Homemade Software Research Articles

Multi-segmented tube design and multi-objective optimization of deep coaxial borehole heat exchanger

Deep coaxial borehole heat exchanger (DCBHE) is a key component to extract medium-deep geothermal energy for low-carbon building heating. It is a convention that both center tube and annuals tube are respectively using a single material. However, a basic idea behind this study is using non-linear design to ask for performance improvement. It is assumed that non-uniform tube design pattern can meet different heat exchanger demand at different depth under a geothermal gradient dominated underground environment. The whole study is to prove this conjecture and make it useful for engineering application. A new numerical model is put forward to considered multi-segmented structure in heat transfer computation and a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-Ⅱ) is adopted in optimization process. The results of this study show that the optimized designed case can increase outlet temperature by 3 °C while reducing investment of 10000RMB. In addition, a home-made software is developed to perform the thermal and economic evaluation of DCBHE as well as automatically optimization of this multi-segmented structure. This study can provide a new model, algorithm, results and software tool for better utilizations of deep geothermal energy.

Towards an open digital catalogue of sound signatures from the underwater soundscape

Passive acoustic monitoring plays a crucial role to study the underwater soundscape. Identifying the sound signatures of specific marine species and anthropogenic contributions is a key step in assessing the impact of human activities on the acoustic environment. The project COSS (Catalogue of Sound Signatures) aims to build an open library of sound signatures from the coastal seascape of European waters. In this framework, a data management workflow is developed within FAIR principles from the storage of the metadata, ensuring integrity and traceability of the recorded datasets, to the analysis and the annotation method, providing interoperability classification of sound signatures. An interactive map provides an overview of the database. Sound events are analyzed using a home-made annotation software. Labeling is based on a tree-structure ontology with respect to the biological species, human activities and geophony. This labels standardization makes it possible to extract information at several levels of precision. In particular, this library will serve as a learning and testing base for open source AI algorithms for the automatic classification of signals of anthropogenic origin. A long-term objective is to provide a means of determining the acoustic impact of human activities on the marine environment.

Today’s Trends of Software Product Import-Substitution in Conditions of Economy Digitalization

Today software import-substitution in spheres and sectors of Russian economy is a priority trend in state programs being realized in the Russian Federation. The author analyzed governmental decisions concerning software import-substitution, studied software introduced in substituting foreign software at enterprises of Russian economy, showed its developers and prospects of its development. Apart from that, the article underlined that by 2025 according to state programs home-made software shall be used by organizations related to entities of critical information infrastructure such as banking sector, missile and space industry, military-industrial complex, nuclear and mining industry, public health service, science, iron-and-steel making and chemicals industry. At the same time import-substitution policy in general promotes upgrading of the payments balance structure, development of the academic sector and innovation technologies, growth in effective communication with developers of economic projects, where software is functioning, increase in the level and diversity of means and methods of information security, technological independence, population employment, cutting risks and raising competitiveness of industries and sectors of Russian economy. In line with numerous positive moments import-substitution policy demonstrates such drawback as closeness from some innovation of global economy. However, in conditions of sanctions the development of our own software, its efficient use in economic entities can provides cyber-security and technological independence.

Calorimetric Studies and Thermodynamic Modeling of Ag-Mg-Ti Liquid Alloys.

Due to the absence of thermodynamic data concerning the Ag-Mg-Ti system in the existing literature, this study aims to fill this gap by offering the outcomes of calorimetric investigations conducted on ternary liquid solutions of these alloys. The measurements were performed using the drop calorimetry method at temperatures of 1294 K and 1297 K for the liquid solutions with the following constant mole fraction ratio: xAg/xMg = 9/1, 7/3, 1/1, 3/7 [(Ag0.9Mg0.1)1-xTix, (Ag0.7Mg0.3)1-xTix, (Ag0.5Mg0.5)1-xTix, (Ag0.3Mg0.7)1-xTix)], and xAg/xTi = 19/1 [(Ag0.95Ti0.05)1-xMgx]. The results show that the mixing enthalpy change is characterized by negative deviations from the ideal solutions and the observed minimal value equals -13.444 kJ/mol for the Ag0.95Ti0.05 alloy and xMg = 0.4182. Next, based on the thermodynamic properties of binary systems described by the Redlich-Kister model and the determined experimental data from the calorimetric measurements, the ternary optimized parameters for the Ag-Mg-Ti liquid phase were calculated by the Muggianu model. Homemade software (TerGexHm 1.0) was used to optimize the calorimetric data using the least squares method. Next, the partial and molar thermodynamic functions were calculated and are presented in the tables and figures. Moreover, this work presents, for comparative purposes, the values of the enthalpy of mixing of liquid Ag-Mg-Ti alloys, which were calculated using Toop's model. It was found that the best agreement between the modeled and experimental data was observed for the cross-sections xAg/xTi = 19/1 [(Ag0.95Ti0.05)1-xMgx] and xAg/xMg = 9/1 [(Ag0.9Mg0.1)1-xTix]. The results of the experiments presented in this paper are the first step in the investigation and future evaluation of the thermodynamics of phases and the calculation of the phase diagram of the silver-magnesium-titanium system.

