Specific Trends Research Articles

Linear-inverse associations of serum Klotho protein with prevalence of frailty among adults in the United States.

To investigate the potential linear relationship between serum concentrations of klotho and frailty. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 9,597 middle-aged and older adults (aged 40-79 years) from the five cycles of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Frailty was assessed using the Frailty Index, calculated as a percentage of accumulated deficits across 53 health items. Restricted cubic spline curves, subgroup analyses and logistic regression models were employed to evaluate the specific linear trend connection between circulating klotho protein concentration and frailty. When taking Klotho into account as a continuous component in Models 1 and 2, there was a substantial association between the increasing Klotho level and the reduced risk of frailty. Model 3 revealed a strong negative correlation between the Klotho and Frailty, suggesting that high levels of Klotho protein decreases the frailty prevalence [Odd ratio (OR): 0.25; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15-0.43]. Furthermore, according to the quartile analyses, after fully adjusting for the covariates, it was observed that, comparing to the lowest quartile of Klotho, the highest quartile of Klotho demonstrated lowest risk of frailty (OR 0.69; 95% CI 0.58-0.81, Ptrend < 0.001). The restricted cubic spline curves showed a linear relationship and an inverse association between frailty and the Klotho levels (Plinearity < 0.001; Pnon-linearity = 0.736). Klotho is inversely and linearly associated with physical frailty in the general population (aged 40-79 years), specifically in the population with an age < 65 and body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2. More necessary prospective studies should be done to further investigate the mechanisms underlying frailty and aging and to elucidate individual frailty causes.

Развитие отраслей социально-экономических макросистем: закономерности и тенденции

The article substantiates the natural relationship between the level of development of socio-economic macro-systems and their sectoral structure, which generally includes agriculture, industry and the service sector. The patterns and specific trends of its change in the process of their development are revealed, which objectively exist as a result of the law of capital accumulation, saturation of needs, supply and demand, as well as the influence of scientific and technological progress and globalization. Intersectoral ratios in the output of goods and services, the number of people engaged in their production and their development have been established.

НЕКОТОРЫЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ ГЕОСТРАТЕГИЧЕСКИХ ИНТЕРЕСОВ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ ПОЛИТИКИ ЯПОНИИ В ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЙ АЗИИ В НАЧАЛЕ ХХI ВЕКА

The article presents the features of Japan's economic policy in the five Central Asian republics in 2000-2024 on the basis of materials from authoritative sources in Russian, English and Japanese. On the basis of authoritative sources, the specifics of the geostrategic importance of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan for Japan in a developing multipolar world and Tokyo's vital need for stable partnerships in order to increase its influence are reflected. The main specific trends of economic relations between Japan and Central Asia are revealed. The period 2000-2024 of the study is a logical period of time defining Tokyo's policy in the five republics, as a successor to the previous 1993-1999. This shows the predictability and logic of building schemes for stable economic relations of Tokyo in the region. The specific trends of Japan's policy changes in Central Asia are revealed, taking into account the competitive advantages of the great powers in the region. Seoul's strategies have been taken into account, which are similar to Tokyo's course in the five republics. The main regions in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have been identified, where Japanese companies conduct main and contract economic activities at the beginning of the XX1 century, taking into account the dynamics of the previous period 1993-1999. The forecast of the prospects for the development of the dialogue between Japan and Central Asian countries in the 2030s is given.

Handling of human milk to prevent acquired cytomegalovirus infection in Japanese neonatal intensive care units: The first nationwide survey.

Human milk (HM) has been proven to provide immunological and nutritional advantages to neonates; however, acquired cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can be associated with raw HM. In Japan, there are no standardized guidelines concerning HM handling. This cross-sectional survey was performed to reveal specific trends in HM handling in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Japan. A questionnaire was sent to 255 NICUs participating in the Japanese Neonatologist Association in May 2020. It involved HM handling practices, such as maternal screening, pasteurization, storage, and the workforce. Of 255 NICUs, 174 (67.8%) responded to the survey. Maternal CMV screening was carried out in 37 units (22.2%), and CMV inactivation in HM was performed in 44 units (26.5%). For CMV inactivation, a freeze-thawing method was employed in about 90% of units. In 70% of units providing CMV inactivation, CMV inactivation was conducted regardless of bodyweight and corrected gestational age of infants until the infants' discharge. Acquired CMV infection in preterm neonates was observed in 43 units (25.7%) in the survey period. A wide range of HM handling practices are used in Japanese NICUs. A national guideline for handling HM in NICUs should be created to promote the infection control of CMV.

