Minimum Requirements Research Articles

The Impact of Removing the 10-Minute Bout Requirement and of Different Survey Administration Methods on National Physical Activity Estimates in Austria.

Monitoring survey methods, as well as movement recommendations, evolves over time. These changes can make trend observations over time difficult. The aim of this study was to examine the differences between 2 computer-assisted survey administration methods and the effect of the omission of the 10-minute minimum bout requirement in physical activity (PA) questions on PA outcomes. We used data from the second Austrian PA Surveillance System for 2998 adults (18-64y), applying computer-assisted personal interviewing and computer-assisted web interviewing. Within the computer-assisted web interviewing sample only, we added PA questions without the 10-minute requirement. Quantile and logistic regressions were applied. Between computer-assisted web interviewing and computer-assisted personal interviewing, within the computer-assisted personal interviewing sample, we found lower PA estimates in the leisure domain and work and household domain, but not in the travel domain, and no significant difference in the proportion of people meeting the PA recommendations. In all 3 PA domains, the median minutes did not differ when assessed with or without the 10-minute requirement. However, the percentage participation in the travel domain and work and household domain performing >0minutes per week PA was higher when there was no 10-minute requirement. The proportion of people meeting the Austrian aerobic recommendation for adults when computed with or without the 10-minute requirement did not differ. Our findings suggest that the omission of the 10-minute requirement does not seem to result in marked differences in PA estimates or the proportion of adults meeting the recommendations.

Minimum cost control of weighted networked evolutionary games with switched topologies and threshold

Networked evolutionary games (NEGs) are a class of models that capture the interactions and evolution of strategies among rational agents in a network. In this paper, we study the problem of minimum cost control of NEGs with switched topologies and threshold, where the network structure can change over time and the agents have a minimum payoff requirement to survive. Using the semi-tensor product (STP) of matrices, we express the weighted networked evolutionary game in an algebraic form. Then, we propose an efficient algorithm to design the minimum cost control that ensures the survival of the agents. Finally, we demonstrate the validity of our theoretical results with an example and simulations.

Recycling of Oil Palm Shell as Aggregate in Concrete: A Review

The consideration of using alternative materials as coarse aggregates in construction industry is to conserve the natural resources, reduce undesirable carbon dioxide (CO2) and environmental degradation related to conventional aggregate. Oil palm shell (OPS) which is a by-product from oil palm industry has shown potentials as an alternative to the conventional aggregate in concrete production. This paper reviews the previous studies on the application of OPS as a construction material and has been extensively used in tropical countries. The performance of OPS meets the minimum requirements for lightweight aggregates. It is suitable material for the production of structural lightweight aggregate concrete with 28-day compressive strength more than 25 MPa. The various improvement techniques employed OPS concrete that resulted in improved OPS concrete performance are also highlighted in this review.

Improving the Latin America and Caribbean Soil Information System (SISLAC) database enhances its usability and scalability

Abstract. Spatial soil databases can help model complex phenomena in which soils are a decisive factor – for example, evaluating agricultural potential or estimating carbon storage capacity. The Latin America and Caribbean Soil Information System, SISLAC, is a regional initiative promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Latin America and the Caribbean Soil Partnership to contribute to sustainable management of soil. SISLAC includes data from 49 084 soil profiles distributed unevenly across the continent, making it the region's largest soil database. In addition, there are other soil databases in the region with about 40 000 soil profiles that can be integrated into SISLAC and improve it. However, some problems hinder its usages, such as the quality of the data and their high dimensionality. The objective of this research is evaluate the quality of the SISLAC data and the other available soil databases to generate a new improved version that meets the minimum quality requirements to be used for different purposes or practical applications. The results show that 15 % of the existing soil profiles had an inaccurate description of the diagnostic horizons and 17 % of the additional profiles already existed in SISLAC; therefore, a total of 32 % of profiles were excluded for these two reasons. Further correction of an additional 4.5 % of existing inconsistencies improved overall data quality. The improved database consists of 66 746 profiles and is available for public use at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7876731 (Díaz-Guadarrama and Guevara, 2023). This revised version of SISLAC data offers the opportunity to generate information that helps decision-making on issues in which soils are a decisive factor. It can also be used to plan future soil surveys in areas with low density or where updated information is required.

