 2.0 g of adsorbent. A comparative study using ACC (commercial activated carbon) was investigated and residual metal concentrations were analyzed using EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) 6010 (ICP-AES). The results showed that the biocharr of okoubaka seeds removed an average of 82% of Pb and 68% of Zn, whereas activated carbon removed 99.9% of Pb but only 68.3% of Zn. These results indicate that biochar of okoubaka seeds as absorbent has a strong affinity for Zn, while activated carbon is significantly more effective in Pb removal. The results suggest that the biochar of okoubaka seed is a potential and sustainable alternative for selective heavy-metal remediation in water treatment.

Despite the growing interest in deep eutectic solvents (DESs), studies involving excited-state photochemical dynamics in such media are very scarce. Herein, we investigated the excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) of a photoacid (HPTS) in betaine (BET)-based DESs with systematically varied hydrogen-bond donors (HBD): ethylene glycol (EG), 1,2-propanediol (PD), and glycerol (Gly), using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The results confirm strong ESPT in these DESs; the time-resolved fluorescence displays multiexponential decay behavior, and the initial proton-transfer and dissociation times are 0.17, 0.43, and 0.63 ns, and 0.51, 0.78, and 0.93 ns, respectively, in BET-EG, BET-PD, and BET-Gly systems. Time-resolved emission spectra show decay of the protonated state and growth of the deprotonated state without an iso-emissive point, accompanied by a continuous red shift in both emissions, indicating that ESPT and solvation occur on comparable time scales. The solvation dynamics of both states of the photoacid exhibit biphasic relaxation, with components of a few hundred picoseconds and a few nanoseconds. Similar solvation time scales, 0.10-0.30 ns and 0.94-2.36 ns for the nonproton-transferring analogue, and 0.10-0.20 ns and 0.40-0.80 ns for a standard solute (C153) demonstrate that ESPT in these DESs is governed by solvent reorganization. Temperature-dependent measurements reveal concurrent acceleration of both solvation and ESPT rate, with the strongest temperature sensitivity in BET-Gly and the weakest in BET-EG. These findings demonstrate that the photochemical reactivity of HPTS is regulated by the solvation-shell dynamics, and that tuning the HBD component of a DES provides a rational strategy for modulating proton transport in these novel media.