Towards a universal model for the foaming behavior of surfactants: a case study on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Foam fractionation offers a promising solution for the separation of surface-active contaminants from water. Therefore, this work aims to comprehensively investigate foaming behavior and its correlations with the interfacial properties. As a case study, we evaluate foaming of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are one of significant environmental issues worldwide due their pervasive presence in the environment. Since there is no universal model to describe the foaming behavior of surfactants that can be applied to PFAS, this research utilizes dimensional analysis to establish a correlation between the foaming behavior of PFAS solutions-characterized by expansion rate of foaming-and dimensionless numbers that represent both processing and interfacial characteristics. Foaming parameters, such as gas flow rate and aeration time, are varied to study their effect on PFAS foamability. In addition, we study PFAS with different headgroups and with different chain lengths in the presence of electrolytes with different concentrations. Our study elucidates distinct, condition-specific equations for individual PFAS, revealing that long-chain PFAS foaming is significantly influenced by interfacial property-related dimensionless numbers, such as the Boussinesq number. Additionally, the Froude number and Weber number affect the foamability of both long- and short-chain PFAS. Moreover, our study identifies specific trends, including a maximum foaming capacity at a certain Capillary number, aligning with the maximum in dilatational interfacial modulus. The results suggest more studies are needed on bubble interaction and foam film behavior.

Technology, transmission, trust, and tendency: Detecting trends in COVID-19 related fabricated content of virtual fact-check networks

The COVID-19 outbreak has punctured every part of a person's life, along with how people perform, enjoy, study, work out, and interact with one another. The debunking industry has tried to lessen the enormous spread of false information in modern society due to the growth of social media. Current research investigates debunked fallacious content relating to COVID-19 in India, intending to understand the key themes and trends in fabricated content for health literacy. The study is exploratory and uses supervised machine learning for the purpose of classification. The study uses thematic analysis techniques to look at the 506 claims of false information about COVID-19 that Indian fact-checking platforms have refuted. The results discern specific trends and health literacy within the range. The tendency toward fallacious content starts with anger toward China and creates communal hatred against India's minority group. Political propaganda, then false health information, was the main subject of such content. Moreover, many misrepresented and refuted claims came from the mainstream media.

Clinical features and treatment outcomes of Fournier's gangrene in a single tertiary emergency hospital: Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index score is a predictor for death.

To assess the predictive reliability of the Simplified Fournier's Gangrene Severity Index Score (SFGSI) for mortality in Japanese patients with Fournier's gangrene (FG), we compared the clinical features and outcomes of a patient sample with the SFGSI. The medical records of 36 patients diagnosed with FG at our hospital between October 2007 and September 2022 were reviewed retrospectively. Clinical and laboratory variables, including SFGSI, were evaluated and predictive factors for fatality were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The median age and body mass index were 65 and 24.2, respectively. Eight patients had cooccurring chronic kidney disease and 23 had diabetes. None were taking sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. The causative organisms were diverse, and no specific trends in causative organisms were observed. 26 patients underwent debridement of necrotic tissue including eight colostomies, two orchiectomies, and one cystectomy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that SFGSI alone was an independent predictor of case fatality, with an odds ratio of 20.167 (95% CI: 1.66-245.53). In conclusion, the fatality rate was 19.4%, which was comparable to that reported in other studies. The SFGSI was an independent predictor of mortality in this study.

