Similar Tests Research Articles

Computer-aided molecular modeling and design studies of some N-(4-(dimethyl amino) phenyl)-4-methoxy-3-propionamidobenzamide derivatives as NS5B polymerase inhibitors

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a stealthy ailment, and most people are unaware they have it in the early stages. Insilco modeling was used to develop a model with high predictive power for N-(4-(dimethyl amino) phenyl)-4-methoxy-3-propionamidobenzamide inhibitors. The inhibitors were optimized using Density Functional Theory (DFT) based on a notion of B3LYP/6–31 G* levels. The genetic function algorithm (GFA) was utilized to create the QSAR models. The best model was chosen based on its statistical fitness using the subsequent measurement parameters: R2trng = 0.828181, R2adj = 0.800468, Q2cv = 0.734795, R2test = 0.7028, and LOF = 0.613985, led to its selection and publication. The model underwent additional assessments, including the Y-scrambling test, and applicability domain, and was considered to have statistical significance. The docking results demonstrate that compound 17 has the greatest inhibitory effect on NS5B-polymerase of any drug in the dataset. Using this compound as a template, novel anti-hepatitis C compounds were developed by including a few beneficial substituents. The docking results of the proposed compounds yielded a high MolDock score (−152.12), indicating effective binding to the target's active sites. Two comparable compounds (SBD4 and SBD3) were shown to be superior to the food drug administration (FDA) approved medication, revibirin/pegylated interferon. The chemicals were determined to be orally accessible after passing Lipinski's criteria, a drug similarity test. Furthermore, the synthesized compounds were found to have favorable pharmacokinetic (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties. In conclusion, using the QSAR model, a model with excellent prediction power for certain Biaryl amide inhibitors was constructed. The model was validated and determined to have good internal and external assessment criteria. According to the docking results, compound 17 inhibits NS5B-polymerase the most out of the compounds in the dataset. Furthermore, the compounds' oral bioavailability met drug-like standards. The ultimate goal of this research is to contribute to the development of new therapeutic agents for the treatment of HCV infections, addressing the pressing need for effective antiviral medications.

Experimental geochemical assessment of a seal-reservoir system exposed to supercritical CO2: A case study from the Ebro Basin, Spain

This paper studies the effects of exposure to CO2-rich brine on sandstones and marls considered potential deep storage reservoir and seal in the Ebro Basin, Spain.The experiment was conducted in a reactor under conditions of deep saline formations (pressure 8 MPa, temperature 313 K, exposure time 30 days, and CO2-supersaturated seawater ≈0.80 Mol). Both exposed and non-exposed samples were characterised by means of Optical Microscopy, Scanning Electronic Microscopy, X-ray Diffraction and Digital Image Analysis. Furthermore, powdered samples were analysed chemically trough X-ray Fluorescence, and brine samples were subjected to chemical analysis.The petrographic study of adjacent sandstone samples before and after the exposure to CO2-rich brine indicates an increase in porosity (≈3 %). These changes in pore structure are the result of mineral dissolution (e.g., siliceous cement) and intergranular matrix detachment and its partial removal from the rock sample, representing the initial effects induced by the CO2-rich brine. The chemical analysis of the brine reveals an increase in Ca2+ and SiO2 composition (29 % and 6670 %, respectively). After marl exposure, the brine also exhibited increased Ca2+and SiO2 content (95 % and 11,250 %, respectively), indicating the prevalence of dissolution processes.These results suggest that in environments where CO2 enriches the brine the mixture primarily induces localized chemical adjustments in the rocks (evidenced by dissolutions in the brine). The proposed methodology can be adapted for similar experimental batch tests in other storage structures.

Guideline-Based Telemedicine Assessment of Orthopedic Low-Risk Conditions by General Practitioners is Not Inferior to that of Face-to-Face Consultations with Specialists in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Trial.