Capacity of community health centers to treat snakebite envenoming in indigenous territories of the Brazilian Amazon

IntroductionThe deaths from and morbidities associated with snakebites - amputations, loss of function in the limb, visible scarring or tissue damage - have a vast economic, social, and psychological impact on indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon, especially children, and represent a real and pressing health crisis in this population. Snakebite clinical and research experts have therefore proposed expanding antivenom access from only hospitals to include the community health centers (CHC) located near and within indigenous communities. However, there are no studies examining the capacity of CHCs to store, administer, and manage antivenom treatment. In response to this gap, the research team calling for antivenom decentralization developed and validated an expert-based checklist outlining the minimum requirements for a CHC to provide antivenom. MethodsThe objective of this study was thus to survey a sample of CHCs in indigenous territories and evaluate their capacity to provide antivenom treatment according to this accredited checklist. The checklist was administered to nurses and doctors from 16 CHCs, two per indigenous district in Amazonas/Roraima states. ResultsOur results can be conceptualized into three central findings: 1) most CHCs have the capacity to provide antivenom treatment, 2) challenges to capacity are human resources and specialized items, and 3) antivenom decentralization is feasible and appropriate in indigenous communities. ConclusionDecentralization would provide culturally and contextually appropriate care accessibility to a historically marginalized and underserved population of the Brazilian Amazon. Future studies should examine optimal resource allocation in indigenous territories and develop an implementation strategy in partnership with indigenous leaders. Beyond the indigenous population, the checklist utilized could be applied to community health centers treating the general population and/or adapted to other low-resource settings.

Numerical Analysis of Rubberized Steel Fiber Reinforced Concrete Beams Subjected to Static and Blast Loadings

In recent years, the alarming number of terrorist attacks has highlighted the critical need for extensive research aimed at fortifying structures against explosion-induced loads. However, the insufficient energy absorption and brittleness of conventional concrete make it ineffective in withstanding blast loading, encouraging researchers to explore innovative strategies for augmenting the energy dissipation capabilities of construction materials. This study specifically delves into the incorporation of recycled rubber, a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution to the pressing issue of scrap tire disposal. The primary focus of this research revolves around the integration of rubber recycling and steel fibers into concrete, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the dynamic response of reinforced concrete (RC) beams. This novel approach not only contributes to the structural resilience required for resisting blast impacts, but also aligns with eco-friendly practices by reusing recycled rubber. A meticulous numerical investigation was undertaken to comprehensively assess the static and blast response of these augmented beams. The numerical study involved developing finite element (FE) models using ABAQUS version 6.14 for static implicit analysis and LS-DYNA R11 for blast explicit simulations. The ABAQUS model was validated against previous experimental testing for load–displacement and failure patterns. Similarly, the LS-DYNA model was validated for blast pressure in accordance with UFC-3-340 standards and for material response under blast loading, utilizing existing experimental data. The numerical models were designed to accommodate varying weight percentages of rubber, ranging from 5% to 20%, and a consistent 1.0% incorporation of steel fibers. This comprehensive analysis aims to provide valuable insights into the efficacy of these materials in improving the structural integrity and blast resistance of RC beams, thereby contributing to the development of more secure and sustainable construction practices. By reducing the reinforcement ratio in order to meet the minimum code requirements, it became evident that the failures of the rubberized RC beams tended to exhibit ductility on the tension side under static loading. In addition, the increase in the reinforcement ratio correlated with a higher failure load and decreased deflection. Furthermore, the findings indicated an optimal concrete mixture characterized by improved ductility, energy absorption, and blast load capacity, achieved by combining 5–10% rubber with steel fibers.

