Round Of Tests Research Articles

Evaluation of antibody responses in healthcare workers before & after meningococcal vaccine and determination of meningococcal carriage rates

The rates of nasopharyngeal meningococcal carriage in healthcare workers are unknown. Meningococcal vaccine is recommended for risk groups but healthcare workers are not included in risk groups for many countries. Herein, we aimed to investigate the nasopharyngeal meningococcal carriage rates, basal and after one dose of Men-ACWY-DT vaccine response on the 30th day by evaluating meningococcus IgG antibody levels and decolonization at month six after vaccination among the detected carriers. Nasopharyngeal swab samples were taken before vaccination to evaluate meningococcal carriage in healthcare workers. All participants received a single dose of Men-ACWY-DT vaccine. Serum samples were collected immediately before vaccination and again on day 30 post-vaccination. Antibodies in the stored sera were analyzed using the ELISA method. Participants who were determined to carry meningococci at the initial visit underwent another round of nasopharyngeal swab tests six months post-vaccination to check for decolonization. Between November 2020 and May 2021, we evaluated samples from 100 physicians [52 % females, 28.28 ± 4.45 (min: 24, max: 49)]. The majority of the physicians worked in the emergency department (45 %), followed by the infectious diseases clinic (14 %). Fifty-eight physicians had a history of at least one contact with a meningococcus-infected patient, and 53 (91.4 %) had used prophylactic antibiotics at least once due to this exposure. None of the study group nasopharyngeal swab cultures were positive for Neisseria meningitidis. Before the Men-ACWY-DT vaccine, anti-meningococcus IgG positivity was detected in the serum samples of only 3 (3 %) participants. By day 30 after vaccination, 48 % of participants showed positive for antibodies. As we didn’t detect nasopharyngeal carriage in any participants, we didn’t evaluate decolonization among carriers six months post-vaccination. Notably, detection of antibodies was evident in about half of the participants on day 30 after receiving a single dose of the Men-ACWY-DT vaccine.

The Ccomparison of the content of prenatal care during the CovidCOVID-19 pandemic with the same time last yearone year before the pandemic in Qazvin, Iran: a cross-sectional study

Background. Since prenatal care may have been affected during the covidCOVID-19 pandemic, this study aimed to compare the content of prenatal care during the COVIDcovid-19 pandemic with the same time lastone year before the pandemic year in Qazvin , Irancity. Methods. This cross-sectional-analytical study was conductedincluded in 2018 and 2019 for 722 pregnant mothers (361 before and 361 during the COVIDcovid-19 pandemic) referring to Qazvin health centers in 2018 and 2019. The checklist "Evaluation of Care during Pregnancy" checklist was used to collect information. The information was extracted from the Integrated Health System (known as SIB)Sib system, reporting offices of health centers. SPSS version 25 software was used to analyze the data. Results. The results showed a decrease in the number of prenatal care in all care times during the COVIDcovid-19 pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period (P<0.001). The rate of preterm pregnancies increased during the pandemic period (P<0.001). Performing the first round of screening, the first and second rounds of ultrasound and the second round of laboratory tests, respectively decreased by 23.8%percent, 11.1%percent, 13.3% percent (P<0.001), and 7% percent (P=0.004) in the pandemic period (P<0.001). The follow-up rate of referrals also decreased during the pandemic period (P<0.001). Conclusion. The results showed a decrease in the number and content of prenatal care during the COVIDcovid-19 pandemic. Practical Implications. The number and content of prenatal care during the COVIDCovid-19 crisis decreased in this study.Therefore, effective measures should be planned for this reduction and its effects. There is also a need to provide necessary training and preparations to the providers of prenatal care in critical times.

Saffron and crocin ameliorate prenatal valproic acid-induced autistic-like behaviors and brain oxidative stress in the male offspring rats.

