Measures Of Parameters Research Articles

Dual parametric simultaneous measurement of pH and temperature based on optical fiber interference and silanized pH-responsive hydrogel

A no-core and few-mode fiber-based structure coating with polyacrylic acid acrylamide hydrogel is used to realize pH and temperature measurement simultaneously. The proposed structure can be obtained through splicing the no-core fiber, few-mode fiber and no-core fiber (NFN) with a certain length in sequence. Its measurement range can cover 2 to 12 for pH and 20 °C to 90 °C for temperature. Meanwhile, surface silanization of the optical fiber is performed to facilitate the adhesion of the hydrogel and to refine the silanization process. The pH-based transmission-sensitivity is measured to be 0.959 dB/pH and the highest pH-based wavelength-sensitivity is 0.837 nm/pH. The temperature-based wavelength-sensitivities are measured to be 0.01 nm/°C and 0.02 nm/°C, respectively, in two different pH environments of 2 ∼ 5 and 5 ∼ 12, while the temperature-based transmission-sensitivities are measured to be 0.432 dB/°C and 0.356 dB/°C, respectively. The pH response of hydrogel and inherent temperature response of NFN-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer enable the sensor to perform dual parameter measurements for pH and temperature. The dual-parameter matrices are established and validation experiments are carried out. It is demonstrated that the pH and temperature measurement errors can be as low as 0.088 and 1.112°C respectively. This sensor is expected to have broad prospects in environmental monitoring, chemical analysis, and other related fields.

Параметричні автогенераторні перетворювачі для вимірювання товщини матеріалів на основі конденсаторних чутливих елементів

The article examines the main characteristics of parametric autogenerator thickness measurement transducers with a frequency output signal. The design of the proposed autogenerator transducers is based on transistor structures with negative differential resistance. Capacitors with round and rectangular covers are used as parametric transducers for measuring the thickness of materials, which are passive elements of autogenerator transducers, which greatly simplifies the design of devices for measuring the thickness of materials. Mathematical models of autogenerator transducers were developed based on the principle of converting the energy of a constant electric field into the energy of an alternating electric field, which made it possible to obtain the conversion and sensitivity functions of autogenerator transducers without using a rather complicated method of obtaining Kirchhoff equations from nonlinear equivalent circuits of parametric transducers. It is shown that the main contribution to the change in the conversion functions and the sensitivity equation is made by the change in the thickness of the measured material, which causes a change in the equivalent capacitance and negative differential resistance in the oscillating system of autogenerators, which changes the output frequency of the autogenerator transducers. The sensitivity of thickness measurement transducers varies from 5.31 kHz/μm to 7.5 kHz/μm in the thickness range from 0 to 500 μm. Autogenerator transducers for thickness measurement with frequency output do not require analog-digital transducers and amplifiers for further processing of informative signals, which significantly reduces the cost of information-measuring equipment, and when working at ultra-high frequencies, it is possible to transmit information over considerable distances.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Sclerocarya birrea on Metabolic Disorders: Evidence from Preclinical Studies.

Metabolic disorders, including diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, are significant global health issues. Nutraceuticals, such as Sclerocarya birrea (SB), known for its high polyphenol content, are increasingly explored for managing these conditions. This study aims to evaluate the antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic, and antihypertensive effects of SB in animal models to understand its potential as a natural intervention for metabolic diseases. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Searches across databases like PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus identified studies using SB in animal models of metabolic disorders. Inclusion criteria were studies with SB intervention, control groups, and quantitative measures of metabolic parameters. The study was registered with INPLASY (INPLASY2024100031). The meta-analysis revealed that SB significantly reduces blood glucose levels in diabetic animal models. Acute administration of SB showed a pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of -7.13 (95% CI: -11.44 to -2.83) at 1 h and -9.75 (95% CI: -15.92 to -3.59) at 2-4 h post-administration. Chronic administration indicated a non-significant reduction in glucose levels (SMD: -5.69, 95% CI: -16.38 to 5.01). SB appears to have the potential for reducing blood glucose levels and may offer benefits for other cardiometabolic risk factors, including lipid profiles and oxidative stress. However, variability in the results underscores the need for further research, including standardized animal studies and clinical trials, to confirm these effects and clarify the mechanisms by which SB may impact metabolic disorders.

