Laboratory Applications Research Articles

Remimazolam for anesthesia and sedation in cardiac surgery and for cardiac patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery: a systematic-narrative hybrid review.

Remimazolam, an ultra-short-acting benzodiazepine recognized and approved as an anesthetic and sedative in multiple countries, offers a distinctive pharmacokinetic profile, boasting advantages such as rapid onset, short action duration, and rapid recovery. These attributes may contribute to enhanced hemodynamic stability and a diminished risk of respiratory depression compared to other sedatives. We conducted the first comprehensive systematically structured narrative review to evaluate the role and potential application of remimazolam in cardiac surgery. Twenty-one studies published from 2021 to 2023 delved into remimazolam's application in open cardiac surgery, cardiac catheterization or electrophysiology laboratories, and high-risk cardiovascular patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. Overall, remimazolam usage was apparently linked to potentially superior hemodynamic stability compared to other hypnotic drugs. However, findings regarding the reduction in postoperative delirium incidence with remimazolam and the doses of remimazolam for anesthesia induction and maintenance were inconsistent across the studies. Though remimazolam has demonstrated potential safety, efficacy, and ease-of-use for both anesthesia induction and maintenance in cardiac surgery patients and high-risk cardiovascular patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, further research is imperative to delve into specific patient subgroups (e.g., the elderly or emergent procedures) so as to ascertain optimal dose ranges to suit diverse clinical scenarios.

Immune-monitoring of myelodysplastic neoplasms: Recommendations from the i4MDS consortium.

Advancements in comprehending myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) have unfolded significantly in recent years, elucidating a myriad of cellular and molecular underpinnings integral to disease progression. While molecular inclusions into prognostic models have substantively advanced risk stratification, recent revelations have emphasized the pivotal role of immune dysregulation within the bone marrow milieu during MDS evolution. Nonetheless, immunotherapy for MDS has not experienced breakthroughs seen in other malignancies, partly attributable to the absence of an immune classification that could stratify patients toward optimally targeted immunotherapeutic approaches. A pivotal obstacle to establishing "immune classes" among MDS patients is the absence of validated accepted immune panels suitable for routine application in clinical laboratories. In response, we formed International Integrative Innovative Immunology for MDS (i4MDS), a consortium of multidisciplinary experts, and created the following recommendations for standardized methodologies to monitor immune responses in MDS. A central goal of i4MDS is the development of an immune score that could be incorporated into current clinical risk stratification models. This position paper first consolidates current knowledge on MDS immunology. Subsequently, in collaboration with clinical and laboratory specialists, we introduce flow cytometry panels and cytokine assays, meticulously devised for clinical laboratories, aiming to monitor the immune status of MDS patients, evaluating both immune fitness and identifying potential immune "risk factors." By amalgamating this immunological characterization data and molecular data, we aim to enhance patient stratification, identify predictive markers for treatment responsiveness, and accelerate the development of systems immunology tools and innovative immunotherapies.

