The abuse of kanamycin (KAN) poses an increasing threat to human health by contaminating agricultural and animal husbandry products, drinking water, and more. Therefore, the sensitive detection of trace KAN residues in real samples is crucial for monitoring agricultural pollution, ensuring food safety, and diagnosing diseases. However, traditional assay techniques for KAN rely on bulky instruments and complicated operations with unsatisfactory detection limits. Herein, we developed a novel label-free aptasensor to achieve ultrasensitive detection of KAN by constructing mesoporous DNA-cobalt@carbon nanofibers (DNA-Co@C-NFs) as the recognizer. Leveraging the extended π-conjugation structure, prominent surface area, and abundant pores, the Co@C-NFs can effectively load aptamer strands via π-π stacking interactions, serving as KAN capturer and reporter. Due to the change in DNA configuration upon binding KAN, this aptasensor presented an ultralow detection limit and ultra-wide linear range, along with favorable precision and selectivity. Using real tap water, milk, and human serum samples, the aptasensor accurately reported trace KAN levels. As a result, this convenient and rapid autosensing technique holds promise for onsite testing of other antibiotic residues in agriculture, food safety, and clinical diagnosis.

This paper introduces a broadband triple-pole triple-throw (3P3T) RF MEMS switch with a frequency range from DC to 380 GHz. The switch achieves precise signal control and efficient modulation through its six-port design. It achieves an insertion loss of -0.66 dB across its frequency range, with isolation and return loss metrics of -32 dB and -15 dB, respectively. With its low actuation voltage of 6.8 V and rapid response time of 2.28 μs, the switch exemplifies power-efficient and prompt switching performance. The compact design is ideal for integration into space-conscious systems. This switch is pivotal for 6G research and has potential applications in satellite communications, military radar systems, and next-generation radio applications that require multi-antenna access.

Numerous applications require low humidity sensors that not only sensitive but also stable, small hysteresis, high resolution and fast response. However, most reported low humidity sensors cannot possess these properties at the same time. In this work, inspired by sea urchin, we developed an ionic liquid (IL) modified metal organic framework (UiO-66) based low humidity sensor. Owing to the synergistic effect of the hydrophilicity and ionic conductivity of IL and the steric hindrance effects of UiO-66, the optimized low humidity sensor simultaneously exhibits high response (47.5), small hysteresis (0.3 % RH), ultrafast response speed (0.2 s), high resolution (1 % RH), and excellent long-term stability (>120 days). In particular, the sensor has been proved to have potential applications in visual humidity detection and water source location. This work provides a preliminary design principle that will contribute to the preparation of high-performance low humidity sensing materials.

Tin selenide (SnSe) has attracted considerable interest recently on account of its low-symmetry lattice structure, great compatibility with key semiconductor technology, and remarkable electrical and optical performance. SnSe-based polarization-sensitive photodetectors show promising application prospects because of their fast response and excellent photoelectric performance. Here, an in-plane anisotropic SnSe nanosheet was synthesized and reported in detail by applying angle-resolved polarized Raman spectroscopy (ARPRS), polarization-resolved optical microscopy(PROM), angle-resolved optical absorption spectroscopy (AROAS), and other crystal structure characterization methods. Moreover, SnSe crystals exhibit superior polarization detection performance with a high anisotropic photocurrent ratio (2.31 at 1064 nm) due to the structure formed by the Van der Waals superposition of covalently bonded atomic layers. Furthermore, SnSe-based photodetectors have high responsivity (9.27 A/W), high detectivity (4.08 × 1010 Jones), and fast response (in the order of nanoseconds). These results suggest a new method for fabricating 2D fast-response polarization-sensitive photodetectors in the future.

Responsive photonic crystal hydrogel sensors are renowned for their colorimetric sensing ability and can be utilized in many fields such as medical diagnosis, environmental detection, food safety, and industrial production. Previously, our group invented responsive photonic nanochains (RPNCs), which improve the response speed of photonic crystal hydrogel sensors by at least 2 to 3 orders of magnitude. However, RPNCs are dispersed in a liquid medium, which needs a magnetic field to orient them for the generation of structural colors. In addition, during repeated use, the process of cleaning and redispersing can cause entanglement, breakage, and a loss of RPNCs, resulting in poor stability. Moreover, when mixing with the samples in liquid, the RPNCs may lead to the contamination of the samples being tested. In this paper, we incorporate one-dimensional oriented RPNCs with agarose gel film to prepare heterogeneous hydrogel films. Thanks to the non-responsive and porous nature of the agarose gel, the protons diffuse freely in the gel, which facilitates the fast response of the RPNCs. Furthermore, the \"frozen\" RPNCs in agarose gel not only enable the display of structural colors without the need for a magnet but also improve the cycling stability and long-term durability of the sensor, and will not contaminate the samples. This work paves the way for the application of photonic crystal sensors.