Transport-of-intensity phase imaging using commercially available confocal microscope.

Confocal microscopy is an indispensable tool for biologists to observe samples and is useful for fluorescence imaging of living cells with high spatial resolution. Recently, phase information induced by the sample has been attracting attention because of its applicability such as the measurability of physical parameters and wavefront compensation. However, commercially available confocal microscopy has no phase imaging function. We reborn an off-the-shelf confocal microscope as a phase measurement microscope. This is a milestone in changing the perspective of researchers in this field. We would meet the demand of biologists if only they had measured the phase with their handheld microscopes. We proposed phase imaging based on the transport of intensity equation (TIE) in commercially available confocal microscopy. The proposed method requires no modification using a bright field imaging module of a commercially available confocal microscope. The feasibility of the proposed method is confirmed by evaluating the phase difference of a microlens array and living cells of the moss Physcomitrium patens and living mammalian cultured cells. In addition, multi-modal imaging of fluorescence and phase information is demonstrated. TIE-based quantitative phase imaging (QPI) using commercially available confocal microscopy is proposed. We evaluated the feasibility of the proposed method by measuring the microlens array, plant, and mammalian cultured cells. The experimental result indicates that QPI can be realized in commercially available confocal microscopy using the TIE technique. This method will be useful for measuring dry mass, viscosity, and temperature of cells and for correcting phase fluctuation to cancel aberration and scattering caused by an object in the future.

Validity of a Consumer-Based Wearable to Measure Clinical Parameters in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Healthy Controls: Observational Study.

Consumer-based wearables are becoming more popular and provide opportunities to track individual's clinical parameters remotely. However, literature about their criterion and known-groups validity is scarce. This study aimed to assess the validity of the Fitbit Charge 4, a wrist-worn consumer-based wearable, to measure clinical parameters (ie, daily step count, resting heart rate [RHR], heart rate variability [HRV], respiratory rate [RR], and oxygen saturation) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy controls in free-living conditions in Belgium by comparing it with medical-grade devices. Participants wore the Fitbit Charge 4 along with three medical-grade devices: (1) Dynaport MoveMonitor for 7 days, retrieving daily step count; (2) Polar H10 for 5 days, retrieving RHR, HRV, and RR; and (3) Nonin WristOX2 3150 for 4 nights, retrieving oxygen saturation. Criterion validity was assessed by investigating the agreement between day-by-day measures of the Fitbit Charge 4 and the corresponding reference devices. Known-groups validity was assessed by comparing patients with COPD and healthy controls. Data of 30 patients with COPD and 25 age- and gender-matched healthy controls resulted in good agreement between the Fitbit Charge 4 and the corresponding reference device for measuring daily step count (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC2,1]=0.79 and ICC2,1=0.85, respectively), RHR (ICC2,1=0.80 and ICC2,1=0.79, respectively), and RR (ICC2,1=0.84 and ICC2,1=0.77, respectively). The agreement for HRV was moderate (healthy controls: ICC2,1=0.69) to strong (COPD: ICC2,1=0.87). The agreement in measuring oxygen saturation in patients with COPD was poor (ICC2,1=0.32). The Fitbit device overestimated the daily step count and underestimated HRV in both groups. While RHR and RR were overestimated in healthy controls, no difference was observed in patients with COPD. Oxygen saturation was overestimated in patients with COPD. The Fitbit Charge 4 detected significant differences in daily step count, RHR, and RR between patients with COPD and healthy controls, similar to those identified by the reference devices, supporting known-groups validity. Although the Fitbit Charge 4 shows mainly moderate to good agreement, measures of clinical parameters deviated from the reference devices, indicating that monitoring patients remotely and interpreting parameters requires caution. Differences in clinical parameters between patients with COPD and healthy controls that were measured by the reference devices were all detected by the Fitbit Charge 4.