Global market of business tourism: development problems and prospects

An important role in the development of global international tourism is played by business tourism, or corporate tourism, aimed at meeting the needs of business travelers and forming specific trends in the development of the global tourism industry. The study of problems and prospects for the development of the global market of business tourism is aimed at the understanding by market players of its dynamics and the adoption of effective strategic solutions for its future development. The subject of research in the article is the theoretical, methodological and practical aspects of the business tourism global market development. The goal is to analyze the current state and identify trends and prospects for the business tourism global market development. The objective is to research the problems and prospects for the business tourism global market development. General scientific methods are used: systematic analysis - to determine the features of the business tourism global market development, comparative analysis - in the analysis of existing approaches to the definition of business tourism. The following results were obtained: based on the analysis of the dynamics of changes in the main indicators of the business tourism global market, the main problematic aspects and trends of its development were determined. Conclusions: business tourism is one of the most relevant industries for the tourism destination development, as it can bring significant income to the local budget. The process of business tourism development requires prior planning and preparation, including the construction or restoration of infrastructure, which requires cooperation between enterprises of different industries.

Identifying the Factors Affecting the Educational Environment of Medical Institutes in Pakistan: An Evidence-Based Approach

Background: In Pakistan, the medical education sector is grappling with significant challenges related to facilities, teaching methods, and curriculum. This study aims to investigate these issues to provide insights into improving the educational standards in medical universities. Objective: The study seeks to identify and analyze key factors impacting the educational environment in Pakistani medical universities and propose actionable strategies for enhancement. Methods: This research employed primary data collection using purposive sampling, targeting 100 participants including administrators, teachers, and students from various medical universities. Data was gathered through questionnaires and analyzed quantitatively using SPSS, with a focus on Pearson’s correlation and regression analyses. Results: The quantitative analysis revealed specific trends: a 60% correlation between inadequate facilities and negative educational outcomes, a 55% correlation linking poor teaching methods to diminished learning efficacy, and a 65% correlation between outdated curricula and student dissatisfaction. Regression analysis further affirmed the substantial impact of these independent variables on the overall educational environment. Conclusion: The findings underscore a pressing need to address the identified factors to improve the educational environment in Pakistani medical universities. Strategic enhancements in facilities, teaching methods, and curricula are essential to uplift the quality of medical education and better prepare future healthcare professionals.

The Roles of Strategic Leadership in Ensuring Sustainable Competitive Advantage: Empirical Evidence from Pharmaceutical Distribution in Emerging Markets

This research addresses the crucial yet underexplored area of strategic leadership roles in enhancing sustainable competitive advantage in the pharmaceutical distribution sector of emerging markets, particularly focusing on South Africa. The relevance of this study lies in its exploration of strategic leadership within a sector experiencing significant growth and global competition, specifically in the context of emerging markets where such investigations are scarce. The primary aim is to delineate strategic leadership roles crucial for fostering sustainable competitive advantage in this sector. The choice of the pharmaceutical distribution sector in South Africa as the research object is due to its dynamic nature and the unique challenges it presents in emerging markets. This study covers a significant period that reflects the evolving dynamics of the industry. Utilising a qualitative research methodology, the study involves in-depth interviews with 10 strategic leaders in South African pharmaceutical distribution firms. This approach provides a robust informational and statistical basis for the research. Through thematic analyses, the research uncovers five key strategic leadership roles: setting strategic direction, managing business complexity, promoting organisational structure, managing organisational culture, and developing human resources. These roles are pivotal in establishing and maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage in the pharmaceutical distribution industry in emerging markets. The study confirms the hypothesis that effective strategic leadership is vital for achieving sustainable competitive advantage. It reveals specific trends and quantitative regularities in leadership strategies that contribute to this goal. This research offers substantial practical significance for managerial decision-making in the pharmaceutical distribution industry, particularly in emerging markets. Its insights are crucial for leaders aiming to create and sustain competitive advantage, thereby contributing to the industry’s growth and stability. Furthermore, it lays a foundation for future investigations across various contexts within the pharmaceutical sector and different leadership perspectives.

Pengaruh Harga, Promosi, Dan Kualitas Produk Indomie Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Di Warmindo Jayaberkah

Indomie continues to adapt to consumer trends and preferences by launching product variants that suit local tastes or follow specific food trends helping Indomie stay relevant in the market. This study aims to analyze the influence of price, quality, and quantity on purchasing decisions in terms of Indomie instant noodle products. Price, promotion, and product quality were identified as independent variables in this study with purchasing decision as the dependent variable. The study was conducted with quantitative methodology. The population in this study was randomly taken from 430 Warmindo Jayaberkah consumers. The number of samples in this study was 25% of the total population obtained by 107 respondents. The results showed that price and product promotion did not affect purchasing decisions, while product quality influenced purchasing decisions. Product price, promotion, and product quality together influence purchasing decisions. Product pricing, promotion, and product quality influence purchasing decisions by 63.2%. The study's findings would suggest that product quality variables have a substantial impact on purchasing decisions.

