Test Parameters Research Articles

Multimodal laser opto-ultrasonic spectroscopy (LOUS) Approach to investigate the impact of elemental composition on the engineering properties of high-density tungsten alloys'

The impact of elemental composition on the engineering properties of high-density tungsten alloy is crucial, particularly in relation to grain size, hardness, elastic modulus, and surface degradation. This study introduces a new multimodal laser opto-ultrasonic spectroscopy (LOUS) technique, which simultaneously integrates the benefits of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and laser ultrasonic testing to evaluate the engineering properties of tungsten alloys. The findings indicate that the increasing tungsten concentration significantly enhances the samples' hardness, grain size and elastic modulus. The composition of elements and hardness were assessed using a calibration curve derived from the emission intensity ratio (W-II/W-I) and plasma electron temperature (Te) in optical emission. The correlation results of (W-II/W-I) and Te showed significant enhancement with the increase of hardness with a regression coefficient (R2 ≥ 0.996), validating the Saha-Eggert relation and underscoring model effectiveness. Additionally, the correlation of the laser ultrasonic testing parameters (attenuation coefficient and velocities) in assessing grain size and elastic modulus showed good reliability (R2≥0.993) when compared to the results obtained from conventional optical microscopy and tensile testing. The results underscore the accuracy and predictive ability of the LOUS method for in-situ characterization.

Pharmacopeial parametric release strategy in microbiological quality control of radiopharmaceuticals

Nuclear medicine is used to assess body functionality at various levels of biological organization and is increasingly employed for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Nearly 5% of radiopharmaceuticals are used therapeutically, whereas approximately 95% are used for diagnosis. Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are generally considered safe because they are administered in subpharmacological doses, and the radiotracer components are employed in minimal doses. Consequently, the radiation exposure to the body during nuclear medicine investigations is typically low. However, when radiopharmaceuticals are used for therapeutic applications such as tumor ablation and bone pain palliation, the emitted radiation is highly localized and potent. Radiotracers and radiation doses are more carefully selected for young patients, as the radiation-induced risk of adverse health effects is greater in children than in adults. Radiopharmaceutical preparations should adhere to the established standards of pharmacopoeia worldwide to ensure safety and efficacy. Adherence to current good manufacturing practices, sterility, and good radiation practices are prerequisites for ensuring effective quality assurance and quality control systems during radiopharmaceutical preparation. The quality control test parameter for radiopharmaceuticals primarily involves physicochemical and biological tests. However, significant concerns exist regarding the biological testing of radiopharmaceuticals, necessitating their parametric release. The time-intensive traditional sterility test, bacterial endotoxin test, and rabbit pyrogen tests have been critical quality control issues due to the short half-lives of most radiopharmaceuticals, as they should be dispensed at the earliest to ensure optimal diagnostic/therapeutic benefit. Therefore, manufacturers of radiopharmaceuticals, dispensers, and nuclear medicine specialists should be cognizant of the issues posed by biological quality control as a primary obstacle to ensuring consistent quality through parametric release from a compendial test method standpoint.

Crack analysis of tall concrete wind towers using an ad-hoc deep multiscale encoder–decoder with depth separable convolutions under severely imbalanced data

An accurate and timely cracking assessment, including the presence, location and crack geometric feature measurement, is crucial for evaluating concrete wind towers. Therefore, the early identification of cracks is a critical procedure in promptly evaluating structural integrity. This study proposed an ad-hoc encoder–decoder network based on DeepLabv3+ with depth separable convolutions to automatically segment cracks from real-world images captured from various concrete wind towers. The combined advantages of the improved DeepLabv3+ and the lightweight MobileNet v2 are suitable as a benchmark due to their high performance and universality. Four experiments were conducted to determine the model design choice and crack feature measurement capability: (1) six parametric tests using various pre-trained base networks and algorithm optimisers, (2) the influence of complex background noise (i.e., handwriting script) on crack segmentation performance, (3) comparative studies with cutting-edge pixel-wise segmentation models and (4) crack feature measurement (i.e., length and width). The research outcome demonstrated that DeepLabv3+ with MobileNet v2 can potentially be applied for efficient and accurate crack segmentation in concrete wind towers with complex backgrounds.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON OPTIMIZING THE FUSED DEPOSITION MODELING PARAMETERS FOR POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATE GLYCOL MATERIAL USING TAGUCHI METHOD