Background: There is a lack of randomized controlled trials focusing on orthopedic telemedicine (TM). The objective of this research was to compare the diagnostic accuracy and pattern of TM consultations of low-risk orthopedic patients performed by general practitioners (GPs) with those of face-to-face evaluations by orthopedists at an emergency department (ED). Methods: This randomized, single-center study was conducted between October 2021 and November 2022 on patients at an ED. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years, low back pain, extremity contusion, ankle sprain, or neck pain. Eligible patients were randomized 1:1 for TM consultations by generalist physicians with subsequent face-to-face orthopedic evaluations (TM-ED group) or face-to-face evaluations by orthopedic physicians (ED group). Primary outcomes were syndromic diagnosis, physical examination, and tests ordered. Secondary analysis included a satisfaction survey. Results: A total of 99 patients were enrolled; mean age was 41 ± 10.1 years, and 62.6% were female. The most common conditions were foot contusion (28.3%), ankle sprain (27.3%), hand contusion (19.2%), low back pain (19.2%), and neck pain (6.1%). Syndromic diagnosis showed no difference between groups (p = 0.231). In the TM-ED group (n = 51), self-examination demonstrated moderate to good agreement with face-to-face evaluations in several areas. Both groups showed similar tests practices. Patient satisfaction was higher in the TM-ED group across multiple measures. Conclusion: TM consultations for low-risk orthopedic patients by GPs are not inferior to face-to-face specialist evaluations at the ED. Virtual assessments are associated with higher patient satisfaction. Clinical Trial Identifier: NCT04981002.

Comparing visual and automated urine dipstick analysis in a general practice population

Introduction Urinary symptoms constitute the primary reason for female patients to consult their general practitioner. The urinary dipstick test serves as a cornerstone for diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTIs), yet traditional visual interpretation may be subject to variability. Automated devices for dipstick urinalysis are routinely used as alternatives, yet the evidence regarding their accuracy remains limited. Therefore we aimed to compare concordance between visual and automated urinary dipstick interpretation and determine their test characteristics for the prediction of bacteriuria. Material and methods We conducted a prospective validation study including urine samples originating from adult patients in general practice that were sent to the Maastricht Medical Centre + for urinary culture. Urinary dipstick tests were performed on each sample, which were interpreted visually and automatically. We calculated Cohen’s κ and percentage agreement and used 2 × 2 tables to calculate test characteristics. Results We included 302 urine samples. Visual and automated analysis showed almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.82 and κ = 0.86, respectively) for both nitrite and leukocyte esterase, but moderate agreement for erythrocytes (κ = 0.51). Interpretation of clinically relevant (nitrite and/or leukocyte esterase positive) samples showed almost perfect agreement (κ = 0.88). Urinary dipsticks show similar test characteristics with urinary culture as gold standard, with sensitivities of 0.92 and 0.91 and specificities of 0.37 and 0.41 for visual and automated interpretation respectively. Conclusion Automated and visual dipstick analysis show near perfect agreement and perform similarly in predicting bacteriuria. However, automated analysis requires maintenance and occasionally measurement errors can occur.

Changes in the structure of mortality due to COVID-19 in Czechia, Poland, and Slovakia

Objectives: The objective of our paper was to determine the statistical significance of the impact of the COVID-19 disease on the average age of death of an individual and the dependence of the average age of death on the causes of death in 2020. Study design: Awareness of the effects and consequences of the pandemic prompted us to check whether COVID-19 had a statistically significant impact on death patterns in Czechia, Poland, and Slovakia. Methods: The research is based on a detailed comparative analysis of the age structure of deaths from COVID-19 in countries that are regionally and culturally close. The Renkonen similarity index is calculated, followed by the non-parametric test for similarity of structures. Results: The average life expectancy in the analyzed countries decreased by about 1–2 years, and the forecasts of the increase in the number of deaths in 2020 turned out to be underestimated by 11% in the case of Slovakia and by 15% in the case of Poland and Czechia. COVID-19 was the fourth leading cause of death for women and the third leading cause of death for men in Poland and Czechia. In Slovakia, it was the third leading cause of death among women and the fourth among men. Conclusions: The pandemic caused not only direct deaths from the virus, but also indirect deaths due to the disruption of healthcare systems, socioeconomic shocks, and mental health consequences.

