Analysis Procedure Research Articles

Strategies for coping with citizenship pressure: development of a context-specific scale

ABSTRACT Accumulating empirical evidence suggests that citizenship pressure (CP) in the workplace, the pressure to engage involuntarily in citizenship behaviour, has a detrimental effect on both the individual employee and the organisation. Personal coping strategies for dealing with CP can alleviate the negative effects. The purpose of this study was to develop a context-specific, reliable, and valid measure that could assess specific coping strategies individuals use to deal with CP in the workplace. We conducted a comprehensive inductive and deductive methods that included, firstly, a qualitative procedure of interviews, data analysis, and initial scale generation, and secondly, a quantitative process of construct validation of the measure. The factor structure yielded a 16-item measure, based on EFA and CFA, providing initial support for the utility of the measure as a self-report instrument of coping strategies to deal with CP. The analysis revealed a two-factor structure that describes conceptually meaningful patterns of coping: self-reliance vs. reliance on others. The former depicts nine strategies in which employees solely rely on themselves when coping with CP; and the latter depicts seven strategies in which employees rely on others’ advice, support, or empathy to deal with CP. Applications, limitations, and implications for future research are discussed.

Evaluation of groundwater quality for drinking water using a quality index in Abyi Adi, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia

High quality, safe and sufficient drinking water is essential for public health and well-being. However, the war on Tigrai damaged the water sources of communities and pose people to health problems. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the quality of water of the town of Abyi Adi, Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia using physicochemical and biological parameters and water quality indices. A total of 36 water samples were collected from four major water sources. The physicochemical and biological parameters were determined using standard analytical procedures for water analysis. The mean values of electrical conductivity and pH ranged from 273.63 to 881.27 μS/cm and 6.68 to 7.42, respectively. Moreover, the experimental results of major cations (Na+ = 3.70–14.77 mg/L and Ca2+ = 8.50–15.77 mg/L), and anions (HCO3− = 21.52–40.77 mg/L, Cl− = 13.56–40.29 mg/L, NO3− = 0.14–0.25 mg/L, NO2− = 0.24–0.76 mg/L and PO43− = 0.34–1.32 mg/L) were recorded below the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits set for drinking water. The water quality index (WQI) that is determined using a weighted arithmetic water quality index method (WAWQIM) was also found in the range of 5.3–37.2. Subsequently, all groundwater sources except Adibakla are classified as excellent or “A” rating. However, the total coliform of Maylomin and Chiny water sources were found to be 6.33 MPN/100 mL and 3.67 MPN/100 mL, respectively. Both are higher than the WHO permissible limit set for drinking water. Considering the susceptibility of groundwater to pollution and its impact to human health, regular monitoring and supervision should be performed to keep the water safe for drinking. Accordingly, chlorination water treatment process is recommended to provide safe drinking water.

Spectral analysis of three hot subdwarf stars: EC 11481-2303, Feige 110, and PG 0909+276

Context. For the precise spectral analysis of hot stars, advanced stellar-atmosphere models that consider deviations from the local thermodynamic equilibrium are mandatory. This requires accurate atomic data to calculate all transition rates and occupation numbers for atomic levels in the considered model atoms, not only for a few prominent lines exhibited in an observation. The critical evaluation of atomic data is a challenge because it requires precise laboratory measurements. Ultraviolet spectroscopy of hot stars with high resolving power provide such “laboratory” spectra. Aims. We compare observed, isolated lines of the iron group (here calcium to nickel) with our synthetic line profiles to judge the accuracy of the respective oscillator strengths. This will verify them or yield individual correction values to improve the spectral analysis, that is the determination of, for example, effective temperature (Teff) and abundances. Methods. To minimize the error propagation from uncertainties in Teff, surface gravity (𝑔), and abundance determination, we start with a precise reanalysis of three hot subdwarf stars, namely EC 11481-2303, Feige 110, and PG0909+276. Then, we measure the abundances of the iron-group elements individually. Based on identified, isolated lines of these elements, we compare observation and models to measure their deviation in strength (equivalent width). Results. For EC 11481–2303 and Feige 110, we confirmed the previously determined Teff and log 𝑔 values within their error limits. For all three stars, we fine-tuned all metal abundances to achieve the best reproduction of the observation. For more than 450 isolated absorption lines of the iron group, we compared modeled and observed line strengths. Considering the uncertainty of the analysis and evaluation procedure, an upper limit for the uncertainty of the underlying atomic data was established. Conclusions. We selected strong, reliable isolated absorption lines, which we recommend to use as reference lines for abundance determinations in related objects.

