Simple Test Method Research Articles

In situ decorated pd NPs on Triazin-encapsulated Fe3O4/SiO2-NH2 as magnetic catalyst for the synthesis of diaryl ethers and oxidation of sulfides

This article is devoted to the synthesis of a new magnetic palladium catalyst that has been immobilized on A-TT-Pd coated-magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Such surface functionalization of magnetic particles is a promising method to bridge the gap between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis approaches. The structure, morphology, and physicochemical properties of the particles were characterized through different analytical techniques, including TEM, FT-IR, XRD, SEM, EDS, TGA-DTG, ICP, and VSM techniques. The obtained Fe3O4@SiO2@A-TT-Pd performance can show excellent catalytic activity for the synthesis of diaryl ethers and oxidation of sulfides, and the corresponding products were obtained with high yields. The advantages of this catalyst include a simple test method, green reaction conditions, no use of dangerous solvents, short reaction time, low catalyst loading, and reusability. Also, the nanocatalyst was easily separated from the reaction mixture with the help of a bar magnet and recovered and reused several times without loss of stability and activity.

Molecular identification and antimicrobial resistance patterns of enterobacterales in community urinary tract infections among indigenous women in Ecuador: addressing microbiological misidentification

BackgroundAntibiotic resistance of Enterobacterales poses a major challenge in the treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs). In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), standard microbiological (i.e. urine culture and simple disk diffusion test) methods are considered the “gold standard” for bacterial identification and drug susceptibility testing, while PCR and DNA sequencing are less commonly used. In this study, we aimed to re-identifying Enterobacterales as the primary bacterial agents responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs) by comparing the sensitivity and specificity of traditional microbiological methods with advanced molecular techniques for the detection of uropathogens in indigenous women from Otavalo, Ecuador.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2021 to February 2022 among Kichwa-Otavalo women. Pathogens from urine samples were identified using culture and biochemical typing. Morphological identification was doble-checked through PCR and DNA sequencing of 16S, recA, and rpoB molecular barcodes. The isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility-testing using disk diffusion test.ResultsThis study highlighted a 32% misidentification rate between biochemical and molecular identification. Using traditional methods, E. coli was 26.19% underrepresented meanwhile Klebsiella oxytoca was overrepresented by 92.86%. Furthermore, the genera Pseudomonas, Proteus, and Serratia were confirmed to be E. coli and Klebsiella spp. by molecular method, and one Klebsiella spp. was reidentified as Enterobacter spp. The susceptibility profile showed that 59% of the isolates were multidrug resistant strains and 31% produced extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs). Co-trimoxazole was the least effective antibiotic with 61% of the isolates resistant. Compared to previous reports, resistance to nitrofurantoin and fosfomycin showed an increase in resistance by 25% and 15%, respectively.ConclusionsCommunity-acquired UTIs in indigenous women in Otavalo were primarily caused by E. coli and Klebsiella spp. Molecular identification (16S/rpoB/recA) revealed a high rate of misidentification by standard biochemical and microbiological techniques, which could lead to incorrect antibiotic prescriptions. UTI isolates in this population displayed higher levels of resistance to commonly used antibiotics compared with non-indigenous groups. Accurate identification of pathogens causing UTIs and their antibiotic susceptibility in local populations is important for local antibiotic prescribing guidelines.

Animal models for antidepressant activity assay on natural and conventional agents: A review of preclinical testing