Population Outside the Labour Force, Its Causes and Potential: A Review from An Islamic Perspective

The population outside the labour force refers to individuals who are not classified as employed or unemployed. The Department of Statistics Malaysia have classified individuals who are not interested in jobs into six main reasons: (1) attending school or training programmes, (2) homeworking or family responsibilities, (3) pursuing further studies, (4) disability, (5) disinterest, and (6) retirement. Based on the data, there is no specific trend to the population outside the labour force in Malaysia. However, there are concerns about the lack of information on the population outside the labour force in Malaysia which may result in them being discounted from the labour force. On the flip side, technological advancement, working arrangement, and new “non-standard” employment are part of the factors that may have influenced this population to remain outside of the labour force. This paper highlights the importance of revisiting the meaning of employment, especially in the new way of working arrangements so that policymakers are able to assemble accurate labour market information in making strategic moves in accordance with the needs and demands of every sector. In addition, this paper also explores the Islamic view of the trend in the wider context, going beyond the terms of wage and profit.

MoOy-Pt(CuNi)x heterojunction nanostructured catalyst for promoting the oxygen reduction reaction activity property

The catalyst intrinsic area-specific activity for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was constrained by the scaling relations governing the adsorption of reaction intermediates. In this study, we strategically modified the electronic band structures of Pt(CuNi)x alloy nanoparticles by varying their composition, resulting in a specific activity trend resembling a volcano shape. The introduction of MoOy shattered the existing scaling relations, leading to a significant enhancement in ORR activity of Pt alloys, surpassing the activity of Pt(CuNi)x catalysts. These findings proved the effectiveness of MoOy deposition on Pt(CuNi)x in disrupting the scaling relations, ultimately improving ORR activity.

Gastrointestinal parasite community structure in horses after the introduction of selective anthelmintic treatment strategies

A relatively new method to study the species richness and diversity of nematode parasites in grazing animals is to perform deep sequencing on composite samples containing a mixture of parasites. In this work, we compared species composition of strongyles in two groups of horses as a function of egg count and age, based on a DNA barcoding approach. Faecal egg counts and larval cultures were obtained from nearly 300 horses, i.e., domestic horses (n = 167) and trotters (n = 130) sampled nationwide. The second internal transcribed spacer region (ITS2) of strongyle nematodes in the larval cultures was first amplified using barcoded universal primers and then sequenced on the PacBio platform. Subsequently, bioinformatic sequence analysis was performed using SCATA to assign operational taxonomic units (OTU). Finally, species occurrence and composition were assessed using R. ITS2 sequences were found in the majority (89%) of larval samples. Sequencing yielded an average of 140 (26 to 503) reads per sample. The OTUs were assigned to 28 different taxa, of which all but three could be identified as species. The average relative abundance of the seven most abundant species (all Cyathostominae) accounted for 87% of the combined data set. The three species with the highest prevalence in both horse groups were Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicocyclus nassatus and Cylicostephanus calicatus, and they were frequently found in different combinations with other species regardless of horse group. Interestingly, this result is largely consistent with a previous Swedish study based on morphological analysis of adult worms. In addition, two migratory strongylids (Strongylus vulgaris and S. edentatus) occurred in few domestic horses and trotters. Except for C. minutus and C. nassatus, which decreased with age, and C. catinatum and S. vulgaris, which increased, no specific trends were observed with respect to horse age. Taken together, these results are broadly consistent with data obtained before the introduction of selective targeted treatment in Sweden in 2007. All in all, our results suggest that this treatment strategy has not led to a significant change in strongyle nematode community structure in Swedish horses. The study also confirms that nemabiome analysis in combination with diversity index analysis is an objective method to study strongyle communities in horses.

Comparison of the gut microbiota and metabolism in different regions of Red Swamp Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii).

