Search Results (1,654)

Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common childhood malignancy, yet diagnosis still relies primarily on invasive bone-marrow procedures and advanced laboratory assays. Non-invasive, rapid, and cost-effective tools remain an unmet need. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has shown promise for detecting cancer-associated biochemical changes in biofluids and cells. Methods: Serum from pediatric ALL patients and controls (n = 103; ALL = 45, controls = 58: healthy = 14, hematology controls = 44 with anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and pancytopenia) was analyzed using FTIR. Spectra (800–1800, 2800–3500 cm⁻¹) were preprocessed with baseline correction, derivative filtering, and normalization. Group differences were assessed statistically, and logistic regression with stratified 10-fold cross-validation was applied; Receiver operating characteristic (ROC)\precision–recall (PR) analyses were based on out-of-fold predictions. Results: Distinct spectral alterations were observed between ALL and controls. Leukemia samples showed higher amide I (~1640 cm⁻¹) and amide II (~1545 cm⁻¹) absorbance, lower lipid-related bands (~1450, ~2920 cm⁻¹), and increased nucleic-acid–associated signals (~1080 cm⁻¹). Differences were significant (q < 0.05) with moderate effect sizes. Logistic regression achieved area under the curve (AUC) ≈ 0.80 with sensitivity ~0.73–0.84 across practical decision thresholds (0.50 → 0.30) and higher recall attainable at the expense of specificity. Principal component analysis (PCA)\hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated partial but consistent group separation, aligning with supervised performance. Conclusions: Serum FTIR spectroscopy shows promise for distinguishing pediatric ALL from controls by reflecting disease-related metabolic changes. The technique is rapid, label-free, and requires only small serum volumes. Our findings represent proof-of-concept, and validation in larger, multi-center studies is needed before clinical implementation can be considered. Full article

The manufacturing techniques, structural features, and optical attributes of titanium dioxide (TiO₂) nanoparticles are highlighted in this study. These nanoparticles are notable for their remarkable photocatalytic activity, cheap cost, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. TiO₂ consists of three polymorph structures: anatase, rutile, and brookite. Because of its electrical characteristics and large surface area, anatase is the most efficient for photocatalysis when exposed to UV light. The crystallinity, size, and shape of titania nanoparticles (NPs) are influenced by diverse production techniques. Sol-gel, hydrothermal, solvothermal, microwave-assisted, and green synthesis with plant extracts are examples of common methods. Different degrees of control over morphology and surface properties are possible with each approach, and these factors ultimately affect functioning. For example, microwave synthesis provides quick reaction rates, whereas sol-gel enables the creation of homogeneous nanoparticles. XRD and SEM structural investigations validate nanostructures with crystallite sizes between 15 and 70 nm. Particle size, synthesis technique, and annealing temperature all affect optical characteristics such as bandgap (3.0–3.3 eV), fluorescence emission, and UV-visible absorbance. Generally speaking, anatase has a smaller crystallite size and a greater bandgap than rutile. TiO₂ nanoparticles are used in gas sensing, food packaging, biomedical coatings, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), photocatalysis for wastewater treatment, and agriculture. Researchers are actively exploring methods like adding metals or non-metals, making new composite materials, and changing the surface to improve how well they absorb visible light. Full article

While recent industrial automation trends emphasize the importance of non-destructive inspection by material-identifying millimeter-wave, terahertz-wave, and infrared (MMW, THz, IR) monitoring, fundamental tools in these wavelength bands (such as sensors) are still immature. Although inorganic semiconductors serve as diverse sensors with well-established large-scale fine-processing fabrication, the use of those devices is insufficient for non-destructive monitoring due to the lack of photo-absorbent properties for such major materials in partial regions across MMW–IR wavelengths. To satisfy the inherent advantageous non-destructive MMW–IR material identification, ultrabroadband operation is indispensable for photo-sensors under compact structure, flexible designability, and sensitive performances. This review then introduces the recent advances of carbon nanotube film-based photo-thermoelectric imagers regarding usable and high-yield device fabrication techniques and scientific synergy among computer vision to collectively satisfy material identification with three-dimensional (3D) structure reconstruction. This review synergizes material science, printable electronics, high-yield fabrication, sensor devices, optical measurements, and imaging into guidelines as functional non-destructive inspection platforms. The motivation of this review is to introduce the recent scientific fusion of MMW–IR sensors with visible-light computer vision, and emphasize its significance (non-invasive material-identifying sub-millimeter-resolution 3D-reconstruction with 660 nm–1.15 mm-wavelength imagers at noise equivalent power within 100 pWHz^−1/2) among the existing testing methods. Full article

Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) are secondary metabolites of interest for the development of natural sunscreens, owing to their antioxidant activity and ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-absorbing properties. MAA-rich aqueous extracts obtained from the Chilean red alga Mazzaella laminarioides (locally known as luga cuchara) were analyzed by HPLC and loaded into chitosan nanoparticles (CSNPs), with an encapsulation efficiency of 90.1%. The resulting CS nanoformulations (CSNFs) were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, DLS and TEM microscopy, confirming the presence of nanoparticles with a core diameter of 94 ± 11 nm and FTIR absorption bands accounting for CS functional groups. Pre-treatment of HaCaT keratinocytes with CSNFs conferred complete protection against low-to-moderate UVA doses (5, 10, 15, and 30 J/cm²). Remarkably, cells still retained a protection efficacy of 64.7% under lethal UVA exposure (60 J/cm²), with gene expression evidence suggesting the activation of a compensatory stress response to photo-oxidative damage. CSNFs were also capable of restoring cell viability in post-treatment experiments at UVA doses of 30 J/cm² (100% cell viability) and 60 J/cm² (~43% cell viability). This is the first demonstration that nanoencapsulation of an MAA-rich algal extract yields superior UVA photoprotection in human keratinocytes compared with non-encapsulated MAA-based formulations, contributing to the effort of developing eco-friendly sunscreens. Full article

Objective: The human body cannot withstand intense mechanical forces generated by an earthquake. The shaking effect of an earthquake, as the human body absorbs it, produces both visible and invisible injuries. Therefore, it is essential to provide accurate triage in the process of mass casualties. Hence, this study aims to characterize green triage patients of the 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Turkey, earthquake and emphasize the need to reconsider mass casualty triage. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on green triage patients who did not receive first-aid medical attention and attended the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital. The development of crush syndrome (CS), the receipt of renal replacement therapy (RRT), and associated injuries were considered. Results: Among 295 individuals, CS occurred in 32.2%, and RRT was required in 7.1% of cases. In addition to the traditional markers of CS, non-trapped green triage patients developed both CS and required RRT, as well as sustained injuries. Whether trapped or not, CK levels emerged as a significant predictor of CS. Conclusions: Green triage patients may acquire CS even in the absence of obvious injuries or entrapment. Accurate triage can be life-saving even in the absence of obvious injuries. Full article

Nanoparticles suspended in a liquid alter the properties of the base liquid, expanding its fields of application. Nanodispersions can have several applications in solar energy, including serving as liquid sunlight absorbers, acting as optical filters in optics, or functioning as heat transfer fluids in solar thermal applications. However, for a precise evaluation of their use in a specific field, their properties must be carefully assessed. In this work, we use two different methods for the determination of the optical scattering and absorption coefficients of a nanodispersion of boron carbide (B₄C), and we compare the obtained results. Monochromatic measurements are performed at 635, 685, 730, and 830 nm, utilizing a technique that relies on the theory of optical scattering in an infinite medium. They are compared with spectrally resolved measurements of ballistic and total transmittance in the wavelength range of 400–850 nm, obtained using a spectrophotometer with an integrating sphere. The two methods are consistent and give results in good agreement. We also found that the mean radius of nanoparticles is higher than expected, confirming the non-negligible scattering. Full article

