Low Coefficient Of Variation Research Articles

Development of a Low-Cost Automated Injection Molding Device for Sustainable Plastic Recycling and Circular Economy Applications

In response to the critical demand for innovative solutions to tackle plastic pollution, this research presents a low-cost, fully automated plastic injection molding system designed to convert waste into sustainable products. Constructed entirely from repurposed materials, the apparatus focuses on processing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) efficiently without hydraulic components, thereby enhancing eco-friendliness and accessibility. Performance evaluations identified an optimal molding temperature of 200 °C, yielding consistent products with a minimal weight deviation of 4.17%. The key operational parameters included a motor speed of 525 RPM, a gear ratio of 1:30, and an inverter frequency of 105 Hz. Further tests showed that processing temperatures of 210 °C and 220 °C, with injection times of 15 to 35 s, yielded optimal surface finish and complete filling. The surface finish, assessed through image intensity variation, had a low coefficient of variation (≤ 5%), while computer vision evaluation confirmed the full filling of all specimens in this range. A laser-based overflow detection system has minimized material waste, proving effective in small-scale, community recycling. This study underscores the potential of low-cost automated systems to advance the practices of circular economies and enhance localized plastic waste management. Future research will focus on automation, temperature precision, material adaptability, and emissions management.

Efficient, Low-Cost, and High-Throughput Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS) Removal from Protein Digests Using Weak-Anion Exchange.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) plays a pivotal role in protein denaturation, tissue extraction, and protein mass-based electrophoretic separations. However, even modest concentrations of SDS can cause column overpressure, retention time shifts, and ionization signal suppression during liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses. Thus, SDS removal is a critical step for LC-MS/MS analysis of protein digests containing SDS. This study describes an inexpensive and high-throughput method to remove SDS from protein digests using weak-anion exchange (WAX) resins in 96-well filter plates. Requiring less than 3 min, this method can reduce SDS concentrations from 0.1-0.4% to less than 5 ppm and from 0.6-1% to less than 100 ppm. After SDS removal, the recoveries of unmodified tryptic peptides and phosphorylated peptides (at 94.3 nM) were ∼90% and ∼70%, respectively. Additionally, when using aqueous 1% SDS to solubilize trastuzumab-spiked mouse serum and subsequently removing the SDS using the WAX resin, quantitation of trastuzumab exhibited excellent linearity (R2 = 0.9996) together with a low coefficient of variation (<10%). Calculated concentrations were within 20% of the expected value for spiked standard samples (0.5, 1, and 2 μg/mL trastuzumab in mouse serum). The method is about 20× more cost-effective versus commercialized SDS removal kits and both the resin and filter plate are readily available, so the method should easily transfer to other laboratories.

Evaluation of the SwiftScan mode in bone single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging: effect on imaging quality and a semi-quantitative analysis.

99mTc-stannous methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) bone single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) imaging plays a crucial role in various clinical applications. Many strategies have been developed to reduce the injection activity and procedure time, improve the patient experience and reduce their anxiety prior to and during SPECT imaging. This study aimed to evaluate the SwiftScan mode and its effect on image quality, and diagnostic performance of malignant skeletal lesions in bone SPECT image. 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT scans were acquired from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) phantom with a sphere-to-background ratio of 10:1, and 69 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. The patients who showed abnormal uptake of focal 99mTc-MDP on whole-body bone planar scans, underwent local SPECT/CT scans. The image comparison and analysis were performed in three acquisition modes: SwiftScan; SwiftScan-50% (the SwiftScan mode with a 50% reduction in acquisition time); and step-and-shoot (SS). The image mean count, coefficient of variation (COV), radioactive concentration, and signal-to-background ratio (SBR) were measured for each phantom image. Visual assessment (using a 5-point Likert scale), semi-quantitative analysis [to determine the COV, mean of the standard uptake value (SUVmean), maximum of the standard uptake value (SUVmax), and SBR], and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis were performed for clinical assessment. The SwiftScan mode obtained better quality images than the SwiftScan-50% and SS modes, and it also had better sphere clarity and lower background COVs (P<0.05). The mean counts of the SwiftScan, and the corresponding radioactive concentration and SBR were significantly higher than those of the SwiftScan-50% and SS (P<0.05), except in relation to the 13-10 mm spheres. A total of 101 abnormal 99mTc-MDP uptake skeletal lesions were included in the clinical study. The SwiftScan had significantly higher visual scores than both the SwiftScan-50% and SS (P<0.001). Additionally, there were significantly higher visual scores in the SwiftScan-50% than SS (P<0.05). The SwiftScan also had a lower COV, indicating reduced image noise. The SUVmax, SUVmean, and SBR for the skeletal lesions were significantly higher in the SwiftScan than the other two modes (P<0.05). The optimal diagnostic cut-off values of the SUVmax for identifying malignant skeletal lesions in the SwiftScan, SwiftScan-50%, and SS were 17.95, 14.75, and 9.94, respectively, but there was no significant difference among the three modes in terms of their differential diagnostic performance (all P>0.05). The SwiftScan showed significant improvements in image quality and the semi-quantitative analysis of bone SPECT imaging. It reduced the scanning time by 50% without compromising the image quality or diagnostic performance. These findings provide valuable insights that may inform the clinical application of the SwiftScan, enhancing qualitative and quantitative diagnosis in bone SPECT imaging.

