Sample Stage Research Articles

THE EFFECT OF THE SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM (NGTS) ON THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CIMAHI CITY

As a form of support for the nutritional concerns of school-age children, SEAMEO RECFON initiated a flagship program for the development plan for the next five years called Nutrition Goes to School (NGTS). The study aims to see how the impact of the NGTS program on the nutritional status of elementary school students. This study used a cross sectional design. By using two sample groups, namely the school group that ran NGTS for two years and the Non-NGTS school group. Both sample groups have the same characteristics, namely private schools, and both are located in Cimahi city. Based on the results of sample determination, after conducting several sampling stages with quota sampling. Then obtained a minimum sample size of 100 students from each group with a total sample size in this study of 200 elementary school students. Furthermore, the data were tested with an independent t-test, the results showed that there was a significant difference between the mean value of nutritional status (IMT / U) in the school group with the NGTS program and the NGTS Non-Program with a p-value = 0,004 (p <0,005). These results are in line with the student nutritional status data found in this study, where undernutrition and overnutrition were much higher in Non-NGTS schools compared to NGTS schools. This shows that there is an effect of the NGTS program on the nutritional status of primary school students.

Two-stage efficiency evaluation of industrial water resources and the role of digital inclusive finance: insight from Yangtze River Delta

The Yangtze River Delta (YRD) occupies 2.1% of China's territory but accounts for 1/4 of its GDP. Boosting efficiency of industrial water resources in YRD will drastically decrease water pollution and resource constraints. The current paper employed Network Super-SBM and the Global Malmquist-Luenberger index to evaluate industrial water use efficiency and wastewater treatment efficiency of YRD’ cities. Furthermore, digital inclusive finance and green innovation are introduced to investigate the mechanisms underlying their influence on the overall industrial water resources efficiency. The empirical findings posts that: (1) there is still room to improve the overall efficiency, especially the water treatment efficiency; (2) the MI value of each stages in most samples is greater than 1, indicating that the water treatment efficiency and water use efficiency are improving. It is mainly driven by the improvement of the efficiency of the management; (3) there are substantial differences in water resource efficiency among metropolitan areas, with Nanjing-metropolitan areas and Hefei-metropolitan areas having higher water use efficiency and water treatment efficiency for both stages, while Hangzhou-metropolitan areas and Shanghai-metropolitan areas have lower water treatment efficiency. As shown by the Kernel density Estimation, the degree of efficiency dispersion within same metropolitan area is reducing; and (4) digital inclusive finance will boost overall efficiency and water treatment efficiency, with green innovation as a mediating factor. The findings herein offer compelling evidence that financial development increases the effectiveness of water resources, introduce fresh perspectives for the government to put forward water-related policies, and provide ideas for high-quality economy.

Microbiota dynamics and source tracing during the growing, aging, and decomposing processes of Eucommia ulmoides leaves.

Eucommia ulmoides, an important tree, faces serious threat to its growth from environmental stress, particularly climate change. Using plant microbes to enhance host adaptation to respond climate change challenges has been recognized as a viable and sustainable strategy. However, it is still unclear how the perennial tree microbiota varies across phenological stages and the links between respective changes in aboveground and belowground niches. Here, we sequenced 27 root and 27 leaf samples of E. ulmoides using 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing techniques. These samples were obtained from the three main phenological stages of leaves, including leaf growing, aging and decomposing stages. Results showed that the diversity, composition, and function of the leaf microbiota of E. ulmoides showed more obvious changes at three phenological time points compared to roots. Regarding alpha diversity, the root microbiota showed no difference across three sampling stages, while the leaf microbiota varied with sampling stages. Regarding beta diversity, the root microbiota clustered from different sampling stages, while the leaf microbiota exhibited distinct separation. Regarding composition and function, the dominant taxa and main functions of the root microbiota were the same in three sampling stages, while the leaf microbiota in the decomposing stage was obviously different from the remaining two stages. Additionally, taxa overlap and source-sink relationship existed between E. ulmoides microbiota. Specifically, the degree of overlap among root microbiota was higher than that of leaf microbiota in three sampling stages. The bidirectional source-sink relationship that existed between the root and leaf niches varied with sampling stage. During the leaf growing and aging stages, the proportion of microbial members migrating from roots to leaves was higher than the proportion of members migrating from leaves to roots. During the leaf decomposing stage, the migration characteristics of the fungal community between the root and leaf niches maintained the same as in the remaining two stages, but the proportion of bacterial members migrating from leaves to roots was significantly higher than that of members migrating from roots to leaves. Our findings provide crucial foundational information for utilizing E. ulmoides microbiota to benefit their host under climate change challenges.