Nerve agents represent a serious threat to security worldwide. Chemical terrorism has become an alarming danger since the technological progresses have simplified the production of nerve agents. Therefore, there is an immediate demand for a fast and precise detection of these compounds on-site and real-time. In this perspective, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) has emerged as a well-suited alternative for on-field detection. SERS performances of unfunctionalized SERS substrates were evaluated in realistic samples. Two nerve agents, Tabun and VX, were diluted in two matrix models: a contact lens solution, and a caffeine-based eye serum. The performance two research-grade instruments and two portable devices were compared. Despite the use of a small sampling volume of complex matrices without any sample pre-treatment, we achieved Tabun detection in both media, with a practical limit of detection (LOD) in the range of 7-9 ppm in contact lens liquid, and of 10.2 ppm in eye serum. VX detection turned out to be more challenging and was achieved only in contact lens solution, with a practical LOD in the range of 0.6-5 ppm. These results demonstrate the feasibility of on-field detection of nerve agents with SERS, that could be implemented when there is suspicion of chemical threat.

One third of patients with epilepsy will continue to have uncontrolled seizures despite treatment with antiseizure medications (ASMs). There is therefore a need to develop novel ASMs. Brivaracetam (BRV) is an ASM that was developed in a major drug discovery program aimed at identifying selective, high-affinity synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) ligands, the target molecule of levetiracetam. BRV binds to SV2A with 15- to 30-fold higher affinity and greater selectivity than levetiracetam. BRV has broad-spectrum antiseizure activity in animal models of epilepsy, a favorable pharmacokinetic profile, few clinically relevant drug-drug interactions, and rapid brain penetration. BRV is available in oral and intravenous formulations and can be initiated at target dose without titration. Efficacy and safety of adjunctive BRV (50-200 mg/day) treatment of focal-onset seizures was demonstrated in three pivotal phase III trials (NCT00490035/NCT00464269/NCT01261325), including in patients who had previously failed levetiracetam. Efficacy and safety of adjunctive BRV were also demonstrated in adult Asian patients with focal-onset seizures (NCT03083665). In several open-label trials (NCT00150800/NCT00175916/NCT01339559), long-term safety and tolerability of adjunctive BRV was established, with efficacy maintained for up to 14 years, with high retention rates. Evidence from daily clinical practice highlights BRV effectiveness and tolerability in specific epilepsy patient populations with high unmet needs: the elderly (≥ 65 years of age), children (< 16 years of age), patients with cognitive impairment, patients with psychiatric comorbid conditions, and patients with acquired epilepsy of specific etiologies (post-stroke epilepsy/brain tumor related epilepsy/traumatic brain injury-related epilepsy). Here, we review the preclinical profile and clinical benefits of BRV from pivotal trials and recently published evidence from daily clinical practice.
One in three people with epilepsy continue to have seizures despite treatment. Brivaracetam is a medicine used to treat seizures in people with epilepsy. It binds to a protein in the brain (synaptic vesicle protein 2A) and is effective in many different animal models of epilepsy. Brivaracetam enters the brain quickly. It has few interactions with other medicines, which is important because people with epilepsy may be taking additional medicines for epilepsy or other conditions. Brivaracetam is available as tablets, oral solution, and solution for intravenous injection, can be started at the recommended target dose, and is easy to use. In three phase III trials, people with uncontrolled focal-onset seizures taking brivaracetam 50–200 mg each day had fewer seizures than people taking a placebo. Brivaracetam was tolerated well. It also worked well in many people who had previously not responded to antiseizure medications. The efficacy of brivaracetam treatment is maintained for up to 14 years. Brivaracetam treatment reduces seizures in the elderly (≥ 65 years old), in children (< 16 years old), in people with cognitive or learning disabilities, in people with additional psychiatric conditions, and in people with different causes of epilepsy (post-stroke epilepsy, brain-tumor related epilepsy, and traumatic brain injury-related epilepsy). Here, we review brivaracetam characteristics and the results when people with epilepsy received brivaracetam in key clinical trials and real-world studies in daily clinical practice.

