Mean Values Of Samples Research Articles

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF SHUHART CONTROL CHARTS

The article is devoted to the analysis of the Shewhart control charts sensitivity for quantitative data depended on the number of sample values, on the basis of which the current values and are calculated, and depends on the probability of choosing the control limits.The sensitivity of the Shewhart control charts is their ability to detect possible changes in the technological process, i.e. the appearance of the process biasing or its values scattering increasing.Sensitivity analysis for mean values control charts was carried out. Sensitivity is estimated based on the mean length of the series – the mean number of samples. The samples are taken and analyzed through the same time intervals. It is supposed that the sample mean values are not correlated. As shown by the analysis, the sensitivity depends on the number of elements in the samples for mean value charts. In relation to corrective actions, the chart sensitivity of average values for the number of values in the sample is 20% is less than at . This can significantly increase the allowable losses due to the reduction of product quality produced in small batches. The dependence at is additionally presented to reflect the effect of the sample volume.S-charts sensitivity analysis is carried out. It indicates that assertion regarding the numerical values in the samples in the normative documents ( and in some cases 3) is fair.When using - and -charts together, the process is considered to be statistically manageable in the case when both charts confirm this. Practically the simultaneous shift of the normalized value of the technological process and scattering increase is almost not observed. Therefore, this case is more theoretical.The knowledge of the control charts sensitivity (the number of steps of sampling control) allows us to determine the intervals between samples and introduce additional warning boundary values, when it is necessary, provided that the technological process is short-lived (typical for low-power production).This is especially true for low-power enterprises, where the assortment of products varies relatively often and the correct construction of the control process is a guarantee of the products quality.

Adherence to Mediterranean diet and nutritional status in a sample of nonagenarians

ObjectiveThe aim is to describe the adherence to Mediterranean diet in a sample of nonagenarians and to analyse its cross-sectional association with anthropometric and bioelectrical parameters. DesignA cross-sectional design was employed in this study. The adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured through the Mediterranean Diet Score (MedDietScore). Setting and participantsA representative sample of nonagenarian residents in the eight municipalities belonging to Mugello (Florence, Italy). MeasurementsThe tools used to investigate the nutritional status and the body composition were: weight; ulna length to estimate the height; body mass index (BMI); mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC); calf circumference (CC); waist circumference (WC); hip circumference (HC); and specific bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVAsp). ResultsAll the measurements were carried out for 298 nonagenarians (70.8% of whom were females). The mean value of MedDietScore was 34.3±3.6. The MedDietScore was significantly correlated with CC (r=0.127), specific resistance (Rsp, r=0.152), and specific impedance (Zsp, r=0.153) in the whole sample, as well as with height (r=−0.222), Rsp (r=0.282), and Zsp (r=0.282) in males. In the whole sample, Rsp and Zsp mean values significantly increased by quartiles of MedDietScore; these results were confirmed by vector analysis. ConclusionsThe high level of adherence to Mediterranean diet could contribute to explaining the longevity of our sample. Studying the influence of dietary lifestyle in nonagenarians in depth could help to promote healthy ageing.

Unsupervised Mixture-Eliminating Estimation of Equivalent Number of Looks for PolSAR Data

This paper addresses the impact of mixtures between classes on equivalent number of looks (ENL) estimation. We propose an unsupervised ENL estimator for polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) data, which is based on small sample estimates but incorporates a mixture-eliminating (ME) procedure to automatically assess the uniformity of the estimation windows. A statistical feature derived from a combination of linear and logarithmic moments is investigated and adopted in the procedure, as it has different mean values for samples from uniform and nonuniform windows. We introduce an approach to extract the approximated sampling distribution of this test statistic for uniform windows. Then the detection is conducted by a hypothesis test with adaptive thresholds determined by a nonuniformity ratio. Finally the experiments are performed on both simulated and real SAR data. The capability of the unsupervised ME procedure is verified with simulated data. In the real data experiments, the ENL estimates of Flevoland and San Francisco PolSAR images are analyzed, which show the robustness of the proposed ENL estimation for SAR scenes with different complexities.