The NanoSIMS-HR: The Next Generation of High Spatial Resolution Dynamic SIMS.

The high lateral resolution and sensitivity of the NanoSIMS 50 and 50L series of dynamic SIMS instruments have enabled numerous scientific advances over the past 25 years. Here, we report on the NanoSIMS-HR, the first major upgrade to the series, and analytical tests in a suite of sample types, including an aluminum sample containing silicon crystals, microalgae, and plant roots colonized with a symbiotic fungus. Significant improvements have been made in the Cs+ ion source, high voltage (HV) control, stage reproducibility, and other aspects of the instrument that affect performance. The modified design of the NanoSIMS-HR thermal-ionization Cs+ source enables a 5 pA primary ion beam to be focused into a 100 nm spot, a ∼2.5-fold increase compared to Cs+ sources on previous instruments (∼2 pA at 100 nm). The brightness of the new Cs+ source enables an ultimate lateral resolution as high as 30 nm and improved detection limits for a given analysis area. Sample stage movement accuracy is higher than 500 nm, enabling many-fold higher throughput automated analyses. With the new HV control, the primary ion beam impact energy can be reduced from 16 to 2 keV, which enables higher depth resolution during depth profiling (a 2-fold improvement), albeit with a 5-fold decrease in lateral resolution. In the NanoSIMS-HR, the secondary ion column and detection system are identical to those used in the previous series, and the isotopic analysis performance is as precise as in previous NanoSIMS instruments.

Evidence of a pelagic nursery area for phyllosomas of the scyllarid lobster Acantharctus ornatus (Holthuis, 1960) (Decapoda: Achelata: Scyllaridae) in a coastal bight in South Africa

Abstract Lobster phyllosoma larvae collected during surveys over the continental shelf of eastern South Africa (southwestern Indian Ocean) were analysed to determine the role of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Bight as a pelagic nursery area. Surface waters in the shallow bight and further offshore, between the 20- and 1,000-m depth contours, were sampled with plankton nets in 2018 to 2023. Phyllosomas were absent from 87.9% of 257 tows, with high variability in the remaining tows indicating a patchy distribution with abundance hotspots. Phyllosomas of four scyllarid and three palinurid species were found among 311 captured specimens. The scyllarid Acantharctus ornatus (Holthuis, 1960) was the most abundant, constituting 94.9% of the phyllosomas caught, with all nine larval stages (I–IX) present. Phylogenetic analysis using the COI and 16S rDNA gene markers confirmed that previously undescribed early larval stages in samples belonged to A. ornatus. Most A. ornatus phyllosomas were caught at shallow-bight stations, with catch rates declining steeply to the north and south of the bight and when bottom depth exceeded 100 m. Season and sampling station (nested within cross-shelf transect) were significant variables in explaining phyllosoma abundance. We provide evidence that the KZN Bight serves as a pelagic nursery area for A. ornatus phyllosoma larvae at all developmental stages, but not for other lobster species with known adult populations in the region.

Relationship between maltreatment and mental health in adolescents: A school-based study in Indonesia.

