Repeatable Experiments Research Articles

Pharmacodynamic Elucidation of Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hér. ex Aiton for its Folkloric Claims in Diarrhea and Asthma via in Vitro, in Vivo and in Silico Methods

Ethnopharmacological relevance Pelargonium zonale (L.) L'Hér. ex Aiton ( P.zonale) is used against various cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases involving smooth muscles relaxation. It is traditionally used for the treatment of diarrhea, gastropathy, and toothache. Aim of study The current study was designed to validate its conventional applications, we conducted the investigational studies to evaluate the potential mode of operation in the management of disorders pertaining to the cardiovascular system, respiratory tract, and gastrointestinal tract via in-vitro, in-vivo and in-silico studies. Material and methods The bioactive compounds were identified via HPLC done by using a binary-gradient solvent system containing of C-18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), flow rate of 0.8 ml/min, and run time of 36 min was used for the illumination of P.zonale crude extract chromatogram. These compounds were predicted spasmolytic and bronchodilation potential in molecular docking. Invitro methods confirmed the spasmolytic and bronchodilator effects. Analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrheal experiments were conducted in in-vivo studies. Results Experimental investigations have disclosed that it possesses antidiarrheal, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic attributes. In vitro examinations of this botanical specimen demonstrated its spasmolytic, vasorelaxant, ionotropic, and bronchodilator activities, which involve adrenergic, muscarinic, and potassium ion channels by alleviating sustained contractions induced by phenylephrine (1 µM), carbamylcholine (1 µM), and KCl (25 mM L−1) respectively. The properties associated with the opening of potassium channels were validated by conducting repeat experiments in the presence of tetraethylammonium (TEA) and glibenclamide (GB), which confirmed the activation of voltage-activated and ATP-sensitive potassium channels. Both in vitro and in vivo investigations reveal the existence of significant smooth muscle relaxant activity, further corroborated by in silico studies. Conclusion In vitro and in vivo studies reveal substantial capacities for smooth muscle relaxation, which encompass bronchodilation, spasmolytic activity, and vasodilation, with these observations being corroborated by molecular docking analyses. However, further studies are needed to define the clinical significance and safety treatment with P.zonale.

Quality cue or price anchoring: The effect of price on consumer behavior in repeat experiments

AbstractPrice is one of the most important factors affecting consumer purchase decisions. Consumers may use price as a quality cue or reference point to make the decisions. However, few studies have considered the quality cue by controlling the price anchoring and vice versa. We conduct four identical experiments weeks apart to estimate the effect of price on consumers' product quality evaluation and WTP. The results show that (1) the price has a significant impact on appearance rating and taste rating; (2) product quality mediates the price effect on consumer WTP only if consumers have incomplete quality information about the product; and (3) the marginal effect of price on consumer WTP differs over time. The results of this study provide deep insights into the role of price on consumers' quality assessment and valuation formation of products.

Discrimination of Radiologists' Experience Level Using Eye-Tracking Technology and Machine Learning: Case Study.

Perception-related errors comprise most diagnostic mistakes in radiology. To mitigate this problem, radiologists use personalized and high-dimensional visual search strategies, otherwise known as search patterns. Qualitative descriptions of these search patterns, which involve the physician verbalizing or annotating the order he or she analyzes the image, can be unreliable due to discrepancies in what is reported versus the actual visual patterns. This discrepancy can interfere with quality improvement interventions and negatively impact patient care. The objective of this study is to provide an alternative method for distinguishing between radiologists by means of captured eye-tracking data such that the raw gaze (or processed fixation data) can be used to discriminate users based on subconscious behavior in visual inspection. We present a novel discretized feature encoding based on spatiotemporal binning of fixation data for efficient geometric alignment and temporal ordering of eye movement when reading chest x-rays. The encoded features of the eye-fixation data are used by machine learning classifiers to discriminate between faculty and trainee radiologists. A clinical trial case study was conducted using metrics such as the area under the curve, accuracy, F1-score, sensitivity, and specificity to evaluate the discriminability between the 2 groups regarding their level of experience. The classification performance was then compared with state-of-the-art methodologies. In addition, a repeatability experiment using a separate dataset, experimental protocol, and eye tracker was performed with 8 participants to evaluate the robustness of the proposed approach. The numerical results from both experiments demonstrate that classifiers using the proposed feature encoding methods outperform the current state-of-the-art in differentiating between radiologists in terms of experience level. An average performance gain of 6.9% is observed compared with traditional features while classifying experience levels of radiologists. This gain in accuracy is also substantial across different eye tracker-collected datasets, with improvements of 6.41% using the Tobii eye tracker and 7.29% using the EyeLink eye tracker. These results signify the potential impact of the proposed method for identifying radiologists' level of expertise and those who would benefit from additional training. The effectiveness of the proposed spatiotemporal discretization approach, validated across diverse datasets and various classification metrics, underscores its potential for objective evaluation, informing targeted interventions and training strategies in radiology. This research advances reliable assessment tools, addressing challenges in perception-related errors to enhance patient care outcomes.

