Calibration Equations Research Articles

PSXIII-26 Investigating the Genetic Background of Juniper Consumption in Goats

Abstract Junipers (Juniperus spp.) are woody invasive plants that have caused encroachment problems in the U.S. western rangeland, decreasing forage productivity and biodiversity. A potential solution to this issue is the use of goats in target grazing programs. Selecting goats for juniper consumption is of great interest to rangeland farmers. Therefore, our main objectives were to 1) estimate genetic parameters, including heritability and repeatability, for juniper consumption in Angora (ANG) and Boer x Spanish (BxS) composite population of goats grazing on West Texas rangelands (USA); and, 2) perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify candidate genes associated with juniper consumption. Fecal samples were collected multiple times between 2008 and 2017 and analyzed using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) to estimate the percentage of juniper in the diet of goats, using calibration equations previously developed in controlled studies. We analyzed a dataset comprising 2,327 records from 459 ANG and 8,714 records from 1,996 BxS. The pedigree file included 1,601 and 2,426 ANG and BxS goats, respectively. Genomic information for 50,957 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) from 93 ANG and 238 BxS goats was included in the analyses. Sampling date and sex were fitted as categorical fixed effects and age as a linear covariate in the statistical models. Animal direct additive genetic and permanent environment were considered as random effects. Genetic parameters were calculated based on the Restricted Maximum Likelihood method under the single-step genomic BLUP procedure implemented in the BLUPf90+ family of programs. We used de-regressed estimated breeding values and whole-genome sequence data for the GWAS analyses with 8 million SNP for the ANG and 5.3 million SNP for the BxS. The software GCTA was employed for these analyses. Juniper percentage in their diets varied across the years and ranged from 2.14% (± 7.51%) to 14.6% (± 11.0%) for ANG and from 10.5% (± 14.7) to 33.8% (± 18.1) for the BxS population. The heritability estimate for juniper consumption was 0.19 (± 0.038) for ANG and 0.28 (± 0.022) for BxS, indicating that juniper consumption can be increased through selection. The repeatability values were 0.21 for ANG and 0.37 for BxS. The GWAS revealed 1,257 significant SNP located within or close to 220 genes in ANG, and 878 SNP related to 159 genes in BxS, suggesting their association with juniper consumption. These findings suggest that juniper consumption is under genetic control and has a polygenic inheritance pattern influenced by multiple genes of small effect. The heritability and repeatability estimates indicate that genetic improvement of juniper consumption is feasible in both goat populations.

Schiff bases containing 1,2,3-triazole group and phenanthroline: Synthesis, characterization, and investigation of DNA binding properties

In our study, the synthesis of Schiff base compounds C and D containing the phenanthroline structure and 1,2,3-triazole group was carried out in accordance with the literature. Structural characterization of the synthesized compounds was carried out using methods such as FT-IR, 1H, 13C NMR, UV–vis and Photoluminescence spectroscopy. Information regarding the interaction properties of the materials obtained within the scope of the study with the DNA structure was collected using UV–vis, viscosity tests and Photoluminescence spectroscopy methods. Data were collected about the DNA binding types, mode and energies of the Schiff base compounds synthesized within the scope of the study. As a result of the interaction of compounds C and D with the DNA structure, calibration equations, correlation coefficients (r2), DNA binding constants (Kb) and fluorescence spectrum extinction coefficient (Ksv) of EB-DNA were calculated. UV–vis, EB competitive binding and viscosity studies showed that compounds C and D interact with DNA via the groove binding mode. The Kb binding constants of substances C and D were calculated as 1.43×104 M−1 and 3.0×104 M−1, respectively, and the Ksv quenching constants were calculated as 5.34x104 M−1 and 0.6x104 M−1, respectively.

Calibration and error analysis of an arc detector for wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS)

In wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) experiments, the use of a one-dimensional arc detector can effectively expand the angle range of collected diffraction or scattering signals. In practice, the relative positions between the centers of arc detector, sample and beam spot may overlap or misalign. Therefore, it is necessary to calibrate the instrument parameters and detection angle of the arc detector. The calibration is routinely performed by standard samples. In this contribution, the equations for angle calibration and error evaluation are constructed based on three standard diffraction peaks, and the corresponding simulation and experiment are performed to verify the feasibility of the calibration. The results indicate that the larger the coverage and the more uniform the dispersion of the three standard diffraction peaks distributed on the detector, the smaller the calibration error.

