Testing Standards Research Articles

Advancing moisture management in activewear: a novel dynamic testing approach for dynamic breathability of sportswear

This study presents a novel dynamic hot plate test for examining the exothermic and endothermic behaviors of textiles, emphasizing the dynamic conditions akin to physical activities. The method surpasses previous standards, for example ISO 16533 and the dynamic hot plate test developed by Naylor, by integrating sweating and wind simulations, thus offering a more precise assessment of fabric performance and physical sensation while wearing activewear. The investigation involved five fabric samples made from four different fiber types: 100% Merino wool, 100% polyester, 100% cotton, and 100% viscose.. The experimental setup, consisting of a 90-minute test with relaxation, activity, and drying phases, highlighted significant fabric-specific responses. Notably, polyester exhibited the highest heat loss rate at 388 W/m² during the activity phase, underscoring its potential for moisture management and cooling. Conversely, Merino wool showed the lowest heat loss rate at 212 W/m², suggesting a more stable microclimate. The dynamic conditions induced marked changes in microclimate temperature, humidity, and fabric surface temperatures, particularly noticeable when wind was introduced. These findings emphasized the importance of dynamic testing in evaluating activewear fabrics, suggesting that materials such as polyester offer excellent cooling and moisture management, whereas natural fibers such as Merino wool may enhance wearer comfort by maintaining a more consistent microclimate. This research contributes to refining fabric performance testing standards by emphasizing the significance of real-world dynamic conditions.

Approbation of the Methodology "Scale for Cognitive Status Assessment of the After-Stroke Patients with Speech Disorders"

INTRODUCTION. The development of a screening tool for diagnosing cognitive status in stroke patients with speech disorders is an urgent problem of rehabilitation. AIM. To develop and validate a screening diagnostic technique for the cognitive status of patients after ischemic stroke with speech disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The methodology "Scale for cognitive status assessment of the after-stroke patients with speech disorders" (ShKSPIR) was evaluated by a retrospective clinical and statistical analysis of 7814 patient medical histories, 1916 of which were patients with speech disorders due to ischemic stroke in the period up to 1 year: average age 66.5 ± 11.3 years, 843 (44.0 %) women, 1073 (56.0 %) men. Psychometric characteristics were studied in 147 patients (age — 63.0 ± 8.0 years, 26 (57.8 %) women, 19 (42.2 %) men), 40 patients of them (27.2 %) had speech disorders. The prognostic assessment, practical significance and competitive validity of the methodology were studied by comparing the results obtained with the data of the methodology with known psychometric characteristics ("Brief neuropsychological examination of the cognitive sphere"). RESULTS. Satisfactory psychometric characteristics of the technique have been proven: substantive and constructive validity, synchronous reliability, discriminativeness. The non-orthogonality of the three-factor structure explaining 55 % of the variance of the original data matrix is discussed. The practical significance is investigated and the high competitive validity of the tested methodology is shown. The standardization of indicators was carried out in accordance with the quantitative determinant of the ICF. CONCLUSION. In the process of testing the ShKSPIR methodology, test standards have been developed and standardized. The technique can be used for screening assessment of the cognitive status of stroke patients with speech disorders, while planning individual rehabilitation programs.

Diagnosis, screening, and follow-up of patients with familial interstitial lung disease: Results from an international survey

BackgroundAdvances in the field of genetics of interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) have led to the recent consensus statements made by expert groups. International standards for genetic testing in ILD have not yet been established. We aimed to examine current real-world strategies employed by pulmonologists working with familial ILD.MethodsA panel of pulmonologists with expertise in ILD developed an international survey aimed at clinicians working with ILD. The survey consisted of 74 questions divided into eight topics: characteristics of respondents, diagnosis, screening of first-degree relatives, screening tools, genetic testing methods, lung transplantation, ethical concerns, and future needs.ResultsOverall, 237 pulmonologists from 50 countries participated. A family history of ILD was asked for by 91% of respondents while fewer asked for symptoms related to telomere disorders. Respondents stated that 59% had access to genetic testing, and 30% to a genetic multidisciplinary team (MDT). Many respondents were unaware of specific genetic testing methods. Pathogenic genetic variants were seen as a potential contraindication for lung transplantation in 6–8% of respondents. Genetic screening of relatives was supported by 80% of respondents who indicated insufficient evidence and a lack of formal guidelines for genetics and ILD. Only 16% had a standardized program.ConclusionMost pulmonologists ask for a family history of ILD and recommend genetic testing for ILD and screening in relatives but have limited knowledge of specific tests and access to genetic MDT. Evidence-based guidelines to inform patients, relatives, and physicians are still warranted.