Fast Design and Numerical Simulation of a Metal Hydride Reactor Embedded in a Conventional Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger

The purpose of this work is to present a convenient design approach for metal hydride reactors that meet the specific requirements for hydrogen storage. Three methods from the literature, the time scale, the acceptable envelope, and the reaction front, are used to estimate the maximum thickness of the bed allowing for sufficient heat transfer. Further heat transfer calculations are performed within the framework of standardized heat exchanger via the homemade design software, to generate the complete geometry and dimensions of the reactor. LaNi5 material packed in tubular units based on conventional shell-and-tube heat exchanger is selected for analysis for an expected charging time of 500 s, 1000 s, and 1500 s. Apparently, the smaller the expected charging time, the smaller the bed thickness and hence the diameter of the tubular units. After comparison, the method of reaction front was adopted to output standard tube diameters and calculate the weight of the reactor. Significant weight differences were found to result from the varying wall thickness and number of tubes. In general, the shorter the expected charging time, the more tubular units with a small diameter will be built and the heavier the reactor. Fluent 2022 R2 was used to solve the reactor model with a tube diameter of 50 mm supposed to fulfill a charging time of 1500 s. The simulation results revealed that the reaction fraction reaches its maximum and the hydrogen storage process is completed at 500 s. However, because the calculation is conducted on meeting the heat exchange requirements, the average temperature of the bed layer is close to the initial temperature of 290 K and stops changing at 1500 s. The applicability of the method to the design of metal hydride reactors is thus confirmed by the temperature and reaction fraction judgment criteria.

Development of a probabilistic seismic microzonation software considering geological and geotechnical uncertainties

ABSTRACT Modern seismic risk assessment software includes seismic hazard analysis algorithms or relies on precomputed hazard maps. In both cases, a major step is incorporating the impacts of the local geological and geotechnical conditions. The common practice to address this phenomenon, often referred to as site effect, is to use shear wave velocity (Vs)–depth correlations and a deterministic geological model as a proxy for Vs mapping. The Vs of the top 30 m (Vs30) and often the fundamental site period (T0) are then used as predictors of the potential amplification of seismic shaking. Recognising that uncertainty in local soil properties inevitably affects the seismic site response, a stochastic approach for evaluating Vs30 and T0 is proposed herein, considering a combination of probabilistic Vs–depth correlations and a probabilistic 3D geological model. Monte Carlo simulations are then applied to study the impact of the uncertainties on the seismic site characterisation model. The generated stochastic maps consist of Vs30 and T0 realisations accompanied with spatial distribution of uncertainty as an indication of areas where further fieldwork is needed to improve predictions. The developed methodology is currently being used in a homemade risk assessment software.

Proposal of a Process for selection solar cells Nanosatellite

By the PEDAGOSAT project we aim to democratize all educational activities related to CubeSat-class: nanosatellite, from physics through engineering, technical achievements, integration, to testing and operations to the greatest number of students. The key idea is to eventually have our academic nanosatellite training platform offering an open source opportunity to Algerians universities, and having the capacity to cover all engineer training areas relating to "small satellites". As part of this project, some satellite subsystems, test and emulation facilities will be realized, processes and procedures for testing and integration related to space technology will be addressed, implemented and even mastered. The presented work is part of the development of the on-board power system, and covers the selection of solar cells for the manufacture of solar panels of this satellite. The main source of energy present in space is solar energy, it a continuous and inexhaustible source that a satellite can. In satellite we use a solar panel to ensure its operation. In the dimensioning of a satellite, it is essential to identify these electrical power requirements named “power budget analysis”. Indeed, this makes it possible to determine the number of cells and/solar panels to be installed to guarantee the power continuity of the satellite in sunlight phase of its orbit by recharging its batteries and feeding equipment’s. During all the mission duration; from the beginning of life (BOL) after the launch to it deorbits (EOL) to disintegrate in the atmosphere. For the PEDAGO-SAT as for other satellites, it will be necessary to verify the parameters and physical characteristics of the solar cells/panels according to certified procedures and methodologies in order to be able to pronounce on their qualification for aerospace use. In this context, we propose a low-cost process revision to be able to carry out qualification tests with an accessible facility in the university labs. This revision will also concern the development of homemade means and software that fit the investments that may be made by the Algerian research and academic facilities. As illustrated in this paper a performance evaluation of low-cost solar cells was done using the developed solution and the selected cells will be integrated in the solar panels of PEDAGOSAT.