Antibiotic residues in different chicken Carcass parts in Menufyia and Cairo governorates

A grand total of 120 freshly slaughtered broiler chickens (50 each of breast and thigh and 5 each of thigh skin, breast skin, liver and kidney) were collected from dfferent small slaughter houses at both Menufiya and Cairo governorates for detection of the residual level of streptomycin, gentamicin, florfenicol, lincospectin and enrofloxacin. The detection and estimation of such antibiotics were applied by Micrbiological Inhibiotion Test & HPLC. The overall incidence of antibiotic residues positive samples resulted from microbiological inhibition test was 40% each of liver and kidney, it was also 40% for each of thigh skin and breast skin and 36% and 20% for thigh and breast from highest to the lowest incidence. The mean concentrations (mean value of positive samples only) of antibiotic residues at Menufiya governorate was higher than those in Cairo governorate. Using HPLC, the arrangement of mean concentration from the highest to the lowest at Menufiya governorate was streptomycin residues in examined samples by ppb were 1588.8± 488.92 for thigh and 1048.75± 290.46 for breast followed by the only lincospectin sample (259.4± 0 for thigh) then gentamycin (142.05±84.75 for thigh and 103.5±0 for breast) and after that florfenicol (26.34±7.52 for thigh and 11.24±3.06 for breast). Enrofloxacin failed to be detected in any of examined samples. At Cairo governorate, there wasn’t any lincospectin nor enrofloxacin residues in examined samples. The arrangement from the highest to the lowest will be streptomycin (1572±237 for thigh and 543±82 for breast), gentamicin (97.65±58.55 for thigh and 61.7±0 for breast), florfenicol (18.95±4.88 for thigh and 5.53±0.64 for breast), and finally lincospectin and enrofloxacin with zero value.

ANALISA STRUKTUR MIKRO DAN SIFAT MEKANIK PADA COPPER-IRON MELALUI PROSES MECHANICAL MILLING DAN CONTINUOUS SINTERING

<em>Mechanical Alloying (MA) / Mechanical Milling (MM) is a process of processing of solid metal powders including the union and re-destruction of powder particles by using high-energy ball mill. The difference depends on whether material transfer is involved or not during processing. The study was conducted by analyzing the effect of the mechanical milling process by comparing the microstructure and mechanical properties of the copper-iron between the ones before milling (sample 1) and after milling for 2 hours (sample 2). The sample was made into a green compact cold pressing process with an emphasis system using mechanical mechanisms and dual emphasis techniques. Sintering process using continuous type machine with conveyor belt mesh and furnace type is muffle. After that cooled with natural water jacket process. Vicker hardness testing and strength testing (tensile strength test) is performed to determine the mechanical properties of copper-iron alloys that occur. The mean value of sample 1 hardness (before milling) was 39.8 HV. The mean value of sample hardness 2 (after milling) was 74.9 HV. The value of the yield strength (σ) of sample 1 is 17.597MPa, and the value of ductility (ε) is 0.119. The value of the yield strength (σ) of sample 2 is 18.547MPa, and the value of ductility (ε) is 0.073. The observation of micro structure was done to know the physiological surface of the alloy formed and to know the distribution of the composition. Observation of sample microstructure 1 shows solid phase formation ε (silver color) is an area of iron element formed with large size. Solid phase γ (orange color) is an area of copper element formed with large size. The visible elements are copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) which have a large percentage formed with large size (> 50 μm), and the pore is also large (> 50 μm). For carbon element (C), it looks gray, with a small amount. For other elements, such as zinc (Zn), phosphorus (P), and Tin (Sn), generally, they are at the grain boundary of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) elements. Observation of sample microstructure 2 shows solid phase formation ε (silver color) showing iron area area formed with smaller size. The solid phase γ (white color) shows the copper element area formed with a smaller size. The elements seen are copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) with a small size (<50 μm), and small pores occur. From the test results and analysis showed that by shrinking the size of metal powder by milling for 2 hours can increase the hardness and yield strength of the product. Although the product becomes more brittle which is indicated by the decreased ductility value.</em>

