Method For Evaluation Of Parameters Research Articles

Solid State Wave Gyroscope Parameter Assessment at Various Production Stages

The paper considers a solid-state wave gyroscope and describes the principles of its operation. Key stages of production together with parameters of solid-state wave gyroscope, characterizing quality, are studied and analyzed. The problem of automated quality control system development is raised. The set of gyroscope parameters, physical parameters of resonator oscillation modes, is chosen. The proposed set of parameters gives full description of device quality and can be analyzed at any of key production stages. So as to develop the evaluation method for solid-state wave gyroscope parameters a solid-state wave gyroscope mathematical model, as a free oscillation partial oscillator, that relates the phase variable dynamics with physical parameters, is analyzed. The resonator intrinsic wave drift rate being the principal quality parameter of gyroscope is studied. The relation between the drift rate and solid-state wave gyroscope physical parameters is considered. The measuring diagram for the suggested parameter set is developed on the basis of considered mathematical models, the technique is proposed, and software solutions for suggested approach implementation is developed. Structure diagram and state chart for the proposed solid-state wave gyroscope measurement parameters are described. The proposed diagram consists of two components: measurement and computational ones. The performance features of each component are described. Various operation modes of solid-state wave gyroscope parameter evaluation system are considered: free oscillation mode, wave pattern rotation, operation mode, and transition processes. The problem of applicability and efficiency of the proposed solutions is studied. The example of the developed system application is given. The results of obtaining the operating mode drift rate direct evaluation and drift rate evaluation obtained according to mathematical model and evaluated solid-state wave gyroscope physical parameter are analyzed. Possible ways of solid-state wave gyroscope parameter evaluation method improvement are considered.

VIS/NIR Spectroscopy as a Non-Destructive Method for Evaluation of Quality Parameters of Three Bell Pepper Varieties Based on Soft Computing Methods

Spectroscopic analysis was employed to evaluate the quality of three bell pepper varieties within the 350–1150 nm wavelength range. Quality parameters such as firmness, pH, soluble solids content, titratable acids, vitamin C, total phenols, and anthocyanins were measured. To enhance data reliability, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify and remove outliers. Raw spectral data were initially modeled using partial least squares regression (PLSR). To optimize wavelength selection, support vector machines (SVMs) were combined with genetic algorithms (GAs), particle swarm optimization (PSO), ant colony optimization (ACO), and imperial competitive algorithm (ICA). The most effective wavelength selection method was subsequently used for further analysis. Three modeling techniques—PLSR, multiple linear regression (MLR), and artificial neural networks (ANNs)—were applied to the selected wavelengths. PLSR analysis of raw data yielded a maximum R2 value of 0.98 for red pepper pH, while the lowest R2 (0.58) was observed for total phenols in yellow peppers. SVM-PSO was determined to be the optimal wavelength selection algorithm based on ratio of performance to deviation (RPD), root mean square error (RMSE), and correlation values. An average of 15 effective wavelengths were identified using this combined approach. Model performance was evaluated using root mean square error of cross-validation and coefficient of determination (R2). ANN consistently outperformed MLR and PLSR in predicting firmness, pH, soluble solids content, titratable acids, vitamin C, total phenols, and anthocyanins for all three varieties. R2 values for the ANN model ranged from 0.94 to 1.00, demonstrating its superior predictive capability. Based on these results, ANN is recommended as the most suitable method for evaluating the quality parameters of bell peppers using spectroscopic data.