A new calibration correction method for INSAT-3D/3DR brightness temperatures to improve rainfall estimation

ABSTRACT Importance of continuous monitoring of rainfall from Indian geostationary satellites INSAT-3D/3DR over India and surrounding oceans is not only necessary to monitor the performance of the monsoon, but is extremely useful in disaster mitigation support system as well. It has been observed that rain products from INSAT-3D/3DR often show overestimation in certain areas with unrealistic instances of intense rain, which need a closer examination. With this objective, the present study is carried out, which suggests that a non-linear calibration equation for thermal infrared brightness temperatures (Tb) of INSAT-3D/3DR is more appropriate than routinely applied linear equation for rainfall estimation. The study elaborates a new calibration correction method and addresses the requirement of such calibration. To evaluate the performance of proposed method, Hydro-Estimator (HE) operational rainfall products from INSAT-3D/3DR are re-estimated from the newly calibrated Tbs during Indian summer monsoon (June-September), 2020. The re-estimated HE rain not only substantially reduces the instances of overestimation, but also show remarkable improvement in capturing rainfall distribution over India and surrounding ocean. Improvement in RMSE from 8.56 mm/hr to 3.23 mm/hr, when compared with the concurrent IMERG (Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrieval for Global Precipitation Mission (GPM)) rain, shows reliability of the new method. Furthermore, the re-estimated HE rain compares better with in-situ rain gauges observations than the operational HE product with RMSE (bias) reduced from 85.43 mm/day (30.23 mm/day) to 40.02 mm/day (17.07 mm/day), and correlation improved from 0.28 to 0.32. The significance of the new calibration method is also recognized in the rain monitoring over complex hilly terrain and coastal regions of India.

A correction scheme for calcium carbonate clumped isotope (Δ47) thermometric equation depending on sample preparation technique

The CO2 preparatory methods implemented during carbonate-clumped isotope analysis for the acid digestion of carbonate with the goal of high sample throughput yielded multiple empirical relationships for the thermometry. These methods varied significantly from its original practice of carbonate reaction at 25 °C using sealed vessel method to automated quick performance acid drip or common acid bath method at 70 °C or 90 °C temperatures, respectively; these approaches differed noticeably. Technical development replacing primitive reaction protocols, introduced different reaction conditions, causing significant differences in the chemical reaction procedure and CO2 trapping, which caused variation in the values of slope and intercept for the linear regression equations governing carbonate-clumped isotope(Δ47) distribution with carbonate growth temperatures. These studies include the Δ47 measurement and analysis of either laboratory-grown or natural carbonates with precise knowledge of their precipitation/depositional temperatures. However, the discrepancies in the existing universal calibration schemes remained poorly understood despite adopting an identical data correction protocol. This is explained here by the reaction kinetics and CO2 collection methodologies adopted during experimentation. The present study investigated the slope and intercept values of the published carbonate clumped isotope thermometry equations expressed in the accepted Absolute Reference Frame (ARF in CDES) at 25 °C after accounting for the acid correction factor. We observe a systematic shift in the mean slope and intercept values of 0.0154(±0.007) and 0.153(±0.0686) ‰ for 70 °C reaction experiments and offset of 0.0181(±0.008) and 0.197(±0.079) ‰ for the experiments conducted at 90 °C by using the acid drip and/or Common Acid bath method, respectively from the slope and intercept values of the calibration equations proposed using sealed vessel method at 25 °C reaction temperature. The mean values for slope and intercept are compared using ANOVA and paired f-test. These correction factors for slopes and intercepts will allow the transformation of clumped isotope values at different temperatures into ARF scale at 25 °C and enable accurate deduction of temperature for carbonate samples. Correction factors proposed here account for variations in the sample preparation techniques arising due to different reaction temperatures, mechanisms and vapor pressure in the chamber for isotopic exchange reaction to happen for smaller or prolonged time intervals.