Determination of Some Physical Properties of Dried Jujube Fruit

<p>Some physical properties of Iranian Jujube fruit were evaluated. Jujube fruit samples mean values of length, width, thickness were found as 18.005mm, 14.96 mm, 15.26 mm. Arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter were found as 16.08mm, 16.01 respectively and surface area, Sphericity, porosity, mass, volume, bulk density and true density were also found as: 805.65 mm<sup>2</sup> ,89%, 77.2%, 1.45gr, 2.61 cm<sup>3</sup> , 0.23gr cm<sup>-3</sup>, 0.55gr cm<sup>-3</sup> respectively. Projected area perpendicular to length, width and thickness were measured as, 152.03 mm<sup>2</sup>, 220.02 mm<sup>2</sup>, 271.4mm<sup>2</sup> respectively. With comparison between friction coefficients on different surface for Jujube fruit. The results showed that the static coefficient of friction was more than dynamic coefficient of friction.The tests done on the galvanized steel surface, plywood and glass surface. The most coefficient of friction was found on the plywood surface and the least coefficient of friction was measured on the glass surface.</p>

High resolution biomass mapping in tropical forests with LiDAR-derived Digital Models: Poás Volcano National Park (Costa Rica)

Abstract: Tropical forests play a key role in global carbon cycle. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) program requires reliable mechanisms for Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV). In this regard, new methods must be developed using updated technologies to assess carbon stocks. The combination of LiDAR technology and in situ forest networks allows the estimation of biomass with high resolution in low data environments, such as tropical countries. However, the evaluation of current LiDAR methods of biomass inventory, and the development of new methodologies to reduce uncertainty and increase accuracy, is still needed. Our aim is to evaluate new methodologies of spatially explicit LiDAR biomass inventories based on local and general plot-aggregate allometry. For this purpose, 25 field plots were inventoried, covering the structural and ecological variability of Poas Volcano National Park (Costa Rica). Important differences were detected in the estimation of aboveground biomass (92.74 t ha-1 considering the mean value of plot sample) depending on the chosen tree allometry. We validated the general aboveground biomass plot-aggregate allometry proposed by Asner & Mascaro (2014) in our study area, and we fitted two specific models for Poas forests. Both locals and general models depend on LiDAR top-of-canopy height (TCH), basal area (BA) and wood density. Small deviations in the wood density plot sample (0.60 ± 0.05) indicated that a single wood density constant value could be used throughout the study area. A BA-TCH origin forced linear model was fitted to estimate basal area, as suggested by the general methodology. Poas forest has a larger biomass density for the same THC compared to the rest of the forests previously studied, and shows that the BA-TCH relationship might have different trends in each life zone. Our results confirm that the general plot-aggregate methodology can be easily and reliably applied as aboveground biomass in a new area could be estimated by only measuring BA in field plots to obtain a local BA-TCH regression. For both local and general methods, the estimation of BA is critical. Therefore, the definition of precise basal area field measurement procedures is decisive to achieve reliable results in future studies.

Nutritive Values of Some Wetland Plants in the Deltaic Mediterranean Coast of Egypt

THIS STUDY aims to investigate the nutritive values of some wildplants in the coastal Deltaic Mediterranean wetlands of Egypt forsustainable uses and management; these are: Arthrocnemummacrostachyum (Moric) Koch, Atriplex portulacoides L., Bassia indica(Weight) A. J. Scott, Chenopodium album L., Halocnemum strobilaceum(Pall.) M. Bieb (Chenopodiaceae) , Amaranthus hybridus L(Amaranthaceae), Portulaca oleracea L.(Portulacaceae), Bolboschoenusglaucus L.(Cyperaceae) , Sesbania sesban L. (Fabaceae ) and PlucheaDioscorides (L.) DC. (Asteraceae) as their over growth and dominationcause many serious environmental problems, So it is urgent to suggestthe possible economic uses of these plants as a tool in sustainablemanagement. The mean values of the physicochemical characteristics ofsoil samples collected underneath the studied species were carried out tobe considered during cultivation of these plants. The determination oflipid, crude protein, total phosphorus, total carbohydrates, crude fiber, ashcontent and dry weight, as well as Na+, K+ and Ca+ cations in the drymater showed noteable variation among the studied species. The highestmean carbohydrates content was recorded in P. oleracea and A. hybriduswith values of 211.3 and 291 mg/g dry wt. , respectively. The relativelyhigh contents of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins in some selected plantspecies qualify them as suitable candidates to be used as animal feedstalk and natural organic fertilizers with safe manner. The high contentsof Na+, K+ and Ca+ ions in the studied plants make them also as a goodsource of mineral salts in food formulas, and as a tool for desalinization inthe salt affected lands in the coastal Egyptian wetland habitats.

