Search Results (283)

Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) is a semi-synthetic cannabinoid that has recently emerged in the European market, raising concerns regarding its detection in forensic toxicology. Reliable analytical approaches are required for the determination of HHC metabolites together with conventional cannabis biomarkers in biological samples. This study aimed to develop and validate a sample preparation method based on air-assisted liquid–liquid microextraction (AALLME) coupled to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for the determination of 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) and HHC metabolites in urine. Urine samples underwent alkaline hydrolysis followed by AALLME using a cyclohexane/ethyl acetate mixture (9:1) prior to LC–MS/MS analysis. Experimental conditions affecting extraction performance were optimized. Method validation was performed according to international guidelines. The method achieved a limit of detection of 2.5 ng/mL and a lower limit of quantification of 5 ng/mL. Precision and accuracy fulfilled the established acceptance criteria across all concentration levels. The applicability of the method was evaluated using eleven authentic THC-COOH-positive routine casework urine samples. THC-COOH was successfully quantified, whereas no HHC metabolites were detected because no urine samples from confirmed HHC users were available. The proposed workflow provides a reduced-solvent sample preparation approach compared with conventional procedures and demonstrated adequate analytical performance for the simultaneous determination of THC-COOH and HHC metabolites in urine. Full article

Fresh ginseng is a high-value medicinal root crop whose postharvest quality is affected by field heterogeneity, washing, packaging, and storage. This study evaluated two packaging films—50 µm polyethylene (PE50) and a 30 µm polyethylene/30 µm oriented polypropylene laminate (PE30/OPP30)—and a post-wash 80 ppm peracetic acid (PAA) spray applied at 20 °C at approximately 60 mL kg⁻¹ fresh root mass. Field-sorted six-year-old roots from one commercial ridge were stored at −2 °C for 14 weeks. The primary factorial design comprised film and PAA treatment, while farmer grade class was retained as a stratification factor and tissue position as a within-root factor for destructive analyses. Package atmosphere, post-storage ambient CO₂ evolution, cumulative weight loss, tissue moisture, color and visual marketability, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and targeted liquid chromatography (LC) quantification of Rg1 and Rb1 were evaluated using three independent biological replicates. PE30/OPP30 generated lower O₂ and higher CO₂ than PE50 and reduced cumulative weight loss; however, O₂ reached 0.63% and CO₂ reached 14.04% at 4 weeks, indicating potentially hypoxic conditions. PAA did not consistently improve the measured physicochemical traits, and microbial efficacy was not evaluated. Fine roots showed the lowest moisture status but the highest Rg1 and Rb1 contents. These findings provide a single-field baseline for integrating packaging response, tissue water status, and chemical markers, but require validation across production sites, seasons, and packaging-film types before broad commercial application. Full article

Portable sensing systems are increasingly important in biological and chemical analyses because they can provide analytical information at the point of decision-making. While traditional laboratory methods remain crucial for reference measurements, regulatory validation, and high-precision quantification, portable systems emphasize rapid response, convenience, cost-effectiveness, robustness, and relevance to decision-making. This paper views portable sensing systems as integrated analytical platforms rather than isolated sensing elements. The paper discusses recognition elements, including enzymes, antibodies, nucleic acid probes, aptamers, molecularly imprinted polymers, nanomaterials, and hybrid recognition interfaces, as well as electrochemical, optical, mass-sensitive, thermal, field-effect, and hybrid sensing technologies. Furthermore, this paper reviews platform designs, including paper-based analytical devices, chip lab systems, smartphone-assisted sensors, wearable and flexible sensors, handheld instruments, and wireless sensor networks. It explores their applications in sample handling, calibration, data processing, and field deployment. Applications of this technology include point-of-care diagnostics, pathogen detection, wearable health monitoring, agriculture, veterinary medicine, environmental monitoring, food safety, industrial process control, forensic analysis, public safety, and occupational exposure assessment. The report focuses on sample acquisition, miniaturized preparation, reagent storage, matrix interference, calibration transfer, signal conditioning, machine learning, cloud platforms, analytical validation, and decision support. Furthermore, it identifies key obstacles to translating academic prototypes into industrial products, including reproducibility, stability, manufacturability, ease of use, cybersecurity, regulatory approval, and market acceptance. Future development requires fully integrated sample-to-result systems, multimodal sensing, artificial intelligence, sustainable single-use materials, self-powered devices, and system-level validation under real-world operating conditions. Full article

