This study aimed to evaluate quality differences between Yunnan upland rice (YNUR) collected in Honghe, Pu'er, Nujiang and Qujing and paddy rice from Jiangxi and Heilongjiang by physicochemical indexes, taste analyzer, sensory evaluation, e-nose, and untargeted metabolomics. Compared with paddy rice, YNUR exhibited significantly higher amylose content (11.78-14.11%), lower expected glycemic index (60.55-69.13), and higher taste value (8.75-9.01), along with a higher retrogradation value and lower breakdown value. Its texture was characterized by high hardness, high elasticity and low viscosity. Furthermore, YNUR had higher aldehyde and ketone contents, presenting an aroma profile dominated by fruity and faint pungent notes. (Z)-2-nonenal, nonanal and 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine were the key differential odor compounds. Metabolomic analysis identified 573 differential metabolites and revealed significant enrichment of glycerophospholipid and amino acid metabolic pathways in YNUR. This study characterizes the quality attributes of upland rice and provides insights for the cultivation and application of water-saving rice.

C-reactive protein (CRP) is a widely used biomarker of acute inflammation, particularly in paediatrics. Immunoturbidimetric methods are commonly used for CRP measurement; however, analytical differences between platforms may affect result comparability. This study aimed to assess the analytical comparability of two immunoturbidimetric methods implemented on different analysers. Fifty-one serum samples were analysed in duplicate using two automated immunoturbidimetric methods: CRP4 on the Roche Cobas Integra® 400+ and CRP FS on the DiaSys Respons® 920. Method comparison included Spearman's rank correlation, Passing-Bablok regression, Bland-Altman analysis, and assessment of classification agreement using Cohen's kappa coefficient, within the general framework of CLSI EP09. CRP concentrations measured by CRP4 were significantly higher than those obtained with CRP FS (p = 0.001), with respective medians of 16.5 and 11.0 mg/L. The methods showed a strong correlation (Spearman's ρ = 0.952; p < 0.05), without implying analytical agreement. Passing-Bablok regression indicated both constant and proportional bias, whereas Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean bias of -4.04 mg/L, with 95% limits of agreement ranging from -13.48 to 5.40 mg/L. The observed total error was 38.1%, remaining below the 42% analytical performance limit used in this study but slightly exceeding the more stringent 36.5% performance specification. The two methods showed overall acceptable analytical comparability under the conditions of this study but should not be considered fully interchangeable. Whenever possible, the same analytical method should be maintained for longitudinal patient monitoring.

Neutral oxygenated compounds (NOCs), including alcohols and ketones, constitute one of the most analytically challenging classes of molecules in the molecular characterization of fossil fuels, largely owing to the absence of selective analytical methods capable of detecting them at trace concentrations. Here, we report a selective chemical derivatization strategy using deuterated pyridine (D5-pyridine) and thionyl chloride (SOCl2) to convert alcohols and ketones into N-alkylpyridinium quaternary ammonium salts. The resulting derivatives exhibit greatly enhanced ionization response in positive-ion electrospray high-resolution mass spectrometry (ESI(+) Orbitrap MS). Importantly, the use of D5-pyridine eliminates spectral interference from native basic nitrogen compounds in crude oil, enabling unambiguous assignment of molecular formulas. The method allows simultaneous profiling of both alcohols and ketones with excellent selectivity, as confirmed by model compound studies. Quantification using 1-tetradecanol (C14-alcohol) and 3-tetradecanone (C14-ketone) as internal standards demonstrates good linearity (R[2] > 0.96). Application to seven crude oils from Chinese oilfields reveals that alcohols (0.4~4.0% w/w) and ketones (0.015~0.070% w/w) are predominantly present as aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic structures, with oxygen levels below the detection limit of conventional elemental analyzers. This derivatization-based approach provides an analytical tool for tracing neutral oxygenated compounds in petroleum systems and demonstrates that these compounds contribute minimally to the total oxygen content of conventional fossil fuels compared to acidic oxygen-containing species.