In many different manufacturing techniques, additive manufacturing technologies have proven to be quite useful for developing a prototype model in wide range of applications. In that technique, Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is one of the concern favorite methods used in industries, because it can create complex structures at a low cost. FDM uses the polymer ingredients that are melted, extruded, and layered on top of one another to create the desired product, independent of design intricacy. This examination analyzes the effects of several process variables on the flexural and impact characteristics of parts produced of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG)material, including infill structure, layer thinness, infill multi-layering, and infill concentration. The L9 orthogonal array was developed by the Taguchi method to be employed in this design of experiment. Through the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the study elucidated the relative substance and percentage effort of each process parametric quantity to the desired outcomes. The results obtained through the Taguchi method revealed optimal parameters for both impact strength and flexural tests. For impact strength, the optimum factor was determined as a layer thinness of 0.12-millimeter, quarter cubic infill structure, 30% infill denseness (density), and a multi-layering of 3. Conversely, for the flexural test, the optimal factor was found to be a layer thinness of 0.12-millimeter, cross 3D infill structure, 60% infill denseness, and a multi-layering of 4 respectively.

Subclinical impairment of the left atrium is associated with MRI-based lung volume but not with parameters from pulmonary function testing

Left atrial (LA) physiology and hemodynamics are intimately connected to cardiac and lung function in health and disease. This study examined the relationship between MRI-based left atrial (LA) size and function with MRI-based lung volume and pulmonary function testing (PFT) parameters in the population-based KORA study cohort of 400 participants without overt cardiovascular disease. MRI quantification assessed LA size/function in sequences with and without ECG synchronization, alongside lung volume. Regression analysis explored the relationship of LA with MRI lung volume and PFT parameters. Among 378 participants (average age 56.3 ± 9.2 years; 42.3% women), non-gated LA size averaged 16.8 cm2, while maximal and minimal LA size from gated measurements were 19.6 cm2 and 11.9 cm2 respectively. The average MRI-derived lung volume was 4.0 L, with PFT showing a total lung capacity of 6.2 L, residual lung volume of 2.1 L, and forced vital capacity of 4.1 L. Multivariate regression analysis, adjusted for age, gender, and cardiovascular risk factors, revealed an inverse association between maximum LA size, non-gated LA, and LA area fraction with lung volume (ß = − 0.03, p = 0.006; ß = − 0.03, p = 0.021; ß = − 0.01, p = 0.012), with no significant association with PFT parameters. This suggests that MRI-based assessment may offer greater sensitivity in detecting subclinical LA impairment than PFT.

Evaluating and identifying changes in the rate of unplanned discharge among Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities providing substance use disorder residential care

IntroductionQuality improvement (QI) methods play a critical role in ensuring that patients receive high-quality and timely care. Healthcare systems should use valid and reliable measures to inform QI efforts. Mental health settings including substance use disorder (SUD) residential programs have been slow to develop and incorporate quality measurement into routine practice. Unplanned discharge is of particular concern because this event is associated with harm including suicide. Healthcare systems require criteria that they can use to operationalize unplanned discharge as a quality measure in SUD residential programs. MethodsThe study included all discharges from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) residential SUD programs between 2018 and 2022. The study calculated crude and adjusted rates of irregular discharge. The study used the first two years of observation (2018–2019) in a logistic regression model to determine the parameter estimates for three important covariates, age, risk for homelessness, and principal diagnosis. The study tested permutations of bin size (N) and days (D) per bin to identify a single set of parameters to enable small and large facilities to have sufficient power to detect out-of-control processes (i.e., significant worsening or improvement in rates). Aligned with standard nomenclature, the study calculated the control limits based on three standard deviations (SD). Values that fell above or below three SD were statistically significant. ResultsThe cohort included 56 facilities (26,361 discharges). Irregular discharge was associated with younger age (18–40 years) and a principal diagnosis of a drug use disorder. Testing parameter values of 100 discharges (N) over 120 days (D) would yield enough power to detect modest relative changes to the irregular discharge rate for small and large facilities while testing frequently enough to make the evaluations temporally relevant. Because secular trends such as staff changes over time will impact results, the quality control method should allow for real-time feedback to those most proximal to the event. ConclusionsThe study created a set of parameters and a methodology that residential SUD programs can use to operationalize unplanned discharge locally. These data could assist programs in conducting QI work to address unplanned discharge and related harms.