Background/Objectives: Tripterygium glycosides (TG) are used to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, but their clinical application is limited by toxicity and the lack of process-responsive quality markers. This study examined whether roasting and dealkalization remodel the TG metabolite profile and alter the post-dose serum profile of circulating prototype constituents. Methods: Self-prepared TG, roasted TG (RTG), roasted–dealkalized TG (RDTG), and five marketed products were profiled by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS). Seven representative compounds were quantified by validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Rat serum after oral administration was analyzed to compare circulating prototype constituents. Results: We characterized 243 constituents in material samples and 63 circulating prototype constituents in serum. Roasting primarily reshapes the profiles of diterpenoids and triterpenoids. Celastrol was not detected in the RTG and RDTG material samples, nor in the corresponding single-time-point serum profiles under the current analytical conditions. In contrast, wilforlide A exhibited an increase in material samples. Dealkalization preferentially reduced alkaloid-related constituents, including wilforine in material samples and tripterygiumine T in serum. Conclusions: Integrated material profiling, targeted quantification, and serum prototype analysis identified candidate process-responsive markers for processed TG preparations. Because the serum study was based on relative signal intensities rather than full pharmacokinetics, these markers require further pharmacokinetic and toxicological validation. Full article

Alkaline water is increasingly marketed for musculoskeletal and recovery benefits, yet its relevance to healthy aging, sarcopenia prevention, and functional capacity in older adults remains largely unexplored. This systematic evidence map and translational appraisal examined whether the available comparative human evidence on alkaline water is applicable to aging populations and longevity research. Following PRISMA guidance, PubMed and Scopus were searched from January 2005 to September 2025. Eligible studies were controlled or comparative observational human studies reporting muscle strength, physical performance, or recovery outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and JBI criteria; evidence certainty was judged narratively using GRADE-informed principles. Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Most enrolled young athletic populations; only two had partial relevance to aging cohorts. Crucially, no study included participants aged 65 years or older or assessed primary sarcopenia-relevant endpoints such as appendicular lean mass, gait speed, or chair-rise performance; this total absence of data in the target demographic represents the central limitation of the current literature. Risk of bias ranged from some concerns to serious. The most consistent signals were short-term improvements in lactate clearance and perceived exertion in young male athletes. Evidence for strength, functional performance, and safety in older adults was absent or indirect. Current evidence, rated low to very low certainty for aging-relevant outcomes, does not support alkaline water as an evidence-based strategy for healthy aging or muscle preservation in older adults. Age-appropriate trials using EWGSOP2-aligned outcomes are urgently needed. Full article

Reliable battery health assessment is essential to accelerate battery electric vehicle (BEV) adoption, yet most existing in-vehicle methods do not capture the complex processes driving ageing. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) offers deeper diagnostic insight but faces significant architectural and integration constraints. This study establishes a rigorous system-level framework for practicable onboard EIS implementation, focusing on the integration within Battery Management System (BMS) and powertrain architectures. Various integration topologies for cell-, module- and pack-level EIS are evaluated, highlighting their key trade-offs. The viability of the presented architectures is assessed through an application-specific Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) for mass-market, high-performance and circular economy use-cases. This study confirms the feasibility of onboard EIS while providing industry and scientific stakeholders with practical guidance to advance battery diagnostics for next-generation BEVs. Full article