The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is receiving growing attention for its agro-industrial potential, particularly due to its seeds, which are the source of locust bean gum (LBG), a galactomannan-rich polysaccharide with wide applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. Efficient dehusking of carob seeds is critical to maximize LBG purity and yield, yet current industrial methods pose environmental concerns and lack robust quality control tools. In this study, we demonstrate the use of Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) and Kubelka–Munk (KM) modeling as a rapid, non-destructive technique to assess dehusking efficiency. By combining spectral data from four complementary spectrometers (450–1800 nm), we identified key reflectance and absorbance features capable of distinguishing raw, industrially treated, and laboratory-dehusked seeds. Notably, our laboratory-treated seeds exhibited a considerably lower reflectance in the NIR plateau (800–1400 nm) compared to raw and industry-treated seeds, and their KM-reconstructed skin showed enhanced absorption bands at 960, 1200, and 1400 nm, consistent with more complete husk removal and improved light penetration. Principal Component Analysis revealed tighter clustering and lower variability in lab-processed seeds, indicating superior process reproducibility. These results establish DRS as a scalable, green analytical tool to support quality control and optimization in carob processing. Full article

Smart polyester materials with embedded near-infrared (NIR) functionalities offer a promising pathway for low-cost, covert tagging, and object identification. In this study we present the development and characterization of polyester packaging surfaces printed with spectrally matched twin dyes that are invisible under visible light but selectively absorbed in the NIR region. The dye patterns were applied using a Direct-to-Film transfer (DTF) method onto polyester substrates. To validate their optical behavior, we applied a dual measurement approach. Laboratory grade NIR absorbance spectroscopy was used to characterize the spectral profiles of the twin dyes in the 400–900 nm range. A custom photodiode-based detection system was constructed to evaluate the feasibility of low-cost, embedded NIR absorbance sensing. Results from both methods show correlation in absorbance contrast between the dye pairs, confirming their suitability for spectral tagging. The developed materials were evaluated in a real-world detection scenario using commercially available NIR cameras. Under dark field conditions with edge illuminated planar lighting, the twin dye patterns were successfully recognized through custom software, enabling non-contact identification and spatial localization of the NIR codes. This work presents a low-cost, scalable approach for smart packaging applications based on optical detection of actively illuminated twin dyes using accessible NIR imaging systems. Full article

The olive tree has exceptional agricultural and economic importance in Mediterranean regions due to its fruit, which is used to produce olive oil. However, the olive oil industry generates a significant amount of waste, including leaves from Olea europaea L. These leaves contain a high concentration of bioactive compounds, predominantly phenolic ones, which are well known for their antioxidant properties and health benefits. Determining antioxidant capacity involves the use of different assays based on absorbance (DPPH, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl; and ABTS, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) and fluorescence (ORAC, Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), which require reagents and long waiting times. Therefore, having a non-destructive technique capable of providing this information would be useful. To explore this, 120 olive leaf samples were analyzed using the three antioxidant assays to quantify their total antioxidant capacity. Predictive models were successfully developed for each of the three methods, achieving coefficients of determination (R²) between 0.9 and 1 across calibration, validation, and prediction. Additionally, high residual predictive deviation (RPD) values were obtained, indicating that the models exhibit strong reliability and predictive performance. Full article

This study uses provincial panel data from China (2014–2022) to examine the effect of agricultural outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) on agricultural imports. Employing panel regression, mediation effect, and spatial Durbin models, it explores the underlying mechanisms, spatial spillover effects, and regional heterogeneity, while emphasizing the role of OFDI in building sustainable agricultural supply chains. The results show that: (1) OFDI significantly promotes agricultural imports, enhancing the stability and diversity of the domestic supply, supporting food security, and facilitating the sustainable allocation of resources. (2) Mechanism analysis reveals that OFDI affects imports through reverse technology spillovers and improved international relations. (3) Heterogeneity analysis indicates that OFDI exerts stronger influence in major grain-marketing areas, production–marketing balance regions, and provinces along the Belt and Road, compared with grain-producing areas and non-Belt and Road provinces. (4) Spatial analysis based on the 0–1 adjacency matrix reveals that agricultural imports across Chinese provinces exhibit significant positive spatial autocorrelation. Furthermore, OFDI not only directly promotes agricultural imports within a given province but also generates notable positive spatial spillover effects, whereby OFDI in neighboring provinces likewise exert a positive influence on the province’s agricultural imports. To enhance the import effect of agricultural OFDI and stabilize the domestic supply of agricultural products, policy implications suggest that the government should adhere to the agricultural “going global” strategy, enhance enterprises’ capacity to absorb reverse technology spillovers, and explore regionally differentiated pathways for agricultural OFDI, among other policy recommendations. Full article