Maltreatment affects emotional development in adolescents and inhibits social adjustment. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between maltreatment and mental health among adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted on adolescents in the first and second grades of middle school (12-14 years old) and high school (15-17 years old) in eight cities and municipalities in the province, selected through several stages of simple random sampling (N = 1837). The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) Child Abuse Screening Tool for Children (ICAST-C) questionnaire for detecting maltreatment was translated, simplified, and validated by an expert based on a theoretical framework that involved pediatricians, public health, and medicolegal perspectives. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to assess emotional states. ICAST-C and SDQ scores were transformed to logit values using Rasch model analysis. Distribution frequency and linear regression were used for data analysis. The results indicated that 85.6% of adolescents aged 12-14 and 83% of those aged 15-17 experienced physical maltreatment, while 89.4% of the 12-14 age group and 82.9% of the 15-17 age group experienced psychological maltreatment. The emotional states of the two groups were 52.8% and 59.2%, respectively. There was a significant correlation between the experience of physical maltreatment and emotions among 12-14 (r1 = 0.148 (0.190-0.257)) and 15-17 years old (r1 = 0.047 (0.084-0.156)). There was a significant correlation between the experience of psychological maltreatment and emotions among 12-14 years old '(r2 = 0.191 (0.270-0.350)) and 15 to 17 years old (r2 = 0.097 (0.167-0.252)). In conclusion, physical and psychological maltreatment were correlated with mental health states among adolescent students in West Java, Indonesia.

Diffusive ex situ galvanic growth of metal nanocrystals on transmission electron microscopy grid

The uniform modification of commercial and standardized objects features considerable potential, as in the case of dip-pen lithography, biosensor kits, and disposable electrodes. In this study, we devised a dense nanoparticle array formation using the metallic mesh of a transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grid, which was formerly solely employed as a sampling stage. Incompletely oxidized cationic species generated from the galvanic replacement reaction of the metallic support mesh at the opposite side of the carbon layer diffused to the exposed top side and led to ex situ nanostar formation. A uniform nanoparticle array was obtained by immersion in an aqueous solution of replacing metal cations without reducing agents or surface energy-controlling compounds. Moreover, the array density was exclusively regulated by the incubation time. The straightforward nanoparticle array formation was successfully extended to various metal mesh TEM grids and different transition metal cations capable of spontaneous redox reactions. Cu mesh TEM grid and Mo grids could be utilized as sacrificial templates, and the growth of Au, Pd, Pt, Ag, and Rh nanostructures was confirmed.

Efficient Cd separation protocols for high-precision cadmium isotope analyses of diverse samples by double spike MC-ICP-MS

Cadmium isotope analyses are applied for research in planetary, Earth, environmental and life sciences. However, there is still a lack of efficient methods for the separation of the trace element Cd from the different types of samples that are of interest for isotopic analyses. This study presents new and improved Cd separation and purification techniques for meteorite, diverse terrestrial and seawater samples prior to Cd isotope measurements by multiple collector ICP-MS using the double spike approach for mass bias correction. The first separation stage for meteorites and terrestrial samples employs an existing anion exchange chromatography method that uses AG MP-1M resin, whilst AG 1-X8 and Nobias Chelate PA-1 resins were applied for the initial isolation of Cd from small and large seawater samples, respectively. Teflon microcolumns and AG MP-1M anion exchange resin was then employed for further Cd purification of all sample types. The methods consistently isolate Cd from matrix elements more efficiently than previous protocols, whilst achieving consistently high Cd recoveries, of >95% for meteorite and terrestrial samples and >80% for seawater samples, combined with low procedural blanks of <0.08 ng. The performance of the new protocols is demonstrated by repeated Cd isotope analyses of well-characterized geological and biological reference materials, which produced data that are in excellent agreement with results that were obtained with previous, more laborious separation methods. Furthermore, precise Cd isotope compositions (δ114Cd) are presented for the Murchison meteorite and, for the first time, the ordinary chondrite GRO 95504. Finally, analyses of seven seawater samples, with Cd concentrations between 0.25 and 0.91 nmol kg-1 using sample volumes of up to 2 L, generated results consistent with those of previous studies. Overall, the new methods thus enable unbiased δ114Cd measurements for diverse sample types with a 2SD precision of better than ±0.07‰, even for samples with 10 ng or less of natural Cd.