Resin-Cement Blend Enhances Wellbore Integrity

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 213763, “Use of Innovative Resin-Cement Blend To Enhance Wellbore Integrity,” by Wajid Ali, Faisal A. Al-Turki, and Athman Abbas, SPE, TAQA Well Services, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ A major challenge occasionally faced during a well’s life cycle is the buildup of sustained casing pressure (SCP). Compromised cement-sheath integrity is one of the primary reasons for such a pressure buildup. Meeting this challenge requires development of an isolation material that can enhance the mechanical properties of cement. This paper presents the laboratory testing and application of a resin-cement system in a scenario where potential high-pressure influx was expected across a water-bearing formation. The resin-cement system was designed to be placed as a tail slurry to provide enhanced mechanical properties compared with a conventional slurry. Introduction The objectives of this study were to investigate the use of new systems at different densities with epoxy resin as an additive and to demonstrate value added in terms of improved mechanical properties and bonding. The resin used in this study is diglycidylether of bisphenol-F, a linear epoxy resin formed by reacting bisphenol-F with a suitable amount of epichlorohydrin and hydroxide. Amines are used as curing agents for epoxy resins. The curing mechanism is a step-growth polymerization. The curing is observed initially by an increase in viscosity and then by hardening. The final product’sproperties, in terms of compressive strength and viscosity, also are affected by the type and concentration of the amine. Aliphatic amines produce more-flexible types of epoxy resins compared with aromatic amine curing agents. Aromatic amines will produce a stronger, harder epoxy resin. Experimental Study Cement Slurry Preparation and Testing. The cement slurry was formulated and mixed with a maximum speed of 12,000 rev/min for 15 seconds and then at 4,000 rev/min for 35 seconds. To condition the cement slurry, an atmospheric consistometer was used. A viscometer was used to measure rheological properties. Thickening time tests also were conducted. Fluid-loss measurements (dynamic and static) were performed on the prepared cement slurry. Dynamic fluid loss can affect rheology and thickening time of cement slurries. Static fluid loss can result in reduction in cement slurry and allow formation fluids to enter the cement slurry. Separation of water is observed when a cement slurry is allowed to stand for a period before it sets. To determine the extent of water separation, a free water test was performed to determine the extent of water separation. The test was conducted by allowing cement slurry to stand in a 250-mL graduated cylinder for 2 hours. The cement slurry was poured into a cylindrical cell and lowered into a curing chamber. While maintaining pressures and temperatures, the cement slurry was cured up to 30 days. At the end of the curing period, the pressure and temperature were reduced to ambient conditions and the test specimens were removed from the curing chamber to be tested for mechanical properties.

Insight into Low-Temperature One-Step Biopreparation and Natural Dyeing of Cotton as an Environmentally Benign Route

The goal of this study is to present an environmentally benign route for cotton fabric and investigate the effect of different pretreatments in natural dyeing. In this context, conventional alkaline scouring, conventional hydrogen peroxide bleaching, low-temperature one-step biopreparation processes, namely enzymatic scouring (alkaline pectinase and alkaline pectinase-neutral cellulase combination) at 55 °C and enzyme-bleaching agent (hydrogen peroxide/sodium percarbonate/sodium perborate)-activator agent (TAED) combinations at 65 °C were applied to 100% cotton knitted fabric. The use of agricultural waste and eco-friendly mordants was preferred in natural dyeing. For this purpose, pretreated fabrics were dyed with the outer green shell of almond fruit extracts and a low amount of 0.4 g/L metal mordants (alum and iron(II) sulfate) in accordance with the simultaneous mordanting method. The dyeing properties of bio- and conventionally prepared cotton fabrics were examined in terms of colorimetric data (K/S, CIELa*b*C*h°) and wash fastness compared with water absorbency, whiteness, weight loss, pectin removal, and type of mordant. Excellent wash fastness values were achieved regardless of the type of pretreatment. Low-temperature one-step biopreparation can be a good substitute for conventional scouring and bleaching processes. Since different results can be achieved, it is essential to determine and evaluate all bioprocess conditions depending on the end-use characteristics of the textile (e.g. whether it will be white or dyed/printed, its color and lightness/darkness) at the laboratory and industrial scale applications.

Sunlight-mediated efficient remediation of organic pollutants from water by chitosan co-decorated nanocomposites of NiO loaded with WO3: Green synthesis, kinetics, and photoactivity

