Load Values Research Articles

Comparative Evaluation of Soft Tissue Reaction to Titanium and Polyetheretherketone Customized Healing Abutments: a Split-Mouth Randomised Clinical Trial

Aim. This study aimed to evaluate the peri-implant soft tissue response to customized healing abutments (CHAs) made of titanium and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Methods. Titanium and PEEK CHAs were mounted on bone-level dental implants in bilateral edentulous patients in a randomized split-mouth study design. After a three-week healing period, the clinical parameters of the peri-implant soft tissues were assessed. The value of marginal bone resorption was measured by cone-beam computed tomography. In addition, peri-implant crevicular fluid samples were obtained to identify periodontal pathogenic bacteria, cytokine levels, and active neutrophil collagenase (aMMP-8) concentration. Microcirculation and oxygenation parameters were assessed using laser Doppler flowmetry and optical tissue oximetry. In addition, wavelet analysis was conducted to study blood flow control mechanisms. Results. Out of the 23 participants initially recruited, 20 were assessed after titanium and PEEK CHA installation due to losses to follow-up. The peri-implant soft tissue around 27 titanium and 25 PEEK CHAs was evaluated during follow-ups. No differences were found in the values of marginal bone resorption, cytokine levels, or total bacterial load (p>0.05). PEEK CHAs demonstrated lower bleeding on probing values, less plaque accumulation, and faster relief of ischemia and hypoxia. Although aMMP-8 concentration was higher in the PEEK group, the values were within normal limits. Conclusions. The results of this comparative study showed a positive soft tissue response to PEEK CHAs. However, further studies comparing the effectiveness of different materials for CHAs should be carried out, considering their specific physical properties and processing protocols.

The Impact of a Congested Competition Schedule on Load, Recovery, and Well-Being in Under-16 Female Soccer Players: A Comparison between Starters and Non-Starters during a Development Tournament

Monitoring training load, recovery, and wellness in maturation ages is even more relevant than in adulthood, especially during congested schedules. The objective of this study was to quantify and describe the differences in external and internal load, recovery, and perceived wellness in elite under-16 female players during a period of three competitions in seven days based on their participation during matches. An observational design was used to quantify the external load (total distance, high-speed distance, and PlayerLoad) and internal load (differential sRPE), as well as the recovery and wellness of 18 international under-16 players during a development tournament. The external load pattern of the starting players was undulating, with matches showing the highest internal load values compared to training sessions and non-starters. Non-starter players (whether training or matches) showed similar external load and differential sRPE values throughout the tournament (p > 0.05). Starting players experienced higher internal load than non-starters during matches (p < 0.037), without differences between training sessions (p > 0.05). No changes were seen in wellness or recovery (all p-values > 0.05), except for non-starters in Session 3 compared to Session 7 (p = 0.024). Starting players had more weekly total minutes (p = 0.018), differential sRPE (breath: p = 0.002; leg: p = 0.002; cognitive: p = 0.003), total distance (p = 0.003), and PlayerLoad (p = 0.008) than non-starters. Our results indicate differing load patterns between starters and non-starters, which do not affect wellness and recovery differently. Starters accumulate more weekly total load. Coaches can use these findings to guide decisions and load compensations in high competition contexts for young female soccer players.

Study on Non-Point Source Pollution Prevention and Control System in Nansi Lake Basin Based on System Dynamics Approach