Effects of Short Sprint Interval Training Frequency on Physical and Physiological Performance Adaptations in Male Soccer Players.

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying frequencies (1 vs. 2 vs. 3) of short sprint interval training (sSIT) on young male soccer players' physical performance and physiological parameters. Forty young male soccer players were randomly assigned to four experimental groups engaging in 36 trials sSIT for a duration of 6 weeks as follows: once weekly (1sSIT = 4 sets of 9 × 5 sec all-out runs), twice weekly (2sSIT = 2 sets of 9 × 5 sec all-out runs), and three times weekly (3sSIT = 2 sets of 6 × 5 sec all-out runs), or an active control group which continued their soccer practice routines. Before and after the 6-week training period, physical performance (countermovement vertical jump, 20-m sprint, Illinois change of direction, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 [Yo-Yo IR 1] and kicking distance) and physiological parameters (cardiorespiratory fitness, peak and average power output) were evaluated. All sSIT groups demonstrated significant (p < 0.01) and small to very large training effects (i.e., effect size) on measured parameters. More importantly, a comparison of inter-individual variability in the adaptive changes revealed that the 3sSIT group results in lower residuals in changes in cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic power, coupled with lower coefficient of variations in the mean group changes and perceived exertion throughout the training period. The findings indicate that incorporating one, two, or three weekly sessions of sSIT into routine soccer training can lead to similar enhancements in soccer players' physiological and performance adaptations. More importantly, higher training frequencies result in more homogenized adaptations among team members by reducing inter-individual variability in the magnitude of the adaptive responses.

Meta-analysis of legumes and groundnut production trends and variability in the Global South

This study examined the production trends and variability of grain legumes in the Global South from 2000 to 2022, with a particular emphasis on groundnut yields and regional differences. From 2000 to 2022, global legume production in the Southern Hemisphere increased by approximately 20-30%, driven by rising demand for plant-based proteins and expanded cropping areas in countries like Brazil and Argentina. Improved agricultural practices have further enhanced yields. In contrast, groundnut production experienced a more moderate growth of around 10-15%, influenced by favourable conditions and expanded cultivation in regions such as Argentina and South Africa. While demand for groundnuts remains strong, market fluctuations and competition with other crops continue to shape its production dynamics. The analysis covered a range of legumes, including common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), groundnuts/peanuts (Arachis hypogaea), soya beans (Glycine max), bambara groundnuts (Vigna subterranea), chickpeas (Cicer arietinum), lentils (Lens culinaris), mung beans (Vigna radiata), black gram (Vigna mungo), faba beans (Vicia faba), lablab beans (Lablab purpureus), tepary beans (Phaseolus acutifolius), African yam beans (Sphenostylis stenocarpa), Kersting's groundnut (Macrotyloma geocarpum), lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus), black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), adzuki beans (Vigna angularis), moth beans (Vigna aconitifolia), horse gram (Macrotyloma uniflorum), broad beans (Vicia faba), winged beans (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus). Regional data revealed significant differences in legume production. In Sub-Saharan Africa, cowpeas and groundnuts are vital, with cowpeas grown over 11.4 million hectares on average yielding 450 kg ha-1, and groundnuts covering 9.1 million hectares with an average yield of 1,007 kg ha-1. Chickpeas and pigeon peas dominate South Asia's production, whereas Latin America features prominent soya bean and groundnut cultivation. Oceania's legume farming is less extensive, focusing on chickpeas and mung beans. Descriptive statistics revealed that Egypt led in groundnut production with an average yield of 3,279.1 kg ha-1 and a low coefficient of variation (CV) of 4.89%, indicating stable production. Conversely, Mozambique had the lowest average yield at 322.9 kg ha-1, with a high CV of 30.23%, reflecting greater variability. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified five principal components explaining 70.9% of the total variance, with the first two components (PC 1 and PC 2) accounting for 51%. Bangladesh and Brazil were major contributors to PC 1, while Algeria and Senegal influenced PC 2. These findings highlight the considerable regional variability in yields and stability in legume production. Future research should address these disparities and enhance resilience through targeted agricultural practices and policy interventions.