Dual-mode sensing strategy based on carbon dots for sensitive and selective detection of molybdate ions.

Twokinds of carbon dots with the maximum fluorescence peak of 492 nm (named as G-CDs) and 607 nm (named as R-CDs) were synthesized. In the presence of MoO42- ions, the fluorescence of R-CDs at 607 nm can be quenched, which canprobably beassigned to their aggregation caused by MoO42-, while that of G-CDs at 492 nm remained unchanged. For the first time, aratiometric fluorescence probe was developed for MoO42- ions detection. In the range 0.25 ~ 100 μM, the fluorescence ratio (F492/F607) of theprobe was linearly related to MoO42- concentration, and the detection limit was 61.5 nM, which fully meets the minimum detection requirements of MoO42- ions in drinking water. On the other hand, when MoO42- was introduced, asignificant fading phenomenon of R-CDs can be observed with thenaked eye; thereby, the colorimetric method can also be proposed. Based on above, the ratiometric fluorometric/colorimetric dual-mode sensing method was established for MoO42- anion quantification. Compared with the traditional analysis methods, the results obtained by multimodal sensing can be mutually verified, which effectively improves the accuracy and reliability. The dual-mode assay proposed in this work provides an alternative scheme to meet the need of sensing target compoundsin complex matrices.

Development and Characterization of Innovative Hemp–Gypsum Composites for Application in the Building Industry

At present, the development of new eco-friendly building materials for the production of lightweight partitions has become a challenge in order to advance towards the industrialization of the building sector. This work aims to design, characterize, and analyze the possibilities of applying innovative ecological gypsum composites lightened with hemp. To achieve this, samples have been prepared with partial replacement of 15% and 30% in volume of the original gypsum material by adding hemp both in the form of powder and fiber. The results show how the replacement of 15% of gypsum by hemp fiber with a length between 8 and 12 mm improves the flexural strength of the composites. Likewise, all the dosages prepared for this study have met the minimum requirements for mechanical strength required by current regulations, while also improving the water resistance behavior of gypsum composites. However, the main advantage derived from the use of these hemp-lightened gypsum-based materials lies in their reduced thermal conductivity, being up to 50% lower than that obtained for traditional materials. These results suggest the possible application of these materials to produce prefabricated boards and panels for a more sustainable construction.

Bending resistance mechanism of prestressed ultra-high performance concrete - reinforced concrete beam based on a full-scale experiment

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) is a new type of engineering material with high compressive strength, high tensile strength, and high fracture toughness. Its bending failure mechanism is different from that of traditional concrete beams, which requires a new computational model to describe the bending failure phenomena of the prestressed ultra-high performance concrete - reinforced concrete (UHPC-RC) beam without web reinforcement. Therefore, this paper, through full-scale tests on a 30m prestressed UHPC-RC beam without web reinforcement, captures unique bending failure phenomena, including initial cracking, development of local cracks, and rupture of prestressed steel strands. Considering the tension-compression constitutive relationship of UHPC material, an innovative computational model for bending bearing capacity is proposed. Based on this model, a study on the minimum reinforcement ratio of full prestressed-ordinary steel bars is conducted. The results show that in the bending failure of the prestressed UHPC-RC beam without web reinforcement, excessive tensile strain of steel strands will occur at the local crack location. At this time, the structure does not satisfy the assumption of plane sections, and the introduction of the calculation model of the limit state of external prestressed tendons can effectively match this model, which is highly consistent with the experimental results. The minimum reinforcement ratio of full prestressed-ordinary steel bars is revised to the auxiliary reinforcement ratio of full prestressed-ordinary steel bars, quantifying the minimum reinforcement requirements of ordinary steel bars. The research results of this paper can provide reference for the next step of theoretical research.