Depression is characterized by symptoms such as insomnia, change in appetite and body weight, impaired concentration, lethargy, agitation, psychomotor retardation, anhedonia, feelings of worthlessness, and suicidal thoughts. Various methods have been applied to assess the efficacy of antidepressants and associated molecular processes. However, guidance on the selection of methods for antidepressant testing is still lacking. This article provides a comprehensive review focusing on animal models of depression and the behavioral and molecular changes. A literature search was conducted on platforms, such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Science Direct to find relevant articles. This review found that chronic unpredictable mild stress might be the best and most commonly used model for inducing depression and simulating human depressive states in animals. This model employs a naturalistic approach to expose animals to unpredictable stressors that disrupt homeostasis and cause somatic, physiological, neurobiological, and biochemical disorders and behaviors. The forced swim test (FST) is the most frequently used simple behavioral testing method that is consistent with antidepressant effects, reduces immobility time, and serves as the leading indicator of antidepressant effectiveness. The most commonly observed molecular changes are those related to the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters, such as 5-hydroxytryptamine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which are the main etiological contributors to depression. The findings from this review will contribute to ongoing efforts to discover and develop drug candidates for the treatment of depression.

A Simple Method of Estimation and Testing Based on Q–Q Plots

A Simple Method of Estimation and Testing Based on Q–Q Plots

Laboratory evaluation of wicking geotextile for moisture reduction in silty sands at different fines contents

The effect of fines content on the performance of the wicking geotextile is not clear. This study developed a simple moisture reduction test method to quantify the effectiveness of the wicking geotextile in reducing moisture in silty sands at four different fines contents and four different waiting periods. The sand was prepared at an initial moist condition based on its average field moisture capacity. A wicking or non-wicking woven geotextile was placed in the middle of a soil column. The effect of a geotextile on the moisture content of the sand was evaluated by measuring their gravimetric moisture contents at different distances from the geotextile at different times. Test results show that the amount of moisture reduced by the wicking geotextile decreased with the content of fines in the silty sand. On the contrary, the non-wicking geotextile obstructed water flow, hence moisture accumulated on it. The moisture content profile in the soil column indicated the influence zone by the wicking geotextile in the silty sand, which depended on the fines content. The percent of soil moisture content reduction by the wicking geotextile identified the limit of the fines content for the effectiveness of the wicking geotextile.

Dissipative particle dynamics simulation and experimental studies of pseudo-gemini surfactants with different hydrophobic chain lengths

In this work new pseudo-gemini type surfactants are constructed via a simple, energy and material efficient way, using piperazine, propylene oxide and seven different fatty acids: capric, lauric, myristic, stearic, oleic and linolenic. The compounds are characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and FTIR studies. Micellization and adsorption properties of the novel pseudo-gemini surfactants are investigated via surface tension and conductivity measurements. Antimicrobial properties are evaluated using the simple disk diffusion test method. Dissipative Particle Dynamics (DPD) simulations are performed to model aggregation behavior of the new pseudo-gemini surfactants. Experimental studies revealed that Critical Micelle Concentration (CMC) of the obtained pseudo-gemini surfactants are lower than 1 mmol/L. Theoretically calculated CMC values are slightly higher than experimental CMC values. However, overall, very good agreement between theoretical and experimental CMC values is observed. Radial Distribution Function (RDF) and radius of gyration (Rg) plots are analyzed to gain further insight into aggregation of the surfactant molecules in aqueous environment. The DPD model of the pseudo-gemini amphiphiles successfully predicts the most important traits of the aggregation process.

Toothpick DNA extraction combined with handheld LAMP microfluidic platform for simple and rapid meat authentication

Adulteration of meat is a global issue, necessitating rapid, inexpensive, and simple on-site testing methods. Therefore, the present study aimed to develop a one-minute toothpick-based DNA extraction method, a handheld microfluidic chip, and a smartphone-controlled portable analyzer for detecting multiple meat adulterations. A toothpick was inserted into the meat to promote DNA release and adsorption. Furthermore, a handheld microfluidic chip was designed for DNA elution on toothpicks and fluid distribution. Finally, a smartphone-actuated portable analyzer was developed to function as a heater, signal detector, and result reader. The portable device comprises a microcontroller, a fluorescence detection module, a step scanning unit, and a heating module. The proposed device is portable, and the app is user-friendly. This simple design, easy operation, and fast-response system could rapidly detect as little as 1% of simulated adulterated samples (following UK standards) within 40 min at a cost of less than USD 1 per test.

Microfluidic Chip Coupled with MALDI-TOF MS for Multitarget Detection of Allergens in Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus).