Mapping High‐Frequency Conductivity Using MRI in the Brains of Alzheimer’s Disease Patients

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies reported increased concentrations of metallic ions and imbalanced Na+ and K+ ions in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and the increased mobility of protons by microstructural disruptions in AD. The purposes of this study were: 1)to apply a high‐frequency conductivity (HFC) mapping technique using a clinical 3T MRI system and 2)to compare HFC values among participant groups.MethodThis prospective study included 74 participants (23 AD patients, 27 amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients, and 24 cognitively normal (CN) elderly people) to explore the clinical application of HFC mapping in the brain. For the brain MREPT images, a multi‐echo turbo spin‐echo pulse sequence was used. A homemade software was used to map the HFC at the Larmor frequency of 128 MHz at 3T. We performed statistical analyses to 1) compare HFC maps between the three participant groups and 2) to evaluate the association of HFC maps with Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores.ResultThe HFC value was higher in the AD group than in the CN and MCI groups. MMSE scores were negatively associated with HFC values, but age was positively associated with HFC values. The HFC value in the insula has a high area under the ROC curve (AUC) value to differentiate AD patients from the CN participants (Sensitivity (SE) = 82, Specificity (SP) = 97, AUC = 0.902, p < 0.0001), better than GMV in hippocampus (SE = 79, SP = 83, AUC = 0.880, p < 0.0001).ConclusionHFC values were significantly increased in the AD group compared to the CN group and increased with age and disease severity. HFC values of the insula along with the GMV of the hippocampus can be used as an imaging biomarker to improve the differentiation of AD from CN.

Methodology for simulating the elastoplastic behavior in crack propagation problems using dual formulations of the boundary element method

Due to the application of cyclic loads, the existing crack length in a structure increases with time, resulting in greater stress concentration around the crack tip and therefore causing an increase in propagation velocity and a decrease in residual strength of the structure which, at a given time, becomes so low that the structure can no longer support the service loads. This paper presents a new approach to evaluate two-dimensional elastoplastic models in a crack propagation scenario, based on the boundary element method and its dual formulations. The methodology adopted consists of two stages: firstly, the simulation of the elastoplastic behavior, which considers the process of initial stresses and allows the treatment of several flow criteria, without taking into account the incompressibility of inelastic deformations. In this step, the domain integral due to non-homogeneous terms in the plastification region is transformed into a boundary integral by the Dual Reciprocity Method (DRM) using the polyharmonic splines functions due to its local behavior and, from the plastic calculus, the J-Integral is used to compute the SIF's. The second stage aims to simulate, in an incremental way, the crack propagation path using homemade software for crack modeling and analysis based on ElastoPlastic Fracture Mechanics (EPFM) and the Dual Boundary Element Method (DBEM). To validate the adopted methodology, as well as correctly simulate the mechanical behavior of cracks in the plastic regime of the material, three 2D models with straight and inclined cracks are used. Initially, the von Mises criterion for perfectly plastic materials is used and the numerical results compared with classic models from the literature, showing the effectiveness of the program in crack treatment and in the prediction of the propagation path, as well as the non-linear algorithm in the region plastification using the DRM.

An In-House 3D Voxel Dosimetric Tool to Compare Predictive and Post- Treatment Dosimetry in 90Y Radioembolization: A Proof of Concept.