Measuring Black Hole Light Echoes with Very Long Baseline Interferometry

Light passing near a black hole can follow multiple paths from an emission source to an observer due to strong gravitational lensing. Photons following different paths take different amounts of time to reach the observer, which produces an echo signature in the image. The characteristic echo delay is determined primarily by the mass of the black hole, but it is also influenced by the black hole spin and inclination to the observer. In the Kerr geometry, echo images are demagnified, rotated, and sheared copies of the direct image and lie within a restricted region of the image. Echo images have exponentially suppressed flux, and temporal correlations within the flow make it challenging to directly detect light echoes from the total light curve. In this Letter, we propose a novel method to search for light echoes by correlating the total light curve with the interferometric signal at high spatial frequencies, which is a proxy for indirect emission. We explore the viability of our method using numerical general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a near-face-on accretion system scaled to M87-like parameters. We demonstrate that our method can be used to directly infer the echo delay period in simulated data. An echo detection would be clear evidence that we have captured photons that have circled the black hole, and a high-fidelity echo measurement would provide an independent measure of fundamental black hole parameters. Our results suggest that detecting echoes may be achievable through interferometric observations with a modest space-based very long baseline interferometry mission.

Toward sustainable solar energy: Analyzing key parameters in photovoltaic systems

This study reviews recent advancements in solar energy technologies, focusing on enhancing the efficiency of photovoltaic systems. Key research areas include optimizing material properties, improving charge separation, and addressing sustainability challenges. This study identifies critical challenges in quantum dot solar cell technology, such as modeling spectral absorption, managing thermal losses, and evaluating long-term stability. Overall, these innovations represent significant strides toward more efficient and environmentally friendly solar energy solutions. This Review article offers a thorough investigation of the direct current parameters in photovoltaic panels, aiming to boost their efficiency and cost-effectiveness in production. This study underscores the importance of precise modeling and identification of solar cell parameters to more effectively harness solar energy, thereby underscoring its potential for enhancing energy capacity and environmental conservation. Our research includes experimental data on polycrystalline silicon solar cells and simulation results of both individual and polycrystalline cells conducted using the NI Multisim simulator. The focal points of this study encompass the efficient use of solar energy, the pivotal role of silicon as a semiconductor material, and novel methods for augmenting photovoltaic cell efficiency, such as employing nanowires and multilayer semiconductors. This Review Article also examines the effect of temperature on solar cell efficiency and addresses both the theoretical and practical measures of key photovoltaic parameters, including short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and conversion efficiency.

The Effects of Combined Versus Single-Mode Resistance and Repeated Sprint Training on Physical Fitness, Hematological Parameters, and Plasma Volume Variations in Highly Trained Soccer Players.

We examined the effects of eight weeks of single-mode resistance, repeated sprint training, and the combination of the two programs on selected measures of physical fitness (muscle power, speed, and body composition), hematological parameters, and plasma volume variations in highly trained soccer players. Sixty male soccer players from the Tunisian national Ligue were randomly allocated to a resistance training group (RTG), a repeated sprint training group (RSTG), a combined resistance and repeated sprint training group (CTG), or an active control group (CG, soccer training only). The training volumes were similar between groups. Before and after training, we examined body composition, squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), sprint 30 m (S30), repeated-sprint sequences (RSSs), hematocrit, hemoglobin, mean hemoglobin concentration (MHC), and plasma volume. Significant group-by-time interactions were recorded for the RSS indices, SJ, and S30 (p < 0.039], 0.1< ηp2 < 0.49]), as well as the hematological parameters (p = 0.0001-0.045, 0.11 < ηp2 < 0.46). In terms of physical fitness, using post hoc tests, the CTG showed significantly greater gains compared to the RSTG, RTG, and the CG on the best time index of the RSSs (p = 0.008; d = 4.1), SJ (p = 0.004; d = 4.18) and 30 m linear sprint time (p = 0.008; d = 3.84). Body fat percentage also decreased significantly in the CTG compared to all other groups (p < 0.005, 0.21 < d< 0.35). Regarding hematological parameters (i.e., hemoglobin and hematocrit), the CTG, RSTG, and RTG showed significant decreases (p < 0.05) in their hemoglobin and hematocrit values compared to the CG (p < 0.05, 0.11 < d< 2.22]). Eight weeks of combined training compared to single-mode training was found to be more effective in improving fitness measures in highly trained soccer players. However, there appeared to be no consensus regarding the effect of single and combined repeated-sprint and resistance training on the hematological system.

