Transport Conditions Research Articles

Inferring sediment-discharge event types in an Alpine catchment from sub-daily time series

Abstract. Fluvial sediment dynamics in mountain rivers are changing rapidly in a degrading cryosphere, raising the potential for erosive rainfall and runoff and detrimental effects on downstream areas. Hence, we need to understand better what characterises and drives episodic pulses of water and suspended solids in rivers. Here, we infer different types of such sediment-discharge events from 959 automatically detected events based on 16 metrics derived from 15 min time series of streamflow and suspended sediment concentrations from Vent–Rofental in the high Ötztal Alps, Austria. We use principal component analysis to extract uncorrelated event characteristics and cluster event types with a Gaussian mixture model. We interpret the thus inferred event types with catchment metrics describing antecedent conditions, hydrometeorological forcing, and fraction of catchment area with freezing temperatures and snow cover. We find event magnitude, hysteresis, and event shape complexity to be the main factors characterising the overall event regime. The most important characteristics distinguishing the event types are suspended sediment and streamflow magnitude and complexity of the hydro- and sedigraphs. Sediment-discharge hysteresis is less relevant for discerning event types. We derive four event types that we attribute to (1) compound rainfall–melt extremes, (2) glacier and seasonal snowmelt, (3) freeze–thaw-modulated snowmelt and precipitation events, and (4) late-season glacier melt. Glacier and snowmelt events driven by warm conditions and high insolation were the most frequent and contributed some 40 % to annual suspended sediment yield on average; compound rainfall–melt extremes were the rarest but contributed the second-highest proportion (26 %). Our approach represents a reproducible method for objectively estimating the variety of event-scale suspended sediment transport conditions in mountain rivers, which can provide insights into the contribution of different drivers to annual sediment yields in current and future regimes. Our findings highlight the importance of both meltwater and rainfall–runoff as drivers of high-magnitude suspended sediment fluxes in mountain rivers.

Label-free liquid chromatography mass spectrometry analysis of changes in broiler liver proteins under transport stress.

Transportation duration and distance are significant concerns for animal welfare, particularly in the poultry industry. However, limited proteomic studies have investigated the impact of transport duration on poultry welfare. In this study, mass spectrometry based bottom up proteomics was employed to sensitively and impartially profile the liver tissue proteome of chickens, addressing the issue of animal stress and welfare in response to transportation before slaughter. The liver exudates obtained from Ross 508 chickens exposed to either short or long road transportation underwent quantitative label-free LC-MS proteomic profiling. This method identified a total of 1,368 proteins, among which 35 were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05) and capable of distinguishing between short and long road transportation conditions. Specifically, 23 proteins exhibited up-regulation in the non stressed group, while 12 proteins showed up-regulation in the stressed group. The proteins identified in this pilot study encompassed those linked to homeostasis and cellular energetic balance, including heat shock proteins and the 5'-nucleotidase domain-containing family. These results contribute to a deeper understanding of the proteome in broiler liver tissues, shedding light on poultry adaptability to transport stress. Furthermore, the identified proteins present potential as biomarkers, suggesting promising approaches to enhance poultry care and management within the industry.

Characteristics of the Spatial Structure of Traditional Villages in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in China and Their Influence Mechanisms

Traditional villages are one of the basic types of rural revitalisation and one of the important carriers of cultural inheritance. This research is based on the data of 53 traditional villages in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region with the aid of the ArcGIS10.8.1 spatial analysis platform. The study identifies the spatial evolution characteristics from the spatial distribution type, distribution direction, distribution density, distribution balance, etc., and explores their influence mechanisms. The study shows that 1. the spatial structure of traditional villages in Xinjiang was analysed as a cohesive structure type by using the nearest neighbour index method, which shows the evolutionary characteristics of the agglomerative tendency to increase gradually. Among them, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture and Turpan City have the highest degree of concentration. 2. The establishment and development of traditional villages in Xinjiang is mainly influenced by natural factors such as geographical features and hydrography. Social factors such as population distribution, transport conditions and economic progression have very important implications for the preservation and continuation of traditional villages.