Identification of reference genes for gene expression assessment in Avena sativa under biotic stress triggered by Blumeria graminis

A repeatable and reliable reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) experiment depends upon proper reference genes (RGs) selection. This study aims to examine the expression stability of nine candidate RGs for the Avena sativa – Blumeria graminis experimental setup. B. graminis causes powdery mildew - the most devastating and economically important fungal disease of crops worldwide. RGs were evaluated in Pm3 and Pm4 oat differential lines and the susceptible cultivar Fuchs during compatible and incompatible interactions with different pathotypes of Blumeria graminis f. sp. avenae in six-time points post inoculation. The identification of genes exhibiting high expression stability was done by four algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and deltaCt). The results indicated that regardless of the analysed group, two most stable RGs are required for data normalization. The most sufficient RGs combination was HNR (heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein 27 C) + EIF4A (eukaryotic initiation factor 4 A‑3). ARF (ADP‑ribosylation factor) could also be pondered as demonstrating high expression stability. These genes can be considered universal candidates for RT-qPCR normalization to study interaction with B. graminis as well as Puccinia coronata and Puccinia graminis, as confirmed by our previous research. The worst candidate for data standardisation was TUA (α- tubulin). To our best knowledge, this is the first report regarding RGs’ selection in this pathosystem. Identified RGs are proper normalisation candidates for gene expression studies in the A. sativa infected by B. graminis as well as other related pathogens.

Experimental research on heat dissipation by microchannel phase transition

Abstract Given the characteristics of some missile-borne electronic equipment, such as narrow space, high heat flux, limited power supply, and high reliability in a short time, the idea of phase change heat dissipation is proposed, absorbing a large amount of heat from electronic components through the vaporization phase change of working fluid, to ensure its working performance. The heat dissipation device is a cold plate for micro-channel phase change heat dissipation. Because it is difficult to study phase-change heat dissipation by simulation calculation, the experimental scheme is designed. A set of experimental systems that can not only simulate the working mode of the cold plate in high altitude and low-pressure environments but also carry out multi-parameter exploration is built with conventional and simple devices and instruments. Through extensive and repeated experiments, it has been concluded that: for the same mass of phase change working medium, the smaller the pressure difference between the working medium in the cold plate and the cold plate outlet is, the longer the temperature control time of the cold plate is. When the surface heat load of the cold plate is 400 W, the mass of the phase change working medium is 270 g, and the cold plate temperature control time is up to 10 min. When the working medium of phase transformation is 35% ethanol solution, the cooling and temperature equalization effect of a cold plate are the best, and the maximum temperature of the cold plate surface is stable between 70±1°C for a long time.

Experimental study on the effect of energy absorption and wave attenuation of sand wall in ground motion under explosion

Abstract Sand walls have a good energy absorption and wave attenuation effect on explosion shock waves, which can also have an impact on the seismic waves generated by the evolution of shock waves. In order to study the effect of sand wall in energy absorption on the results of explosive ground motion, four repeated explosion experiments were conducted by using different sand wall configurations. A ground motion measurement system was designed to measure the velocity at different distances from the explosion center. The measurement and analysis results showed that under the action of the sand wall, the peak velocity and the total energy based on vibration velocity both significantly decreased, fully demonstrating the energy absorption and wave attenuation effect of the sand wall. The sand wall also has an impact on the cube root similarity rate, resulting in the distribution of ground motion parameters no longer strictly following this law, but the sand wall has no significant impact on the frequency distribution. Under different sand wall configurations, the circle shaped sand wall has a better energy absorption and wave attenuation effect, while the circle shaped sand wall with nested circle shaped ends can enhance the energy absorption and wave attenuation effect by 21%.