Background and Objectives: Intraoperative bleeding during neurosurgical procedures poses a significant risk by increasing morbidity and mortality, obscuring the surgical field and prolonging operative time and hospitalization. Effective hemostasis is therefore essential, frequently necessitating the use of topical hemostatic agents. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a plant-derived oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC) hemostatic agent StypCel™ Absorbable Hemostat (Medprin Regenerative Medical Technologies Co., Ltd.) in various neurosurgical interventions, including intracranial tumor resections, spinal surgeries, trigeminal neuralgia operations, cerebrospinal fluid fistula repair and ventriculoperitoneal shunt implantation. The study aimed to assess its performance in these procedures due to the high risk of intraoperative bleeding and the challenges of achieving hemostasis in delicate neural structures. Materials and Methods: This prospective, single-arm clinical study included 46 patients who underwent neurosurgical procedures at three neurosurgerical clinics in Riga, Latvia. The primary endpoint was the rate of effective bleeding control achieved within 5 min of StypCel™ application. Safety assessments included monitoring for central nervous system infections (CNSI), intracranial granuloma formation, new-onset neurological deficits, seizures, anaphylactic reactions or device malfunction. All adverse events (AEs) and serious adverse events (SAEs) were documented during the postoperative follow-up. Results: The cohort consisted of 46 patients (29 females and 17 males), including 20 with neoplastic intracranial lesions and 26 with other neurosurgical pathologies. Effective bleeding control within 5 min was achieved in 93.5% of cases (95% CI: 82.1–98.6%). In three patients, bleeding control exceeded 5 min due to unexpected arterial hemorrhage encountered during intracranial tumor resection. No device-related AEs, SAEs, CNSIs or granuloma formations were reported throughout the follow-up period. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that StypCel™ Absorbable Hemostat is a safe and effective adjunct for achieving intraoperative hemostasis in neurosurgical procedures. Its favorable safety profile and high hemostatic success rate support its clinical utility, particularly for controlling low-pressure venous or capillary bleeding. Further comparative and long-term studies are warranted to validate these results in broader surgical settings. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nasal biopharmaceutics is the scientific understanding of product and patient factors that determine the rate and extent of drug exposure following nasal administration. The authors considered whether current biopharmaceutics tools are fit for the current and future needs of nasal product development and regulation. Methods: The limitations of current methods were critically assessed, unmet needs were highlighted, and key questions were posed to guide future directions in biopharmaceutics research. Results: The emergence of physiologically based biopharmaceutics models for nasal delivery has the potential to drive the scientific understanding of nasal delivery. Simulations can guide formulation and device development, inform dose selection and generate mechanistic insights. Developments in modeling need to be complemented by advances in experimental systems, including the use of realistic or idealized nasal casts to estimate the regional deposition of nasal sprays and refined in vitro cell culture models to study nasal drug absorption and the influence of mucus. Similarly, improvements are needed to address the practicalities of using animals in non-clinical studies of nasal drug delivery, and greater clinical use of gamma scintigraphy/magnetic resonance imaging is recommended to measure the delivery and nasal retention of different formulations in humans. Conclusions: Nasal drug delivery is a rapidly growing field and requires advances in nasal biopharmaceutics to support product innovation. Key needs are (i) validated clinically relevant critical product attributes for product performance and (ii) established links between how patients administer the product and where in the nose it deposits and dissolves in order to act or be absorbed, leading to its desired clinical effect. Full article

Objectives: Rifaximin is a non-absorbable antibiotic that has an efficacy for hepatic encephalopathy (HE). We previously demonstrated that rifaximin improved liver functional reserve, but this was a single-center study with a limited number of cases, and there were few cases of long-term use. Here, we conducted a multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy of long-term rifaximin administration on the liver functional reserve. Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted on cirrhotic patients who received rifaximin for more than 12 months. We evaluated the efficacy of long-term rifaximin administration on the liver functional reserve. Results: A total of 65 cirrhotic patients were enrolled. Administration of rifaximin for 12 months significantly improved the Child–Pugh score (CPS) and albumin–bilirubin (ALBI) score. Regarding the parameters of the CPS, albumin scores significantly improved in addition to HE scores at 12 months. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (>0.69 mg/dL) at baseline were the predictive factor for improvement in the liver functional reserve. Conclusions: This study suggests that long-term rifaximin administration may improve the liver functional reserve in cirrhotic patients through improvement in albumin levels. CRP levels predict improvement in the liver functional reserve. Full article