The relationship between severity of periapical periodontitis and next-generation systemic inflammatory biomarkers in children with early childhood caries

IntroductionEarly childhood caries (ECC) is closely associated with poor oral hygiene and cariogenic diet. Untreated ECC results in recurrent odontogenic infections and local and systemic consequences. In this study, our goal is to assess the relationship between the intensity of odontogenic infection-associated periapical periodontitis and new generation of systemic inflammatory markers (SII, NLR, PLR) in ECC-affected children.Material and method95 healthy patients in early childhood and demonstrating periapical periodontitis who underwent dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA) in the last two years were included in the present study. Their periapical statuses were dichotomized as mild and severe. Periapical Index (PAI) scores of 2 and 3 were regarded as “mild” whereas 4 and 5 as “severe”. Of the complete blood test (CBC) parameters, systemic inflammatory index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophilic granulocyte (NEUT), lymphocyte (LYMPH) and platelet (PLT) were recorded. The relationship between the degree of periapical pathology and the evaluated markers was assessed using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis.ResultsResults of the present study revealed that mean NLR, SII and NEUT index scores of the patients having severe periapical periodontitis were statistically higher than those of the ones with mild pathology (p < 0.05). A positive, statistically significant interrelationship was found between the number of teeth demonstrating a PAI score of severe periapical periodontitis with the signs of exacerbation (PAI 5) and NLR and SII values (p < 0.05). Area under the ROC curve (AUC) values for NLR and SII were determined as 66.8% and 66.6% respectively, indicating that classification performance was sufficient and statistically significant (p < 0.05).ConclusionPostponing the management of odontogenic infections will induce some complications such as, infective endocarditis and cause the systemic inflammatory process to continue by aggravating the systemic effects of local lesions. Thus, underlying mechanism should be eliminated and oral hygiene should be maintained, also novel biomarkers may be recommended to be used for the decision-making process for the teeth with persistent periapical lesions unresponsive to treatment.

Pengaruh Air Laut terhadap Kuat Tekan, Permeabilitas, dan Mikrostruktur Beton Geopolimer dengan Flyash dan Tanah Putih sebagai Pengganti Semen

The increasing infrastructure development of an area is sometimes located in an aggressive environment, one of which is in coastal areas so that direct contact with sea air cannot be avoided. This research aims to determine the effect of sea water on geopolymer concrete using fly ash and white soil as cement substitutes with testing parameters for compressive strength, permeability and microstructure. The test objects used were cylindrical in shape measuring 150x300 mm and 100x200 mm. The ratio of fly ash and white soil used was 85%:15% and the activator used was NaOH 8M and Na2SiO3 with a ratio of 1:2,5. The mixture proportion using a ratio of 1 fly ash: 1,497 sand: 2 split: 0,451 alkali activator with a mutual plan is 35 MPa. Tests were carried out after the concrete had gone through a curing process for 56 days, then the concrete was conditioned without soaking and with soaking for 28 days. Tests were carried out at concrete ages of 56 and 87 days. The test results show that geopolymer concrete with the influence of sea water has a higher compressive strength value and a smaller permeability coefficient compared to concrete without the influence of sea water. Microstructural testing of geopolymer concrete under the influence of sea air produces a matrix-shaped structure morphology that is denser with fewer pores compared to concrete without the influence of sea air.

Evaluation of Personal Protective Equipment Usage Among Construction Workers in Erbil City, Iraq.

Background and aim The construction industry is a high-risk environment where the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for worker safety. Despite the clear benefits of PPE, compliance rates among construction workers are often suboptimal. In response to these concerns, this study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes regarding PPE usage among construction workers in Erbil City, Iraq. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 15, 2022, to June 15, 2023, among construction workers in Erbil. Convenience sampling was used to collect data through a self-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire collected demographic information, as well as responses to a 15-item Knowledge Questionnaire and an 8-item Attitude Questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 28 (Released 2021; IBM Corp., Armonk, New York). Frequency and percentage were used to describe qualitative variables, while mean and standard deviation were calculated for quantitative variables. Parametric tests such as the independent sample t-test and ANOVA were used, along with multinomial logistic regression, to assess the relationships between knowledge, attitude, and various demographic factors. Results A total of 280 workers participated in the study. The mean knowledge score was 13.56 ± 1.17, indicating a good level of knowledge, while the mean attitude score was 6.86 ± 1.11, reflecting a fair attitude towardPPE usage. A significant majority of the participants, 97.9% (274), were categorized as having good knowledge, while 68.2% (191) exhibited a fair attitude towards PPE usage. The analysis showed that demographic factors such as age, marital status, working hours, work experience, and employment type did not significantly affect knowledge or attitude, with all odds ratios (ORs) near 1 and P-values above 0.05. Conclusion The findings indicate that construction workers in Erbil generally have good knowledge but only a fair attitude toward PPE usage. These results suggest that healthcare providers and policymakers should implement targeted educational interventions to improve workers' attitudes towardPPE, aiming to boost compliance and enhance workplace safety. Additionally, these interventions should address practical barriers to PPE usage, such as discomfort or lack of accessibility. By fostering more positive attitudes and ensuring the availability of necessary resources, overall safety in the construction industry can be significantly improved.