Agriculture, as an important activity on which human beings depend for their livelihood, brings serious environmental problems while meeting the needs of human survival, among which agricultural non-point source (NPS) pollution is one of the most urgent environmental problems. This study quantitatively assessed the loading characteristics spatial and temporal evolution patterns of two agricultural NPS pollutants, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), from 2010 to 2020 in the Nansi Lake Basin as an example, and constructed a system dynamics (SD) simulation model to simulate and analyze agricultural NPS pollution under different development and treatment scenarios, based on an investigation of the regional prevention and control strategy of agricultural NPS pollution and the technological system. The results show that the current status of agricultural NPS pollution load in the Nansi Lake Basin is poor, and the level of pollution load is high, showing obvious geographical differences. In terms of temporal changes, the pollution loads of the two pollutants showed a decreasing trend from 2010 to 2020, among which the pollution load of NH3-N showed the largest change. Spatially, the spatial distribution of each type of pollutant has some similarities, with smaller pollution loads in Jining and Zaozhuang and relatively larger pollution loads in Heze and Ningyang. The main source of COD pollution in the Nansi Lake Basin is rural life, with an emission proportion of 52.85%, and the main sources of NH3-N pollution from agricultural NPS pollution in the area are rural life and livestock and poultry farming, with emission proportions of 47.55% and 35.36%, respectively. Under the status quo continuum scenario, the pollution load values for COD are consistently higher than those for NH3-N, so the relative impact of COD is greater. In this study, the principles and methods of SD in system science are adopted to deal with the agricultural NPS pollution of Nansi Lake Basin, and the evolution of its behavioral characteristics are simulated, forecasted, and predicted, and policy experiments are conducted, with a view to providing references for the prevention and control of agricultural NPS pollution in Nansi Lake Basin and further research.

Transforming Mexico’s Electric Load Infrastructure: A Quantile Transformer Network Deep Learning Approach, 2019-2020

To transform Mexico's electric load infrastructure, accurate electric load forecasts are required that are crucial to efficiently allocate resources, maintain system stability, and manage energy. The purpose of this study is to use the Quantile Transformer Network (QTN) as a novel approach for a deep learning framework for load forecasting, emphasizing its potential and practical consequences in enhancing the accuracy of load forecasting in real-world energy systems. Moreover, it is shown that QTN efficiently captures complex patterns, temporal relationships and interconnections among factors that influence electric load. The dataset utilized consists of past records of energy consumption in the Baja California System in Mexico. It includes several factors such as electricity demand, marginal prices, temporal characteristics, temperature-related variables, seasonal patterns, and holidays. Additionally, QTN is combined with the Rainbow Technique (RT) to manage categorical variables, resulting in the creation of a unified feature called category. In this case, RT examines the connections between descriptive phrases that reflect distinct combinations of categorical factors depending on the load values. Moreover, this research shows that the common Quantile Regression (QR) outperforms QTN in capturing dependencies in sequential data. Finally, several recommendations for promoting Mexico's Electric Load Infrastructure are provided.

Research on Ride Comfort Control of Air Suspension Based on Genetic Algorithm Optimized Fuzzy PID

The air suspension system’s superior variable stiffness, low vibration frequency, and resistance to road impacts significantly elevate both the comfort of vehicle occupants and the overall ride quality. By effectively controlling the air suspension system, its superior characteristics can be fully exploited to enhance the overall performance of vehicles. However, the parameter tuning process of the fuzzy PID controller for air suspension involves subjectivity and blindness, which affects the performance of the suspension system. To overcome these shortcomings, a control strategy combining genetic algorithms with fuzzy PID control is proposed. This strategy involves a genetic algorithm-optimized fuzzy PID air suspension control approach specifically targeting the fuzzy PID controller for air suspension. A 1/4 two-degree-of-freedom air suspension fuzzy PID controller is designed in MATLAB 2019a, utilizing genetic algorithms to optimize the PID parameter tuning process. The ride comfort of the fuzzy PID air suspension after tuning is then investigated. In the study of ride comfort on Class B road surfaces, the simulation and experimental results were consistent. Using a genetic algorithm to optimize a fuzzy PID-controlled air suspension resulted in reductions of the root mean square values for vertical body acceleration, suspension deflection, and wheel dynamic load by 30%, 26%, and 9%, respectively, compared to passive suspension. These reductions are further improvements over the corresponding indices controlled by the fuzzy PID alone, which decreased by 23%, 18%, and 6%, respectively. Thus, the control effect of the genetic algorithm-optimized fuzzy PID is superior to that of the fuzzy PID control. This demonstrates that the fuzzy PID control of air suspension optimized by genetic algorithms can further improve the comfort of vehicle occupants and the ride comfort of driving, providing a reference for active control of air suspension systems.