Age- and adiposity-related variations in platelet indices have been described in several species, where both factors have been associated with platelet number, size, and other platelet-related characteristics. However, comparable information in mares is scarce, and the associations of age and body condition score (BCS) with automated platelet indices remain poorly defined. This study hypothesized that age and BCS are associated with variations in platelet indices in mares. The objective was to evaluate the associations of age and BCS with platelet count (PLT) and ADVIA-derived platelet indices in Spanish Purebred mares. Forty-five non-pregnant, clinically healthy mares were classified into three age groups (4-8, 9-12, and 13-17 years) and three BCS categories (4-5, 6-7, and 8-9). Platelet indices, including quantitative, size-related, mass-related, heterogeneity, and aggregation parameters, were measured using the ADVIA 2120i analyzer. Data were analyzed using a two-way General Linear Model (GLM) including age group, BCS category, and their interaction (Age × BCS) as fixed effects. Associations between age, BCS, and platelet indices were further evaluated using Spearman's rank correlations. Age was significantly associated with PLT and platelet aggregation (AGREG), whereas no significant main effects of BCS were detected for most platelet indices. However, significant Age × BCS interactions were identified for platelet component distribution width (PCDW), platelet mass distribution width (PMDW), and AGREG, suggesting that the relationship between age, BCS, and these platelet characteristics may depend on the combination of both factors. Correlation analyses mainly identified expected relationships among platelet size-, mass-, and heterogeneity-related indices, whereas PLT showed limited associations with the remaining platelet variables. Overall, platelet quantity remained relatively stable across age and BCS categories, whereas selected platelet heterogeneity and aggregation-related indices appeared more sensitive to the interaction between these factors, highlighting age and BCS as potential sources of biological variation in platelet measurements in mares.

Point-of-care testing (POCT) demands rapid, user-friendly solutions for instant medical diagnosis. Traditional colorimetric whole-blood analysis faces challenges from red blood cell and hemoglobin interference, often necessitating complex pretreatment. Herein, we introduce a three-dimensional (3D) nanoporous hydrogel-integrated portable platform designed for pretreatment-free, rapid multiplexed detection of small-molecule biomarkers directly from whole blood. The platform utilizes a polystyrene Eppendorf (EP)-tube as a miniaturized laboratory, featuring a TiO2-sodium alginate hydrogel-modified cap with a 3D nanoscale porous architecture. This innovative structure serves dual roles: embedding enzymatic systems for cascade reactions and excluding macromolecules (e.g., hemoglobin, erythrocytes) through size-selective exclusion. Small-molecule biomarkers (e.g., glucose, uric acid, lactate) diffuse into the hydrogel matrix, triggering concentration-proportional colorimetric signals via enzymatic cascade reactions. A 15-min "flip-and-scan" protocol-comprising tube inversion for biomarker diffusion and smartphone RGB analysis for quantitative readout-enables simultaneous quantification of three biomarkers with detection limits of 0.11 mM for glucose, 16 μM for uric acid, and 20 μM for lactate. The clinical validation with diverse patient samples (diabetic, gout, and composite metabolic cases) demonstrates that the tri-marker detection strategy enables precise differential diagnosis of overlapping metabolic syndromes by distinguishing biomarker patterns. Clinical validation with 15 diverse patient samples (5 diabetic patients, 5 gout patients, and 5 patients with composite metabolic abnormalities) demonstrated strong concordance with a commercial clinical biochemistry analyzer, with Pearson correlation coefficient > 0.95 and negligible bias in Bland-Altman analysis with all data points falling within the 95% limits of agreement. Compared with conventional microfluidic and paper-based sensors, this approach eliminates pretreatment steps, reduces assay time, ensures closed-loop biosafety, and prevents cross-contamination, offering a versatile and accessible analytical platform that represents a significant step toward practical multiplexed biomarker detection in POCT.

This study presents a practical feedback control strategy for conventional amine post-combustion capture (PCC) plants that is capable of achieving up to around 100% added CO2 capture (i.e., the exit CO2 is equivalent to the CO2 in the combustion air) with moderate energy inputs. It has been demonstrated using MEA, but the fundamental principles appear to be more widely applicable. The method involves controlling the desorber to produce the lowest possible lean loading without excessive energy input using simple temperature measurements and then closely regulating the liquid-to-gas ratio in the absorber so that the minimum amount of solvent required to achieve the target capture rate is used. The principles behind the control method are illustrated using process modeling, and its practical viability is shown by a successful 75 h continuous period of controlled ∼100% capture in pilot testing at 30 tCO2/day scale. Implementation was found to require only minimal operator training and was able to be accomplished using standard plant instrumentation supplemented by a flue gas analyzer suitable for the resulting ∼500 ppmv exit CO2 levels. The control approach therefore appears transferable to commercial amine capture facilities, although maximum achievable capture rates will depend on a plant's physical design. This paper provides actionable insights for plant design, particularly key instrumentation provisions, and supports permitting guidelines for regulators.

Monocytosis is a common complete blood count (CBC) abnormality, but in non-hematology settings it may be difficult to distinguish reactive causes from patterns warranting urgent evaluation for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). We aimed to develop and externally validate a simple, report-level CBC triage model to prioritize hematology assessment in patients with monocytosis.