搜索结果：Analytical science advances

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a well-established occupational carcinogen, widely utilized in industrial processes such as electroplating, surface treatment, and ferrochromium production. It is also generated as a by-product of welding activities. Accurate monitoring of occupational exposure to Cr(VI) is essential for protecting workers' health. This review aims to critically assess the main challenges associated with existing environmental monitoring techniques for Cr(VI) in welding operations and to propose practical strategies to address these limitations. A systematic literature review was conducted by consulting 3 scientific databases (Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed). Studies assessing occupational exposure to Cr(VI) published since 2014, were included and analyzed in terms of methods, dosimetric parameters measures, and possible alternative approaches for Cr(VI) characterization. The reviewed studies employed diverse environmental monitoring strategies for occupational Cr(VI) exposure assessment, with substantial heterogeneity in sampling conventions, analytical workflows, and speciation capability. Some studies additionally reported biological measurements and/or used exposure modeling as supportive approaches; however, these were not systematically reviewed as primary endpoints. Findings confirm that occupational exposure to Cr(VI) remains a concern in multiple industries, with exposure levels varying according to tasks, process characteristics, and preventive measures. However, major challenges persist. Key issues include the difficulty of distinguishing Cr species, the instability of Cr(VI) during sampling and analysis, and the scarcity of reliable speciation data. Furthermore, particle size distribution-especially the role of ultrafine particles-remains poorly characterized despite its toxicological importance. Innovative tools, including advanced analytical methods and modeling approaches, show promise but require further validation. To fill research gaps and improve risk assessment, future studies should (i) accurately differentiate between chemical species of metals; (ii) adopt methods capable of measuring particle size distribution, with focus on ultrafine fractions; and (iii) systematically collect contextual data on Personal Protective Equipment use and work activities.

The widespread use of pesticides in viticulture has raised increasing concerns regarding residue contamination in grapes and grape-derived products. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and critical synthesis of multiclass pesticide residues, focusing on their occurrence, analytical detection, and food safety implications. A systematic evaluation of recent studies reveals that grapes frequently contain multiple pesticide residues, with fungicides being the dominant class, followed by insecticides and acaricides. Advanced multiresidue analytical methods, particularly QuEChERS combined with GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, and high-resolution mass spectrometry, have enabled sensitive and simultaneous detection of diverse pesticide compounds, including emerging contaminants and metabolites. In addition, rapid detection tools such as biosensors and portable devices have gained attention as complementary screening approaches. Key findings indicate that pesticide residues often occur as complex mixtures, highlighting the limitations of single-residue risk assessment and the need for cumulative exposure evaluation. Processing techniques, including washing, fermentation, and clarification, can reduce residue levels but do not completely eliminate contamination. Overall, this review emphasizes the importance of integrating advanced analytical techniques with comprehensive risk assessment frameworks to improve food safety management and support sustainable grape production systems.

Laser-based optical spectroscopic techniques, namely Raman spectroscopy, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and photoluminescence (PL), are advanced analytical tools reliably used for remote sensing in space exploration and its parallels in Earth-based environments. Each of these techniques offers unique advantages for detecting and identifying minerals and other inorganic components of soil, sources of hydration, organic compounds and biosignature materials, and atmospheric gases, which together provide essential clues about planetary evolution, resource potential, and the possibility of human habitation. This Review concentrates on the advancements reported in the past 5 years in the implementation of these laser-based optical techniques for space-exploration-related studies or the equivalent. By integrating the strengths of Raman, LIBS, and PL spectroscopies within a single framework, this Review provides a unified roadmap for advancing the role of optical spectroscopy in planetary exploration.

Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) represent one of the major factors determining structure, function and quality in food products, especially in the case of industrial processing. Within complex food matrices, the structural and physical behavior of food components is controlled by PPIs that determine aggregation behavior, network formation, phase stability, and structural integrity and are thus directly related to the stability of the final product and how well a product may perform during a process. Recent developments in analytical techniques have facilitated the elucidation of PPIs and their application in activity-induced structural changes, in particular during thermal, non-thermal, enzymatic, and mechanical processes. In lieu of providing an exhaustive summary, this review synthesizes research evidence and findings related to measuring PPIs from main food systems, namely dairy, meat, cereal and plant-based products. The impact of different processing methods on PPIs and related quality characteristics including structure, stability and functional activity is critically assessed. Knowledge gaps and methodological limitations (in particular concerning laboratory scale industrial processes) are highlighted. By combining mechanistic considerations with practical performance considerations, this review allows us to rationalize the improvement of food processing strategies and to develop protein-based foods with better quality and performance stability.

Approximately three decades ago, in response to the growing demand for rapid and sensitive analysis of small-volume samples, monolithic column technology emerged contemporaneously with other key concepts in analytical chemistry, such as the micro-total analysis system (µTAS) and lab-on-a-chip technology. These innovations attracted considerable attention as paradigm-shifting tools in the field. In the post-genomic era in particular, where miniaturization and high-throughput workflows became critical, monoliths-characterized by their continuous porous structure, high permeability, and low back pressure-were recognized as next-generation separation media, especially in omics-driven research. However, subsequent advances in liquid chromatography-most notably the development of core-shell particle packing materials and the widespread adoption of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-gradually diminished the relative advantages of monolithic columns in standard high-throughput HPLC applications. Despite this shift, their intrinsic features, including ease of fabrication, outstanding flow properties, and flexible moldability into diverse formats, have continued to generate new value. In recent years, applications of monoliths have expanded beyond analytical separations into diverse fields, including biopharmaceutical purification (e.g., antibody drugs), solid-phase extraction, immobilized catalytic systems, and integration into micro- and nanoscale devices. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the three-decade evolution of monolithic column technology, highlighting its historical context, current applications, and emerging roles in both analytical and preparative sciences within the broader context of evolving analytical technologies.

Oral diseases represent one of the most widespread global health burdens, affecting billions of people worldwide, causing pain, disability, and substantial treatment costs. Despite their prevalence, progress in prevention and therapy has been limited, in part, by experimental models that do not fully capture the complexity of the oral biological and environmental landscape. Over the past decade, however, major advances in model development have expanded the possibilities for studying oral disease. This mini-review summarizes advances from 2015 to 2025, focusing on caries and endodontic infections, gingivitis and periodontitis, peri-implantitis, mucosal disorders, oral and oropharyngeal cancers, and salivary gland diseases. Recent innovations include saliva-derived biofilm systems that reproduce ecological transitions, organ-on-chip systems that replicate fluid dynamics, and patient-derived organoids and xenografts that preserve clinical characteristics. In parallel, immune-integrated models now allow direct interrogation of host responses to pathogens. Separate from these experimental platforms, advanced analytical and computational approaches, including single-cell profiling, spatial transcriptomics, radiomics, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted image analysis, are increasingly linking molecular signatures with structural and functional disease outcomes. Together, these experimental models and complementary analytical tools mark a shift from reductionist approaches toward dynamic, patient-relevant frameworks that better capture the complexity of oral diseases. Remaining challenges include modeling chronic disease progression, incorporating viral and autoimmune components, and improving reproducibility through standardization across platforms. Addressing these limitations will be important for translating next-generation experimental models into clinically meaningful advances in oral health care.

The Viking Mars mission raised intriguing questions about Mars' surface chemistry. More than three decades later, an array of small electrochemical sensors included on the Phoenix Mars lander provided a key insight: Perchlorate, chlorine's most highly oxidized form, was present at surprisingly high concentrations in the regolith. This has implications for Mars' geochemistry, habitability, potential to support microbial life, and human exploration; as a strong oxidant, it might also help explain the destruction of organic compounds on the martian surface. Here, we examine the role of chemical sensors in the exploration of Mars and a critical allied enabling technology, microfluidics, from Phoenix to the present day and beyond. Enormous technological advances in microtechnologies, targeting terrestrial applications from everyday consumer electronics to wearable medical diagnostic devices, are just now beginning to be adapted and harnessed to support planetary science and discovery. These advances are poised to revolutionize how much can be learned using robust systems with unimaginably small requirements for size, weight, and power, making them compatible with small, potentially lower-cost delivery to the martian surface on hard landers, impactors, penetrators, and even rotorcraft.