The Influence of Transformational Leadership, Self Efficacy and Career Development on Employee Performance with Achievement Motivation as an Intervening Variable in Female Officials In the Riau Islands Provincial Government

This study aims to analyze how the influence of transformational leadership, self-efficacy and career development on employee performance with achievement motivation as an intervening variable in female officials in the Riau Islands Provincial Government. The analysis used in this research is parametric and non-parametric statistics using SEM-PLS (Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Square). Data analysis with parametric and non-parametric statistics regarding research variables, calibration tests / pilot tests, validity and reliability, Outer model and inner model analysis, as well as discussion of the results of hypothesis testing or Path Analysis. This study uses path analysis to examine relationship patterns that reveal the effect of a variable or set of variables on other variables, both direct and indirect effects. The calculation of the path coefficient in this study was assisted by SmartPLS. The test results in this study found that Transformational Leadership and Career Development had no significant effect on the Performance of Women Officials in the Riau Islands Provincial Government, while Self Efficacy had a significant effect on the Performance of Women Officials in the Riau Islands Provincial Government, Career Development and Transformational Leadership had a significant effect on the Performance of Women Officials in the Riau Islands Provincial Government Transformational Leadership, Self Efficacy and Career Development have a significant effect on Performance with Achievement Motivation as an Intervening Variable on Women Officials in the Riau Islands Provincial Government.

Functional Capacity Assessment in Adults After Fontan Palliation: A Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test–Invasive Exercise Hemodynamics Correlation Study

While cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) parameters have known prognostic value in adults post-Fontan, there is limited data correlating treadmill CPET with invasive exercise hemodynamics. Furthermore, the invasive hemodynamic underpinnings of exercise limitations have not been thoroughly investigated. This is retrospective analysis of 55 adults (≥18 years) post-Fontan who underwent treadmill CPET prior to invasive exercise hemodynamic testing via supine cycle protocol between November 2018 and April 2023. Median age was 32.2 (24.1; 37.2) years. Peak heart rate (HR) was 139.7±28.1 bpm and peak oxygen consumption (VO2) was 19.1±5.7 ml/kg/min (47.4±13.5% predicted). VO2/HR was directly related to exercise stroke volume index (Svi) (r=0.50; p=0.0002), while no association was seen with exercise arterio-mixed venous O2 content difference (r=0.14; p=0.32). Peak HR was inversely related to exercise pulmonary artery (PA) pressures (r=-0 61; p<0.0001) and PA wedge pressures (PAWP) (r=-0.61; p<0.0001). Moreover, % predicted VO2 was inversely related to exercise PA pressures (r=-0.50; p<0.0001) and PAWP (r=-0.55; p<0.0001). Peak VO2 ≤19.1 ml/kg/min had a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 76% (AUC 0.82) for predicting a ΔPAWP/ΔQs ratio >2 mmHg/l/min and/or a ΔPA/ΔQp ratio >3 mmHg/l/min, while a predicted peak VO2 ≤48% had a sensitivity of 74% and specificity of 81% (AUC 0.79) for the same parameters. In summary, lower peak HR and lower peak VO2 were associated with higher exercise PAWP and PA pressure. Peak VO2 ≤48% predicted provided the optimal cut-off for predicting elevated indexed exercise PAWP or PA pressures, thus low peak VO2 should alert clinicians of abnormal underlying hemodynamics.

