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Chemokine receptors are important components of cellular signaling and play a critical role in directing leukocytes during inflammatory reactions. Their importance extends to numerous pathological processes, including tumor differentiation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and associations with multiple inflammatory disorders. The necessity to monitor the in vivo interactions of cellular chemokine receptors has been driven the recent development of novel positron emission tomography (PET) imaging agents. This imaging modality provides non-invasive localization and quantitation of these receptors that cannot be provided through blood or tissue-based assays. Herein, we provide a review of PET imaging of the chemokine receptors that have been imaged to date, namely CXCR3, CXCR4, CCR2, CCR5, and CMKLR1. The quantification of these receptors can aid in understanding various diseases, including cancer, atherosclerosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The development of specific radiotracers targeting these receptors will be discussed, including promising results for disease diagnosis and management. However, challenges persist in fully translating these imaging advancements into practical therapeutic applications. Given the success of CXCR4 PET imaging to date, future research should focus on clinical translation of these approaches to understand their role in the management of a wide variety of diseases. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the performance of GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) for tuberculous meningitis (TBM) and to identify additional indicators to improve diagnostic accuracy. An accuracy study was conducted. During 2011-2019, 243 TBM with 140 non-TBM in three TB-designated facilities in China were enrolled. Microbiological evidence of M tuberculosis (Mtb) in CSF was used as the reference. Additional indicators were identified by Boosted-Classification and Regression Tree (CART), the improvement of diagnostic performance was evaluated by ROC. The diagnostic sensitivity of Xpert was 71.1 % for definite TBM, and 5.5 % for probable/possible TBM. The positive rate of Xpert was improved with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) increasing volume and was associated with CSF color (yellow). The additional indicators obtained by CART were CSF lactate and glucose and increased the sensitivity to 96.1 % (definite TBM) and 84.6 % (probable/possible TBM). The diagnostic performance of Xpert was satisfactory in definite TBM and would significantly be improved by the additional use of CSF lactate and glucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a powerful tool for differential diagnosis among a group of pathologies with different therapeutic approaches/prognoses, the so-called J-wave syndrome. The vectorcardiogram (VCG) can be used as a complementary method to the ECG in several dubious electrocardiographic alterations.Objective: We carried out a VCG analysis after conceiving and measuring a novel parameter (JT-distance) that allows diagnosis of the Brugada ECG pattern.Methods: A retrospective cohort study selected ninety-six ECGs with J-point elevation in V1/V2, ECG superior leads and VCGs, all performed on the same day. A new VCG measurement by Frank method (JT-distance) was conceived and designed in transverse and right sagittal planes by 3 lines drawn 1) at the final third of the QRS loop, comprehending the J-point; 2) at the initial portion of the T loop; 3) a parallel of the J-point line at the beginning of the T loop. JT measure was determined by the distance between parallels. A validation cohort was established in a new sample of thirty-five patients.Results: JT-distance ≥1.5 mm (tranverse plane) and JT-distance >1.25 mm, in the sagittal plane, differentiated Brugada type-1 from Brugada type-2, early repolarization and others, with 95% sensitivity and 68% specificity. JT-distance <1.5 mm (transverse plane) and JT >1.25 mm (sagittal plane) had 100% sensitivity and 85% specificity for Brugada type-1 diagnosis. A validation cohort showed very similar Cohen's kappa levels (0.65 and 0.77, test and validation cohorts, respectively), with overlapping 95% confidence intervals.Conclusions: The novel vectorcardiogram measurement (JT-distance) presented a new diagnostic criterion to identify Brugada pattern. Nevertheless, prospective studies should be performed by other centers to confirm these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present an analytical solution for the interacting generalized holographic dark energy model, assuming a linear interaction rate between dark energy and dark matter. We determine the equation of state parameter, the generalized holographic Ricci dark energy density, the matter density, and the deceleration parameter. By analyzing the behavior of these cosmological parameters, we demonstrate that our model aligns with recent observations and reproduces the late-time accelerated expansion of the Universe. To compare our model with the Λ CDM model, we use various diagnostic tools including statefinder, O m (z) -diagnostic, statefinder hierarchy, growth rate analysis, and ω H - ω H ′ plane. We also analyze the stability of the model by examining the speed of sound. These methods show that the dynamics of the Universe remain very close to that of the standard cosmological model. • Analytical Solution for Interacting Generalized Holographic Dark Energy Model : This paper presents a novel analytical solution for the interacting holographic dark energy model. • Comparative Analysis with ΛCDM Model : Using diagnostic tools, this study compares the proposed model with the Λ CDM model. • Stability Assessment : The model's stability is rigorously tested by evaluating the speed of sound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin cancer is a critical global public health concern, with melanoma being the deadliest variant, correlated to 80% of skin cancer-related deaths and a remarkable propensity to metastasize. Despite notable progress in skin cancer prevention and diagnosis, the limitations of existing methods accentuate the demand for precise diagnostic tools. Biosensors have emerged as valuable clinical tools, enabling rapid and reliable point-of-care (POC) testing of skin cancer. This review offers insights into skin cancer development, highlights essential cutaneous melanoma biomarkers, and assesses the current landscape of biosensing technologies for diagnosis. The comprehensive analysis in this review underscores the transformative potential of biosensors in revolutionizing melanoma skin cancer diagnosis, emphasizing their critical role in advancing patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. The increasing availability of these approaches supports direct diagnosis and aims to reduce the reliance on biopsies, enhancing POC diagnosis. Recent advancements in biosensors for skin cancer diagnosis hold great promise, with their integration into healthcare expected to enhance early detection accuracy and reliability, thereby mitigating socioeconomic disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis, a prevalent bone disorder influenced by genetic and environmental elements, significantly increases the likelihood of fractures and bone weakness, greatly affecting the lives of those afflicted. Yet, the exact epigenetic processes behind the onset of osteoporosis are still unclear. Growing research indicates that epigenetic changes could act as vital mediators that connect genetic tendencies and environmental influences, thereby increasing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. Within these epigenetic factors, certain types of RNA, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have been recognized as key regulatory elements. These RNA types wield significant influence on gene expression through epigenetic regulation, directing various biological functions essential to bone metabolism. This extensive review compiles current research uncovering the complex ways in which miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs are involved in the development of osteoporosis, especially in osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Gaining a more profound understanding of the roles these three RNA classes play in osteoporosis could reveal new diagnostic methods and treatment approaches for this incapacitating condition. In conclusion, this review delves into the complex domain of epigenetic regulation via non-coding RNA in osteoporosis. It sheds light on the complex