Natural products exhibit extraordinary structural diversity and play central roles in chemical ecology, biological interactions, and drug discovery. However, many natural products are available only in trace amounts, making structural elucidation a major analytical challenge. This review summarizes landmark studies and recent advances in the structural analysis of natural products available in microgram- to sub-milligram quantities. It focuses primarily on NMR-based structural elucidation, including the use of high-field instrumentation, cryogenic probes, and advanced pulse sequences, while also covering approaches based on comparison with synthetic standards, DFT-assisted structure validation, the crystalline sponge method, and MicroED. Representative examples, including natural toxins, biosynthetic intermediates, and microbial signaling molecules, illustrate how integrated analytical and synthetic approaches enable reliable structure determination from limited material. These methodologies provide an important foundation not only for natural product discovery but also for understanding biosynthesis, biological activity, and chemical ecology at the molecular level.

Neural organoids and assembloids have emerged as advanced in vitro models that reproduce the cytoarchitecture and functional complexity of the human brain. This review focuses on recent applications of these three-dimensional systems for modeling neurodegenerative diseases and assessing the efficacy of gene therapy, particularly using adeno-associated viral vectors. The development of induced pluripotent stem cell technology enables the creation of patient-specific organoids that reflect individual genetic backgrounds and disease phenotypes. Neural organoids have been used to model Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's diseases, reproducing hallmark features such as protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, and synaptic dysfunction. They have also served as test systems for evaluating AAV-mediated gene delivery, revealing serotype-specific tropism and supporting optimization of vector design and gene expression. Further advances include integration of immune and vascular components and the construction of multi-regional assembloids that replicate inter-regional neuronal communication and complex network dynamics. Ongoing standardization and scalability of neural organoid systems, combined with bioengineering and analytical innovations, are expected to enhance reproducibility and translational relevance. The convergence of organoid models with gene therapy testing frameworks may accelerate preclinical validation and contribute to the development of precision approaches in neurology.

In the field of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, bioactive compounds play vital roles as fortifying ingredients and drug components. As these products are naturally acquired from plant resources, their stability and functionality have to be preserved essentially. Of late, these bioactive components have been effectively preserved as capsules through the process of nanoencapsulation, which has been reported to successfully maintain their shelf life and structures and prolong their functional ability. Here, the authors had attempted to elaborate reported studies on the materials used in the fabrication of nanocapsules (NCs), several modes of nanoencapsulation, the analytical methods to assess the characteristics of NCs, and the natural product bioactives that are encapsulated, and their utilisation in various pharmacological applications. This article significantly discussed how these NCs are remarkable in targeted drug delivery and sustained drug release. The present review throws a limelight on the challenges that were faced during their production and commercialisation. In addition, current strategies to overcome the disadvantages in the process were also emphasised. Overall, this review article will substantially serve as a comprehensive resource to understand nanoencapsulation and implement it with state-of-the-art technologies to enhance the nutritive, mechanical, and functional properties of the bioactive compounds for consumption and biomedical applications.

Microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are increasingly recognized as promising biogenic matrices for heavy metal immobilization, but their role is still frequently interpreted through an adsorption-centered perspective. This interpretation limits a mechanistic understanding of why EPS-rich systems often show greater stability and adaptability than conventional biosorbents under complex wastewater conditions. This study proposes to view EPS-mediated heavy metal immobilization as a coupled and adaptive process that integrates rapid adsorption, selective coordination, precipitation, biomineralization, biofilm protection, and microbial regulation. Evidence from recent studies indicates that EPS immobilize heavy metals through ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, coordination complexation, direct precipitation, and metabolically induced biomineralization, while these pathways are jointly governed by EPS composition, functional-group distribution, spatial stratification, pH, salinity, redox state, nutrient balance, metal stress, and quorum sensing. A key point of this study is that it attempts to go beyond describing what EPS do and to explain how EPS convert transient metal capture into more stable immobilization by linking extracellular chemistry, microbial metabolism, and biofilm-scale organization. This framework suggests a different interpretation of prior studies: high adsorption capacity alone should not be treated as a universal performance indicator; instead, EPS performance should be evaluated by capacity, selectivity, post-binding stability, regeneration potential, and tolerance to mixed-metal and saline wastewater conditions. By critically comparing mechanisms, performance ranges, and engineering trade-offs, this review provides a more analytical basis for controllable EPS production, functional optimization, composite design, and resource-oriented wastewater treatment. EPS should be regarded not merely as passive biosorbents, but as adaptive biological interfaces with strong potential for sustainable and scalable heavy metal remediation.

Stable isotope bioarchaeology is an important area of bioarchaeological research, which can provide direct evidence for reconstructing the trophic positions and dietary sources of ancient humans and animals. Compared with bulk bone collagen isotope analysis, compound-specific isotope analysis of amino acids (CSIA-AA) can effectively overcome the inherent limitations of the traditional method in terms of isotopic baseline variation, fertilization effects, and physiological stress, ensuring more precise determination of the trophic positions and food resource utilization of ancient humans and animals. This method has become a research frontier in international bioarchaeology, but its application remains underdeveloped in China. To address this gap, we introduced the fundamental concepts and analytical principles of CSIA-AA, illustrated its unique advantages in paleodietary reconstruction through representative case studies, and reviewed advances in areas such as the optimization of trophic position estimation parameters, machine learning assisted dietary discrimination, and the reconstruction of individual life histories. Finally, we provided a prospective outlook on the application of CSIA-AA in archaeological research in China. 稳定同位素生物考古是生物考古研究的重要组成部分,可为揭示先民(动物)的营养级以及食物来源提供直接的科学证据。相较于骨胶原的整体同位素分析,单体氨基酸稳定同位素分析(CSIA-AA)能够有效弥补其在同位素基线变异、施肥效应、生理压力等方面的内在局限,更为精确地揭示古代人群或动物的营养级位置与食物资源利用情况。当前,该分析方法已成为国际生物考古界的研究前沿,但在我国的应用仍十分薄弱。为此,本文介绍了CSIA-AA的基本概念与分析原理,结合典型案例阐述了其在古食谱研究中的独特优势,梳理了其在营养级估算参数优化、机器学习辅助食谱判别、个体生活史重建等方面的重要研究进展。最后,本文对CSIA-AA在我国考古学领域的应用前景进行了展望。.

This work presents a comprehensive study of entropy-based metrics for evaluating blockchain systems, focusing on on-chain ledger immutability, off-chain data integrity, and computational dynamics within blockchain virtual machines (BVMs). We develop a unified framework that models blockchain states as probabilistic distributions, quantifying uncertainty through Shannon entropy and examining its evolution under varying adversarial fractions. Extensive simulations demonstrate that on-chain entropy exhibits near-exponential decay, reflecting the cumulative reinforcement of honest consensus, while off-chain entropy remains static, highlighting the limitations of conventional data storage. Furthermore, the BVM is analyzed in terms of computation entropy, establishing its Turing completeness and demonstrating that smart-contract state evolution mirrors the information dynamics of arbitrary Turing machines. Our results provide quantitative evidence that entropy serves as both a theoretical and operational measure of immutability, tamper evidence, and protocol resilience. The proposed entropy framework offers practical tools for monitoring ledger integrity, detecting tampering, and assessing computational complexity, bridging the gap between information-theoretic principles and distributed ledger applications. This study advances both the theoretical understanding and practical evaluation of blockchain security, providing a principled methodology for analyzing distributed systems under adversarial conditions.