Abstract 4124293: Exercise Capacity in Patients with Fontan Physiology

Introduction/Background: In the absence of a sub-pulmonary ventricle in the Fontan circulation, augmentation of pulmonary blood flow and filling of the systemic ventricle during exercise are limited. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a reliable method for evaluation of aerobic capacity, gas exchange, and other physiologic parameters used for risk stratification in this population. Despite the ubiquitous use of CPET, reference ranges for patients with Fontan physiology are limited. The purpose of this study is to describe exercise characteristics and their relationship with different characteristics of Fontan physiology, imaging, and hemodynamics. Methods/Approach: In this retrospective cohort study, CPET results were reviewed for adult Fontan patients at the University of Washington between May 2021 and February 2024. Demographics, comorbidities, medications, type of Fontan conduit, imaging characteristics, hemodynamics, and exercise characteristics were included. Results were compared to a large previously published cohort of Fontan patients. Univariate linear regression was used to identify associations between demographics, cardiac anatomy, and exercise parameters. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results/Data: Baseline demographics were notable for an older patient population (31±7 years) with lower indexed peak VO 2 (20.5±5.6 mL/kg/min) and greater V E /VCO 2 slope (37±7) compared to the historic cohort. Indexed peak VO2 was associated with age, BMI, type of Fontan conduit, FEV1, FVC, resting oxygen saturation, peak systolic blood pressure, and peak heart rate. Indexed peak VO 2 was notably not significantly associated with sex, systemic ventricular morphology, ventricular systolic function, Fontan pressure, or the presence of conventional heart failure medical therapy. Conclusions: In the growing population of older patients with Fontan physiology, development of age-specific population normative data may increase the clinical utility of CPET. Further investigation of the relationship between imaging characteristics, hemodynamics, and exercise parameters is needed in the Fontan population.

CPTU-based permeability evaluation of clays

The piezocone penetration test (CPTU) is an efficient in-situ testing method for delineating subsurface stratigraphy and interpreting geoparameters continuously with depth. However, owing to the regional sensitivity and geological diversity, the applicability of CPTU-based geotechnical parameter evaluation methods is limited when applied to specific sites. This requires further scrutiny considering the different geological histories and local soil conditions. In this study, a database that included a collection of CPTU test sites in Jiangsu Province, China, was compiled containing high-quality sampling and laboratory testing performed to characterize the permeability of clay soils. Several published CPTU correlations for determining soil permeability were summarized and compared with laboratory-measured soil permeability as a benchmark reference. The evaluation results indicated that the I c-based correlations can provide a reasonably good determination of the permeability for the investigated soils with root mean squared error of 0.89 and mean absolute error of 0.77. Finally, a modified approach was presented to evaluate the permeability coefficient of Jiangsu clay soils, which was calibrated using two additional case studies.

Research on the parameter design and calibration and control of EV in-vehicle active sound generation system

In order to improve the interior sound quality of electric vehicles (EVs) under acceleration and uniform speed conditions, to balance the comfort and dynamics of the interior sound, and to improve the accuracy and performance of the active sound generation system (ASGS), this article carries out the research related to the parameter design, sound calibration, evaluation methodology, and control system of the EV ASGS. Propose an in-vehicle sound design method focusing on three dimensions, including engine order composition, spectral energy distribution, and sound amplitude enhancement in the typical speed range, and determine the in-vehicle sound design scheme and the total sound value target. Focus on the sound parameter design, calibration and evaluation methods of EV ASGS considering the frequency response characteristics of the loudspeaker, sound amplitude control accuracy, sound quality, and psychoacoustic parameters, clarify the active sound parameter settings of EVs, complete the analysis of sound extraction methods, complete the engine order sound fitting, and design the ASGS of the EV interior by combining the subjective and objective evaluations. Develop the control software and hardware of the ASGS, complete the construction and accuracy verification of the ASGS based on the in-vehicle sound system, and realize the sound calibration of the ASGS under the static conditions of the real vehicle and the verification of the target achievement. The real-vehicle test shows that the ASGS reduces the sharpness of 1.0 acum and 0.52 acum under acceleration and constant speed conditions, respectively, and improves the comfort and dynamics of in-vehicle sound. The objective and subjective evaluation results show that the parameter design, selection and accuracy of the sound calibration and evaluation methods of the ASGS in the EV determines the accuracy and effect of the ASGS.

Morphological changes in the wall of the urinary bladder under the conditions of using epirubicin and dimethyl sulfoxide

Annotation. The paper presents morphological and morphometric data on the changes in the bladder wall of rats under the action of the chemopreparation epirubicin in combination with dimethyl sulfoxide, which was used to increase the permeability of the medicinal agent through the mucous membrane of the bladder. The study was conducted on female inbred white rats weighing 250-300 g. The following were determined: the thickness of the mucous membrane of the urinary bladder, the specific weight of damaged and restored cells of the bladder epithelium, the specific weight of the arterial and venous components of the hemomicrocirculatory bed (layer by layer), the specific weight of the area of blood capillaries in the submucosa and the muscle membrane, the Kernohan' index for arterioles and venule of the microcirculatory channel of the bladder wall. The statistical processing of the results was carried out in the “STATISTICA 5.5” package (owned by the Central Scientific Research Institute of National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsya, license No. АХХР910A374605FA) using parametric data evaluation methods. The reliability of the difference in mean values was determined based on the Student's t test. The obtained data indicate less significant disturbances on the side of the bladder wall when using the complex with dimethyl sulfoxide and the absence of strong fibrosis of the submucosal base.