Unravelling the Effect of Crystal Facet of Derived-Copper Catalysts on the Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide under Unified Mass Transport Condition.

Altering the physical structure and chemical property of copper, i.e., particle size, surface morphology, composition or crystal facet, has been demonstrated to be effective in steering the selectivity of products in electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. However, these modifications generally result in the change of active surface area, leading to differences in the geometric current density and local pH, which are also demonstrated to be the key factors for observed selectivity change. In this work, we deconvolute the effect of mass transport and local pH from the effect of crystal facet by investigating five copper-based catalysts with identical roughness factors for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide in an H-cell. Interestingly, CuO-derived catalyst stands out as the best catalyst for C-C coupling. At -1.07 V vs. RHE, the faradaic efficiency of C2+ product reaches 44.3%, with a partial current density of -10.8 mA cm-2. Electrochemical adsorption of *OH reveals that the C2+ product selectivity of derived-copper catalysts correlates positively with the ratio of Cu(100)/Cu(110) of five catalysts. Additionally, in situ Raman spectroscopy reveals that the percentage of low-frequency band linear CO (LFB-CO), which is attributed to the adsorbed *CO on Cu(100) facet, increases with the C-C coupling efficiency.

Unravelling the Effect of Crystal Facet of Derived‐Copper Catalysts on the Electroreduction of Carbon Dioxide under Unified Mass Transport Condition

Altering the physical structure and chemical property of copper, i.e., particle size, surface morphology, composition or crystal facet, has been demonstrated to be effective in steering the selectivity of products in electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide. However, these modifications generally result in the change of active surface area, leading to differences in the geometric current density and local pH, which are also demonstrated to be the key factors for observed selectivity change. In this work, we deconvolute the effect of mass transport and local pH from the effect of crystal facet by investigating five copper‐based catalysts with identical roughness factors for electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide in an H‐cell. Interestingly, CuO‐derived catalyst stands out as the best catalyst for C‐C coupling. At ‐1.07 V vs. RHE, the faradaic efficiency of C2+ product reaches 44.3%, with a partial current density of ‐10.8 mA cm‐2. Electrochemical adsorption of *OH reveals that the C2+ product selectivity of derived‐copper catalysts correlates positively with the ratio of Cu(100)/Cu(110) of five catalysts. Additionally, in situ Raman spectroscopy reveals that the percentage of low‐frequency band linear CO (LFB‐CO), which is attributed to the adsorbed *CO on Cu(100) facet, increases with the C‐C coupling efficiency.

Assessment of the influence of glycol and alcohol on the morphology and protective properties of iron carbonate in carbon dioxide corrosion of gas pipelines

The potential effect of hydrate formation inhibitors (glycols, alcohols) — components of the liquid phase of gas pipeline operating media — on carbon dioxide corrosion during the transport of aggressive gas has not been sufficiently studied. The paper presents the results of a study of the corrosive effect of glycol (alcohol) present in the liquid phase on the composition and properties of corrosion products on steel when modeling the main aggressive factors under conditions of transport of CO2-containing gas. On a corrosion stand, the aggressive conditions of alternating wetting of gas pipeline walls with water were reproduced. The fluid circulation characteristic of a partially filled pipeline can have an effect on preventing the formation or destruction of films of corrosion products (iron carbonate, siderite) on the steel surface. In places of cracking and peeling of siderite formed in the presence of CO2, conditions will be created for the formation of general and local corrosion damage. During simulation tests, monoethylene glycol and isopropanol, as well as their aqueous solutions of different concentrations, were used. For the first time, data on the formation and composition of non-stoichiometric siderite in water-glycol and water-alcohol media at CO2 partial pressures and temperature were obtained. By processing diffraction patterns obtained by X-ray diffraction, the degree of substitution of iron ions in non-stoichiometric siderites by other cations was determined. The dependence of the degree of substitution on the concentration of alcohol (glycol) in their aqueous solutions was analyzed. It was revealed that with an increase in glycol concentration, a decrease in the rate of local corrosion is observed. With a high glycol content, internal corrosion is completely suppressed in the presence of CO2. It has been established that in aqueous-alcoholic media at elevated temperatures, local carbon dioxide corrosion does not occur. This is apparently due to the uneven distribution of water and alcohol in the mixture. The results obtained can be used in assessing internal carbon dioxide corrosion in the presence of glycol (alcohol), used at gas facilities as an inhibitor of hydrate formation.