The increasing anthropogenic burden, driven by population growth and intensified industrial and agricultural practices, has led to the widespread release of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) into aquatic ecosystems, with significant implications for both environmental and human health. Many studies have reported the concentrations and toxicological effects of EDCs in aquatic environments, but few have addressed detection methods and remediation techniques. This review aims to highlight the sources, dynamics, and bioaccumulation of EDCs in aquatic ecosystems, along with their toxic effects on aquatic species and associated health risks in humans. Additionally, we provide an overview of advanced detection and remediation techniques. Our review found that EDCs, particularly phthalates and bisphenols, included in industrial effluents, domestic waste, and agricultural runoff, are frequently discharged into aquatic bodies through human activities. EDCs are associated with various toxic effects in aquatic organisms, such as bioaccumulation, transgenerational effects, reduced growth, immunotoxicity, DNA damage, and abnormal hormonal release, which impair reproductive development. Among the detection methods, biosensors, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are promising tools for EDC detection relative to conventional analytical methods in aquatic systems. Emerging remediation techniques, such as hybrid activated carbon systems and N-doped carbon-based adsorbents, are recommended for their high removal efficiency. This review serves as a valuable resource for advancing research on EDC toxicity, detection, and remediation technologies. 在人口增长及工农业生产加剧的推动下，日益增加的人类活动促使内分泌干扰物（EDCs）被广泛释放到水生态系统中，对环境和人类健康产生了重大影响。已有诸多研究报道了EDCs在水环境中的浓度及其毒理学效应，但关于其检测方法和修复技术的研究仍然较少。本综述旨在系统阐述水生态系统中EDCs的来源、动力学和生物累积特征，并分析其对水生物种和人类健康的毒理学影响。此外，本综述还概述了先进的检测和修复技术。结果发现，EDCs（特别是邻苯二甲酸盐和双酚）常跟随工业废水、生活垃圾和农业径流经人类活动被排放到水体中。EDCs与水生生物的各种毒性效应密切相关，包括生物累积、跨代效应、生长减缓、免疫毒性、DNA损伤和异常激素释放，进而损害水生生物的生殖和发育功能。在检测技术方面，相比于传统方法，生物传感器、表面增强拉曼光谱和核磁共振光谱被认为是水环境中EDCs检测最具前景的三种技术。在新兴修复技术中，混合活性炭系统和氮掺杂碳吸附剂因其高效的去除能力而备受青睐。总之，本综述为促进水生态系统中EDCs的毒性机制研究，以及推动检测和修复技术发展提供了宝贵的参考资料。.

Nanoemulsions are thermodynamically unstable but kinetically stable colloidal dispersion systems with droplet sizes ranging from 20 to 500 nm. With their high specific surface area, excellent optical properties, tunable rheology, and remarkable penetration ability, these systems demonstrate enormous potential in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). This paper systematically reviews the significant advances in nanoemulsion characterization techniques and oil displacement mechanisms. The nanoemulsion characterization techniques are examined, covering a comprehensive multi-scale characterization system from particle size and distribution analysis (e.g., dynamic light scattering, laser diffraction), micro-morphology and structure visualization (e.g., transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy), and interface and surface property characterization (e.g., interfacial tension measurement, zeta potential analysis) to stability and rheology assessment, as well as chemical composition and structure analysis. Furthermore, core mechanisms of nanoemulsions in oil displacement processes are briefly summarized, revealing multiple synergistic enhancement mechanisms including ultra-low interfacial tension and oil film stripping, rock wettability alteration, emulsification and viscosity reduction, improved fluid flow and injection pressure reduction. Finally, prospects for the potential application of nanoemulsion oil displacement technology in the development of low-permeability, tight, and heavy oil reservoirs are described by analyzing the current challenges such as unclear structure-activity relationships, full-chain stability (including storage, transport, injection, and reservoir aging), and environmental safety, and future research directions are pointed out, including clarifying structure-activity relationships, smart responsive system development, artificial intelligence-assisted design, and pilot-scale validation. Clarifying the link between nanoemulsion characterization techniques and oil displacement mechanisms is of significant academic and engineering value for promoting the transition from empirical application to rational design of related technologies.

