Low Load Research Articles

Ground experimental study of the electron density of plasma sheath reduced by pulsed discharge

Abstract A plasma sheath will be generated around the hypersonic vehicle during reentry, where a large number of electrons will significantly affect the propagation of EM waves, resulting in the phenomenon of communication blackout. This paper proposes a method of reducing the electron density of reentry vehicle plasma sheath by pulsed discharge. Experiments were conducted in a high-speed plasma wind tunnel to study the effects and scope of pulsed discharge on the plasma sheath electron density using an ultrahigh-speed camera and microwave diagnostic system. The experimental results show that the application of pulsed discharge resulted in the formation of a light intensity attenuation region measuring 14 × 19 × 4 cm around the discharge area, with an attenuation degree ranging from 30% to 58%. The microwave diagnostic results indicate that after the actuator discharge, the electron density of the plasma sheath within a 4 cm height above the vehicle wall is significantly reduced compared to before the actuator discharge, with a maximum reduction of approximately 86%. These results demonstrate that this method has significant effects on reducing plasma sheath electron density. Furthermore, the low power consumption, load, and space requirements suggest that it has potential for practical applications.

Omissions by Design in a Survey: Is This a Good Choice when using Structural Equation Models?

Abstract Missing observations can arise due to the effort required to answer many questions in long surveys and the cost required to obtain some responses. Implementing a planned missing design in surveys helps reduce the number of questions each respondent needs to answer, thereby lowering survey fatigue and cutting down on implementation costs. The three-form and the two-method design are two different types of planned missing designs. An important consideration when designing a study with omissions by design is to know how it will affect statistical results. In this work, a simulation study is conducted to analyze how the usual fit measures, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), standardized root mean square residual (SRMR), comparative fit index (CFI), and Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) perform in the adjustment of a Structural Equation Model. The results revealed that the CFI, TLI, and SRMR indices exhibit sensitivity to omissions with small samples, low factor loadings and large models. Overall, this study contributes to our understanding of the importance of considering omissions by design in market research.

Moxibustion versus non-moxibustion for immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in patients with HIV: A 48-week prospective cohort study: 艾灸V.S.非艾灸治疗HIV感染者免疫重建炎性综合征:一项48周的前瞻性队列研究

ObjectiveTo assess the effects of moxibustion on immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) by tracking T-cell subsets over a 48-week prospective cohort study. MethodsPatients with AIDS who had low viral loads and weakened immune systems were divided into a moxibustion group and a non-moxibustion group. The non-moxibustion group received standard western treatment, including 48 weeks of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The moxibustion group received ART combined with moxibusion therapy, administered three times weekly. Each treatment lasted 10 weeks, with four courses completed over 48 weeks, separated by 2-week breaks. At different time points, plasma levels of CD4+, CD8+, CD45RA+, CD45RO+, CD4+CD28+, CD8+CD38+, and CD4+CD38+ were compared between the two groups. ResultsA total of 200 eligible patients were included and divided into two groups, with 100 in the non-moxibustion group and 100 in the moxibustion group. At Week 24, the CD4+T cell count was (180.71 ± 79.62) cells/μL in the non-moxibustion group and (218.22 ± 82.02) cells/μL in the moxibustion group. By Week 36, the counts were (204.83 ± 96.78) cells/μL and (239.35±81.90) cells/μL, respectively. At Weeks 24 and 48, the CD8+ T cell and CD45RO+ counts were higher in the moxibustion group than in the non-moxibustion group (P < 0.05). By Week 48, the CD45RA+ count was also higher in the moxibustion group (P < 0.05). At Week 24, the CD4+CD25+ count was lower in the moxibustion group than in the non-moxibustion group (P < 0.05). ConclusionMoxibustion enhances immune function in patients with AIDS and IRIS by regulating T-HIVcell subsets and increasing CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte counts.

Increased preload and echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function.