Azo dyes such as Tropaeolin OOO (TOOO) and Eriochrome black T (EBT) are used in various industrial and laboratory applications. However, their recalcitrant properties make them toxic chemicals and require efficient removal-strategy based on polymer decorated semiconductor nanocomposite. Herein, photodegradation of TOOO and EBT in water was investigated at different reaction parameters through NiO@WO3-chitosan synthesized by green procedure using A. indica. PXRD spectra peaks show semi-crystalline behaviour with spherical morphology and chitosan around metal oxide. In FT-IR, New spectral peaks observed at 1023 cm−1, 870 cm−1, and 540 cm−1 vibration indicated between Ni-O-W, Ni-N, and W-N confirmed effecting coupling. Both dyes (10 mg/L) were found completely colourless within 3 h under sunlight with pH of 7 at 20 mg of catalyst load. Difference in max degradation of 96 % and 92 %, respectively to TOOO and EBT dye credit to structure difference. 1st-order reaction kinetics following early Langmuir adsorption and degradation at optimum condition rate constant k (0.26–0.19-min−1) and half time t1/2(2.68––3.64 min−1). Efficiency of NiO@WO3-chitosan was maintained due to its fine morphology with elevated surface-area (75 m2g−1), large negative zeta potential (−29.5 mV), and lesser value of band distance (2.1 eV). Involvement of •OH, O2–• and holes in photocatalysis mechanism to break complex molecules of TOOO and EBT was revealed in Scavenger analysis. After degradation, small-safer metabolites were confirmed by LC-MS. Reusability up to 8th cycle of NiO@WO3-chitosan without photoactivity reduction makes it a cost-effective cum sustainable composite for industries and wastewater pollutants removal with good surface properties.

Expanding the Scope of Adenoviral Vectors by Utilizing Novel Tools for Recombination and Vector Rescue.

Recombinant adenoviruses are widely used in clinical and laboratory applications. Despite the wide variety of available sero- and genotypes, only a fraction is utilized in vivo. As adenoviruses are a large group of viruses, displaying many different tropisms, immune epitopes, and replication characteristics, the merits of translating these natural benefits into vector applications are apparent. This translation, however, proves difficult, since while research has investigated the application of these viruses, there are no universally applicable rules in vector design for non-classical adenovirus types. In this paper, we describe a generalized workflow that allows vectorization, rescue, and cloning of all adenoviral species to enable the rapid development of new vector variants. We show this using human and simian adenoviruses, further modifying a selection of them to investigate their gene transfer potential and build potential vector candidates for future applications.

Lessons learned: the use of an augmented reality application in organic chemistry laboratories

Lessons learned: the use of an augmented reality application in organic chemistry laboratories

A Frame Work for Development of Hybrid-teaching Factory (H-TEFA) Model on Virtual Lab application

The core of Industry 4.0 is the extensive use of Information System in organizational business processes. The competency of System Analysis and Design is required by companies as an expert in Information System development. UNITAMA, a higher education institution, is developing a program of study in Information Systems that produces competent professionals with a discipline in Analysis and Information System Design. The university will strengthen student competencies through a collaborative approach between the learning process and IDUKA. The type of research is Research & Development (R&D) research so that the process of developing virtual learning media technology media for the Hybrid Teaching Factory (H-TEFA) model is directed and systematic, so in this research and development using the ADDIE development model which consists of five development stages (analysis, design, product manufacturing, implementation and evaluation). The Virtual Lab is a modern learning method based on the Learning Management System (LMS) that provides students with more dynamic and customized educational materials for practical learning. The Virtual Lab UNITAMA is the development of a practical learning method designed and adapted to the needs of the Analysis and Information System Design course based on the IDUKA Information System, utilizing web-based IT technology that allows learning to take place remotely, not limited to the classroom and specific hours. The model of collaboration between teachers, students, and IDUKA in the Analysis and Information System Design course is enabled by the rapid development of technology and information systems in the era of Industry 4.0, using e-learning/LMS systems that are integrated with Virtual Lab. The Link & Match policy between the education sector and IDUKA is expected to improve the competencies of graduates and align them with IDUKA's specific needs.