Insights into Stable Apple Genotypes for Fruit Yield in Himachal Pradesh: An Assessment Using Parametric and Non-parametric Stability Measures

Insights into Stable Apple Genotypes for Fruit Yield in Himachal Pradesh: An Assessment Using Parametric and Non-parametric Stability Measures

The Implications of Sacralized Transitional Vertebra on Spinal Alignment.

Retrospective study of a multicentric prospective database. This study aimed to determine, in a cohort of healthy volunteers, the impact of sacralized lumbo-sacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) on spinal alignment according to its grade, particularly regarding lumbar lordosis magnitude and distribution, and the implications for spinopelvic parameters measurement. There is little data regarding spinopelvic alignment assessment in LSTV patients. This study included healthy volunteers with full-body stereoradiographs in free-standing position aged over 18. Castellvi grade, pelvic parameters (measured on S1 and L5), L1-S1 lumbar lordosis (LL) and segmental lordosis for each disc and vertebral body, thoracic kyphosis, cervical lordosis, lower limb, and global alignment parameters were assessed. Castellvi I and II were considered as Low-grade and Castellvi III and IV as High-grade LSTV. Alignment parameters between No-LSTV, Low- and High-grade LSTV were compared. Propensity score matching was used to match PI in No-LSTV and Low-grades. Spinopelvic parameters measured on S1 in No-LSTV group and on L5 in High-grade were compared. 713 subjects were included, of whom 23 Low-grades and 27 High-grades. Mean pelvic incidence was 51.0±11.0° and mean age was 37.5±16.2 years. LL distribution was different between groups, with an apex and inflexion point significantly higher in High-grade (P<0.001). Kyphosis in the LSTV segment was compensated for by a steeper increase of LL above L5 in the High-grades. Low-grades and PI-matched No-LSTV presented similar alignment parameters. There were minor differences in parameters measured on S1 in No-LSTV and no L5 in High-grades. Subjects with low-grade LSTV present similar alignment as PI-matched No-LSTV subjects, and S1 should be taken as reference to measure spinopelvic parameters. High-grade LSTV subjects have kyphotic L5-S1 segment with more cranial lumbar apex and thoracolumbar inflexion point. In these subjects, spinopelvic parameters should be measured on L5.

Generalized Parametric Fuzzy Information Measure

Objective: To generalize an existing fuzzy information measure and verify its important properties. Methods: Both objective and descriptive methods have been adopted; problem-solving and problem-posing methods have been used. A collection of properties presented by De Luca and Termini is used as a standard for establishing new fuzzy information measures. Findings: This study has analysed the different features of the parametric measure of fuzzy information that we have presented. The suggested fuzzy entropy measure is a legitimate measure of fuzzy information since it meets all necessary requirements. Its monotonic behaviour has also been studied. Comparisons between the proposed measure of fuzzy information and the corresponding measure of probabilistic information have been discussed. Novelty: The unique quality of the suggested fuzzy information measure is found in its monotonic behaviour corresponding to parameter α. When conducting a multicriteria decision analysis and directing the decision-making process, monotonic fuzzy information measures are more useful. Because the suggested measure satisfies fundamental set features, it can be applied in soft computing for economics, decision-making, and data aggregation. Mathematics Subject Classification: 94 D 05 Keywords: Fuzzy Entropy, Uncertainty, Fuzziness, Measures of Information, Shannon Entropy