Echocardiographic diastolic parameters are used to diagnose and monitor increased left ventricular filling pressure (LVFP) and we hypothesized that increased loading conditions cause increased E/e'. Our aim was to assess the effect of preload augmentation on diastolic parameters among both healthy subjects and subjects with known cardiac disease. We included 129 subjects merged from two cohorts; one dialysis cohort (n=47) and one infusion cohort (n=82). Echocardiography was performed immediately before and after hemodialysis (HD) or saline infusion, under low and high loading conditions. Elevated LVFP was defined as septal E/e'≥15 and/or lateral E/e'≥13 at high-loading conditions. The population was divided according to elevated LVFP (n=31) and normal LVFP (n=98). The load difference for the population was 972±460mL, with no differences in load difference between elevated and normal LVFP (p NS). The subjects with elevated LVFP were older (63±11 vs. 46±16 years, p<.001), and had lower LV ejection fraction (50±14vs. 59±8.1%, p<.01). After augmented preload, EDV increased in the normal LVFP group (p<.01) but remained unchanged in the elevated LVFP group (p NS). Both E and e' increased among the subjects with normal LVFP, whereas E/e' remained unchanged (∆E/e' +.1 [-.5-1.2]), p NS). Among the subjects with elevated, LVFP we observed increased E but not e', resulting in significantly increased E/e' (∆ average E/e' +2.4 [0-4.0], p<.01). Augmented preload does not seem to affect E/e' among subjects with normal LVFP, whereas E/e' seems to increase significantly among subjects with elevated LVFP.

Seismic behavior of prefabricated lightweight steel composite frame-sandwich wall with enhanced border structure

An innovative prefabricated lightweight steel composite frame-sandwich wall with an enhanced border structure (LSCF-SW), suitable for low-energy consumption low-rise residences, is proposed. Low cyclic loading experiment were conducted to study its seismic behavior. The main parameters include wallboard border type (composite border, mixed border) and steel reinforcement strength (HRB450, HRB500). One full-scale LSCF specimen and four full-scale LSCF-SW specimens are prepared, and their seismic behavior is investigated in terms of failure mode, hysteretic characteristics, ultimate bearing capacity, stiffness degradation, deformation capacity, energy dissipation, and strain characteristics. The results revealed that the sandwich wall (SW) with an enhanced border and lightweight steel composite frame (LSCF) is the primary and secondary seismic fortification lines of the structure, respectively. The LSCF-SW structure exhibited a damage evolution process with four stages. The failure mode involving concrete crushing at the bolted connection area is observed in the specimens with composite bordered sandwich walls (LSCF-SWC), and dense diagonal cracks are discovered in the specimens with mixed bordered sandwich walls (LSCF-SWM). Compared to LSCF-SWC specimens, the ultimate load of LSCF-SWM specimens increases by 23.0 %–50.3 %, and the initial stiffness improves by 16.3 %–42.3 %. The deformation capacity of LSCF-SWC specimens is superior to that of LSCF-SWM specimens. As the steel reinforcement strength increases, the ultimate bearing capacity and initial stiffness of the LSCF-SW also rise. A shear model for the bolt group and a local bending model for the wallboard border are proposed, establishing an ultimate bearing capacity calculation method for LSCF-SW. The calculation results closely align with the experimental results.

Transcriptomic analysis provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the resistance of Penaeus vannamei to Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP)

The Penaeus vannamei aquaculture industry is facing a significant challenge in the form of hepatopancreatic microsporidiosis (HPM) caused by Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP), resulting in substantial economic losses. However, the extent of knowledge regarding the mechanisms by which shrimp resist EHP is limited. We screened resistant and susceptible shrimp and found that resistant shrimp had lower EHP load and less tissue damage. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the EHP resistance of shrimp, a comparison was conducted at the transcriptional level between the resistant and susceptible families. Transcriptomic analysis of shrimp hepatopancreas revealed significant differences between the resistant and susceptible families. Compared to the susceptible family, the immune system of the resistant family was activated. The resistant family showed up-regulation in the expression of cathepsin L, C-type lectin, penaeidin, chitinase genes, and metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450-related genes. Additionally, the resistant shrimp exhibited a higher capacity for amino acid uptake. The observed differences in the resistant and susceptible family transcriptome may contribute to the shrimp's resistance to EHP.