Improving the efficiency of thermal insulation of window panes—the use of transparent thin-layer insulation coverings filled with nanostructures

AbstractThe article discusses experimental studies on the thermal conductivity of a transparent thermal insulation layer (film) applied to a window pane. The research was conducted using a measurement cube known as the "Hot Box" method. The examined film was made based on a polymer matrix with metallic inclusions. The insulating layer of the film allows for the transmission and blocking of light—UV infrared radiation. In the studies, a 100 W bulb was used as the source of infrared radiation (light source), placed at the central point of the measurement cube "Hot Box". To estimate the heat transport conditions, temperature distributions on the internal and external surfaces of the examined window pane with the applied transparent coating (film) were measured. Based on the temperature distribution data, the thermal conductivity coefficient of the applied transparent coating on the pane was estimated.

Super protective effect, ultra-high juice absorption and long-term antibacterial of Ag-2MI@Chitosan biodegradable sponge for fruit preservation and transportation

Plastic foam packaging is often used for the transportation to avoid mechanical damage to the fruit, but it lacks antibacterial properties, water absorption and is non-degradable, leading to fruit decay and safety risks as well as serious environmental pollution. Herein, Ag-2-Methylimidazole@Chitosan (Ag-2MI@CS) was successfully synthesized by in situ synthesis at normal temperature and pressure, and improved the antibacterial performance of Ag-2MI@CS by using green solvent ethanol to adjust the solvent polarity. The results showed that the long-lasting inhibitory performance of Ag-2MI@CS was significantly improved, the long-lasting antibacterial time has been extended from 24 h to 96 h. Furthermore, Ag-2MI@CS can significantly protect fruits and reduce the damage of fruits, even when falling from a height of 60 cm or under extreme transportation conditions. Besides, Ag-2MI@CS had extremely high absorption rates of water and fruit juice, 1447.69 % and 1356.59 %, respectively, which was conducive to absorbing water generated by respiration and juice generated by damage during transportation, so as to avoid the growth of bacteria caused by water and fruit juice. Ag-2MI@CS can achieve fruit preservation in both indoor static and transportation dynamic conditions. This study offers novel insights into new biodegradable packaging material in fruit transportation.

The Role of Fluvial Morphodynamic Hierarchy in Shaping Bedform Deposits

AbstractFluvial cross strata are fundamental sedimentary structures that record past flow and sediment transport conditions. Bedform preservation can be significantly influenced by the presence of larger‐scale topographic features that cause spatial gradients in flow. However, our understanding of the controls on cross strata preservation in the presence of a morphodynamic hierarchy is limited. Here, using high‐resolution bathymetry from a physical experiment, we quantify bedform evolution and cross strata preservation in a zone of flow expansion and deceleration. Results show that the size and celerity of superimposed bedforms decreases along the host‐bedform lee slope, leading to a systematic downstream increase in the sediment accumulation rate relative to bedform celerity. This increase in local bedform climb angle results in the preservation of a larger fraction of formative bedforms. Our results highlight the need to revise current paleohydraulic reconstruction models, and demonstrates that fluvial morphodynamic hierarchy is a fundamental determinant of sedimentary strata.

Research and development of automation subroutine for forecasting the number and load of cargo vehicles depending on the stochastic formation of dangerous goods collection centers