Evaluation of computed tomography anode voltage in clinical application: the influence of profiled filters

Monitoring of operational parameters of X-ray diagnostic equipment, including computer tomographs, is mandatory during acceptance and periodic tests in medical organizations. The importance of control of anode voltage of X-ray radiator is described (as one of the main technical parameters in diagnostic tests of patients, which can influence the quality of visualization and safe operation of the equipment). Anode voltage is evaluated by non-invasive methods using universal dosimeters in the user mode of equipment operation. The influence of profiled filters of Somatom Definition AS, SOMATOM go.All (Siemens, Germany) scanners on the accuracy of anode voltage measurement was investigated. The tests were conducted in clinic conditions without partial removal of the gantry (a structural element of the tomograph, inside which the system “X-ray emitter – detector” is located) and connection to the high-voltage circuit of the device. The distance between the sensitive elements of the measuring device and the displacement of the center of the sensing area relative to the position of the central axis of the X-ray beam of computed tomography scanner were taken into account. Normalized curves of kerma values, anode voltage values and their approximating analytical functions were obtained using a Piranha R&amp;F/M 657 universal dosimeter (RTI Electronics AB, Sweden) at its displacement relative to the laser centralizer of computed tomography scanner. Based on the scheme for noninvasive estimation of anode voltage value, a formula of the relative deviation of the measured value of the anode voltage associated with the presence of a profiled filter at the output of the X-ray emitter of the tomograph and the displacement of the center point of the sensitive area of the measuring device relative to the central axis of the X-ray beam of the tomograph is obtained. The validity of the data based on the formula is confirmed experimentally. The results of the study will be helpful to technical specialists who maintain or control the X-ray computed tomography operating parameters.

Establishing high temperature tribological performance and wear mechanism map of engineered in-situ TiB2 reinforced Mg-RE metal matrix composites

The high temperature sliding wear behavior of microstructurally engineering in-situ sub-micron sized TiB2 reinforced ZE41 composite was studied and compared with it’s base counterpart at varying loading conditions. The wear mechanism maps were constructed by correlating the microstructures of worn surfaces with different test parameters. The severe and catastrophic wear mechanisms like delamination and melt wear were wider in base and composite, while in the case of engineered composite, these zones are significantly narrow down. Due to the presence of thermally stable in-situ TiB2 particles and bimodal precipitates in engineered composite, the material showed sufficient resistance against wear induced deformation. Furthermore, the study established scientific knowhow on high-temperature wear induced deformation behavior by analyzing microstructural evolution in wear subsurface zone.

An Item Response Theory Analysis of the Psychosis Screening Questionnaire in Ethiopia.

Few psychosis screening instruments have been tested for use in Africa, yet appropriate tools can increase the detection of self-reported psychotic symptoms, improve the detection of psychosis and impact its prognosis. The construct validity and factor structure of Psychosis Screening Questionnaire (PSQ) were tested with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response theory (IRT) in a sample of 1928 Ethiopian adults without any history of psychosis. We tested a unidimensional model with and without an item on mania. For IRT, unidimensional latent structure one-parameter logistic (1PL) and two-parameter (2PL) logistic models were tested and compared for relative fit using a likelihood-ratio test. The prevalence of lifetime positive screens was 2.8% in an Ethiopian sample of adults from a general medical setting. A unidimensional model demonstrated good fit for the PSQ, (CFI = 0.993, TLI = 0.986 and RMSEA = 0.025). For IRT, a 2PL model was the best fitting one. IRT tests of item difficulty and discrimination parameters showed that paranoia had the highest discrimination and lowest difficulty ( ), likely to be endorsed at low levels of psychotic features. Thought insertion had the highest item difficulty ( ). Overall, the measure captures the psychosis construct at higher levels of the latent trait and may be suited for detecting moderate to severe levels of psychosis. The PSQ is found to have good construct validity in screening for psychosis among Ethiopian adults. Future studies may focus on the diagnostic validity of the PSQ comparing it with a structured clinical interview.

An Oscillation Stability Analysis of a Direct-Driven Wind Power Grid-Connected System Considering Low Voltage Ride Though from an Energy Perspective