Application of Raman spectroscopy for analyzing the behavior of gases in sandstone reservoirs

The behavior of gases within subsurface pores determines the oil and gas recovery and CO2 storage in the region. In this study, we report a novel method based on Raman spectroscopy for observing the distributions of CH4 and CO2 gases in the pores of sandstone reservoirs. First, we designed a pressure-cell to inject gases into a sample. Then, CH4 and CO2 gases were injected into the sample using the pressure-cell placed on the Raman spectroscopy system sample stage. Quartz and feldspar were the predominant minerals in the sample. The CH4-occupied pores exhibited a Raman peak at 2917 cm−1. Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) mapping of the pores depicted the geometry of the CH4 gas-filled pores. After injecting CO2 gas, we observed an intensity peak at 1388 cm−1; we obtained 2D and 3D maps of the CO2 gas-filled pores based on this peak value. This study demonstrates the potential use of Raman spectroscopy as a visualization tool to reveal the pore geometry of sandstone reservoirs and determine the distribution of gases within such reservoirs. Our study can serve as a foundation for understanding the behavior of gases in subsurface reservoirs, improving oil and gas prospecting and exploration, and assessing CO2 storage..

Implementation Dynamics and Project Delivery: A Case Study of Tullow Oil Exploration in Turkana, Kenya

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of community stakeholder involvement in the implementation process on project delivery by the Tullow Oil Exploration Company in South Lokichar Basin in Turkana, Kenya. Methodology: The study utilized a descriptive research design that incorporated both qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection. While qualitative design was predominantly utilized, a small amount of quantitative methodology was included to assess perceptions. A triangulated methodological design was employed to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data. The study involved the use of questionnaire method to collect quantitative data and key informants guide and focus group discussion to collect qualitative data. This research adopted multistage sampling utilizing cluster sampling as one of the sampling methods and the first stage of sampling, where villages were divided into clusters which were later randomly sampled based on their proximity to the oil wells. Two villages from Lokori / Kochodin Ward in Turkana South Sub-County and eight villages in Lokichar Ward in Turkana South Sub-County were randomly picked. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive analysis and inferential analysis (cross-tabulation with chi-square and binary logistic regression analyses) by use of SPSS version 25. Qualitative data was analysed based on Content Analysis (CA) method. Findings: The study revealed community stakeholder involvement in the implementation process had statistically significant effect on community project delivery by Tullow Oil Exploration Company in South Lokichar Basin in Turkana, Kenya (X2=8.161, df=1, p-value = .000 and p-value=.037 (&lt;0.05 respectively). Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Stakeholder Theory emphasizes the need for companies to take a wider view of their economic activities and consider all other stakeholders' interests, not just the shareholders. Its contributions to the descriptive, normative, and instrumental elements of Stakeholder Theory are thus underlined by the fact that community engagement may make or break the success and sustainability of community projects in this industry even during the implementation phase itself. It hence requires a balancing of the expectations of a Company with those of the community so that all the stakeholders really share goals and vision in similar ways concerning the community project at hand. The actual study indicates that, in practice, the effective participation of community stakeholders throughout the entire community project cycle-identification, planning, and especially implementation-enhances project delivery while at the same time enhancing ownership and cooperation at the local level. Such understanding of stakeholder management is key when companies operate their business in marginalized areas for the purpose of mitigating risks, community resistance, and ensuring easier ways of executing community projects. This research, therefore, calls for legal and regulatory environments that enhance stakeholder involvement in resource extraction projects. From a policy perspective, the government of Kenya and any other relevant country should develop policies that ensure that companies adopt formal mechanisms involving direct consultations of communities in the decision-making and operations processes. It is through this that the process reflects transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability-one of the facets of successful long-term community projects in resource-rich areas. These contributions are aimed at the improvement of project delivery in a sustainable manner together with social harmony across large-scale extraction-impacted areas.