Fluctuation scaling of color variability in automotive metallic add-on parts

Color matching between the car body and assembled add-on parts is a complex process that increases the costs and time in automotive manufacturing. We have investigated the statistical properties of color coordinates for color matching in automotive metallic coatings. CIELAB lightness L*, red-green a*, and blue-yellow b* coordinates were calculated by using multi-angle spectrophotometric reflectance measurements from a broad range of metallic coatings from different manufacturers. We found that trial-to-trial L* variations are related to a self-similar stochastic process. The sample variance and the sample mean value of L* calculated over different viewing angles are correlated across painted pieces. A power function model describes the data quite well. This power function corresponds to a wide spread phenomenon known as fluctuation scaling in many engineering process. We also found that the sample skewness and the sample kurtosis of L*, a*, and b* follow a U-shaped pattern and a generalized version of fluctuation scaling. The exponent of fluctuation scaling in the skewness–kurtosis plane depends on the cardinal directions, L*, a*, and b*. This suggests that different flake-shaped pigments mediate trial-to-trial correlations of color coordinates. We conclude that fluctuation scaling provides a powerful approach for better prediction of lightness flop variations and for better color quality control between car manufacturers and suppliers of add-on parts.

Weight and content uniformity study of captopril half-tablets

Dose-related adverse effects of medications are a major problem in modern medical practice. The dose, based on drug company guidelines in package inserts, may not be correct for many patients. Tablet splitting or dividing has been an accepted practice for many years as a means of obtaining the prescribed dose of medication. As model tablets for this investigation, three brands of captopril scored tablets labeled to contain 50 mg were used. Tablets were split by hand, tablet splitter, or knife. The percentages by which each whole tablet’s or half-tablet’s drug content and weight difference from sample mean values were compared with Ph. Eur. specification ranges for drug weight and content. Using tablet splitter, the results showed that 13.3% and 5.83 % of half-tablets fell outside of the proxy Ph. Eur specification for weight and content respectively. In case of hand and knife splitting, the percentage of half-tablets that fell outside of the proxy Ph. Eur specification increased to 62.5% (weight) and 20% (content).

集对分析法在水源地水质评价中的应用

以集对分析理论为基础，建立水质样本实测年均值与各级地表水环境质量标准之间的联系度表达式来构造集对分析模型。利用普洱市思茅主城区集中式供水水库2012年至2016年实测均值，选取五日生化需氧量、氨氮、高锰酸盐指数、溶解氧、粪大肠菌群实测指标均值与各级标准界值的大小关系进行计算得到联系度，据此对原水水质进行分析评价水环境质量等级的判定。模型应用表明：普洱市思茅主城区集中式供水水库水质在I级和II级之间，水质质量总体较佳；集对分析模型评价在集中式供水水库水质分析评价中具有实用性和可操作性，评价结果较为直观、可靠。 Being based on set pair analysis (SPA), the relation between the annual mean value of water samples and the environmental quality standards of different levels of surface water is set up, to construct the SPA pattern. Based on the measured mean (2012-2016) of the centralized water supply reservoir of the main city of Pu’er, the index of biochemical oxygen demand, ammonia nitrogen and permanganate and the measured average index of dissolved oxygen and fecal coliform are chosen to be compared with different levels of standard critical value to come to a connection degree, being based on which to analyse and evaluate the raw water quality and judge the levels of quality of water environment. The application of the pattern suggests that the water quality of the centralized water supply reservoir of the main city of Pu’er is between level I and level II, and the water quality is generally fine. In terms of water quality analysis and evaluation, the SPA pattern is useful and practical and the evaluation result of which is intuitive and reliable.