PENGARUH ROA, ROE, DAN EPS TERHADAP HARGA SAHAM PERUSAHAAN PERBANKAN YANG TERDAFTAR PADA BEI PERIODE 2018-2022

Return On Asset (ROA), Return On Equity (ROE), and Earning Per Share (EPS) are profitability ratios used to determine the company's ability to generate profits in the current year and its prospects in the future. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Return on Asset (ROA), Return on Equity (ROE), and Earning Per Share (EPS) on the stock price of banking companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The object of this research is banking companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period 2018-2022. Sampling was carried out using non-probability sampling technique with purposive sampling method. The total sample used was 33 companies and the observation unit was 165 data. The data analysis technique used is the regression coefficient similarity test, descriptive statistical analysis, classical assumption test, determination coefficient test, F test, and t test using the IBM SPSS Statistics 29 program. The results of this research show that return on assets and return on equity do not have a significant effect on the share prices of banking companies listed on the BEI for the 2018-2022 period, while earnings per share have a significant positive effect on the share prices of banking companies listed on the BEI for the 2018-2022 period.

The Impact of a Diet Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids on the Quality of Life of Patients with Squamous Cell Lung Cancer and Comorbid Depression: A Retrospective Study.

Lung cancer is a significant health concern, and is often accompanied by comorbid depression, leading to worsened prognosis and decreased quality of life for patients. This study aimed to investigate the potential influence of a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids on the quality of life of patients with squamous cell lung cancer and comorbid depression. A retroactive analysis of clinical information from patients with squamous cell lung cancer and comorbid depression admitted to Hongqi Hospital Affiliated to Mudanjiang Medical University from June 2022 to June 2023 was conducted. The patients were classified into two groups on the basis of different dietary care approaches: the Routine Dietary Group and the Omega-3 Fatty Acids Group. Baseline characteristics, pulmonary function tests, dietary intake, depression scoring, and quality of life scores were compared between the two groups. 103 patients in total were included, with 51 in the Routine Dietary Group and 52 in the Omega-3 Fatty Acids Group. The Omega-3 Fatty Acids Group exhibited significantly higher ingestion of Omega-3 fatty acids in comparison with the Routine Dietary Group (3.15 ± 0.64 g/day vs. 2.93 ± 0.28 g/day, p = 0.022). Despite similar baseline pulmonary function tests, patients in the Omega-3 Fatty Acids Group showed significantly higher scores in physical (70.17 ± 4.81 vs. 68.18 ± 5.03, p = 0.043) and emotional (71.29 ± 4.58 vs. 69.38 ± 4.25, p = 0.030) functioning, as well as lower scores in insomnia (27.41 ± 4.51 vs. 29.34 ± 4.21, p = 0.027) and constipation (7.34 ± 1.66 vs. 8.43 ± 3.36, p = 0.040). The study provided insights into the potential impact of a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids on the quality of life of patients with squamous cell lung cancer and complicating depression, suggesting that dietary interventions emphasizing Omega-3 fatty acids may be conducive to improving physical and emotional functioning, as well as symptom management, in this patient population.

Improved Effectiveness of Vane-Type Vortex Generators for Incident Shock-Induced Separation

An experimental investigation is conducted to improve the control effectiveness of an array of vane-type vortex generators (VG) implemented 6 δ upstream of an incident shock-induced separation generated using a 14-deg wedge in a Mach 2.05 flow. Initially, the effect of an array of rectangular vanes (RRV) is studied by varying the vane 1) chord to height (c/h)=7.2, 4.2, 2) angle α=24, 20, 18, and 16 deg, 3) height to boundary-layer thickness (h/δ)=0.75, 0.5, 0.3, and 0.2, and 4) interdevice spacing to height (s/h)=12, 9.5, 7.5, 6.5, 5.7, 5.5, and 5.0. Similar tests were also performed for ramp vanes (RV) with α=24 deg. Due to inherent design differences, an RRV device generates a larger region of vortex influence relative to an RV device. Therefore, reducing s/h significantly reduces the extent of uncontrolled separation regions between neighboring VGs that improves their separation control capability. The best performing RRV devices with vane height h/δ=0.5, h/δ=0.3, and h/δ=0.2 show maximum reduction in separation extent of nearly 80, 74, and 70%, respectively, relative to no control. The equivalent RV devices, however, show much reduced control effectiveness. All controls exhibit a shift in the dominant separation frequency to higher values, indicating a reduction in the overall extent of separation.

