Search

Chatbots are "computer agents that can interact with the user" in a way that feels like human-to-human conversation.1 While the use of chatbots for reference service in academic libraries is a topic of interest for both library professionals and researchers, little is known about how they are used in library reference service, especially in academic libraries in Canada. This article aims to fill this gap by conducting a web-based survey of 106 academic library websites in Canada and analyzing the prevalence and characteristics of chatbot and live chat services offered by these libraries. The authors found that only two libraries were using chatbots for reference service. For live chat services, the authors found that 78 libraries provided this service. The article discusses possible reasons for the low adoption of chatbots in academic libraries, such as accessibility, privacy, cost, and professional identity issues. The article also provides a case study of the authors' institution, the University of Calgary, which integrated a chatbot service in 2021. The article concludes with suggestions for future research on chatbot use in libraries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Violet‐emitting perovskite quantum dots (QDs) are of great significance for theoretical and experimental research aimed at promoting the development of environmentally friendly violet light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). Nevertheless, the synthesis of violet perovskite QDs via ligand‐assisted reprecipitation is challenging due to the significant bandgap. A simple and economical cryo‐bonding ligand‐assisted reprecipitation (Cb‐LARP) method is proposed as a means of synthesizing deep violet lead‐free organic‐inorganic hybrid perovskite (OIHP) QDs, with the objective of increasing the bandgap in the material. The MA3Bi2Br9 QDs synthesized by the Cb‐LARP method exhibit bright violet luminescence at 400 nm, with a PLQY of 50.1%. Moreover, the photoluminescence peak of the QDs can be adjusted from 402 to 393 nm by modifying the final reaction time. It is noteworthy that the MA3Bi2Br6Cl3 QDs exhibited ultraviolet emission at 379 nm, corresponding to a PLQY of 35.4%. Similarly, the emission peak of the QDs can be tuned from 379 to 376 nm by changing the final reaction time. The results demonstrate that the deep violet emitting OIHP QDs have been successfully synthesized. This study provides a theoretical reference for short‐wavelength perovskite materials and an experimental reference for the study of violet and UV quantum‐dot light‐emitting diode devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a novel on-line flow-batch dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction system for the determination of molybdenum in water, meat, and vegetable material with electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy (ET AAS) as detection technique. After optimizing the experimental conditions, the analytical performance of the new methodology was determined. A limit of detection of 0.03 µg/L for water and 0.02 µg/kg for the other matrices, as well as an enrichment factor of 130 were obtained employing this methodology. Standard reference materials were used for accuracy and precision evaluation. No significant differences were found at the 95% confidence level between the certified and obtained values, and precision expressed as repeatability (RSD) was better than 5% in all cases. The developed automated methodology offers great advantages when compared to manual dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction, such as low risk of contamination while working in closed systems, minimal handling, reduced exposure of the analyst to the chemical products, greater security, improvement in repeatability and the elimination of the laborious and time-consuming procedure of phase separation by centrifugation. The method was successfully applied for the determination of molybdenum in natural groundwater, bovine and sheep meat, and pasture samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancements in forensic DNA typing technology and methods have increased sensitivity and, while beneficial, carry the weight of more challenging profile interpretation. In response, the forensic DNA community has often requested more complex reference materials to address commonly encountered measurement and interpretation issues such as complex DNA mixtures, DNA degradation, and PCR inhibition. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released Research Grade Test Material 10235: Forensic DNA Typing Resource Samples to support the forensic DNA community. Components include three single source samples, two degraded samples, and three mixture samples. As part of the Research Grade Test Material (RGTM) process, automated methods for bottling, alternative sample tube types, and the addition of carrier RNA for stabilizing low‐quantity samples were investigated. Both internal and external testing demonstrate the stability of the material over time at 4°C through qPCR testing. In the development of a data portal, users have been allowed to anonymously upload results and compare their data with NIST and others. This report describes the preparation and stability of this material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Results and Conclusion While self‐regulated learning (SRL) strategy‐based writing instruction has been proposed in English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms, there is insufficient evidence with Japanese EFL learners and little discussion on incorporating online resources into SRL strategy‐based writing instruction, despite the availability of various online platforms.This study proposed an SRL strategy‐based instruction for technology‐assisted writing and explored its immediate and sustained impacts on Japanese tertiary EFL learners' writing performance, reported use of SRL strategies, self‐efficacy beliefs and perceived acceptance of technology.The research design used was a pre‐experimental pre‐test, post‐test and delayed post‐test design with a quantitative approach using convenience sampling. Participants were 44 students enrolled in an academic writing course at a Japanese university. Over an 8‐week period, these students received SRL strategy‐based writing instruction supported by online writing resources. The research instruments included writing tests and questionnaires assessing SRL strategies, self‐efficacy and technology acceptance at the beginning of the intervention (Time 1), immediately after the intervention (Time 2) and 1 month after the intervention (Time 3). The data analysis techniques involved ANOVA, post‐hoc tests, and examination of the effect sizes.The results showed statistically significant improvements in students' writing performance, SRL strategy use, self‐efficacy and technology acceptance from Time 1 to Time 2 and persistent impacts at Time 3, suggesting the intervention's potential to improve EFL writing. This study contributes to EFL writing pedagogy by exploring the immediate and sustained impacts of teaching SRL strategies in a technology‐enhanced writing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lawmakers who can supply themself with information to manage complex problems are at an advantage, but equally important is the filtering and contextualizing of applicable information. Members of Congress manage a deluge of policy and political information, and this short paper examines one strategy members of Congress use to mitigate that burden—by investing in reference material and news media to filter and summarize the policymaking environment. Using congressional disbursement data from the 116th and 117th Congress, I explain how institutional experience is associated with an office's choice to invest in more information filtering. Freshman members of the House are more likely to turn to news media or publications to provide insight into the congressional agenda, offer political context, and prioritize issues of importance. Reference investment is not tied to partisanship, ideology, lawmaking capacity, or previous office, but those junior offices who need to get up to lawmaking speed invest in external information filtering. These results illuminate how central institutional knowledge is to lawmaking in Congress, and how much an office is willing to invest to mitigate that weakness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A certified reference material of thiamethoxam in acetonitrile was developed and approved as a primary certified reference material (GBW08772). It was prepared by gravimetric-volumetric method with value assigned thiamethoxam material (purity 99.4%) and chromatographic grade acetonitrile as solvent. Research has found that thiamethoxam could undergo a guanidyl degradation in water and methanol to produce thiamethoxam-urea, therefore acetonitrile was selected as the solvent. According to JJF 1343-2022, the solvent