First Failure Load of Rectangular Laminated and Sandwich Plates Using Isogeometric Analysis

This paper investigates the first failure load of simply supported and clamped laminate and sandwich plates loaded by a distributed normal traction on the top surface. A third-order shear and normal deformable plate theory, the isogeometric basis functions, and five failure criteria, namely, the maximum stress, the Tsai–Wu, the Tsai–Hill, the Hoffman, and the Hashin for laminated plates, and only the Tsai–Hill criterion for sandwich plates are used in this study. Of these, Hashin’s criteria distinguish between the fiber and the matrix failure. The in-plane stresses are found from the plate displacements and Hooke’s law, and the transverse stresses are recovered by integrating the equilibrium equations through the thickness. Effects of the plate aspect ratio, the fiber angle, the face sheet materials, and the core materials on the first failure load are identified. The computed results are found to agree well with those reported in the literature. Whereas the five failure criteria for laminated plates predict nearly the same value of the first failure load, they do not provide the same location of the failure initiation.

A comparative study of self pierceing riveting and mechanical clinch of DP590-Al5754 high-strength steel and aluminum alloys

This paper presents a comparative study of two joining processes, self piercing riveting (SPR) and mechanical clinch, used to join DP590 high-strength steel and Al5754 aluminum alloy. A comparative study of microhardness, tensile shear properties, fatigue properties, and economics of joints from both processes was conducted. The findings indicate that the highest hardness levels are observed in the rivet leg region for SPR joints and in the neck region for mechanical clinch joints. The maximum failure load and energy absorption values of SPR joints were found to be 1.46 and 9.07 times higher, respectively, than those of mechanical clinch joints. The static tensile test results demonstrate that the strength and hardness of SPR joints in aluminum sheets subjected to cold work hardening are significantly lower than those of steel sheets. Therefore, the failure of SPR joints is primarily attributed to the deformation and fracture of the lower aluminum sheet. Mechanical clinch joints fail by neck fracture because the steel sheet neck becomes brittle by cold work hardening and the neck thickness is small. The fatigue behavior of SPR joints was observed to be superior to that of mechanical clinch joints. The findings of the scanning electron microscopy and energy spectrum analysis suggest that fretting wear between the upper and lower sheets results in fatigue fracture of the lower sheet in the joints. When joining the same material on a large scale, the selection of mechanical clinch over SPR can prove an effective method of reducing costs. Furthermore, the selection of a set of dies with an extended life can contribute to the reduction of joining costs.

High-performance bamboo-wood composite materials based on the natural structure and original form of bamboo: Fracture behavior and mechanical characterization

Reducing the destruction of bamboo's original structure to produce high-utilization and high-performance engineered bamboo products has long been a goal in the industry. This study developed a new natural arc-shaped laminated bamboo-wood lumber (NALBWL) based on the natural structure and original form of bamboo, using equal arc-shaped bamboo split (EASB) and poplar veneer. A multi-scale analysis of the bending performance and crack propagation dynamics of EASB and NALBWL was conducted. EASB's modulus of elasticity (MOE) and rupture (MOR) were 1.06 and 1.17 times higher than those of air-dried bamboo, respectively, exhibiting excellent mechanical properties. Additionally, its toughness in the full and elastic-plastic stages were 1.24 and 1.38 times higher than those of air-dried bamboo. NALBWL's MOE and MOR were 12.73 GPa and 174.41 MPa, fully meeting structural material requirements and even surpassing most engineered bamboo products. Moreover, NALBWL's radial bending load values were 2.29 and 2.24 times higher than that of EASB and air-dried bamboo, respectively, and it also demonstrated excellent water heat and drying resistance in impregnation and peeling performance. Real-time crack propagation analysis indicated that NALBWL's superior mechanical properties benefited from the respective advantages of bamboo and poplar veneer. This work showcased the application of "natural form-inspired design" in developing bamboo-wood composite materials, and the conclusion provided a reference for the sustainable development of engineered bamboo products and the study of biomass material fracture mechanisms.