The advent of digital technologies, increasing competition, market globalization, and the fourth industrial revolution compel organizations to rethink their operating models to sustain competitive advantage. At the same time, increasingly informed consumers expect higher levels of personalization, responsiveness, and cost efficiency. In this context, mass customization has emerged as a strategic response enabling firms to deliver tailored products while maintaining acceptable levels of cost, lead time, and operational efficiency. However, operationalizing mass customization remains particularly challenging for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially within normative environments characterized by regulatory and compliance requirements affecting product architectures and manufacturing processes. Although the literature highlights modular product design and product configuration as key enablers, it lacks a structured strategy for their implementation in such contexts. This article aims to develop and validate an operational strategy for mass customization based on these two levers. The methodology adopts an action research approach structured through a hybrid Agile–Stage-Gate framework and validated through its application to a representative portion of the product architecture within a case study. The results highlight the structured integration of variability analysis, modular product design, and configuration logic into an operational process, supporting the management of complexity and the implementation of mass customization in manufacturing SMEs. Full article

Nowadays, the market for wearable devices and biorobotics is growing rapidly. In active prostheses and exoskeletons, joints are typically driven by electric machines. The critical challenge is balancing the generated torque with the size and mass of the motor, ensuring the overall weight does not hinder the user’s mobility. This paper presents a comprehensive review of high-torque electric machines based on an analysis of 162 publications, primarily from the last decade. The study systematically compares geometric, electrical, and efficiency parameters across various electromechanical converters to identify the optimal limits for bionic applications. Data suggests that an electric machine aiming to align with typical biorobotic requirements would likely fall within an outer diameter of 150 mm, an axial length of 85 mm, and a mass of 1200 g. Furthermore, the required parameters for advanced applications include an efficiency above 95%, a safe nominal voltage of up to 48 V, and the ability to generate torques up to 65 Nm. The analysis highlights that while conventional motors (such as BLDC and PMSM) dominate the market, achieving a torque density exceeding 35–45 Nm/kg—necessary to approach biological muscle capabilities—often requires adopting emerging topologies, such as magnetic gears or Vernier machines. This review provides clear quantitative guidelines for engineers designing optimal drive systems for biorobotics and wearable devices. Full article

The geographical origin fraud of tea is a serious challenge faced by the global tea market. This review systematically sorts out the full chain technical system from analysis and detection to data analysis in the field of tea origin traceability, reviews the traceability mechanism and application boundaries of four core technologies including stable isotopes, mineral element fingerprints, spectroscopy and mass spectrometry metabolomics, and emerging sensors, reveals the differential masking effect of the processing techniques of the six major tea types on chemical fingerprints, and systematically analyzes the methodological evolution of chemometrics and machine learning in origin discrimination. This article provides a systematic reference for understanding the overall pattern of the tea origin traceability technology system and the selection of differentiated traceability strategies for different tea types. Full article

This study provides a comparative performance evaluation of commercial Precise Point Positioning Real-Time Kinematic (PPP-RTK) and public Network RTK (NRTK) services for vehicle-based positioning in urban and suburban environments. Using low-cost u-blox ZED-F9 receivers, the research assesses the accuracy, availability, and robustness of the u-blox PointPerfect service against a regional NRTK network across diverse real-world scenarios, including high-speed highway conditions and signal-challenging urban corridors. The experimental framework utilizes a rigid-bar setup for high-precision ground-truth validation and incorporates an independent vertical accuracy assessment against a LiDAR-derived digital elevation model (DEM). The results demonstrate that all tested configurations achieve decimeter-level accuracy. Notably, the integration of PPP-RTK with an inertial measurement unit (IMU) delivers performance nearly equivalent to NRTK, effectively mitigating vertical biases and ensuring positioning continuity in GNSS-denied areas such as tunnels. These results confirm that low-cost GNSS solutions, when paired with modern augmentation services and IMU integration, can meet the stringent demands of mass-market applications like Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) and autonomous mobility. Full article