Hands-on training: Effects on virtual presence, learning-centered emotions, cognitive load and learning outcome when learning with virtual reality

The effect of highly immersive virtual reality (VR) on learning is mixed, partly due to technical challenges with VR equipment like head-mounted displays (HMDs) and control devices. These can distract learners from the learning environment and its relevant learning material within. This challenge might cause lower virtual presence, higher negative emotions, and extraneous cognitive (working memory) load; all of which have a negative impact on learning outcome. This study investigates whether hands-on training of the interface improves virtual presence, learning emotions, cognitive load and learning outcomes when learning about chemistry in an immersive VR environment. Seventy-six eighth graders participated in a between-subjects design (hands-on training vs. no training). The results show that pupils with hands-on training (n = 38) showed significantly higher virtual presence, lower extraneous cognitive load and higher learning outcomes than those without any initial hands-on training (n = 38). However, no significant differences in pupils’ learning emotions and in intrinsic and germane cognitive load were found. Implications for the design of highly immersive VR environments are discussed from both a cognitive and an affective perspective.

Digital eye strain symptoms worsen during prolonged digital tasks, associated with a reduction in productivity

PurposeIt is often stated that digital eye strain can impact productivity and/or work accuracy, but the relationship between symptoms, productivity, and work accuracy has been unclear. Hence this study tracked the development of visuo-ocular symptoms during prolonged digital tasks and to explore the impact of higher and lower cognitive load levels on visuo-ocular symptoms, productivity, and work accuracy. MethodsThirty-five participants (23.2 ± 4.0 years) who had digital eye strain (diagnosed with the Computer Vision Syndrome Questionnaire) undertook an uninterrupted laptop adapted Eriksen Flanker task for 60 min on two separate days, once with a high cognitive load in randomised sequence. Symptoms were assessed at baseline and every 10 min throughout the task. ResultsAll visuo-ocular symptom scores significantly worsened (F = 87.783, p < 0.001) with time, with the symptom severity increasing faster with the higher cognitive load (F = 7.110, p < 0.001). The mean total number of tasks completed was greater for the lower (1060.8 ± 296.5) than the higher (532.2 ± 123.4) cognitive load tasks (F = 138.830, p < 0.001), reducing with time (F = 7.339, p < 0.001), but in a similar way for both cognitive loads (F = 1.795, p = 0.154). Task accuracy was not affected by the cognitive load of the task (F = 1.729, p = 0.197) and was consistent over time (F = 1.885, p = 0.135). ConclusionsSymptoms increased with task duration in individuals with digital eye strain, with a faster rate for more demanding tasks. This was associated with a decrease in the task completion rate (productivity), but not the work accuracy.

Effects of porosity and acidity on deoxygenation and denitrogenation in catalytic pyrolysis of protein-rich microalgae with metal-doped zeolites

The protein-rich defatted microalgae (Nannochloropsis gaditana) after lipid extraction was used as feedstock in catalytic pyrolysis to optimize economic returns of microalgae waste utilization. The effects of Ni- and Co-modified HZSM-5 on the formation of aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs), deoxygenation and denitrogenation in catalytic fast pyrolysis were studied via pyrolysis-gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) at 500°C. Monometallic modified catalysts were synthesized by loading 0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, and 2 wt% of metal species onto HZSM-5 using ion exchange methods. The composition and pyrolysis pathways of primary volatiles detectable by gas chromatography (GC) were investigated, which included phenols, aliphatic hydrocarbons, AHs, acids, furans, N-heterocyclic compounds (N-HCs), amides and nitriles. The relative yields in AHs increased about 10.9 (0.5 wt% Ni/HZSM-5 or Ni0.5), 10.2 (Ni1), 6.8 (Ni2), 7.3 (Co0.5), 9.7 (Co1) and 7.8 (Co2) times compared to the relative yield from defatted microalgae pyrolysis. The doping of metals onto the HZSM-5 altered its porosity and acidity, leading to an impaired diffusion of reactants but also the creation of new acidic sites, which enhanced the selectivity towards monoaromatic hydrocarbons (MAHs) by aromatization and cleavage of N-containing heterocycles via the H radicals formation. Ni-loaded HZSM-5 outperformed Co-modified zeolite with respect to AHs production, deoxygenation and denitrogenation. The specific surface area (SBET) and pore volume were positively correlated with the formation of AHs, while strong acidity showed a strong positive correlation with the generation of nitriles and N-HCs. Relatively low loadings of Ni and Co (0.5–1 wt%) on HZSM-5 (Si/Al = 23) were recommended to decrease the N-containing compounds in pyrolysis vapors from defatted microalgae. The findings may shed light on the development of a high-performance HZSM-5 catalyst for the production of AHs and denitrogenation from protein-rich defatted microalgae.