A chemoenzymatic method for simultaneous profiling N- and O-glycans on glycoproteins using one-pot format

Glycosylation is generally characterized and controlled as a critical quality attribute for therapeutic glycoproteins because glycans can impact protein drug-product efficacy, half-life, stability, and safety. Analytical procedures to characterize N-glycans are relatively well established, but the characterization of O-glycans is challenging due to the complex workflows and lack of enzymatic tools. Here, we present a simplified chemoenzymatic method to simultaneously profile N- and O-glycans from the same sample using a one-pot format by mass spectrometry (MS). N-glycans were first released by PNGase F, followed by O-glycopeptide generation by proteinase K, selective N-glycan reduction, and O-glycan release by β-elimination during permethylation of both N- and O-glycans. Glycan structural assignments and determination of N- to O-glycan ratio was obtained from the one-pot mass spectra. The streamlined, one-pot method is a reliable approach that will facilitate advanced characterizations for quality assessments of therapeutic glycoproteins.

Efficient application of Pyrosin B for nano-gram level assay of antiparkinsonian medication, rasagiline: Evaluation of tablets and content uniformity.

Rasagiline (RAS) is a medication for Parkinson's disease that increases dopamine levels in the brain by inhibiting monoamine oxidase, helping to alleviate symptoms. The proposed study aims to develop an efficient, feasible, and sensitive method for RAS assay, utilizing Pyrosin B dye, a convenient fluorescent ligand. Combining the RAS analyte with Pyrosin B ligand in a mildly acidic buffered solution rapidly quenches the native fluorescence of the ligand. This quenching results from the formation of a specific ion-dipole association complex between the lone pair-bearing atoms of the ligand and the protonated amine moiety of RAS, highlighting their interactive chemistry under these conditions. The degree of this interaction demonstrated superior sensitivity compared with reported alternatives, exhibiting a linear range of 50.0 to 1000.0ng/mL. The method is characterized by a limit of detection (LOD) of 16.0ng/mL and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 48.0ng/mL. By optimizing the RAS-Pyrosin B system, the variable parameters were finely tuned, ensuring the assay method's reliability. The method's accuracy, precision, selectivity, and robustness were validated according to International Council for Harmonization (ICH) guidelines, enabling precise and efficient analysis of RAS in the nanogram range. This method streamlines the analysis procedure and reduces environmental impact, making it a promising approach for the quality control of ParkintreatR tablets (1mg) and other analytical applications.

Translation Strategies of Nusantara Food Menu

The research aims to analyze the translation strategies and the use of Culture-Specific Items (CSIs) in nusantara food menus in Indonesia. Translators usually use their perception to translate the menu without the involvement of the chefs. As a result, the translation of food menus can vary from one restaurant to another because each chef has their unique way of preparing their food. Collaboration between translators and chefs is necessary to ensure that the translated menus highlight the characteristics and uniqueness of each dish. The results show that the translation strategies used are Reduction and Expansion (81 data), Couplets (34 data), Cultural Equivalence (8 data), Transference (7 data), Descriptive Equivalence (5 data), Functional Equivalence (4 data), and Naturalization (2 data). The use of CSIs found in the data are Ingredients (186 data), Cooking Techniques (113 data), Seasoning (83 data), Proper Name (39 data), Flavor (9 data), Color (7 data), and Texture (4 data). However, the translation strategy of Synonymy, Through-Translation, Shift or Transposition, Modulation, Recognised Translation, Translation Label, Compensation, Componential Analysis, Paraphrase, and Other Procedures are not found in the data.