The goal of the present study was to establish a rapid, simple method for simultaneous allergy testing of sera from multiple fish-allergic patients. Sera from fish-allergic patients were pooled and used for capturing allergens in fish muscle of crucian carp (Carassius auratus), which was studied as a fish model. Sarcoplasmic proteins of crucian carp (Carassius auratus) were extracted for the analysis of allergens. Anti-human IgE antibody-functionalized magnetic beads were utilized to collect IgE antibodies from human pooled sera. The isolation of allergenic proteins was immunomagnetically performed in microfluidic channels, and the elution of the captured allergenic proteins was done with 5% (v/v) acetic acid aqueous solution. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and peptide mass fingerprinting were used for the analysis of tryptic digests of eluted proteins. Ten potential allergenic proteins were identified from crucian carp (Carassius auratus). The present protocol provides a rapid, efficient, and simple method for simultaneous detection of multiple allergens, based on multitargeted antibodies from pooled sera of allergic patients. The constructed multiple antibody-modified MBs can be applied for the deallergenicity of food matrices. The efficiency of allergen detection can be greatly improved, with promising application in allergen discovery and filtration for other muscle-based foods.

Development of a Predictive Model for the Thermal Conductivity of Natural Fiber Insulation: A Novel Approach for Quality Control

ABSTRACT Natural fiber insulation materials can offer a sustainable alternative to mineral and petrochemical-based insulation materials when suitable raw materials and appropriate production processes are considered. Within the scope of our research, natural fibers like cotton, flax, hemp, wool, and coir, as well as regenerated cellulose fiber, were processed into insulation materials and examined concerning their thermal conductivity. We demonstrate that simple test methods for fiber fineness measurement with air-flow methods such as Airflow and Shirley can facilitate incoming inspection and process monitoring for insulation manufacturers. Based on these measurements, a simple model was developed to estimate the thermal conductivity based on the fineness measurements of the raw materials. The model developed on the natural fibers for lower densities was tested on a glass fiber insulation material to check its suitability. The slight deviations achieved between the experiment and the calculation verify the practicability of the concept.

ANALISIS USABILITY SISTEM MANAJEMEN PEMBELAJARAN DI WASKITA UNIVERSITAS AMIKOM: PENDEKATAN DENGAN SYSTEM USABILITY SCALE

This research was conducted at Amikom University Yogyakarta, a university that responded adaptively to the pandemic by developing the Waskita Learning Management System (LMS). Waskita LMS functions as a supporting platform for teaching and learning activities, facilitating the exchange of lecture materials, assignment collection, and quizzes between lecturers and students. Usability analysis was carried out using the System Usability Scale (SUS) method, a simple and reliable user testing method. The analysis results show that LMS Waskita received an average SUS score of 54.2, falling into the Not Acceptable category, indicating the need for improvement. Apart from calculating the SUS, an analysis of respondents' suggestions was also carried out to strengthen the evaluation results. This research provides valuable insights for developing and improving the quality of the Waskita LMS to improve user experience and usability.

Comparison of Antioxidant Activity of Mistletoe Mango Leaves Extract (Dendrophtoe pentandra (L.) Miq) Using Ethanol Solution and Methanol Solution Based on DPPH Method

Indonesians have been utilising plants as traditional raw materials, especially herbal plants, since the time of the struggle until the current independence. Mistletoe mango which belongs to the Loranthaceae family, leaves of mistletoe mango is considered a medicinal plant. Phytochemical analysis shows that these plants contain a number of secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, and inulin. Antioxidants are compounds that can prevent oxidation reactions by binding free radicals and highly reactive molecules. The DPPH method is a simple, easy, rapid and sensitive antioxidant activity test method that uses only a small sample. The aim was to determine the comparison of the antioxidant activity of mistletoe mango leaves extract (Dendrophthoe pentandra (L) Miq) with ethanol and methanol solvents, as well as analyzing the 50% inhibitin of DPPH. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of mistletoe mango leaves extract using ethanol solvent was 15,286 ppm, while using methanol solvent was 93,456 ppm. It was concluded that antioxidant activity showed a very strong category and there was a significant difference.