Membrane separation technology, with advantages including high treatment efficiency, small footprint and easy operation, is playing an increasingly significant role in processes such as desalination, industrial separation, zero-liquid discharge (ZLD), water remediation, wastewater treatment and reclamation, and resource recovery [...].

This scoping review summarizes recent advances in biosensor technologies for the early, non-invasive detection of oral cancer, with a focus on salivary biomarkers and point-of-care platforms. Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, and EBSCO) were searched for studies published from 2019 to 2025. After duplicate removal and screening, nine eligible original studies were charted. The included platforms were primarily electrochemical, optical, and transistor-based biosensors targeting biomarkers such as interleukin-8 (IL-8), cytokeratin fragment 21.1 (Cyfra 21.1), cancerous inhibitor of PP2A (CIP2A/P90), and high-risk HPV genotypes. Reported limits of detection were frequently in the femtomolar range, although reporting of assay time, sample volume, and clinical diagnostic accuracy was inconsistent. Overall, biosensors show strong analytical potential for oral cancer screening; however, translation to routine clinical use will require standardized analytical validation, careful control of pre-analytical saliva variables, and well-designed multicenter clinical studies reporting sensitivity and specificity against appropriate reference standards.

Pterins are a structurally diverse group of biologically active compounds within the pteridine family, with key roles in pigmentation, redox metabolism, light sensing, and cellular signaling across a wide range of organisms. Their quantification in biological samples is analytically demanding due to their high polarity, chemical instability, and the presence of multiple oxidation states. This review presents an integrated overview of pterin occurrence, structure, and physicochemical properties, followed by a detailed discussion of sample preparation strategies designed to ensure compound stability and analytical accuracy. Methods such as chemical oxidation, photochemical derivatization, and antioxidant stabilization are evaluated in the context of various biological matrices. We further examine state-of-the-art analytical techniques that combine separation with detection, including capillary electrophoresis, gas and liquid chromatography coupled with fluorescence, UV, electrochemical, or mass spectrometric detection. Particular attention is given to recent advances in LC-MS techniques, including both tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-resolution approaches (e.g., HPLC-Q/TOF-MS), which have greatly improved the sensitivity, selectivity, and throughput of pterin analysis, especially in combination with HILIC separation mode. These developments support the growing use of pterins as biomarkers in clinical diagnostics and physiological research, and underscore the importance of robust, matrix-appropriate analytical protocols tailored to the specific challenges posed by this compound class.

Persistent inter-laboratory variability in vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) continues to challenge the reliability of exposure-guided dosing despite advances in analytical methods and external quality assessment (EQA). Building on recent longitudinal evidence demonstrating sustained variability across analytical platforms, this correspondence proposes a practical framework for translating EQA findings into decision-grade laboratory practice. The framework emphasizes three complementary components: (1) transparent reporting of commutability characteristics and limitations of EQA materials, (2) uncertainty-aware interpretation of results in relation to clinically relevant decision thresholds, and (3) standardized reporting of traceability and analytical descriptors to improve interoperability and cross-site comparability. Together, these measures extend EQA beyond retrospective performance assessment toward supporting clinically meaningful interpretation of laboratory results. Integrating commutability-informed EQA with uncertainty-aware reporting and harmonized reporting standards can strengthen the clinical utility of vancomycin TDM. This decision-oriented approach has the potential to enhance reproducibility, improve confidence in exposure-guided dosing, facilitate harmonization across laboratories, and reinforce antimicrobial stewardship through more reliable therapeutic decision-making.