THE EFFECTS OF DISTANCE EDUCATION ON MIDWIFERY STUDENTS BEFORE CLINICAL PRACTICE IN THE PANDEMIC

This research was conducted to determine the positive and negative effects of distance education before clinical practice compared to midwifery students. Materials and Methods: The research was carried out with a total of 181 students studying in the 1st and 2nd year of the Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Sciences, of a state university in Turkey. 54.7% of the participants are first-year students, all of them are single, 63.5% are Anatolian high school graduates, 76.2% have an extended family and 71.3% live in the city. Regarding the distance education evaluations, 72.9% stated that they did not approve. Participants also stated that the transition to distance education negatively affected the quality of laboratory and clinical applications of the courses and their participation rates. The learning tools that students found most valuable in the distance education process were online lecture notes (83.9%), smartphones (81%), internet access (76.1%) and computers (72.5%). The distance education process brought additional costs to 71.3% of the students and 29.3% stated that this cost was more than 500 Turkish Liras. This result shows that web-based distance education can be used in addition to formal education to reinforce the theory in midwifery education.

Coupled multiphysical model for investigation of influence factors in the application of microbially induced calcite precipitation

The study presents a comprehensive coupled thermo-bio-chemo-hydraulic (T-BCH) modeling framework for stabilizing soils using microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP). The numerical model considers relevant multiphysics involved in MICP, such as bacterial ureolytic activities, biochemical reactions, multiphase and multicomponent transport, and alteration of the porosity and permeability. The model incorporates multiphysical coupling effects through well-established constitutive relations that connect parameters and variables from different physical fields. It was implemented in the open-source finite element code OpenGeoSys (OGS), and a semi-staggered solution strategy was designed to solve the couplings, allowing for flexible model settings. Therefore, the developed model can be easily adapted to simulate MICP applications in different scenarios. The numerical model was employed to analyze the effect of various factors, including temperature, injection strategies, and application scales. Besides, a T-BCH modeling study was conducted on the laboratory-scale domain to analyze the effects of temperature on urease activity and precipitated calcium carbonate. To understand the scale dependency of MICP treatment, a large-scale heterogeneous domain was subjected to variable biochemical injection strategies. The simulations conducted at the field-scale guided the selection of an injection strategy to achieve the desired type and amount of precipitation. Additionally, the study emphasized the potential of numerical models as reliable tools for optimizing future developments in field-scale MICP treatment. The present study demonstrates the potential of this numerical framework for designing and optimizing the MICP applications in laboratory-, prototype-, and field-scale scenarios.

Geoscience-engineering integration-based formation damage control drill-in fluid (GEI-FDC-DIF): An essential technology for successful extraction of deep mid-high permeability sandstone reservoirs

The impact of drilling-induced formation damage is often underestimated in deep mid-high permeability reservoirs, largely due to modest reductions in permeability reported by conventional evaluation methods. This study introduces an innovative geoscience-engineering integration-based formation damage control drill-in fluid (GEI-FDC-DIF) technology, specifically developed to mitigate the challenges posed by deep wells with open-hole completions. Utilizing comprehensive geological and engineering analyses, our methodology facilitates a multiscale space-time evaluation of formation damage, enabling precise quantification of its severity and evolution. Based on identified mechanisms, tailored GEI-FDC-DIF formulations and supporting process measures are developed to optimize formation damage control. Preliminary geological and engineering evaluations of the deep mid-high permeability sandstone reservoir highlight the acute risk of drilling-induced formation damage. Detailed quantitative analysis indicates fluid sensitivity and drill-in fluid induced permeability reductions ranging from 1.13% to 44.54% and 26.47%–65.55%, respectively, with absolute permeability declines extending into the hundreds of millidarcys. Invasion depths of drill-in fluids reach 3.9–56.6 m at 150 h and 7.6–92.6 m at 840 h, underscoring significant formation damage predominantly caused by solid plugging, fluid sensitivity, incompatibility, and oil phase permeability reduction. Incorporating a blend of acid-soluble fiber bridging, oil-soluble deformable temporary plugging agents, and liquid drainage enhancers, the GEI-FDC-DIF significantly improves plugging efficiency and filtrate flowback. The development and deployment of GEI-FDC-DIF have shown superior formation damage control capabilities, as corroborated by both laboratory and field applications, underscoring its promising potential for future use.