stability, homogeneity, short-term stability, and long-term stability tests were carried out for the prepared solution using high-performance liquid chromatography. Finally, the mass concentration of the developed reference material GBW08772 was 1.00 mg/mL with a relative expanded uncertainty of 1% (k-2). The developed solution certified reference material of thiamethoxam has traceability and accuracy, and meets the requirements of national food safety determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A procedure is presented to exactly obtain the apparent average crystallite size (ACS) of powder samples using standard in‐house powder diffraction experiments without any restriction originating from the Scherrer equation. Additionally, the crystallite size distribution within the sample can be evaluated. To achieve this, powder diffractograms are background corrected and long‐range radial distribution functions G(r) up to 300 nm are calculated from the diffraction data. The envelope function fenv of G(r) is approximated by a procedure determining the absolute maxima of G(r) in a certain interval (r range). Fitting of an ACS distribution envelope function to this approximation gives the ACS and its distribution. The method is tested on diffractograms of LaB6 standard reference materials measured with different wavelengths to demonstrate the validity of the approach and to clarify the influence of the wavelength used. The latter results in a general description of the maximum observable average crystallite size, which depends on the instrument and wavelength used. The crystallite site distribution is compared with particle size distributions based on transmission electron microscopy investigations, providing an approximation of the average number of crystallites per particle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The machinability of various grades of austempered ductile iron (ADI) has been investigated by using the surface roughness and the resultant chip formation as criteria. Grade 1 ADI, Grade 2 ADI, and Grade 3 ADI were commercially produced, commercially heat treated and machined under controlled conditions using coated carbide inserts with coolant in the laboratory. The milling performance of the various grades was compared to that of AISI 4340, which has a similar hardness to Grade 2 ADI. Grade 100-70-03 ductile iron was used as a reference material in the drilling study. The results of this study show that the surface finish of ADI and the resultant chip formation give quick indications if proper cutting parameters were used during machining of ADI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the development, validation and use of an approach for precise and accurate cadmium (Cd) isotopic analysis at low concentration levels using multi-collector inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). The MC-ICP-MS unit used was equipped with a standard sample introduction system, thus using an ICP operated under wet plasma conditions, and Faraday cup amplifiers equipped with a 1013 Ω resistor. One-column anion exchange chromatography allowed isolation of Cd with 80-99% recovery and absence of an effect of potential on-column fractionation on the isotope ratio results was demonstrated. Use of both an internal (using Ag) and an external (measured in a sample-standard bracketing sequence) standard was relied on for correction of the bias introduced by instrumental mass discrimination. A long-term precision of 0.09& (2SD) for δ114/110Cd was achieved at a Cd concentration of 10 ng mL-1. The method developed was validated by analysing NIST SRM 2711a (Montana soil) and NRC TORT-3 (Lobster hepatopancreas) reference materials, yielding results consistent with literature values. Subsequently, the method was applied to two Antarctic marine organisms Adamussium colbecki and Trematomus bernacchii, collected during both the 1990s and 2020s, to investigate its potential for identifying changes in the biogeochemical cycle of Cd over time and reveal natural or anthropogenic sources. A preferential uptake of the lighter Cd isotopes in both species was observed, indicated by negative δ114/110Cd values ranging between -0.24 and -0.09&. This finding is consistent with previous studies that have reported Cd fractionation during its uptake by marine organisms, with a preference for the lighter isotopes. No significant differences in δ114/110Cd values were observed between organs of the same species or between the same species collected in the different decades, suggesting minimal Cd isotope fractionation during internal transfer and consistent Cd sources over time. Comparison with literature data suggests that the Cd source in Antarctic biota may be predominantly of natural origin, with δ114/110Cd values indicating isotopically heavier Cd than that found in Cd-polluted areas. However, further Cd isotope ratio data from various Antarctic sample types are necessary to further evaluate the Cd sources in marine samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situ U-Th-Pb geochronology of monazite is widely used to reveal geological histories. Well characterized matrix-matched reference materials are crucial for achieving accurate results in microbeam U-Th-Pb dating. In this paper, the internal structure, chemical composition and U-Th-Pb dates of M6 monazite are investigated using multiple analytical methods to evaluate its potential as a reference material for in situ monazite U-Th-Pb dating. The results show that M6 monazite has an average ThO2 content of 10.7 ± 1.1% (2SD; SD = standard deviation) and Th/U ratio of 28.4 ± 3.3 (2SD). In situ U-Th-Pb dates from laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) laboratories are reproducible and homogeneous at the spatial level of 30 μm. Seven 207Pb/235U dates from isotope dilution-thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS) yield a mean date of 485.7 ± 2.3 Ma (2SD), which is our recommended date for M6 monazite. Furthermore, SIMS oxygen isotope determinations show good measurement reproducibility (7.70& ± 0.41&, 2SD) and the LA-MC-ICP-MS analyses yield homogeneous Sm-Nd isotopic composition (143Nd/144Nd = 0.511829 ± 0.000045, 2SD; 147Sm/144Nd = 0.2302 ± 0.0139, 2SD), demonstrating that M6 monazite has the potential to be a reference material for in situ O and Sm-Nd isotopic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rutile is an accessory mineral that is widely distributed in magmatic, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks. Thus, rutile U-Pb geochronology and geochemistry (e.g., Zr-in-rutile thermometry) can provide important information on the geological evolution of a region. Accurate and precise in situ U-Pb dating and trace element content measurement require well-characterized reference materials to correct matrixdependent elemental fractionation. We present a natural rutile reference material (the KNW rutile) for microbeam U-Pb age and trace element determination. The KNW rutile was collected from a pegmatite in Kragerø, Norway, which is ~20 km east of the location where the R10 rutile was sampled. It is ~21 mm × 10 mm × 8 mm in size, with a total mass of ~30 g. The KNW rutile has a homogeneous U-Pb age, as shown by numerous LA-ICP-MS spot analyses (weighted mean 206Pb/238U age = 1089.5 ± 3.3 Ma; MSWD = 2.7; n = 229). KNW rutile contains very little common Pb with only 12 of 241 spot analyses showing an amount of common Pb (f206: 0-20%). Seven ID-TIMS analyses produced a concordia age of 1088.2 ± 1.5 Ma (MSWD = 0.63) and a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 1088.2 ± 1.9 Ma (MSWD = 0.19), which is our recommended U-Pb age. The degree of homogeneous distributions of eleven trace elements was evaluated using LA-ICP-MS and EPMA. V, Cr, Nb, Sc, Zr, and Hf are sufficiently homogeneously distributed, whereas Ta, U, Pb, Fe, and W are heterogeneous. The determination of reference values for Zr and other trace elements as well as their uncertainties at the 95% confidence level followed International Organization for Standardization (ISO) guidelines and the certification protocol of the International Association of Geoanalysts (IAG) closely. The KNW rutile has a Zr content of 1183 ± 198 μg g-1 (95% confidence level). The KNW rutile is a useful addition to the reference materials previously distributed for microbeam U-Pb age and trace element determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Columbite-group minerals (CGMs) have been widely used in U-Pb geochronological analysis of granite and pegmatite Nb-Ta deposits due to their high U and low common Pb characteristics. Due to the equivalent replacement of elements in the mineral structure and complex geological processes, CGMs often exhibit strong, local, and complex chemical zoning. Multiple types of composition zonation of CGMs can reflect the process of niobium-tantalum mineralization. However, the laser resolution of the currently established U-Pb methods cannot