The aim of this study was to implement an in-house dosimetric tool to assess tumour- absorbed doses in pre and post-dosimetry for 90Y radioembolization with resin spheres. To perform dosimetric calculations we set up a dosimetric procedure and developed homemade software to calculate tumour absorbed dose and dose volume histograms (DVHs). The method is based on a simplified voxel dosimetry for an estimated 3D absorbed dose and it can be applied to both 99mTc-MAA SPECT/CT and 90Y PET/CT acquisitions for pre and post-dosimetry. We tested the software performance in a retrospective study using the data of 22 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent radioembolization with 90Y resin spheres in the period 2016-2021. The software calculates tumour doses (mean, minimum and maximum doses) from voxel counts and dose-volume histograms (DVH_spect, DVH_pet) for both 99mTc-MAA SPECT/CT and 90Y PET/CT imaging. DVH_spect and DVH_pet data were analyzed and compared with the aim to assess an agreement between them. Concordance between dosimetric data were evaluated with the Wilcoxon Signed Ranked test, descriptive statistical analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient. The mean administrated activity was 1313 MBq (range 444 MBq - 2200 MBq). Tumour volumes ranged from 75 mL to 1012 mL. The mean absorbed dose for tumour volume was 161 ± 66 Gy (Dm_spect) and 173 ± 79 Gy (Dm_pet). From Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test the differences between the dosimetric data extrapolated from DVH_spect and DVH_pet results were not significant with α = 0.05 (two-sided test). A good linear correlation was found between 99mTc-MAA and 90Y dosimetric data (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.887 p < 0.001). Generally, DVHs calculated on 99mTc-MAA SPECT/CT and 90Y PET/CT gave comparable results, some discrepancies were observed particularly with those patients where SPECT and PET imaging presented a visual mismatching. A simplified 3D dosimetry methodology was implemented and tested retrospectively on patient data treated with 90Y resin spheres. Even if the clinical feasibility of our approach has to be further validated on an extended patient cohort, the preliminary results of our study highlight the potential of the implemented dosimetric tool for tumour dose assessment.

Research on railway BIM platform framework based on homemade graphics engine

At present, BIM platforms rely on foreign software. Homemade software and industry applications are mostly secondary developments, which present stranglehold problems caused by interruptions to the software supply. To solve the problem, key technical research on the 3D integrated design of railway engineering was stuedied based on homemade graphics engines to propose an innovative railway BIM platform framework. The entire process was completed from the top-level design to the engineering verification of the platform. The co-designed mechanism of a "center model and link" hybrid mode was constructed, which solved the difficulties of data management and increment synchronization at a large scale, achieving teamwork among surveying and mapping, alignments, and bridges. The results of this study could provide strong support for the development of BIM software for a whole railway and all majors.

Compact surface plasmon resonance sensor using the digital versatile disc grating as a coupler and a disperser

Compact surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensors are highly demanded due to their small size, low cost, and wide application scenarios compared with benchtop sensors. To realize high-precision spectral or angular analysis, most compact SPR sensors need spectrometers or rotation stages, which increase the cost of the device. We demonstrate a low-cost and compact SPR sensor by utilizing a single grating as a coupler and a disperser. The polychromatic light emitted from a light-emitting diode was coupled to surface plasmon modes by a grating made from a digital versatile disc-recordable disc. The light was dispersed by the same grating and collected by a linear charge-coupled device. The real-time detection of the SPR spectra and the resonant wavelengths was realized by homemade software based on the laboratory virtual instrument engineering workbench. By measuring different concentrations of glucose solution and sodium chloride solution, we obtain a high refractive index (RI) resolution of 5.52 × 10 − 5 RI unit. This compact SPR sensor can be applied in the areas of food safety, environmental monitoring, medical diagnosis, and so on.

Novel computer-assisted approach to quick prediction and optimization of gradient separation for online enrichment-reversed phase liquid chromatography tandem system

An algorithm capable of predicting and optimizing the gradient separation of LC × LC system was developed in this paper. Two groups of structural analogues, five ginsenosides as well as eight bisphenols, which were difficult to discriminate in routine analysis, were used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in fast separation optimization. Average errors of retention times below 1% were found in the retention prediction for all types of gradient programs, implying that the theory could lead to high quality in prediction of the retention times under gradients elution. Meanwhile, 84% of relative average deviations (RADs) between the predicted peak width and the measured ones were less than 20%. The larger deviation occurred at the time when the peak appeared while the gradient of the mobile phase changed, which led the deviations increased to 20%–42%. In all, method development and optimization for LC × LC tandem system was realized by the homemade user-friendly software. The present protocol may turn on great opportunities for the convenient method development in analysis of trace structural analogues in environmental, food and biological samples.