Photo-catalyzed dearomative coupling of benzylmalonates and alkynes with CO2 leading to spiro-1,4-cyclohexadiene carboxylic acids

A dearomative coupling reaction of benzylmalonates and alkynes with CO2via visible-light catalysis is developed, leading to a series of spiro-1,4-cyclohexadiene carboxylic acids. This three-component transformation achieves sequential dearomatization, alkenylation, and carboxylation of non-activated bezene ring, building spiro architecture and installing two functional groups in one reaction step. The strategy has the advantages of mild conditions, broad substrate scope, low loading of photocatalyst, redox neutral, excellent yield and high selectivity. Gram-scale reaction and product derivatizations indicate promising application prospects. Mechanistic studies reveal that the reaction might proceed through tandem radical addition, dearomatization and nucleophilic addition.

Low loading of Pt on MoB Constructed by microwave Quasi-solid approach with solvent Regulation for hydrogen evolution reaction

The interaction between metal nanoclusters and the carrier can enhance the electron transfer rate to optimize the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance, but the common synthesis approaches often lead to metal particle agglomeration, and then blocking active sites. Herein, highly-dispersed Pt nanoclusters supported onto molybdenum boride (MoB) is developed through microwave approach with various solvent to regulate the catalytic performance. The synthesized electrocatalyst with the addition of methanol (Pt/MoB-M) exhibits excellent electrocatalytic performance towards HER with low overpotential (13 mV at 10 mA cm−2), small Tafel slope (24 mV dec−1), and high mass activity (10.06 A/mgPt at 50 mV). This work presents a novel approach to prepare highly-efficient electrocatalysts for renewable energy-related applications of non-carbon supported low loading of precious metals.

Why are the railways of Eastern Europe less efficient than those of the West?

We use a DEA analysis to compare the efficiency of the railways of Western and Eastern Europe and find while most railways of Western Europe are on the efficiency frontier, those of Eastern Europe are typically a long way from it. One explanation may be that the reform process only started much later in Eastern Europe than in the West, although it appears that Eastern Europe has largely caught up. Secondly, Eastern Europe suffered a significant loss of traffic after the end of the communist regime, and this may still be resulting in an excess of labour and assets. There is some evidence that this remains the case for labour and freight vehicles. Although the excess of freight vehicles may be largely vehicles out of service, they still contribute to the poor efficiency scores for Eastern Europe. It is also the case that the countries of Eastern Europe suffer some disadvantages in terms of population density. However, we believe that two aspects of policy play an important role in the poorer performance of Eastern European countries compared with Western. Firstly, is the poorer infrastructure quality associated with lower levels of investment. This shows up as less use of electric traction and slower train speeds, resulting in lower productivity of staff and assets. Despite the efforts of the European Commission to overcome this problem, there is still a long way to go. Secondly, is the strong use of public service obligations to maintain high levels of service with relatively low load factors. If it is desired to raise the efficiency of Eastern European railways, governments in Eastern Europe will need to consider whether they are specifying excessively high levels of service.

Boron nitride quantum dots supported hollow NH2-MIL-125 drive photo-Fenton-PMS system for photocatalytic tetracycline degradation: Contribution of tannic acid etching

NH2-MIL-125(Ti) materials had great potential for photocatalytic applications but had low activity due to exciton effect and narrow absorption range of visible light. The surface oxygen-containing negative functional groups of boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs) could overcome these defects, but due to the low load capacity, a higher specific surface area of the substrate was usually required. In this paper, a hollow Ti-MOF material was developed by etching technology. The hollow structure formed by tannic acid etching broadened the absorption range of visable light and provided more alternative surfaces for loading BNQDs. The 85.2% of high tetracycline (TC) removal efficiency for the best sample (BNQDs-5@20-Ti-MOF+PMS) was obtained, which was about 56.8 and 1.9 times of the 20-Ti-MOF and BNQDs-5@20-Ti-MOF, respectively. BNQDs-5@20-Ti-MOF+PMS system showed a great TC degradation efficiency in a wide pH range (pH=5-9). In addition, reaction temperature and the inorganic ions did not show significant inhibition effect for TC removal. Both free radical and non-free radical pathways were involved in the TC degration by BNQDs-5@20-Ti-MOF+PMS system, among which O2•- and 1O2 played the key roles. Interestingly, multiple 1O2 production paths contributed to the high efficiency and stability of BNQDs-5@20-Ti-MOF+PMS system. This study revealed a reasonable combination of Ti-MOF and BNQDs, which provided a new efficient photocatalyst for environmental remediation.