The Rhetorical Structure of Method Section of Research Articles in Reputable International Journal of ELT Published in Indonesia

This study investigated the rhetorical structure of method section in English language teaching articles. A corpus consisting of 80 research articles in reputable international journal of English language teaching published in Indonesia was systematically sampled to serve as data input for analysis. The results showed that the method section of English language teaching articles were characterized by structural complexity and rich, nuanced descriptions. English language teaching researchers generally used three rhetorical moves to realize the overall communication goal of the methods section: 1) Describing the research design, 2) Describing the data collection procedures, and 3) Describing the data analysis procedures. While Move-1 was a Conventional move and did not have constituent steps, the second and third Move have a series of constituent steps, with Move-2 was an Obligatory move and the Move-3 was a Conventional. The most hypothetical model of method section in the results of this research were Describing research design (M1), Describing the Data Collection Procedure (M2): Describing the Samples (Move 2- Step B), Describing Research Instruments (Move 2- Step C), Elaborating on Data Collection Procedure (Move 2-Step D), and Describing the Data Analysis Procedure (Move 3): Relating (or recounting) data analysis procedure/s (Move 3- Step A). These Moves and Steps provide very detailed information on various aspects of the methodology. Pedagogically, the results can provide input for lecturers and students in writing research method section of English education field.Keywords: Academic writing, Rhetorical structure, Research method, Reputable international journal

Evaluating financial risk management in corporation financial security systems

Systemic risks are relevant to most segments of financial and economic activity, which creates the threat of financial instability of enterprises. Financial security, in this case, implies the state of financial soundness; it is expressed through various parameters including the level of solvency, financial stability, business activity, and efficiency of management. These questions are specific to each indicator, and this paper aims to understand their relations and how changes in them can result in risks. It elaborates the risk analysis and assessment procedure that uses a set of common financial analysis tools and determines key financial coefficients. Liquidity ratios, solvency ratios, profitability ratios, and the risk exposure metrics are the key areas that the research is based on. Correlating the financial indicators from a rich dataset from Yahoo’s Stock market data, regression analysis is used to determine these relationships between these indicators and risk management factors. A positive relationship between liquidity ratios and profitability is detected points to the fact that, firms with high liquidity levels are more capable of attaining good financial health and returns. It establishes the need for the development of a credible risk management structure that would lower threats to fiscal and economic activities. In light of this, the research shows that the liquidity and solvency management lowers financial risk and improves return for companies. The regression analysis was conducted to ascertain the degree of predictability of each independent variable to the dependent variable and the findings revealed that approximately 94 percent of each independent variable is predictable of the dependent variable that able to establish as much as 5% of the total variability in profitability, with the PE ratios being an indication of this aspect, was attributed to stock prices, as a result, the firm must be keen on its financials. This paper explores the employability of the proposed methods and models to assess the risks with high accuracy and supports optimum decision making in regard with the needed security of the enterprises. By adopting these methodologies, the businesses can observe and estimate risks which exist in the future which would help them to avoid certain issues or dangers and also pave the way for the improvements of the financial stability of the businesses. On this note, the study establishes the fact that incorporating the notion of total risk management into the framework of analyzing business and making financial decisions is inevitable in maintaining corporate financial stability and realizing perpetual economic solidity. This research enriches the literature on financial risk management, as it outlines viable strategies for the protection of enterprise financial sustainability.