Hydrogels are crosslinked polymer chains that form a three-dimensional network, widely used for wound dressing due to their ability to absorb significant amounts of fluid. This study aimed to develop a hydrogel patch for wound dressing with self-healing properties, particularly for joints and stretchable body parts, providing a physical barrier while maintaining an optimal environment for wound healing. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (Na CMC) were crosslinked with borax, which reacts with the active hydroxyl groups in both polymers to form a hydrogel. The patches were loaded with ciprofloxacin HCl (CIP), a broad-spectrum antibiotic used to prevent and treat various types of wound infections. Hydrogels were subjected to rheological, morphological, antimicrobial, self-healing, ex vivo release, swelling, cytotoxicity, wound healing, and stability studies. The hydrogels exhibited shear-thinning, thixotropic, and viscoelastic properties. Microscopic images of the CIP hydrogel patch showed a porous, crosslinked matrix. The antimicrobial activity of the patch revealed antibacterial effectiveness against five types of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, demonstrating a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.05 μg/mL against E. coli. The swelling percentage was found to be 337.4 ± 12.7%. The cumulative CIP release percentage reached 103.7 ± 3.7% after 3 h, followed by zero-order release kinetics. The stability studies revealed that the crossover point shifted toward higher frequencies after 3 months of storage at room temperature, suggesting a relaxation in the hydrogel bonds. The cytotoxicity study revealed that the CIP hydrogel patch is non-cytotoxic. Additionally, the in vivo study demonstrated that the CIP hydrogel patch possesses wound-healing ability. Therefore, the CIP PVA/Na CMC/Borax patch could be used in wound dressing. Full article

Meta-cresol (m-cresol) is highly corrosive and toxic, and is widely present in industrial wastewater. As a pollutant, it adversely affects various aspects of human production and daily life. To evaluate the feasibility of using sunflowers to remediate m-cresol-contaminated wastewater, this study used Helianthus annuus L. as the test subject to analyze its tolerance and the wastewater purification efficiency under different m-cresol concentrations. The results showed that the net photosynthetic rate (P_n), transpiration rate (T_r), stomatal conductance (G_s), and light energy utilization efficiency (LUE) of Helianthus annuus L. exhibited an overall decreasing trend, while the intercellular CO₂ concentration (Cᵢ) initially increased and subsequently decreased with increasing m-cresol concentration. When m-cresol concentration reached or exceeded 60 mg·L⁻¹, the net photosynthetic rate and intercellular CO₂ concentration in the leaves showed opposite trends with further increases in m-cresol stress. The inhibition of net photosynthesis in sunflowers by m-cresol was mainly attributed to non-stomatal factors. The maximum photochemical efficiency (F_v/F_m), actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII), photochemical quenching coefficient (q^P), PSII excitation energy partition coefficient (α), and the fraction of absorbed light energy used for photochemistry (P) all decreased with increasing m-cresol concentration. In contrast, non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), the quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation [Y(NPQ)], and the fraction of energy dissipated as heat through the antenna (D) first increased and then decreased. Under low-concentration m-cresol stress, sunflowers protected their photosynthetic system by dissipating excess light energy as heat as a stress response. However, high concentrations of m-cresol caused irreversible damage to Photosystem II (PSII) in sunflowers. Under m-cresol stress, chlorophyll a exhibited strong stability with minimal degradation. As the m-cresol concentration increased from 30 to 180 mg·L⁻¹, the removal rate decreased from 84.91% to 11.84%. In conclusion, sunflowers show good remediation potential for wastewater contaminated with low concentrations of m-cresol and can be used for treating m-cresol wastewater with concentrations ≤ 51.9 mg·L⁻¹. Full article