Layered semiconductors of the V-VI group have attracted considerable attention in optoelectronic applications owing to their atomically thin structures. They offer thickness-dependent optical and electronic properties, promising ultrafast response time, and high sensitivity. Compared to the bulk, 2D bismuth selenide (Bi2Se3) is recently considered a highly promising material. In this study, 2D nanosheets are synthesized by prolonged sonication in two different solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) and chitosan-acetic acid solution (CS-HAc), using the liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) method. X-ray diffraction confirms the amorphous nature of exfoliated 2D nanosheets with maximum peak intensity at the same position (015) crystal plane as that obtained in its bulk counterpart. SEM confirms the thin 2D nanosheet-like morphology. Successful exfoliation of Bi2Se3 nanosheets up to five layers is achieved using CS-HAc solvent. The as-synthesized 2D nanosheets in different solvents are employed to fabricate the photodetector. At minimum selected power density, the photodetector fabricated using exfoliated ultrathin 2D nanosheets exhibits the highest range of responsivity, varying from 15 to 2.5 mA/W, and detectivity ranging from 2.83 × 109 to 6.37 × 107. Ultrathin 2D Bi2Se3 nanosheets have fast rise and fall times, ranging from 0.01 to 0.12 and 0.01 to 0.06 s, respectively, at different wavelengths. Ultrathin Bi2Se3 nanosheets have improved photodetection parameters as compared to multilayered nanosheets due to the high surface to volume ratio, reduced recombination and trapping of charge carrier, improved carrier confinement, and faster carrier transport due to the thin layer.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 genomic analysis has been key to the provision of valuable data to meet both epidemiological and clinical demands. High-throughput sequencing, generally Illumina-based, has been necessary to ensure the widest coverage in global variant tracking. However, a speedier response is needed for nosocomial outbreak analyses and rapid identification of patients infected by emerging VOCs. An alternative based on nanopore sequencing may be better suited to delivering a faster response when required; however, although there are several studies offering side-by-side comparisons of Illumina and nanopore sequencing, evaluations of the usefulness in the hospital routine of the faster availability of data provided by nanopore are still lacking.
RESULTS: We performed a prospective 10-week nanopore-based sequencing in MinION in a routine laboratory setting, including 83 specimens where a faster response time was necessary. The specimens analyzed corresponded to i) international travellers in which lineages were assigned to determine the proper management/special isolation of the patients; ii) nosocomial infections and health-care-worker infections, where SNP-based comparisons were required to rule in/out epidemiological relationships and tailor specific interventions iii) sentinel cases and breakthrough infections to timely report to the Public Health authorities. MinION-based sequencing was compared with the standard procedures, supported on Illumina sequencing; MinION accelerated the delivery of results (anticipating results 1-12 days) and reduced costs per sample by 28€ compared to Illumina, without reducing accuracy in SNP calling.
CONCLUSIONS: Parallel integration of Illumina and nanopore sequencing strategies is a suitable solution to ensure both high-throughput and rapid response to cope with accelerating the surveillance demands of SARS-CoV-2 while also maintaining accuracy.

Moisture-enabled electricity (ME) is a method of converting the potential energy of water in the external environment into electrical energy through the interaction of functional materials with water molecules and can be directly applied to energy harvesting and signal expression. However, ME can be unreliable in numerous applications due to its sluggish response to moisture, thus sacrificing the value of fast energy harvesting and highly accurate information representation. Here, by constructing a moisture-electric-moisture-sensitive (ME-MS) heterostructure, we develop an efficient ME generator with ultra-fast electric response to moisture achieved by triggering Grotthuss protons hopping in the sensitized ZnO, which modulates the heterostructure built-in interfacial potential, enables quick response (0.435 s), an unprecedented ultra-fast response rate of 972.4 mV s-1, and a durable electrical signal output for 8 h without any attenuation. Our research provides an efficient way to generate electricity and important insight for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of moisture-generated carrier migration in ME generator, which has a more comprehensive working scene and can serve as a typical model for human health monitoring and smart medical electronics design.