A 10 µH Inductance Standard in PCB Technology with Enhanced Protection against Magnetic Fields

Low-frequency working standards of inductance are generally uniformly wound toroids on a ceramic core. Planar inductors made using printed circuit board (PCB) technology are simple and cheap to manufacture in comparison to inductors wound on toroid cores, but they are significantly prone to the influence of external magnetic fields. In this paper, we propose the design of a PCB inductance working standard of 10 μH, consisting of a duplex system of planar PCB coils, electrostatic shielding, and an enclosure. Alongside an electromagnetic analysis and design procedure, the measurements on the manufactured prototype included the generated magnetic field, the thermal time constant of the enclosure, temperature coefficients, and its error analysis. The measurements show negligible generated magnetic fields (<1.68 nT at 7 cm, 49 mA, 10 kHz). The minimum thermal time constant of the enclosure is 1270 s and the temperature coefficient of resistance is 0.00384 1/℃. The presented method of temperature coefficient measurement using a climate chamber allows for measurements in the temperature range of 10 °C to 40 °C. In this temperature range, the results show an inductance variation of 0.05 µH at 50 kHz, while the uncertainty of inductance measurement at this frequency was 0.03 µH (k = 2).

Analysis of warpage and reliability of very thin profile fine pitch ball grid array

With the evolution of advanced integrated circuit (IC) packaging technology, the use of experiments to identify package performance and life expectation will take a significant amount of time and cost to finish the job. To reduce the cost of research and testing, predictive analyses of reliability and performance using simulation tools have become a feasible approach for the IC assembly industry. Therefore, this study utilized Moldex3D molding simulation software to analyze very thin profile fine pitch ball grid array (VFBGA) packages and established a numerical analysis procedure from the molding and curing process, the post-mold cure (PMC) process, to a thermal cycling test (TCT) to predict the amount of package warpage during processing and reliability after TCT.The results showed that the warpage trends of both experiments and simulations during the same temperature ramping process were similar. In the thermal cycling analysis, potential failure locations were found to be at the copper pillars and redistribution layer (RDL), where the maximum Von Mises stress occurred at the lowest temperature (−65 °C). The fatigue life model, Coffin–Manson model, was used to calculate the potential fatigue life at the two locations, resulting in 1689 cycles (copper pillars) and 9706 cycles (RDL L1).

THE INFLUENCE OF RESONANT LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL CLIMATE ON LECTURER PERFORMANCE IN ASAHAN DISTRICT

The role of leaders in running an organization is enormous. This is because leaders influence the decision-making in each program. Suppose there are decision-making errors, which will have fatal consequences for the company's progress. Thus, this study aims to investigate how the organizational atmosphere and resonant leadership affect the performance of academics at the Asahan Regency. This study used quantitative methodologies for data collection, and SmartPLS 3.0 software was used for SEM-Partial Least Square (PLS) data analysis procedures. Two hundred thirty permanent lecturers at the Asahan Regency served as the research sample. The research results show that resonant leadership and organizational climate significantly influence the performance of lecturers in Asahan Regency. So, it is concluded that to increase human resources, resonant leadership, and an organizational environment are needed in higher education institutions in Asahan Regency. Keyword : Resonant Leadership, Organizational Climate, Lecturer Performance

Physiochemical and Microbial Quality of Melon and Bush Mango Seeds and Milled Products in Local Markets ln Rivers State,Nigeria.