مقایسه برخی ازخصوصیات فیزیکی و شیمیایی سه ژنوتیپ زرشک دانه‌دار بومی استان سمنان

کسب اطلاعات در مورد گیاهان بومی بعنوان منابع غذایی عملگر (فراسودمند) رو به افزایش است. یکی از این گیاهان، گونه‌های وحشی زرشک(Berberis. spp.) می‌باشد که بررسی خصوصیات فیزیکی و شیمیایی آنها می‌تواند زمینه کاربردشان را در صنایع غذایی و دارویی فراهم کند. لذا در این پژوهش بمنظور معرفی بیشتر این گیاه ارزشمند بومی، سه ژنوتیپ موجود در باغ کلکسیون زرشک پژوهشکده علوم و صنایع غذایی درسال 1390جمع‌آوری و برخی از خواص فیزیکی و شیمیایی آنها مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. نتایج حاکی از آن بود که بین خصوصیات فیزیکی بررسی شده فقط در طول میوه سه ژنوتیپ اختلاف‌ آماری معنی‌داری در سطح 5 درصدوجود داشت. هر سه ژنوتیپ حاوی میزان بالای چربی، پروتئین، کربوهیدرات و خاکستر بودند. ژنوتیپ نوشین دارای بالاترین قند احیاکننده (222/0±03/8) و در نتیجه دارای مزه شیرین‌تری نسبت به دو ژنوتیپ دیگر بود. هر سه ژنوتیپ در مقایسه با سایر میوه‌ها رنگی نظیر شاتوتو زغال اخته حاوی مقادیر قابل توجهی آنتوسیانین (60/3927-17/950 میلی‌گرم/ لیتر) و ترکیبات فنلی (35/12-75/9 گرم/ لیتر) بودند که بیانگر خواص سلامت‌بخش این میوه‌های خودرو و بومی می‌باشد. بلحاظ مواد معدنی هر سه ژنوتیپ غنی از ریزمغذی‌های مورد نیاز بدن انسان نظیر پتاسیم، کلسیم، منیزیم و روی بودند.

Weight and Content Uniformity of Warfarin Sodium Half Tablets

This study aims at investigating drug content and weight of the split half tablet using tablet splitter, hand, and knife for warfarin. Warfarin sodium tablets 5 mg (brand A, brand B, brand C, brand D) were studied, and Weight variation and drug content were analyzed for warfarin sodium in 0.1N NaOH using spectrophotometer. The percentages of each whole tablet's or half-tablet's drug content and weight difference from sample mean values were compared with USP specification ranges. All whole tablets and half tablets when tablet splitter was used meet the USP specification for weight and drug content,while half tablets when hand and knife were used fail to meet the USP specification for weight and drug content. The % RSDs for drug content and weight meet the USP specification for whole warfarin sodium tablets and the half tablets which were split by tablet splitter, while halves which were split by hand and knife don't.

Bias detection and certified reference materials for random measurands

A problem that frequently occurs in metrology is the bias checking of data obtained by a laboratory against the specified value and uncertainty estimate given in the certificate of analysis. The measurand—a property of a certified reference material (CRM)—is supposed to be random with a normal distribution whose parameters are given by the certificate specifications. The laboratory’s data from subsequent measurements of the CRM (a CRM experiment) are summarized by the sample mean value and its uncertainty which is commonly based on a repeatability standard deviation. New confidence intervals for the lab’s bias are derived. Although they may lack intuitive appeal, those obtained by using higher order asymptotic methods, compared and contrasted in this paper, are recommended.

Symmetry‐analysis‐based diagnosis method with correlation coefficients for open‐circuit fault in inverter

A current-based, real-time and fast symmetry-analysis-based diagnosis method with a correlation coefficient for an open-circuit fault in a voltage-source inverter is proposed. The proposed method includes three steps: data reconstruction, features extraction, fault detection and isolation. To achieve fair robustness, real-time and fast performance, sliding windows with length of a period current samples are designed for data reconstruction. Correlation coefficients of each of the two phase currents are designed to describe the symmetry of the inverter both in a healthy and a faulty condition, and mean values of current samples during a period are used to accurately isolate the faulty switch or switches. The proposed method is current-based sharing the current sensors that are used for the current regulators, hence it is low-cost. The high effectiveness and merit of the proposed method are validated by experiments.