A novel algorithm for evaluating cement azimuthal density based on perturbation theory in horizontal well

Cement density monitoring plays a vital role in evaluating the quality of cementing projects, which is of great significance to the development of oil and gas. However, the presence of inhomogeneous cement distribution and casing eccentricity in horizontal wells often complicates the accurate evaluation of cement azimuthal density. In this regard, this paper proposes an algorithm to calculate the cement azimuthal density in horizontal wells using a multi-detector gamma-ray detection system. The spatial dynamic response functions are simulated to obtain the influence of cement density on gamma-ray counts by the perturbation theory, and the contribution of cement density in six sectors to the gamma-ray recorded by different detectors is obtained by integrating the spatial dynamic response functions. Combined with the relationship between gamma-ray counts and cement density, a multi-parameter calculation equation system is established, and the regularized Newton iteration method is employed to invert casing eccentricity and cement azimuthal density. This approach ensures the stability of the inversion process while simultaneously achieving an accuracy of 0.05 g/cm3 for the cement azimuthal density. This accuracy level is ten times higher compared to density accuracy calculated using calibration equations. Overall, this algorithm enhances the accuracy of cement azimuthal density evaluation, provides valuable technical support for the monitoring of cement azimuthal density in the oil and gas industry.

Color calibration of moist soil images captured under irregular lighting conditions

Soil color is a valuable indicator that visually reflects soil properties. In the field of soil science, soil color has been widely used for soil identification and property assessment. Soil color is influenced not only by soil properties but also by lighting conditions; therefore, adequately considering the effect of lighting conditions for the color-based soil assessment is essential. This paper proposes a color calibration method for moist soil images captured under irregular lighting conditions. Four samples of weathered granite soil with varying water contents were captured under nine different lighting conditions. The effect of lighting conditions on the color of moist soil was analyzed using linear regression analysis in the CIELAB color space. The findings demonstrate a linear relationship between soil color and lighting conditions. Furthermore, the slopes of the linear regression equations remained consistent across all moist soil samples, irrespective of soil type and water content. Based on this, calibration equations were derived to adjust the color of moist soil images captured under arbitrary lighting conditions to those under the desired lighting conditions. The proposed method was validated using soil images captured under natural lighting conditions, which show high accuracy in color calibration except for cases with illuminance exceeding 70,000 lux. This color calibration method provides a reliable approach to evaluating soil properties through accurate color representation and presents new possibilities for developing digital image-based soil property prediction techniques that are less sensitive to lighting conditions.

Paleoenvironmental changes on the central Tibetan Plateau over the last two millennia inferred from sedimentological proxies and brGDGTs in Bamu Co

Understanding multi-centennial climate variations and their impact on lake catchment productivity over the last 2000 years (the Common Era), is crucial for assessing the role of natural climatic factors in driving productivity changes, and for predicting productivity changes under recent global warming scenarios. However, the climate patterns on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), including temperature and hydrological variations, during the Common Era, and their possible links with productivity, are poorly understood. We present a quantitative reconstruction of mean annual air temperature (MAAT), together with grain size and other sedimentary records, from a non-glacial lake sediment archive on the central TP, with the objective of tracking changes in climate and lake catchment productivity over the past two millennia. Our results reveal an overall cooling trend in temperature reconstructed from branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs), with multi-centennial-scale fluctuations superimposed. These fluctuations include relatively warm periods during 200 BCE–400 CE and the Medieval Climate Anomaly (1050–1400 CE), and cold periods centered on ∼500–1000 CE and the Little Ice Age (∼1500–1900 CE). A rapid warming trend since 1900 CE corresponds to the Current Warm Period. The variations in sedimentary grain size reflect lake level changes associated with changes in the summer monsoon. Paleoproductivity inferred from total organic carbon (TOC) shows a similar pattern to the paleoclimate records, suggesting that millennial-scale productivity was influenced by both temperature and the catchment hydrology. In recent decades, human activities exerted a more substantial influence on lake productivity. Additionally, we suggest that the use of brGDGTs for temperature reconstruction necessitates the investigation of the temperature relationship of various fractions of brGDGTs, specifically tetramethyl-brGDGTs; and that careful selection of the temperature calibration equation is needed to minimize inaccuracies in paleotemperature reconstruction.