Educators’ Perceptions of the Use of Virtual Reality in the Classroom: Psychometric Validation of Scale in Indian Context

With ample evidence supporting the benefits of using Virtual Reality (VR) in education, teachers' perceptions of such educational innovations decide whether they are accepted or rejected and, if accepted, how successfully they are integrated into teaching. However, there is a dearth of literature with regard to the availability of a suitable measurement tool to gauge their perception specifically in the Indian setting. This is the research gap that is aimed to be met and the novelty of the study. Based on the theory of Diffusion of Innovations and the Technology Acceptance Model, the study aimed to validate Educators' Perceptions of the use of VR on Classroom scale, adapted by Khukalenko et al. (2022) from Wozney et al. (2006). The original version was tested among Russian educators and had 16 items on a six-point Likert-scale format with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 1.00. The investigators here conducted the validation process on a sample of 150 Indian university educators. Because it is a relatively new scale and is based on a strong theory, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) alone remained adequate for its validation in India. By using IBM SPSS and AMOS for data analysis, the factor structure of the initial model led to the deletion of eight items due to low factor loading values. The second model, however, suggested a satisfactory fit of this unidimensional scale with eight items and yielded a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.843. It is, therefore, a reliable tool for measuring teachers' perception of the use of VR in the Indian context.

Temperature Extreme Value Evaluation of Composite Beams Based on Copula Functions

The solar temperature field of steel-concrete composite girder bridges has a significant impact on structural stress. To evaluate the distribution of solar temperatures, this paper conducted analyses of the solar temperature field of the Xuefeng Lake Bridge through on-site measurements and numerical simulations. The study investigated the temperature field characteristics of the composite girders according to the temperature data. Based on the numerical simulation results, a finite element computational model for the vertical temperature gradient of the steel-concrete composite girder bridge was established, and the maximum gradient temperature values of the composite girders were calculated by using the 24-year historical data from 2000 to 2023. The extreme value parameters related to the GEV distribution model were determined. Taking into account the correlation between the annual maximum environmental temperature and wind speed, a joint distribution model was established using Copula functions. The results indicate that the average error of the numerical model is within 5%. The wind-temperature joint distribution model, considering the effects of wind speed, tends to provide more conservative results. The calculated extreme values of temperature gradient load show an expanding trend, with the exceedance probabilities for recurrence periods of 100 years, 50 years, 20 years, 10 years, and 5 years being 0.64%, 1.34%, 2.29%, 3.51%, and 7.32%, respectively.

EFFECTS OF SPRAYING CEMELE PEPPER (Capsicum annuum L.) EXTRACTS ONTO HATCHING EGGS OF ATAK-S LAYER HENS ON HATCHING RESULTS, SERUM GLUTATHIONE AND MALONDIALDEHYDE LEVELS