Standardization of high-energy laser impact tests with respect to temperature, reflection and perforation time

Abstract High-energy laser impact tests on identical materials and irradiation parameters often show deviating results between different testing institutes. This particularly affects the specular component of the reflection and the temperatures. Even the supposedly easy-to-determine perforation time sometimes shows large variations between different test institutes. For a reliable and reproducible determination of test results, a standardization of the experimental setups is necessary. Test results using two different reference materials are presented. These tests demonstrate that standardizing experimental setups and evaluation methods significantly reduces the deviations of the experimental results. The presented multi-institutional approach aims at gaining data of laser reflection, temperature, and perforation time of laser impacted samples, and at developing an optimized experimental setup based on different existing laboratory equipment and experimental approaches.

Cardiac MRI in Heart Transplantation: Approaches and Clinical Insights.

Orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) is a well-established therapy for end-stage heart failure that leads to improved long-term survival rates, with careful allograft surveillance essential for optimizing clinical outcomes after OHT. Unfortunately, complications can arise after OHT that can compromise the success of the OHT. Cardiac MRI is continually evolving, with a range of advanced techniques that can be applied to evaluate allograft structure and function. Understanding the unique features of cardiac MRI in OHT recipients, identifying findings suggestive of acute or chronic complications, and recognizing the limitations of this imaging modality are essential for accurate interpretation of cardiac MRI findings and subsequent clinical reporting. The authors address the anticipated postsurgical anatomy and functionality of the OHT. Emphasis is placed on the advanced functional and tissue characterization features that can be seen in the stable OHT recipient, including global longitudinal strain, late gadolinium enhancement, native T1 and T2 mapping, and extracellular volume fraction. Subsequently, the evidence for detection of acute cardiac allograft rejection with cardiac MRI comprehensive tissue characterization techniques and the role of quantitative myocardial perfusion for cardiac allograft vasculopathy screening are discussed, with reference to their comparative standard of reference screening tests, including endomyocardial biopsy, invasive coronary angiography, and myocardial rest and stress perfusion PET/CT. Cardiac MRI has been included in contemporary OHT management guidelines and therefore can be considered a complementary tool for allograft evaluation. The authors demonstrate the complementary role cardiac MRI can play in cardiac allograft surveillance, with clinical examples. ©RSNA, 2025 Supplemental material is available for this article. See the invited commentary by Agarwal in this issue.

Measuring adaptive expertise and adaptive performance in (becoming) healthcare professionals: a scoping review of measurement instruments.

Professional work in healthcare is increasingly disruptive, requiring professionals to be flexible and adaptable. Research on adaptive expertise and adaptive performance in healthcare has grown, and operationalisation and measurement of these concepts are crucial to meet professionals' evolving needs. This study provides an overview of measurement instruments for adaptive expertise and adaptive performance in (becoming) healthcare professionals, including an evaluation of their operationalisations and the amount of evidence supporting their quality. A scoping review was conducted, including an analysis of operationalisations and the amount of evidence supporting the quality of instruments, based on the criteria outlined in the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (2014). Seventeen articles were included, comprising nineteen measurement instruments, three of which were specifically developed for the healthcare domain. The instruments, categorized into six types, varied in the nature and volume of evidence supporting their quality. Analysis of the operationalisations led to a clearer understanding of the concepts, with themes emerging around adaptive expertise and adaptive performance. The study reveals a dominance of self-evaluation and job requirement instruments, while other methods, such as design scenarios, mixed-methods instruments, and collegial verbalization, are underrepresented. Instruments developed specifically for healthcare need further validation and reliability testing. The categorization of subscales into 13 themes provides further clarification of the concepts and suggestions for future research. Instruments to measure adaptive expertise and adaptive performance are limited and vary in conceptualisation, operationalisation and quality. Further research is needed to improve the validity and reliability of healthcare-specific instruments.

Are Non-invasive Multi-cancer Early Cancer Detection Tests the Future?