Evaluation of tear film function by Oculus Keratograph 5M and IDRA ocular surface analyser.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of tear film with Oculus Keratograph 5M (Oculus K5M) and IDRA ocular surface analyser (IDRA), analyse their consistency and explore the potential of IDRA in the diagnosis of dry eye disease (DED). This cross-sectional study enrolled 36 participants (DED group, 14 eyes; non-DED group, 22 eyes). The parameters of tear film function, including the first noninvasive breakup time (fNIBUT), average NIBUT (aNIBUT), tear meniscus height (TMH), lipid layer thickness (LLT), lipid layer colour (LLC), lipid layer uniformity (LLU), morphology of meibomian glands (MGs) and MG loss, were obtained with Oculus K5M and IDRA. The consistency of parameter measurements between the two devices was evaluated. All the parameters except LLT, which can be measured only by IDRA, were not significantly different between the two instruments in DED eyes. However, IDRA reported lower values of fNIBUT, aNIBUT and TMH as well as higher MG loss scores in non-DED eyes than Oculus K5M did (p < 0.001, < 0.001, = 0.002, and = 0.002, respectively). Further regression analysis revealed that aNIBUT and LLT measured by IDRA were the optimal parameters for diagnosing DED (OR = 0.567 and 0.845, p = 0.057 and 0.043, respectively), and their combination had the strongest diagnostic potential (AUC = 0.841, sensitivity = 85.7%, and specificity = 77.3%). As a user-friendly noninvasive device, the tear film function parameters measured by IDRA were highly consistent with those measured by Oculus K5M in DED patients. The combination of aNIBUT and LLT measured by IDRA had the best diagnostic accuracy for DED.

Correlation between the Ocular Surface Disease Index and dry eye functional parameters measured with the OCULUS Keratograph 5M in a Hispanic population

Abstract Background: The evaluation of dry eye disease (DED) and the ocular surface can be approached from patient-centered questionnaires, clinical scales using the slit-lamp microscope, and more recently innovative ophthalmological devices that allow for noninvasive tests. The OCULUS Keratograph 5M (K5M) is a device that allows for noninvasive measurement of ocular surface parameters. Materials and Methods: The present article is a retrospective and observational study detailing the correlation of the OCULUS K5M surface parameters and the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) score. Patients of any gender and age attending a cornea and refractive surgery practice in an academic center underwent a full ophthalmological examination and tear meniscus height, tear breakup time, bulbar redness, meibography, and OSDI score measurement through the K5M. Results: One hundred and sixty-four eyes of 82 patients were included. The sample showed a female preponderance (78%) and a mean age of 49.45 years. When comparing the OSDI score with ocular surface parameters, a weak negative correlation was found with the tear meniscus height (Pearson coefficient: [ −0.229, P = 0.003]). There were no other statistically significant correlations between the K5M and the OSDI score. In addition, the meibomian gland dropout was significantly associated with increasing age, whereas conjunctivochalasis was associated with the female gender, increasing age and increasing OSDI score. Conclusions: The subjective symptoms of DED measured with OSDI score correlate only with tear meniscus height measured by the K5M in a Hispanic population. The detection of symptomatic DED patients through the K5M is incomplete in this population.

A parametric similarity measure for neutrosophic set and its applications in energy production

As a useful tool for managing ambiguous and inconsistent data, the Single Value Neutrosophic Set (SVNSs) is an extension of both Fuzzy Sets (FSs) and Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets (IFSs). In the field of information theory, metrics like similarity, entropy, and distance are important. Although a number of entropy measures for SVNSs have been put forth and used in real-world situations, both academic research and real-world applications have pointed out certain drawbacks. Additionally, the Similarity Measures (SMs) is a useful instrument for determining how similar any two fuzzy values are to one another. The distance between the values allows the current SMs to evaluate the similarity. However, due to a few characteristics and intricate value operations, there are irrational and nonsensical cases. To deal with these preposterous cases, this paper proposed a parametric similarity measure in view of three parameters m1,m2,m3 in which decision makers can obtain the appropriate SMs by changing parameters with different decision styles. Furthermore, we analyze some existing SMs from a mathematical perspective and demonstrate the success of the proposed SMs using mathematical models. Ultimately, we apply the suggested SMs to resolve the Multi-Attribute Decision-Making (MADM) problems. We learn from the correlation and analysis that the suggested SM outperforms certain other SMs that are based on the SVNSs.