Simultaneous reduction of tungsten and rotation in the core region induced by RMP

Abstract Tungsten (W) impurity control is critical for plasma performance and a priority for ITER. The simultaneous reduction of W and rotation in the core region induced by resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) has been found and understood in EAST. A positive feedback loop between the W and rotation is first proposed, resulting in core W accumulation and high rotation even in low-torque plasma before the RMP application. This cycle can be reversed by the edge rotation braking induced by RMP, causing a significant simultaneous reduction of W concentration and rotation. These new mechanisms are based on several repeatable experiments and confirmed by the modeling results from TGYRO and NTVTOK. It provides a new understanding of the RMP effects on W and rotation and can be used for W and rotation control in future reactors.

An introduction for non-experts on using X-ray micro computed tomography as a tool for pore scale digital subsurface characterisation of siliciclastic materials

This paper presents an overview of using X-ray micro computed tomography (μCT) as a valuable tool for micro scale investigation of siliciclastic materials. When processed using digital image analysis (DIA), valuable quantitative data can be extracted from μCT 3D images. Subsurface reservoirs are of great importance to society as fluid-bearing formations, but also as storage reservoirs for carbon dioxide. μCT imaging has the capability to perform preliminary, highly detailed investigations of potential reservoirs. This approach has a range of benefits when compared to traditional 2D techniques, such as optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Key advantages include the technique being non-destructive and capable of 3D and 4D visualisation. This facilitates rapid repeated digital measurements and experiments on microstructures. Digital samples can also be readily shared within the scientific community to replicate results and quickly launch new investigations. However, limitations still exist, posing challenges to the wider application of such a methodology. Such limitations include the identification of a representative elementary volume (REV), computational cost, and suitable processing of the output image data. Here, we highlight the value of using μCT and DIA, from our first experiences, to facilitate pore scale siliciclastic reservoir characterisation, but also highlight our perceived limitations and barriers to its much wider application. This paper introduces the key processing stages, opportunities and limitations of these techniques.

Characterizing a device for easy simulation of compression waves induced by trains passing through tunnels

When a high-speed train enters a tunnel, an initial compression wave (ICW) is generated, which radiates out as it propagates lengthways through the tunnel to the exit, forming an uncomfortable micro-pressure wave (MPW). The aim of this research is to develop a scaled device to quickly simulate this aerodynamic phenomenon. Our device achieves this by using the instantaneous release of high-pressure air in the chamber. In the first part of the paper, the reliability of this device is verified by various methods, including an airtightness check, calibration of transducers, and repeatability experiments. Next, the mapping of the parameters of the device to engineering values is discussed. The propagation process of the ICW and the pressure fluctuations in the tunnel are then analyzed, and the discussion centers around a control variable case. Finally, the MPW generated near the tunnel exit is explored and acoustically evaluated. It is found that the initial pressure in the chamber, the opening voltage, and the number of solenoid valves in the experiment can be mapped to the train speed, the characteristic length of train nose, and the blockage ratio, respectively. When the pressure amplitude of the ICW is higher, there will be a certain steepening phenomenon in the propagation process. The pressure fluctuation cycle in the tunnel is calculated as 4× tunnel length/wave velocity, and the amplitude of fluctuation decays exponentially over the cycles. In most cases, the sound pressure level of MPWs near the tunnel exit exceeds the hearing threshold, based on the auditory properties of the human ear.

Highly-selective and temperature-compensated toluene sensor based on MOF-actuated optical WGM microresonator

This paper reports an optical fiber toluene sensor based on whispering gallery mode (WGM) microbottle resonator. The sensor includes a single-mode fiber (SMF)- no-core fiber (NCF)- SMF offset structure, which can be used as not only a coupler to couple light into the microbottle but also a multimode interferometer. The microbottle is formed by self-assembly of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer doped with metal-organic framework (MOF) under the action of surface tension and gravity. The high specific surface area, suitable pore size, nitrogen-containing functional groups of MOF-Fe-PD and nonpolar groups on PDMS impart the high sensitivity and specific response of the sensor to toluene. When toluene is captured by the MOF and PDMS, the refractive index and volume of the cavity change, which affects the mode shift of WGM. According to test results, WGM of the sensor shows a linear sensitivity of 12.44 pm/ppm with toluene concentration between 0 ppm and 337 ppm at room temperature, but it is affected by temperature crosstalk. While multimode interference dip is only sensitive to temperature, which can compensate for the mode shift of WGM caused by temperature change. Repeatability experiments show that the response and recovery time of the sensor are less than 70 s. The method provides a toluene sensor with high selectivity, stable performance and simple preparation, which has potential environmental benefits and good industrial application prospects.