be used for in situ dating of CGMs with zonation with a width less than 20 mm. Additionally, there is no consensus on whether significant matrix effects could be observed among CGMs when nonmatrix-matched calibrations were performed. These limitations hinder the advancing understanding of niobium-tantalum differentiation and enrichment mechanisms in the formation of CGMs. In this study, we utilized the widely used geochronological reference material Coltan139 as the primary standard, established a high-resolution LA-MC-ICP-MS U-Pb analysis method using homogeneous CGM samples from the Dakalasu and Jingerquan deposits in the Altai and East Tianshan orogenic belts, Xinjiang, China. This method has a resolution of up to 10 mm. We applied this method to sample JEQ-2, which was collected from the Jingerquan Li-Be-Nb-Ta deposit and exhibited a variety of compositional zonations. Through a comparison of the ages calibrated using the ferrocolumbite Coltan139 and ferrotapiolite CT1 standards, we propose that the major matrix effect for U-Pb dating of CGMs correlates with the Ta/(Nb + Ta) ratios under small beam spot conditions. The matrix effect is likely to increase with the increase in Ta/(Nb + Ta) differences between reference materials and the samples. Furthermore, the U-Pb age results of sample JEQ-2 confirm that CGM grains with normal and oscillatory zonings are magmatic contemporaneous products. A new in-house standard material sample DKLS-27 was also reported with a reliable and stable U-Pb age for CGM U-Pb dating analysis. The 206Pb/238U weighted mean age obtained from long-term monitoring is 250.2 ± 0.3 Ma (2 s, MSWD = 0.52, n = 141). This study offers a new analysis method for the fine geochronology of rare metal deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their widespread application in planetary and earth sciences in the past two decades, thallium isotopic compositions have been determined via MC-ICP-MS with instrumental mass bias corrected by employing a combination of lead doping and standard-sample bracketing. Residual Pb, either from the sample matrix or contamination, may significantly distort the isotope ratio of Pb for mass bias correction, thereby affecting the accuracy of Tl isotope measurement. In this study, we employed 186W/184W (NIST SRM 3163 W) instead of 208Pb/206Pb (NIST SRM 981 Pb) to correct instrumental mass bias during the measurement of Tl isotopic compositions through MC-ICP-MS. The plot of ln(186W/184W) vs. ln(205Tl/203Tl) shows a strong linear correlation (R2 > 0.993) in the repeated analyses of NIST SRM 997 Tl using W. Two pure Tl standards, Fluka Tl and GSB Tl, produced 3205TlNIST 997 values of -1.9 ± 0.7 (2SD, n = 97) and 0.8 ± 0.7 (2SD, n = 31), respectively. The 3205TlNIST 997 of five geological reference materials (SCo-1, GSS-6, GSP-2, NOD-P-1, and NOD-A-1) are also reported here, and the external reproducibility of these results is better than 0.08& (2SD). 3205TlNIST997 values are in good agreement with previously published values determined using Pb doping to correct mass bias, demonstrating that W can serve as a calibrator and facilitate high-precision 3205TlNIST 997 measurement of geological materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmonization has been recommended by the International Organization for Standard (ISO) to achieve equivalent results across in vitro diagnostic measurement devices (IVD-MDs). We aim to evaluate the effectiveness of Bland-Altman plot-based harmonization algorithm (BA-BHA) created in this study and compare it with weighted Deming regression-based harmonization algorithm (WD-BHA) proposed in ISO 21151:2020. Eighty patient sera were used as the harmonization reference material (HRM) to develop IVD-MD-specific harmonization algorithms. Another panel of 40 patient sera was used to validate the effectiveness of harmonization algorithms. We compared regression slopes, intercepts, Bland-Altman plot layouts, percent differences, limits of agreement (LoAs), between-method coefficients of variation (CV) before and after harmonization. After harmonization by WD-BHA, acceptable slopes and intercepts between measured values and HRM targets were observed in weighted Deming regression, but not in Passing-Bablok analysis. Mean differences were −5.5 to 5.0 % and differences at specific levels were −33.9 to 23.9 %. LoAs were −64.6 to 74.6 %. Between-method CV was 22.9 % (±12.9 %). However, after harmonization by BA-BHA, both weighted Deming and Passing-Bablok regressions equations presented harmonized results. Mean differences were −0.3 to 0.2 % and differences at specific levels were −1.1 to 1.6 %. LoAs were −23.3 to 23.2 %. Between-method CV was 8.4 % (±4.0 %). The data points were evenly distributed at both sides of the mean in Bland-Altman plots. The inequivalence of test results between different methods can be improved but unacceptable analytical differences at specific levels may be hidden in terms of an acceptable slope and intercept on WD-BHA. The new protocol BA-BHA may be a viable alternative to optimize the harmonization for immunoassays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) are formed during incomplete combustion and firefighters are inadvertently at risk of being exposed to these and other hazardous compounds. Exposure to PAHs is often estimated by measuring their hydroxylated metabolites (OH-PAH) in urine. Here, an online-SPE LC-MS-MS method was set up for eight OH-PAHs thus increasing sample throughput and minimizing manual handling. The method was validated over a 5-month period and showed good reproducibility with intra- and inter-day variation of 2.4–8.1 % and 1.6–6.5 %, respectively, of low-level samples and accuracy (91.6–104.8 %) for a standard reference material. The method was applied to urine samples from conscripts training to become firefighters to determine the optimal sampling time for this training activity before a large intervention study. In total, six conscripts sampled urine 6–8 times over a 40-hr period during a 3-day training course. All eight metabolites were detected in ≥ 97 % of the samples and showed peak excretion 4–6 hrs after the training corresponding to 8–10 hrs after first exposure. Samples taken the morning after the exercise contained low levels of most metabolites. Consequently, 4–6 hrs post exposure is recommended as the optimal sampling time for quantification of PAH exposure and monitoring of potential differences in exposure. [Display omitted] • An online-SPE LC-MS-MS method for eight OH-PAHs in urine was developed. • Automatization increased reproducibility, sensitivity and sample through-put. • Urinary excretion profiles of 8 OH-PAHs were determined after firefighting exercise. • All OH-PAHs peaked 4–6 hrs after firefighting exercises. • Most OH-PAH urine levels were low in the morning following the exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Triage is pivotal in intensive care for patient safety and resource allocation. The admission algorithm has been shown to correlate with the appropriateness of ICU admission and offer decision aid when facing challenges in times of scarce critical care resources. This study aimed to explore the development of a reference tool to support triage decisions for admission to the ICU. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, the Intensive Care Triage Score (ICTS) was generated as a reference to correlate with the triage decision made by clinical judgment. ICU admission would be advised for ICTS below 6. The primary outcome was ICU admission. The secondary outcomes included ICU, hospital, 90- day, and 1-year mortality. The receiver operating characteristic curve was used to assess the performance of ICTS. Results: A total of 1664 patients were included in the analysis. There were 1204 patients (72.4%) admitted to the ICU; 680 of 738 (92%) with ICTS below 6 were admitted to the ICU. The hospital mortality of the whole cohort was 25.1%; there was a positive correlation between ICTS and hospital mortality. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of ICTS in predicting hospital mortality for all patients was 0.754 (95% CI 0.728-0.780). The correlation between ICTS and hospital mortality was observed in patients admitted and not admitted to the ICU. Conclusion: Developing a scoring system as a reference tool would be useful for ICU triage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) is commonly assessed using QCT. Although standard vBMD calculation methods require phantom rods that may not be available, internal-reference phantomless (IPL) and direct measurements of Hounsfield units (HU) can be used to calculate vBMD in their absence. Yet, neither approach has been systemically assessed across skeletal sites, and HU need further validation as a vBMD proxy. This study evaluated the accuracy of phantomless methods, including IPL and regression-based phantomless (RPL) calibration using HU to calculate vBMD, compared to phantom-based (PB) methods. vBMD from QCT scans of 100 male post-mortem human subjects (PMHS) was calculated using site-specific PB calibration at multiple skeletal sites throughout the body. A development sample of 50/100 PMHS was used to determine site-specific reference material density for IPL calibration and RPL equations. Reference densities and equations from the development sample were used to calculate IPL and RPL vBMD on the remaining 50/100 PMHS for method validation. PB and IPL/RPL vBMD were not significantly different (p > .05). Univariate regressions between PB and IPL/RPL vBMD were universally significant (p < 0.05), except for IPL Rad-30 (p = 0.078), with a percent difference across all sites of 6.97% ± 5.95% and 5.22% ± 4.59% between PB and IPL/RPL vBMD, respectively. As vBMD increased, there were weaker relationships and larger differences between PB vBMD and IPL/RPL vBMD. IPL and RPL vBMD had strong relationships with PB vBMD across sites (R2 = 97.99, R2 = 99.17%, respectively), but larger residual differences were found for IPL vBMD. As the accuracy of IPL/RPL vBMD varied between sites, phantomless methods should be site-specific to provide values more comparable to PB vBMD. Overall, this study suggests that RPL calibration may better represent PB vBMD compared to IPL calibration, increases the utility of opportunistic QCT, and provides insight into bone quality and fracture risk. Lay Summary: Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) provides assessments of bone quality using measurements of volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD). Specialized accessories to calculate vBMD (ie, phantom rods) are not always available, so phantomless methods using reference materials within the scan are often utilized. The current study calculated vBMD from 100 males across multiple bones in the body using 2 different methods that do not rely on phantom rods. A development sample of 50 males was used to create internal-reference phantomless (IPL) and regression-based phantomless (RPL) calibration methods, and the remaining 50 were used to validate each method. Both IPL and RPL calibration performed well in comparison to the standard phantom-based approach, but differences in IPL vBMD were larger. These findings indicate that site-specific phantomless methods are trustworthy, but RPL methods may provide better estimates of BMD than IPL methods, especially at denser skeletal sites. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent rise of 'omics and other molecular research technologies alongside improved techniques for tissue preservation have broadened the scope of marine mammal research. Collecting biological samples from wild marine mammals is both logistically challenging and expensive. To enhance the power of marine mammal research, great effort has been made in both the field and the laboratory to ensure the scientific integrity of samples from collection through processing, supporting the long‐term use of precious samples across a broad range of studies. However, identifying the best methods of sample preservation can be challenging, especially as this technological toolkit continues to evolve and expand. Standardizing best practices could maximize the scientific value of biological samples, foster multi‐institutional collaborative efforts across fields, and improve the quality of individual studies by removing potential sources of error from the collection, handling, and preservation processes. With these aims in mind, we summarize relevant literature, share current expert knowledge, and suggest best practices for sample collection and preservation. This manuscript is intended as a reference resource for scientists interested in exploring collaborative studies and preserving samples in a suitable manner for a broad spectrum of analyses, emphasizing support for 'omics technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this community effort, we compare measurements between 34 laboratories from 19 countries, utilizing mixtures of labelled authentic synthetic standards, to quantify by mass spectrometry four clinically used ceramide species in the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) human blood plasma Standard Reference Material (SRM) 1950, as well as a set of candidate plasma reference materials (RM 8231). Participants either utilized a provided validated method and/or their method of choice. Mean concentration values, and intra- and inter-laboratory coefficients of variation (CV) were calculated using single-point and multi-point calibrations, respectively. These results are the most precise (intra-laboratory CVs ≤ 4.2%) and concordant (inter-laboratory CVs < 14%) community-derived absolute concentration values reported to date for four clinically used ceramides in the commonly analyzed SRM 1950. We demonstrate that calibration using authentic labelled standards dramatically reduces data variability. Furthermore, we show how the use of shared RM can correct systematic quantitative biases and help in harmonizing lipidomics. Collectively, the results from the present study provide a significant knowledge base for translation of lipidomic technologies to future clinical applications that might require the determination of reference intervals (RIs) in various human populations or might need to estimate reference change values (RCV), when analytical variability is a key factor for recall during multiple testing of individuals. Here, the authors compared measurements between 34 laboratories from 19 countries, to quantify by mass spectrometry four ceramides of clinical relevance in human blood plasma Standard Reference Materials. The main goals were to evaluate concordance obtained in a large inter-laboratory trial and to report absolute concentrations of four circulating lipids in a publicly available standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role that communication plays in social organization and processes of organizing has received considerable scholarly attention from multiple disciplines over several decades. This paper provides a review of the diverse literature that has sought to contribute to the understanding of communication and its implication for management and organization studies. An analysis of the SCOPUS database for the period 1980–2022 enabled us to cluster reference material and identify five perspectives which emerge from a review of the literature: communication as transfer, discourse, conversation (analysis), narrative, and Communicative Constitution of Organizations. These categories are not intended to be exhaustive, but they do provide a useful critical heuristic for navigating a field of study that might otherwise appear overwhelming. To map the terrain's theoretical underpinnings, our study also adopted a problematizing approach to the review which revealed various conspicuous conceptual and empirical absences at a 'field level' which merit further attention. The paper offers provocations and suggestions that we expect will inform future studies of organizational communication. Possibilities for developing the field include paying attention to: (a) paralinguistic dimensions of communication; (b) communication in relation to actual work practices; (c) monologic communication and (d) organizational communication in non‐Western contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emotions are an important basis for decision making, and their influence is increasingly attracting attention from the academic community. However, existing research mainly focuses on the impact of a single emotion on people and lacks information on the impact of ambivalent emotions. Based on the Cognitive-Affective processing system theory, this study explores tourists' willingness to travel, while experiencing the emotions of hope and anxiety through two situational experiments. This study used the Sojump platform to recover data, and a total of 200 valid samples were collected in Experiment 1 to explore the chain-mediating role of proactive coping and well-being. A total of 240 valid samples were collected in Experiment 2, which verified the boundary conditions of the interaction between hope and anxiety on tourists' willingness to travel. The results broaden the theoretical research on tourism ambivalence and provide a reference source for tourism companies to use ambivalence in precision marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe objective of this scoping review was to assess and summarize existing literature on daughter adjustment to life following the death of their mother. The review examined factors that hinder and/or help daughter adjustment to mother loss, guided by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Manual for Evidence Synthesis. Included sources were published quantitative and qualitative primary research studies, and dissertations/theses. Sources referenced mother loss by death due to any cause, mother-bereaved daughters of any age and