Abstract B032: Designing arrays for the mouse head to facilitate in vivo studies of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) treatment of glioblastoma

Abstract Background: Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy is a noninvasive, anticancer treatment delivered by two pairs of arrays placed on the skin surrounding the tumor location. Based on efficacy and safety data from phase 3 global clinical studies, TTFields therapy is FDA-approved and CE marked for treatment of glioblastoma (GBM), the most common malignant brain tumor. In vivo studies of TTFields in GBM models, which are mostly based on mice, are complicated by the relatively small size of the mouse head and corresponding limited surface area to apply the arrays. This challenge has thus far limited in vivo research on TTFields treatment in GBM. Materials and Methods: To identify a method for efficient delivery of TTFields to the mouse brain, we examined the ability of different array layouts to accommodate the geometries of the mouse head while minimally impacting head movement, taking into account that it may not be feasible to place two pairs of arrays on the head. The properties of different adhesive tapes, specifically their ability to attach to the skin, was also investigated. Finally, the ability of array layouts to deliver therapeutic intensities to the desired region was validated using simulations and direct electric field measurements. Results: Assessments showed an optimal layout consisted of arrays such that one of the pair was on the mouse head, and the other on the mouse torso; and the arrays for placement on the head divided into two smaller disks, A thin, transparent adhesive tape was identified that allowed the arrays to be securely attached to the skin, but was easily removed without leaving residues. Validation studies using simulations demonstrated that the array layout met the minimum treatment requirements (field intensity ≥1 V/cm RMS; current ≥50 mA), and facilitated TTFields usage for ≥75% of each day. Conclusions: These data show that TTFields treatment can be effectively delivered to the heads of mice by utilizing carefully designed arrays. Our newly developed mouse head arrays are a flexible construct, that adheres strongly to the skin, and enables efficient electric field delivery to the mouse brain. These improvements in the delivery of TTFields treatment to mice will facilitate research of TTFields as a therapy for GBM. Citation Format: Sewar Zbidat, Roni Blatt, Mariell Sellevoll, Martin Gabay, Inbar Schlachet, Shay Cahal, Shiri Davidi, Itai Tzchori, Amal El-Mabhouh, Adi Haber, Moshe Giladi, Yoram Palti. Designing arrays for the mouse head to facilitate in vivo studies of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) treatment of glioblastoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Brain Cancer; 2023 Oct 19-22; Minneapolis, Minnesota. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(5 Suppl_1):Abstract nr B032.

Assessing the effectiveness of inhalation therapy in patients with chronic airway diseases: A new digital measurement

BackgroundThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of inhalation therapy in patients with chronic airway diseases via the use of a new multiparametric inhalation assessment device. MethodsA multiparametric inhalation evaluation device (PF810, UBREATH, Zhejiang, China) that could simulate common inhalation devices with 6 different levels (0-V) of resistance was used in this study. The device was considered suitable if the three parameters of peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR), effective inspiratory time (EIT), and breath-hold time (BHT) after inspiration met the minimum requirements. ResultsA total of 4,559 tests were performed. The qualification rates of 0-V resistance gear from low to high were 3.38 % (I), 8.42 % (0), 15.31 % (II), 16.71 % (III), 20.27 % (IV), and 46.91 % (V). The COPD patients in the 3 experimental groups had the lowest percentages of isolates classified as resistant 0, III, and V, which were 5.65 %, 11.93 %, and 40.43 %, respectively. The lowest percentage was 39.67 % (V) for insufficient EIT and 18.40 % (V) for BHT less than 5 s after inspiration. The results of 149 subjects who had used the inhalation device showed that the VIE and EIT at 0 levels were significantly greater than those before training (Z= -5.651, -5.646, P < 0.001). The VIE and EIT at I-III and V significantly increased after training (all P < 0.05). ConclusionsPatients using portable inhaler devices do not always inhale with adequate flow patterns. The multiparametric inhalation assessment device may be useful in outpatient settings.