Retraction: Nanoporous Au/Ag Catalyzed Benzylic sp3C−H Oxidation of 9H‐Fluorene Derivatives and Similar Molecules With TBHP

AbstractRETRACTION: J. Thayssen, W. Riedel, T. Risse, A. Staubitz and A. Wittstock, “Nanoporous Au/Ag Catalyzed Benzylic sp3C−H Oxidation of 9H‐Fluorene Derivatives and Similar Molecules With TBHP,” ChemCatChem 2024, 16, e202301695, https://doi.org/10.1002/cctc.202301695.The above article, published online on 25 March 2024 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors; the journal Editor‐in‐Chief, Sandra González Gallardo; and Wiley‐VCH GmbH, Weinheim. Following publication, the authors noticed that for some experiments, there might have been cross‐contamination with another catalyst due to an insufficient cleaning procedure by laboratory dish washer only. As it is unclear which experiments are affected, all need to be reproduced. The authors intend to repeat experiments to produce correct data. Since repetition of experiments will take considerable time and the editors cannot be certain that new data will not affect the conclusions of the study, they have decided it is appropriate to retract the article.

Accelerated 2D radial Look-Locker T1 mapping using a deep learning-based rapid inversion recovery sampling technique.

Efficient abdominal coverage with T1-mapping methods currently available in the clinic is limited by the breath hold period (BHP) and the time needed for T1 recovery. This work develops a T1-mapping framework for efficient abdominal coverage based on rapid T1 recovery curve (T1RC) sampling, slice-selective inversion, optimized slice interleaving, and a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based T1 estimation. The effect of reducing the T1RC sampling was evaluated by comparing T1 estimates from T1RC ranging from 0.63 to 2.0s with reference T1 values obtained from T1RC =2.5-5s. Slice interleaving methodologies were evaluated by comparing the T1 variation in abdominal organs across slices. The repeatability of the proposed framework was demonstrated by performing acquisition on test subjects across imaging sessions. Analysis of in vivo data based on retrospectively shortening the T1RC showed that with the CNN framework, a T1RC =0.84 s yielded T1 estimates without significant changes in mean T1 (p> 0.05) or significant increase in T1 variability (p> 0.48) compared to the reference. Prospectively acquired data using T1RC =0.84 s, an optimized slice interleaving scheme, and the CNN framework enabled 21 slices in a 20 s BHP. Analyses across abdominal organs produced T1 values within 2% of the reference. Repeatability experiments yielded Pearson's correlation, repeatability coefficient, and coefficient of variation of 0.99, 2.5%, and 0.12%, respectively. The proposed T1 mapping framework provides full abdominal coverage within a single BHP.

Virtual laboratories for study technologies of environmental protection

Abstract This work is devoted to the use of virtual work for teaching bachelors in technologies of environmental protection. An analysis of publications in the field of using virtual laboratories in universities was carried out. The use of virtual laboratory work supports modern approaches to education, stimulates the learning process and creates conditions for more effective mastery of the material. The article describes an example of the development of laboratory work to determine the parameters of the dispersed composition of dust. Virtual laboratory work is developed as a web application, has a user-friendly interface, all data is saved into a database. Students can work at their own pace, repeat experiments, and adapt their approach to learning. The presented virtual laboratory is relevant to use in distance learning.

Spatial spread of Ditylenchus gigas and its interaction with Botrytis fabae on Vicia faba