Neq2X7: a multi-purpose and open-source fusion DNA polymerase for advanced DNA engineering and diagnostics PCR

Thermostable DNA polymerases, such as Taq isolated from the thermophilic bacterium Thermus aquaticus, enable one-pot exponential DNA amplification known as polymerase chain reaction (PCR). However, properties other than thermostability - such as fidelity, processivity, and compatibility with modified nucleotides - are important in contemporary molecular biology applications. Here, we describe the engineering and characterization of a fusion between a DNA polymerase identified in the marine archaea Nanoarchaeum equitans and a DNA binding domain from the thermophile Sulfolobus solfataricus. The fusion creates a highly active enzyme, Neq2X7, capable of amplifying long and GC-rich DNA, unaffected by replacing dTTP with dUTP in PCR, and tolerant to various known PCR inhibitors. This makes it an attractive DNA polymerase for use, e.g., with uracil excision (USER) DNA assembly and for contamination-free diagnostics. Using a magnification via nucleotide imbalance fidelity assay, Neq2X7 was estimated to have an error rate lower than 2 ∙ 10−5 bp−1 and an approximately 100x lower fidelity than the parental variant Neq2X, indicating a trade-off between fidelity and processivity – an observation that may be of importance for similarly engineered DNA polymerases. Neq2X7 is easy to produce for routine application in any molecular biology laboratory, and the expression plasmid is made freely available.

Application research of monochromatic micro x‐ray fluorescence in glass physical evidence traceability

AbstractMicro‐x‐ray fluorescence (μ‐XRF) is a commonly used elemental analysis technique for glass physical evidence in forensic cases, which can detect major and trace elements in samples and potentially identify glass fragments according to the differences in elemental composition. However, when a sample is irradiated with polychromatic x‐rays, bremsstrahlung scattering from the source radiation provides noise in the fluorescence spectrum and affects the detection results. To improve the signal‐to‐noise ratio of the fluorescence spectrum, a Mμ‐XRF spectrometer constructed under the low‐power Mo target x‐ray tube condition was used to analyze ten kinds of common glass fragments. The application of laboratory Mμ‐XRF analysis in single‐point detection of tiny glass materials was studied. Experimental results show that the detection limit of Sr element was 51 μg/L, and the spectrometer can distinguish different types of small glass fragments according to the fluorescence spectrum information.

The effects of seed enhancements on plant establishment in native grasses: A meta‐analysis

AbstractQuestionsNative grasses are widespread with high commercial value and demand across the restoration sector, though their uptake is often hampered by seed‐use challenges. Seed enhancement technologies (SETs) provide a valuable tool for improving plant establishment outcomes for species (such as native grasses) where seed‐based approaches are essential to achieve large‐scale targets. However, due to the increased investment in resources and time associated with application of SETs, their adoption is dependent on the ability of these treatments to consistently provide benefits to one or more demographic life stages, particularly under field conditions. This meta‐analysis addresses the following research question: what are the overall effects of SETs on plant establishment outcomes compared to untreated florets or seeds in native grasses globally?LocationGlobal.MethodsThe effects of six major SET categories (acid treatment, coating, pelleting, flash flaming, priming, and treatment combinations) on germination, emergence, and shoot and root length and biomass were explored. Furthermore, the consistency of the effects of SETs across study types (i.e., laboratory, glasshouse, and field) was investigated.ResultsThe overall effects of SETs on native grasses in this meta‐analysis were positive for germination (16% improvement), emergence (22% improvement), and growth (6.42–8.86 cm and 2.26–2.77 g increase in seedling length and biomass, respectively). However, effects ranged from neutral to positive when data were grouped by SET type, with coating, pelleting and priming delivering consistent benefits across multiple life stages, and acid treatments, flash flaming, and combination treatments having mixed effects. This analysis also provided evidence that benefits observed from SET application in laboratory and glasshouse studies are not translating to field environments.ConclusionsOverall, SETs generally had positive effects and can therefore provide a relatively low‐risk approach to improving seed‐based restoration outcomes in native grasses. Continued SET research focussed on long‐term plant establishment outcomes in field environments is needed to further advance SET uptake.