The pH test technology suitable to evaluate content of hazardous electric arc furnace oxidizing slag in fine aggregate

In this study, a standard pH test procedure, based on the high alkalinity of electric arc furnace oxidizing slag, was developed for rapid content evaluation of potentially hazardous slag in the fine aggregate and recommended standards are further proposed. The advantages of the developed procedure include easy equipment acquisition, simple test method, short time, and high accuracy. This study found that sample size, water source, and filtrate process were the factors affecting the pH test accuracy. In the test, the pH increased with a decrease in the aggregate size when the proportion of electric arc furnace oxidizing slag in aggregate was fixed, especially when the aggregate size was less than 0.225 mm. Upon comparison of the results of autoclaved mortar bar expansion tests, a good logarithmic relationship was observed between pH and electric arc furnace oxidizing slag content. It is suggested that pH 9.0 could be used as the standard to determine excessive electric arc furnace oxidizing slag in fine aggregate.

Experimental Study on Anti-Aging Effect of Asphalt Binder Liquid Anti-Aging Agent

During its service life, asphalt pavement is affected by environmental factors such as heat, light, oxygen and moisture. The asphalt binder ages, resulting in a decrease in the performance of the asphalt pavement. Therefore, the development and application of an asphalt anti-aging agent is of great significance. In this paper, the road performance of the developed asphalt binder liquid anti-aging agent was verified in the two scales of asphalt binder and asphalt mixture, respectively. Firstly, a simple aging test method was proposed using needle penetration as the evaluation index. The aging time of the simple aging method was determined to be 20 h. Secondly, the addition of anti-aging agents improved the low-temperature performance of the asphalt binder and had a less adverse effect on the high-temperature performance. The test values of needle penetration and the ductility of the asphalt binder increased and the values of the softening point decreased. And the road performance of the anti-aging asphalt mixture basically met the specification requirements. The addition of the anti-aging agent improved the low-temperature performance of the aged asphalt mixture by 16%, which is of great significance for improving the service life of asphalt pavement.

Simplified test method for evaluating progressive collapse resistance of precast concrete frame structures

To evaluate the progressive collapse resistance of precast concrete (PC) structures, various test methods have been used in existing experimental studies. However, verification of whether the progressive collapse resistance can be evaluated equivalently by different test methods has been limitedly investigated. In this study, three simplified and three half-frame test specimens were tested under monotonic vertical loading to investigate the effects of the test method on their progressive collapse resistance. As the test parameters, types of test specimens (i.e., sub-frame, simplified, and half-frame specimens), and joint details (i.e., reinforced concrete (RC) continuous joint, PC with continuous joint, and PC with pinned joint) were directly compared. The test results showed that the progressive collapse resistance was primarily affected by the overall lateral stiffness of the exterior columns (Kh) rather than the test setup. When Kh increased in the simplified specimens, the axial force transferred by the beams increased, resulting in an increase in the peak strength (PCAA). Further, the effect of Kh on the peak strength was greater in PC specimens with pinned joints than in RC and PC specimens with continuous joints. To investigate the effect of Kh on the PCAA, a parametric study was conducted using the existing CAA strength model. The parametric study results also indicated that the relationship between the increase in Kh and PCAA was not significantly governed by the test setup for the same joint details. These results indicated that various simplified test methods can be used to evaluate the progressive collapse resistance of PC structures when an adequate range of Kh is provided. Based on the test and parametric study results, recommendations for progressive collapse tests were discussed.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF THE CHLORIDE-ION PERMEABILITY OF BAMBOO-FIBER-REINFORCED CONCRETE

