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Given these results, practitioners in this field should consider using our proposed time-decoupled covariance estimation when they apply linear discriminant analysis to classify event-related potentials, especially when few training data points are available.Magnesium is an essential trace metal and a necessary factor for multiple biochemical functions in humans. Its role in biology is fundamental in over 600 enzymatic reactions implicated in protein synthesis, mitochondrial functions, neuromuscular activity, bone formation, and immune system competence. Magnesium status is relevant in fetal development during gestation and in the newborn growth during the perinatal period. Moreover, magnesium is able to influence fetal programming and disease presentation in childhood or adulthood. The aim of this review is to focus on this metal homeostasis, analyzing its normal values, the causes of hypomagnesemia, the interaction with drugs and other conditions, and the diseases associated with magnesium value alteration during pregnancy, in order to study its role in fetal programming of adult diseases. The data here reported clearly indicated the existence of a connection between magnesium status and human pathology starting from intrauterine life and extending into childhood and adulthood.Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) allows distinguishing between tissues with similar X-ray attenuation but different atomic numbers. Recent studies demonstrated that this technique has several areas of application in patients with ischemic stroke and a potential impact on patient management. After endovascular stroke therapy (EST), hyperdense areas can represent either hemorrhage or contrast staining due to blood-brain barrier disruption, which can be differentiated reliably by DECT. Further applications are improved visualization of early infarctions, compared to single-energy computed tomography, and prediction of transformation into infarction or hemorrhage in contrast-enhancing areas. In addition, DECT allows detection and evaluation of the material composition of intra-arterial clots after EST. This review summarizes the clinical state-of-the-art of DECT in patients with stroke, and features some prospects for future developments. KEY POINTS • Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) allows differentiation between tissues with similar X-ray attenuation but differentatomic numbers. • DECT has several areas of application in patients with ischemic stroke and a potential impact on patient management. • Prospects for future developments in DECT may improve treatment decision-making.

Spray drying plays an important role in the pharmaceutical industry for product development of sensitive bio-pharmaceutical formulations. Process design, implementation and optimisation require in-depth knowledge of process-product interactions. Here, an integrated approach for the rapid, early-stage spray drying process development of trehalose and glucagon on lab-scale is presented.

Single droplet drying experiments were used to investigate the particle formation process. Process implementation was supported using in-line process analytical technology within a data acquisition framework recording temperature, humidity, pressure and feed rate. During process implementation, off-line product characterisation provided additional information on key product properties related to residual moisture, solid state structure, particle size/morphology and peptide fibrillation/degradation.

A psychrometric process model allowed the identification of feasible operating conditions for spray drying trehalose, achieving high yields of up to 84.67%, and significantly reduced levels of residual moisture and particle agglomeration compared to product obtained during non-optimal drying. The process was further translated to produce powders of glucagon and glucagon-trehalose formulations with yields of >83.24%. Extensive peptide aggregation or degradation was not observed.

The presented data-driven process development concept can be applied to address future isolation problems on lab-scale and facilitate a systematic implementation of spray drying for the manufacturing of sensitive bio-pharmaceutical formulations.

The presented data-driven process development concept can be applied to address future isolation problems on lab-scale and facilitate a systematic implementation of spray drying for the manufacturing of sensitive bio-pharmaceutical formulations.Samples of fish and shellfish (periwinkles, mussel, and snail) collected from the rapidly contaminated Ogbese River, Ondo State, Nigeria, were analyzed for their polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after cleanup using solid-phase extraction. GSK’963 in vitro The rank order of concentration of ΣPAHs in fish follows gills > eggs > muscle. The dry weight concentrations (μg/g) of total PAHs ranged from less then  0.001 to 2.06, 0.01 to 18.67, 0.01 to 9.56, and 0.01 to 8.28 in fish muscle, periwinkle, snail, and mussel respectively. Accumulation levels of PAHs in the biota were used to calculate biota-sediment (or porewater) accumulation factors (BSAF (BPwAF)) and bioaccumulation factor (BAF). The lower molecular weight PAHs constitute major components (≥ 87% in each case) of PAH congener profiles. Bioaccumulation was greatest for PAHs with log Kow values between 5.0 and 5.6. However, the study did not show a good correlation between log Kow of individual PAH and the corresponding BSAFs/BPwAF for the biota. The study indicates that significantly greater (p  less then  0.05) BSAFs for ΣPAHs were observed in the three bottom dwellers than in fish muscle which suggests that the sediment-feeding behavior largely affected the extent of PAH bioaccumulation in the aquatic organisms. The calculated potency equivalent concentration (PEC) of total PAHs was above the recommended screening value (SV) in US EPA guidelines, suggesting great concern for human consumption. However, estimated excess cancer risk (ECR) induced by dietary exposure only suggests potential cancer risk. The study suggests urgent remediation of the river to safeguard public health.