interactions and mechanisms involving miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs within osteoblasts and osteoclasts, offering an in-depth understanding of the less explored aspects of osteoporosis pathogenesis. These insights not only reveal the complexity of the disease but also offer significant potential for developing new diagnostic methods and targeted treatments. Therefore, this review marks a crucial step in deciphering the elusive complexities of osteoporosis, leading towards improved patient care and enhanced quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic levitation (MagLev) is a well-documented, robust technique for density measurements and separations. Although the potential of MagLev as an emerging tool in biotechnology has been recently investigated, the practical use of MagLev in diagnosis and disease detection merits further attention. This review highlights the diagnostic capacity of a simple and portable MagLev system and the possibilities and limitations of the MagLev technique for density-based separation, classification, and manipulation of soft matter and biological systems (e.g., cells, proteins), which in turn may pave the way for the discovery of disease-specific biomarkers. The magnetic levitation (MagLev) technique enables the separation, measurement, and analysis of a wide range of materials and biosystems. The simple, inexpensive, rapid, and energy-free MagLev technique can detect and separate useful biomarkers involved in disease progression from their complex environments, which has great potential in diagnostic and biomedical applications. MagLev can also rapidly identify and discriminate a variety of biomolecules as they experience various physiological conditions in a biological complex and consequently change density, including drug screening in personalized medicine. MagLev can furthermore detect changes in the density of biomolecules in certain diseases, creating a point-of-care device for diagnostic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increased modularity in the total hip arthroplasty (THA) allows adapting the prosthesis to the specific anatomical characteristics of each patient. However, the advantages of the modular THA are shadowed by the increased number of prosthesis failures observed in patients. The presence of junction in modular THA may increase its risk of mechanical failure. Moreover, the micro movements between neck and stem could lead to the production of metallic debris which may cause tissue inflammation and unsealing of prosthesis due to osseous dissolution. It is necessary to understand the mechanism of dispersion of the metal particles from the prosthesis into the tissue. Techniques currently applied in hospitals, such as X-ray scans or optical tissue microscopies, are able to distinguish metal particles, but unable to identify their specific metallic origin. In this work, within the TissueMaps project, we have proved that Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) is able to provide the distribution and elemental composition of particles from the prosthesis into the pseudo capsular tissue samples (near the femoral head) and identify the features observed under optical microscopy, in a case of broken neck prosthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A framework for evaluating solar irradiance probabilistic forecasts is proposed. • The verification framework is based on visual diagnostic tools and a set of scores. • The verification metrics are applied to ensemble and quantile forecasts. • It is recommended to use a set of scores to assess the quality of the forecasts. We propose a framework for evaluating the quality of solar irradiance probabilistic forecasts. The verification framework is based on visual diagnostic tools and a set of scoring rules mostly originating from the weather forecast verification community. Two types of probabilistic forecasts are used as a basis to illustrate the application of these verification approaches. The first one consists in ensemble forecasts commonly provided by national or international meteorological centres. The second one originates from statistical methods and produces a set of discrete quantile forecasts, the nominal proportions of which span the unit interval. These probabilistic forecasts are evaluated for two selected sites that experience very different climatic conditions. The first site is located in the continental US while the second one is situated on La Réunion Island. Although visual diagnostic tools can help identify deficiencies in generated forecasts, it is recommended that a set of numerical scores be used to assess the quality of probabilistic forecasts. In particular, the Continuous Ranked Probability Score (CRPS) seems to have all the features needed to evaluate a probabilistic forecasting system and, as such, may become a standard for verifying solar irradiance probabilistic forecasts and by extension probabilistic forecasts of solar power generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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[Display omitted] Saliva has the potential to work alongside needles in standard medical diagnosis. Yet the number of studies aimed at deciphering the biochemical communication between saliva and the rest of the body's systems is still very limited. The aim of this study is to investigate the interfluid interaction between saliva and serum by determining the correlation between saliva pH and serum biochemical parameters under mild conditions. Ultimately, using saliva may provide a stress-free diagnostic tool, but more ambitiously, the pH of saliva could present a genuine cost-effective screening tool that may immensely benefit areas with limited access to health care and diagnostic labs. Saliva and blood samples were collected from 43 randomly selected children (7–12 years), living in Jeddah, free from obesity and chronic or systemic body and mouth diseases. A complete serum biochemical analysis was performed, and the salivary pH of all samples was measured immediately at the time of collection. The correlations between saliva pH and serum biochemical parameters were investigated using Univariate and multiple linear regression models. Our results showed that pH has a weak significant positive correlation with total protein and a negative weak significant correlation with urea. Weak correlations suggest the existence of more serum factors to be investigated for their effect on the pH using a stepwise multiple linear regression. The multiple linear models' calculated saliva pH values were close to the measured values, demonstrating its possible capacity to predict saliva pH using serum parameters. The regression model's successful prediction of saliva pH using serum biochemicals reflects the significant correlations between the body fluids' parameters and invites more research to elucidate these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Encephalitis and meningoencephalitis imply inflammation of the brain parenchyma, and comprise many diagnostic entities, such as various infections and causes of dysimmunity. The cause remains unknown in around 50% of cases. Objectives To summarize the main infectious causes of encephalitis and meningoencephalitis acquired in Europe, and the diagnostic means to identify them. Sources PubMed, ECDC and WHO websites, personal experience. Content The principal infectious causes of encephalitis and meningoencephalitis acquired in Europe in adults are discussed in this review, with special emphasis on the microbiological and imaging diagnostic approaches. The role of electroencephalography in diagnosing encephalitis is also mentioned. Among infections, viruses are more frequent than other pathogen types, and their epidemiology varies according to geographic area. A few bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes and Mycobacterium tuberculosis , are also to be considered. In contrast, parasites and fungi are rare encephalitis causes in Europe. Implications Identifying the causative pathogen of infectious encephalitis and meningoencephalitis is complex because of the variety of pathogens, the epidemiology of which is determined by geography and environmental factors. Furthermore, despite extensive microbiological testing, many cases of encephalitis remain of unknown origin. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography are useful complementary diagnostic tools, and newer unbiased sequencing technologies might help to fill in the diagnostic gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives Our goal was to test whether an enzymatic, colorimetric assay, the WAKO NEFA kit, provides information equivalent to liquid chromatography (LC) LC-based measures of free fatty acid (FFA). Design & methods We reanalyzed nadir FFA samples from 109 volunteers from a previous study where we demonstrated that maximal suppression of FFA concentrations predicts metabolic abnormalities in humans; the results from the WAKO NEFA kit, which has been widely used for over three decades, could not replicate our findings. We conducted additional studies to directly compare results from this kit to our LC-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method that was validated by our LC-UV detection method. Results Plasma samples with FFA concentrations ranging from 0.015 to 1.813 mmol/L were measured both by LC-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and by the WAKO NEFA kit. Despite good overall agreement (R2 = 0.86), the slope was significantly different from 1.0 and the intercept was significantly different from zero. The results from the kit were especially discrepant with FFA concentrations <0.200 and >1.000 mmol/L. Some of the discrepancy was related to the use of oleate as the standard solution for the kit and the substrate specificity of the kit enzymes for different fatty acids. Despite attempts to improve the kit by modifying the reaction time, sample volume and the types of standard solutions, we could not obtain a satisfactory agreement between the WAKO NEFA results and LC/MS. Conclusions The WAKO NEFA kit should not be used when high precision and accuracy of FFA concentrations over a wide range is required. Highlights • FFA measured by WAKO NEFA kit are inferior in predicting metabolic abnormalities. • We found systematic and random errors using the WAKO NEFA kit to measure FFA. • The systematic errors are related to the oleate calibration standard solution. • The random errors may relate to enzyme specificity issues with WAKO FFA kit. • Errors persisted despite modifying reaction time, volume and calibration standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infants with in-utero opioid exposure are most commonly assessed using the Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring System (FNASS) or a modified version of that tool. Traditionally, the purpose of these tools has been to characterize the extent of withdrawal signs to guide the pharmacologic treatment for infants with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). In the past decade however, in response to some of the limitations of the FNASS tool, there has been an increasing emphasis on developing novel assessment tools not based on the FNASS in addition to the promotion of non-pharmacologic treatment options as the first line treatment for infants with opioid exposure. Additionally, several prediction tools that may be useful in determining which patients are at high or low risk for receiving pharmacologic therapy have been developed. In this review, we will evaluate the clinical utility of these novel tools and will consider new avenues for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Electrochemical biosensing techniques are being explored for quick and accurate breast cancer biomarker detection. • Biosensor technology in medical devices has created affordable, adaptable, and efficient diagnostic tools. • Label-free methods and nucleic acid sensors are being developed for faster, simpler detection and gene mutation identification in breast cancer. Breast cancer continues to be a significant contributor to global cancer deaths, particularly among women. This highlights the critical role of early detection and treatment in boosting survival rates. While conventional diagnostic methods like mammograms, biopsies, ultrasounds, and MRIs are valuable tools, limitations exist in terms of cost, invasiveness, and the requirement for specialized equipment and trained personnel. Recent shifts towards biosensor technologies offer a promising alternative for monitoring biological processes and providing accurate health diagnostics in a cost-effective, non-invasive manner. These biosensors are particularly advantageous for early detection of primary tumors, metastases, and recurrent diseases, contributing to more effective breast cancer management. The integration of biosensor technology into medical devices has led to the development of low-cost, adaptable, and efficient diagnostic tools. In this framework, electrochemical screening platforms have garnered significant attention due to their selectivity, affordability, and ease of result interpretation. The current review discusses various breast cancer biomarkers and the potential of electrochemical biosensors to revolutionize early cancer detection, making provision for new diagnostic platforms and personalized healthcare solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The lack of effective, integrated diagnostic tools poses a major challenge to the primary care management of febrile childhood illnesses. These limitations are especially evident in low-resource settings and are often inappropriately compensated by antimicrobial overprescription. Electronic clinical decision algorithms (eCDAs) have the potential to close these gaps by guiding antibiotic use and better identifying serious disease. Aims This narrative review summarizes existing eCDAs, to provide an overview of their degree of validation and to identify gaps in current knowledge and prospects for future innovation. Sources Structured literature review in PubMed and Embase complemented by Google search and contact with developers. Content Six integrated eCDAs were identified: three (eIMCI, REC and Bangladesh digital IMCI) based on Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI); four (SL electronic iCCM, MEDSINC, electronic iCCM and D-Tree electronic iCCM) on Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM); two (ALMANACH, MSFeCARE) with a modified IMCI content; and one (ePOCT) that integrates novel content with biomarker testing. The types of publications and evaluation studies varied greatly: the content and evidence base were published for two (ALMANACH and ePOCT) and ALMANACH and ePOCT were validated in efficacy studies. Other types of evaluations, such as compliance and acceptability, were available for D-Tree electronic iCCM, eIMCI and ALMANACH. Several evaluations are still ongoing. Future prospects include conducting effectiveness and impact studies using data gathered through larger studies to adapt the medical content to local epidemiology, improving the software and sensors, and assessing factors that influence compliance and scale-up. Implications eCDAs are valuable tools that have the potential to improve management of febrile children in primary care and increase the rational use of diagnostics and antimicrobials. Next steps in the evidence pathway should be larger effectiveness and impact studies (including cost analysis) and continuous integration of clinically useful diagnostic and treatment innovations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are incapacitating disorders that result in progressive motor and cognitive impairment. These diseases include Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia, frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, Friedreich’s ataxia, and prion disease. Dementia causing NDDs impose a high social and economic burden on communities around the world. Rapid growth in knowledge regarding the pathogenic mechanisms and disease-associated biomarkers of these diseases in the past few decades have accelerated the development of new diagnostic methods and therapeutic opportunities. Continuous effort is being applied to the development of more advanced, easy-to-apply and reliable methods of diagnosis, that are able to identify disease manifestation at its earliest stages and before clinical symptoms become apparent. Development of these diagnostic tools are essential in aiding effective disease management through accurate monitoring of disease progression, timely application of therapeutics and evaluation of treatment efficacy. Recently, several studies have identified novel biomarkers based on compounds in exhaled breath associated with specific NDDs. The use of breath testing, as a means of monitoring neurodegenerative disease onset and progression, has the potential to have a significant impact on augmenting the diagnosis of NDDs as the approach is non-invasive, relatively cost effective and straight forward to implement. This review highlights key features of current diagnostic methods utilised to identify NDDs, and describes the potential application and limitations associated with the use of breath analysis for disease diagnosis and progression monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular diagnostics is of critical importance to public health worldwide. It facilitates not only detection and characterization of diseases, but also monitors drug responses, assists in the identification of genetic modifiers and disease susceptibility. Based upon DNA variation, a wide range of molecular-based tests are available to assess/diagnose diseases. The CRISPR-Cas9 system has recently emerged as a versatile tool for biological and medical research. In this system, a single guide RNA (sgRNA) directs the endonuclease Cas9 to a targeted DNA sequence for site-specific manipulation. As designing CRISPR-guided nucleases can be done easily and relatively fast, the CRISPR/Cas9 system has evolved as widely used DNA editing tool. This technique led to a large number of gene editing studies in variety of organisms. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated diagnosis and therapy has picked up pace due to specificity and accuracy of CRISPR. The aim is not only to identify specific pathogens, especially virus but also to repair disease-causing alleles by changing the DNA sequence at the exact location on the chromosome. At present, PCR-based molecular diagnostic testing predominates; however, alternative technologies aimed at reducing genome complexity without PCR are anticipated to gain momentum in the coming years. Furthermore, development of integrated chip devices should allow point-of-care testing and facilitate genetic readouts from single cells and molecules. Together with molecular based therapy CRISPR based diagnostic testing will be a revolution in modern health care settings. In this review, we emphasize on current developing diagnostic techniques based upon CRISPR Cas approach along with short insights on its therapeutic usage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prediction of postpartum hyperketonemia (HYK) using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry analysis could be a practical diagnostic option for farms because these data are now available from routine milk analysis during Dairy Herd Improvement testing. The objectives of this study were to (1) develop and evaluate blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) prediction models using multivariate linear regression (MLR), partial least squares regression (PLS), and artificial neural network (ANN) methods and (2) evaluate whether milk FTIR spectrum (mFTIR)–based models are improved with the inclusion of test-day variables (mTest; milk composition and producer-reported data). Paired blood and milk samples were collected from multiparous cows 5 to 18 d postpartum at 3 Wisconsin farms (3,629 observations from 1,013 cows). Blood BHB concentration was determined by a Precision Xtra meter (Abbot Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA), and milk samples were analyzed by a privately owned laboratory (AgSource, Menomonie, WI) for components and FTIR spectrum absorbance. Producer-recorded variables were extracted from farm management software. A blood BHB ≥1.2 mmol/L was considered HYK. The data set was divided into a training set (n = 3,020) and an external testing set (n = 609). Model fitting was implemented with JMP 12 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). A 5-fold crossvalidation was performed on the training data set for the MLR, PLS, and ANN prediction methods, with square root of blood BHB as the dependent variable. Each method was fitted using 3 combinations of variables: mFTIR, mTest, or mTest + mFTIR variables. Models were evaluated based on coefficient of determination, root mean squared error, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Four models (PLS–mTest + mFTIR, ANN–mFTIR, ANN–mTest, and ANN–mTest + mFTIR) were chosen for further evaluation in the testing set after fitting to the full training set. In the cross-validation analysis, model fit was greatest for ANN, followed by PLS and MLR. Diagnostic strength after cross-validation was poorest for MLR and was similar for ANN and PLS. Models that used mTest + mFTIR variables performed marginally better than models that used only mFTIR or mTest variables. These results suggest that blood BHB prediction models that use mFTIR + mTest variables may be useful additions to existing HYK diagnostic and management programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pooled serum testing using whole-virus indirect ELISA has been recently recognized as an official method for surveillance of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV1) in cattle herds in Europe. In this study, a retrospective analysis of data from the French BoHV1 surveillance campaign 2018–2019, including 7434 BoHV1-free certified herds and 157 infected herds, was performed in order to evaluate the diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of two pooled serum indirect ELISAs (from IDEXX and IDVet), in comparison with individual testing by blocking ELISAs targeting the gB and gE proteins. Pooled serum testing showed a relative specificity higher than 97.5% and a detection rate of 100% since all gB+/gE+ samples were found in positive pools. At the herd level, no more than one false positive pool was observed in most of BoHV1-free certified herds, leading to a herd relative specificity of 85.1% and 86.0% for the IDEXX and IDVet pooled serum ELISAs, respectively. Among infected herds tested by pool sizes up to 10 sera (n = 122), 46% of herds were detected through pools of size 10 containing a single positive sample, 23% through pools of size 10 containing at least two positive samples, and 31% through pools of smaller sizes. A complementary study based on manually constituted pools revealed that at least one positive sample in 100% and 93.4% of herds could be detected individually by pools of size 10 with the IDEXX and IDVet ELISAs, respectively. However, pooled serum ELISAs were influenced by the level of individual reactivity, since pools composed of either one weak-positive sample or one gB+/gE‐ sample could yield negative results. Altogether, these results provided the first evidence that pooled serum testing (pool size up to 10) is a suitable strategy for surveillance of BoHV1-free cattle farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, we have set up an Advanced Electric Propulsion Diagnostic (AEPD) platform [1] , which allows for the in-situ measurement of a comprehensive set of thruster performance parameters. The platform utilizes a five-axis-movement system for precise positioning of the thruster with respect to the diagnostic heads. In the first setup (AEPD1) an energy-selective mass spectrometer (ESMS) and a miniaturized Faraday probe for ion beam characterization, a telemicroscope and a triangular laser head for measuring the erosion of mechanical parts, and a pyrometer for surface temperature measurements were integrated. The capabilities of the AEPD1 platform were demonstrated with two electric propulsion thrusters, a gridded ion thruster RIT 22 (Airbus Defence & Space, Germany, [13]) and a Hall effect thruster SPT 100D EM1 (EDB Fakel, Russia, [1,4] ), in two different vacuum facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In any conservation project, conservators have to address several questions to design the appropriate intervention strategy. Among them, the effectiveness and duration of protective treatments is an important issue, not easy to evaluate. In the field of metallic cultural heritage, electrochemical techniques such as electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) can be used to evaluate patinas and protective coatings performance. Widely used in industrial applications, the use of these techniques in conservation science is much more recent and limited. During the restauration process of the bronze sphinxes at the main façade of the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid, collaboration with conservators has been established to test the performance of a recently developed gel-electrolyte cell for the electrochemical evaluation of metal cultural heritage. Electrochemical measurements (EIS and Rp) of the patinas have been carried out before, during and after the conservation treatments, on two different areas of the sculpture. This has provided information on how the protective coatings have improved corrosion resistance by 3 orders of magnitude, and how this protection is starting to decrease with time; periodic measurements will allow verifying the