Impact of short-term aircraft noise on cardiovascular disease risk in the area surrounding London Heathrow airport: the RISTANCO epidemiological study.

Long-term exposure to aircraft noise has been associated with small increases in cardiovascular disease risk, but there are almost no short-term exposure studies. Research questions were: Is there an association between short-term changes in exposure to aircraft noise and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality? What are the key effect modifiers? Is there variability in risk estimates between areas with consistent versus changing patterns of noise exposure? Do risk estimates differ when using different noise metrics? Descriptive analyses of noise levels and variability at different times of day, analyses of inequalities in noise exposure and case-crossover analyses of cardiovascular events in relation to aircraft noise exposure. Area surrounding London Heathrow airport. 2014-18. Whole population in study area. Cardiovascular disease hospitalisations and mortality. Aircraft noise levels modelled using a standard noise model for: (1) daily equivalent continuous sound levels at different times of day; (2) daily number of events above defined noise thresholds (2018 only). National Health Service digital hospital admission records and Office for National Statistics mortality records for 2014-18 for cardiovascular outcomes, plus individual-level confounders available from healthcare records. Confounder data including road traffic noise (Leicester modelled), rail noise and air pollution (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), area level deprivation and ethnicity (UK Census). The morning shoulder period (06.00-07.00 hours) was the noisiest of all eight bands (mean: 50.92 dB). The morning shoulder period also had the third highest number of noisy events (flights) > 60 dB per day, with three events across postcodes on average. However, the highest number of noisy events occurred in daytime (highest between 07.00 and 15.00 hours, second highest 15.00 and 19.00 hours). To identify areas with high variability in aircraft noise exposure (due to changes in flight paths because of wind direction and airport operations), we used coefficients of variation (CoV). The period 24.00-04.30 hours had the highest mean CoV (67.33-74.16), followed by 04.30-06.00 hours and 23.00-24.00 hours. Postcodes in the least deprived quintiles of Carstairs index or avoidable death rate had the lowest noise levels. In case-crossover analyses, we observed increased risk for cardiovascular disease hospital admissions for evening noise 19.00-23.00 hours (odds ratio 1.005, 95% confidence interval 1.000 to 1.010 per 5 dB), but not for other periods or mortality. Further analyses suggested that increased risks were occurring in postcodes with low CoV for noise. We found effect modification by age, sex, ethnicity, deprivation and season. The industry standard noise model, the Aviation Environmental Design Tool, used does not take account of wind direction, which may have led to some exposure misclassification. We developed a comprehensive dataset of daily aircraft noise variability. We found small associations between cardiovascular hospitalisations (but not deaths) and evening aircraft noise levels, particularly in areas with low variability of noise. More studies are needed to understand the effect of noise variation and respite/relief on cardiovascular disease. This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Public Health Research programme (NIHR award ref: 15/192/13) and is published in full in Public Health Research; Vol. 12, No. 13. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.

Endolymphatic sac and duct as an anatomical repair to achieve complete exposure of the internal auditory canal through the retrosigmoid approach: Anatomical study.