The issues of forecasting the load of vehicles, route networks, formation of collection centers for cargo flows, including dangerous goods, in territorial planning systems determine the need for transition from deterministic models to dynamic models with the possibility of taking into account the influence of the external environment. Existing information transportation systems in the sphere of work with dangerous goods are based on deterministic models and allow to study the problems of forecasting changes to a limited extent. Models of routing networks construction on cargo vehicles are limitedly applicable when there is a task of dangerous goods transportation taking into account the presence of a distributed system of accumulation centers both in the city and, for example, within a large transport hub, seaport with different terminals. The paper presents routing models adapted to the conditions of dangerous goods transportation. Determining transport efficiency and the main costs of transport enterprises is the scheme of traffic flows, fixed in the territorial scheme. The task of the study is to develop a separate automation toolkit for decision making on the number and type of specialized transport (depending on the load capacity) to work with dangerous goods and large-sized objects within the existing flow scheme. On the basis of the research of the group of companies the conclusion is presented that today the task of choosing the optimal amount of transport by carriers is solved, as a rule, not systematically, but by operative construction of a set of routes, and does not involve primary analysis of the territory and parameters of accumulation sites. The presented study considers a new approach to the analysis of the system of transportation of hazardous waste, associated large cargoes, in terms of assessing the necessary list of universal structured input data, which are primary principled and characterize the complexity of work in the selected facility, terminal. To solve the problem of forecasting the load of vehicles is offered developed a new automation subprogram based on the organization of client-server access to data, and implemented in the internal programming language “1C. Management of motor transport” (version ММT 8.2). The presented automation subprogram provides data connectivity on volumes of dangerous goods cargo flows, cargo flow collection centers, available data on vehicles and planned data on removal schedules. Work of the subprogram provides integration of work with other databases of transport companies and allows to carry out modeling of various variants of placement of centers of collection of dangerous goods, centers of cargo flows with high accuracy. The obtained results allow to determine the required number of vehicles, their load taking into account different types and technical capabilities, as well as to determine the required number of vehicle trips in the serviced area taking into account the dynamic influence of the external environment. The presented methodology of working with data, performed in a separate automation subprogram, presented routing models, adapted to the transportation of dangerous goods, can be applied to various transport systems, including sea cargo ports and terminals, which determines the universality of the presented approach.

GC-MS quantification of fecal short-chain fatty acids and spectrophotometric detection of indole: Do rectal swabs produce comparable results as stool samples? - A pilot study.

The exploration of the gut microbiome and related metabolites holds an exciting future in health science. The challenges associated with fecal sample testing are proper sample collection, sterile transportation, optimal transport conditions, and processing as all these factors could potentially change the microbiome composition, further exacerbated by the patient's customary discomfort regarding feces samples. The study aimed to compare the usage of rectal swabs and stool samples for short-chain fatty acid estimation using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and indole estimation using spectrophotometry. From May 2022 to June 2022, three women were recruited from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OBG) in a secondary care hospital in coastal Karnataka. During their clinical visit, a rectal swab was collected, and the stool sample was transported to the hospital from the patient's home in sterile containers provided. After the extraction, short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate) were quantified using GC-MS. The fecal indole concentration was determined using a hydroxylamine-based assay. The GC-MS analysis failed to detect the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids in rectal swab samples. Indole concentrations in stool and swab samples were significantly different. The study's findings do not support the use of rectal swabs to analyze gut metabolites.

Effects of Storage Voltage upon Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are gaining attention as a safer, more cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their use of abundant and non-critical materials. A notable feature of SIBs is their ability to utilize aluminum current collectors, which are resistant to oxidation, allowing for safer storage at 0 V. However, the long-term impacts of such storage on their electrochemical performance remain poorly understood. This study systematically investigates how storage conditions at various states of charge (SOCs) affect open circuit voltage (OCV) decay, internal resistance, and post-storage cycling stability in two different Na-ion chemistries: Prussian white//hard carbon and layered oxide//hard carbon. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy before and after storage shows a pronounced increase in internal resistance and a corresponding decline in cycling performance when SIBs are stored in a fully discharged state (0 V), particularly for layered oxide-based cells, illustrating the sensitivity of different SIB chemistries to storage conditions. Additionally, a novel reformation protocol is proposed that reactivates cell capacity by rebuilding the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer, offering a recovery path after prolonged storage. These insights into the long-term storage effects on SIBs provide new guidelines for optimizing storage and transport conditions to minimize performance degradation, making them more viable for commercial applications.