performance of the treatment over time and detecting the failure of the protection treatment before its effects are visible on the surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The schemotechnical solutions of object controllers (OCs) cannot be generally accessible due to their technological value. At the same time, OCs are an integral part of computer-based interlocking systems (CBIS), and study of their operation is required to determine the prospects of development and training of the service staff of CBIS. To replenish the insufficient information, the analysis has been carried out per the description of CBIS EBILOCK 950 and the circuit-based technical solution for high-power outputs of MOT OC for three-phase e-motors of alternating current is offered. The proposed schemotechnical solution comprises also a set of diagnostic tools (DT). This set enables to follow the technical condition of power elements of MOT OC, as well as the technical condition of the object of control and diagnosing (OCD), which increases the penetration depth of DT. Application of the expanded set of DT in high-power outputs of MOT OC, allows to ensure more efficient maintenance process of point machine. The maintenance efficiency is achieved through use of technical diagnosis of OCD and determines the maintenance frequency, ensuring the timeliness of preventive work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The agricultural and food sectors are currently focused on developing and implementing control technologies but have not been able to detect postharvest fungi and food-borne bacteria in a fast and reliable manner; thus, necessary measures must be taken as soon as possible. To facilitate this process, a device such as a biosensor could be a potential alternative for the timely detection of various postharvest pathogenic microorganisms. Biosensors are composed of a recognition element, a transductor, a compartment for data analysis, and an indicator to visualize the signal. The biological recognition element can include enzymes and aptamers. To date, a great number of nanomaterials have been produced with the potential to be transducing elements due to their enhanced electrical conductivity, thermal, and optical properties. These include nanocarbons, nanometals, nanomagnetics, and nanosemiconductors. Furthermore, new approaches to lessen the use of toxic materials during the synthesis of nanoparticles have been considered, including biological resources such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and plants. However, the portable device must still overcome several hurdles, such as sample preparation, energy needs, and training. • Biosensor detects postharvest fungi and food-borne bacteria in a fast manner. • The sensitivity of a biosensor is increased with the use of nanomaterials. • Nanomaterials are structures with a nominal diameter smaller than 100 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology has gained much attention over the last decades, as it offers unique opportunities for the advancement of the next generation of sensing tools. Point-of-care (POC) devices for the selective detection of biomolecules using engineered nanoparticles have become a main research thrust in the diagnostic field. This review presents an overview on how the POC-associated nanotechnology, currently applied for the identification of nucleic acids, proteins and antibodies, might be further exploited for the detection of infectious pathogens: although still premature, future integrations of nanoparticles with biological markers that target specific microorganisms will enable timely therapeutic intervention against life-threatening infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Socio-behavioral disorders(SBD), a subtype of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) characterized by social and behavioral abnormalities, is a significant mental health concern requiring immediate attention. Phenotypic knowledge, biological understanding and the tools developed are all from western countries. Numerous researches have been conducted that have scrutinized the performance accuracy of traditional-based SBD tools developed in western culture. However, very little information is available for low or middle-income countries. In middle-income countries like India, there is a shortage of resources, trained professionals and a lack of knowledge regarding which tools are effective for a particular target group owing to which most of the cases go undetected and undiagnosed until adolescence. Motivated by the earlier discussion, this study's objective is to consider all the pathways from traditional to Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools developed for diagnosing SBD in the Indian population. This research work expounds on the systematic study and analysis of various conventional and fuzzy-based expert systems introduced between 1925–2021. PRISMA guidelines were used to select the articles published on the web of science, SCOPUS, and EMBASE to identify relevant Indian studies. A total of 148 papers are considered impactful for SBD prediction using traditional or fuzzy-based techniques. This survey deliberated the work done by the different researchers, highlighting the limitations in the existing literature and the performance comparison of tools based on various parameters such as accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, target audience, along with their pros and cons. Some investigations have been designed, and the solutions to those were explored. : Results of this study indicated that most validated SBD tools present many barriers to use in the Indian population. Thus, to overcome these implications, an Artificial Intelligence(AI) framework, MRI M M TL, based on MRI multimodality transfer learning techniques(TL), is proposed to be implemented for the early detection of SBD subjects. • SBD diagnosis concerning Indian Perspective. • Covering all the pathways from traditional to Artificial Intelligence based SBD Diagnosis in India. • Study and analysis of all the traditional (SBD screening and diagnostic procedures) introduced between 1925 and 2022 used in Indian population. • Analysis of existing fuzzy tools covering a time frame of 2010–2022 to complement the traditional clinical practices and their existing implications to deploy in natural clinical settings. • An intelligent multimodal framework MRI M M TL using MRI & transfer learning techniques is suggested for early & effective SBD diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common mental disorder that often causes great sufferance, with substantial impairment in social functioning and quality of life and affects family and significant relationships. Notwithstanding its severity, OCD is often not adequately diagnosed, or it is diagnosed with delay, leading often to a long latency between onset of the OCD symptoms and the start of adequate treatments. Several factors contribute to the complexity of OCD's clinical picture: early age of onset, chronic course, heterogeneity of symptoms, high rate of comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders, slow or partial response to therapy. Therefore, it is of primary importance for clinicians involved in diagnosing OCD, to assess all aspects of the disorder. This narrative review focuses on the global assessment of OCD, highlighting crucial areas to explore, pointing out the clinical features which are relevant for the treatment of the disorder, and giving an overview of the psychometric tools that can be useful during the screening procedure. • The Global OCD assessment is essential for an evidence-based treatment plan. • OCD is often under diagnosed and under treated. • Risk assessment in OCD is crucial. • Diagnosing comorbidities in OCD is very important for treatment planning. • Immunological and neurocognitive factors needs to be considered in the OCD assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zusammenfassung Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) kann im Sport durch ein stumpfes Trauma gegen den Kopf, Nacken oder den restlichen Körper entstehen. Daraus resultierende Kräfte können direkt oder indirekt auf den Kopf wirken und zu neurologischen Funktionsstörungen führen. Meist bleibt der Athlet bei Bewusstsein. Symptome können unmittelbar oder zeitverzögert, nach Stunden oder Tagen auftreten. Aufgrund der unspezifischen und häufig kurzen Dauer der Symptomatik wird die Verletzung häufig nicht diagnostiziert und meist unterschätzt. Die Regenerationsdauer betroffener Athleten beträgt in der Regel zwischen 7 und 