Autism is a neurobehavioral disease that induces cognitive and behavioral alterations, usually accompanied by oxidative stress in the brain. Crocus sativus (saffron) and its active ingredient, crocin, have potent antioxidative effects that may benefit autistic behaviors. This study aimed to determine the effects of saffron extract and crocin against brain oxidative stress and behavioral, motor, and cognitive deficits in an animal model of autism in male offspring rats. 14 female rats were randomly divided into the saline and valproic acid (VPA) groups. Then, they were placed with mature male rats to mate and produce offspring. VPA (500mg/kg, i.p.) was injected on day 12.5 of pregnancy (gestational day, GD 12.5) to induce an experimental model of autism. 48 male pups were left undisturbed for 29days. First-round behavioral tests (before treatments) were performed on 30-33 post-natal days (PND), followed by 28days of treatment (PND 34-61) with saffron (30mg/kg, IP), crocin (15 or 30mg/kg, i.p.), or saline (2ml/kg, i.p.). The second round of behavioral tests (after treatments) was performed on PND 62-65 to assess the effects of the treatments on behavioral and cognitive features. In the end, animals were sacrificed under deep anesthesia, and their brains were dissected to evaluate the brain oxidative stress parameters, including malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT). VPA injection into female rats increased anxiety-like behaviors, enhanced pain threshold, impaired motor functions, disturbed balance power, increased MDA, and decreased GSH and CAT in their male offspring. 28days of treatment with saffron or crocin significantly ameliorated behavioral abnormalities, reduced MDA, and increased GSH and CAT levels. Brain oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathophysiology of autistic-like behaviors. Saffron and crocin ameliorate anxiety-like behaviors, pain responses, motor functions, and brain oxidative stress parameters in an experimental model of autism. Saffron and crocin may hold promise as herbal-based pharmacological treatments for individuals with autism. However, further histological evidence is needed to confirm their efficacy.

Evaluation of the creditability of forensic tests through competency tests

The paper aims to evaluate a round of Competence Tests with qualitative results (non-destructive tests) in the field of classical forensics. The purpose of organizing the competency test rounds is to evaluate the performance of the forensic laboratories. The performance of the laboratories is estimated by the statistical evaluation of the results obtained by each participant. In this particular case, the assignment of the values of the competence test objects (CTO) was carried out by the group of experts, and the Competence Test Scheme (CTS) was of the simultaneous participation type; also, the group of experts established the performance evaluation criteria. The results obtained by the participants were satisfactory.

Influence of Temperature in the Thermo-Chemical Decomposition of Below-Stoichiometric RDF Char—A Macro TGA Study

Due to the energy crisis that some countries are facing nowadays, the gasification process appears to be a good alternative to produce some energy from solid materials. Increasingly, gasification involves using wastes as a solid fuel, making the process green and reusing some materials that otherwise could end up in a landfill. However, the process of finding the best gasification parameters of a sample can be very expensive and time-consuming. In this sense, a refuse-derived fuel (RDF) char produced from an original RDF under 30 min at 400 °C was tested on a small-scale reactor using macro thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), as presented in this paper. The goal was to study and evaluate the devolatilization and residual carbon rate of the sample under several conditions and, at the same time, quantify and analyze the released gas. In the first round of tests, 5, 10, and 20 g of samples were tested at 750 °C with an excess of air coefficient (λ) = 0 and 0.2. It was possible to conclude that the lower the mass, the higher the devolatilization rate. The λ only had an influence on the devolatilization rate with a 20 g sample. Regarding the gas, CO, CO2, and H2 had no variation in the sample mass in contrast to CH4, which increased with the increase in the sample mass. The second round of tests was performed with samples of 10 g of mass at temperatures of 700, 800, and 900 °C and λ values of 0.15, 0.2, and 0.25. The tests indicated that the temperature influenced the devolatilization rate but not the residual carbon combustion rate. Regarding the gas composition, CH4, CO2, and CO followed the same trend, decreasing the concentration with the increase in temperature; in contrast, H2 increased in concentration with an increase in temperature. The heating value of the gas followed the same behavior as CH4.

