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The acidity of atmospheric aerosols influences fundamental physicochemical processes that affect climate and human health. We recently developed a novel and facile water-probe-based method for directly measuring of the pH for micrometer-size droplets, providing a promising technique to better understand aerosol acidity in the atmosphere. The complex chemical composition of fine particles in the ambient air, however, poses certain challenges to using a water-probe for pH measurement, including interference from interactions between compositions and the influence of similar compositions on water structure. To explore the universality of our method, it was employed to measure the pH of ammonium, nitrate, carbonate, sulfate, and chloride particles. The pH of particles covering a broad range (0-14) were accurately determined, thereby demonstrating that our method can be generally applied, even to alkaline particles. Furthermore, a standard spectral library was developed by integrating the standard spectra of common hydrated ions extracted through the water-probe. The library can be employed to identify particle composition and overcome the spectral overlap problem resulting from similar effects. Using the spectral library, all ions were identified and their concentrations were determined, in turn allowing successful pH measurement of multicomponent (ammonium-sulfate-nitrate-chloride) particles. Insights into the synergistic effect of Cl-, NO3-, and NH4+ depletion obtained with our approach revealed the interplay between pH and volatile partitioning. Given the ubiquity of component partitioning and pH variation in particles, the water probe may provide a new perspective on the underlying mechanisms of aerosol aging and aerosol-cloud interaction.

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Signal peptide (SP) is required for secretion of recombinant proteins and typically cleaved by signal peptidase at its C-region to generate the mature proteins. Miscleavage of the SP is reported occasionally, resulting in a truncated- or elongated-terminal sequence. In the present work, we demonstrated that cation exchange (CEX) chromatography is an effective means for removing SP variants with a case study. With the selected resin/conditions, the chromatographic performance is comparable between runs performed at the low end and high end of load density and elution range. The procedure described in this work can be used as a general approach for resin selection and optimization of chromatographic conditions to remove byproducts that bind more strongly than the product to the selected resin.

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The objective of this study was to develop and validate a novel microfluidic paper-based analytical device (µPADpH) for determining the pH levels in foods. Anthocyanins from red cabbage aqueous extract (RCAE) were used as its analytical sensor. Whatman No. 1 filter paper was the most suitable for the device due to its porosity and fiber organization, which allows for maximum color intensity and minimal color heterogeneity of the RCAE in the detection zone of the µPADpH. To ensure the color stability of the RCAE for commercial use of the µPADpH, gum arabic was added. The geometric design of the µPADpH, including the channel length and separation zone diameter, was systematically optimized using colored food. The validation showed that the µPADpH did not differ from the pH meter when analyzing natural foods. However, certain additives in processed foods were found to increase the pH values.

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BODIPY-based chemosensors are widely used owing to merits like good selectivity, high fluorescence quantum yield, and excellent optical stability. As such, a pH-switchable hydrophilic fluorescent probe, BODIPY-PY-(SO3Na)2, was developed for detection of Fe3+ ion in aqueous solutions. BODIPY-PY-(SO3Na)2 revealed strong fluorescence intensity and was responsive to pH value in the range of 6.59-1.96. Additionally, BODIPY-PY-(SO3Na)2 showed good selectivity and sensitivity towards Fe3+. A good linear relationship for Fe3+ detection was obtained from 0.0 µM to 50.0 µM with low detecting limit of 6.34 nM at pH 6.59 and 2.36 nM at pH 4.32, respectively. The response to pH and detection of Fe3+ induced obvious multicolor changes. BODIPY-PY-(SO3Na)2 can also be utilized to quantitatively detect Fe3+ in real water sample. Different mechanisms of Fe3+ detection at investigated pH values were unraveled through relativistic density functional theory (DFT) calculations in BODIPY-PY-(SO3Na)2 and experiments of coexisting cations, anions and molecules. These results enabled us to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between BODIPY-PY-(SO3Na)2 and Fe3+ and provide valuable fundamental information for design of efficient multicolor chemosensors for Fe3+ as well.