Eco‐friendly flame‐retardant based on sap from banana plant pseudostems

AbstractSociety's need for safe flame‐retardant technologies in passive fire protection is undeniable. To address this concern, this paper presents an experimental investigation of the fire‐retardant properties of slash pine wood treated with banana plant pseudostem sap, obtained from a cultivated banana plant variety widely grown in Brazil. The natural sap extract was characterized through X‐Ray Fluorescence spectrometry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy techniques, revealing the presence of key components, including water, potassium chloride, sodium chloride, sodium silicate, calcium phosphate, sodium phosphate, lignin and tannins. The authors explored different treatment parameters, including various sap impregnation times, number of impregnations and use of natural versus various levels of concentrated sap. First, a horizontal burning test, similar test to UL 94 HB, was used to obtain an initial assessment of the suitability of sap as a flame retardant for slash pine wood. Subsequently, the Mass Loss Calorimeter equipment with thermopile attachment described in ISO 13927:2015 was used to measure various heat release rate parameters. The findings suggest that reducing the water content in sap and increasing the number of repeat treatments results in a more effective treatment for slash pine wood. More specifically, the results indicate that the most efficient treatment involves three impregnations with high‐concentration (1/10 volume reduction) sap. Future work to improve the efficacy of the concentrated sap impregnation process could explore the use of pressure treatment instead of soaking.

Flexural Improvement of RC Slabs by FRP or Steel Using Different Strengthening Systems and Novel Anchoring Techniques

An experimental study on reinforced concrete one-way slabs strengthened by various methods and materials is introduced in this paper. Innovative anchorage procedures are presented and evaluated to prevent the strengthening elements with FRP system from de-bonding at the initial stages. Externally bonded embedded in concrete cover (EBECC) strengthening technology was proposed to save the fiber strips from being subjected to heat, degradation, and sabotage. Nine RC one-way slabs, including a control slab and eight strengthened slabs, were cast. One RC slab was strengthened using externally bonded embedded in concrete cover (EBECC), whereas the other tested RC slabs were strengthened using either externally bonded (EB) or near-surface mounted (NSM) procedures. The following test variables are used in this study: the proposed anchors, the area of steel, the kind of material utilized in NSM rods (carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP), glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP), and steel), and the strengthening scheme. The ultimate and initial cracking loads, load–deformation response, cracking patterns, and failure behavior were recorded and discussed. Additionally, a comparison of the stiffness, ductility, and energy absorption of the examined slabs was reported. The strengthened slabs by various techniques showed a boost in flexural strength that varied from 67 to 107% compared to the control slab. In addition, RC slabs strengthened by NSM-CFRP bars showed a maximum flexural capacity when compared with slabs strengthened by GFRP and steel bars. Also, the results supported the superiority of a novel end anchorage. The ABAQUS program was employed to conduct a finite element analysis (FEA) employing 3-D geometries to compare and assess the numerical performance of the identical slabs under similar test settings. The results showed good agreement between the experimental and numerical findings.

Insights on the Selection of the Coefficient of Variation to Assess Speed Fluctuation in Swimming.

The aim of this study was to compare swimming speed and speed fluctuations in front crawl between swimmers of different performance levels using discrete variables against statistical parametric mapping (SPM). The sample was composed of 34 male swimmers divided into three groups: (i) group #1-recreational swimmers; (ii) group #2-competitive swimmers aged 12 to 14 years; (iii) group #3-competitive swimmers aged 15 to 17 years. Swimming speed and speed fluctuations (calculated based on four different conditions) were used as discrete variables. Using these discrete variables, ANOVA one-way was used to verify differences between groups, and Bonferroni post-hoc correction for pairwise comparison whenever suitable. SPM (with similar statistical tests) was used to analyze the swimming speed and fluctuation as a continuous variable. Overall, both statistical approaches revealed significant differences (p < 0.001) in swimming speed and speed fluctuations. However, as discrete variables (in four different conditions), the speed fluctuation was not able to detect significant differences between groups #2 and #3. Conversely, SPM was more sensitive and did yield significant differences between these two groups. Therefore, researchers and coaches should be aware that the speed fluctuation as a discrete variable may not identify differences in swimming speed fluctuations when the average value between groups is marginal. On the other hand, SPM was more sensitive in analyzing all groups.