10 Tagen. Die meisten erholen sich spontan und vollständig. Bereits nach dreimaligem Auftreten der Verletzung erhöht sich jedoch die Wahrscheinlichkeit persistierender Symptome. Summary Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) may be caused by a blunt trauma directly against the head and the neck, or indirectly against the rest of the body. The resulting forces may lead to temporary changes in neurophysiology. Usually, there is no loss of consciousness. The injury may turn symptomatic immediately, several hours or up to days after the event. The mTBI often stays undiagnosed and is not taken seriously enough . In general, athletes recover in 7 up to 10 days. The majority of them make a full recovery. Nevertheless, after only three injuries, persistent changes are more likely to occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective In epidemiological studies plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are found to correlate inversely with atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. HDL consists of different subpopulations and they vary in their anti-atherogenic properties. The aim of this study is to isolate coronary artery disease (CAD) specific anti-HDL scFv-antibodies. Design and methods To obtain CAD specific HDL binders, we used phage displayed synthetic antibody libraries to enrich specific antibodies against HDL isolated from CAD patients. The antibodies were affinity purified. Their capability to recognize apolipoproteins A-I and A-II, various HDL forms differing in lipid/protein ratios and plasma HDL, was studied using time-resolved fluorescence based immunoassay. Results Using different selection strategies and immunoassay based screening we obtained altogether 1200 clones displaying HDL binding activity. By sequencing 337, we identified 264 unique antibodies against HDL. A set of 61 antibodies were selected for further analysis. We found a variety of antibodies with different binding profiles, including apoA-I binding antibodies either in lipid-dependent or lipid-independent manner and binders against apoA-II. Several antibodies were able to discriminate between HDL derived from CAD patients and healthy controls. A majority of the antibodies were immunoreactive with HDL in plasma. Conclusion The novel HDL recognizing antibodies isolated from synthetic antibody phage library have displayed interesting HDL-binding characteristics suggesting that, in addition to use as research tools, a part of them might be useful for the development of diagnostic methods for CAD risk assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The DNA repair pathway mismatch repair (MMR) is responsible for the recognition and correction of DNA biosynthetic errors caused by inaccurate nucleotide incorporation during replication. Faulty MMR leads to failure to address the mispairs or insertion deletion loops (IDLs) left behind by the replicative polymerases and results in increased mutation load at the genome. The realization that defective MMR leads to a hypermutation phenotype and increased risk of tumorigenesis highlights the relevance of this pathway for human disease. The association of MMR defects with increased risk of cancer development was first observed in colorectal cancer patients that carried inactivating germline mutations in MMR genes and the disease was named as hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Currently, a growing list of cancers is found to be MMR defective and HNPCC has been renamed Lynch syndrome (LS) partly to include the associated risk of developing extra-colonic cancers. In addition, a number of non-hereditary, mostly epigenetic, alterations of MMR genes have been described in sporadic tumors. Besides conferring a strong cancer predisposition, genetic or epigenetic inactivation of MMR genes also renders cells resistant to some chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, diagnosis of MMR deficiency has important implications for the management of the patients, the surveillance of their relatives in the case of LS and for the choice of treatment. Some of the alterations found in MMR genes have already been well defined and their pathogenicity assessed. Despite this substantial wealth of knowledge, the effects of a large number of alterations remain uncharacterized (variants of uncertain significance, VUSs). The advent of personalized genomics is likely to increase the list of VUSs found in MMR genes and anticipates the need of diagnostic tools for rapid assessment of their pathogenicity. This review describes current tools and future strategies for addressing the relevance of MMR gene alterations in human disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is one of the most frequent dyslipidemias, the autosomal dominant form of which is primarily caused by mutations in the LDL receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B (APOB), and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) genes, although in around 20% of patients the genetic cause remains unidentified. Genetic testing has notably improved the identification of patients suffering from FH, the most frequent cause of which is the presence of mutations in the LDLR gene. Although more than 1200 different mutations have been identified in this gene, about 80% are recognized to be pathogenic. We aim to overview the current methods used to perform the functional characterization of mutations causing FH and to highlight the conditions requiring a functional characterization of the variant in order to obtain a diagnostic report. Data Synthesis: In the current review, we summarize the different types of functional assays - including their advantages and disadvantages - performed to characterize mutations in the LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 genes helping to better define their pathogenic role. We describe the evaluation of splicing alterations and two major procedures for functional characterization: 1. ex vivo methods, using cells from FH patients; 2. in vitro methods using cell lines. Conclusions: Functional characterization of the LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 mutant genes associated with FH can be considered a necessary integration of its genetic diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) ranks top among all endemic diseases transmitted by whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) affecting cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) causing severe economic losses to the cotton growers in the Indian subcontinent. For its effective management, robust tools for detection are a prerequisite and it is important to diagnose the virus titre in early stage of infection in plants as well as in the disease transmitting vector. Considering the limitations in current PCR-based techniques we have standardised rapid and sensitive Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) protocol for the diagnosis of cotton leaf curl virus (CLCuV) in cotton leaves and in its transmitting vector whitefly. Perhaps, this is the first report of use of LAMP tool for rapid diagnosis of CLCuV in cotton and its transmitting vector the whitefly. Further, the colorimetric detection for diagnostic simplicity of amplified LAMP product by using different dyes lead to enhanced applicability of this technique in the field of disease diagnostics. The merit of present study is that the diagnostic failure of PCR and LAMP due to low virus titre in the infected leaf has been circumvented through the combination of rolling circle amplification (RCA) with LAMP. Thus RCA-LAMP can be an option for ultra-sensitive detection of samples with low virus titre. The potential applications of this advanced diagnostic tool in laboratory research on diagnosis of CLCuV, an important viral pathogen of cotton have been discussed. • This is the first report on diagnosis of CLCuV from cotton plant and its transmitting vector whitefly by using LAMP technique. • The colorimetric detection by using different dyes lead to enhanced applicability of this technique in the field of diagnostics. • RCA-LAMP can be an option for ultra-sensitive detection of samples with low virus titer. • This advance diagnostic protocol can be effectively utilized in the laboratory and quarantine diagnosis for CLCuV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early diagnosis represents the cornerstone in breast cancer control. Ultrasound is still a valid tool because of its low invasiveness, reduced costs and reduced risk of harm, but better exploitation of its potential is necessary to extract information on tissue features. The