Transmission of carbapenem-resistant enterobacterales producing NDM-5 during the broiler breeding process in China

This study conducted a four-month monitoring of carbapenem resistance in a broiler breeding farm in China. A total of 185 carbapenem-resistant bacterial isolates were obtained from 2298 cloacal swabs from broiler breeders and their offspring within a production cycle. The detection rate of carbapenem-resistant isolates was higher during the brooding period. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on 133 isolates based on sampling stages, including 113 carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) isolates and 20 Stenotrophomonas pavanii isolates, which have intrinsic resistance to carbapenems. A total of 69 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including blaNDM-1, mcr-1, and blaNDM-5, were identified among the sequenced CRE isolates. Notably, blaNDM-5 (92.0 %, 104/113) was the primary contributor to carbapenem resistance. CRE isolates from the same breeding stage exhibited close genomic relationships, and the blaNDM-5 genes were observed in similar genetic backgrounds, indicating the transmission of CRE strains and blaNDM-5 during the broiler breeding process. No CRE was isolated from 0 d broiler offspring, suggesting that broiler breeders were not the direct source of CRE in their offspring. Tracing the feeding process revealed that brooder and rearing houses were likely key factors in the cross-transmission of CRE between broiler breeders and their offspring. CRE pose a significant threat to public health and food safety. China is one of the world's leading poultry producing and consuming countries. This study provided insights into the epidemiological trends and key transmission nodes of carbapenem resistance and CRE within the broiler breeding process, which could help the control of antibiotic resistance and bacterial infections in the broiler industry.

Visual Anomaly Detection via CNN-BiLSTM Network with Knit Feature Sequence for Floating-Yarn Stacking during the High-Speed Sweater Knitting Process

In order to meet the current expanding market demand for knitwear, high-speed automatic knitting machines with “one-line knit to shape” capability are widely used. However, the frequent emergence of floating-yarn stacking anomalies during the high-speed knitting process will seriously hinder the normal reciprocating motion of the needles and cause a catastrophic fracture of the whole machine needle plate, greatly affecting the efficiency of the knitting machines. To overcome the limitations of the existing physical-probe detection method, in this work, we propose a visual floating-yarn anomaly recognition framework based on a CNN-BiLSTM network with the knit feature sequence (CNN-BiLSTM-KFS), which is a unique sequence of knitting yarn positions depending on the knitting status. The sequence of knitting characteristics contains the head speed, the number of rows, and the head movements of the automatic knitting machine, enabling the model to achieve more accurate and efficient floating-yarn identification in complex knitting structures by utilizing contextual information from knitting programs. Compared to the traditional probe inspection method, the framework is highly versatile as it does not need to be adjusted to the specifics of the automatic knitting machine during the production process. The recognition model is trained at the design and sampling stages, and the resulting model can be applied to different automatic knitting machines to recognize floating yarns occurring in various knitting structures. The experimental results show that the improved network spends 75% less time than the probe-based detection, has a higher overall average detection accuracy of 93% compared to the original network, and responds faster to floating yarn anomalies. The as-proposed CNN-BiLSTM-KFS floating-yarn visual detection method not only enhances the reliability of floating-yarn anomaly detection, but also reduces the time and cost required for production adjustments. The results of this study will bring significant improvements in the field of automatic floating-yarn detection and have the potential to promote the application of smart technologies in the knitting industry.

Distribution and environmental preferences of Saprolegnia and Leptolegnia (Oomycota) species in fish hatcheries in Hungary

We studied for the first time the abundance and species distribution of water molds (Oomycota, Saprolegniales) in fish hatcheries in Hungary, with a focus on Saprolegnia and Leptolegnia spp. A total of 182 water mold isolates were obtained from different developmental stages of fish (eggs, fry, and adults) and water samples collected during the spawning season of cyprinids and salmonids. Of the ten water mold species identified based on their ITS–rDNA sequences, S. parasitica, S. ferax, and S. australis were the most abundant. Statistical analyses of species proportions in relation to the sample source and host preference revealed that S. parasitica was significantly more abundant in the host than in water samples, whereas the opposite trend was observed for S. ferax and S. australis. In addition, our results confirmed previous findings that S. australis and S. ferax prefer warm water (+21–24 °C) and that S. parasitica has a wide temperature tolerance (+3–24 °C). The DNA sequence identity analysis showed that the species demarcation criterion for Saprolegnia spp. was approximately 98 % identity, based on ITS–rDNA sequences. Furthermore, our phylogenetic analyses suggest that taxonomic revision of Leptolegnia spp. is necessary.