Small scale model for predicting transportation-induced particle formation in biotherapeutics

Understanding protein adsorption and aggregation at the air-liquid interfaces of protein solutions is an important open challenge in biopharmaceutical, medical, and biotechnological applications, among others. Proteins, being amphiphilic, adsorb at the surface, partially unfold, and form a viscoelastic film through non-covalent interactions. Mechanical agitation of the surface can break this film up, releasing insoluble protein particles into the solution. These aggregates are usually highly undesirable and even toxic in cases, such as for biopharmaceutical application. Therefore, it is imperative to be able to predict the behavior of such solutions undergoing surface agitation during handling, usually transport or mixing. We apply the findings on the viscoelastic protein film, formed at the air-liquid interface, to the prediction of surface mediated aggregation in selected protein solutions of direct biopharmaceutical relevance. Our broad study of Brewster angle microscopy and aggregation monitoring across multiple size ranges by micro-flow imaging, light scattering, and size exclusion chromatography shows that formation of protein particles is driven by the adsorption rate as compared to the rate of surface turnover and that surface film dynamics in the quiescent phase directly affect aggregation. We demonstrate how these learnings can be directly applied to the design of a novel small scale biopharmaceutical stability study, simulating relevant transport conditions. More generally, we show the impact of adsorption dynamics at the air-liquid interface on the stability of a distinct protein solution, as a general contribution to understanding different colloidal and biological interfacial systems.

Study On Real Estate Location Based on GIS Technology

Through a review of relevant literature,this study categorizes factors affecting real estate site selection into three main categories: environmental, social, and economic, termed as the "triple bottom line." Based on the "triple bottom line," a PUM (Portfolio Underwriting Model) model was constructed. Meanwhile, GIS technology was utilized to identify the locations of public transportation stations, medical institutions, schools, and fire stations within Xiamen City. Additionally, different regions were delineated into suitable residential areas based on slope, aspect, land type, and per capita GDP. Combining the PUM model with GIS technology ultimately aids in real estate market site selection. The research findings indicate that integrating the PUM model and GIS technology for real estate site selection allows for a more scientific and comprehensive evaluation of various site selection factors, thereby providing important decision-making support for developers and investors.

Sewer transport conditions and their role in the decay of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and pepper mild mottle virus from source to collection

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the decay patterns of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) within wastewaters spiked with stool from infected patients expressing COVID-19 symptoms, and hence explores the decay of endogenous SARS-CoV-2 and PMMoV targets in wastewaters from source to collection of the sample. Stool samples from infected patients were used as endogenous viral material to more accurately mirror real-world decay processes compared to more traditionally used lab-propagated spike-ins. As such, this study includes data on early decay stages of endogenous viral targets in wastewaters that are typically overlooked when performing decay studies on wastewaters harvested from wastewater treatment plants that contain already-degraded endogenous material. The two distinct sewer transport conditions of dynamic suspended sewer transport and bed and near-bed sewer transport were simulated in this study at temperatures of 4 °C, 12 °C and 20 °C to elucidate decay under these two dominant transport conditions within wastewater infrastructure. The dynamic suspended sewer transport was simulated over 35 h, representing typical flow conditions, whereas bed and near-bed transport extended to 60 days to reflect the prolonged settling of solids in sewer systems during reduced flow periods. In dynamic suspended sewer transport, no decay was observed for SARS-CoV-2, PMMoV, or total RNA over the 35-h period, and temperature ranging from 4 °C to 20 °C had no noticeable effect. Conversely, experiments simulating bed and near-bed transport conditions revealed significant decreases in SARS-CoV-2 and total RNA concentrations by day 2, and PMMoV concentrations by day 3. Only PMMoV exhibited a clear trend of increasing decay constant with higher temperatures, suggesting that while temperature influences decay dynamics, its impact may be less significant than previously assumed, particularly for endogenous RNA that is bound to dissolved organic matter in wastewater. First order decay models were inadequate for accurately fitting decay curves of SARS-CoV-2, PMMoV, and total RNA in bed and near-bed transport conditions. F-tests confirmed the superior fit of the two-phase decay model compared to first order decay models across temperatures of 4 °C–20 °C. Finally, and most importantly, total RNA normalization emerged as an appropriate approach for correcting the time decay of SARS-CoV-2 exposed to bed and near-bed transport conditions. These findings highlight the importance of considering decay from the point of entry in the sewers, sewer transport conditions, and normalization strategies when assessing and modelling the impact of viral decay rates in wastewater systems. This study also emphasizes the need for ongoing research into the diverse and multifaceted factors that influence these decay rates, which is crucial for accurate public health monitoring and response strategies.