To solve the problem of the oscillation stability of direct-driven wind-powered grid-connected systems with a low-voltage crossing control, a method of oscillation stability analysis for these systems, based on interactive energy, is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a dynamic energy model of a direct-driven wind-powered grid-connected system is established, considering a low-voltage traverse control. Secondly, the energy is divided into four parts—the line parameter energy, current inner loop energy, PLL energy, and current inner loop–PLL interaction energy—and the conduction path of the energy during a low-voltage crossing is described. On this basis, the aperiodic components of each energy path are analyzed, the stability level of the system is quantified, the influence of the different control parameters on the interactive energy dissipation is deduced, the key interactive control links affecting the stability of the system are screened, and the influence rules of the parameters are expounded. Finally, a direct-driven wind-powered grid-connected system model is built on the Rt-lab platform, and it is verified by a simulation test. The results show that the interaction energy generated by the interaction of the current inner loop and phase-locked loop is a key factor affecting the stability of the direct-driven wind-powered grid-connected system. The simulation test parameters of the control group were adjusted as the current inner loop’s proportion parameter increased from 1.32 to 5.28, the current inner loop’s integral parameter increased from 4.48 to 6.42, the PLL’s proportion parameter decreased from 9.45 to 6.3, and the PLL’s integral parameter decreased from 50.25 to 40.2. Both the theoretical and experimental results show that increasing the current inner loop’s integral and proportion parameters can improve the stability level of the direct-driven wind-powered grid-connected system; reducing the phase-locked loop’s proportion and integral parameters can also improve the stability level of the grid-connected system.

Exploring the top 30 drugs associated with drug-induced constipation based on the FDA adverse event reporting system.

This project aims to identify the top 30 drugs most commonly associated with constipation and their signal values within the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System database. We extracted adverse drug events (ADEs) related to constipation from the FAERS database spanning from January 1, 2004, to September 30, 2023. We compiled the 30 most frequently reported drugs based on the frequency of constipation events. We employed signal detection methodologies to ascertain whether these drugs elicited significant signals, including reporting odds ratio, proportional reporting ratio, multi-item gamma Poisson shrinker, and information component given by the Bayesian confidence propagation neural network. Furthermore, we conducted a time-to-onset (TTO) analysis for drugs generating significant signals using the medians, quartiles, and the Weibull shape parameter test. We extracted a total of 50, 659, 288 ADEs, among which 169,897 (0.34%) were related to constipation. We selected and ranked the top 30 drugs. The drug with the highest ranking was lenalidomide (7,730 cases, 4.55%), with the most prevalent drug class being antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents. Signal detection was performed for the 30 drugs, with constipation risk signals identified for 26 of them. Among the 26 drugs, 22 exhibited constipation signals consistent with those listed on the FDA-approved drug labels. However, four drugs (orlistat, nintedanib, palbociclib, and dimethyl fumarate) presented an unexpected risk of constipation. Ranked by signal values, sevelamer carbonate emerged as the drug with the strongest risk signal [reporting odds ratio (95% CI): 115.51 (110.14, 121.15); PRR (χ2): 83.78 (191,709.73); EBGM (EB05): 82.63 (79.4); IC (IC025): 6.37 (4.70)]. A TTO analysis was conducted for the 26 drugs that generated risk signals, revealing that all drugs exhibited an early failure type. The median TTO for orlistat was 3days, the shortest of all the drugs, while the median TTO for clozapine was 1,065days, the longest of all the drugs. Our study provides a list of drugs potentially associated with drug-induced constipation (DIC). This could potentially inform clinicians about some alternative medications to consider when managing secondary causes of constipation or caring for patients prone to DIC, thereby reducing the incidence and mortality associated with DIC.

Artificial intelligence-driven enhanced CBR modeling of sandy soils considering broad grain size variability

The soil packing, influenced by variations in grain size and the gradation pattern within the soil matrix, plays a crucial role in constituting the mechanical properties of sandy soils. However, previous modeling approaches have overlooked incorporating the full range of representative parameters to accurately predict the soaked California bearing ratio (CBRs) of sandy soils by precisely articulating soil packing in the modeling framework. This study presents an innovative artificial intelligence (AI)-based approach for modeling the CBRs of sandy soils, considering grain size variability meticulously. By synthesizing extensive data from multiple sources, i.e. extensive tailored testing program undertaking multiple tests and extant literature, various modeling techniques including genetic expression programming (GEP), multi-expression programming (MEP), support vector machine (SVM), and multi-linear regression (MLR) are utilized to develop models. The research explores two modeling strategies, namely simplified and composite, with the former incorporating only sieve analysis test parameters, while the latter includes compaction test parameters alongside sieve analysis data. The models' performance is assessed using statistical key performance indicators (KPIs). Results indicate that genetic AI-based algorithms, particularly GEP, outperform SVM and conventional regression techniques, effectively capturing complex relationships between input parameters and CBRs. Additionally, the study reveals insights into model performance concerning the number of input parameters, with GEP consistently outperforming other models. External validation and Taylor diagram analysis demonstrate the GEP models' superiority over existing literature models on an independent dataset from the literature. Parametric and sensitivity analyses highlight the intricate relationships between grain sizes and CBRs, further emphasizing GEP's efficacy in modeling such complexities. This study contributes to enhancing CBRs modeling accuracy for sandy soils, crucial for pertinent infrastructure design and construction rapidly and cost-effectively.