Exploring diverse maintenance and repair standards in the container industry: a comparative analysis of criteria and practices

The maintenance and repair standards have always been a problem in the container industry. Due to different preferences of criterias of different parties caused many conflicts. This paper examines the different types of criterias and standards for general purpose containers, and different areas of use of these criterias. The main reason of this paper is to be an explanatory element to define the differences of these criterias. The fundamental structural dimensional basis for an intermodal container is ISO container standards which defines the main structural features. Although it presents dimensional tolerances to a certain degree, it is nearly impossible to use these criterias for the operators and owners in day to day operations. As a result there have been various published maintenance and repair criterias, used by different parties partaking in the container industry. The different organizations and associations published standards suiting their own needs. Although there are lesser implemented criterias like Wind and Water Tight and Cargo Worth, the most known and most implemented criterias around the world are Unified Container Inspection and Repair Criteria, Common Interchange Criteria and IICL publications. While the Wind and Water Tight criteria is generally used for containers which are used as storage, the Cargo Worthy is used for the containers meet the minimum requirements for transport. The Unified Container Inspection Criteria is preferred by the shipping lines and operators, and the Common Interchange Criteria and IICL – 6 are preferred by lessors.

Effect of chitosan-epoxy ratio in bio-based adhesive on physical and mechanical properties of medium density fiberboards from mixed hardwood fibers

Chitosan and bio-based epoxy resins have emerged as promising formaldehyde-free replacements for traditional urea–formaldehyde (UF) adhesives in engineered wood products. This study evaluated five chitosan-to-epoxy weight ratios (3:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3) as adhesives for hot-pressing medium density fiberboards (MDF) using mixed hardwood fibers. Increasing the epoxy ratio reduced viscosity and gel time, facilitating spraying and fast curing. The density of the formulated MDFs increased with higher epoxy ratios, ranging from 679 kg/m3 for the 3:1 ratio to 701 kg/m3 for the 1:3 formulation, meeting the 500–900 kg/m3 density range specified in EN 323. The 1:3 epoxy-rich formulation enhanced modulus of rupture (MOR) to 31 MPa and modulus of elasticity (MOE) to 2392 MPa, exceeding the minimum requirements of 16 MPa and 1500 MPa set out in EN 310 and EN 316, respectively. Dimensional stability peaked at 5% thickness swelling for the 1:3 formulation after 24 h water soaking, fulfilling the < 25% requirement per EN 316. Internal bond strength reached a maximum of 0.98 MPa for the 3:1 chitosan-rich formulation, satisfying the 0.40 MPa minimum per EN 319. One-way ANOVA tests showed the adhesive ratio had a significant effect on mechanical properties and dimensional stability at 95–99% confidence levels. Duncan's multiple range test revealed the 1:3 ratio boards exhibited statistically significant improvements compared to untreated group. Overall, tailoring the ratios achieved well-balanced properties for MOR, MOE, and dimensional stability, demonstrating potential to replace UF resins.

Cork consolidated by hot compression as a viable bio-based alternative to polyolefines in decking boards: A preliminary study

Currently, three classes of materials are used in deck boards production, i.e., wood, plastics and wood polymer composites. Wood is the best choice being bio-based, biodegradable and displaying better mechanical performance, but the environmental concerns deriving from forest depletion make the identification of a new bio-based solution necessary. In this sense, agglomerated cork is promising, being derived from the bark of the oak, but in its native form is not suitable for decking boards production due to low bending properties. The present work proposes a solution to use agglomerated cork in decking board manufacturing by converting its cellular structure in a consolidated one by hot compression. Design of Experiment was used to optimize consolidated cork mechanical properties as a function of the main manufacturing parameters, i.e., time and temperature. The exposure to high temperatures allows cork cell walls welding by developing adhesive properties, but it also induces a strong degradation of polysaccharides. It was discovered that the manufacturing parameters which maximize both flexural and tensile properties are a 180 °C operating temperature and a 31.5 min holding time. These conditions ensure a bending stiffness 40.9% and a bending strength 107.1% higher than the ASTM D6662 minimum requirements.