Influence of phase change material and nano silica aerogel aggregates on the characteristics of cementitious composite: An experimental and predictive study

This paper studies the influence of two high-performance thermal insulating materials including aerogel and phase change materials (PCM) aggregates, on the key characteristics of cementitious composites in experimental and predictive aspects. Thermal conductivity (ThC), rapid chloride migration test (RCMT), permeable pore volume, compressive strength, dry density, and microstructural analysis were performed for the mechanical properties. Moreover, Least Squares Support Vector Regression (LSSVR) as a machine learning method was introduced to evaluate and provide a proper method for non-destructive evaluation of parameters. The results of experiments indicated that both aerogel and PCM aggregates were highly effective although the aerogel showed more efficiency in enhancing the thermal insulation property of cementitious mixtures. In addition, the compressive strength of the mixtures with PCM composites was higher than the aerogel aggregates, where the compressive strength of the mixture containing 20 % paraffin was 50 % higher than the aerogel mixture with similar incorporation levels. Moreover, the mixtures with PCM aggregates had significantly lower water and chloride permeability compared to those of plain mixtures, and mixtures consisted of aerogel aggregates. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses, also, revealed that the use of the aerogel aggregates led to an open and porous structure of the mixtures; however, PCM aggregates had a weak interfacial transition zone (ITZ) in the vicinity of cement paste. Furthermore, LSSVR model provided a close prediction of the effective parameters with an acceptable accuracy in capturing the influences of important parameters.

A general approximation method for accurate evaluation of the intermolecular potential parameters by using density functional theory

In this work, a new approach is developed and presented for determining the intermolecular potential parameters from intermolecular interaction energy data obtained using the Density Functional Theory (DFT) method over a different basis set. The proposed method in this work is especially useful for the evaluation of all intermolecular potential parameters of arbitrary atoms and molecules. The method developed in this study can be used for evaluating some thermodynamic properties of molecules. In general, this approach has great advantages for the determination of all types of potential parameters of atoms and molecules. As an application, the Lennard-Jones (12-6) and Morse potential parameters of the Ga(CH3)3 molecule have been determined first by using the basis set with density functional method (DFT/B3LYP) method over the 6-31G basis set. The speed of sound, heat capacities, and second virial coefficient over the Lennard-Jones (L-J) (12-6) potential of Ga(CH3)3 have been calculated. The results obtained for the speed of sound and heat capacities of Ga(CH3)3 are compared with theoretical and experimental data. The results indicate that our data are in good agreement with data from the literature.

Comprehensive evaluation of surface parameter correlation in running-in wear process

The first wear process is running-in, which is a stage of each machine system must go through. The friction pair’s surface topography is an important feature of the running-in process. After running-in, the surface topography directly affects the performance in stable working state. The wear performance of the contact pair was focused on by mostly existing studies after a time; however, we should consider the correlation of the surface topography before and after running-in. In fact, exploration of this problem is significantly important to extend the service life of machine parts and improve the running performance. Based on the three-dimensional (3D) surface topography parameter evaluation method, in this study, experiments were designed to analyze the effect of the unworn surface topography on that after running-in, and investigated the correlation of 3D surface topography parameters. The results demonstrated that the topography characterization parameters, i.e., Sa, Sq, Sv, Sdc, Str, Sdq, and Sdr under different working conditions maintained a strong autocorrelation (the correlation coefficient of the same parameter). Moreover, the cross-correlation (the correlation coefficient between different parameters) among height parameters (Sq), hybrid parameters (Sdq, Sdr), and functional parameters (Sdc, Sk) was strong. The results of the surface roughness parameters found in this study can be used as input and output feature selection research based on working conditions and surface topography prediction after the modeling research of running-in surface topography.