Aging Does Not Alter Ankle, Muscle, and Tendon Stiffness at Low Loads Relevant to Stance.

Older adults have difficulty maintaining balance when faced with postural disturbances, a task that is influenced by the stiffness of the triceps surae and Achilles tendon. Age-related changes in Achilles tendon stiffness have been reported at matched levels of effort, but measures typically have not been made at matched loads, which is important due to age-dependent changes in strength. Moreover, there has been limited investigation into age-dependent changes in muscle stiffness. Here, we investigate how age alters muscle and tendon stiffness and their influence on ankle stiffness. We hypothesized that age-related changes in muscle and tendon contribute to reduced ankle stiffness in older adults and evaluated this hypothesis when either load or effort were matched. We used B-mode ultrasound with joint-level perturbations to quantify ankle, muscle, and tendon stiffness across a range of loads and efforts in seventeen healthy younger and older adults. At matched loads relevant to standing and the stance phase of walking, there was no significant difference in ankle, muscle, or tendon stiffness between groups (all p > 0.13). However, at matched effort, older adults exhibited a significant decrease in ankle (27%; p = 0.008), muscle (37%; p = 0.02), and tendon stiffness (22%; p = 0.03) at 30% of maximum effort. This is consistent with our finding that older adults were 36% weaker than younger adults in plantarflexion (p = 0.004). Together, these results indicate that, at the loads tested in this study, there are no age-dependent changes in the mechanical properties of muscle or tendon, only differences in strength that result in altered ankle, muscle, and tendon stiffness at matched levels of effort.

Thermosensitive Liposomes for Gemcitabine Delivery to Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma.

Treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with gemcitabine is limited by an increased desmoplasia, poor vascularization, and short plasma half-life. Heat-sensitive liposomes modified by polyethylene glycol (PEG; PEGylated liposomes) can increase plasma stability, reduce clearance, and decrease side effects. Nevertheless, translation of heat-sensitive liposomes to the clinic has been hindered by the low loading efficiency of gemcitabine and by the difficulty of inducing hyperthermia in vivo. This study was designed to investigate the effect of phospholipid content on the stability of liposomes at 37 °C and their release under hyperthermia conditions; this was accomplished by employing a two-stage heating approach. First the liposomes were heated at a fast rate, then they were transferred to a holding bath. Thermosensitive liposomes formulated with DPPC: DSPC: PEG2k (80:15:5, mole%) exhibited minimal release of carboxyfluorescein at 37 °C over 30 min, indicating stability under physiological conditions. However, upon exposure to hyperthermic conditions (43 °C and 45 °C), these liposomes demonstrated a rapid and significant release of their encapsulated content. The encapsulation efficiency for gemcitabine was calculated at 16.9%. Additionally, fluorescent analysis during the removal of unencapsulated gemcitabine revealed an increase in pH. In vitro tests with BxPC3 and KPC cell models showed that these thermosensitive liposomes induced a heat-dependent cytotoxic effect comparable to free gemcitabine at temperatures above 41 °C. This study highlights the effectiveness of the heating mechanism and cell models in understanding the current challenges in developing gemcitabine-loaded heat-sensitive liposomes.

Insights from tensile fracture properties and full-field strain evolution of deep coral reef limestone under dynamic loads

Coral reef limestone (CRL) commonly undergoes dynamic tension when underground structures of island reefs encounter impacts, explosions, or seismic activities. Given the complexity of biological pores, the dynamic tensile fracture characteristics of CRL are poorly understood. Therefore, the dynamic tensile fracture behaviors of deep CRL were systematically observed by Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar tests and digital image techniques. Comparing to traditional rocks, the macro-pores near failure band would significantly change cracking path. The failure patterns are dominated by loading rate. The strongly dependence of dynamic tensile strength and dynamic crack initiation toughness on loading rate suggests the two indices overcome the effect of CRL macro-pores under dynamic impacts. At low loading rates, tensile fractures predominantly follow intergranular cracks, whereas transgranular cracks dominate at higher rates. The fractal dimension of fracture surface decreases with increasing crack propagation velocity, loading rate, and dynamic crack initiation toughness. Due to the unique marine sedimentary environment, the mechanical heterogeneity in multiple scales distinguishes CRL from terrestrial rock materials. The insights into underlying mechanisms of dynamic tension provide support to optimization of blasting scheme and stability assessments for island underground engineering.