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Implant-associated infection (IAI) has become an intractable challenge in clinic. The healing of IAI is a complex physiological process involving a series of spatiotemporal connected events. However, existing titanium-based implants in clinic suffer from poor antibacterial effect and single function. Herein, a versatile surface platform based on the presentation of sequential function is developed. Fabrication of titania nanotubes and poly-γ-glutamic acid (γ-PGA) achieves the efficient incorporation of silver ions (Ag+) and the pH-sensitive release in response to acidic bone infection microenvironment. The optimized PGA/Ag platform exhibits satisfactory biocompatibility and converts macrophages from pro-inflammatory M1 to pro-healing M2 phenotype during the subsequent healing stage, which creates a beneficial osteoimmune microenvironment and promotes angio/osteogenesis. Furthermore, the PGA/Ag platform mediates osteoblast/osteoclast coupling through inhibiting CCL3/CCR1 signaling. These biological effects synergistically improve osseointegration under bacterial infection in vivo, matching the healing process of IAI. Overall, the novel integrated PGA/Ag surface platform proposed in this study fulfills function cascades under pathological state and shows great potential in IAI therapy.

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The anaerobic acid production experiments were conducted with the pretreated kitchen waste under pH adjustment. The results showed that pH 8 was considered to be the most suitable condition for acid production, especially for the formation of acetic acid and propionic acid. The average value of total volatile fatty acid at pH 8 was 8814 mg COD/L, 1.5 times of that under blank condition. The average yield of acetic acid and propionic acid was 3302 mg COD/L and 2891 mg COD/L, respectively. The activities of key functional enzymes such as phosphotransacetylase, acetokinase, oxaloacetate transcarboxylase and succinyl-coA transferase were all enhanced. To further explore the regulatory mechanisms within the system, the distribution of microorganisms at different levels in the fermentation system was obtained by microbial sequencing, results indicating that the relative abundances of Clostridiales, Bacteroidales, Chloroflexi, Clostridium, Bacteroidetes and Propionibacteriales, which were great contributors for the hydrolysis and acidification, increased rapidly at pH 8 compared with the blank group. Besides, the proportion of genes encoding key enzymes was generally increased, which further verified the mechanism of hydrolytic acidification and acetic acid production of organic matter under pH regulation.

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Silica-based scaffolds are promising in Tissue Engineering by enabling personalized scaffolds, boosting exceptional bioactivity and osteogenic characteristics. Moreover, silica materials are highly tunable, allowing for controlled drug release to enhance tissue regeneration. In this study, we developed a 3D printable silica material with controlled mesoporosity, achieved through the sol-gel reaction of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) at mild temperatures with the addition of different calcium concentrations. The resultant silica inks exhibited high printability and shape fidelity, while maintaining bioactivity and biocompatibility. Notably, the increased mesopore size enhanced the incorporation and release of large molecules, using cytochrome C as a drug model. Due to the varying surface charge of silica depending on the pH, a pH-dependent control release was obtained between pH 2.5 and 7.5, with maximum release in acidic conditions. Therefore, silica with controlled mesoporosity could be 3D printed, acting as a pH stimuli responsive platform with therapeutic potential.

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AIMS: To investigate the effect of preservation by addition of yoghurt starter, potassium sorbate and citric acid on counts of aerobic bacteria, Lactobacillus spp., Streptococcus thermophilus and coliforms, Brix percentage, pH, protein, fat and anhydrous lactose concentrations at 0, 7 and 14 days after collection for colostrum stored at ambient temperature. METHOD: Approximately 2 L of first milking colostrum was collected from 10 farms in the Waikato region. Following mixing, it was split into five 400-mL sub-samples and allocated randomly to a control (two sub-samples), or treatment with yoghurt, potassium sorbate, or citric acid preservative. Throughout the trial samples remained in the laboratory at ambient temperature with the lids slightly ajar, and were stirred daily for 15-30 seconds using a sterile spatula. Sub-samples were tested on Days 0, 7 and 14. On Days 0 and 14 aerobic bacteria (by aerobic plate count (APC)), Lactobacillus spp., coliforms and Streptococcus thermophilus counts, pH, Brix percentage, protein, fat and anhydrous lactose were measured. On Day 7 only bacterial counts were completed.The data were analysed using non-parametric clustered bootstrap sampling to estimate the effect of treatment, time, and their interaction on the outcome variables. RESULTS: Compared to control samples, on Day 7 the APC for potassium sorbate (1.0 (90% CI = 0.6-1.6) × 108 cfu/mL) was approximately seven-fold lower than for yoghurt (7.3 (90% CI = 4.1-11) × 108 cfu/mL), and approximately three-fold lower than citric acid (3.2 (90% CI = 0.2-4.3) × 108 cfu/mL) remaining low to Day 14. All preservatives reduced coliform growth compared to control samples at Day 7 but growth was lower for potassium sorbate than the other preservatives. For Lactobacillus spp., at Day 7, samples with yoghurt preservative had greater counts than the other two preservatives. Potassium sorbate reduced growth of S. thermophilus compared to the other treatments, especially at Day 7, with 7-10 times fewer S. thermophilus per mL compared to the other three groups. All groups showed an obvious acidification over time, with very little variation within days and treatment groups. There was no evidence for change in fat or protein percentage over time regardless of treatment. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Aerobic and coliform bacteria proliferate extensively in unpreserved colostrum. All preservatives decreased coliform counts compared to un-preserved colostrum, but potassium sorbate was more effective at decreasing both coliforms and aerobic bacteria than either yoghurt or citric acid.