IN SILICO TRIAL APPROACHES BETWEEN PHYTOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF VERBENA OFFICINALIS AND LIVER CANCER TARGETS

Objective: The abundance of bioactive metabolites in Verbena officinalis explains the biological benefits and folkloric use of the plant. Liver cancer is an extremely heterogeneous malignant disease compared to other defined tumors. To explore the potential therapeutic value of bioactive metabolites in Verbena officinalis, this study aimed to filter secondary metabolites, conduct ADME-Tox assessments, perform drug similarity tests, and analyze with molecular dynamic simulations. The objective was to evaluate how potential drug candidates derived from Verbena officinalis behave in biological systems and assess their potential toxicity risks. Material and Method: Ligands selected from the ADME assay were utilized in in silico molecular docking studies against Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme in the oxidative part of the pentose phosphate pathway, which is crucial for liver diseases. These studies were conducted using Autodock Vina embedded in Chimera 1.16. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed with the AMBER16. Result and Discussion: When the ADME test results were evaluated, 88 secondary metabolites were identified as ligands. Among all the ligands evaluated against Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase enzyme, which is the key enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, quercetin flavonoid was determined to be the most active ligand with a docking score of -8.1 kcal/mol and binding energy of -118.51 kcal/mol. A molecular dynamics simulation performed for 300 nanoseconds confirmed that quercetin can remain stable in its microenvironment. The activity of this metabolite is worthy of further testing in vitro and in vivo as it may highlight a therapeutic modality within the pentose phosphate pathway.

Reliability Theory for Measurements with Variable Test Length, Illustrated with ERN and Pe Collected in the Flanker Task.

In psychophysiology, an interesting question is how to estimate the reliability of event-related potentials collected by means of the Eriksen Flanker Task or similar tests. A special problem presents itself if the data represent neurological reactions that are associated with some responses (in case of the Flanker Task, responding incorrectly on a trial) but not others (like when providing a correct response), inherently resulting in unequal numbers of observations per subject. The general trend in reliability research here is to use generalizability theory and Bayesian estimation. We show that a new approach based on classical test theory and frequentist estimation can do the job as well and in a simpler way, and even provides additional insight to matters that were unsolved in the generalizability method approach. One of our contributions is the definition of a single, overall reliability coefficient for an entire group of subjects with unequal numbers of observations. Both methods have slightly different objectives. We argue in favor of the classical approach but without rejecting the generalizability approach.

Natural Surfactant Stabilized Aqueous MoS2 Nano-Lubricants for Reducing Friction and Wear

From the outlook of energy saving and environmental protection, the development of eco-friendly and green lubricants without compromising their lubrication performance has become a global agenda. Nevertheless, water-based lubricants suffer from low lubricity and weak load-bearing capacity, making them unsuitable for various industrial applications. Herein, using liquid-phase exfoliation, bulk MoS2 layers are delaminated into atomically thin nanosheets and stabilized in a water medium by a natural surfactant, Sapindius Mukrossi (SM). A natural SM surfactant consisting of 10 % –12 % saponin molecules has a hydrophobic tail aglycone and hydrophilic head glycone molecules that provide steric repulsive forces against the aggregation of exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets. Optimization of the surfactant concentration in water led to highly concentrated MoS2 nanosheets (∼1.23 mg/ml in a single step) with an average lateral length (<L>) and number of layers (<N>) of ∼ 150 nm and ∼ 8 layers, respectively. Owing to its high concentration and few-layers, MoS2 nanosheets based aqueous dispersion was directly tested for aqueous lubricant applications. Compared to pure water, MoS2 nanosheets (0.1 wt%) in water led to effective reductions in the coefficient of friction and wear scar diameter of ∼ 75 % and ∼ 65 %, respectively. Wear depth ∼ 15 µm on SS ball is reduced to ∼ 1 µm when 0.1 wt% of MoS2 nanosheets-SM surfactant dispersion under similar testing conditions. Post-mortem analysis suggested that the stable formation of protective tribo-film on the worn surfaces of steel surface that were tested at different intervals (1-210-400 Days) leads to an effective sliding under load. To demonstrate the practicality of this dispersion, SM surfactant stabilized MoS2 nanosheets was used as a dielectric lubricant fluid in a wire EDM for advanced metal-cutting fluid applications.

Endophytic and epiphytic metabarcoding reveals fungal communities on cashew phyllosphere in Kenya.