Risk of food borne infection contamination of food, in Africa is increased due to environmental, agronomic and socio-economic factors. This study assesses the microbial quality of melon and bush mango displayed in the local markets, aiming to provide valuable insights into the safety and quality of these widely consumed food products. Standard procedure for microbiological and proximate analysis were employed. The heterotrophic bacteria count ranged from 8.5 x 10⁵ cfu/g to 1.35 x10⁶ cfu/g. The total staphylococcus count ranged from 1.2 x 10³ cfu/g to 4.35 x 10³ cfu/g. The coliform count ranged from 2.8 x 10⁴ to 7 x 10⁵, Total Samonella count ranged from 4 x 10² cfu/g to 1.5 x 10³ cfu/g and Fungi count 6.5 x 10² cfu/g to 2.5 x 10³ cfu/g. Morphological and Biochemical characterization of heterotrophic bacteria isolated from both melon and bush mango identified nine genera, including Staphylococcus (14.6%) Bacillus (20%), Corynebacterium (5.6%) Enterobacter (4.4%), Micrococcus ( 3.3%) Pseudomonas (12.2%), Escherichia coli (13.3%), Salmonella (11.1%) and Proteus (11.1%). Fungal species like Penicillium spp., Fusarium spp., Aspergillus flavus, Candida spp., Mucor spp., Saccharomyces sp., and Aspergillus niger were isolated from both seed and milled seeds samples of melon and bush mango. The frequency of occurrence revealed variations among bacterial isolates in melon and bush mango seeds. The most frequent fungal species included Candida spp. (9.4%) Aspergillus niger (20%) Mucor (9.4%), Fusarium (11.4%), Aspergillus flavus (9.4%), Penicillium (13.2%), Rhizopus spp (3.7%) and Saccharomyces (15%). Proximate and heavy metal analysis indicated variations in the composition of Carbohydrate (7.11%), Lipid (15.03%), Ash (1.89%), Moisture (7.31%), Protein (23.86%), Crude Fiber (12.66%), Lead (0.213 mg/kg), Copper (2.11mg/kg), calcium (0.49mg/kg) and Cadmium (0.0169mg/kg) in melon and bush mango, Carbohydrate (15.03%), Lipid (58.24%), Ash (1.74%), Moisture (10.48%), Protein (11.95%), Crude Fiber (2.64%), Lead (1.7903mg/kg), Copper (2.11mg/kg), calcium (0.148mg/kg) and Cadmium (0.000385mg/kg). The presence of heterotrophic bacteria in such ranges suggests potential differences in hygiene practices during cultivation, processing, and storage. Therefore; Implement stringent quality control measures during the production, processing, and storage of both melon and bush mango seed.

Measuring the Impact of Written Corrective Feedback (WCF): The Methodological ins and outs

The interest in the study of written corrective feedback (WCF) has led to the identification of two controversial areas: the impact of the different types of WCF and the methods used in the studies. The present study aims to contribute to the clarification of the latter by examining the methods section of recently published research articles. Its objective is to review the current state of the experimental research designs in WCF studies. For this, eleven published studies were randomly selected and analyzed considering as inclusion criteria that they were empirical studies published in journals indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus during the last eight years. The findings have been grouped into two categories: research designs and data analysis procedures. Regarding research design, there is a growing concern for ecological validity, the inclusion of delayed post-tests, and the implementation of training on feedback types for students. Concerning data analysis, the choice of a specific formula for error quantification was identified as a crucial decision researchers interested in WCF must make. It is hoped that this study will guide future research, ensuring a solid methodological design in line with current publications in prestigious journals. By following the trends identified in recent prestigious research, it is more likely that research can address the concerns surrounding the effectiveness of different types of WCF.

Seismic safety evaluation and resilient analysis of nuclear containment based on failure probability

This paper focuses on addressing seismic safety evaluation and resilience analysis of nuclear containment structure. Through the derivation of fragility formulas and the introduction of a new set of limit states (LSs), this paper accomplishes the fragility analysis and assesses failure probabilities comprehensively. Furthermore, safety evaluation and resilience analysis procedures, specifically for nuclear containment, are proposed alongside relevant determination criteria. In order to further improve the seismic performance of nuclear containment, the periodic foundation is analyzed. Theoretical formula is derived to determine the combination of 2 materials (concrete and rubber). Key findings include the safety demonstration of HUALONG 1 through probabilistic reliability analysis, the safety level (Level-I; basic integrity) and resilience level (Level-I). The effectiveness of periodic foundations is confirmed and supported by the average damping rates of concrete and liner strains, which can reach up to 6.154 % and 11.007 %, respectively. This research provides valuable insights for improving the seismic safety and resilience of containment, crucial for ensuring the integrity and functionality of this critical infrastructure system.