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OBJECTIVE: Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) is a prevalent genital infection in women of reproductive age and requires effective non-drug therapies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of blue light emitting diode (LED) therapy as an alternative treatment for recurrent VVC due to its proven antimicrobial properties. The safety and non-invasiveness of LED therapy make it a promising option for sensitive tissue applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized controlled trial recruited 60 women with culture-confirmed VVC. Participants were randomly allocated to two groups. Group A (control group) received standard antifungal treatment with Gynoconazol 0.8% vaginal cream for three consecutive nights (n = 30). Group B (study group) received the same antifungal treatment plus two 60-min sessions of blue LED therapy directed at the vagina and vulva, with the sessions separated by two days (n = 30). Candida count (via CHROMagar™ Candida) and vaginal pH (via AD110-AD111 m) were assessed at baseline and one week after initiating treatment. RESULTS: Post-treatment, group (B) demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in Candida count compared to group (A) (mean difference (MD) 8.267; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 6.723-9.811; p = 0.0001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in vaginal pH between the groups (MD -0.03; 95% CI -0.244-0.178; p = 0.749). CONCLUSION: Blue LED therapy effectively reduces Candida count in women with recurrent VVC without adversely affecting the vaginal pH, highlighting its safety and efficacy as a treatment modality.

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Multifunctional responsive hydrogels hold significant promise for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) treatment, though their complex design and manufacturing present challenges. This study introduces a novel supramolecular guanosine-phenylboronic-chlorogenic acid (GBC) hydrogel developed using a dynamic covalent strategy. The hydrogel forms through guanosine quadruplex assembly in the presence of potassium ions and chlorogenic acid (CA) linkage via dynamic borate bonds. GBC hydrogels exhibit pH and glucose responsiveness, releasing more chlorogenic acid under acidic and high glucose conditions due to borate bond dissociation and G-quadruplex (G4) hydrogel disintegration. Experimental results indicate that GBC hydrogels exhibit good self-healing, shear-thinning, injectability, and swelling properties. Both in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate the GBC hydrogel's good biocompatibility, ability to eliminate bacteria and reactive oxygen species (ROS), facilitate macrophage polarization from the M1 phenotype to the M2 phenotype (decreasing CD86 expression and increasing CD206 expression), exhibit anti-inflammatory effects (reducing TNF-α expression and increasing IL-10 expression), and promote angiogenesis (increasing VEGF, CD31, and α-SMA expression). Thus, GBC hydrogels accelerate DFU healing and enhance tissue remodeling and collagen deposition. This work provides a new approach to developing responsive hydrogels to expedite DFU healing.

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Quetiapine myristate (QM), an ester-bonded lipophilic prodrug of quetiapine (QTP), is synthesized and converted into an amphiphilic structure in acidic pH to trigger a novel self-assembled QM nanosuspension (QMN). Following injection, this QMN rearranges within physiological pH to form nanoaggregates in structure, resulting in enhanced physicochemical properties and in vivo therapeutic performance without an initial burst release. The 200-nm-sized QMN exhibits less invasive injection, higher drug content, and better storage stability profile than conventional poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanosuspensions containing QTP or QM. Following a single intramuscular injection to beagle dogs (35 mg kg-1 QTP), QMN undergoes pH-responsive nanoaggregation to form the lipophilic prodrug, providing esterase-oriented sustained release for five weeks compared with the two-week period of PLGA nanosuspensions. Notably, QMN exhibits improved in vivo pharmacokinetic performance with long-acting delivery while minimizing issues associated with polymeric PLGA formulations, including the initial massive burst release, cellular toxicity, and adverse side effects. These results support the further development of QMN as a novel long-acting injectable to improve patient compliance and dosing frequency.