Plants intimately coexist with diverse taxonomically structured microbial communities that influence host health and productivity. The coexistence of plant microbes in the phyllosphere benefits biodiversity maintenance, ecosystem function, and community stability. However, differences in community composition and network structures of phyllosphere epiphytic and endophytic fungi are widely unknown. Using Illumina Miseq sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 28S rRNA gene amplicons, we characterised the epiphytic and endophytic fungal communities associated with cashew phyllosphere (leaf, flower and fruit) from Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties in Kenya. The ITS and 28S rRNA gene sequences were clustered into 267 and 108 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at 97% sequence similarity for both the epiphytes and endophytes. Phylum Ascomycota was abundant followed by Basidiomycota, while class Saccharomycetes was most dominant followed by Dothideomycetes. The major non-ascomycete fungi were associated only with class Tremellales. The fungal communities detected had notable ecological functions as saprotrophs and pathotrophs in class Saccharomyectes and Dothideomycetes. The community composition of epiphytic and endophytic fungi significantly differed between the phyllosphere organs which was statistically confirmed by the Analysis of Similarity test (ANOSIM Statistic R: 0.3273, for 28S rRNA gene and ANOSIM Statistic R: 0.3034 for ITS). The network analysis revealed that epiphytic and endophytic structures were more specialized, modular and had less connectance. Our results comprehensively describe the phyllosphere cashew-associated fungal community and serve as a foundation for understanding the host-specific microbial community structures among cashew trees.

Nonlinear similarity characterisation and validation of dynamic response of ship stiffened plate structure under explosion load impacts

The similarity test of ship stiffened plate structures under underwater explosions is a cost-effective and efficient method to evaluate the vitality of ships and guide the design of their shock resistance. This study focuses on the nonlinear impact response model tests of ship stiffened plate structures and their similarity laws with actual ships. The vertical motion of the ship stiffened plate structure is characterized by the Hurst index, and an equivalent relationship between the Hurst index of the model and the prototype is derived from classical similarity law. Based on the Hurst index, a similarity transformation relationship between the strain signals of the model and prototype is established. To verify the conclusions, similarity experiments of underwater explosions were conducted on both the model and the prototype. The original signals were grouped by the natural vibration period to determine the variation of the Hurst index over time. The model experiment strain signals for each natural vibration period were converted and compared with the prototype experiment results to verify the method's effectiveness. Simultaneously, the Hurst index of the stiffened plate structure under explosive shock load and its similarity transformation relationship with the prototype were simulated and analyzed. This provides theoretical and technical support for conducting analogous nonlinear response experiments for ship underwater explosions.

Effect of Reynolds Number and Aeroelastic Scaling Upon Launch-Vehicle Ground-Wind Loads

NASA conducted a launch vehicle ground-wind-loads investigation at the NASA Langley Transonic Dynamics Tunnel to investigate wind-induced oscillations (WIOs) of a launch vehicle when exposed to ground winds before launch. Previous publications from this effort have documented the effects of an atmospheric-boundary-layer profile on WIO response and the correlation process between model-scale and full-scale wind characteristics and resulting structural loads. This paper will focus on the importance of aeroelastic scaling and the impact of Reynolds number on WIO response. As described in the literature and confirmed in the present investigation, aeroelastic effects can significantly increase the magnitude of measured loads. Additionally, vortex shedding is sensitive to nuances of the flow in the shear layer, which is governed by Reynolds number. Many wind-tunnel facilities are not capable of producing flight Reynolds numbers for the ground-wind-loads problem. At very low Reynolds numbers, laminar shear layers exhibit different behavior, resulting in different vortex frequencies, oscillating lift magnitudes, and motion sensitivities. This investigation demonstrated that low Reynolds number testing can yield substantially lower dynamic loads with less aeroelastic coupling than those acquired at flight-representative Reynolds numbers for a resonant WIO event. Additionally, a resonant response phenomenon present at flight Reynolds number was absent at low Reynolds number. Conversely, for nonresonant WIO response conditions, similar dynamic load coefficients were obtained for similar test velocities at either Reynolds number condition. These findings impact many large launch vehicles, including the NASA Space Launch System series of vehicles.