Application of Ultrasonic Methods for Evaluation of High-Pressure Physicochemical Parameters of Liquids

An emerging ultrasonic technology aims to control high-pressure industrial processes that use liquids at pressures up to 800 MPa. To control these processes it is necessary to know precisely physicochemical properties of the processed liquid (e.g., Camelina sativa oil) in the high-pressure range. In recent years, Camelina sativa oil gained a significant interest in food and biofuel industries. Unfortunately, only a very few data characterizing the high-pressure behavior of Camelina sativa oil is available. The aim of this paper is to investigate high pressure physicochemical properties of liquids on the example of Camelina sativa oil, using efficient ultrasonic techniques, i.e., speed of sound measurements supported by parallel measurements of density. It is worth noting that conventional low-pressure methods of measuring physicochemical properties of liquids fail at high pressures. The time of flight (TOF) between the two selected ultrasonic impulses was evaluated with a cross-correlation method. TOF measurements enabled for determination of the speed of sound with very high precision (of the order of picoseconds). Ultrasonic velocity and density measurements were performed for pressures 0.1–660 MPa, and temperatures 3–30°C. Isotherms of acoustic impedance Z_a, surface tension σ and thermal conductivity k were subsequently evaluated. These physicochemical parameters of Camelina sativa oil are mainly influenced by changes in the pressure p, i.e., they increase about two times when the pressure increases from atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) to 660 MPa at 30°C. The results obtained in this study are novel and can be applied in food, and chemical industries.

Detection and Evaluation of Environmental Stress in Winter Wheat Using Remote and Proximal Sensing Methods and Vegetation Indices—A Review

Climate change has a significant impact on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivation due to the occurrence of various environmental stress parameters. It destabilizes wheat production mainly through abiotic stresses (heat waves, drought, floods, frost, salinity, and nutrient deficiency) and improved conditions for pest and disease development and infestation as biotic parameters. The impact of these parameters can be reduced by timely and appropriate management measures such as irrigation, fertilization, or pesticide application. However, this requires the early diagnosis and quantification of the various stressors. Since they induce specific physiological responses in plant cells, structures, and tissues, environmental stress parameters can be monitored by different sensing methods, taking into account that these responses affect the signal in different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (EM), especially visible (VIS), near infrared (NIR), and shortwave infrared (SWIR). This study reviews recent findings in the application of remote and proximal sensing methods for early detection and evaluation of abiotic and biotic stress parameters in crops, with an emphasis on winter wheat. The study first provides an overview of climate-change-induced stress parameters in winter wheat and their physiological responses. Second, the most promising non-invasive remote sensing methods are presented, such as airborne and satellite multispectral (VIS and NIR) and hyperspectral imaging, as well as proximal sensing methods using VNIR-SWIR spectroscopy. Third, data analysis methods using vegetation indices (VI), chemometrics, and various machine learning techniques are presented, as well as the main application areas of sensor-based analysis, namely, decision-making processes in precision agriculture.

Comparison and Verification of Gas-Bearing Parameter Evaluation Methods for Deep Shale Based on the Pressure Coring Technique

Gas-bearing properties, such as gas-in-place (GIP) content and adsorbed gas ratio (AGR), have drawn considerable attention because they are essential for shale gas resource evaluation and sweet spot forecasting. The above-mentioned metrics have been determined using a variety of approaches, but they lack systematic comparison and accuracy verification, particularly for deep shale gas, where conventional methods frequently fall short. A total of 30 shales were taken for the investigation utilizing pressure and conventional coring methods from Wufeng and Longmaxi Formations in the Sichuan Basin, China. For pressure coring samples, we developed the experimental protocols and a GIP content classification scheme that categorizes the GIP content into four categories: lost gas (estimated using the temperature-corrected pressure-holding ratio), extracted gas from depressurization, degassed gas, and residual gas. The four pressure coring samples from well Y206 with measured GIP content range from 2.84 to 5.58 m3/tonne, with an average of 4.72 m3/tonne. In contrast to the calculated GIP content of the pressure coring samples, the validity of the current GIP content evaluation methodologies has been confirmed. The comparison results demonstrate that the GIP content assessed using the United States Bureau of Mines (USBM) method is frequently underestimated for samples from conventional coring and notably overstated for samples from pressure coring. The polynomial fitting method dramatically overestimated the GIP content. With its accurate time-dependent boundary conditions and strict theoretical foundation, the simplified carbon isotope fractionation (s-CIF) model exhibits the highest level of accuracy in determining GIP content. Additionally, the s-CIF model can find yet another crucial parameter of AGR. Shale samples from well Y206 had an average AGR of 20.4% but a range from 12.2 to 33.2%. The examination of the influencing factors demonstrates that the lost gas ratio, AGR, and diffusion coefficient are responsible for controlling the calculation error of the USBM method. The lost gas ratio prior to core retrieval increases with decreasing AGR (or increasing diffusion coefficient), which increases the computation error of the USBM method.