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The availability of high-frequency, real-time measurements of the concentrations of specific metabolites in cell culture systems will enable a deeper understanding of cellular metabolism and facilitate the application of good laboratory practice standards in cell culture protocols. However, currently available approaches to this end either are constrained to single-time-point and single-parameter measurements or are limited in the range of detectable analytes. Electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) biosensors have demonstrated utility in real-time monitoring of analytes in vivo in blood and tissues. Here, we characterize a pH-sensing capability of EAB sensors that is independent of the specific target analyte of the aptamer sequence. We applied this dual-purpose EAB to the continuous measurement of pH and phenylalanine in several in vitro cell culture settings. The miniature EAB sensor that we developed exhibits rapid response times, good stability, high repeatability, and biologically relevant sensitivity. We also developed and characterized a leak-free reference electrode that mitigates the potential cytotoxic effects of silver ions released from conventional reference electrodes. Using the resulting dual-purpose sensor, we performed hourly measurements of pH and phenylalanine concentrations in the medium superfusing cultured epithelial tumor cell lines (A549, MDA-MB-23) and a human fibroblast cell line (MRC-5) for periods of up to 72 h. Our scalable technology may be multiplexed for high-throughput monitoring of pH and multiple analytes in support of the broad metabolic qualification of microphysiological systems.

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A pH-sensitive film was prepared from pectin (P) and whey protein (W), incorporating anthocyanin-rich purple sweet potato extract (PPE) as the pH indicator. The effect of PPE content on the structure and properties of the films and the pH indicating function were determined and evaluated for shrimp freshness and grape preservation. The solubility (60.23 ± 7.36 %) and water vapor permeability (0.15 ± 0.04 × 10-11 g·cm/(cm2·s·Pa)) of the pectin/whey protein/PPE (PW-PPE) film with 500 mg/100 mL PPE were the lowest of the films tested and much lower than PW films without PPE. PW-PPE films were non-cytotoxic and had excellent biodegradability in soil. Grapes coated with PW-PPE film had reduced weight loss from water evaporation, and decay during storage was inhibited. The total color change (ΔE) of the PW-PPE films had a strong linear correlation with the pH of shrimps during storage. PW-PPE films have application potential to monitor the real-time freshness of meat and extend the shelf life of fruit.

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BACKGROUND: Urinary acidification with ammonium chloride (AC) for urolith dissolution is a common treatment for goats with urolithiasis. Studies have reported increased fractional excretion of calcium (FECa) following AC administration, which could increase calcium-based urolithiasis. D,L methionine (MET) may result in similar acidification with less calcium excretion. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of orally administered MET and AC on urine and blood pH, FECa, and blood HCO3- concentrations in male goats. METHODS: Prospective, randomized, crossover study. 12 healthy, 5-to-6-month-old Boer-cross wethers were administered 200 mg/kg of AC or MET orally for 14 days with a 7-day washout period between trials. Venous blood and urine samples were collected every 2 days. The effects of treatment and treatment day on urine and blood pH, HCO3-, and FECa were assessed using linear mixed models. RESULTS: Ammonium chloride and MET lowered least squares means (LSM) urine pH on day 6 (LSM, 7.49; 95% CI, 6.44 to 8.54), 8 (LSM, 7.78; 95% CI, 6.73 to 8.83), and 10 (LSM, 7.53; 95% CI, 6.49 to 8.58) when compared to day 0 (LSM, 8.23; 95% CI, 7.18 to 9.28). Some goats' urine indicated acidification (pH < 7.0) in the first phase of the trial; however, for the entire trial, a significant treatment effect was not detected on urine pH, blood pH, blood HCO3- or log10 FECa. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Ammonium chloride and MET acidified urine of some goats. Dietary cation-anion difference should be considered when treating healthy goats to acidify their urine.