Effect of loading rate on characteristics of cyclic structural adjustment of sandstone granules

During underground coal seam mining, changes in the working face advancement rate can easily affect the compaction state of granules in the collapse zone. This is an important factor in the induction of gas disasters and surface subsidence in mining areas. In this work, a cyclic loading and unloading mechanical test of granules under different loading rates was carried out. The changes in mechanical parameters of the granules at various stages were investigated. It is shown that the strain of each group of specimens under cyclic loading shows an increasing trend and the final strain increases with the loading rate. The input energy of the granules increases under cyclic loading, and under a low loading rate, the compaction force needs to overcome interparticle friction to destroy the relatively stable structure, which results in a need for more energy to achieve the same level of deformation. The acoustic emission ringing counts of each group of granules specimens show an overall increasing trend, with the highest proportion of ringing counts in the first loading stage. The compaction of pores and filling of particles under cyclic loading is a “uniform compaction, stable change, slow adjustment” dynamic process. When the loading is slow, the relative positions of the granule particles in each stress gradient are more adequately adjusted. The results of this study provide important theoretical support for the scientific formulation of gas control strategies and the prevention of surface subsidence in air-mining zones under different mining speeds.

Elevating biotransamiantion of pineapple peel-derived furfural into furfurylamine by recombinant Escherichia coli carrying pyruvate decarboxylase and mutant ω-transaminase with low loading of amine donor

Elevating biotransamiantion of pineapple peel-derived furfural into furfurylamine by recombinant Escherichia coli carrying pyruvate decarboxylase and mutant ω-transaminase with low loading of amine donor

Experimental and crystal plasticity study on hydrogen-assisted fatigue crack growth behavior of IN625 superalloy

The fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior of IN625 alloy was studied by experimental methods and crystal plasticity simulations. Based on the experimental FCG rate curves, it is evident that hydrogen significantly accelerates FCG, and calculations show that this acceleration factor reaches a maximum of 2.41 times at 1Hz. Hydrogen results in smaller plastic deformation zones compared to hydrogen-free samples. The interaction between hydrogen and dislocations leads to the nucleation of micro-voids along the slip planes, promoting the hydrogen-assisted cracking process. Lower loading frequencies results in finer fatigue striations and more pronounced hydrogen embrittlement features on the fracture surface.

Utility of GeneXpert in Diagnosis of Pediatric Tuberculosis and Detection of Rifampicin Resistance

Abstract Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in developing countries, including India, where children under 15 years account for 12% of all TB cases. The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) recommends the use of GeneXpert/Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) for TB diagnosis, followed by Line Probe Assay (LPA) for detecting drug resistance. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of TB and rifampicin resistance in pediatric patients and to evaluate the utility of CBNAAT in comparison with LPA and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted over one year, from 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022, at a tertiary care hospital in western Maharashtra. A total of 528 samples from pediatric patients (aged &lt;18 years) suspected of having TB were included. Samples underwent CBNAAT testing and Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Positive samples were further analyzed using LPA or Mycobacterial Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) culture. Results: Among the 528 samples analyzed, gastric lavage accounted for 81.25% of the specimens. CBNAAT detected TB in 61 (11.55%) of the samples, with 15 (24.59%) of these showing rifampicin resistance. Samples with very low or low bacterial loads were often missed by Ziehl-Neelsen staining. Conclusion: Pediatric tuberculosis continues to be a public health concern in developing countries. The study found an 11.55% positivity rate in children under 18 years of age, with 24.59% of positive cases exhibiting rifampicin resistance. The findings underscore the importance of using advanced diagnostic techniques like CBNAAT and highlight the limitations of Ziehl-Neelsen staining in detecting low bacterial loads.