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1902. Development of a gold nanoparticle dispersion for plasma jet printing on solid substratesLan Kresnik, Peter Majerič, Darja Feizpour, Rebeka Rudolf, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesised using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) with the addition of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a stabilising agent and subsequently dried via lyophilisation. The resulting dried AuNPs were redispersed in ethanol and homogenised to ensure uniform dispersion. This AuNP dispersion was then deposited onto a ceramic substrate - aluminum oxide (Al2O3) - using plasma jet printing. Comprehensive characterisation of the dispersion, AuNPs, and the resulting printed lines was performed using the following methods: inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), dynamic light scattering (DLS), measurements of dispersion viscosity and printed line roughness. ICP-OES confirmed consistent gold content in the AuNP dispersion, while the SEM and EDS analyses revealed predominantly spherical AuNPs with minimal aggregation and similar size distributions. TEM, SAED, and STEM/EDS confirmed that the crystalline structure and elemental composition of the AuNPs had diverse morphologies and strong gold signals. The UV–VIS, DLS, and zeta potential measurements indicated moderate colloidal stability, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) verified the AuNPs dispersion’s composition. The AuNP dispersion exhibited thixotropic behaviour favourable for printing applications, while confocal microscopy confirmed smooth, uniform printed traces, with an average surface line roughness of 1.65 μm. The successful use of plasma printing with the AuNP dispersion highlights its potential for functional material applications in electronics.
Keywords: gold nanoparticles, ultrasonic spray pyrolysis, dispersion, plasma jet printing
Published in DiRROS: 19.06.2025; Views: 490; Downloads: 304
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1903. Plasma-assisted synthesis in aqueous solution to prepare Ir-based nanocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction in acidic conditionsAlexey Treshchalov, Heiki Erikson, Milutin Smiljanić, Milena Šetka, Lazar Bijelić, Marjan Bele, Martin Šala, Siim Pikker, Peeter Ritslaid, Nejc Hodnik, Kaido Tammeveski, 2025, original scientific article Published in DiRROS: 19.06.2025; Views: 467; Downloads: 255
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1906. From crisis to routine – standardization of SARS-CoV-2 genome detection by enhanced EQA schemes in a scientific pandemic networkMartin Kammel, Hans-Peter Grunert, Anika Zimmermann, Annemarie Martin, Vanessa Lindig, Mojca Milavec, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: In the beginning of 2020, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a crisis in which diagnostic methods for the genome detection of SARS-CoV-2 were urgently needed. Based on the very early publication of the basic principles for a diagnostic test for the genome detection of SARS-CoV-2, the first noncommercial laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) and commercial tests were introduced. As there was considerable uncertainty about the reliability and performance of different tests and different laboratories, INSTAND established external quality assessment (EQA) schemes for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 starting in April 2020. In close partnership in a scientific network, the EQA schemes were enhanced, especially the April, June and November 2020 terms. The enhancement included: (i) immediate provision of suitable virus including variants of concern at the beginning of the pandemic outbreak, (ii) short frequency of EQA schemes, (iii) concentration dependency of the testing and sensitivity check, achieved by using SARS-CoV-2-positive samples from a 10-fold dilution series of the same starting material, (iv) specificity check of the testing, achieved by using SARS-CoV-2-negative samples containing human coronaviruses or MERS CoV, (v) revealed samples for orientation on test performance during an ongoing or at the start of an EQA scheme using a pre-quantified SARS-CoV-2-positive EQA sample with a low viral RNA load of only 1 570 copies/mL assigned by digital PCR (dPCR) in June 2020 and (vi) quantified reference materials based on the experiences of the first two EQA schemes with dPCR-assigned values in copies/mL beginning in November 2020 for self-evaluation of the applied test system. This manuscript summarizes the results of a total of 13 EQA schemes for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 between April 2020 and June 2023 in which a total of 1 413 laboratories from 49 countries participated. The qualitative results for the detection of SARS-CoV-2-positive samples were between 95.8 % and 99.7 % correct positive, excluding extremely low concentration samples. For all SARS-CoV-2-negative EQA samples, the qualitative success rates ranged from 95.1 % to 99.4 % correct negative results. The widely varying values for the cycle threshold (Ct)/crossing point (Cq) reported for the different target genes and test systems were striking. A few laboratories reported quantitative results in copies/mL for several VOCs with an acceptable rate of over 93 % correct positive results in the majority of cases. The description of the enhanced EQA schemes for SARS-CoV-2 detection in terms of timing and scope can serve as a blueprint for the rapid development of a quality assessment of diagnostics for an emerging pathogen.
Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2, virus genome detection tests, reference materials, external quality assessment, laboratory medicine, epidemiology
Published in DiRROS: 18.06.2025; Views: 530; Downloads: 469
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1907. Hereditary α-tryptasemia is associated with anaphylaxis to antibiotics and monoclonal antibodiesPeter Korošec, Jonathan J. Lyons, Manca Svetina, Monika Koudová, Martina Bittóová, Mihaela Zidarn, Lenka Sedláčková, Matija Rijavec, Peter Kopač, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Background
Hereditary α-tryptasemia, a genetic trait caused by increased α-tryptase copy number, is associated with idiopathic and venom anaphylaxis.
Objective
We aimed to determine the impact of tryptase genotypes on drug-induced anaphylaxis.
Methods
A prospective discovery cohort of 99 patients from a referral center in Slovenia with acute anaphylaxis to drugs underwent tryptase genotyping by droplet digital PCR. For validation, we included a cohort of 26 patients from the Czech Republic. Associated inciting agents and the severity of the reactions were subsequently examined.
Results
Hereditary α-tryptasemia was associated with drug-induced anaphylaxis with a prevalence of 13% (n = 13 of 99) in the discovery cohort and 15% in the validation cohort (n = 4 of 26). Hereditary α-tryptasemia was identified in every individual with elevated basal serum tryptase levels (11.6-21.9 ng/mL; n = 14) within both cohorts of patients. Hereditary α-tryptasemia was more prevalent in individuals with antibiotic- or mAb-induced anaphylaxis in both the discovery and validation cohorts (n = 13 of 51; 26%) compared to those with anaphylaxis resulting from neuromuscular blocking agents, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, contrast, chlorhexidine, or other drugs (n = 5 of 74; 7%; P = .02; odds ratio = 4.1; 95% CI, 1.3-11.1). Overall, we found fewer individuals with no ⍺-tryptase than in the general population, and there was a trend for subjects with more ⍺-tryptase copies to have more severe reactions. Thus, among subjects with three ⍺-tryptase copies, the prevalence of severe anaphylaxis was 73%, compared with 59% with one to two ⍺-tryptase copies and 58% for subjects without ⍺-tryptase.
Conclusions
Risk for anaphylaxis to antibiotics and biologics is associated with inherited differences in α-tryptase–encoding copies at Tryptase α/β1 .
Keywords: immunology, drug allergy, anaphylaxis, antibiotics, monoclonal antibodies, α-tryptase, hereditary α-tryptasemia
Published in DiRROS: 18.06.2025; Views: 492; Downloads: 265
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1910. Dataset used for the paper »Surface modification of magnesium for biomedical applications: comparative analysis of plasma treatment, laser texturing and sandblasting«Marjetka Conradi, complete scientific database of research data Abstract: Magnesium and its alloys have emerged as promising materials for biomedical applications due to their light weight, mechanical compatibility with bone, biodegradability, and excellent biocompatibility. However, their rapid degradation in physiological environments remains a critical challenge. To address this, a range of surface-modification techniques have been explored to tailor the surface properties while preserving the bulk characteristics of magnesium. This paper provides an overview of surface-engineering methods aimed at enhancing the corrosion resistance, mechanical performance and bioactivity of magnesium. Three key surface-modification approaches are presented: plasma treatment, laser texturing and sandblasting. Plasma treatment resulted in the formation of a stable, protective oxide layer with significantly improved corrosion resistance and hydrophilicity. Laser texturing generated hierarchical microstructures yielding superhydrophobic surfaces with an enhanced hardness, though slightly reduced corrosion resistance. Sandblasting led to an increased surface roughness and mechanical stiffness, but also introduced microstructural defects that are detrimental to the corrosion stability. Overall, the study demonstrates how tailored surface modifications can effectively balance the mechanical integrity and degradation behavior of magnesium, paving the way for its optimized use in biomedical applications.
Keywords: magnesium, surface modification, biomaterial
Published in DiRROS: 18.06.2025; Views: 554; Downloads: 260
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