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Polydopamine (PDA) is well known as a mussel-inspired adhesive material composed of oligomeric heteropolymers. However, the conventional eumelanin-like structural assumption of PDA seems deficient in explaining its interfacial adhesion. To determine the decisive mechanism of PDA coating formation, experiments and simulations were performed in this study. 5,6-Dihydroxyindole (DHI), the signature building block of eumelanin, was introduced as the control group. Various typical building blocks in PDA were quantified by physicochemical characterizations, and the polar-group-dominated interfacial interaction was evaluated by classic molecular dynamics and metadynamics methods. Aminoethyl has been proven to be the key functional group inducing the adsorption of PDA on the hydroxylated silica substrates, while DHI shows limited adhesion to the substrate due to the absence of aminoethyl as the catechol-indole structure of DHI exhibits poor affinity to the silica surface. Pyrrole carboxylic acid, as an oxidative product detected from PDA/DHI, is unfavorable for its adhesion to silica substrates. Overall, the coating formation and self-aggregating precipitation of PDA are two competitive aminoethyl-consuming paths; thus, the in situ oxidative coupling of dopamine is indispensable for the PDA coating preparation. The collected PDA precipitates can no longer present satisfactory coating forming behavior, resulting from a shortage of aminoethyl moieties.

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OBJECTIVE: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of pH with multichannel intraluminal impedance (pH-MII), pH-metry (pH) alone and MII alone to direct observation of GOR by endoscopy in anaesthetized dogs. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective comparative trial in a live canine model. ANIMALS: A group of 35 (22 females, 13 males) dogs of various breeds. The mean (range) body weight and age were 31.9 (14-40) kg and 5.6 (0.75-12) years, respectively. METHODS: All dogs were premedicated with medetomidine and morphine, anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained on isoflurane in oxygen. A monitoring assembly consisting of an endoscopy camera, endotracheal tube and a disposable flexible pH-MII catheter was used to measure oesophageal pH, MII and directly visualize reflux. Visual reflux score was (0-3) and pH was recorded on a data capture sheet. Reflux was considered to have occurred whenever oesophageal pH was < 4.0 or > 7.5, device software analysing MII data detected fluid or a visual reflux score of 2 or 3 were assigned. Receiver operator curves (ROC) analysis was used to determine sensitivity and specificity for each monitoring method to detect GOR. RESULTS: Endoscopy identified GOR in 20 dogs (57%), pH-MII in 19 dogs (54%), pH alone in 13 dogs (37%) and MII alone in 12 dogs (24%). ROC analysis showed fair accuracy for pH-MII and pH alone, whereas MII demonstrated low accuracy. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In conclusion, pH-MII is a reliable method for detecting GOR and emerges as a promising tool for future research. Endoscopy is reliable and provides the ability to subjectively quantify the volume of reflux; however, it lacks the ability to discern the pH of refluxate. pH alone misses reflux events with intermediate pH (4.1-7.4). Incorporation of impedance addresses some of the limitations associated with pH alone and enhances diagnostic accuracy.

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Paper-based cultural relics often undergo acidification and deterioration during long-term preservation. Accurate detection of paper acidity is of great significance to assess aging status and extend the preservation lifetime of paper-based cultural relics. Rapid identification of the acidification degree and acid distribution across multiple regions of paper is essential. Inspired by fluorescent sensing technology, pH-sensitive cadmium telluride (CdTe) quantum dots (QDs) and rhodamine B (RB) fluorescent probes are synthesized and incorporated onto the nanofibers of a bacterial cellulose (BC) membrane to enable visual acidity detection of paper. Due to the complementary pH detection range of CdTe QDs and RB probes, the composite BC membrane exhibits a clear pH response across an acidic to neutral range (pH 3.0-7.5). Notably, the contrasting fluorescent colors of the two probes within the BC membrane allow for easy visualization of paper pH and acidity distribution with the naked eyes. A distinct color transition from red to green was observed on the fluorescent BC membrane when it is applied to a model paper with a gradient pH distribution. The feasibility of this method was verified by using the flat-headed pH electrode method. Additionally, common metal ions in most paper fillers, inks, pigments, as well as some sugars and amino acids showed minimal interference with the pH response of the composite BC membrane, highlighting its potential and broad applicability for visual acidity detection in paper-based cultural relics.