This study investigated the chloride-ion permeability of C30 concrete by adding bamboo fibers with different treatments (untreated, treated with calcium hydroxide solution and treated with sodium hydroxide solution) and different dosages. Three testing methods, namely the electric-flux method, AC test method and the RCM method, were used to characterize the concrete. Parameters such as electric-flux value, AC resistivity and chloride-ion diffusion coefficient were obtained. Results showed that the surface impurities of the bamboo fibers treated with calcium hydroxide solution were removed and the thermal stability of the bamboo fibers was improved, which can effectively enhance the chloride-ion permeability of concrete. Compared to untreated bamboo fibers, the improvement rate was between 14 % and 17 %. Sodium hydroxide is a strong alkaline solution, which can easily disrupt the structure of bamboo fibers and reduce the resistance of concrete to chloride-ion penetration. The best chloride-ion permeability was achieved when the bamboo fiber content reached 2 %. The electric-flux method, AC test method, and the RCM method were mutually validated with good correlation. It is recommended to choose a suitable and simple method for testing. Bamboo-fiber concrete lays a solid foundation for the future transformation of the civil-engineering industry.

Effect of shear stresses on fibre direction tensile failure using a new simple and reliable test method with thin plies

A new method of creating in-plane combined tension-shear stress states using only tensile loading is proposed. Thin-ply angle-ply carbon/epoxy laminates are sandwiched between unidirectional glass layers to eliminate any stress concentration around the samples ends and gripping zone. Use of the thin plies successfully suppresses early occurrence of other modes of failure i.e. matrix cracking and free-edge delamination, so the first mode of failure is fibre failure in the angle-ply carbon sub-laminate. Compared with other methods of creating combined tension-shear stresses, the proposed technique has a simpler geometry, is significantly easier and cheaper to manufacture and test. Therefore, it provides more repeatable low-scatter experimental results.The obtained experimental results showed that the presence of in-plane shear stresses did not have a significant impact on the tensile fibre-direction failure strain of the tested carbon/epoxy laminate, suggesting that even at high shear stresses, the longitudinal tensile strength of the carbon/epoxy laminate is not significantly reduced.

Pengaruh Hubungan Antara Kecerdasan Emosi dan Intelegensi Terhadap Kemampuan Pemecahan Masalah Mahasiswa Universitas Linggabuana PGRI Sukabumi

This research was conducted with the aim of knowing the effect of the relationship of emotional intelligence on problem solving abilities in semester 1-5 students of Universitas Linggabuana PGRI Sukabumi. In this study using a simple linear regression test method which aims to determine the relationship between two variables (X), namely emotional intelligence (X1) and intelligence (X2) with problem solving ability (Y). The population in this study were students in semesters 1 to 5 of Universitas Linggabuana PGRI Sukabumi from two study programs in economics and Pancasila and citizenship education, totaling 791 people and the sample used was 102 people. This research is a quantitative research with a descriptive approach. Data collection in this study used a questionnaire instrument as a data collection tool consisting of indicators for each variable. To process the data using the computerized system SPSS Version 23.0. Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that there is a significant influence between the relationship between emotional intelligence and intelligence on problem solving abilities in semester 1-5 students of Universitas Linggabuana PGRI Sukabumi, namely 0.015 <0.05 and 0.000 <0.05 so it can be concluded that the variable Emotional Intelligence (X1) and Intelligence Variable (X2) have an effect on the Problem Solving Variable (Y).

Attitudes of medical professionals toward fragile X carrier screening and genetic counseling in China.

Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. Considering China's low prevalence, distinct healthcare system, middle-income economic status, and unique culture, China cannot simply replicate the screening systems in European and American countries. In this study, we investigated the attitudes of 450 Chinese medical professionals who received fragile X training on fragile X carrier screening and genetic counseling. Before the training, 57.6% of the respondents were unfamiliar with FXS. After the training, 7.3% of participants are unable to fully master the knowledge. Furthermore, 71.8% believe that the absence of phenotypes during the reproductive age and the availability of simple and feasible testing methods are prerequisites for screening. The presence of the phenotype would still require screening. Regarding the target population, over 90% of the participants support fragile X carrier screening in high-risk pregnant women. As for influencing factors, they consider cost as the most influential factor in pregnant women's decision to undergo screening. The acceptable price range for screening is determined to be ￥200-1000 ($30-150). In terms of the issues and challenges of screening, most medical professionals support the need for genetic counseling for intermediate alleles and 55-60 repeat premutation results. Additionally, some respondents believe that informing patients' family members of positive screening results is necessary. It is also recognized that positive results may lead to anxiety for patients. The findings of this study will provide valuable information for the establishment of fragile X carrier screening system, particularly for low-prevalence or middle-income countries.