The Effects of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme on Functional Capacity and Strength of Respiratory Muscles in Patients with Post-COVID Syndrome.

The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme (PR) on the functional capacity and respiratory muscle strength of patients with post-COVID syndrome. A cross-sectional study was conducted using hospital data on patients who participated in a pulmonary rehabilitation programme at the Clinic for Lung Diseases, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Croatia, between January 2021 and December 2022. Data on the spirometry, respiratory muscle strength, and functional exercise capacity of patients were collected at baseline and three weeks after the start of rehabilitation. The study included 80 patients (43 females, 37 males) with a mean age of 51±10 years. A significant increase in respiratory muscle strength (P<0.001) was observed after pulmonary rehabilitation, with effect sizes ranging from small to large (Cohen's d from 0.39 to 1.07), whereas the effect for PImax expressed as a percentage was large (Cohen's d=0.99). In addition, the pulmonary rehabilitation programme significantly improved the parameters of the six-minute walk test in patients, and the parameters of lung function, FVC, FEV1, and DLCO also improved significantly after PR (P<0.05). The results showed that the pulmonary rehabilitation programme has clinically significant effects on functional capacity and respiratory muscle strength in patients with post-COVID syndrome.

Bone Marrow and Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell Phenotype Changes after Cultivation and Autologous Infusion in Patients with Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a condition affecting the liver and immune system. In this study, the impact of autologous bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell (BM-MNC) transplantation on PBC patients was investigated. Sixteen eligible PBC patients participated at the National Scientific Medical Center in Astana, Kazakhstan, between 2017 and 2022, and BM-MNCs were harvested from their anterior iliac crest. After isolating and cultivating the BM-MNCs, they were infused back into the patient's peripheral veins. Changes in BM-MNC and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PB-MNC) phenotypes were assessed before and after a 24-hour cultivation period and 72 hours post-transplantation. We monitored liver function parameters over 6-month intervals and conducted flow cytometry analysis to assess CD markers on BM-MNCs before and after cultivation and PB-MNCs before and after transplantation. Statistical analysis included the Friedman test for liver parameters and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for BM-MNC and PB-MNC comparisons. Our findings revealed significant reductions in liver function tests after multiple transplantations. Flow cytometry analysis before and after a 24-hour culture and autologous BM-MNC infusion revealed the expansion of specific cell populations, with significant increases in CD3+, CD4+, CD16+, CD20+, CD25+, CD34+, CD105+, CD73+, СD117+, and CD34+populations, while CD4+25+, CD34+105+, and CD4+FOXP3+ populations decreased. Interestingly, a contradictory finding was observed with a decrease in bone marrow CD34+105+ cell lines (P=0.03) alongside an increase in peripheral CD34+105+ population (P=0.03). In summary, our study shows that BM-MNC transplantation in PBC patients leads to changes in immune cell populations and liver function. These findings suggest potential therapeutic applications of BM-MNC transplantation in managing PBC and offer insights into the dynamics of immune cells associated with this treatment approach.

Experimental study on thermal economy of 330 MW subcritical thermal generating unit

Abstract To achieve carbon peak and neutrality targets, improve energy efficiency and reduce power generation costs, it is particularly important to study the thermal economy of thermal generating units under variable operating conditions. Taking the 330 MW subcritical thermal generator unit as the research object, based on the deep mining of SIS operation data, combined with the testing of key parameters, the thermal characteristics of the boiler, pipeline and turbine are deeply analyzed, and the key factors of heat loss of the unit are studied. The heat input, loss and output are calculated and counted in detail, the heat balance data relationship of the unit thermal system is established, and the heat utilization and loss of the unit are clarified. The main parameters of the thermal system were calculated and analyzed to study the main reasons affecting coal consumption and corresponding optimization measures. Through the research and analysis of thermal characteristics, heat utilization, and economic indicators of coal consumption, the targeted measures of energy saving and consumption reduction can provide a scientific basis for the daily scientific management and operation of thermal generating units and equipment transformation.