AES-128 reduced-round permutation by replacing the MixColumns function

Ensuring the protection of digital data is of utmost importance in our current reliance on network operations. However, security measures such as data encryption often result in decreased performance speed. This paper enhanced the 128-bit version of the advanced encryption standard (AES) by substituting the MixColumns function with a permutation-based approach and decreasing the overall number of rounds. The evaluation results indicate a substantial enhancement in the speed of encryption and decryption, with a 76.76% improvement in encryption time and a 55.46% improvement in decryption time. Furthermore, it is important to mention that the modifications implemented in the standard AES did not compromise its security in relation to the strict avalanche criterion. The avalanche effect of the modified AES is 52.92%, surpassing the minimum requirement of 50%. Finally, the modified AES demonstrated a 31.12% increase in throughput for encryption and a 25.50% increase for decryption when compared to the original AES, using the sample dataset.

Accuracy of Treatment Recommendations by Pragmatic Evidence Search and Artificial Intelligence: An Exploratory Study.

There is extensive literature emerging in the field of dentistry with the aim to optimize clinical practice. Evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) are designed to collate diagnostic criteria and clinical treatment for a range of conditions based on high-quality evidence. Recently, advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have instigated further queries into its applicability and integration into dentistry. Hence, the aim of this study was to develop a model that can be used to assess the accuracy of treatment recommendations for dental conditions generated by individual clinicians and the outcomes of AI outputs. For this pilot study, a Delphi panel of six experts led by CoTreat AI provided the definition and developed evidence-based recommendations for subgingival and supragingival calculus. For the rapid review-a pragmatic approach that aims to rapidly assess the evidence base using a systematic methodology-the Ovid Medline database was searched for subgingival and supragingival calculus. Studies were selected and reported based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA), and this study complied with the minimum requirements for completing a restricted systematic review. Treatment recommendations were also searched for these same conditions in ChatGPT (version 3.5 and 4) and Bard (now Gemini). Adherence to the recommendations of the standard was assessed using qualitative content analysis and agreement scores for interrater reliability. Treatment recommendations by AI programs generally aligned with the current literature, with an agreement of up to 75%, although data sources were not provided by these tools, except for Bard. The clinician's rapid review results suggested several procedures that may increase the likelihood of overtreatment, as did GPT4. In terms of overall accuracy, GPT4 outperformed all other tools, including rapid review (Cohen's kappa 0.42 vs. 0.28). In summary, this study provides preliminary observations for the suitability of different evidence-generating methods to inform clinical dental practice.

Design and selection of drug properties to increase the public health impact of next-generation seasonal malaria chemoprevention: a modelling study.

Seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) is recommended for disease control in settings with moderate to high Plasmodium falciparum transmission and currently depends on the administration of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine. However, poor regimen adherence and the increased frequency of parasite mutations conferring sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance might threaten the effectiveness of SMC. Guidance is needed to de-risk the development of drug compounds for malaria prevention. We aimed to provide guidance for the early prioritisation of new and alternative SMC drugs and their target product profiles. In this modelling study, we combined an individual-based malaria transmission model that has explicit parasite growth with drug pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models. We modelled SMC drug attributes for several possible modes of action, linked to their potential public health impact. Global sensitivity analyses identified trade-offs between drug elimination half-life, maximum parasite killing effect, and SMC coverage, and optimisation identified minimum requirements to maximise malaria burden reductions. Model predictions show that preventing infection for the entire period between SMC cycles is more important than drug curative efficacy for clinical disease effectiveness outcomes, but similarly important for impact on prevalence. When children younger than 5 years receive four SMC cycles with high levels of coverage (ie, 69% of children receiving all cycles), drug candidates require a duration of protection half-life higher than 23 days (elimination half-life >10 days) to achieve reductions higher than 75% in clinical incidence and severe disease (measured over the intervention period in the target population, compared with no intervention across a range of modelled scenarios). High coverage is crucial to achieve these targets, requiring more than 60% of children to receive all SMC cycles and more than 90% of children to receive at least one cycle regardless of the protection duration of the drug. Although efficacy is crucial for malaria prevalence reductions, chemoprevention development should select drug candidates for their duration of protection to maximise burden reductions, with the duration half-life determining cycle timing. Explicitly designing or selecting drug properties to increase community uptake is paramount. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation.