Effect of Spruce Wood Density on Selected Fire-Technical Parameters during Thermal Loading

The paper evaluates the effect of spruce wood density on the parameters of mass loss and mass loss rate during exposure to thermal load. The intention was to determine whether the effect of density is still evident after the application of flame retardants to the test samples. Groups of samples with different densities under the same retardant treatment were compared. The differences in densities of the compared groups of samples were different for each flame retardant. Water-soluble flame retardants based on inorganic salts were used. For testing, a simple test method was used in which the samples were exposed to direct flame from a Bunsen burner. The results of the study are the findings of how wood density affects the burning process of the samples treated with flame retardants. Statistical evaluation of the experimental results shows a significant effect of wood density on the monitored parameters even when flame retardants are used. For a difference in sample densities of 244 kg·m−3, there was a density dependence of the mass loss rate, with the lower density samples having a higher mass loss rate (0.158%·s−1) over the whole experimental period compared to the higher density samples (0.077%·s−1). The ANOVA test also demonstrated the influence of density on the mass loss of the samples at the above density difference. At lower density differences (51 kg·m−3 and below), the effect of sample density on the observed parameters was no longer evident. The fire spread rate parameter was also investigated. Here, a linear correlation between the difference in sample densities and the difference in the values of the above parameter at high and low densities is observed with a reliability coefficient R2 = 0.99.

Study on the temperature rise characteristics of aging lithium-ion batteries under different cooling methods

Lithium-ion batteries have been widely used in electric vehicles and electrochemical energy storage power stations. With the increase of service time, the single cells in the battery module will age to varying degrees, resulting in inhomogeneous heat generation and even safety accidents. Considering that there is currently limited research on the cooling effect of battery cooling technology on aging batteries, this article adopts a new non-destructive method to study the uneven aging characteristics and the temperature rise characteristics under different cooling conditions of different cells in small aging lithium-ion battery modules. The results show that the irreversible heat generation power of cell 1, cell 2 and cell 3 during 1 C discharge is 1.23 W, 1.33 W and 1.15 W, respectively, showing different degrees of aging. However, the maximum temperature rise under natural heat dissipation conditions has the same change trend and the average temperature rise on the surface of three cells at the end of discharge is about 20 °C. The temperature rise at the edge of cell 2 and cell 1 with more serious aging is higher, while the temperature rise at the center of cell 3 with the smallest aging degree is higher. The temperature distribution at different positions on the surface of the three cells was slightly different. The maximum temperature difference at different positions on the surface of cell 2 (2.3 °C) was greater than that of cell 1 (1.5 °C) and cell 3 (1.6 °C). Then, a simple OCV test method and SEM characterization technique were used to analyze the aging characteristics of the electrode position corresponding to the external temperature monitoring position of cell 2, and the relationship between temperature distribution and aging characteristics was established. The cooling and uniform temperature ability of thermal pad, semiconductor cooling and liquid cooling plate/semiconductor composite cooling are improved in turn. Among them, the liquid cooling plate/semiconductor composite cooling is an efficient temperature control strategy which can make the temperature of cell 3 basically stable at 23 ° C during 1C discharge by reasonably regulating the cooling power, and the maximum surface temperature difference is maintained at 0.4 ° C. It is suggested that when the large cell is put into use, it should be equipped with an independent sub-regional precise temperature control system that can adjust the cooling power in real time according to the heat production rate of the battery, so as to improve the safety and promote the development of sustainable energy.