Alternative natural products have been used in hatching since chemicals used in the incubation of chicken eggs have toxic effects on the embryo, the practitioners and the environment. In this study with completely randomized design (CRD) the effects of a registered local pepper (Cemele) extract at different dosages in the incubation process of hatching eggs was examined. The chloride group disinfectant (T1), ethanol (T2), 2% pepper extract (T3), and 4% pepper extract (T4) were sprayed on to disinfect eggs before the incubation process. On the second, eighth, and eighteenth incubation days of the groups, the total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB) loads of the eggshell were examined, and the lowest load values were found at T4. In this study, the highest hatching efficiency (H) and the highest fertilised hatching rate (HF) were 87.52±2.88% and 81.66±1.44%, respectively, in T4. Early embryonic mortality (EEM) was not observed at T4, while the highest value was 7.11±1.35% at T2. The highest mid embryonic mortality (MEM) rate was 10.91±0.34% in T3 while the lowest rate was 7.11±1.35% in T4. The late embryonic mortality (LEM) rates were 14.22±2.69% in T2, 12.47±1.17% in T1, 12.66±2.69% in T3 and 5.30±0.17% in T4. The lowest malposition rate 8.92±0.01% and the lowest malformation rate 8.83±0.12% were observed in T4. At the end of this study, body weights, lengths, tona, and pasgar scores of the hatched chicks were calculated. The highest body weight and length values were observed as 43.57±1.37 g and 16.47±0.45 cm in T4 birds, respectively. The highest tona score was 98.10±1.27 in T4 and the lowest tona score was 93.65±1.22 in T1 birds. Pasgar score values of the chicks were 9.69±0.16 in T4, 9.38±0.17 in T2, 9.31±0.18 at T3 and 9.16±0.16 in T1, respectively. The MDA values of birds were 8.63±0.05, 0.70±0.10, 0.28±0.01 and 0.25±0.01 nmol mL-1 in T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively while the highest GSH value was 32.39±0.66 M in T4, and the lowest value 11.15±1.03M in T2. In conclusion, the use of Cemele pepper extract had positive results in the incubation process of hatching eggs. Key Words: Incubation process, disinfectant, chlorine dioxide, ethanol, cemele pepper.

Adaptation of the COVID-19 Stigma Scale to Turkish: A validity and reliability study

Abstract Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has left health workers facing stigma with the spread of the disease worldwide. The purpose is to adapt the COVID-19 Stigma Scale into the Turkish and to determine its validity and reliability. Methods: A total of 138 nurses were included in the study to evaluate the Turkish adaptation of the scale consisting of 13 items. Construct validity of the scale was tested linguistics and psychometric measurements. Results: The factor load values of scale were found to be between .56 and .93. The total Cronbach Alpha of the scale was .82. It was found that the Turkish adaptation of the scale has three dimensions according to the factor design. Conclusion: Turkish adaptation of the COVID-19 Stigma Scale is a valid and reliable tool for nurses' perception of stigma due to COVID-19.

Validating instructional practice scale for university instructors in Ethiopia

Background Measurement is essential for methods of instruction to be successful. Having an instrument that is reliable and validated in the given setting is vital. The primary goal of this research project is to validate the instructional practice scale (IPS) for university instructors in the Ethiopian context. Methods By implementing a cross-sectional descriptive survey research design, 1,254 participants across four public universities – Arbaminch, Dilla, Wachamo, and Jinka representing the first, second, third, and fourth generations, respectively were randomly selected and participated. The data was split in half and underwent an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results The three components of the EFA were alternately filled with seventeen items that satisfied certain standards, had a loading value of > .5, and a Cronbach alpha of ≥ .874. The factors identified in the EFA have been confirmed to be the thirteen items with loading, Cronbach alpha, Raykov’s rho coefficient (rho_A), composite reliability (CR) value of >.7, and Average Variance Explained (AVE) value of > .5. Tests of measurement and structural models showed a good fit. The Fornell-Larcker criterion, which is employed in discriminant validity analysis, demonstrates that the square root of the AVE for each construct is higher than the correlation it exhibits with other constructs. The correlations’ heterotrait–monotrait (HTMT) ratio is getting close to zero, and there isn’t one in the confidence interval at the.05 significance level. Both guaranteed strong discriminant validity. Conclusion For university instructors, the 13 items generally have powerful psychometric properties. The three subsections of the instruction practice scale—planning (4 indicators), delivering (4 indicators), and assessment (5 indicators) — are meant to measure the instructional practice effectively. Implications of the findings were further discussed.