AbstractDitylenchus gigas Vovlas is the dominant species of Ditylenchus nematode on faba bean in the UK. It is normally reported with Botrytis fabae Sardiña, which causes chocolate spot of faba bean. The aim of the work reported here was to estimate how fast isolated infections of D. gigas may spread spatially and how background infection of the host with B. fabae alters multiplication of D. gigas. Spatial spread in field conditions was measured in plants growing in square grids. After establishment, single plants at the centre of each grid were spray inoculated with D. gigas. In summer 2017, D. gigas spread to a distance of at least 1 m, the edge of each 2 m × 2 m plot. Incidence on shoots decreased very slowly with distance beyond 0.4 m. In a repeat experiment harvested in autumn 2018, D. gigas was detected at distances of up to 160 cm in 4 m × 4 m plots. The yield effect and reproduction rate of D. gigas were measured in glasshouse experiments, alone and following brush inoculation with low (103) or high (106 conidia/mL) doses of B. fabae. At low doses of D. gigas inoculum multiplied by approximately 75‐fold, with lower rates of multiplication as the inoculum dose increased. The reproduction rate of D. gigas was reduced in plants inoculated with B. fabae, especially at high doses of D. gigas. The reduction was approximately proportional to log (B. fabae dose). Seed yield from inoculated plants decreased approximately in proportion to the logarithms of the initial dose of D. gigas and of B. fabae.

Introducing oxygen cacancies to tune Cu2O by Sn ion-doped for high-effective photocatalytic degradation of norfloxacin in wastewater

Photocatalytic materials have attracted considerable attention owing to its positive environmental impact and efficiency in wastewater treatment. Herein, tin (Sn)-doped copper oxide (Cu2O) photocatalysts were successfully synthesized via a facile hydrothermal approach. The doping of Sn ions into the Cu2O lattice promoted the formation of more oxygen vacancies, which increased the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and enhanced photocatalytic activity. Moreover, the presence of Sn ions enhanced light absorption and the specific surface area of Cu2O, and reduced photogenerated carriers recombination. The synergistic effect of the abovementioned advantages, induced excellent photocatalytic activity to the as-prepared catalysts. Tin chloride (30 mg)-doped Cu2O showed optimal photocatalytic properties with the highest norfloxacin degradation rate of 83.9 % in 140 min under visible light irradiation. Hydroxy radicals played a major role during degradation as demonstrated by the capturing of active species experiment and EPR testing. Photocatalytic mechanisms and possible degradation pathways were proposed based on Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof and high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques. The toxicity analyses of the intermediates proved their low toxicity. Repeated cycling experiments confirmed the excellent stability of the catalysts. This work provides a feasible strategy for fabricating high-performance Cu2O-based photocatalysts.

Research Note: Development of a reverse transcriptase recombinase-aided amplification method for detection of Parrot Borna Virus 4

The Parrot Borna virus 4 (PaBV-4) is the primary causative agent of parrot developmental disorder (PDD), leading to symptoms such as bloating, undigested feed in stool, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. Its impact on the parrot industry has been significant, therefore, it is imperative to develop a rapid detection method for PaBV-4. The detection of PaBV-4 was achieved through the development of an RT-RAA assay, which involved the design of specific probes and primers targeting the N gene. This method allows for detection at 41°C within 30 min and has a minimum detection threshold of 8.56 × 101 copies/μL. The RT-RAA method demonstrated specific detection of PaBV-4 without any cross-reactivity observed with H5N6, H7N9, H9N2 avian influenza virus, newcastle disease virus (NDV), avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and Parrot Borna virus 2 (PaBV-2). The coefficient of variation for the 3 repeatability experiments was below 10%. Tissue samples from 28 suspected cases of PaBV related deaths in parrots were analyzed using both RT-RAA and RT-qPCR methods. The sensitivity and specificity of both methods were 100%, demonstrating perfect agreement between them as indicated by a kappa value of 1. In conclusion, this study created a RT-RAA method for PaBV-4 detection successfully.

Diagnostic performance of an automated robot for MALDI target preparation in microbial identification.

The MBT Pathfinder is an automated colony-picking robot designed for efficient sample preparation in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. This article presents results from three key experiments evaluating the instrument's performance in conjunction with MALDI Biotyper instrument. The method comparison experiment assessed its clinical performance, demonstrating comparable results with gram-positive, gram-negative, and anaerobic bacteria (scores larger than 2.00) and superior performance over simple direct yeast transfer (score: 1.80) when compared to samples prepared manually. The repeatability experiment confirmed consistent performance over multiple days and labs (average log score: 2.12, std. deviation: 0.59). The challenge panel experiment showcased its consistent and accurate performance across various samples and settings, yielding average scores between 1.76 and 2.19. These findings underline the MBT Pathfinder as a reliable and efficient tool for MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry sample preparation in clinical and research applications.

Biomimetic synthetic test system based on hydroxyapatite cement for adhesive strength evaluation of experimental mineral-organic bone adhesive materials.