Climate Change, Soil Salinity and Road Maintenance Costs in Coastal Bangladesh

The potentially-adverse impact of salinity on paved roads is well-established in the engineering literature. The problem seems destined to grow, as climate-related changes in sea level and riverine flows drive future increases in soil salinity. However, data scarcity has prevented systematic analysis for poor countries. This paper assesses the impact of soil salinity on road maintenance expenditures in the coastal region of Bangladesh. The assessment draws on new panel measures of salinity from 41 stations in coastal Bangladesh, and road maintenance expenditures, income, road network length and road surfaces from 20 coastal municipalities. In a model relating to maintenance expenditure for paved roads to soil salinity, municipal income and road network length, large and significant effects are found for salinity. The regression model is used to predict the effect of within-sample salinity variation on road maintenance expenditure share, holding municipal income and road length constant at sample mean values. Increasing salinity from its sample minimum to its sample maximum increases the predicted road maintenance expenditure share by 252%. The implied welfare impact may also be substantial, particularly for poor households, if diversion of expenditures to road maintenance reduces support for community sanitation, health and other infrastructure-related programs.

Commutability of certified reference material ERM-DA 471/IFCC for cystatin C measurement

Objective To evaluate the commutability of certified reference material IRMM ERM-DA 471/IFCC for cystatin C measurement among 8 methods. Methods 46 individual samples used for the commutability study were residual serum samples collected from clinical laboratories. The individual samples interspersedwith pooled sera and the certified reference material IRMM ERM-DA 471/IFCC and the whole set of samples was divided into 2 subsets for measurements in 2 days. The measurements were performed by8 different methods o. The samples were measured in duplicate order. Calibration was performed every day. Passing-Bablok regression was performed to compare the slopes and intercepts of mean values of the serum samples derived from different methods. Pearson correlation cofficient was also calculated. Deming regeression and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to evaluate the statistics commutability of ERM-DA 471/IFCC. The minimal specification of bias derived from biological variations was calculated to evaluate the clinical commutability. Results The within-laboratory CVs of pool sera ranged from 0.5% to 4.0%. The Passing-Bablok slope ranged from 0.765 to 1.311 and intercepts ranged from -0.04 to 0.241. The determination coefficient of Pearson regression ranged from 0.988 to 0.999. Deming regeression and 95% confidence intervals demonstrated commutability of ERM-DA 471/IFCC in 4/28 (14.3%) methods pairs. The minimal specfication bias (5.12%)demonstrated commutability of ERM-DA 471/IFCC in15/28 (53.6%) methods pairs. Conclusions The ERM-DA 471/IFCC domonstrated poor commutability between some methods pairs. The commutability of ERM-DA 471/IFCC should be evaluated before used as calibrators. (Chin J Lab Med, 2015, 38: 306-309) Key words: Cystatin C; Reference standards; Laboratory proficiency testing

Stable isotopic investigations of modern and charred foxtail millet and the implications for environmental archaeological reconstruction in the western Chinese Loess Plateau

Stable isotopic analysis of carbon and nitrogen in human and faunal remains has been widely used to reconstruct prehistoric diets and environmental changes. Isotopic analysis of plant remains allows for a more extensive consideration of paleodiets and can potentially provide information about the environment in which the crops were grown. This paper reports the results of δ13C and δ15N analyses performed on modern and charred archaeological foxtail millet samples collected from the western part of the Chinese Loess Plateau. The δ13C mean value of modern samples is lower than that of ancient samples. There is a significant difference between grain and leaf δ15N values. These results challenge the standard assumption in isotope studies that the nitrogen isotope signals of the different part of plants consumed by humans and animals are the same. The 3–5‰ difference between human and animal δ15N values is always regarded as an indicator of whether human diets contained considerable animal protein. The difference between grain and leaf δ15N values makes this assumption problematic in a foxtail millet-dominated society.