identification (e.g., biological, adopted, foster, step), and factors that hinder and/or help daughter adjustment to mother loss. MEDLINE Complete, APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, SCOPUS, and Web of Science were searched with no restrictions on language or date of publication. From 2774 sources retrieved, 30 were included for final review and data charting. A template thematic analysis was conducted on charted qualitative data. Findings indicate that many factors involved in daughter adjustment to mother loss are not categorically unhelpful or helpful; their utility is context-dependent. Safe, continued connections with mothers, growth mindsets and spiritual or religious beliefs are internal resources that may facilitate adjustment. External support from maternal figures and surviving parents, may have an especially salient influence, both positive and negative, on daughter adjustment, coping and development. Particularly helpful for mother-bereaved daughters may be activities that promote mindfulness, healthy self-expression, distraction, connection with others, and a sense of mastery or self-esteem. Research focused on identifying mother-bereaved daughter needs is required to inform social perceptions of mother loss, bereavement education, support, and policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete characterization of selenium-enriched yeast in terms of selenium species has been the goal of extensive research for the last three decades. This contribution addresses the two outstanding questions: the mass balance of the identified and reported selenium species and the possible presence of inorganic selenium. For this purpose, four procedures have been designed combining, in diverse order, the principal steps of selenium speciation analysis in Se-rich yeast: extraction of the Se-metabolome, derivatization of cysteine and Se-cysteine (SeCys) residues, proteolysis, and definitive Se recovery using SDS extraction, followed by mineralization. The recovery of selenium in each step and its speciation were controlled by ICP MS and by reversed-phase HPLC-ICP MS, respectively. The study, carried out for the SELM-1 reference material, demonstrated the presence of about 10% of inorganic selenium and a serious risk of losses of SeCys during derivatization and proteolysis. As result of our work, we postulate the following values for SELM-1: Se-metabolome fraction (SeMF) 14.8 ± 0.7%; total selenomethionine (SeMet) 66.2 ± 2.7% (including ca. 1.5% SeMet present in the SeMF); total SeCys 12.5 ± 1.5% (including 2% of SeCys present in the Se-MF); total inorganic selenium 9.7 ± 1.7%, accounting for > 99.8% of the selenium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reverse transcription–digital PCR (RT–dPCR) is attracting attention as a method that enables SI-traceable RNA quantification without calibration, but its accuracy and bias have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, the accurate quantification of RNA by the RT–dPCR method was investigated using NMIJ CRM 6204-b, an RNA certified reference material whose certified value was assigned by orthogonal chemical measurement methods. Moreover, a two-step RT–dPCR method was adopted to examine in detail the conditions for the RT reaction process, which was expected to be the major uncertainty component in the RT–dPCR measurement. Optimization experiments revealed that the type of reverse transcriptase, the concentration of template RNA, and the type and concentration of primers in the RT reaction affected the value quantified by RT–dPCR. Under the optimal conditions, the value quantified by RT–dPCR, 76.4 ng/μL ± 6.7 ng/μL (the quantified value ± expanded uncertainty (k = 2)), was consistent with the certified value, 68.2 ng/μL ± 5.8 ng/μL, of NMIJ CRM 6204-b RNA 1000-A within the expanded uncertainty. From the results of the uncertainty evaluation, the relative combined uncertainty of the RT–dPCR method was 4.42%, and the major uncertainty components in the RT–dPCR method were the preparation of RT solution (3.68%), the inter-day difference (1.80%), and the RT reaction (1.30%). Together, the results suggested that the contribution of the RT reaction process to the total uncertainty was greater than that of the dPCR process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionClinical implicationsOver one-third of US adults have never attended college, creating a large disparity in the readability of online health materials. Decreased health literacy and accessibility to medical information negatively affect patients and well-informed patients are more likely to experience better health outcomes (1). The NIH and AMA recommend patient-intended education materials be written at a sixth-grade reading level (2), therefore, this study analyzed the accessibility of the top ten web pages for “strabismus.”The first ten online resources returned in a Google search for “strabismus” were analyzed. Web pages were then assessed for the readability level (Simple Measure of Gobbledygook), complexity (PMOSE/IKIRSCH), and suitability (Suitability Assessment of Materials). Two independent raters assessed the complexity and suitability.Readability analysis of the strabismus resources revealed an average reading grade level of 11.4 ± 1.07. There was a statistical difference in the reading grade level between the .com and .gov, and the .org and .com websites (p = .029 and p = .031, respectively). Complexity analysis revealed a mean score of 6.50 ± 2.29, corresponding to an 8th-12th grade reading level. The suitability assessment showed a mean value of 70.3 $ \pm $± 10.1%, representing a “superior” score for the information provided to the reader. The inter-rater agreement was similar for the complexity and fair for the suitability analysis.On average, online resources for strabismus have a low complexity level. However, the majority of the top ten articles reviewed are above the recommended literacy level, indicating a need for revision.The vast amount of available online health resources have significantly affected the field of medicine. Most patients research their disease process using online sources and many reference this material before their initial ophthalmologic consultation. Considering that more than half of Americans read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level and that the AMA/NIH recommend all patient-intended materials to be written above this level, there is a health literacy disconnect. This limits patients’ ability to educate themselves about their medical conditions and participate in informed conversations regarding their healthcare. Patients who are unable to interpret health information accurately have increased rates of hospitalization, develop more medical conditions, and experience a higher rate of mortality. This preventable impediment to informed healthcare care magnifies the urgency for easily readable online resources that are formatted in a manner that is clear to understand and suitable for patients with lower health literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioassays are regulated, analytical methods used to ensure proper activity (potency) of biological products at release and during long-term storage. Potency is commonly reported on a relative basis by comparing and calibrating a concentration–response curve from the test material to that of a reference standard material. The relative potency approach depends on an assumption that the two concentration–response curves exhibit similar (equivalent) shapes, except for a potency shift. In certain circumstances, however, biological factors preclude the similarity assumption, and the traditional approach becomes unworkable. The antibody-mediated cytotoxicity assay is one example where the similarity assumption does not always hold. Other examples also arise in the fields of toxicology and pharmacology. In this work, we present a non-constant mean relative potency approach which averages the relative potency across a common range of the concentration-response curves. The proposed method captures the changing nature of the relative potency into a summary statistic that can be reported for batch calibration and quality control purposes. We provide inferential methods for this statistic and summarize the results of a simulation comparing these methods across a number of non-constant relative potency scenarios and assay conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the efficacy of supramolecular solvent (SUPRAS) in extracting a diverse spectrum of organic contaminants from indoor dust. Initially, seven distinct SUPRAS were assessed across nine categories of contaminants to identify the most effective one. A SUPRAS comprising Milli-Q water, tetrahydrofuran, and hexanol in a 70:20:10 ratio, respectively, demonstrated the best extraction performance and was employed for testing a wider array of organic contaminants. Furthermore, we applied the selected SUPRAS for