Isoquinoline-based intrinsic fluorescence assessment of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent, Roxadustat (FG-4592), in tablets: applications to content uniformity and human plasma evaluation.

In the present study, a first validated and green spectrofluorimetric approach for its assessment and evaluation in different matrices was investigated. After using an excitation wavelength of 345 nm, Roxadustat (ROX) demonstrates a highly native fluorescence at an emission of 410 nm. The influences of experimental factors such as pH, diluting solvents, and different organized media were tested, and the most appropriate solvent choice was ethanol. It was confirmed that there was a linear relationship between the concentration of ROX and the relative fluorescence intensity in the range 60.0-1000.0 ng ml-1, with the limit of detection and limit of quantitation, respectively, being 17.0 and 53.0 ng ml-1. The mean recoveries % [±standard deviation (SD), n =5] for pharmaceutical preparations were 100.11% ± 2.24%, whereas for plasma samples, they were 100.08 ± 1.08% (±SD, n =5). The results obtained after the application of four greenness criteria, Analytical Eco-Scale metric, NEMI, GAPI, and AGREE metric, confirmed its eco-friendliness. In addition, the whiteness meter (RGB12) confirmed its level of sustainability. The International Council for Harmonisation (ICH) criteria were used to verify the developed method through the study in both spiked plasma samples and content uniformity evaluation. An appropriate standard for various applications in industry and quality control laboratories was developed.

IoT-based viscometer fabrication using the falling ball method for laboratory applications

This study outlines the production procedure of internet of things (IoT)- enabled viscometers designed for laboratory use. These viscometers utilize photodiode sensors, lasers, and falling ball techniques. The system is equipped with a temperature sensor that is utilized to quantify the impact of temperature on viscosity. The temperature sensor’s characterization yielded a R-square value of 0.999. The photodiode and laser sensors are utilized to operate a timer within the system, ensuring precise time measurement. The R-square value for the sensor characterization is 0.996. A viscometer equipped with an integrated IoT module for seamless wireless transmission of data. The photodiode timer sensor has an accuracy of 95.76% and a precision of 99.96%, while the temperature sensor has an accuracy of 99.43% and a precision of 99.93%. The viscometer transmits the measured viscosity data to the server using wireless technology. This IoT viscometer has the potential to enhance the efficiency and precision of liquid viscosity measurement in laboratory settings. Additionally, it enables real-time monitoring and data collection for subsequent analysis and research purposes.

Rapid and sensitive point-of-care diagnosis of human cytomegalovirus infection using RPA-CRISPR technology

BackgroundHuman cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a common herpesvirus that can cause a range of symptoms, from mild conditions such as fevers to severe illnesses like pneumonia. Early and accurate diagnosis of HCMV infection is crucial, particularly for vulnerable populations with limited medical care. However, current diagnostic methods are often expensive, time-consuming, and require skilled technicians. Materials and methodsWe developed an HCMV-RPA-CRISPR diagnosis platform for the rapid and cost-effective detection of HCMV infection. This method utilizes recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) to amplify the HCMV target gene isothermally without the need for thermal cycling equipment. The platform integrates the CRISPR/Cas12a system, significantly enhancing specificity and sensitivity. A total of 13 clinical blood samples were tested to evaluate the platform's effectiveness and accuracy. Additionally, a lateral flow assay (LFA) and fluorescence detection were incorporated for straightforward and rapid visual interpretation of the results. ResultsThe assay effectively detected concentrations as low as a single copy of the positive control plasmid per microliter in under 1 h, without requiring specialized equipment or training. In clinical sample evaluations, both the fluorescence readout and LFA exhibited 100% sensitivity and specificity, identifying four HCMV-positive and nine HCMV-negative samples. ConclusionThe HCMV-RPA-CRISPR diagnosis platform is comparably effective to qPCR for HCMV diagnosis. Its applicability in common clinical laboratories, clinics, and point-of-care settings, particularly in resource-limited environments, makes it a valuable tool for widespread HCMV screening and diagnosis.