Comparison of Schmallenberg virus antibody levels detected in milk and serum from individual cows

BackgroundSchmallenberg virus (SBV) is a recently emerged virus of ruminants in Europe. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) are commonly used to detect SBV-specific antibodies in bulk tank milk samples to monitor herd exposure to infection. However, it has previously been shown that a bulk tank milk sample can test positive even though the majority of cows within the herd are seronegative for SBV antibodies. Development of a pen-side test to detect antibodies in individual milk samples would potentially provide a cheaper test (for which samples are obtained non-invasively) than testing individual serum samples by ELISA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the agreement between antibody levels measured in milk and serum.ResultsCorresponding milk and serum samples from 88 cows in two dairy herds in the UK were tested for presence of immunoglobulin G antibodies to SBV using a commercially-available indirect ELISA. A serum neutralisation test (NT) was also performed as a gold standard assay. The ELISA values obtained for the bulk tank milk samples corresponded with the mean values for individual milk samples from each herd (bulk tank milk values were 58% and 73% and mean individual milk values 50% and 63% for herds A and B, respectively). Of the 88 serum samples tested in the NT, 82 (93%) were positive. Although at higher antibody levels, the ELISA values tended to be higher for the individual milk samples than for the corresponding serum samples, the positive predictive value for milk samples was 98% and for serum samples 94%. The serum ELISA was more likely to give false positive results around the lower cut-off value of the assay.ConclusionsThe results indicate that testing of individual milk samples for antibodies against SBV by ELISA could be used to inform decisions in the management of dairy herds such as which, if any, animals to vaccinate.

Tablet splitting: is it worthwhile? Analysis of drug content and weight uniformity for half tablets of 16 commonly used medications in the outpatient setting.

Tablet splitting is a well-established medical practice in clinical settings for multiple reasons, including cost savings and ease of swallowing. However, it does not necessarily result in weight-uniform half tablets. To (a) investigate the effect of tablet characteristics on weight and content uniformity of half tablets, resulting from splitting 16 commonly used medications in the outpatient setting and (b) provide recommendations for safe tablet-splitting prescribing practices. Ten random tablets from each of the selected medications were weighed and split by 5 volunteers (2 men and 3 women aged 25-44 years) using a knife. The selected medications were mirtazapine 30 mg, bromazepam 3 mg, oxcarbazepin 150 mg, sertraline 50 mg, carvedilol 25 mg, bisoprolol fumarate 10 mg, losartan 50 mg, digoxin 0.25 mg, amiodarone HCl 200 mg, metformin HCl 1,000 mg, glimepiride 4 mg, montelukast 10 mg, ibuprofen 600 mg, celecoxib 200 mg, meloxicam 15 mg, and sildenafil citrate 50 mg. The resulting half tablets were evaluated for weight and drug content uniformity in accordance with proxy United States Pharmacopeia (USP) specification (95%-105% for digoxin and 90%-110% for the other 15 drugs). Weight and drug content uniformity were assessed by comparing weight or drug content of the half tablets with one-half of the mean weight or drug content for all whole tablets in the sample. The percentages by which the weight and drug content of each whole tablet or half tablet differed from sample mean values were calculated. Other relevant physical characteristics of the 16 products were measured. A total of 52 of 320 half tablets (16.2%) and 48 of 320 half tablets (15.0%) fell outside of the proxy USP specification for weight and drug content, respectively. Bromazepam, carvedilol, bisoprolol, losartan, digoxin, and meloxicam half tablets failed the weight and content uniformity test; however, the half tablets for the rest of the medications passed the test. Mean percent weight loss after splitting was less than 1.5% for all drugs. Bromazepam, carvedilol, and digoxin showed the highest powdering loss during the tablet-splitting process. Tablet splitting could be safer and easier when drug- and patient-specific criteria have been met. Tablet size, shape, and hardness may also play a role in the decision to split a tablet or not. Tablets containing drugs with a wide therapeutic index and long half-life might be more suitable candidates for division. Dose variation exceeded a proxy USP specification for more than one-third of sampled half tablets of bromazepam, carvedilol, bisoprolol, and digoxin. Drug content variation in half tablets appeared to be attributed to weight variation due to fragment or powder loss during the splitting process.