Current cancer screening methods are effective for detecting early stage cancers and even preventing some cancers, but their effectiveness has only been demonstrated for a handful of cancers,and for many cancers, there are noscreening tests clinically available. In addition, the majority of the screening methods are not ideal, resulting in suboptimal compliance and the occurrence of preventable cancers. A screening test that is convenient, safe, accurate and that can screen for multiple cancers is an ideal screening test that would addressmany of the shortcomings of the current tests. Multi-cancer detection tests (MCD) have the potential to meet these challenges and have engendered substantial enthusiasm in light of this. Using advances in DNA sequencing technology, cancer epigenetics and artificial intelligence, they are able to detect a large number of cancers predominantly via the patterns of methylated DNA alterations, DNA sequence alterations, and DNA fragment patterns of cell free DNA in the plasma and can accurately distinguish the cancer site of origin. Of note, some of the tests also combine circulating free DNA (cfDNA) with protein-based markers. However, for the majority of early stage cancers, the sensitivity is modest and below that of most of the current standard of care cancer screening tests. Furthermore, the clinical utility of screening for many of the cancers detectable by MCD tests remains to be proven. Here we describe the features of MCD tests, review the current data supporting their potential to be used in the clinic for cancer screening, and discuss the knowledge gaps surrounding understanding their clinical utility, with a focus on GI cancer screening.

P-1343. Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamases (ESBL) and New Delhi Metallo Protein (NDM) genes co-occurrence in Phenotypic ESBL Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) isolates causing community-acquired pyelonephritis

Abstract Background Multidrug resistance Enterobacteriaceae causing community-acquired pyelonephritis is an emerging threat; most isolates are EBSL, as per Indian data. After the results of the MERINO trial, most guidelines favors Carbapenem for treating community-acquired pyelonephritis. Overuse of carbapenem may lead to Carbapenem resistance Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in the community. We analyzed the ESBL and CRE genes in the clinically significant urinary isolates with phenotypic ESBL -E from patients with community-acquired pyelonephritis.Table 1Demographic characteristics of patients with community-acquired acute pyelonephritis caused by phenotypic ESBL -E. Methods Patients with a diagnosis of community-acquired acute pyelonephritis with age ≥ 18 years and urine culture showing the growth of Enterobacteriaceae with phenotypic ESBL-E are included in the study. If urine culture grew more than one organism in Enterobacteriaceae, other GNBs were excluded. The phenotypic ESBL detection was based on resistance to a third-generation cephalosporin (Cefotaxime, Cefpodoxime, Ceftazidime) and a monobactam (Aztreonam). These positive isolates were further processed using the combination disk method. A ≥5mm increase in zone diameter for either antimicrobial agent tested in combination with clavulanate vs the zone diameter of the agent when tested alone was considered ESBL (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility tests). Simultaneously, multiplexed Real-time PCR (TRUPCR® UTI AST Panel Kit, Europe) was done to detect ESBL genes (CTX-M, TEM, SHV) and CRE genes (OXA-48, KPC, NDM, VIM, IMP) in these isolates.Table 2:Detection of NDM genes with ESBL genes in patients with community-acquired acute pyelonephritis caused by phenotypic ESBL -E. Results A total of 38 isolates with phenotypic ESBL in patients diagnosed with community-acquired pyelonephritis were processed for RT-PCR, and 30 were detected with ESBL and CRE genes. The demographic and clinical characteristics are shown in Table 1. The most common ESBL gene was CTX-M 29 (.96.7%) followed by TEM 25 (83.3%). Multiple ESBL genes were detected in 24(80%) isolates. Among CRE genes, the NDM genes were detected in 15 (50%) isolates with other ESBL genes (Table 2). Conclusion The presence of CRE genes in phenotypic ESBL -E in community-acquired acute pyelonephritis could be due to the injudicious use of carbapenem. This may imply that CRE will be spread in the community in the future, making it difficult to manage this infection. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Difference Analysis of Coal Carbon Emission Coefficient in China and Its Effects on Carbon Emission Calculation, Quota Allocation, and Enterprise Costs