Equivalent plastic hinge length of sleeve connected precast bridge piers

The paper proposes a method to calculate the deformation capacity of sleeve connected precast piers by assuming different curvature distributions for three types of damage forms. It also presents a calculation method for the displacement capacity of the top of precast piers. The study analyzes test data from 46 sleeve-connected precast piers to determine the classification of the three damage forms and the impact of design parameters on the plastic hinge length. Additionally, an equivalent plastic hinge model for precast piers with sleeve connections is established, considering bending, shear, longitudinal bar slip, and sleeve length. The F-Δ curve is determined through the utilization of the suggested equivalent plastic hinge model and the cast-in-place (CIP) based equivalent plastic hinge model, and the test results of three precast piers are compared. The results show that the precast pier with sleeve connection can experience three distinct types of damage: the pier bottom damage, the double plastic hinge zone damage and the sleeve top damage. According to the theory of correlation degree, the damage form of precast piers is more significantly affected by the axial compression ratio, while its impact on the equivalent plastic hinge length is relatively smaller. As the axial compression ratio increases, the influence of sleeve length on the equivalent plastic hinge length also increases. The proposed four parameter calibration equation for the equivalent plastic hinge length in this study has highly correlated properties. This equation demonstrates improved accuracy in simulating the F-Δ curve for the three distinct damage forms when compared to the CIP model, and the calculated value is well fitted with the experimental value.

Wavelength calibration of a solar spectral irradiance radiometer and validation by correlation photon coincidence counting

Accurate wavelength calibration is the key to achieving accuracy observation of solar spectral irradiance. A wavelength calibration of solar spectral irradiance radiometer based on correlation photon radiation reference is proposed. The wavelengths of two channels of the solar spectral irradiance radiometer are calibrated by a Hg-Ar lamp and lasers. A collimating and focusing optics are designed to ensure that light can illuminate the slit vertically and without polarization. The optics can also keep the consistency of observing and self-calibration modes. The calibration equations of two channels are established. The wavelength deviations of two channels are −0.11 ∼ 0.07 nm and −0.085 ∼ 0.017 nm respectively. To validate the calibrated wavelength, channel 1 is selected as the inspection channel according to the spectral line number of the calibration lamp and the variation of the photon count rate. The motor position close to the calibration wavelength 763.511 nm is selected in channel 2, and the coincidence measurement is carried out to check the accuracy of wavelength calibration in channel 1. The deviation of wavelength around 408 nm is 1.139 nm. The experimental results show that the correlated photons self-calibration system can realize the calibration and validation of the system wavelength. The method can increase the number of calibration wavelengths and is suitable for both channels.

Методи уточнення вимірювання швидкості автомобіля на дорозі при діагностиці

This article describes methods of calibrating car speedometer on the road without expensive equipment. The most accurate results are obtained by using marking elements, for instance, the standard road guard fence. The most practical method is synchronous video recording of speedometer and the display of receiver for satellite signals GPS or/and GLONASS. Also, the Khnadu has substantiated methods of checking a car for acceleration and running out onto the road with simple measuring devices - a speedometer and a phone stopwatch. 
 Experiments have shown that the real picture of countermeasures does not fit into generally accepted models, and this should be taken into account when calculating the standards of diagnostic parameters - the path and time of exit and acceleration. For check of the car by a known method the horizontal section of the road 2.5...3 km long is necessary. On the most part of the territory of Ukraine such sections are very rare, so it is proposed to check up a car on an acceleration on II and III gears and on a coasting down from 50 or 40 km/h to 20 km/h, using accessible length of 0,5 km. 
 Behavior of car in such conditions was studied, some unknown specificities are discovered and described. The methods of calculation of control values for time of acceleration and time of coasting are offered. The speedometer is a frequency converter of the output shaft of the transmission or the wheels of the car. It inevitably reflects all the errors caused by the uncertainty of the rolling radius of the wheel, including due to atmospheric conditions, the degree of tire warm-up, vehicle loading and its distribution in the longitudinal and transverse directions, etc. Under these conditions, it is necessary to improve the standless diagnostic methods available to ordinary drivers, i.e. on-the-road inspection methods without complicated or prohibitively expensive equipment. So the calibration of the speedometer is a necessary test step and, in critical cases, must be performed at the beginning and end of each test day. Experimentally estimated the error, the required duration of measurement and speed variation when maintaining it by driver or by cruise control. Grading on GPS better when driving south. Calibration equation was obtained for the 2006 Honda Civic: VGPS = 0,9528 Vspeedo. – 0,83.