Computational Cartographic Recognition: Identifying Maps, Geographic Regions, and Projections from Images Using Machine Learning

Map reading is a challenging task for computer programs. This article explores how artificial intelligence and machine learning methods can be used to understand maps, an area we broadly refer to as computational cartographic recognition. Specifically, we use machine learning methods to (1) identify whether an image is a map, (2) recognize the geographic region on the map, and (3) recognize the projection used on the map. Four machine learning models—support vector machine, multilayer perceptrons, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) developed from scratch using our own architecture (CNNS), and pretrained CNN models through transfer learning (CNNT)—are applied in these tasks. We use 2,200 online map images, 500 nonmap images, and 1,050 synthetic map images to train and evaluate the models. Results show that the CNNT models achieve the highest performance among all models, with an accuracy rate above 90 percent for the tasks. The CNNS models come in second. We also conduct a round of stress tests using 3,600 additional synthetic maps where the shape and layout are systematically distorted and test if the models can still identify the maps and recognize the region and projection on the maps. The results of the stress tests show that the models can reliably recognize some of the modified maps even when exhibiting performance inferior to even random models for other maps. This unpredictable nature of the methods when applied to maps that are not represented in the training data suggests both promises and limitations of the current machine learning approaches to cartographic recognition.

Working together to overcome difficulties

With the adjustment of epidemic prevention and control policies, the coronavirus disease infection has undergone incredible changes. The number of infected people has exploded in a geometric progression up to an astronomical number. In the face of a new round of stormy tests, it is not only necessary for the whole country to unite and help each other, unite as one, share weal and woe, and overcome the difficulties, but also for us to reflect on the current situation, problems and difficulties.

초등교사 임용시험 2차 영어평가 실행 체제에 대한 예비교사 수험생들의 인식

This study explores how pre-service teacher test-takers perceive the English evaluation implementation system of the second round of elementary teacher employment tests consisting of English microteaching and English interviews. Eleven pre-service teachers from A University of Education in the Seoul metropolitan area participated in this study. Data were collected through questionnaires and written interviews. Results were as follows. First, participants evaluated their general English ability and classroom English ability at an intermediate or upper level; and showed a slight lack of confidence in using English. Second, the two English evaluations were generally satisfactory in terms of schedule, procedure, points, and others, although there was room for improvement in specific areas such as times for lesson planning and practicing English microteaching, and the use of a universal framework for planning. Third, evaluation of the validity of the test itself was not good for English interview. There was an opinion that it would be better to integrate it with English microteaching. Based on these results, implications for improving English evaluation in the second employment test for elementary school teachers and suggestions for future research are provided.

Think You Know Where Proppant Goes During Fracturing? Based on Recent Testing: Don’t Bet on It

Completion engineers have figured out some rules of thumb about how proppant flows based on decades of experience. That knowledge was put to the test when GEODynamics created a fracturing surface test that offered a full-size, full-pressure recreation of a stage design created by its initial backer, PDC Energy. Before the oilfield service company’s first test was pumped. those involved put their money into a pool with the winner based on who most accurately predicted how much sand flowed out of each cluster. “The one that won the bet was the CFO who had no idea how fracs were supposed to work. The worst were the ones that thought they knew fracturing,” said Phil Snider, a consultant on the project who played a key role in the design of the test. Like the pool, the test results diverged from the widespread assumption that the fluid and the sand flow out in roughly equal proportions at each cluster. The results suggested “proppant and fluid does not move as uniformly as many believe,” said Steve Baumgartner, senior engineering technical advisor at GEODynamics, while describing the testing at the recent SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference and Exhibition (HFTC). Some of the results were consistent with earlier studies using computer modeling and less-realistic flow tests showing that many fast-flowing sand grains slip past the first few clusters in a stage. GEODynamics found that medium-sized proppant (40–70 mesh) is likely to slip past early stages, resulting in reduced outflow in early clusters and more flowing out later in the stage. But if the grains are smaller (100 mesh), the distribution is more even. A second round of tests showed that a change in the fracture design aimed at achieving more even slurry distribution from cluster to cluster further reduced the differences among clusters, but bigger grains still tended to slip past early clusters. What GEODynamics made public is a first look at an ingenious bit of engineering used for a series of tests that ended in 2019, before COVID-19 hit (SPE 209141). The idea for the test goes back to questions raised by past fracturing jobs. For example, when a well where data gathered during fracturing indicated all clusters were effectively stimulated, but later analysis indicated about half of them failed to produce. Why? “This nonuniformity can be attributed in part to formation variability and stress shadowing from adjacent fracture stages, but nonuniform flow of proppant in the casing can also play an important role,” said a second paper on creating a model for completion engineering. The notion that sand grains and fluid do not move in lockstep does not seem surprising because sand grains are likely to behave differently from a mix of water and friction reducer. The hard question for any engineer who wants to begin designing completions based on the assumption that fluid and sand flows are not similar is how to quantify that difference.