Application of Analytical Quality by Design to the development and validation of reduced and non-reduced capillary electrophoresis analytical procedures for mAb purity determination

Capillary electrophoresis-sodium dodecyl sulfate (CE-SDS) is a common analytical procedure used to quantitate critical quality attributes relating to the purity and glycosylation of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In this study, the application of an Analytical Quality by Design framework incorporating Design of Experiments was used to develop and validate both non-reduced (CE-NR) and reduced (CE-R) versions of this analytical procedure. Formal risk assessments were used to identify critical method attributes for optimization based on their potential impacts to performance criteria outlined in an analytical target profile. The resulting response surfaces connecting these critical factors to method performance were then utilized to generate a harmonized procedure to reduce execution risk across CE-R and CE-NR applications. Validation of these procedures according to regulatory guidelines support that they meet their required performance criteria, and a multivariate assessment of procedure robustness indicates that method parameters are in a sufficient state of control to ensure appropriate quantitation of mAb quality. Overall, this study demonstrates the utility of adopting an Analytical Quality by Design framework to leverage multidimensional knowledge from multiple critical method parameters to ensure an analytical procedure is fit-for-purpose.

First voltammetric analysis of two possible anticancer drug candidates using an unmodified glassy carbon electrode

Dimethyl 2-[2-(1-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)hydrazinylidene]butanedioate (DIHB) and 8-(3-chlorophenyl)-2,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazine-3,4-dione (HDIT) are promising candidates for anticancer agents, the first analytical procedures of which are presented in this paper. The commercially available unmodified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was used as a sensor for the individual and simultaneous differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) determination of these possible anticancer drugs. The findings concerning the electrochemical behaviour indicated that DIHB and HDIT display at GCE, as a sensor, the oxidation peaks at 1.18 and 0.98 V, respectively (vs. Ag/AgCl, 3.0 mol L−1 KCl) in the 0.125 mol L−1 acetate buffer of pH = 4.5, which were employed for their quantification. Various experimental parameters were carefully investigated, to achieve high sensitivity in voltammetric measurements. Finally, under the optimised conditions (t of 60 s, ΔEA of 75 mV, ν of 225 mV s−1, and tm of 2 ms), the proposed DPV procedure with the GCE demonstrated broad linear sensing ranges (1–200 nmol L−1—DIHB and 5–200 nmol L−1—HDIT), boasting the detection limits of 0.18 nmol L−1 for DIHB and 1.1 nmol L−1 for HDIT. Moreover, the developed procedure was distinguished by good selectivity, repeatability of DIHB and HDIT signals and sensor reproducibility. The practical application of this method was demonstrated by analysing the urine reference material without any prior treatment. The results showed that this environmentally friendly approach, with a modification-free sensor, is suitable for the sensitive, selective and rapid quantification of DIHB and HDIT.

Seismic performance of steel braced frames equipped with dissipative replaceable components

The structural performance of steel braced frames equipped with a new typology of dissipative replaceable components (called DRBrC) is analyzed and compared to the one of a traditional Concentrically Braced Frame (CBF) with diagonal-tension-only braces, highlighting pros and cons of the different solutions. The main benefit of the proposed system lies in the easy replacement of the damaged dissipative components after the earthquake, allowing to speed up retrofit operations without stopping the activities inside the building. The results of low-cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis performed in the framework of the European research project DISSIPABLE confirmed the economic and environmental convenience of the system for repairing operations after seismic events. In the present work, two case study buildings, owing the same geometry and designed for the same loads with and without DRBrC devices, are analyzed and compared in terms of overall seismic performance, relevant parameters versus Intensity Measure (IM) indicators and fragility curves. An in-depth dissertation about design criteria, numerical modelling techniques and analysis procedures in the nonlinear field to be used for the DRBrC frames is provided.

Agreement between frozen section and histopathology to detect malignancy in adnexal masses according to size and morphology by ultrasound.