Analysis of emission of volatile organic compounds and thermal degradation in investment casting using fused deposition modeling (FDM) and three-dimensional printing (3DP) made of various thermoplastic polymers.

The study examined the degradation process of various types of polymers used to form models using the fused deposition modeling (FDM) and three-dimensional printing (3DP) methods and used in the investment casting method. Commercial filaments made of polylactide (PLA), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene terpolymer (ABS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), polyamide 12 (PA12), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and polypropylene (PP) were used to produce gypsum molds. The assessment included organic volatile compounds (VOCs) released during mold heating and model degradation, which is characteristic of this technological process. The screening qualitative chromatographic analysis of decomposition products sampled from various points of the production hall made it possible to define potential threats related to the processing of selected polymers and the necessary preventive measures. Furthermore, passive diffusion-type samplers were used at the sampling stage of VOCs emitted to the gaseous phase to reduce nuisance and user interference. Studies have been completed to characterize the thermoplastic polymer degradation process. The coupled thermogravimetry (TGA) with analysis of gaseous products by infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transformation (FT-IR) has been used. The presented results are the first to compare and rate the use of this still-developing novel aspect of castings by the method of fused models.

Characteristics and Drivers of Soil Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus Ecological Stoichiometry at the Heavy Degradation Stage of the Alpine Meadow

An in-depth understanding of the soil nutrient status and balance relationship can help the effective recovery and management of alpine degraded meadows. In order to study the balance relationship among soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus nutrients during the heavy degradation stage of meadows, field sampling and investigation, indoor analysis, and mathematical statistics were used to explore the characteristics and driving factors of changes in soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content, storage, and ecological stoichiometry during the heavy degradation stage of alpine meadows in the Sanjiangyuan region. The results showed that in the heavy degradation stage, miscellaneous grass plants occupied absolute dominance, soil C∶N∶P was approximately 32.83∶3.87∶0.67, and there was certain nitrogen limitation. The coefficients of variation of soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content were in the following order： organic carbon （1.09） &gt; total nitrogen （0.63） &gt; total phosphorus （0.29）. The organic carbon content and the carbon and nitrogen ratio showed a significant linear decreasing trend with the increase in the grassland degradation index （GDI）, while the total phosphorus content and organic carbon storage showed a significant non-linear change, in which the total phosphorus content showed a significant gentle U-shaped distribution, and the organic carbon storage decreased more gently at the beginning of the heavy degradation stage and then decreased sharply when the GDI was 57.9. The results of Mantel correlation analysis showed that the soil carbon to nitrogen ratio, carbon to phosphorus ratio, and nitrogen to phosphorus ratio showed significant correlation with organic carbon content and storage and total nitrogen storage. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that soil water content had direct effects as well as indirect through vegetation factors, soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus ecological stoichiometry ratios, and soil water content and vegetation factors （height, cover, and biomass） were key environmental factors affecting soil ecological stoichiometry. The research results can provide scientific basis and practical guidance for the restoration of heavily degraded grassland in alpine meadows.

A novel approach for rapidly determining the reproductive status of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) using Raman spectroscopy

Knowledge of the reproductive biology of fishes is essential for effective fisheries management. Information derived from an understanding of fish reproduction, such as size and age at maturity, is used in models to assess fish stocks and can affect estimates of important ecological processes such as recruitment, abundance, and trophic interactions. Common practices for determining the reproductive status of teleost fishes include macroscopic evaluation of gonads as well as histological analysis. However, macroscopic evaluation can be biased and histological analysis is time-consuming, resulting in limitations to spatial and temporal data availability. Here, we explore Raman spectroscopy of ovaries as a novel approach to rapidly determine the reproductive status of walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus), a commercially and ecologically important species in the North Pacific. We used a two-stage partial least-squares (PLS) regression analysis followed by a linear discriminant analysis (LDA) to classify walleye pollock ovary samples as physiologically mature or immature and to subsequently predict their histologically-determined reproductive stage based on the Raman spectra. Biologically mature samples with visible yolk differentiated from mature and immature samples (non-yolked; 99% accuracy). Non-yolked ovaries that were physiologically mature (either mature non-developing or previously spawned) were further differentiated from physiologically immature ovaries (93% accuracy). In addition, detailed, histologically-determined reproductive stages of yolked samples also differentiated via Raman spectroscopy, but with reduced accuracy (79% - 86% accuracy). Our results indicate that accurate identification of maturity status and the reproductive staging of oocytes of walleye pollock based on spectral data from ovaries is possible. This can provide a fast and efficient way to increase the availability of a key component of reproductive data to inform fisheries research and management.