Simulation of special-shaped graded particulate hydraulic transport in deep-sea mining scenarios

Hydrodynamic transport is crucial in deep-sea mining engineering for conveying materials. This study investigates the impact of various particle shapes on slurry transport efficiency and flow characteristics at higher concentrations. A numerical method combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the discrete element method (DEM) within the Euler-Lagrange framework is employed to simulate the flow and hydrodynamic properties of graded heterogeneous coarse particles in a deep-sea hydraulic lift pipe. The reliability of the simulations is verified through comparisons, focusing on feed concentration and particle gradation effects on dynamic characteristics and flow patterns. The study quantitatively analyzes concentration distributions under various flow regimes for different particle shapes and conveying concentrations in a vertical pipeline system. Flow characteristics under clogging conditions are described, considering flow transition and concentration distribution. Additionally, conditions for stable transportation are discussed concerning particle forces and transport reliability.

Poultry Preslaughter Operations in Hot Environments: The Present Knowledge and the Next Steps Forward.

Poultry production faces significant challenges, including high feed prices, diseases, and thermal stress, which impact broiler welfare and productivity. Despite advances in cooling technologies and ventilation, preslaughter operations still lead to considerable losses. This review highlights the need for the improved management of thermal environments and animal logistics. Preslaughter operations typically involve fasting broilers for 8-12 h to reduce gastrointestinal contents and contamination. Following fasting, broilers are caught, crated, and transported. Stress levels vary based on distance and conditions, with manual catching often causing stress and injuries. Catching should occur during cooler periods to minimise these issues, and transport conditions must be carefully managed. Lairage, the waiting period after transport, should be kept short (1-2 h) in climate-controlled environments to avoid stress and deterioration. Proper handling and efficient unloading are essential to prevent injuries and reduce economic losses. Stunning methods, such as electronarcosis and a controlled atmosphere, aim to minimise suffering before slaughter, though practices vary culturally and religiously. Logistics and real-time monitoring technology are crucial for enhancing animal welfare during transportation. Effective planning and the optimisation of transport processes is vital for reducing stress and losses, especially with regard to rising global temperatures and production demands.

A spatial data model of blind outdoor navigation for path optimization

Current navigational aids for blind people do not provide spatial information that meets the requirements of blind and visually impaired people (BVIP) for travel, and traditional map-based navigation services cannot be used directly for navigation. The purpose of this paper is to establish a spatial data model that aligns with their outdoor travel requirements to assist them in accessing spatial information. In alignment with the analysis of spatial information requirements for blind people during outdoor travel, the proposed data model divides the outdoor space into the path layer, the functional layer, the obstacle layer, and the transport and weather layer. Areas such as schools and sports fields, which fulfill certain requirements for them, are categorized as functional features. Essential public transportation stations for outdoor travel are included in transport station features, while obstacles that pose threats to their safety constitute obstacle features. Various features in space are spatially connected through different paths. The proposed semantic information properties enhance the information content representation of the features. The geometry of the features and the topological relationships between them are recorded and used for path planning and navigation in combination with the path layer. Finally, the eastern campus of Jiangxi University of Science and Technology served as an experimental area for the development of a prototype system based on the data model, and a case analysis was provided.