Magnetic resonance fingerprinting based thermometry (MRFT): application toex vivoimaging near DBS leads.

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the first work ofT1-based magnetic resonance thermometry using magnetic resonance fingerprinting (dubbed MRFT). We compared temperature estimation of MRFT with proton resonance frequency shift (PRFS) thermometry onex vivobovine muscle. We demonstrated MRFT's feasibility in predicting temperature onex vivobovine muscles with deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead.B0maps generated from MRFT were compared with gold standardB0maps near the DBS lead. MRFT and PRFS estimated temperatures were compared in the presence of motion. All experiments were performed on a 3 Tesla whole-body GE Premier system with a 21-channel receive head coil (GE Healthcare, Milwaukee, WI). Four fluoroptic probes were used to measure the temperature at the center of a cold muscle (probe 1), the room temperature water bottle (probe 2), and the center and periphery of the heated muscle (probes 3 and 4). We selected regions of interest (ROIs) around the location of the probes and used simple linear regression to generate the temperature sensitivity calibration equations that convertT1maps and Δsmaps to temperature maps. We then repeated the same setup and compared MRFT and PRFS thermometry temperature estimation with gold standard probe measurements. For the MRFT experiment on DBS lead, we taped the probe to the tip of the DBS lead and used a turbo spin echo sequence to induce heating near the lead. We selected ROIs around the tip of the lead to compare MRFT temperature estimation with probe measurements and compared with PRFS temperature estimation. Vendor-suppliedB0mapping sequence was acquired to compare with MRFT-generatedB0maps. We found strong linear relationships (R2> 0.958) betweenT1and temperature and Δsand temperatures in our temperature sensitivity calibration experiment. MRFT and PRFS thermometry both accurately predict temperature (RMSE < 1.55 °C) compared to probe measurements. MRFT estimated temperature near DBS lead has a similar trend as the probe temperature. BothB0maps show inhomogeneities around the lead. MRFT estimated temperature is less sensitive to motion.

Combining the oxygen sensor based respirometry and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing for the analysis of microbiota in commercial mince products

In this study, rapid respirometric microbial testing was combined with 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, to assess the composition of microbiota in a total of 64 samples of commercial beef, turkey, lamb and pork mince. The O2 sensor-based respirometry system, while producing the anticipated total aerobic viable counts (TVC) data and patterns for most samples, also revealed unusual (linear) respiration profiles for some samples, mostly lamb and pork mince. The TVC values for beef mince, produced by respirometry and calculated using the available calibration equation, correlated well with the conventional plate counting method, ISO 4833-1:2013, 2013, while for the other species the correlation was less good. These effects, not observed in previous studies employing various food matrices, require further investigation. Using the same samples (crude homogenates) as in respirometry, the whole microbiome was also analysed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing for each mince-type. The sequencing showed an overall decrease in alpha diversity over shelf-life, with lamb and pork mince maintaining a proportion of rare taxa. Some taxa exhibited significant changes in abundance over shelf-life and after the respirometric analysis, with beef mince exhibiting a decrease in aerobic bacteria and an increase in facultative anaerobes. Beta diversity was also seen to depend on mince-type. Thus, the combined use of respirometry and sequencing techniques shows promise as a useful and unique analytical approach for food quality and safety evaluation, However, more data points and in-depth analysis are required to back up the findings of this initial study.

Detection of Internal Browning Disorder in ‘Greensis’ Pears Using a Portable Non-Destructive Instrument

Internal browning caused by prolonged cold storage poses a significant challenge to the visual appearance and flavor of Asian pears, which are economically valuable and a primary fruit exported from Korea. To address this issue, we established a cost-effective portable non-destructive piece of testing instrument using visible and near-infrared spectroscopy, focusing on the detection and discrimination of internal browning in ‘Greensis’ pears. Our investigation underscores the challenge of visually confirming browning, necessitating alternative methods for accurate assessment. Through comprehensive analysis involving three to four segments of 32 ‘Greensis’ pears, a robust calibration equation was derived. By employing partial least square regression on the absorption spectra within a 650–950 nm range, we developed a predictive model for detecting and quantifying browning. Through principal component analysis, normal pears were distinctly segregated from those exhibiting browning symptoms (discrimination accuracy of 95%). Furthermore, we established that pears with a browning index of 25 ± 2.0 are highly susceptible to browning following extended cold storage. Consequently, our proposed portable non-destructive instrument serves as a pivotal tool for farmers and fruit distributors, enabling efficient and precise selection of high-quality pears in an instance. Overall, our study introduces a practical solution to a pressing issue in the Asian pear industry.