China is a leading producer and consumer of coal, with coal being the dominant energy source. The accurate calculation of the mass carbon emission factor (EFm) of coal is crucial as the carbon emissions from its combustion influence carbon emission assessment and policy formulation. However, discrepancies in EFm values across documents, due to varying net calorific values (NCVs), carbon contents (CCs), and carbon oxidation factors (COFs), have posed challenges for enterprises in carbon emission calculations. By analyzing different coal types, it is found that for anthracite, the EFm difference in different documents can reach 38.5%; for bituminous coal, it can reach 42.3%; and for lignite, it can reach 18.6%. These differences significantly affect carbon emission calculation accuracy, carbon allowance allocation fairness, and enterprise costs under the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). For instance, in 2023, the calculated carbon emissions of anthracite vary by over 300 million tons depending on the EFm used. To address these issues, relevant departments should establish a unified EFm release system, build a data sharing platform, and standardize enterprise testing standards to enhance the accuracy of carbon-related calculations and drive the low-carbon development of the coal industry.

Passive Acoustic Metamaterials for Low Frequencies—Theories, Types, Testing, and Future Directions

Metamaterials, engineered to exhibit unique properties, not found in natural materials, are a key focus of modern scientific research. Acoustic metamaterials are designed to manipulate or attenuate acoustic waves. Early designs of acoustic metamaterials show promising results in attenuating sound waves in medium and high‐frequency ranges but lack effectiveness for low frequencies. In recent years, there has been a shift toward the research of passive acoustic metamaterials, designed for low frequencies, with a trend toward additive manufacturing for ease of fabrication. Over 45 acoustic design theories have been reviewed, along with 112 low‐frequency acoustic metamaterials designed in the last 5 years. This comprehensive review ensures the validity and reliability of present findings and equips the knowledge to select the most appropriate acoustic theory, metamaterial type, and testing standards for analyzing metamaterial. The article also discusses computational methods in the design process and compares various existing metamaterial designs and their applications in areas like environmental noise reduction, sound isolation, and other health‐related applications. Finally, it reviews testing methods for experimental verification of acoustic metamaterials. This article aims to steer the future course of metamaterial science by integrating a wide range of research, instilling confidence in the validity and reliability of present findings.

Joint fluid multi-omics improves diagnostic confidence during evaluation of children with presumed septic arthritis

BackgroundAn accurate diagnosis of septic versus reactive or autoimmune arthritis remains clinically challenging. A multi-omics strategy comprising metagenomic and proteomic technologies were undertaken for children diagnosed with presumed septic arthritis to advance clinical diagnoses and care for affected individuals.MethodsTwelve children with suspected septic arthritis were prospectively enrolled to compare standard of care tests with a rapid multi-omics approach. The multi-omics combined bacterial 16S rRNA metagenomics, single cell transcriptomics, and proteomics on knee joint fluid specimens. The diagnostic value of the multi-omics was ascertained relative to standard of care culture and PCR-negative results.ResultsTen children with suspected primary septic arthritis and two with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO) diagnoses were assessed. Joint fluid bacterial cultures were positive for 6/12 (50%) patients, consistent with elevated inflammatory markers (IL-4, IL-6, IL-17A, TNF-a, etc.). Metagenomic bacterial sequencing results were 100% concordant with the culture results. Six patients were culture- and PCR-negative. Multiomics analyses of the 6 culture negative patients established that 2/6 culture-negative children had inflammatory arthritis with potential Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and 1 had post-Streptococcal Reactive Arthritis. The children without any bacteremia had autoantibodies (IgGs) in the joint-fluid targeting several nuclear antigens (i.e., dsDNA, histones, Jo-1, scl-70, Ro/SS-A, SmDs, CENP-A along with non-nuclear antigens i.e. Albumin, Collagens, Myosin, Laminin, etc. Single cell transcriptomics confirmed an abundance of CD4+ follicular helper T (Tfh), CD8 + T cells and B cells in the autoantibody positive subjects. The combination of 16S DNA sequencing (p = 0.006), cytokine assays (p = 0.009) and autoantibody profiling (p = 0.02) were significantly distinct between those children with and without infections. This improved the diagnostic confidence for 9 of 12 (75%) children, key for treatment decisions.ConclusionsThe multiomics approach rapidly identified children with bacterial or autoimmune inflammatory conditions, improving diagnostic and treatment strategies for those with presumptive septic arthritis.