A-060 Assessing Glucose Stability: A Comparison of Citrate/NaF, NaF, and Gel Separator Vacuum Tubes in Routine Medical Laboratory Practice

Abstract Background In cases where a glycolysis inhibitor is not utilized, blood cells in vitro can consume glucose. Although current guidelines suggest using citrate-buffered inhibitors or ice-water slurry to mitigate this, practical and financial constraints often hinder adherence to these recommendations. Our objective was to evaluate the difference in glucose concentration in our routine sample management by employing Citrate buffered/NaF, NaF, and Gel Barrier tubes. Methods In this study, we utilized Greiner FCmix citrate-buffered NaF and EDTA tubes (3 mL), Becton Dickinson NaF and EDTA tubes (4 mL), and Becton Dickinson SSTII Gel Barrier tubes (5 mL). Following venipuncture, the tubes were transferred to the laboratory and centrifuged within 30 minutes. Glucose levels of 46 patients' samples were measured using a Cobas 6000 system (c501) employing the Glucose Hexokinase method, which exhibits an intermediate coefficient of variation (CV) of approximately 1.5% and no significant bias, as confirmed by monitoring with Biorad EQAS. Results The mean plasma glucose difference between Citrate-buffered tubes and NaF tube samples was 2.8 mg/dL with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 2.2 to 3.4 mg/dL (Mean: 0.16 mmol/L; CI: 0.12 - 0.19 mmol/L). The difference in paired samples of NaF plasma and Gel Barrier tubes serum glucose was 3.2 mg/dL with a CI of 2.5 - 3.9 mg/dL (Mean: 0.18 mmol/L; CI: 0.14 - 0.22 mmol/L). Lastly, the mean difference in Citrate-buffered plasma and serum Gel barrier tubes for 46 paired samples was 6.0 mg/dL with a CI of 5.2 - 6.7 mg/dL (Mean: 0.33 mmol/L; CI: 0.29 - 0.37 mmol/L). Conclusions Following guidelines, Citrate-buffered/NaF tubes demonstrate efficacy as glucose stabilizers. When compared to NaF tubes alone within a 30-minute timeframe, the mean difference between the two types of tubes was 2.8 mg/dL. Although NaF tubes are no longer recommended for glucose testing in plasma, they still outperform gel barrier serum tubes by 3.2 mg/dL. Furthermore, compared to citrate/NaF Plasma, serum glucose levels were on average 6.0 mg/dL lower. The preanalytical sample stage poses a significant obstacle to its reliable use for diagnostic or monitoring purposes. Laboratories should consider transitioning to Citrate/NaF tubes, or employ mathematical corrections if utilizing gel separator tubes for glucose testing in their established preanalytical process.

Accelerating material discovery with a threshold-driven hybrid acquisition policy-based Bayesian optimization