The retrosigmoid approach (RSA) is used in a wide variety of pathologies in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA), especially according to the findings, it can preserve hearing function during the resection of vestibular schwannomas (VS). Complete exposure of the fundus of the internal auditory canal (IAC) could jeopardize the integrity of the otic capsule and subsequently cause profound hearing loss and chronic disabling vertigo. Great variability has been described in labyrinthine structures and to date there is no clear data on the distances of these structures to safely expose the IAC fundus. ObjectiveEstablish reference values of the endolymphatic sac and duct to achieve safe and complete exposure of the IAC through the RSA. MethodologyThis is a cross-sectional descriptive study where complete dissection of the endolymphatic sac and duct (ELSD) was performed on 20 preserved human temporal bones, measuring the distances of nine anatomical structures underlying or closely related to the ELSD. ResultsWhen evaluating the variability between the structures, the distance between the ELSD to the acoustic pore (AP) had little variability and remained constant in all specimens. The distance between the AP and the common cross (CC) presented in our study had the lowest coefficient of variation. The distance that had the greatest variability was the measurement of the jugular foramen (JF) both by retrosigmoid and translabyrinthine approaches (RSA-TLA). The rest of the variables remained stable. ConclusionsThe ELSD is a safe anatomical technique for dissection and exposure of the IAC during RSA in VS surgeries. In our study, the structures evaluated present little variability with the exception of the distances between the ELSD and the JF, which in some cases the JF exceeds the lower limit of the ELSD and IAC.

Modeling the Effects of Sowing Dates on Maize in Different Environments in the Tropical Area of Southwest China Using DSSAT

Maize yield is affected by meteorological conditions and cultivation management. Sowing date adjustment is one of the most commonly used cultivation management methods for achieving a high maize yield in the tropical area of Southwest China. This study conducted field experiments involving five maize cultivars with different sowing dates in Yunnan Province from 2012 to 2015. The parameters of the CERES model in the decision support systems for agrotechnology transfer (DSSAT) were calibrated, and its adaptability was validated. The model was applied to simulate and analyze the maize growing period and yield with different sowing dates over 12 years (2012–2023) in the tropical area of Southwest China. The results show that the DSSAT-Maize model demonstrates good adaptability in the southwestern region of China. The model predictions for maize flowering, maturity, and yield were compared with the measured values, yielding R2 values of 0.62, 0.64, and 0.92, d-index values of 0.86, 0.87, and 0.97, and normalized root-mean-square errors (nRMSEs) of 4.53%, 2.92%, and 6.37%, respectively. The verified model was used to assess the effects of different sowing dates on the maize growing period and yield. Sowing between 15 May and 29 May resulted in relatively higher yields with lower coefficients of variation. The whole growing season was shortened by 1.13 days, and the yield was decreased by 3% every 7 days ahead of the sowing date before early May. A delayed planting date after June had a positive effect on maize yields, with an average yield increase of 4% per 7 days of delay. The maize yield was significantly positively correlated with rainfall during the vegetative period and solar radiation during the reproductive period; meanwhile, it was significantly negatively correlated with solar radiation and the maximum temperature during the vegetative period and rainfall during the reproductive period. This study concluded that the sowing date significantly influenced maize’s growth period and yield in the tropical area of Southwest China. Delaying sowing after 15 May can help achieve higher yields, mainly because early sowing leads to insufficient rainfall in the vegetative period, while delayed sowing ensures adequate rainfall and higher total solar radiation.

Validity and Test-Retest Reliability of a Hand-Held Ultrasound Device in Measuring Kidney Metrics in Healthy Young Adults

Objective: The use of a hand-held ultrasound device provides a portable, cost-effective solution for renal assessments in rural settings, but their accuracy and reliability in measuring kidney metrics remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Lumify hand-held ultrasound device (LHUS) in capturing basic kidney metrics in healthy adults. Materials and Methods: Twenty individuals underwent renal sonography measurements, which included length, height, width, cortical thickness, parenchymal echogenicity, and renal resistive index (RRI). These measurements were completed using LHUS and the Epiq Elite ultrasound equipment system. LHUS measurements were repeated for test-retest reliability (TRR). Validity and TRR were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman plots, coefficient of variation (COV), and mean absolute percent error (MAPE). Results: There was poor agreement (0.414, p = .048) between equipment systems for RRI. All other measures demonstrated moderate to excellent agreement (ICC = 0.75–0.94, p &lt; .001) between systems. The left kidney showed poor agreement for RRI (0.06, p = .45). MAPE for all measurements between devices was &lt;5%, indicating acceptable accuracy. All repeated measurements showed moderate to excellent reliability (ICC = 0.71–0.96, p &lt; .001), with low mean COV for each measurement (0.02–0.08). Conclusion: Based on this study, LHUS appears to be a valid and reliable tool for basic kidney metrics in healthy adults, but caution should be used when obtaining an RRI, especially in the left kidney.