The operational limitations of ground-based machinery in waterlogged soils of northern regions often lead to missed agronomic treatments, resulting in substantial yield losses. This problem is important in potato production, where a delay in disease protection can quickly lead to loss of leaf mass and reduced yield. This article evaluates an integrated UAV-based approach for crop production in potato cultivation, encompassing aerial soil analysis, weed segmentation, targeted spraying, and yield prediction. A field experiment was designed using a developed GD-4 drone on a 300 m × 6 m test plot. Aerial photography was used to generate an orthophotomap for monitoring and planning pesticide applications. The UAV, operating at a 2-m altitude, achieved a 3-m spray swath, enabling complete plot coverage. Visual assessment confirmed superior plant health in the test plot compared to the control. Quantitative analysis revealed a yield of 39.06 t/ha in the test plot, a 15.2% increase over the control plot (33.91 t/ha), with a comparable percentage of marketable tubers (94.5% vs. 93.3%). The study concludes that UAV technology is a reliable means of remote sensing and offers an alternative for ensuring timely agricultural operations and enhancing yield in inaccessible terrains. Full article

The continuous emergence of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) poses a significant challenge to public health and forensic toxicology due to their unpredictable pharmacology and rapid turnover on the illicit market. This study describes the development and validation of a high-resolution screening method for the simultaneous detection of 90 NPS in oral fluid (OF), a matrix of choice for non-invasive sampling and roadside testing. The analytical workflow utilizes a “dilute-and-shoot” approach (1:2 v/v dilution) followed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a quadrupole-Orbitrap hybrid mass spectrometer (UHPLC-HRMS/MS). Chromatographic separation was achieved in 11 min using a biphenyl column and a gradient elution. The method was validated according to ANSI/ASB Standard 036 guidelines, covering 90 substances including synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., HHC, MDMB-4en-PINACA), synthetic cathinones, and high-risk synthetic opioids such as nitazenes and fentanyl analogues. Results showed high sensitivity, with limits of identification (LOI) reaching 1 ng/mL for 44.4% of the analytes and 5 ng/mL for 37.8%, while the remaining compounds showed higher LOIs ranging from 10 to 100 ng/mL. No significant matrix interference or carryover was observed. The method was successfully applied to real samples from external quality control programs and forensic cases. This robust and versatile screening tool is suitable for clinical and forensic applications, supporting the monitoring of emerging NPS trends. Full article

Glandular trichomes (GTs) are epidermal outgrowths that function as “natural cell factories” for the synthesis of specialized metabolites. Beyond their traditional understanding, GTs on cucumber fruits can form an undesirable trait known as bloom, which negatively affects market value. However, the secretory process, metabolite profiles, and genetic regulation underlying GT development in cucumber remain largely unclear. In this study, we employed scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), histochemical staining, multi-omics analyses, and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) to systematically investigate GT development. The secretory process was classified into four distinct stages via SEM observations: morphogenesis, active metabolism, head sunken, and metabolite release. TEM revealed progressive ultrastructural changes, including increased organelle abundance and expansion of the periplasmic space, which facilitate metabolite transport and release. This process occurs through an autonomous mechanism involving osmiophilic substances and eventual cell rupture. LC-MS analysis identified 744 metabolites belonging to 11 classes, with phenylpropanoids/polyketides—particularly flavonoids—being the most abundant. While metabolite classes are conserved between European greenhouse and North China ecotypes, specific metabolite contents vary significantly. Multi-transcriptome analysis identified 60 candidate genes associated with GT development. Among these, CsaV4_3G003418 was functionally validated through virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) to be involved in early GT development. Collectively, this work elucidates the secretory mechanism and metabolic characteristics of cucumber GTs, providing a foundation for future functional studies and biotechnological applications of secondary metabolites. Full article