Calorimetric studies and thermodynamic modelling of liquid Mg-Pb-Pd alloys

The thermodynamic properties of liquid Mg-Pb-Pd alloys had not yet been studied. Therefore, with the use of a MHTC 96 drop calorimeter, the first time, calorimetric measurements of the partial and integral mixing enthalpies of liquid Mg-Pb-Pd alloys were performed. Calorimetric measurements of five series of liquid alloys with compositions (Mg0.75Pb0.25)1-xPdx, (Mg0.50Pb0.50)1-xPdx (two series of this alloy were evaluated), (Mg0.25Pb0.75)1-xPdx, and (Pb0.90Pd0.10)1-xMgx were performed at a temperature of 1012 K. Thereafter, based on the obtained data on the mixing enthalpy and taking into account the thermodynamic properties of binary subsystems described by the Redlich-Kister equation, ternary excess term of the Mg-Pb-Pd liquid phase was evaluated by the Muggianu model. Using home-made software (TerGexHm), thermodynamic optimization resulting in ternary optimized parameters was done. The presented calorimetric measurements represent the first step in the investigation and assessment of ternary Mg-Pb-Pd system. Overall, the intention of the authors is to model the phase equilibria in both binary and ternary systems.

Patient Specific Quality Assurance Automation with Scripting on HID Devices

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> Many quality assurance procedures in radiotherapy are tedious and time-consuming but can be automated to improve the efficient and minimum human-errors. In this study we focused on the patient specific quality assurance (PSQA) procedure. The purpose was to develop a robust and quick software interface for Human Interactive Device (HID) operations and significantly accelerate the workflow. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> The clinical PSQA system of our clinics consists of s treatment planning system (TPS), an oncology information system (OIS) and a measurement and analysis software. The complete PSQA process includes three main parts: (1) QA verification plan creation, (2) treatment plan loading to treatment machine and (3) measurement, data analysis and report. A homemade software tool, AUTOFLOW was developed as a general interface and installed on multiple workstations to automate the operations of local HID devices. The workflow of HID operations in these components was modularized for maximum efficiency and reliability. The required patient information for each computer was stored in a QA task file created from patient database and synchronized by the AUTOFLOW interface in individual workstations. All human operations on HID devices and communication between multiple computers were automated by the AUTOFLOW interface sequentially or parallelly during the entire PSQA process. <h3>Results</h3> We tested the developed automation workflow on 20 clinical QA plans in our current clinical environments. Overall, around 175 (±12) human HID operations on various workstations were removed from the PSQA procedure. On average, 8(±0.8) minutes was needed to complete a PSQA case with the AUTOFLOW software tool, compared to 13(±3.1) minutes for complete manual operations. These results represent a 38% saving in time. No errors were found for all operations performed with this interface. <h3>Conclusion</h3> The AUTOFLOW software interface was successfully developed and used to perform PSQA in our current clinical environment. This interface has substantially reduced the time, and eliminated user stress and input errors for our PSQA procedure. It can potentially work with other TPS, QA, R&V systems of our department to improve the efficiency and reduce human errors for other QA procedures. For future works we plan to improve the system flexibility/stability and implement this application to other QA procedures

ICT-based assessment of cognitive load in chemistry learning

The article is devoted to studying and preventing an excessive increase in the cognitive load of university students studying chemistry using various electronic resources. The experiment involved 49 third-year students of the Faculty of Chemistry who studied organic chemistry. A homemade software was developed to measure the level of cognitive load using the secondary problem method. Cognitive load levels were studied depending on the types of used electronic resources. The studied resource types are texts of different levels of complexity, audio and visual materials in different combinations. The load values were measured for each respondent, expressed in relative quantitative units and averaged over the whole student group. In parallel, the preferred learning styles among the respondents were identified according to the Index of Learning Style of Felder-Soloman. A correlation was established between the preferred learning styles of students and the cognitive load they feel when working with electronic resources. The factors that affect an optimal set of educational resources were identified for student groups with various learning profiles. The results of factor analysis allowed the authors to assess the contribution of different learning styles in the formation of cognitive load in the use of different electronic resources. The techniques described in this article allow one to control cognitive load, predict and prevent its excessive increase.

Colour Catcher® sheet beyond the laundry: A low-cost support for realizing porphyrin-based mercury ion sensors

The detection of mercury ions in drinkable water is a challenging task, because this heavy metal should be detected in very low concentrations. While analytical laboratory instruments can allow reaching the required sensitivity, the need for continuous monitoring of water samples by chemical sensors is more difficult. In this work, we report the development of a simple colorimetric approach based on the color variation of a free base porphyrin upon interaction with Hg(II) ions. The support is made by Color Catcher® strip embedded by the tetra (4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin; the anionic character of the porphyrin allows a uniform and stable deposition onto the positively charged solid support. An optical platform, composed of low cost electronic devices, such as LED and webcam, coupled to a PC has been developed to digitalize the images of the strip color changes upon the flux of water solution containing Hg(II) ions. Homemade software developed in Matlab, using the Hue parameter, was exploited to analyze the color changes, allowing reaching a LOD three times below the Hg(II) legal limit stabilized by WHO. The device also showed good selectivity towards other potential interferent metal ions, demonstrating the potentialities of this approach in the real field.