"Mechanical Integrity Assessment of Polymethylmethacrylate Bone Cement Incorporating Local Anesthetics: Implications for Joint Arthroplasty".

Effective management of postsurgical pain following arthroplasty remains a challenge, lacking a definitive gold standard. As most knee and hip arthroplasties are cemented or hybrid, we used the property of bone cement as a drug carrier and added powdered local anesthetics (lidocaine hydrochloride and bupivacaine hydrochloride) to the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) as analgesics. However, the addition of drugs to bone cement may compromise its mechanical properties, necessitating a thorough analysis. Our objective was to assess the impact of added local anesthetics on the mechanical properties of PMMA bone cement. Mechanical properties, including compressive strength, bending modulus, and bending strength, were evaluated following the procedure set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 5833-2002 and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) F451-1 standards. There were three study groups compared: PMMA, PMMA with lidocaine hydrochloride, and PMMA with bupivacaine hydrochloride. Significant differences were observed between groups in compressive and bending strength, but not in bending modulus. Despite these differences, the mean compressive strength and bending modulus of all groups and the mean bending strength of the lidocaine group surpassed the minimum values set by the ISO 5833-2002 and ASTM F 451-08 standards for acrylic bone cement. However, the bupivacaine group fell short of the minimum bending strength value. The addition of powdered local anesthetics to PMMA affects its mechanical properties, specifically compressive and bending strength, without compromising the bending modulus. While differences were noted, all groups surpassed the minimum standards for compressive strength and bending modulus. However, the bupivacaine group did not meet the minimum bending strength requirement. This highlights the importance of considering mechanical properties when incorporating drugs into bone cement for implant fixation.

A customizable multiplex protein microarray for antibody testing and its application for tick-borne and other infectious diseases

Tick-borne infections are the most common vector-borne diseases in the USA. Ticks harbor and transmit several infections with Lyme disease being the most common tickborne infection in the US and Europe. Lack of awareness about tick populations, specific diagnostic tests, and overlapping signs and symptoms of tick-borne infections can often lead to misdiagnosis affecting treatment and the prevalence data reported especially for non-Lyme tick-borne infections. The diagnostic tests currently available for tick-borne diseases are severely limited in their ability to provide accurate results and cannot detect multiple pathogens in a single run. The multiplex protein microarray developed at Vibrant was designed to detect multiple serological antibodies thereby detecting exposure to multiple pathogens simultaneously. Our microarray in its present form can accommodate 400 antigens (molecules that can bind to specific antibodies) and can multiplex across antigen types, whole cell lysates, recombinant proteins, and peptides. A designed array containing multiple antigens of several microbes including Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease spirochete, was manufactured and evaluated. The immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG) responses against several tick-borne microbes and other infectious agents were analyzed for analytical and clinical performance. The microarray improved IgM and IgG sensitivities and specificities of individual microbes when compared with the respective gold standards. The testing was also performed in a single run in comparison to multiple runs needed for comparable testing standards. In summary, our study presents a flexible multiplex microarray platform that can provide quick results with high sensitivity and specificity for evaluating exposure to varied infectious agents especially tick-borne pathogens.

BRCA Mutation Testing in Men with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Practical Guidance for Australian Clinical Practice.

Some patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) possess germline or acquired defects in the DNA damage repair (DDR) genes BRCA1 and BRCA2. Tumors with BRCA mutations exhibit sensitivity to poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) such as olaparib and rucaparib. As a result, molecular diagnostic testing to identify patients with BRCA mutations eligible for the PARPi therapy has become an integral component of managing patients with mCRPC. There are practical challenges in the current molecular testing pathway in Australia that can compromise testing success. Testing success is often contingent on quality of tissue handling and laboratory processing techniques to minimize DNA degradation and suboptimal sequencing data quality. Greater adoption of best testing practices in Australia can be facilitated with education and greater awareness of expert recommendations. Here, we provide expert recommendations on how to optimize BRCA molecular diagnostic testing in patients with mCRPC. Optimization and standardization of molecular diagnostic testing will support health care providers and institutes in establishing more efficient testing pathways, enabling access to targeted therapies such as PARPi, and improving patient outcomes.