the extraction of organic compounds from the NIST Standard Reference Material (SRM) 2585. In parallel, we performed the extraction of NIST SRM 2585 with conventional extraction methods using hexane:acetone (1:1) for non-polar contaminants and methanol (100%) extraction for polar contaminants. Analysis from two independent laboratories (in Norway and the Czech Republic) demonstrated the viability of SUPRAS for the simultaneous extraction of twelve groups of organic contaminants with a broad range of physico-chemical properties including plastic additives, pesticides, and combustion by-products. However, caution is advised when employing SUPRAS for highly polar contaminants like current-use pesticides or volatile substances like naphthalene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2016 there have been intense discussions within several established communities and networks regarding the consequences of the withdrawal of the LSVEC lithium carbonate reference material for carbon isotope‐delta measurement calibration. These include the Isotope Ratio Working Group (IRWG) of the Consultative Committee for the Amount of Substance (CCQM, French: Comité Consultatif pour la Quantité de Matière) of the International Committee of Weights and Measures (CIPM, French: Comité International des Poids et Mesures); participants within the 2016, 2021 and 2024 Technical Meetings on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stable isotope ratio reference products; and the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry's Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights (IUPAC CIAAW) amongst others. The reasons for these intensive discussions relate to the privileged position that LSVEC has occupied for traceability of carbon isotope‐delta measurements relative to Vienna Peedee belemnite (VPDB) and the potential implications of its withdrawal for all current and future measurements of carbon isotope‐delta values. This perspective summarises the background information regarding the LSVEC material in the context of the VPDB carbon isotope‐delta scale. The various proposals to address the LSVEC problem that have been discussed within those committees and networks are also presented. The information herein was used as a foundation for discussions at the 2024 IAEA Consultancy Meetings on the Development of IAEA Stable Isotope Reference Materials and Related Products and on the Definition and Realisation of the Isotopic Delta Scales for Light Elements (22–26 January 2024, Vienna, Austria). A summary of those 2024 meetings and associated outcomes can be found elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: In stable isotope mass spectrometry, isotope delta values are normalized to internationally recognized reference scales using a combination of certified and in‐house isotope reference materials. Numerous techniques exist for performing this normalization, but these methodologies need to be experimentally assessed to compare their effect on reproducibility of isotope results. Methods: We tested normalization methods by the number of reference materials used, their matrix, their isotope range, and whether normalization required extrapolating beyond the isotope range. We analyzed eight commercially available isotope reference materials on a ThermoFinnigan Delta‐V isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) and an Elementar VisION IRMS for nitrogen and carbon isotope composition via solid combustion with an elemental analyzer and computed every possible isotope normalization (n = 612). Additionally, we assessed how sample matrix affected linearity effects on both instruments using five in‐house reference materials. Results: Normalizations exhibited the best performance when the reference materials spanning an isotope range of at least 20‰ were matrix matched with the samples and did not require extrapolation beyond the calibration curve. When these conditions were not met, the number of reference materials used had a significant effect on accuracy, with normalizations composed of two reference materials exhibiting particularly inconsistent performance at isotope ranges below 20‰. Linearity effects were found to exceed instrument precision by two orders of magnitude irrespective of matrix type and were not predicted by working gas diagnostics. Conclusions: Interlaboratory comparability of isotope results is improved when operators of elemental analyzer isotope ratio mass spectrometry (EAIRMS) systems select reference materials spanning an isotope range of at least 20‰. Additionally, using three or more isotopic reference materials, avoiding extrapolation beyond the range of the normalization curve, and matching the matrix of the reference materials to the samples improve normalizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, alumino-borate glass was manufactured to fabricate glass with excellent corrosion resistance to plasma, and the Y 2 O 3 was substituted with YF 3. The basic properties of the glass were analyzed DTA, density, hardness, and transmittance. Plasma corrosion resistance is evaluated by the etch rate, surface roughness, and XPS of the glasses via CF 4 plasma etching. The results revealed that all glasses had superior plasma resistance than the reference material, quartz. As the amount of Y 2 O 3 increased, the etch rate decreased, and the YF 3 -containing glasses exhibited the highest plasma resistance by an etch rate of 22.17 nm/min. • Alumino-borate glass containing the Yttrium element was used as a plasma-resistant material. • When YF 3 fluoride was added, it showed the lowest etching rate and showed 11 times better plasma resistance than quartz. • The plasma resistance properties of Y 2 O 3 –Al 2 O 3 –B 2 O 3 -YF 3 glass are affected by the residual fluoride layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016, a design for detecting harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in the Belgian part of the North Sea (BPNS) was developed in the framework of the LifeWatch project using Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM) loggers. In 2018, the network of deployments fully matured, and eight locations across the BPNS are presently housed with a C-POD (Chelonia Ltd., UK), a PAM logger moored on the seafloor using a multi-use platform. The PAM logger continuously listens for harbor porpoise click trains, but only stores the click parameters. This paper presents the generated data series of harbor porpoise click trains at a minute-resolution and the details on the individual click trains. The field recordings, methodology and processing are described, along with its data curation, integration and quality control. The data are annually published online in a standardized format, accompanied with the metadata description, and labelled with a digital object identifier for traceability. Data are published under a CC-BY license, allowing the use of data under the condition of providing reference to the original source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Data quality in health information systems has a complex structure and consists of several dimensions. This research conducted for identify Common data quality elements for health information systems. Methods: A literature review was conducted and search strategies run in Web of Knowledge, Science Direct, Emerald, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar search engine as an additional source for tracing references. We found 760 papers, excluded 314 duplicates, 339 on abstract review and 167 on full-text review; leaving 58 papers for critical appraisal. Results: Current review shown that 14 criteria are categorized as the main dimensions for data quality for health information system include: Accuracy, Consistency, Security, Timeliness, Completeness, Reliability, Accessibility, Objectivity, Relevancy, Understandability, Navigation, Reputation, Efficiency and Value- added. Accuracy, Completeness, and Timeliness, were the three most-used dimensions in literature. Conclusions: At present, there is a lack of uniformity and potential applicability in the dimensions employed to evaluate the data quality of health information system. Typically, different approaches (qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods) were utilized to evaluate data quality for health information system in the publications that were reviewed. Consequently, due to the inconsistency in defining dimensions and assessing methods, it became imperative to categorize the dimensions of data quality into a limited set of primary dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The list provides records of the exhibitions concerning Slavic and East European collections held by the New York Public Library. This includes the gallery spaces in which Slavic and East European materials were exhibited: The Library’s main galleries, the Slavonic (Slavic & Baltic) Division’s reading room, and the Second Floor Corridor Gallery. The