Investigation and Application of High-Efficiency Network Fracturing Technology for Deep Shale Gas in the Southern Sichuan Basin.

The Longmaxi Formations in the Luzhou block located in the Southern Sichuan Basin exhibit thick shale formations and huge shale gas resources and have become one of the significant blocks for large-scale production of shale gas. However, due to the natural fractures and high in situ stress and horizontal stress differences, proppants are broken and embedded severely, and complex network fractures are difficult to form, so traditional hydraulic fracturing technology cannot meet the need for profitable development of deep shale gas. In order to increase the stimulated reservoir volume and improve fracture complexity, large-scale hydraulic fracturing experiments and fracture propagation numerical simulations have been conducted based on the geology and engineering treatment difficulty of the Luzhou block to discuss the main factors influencing fracturing effectiveness. Meanwhile, two round field tests were conducted to evaluate the fracturing effectiveness, and the following study results were obtained. First, in situ stress and horizontal stress differences are the main mechanical factors, while cluster spacing and proppant injection intensity are the main fracturing parameters. Therefore, multi-cluster perforation, high-intensity proppant injection, and diversion are employed to improve fracture complexity and conductivity, thus increasing effective fracture volume. Furthermore, the second round of field tests gained remarkable results. The “short-cluster spacing + high proppant amount + variable viscosity slick water + diversion” high-efficiency fracturing technology was formed, and the average test production got to 28.6 × 104 m3/d, which represented a 64% increase over the first round. It concludes that the high-efficiency hydraulic fracturing technology contributes to increasing shale gas production, notably in the Luzhou block for deep shale gas, and provides reliable technology support and study direction for further technical optimization in this block.

Identification-detection group testing protocols for COVID-19 at high prevalence

Group testing allows saving chemical reagents, analysis time, and costs, by testing pools of samples instead of individual samples. We introduce a class of group testing protocols with small dilution, suited to operate even at high prevalence (5–10%), and maximizing the fraction of samples classified positive/negative within the first round of tests. Precisely, if the tested group has exactly one positive sample then the protocols identify it without further individual tests. The protocols also detect the presence of two or more positives in the group, in which case a second round could be applied to identify the positive individuals. With a prevalence of 5% and maximum dilution 6, with 100 tests we classify 242 individuals, 92% of them in one round and 8% requiring a second individual test. In comparison, the Dorfman’s scheme can test 229 individuals with 100 tests, with a second round for 18.5% of the individuals.

Spontaneous Activity of CB2 Receptors Attenuates Stress-Induced Behavioral and Neuroplastic Deficits in Male Mice.

The monoaminergic theory of depression/anxiety disorders cannot fully explain the behavioral and neuroplastic changes observed after ADs chronic treatment. Endocannabinoid system, which comprises CB2 receptors, has been associated with the chronic effects of these drugs, especially in stressed mice. CB2-KO mice display more vulnerability to stressful stimuli. In the present study, we hypothesized that the behavioral and neuroplastic effects observed after repeated treatment with the AD escitalopram (Esc) in chronically stressed mice depend on CB2 receptor signaling. Male mice submitted to chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) paradigm (21 days) were treated daily with AM630 (0.01; 0.03 or 0.3 mg/kg, i.p) a CB2 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist. At e 19th day of the CUS protocol, mice were submitted to Open field test and Tail-suspension test to evaluate antidepressant-like behavior. At the end of the stress protocol, mice were submitted to Novel Suppressed Feeding test (day 22nd) to evaluate anxiety-like behavior. In a second series of experiments, male mice treated with Esc (10 mg/kg, daily, 21 days) in the presence or not of AM630 (0.30 mg/kg) were submitted to the same round of behavioral tests in the same conditions as performed in the dose-response curve protocol. Animals were then euthanized under deep anesthesia, and their brains/hippocampi removed for immunohistochemistry (Doublecortin-DCX) or Western Blot assay. Our results demonstrated that chronic treatment with AM630, a CB2 antagonist/inverse agonist, induces anxiolytic-like effects in stressed mice. Moreover, chronic reduction of CB2 receptor endogenous activity by AM630 attenuated the neuroplastic (potentiating stress-induced decreased expression of pro-BDNF, but enhanced pmTOR and DAGL expression in the hippocampus reduced in stressed mice), the antidepressant- but not the anxiolytic-like effects of Esc. AM630 alone or in combination with Esc decreased the expression of DCX + cell in both the subgranular and granular layers of the dentate gyrus (DG), indicating a general reduction of DCX + neuroblasts and a decrease in their migration through the DG layers. We suggest that the antidepressant-like behavior and the pro-neurogenic effect, but not the anxiolytic like behavior, promoted by Esc in stressed mice are, at least in part, mediated by CB2 receptors.

