A research team led by Professor Jie Zeng and Associate Researcher Han Yan from the University of Science and Technology of China, in collaboration with Professor Chao Ma from Hunan University, has developed a novel ceria-supported platinum bilayer cluster catalyst. This breakthrough material demonstrates exceptional catalytic activity and stability in alkene hydrosilylation reactions while achieving atomic-level precision structural identification of the catalyst.

A recent study published in National Science Review has developed a field wastewater pathogen detection technology named WATER NEWS. Through iterative optimization of CRISPR-based assays, this system ​eliminates​ all dependence on cold-chain storage and continuous power supply while preventing nucleic acid aerosol contamination, ​thus establishing​ a sustainable epidemic surveillance paradigm for the post-pandemic era.

In a paper published in Science Bulletin, an international team of scientists reported a series of basaltic lavas and picrites with E-MORB/OIB affinities from the Qilian-Qinling Accretionary Belt, Central China. They have recorded a 150-Myr development history of the Proto-Tethys Ocean from opening at ~620 Ma to continuous spreading at ~470 Ma.

Researchers demonstrate a current-induced magnetization switching originated from weakly asymmetric topological surface states, without the need for injected spin current, in epitaxial MnSb2Te4 thin films. Additionally, they observe field-free switching in MnSb2Te4/FeTe0.9 heterostructures.

Objective:

The concentration of bilirubin in blood or serum is useful for assessing liver function as well as monitoring treatment. This study evaluates the clinical performance of a novel point-of-care (PoC) device for the detection of bilirubin in serum. The PoC device incorporates an integrated miniature optoelectronic sensing module and a microfluidic test cartridge.

Methods:

Patients’ serum total bilirubin concentrations, ranging from 2 μmol/L to 480 μmol/L, were measured using the PoC device and the standard laboratory method (n=20). Bland-Altman analysis and regression analysis using Passing-Bablok method were used to benchmark the PoC device against the standard laboratory measurements. The diagnostic capability of the PoC device in categorising the serum samples within clinically relevant bilirubin concentration thresholds of 200, 300, and 450 μmol/L was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results:

The mean difference between the PoC device and the standard laboratory method was −5.6 μmol/L, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of −45.1 μmol/L to 33.9 μmol/L. The coefficient of determination (R²) was 0.986. The PoC device achieved a detection sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 97% in categorising bilirubin concentrations within bands used in clinical decision-making.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates that the proposed PoC device is capable of measuring bilirubin levels in patient samples with clinically acceptable accuracy.