list also describes the exhibits chronologically from 1928 to 2019 with reference sources of reviews, press releases, and illustrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) primarily secrete physiologically functional exosomes via paracrine effects that act on various adjacent and distant cells, thus exerting their therapeutic effects. In recent years, hypoxic preconditioning, as a novel MSC culture mode, has emerged as a research hotspot. Many previous studies have shown the role and underlying regulatory mechanisms of hypoxic preconditioning in various diseases, which has provided sufficient reference materials for the MSC research field. Therefore, this review summarizes the progress in application of hypoxia-preconditioned MSC-derived exosomes that substantially increases and improves the biological activity of specific molecules, such as microRNA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CORE Reference offers globally applicable resources for clinical study reporting, including a user manual and a mapping tool, and continuous professional development (CPD) resources. This report presents the results of the 2023 Utility Survey conducted by the CORE Reference Project Team to measure the awareness and perceived usefulness of these resources by the regulatory medical writing community. The survey found an increased use of the CORE Reference open-access manual, compared to results of the 2017 survey. Most respondents found the resources extremely, or somewhat, useful for preparing disclosure-ready clinical study reports. Over half of the respondents were aware of the CORE Reference CPD resources. Most respondents found the bi-monthly news summary extremely, or somewhat, useful. One-third of the respondents required knowledge of the reporting and public disclosure landscape in Asia and found the updates of Asia extremely, or somewhat, useful. The survey results indicate a positive reception of the CORE Reference Project amongst regulatory medical writers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple method was developed for the determination of REEs, Zr, Hf, Th and U in ultramafic rocks by inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry with a combination of RE and UTEVA extraction resins for their separation and pre‐concentration. Ultramafic rocks were digested with HNO3‐HF‐HClO4 and finally turned into 11 mol l−1 HCl solutions together with H3BO3 to remove insoluble fluorides. The removal of matrix elements was achieved during the loading procedure. Following this, REEs on RE resin, and Zr, Hf, Th and U on UTEVA resin were eluted with 10 ml of 0.24 mol l−1 HCl, with recoveries better than 94.4%. This method was validated using reference materials JP‐1, DTS‐2B, OKUM, UB‐N, MUH‐1 and DZΣ‐2, and the measurement results for target analytes were comparable to literature values, indicating its applicability to the determination of REEs, Zr, Hf, Th and U at ultra‐trace level in ultramafic rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new set of reference materials, the ND70‐series, for in situ measurement of volatile elements (H2O, CO2, S, Cl, F) in silicate glass of basaltic composition. The materials were synthesised in piston cylinders at pressures of 1 to 1.5 GPa under volatile‐undersaturated conditions. They span mass fractions from 0 to 6% m/m H2O, from 0 to 1.6% m/m CO2 and from 0 to 1% m/m S, Cl and F. The materials were characterised by elastic recoil detection analysis for H2O, by nuclear reaction analysis for CO2, by elemental analyser for CO2, by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for H2O and CO2, by secondary ion mass spectrometry for H2O, CO2, S, Cl and F, and by electron probe microanalysis for CO2, S, Cl and major elements. Comparison between expected and measured volatile amounts across techniques and institutions is excellent. It was found however that SIMS measurements of CO2 mass fractions using either Cs+ or O− primary beams are strongly affected by the glass H2O content. Reference materials have been made available to users at ion probe facilities in the US, Europe and Japan. Remaining reference materials are preserved at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History where they are freely available on loan to any researcher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of three CGSP‐P phosphate matrix reference materials, with variable element mass fractions, were synthesised by co‐precipitation with CaCl2 and (NH4)3PO4 to form a hydroxylapatite matrix. Each powder sample was packaged into multiple bottles and pressed into tablets as replicates. The within‐bottle homogeneity was evaluated by the repeatability of element mass fractions of six spots in per tablet of CGSP‐Ps by LA‐ICP‐MS. For the between‐bottle homogeneity evaluation, one approach adopted the % RSD of element mass fractions in twelve different tablets from twelve bottles in the same reference material in comparison with the repeatability field of LA‐ICP‐MS analyses obtained from homogeneous glasses, and the other used a one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) approach. Most of the elements (e.g., Mg, Ca, P, Mn and REE) were homogenous within 10% RSD, and other elements (e.g., Si, Al, K, Rb, Cs and Ni) were considered heterogeneous (with > 20% RSD). All of the elements passed the t‐test except Ni in CGSP‐P3, and V, Cr, Ni, Zr, Gd, Dy and Th in CGSP‐P4 after a 29‐month period stability examination by LA‐ICP‐MS. The preliminary reference values and standard uncertainties for CGSP‐Ps are given with a network of methods and eight laboratories by bulk analysis according to ISO Guide 35:2006 and JJF 1343‐2012. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a full assessment of the GeoPT proficiency testing scheme against the recommendations in ISO Guide 35:2017 for the use of proficiency testing in the certification of reference materials, this paper presents the first application of the GeoPT certification protocol in the characterisation of a new geochemical CRM, IAG GMN‐1, Meissen Granite. This protocol is applied to the measurement results reported in Round 51 of the GeoPT programme in which the candidate CRM was used as the test material, together with an established CRM (CGL 008 MGT‐1 Granite) to provide validation of the results. Following the presentation of mineralogy, grain‐size analysis and homogeneity testing data for IAG GMN‐1, certified values for nine major elements and thirty‐nine trace elements are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the adoption of Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers, the European Commission requested EFSA to update its 'Guidance on safety evaluation of sources of nutrients and bioavailability of the nutrient from the sources' regarding the scientific principles and data requirements for the scientific assessment of all new forms of micronutrients and to derive a conversion factor for new micronutrient sources or forms of micronutrients to be authorised for addition to foods, including food supplements. This guidance outlines the scientific principles that the NDA Panel will consider for the assessment of the safety and the quantification of the relative bioavailability of new sources of micronutrients, which applicants are requested to consider when preparing their applications. It also outlines the data requirements for dossiers. Applicants should integrate the data presented in different sections to provide their overall considerations on how the information provided supports the safety of the new micronutrient source and the quantification of its relative bioavailability compared to a reference source under the proposed conditions of use. As preparatory work for the development of this guidance, EFSA launched an Expert Survey and held an online workshop on 9th March 2023 inviting scientific input from stakeholders and scientific experts, the report of which is now available online in the EFSA's webpage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there are a number of available reference and testing materials for micro- and nanoplastic (MNP) studies in toxicology, they are not well-characterized and do not cover all major polymer types that may potentially pollute the environment. This review article will address the question of why we need properly designed synthesized micro- and nanoplastics with a core–shell structure (with organic–inorganic units) and provide researchers with a scientific basis for the design of synthesized MNP particles. It will include a list of commercially available MNPs, an overview of the theoretical background to polymer particle synthesis, and an analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of MNP preparation methods, namely, fragmentation and synthesis, along with examples of synthesized MNP particles. The current study will demonstrate that polystyrene is one of the most prevalent MNP particle types among reference materials from certification