Phytoecdysteroids have garnered increasing interest due to their broad biological and pharmacological properties. The present study reports on the development and validation of a reliable liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method for the detection and quantification of 20-hydroxyecdysone, turkesterone, and ponasterone. The optimized procedure improved ionization efficiency and chromatographic resolution through gradient elution using 0.1% formic acid in water and acetonitrile. Data acquisition in selective ion monitoring modes ensured high analytical precision, reproducibility, and sensitivity. The method demonstrated excellent linearity, accuracy, repeatability, and low detection limits, making it suitable for routine phytochemical and quality control applications. Application of the method to extracts from nutrient-rich superfoods, including kaniwa, spinach, quinoa, and asparagus, confirmed these plants as natural sources of phytoecdysteroids. Additionally, thirteen commercially available dietary supplements labeled as containing extracts of Rhaponticum carthamoides, Cyanotis arachnoidea, Ajuga turkestanica, or ecdysteroids were analyzed. Several products standardized to 80–95% ecdysterone contained substantially lower amounts than declared, with measured 20-hydroxyecdysone levels ranging from below the limit of detection to approximately 50 mg per capsule, whereas some non-standardized products exhibited moderate to high levels, reaching up to approximately 105 mg per capsule. Variability in turkesterone content was also observed among products marketed as standardized extracts. The method provides a simple, reliable, and accessible approach for the quantitative analysis of major phytoecdysteroids in complex plant matrices and dietary supplements. Its implementation may support phytochemical research, routine quality control, and anti-doping monitoring of ecdysteroid-containing products. Full article

The upscaling of turbines in the offshore wind industry has been unprecedented, as compared to 5–6 MW rated turbines 10 years ago. A typical 20–26 MW rated turbine in modern commercial applications (MingYang MySE 18.X-20 MW installed in 2025 and 26 MW prototype by Dongfang Electric tested in 2025) has been demonstrated. This scaling has been made possible by increasing rotor diameters (>250 m) and hub heights (>150–180 m) to achieve capacity factors of up to 55–65%, annual energy generation of more than 80 GWh/turbine, and significant decreases in levelised cost of energy (LCOE) to current values of up to 63–65 USD 2023/MWh globally averaged in 2023 (with minor variability in 2024 due to market changes and new regional areas). The paper analyses turbine upscaling over three levels of hierarchy, including turbine scale—rated capacity and physical aspect, project scale—multi-gigawatts of farms, and market scale—the global pipeline > 1500 GW level, and combines techno-economic evaluation, structural evaluation of loads, and infrastructure needs assessment. The upscaling has the advantage of reducing the number of turbines dramatically (e.g., 500 to 67 turbines in a 1 GW farm, as turbine size is increased to 15 MW) and balancing-of-plant (BoP) CAPEX (turbine-to-turbine foundations and cables) by some 20 to 30 percent per unit of capacity, and serial production learning rates of between 15 and 18% per doubling of capacity. But the problems that come with the increase in ultra-large designs are nonlinear increments in mass and load (i.e., blade-root and tower-bending moments), logistical constraints (blades > 120 m, nacelle up to 800–1000 tonnes demanding special vessels and ports), supply-chain issues (rare-earth materials, vessel shortages increase day rates by 30–50%), and technology limitations (aeroelastic compounded by numerical differences between reference 5 MW, 10 MW, and 15 MW models), it becomes evident that there is a significant increase in deflections of the tower and blades and platform surge/pitch responses with continued increases in power levels, but without a correspondingly mature infrastructure. The regional differences (mature ports of Europe vs. U.S. Jones Act restrictions vs. scale-up of vessels/manufacturing in China) lead to the necessity of optimisation depending on the context. The analysis concludes that, to the extent of mature markets with adapted logistics, continuous upscaling is an effective business strategy and can result in 5 to 12 percent further reductions in LCOE, but beyond that point, gains become marginal or even negative, as risks and costs increase. The competitiveness of the future depends on multi-scale/multi-market-based approaches—modular-based families of turbines, programmatic standardisation, vibration control innovations, and industry coordination towards supply-chain alignment and standards. Its major strength is that it transcends mere size–cost relationships and shows how nonlinear structural processes, aero-hydro-servo-elastic interactions, and bottlenecks in logistical systems are becoming more determinant of the efficiency of ultra-large turbines. The study demonstrates that upscaling turbines has LCOE benefits through the support of associated improvements in installation facility, supply-chain preparedness, and structural vibration control potential, based on the comparisons of quantitative loads, techno-economic scaling trends, and regional market differentiation. Full article