Seismic landslide susceptibility evaluation model based on historical data and its application to areas with similar environmental settings

Seismic landslide susceptibility evaluation models are usually built on the basis of historical sample data; however, the evaluation results are often unsatisfactory when the environmental settings differ between the historical sample data region and application region. Therefore, similarity between the environmental settings is important for the application of such models. In this paper, a seismic landslide susceptibility evaluation model was first built using data from the 2008 Ms 8.0 Wenchuan earthquake-induced landslide, and the model was then used to evaluate the 2022 Ms 6.8 Luding earthquake area. In addition, the grade of susceptibility is typically represented by the landslide density, which is insufficient for capturing the details of landslides, such as their sizes, frequencies, and spatial distribution patterns. The authors therefore use a large and concentrated landslide as the susceptibility grade for the Luding earthquake area. The test results demonstrate that these two areas have similar background environments. The area under the curve (AUC) value of the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve of the evaluation accuracy for the model applied to the Luding earthquake area is 0.889, which indicates relatively high accuracy. Besides, the results also demonstrate that the evaluations are consistent with the disaster situation of the Moxi Platform, Wandong Village, as well as the Dagangshan Hydropower Station area. Therefore, it is reliable to apply the susceptibility evaluation model based on the Wenchuan earthquake data to the Luding earthquake area. These results show that better evaluations can be obtained based on environmental similarity tests between the areas used for historical data modeling and areas to which the models are applied.

The infall region as a complementary probe to cluster abundance

ABSTRACT Galaxy cluster abundance measurements provide a classic test of cosmology. They are most sensitive to the evolved amplitude of fluctuations, usually expressed as $S_8 = \sigma _8\sqrt{\Omega _{\rm m}/0.3}$. Thus, abundance constraints exhibit a strong degeneracy between $\sigma _8$ and $\Omega _{\rm m}$, as do other similar low-redshift tests such as cosmic shear. The mass distribution in the infall region around galaxy clusters, where material is being accreted from the surrounding field, also exhibits a cosmological dependence, but in this case it is nearly orthogonal to the $S_8$ direction in the $\Omega _{\rm m}$–$\sigma _8$ plane, making it highly complementary to halo abundance or cosmic shear studies. We explore how weak-lensing measurements of the infall region might be used to complement abundance studies, considering three different tests. The splashback radius is a prominent feature of the infall region; we show that detection of this feature in lensing data from the Euclid survey could independently constrain $\Omega _{\rm m}$ and $\sigma _8$ to $\pm 0.05$. Another feature, the depletion radius where the bias reaches a minimum, also shows cosmological dependence, though it is challenging to observe in practice. The strongest constraints come from direct measurements of the shear profile in the infall region at 2–$4\, r_{200{\rm c}}$. Combining the latter with abundance constraints such as those reported from SRG$/$eROSITA should reduce the area of the error contours by an estimated factor of 1.2 using a sample of clusters observed by the UNIONS survey, or a factor of 3 using clusters observed by the Euclid Wide survey over a broader range of redshift.

Plasma metabolomic and lipidomic profiles accurately classify mothers of children with congenital heart disease: an observational study

IntroductionCongenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital anomaly, representing a significant global disease burden. Limitations exist in our understanding of aetiology, diagnostic methodology and screening, with metabolomics offering promise in addressing these.ObjectiveTo evaluate maternal metabolomics and lipidomics in prediction and risk factor identification for childhood CHD.MethodsWe performed an observational study in mothers of children with CHD following pregnancy, using untargeted plasma metabolomics and lipidomics by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS). 190 cases (157 mothers of children with structural CHD (sCHD); 33 mothers of children with genetic CHD (gCHD)) from the children OMACp cohort and 162 controls from the ALSPAC cohort were analysed. CHD diagnoses were stratified by severity and clinical classifications. Univariate, exploratory and supervised chemometric methods were used to identify metabolites and lipids distinguishing cases and controls, alongside predictive modelling.Results499 metabolites and lipids were annotated and used to build PLS-DA and SO-CovSel-LDA predictive models to accurately distinguish sCHD and control groups. The best performing model had an sCHD test set mean accuracy of 94.74% (sCHD test group sensitivity 93.33%; specificity 96.00%) utilising only 11 analytes. Similar test performances were seen for gCHD. Across best performing models, 37 analytes contributed to performance including amino acids, lipids, and nucleotides.ConclusionsHere, maternal metabolomic and lipidomic analysis has facilitated the development of sensitive risk prediction models classifying mothers of children with CHD. Metabolites and lipids identified offer promise for maternal risk factor profiling, and understanding of CHD pathogenesis in the future.