Transcriptomic and Methylomic Analyses Show Significant Shifts in Biosynthetic Processes and Reduced Intrapopulation Gene Expression Variance in PAH-Adapted Atlantic Killifish.

Environmental contaminants pose a significant selection pressure across taxa, potentiating evolved resistance to chemicals. However, rapid evolution may alter molecular and physiological homeostasis leading to trade-offs. To elucidate molecular underpinnings of evolved chemical resistance, we compared liver gene expression and methylation profiles in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-adapted Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) in the Republic site (RP), Elizabeth River, Virginia with PAH-sensitive Kings Creek (KC) fish. We found 1607 differentially expressed and 2252 alternatively spliced genes between RP and KC, with highly enriched genes involving lipid and amino acid metabolism, respectively. While 308 genes had differentially methylated regions, only 13 of these genes were differentially expressed. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2b gene (ahr2b) was differentially methylated and expressed, as well as alternatively spliced signifying its critical role in mediating PAH tolerance. Notably, the intrapopulation coefficient of variation (CoV) was lower in 82% of 17,566 expressed genes in RP fish compared to KC fish. Among other pathways, these genes with low CoV were highly enriched in bioenergetic processes inferring reduced metabolic physiological variation as a population in RP fish. Altered metabolic gene expression and overall reduced gene expression variance in RP fish warrant further studies on fitness trade-offs including altered susceptibility to other stressors associated with rapid adaptation to anthropogenic pressures.

Enhancing Quality Control in the Mix Design of High-Strength Concrete Using a Capacity-Based Approach

The mix design of concrete is an important aspect that affects its strength and durability. This paper aims to revisit the existing mix design method given in IS 10262:2019 through a capacity-based approach. The approach involves identifying the possible failure modes in concrete and eliminating the undesirable ones leading to significant reduction in dispersion. This is accomplished by utilizing coarse aggregates that meet a specific minimum strength requirement or threshold (e.g., ~ 77 MPa for M95 grade of concrete), which is determined through a priori estimating the cohesion and friction angle of the concrete. The methodology to estimate the cohesion and friction angle from a single unconfined compression test is proposed based on the Mohr–Coulomb theory and using the orientation of failure plane of fractured specimen as a supplemental information from the same experiment. This paper also offers a simple and approximate test procedure to estimate the aggregate's compressive strength (~ 106 MPa in this mix design) reasonably which is essential for the capacity-based mix design. An experimental programme is also carried out to design the concrete mix using the proposed capacity-based approach. The results indicate that M95 concrete is achieved with a low standard deviation and coefficient of variation (~ 3%), falling in class of excellent quality control as per ACI 214R-11. This quality control is crucial in seismic structural design as variations in concrete strength is likely to negate the underlying principle of strong column–weak beam philosophy resulting in the triggering of undesirable shear modes of failure.

Antimicrobial and acaricide sanitizer tablets produced by wet granulation of spray-dried soap and clove oil-loaded microemulsion.

A novel sanitizer tablet containing clove essential oil (CO) microemulsion was developed. A preformulation study using nuclear magnetic resonance and thermal analyses showed component compatibility. The main components of the samples remained intact despite a color change, probably due to a strong acid-base interaction between eugenol and diethanolamine. The CO microemulsion showed acaricidal and larvicidal activities superior to the commercial product, with product efficacy of 99.9% and larvae mortality of 94%. Optimal spray-drying conditions were achieved with inlet and outlet temperatures of 50°C and 40°C, respectively, an aspiration rate of 1 m3 min⁻1, and a 0.25 L h⁻1 injection flow. The feed suspension comprised 50% (v/v) liquid soap, 37.5% (v/v) water, 12.5% (v/v) ethanol, and 5.0% (w/v) silica. This formulation and processing parameters allowed for successful free-flow powder formation, providing a suitable matrix for incorporating the CO microemulsion via wet granulation without heating. Finally, sanitizer tablets produced from such granules resulted in a uniform product with low weight variation (coefficient of variation of 0.15%), eugenol content of 95.5% ± 3.3, and friability of 0.58%. Furthermore, the tablets showed rapid aqueous dispersion, forming a colloidal system with particle sizes of 221 nm and a zeta potential of -17.2 mV. Antimicrobial activity tests demonstrated the effectiveness of the sanitizer tablet against bacteria and fungi, exhibiting comparable antimicrobial potency to isolated CO. Hence, the sanitizer tablet developed represents a promising candidate as a practical and efficient solution for pest control, offering strong antimicrobial and acaricidal activity.