Overview and Insight from the China Research Report on the Global Youth Survey of Social and Emotional Skills by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

Social and emotional skills are important for students in 21st century study, life, and future work. In 2018, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) officially launched the first round of social and emotional skills tests for 10-year-old and 15-year-old students worldwide. After 3 years of research, the first round of global data collection ended and at the end of 2019 the OECD published the Social and Emotional Ability Assessment International Report. As one of the participating cities, Suzhou, China, successfully completed the first round of testing and released a series of reports. This article summarizes the research work of the OECD and China on social and emotional capabilities of students and discusses a few insights from the data.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Infants Younger Than 90 Days Old Following Enterovirus and Parechovirus Infections of the Central Nervous System.

Enteroviruses (EVs) and human parechoviruses (HPeVs) are a major cause of central nervous system (CNS) infection in young infants. They have been implicated in neurodevelopmental delay, however limited data are available. The aim of this study is to describe the clinical outcome of young infants and to assess and compare the medium-term neurodevelopment following CNS infections caused by EV and HPeV. A multicentre observational ambispective study was conducted between May 2013 and March 2018. Children under 3 months of age with EV or HPeV CNS infection excluding encephalitis were included. Infants were contacted 1 year after the acute infection and their neurological development was evaluated using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire-3 (ASQ-3). If any area assessed was abnormal during the first round of tests, a second round was completed 6 to 12 months later. Forty-eight young infants with EV and HPeV CNS infection were identified: 33 (68.8%) were positive for EV and 15 (31.3%) for HPeV. At first assessment 14 out of 29 EV (48.3%) and 3 out of 15 HPeV (20%) positive cases presented some developmental concern in the ASQ-3 test. EV-positive infants showed mild and moderate alteration in all domains analyzed and HPeV-positive infants showed mild alterations only in gross and fine motor domains. Significant alterations in communication were observed in EV-positive but not in HPeV-positive infants (31 vs. 0%, p = 0.016). At second assessment 4 out of 13 EV-positive patients (30.8%) showed mild to moderate concerns in communication and gross motor function domains and 3 out of 13 (23.1%) showed significant concern in fine motor function. Although CNS infections without associated encephalitis are generally assumed to be benign our study shows that at a median age of 18 months almost half of the EV-infected infants (48.3%) and 20% of HPeV-positive infants presented some developmental concern in the ASQ-3 test. We recommend monitor the neurological development of infants during the first years of life after HPeV CNS infection and especially after EV CNS infection, even in mild cases, for an early intervention and stimulation of psychomotor development if necessary.