NIR Spectral Imaging for Animal Feed Quality and Safety

Highlights Hyperspectral imaging can be a tool to address animal feed safety and quality issues. Various papers on hyperspectral imaging have emerged for grain and animal feed applications. More studies need to be done to use this technology in the field and in commercial scale. Abstract. The increasing need for safe and quality animal-derived food products and the limitations of slow and destructive traditional screening methods have driven the development of fast, accurate, and reliable testing methods for evaluation of animal feed safety and quality parameters. One of the methods being applied recently is near-infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR HSI), an analytical technique that provides chemical and spatial information for the sample. It has been applied to various food and agricultural products and is gaining acceptance for commercial use in the food industry. This paper presents research progress with respect to applications of NIR HSI for safety and quality evaluation of animal feed ingredients, specifically in screening illegal adulteration and contamination of feed materials, detecting biological contamination and damage, measuring constituent concentrations and other quality properties, and evaluating feed processing parameters. Major results, multivariate analysis and hyperspectral image processing algorithms used, and limitations of the different studies being reviewed were highlighted. With its potential uses and applications on animal feed, NIR HSI is a promising breakthrough in the feed industry. Keywords: Animal feed, Feed safety, Feed quality, Hyperspectral imaging, NIR spectroscopy.

Quantitative and dynamic predictive model for mining-induced movement and deformation of overlying strata

It is of significant importance to prevent and control mining damage by quantitatively investigating the dynamic development law of overburden movement and deformation. Based on the principle of probability integral, a static prediction model of overlying strata movement and deformation was firstly derived in this study, and a subsidence coefficient model of overlying strata was then established. By combining the new static prediction model with periodic fracture characteristics of main roof and Knothe time function, a dynamic prediction model was proposed to predict mining-induced overburden movement and deformation, which is capable of achieving the dynamic and quantitative prediction of the behavior of the overlying strata. A Knothe time function parameter evaluation method was also constructed based on the main influence radius of surface mining subsidence. Taking the geological and mining conditions of T2195 working face of a coal mine as a case study, applicability of the model was studied for real prediction, and the reliability of the model was verified by comparing the measured data with the predicted results. The results showed that there is high consistency between the measured and predicted data, indicating the effectiveness and reliability of the proposed model. The research results not only provide technical support for the prevention and control of mining damage, but also further improve and enrich the theoretical system of mining subsidence.

Motion and swelling of single coal particles during volatile combustion in a laminar flow reactor

Motion and swelling behavior of single bituminous coal particles during volatile combustion are investigated in a laminar flow reactor using a joint experimental and numerical approach. Three different particle samples with mean diameters of 90, 120, and 160 µm are studied in a conventional N2/O2 atmosphere with 20 vol% O2 mole fraction. Diffuse backlight-illumination (DBI) measurements with high temporal (10 kHz) and spatial (> 19 lp/mm) resolutions, combined with detailed parameter evaluation methods, provide fundamental insights into interactions of particle with flow and flame. The acceleration behavior of different particles is assessed based on the response time following the viscosity drag law. Rotation speed is determined by temporally tracking the orientation angle and shown to strongly correlate with the particle size and the devolatilization process. Simultaneously measured slip velocity and particle diameter enable evaluating time-dependent particle Reynolds numbers Rep. The swelling behavior is temporally synchronized with the devolatilization process and reveals a strong dependency on particle diameters. To better understand experimental observations, detailed simulations are first quantitatively validated against experimental ignition delay times and then applied to predict particle temperature histories. Further, the reduction of particle heating rates with increasing diameters is numerically quantified. The maximum swelling ratio decreases from 1.22 to 1.07 as the heating rate increases from approximately 3 × 104 to 8 × 104 K/s.