Compensation of system nonlinearity in the measurement of acoustic nonlinearity parameters

The acoustic nonlinearity parameter is determined from the amplitudes of the fundamental and second harmonic component of the acoustic wave propagating through the material. However, the generally used through-transmission based measurements with PZT transducers contain high system nonlinearity, so that the received second harmonic component includes an extra component caused by the transducer, which significantly decrease the reliability of measurements. In this study, we proposed a novel method to reduce the system nonlinearity in the conventional through-transmission based measurements by adding a simple process in which the transmitting and receiving transducers are in direct contact without a specimen. The proposed method was experimentally validated for two materials, Al6061-T6 and Fused Silica. For both materials, several specimens with different thickness were prepared, and the measurement results showed that the magnitude of the second harmonic was proportional to the thickness, but there was an offset due to system nonlinearity. On the other hand, after applying the proposed technique, the offsets were greatly reduced, and furthermore, this performance was maintained even when the transducer setup was changed, and the ratio of nonlinearity parameters measured for the two materials was in good agreement with the known literature value.

An efficient multi‐probe enabled midfield over‐the‐air test method for 5G base station antenna pattern reconstruction

AbstractWith the accelerated deployment of 5G massive multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO)‐structured base stations (BSs), accurate and efficient testing of massive MIMO arrays is essential to ensure that the 5G massive MIMO antenna array can perform as expected. The increasing trend of both antenna element and array physical size makes massive MIMO antenna pattern measurement in the direct‐far‐field OTA environment unrealistic due to the signal attenuation, long measurement time, and ultra‐high test system construction cost. Therefore, the necessity of a compact, efficient, low‐complex, yet accurate OTA test method is evident, especially for 5G massive MIMO BS arrays. This paper proposes a novel multi‐probe‐enabled midfield (MF) OTA test method for 5G massive MIMO devices in compact measurement settings where antenna pattern measurement can be efficiently performed. The detailed theoretical analysis for the 5G massive MIMO array MF antenna pattern reconstruction method is presented, and the simulated validation results based on the typical 5G BS antenna arrays are provided and analysed, which demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed MF OTA test method and can provide insights into the radio frequency parametric measurement for 5G massive MIMO devices.

Effects of Pelvic Rocking and Deep Breathing Relaxation Exercises on the Progression of the Active Phase of the First Stage of Labor

Prolonged labor or undeveloped labor is one of the complications in childbirth. Where prolonged labor is labor that lasts more than 24 hours in primi and more than 18 hours in multi. The purpose of this research is for the Influence of Pelvic Rocking Exercise and Slow Deep Breathing Relaxation on the Progress of the First Stage of Labor among mothers giving birth in Indonesia in 2024. Research methods This is a pre experimental quantitative research with a group compilation statistical design. The data analysis used is univariate and bivariate analysis using the Mann Whitney hypothesis test, which is a non-parametric test that measures differences equivalent to the independent T test in parametric measurements. The p-value result was 0.000. This shows that there is a significant influence of pelvic rocking exercise and slow deep breathing relaxation on the progress of the first stage of labor in 2024. This pelvic rocking exercise and slow deep breathing relaxation intervention can be applied by the birthing mother so that the mother can give birth safely, comfortably and in a quicker time than without intervention.

Comparative analysis of three jaw motion tracking systems: A study on precision and trueness.