proposed method, HyperSPACE (hyper-spectral analysis for characterization in echography), which processes the ultrasonic radiofrequency signal in an N -dimension spectral hyperspace to define several characteristic parameters of the tissue under investigation, was used with the aim of differentiating two types of breast lesion: infiltrating ductal carcinoma and fibroadenoma. The analyzed data set consisted of 2000 radiofrequency frames related to 200 sections of pathologic breast nodules: 104 infiltrating ductal carcinomas and 96 fibroadenomas. The algorithm was trained on single radiofrequency frames related to 50 sections (26 carcinomas, 24 fibroadenomas) to recognize the two pathologies considered, and all the radiofrequency frames related to the other 150 sections were classified, yielding a sensitivity of 92.2%, specificity of 93%, positive predictive value of 93.2% and negative predictive value of 91%. The results were compared with those of RULES (radiofrequency ultrasonic local estimators), a processing method set developed by our group and used by other researchers in clinical and laboratory environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis of three fluorogenic chitobiosyl derivatives, modified at the non-reducing 4′-OH with, either a methyl, an isopropyl or a cyclohexylmethyl substituent, is described. The 4′-capped 4-methylumbelliferyl chitobiosides are hydrolysed by the human chitinase CHIT1 following Michaelis–Menten kinetics and in contrast to unmodified chitobiosyl-4-methylumbelliferone do not undergo transglycosylation. The compounds are also relatively poor hexosaminidase substrates and thus provide useful alternatives to 4′-deoxychitobiosyl-4-methylumbelliferone, previously reported by us as fluorogenic substrate to monitor CHIT1 activity as a marker for Gaucher disease state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Letter to the Editor [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A growing array of biomedical goods and services has become central to the North American experience of navigating illness and pursuing good health. Yet despite the utility of consumption as an analytical framework within the social sciences, the selection, purchase, and use of biomedical goods and services has been understudied. By using the home pregnancy test as a case study, we suggest new approaches to thinking about the consumption of these goods and services. We chose the home pregnancy test because it is the best-known example of a mass-produced diagnostic tool used by consumers. We draw on two sources of data for this qualitative analysis: a set of stories submitted between 2003 and 2005 by women and men to an online exhibit mounted by the National Institutes of Health called “A Thin Blue Line: The History of the Pregnancy Test Kit,” which we analysed between 2006 and 2007; and web sampling conducted in 2009 and 2010 of personal web and video logs of women and men who have posted stories and opinions about their experiences with contemporary home pregnancy testing products. We adapt the term “domestication” from Science and Technology Studies scholarship to describe the movement of diagnostic devices into homes for use by consumers. Specifically, we propose that the consumption of domesticated biomedical devices, goods, and services should be theorized as work performed by consumers, in two senses: as a form of tool use that allows non-experts to produce diagnostic knowledge about their own bodies and health; and as the ongoing biopolitical work that is expected of citizens to produce healthy bodies. Our paper draws attention to these understudied phenomena, while suggesting new approaches to theorizing the social and cultural elements of goods and services for health. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Department of Science and Technology of South Africa developed the National Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Technologies (HFCT) Research, Development and Innovation Strategy. The National Strategy was branded Hydrogen South Africa (HySA). HySA has been established consisting of three Competency Centres - HySA Infrastructure, HySA Catalyst and HySA Systems. The scope of the Hydrogen Infrastructure Competency Centre (HySA Infrastructure CC) is to develop applications and solutions for small- and medium-scale hydrogen production through innovative research and development to promote beneficiation of Platinum-Group Metals (PGM). The aim of this paper is to present an overview of the HySA Infrastructure CC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Scenarios of short-term wind power generation are becoming increasingly popular as input to multistage decision-making problems e.g. multivariate stochastic optimization and stochastic programming. The quality of these scenarios is intuitively expected to substantially impact the benefits from their use in decision-making. So far however, their verification is almost always focused on their marginal distributions for each individual lead time only, thus overlooking their temporal interdependence structure. The shortcomings of such an approach are discussed. Multivariate verification tools, as well as diagnostic approaches based on event-based verification are then presented. Their application to the evaluation of various sets of scenarios of short-term wind power generation demonstrates them as valuable discrimination tools. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Aim: This article aims to review current literature into the use of assessment tools for the diagnosis of delirium and the implications of care for the patient with delirium. Background: Delirium is a common often misdiagnosed, unrecognised and misunderstood condition in the critical care setting that has been associated with increased mortality and cognitive dysfunction. Relevance to clinical practice: Delirium has implications for increasing cost to the National Health Service as it is linked to prolonged ventilation and the associated risks and increased hospital stay. Conclusion: Nurses play a key role in identification of delirium using CAM-ICU, a valid and reliable tool and identifying modifiable risks to improve the delirious ICU patient''s outcome. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Oral emergency vaccination against classical swine fever is a powerful tool to control disease outbreaks among European wild boar and thus to safeguard domestic pigs in affected regions. In the past, when virus detection was mainly done using virus isolation in cell culture or antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, modified live vaccine strains like C-strain “Riems”, were barely detectable after oral vaccination campaigns. Nowadays, the use of highly sensitive molecular techniques has given rise to an increase in vaccine virus detections. This was also the case during the 2009 outbreak among German wild boar and the subsequent vaccination campaigns. To guarantee a rapid differentiation of truly infected from C-strain vaccinated animals, a combination of differentiating multiplex rRT-PCR assays with partial sequencing was implemented. Here, we report on the rational and use of this approach and the lessons learned during execution. It was shown that positive results in the recently developed vaccine strain (genotype) specific rRT-PCR assay can be taken as almost evidentiary whereas negative results should be confirmed by partial sequencing. Thus, combination of multiplex rRT-PCR assays as a first line differentiation with partial sequencing can be recommended for a genetic DIVA strategy in areas with oral vaccination against classical swine fever in wild boars. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The detection of specific factors of the developmental dyslexia at an early stage, and the identification of the role of those factors responsible for its manifestation, is a fundamental area of study on dyslexia in the recent literature. The objective of the present study is to clarify that dysfunctions in the following specific domains contribute in a causal model to the occurrence of dyslexia at an early stage: phonological awareness, psychomotor ability (body shape, spatio-temporal orientation, grapho-motor ability and laterality), perception, memory, attention, prereading and prewriting skills. The results of three studies, – carried out in Greece – which revealed the above factors as main predictors of the early onset of Specific Developmental Dyslexia (SDD) and confirmed the importance of intervention methods to it, led us to the construction of the proposed, causal model. The findings of these three studies converge on the perspective that the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of dysfunctions in the above domains, from preschool age, enable the early and reliable prevention of future difficulties in the learning process of children. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: During more than a decade of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTC) of pharmaceuticals in the United States, several highly controversial and contested disease states have been promoted to affect diagnostic and prescribing outcomes that are favorable to a company’s branded drug. Influencing medical diagnosis is essential to the branding of a disease, which helps to protect pharmaceutical intellectual property and assures higher profits for drug companies. Enormous marketing as well as medical resources are deployed to ensure that new diagnoses of disease states are recognized. While much work has been done investigating the marketing processes necessary to shape and define diagnoses for many of these new disease states, such as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), the promotion of self-diagnosis within pharmaceutical marketing campaigns garner little sociological attention. This article reviews and analyzes branded disease awareness campaigns sponsored by pharmaceutical companies that employ self-diagnostic “tools”. By using the example of one specific disease state, PMDD, I illustrate how the marketing of self-diagnosis transforms the patient into a consumer in order to achieve the aims of a drug company. This example is contextualized within the larger theoretical framework on the sociology of diagnosis. Consideration is given to how the marketing of self-diagnosis goes beyond description of diagnosis as being the “classification tool of medicine” and becomes a marketing tool to construct a well-educated consumer who will demand medical diagnoses inline with a drug company’s objectives. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Stakeholder requirements force companies to analyse their food safety management system (FSMS) performance to improve food safety. Performance is commonly analysed by checking compliance against preset requirements via audits/inspections, or actual food safety (FS) output is analysed by microbiological testing. This paper discusses the usefulness of a concurrent diagnosis of FSMS performance and FS output using new tools; illustrated for three meat-processing companies. Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. (food safety indicators), Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae (hygiene indicators), and total viable counts TVC (overall performance) were analysed at ten critical sampling locations covering both product and environmental samples, using the Microbial Assessment Scheme diagnosis. Riskiness of FSMS context and performance of core FSMS activities were assessed using a diagnostic tool (including 51 indicators and corresponding grids with level descriptions). For the (large) beef meat processor, the FS output diagnosis showed too high TVC but the high activity scores of their FSMS indicated that this problem could be only solved by supplier measures. Likewise, for the (medium-size) poultry meat processor, the activity/context diagnosis showed a clear dependency on suppliers. However, the FS output diagnosis revealed a broader contamination problem, and additional measures to improve, amongst others, sanitation program, compliance to procedures, personal hygienic requirements seem necessary. The FS output diagnosis of the (small) lamb meat processor showed various contamination problems (but no pathogens) corresponding with various low activity levels in combination with he high-risk context. The combined diagnosis provided clear directions for improvement to move towards more advanced FSMS activity levels or to reduce riskiness in context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A 10-cell Mk 9 stack was characterized using current/voltage mapping during automotive drive cycle testing. A minimally invasive current mapping technique was used to determine localized polarization curves which together with open circuit voltage (OCV) profile measurements provide useful information about crossover leak formation and location. Through a systematic variation of reactant gas pressures it is further possible to distinguish between electrical shorts, diffusive and convective leaks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Puumala hantavirus (PUUV), naturally harboured and shed by bank voles (Myodes [Clethrionomys] glareolus), is the etiological agent to nephropathia epidemica (NE), a mild haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Both host and virus are found throughout much of the European continent and in northern Sweden NE is the second most prevalent serious febrile viral infection after influenza. The reliability of diagnostics by PCR depends on genetic variability for the detection of viral nucleic acids in unknown samples. In the present study we evaluated the genetic variability of PUUV isolated from bank voles in an area of northern Sweden highly endemic for NE. Genetic variability among bank voles was also investigated to evaluate co-evolutionary patterns. We found that the viral sequence appeared stable across the 80km study region, with the exception of the southernmost sampling site, which differed from its nearest neighbour by 7%, despite a geographical separation of only 10km. The southernmost sampling site demonstrated a higher degree of genetic similarity to PUUV previously isolated 100km south thereof; two locations appear to constitute a separate PUUV phylogenetic branch. In contrast to the viral genome, no phylogenetic variance was observed in the bank vole mtDNA in this study. Previous studies have shown that as a result of terrestrial mammals’ postglacial re-colonization routes, bank voles and associated PUUV of a southern and a northern lineage established a dichotomous contact zone across the Scandinavian peninsula approximately 100–150km south of the present study sites. Our observations reveal evolutionary divergence of PUUV that has led to dissimilarities within the restricted geographical scale of the northern host re-colonization route as well. These results suggest either a static situation in which PUUV strains are regionally well adapted, or an ongoing process in which strains of PUUV circulate on a geographical scale not yet reliably described. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper presents an overview of some of the key challenges and issues that need to be overcome in the area of performance and durability to achieve commercial-viable PEM fuel cell technology 1 [1] http://www.ballard.com/be_informed/fuel_cell_technology/roadmap. . While there has been significant progress towards these objectives in the last few years, fundamental understanding of the factors resulting in performance loss and materials degradation is still lacking. Several key elements in overcoming these challenges, such as in situ diagnostic tools, modelling and simulation and accelerated stress tests are discussed. A general framework for the improvement of performance degradation and durability is presented in order to achieve the US DOE cost target of USD for the fuel cell stack, while advancing operational imperatives such as freeze start, higher temperature operation and reduced reliance on external humidification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Neurotrophic factors are known to play an important role in the survival and differentiation of many types of neurons during development. Both brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) may act cooperatively in modulating the development and functioning of synapses. Both these neurotrophic factors were intensely investigated with regard to depression without conclusive results. Methods: We have investigated the possible use of both CNTF null-mutation and BDNF polymorphism C270T as biomarkers for depression in the Vienna Transdanube Aging (VITA) study. The VITA is a prospective community-based cohort study of all 75 years old inhabitants of a geographical region of Vienna. Results: We found no association between CNTF null-mutation and BDNF C270T polymorphism to any depressive symptoms after exclusion of demented subjects. Conclusion: These results call in question the hypothesis that either BDNF or CNTF can be used as molecular markers for depression or late onset depression in the elderly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]