Analysis of Surface Properties of Ag and Ti Ion-Treated Medical Textiles by Metal Vapor Vacuum Arc Ion Implantation

The study focuses on the effects of Ag (silver) and Ti (titanium) ions on textiles by MEVVA (metal vapor vacuum arc) ion implantation. In order to comprehend this, the research was executed in three parts. In the first part, the antibacterial efficiencies of Ag and TiO2 were investigated in detail since the antibacterial capabilities of Ag and TiO2 are well known. A group of polyester- and cotton-based medical textiles were modified by Ag and TiO2 ions, with doses ranging from 5 × 1015 to 5 × 1016 ion/cm2. To determine the adhesion capabilities of the implanted ions on surfaces, after the first round of antibacterial tests, these medical textiles were washed 30 times, and then antibacterial tests were performed for the second time. The results were also compared with nanoparticle-treated medical textiles. In the second part, the corrosion and friction capabilities of Ag and Ti ion-implanted polyester textiles, with a dose of 5 × 1015 ion/cm2, were investigated. Finally, the UV protection capabilities of Ag and Ti ion-implanted polyester textiles, with a dose of 5 × 1015 ion/cm2, were investigated. The experiments showed that even after 30 washes, the TiO2 ion-implanted polyester textile had almost 85% antibacterial efficiency. In addition, Ti ion implantation reduced the friction coefficiency of a polyester textile by almost 50% when compared with an untreated textile. Finally, the Ag-ion-implanted polyester textile provided a UV protection factor of 30, which is classified as very good protection.

A new method for estimating hydraulic conductivity in un-screened concrete-lined large-diameter hand-dug wells

The use of large-diameter hand-dug wells as main source of rural water supply for drinking, domestic and irrigation uses in many developing countries has offer an opportunity to developed Darcy-based methods for estimating hydraulic conductivity in screened-lined large-diameter hand-dug wells to determine the yield and discharge potential of the wells. However, in many rural areas of sub-Saharan African countries, the use of un-screened concrete lining is most common method of protecting large-diameter hand-dug wells against collapsing and pollution due to the affordability of the method. The use of un-screened concrete lining prevents horizontal water flow to the well and inflow of water in un-screened concrete well occur through well base, therefore, existing Darcy-based method not suitable to estimate hydraulic conductivity for this well design. This study proposed a new method for estimating aquifer hydraulic conductivity for un-screened concrete-lined large-diameter hand-dug wells. To demonstrate the viability of the new method, field recovery tests were conducted in twelve (12) un-screened concrete lined large-diameter hand-dug wells to estimate apparent hydraulic conductivity (Ka) of aquifer formation. The twelve (12) un-screened concrete wells were screened for the second round of recovery tests to estimate horizontal hydraulic conductivity K. The results showed that the estimated apparent hydraulic conductivity Ka values were lower than the horizontal hydraulic conductivity K values and this show effect of un-screened concrete-lining. A relationship between Ka and K was established to make a correction factor for estimation of K from Ka by a regression analysis which showed a linear regression of 0.78 with a significant strong relationship of 0.00 between Ka and K using a bivariate Pearson correlation coefficient. The new method will be useful to determine well yield most especially in the rural areas of developing countries where un-screened concrete-lined large-diameter hand-dug wells are being practiced.

Conserving orthodox seeds of globally threatened plants ex situ in the Millennium Seed Bank, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: the status of seed collections

We reviewed the status of orthodox seed collections of globally threatened plants conserved in − 20 °C long-term storage at the Millennium Seed Bank, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK in terms of their geographic and bioclimatic representativeness, taxonomic and genetic diversity, quality and physiological status. The comprehensive dataset used spans over 45 years of worldwide conservation effort across various organisations. The data provides evidence-based results and future directions for the represented globally threatened flora that are of relevance to all plant conservation and seed banking organisations across the globe. The reviewed sample includes 523 collections and represents a wide geographic range, originating from 67 countries, from all nine bio-geographic continents. The majority of collections originated from temperate climates and from habitats with no dry seasons but experiencing warm summer periods. The taxonomic composition of the collections highlighted a substantial diversity, with 303 taxa (four extinct in the wild; 56 critically endangered; 105 endangered; and 138 vulnerable) represented by 297 species, 199 genera and 74 families. Almost four fifths of the collections were harvested from wild habitats. Whilst wild-origin collections can harbour useful genes not available in the cultivated gene pool, for threatened plants both collections and taxa are likely to suffer from low genetic diversity as a low number of individual plants, populations and/or potentially viable or usable seeds were sampled at the original harvest. Large numbers of empty and infested seeds in the original harvest have significantly affected the quality of collections in terms of availability of potentially viable or usable seeds in collections. As a result, just over one third of taxa and one fifth of collections consisted of ≥ 5000 potentially viable or usable seeds. Viable seeds exhibited a sound physiological status in terms of germinability and viability at the initial round of germination tests after storage, but on average, relative germination and viability achieved were below 85%. A decline in germinability during their variable time of storage was evident for 16% of the 78 collections analysed for longevity. According to a set of criteria, suitable germination protocols for propagation of plants from seeds were identified for 165 taxa. Given the apparent differences between wild species, especially those that are rare and threatened, and domesticated crops, the quality and physiological status of reviewed collections are reasonably sound. The characteristics we observed for collections, the challenges we identified for conserving them and the germination protocols we suggested for propagation of plants from seeds have the scope to be noted, integrated and used globally across various conservation activities and policies.