Advancements in materials play a crucial role in technological progress. However, the process of discovering and developing materials with desired properties is often impeded by substantial experimental costs, extensive resource utilization, and lengthy development periods. To address these challenges, modern approaches often employ machine learning (ML) techniques such as Bayesian Optimization (BO), which streamline the search for optimal materials by iteratively selecting experiments that are most likely to yield beneficial results. However, traditional BO methods, while beneficial, often struggle with balancing the trade-off between exploration and exploitation, leading to sub-optimal performance in accelerated material discovery processes. This paper introduces a novel Threshold-Driven UCB-EI Bayesian Optimization (TDUE-BO) method, which dynamically integrates the strengths of Upper Confidence Bound (UCB) and Expected Improvement (EI) acquisition functions to optimize the material discovery process. Unlike the classical BO, our method focuses on efficiently navigating the high-dimensional material design space (MDS). TDUE-BO begins with an exploration-focused UCB approach, ensuring a comprehensive initial sweep of the MDS. As the model gains confidence, indicated by reduced uncertainty, it transitions to the more exploitative EI method, focusing on promising areas identified earlier. The UCB-to-EI switching policy, which is steered by ongoing monitoring of model uncertainty at each stage of sequential sampling, enables more efficient navigation through the MDS while guaranteeing quicker convergence. The effectiveness of TDUE-BO is demonstrated through its application on three different material science datasets, showing significantly better approximation and optimization performance over traditional EI and UCB-based BO methods in terms of the RMSE scores and convergence efficiency, respectively.

Time-Reversion Fast-Sampling Score-Based Model for Limited-Angle CT Reconstruction.

The score-based generative model (SGM) has received significant attention in the field of medical imaging, particularly in the context of limited-angle computed tomography (LACT). Traditional SGM approaches achieved robust reconstruction performance by incorporating a substantial number of sampling steps during the inference phase. However, these established SGM-based methods require large computational cost to reconstruct one case. The main challenge lies in achieving high-quality images with rapid sampling while preserving sharp edges and small features. In this study, we propose an innovative rapid-sampling strategy for SGM, which we have aptly named the time-reversion fast-sampling (TIFA) score-based model for LACT reconstruction. The entire sampling procedure adheres steadfastly to the principles of robust optimization theory and is firmly grounded in a comprehensive mathematical model. TIFA's rapid-sampling mechanism comprises several essential components, including jump sampling, time-reversion with re-sampling, and compressed sampling. In the initial jump sampling stage, multiple sampling steps are bypassed to expedite the attainment of preliminary results. Subsequently, during the time-reversion process, the initial results undergo controlled corruption by introducing small-scale noise. The re-sampling process then diligently refines the initially corrupted results. Finally, compressed sampling fine-tunes the refinement outcomes by imposing regularization term. Quantitative and qualitative assessments conducted on numerical simulations, real physical phantom, and clinical cardiac datasets, unequivocally demonstrate that TIFA method (using 200 steps) outperforms other state-of-the-art methods (using 2000 steps) from available [0°, 90°] and [0°, 60°]. Furthermore, experimental results underscore that our TIFA method continues to reconstruct high-quality images even with 10 steps. Our code at https://github.com/tianzhijiaoziA/TIFADiffusion.

Sum of defects (SOD) chart for joint monitoring of the two parameters of a zero-inflated Poisson process

Rapid technological advancements and automation in today's world have led to many high quality manufacturing processes, where most of the products are free from defects. The defects data from high quality processes are commonly modeled by twoparameter zero- inflated Poisson (ZIP) distribution. Most of the existing control charting procedures for ZIP processes are developed assuming that all the manufactured units are inspected one by one, and most often separate control charts are proposed for monitoring the two parameters of a ZIP process. However, joint monitoring of the two parameters in a single chart can offer significant operational advantages because one needs to focus on a sole chart and a single charting statistic. Again, in many manufacturing set ups 100% inspection may not always be feasible. Recently, a few one-chart schemes with group inspection of small samples are reported in literature, and all these schemes require estimation of the two parameters based on accumulated samples till the current sampling stage for computation of the monitoring statistics. This accumulation of samples introduces several limitations in these schemes. In this paper, probability mass function and the cumulative distribution function (cdf) of the sum of defects (SOD) in a sample of size are defined, and a control chart for SOD is proposed. Both the parameters of a ZIP process can be jointly monitored using the SOD chart. Again, since no accumulation of the samples is required for application of the SOD chart, it is free from all limitations of the existing one-chart schemes with group inspection. Two case studies based on past data are presented. The performance of the SOD chart is found to be very encouraging.