Development of a universal, machine tool independent dynamometer for accurate cutting force estimation in milling

When integrating a dynamometer into a machining system, it is necessary to identify the dynamic relationship between the effective input forces and the measured output signals (i.e., its transmissibility) through dedicated experimental modal analysis. Subsequently, a filter can be derived and applied to reconstruct the effective input forces from the measured signals. Unfortunately this identification phase can be complex, posing challenges to the device’s applicability in both laboratory and industrial conditions. Here this challenge is addressed by introducing a novel dynamometer concept based on both load cells and accelerometers, along with a Universal Inverse Filter. Notably, this filter is independent of the dynamic behavior of the mechanical system where the device is installed. A single calibration suffices, ideally conducted by the device manufacturer or by an expert, allowing the dynamometer’s integration by a non-expert user into any machining system without the need for repeating the identification phase and the filter generation. Furthermore, this new concept offers another significant advantage: it attenuates all inertial disturbances affecting the measured signals, including those arising from the cutting process and those originating from exogenous sources such as spindle rotation, linear axes’ movements, and other vibrations propagating through the machine tool structure. To illustrate, a simplified model is introduced initially, followed by an overview of the novel dynamometer design, innovative identification phase, and filter construction algorithm. The outstanding performance of the novel (non-parametric) Universal Inverse Filter – about 5 kHz of usable frequency bandwidth along direct directions and 4.5 kHz along cross dir. – was experimentally assessed through modal analysis and actual cutting tests, compared against state of the art filters. The efficacy of the new filter, which is even simpler than its predecessors, was successfully demonstrated for both commercial and taylor-made dynamometers, thus showing its great versatility.

Development and Validation of Three Triplex Real-Time RT-PCR Assays for Typing African Horse Sickness Virus: Utility for Disease Control and Other Laboratory Applications.

The African horse sickness virus (AHSV) belongs to the Genus Orbivirus, family Sedoreoviridae, and nine serotypes of the virus have been described to date. The AHSV genome is composed of ten linear segments of double-stranded (ds) RNA, numbered in decreasing size order (Seg-1 to Seg-10). Genome segment 2 (Seg-2) encodes outer-capsid protein VP2, the most variable AHSV protein and the primary target for neutralizing antibodies. Consequently, Seg-2 determines the identity of the virus serotype. An African horse sickness (AHS) outbreak in an AHS-free status country requires identifying the serotype as soon as possible to implement a serotype-specific vaccination program. Considering that nowadays 'polyvalent live attenuated' is the only commercially available vaccination strategy to control the disease, field and vaccine strains of different serotypes could co-circulate. Additionally, in AHS-endemic countries, more than one serotype is often circulating at the same time. Therefore, a strategy to rapidly determine the virus serotype in an AHS-positive sample is strongly recommended in both epidemiological situations. The main objective of this study is to describe the development and validation of three triplex real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) methods for rapid AHSV serotype detection. Samples from recent AHS outbreaks in Kenia (2015-2017), Thailand (2020), and Nigeria (2023), and from the AHS outbreak in Spain (1987-1990), were included in the study for the validation of these methods.

Laboratory Dangerous Operation Behavior Detection System Based on Deep Learning Algorithm

Aiming at the problem that dangerous operation behaviors in the laboratory is difficult to identify by monitoring the video. An algorithm of dangerous operation behavior detection in multi-task laboratory based on improved YOLOv5 structure is proposed. Firstly, the algorithm enhances, adaptively scales, and adaptively anchors box computing on the input of YOLO network. Then convolution operation is carried out to strengthen the ability of network feature fusion. Finally, the GIoU_Loss function is used at the output to optimize the network parameters and accelerate the convergence of the model. The experimental results show that the algorithm performs well in real-time head localization, head segmentation, and population regression, with significant innovation and superiority. Compared with traditional methods, this algorithm has better accuracy and real-time performance and can more effectively achieve human operation behaviors detection in laboratory application environments.