Bioavailability and phytotoxicity of clomazone to corn depend on soil characteristics and can be estimated by in situ pore water.

The injury caused by residual herbicides in soils to subsequent crops has been frequently reported and is largely related to soil physicochemical properties. Elucidating the interactions between herbicide toxicity and soil properties could help assess its phytotoxicity based on local soil characteristics. Here, the influence of soil properties on the accumulation and toxicity of clomazone as a model compound to corn was explored to obtain a universal indicator for estimating the toxicity of herbicides against crops. The phytotoxicity of clomazone to corn differed in the five tested soils with the median inhibitory concentration (IC50) values, according to the added concentration, fluctuating between 2.80 and 26.97 mg/kg. The uptake of clomazone by corn was primarily affected by its sorption onto soils and showed a positive correlation with the concentration of clomazone in in situ pore water (CIPW) (R2 ≥ 0.775, P < 0.001). In contrast to results derived from traditional soil clomazone concentrations (Csoil) determined through organic solvent extraction, consistent IC50 values (1.344-1.626 mg/L) were obtained based on CIPW in all five soils with a much lower coefficient of variation. These findings indicate that measuring the concentration of clomazone in in situ pore water provides a reliable and comparable method for evaluating its bioavailability and phytotoxicity on corn. Using CIPW rather than Csoil as a herbicide indicator is more accurate for assessing its actual phytotoxicity. These results are important for the scientific application of clomazone and the safe production of corn. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Development and Application of a TaqMan RT-qPCR for the Detection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Pigs.

The global livestock industry is facing a serious threat from a widespread foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) epidemic. The timely detection of FMDV can significantly mitigate its harmful effects. This study aimed to establish and evaluate a TaqMan fluorescence quantitative PCR assay to assess its sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and stability. The standard curve equation range is 6.43 × 109-6.43 × 101 copies/µL, with an R2 value of 0.996 and a standard curve equation of y = -3.586x + 36.245. The method successfully detected 64.3 copies/µL of the target gene for FMDV and exhibited high specificity for FMDV. Repeatability tests demonstrated low coefficients of variation within and between groups (<2%), indicating good reproducibility. The clinical samples analyzed using this method showed results consistent with those of the SYBR Green I RT-qPCR assay, confirming the reliability of the method. Overall, the developed test method displayed high sensitivity, specificity, reproducibility, and stability, making it suitable for the rapid diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease in clinical settings.

Uncertainty analysis of digital twin model of mine ventilation system

The digital twin model of mine ventilation system (DTMVS) plays an important role in intelligent safety management. However, the uncertainty of the ventilation resistance coefficient, which is the core parameter of the model, makes it challenging to accurately construct a DTMVS. In this study, Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS) and ventilation resistance coefficient estimation models (VRCEMs) are used to analyze the uncertainty. First, the LHS method was used to explore the effect of uncertainty in the simulated airflow by continuously increasing the level of uncertainty in the ventilation resistance coefficients. Subsequently, the ventilation resistance coefficients were estimated using the VRCEMs, and the uncertainty of the ventilation resistance coefficient and the simulated airflow was analyzed. The results showed that the ventilation resistance coefficients with a 5% coefficient of variation can cause the DTMVS to lose 34% of the real airflow data points. The degree of uncertainty in the ventilation resistance coefficients estimated by the VRCEM-GA (VRCEM using genetic algorithm) and VRCEM-DE (VRCEM using differential evolution algorithm) methods was enhanced by 27.4% and 4.4%, respectively, compared with VRCEM-ES (VRCEM using evolutionary strategy algorithm). The VRCEM-ES model had the least influence on the uncertainty of the simulated airflow of DTMVS. The simulated airflow of the DTMVS constructed based on VRCEMs fluctuated normally within the confidence interval. VRCEMs had a higher sensitivity to the ventilation resistance coefficients of branches with low coefficients of variation.

