Strong Coefficient Of Determination Research Articles

Bond behavior of deformed rebar in concrete containing recycled brick aggregate and waste rubber

The reuse of aggregates and crumb rubber (CR) in concrete is gaining interest globally for reducing the adverse effects on the environment and maintaining construction sustainability. The bond strength of reinforcing rebars in such concrete is one of the key issues to be addressed before their practical application, particularly in structural elements. Pull-out tests were performed on 80 specimens to assess the bond performance of deformed rebars in rubberized recycled brick aggregate concrete (RRBAC). After investigating the strength properties of RRBAC, pull-out tests were performed on two sizes of cylindrical specimens. RBA%, CR%, rebar diameter (d), embedment length (le), and concrete cover-to-rebar diameter ratio (c/d) were among the test variables in this bond behavior investigation. Bond stress-slip relationships were obtained, examined, and average bond strengths were compared with the available codes. Concrete split failure was observed in 79% of the tested specimens, whereas rebar fracture was not seen in any of the tests. The bond strength was found to be decreased with the inclusion of RBAs and CRs though relative improvement was observed for higher percentage RBAs. Additionally, regression analysis was performed on the experimental data to produce a closed-form equation for forecasting the bond strength for RRBAC. With a strong coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.97) and low values of error terms, the predicted bond strengths were seen to be a good agreement with the test results.

Utilisation of Sawdust and Charcoal Ash as Sustainable Modified Bitumen

Bitumen pavements play a critical role in modern transportation infrastructure, providing durable and reliable surfaces for roads and highways. However, traditional bitumen modifiers often rely on non-renewable resources and may contribute to environmental degradation. In response to the need for sustainable alternatives, this study explores the potential of utilizing sawdust (SD) and charcoal ash (CA) as bitumen modifiers. SD and CA were blended with bitumen grade 60/70 with 0% (control) and varied amounts of proportion using combination of SD and CA. Moreover, the sustainable modified bitumen mixture was assessed using the Marshall stability, indirect tensile strength and loss abrasion test. Specifically, adding 7SD0.5CA performs the best in stability as a sustainable modified bitumen mixture. The correlation between stability, tensile strength and loss abrasion for SD and CA modified bitumen mixture was significant, with a strong Coefficient of Determination (R2) of average 0.96 for all testing parameters. According to this study’s findings, the correlation of SD and CA content may improve the performance and engineering characteristics with respect to sustainable modified bitumen.

Validation of a field-friendly faeces drying and storage method for quantifying faecal glucocorticoid metabolites in African elephants (Loxodonta africana) opens up new perspectives for conservationists.

Faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) are a relevant means of non-invasively assessing adrenocortical activity and thus, a key physiological stress response in wildlife populations. However, the widespread use of fGCMs as a stress-related biomarker in conservation biology is often hampered by the logistical challenge of storing collected faecal material frozen until it reaches the laboratory for analysis. Although alternative approaches to minimize potential alteration of fGCM composition post-defecation have been recently identified, there is to our knowledge, no satisfactory alternative method established for the preservation of elephant dung. In this study, we validated a field-friendly protocol for dehydrating African elephant faeces samples using a food dehydrator with desiccant and investigated the stability of fGCM concentrations in the dehydrated faeces when stored at ambient temperature. We collected 40 faecal samples from African elephants and compared fGCM concentrations of freeze-dried and dehydrated sample sub-sets. Samples dried in the field showed a slight but significant overall -6% reduction in fGCM concentration compared with frozen control samples. However, fGCM concentrations following field dehydration protocol match those of control samples with high accuracy, as evidenced by the low bias and strong coefficient of determination between the two approaches (R2 = 0.88). In addition, over nearly 2 months, storage time at ambient temperature of the dehydrated samples had no effect on the fGCM concentrations compared with those measured in the control samples (F-statistic = 1.82; P = 0.18). Dehydrating the samples in the field thus provides an easy and cost-effective alternative to freezing, especially when working in remote areas with unstable electrical supply. Our results encourage the widespread use of fGCMs by conservationists as non-invasive means of steroid monitoring of African elephants in the current context of a general increase in wildlife welfare research. Future studies are needed to extend the use of this protocol to other species and to other steroid classes.

Flexural and Tensile Properties of f2x6 and 2x10 Southern Pine Lumber

Bending modulus of elasticity (MOE) and tensile properties parallel to the grain were studied on 702 pieces of 2 X 6 and 285 pieces of 2 X 10 No. 2 visually graded southern pine lumber. The overall rings per inch (RPI) in 2 X 6 pieces was 4.82, whereas 2 X 10 had an RPI average of 3.82. For latewood percentage (LW), 2 X 6 pieces found 45.88% of LW and 45.02% for 2 X 10 pieces. Bending MOE (Eb) mean for 2 X 6 was 10,615 MPa, whereas for 2 X 10 lumber, the mean was 13,665 MPa. The tension MOE (Et) mean for 2 X 6 lumber was 11,339 MPa, whereas for 2 X 10 the mean was 9735 MPa. The ultimate tensile stress (UTS) mean for 2 X 6 lumber was 28.42 MPa and the overall mean UTS for 2 X 10 lumber was 24.51 MPa. Linear regression models were useful to explain the relationship between Eb and Et. Strong coefficients of determination (r250.70 and r250.74) were found for both lumber sizes between these two properties. Moderate relationships (r250.43 up to r250.51) between Eb and UTS were also found for both lumber sizes. However, weaker relationships were found between Et and UTS (r250.32 up to r250.40). Three distributions were fit to the Eb, Et, and UTS data and evaluated for goodness of fit. The results suggest that Eb of 2 X 6 lumber might be adequately modeled by a normal distribution, and tensile properties of 2 X 10 lumber might be adequately modeled by a lognormal distribution.