Buckling of Thin-Walled Angle Column Made of Hybrid Laminate Under Axial Compression

This paper presents the investigation of eigenproblem for angle columns made flax, carbon laminates. The first three eigenmodes were determined and corresponding critical load values for columns subjected to axial compression. The analysis was made for six configurations. Each of them had the same arrangement of layers. The effect of changing the material of individual layers on bifurcation load values was analyzed. The obtained values were related to the K1 configuration, for carbon and flax-carbon configurations the differences in the values of bifurcation load in relation to the all-flax configuration were determined for all 3 modes. Interpreting the achieved results, it was concluded that replacing the relevant layers of flax laminate with carbon layers could increase the operating range of the system in the linear area. Moreover, for hybrid configurations, the effect of using a single carbon layer versus using a pair of carbon layers on the critical load value was investigated. Analysis of the results showed that for the selected configurations, a higher bifurcation load value was obtained with the use of a single carbon layer compared to the use of a pair of symmetric carbon layers. The conducted research indicates the need to study this topic in more depth, due to the possibility of increasing the work of the system in the linear range while reducing the cost and environmental impact of the material used.

Multi-fidelity graph neural networks for efficient power flow analysis under high-dimensional demand and renewable generation uncertainty

The modernization of power systems faces uncertainties due to fluctuating renewable energy sources, electric vehicle expansion, and demand response initiatives. These uncertainties require consideration in power flow analyses by calculating power flow across a spectrum of generation and load values. Traditional power flow methods, which rely on iterative solutions of non-linear equation sets, become computationally burdensome under these uncertain conditions. Surrogate models have been used to reduces the computational cost of power flow analysis under uncertainty. Recently, graph neural networks (GNNs) have gained increasing attention as surrogates for power system simulations. However, GNNs, similar to other machine learning models, require significant amounts of training data. This paper proposes an innovative approach combining a multi-fidelity methodology with a GNN-based surrogate model for efficient power flow calculations. This model is trained using both high-fidelity power flow simulations and low-fidelity power flow simulations. Our multi-fidelity GNN model not only reduces the cost of generating training data, but also outperforms both single-fidelity GNN models trained solely on high-fidelity data and conventional neural network models. Additionally, the proposed model exhibits robustness to minor topology changes and achieves reasonable performance with unseen topologies. The model’s effectiveness is validated through simulations on standard IEEE systems.

The Influence of Service Quality and Location on Customer Loyalty through Customer Satisfaction Staying at the Hotel Garuda Pontianak

The purpose of this study is to determine the Influence of Service Quality and Location on Customer Loyalty Through Customer Satisfaction Staying at the Garuda Pontianak Hotel. This study uses an associative method. Primary data in this study were collected through; (1) Interviews; (2) Questionnaires. The minimum sample was 96 people, the researcher took a sample of 100 respondents. The results of the study showed that all indicator items in the measurement model showed good item validity, with outer loadings values ​​above 0.7. The tested constructs also met strong reliability standards, with Cronbach's alpha and Composite Reliability values ​​above 0.7, and Average Variance Extracted (AVE) exceeding 0.5, indicating adequate convergent validity. Discriminant validity has also been met, as indicated by the AVE root value which is greater than the correlation between constructs. The results of the Goodness of Fit Model test show that the exogenous constructs (Service Quality and Location) have a moderate influence on Customer Satisfaction, with an R-squared value of 0.308.

Experimental and numerical study on a novel staggered truss with chord-connected steel plates

A novel steel plate staggered truss was proposed in this study to enhance the ductility and energy consumption capability of the staggered truss framing systems (STFS). By substituting some diagonal web members with thin steel plates, the energy dissipation part has been altered from chord members to steel plates and vertical web members. To verify the feasibility of the steel plate staggered truss for seismic resistance, one ordinary staggered truss and three novel staggered trusses were designed. Subsequently, four specimens were produced and subjected to low cyclic loading tests. The ordinary staggered truss fails at a drift ratio of 1.5 %, while the steel plate staggered truss fails until the 3.5 % drift ratio, and the deformation capacity of the novel truss is 2.33 times that of the ordinary truss. The steel plate staggered truss can attain a ductility value of 6.54, while the ductility coefficient of the ordinary truss is 3.18. The dissipated energy of the steel plate staggered truss is 3.07 times that of the ordinary truss. Under a representative value of gravity load, the ratio of deflection to span of the steel plate staggered truss is 1/6085, which is significantly less than the limit value given in the Chinese code. Experimental results indicate that the steel plate staggered truss has better ductility and energy dissipation capacity and can be utilized for earthquake resistance. Through numerical analysis, it is recommended to give priority to using two steel plate staggered trusses without openings when designing STFS.