Predicting Nutritional Quality of Dual-Purpose Cowpea Using NIRS and the Impacts of Crop Management

Cowpea fodder has been one of the favored livestock forages for centuries in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Senegal. However, little research has been conducted on quantifying the nutritional quality of cowpea fodder because of the costly wet chemistry analysis. The main objective of this study was to develop predictive equations for a sustainable quantification of the nutritional quality of dual-purpose cowpea fodder using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and to investigate the influence of cropping system, fertilizer, genotype, and their interaction on biomass yield and cowpea forage nutritional value. In this study, 120 samples from a dual-purpose cowpea variety trial were used to develop NIRS equations to estimate forage quality parameters including concentrations of crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and iron (Fe). Partial least squares (PLS) regression generated prediction equations using NIRS wavelength measurements, and reference wet chemistry analysis from calibration samples were developed. The PLS prediction equations for the different forage quality parameters had an R2 of calibration 0.94, 0.93, 0.88, 0.63, 0.69, 0.87, and 0.94 for CP, ADF, NDF, Ca, P, K, and Fe, respectively. Using these prediction equations, correlation of the predicted values of the calibration subset and the prediction test subset resulted in significant positive relationships, with R2 of 0.83, 0.74, 0.70, 0.63, 0.59, 0.75, and 0.83 for CP, ADF, NDF, Ca, P, K, and Fe, respectively. The corresponding RMSE of these relationships was 0.91, 2.68, 3.45, 0.23, 0.06, 0.11, and 100 for CP, ADF, NDF, Ca, P, K, and Fe, respectively. The range and mean concentrations of the calibration subset overlapped with that of the prediction subset for all parameters evaluated. Cross-validation procedures indicated good correlations between wet chemistry analysis and NIRS forage quality estimates. Results of the second experiment showed that the cropping system had no significant effect on cowpea forage yield and nutritive value. However, cowpea variety and fertilizer, both individually and their interaction, had a significant effect on fodder yield and cowpea forage quality. We conclude that the NIRS calibration equations developed can be used to accurately predict the cowpea forage quality parameters evaluated in this study.

Issues in Implementing Regression Calibration Analyses.

Regression calibration is a popular approach for correcting biases in estimated regression parameters when exposure variables are measured with error. This approach involves building a calibration equation to estimate the value of the unknown true exposure given the error-prone measurement and other covariates. The estimated, or calibrated, exposure is then substituted for the unknown true exposure in the health outcome regression model. When used properly, regression calibration can greatly reduce the bias induced by exposure measurement error. Here, we first provide an overview of the statistical framework for regression calibration, specifically discussing how a special type of error, called Berkson error, arises in the estimated exposure. We then present practical issues to consider when applying regression calibration, including: 1) how to develop the calibration equation and which covariates to include; 2) valid ways to calculate standard errors of estimated regression coefficients; and 3) problems arising if one of the covariates in the calibration model is a mediator of the relationship between the exposure and outcome. Throughout, we provide illustrative examples using data from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (United States, 2008-2011) and simulations. We conclude with recommendations for how to perform regression calibration.