Management of suspect adnexal masses involves surgery to define the best treatment. Diagnostic choices include a two-stage procedure for histopathology examination (HPE) or intraoperative histological analysis - intraoperative frozen section (IFS) and formalin-fixed and paraffin-soaked tissues (FFPE). Preoperative assessment with ultrasound may also be useful to predict malignancy. We aimed at determining the accuracy of IFS to evaluate adnexal masses stratified by size and morphology having HPE as the diagnostic gold standard. A retrospective chart review of 302 patients undergoing IFS of adnexal masses at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, between January2005 and September2011 was performed. Data were collected regarding sonographic size (≤10cm or >10cm), characteristics of the lesion, and diagnosis established in IFS and HPE. Eight groups were studied: unilocular lesions; septated/cystic lesions; heterogeneous (solid/cystic) lesions; and solid lesions, divided in two main groups according to the size of lesion, ≤10cm or >10cm. Kappa agreement between IFS and HPE was calculated for each group. Overall agreement between IFS and HPE was 96.1% for benign tumors, 96.1% for malignant tumors, and 73.3% for borderline tumors. Considering the combination of tumor size and morphology, 100% agreement between IFS and HPE was recorded for unilocular and septated tumors ≤10cm and for solid tumors. Stratification of adnexal masses according to size and morphology is a good method for preoperative assessment. We should wait for final HPE for staging decision, regardless of IFS results, in heterogeneous adnexal tumors of any size, solid tumors ≤10cm, and all non-solid tumors >10cm.

Optimized analysis and reinforcement design model for RC/SCC box-section bridges using developed advanced design framework

In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the construction of reinforced concrete (RC) and steel-concrete composite (SCC) box-section bridges. However, design codes do not provide specific design methods for the RC plates of such bridges where the plates experience both intricate forces and moments. The current design approaches are primarily based on conventional one-dimensional beam element theory, which neglects the complex spatial force characteristics of the structural elements, potentially leading to unsafe design. Therefore, it is imperative to address this issue. To bridge this gap, a comprehensive analysis and reinforcement design procedure named as the developed advanced design framework (DADF) is proposed in this study. The spatial analysis of bridges was performed using a refined numerical model, called the spatial grid model (SGM), to consider the structural spatial effects with limited model scales. Subsequently, the internal force corresponding matrix (IFCM) was implemented through Python scripts to determine the most critical internal force combination for an RC plate element. Additionally, the three-layered sandwich model (T-LSM) was employed with limit analysis to automatically design reinforcement for all elements, serving as a practical tool for design. This research demonstrates that the implementation of the DADF can significantly reduce steel reinforcement in the RC plates of such bridges by up to 48 %, and 23 % in total, showcasing the efficiency of the developed framework. Overall, the findings emphasize that the proposed DADF offers a robust procedure for steel reinforcement design of RC/SCC box-section bridges.

PyFMLab: Open-source software for atomic force microscopy microrheology data analysis

Background Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is one of the main techniques used to characterize the mechanical properties of soft biological samples and biomaterials at the nanoscale. Despite efforts made by the AFM community to promote open-source data analysis tools, standardization continues to be a significant concern in a field that requires common analysis procedures. AFM-based mechanical measurements involve applying a controlled force to the sample and measure the resulting deformation in the so-called force-distance curves. These may include simple approach and retract or oscillatory cycles at various frequencies (microrheology). To extract quantitative parameters, such as the elastic modulus, from these measurements, AFM measurements are processed using data analysis software. Although open tools exist and allow obtaining the mechanical properties of the sample, most of them only include standard elastic models and do not allow the processing of microrheology data. In this work, we have developed an open-source software package (called PyFMLab, as of python force microscopy laboratory) capable of determining the viscoelastic properties of samples from both conventional force-distance curves and microrheology measurements. Methods PyFMLab has been written in Python, which provides an accessible syntax and sufficient computational efficiency. The software features were divided into separate, self-contained libraries to enhance code organization and modularity and to improve readability, maintainability, testability, and reusability. To validate PyFMLab, two AFM datasets, one composed of simple force curves and another including oscillatory measurements, were collected on HeLa cells. Results The viscoelastic parameters obtained on the two datasets analysed using PyFMLab were validated against data processing proprietary software and against validated MATLAB routines developed before obtaining equivalent results. Conclusions Its open-source nature and versatility makes PyFMLab an open-source solution that paves the way for standardized viscoelastic characterization of biological samples from both force-distance curves and microrheology measurements.