PrestoCell: A persistence-based clustering approach for rapid and robust segmentation of cellular morphology in three-dimensional data.

Light microscopy methods have continued to advance allowing for unprecedented analysis of various cell types in tissues including the brain. Although the functional state of some cell types such as microglia can be determined by morphometric analysis, techniques to perform robust, quick, and accurate measurements have not kept pace with the amount of imaging data that can now be generated. Most of these image segmentation tools are further burdened by an inability to assess structures in three-dimensions. Despite the rise of machine learning techniques, the nature of some biological structures prevents the training of several current day implementations. Here we present PrestoCell, a novel use of persistence-based clustering to segment cells in light microscopy images, as a customized Python-based tool that leverages the free multidimensional image viewer Napari. In evaluating and comparing PrestoCell to several existing tools, including 3DMorph, Omipose, and Imaris, we demonstrate that PrestoCell produces image segmentations that rival these solutions. In particular, our use of cell nuclei information resulted in the ability to correctly segment individual cells that were interacting with one another to increase accuracy. These benefits are in addition to the simplified graphically based user refinement of cell masks that does not require expensive commercial software licenses. We further demonstrate that PrestoCell can complete image segmentation in large samples from light sheet microscopy, allowing quantitative analysis of these large datasets. As an open-source program that leverages freely available visualization software, with minimum computer requirements, we believe that PrestoCell can significantly increase the ability of users without data or computer science expertise to perform complex image analysis.

Can Language Prevent Flexible SCR Calculations? New Duties for Auditors in The Prudential Authority v Constantia Insurance Company Limited, Gauteng Local Division, Johannesburg, Case Number 2022-19765

This article analyses the importance of the solvency capital requirement (hereafter SCR) and the minimum capital requirement (hereafter MCR) formulae and why an insurer's external auditor should audit these and disclose its contents in the insurer's financial statements. When calculating the SCR, the reason for requiring such a disclosure is to allow the Prudential Authority an opportunity to understand whether the assumptions, parameters and techniques (also referred to as economic considerations) applied by actuaries comply with section 36 of the Insurance Act 18 of 2017. Administrative costs and written premiums are considered when calculating the MCR, although written premiums could be subjected to different interpretations, which might affect this formula. Accordingly, had Constantia Insurance Company Limited's auditor audited these formulae in 2018 and disclosed their contents in the financial statements, the Prudential Authority would have commenced liquidation procedures in 2019, not choosing instead to wait and monitor the company's solvency requirements on a weekly basis for four years. As a result, owing to the lack of transparency in the financial statements and non-compliance with the SCR and MCR, Constantia spent nearly R733 000 000 over the three-year period to fund its business activities.

Analysis of OCT Scanning Parameters in AMD and RVO.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an extensively used imaging tool for disease monitoring in both age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO). However, there is limited literature on minimum requirements of OCT settings for reliable biomarker detection. This study systematically investigates both the influence of scan size and interscan distance (ISD) on disease activity detection. We analyzed 80 OCT volumes of AMD patients and 12 OCT volumes of RVO patients for the presence of subretinal fluid (SRF), intraretinal fluid (IRF), and pigment epithelium detachment (PED). All volume scans had a scan size of 6 × 6 mm and an ISD of 125 µm. We analyzed both general fluid distribution and how biomarker detection sensitivity decreases when reducing scan size or density. We found that in AMD patients, all fluids were nearly normally distributed, with most occurrences in the foveal center and concentric decrease towards the periphery. When reducing the scan size to 3 × 3 and 2 × 2 mm, disease activity detection was still high (0.98 and 0.96). Increasing ISD only slightly can already compromise biomarker detection sensitivity (0.9 for 250 µm ISD against 125 µm ISD).