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Philadelphia chromosome-positive B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph(+)B-ALL) is a hematological malignancy with a poor prognosis. Epigenetic abnormalities, especially abnormal histone acetylation and microRNAs (miRNAs) dysregulation, are a group of epigenetic patterns that contribute to leukemia progression. However, their regulatory mechanisms in Ph(+)B-ALL have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified that miR-183-5p is significantly downregulated in Ph(+)B-ALL and associated with poor prognosis. Moreover, we found that the BCR-ABL fusion gene is a key target gene of miR-183-5p. MiR-183-5p directly targets BCR-ABL gene and induces cell apoptosis via PTEN/AKT and c-MYC signaling pathways. In addition, histone deacetylase inhibitor (HADCi) could mitigate the suppressive effects of HDAC2 on miR-183-5p by promoting promoter acetylation, thereby enhancing cell apoptosis. In conclusion, our results indicate that miR-183-5p is a potential biomarker and suggest that a novel "HDAC2-miR-183-5p epigenetic circuitry regulation" may be involved in the pathogenesis of Ph(+)B-ALL. Taken together, These findings provide new insights into the design of promising molecular-targeted drugs for Ph(+)B-ALL.

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BACKGROUND: The expansion of bamboo forests increases environmental heterogeneity in tea plantation ecosystems, affecting soil properties and microbial communities. Understanding these impacts is essential for developing sustainable bamboo management and maintaining ecological balance in tea plantations. METHODS: We studied the effect of the continuous expansion of Pleioblastus amarus into tea plantations, by establishing five plot types: pure P. amarus forest area (BF), P. amarus forest interface area (BA), mixed forest interface area (MA), mixed forest center area (TB), and pure tea plantation area (TF). We conducted a comprehensive analysis of soil chemical properties and utilized Illumina sequencing to profile microbial community composition and diversity, emphasizing their responses to bamboo expansion. RESULTS: (1) Bamboo expansion significantly raised soil pH and enhanced levels of organic matter, nitrogen, and phosphorus, particularly noticeable in BA and MA sites. In the TB sites, improvements in soil nutrients were statistically indistinguishable from those in pure tea plantation areas. (2) Continuous bamboo expansion led to significant changes in soil bacterial diversity, especially noticeable between BA and TF sites, while fungal diversity was unaffected. (3) Bamboo expansion substantially altered the composition of less abundant bacterial and fungal communities, which proved more sensitive to changes in soil chemical properties. CONCLUSION: The expansion of bamboo forests causes significant alterations in soil pH and nutrient characteristics, impacting the diversity and composition of soil bacteria in tea plantations. However, as expansion progresses, its long-term beneficial impact on soil quality in tea plantations appears limited.

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A wearable potentiometric device is reported based on an innovative butterfly-like paper-based microfluidic system, allowing for continuous monitoring of pH and Na+ levels in sweat during physical activity. Specifically, the use of the butterfly-like configuration avoids evaporation phenomena and memory effects, enabling precise and timely biomarker determination in sweat. Two ad hoc modified screen-printed electrodes were embedded in the butterfly-like paper-based microfluidics, and the sensing device was further integrated with a portable and miniaturized potentiostat, leveraging Bluetooth technology for efficient data transmission. First, the paper-based microfluidic configuration was tested for optimal fluidic management to obtain optimized performance of the device. Subsequently, the two electrodes were individually tested to detect the two biomarkers, namely pH and Na+. The results demonstrated highly promising near-Nernstian (0.056 ± 0.002 V/dec) and super-Nernstian (- 0.080 ± 0.003 V/pH) responses, for Na+ and pH detection, respectively. Additionally, several important parameters such as storage stability, interferents, and memory effect by hysteresis study were also investigated. Finally, the butterfly-like paper-based microfluidic wearable device was tested for Na+ and pH monitoring during the physical activity of three volunteers engaged in different exercises, obtaining a good correlation between Na+ increase and dehydration phenomena. Furthermore, one volunteer was tested through a cardiopulmonary test, demonstrating a correlation between sodium Na+ increase and the energetic effort by the volunteer. Our wearable device highlights the high potential to enable early evaluation of dehydration and open up new opportunities in sports activity monitoring.

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