Accurate Inner Profile Measurement of a High Aspect Ratio Aspheric Workpiece Using a Two-Probe Measuring System

This paper presents a novel method for inner profile measurement and geometric parameter evaluation, such as the radius of the bottom, steepness and straightness of the steep sidewall of a high aspect ratio aspheric workpiece, by utilizing a two-probe measuring system, which includes a lateral displacement gauge for the inner steep sidewall profile measurement and an axial displacement gauge for the inner deep underside profile measurement. To qualify the measurement accuracy, the systematic errors associated with the measurement procedure, including the miscalibration, misalignment and the roundness error of the gauge probes, as well as the slide motion error of the four-axis motion platform, are all evaluated and separated from the measurement results. A point cloud registration algorithm is employed to stitch the evaluated inner sidewall profile and the inner underside profile to form an entire inner profile of the workpiece. To verify the performance of the newly proposed method, the inner profile of a high aspect ratio aspheric workpiece, which has a tapered cone shape with a maximum inner radius of 40 mm, a maximum inner depth of 140 mm and a steep sidewall angle approaching 85°, is measured in experiments. The measurement result is compared with that of a coordinate measuring machine (CMM), and the comparison verifies the feasibility of the proposed measurement system.

Analysis method of micro stress sensitivity of aviation bearing based on Voronoi model

The micro-stress distribution of the bearing in actual work directly affects its service performance. This paper attempts to unify the bearing multi-field coupling service conditions with the micro-inhomogeneity of the internal material of the bearing steel, establish a micro-stress sensitivity analysis method for aviation bearings. The bearing motion parameters are solved based on the pseudo-dynamics method. The bearing fluid lubrication model was then established to calculate the lubricant state based on the CFD method. A bearing heat-fluid–solid multi-field coupling model is established based on the grid mapping method. According to EBSD, SEM and nanoindentation experiment, the microstructure model of bearing was established, and the micro stress of bearing was solved based on sub model method. A response surface model is established by the BOX-Behnen Design method. A multivariate random parameter evaluation method is proposed based on the SPEA coefficient. And the influence of inclusions on the bearing microscopic stress is quantitatively evaluated. The calculation results show that the inclusions' size and the inclusions' position significantly influence the degree of stress concentration. The degree of influence is divided into 0.478 and 0.650. The difference in stress components is mainly affected by the location of inclusions. The degree of influence exceeds 0.9. The overall effect of inclusion morphology is the smallest.

An approach for automatic parameters evaluation in unconventional oil reservoirs with deep reinforcement learning

Accurate estimation of unconventional reservoir parameters is of great significance to improve the development effect and prolong the life cycle of production wells. Reservoir parameter estimation based on pressure transient analysis (PTA) is a mainstream method due to its ease of use. However, the non-unique solution and human bias make the reliability of the method less than ideal. Therefore, a robust automatic interpretation method is urgently needed to alleviate these problems. In this work, we propose an automatic parameter evaluation method of unconventional reservoirs based on a combination of deep reinforcement learning (DRL) and PTA. Our key insight is to treat the PTA process, namely the pressure derivative curve matching process, as Markov decision process (MDP) and solve the optimal matching policy through DRL algorithm. Based on this idea, we trained an agent to automatically adjust the parameters of the trilinear flow model, a classic PTA model, and finally complete the pressure derivative curve matching to evaluate the unconventional oil reservoirs parameters. To make the training converge, branch deep Q-network with independent rewards strategy (IR-BDQ) was proposed to train the agent. Results show that IR-BDQ algorithm can effectively improve the convergence speed and parameter evaluation accuracy compared with other DRL algorithms. The results of 1000 curve matching tests showed that the mean average relative errors of parameters is 13.1%. In addition, comparison with the supervised learning algorithm reveals that the proposed method has the smallest variance of parameter inversion errors, indicating that the method has good robustness. Finally, the case study shows that the proposed method can effectively alleviate the non-unique solution problem, which is of great significance to improve the repeatability of parameter evaluation results in unconventional oil reservoirs.