Contribution of Some Agro-Food Processing By-products to Chicken Sausages

In this study, some agro-food processing by-products were evaluated as novel food ingredients, that meet the consumer's demand for natural ingredients, and their contributions to chicken-type sausage production were examined. Sausages were formulated with 3% quince waste (QS3), 3% grapefruit waste (GS3), 2% tomato waste (TS2), and 3% tomato waste (TS3). Other ingredients were fresh breast chicken meat, beef tallow, spice mix, ice, NaCl, and NaNO2. Proximate composition and sensory analyses were conducted before the storage. Water activity, pH, TBARS, purge accumulation, and microbiological analyses were performed during the storage. QS3, TS2, and TS3 treatments got appreciated (7.0-7.4 out of 10) sensory scores, while GS3 scored low acceptability (4.0 out of 10) points. Adding food waste significantly reduced purge accumulation; the average purge accumulation of the control sample was 3.70% which is approximately two times higher than food waste added samples. The average TBARS value of the control sample was determined as 0.31 mg MA/kg, and the food waste-added samples were found between 0.57-0.65 mg MA/kg during storage. Total mesophilic aerobic bacteria and yeast-mold load were higher in TS2 and TS3 products; microbial load and TBARS values of food waste affected the product quality. Also, water activity, microbial growth, and purge accumulation amount affected each other during storage.

Post-Tensioned Hollow-Core Concrete Slabs with Unbonded Tendons for Truck Scale Platforms: Design Assumptions and Tests.

At Cracow University of Technology, attempts were made to develop national truck scale platforms with a capacity of 60 tons, made from prestressed concrete. For this work, we designed slabs partially prestressed with unbonded tendons featuring a cross-section of 1.00 × 0.28 m and a span of 5.94 m. To reduce the weight of the slabs, four channels made from commonly used ø110 × 2.2 mm PVC pipes were used. In this way, we created post-tensioned hollow-core slabs. Due to the unpredictable behavior of slabs operating in a cracked state under a repetitive load, two slabs were subjected to cyclic loads amounting to 1,000,000 cycles with different load values. This paper presents the basic design principles and design details of the slabs, as well as the methodology and results of the research conducted. Lastly, we provide appropriate conclusions directed at further optimizing the slabs.

Factors associated with pre-treatment hyperferritinemia in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Pre-treatment host and viral factors may affect serum ferritin levels in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We delineated pre-treatment factors associated with hyperferritinemia in these patients. 1682 eligible patients underwent pre-treatment assessment for serum ferritin and various host/viral factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate factors associated with hyperferritinemia. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that age > 50 years (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.38 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–1.74), p = 0.008), fibrosis stage ≥ F3 (adjusted OR: 1.36 (95% CI 1.04–1.77), p = 0.02), fibrosis index based on four parameters (FIB-4) > 3.25 (adjusted OR: 1.46 (95% CI 1.11–1.92), p = 0.01), presence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) (adjusted OR: 1.43 (95% CI 1.21–1.76), p = 0.001), and alanine transaminase (ALT) > 2 folds upper limit of normal (ULN) (adjusted OR: 2.87 (95% CI 2.20–3.75), p < 0.001) were associated hyperferritinemia. The log10 value of HBV or HCV viral load was not associated with the log10 value of ferritin level (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient: − 0.025, p = 0.81 and 0.002, p = 0.92). In conclusion, host factors, rather than viral factors, are associated with hyperferritinemia in patients with HCV.