The gut microbiota is very important for maintaining the homeostasis and health of crustaceans. Many factors affect the gut microbiota of crustaceans, one of which is temperature. However, it is currently unclear how temperature affects the gut microbiota and metabolites of Procambarus clarkii. Using metagenomic sequencing and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques, the gut microbiota and metabolites of P. clarkii from Hubei (HB), Jiangsu (JS), Shandong (SD), and Zhejiang (ZJ) in China were investigated. Under the impact of temperature, the gut microbiota and metabolites of P. clarkii exhibit a specific trend of change. The primary pathogenic bacteria affecting P. clarkii are Citrobacter, Enterobacterium, and Aeromonas, which are affected by temperature. Two metabolites, namely, sugars and amino acids, are regulated by temperature. This study demonstrated that the gut microbiota and gut metabolites of P. clarkii were considerably affected by temperature. It provides a theoretical basis for the systematic study of P. clarkii and provides a basis for a healthy culture of P. clarkii.

Imipenem heteroresistance but not tolerance in Haemophilus influenzae during chronic lung infection associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Antibiotic resistance is a major Public Health challenge worldwide. Mechanisms other than resistance are described as contributors to therapeutic failure. These include heteroresistance and tolerance, which escape the standardized procedures used for antibiotic treatment decision-making as they do not involve changes in minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Haemophilus influenzae causes chronic respiratory infection and is associated with exacerbations suffered by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Although resistance to imipenem is rare in this bacterial species, heteroresistance has been reported, and antibiotic tolerance cannot be excluded. Moreover, development of antibiotic heteroresistance or tolerance during within-host H. influenzae pathoadaptive evolution is currently unknown. In this study, we assessed imipenem resistance, heteroresistance and tolerance in a previously sequenced longitudinal collection of H. influenzae COPD respiratory isolates. The use of Etest, disc diffusion, population analysis profiling, tolerance disc (TD)-test methods, and susceptibility breakpoint criteria when available, showed a significant proportion of imipenem heteroresistance with differences in terms of degree among strains, absence of imipenem tolerance, and no specific trends among serial and clonally related strains could be established. Analysis of allelic variation in the ftsI, acrA, acrB, and acrR genes rendered a panel of polymorphisms only found in heteroresistant strains, but gene expression and genome-wide analyses did not show clear genetic traits linked to heteroresistance. In summary, a significant proportion of imipenem heteroresistance was observed among H. influenzae strains isolated from COPD respiratory samples over time. These data should be useful for making more accurate clinical recommendations to COPD patients.

At the Locus of Performance: Quantifying the Effects of Copious 3D-Stacked Cache on HPC Workloads

Over the last three decades, innovations in the memory subsystem were primarily targeted at overcoming the data movement bottleneck. In this paper, we focus on a specific market trend in memory technology: 3D-stacked memory and caches. We investigate the impact of extending the on-chip memory capabilities in future HPC-focused processors, particularly by 3D-stacked SRAM. First, we propose a method oblivious to the memory subsystem to gauge the upper-bound in performance improvements when data movement costs are eliminated. Then, using the gem5 simulator, we model two variants of a hypothetical LARge Cache processor (LARC), fabricated in 1.5 nm and enriched with high-capacity 3D-stacked cache. With a volume of experiments involving a broad set of proxy-applications and benchmarks, we aim to reveal how HPC CPU performance will evolve, and conclude an average boost of 9.56× for cache-sensitive HPC applications, on a per-chip basis. Additionally, we exhaustively document our methodological exploration to motivate HPC centers to drive their own technological agenda through enhanced co-design.

Unveiling the Spectrum of Megaloblastic Anemia: Insights from a Multifaceted Study at Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences, Muzaffarabad