Changes of Lacrimal Puncta by Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography after Topical Combined Antibiotic and Steroid Treatment in Cases of Inflammatory Punctual Stenosis.

Purpose To evaluate the role of medical treatment and assessing its effect on resolving epiphora and improving punctum size by high resolution AS-OCT imaging comparing punctal parameters in patients before and after treatment with topical combined antibiotic and steroid treatment in cases of inflammatory punctual stenosis. Patients and Methods. Double-blinded controlled randomized study which was conducted on two groups of patients who had acquired punctal stenosis and epiphora presented to Ophthalmology Clinics of Sohag University Hospitals in the period between Jan 2021 and April 2021. The study included 44 eyes of 50 subjects complaining of epiphora. They were divided into two groups, the epiphora group one (EG1) received eye drops containing combination of antibiotics and steroids (orchadexoline eye drops, each ml contains 5 mg chloramphenicol, 1 mg dexamethasone sodium phosphate, 0.25 mg tetryzoline hydrochloride, 2 mg hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, 10 mg α-tocopherol acetate (vitamin E), and 8 mg macrogol 400), 5 times daily for the first week, three times daily for the next two weeks, and one time daily for another one week. The second epiphora group (EG2) received preservative-free artificial tears (sodium hyaluronate-, polyethylene-, and propylene glycol-based), three times daily for four weeks. The patients were examined before treatment, one week, one month, and one and half months later. Results Both groups were comparable regarding mean age (49 ± 13 vs 53 ± 11 years, P value = 0.2) and sex (males were 38.6% vs 31.8%, female were 61.4% vs 68.2%, P value = 0.6), respectively, with no statistically significant difference between both groups. Both groups were comparable regarding outer punctual diameter and length between the puncti before treatment. Outer punctal diameters were (EG1 228 ± 113 um, EG2 241 ± 115 um, P value = 0.5). Length between the puncti were (EG1 129 ± 73 um, EG2 137 ± 72 um, P value = 0.6). There was marked improvement of the outer punctual diameter (EG1 373 um ± 92 um, EG2 240 ± 109 um, (P value < 0.0001) and length between the puncti (EG1 217 ± 109 um, 136 ± 71 um (P value < 0.0002)) during the follow-up period. EG1 showed more improvement than EG2 when compared during the follow-up period. Conclusions Topical combined antibiotic and steroid treatment was an effective method in treating cases of inflammatory punctual stenosis as found by monitoring of punctal parameter changes by AS-OCT. AS-OCT was found to be a useful method for evaluation of the lacrimal punctal parameters especially with different treatment modalities in epiphora cases.

Application of the Chow method for evaluation of morphometric parameters of the sunflower root system

When growing sunflower, great importance is provided to the issue of accumulation and preservation of moisture in deep soil horizons, which in turn affects the productivity of crops. In arid regions, providing plants with moisture is of particular importance. The technologies of conservation agriculture in relation to sunflower cultivation allow varying the depth of autumn tillage from 17 to 33 cm, which, in combination with the metered use of mineral fertilizers and considering the difference in moisture consumption for the growing season from a meter layer of soil, provide an increase in yield compared to the traditional main autumn tillage. Moreover, the ratio of income from the sale of sunflower seeds grown in an arid steppe to production costs depends on the combination of the depth of strip processing and the dose of fertilization. Wherein, in the main zones of commercial sunflower production, high yield increases are provided by the application of nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers, which contribute to the intensive formation of underground vegetative organs, which has unlimited growth in length and positive geotropism. The article presents the results of the application of multivariate regression analysis to study the morphobiological features of formation of the root system of sunflower grown using Strip-Till technology on the experimental field of the Povolzhye Educational and Scientific Production Association of the Saratov State Agrarian University named after N.I. Vavilov. The results of the morphometric assessment indicate a better development of the root system of plants in the treated strips compared to traditional types of basic tillage. To determine the limits of applicability of the piecewise linear regression model and develop practical recommendations for implementation of resource-saving potential of the Strip-Till technology in the dry steppe zone of the South-East of Russia used a reliable and sensitive criterion based on the method of J. Chow.