bodies and among testing particles synthesized by chemical scientists. Nevertheless, the global industrial production of polystyrene represents approximately 5% of the total, and it is not a dominant plastic type in the textile or packaging industries. In contrast to mechanically fragmented MNP particles, the synthesis approach offers the potential to control the physico-chemical properties, enabling the more selective detection and quantification, as well as a greater comparability of the results amongst toxicological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection by the mustard clubroot disease pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae has a significant negative impact on the quality and yield of Chinese mustard (Brassica juncea). At present, screening resistant resources for breeding programs is the most economical and effective method available to control this disease. In this study, we isolated P. brassicae physiological race 4 from Chinese cabbage and examined 483 mustard germplasm resources (193 leaf mustard, 96 stem mustard, and 194 root mustard) from China and abroad to identify resistance to clubroot disease at the seedling stage through irrigation inoculation with the isolated pathogen. The results showed that there were no immune varieties among the tested mustard germplasm, but that there were differences in resistance to clubroot disease among the three mustard types. More than 90% of leaf and stem mustard resources were susceptible to clubroot disease, whereas 38.66% of root mustard resources showed resistance. In total, we detected 4 highly resistant, 9 resistant, and 83 moderately resistant varieties, of which 4 highly resistant, 8 resistant, and 63 moderately resistant varieties were root mustard resources, whereas only 1 resistant and 5 moderately resistant varieties were stem mustard resources, and 15 moderately resistant varieties were leaf mustard resources. In addition, we used seven molecular markers for clubroot disease resistance in Chinese cabbage to detect stem and root mustard resources. The results showed that the marker CRk was detected in 97.87% of stem mustard and 92.49% of root mustard resources. Six markers (Crr1, Crr2, Crr3, CRa, CRb, and CRc) were detected in 18.09%, 7.45%, 2.13%, 6.38%, 12.77%, and 12.77% of stem mustard germplasms, and four markers (Crr1, Crr2, Crr3, and CRc) were detected in 8.09%, 8.67%, 10.40%, and 8.67% of root mustard germplasms, respectively, suggesting that these markers are not suitable for detecting mustard germplasm resistance to clubroot disease. This study provides a technical reference and material support for the breeding of mustard varieties resistant to clubroot disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a comprehensive examination of liquid mycotoxin reference standards. A total of 30 different standards were tested, each containing 10 samples of three distinct substances: Aflatoxin B1, Deoxynivalenol, and Zearalenone. The standards were sourced from 10 different global market leading manufacturers. To facilitate comparison, all the standard sets were adjusted to the same concentration level. The standards were analyzed using the techniques LC-MS/MS, HPLC-DAD, and LC-HRMS to assess their quality attributes. Regarding the validation of the reference values, it was observed that 30% of the suppliers provided reference standards that were either below the lower acceptance limit or above the higher acceptance limit, confirmed by both the LC-MS/MS and HPLC-DAD methods. Furthermore, a total of 12 impurities were found in the DON standards, 10 in the AFB1 standards, and 8 in the ZON standards, distributed across all the suppliers. Therefore, this study suggests relevant adjustments to the ISO 17034 standard, proposing that the purity of a raw material should be uniformly based on q-NMR analysis, as most manufacturers state the purity of their certificates is determined using HPLC-UV or LC-MS/MS. Liquid standards with a shelf life of ≤1 year should not exceed an uncertainty of 3%. Standards that have a longer shelf life should not have more than 5% uncertainty. This study also emphasizes the importance of stability. The standards should undergo continuous long-term monitoring; otherwise, products may exhibit a target value of only 80%, as seen in one instance. It is also recommended to include proof of HPLC and LC-MS/MS analyses on the certificate of each released batch of a final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the history of the city of Ganja, which occupies an important place in the history of Azerbaijan. Based on the works of the scientist Hamid Arasly and historical sources, the social, scientific and literary environment of Ganja in the 11th -12th centuries was comparatively examined. The considered work of H. Arasly, dedicated to the life and work of the great thinker Nizami Ganjavi, is written on the basis of historical facts, as well as the artistic thought of the author. At the same time, the historical facts of the events mentioned by H. Arasli in his work on the history of Ganja are also given with reference to sources. In the book, H. Arasly writes about Ganja - the scientific, literary, social environment of the city, etc. - correspond to historical facts, introducing us to the real Ganja of the Nizami period. And this acquaintance once again reflects the indisputable confirmation that such a genius as Nizami lived and worked in a city like Ganja, where revival and development were observed in all areas. The article also highlights the importance of Ganja's scientific environment in the early 20th century, touching on the scientists from whom Hamid Arasli received his scientific education in Ganja in his youth, the science he adopted from them, and the impact of all this on H. Arasli's life. Ganja, historically the birthplace of great figures, was chosen due to its importance in the history of Azerbaijan, regardless of period, and the enthusiasm and warmth of its literary and cultural environment. And for this reason, in addition to its important place in history, it has also become the main subject of countless works in literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After COVID‐19 long term respiratory symptoms and reduced lung function including maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) have been reported. However, no studies have looked at MIP and MEP in all disease groups and the reference materials collection methods differ substantially. We aimed to determine MIP and MEP in individuals after COVID‐19 infection with different disease severity using reference material of healthy control group obtained using the same standardized method. Patients with COVID‐19 were included March 2020–March 2021 at Rigshospitalet, Denmark. MIP and MEP were measured using microRPM. Predicted MIP and MEP were calculated using reference material obtained from 298 healthy adults aged 18–97 years using the same method. In SECURe, 145 participants were measured median 5 months after COVID‐19 diagnosis and of these 16% had reduced MIP and/or MEP. There was reduced spirometry and total lung capacity, but not reduced diffusion capacity in those with abnormal MIP and/or MEP compared with normal MIP and MEP. Of those with reduced MIP and/or MEP at 5 months, 80% still had reduced MIP and/or MEP at 12 months follow‐up. In conclusion, few have reduced MIP and/or MEP 5 months after COVID‐19 and little improvement was seen over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solution anode glow discharge (SAGD) was established as a miniaturized excitation source of atomic emission spectrometry (AES) for the detection of Cd in rhizosphere soil, carrot, and carrot leaf samples. The working conditions, such as electrolyte pH, discharge voltage, support electrolyte, solution flow rate, and discharge distance, were systematically optimized. The effect of 31 foreign ions on the Cd determination was investigated. In addition, the influences of matrix modifiers on the Cd signal intensity and interference elimination were examined in detail. The results showed that under the optimal operating parameters, the presence of Fe3+, Co2+, Pb2+, Cu2+, Cr3+, and Tl3+ ions at 30 mg/L causes severe depression effects for the detection of Cd, and adding ascorbic acid as a matrix modifier can reduce the matrix interference, improve sensitivity, and lower the limit of detection (LOD). The LOD of Cd is 4.4 μg/L, and power is below 8 W using SAGD without any matrix modifier. Compared with the solution cathode glow discharge–atomic emission spectrometry (SCGD-AES), the sensitivity is improved about 11-fold, and the power is consumed only about one-sixth. The analysis results of SAGD-AES are in agreement with the Cd-certified reference material and verification values measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, suggesting that proposed method has high accuracy and reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]