Validation of the Maslach burnout inventory-general survey 9-item short version (MBI-GS9) among care aides in Canadian nursing homes

BackgroundThe Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey (MBI-GS) is the leading measure of burnout for all occupations. The MBI-GS9, the 9-item version of the MBI-GS, was formulated based on the MBI-GS and has been used for several years. However, very few studies have systematically tested its psychometric properties, and none have focused on care aides working in nursing homes who are susceptible to burnout.MethodsFollowing the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing, this study validated the MBI-GS9 among 3,765 care aides from 91 Canadian nursing homes, using data collected between September 2019 and February 2020 by the Translating Research in Elder Care (TREC) program.ResultsThe Exhaustion subscale had good reliability with coefficients around 0.66–0.74. The Cynicism subscale had medium reliability with coefficients around 0.60–0.66, and the Efficacy subscale also had medium reliability with coefficients around 0.51–0.58. The MBI-GS9 was significantly correlated with various conceptually related constructs, such as health status, working environment, job satisfaction, psychological empowerment, work engagement, and organizational citizenship behaviors. The MBI-GS9 had a three-factor structure in the full sample and showed equivalent factor structure, factor loadings, latent values, factor variance and error variance across different sex and age groups. Care aides with English as their first language showed higher latent values of the Exhaustion subscale compared to those with English as a second language.ConclusionOverall, the MBI-GS9 exhibited acceptable psychometric properties, but medium reliability of cynicism and efficacy subscales, for measuring burnout among care aides in nursing homes, demonstrating equivalence across sex and gender groups. When comparing across different languages or racial or ethnic groups among care aides, it is important to consider inequivalent latent values on Exhaustion before comparing scores on the measure.

Wind–Wave Misalignment in Irish Waters and Its Impact on Floating Offshore Wind Turbines

This study examined the impact of wind–wave misalignment on floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) in Irish waters, analysing average weather and extreme events, including hurricane conditions. Using the ERA5 reanalysis dataset validated against Irish Marine Data Buoy Observation Network measurements, the results showed a satisfactory accuracy with an average wind speed error of −0.54 m/s and a strong correlation coefficient of 0.92. Wind–wave misalignment was found to be inversely correlated with wind speed (correlation coefficient: −0.41), with minimum misalignment occurring approximately seven hours after a change in wind direction. The study revealed that misalignment could exceed 30∘ during hurricanes, contradicting standard assumptions of alignment under extreme conditions. The investigation highlighted that in western coastal areas, average misalignment could reach 57.95∘, while sheltered Irish Sea regions experienced lower values, such as 23.06∘. Numerical simulations confirmed that these misalignment events amplified side-to-side turbine deflections significantly. This research underscores the need to incorporate misalignment effects into industry testing standards and suggests that current methodologies may underestimate fatigue loads by up to 50%. This work emphasizes improved design and testing protocols for FOWTs in complex marine environments and highlights the suitability of ERA5 for climate analysis in Ireland.

Deficient Mismatch Repair and BRAF Mutations in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in the South Island of New Zealand.

Manatū Hauora, the Ministry of Health of New Zealand (NZ), published minimum standards for molecular testing of colorectal cancers (CRCs) in June 2018. These included mismatch repair (MMR) testing at diagnosis and BRAFV600E mutation analysis on newly diagnosed stage IV CRCs. This study aimed to determine the proportion of patients with CRC in the South Island of NZ with metastatic deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) CRC, the proportion of metastatic CRCs and dMMR CRCs that have a BRAFV600E mutation, and audit testing for BRAF mutations and appropriate referral to genetics services. People from the South Island with histologically diagnosed colorectal adenocarcinoma between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, were identified by the National Cancer Registry. Data points extracted from the electronic medical record included staging, MMR status, BRAF mutation testing, and genetics referral. A total of 845 patients met the inclusion criteria; 166 of 845 (19.6%) had dMMR CRC, and of these 130 (78%) had BRAF mutation, 256 patients developed metastatic disease by data cut-off, 20 (7.8%) had dMMR, and 41 (22.2%) had BRAF mutation. When indicated, 275 of 330 (83.3%) were tested for BRAF mutation and 32 of 45 (71.1%) referred to genetics. Compared with other populations, South Island CRC patients had higher rates of dMMR and BRAF mutation. Less than 10% of patients (n = 20) had metastatic dMMR CRC. These patients could be considered candidates for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, a small number that would not significantly burden the NZ health system if funded. The vast majority of dMMR CRC was sporadic. Rates of testing could be improved.