Development of an Improved Thiosulfate-Utilizing Denitrifying Bacteria-Based Ecotoxicity Test with High Detection Sensitivity and Reproducibility.

Microorganism-based ecotoxicity assessment has been widely used as a reliable tool showing direct biochemical impacts of contaminants on ecosystems and the environment. The present study aimed at developing a thiosulfate-utilizing denitrifying bacteria (TUDB)-based ecotoxicity test with high detection sensitivity and favorable reproducibility. To achieve this goal, existing TUDB toxicity tests were improved by employing a pure culture of Thiobacillus thioparus ATCC 8158 and optimizing test conditions, particularly in terms of inoculated microbial biomass, incubating temperature, and operational pH. From control tests, it was found that 4 h is a sufficient processing time for TUDB test kits. As a result of optimization, 20 mg VSS/L of initial bacterial biomass, 25 °C of incubating temperature, and 6 of operational pH were determined as the most favorable test conditions, providing enhanced detection sensitivity and reproducibility. Under these optimal test conditions, I conducted toxicity tests for diverse toxic metals and obtained 0.65 ± 0.03, 1.09 ± 0.04, 1.21 ± 0.07, 0.13 ± 0.01, 0.56 ± 0.04, 1.42 ± 0.03, 0.98 ± 0.02, and 2.12 ± 0.05 mg/L of 4 h EC50 values for Ag+, As3+, Cd2+, Cr6+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Ni2+, and Pb2+, respectively. These EC50 values are substantially lower than those from earlier TUDB tests, demonstrating the high detection sensitivity of the current TUDB tests. Moreover, the present TUDB tests attained very low coefficient of variation (CV) values (1.6-6.3%) for the EC50, showing favorable reproducibility of the test methodology. In addition, the current TUDB toxicity tests offer numerous advantages for ecotoxicity assessment, including versatility for diverse test samples, no requirement for advanced equipment, and no distortion of end-point measurement. These refinements render the TUDB tests a favorable ecotoxicity assessment with enhanced sensitivity and reproducibility.

A novel bioassay for thyroid-blocking immunoglobulins.

Thyroid-blocking immunoglobulins (TBI) are present in 10%-15% of patients with autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD). TBI affect thyroid function. The analytical performance of a novel TBI bioassay was evaluated. Sera from AITD patients were tested with a cell-based TBI reporter bioassay (Thyretain®) with the expression of a luciferase transgene as readout and a new "Turbo™" TBI bioassay with a readout based on a cyclic AMP-activated luciferase. All samples were also run on two TSH-R binding immunoassays. A Passing-Bablok regression, a Bland-Altman plot, and user/lot comparisons were performed. In addition, dose-response curves for Turbo and Thyretain were fitted using serial dilutions, and half-maximal and 80% inhibitory concentrations (IC50/IC80) were compared. Of 1,011 unselected AITD patients, 131 patients (212 samples) were TBI positive. Of the 212 samples, 149 (70.3%), 47 (22%), and 16 (7.5%) were hypothyroid, euthyroid, and hyperthyroid, respectively. The three thyrotropin receptor antibody (TSH-R-Ab) assays were negative in 90 controls devoid of autoimmune thyroid disorders. In contrast, the Turbo cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) TBI, Thyretain TBI, and the binding assays detected TBI in 212 (100%), 168 (79%), and 138/180 (65%) samples, respectively (p< 0.001). Turbo highly correlated with thyroid function (p< 0.001). The percentage inhibition in both Turbo and Thyretain correlated with TSH-R-Ab binding assay positivity (both p< 0.001). The two bioassays correlated (r = 0.8, p< 0.001), and the Bland-Altman plot displayed no significant bias (0.24). Values scatter with slight systemic deviation between TBI mean values of 10%-50% inhibition, with higher Turbo than Thyretain results. Intra-assay validation demonstrated adequate precision with a very low coefficient of variation (average CV 5.4%) and lower CV with samples with a high inhibitory effect (CVAverage= 1.7% for a sample with 95% inhibition Thyretain). CV did not differ between users (p = 0.35) and lots (p = 0.121). The IC50/IC80 values were 1.55 ng/mL/3.48 ng/mL for Turbo and 6.76 ng/mL/18.46 ng/mL for Thyretain, respectively, demonstrating the markedly higher sensitivity of Turbo. The novel, easy-to-perform, rapid, and reliable Turbo TSH-R blocking bioassay detected significantly more TBI than the established immunoassays, emphasizing its higher analytical performance and clinical utility in the management of patients with AITD.