Sr/Ca-temperature calibration for the coral Montastraea cavernosa

The Sr/Ca ratio in coral skeletons is an important proxy for the reconstruction of sea surface temperatures (SST) of the environment and helps our knowledge about SST variability in the tropics. In the western tropical South Atlantic where the species Montastraea cavernosa is one of the most important reef-builders, only a few species have been evaluated as coral-based archives for environmental changes. Here we evaluate the Sr/Ca ratio recorded in the thecal wall and other skeletal structures of the species M. cavernosa and its implications for paleothermometry investigations. Sampling along the thecal wall generated a record of Sr/Ca ratios with well-defined annual cycles, but also with noisy intervals. A linear regression of the most recent 8 years of well-defined Sr/Ca ratios and SST results in the calibration equation Sr/Ca (mmol/mol) = −0.040 (±0.005) * SST (°C) + 10.15 (±0.15). This is the first calibration equation for this species. The skeletal elements of M. cavernosa were characterized by heterogeneous Sr/Ca ratios, with higher values for the columellae and septum, which could potentially generate a cold bias in reconstructed SST of up to 7.5 °C. The variability of Sr/Ca ratios in these structures overwhelms the annual seasonality of Sr/Ca ratios in the thecal wall, and the difference in Sr/Ca ratios observed from distinct skeletal structures may be related to biological or vital effects influencing the uptake of Sr into different coral structures. Furthermore, improving sampling techniques for M. cavernosa should be considered in future studies for the successful recovery of robust geochemical signals, eventually expanding the number of species used as natural archives in the western tropical South Atlantic.

Performance Evaluation of Bar Load Cell Sensing System for Soil Moisture Measurement

The open-source microcontroller Arduino is simple to program, erase, and reprogram at any moment. It is an open-source computing platform for creating and programming electronic devices based on basic microcontroller boards. In agriculture, soil moisture content must be monitored soil monitoring continuously to understand the relationship between soil moisture content status and plant water use to minimize under and over-irrigation. Current methods have a short lifespan due to possible corrosion on the electrode. In this project, we introduce a new indirect method for monitoring soil moisture, especially for soil in the container or pot, based on a low-cost bar-based load-cell sensor with an acrylic plate. This study’s objectives were to compare the number of bar load cell sensors that affect the soil weight and to formulate a calibration model to predict soil moisture content using soil weight. A model design of 10kg and 5kg bar-based load cell sensors will be used to compare the number of bar load cell sensors affecting the soil weight. The measurement result of each method was very similar and constant for the various positions on the design. There is no significant difference in average soil weight for any technique, and there is no difference in average soil weight for each sample. R2 values and the calibration equation were tabulated in Table 2.

Investigation of photoluminescence and DNA binding properties of benzimidazole compounds containing benzophenone group

The synthesis of benzimidazole compounds containing benzophenone group in accordance with the literature and the investigation of DNA binding properties of these compounds by using UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy methods constitute the basis of this research. The structures of the compounds were determined by methods such as FT-IR, 1H, 13C NMR, UV-vis, Photoluminescence spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. By using methods such as UV-vis, Photoluminescence spectroscopy, and viscosity tests, information were collected about the binding types, binding mode, and binding energies of the compounds with DNA. In addition, the binding interactions of the compounds with DNA were investigated using the molecular docking technique. Using this information, calibration equations, correlation coefficients (r 2), and DNA binding constants (Kb ) were calculated for their compounds. The binding constants (Kb ) calculated for substances A, B, and C were found to be 3.0 × 104 , 7.0 × 104 , and 3.0 × 104 M−1, respectively. UV-vis, EB competitive binding, and viscosity tests showed that the compounds tended to bind to the DNA structure via the groove binding mode. At the end of molecular docking studies, it was determined that compound B showed the best DNA binding activity in in vitro studies. Compared with the studies in the literature, it is thought that the synthesized compounds can take place in cancer drug research as DNA binding agents. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma

Accurate measurement of effective atomic number and electron density with X-ray attenuation coefficient spectrum

Energy spectra of X-ray attenuation coefficients, μ(E)s, are measured using a system comprising a laboratory X-ray source and a photon-counting-type detector with an accuracy of 3% or less. We propose a method to derive the electron density (ρe) and effective atomic number (Zeff) of an object from measured μ(E) values. The method is based on a simple approximation in which an atomic cross-section of attenuation is expressed by a linear equation of Z4 and experimental calibration using standard materials. The μ(E) values of aqueous ethanol and acetic acid aqueous solutions are measured to get the ρes and Zeffs. The proposed method yielded a ρe value with an accuracy of 1.4% despite the use of standard materials, whereas it yielded a Zeff value with an accuracy of 1.1% for standard materials whose values of Z are similar to that of the sample.