The purpose of this study was to assess the precision and trueness of three jaw motion tracking systems, the KaVo ARCUSdigma system, SDiMatriX system, and Modjaw system, in recording mandibular movements based on optical and ultrasonic principles. Twenty-five healthy subjects were selected for the present study to measure protrosive movement and left and right lateral movements using the three jaw motion tracking systems. Each subject's mandibular movement was recorded twice with a 1-week interval. Five parameters-sagittal condylar inclination (SCI) angle, incisal guide angle, Bennett angle, lateral condylar inclination angle, and Fischer's angle-were acquired for further analysis. The precision of the jaw motion tracking systems was evaluated by comparing the results of two measurements of the same parameter. Simultaneously, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was utilized during the initial data acquisition and was aligned with intercuspal position (ICP) and edge-to-edge occlusion intraoral scan data. Bone landmarks were used to calculate bilateral SCI as a reference for comparison with the SCI values from each jaw motion tracking system. An independent-sample t-test was conducted to compare parameter differences, with statistical significance set at a p-value below 0.05. There were no significant differences among the three jaw motion tracking systems regarding the corrected values of SCI, incisal guide angle, Bennett angle, lateral condylar inclination angle, and Fischer's angle during the 1-week interval (p>0.05). The values of bilateral SCI obtained by CBCT were 48.57±6.74 (L) and 48.35±5.28 (R), respectively. No significant differences were found between the reference SCI and those parameters measured by the KaVo ARCUSdigma system and the Modjaw system (p>0.05), while the results obtained from the SDiMatriX system indicated a significant difference compared to the reference SCI (p<0.05). The three jaw motion tracking systems exhibited favorable results in terms of precision. Regarding trueness, both the KaVo ARCUSdigma system and the Modjaw system demonstrated a satisfactory levels suitable for applications in digital prosthodontics within clinical settings. However, further refinement is needed to enhance the trueness of the SDiMatriX system.

Longitudinal controlled attenuation parameter and liver stiffness in children with and without perinatal HIV infection in South Africa.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is an emerging cause of liver disease in HIV. Transient elastography (TE) with controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) measures liver stiffness as a marker of liver fibrosis and CAP as a measure of hepatic steatosis. Our aim was to evaluate longitudinal CAP and liver stiffness in children with perinatally acquired HIV (PHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) from early life compared to children without HIV (HU). Prospective cohort study. PHIV and HU were followed annually for two years. During the study, 60% of PHIV switched from older ART regimens to tenofovir disoproxil, lamivudine and dolutegravir (TLD). Longitudinal evolution of CAP and liver stiffness were investigated in two PHIV groups - on older ART and on TLD - compared to HU children using linear mixed effects models. 263 children and adolescents (112 PHIV, 151 HU) aged 7-20 years were followed. PHIV on older ART had CAP 8.61% (95% CI 4.42-12.97, P < 0.001) greater than HU and no significant difference in CAP between PHIV on TLD and HU. No significant difference in liver stiffness was found between PHIV on older ART regimens and PHIV on TLD compared to HU. PHIV on older ART had higher CAP than HU, whereas in PHIV switched to TLD there was no difference in CAP compared to HU. There was no difference in liver stiffness between either PHIV group and HU. This suggests starting ART early in life might protect PHIV from developing hepatic fibrosis.

Effect of Garlic Extract (Allium sativum) on Hematological and Clinical Chemistry Parameters of Laying Quail

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of garlic extract (Allium sativum) in drinking water on the hematological profile of laying quail. In a completely randomized design (CRD), one hundred and twenty laying quail were randomly allocated to four treatments, with six replicates of five quail each. The treatment drink water are as follows, the control P0 (0%), 1% garlic extract (P1), 2% garlic extract (P2) and 4% garic extract (P3). Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. The parameters measure were; the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit, lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes. Blood samples from each quail were collected to analyze the hematological parameters. The result of hematological data showed that supplementation of garlic extract in drinking water had a significant effect (P less than 0.05) on hemoglobin levels, but did not have a significant effect (P greater than 0.05) on erythrocyte, hematocrit, lymphocyte, monocyte and granulocyte levels. Meanwhile, the hemoglobin levels themselves showed that treatment P2 (2%) had a significant effect compared to other treatments. Based on clinical chemistry it shows that adding garlic extract with concentrations of 0% (control), 1%, 2% and 4% to drinking water does not have a significant effect (P greater than 0.05) on Aspartate transamnase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol, triglycerides, BUN, creatinine and glucose. It can be concluded that the best treatment is giving 2% extract in drinking water which is able to improve the haematological profile of quail in terms of increasing hemoglobin levels.