Stochastic modeling of periodic beams under uncertain boundary conditions and environmental fluctuations

Periodic structures have been attracting a great deal of academic and industrial interest lately, due to their distinctive vibration and wave propagation behavior, which can be explored for the development of innovative solutions to structural dynamics and vibroacoustic problems. Although such a potential has been demonstrated in a large number of studies, the investigation of detrimental effects, which can be present in practical applications, is still necessary. This paper reports investigations on the combined influence of uncertainties affecting ambient temperature — which alters material properties and induces stress-stiffening due to constrained thermal dilatation — and boundary conditions (BCs) on the bandgap characteristics of periodic beams. The space-dependent temperature fluctuations are represented as a one-dimensional stationary Gaussian random field, discretized using the Karhunen-Loève expansion, while non-ideal BCs, represented as springs, are modeled as discrete random variables. Sampling-based stochastic analyses of the central frequency and bandwidth of the beam’s attenuation bands are performed using Monte Carlo simulations. The results demonstrate that the variability in the attenuation band features is influenced not only by the coefficients of variation (CVs) of the input random quantities, but also by the correlation length of the random temperature fluctuations. Numerical simulations reveal that the bandgap central frequency is primarily affected by the temperature random field, while the BCs govern the bandwidth. Although low CV and standard deviation values are obtained for the dispersion of the bandgap features, reliability analyses indicate that some designs exhibit low reliability. Increased variability in both the bandgap central frequency and bandwidth is observed for greater temperature correlation lengths and CVs. The contributions of the study include the proposal of a comprehensive stochastic modeling procedure duly accounting for relevant random influences, and evidencing that those influences can be significant, requiring consideration in the design of robust periodic structures.

Power or speed: Which metric is more accurate for modelling endurance running performance on track?

This study aimed to compare the accuracy of the power output, measured by a power meter, with respect to the speed, measured by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sport watch to determine the critical power (CP) and speed (CS), work over CP (W') and CS (D'), and long-duration performance (i.e., 60 min). Fifteen highly trained athletes randomly performed seven time trials on a 400m track. The CP/CS and W'/D' were defined through the inverse of time model using the 3, 4, 5, 10, and 20 min trials. The 60 min performance was estimated through the power law model using the 1, 3, and 10 min trials and compared with the actual performance. A lower standard error of the estimate was obtained when using the power meter (CP: 2.7 [2.1-3.3] % and W': 13.8 [10.4-17.3] %) compared to the speed reported by the IMU (CS: 3.4 [2.5-4.3] %) and D': 20.7 [16.6-24.7] %) and GNSS sport watch (CS: 3.4 [2.5-4.3] % and D': 20.6 [16.7-24.7] %). A lower coefficient of variation was also observed for the power meter (4.9 [3.7-6.1] %) Regarding the speed reported by the IMU (10.9 [7.1-14.8] %) and GNSS sport watch (10.9 [7.0-14.7] %) in the 60 min performance estimation, the power meter offered lower errors than the IMU and GNSS sport watch for modelling endurance performance on the track.

Estimation of Genetic Variability for Yield and Its Component Traits in Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.)

The present investigation was conducted with 12 chickpea genotypes, raised in randomized block design with three replications during the Rabi season 2023-2024 at at Organic Research Farm, Karguanji, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi (U.P.). The experiment was laid-out in randomized block design with three replications of the plant geometry was maintained at 30 cm x 10 cm. The present experimental material showed a wide range of phenotypic variation for number of seed per pod, number of primary branches per plant, biological yield per plant and seed yield per plant, number of secondary branches per plant, number of pods per plant and harvest index whereas, low phenotypic coefficient of variation was observed for plant height, 100-seed weight, days to 50 per cent flowering and days to maturity as revealed by high values of Coefficient of Range. The estimates of high heritability coupled with high genetic advance expressed as a per cent of mean were observed for biological yield per plant, seed yield per plant and number of pods per plant manifesting the preponderance of additive gene action on the expression of these traits. In the investigation, genotypes viz., RSG-44 and Aruna were superior not only for seed yield per plant but also related traits like 100-seed weight, biological yield per plant, number of pods per plant and number of primary branches per plant.