A-122 Evaluation of the Performance of the BD MiniDraw™ Capillary Blood Collection System Under Various Transport Conditions

Abstract Background Specimen transport is a vital component of the preanalytical phase. External factors such as temperature fluctuations, vibrations, shock, and prolonged transport times may negatively impact specimen integrity and compromise test results. A study was performed to evaluate the effects of temperature extremes and simulated transportation on specimen quality in the BD MiniDraw™ Capillary Blood Collection System with BD MiniDraw™ H&amp;H and SST™ Capillary Blood Collection Tubes (BD MiniDraw™ H&amp;H, BD MiniDraw™ SST™). The BD MiniDraw™ Capillary Blood Collection System enables capillary blood collection by trained healthcare workers in non-traditional settings (i.e., retail pharmacies and clinics). Methods Sixteen adult participants were enrolled from the on-site Associate Sample Collection Program. Venous blood was collected via venipuncture into reference comparator and no-additive tubes. Venous blood from no-additive tubes was then pooled into a secondary container for aliquoting into BD MiniDraw™ SST™ and MiniDraw™ H&amp;H tubes. Thirty tubes per tube type were separated into 6 groups with storage and simulated transport conditions conducted in accordance with ASTM D7386-16 and ASTM D4169-22, as applicable: Group 1a: No transport, 2-8°C storage uncontrolled humidity, 49-52-hour storage; Group 1b: Air/road transport, 2-8°C storage uncontrolled humidity, 49-52-hour storage; Group 2a: No transport, 20-24°C storage, uncontrolled humidity, 5-7-hour storage; Group 2b: Road transport, 20-24°C storage, uncontrolled humidity, 5-7-hour storage; Group 3a: Road transport, 38-40°C storage, 90% relative humidity, 5-7-hour storage; Group 3b: Air/road transport, 38-40°C storage, 90% relative humidity, 49-52-hour storage Following clotting, centrifugation, and storage for the BD MiniDraw™ SST™ tubes, testing was performed for selected chemistry analytes (Albumin, Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP), Blood Urea Nitrogen, Chloride, Calcium, Cholesterol, Creatinine, High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL), Sodium, Total Bilirubin (TBIL), Total Protein, Triglycerides) on the Siemens Atellica® Solution. Testing was performed for hemoglobin/hematocrit on the Sysmex XN-1000 in the BD MiniDraw™ H&amp;H Tubes. Visual quality (barrier formation, hemolysis) and tube integrity (physical damage, blood leakage, cap removal, tube fit into adaptor) were also evaluated. Mean biases and confidence intervals within the specific analyte clinical acceptance limit for each group comparison was considered clinically equivalent. Results Clinical equivalence was demonstrated for all analytes for each group comparison except ALKP, ALT, HDL, LDL, TBIL and hematocrit for the extreme transport/storage conditions for Group 3b versus Group 3a. Complete barrier formation with acceptable visual hemolysis was noted in all specimens post transport. Tube integrity was maintained post transport as well. Conclusions Analytes were not impacted across a wide range of temperature and transport conditions. However, exposing samples to extreme high temperature, high humidity conditions may affect analyte performance. This reiterates the importance of monitoring conditions to ensure accurate test results. No impact to visual observations of sample quality and tube physical integrity was noted at different storage and transportation extremes.

Longitudinal Relationship between Built Environment and Physical Fitness in Chinese Children and Adolescents: Findings from the COHERENCE Study

BACKGROUNDThe built environment is increasingly recognized as a significant factor in promoting physical fitness (PF). However, there is a lack of research examining the relationship between the built environment and PF, and this study aims to address this gap. METHODSThe study utilizes data from the Children's Growth Environment, Lifestyle, Physical, and Mental Health Development Project (COHERENCE) in Guangzhou, China. This project collects annual data on PF and demographic information of primary and high school students from 2016/17 to 2019/20 academic year. The built environment data around participants' residential neighborhoods is obtained based on the 5Ds framework. RESULTSAmong the 96,402 participants, aged 8.66 (1.88) years old, 51,363 (53.3%) were boys. The fitted restricted cubic spline (RCS) curve revealed a reverse N-shaped relationship between population density and PF. Threshold analysis discovered that when the distance from the residential address to the nearest public transport station was not more than 470 m, a longer distance was associated with better PF [β (Unstandardized coefficient) = 0.764, 95%CI (Confidence Interval) = 0.297, 1.230]. CONCLUSIONSThis large population-based study suggests that there is an urgent need for community-scale policies related to built environment in order to enhance the PF of Chinese children and adolescents.