The coagulation of blood plasma in response to activation with a range of tissue factor (TF) concentrations was studied with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), where frequency and half width at half maximum (bandwidth) values measured from the conductance spectrum near resonant frequency were used. Continuous measurement of bandwidth along with the frequency allows for an understanding of the dissipative nature of the forming viscoelastic clot, thus providing information on the complex kinetics of the viscoelastic changes occurring during the clot formation process. Using a mathematical model, these changes in frequency and bandwidth have been used to derive novel QCM parameters of effective elasticity, effective mass density and rigidity factor of the viscoelastic layer. The responses of QCM were compared with those from thromboelastography (TEG) under identical conditions. It was demonstrated that the nature of the clot formed, as determined from the QCM parameters, was highly dependent on the rate of clot formation resulting from the TF concentration used for activation. These parameters could also be related to physical clot characteristics such as fibrin fibre diameter and fibre density, as determined by scanning electron microscopic image analysis. The maximum amplitude (MA) as measured by TEG, which purports to relate to clot strength, was unable to detect these differences.

This study provides an assessment of BTEX compounds—benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers—in urban precipitation collected in the city of Novi Sad, Republic of Serbia, during autumn and winter 2024, analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). By combining chemical analysis with meteorological observations and HYSPLIT backward trajectory modeling, the study considers the mechanisms of BTEX removal from the atmosphere via wet scavenging and highlights the role of local weather conditions and long-range atmospheric transport in pollutant concentrations. During the early observation period (September to late November), average concentrations were 0.45 µg/L benzene, 3.45 µg/L ethylbenzene, 4.0 µg/L p-xylene, 2.31 µg/L o-xylene, and 1.32 µg/L toluene. These values sharply dropped to near-zero levels in December for benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes, while toluene persisted at 1.12 µg/L. A pronounced toluene spike exceeding 6 µg/L on 28 November was likely driven by transboundary air mass transport from Central Europe, as confirmed by trajectory modeling. The environmental risks posed by BTEX deposition, especially from toluene and xylenes, underline the need for regulatory frameworks to include precipitation as a pathway for pollutant deposition. It should be clarified that the identified risk primarily concerns aquatic organisms, due to the potential for BTEX infiltration into surface waters and subsequent ecotoxicological impacts. Incorporating such monitoring into EU policies can improve protection of air, water, and ecosystems.

This letter demonstrates, for the first time, a novel, rapid automated whole blood clot retraction assay utilizing quartz crystal microbalance resonant frequency monitoring. Tissue factor is selected to initiate coagulation. The test turnaround time is 10–20 min, during which a real-time coagulation trace is recorded in parallel with a reference coagulation trace. The reference sample is the same blood sample that is treated by platelet aggregation inhibitor, and the difference between the two traces indicates the quantitative platelet effect on clotting. This differential approach enables determination of a hematocrit-independent parameter characterizing the intensity of clot retraction. In the case of samples with normal hemostatic characteristics, the intensity of retraction is a linear function of platelet count, whereas the retraction is reduced in the case of platelet hypofunction. Moreover, in combination with a clotting time parameter derived from the same coagulation trace, the method allows primary differentiation between three groups of bleeding disorders of various etiology, including platelet disorders, defects in plasma factors, and hypofibrinogenaemia.

Advances in isothermal amplification, combined with microfluidics and diverse readouts, enable rapid, sensitive, and portable bacterial detection.

A whole bacterial cell immunosensing method based on extended-gate field-effect transistor (EGFET) is presented for the first time in this report. Herein, a commercial n-type MOSFET is modified into an EGFET by extending the gate to the biosensing layer via a simple signal line. As a biosensing layer, a gold electrode functionalized with antibodies is fabricated to confer specificity to Escherichia coli (E. coli). The transistor’s transfer and output characteristics I-V curves were acquired with a commercial parameter analyzer, and the sensor response is characterized by observing how the channel current counters to different concentrations of bacteria bound to the biosensing layer. The EGFET immunosensor demonstrates the detection limit of ≤1.5 CFU mL^-1, linearity (R² > 0.98) within the range of concentrations from 1.5×10¹ to 1.5×10⁸ CFU mL^-1. The specificity is confirmed with two non-target bacteria species (Klebsiella aerogenes and Bacillus subtilis). The developed whole-cell, label-free immunosensor has the potential to be adapted as a point-of-care diagnostic device as a practical, low-cost alternative to conventional laboratory-bound methods.