Background: This study aimed to determine the frequency of Megaloblastic Anemia cases presenting in the outpatient department (OPD) and wards of AIMS Hospital in Muzaffarabad, AJ&amp;K. Methods: Conducted at the Pathology department of Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences from May 2022 to October 2022, this case-control study analyzed 125 cases from OPD and wards. Patient interviews, venous blood sample collection, and complete blood picture (CP) analysis, including peripheral film (PF) tests and Vitamin B12 and folates levels reports, were conducted using a Hematology analyzer. Statistical analysis using SPSS version 25.0 was employed. Results: Statistical analysis revealed a mean age of 3.656, with females having a higher frequency of Megaloblastic Anemia, especially during childbearing age. Males had a higher frequency in children and the elderly. The residential distribution showed a balance of village and city dwellers, whereas the patient category breakdown showed a higher frequency in the young age group. Conclusion: The study highlighted Megaloblastic Anemia's serious public health significance, its causes, and the observed trends in the study population. Surgical interventions, particularly abdominal surgeries, were identified as potential contributors. Analyses of peripheral smears revealed varying degrees of anemia severity, with most cases being moderate. The study concluded that Megaloblastic Anemia is more common in females, especially during childbearing age, and in males, especially in children and the elderly. These findings highlight the importance of targeted interventions and nutritional education programs in addressing the specific demographic trends observed in this study population.

The relative importance of salinization in lowland stream zooplankton: Implications of the ecosystem nutrient status

Salinization of aquatic systems is predicted to increase due to climate and land use changes. Nevertheless, community responses may be different according to the ecosystem characteristics and contextual scenarios. Small flowing waters are particularly vulnerable to salinization, which may impact on the biodiversity and ecosystem processes, but this remains unclear. We conducted a study in 42 lowland streams characterized by overall high nutrient levels along a salinity gradient between 2 and 160 g L−1 to analyze changes in zooplankton structural and functional metrics, and the grazing effects of zooplankton on phytoplankton affecting the energy transfer. Generalized additive models revealed that the analyzed metrics were relatively influenced by salinity, with factors related to trophic conditions playing an important role as well. Total abundance and biomass decreased along the salinity gradient while increasing at intermediate soluble reactive phosphorous concentrations (SRP) in the former and with a linear increase in the SRP in the latter case. Taxonomic richness decreased with salinity and dissolved inorganic nitrogen, with species replacement toward saline-tolerant ones according to the compositional and optimums analyses. In opposite, functional richness did not display any specific trend within the environmental gradients. This explains why zooplankton compositional changes were not reflected into shifts in the grazing pattern on phytoplankton, which was in turn driven by SRP and dissolved oxygen concentrations. Further research is a critical requirement in these poorly studied ecosystems for planning mitigation actions to the co-occurrence of eutrophication and salinization in a fast changing world.

Survey of burning rate measurements in small solid rocket motors

Burning rate plays a crucial role in determining the performance of solid rocket motors (SRMs). In the traditional approach for solid propellant propulsion, technical activities regarding burning rates are developed at three different operational levels: (i) Strand burners or laboratory-scale devices in general; (ii) Small-scale motors (SSMs); And (iii) full-size or end-item rocket motors. While strand burners are extensively used for propellant development (formulation exploration, ingredients screening, performance verification, and production control) and relatively little is done experimentally at the full-size motor level (being large-scale experimentation too expensive and dangerous), a lot is usually carried out at SSM level to obtain burning rate information under motor operating conditions. In the introductory part of this work, burning rate fundamentals are recalled and burning rate measurement devices are quickly summarized. Then, a survey of subscale motors is conducted and several automated procedures to deduce burning rate from SSM testing are analyzed. Data reduction methods commonly used by leading European companies are based on the thickness-over-time (TOT) definition. Attention is dedicated to procedures used in Italy and France for quality control of the European space launchers (solid propellant boosters of Ariane family and core solid rocket motors of VEGA family). In addition, automated data reduction methods based on mass balance (MB) and often used in USA are investigated. Specific features and general trends of the tested industrial procedures are pointed out. Since for any tests the actual burning rates are unknown, results can only be compared based on the statistical quality of the deduced ballistic data. Mainly reproducibility, ease of application, and suitability for automated computer implementation are of interest to industrial users. The effects of test variability, input data quality, and data reduction methods on result reproducibility are discussed with reference to fire tests of the successful Ariane-5 solid boosters. The systematic analysis of industrial data conducted in this work suggests that improving the actual mix reproducibility and quality of experimental data is more important than perfecting the current data reduction methods. Moreover, the international trends suggest that the fundamental TOT procedures are being replaced by MB procedures or advanced TOT procedures with burning times evaluated using pressure integrals.