Region-wide congestion prediction and control using deep learning

Traffic congestion is forecast for neighborhoods within a region using a deep learning model. The model is based on Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network architecture. It forecasts a congestion score, defined as the ratio of the vehicle accumulation inside a neighborhood to its trip completion rate. Inputs include congestion scores measured at earlier times in neighborhoods within a region, and three other real-time measures of regional traffic.The ideas are tested using Newell’s simplified theory of kinematic waves. Simplified street networks are featured first. Initial tests demonstrate the suitability of the congestion score for characterizing neighborhood traffic conditions, and that the score can be predicted using the four inputs. Further tests of the simplified networks illustrate the value of the deep learning approach, as compared against the use of three benchmark models. A next round of tests shows that the model can be made robust, even to adverse settings. A final round of tests features a pared-down version of the freeway network in the San Francisco Bay Area. The final tests show that the model is scalable. The model is thereafter improved by representing the inputs through weighted undirected graphs that incorporate the route-choice of individuals, and learning features through graph convolutions. A framework for better interpreting the contributions of the model’s inputs to its output is developed. A demonstration of the model’s usefulness in designing traffic control schemes is presented as well.

Validation of the antimicrobial activity of Nymphaea odorata extract.

We previously screened a library of nearly 4000 extracts of plants, marine life, and fungi from the National Center for Natural Product Research to identify compounds that exhibited antimicrobial activity. From this screen, Nymphaea odorata (Fragrant Water Lily) extract significantly inhibited the growth of Burkholderia cepacia (an opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with drug resistance). The objective of this project is to validate the antimicrobial activity exhibited N. odorata, extract and to isolate and identify the compound(s) responsible for this activity. For this project we conducted ethanol extractions on three different parts of the plant: the rhizome, roots, and stems. These antimicrobial properties of these extracts will be determined using two different drug resistant bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Here, we will utilize both disk diffusion and time-to-kill assays to determine the presence of antimicrobial compounds. The results from the first round of tests showed that the extracts were not inhibiting the growth of these bacteria, so the extract concentration was increased for subsequent investigations. Moreover, the gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus was also tested for susceptibility.

Diagnosis of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): rRT-PCR or CT?

PurposeTo evaluate the diagnostic value of computed tomography (CT) and real-time reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) for COVID-19 pneumonia. MethodsThis retrospective study included all patients with COVID-19 pneumonia suspicion, who were examined by both CT and rRT-PCR at initial presentation. The sensitivities of both tests were then compared. For patients with a final confirmed diagnosis, clinical and laboratory data, in addition to CT imaging findings were evaluated. ResultsA total of 36 patients were finally diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia. Thirty-five patients had abnormal CT findings at presentation, whereas one patient had a normal CT. Using rRT-PCR, 30 patients were tested positive, with 6 cases initially missed. Amongst these 6 patients, 3 became positive in the second rRT-PCR assay(after 2 days, 2 days and 3 days respectively), and the other 3 became positive only in the third round of rRT-PCR tests(after 5 days, 6 days and 8 days respectively). At presentation, CT sensitivity was therefore 97.2%, whereas the sensitivity of initial rRT-PCR was only 83.3%. ConclusionrRT-PCR may produce initial false negative results. We suggest that patients with typical CT findings but negative rRT-PCR results should be isolated, and rRT-PCR should be repeated to avoid misdiagnosis.