How myocardial work could be relevant in patients with an aortic valve stenosis?

Myocardial work (MW) calculation is an attractive method to assess left ventricular (LV) myocardial function. In case of aortic stenosis (AS), assessment of work indices is challenging because it requires an accurate evaluation of LV-pressure curves. We sought to evaluate the performances of two distinct methods and to provide a quantitative comparison with invasive data. Model-based and template-based methods were defined and applied for the evaluation of LV-pressures on 67 AS-patient. Global Constructive (GCW), Wasted (GWW), Positive (GPW), Negative (GNW) MW and Global Work Efficiency (GWE), and Index (GWI) parameters were calculated using the available software computing the indices using brachial blood-pressure and trans-aortic mean pressure gradient (MPG) for estimating the LV-pressures vs. using a model-based and homemade software. A complete comparison was performed with invasive measurements. Patients were characterized by MPG of 49.8 ± 14.8 mmHg, the global longitudinal strain (GLS) was -15.0 ± 4.04%, GCW was 2107 ± 800 mmHg.% (model-based) and 2483 ± 1068 mmHg.% (template-based). The root mean square error (RMSE) and correlation were calculated for each patient and pressure estimation methods. The mean RMSE are 33.9 mmHg and 40.4 mmHg and the mean correlation coefficients are 0.81 and 0.72 for the model-based and template-based methods, respectively. The two methods present correlation coefficient r2 >0.75 for all the indices. The two non-invasive methods of LV pressure estimation and work indices computation correlate with invasive measurements. Although the model-based approach requires less information and is associated with slightly better performances, the implementation of template-based method is easier and is appropriate for clinical practice.

Introducing the multi-dimensional spectral phasors: a tool for the analysis of fluorescence excitation-emission matrices

The use of phasors to analyze fluorescence data was first introduced for time-resolved studies for a simpler mathematical analysis of the fluorescence-decay curves. Recently, this approach was extended to steady-state experiments with the introduction of the spectral phasors (SP), derived from the Fourier transform of the fluorescence emission spectrum. In this work, we revise key mathematical aspects that lead to an interpretation of SP as the characteristic function of a probability distribution. This formalism allows us to introduce a new tool, called multi-dimensional spectral phasor (MdSP) that seize, not only the information from the emission spectrum, but from the full excitation-emission matrix (EEM). In addition, we developed a homemade open-source Java software to facilitate the MdSP data processing. Due to this mathematical conceptualization, we settled a mechanism for the use of MdSP as a tool to tackle spectral signal unmixing problems in a more accurate way than SP. As a proof of principle, with the use of MdSP we approach two important biophysical questions: protein conformational changes and protein-ligand interactions. Specifically, we experimentally measure the EEM changes upon denaturation of human serum albumin (HSA) or during its association with the fluorescence dye 1,8-anilinonaphtalene sulphate (ANS) detected via tryptophan-ANS Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). In this sense, MdSP allows us to obtain information of the system in a simpler and finer way than the traditional SP. Specifically, understanding a protein’s EEM as a molecular fingerprint opens new doors for the use of MdSP as a tool to analyze and comprehend protein conformational changes and interactions.

Aminoglycosides’ dosing and monitoring practices in critically ill patients in Quebec hospitals

Considering the aminoglycosides’ characteristics in terms of efficacy and toxicity, multiple dosing recommendations and nomograms have been suggested over several decades. The objective is to describe the dosing and monitoring practices of amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin in critically ill patients across health care institutions in the province of Quebec.This survey was developed with multiple-choices and short answers and targeted the lead pharmacist responsible of antimicrobial stewardship in each health care institution.Gentamicin and tobramycin dosing regimens were in-line with guidelines from different countries. Amikacin was not commonly used in Quebec. Therapeutic targets were generally consistent with the literature.Dosing adaptation were mostly done based on clinician judgment or with homemade software. Given the variability seen across practices in Quebec institutions, standardization and optimization of aminoglycosides therapeutic drug monitoring may be considered.