The development of bone adhesive materials is a research field of high relevance for the advancement of clinical procedures. Despite this, there are currently no material candidates meeting the full range of requirements placed on such a material, such as biocompatibility, sufficient mechanical properties and bond strength under biological conditions, practical applicability in a clinical setting, and no adverse effect on the healing process itself. A serious obstacle to the advancement of the field is a lack in standardized methodology leading to comparable results between experiments and different research groups. Natural bone samples are the current gold-standard material used to perform adhesive strength experiments, however they come with a number of drawbacks, including high sample variability due to unavoidable natural causes and the impossibility to reliably recreate test conditions to repeat experiments. This paper introduces a valuable auxiliary test method capable of producing large numbers of synthetic test specimens which are chemically similar to bone and can be produced in different laboratories so to repeat experiments under constant conditions across laboratories. The substrate is based on a hydroxyapatite forming cement with addition of gelatine as organic component. Crosslinking of the organic component is performed to improve mechanical properties. In order to demonstrate the performance of the developed method, various experimental and commercial bone/tissue adhesive materials were tested and compared with results obtained by established methods to highlight the potential of the test system.

Collaborative fault detection and diagnosis method for dual single-axis RINSs configuration in GNSS-denied environment

To ensure the reliability and safety of the long-endurance navigation, two or more rotational inertial navigation systems (RINSs) are usually equipped on ships. Through the redundant configuration, fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) can be realized. In this paper, a collaborative FDD method applied to dual homogeneous single-axis RINSs is proposed. The method utilizes geometric constraint observation to construct a detection filter, processes the filtering outputs through the modified Bayesian algorithm, and incorporates a fault confirmation stage to achieve fault diagnosis with stronger robustness. Besides, an azimuth gyro drift variation estimation method using least-squares is further proposed by exploiting the difference in Schuler oscillation mode resulting from an azimuth gyro fault as opposed to the fault-free state when the system is damped by the log. The efficiency and reliability are demonstrated through comparative and repeated experiments. According to the results based on repeated experiments, the proposed method achieves a comprehensive correct diagnosis rate of over 99% across various fault scenarios. When relatively significant faults occur, the average diagnosis time for horizontal gyros, horizontal accelerometers, and azimuth gyros is 0.4569h, 0.2686h, and 1.2204h respectively. In the case of more subtle faults, although the average diagnosis time is extended to 0.5920h, 0.2991h, and 1.9641h, the effectiveness of the method is still well demonstrated.

Feasibility of 3D MRI fingerprinting for rapid knee cartilage T1, T2, and T1ρ mapping at 0.55T: Comparison with 3T.

Low-field strength scanners present an opportunity for more inclusive imaging exams and bring several challenges including lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and longer scan times. Magnetic resonance fingerprinting (MRF) is a rapid quantitative multiparametric method that can enable multiple quantitative maps simultaneously. To demonstrate the feasibility of an MRF sequence for knee cartilage evaluation in a 0.55T system we performed repeatability and accuracy experiments with agar-gel phantoms. Additionally, five healthy volunteers (age 32 ±4years old, 2 females) were scanned at 3T and 0.55T. The MRI acquisition protocols include a stack-of-stars T1ρ-enabled MRF sequence, a VIBE sequence with variable flip angles (VFA) for T1 mapping, and fat-suppressed turbo flash (TFL) sequences for T2 and T1ρ mappings. Double-Echo steady-state (DESS) sequence was also used for cartilage segmentation. Acquisitions were performed at two different field strengths, 0.55T and 3T, with the same sequences but protocols were slightly different to accommodate differences in signal-to-noise ratio and relaxation times. Cartilage segmentation was done using five compartments. T1, T2, and T1ρ values were measured in the knee cartilage using both MRF and conventional relaxometry sequences. The MRF sequence demonstrated excellent repeatability in a test-retest experiment with model agar-gel phantoms, as demonstrated with correlation and Bland-Altman plots. Underestimation of T1 values was observed on both field strengths, with the average global difference between reference values and the MRF being 151 ms at 0.55T and 337 ms at 3T. At 0.55T, MRF measurements presented significant biases but strong correlations with the reference measurements. Although a larger error was present in T1 measurements, MRF measurements trended similarly to the conventional measurements for human subjects and model agar-gel phantoms.