Physicochemical Properties of Jet-A/n-Heptane/Alcohol Blends for Turboengine Applications

This work investigated the physical properties of Jet-A blended with n-heptane and various n-alcohols. The mixtures contained 10%, 20%, and 30% n-alcohols, including n-propanol, n-butanol, n-pentanol, n-hexanol, n-heptanol, and n-octanol. These alcohols are either derived from biomass or have significant potential for bio-based production. The blends were assessed against American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D1655 standards for Jet-A in terms of the density, viscosity, and flash point. Additionally, the refractive index and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis were employed to gain insights into the blend chemical composition. Density measurements for the blends fell within the ASTM specifications (0.7939 to 0.8075 g·cm−3). Viscosity measurements at −20 °C were not directly conducted due to technical limitations. However, extrapolating viscosity–temperature data suggests that the blends would meet the ASTM standard. Flash point measurements revealed that all mixtures exhibited values below the ASTM specification of 38 °C. Regression equations were developed to estimate the density, kinematic viscosity, and refractive index of the studied mixtures as a function of alcohol volume. Furthermore, a correlation study was conducted to estimate density and viscosity from refractive index measurements, given their simplicity, and minimal sample volume requirements. The R2 values for these correlations exceeded 0.99, indicating a strong relationship between the refractive index and the other properties.

Numerical simulation of radiotherapy beam interaction with soft tissues and PLA plastic for 3D printing of dosimetric phantoms

Introduction. In the development of new methods of radiotherapy, studies of the biological effects of sparsely (photons, electrons) and densely (protons, ions) ionizing radiation are relevant. Reproducibility is a challenge in preclinical studies. Dosimetric phantoms of laboratory animals are an effective tool for dose assessment, facilitating standardization of tests conducted under different conditions. existing phantoms often fail to address radiobiological issues like placing of biological samples or dosimetry detectors. A method for manufacturing dosimetric phantoms must be developed to accurately manufacturing products and modify their design in accordance with the task. Aim. This study develops a numerical model to simulate the interaction of photon, electron and proton therapeutic beams with 3D-printed PLA plastic samples and to determine the optimal 3D printing parameters for imitating soft tissues. Material and Methods. Fused filament fabrication proposed as effective means of creating such devices, given that the majority of polymers exhibit properties closely aligned with those of biological tissues, are employed in the manufacture of standard phantoms. A major advantage of 3D printing is the ability to make items with different specifications. Numerical simulation was employed to investigate the interaction of PLA plastic with an ionizing radiation used in radiotherapy. Results. the calculated depth dose distributions of different types of radiation in soft tissues and PLA plastic of varying densities were obtained. It was demonstrated that for adipose imitation using photons and electrons, it is necessary to utilise PLA plastic 3D-printed samples with a density of 0.91 g/cm³ (fill factor of 75 %); for muscle – 1.06 g/ cm³ (fill factor of 88 %). For proton and carbon ion, the density of PLA plastic samples for adipose imitation was determined to be 0.97 g/cm³ (fill factor of 80 %); for muscle – 1.11 g/cm³ (fill factor of 93 %). Conclusion. The study demonstrates that the interaction of PLA plastic with rarely and densely ionizing radiation may be differed. This is a crucial consideration when planning experiments using solid-state dosimetric phantoms.

Advancements in Biodegradable Polymers: Sustainable Solutions for Environmental Challenges

The increasing environmental challenges posed by non-degradable plastics have spurred the development of biodegradable polymers as sustainable alternatives. This review explores the biodegradation processes, highlighting the role of microorganisms in breaking down polymers, and outlines the chemical transformations involved. Various factors influencing biodegradability, such as temperature, pH, and microbial species, are examined. The review also provides a detailed analysis of biodegradability testing standards set by ASTM, OECD, and ISO to assess the environmental impact of these materials. Synthesis techniques for biodegradable polymers from both natural and synthetic sources are discussed, along with their industrial applications in packaging, agriculture, medicine, and more. Key findings suggest that biodegradable polymers offer a viable solution to reducing pollution, carbon emissions, and reliance on petroleum-based products. The future direction for research emphasizes enhancing material properties and expanding applications to foster a sustainable approach to addressing global environmental concerns.