Viscoelastic Measurements of Clay Suspensions and their Relationship to Strength of Unfired Clay Bricks with Almond Husk Additive

Engineered unfired clay bricks are an ecological alternative to overcome conventional construction materials’ inconvenience. This work investigates the rheological behavior of organo-silica suspensions, made from almond husk waste and illite clay, in relation to the compressive strength of unfired clay bricks incorporating the same waste. Selected proportions by weight of almond husk are 2, 5, 10, and 20 wt.%. Results from the compressive strength test show an improvement, of 8.98% in bricks with 2 wt.% waste content compared to the control sample, thanks to an increase in friction and the fiber bridging mechanism. Then, a progressively decrease in strength is recorded with the addition of waste. The decrease in strength is reported to be the creation of pores in the matrix, and loss of cohesion. It is found that the storage modulus, on a logarithmic scale, follows inversely the same trend of the compressive strength in previously prepared bricks. The results from the strength test and rheological test are linearly correlated. Strong coefficients of determination are found; R2=0.9809 (with 40 wt.% water content) and R2=0.9206 (with 50 wt.% water content). The findings from this study demonstrate the possibility of assessment and prediction of unfired bricks’ strength using rheometry.

Predicting Perceived Vocal Roughness Using a Bio-Inspired Computational Model of Auditory Temporal Envelope Processing.

Vocal roughness is often present in many voice disorders but the assessment of roughness mainly depends on the subjective auditory-perceptual evaluation and lacks acoustic correlates. This study aimed to apply the concept of roughness in general sound quality perception to vocal roughness assessment and to characterize the relationship between vocal roughness and temporal envelop fluctuation measures obtained from an auditory model. Ten /ɑ/ recordings with a wide range of roughness were selected from an existing database. Ten listeners rated the roughness of the recordings in a single-variable matching task. Temporal envelope fluctuations of the recordings were analyzed with an auditory processing model of amplitude modulation that utilizes a modulation filterbank of different modulation frequencies. Pitch strength and the smoothed cepstral peak prominence were also obtained for comparison. Individual simple regression models yielded envelope standard deviation from a modulation filter with a low center frequency (64.3 Hz) as a statistically significant predictor of vocal roughness with a strong coefficient of determination (r 2 = .80). Pitch strength and CPPS were not significant predictors of roughness. This result supports the possible utility of envelope fluctuation measures from an auditory model as objective correlates of vocal roughness.

Embedded system in handheld water turbidity meter for smallholders

The periodical assessment of water quality in response to increased pollution has become increasingly crucial. Water turbidity, which indicates the growth of pathogenic microorganisms in water, is a well-known water quality indicator. In fish farming, water turbidity affects fish health. Commercially available tools for estimating water turbidity are expensive, which is an obstacle for small-scale farmers. In this study, a low-cost (<20 USD) embedded meter that allows near real-time assessment of water turbidity was developed. The developed tool was integrated into an Android-based mobile application and comprised a turbidity sensor, RGB sensor, LED as the light source, and electronic components. Light source uniformity is essential for obtaining reliable measurement results and instrument replication. Uniformity is performed by calculating the luminance index from the RGB sensor value and then determining the light intensity. Moreover, two developed tools were tested by comparing their results against those of a commercial turbidimeter (Eutech TN-100). The comparison indicated a strong coefficient of determination (0.96 and 0.98), with root-mean-square error (RMSE) values of 30.48 and 22.08, in the turbidity evaluation range of 300–500 NTU. However, upon measuring samples with turbidity levels of 0–300 NTU, the developed tools showed better performance based on the RMSE results of 20.63 and 11.87. Thus, the developed meter is proven useful for smallholders to manage water resources and fish farming activities.

Energy Demand Analysis for Office Building Using Simulation Model and Statistical Method

This research is focused on the development of a reliable energy demand model for a case study using a comprehensive dual approach including: (1) engineering load calculation and simulation model via software and (2) statistical analysis. The simulated model is capable to cover the analysis of the cooling and thermal loads for a studied building. Concerning the building operation perspective, the statistical models were provided using the real measured data and multivariable regression analysis. For evaluating the performance of the developed statistical models, the authors have calibrated the models with the real measured data and then the impact of relevant variables has been evaluated through statistical tests and sensitivity analysis.&#x0D; According to the results of this study, the rated power for the cooling system and the capacity of the thermal system are 75.8 (kW) and 147.7 (kW), respectively. Based on the results of the statistical models, the measured and modelled data have been correlated with a strong coefficient of determination. The accuracy of models has been examined by calculating the statistical error indices with a suitable finding. Thus, the proposed models can be considered as an accurate findings for the energy performance analysis and demand forecasting objectives.

Prediction of vocal roughness using measures of temporal envelope fluctuation obtained from an auditory model

Vocal roughness often is present in many voice disorders, but the assessment of roughness mainly depends on the subjective auditory-perceptual evaluation and lacks unique acoustic correlates. This study aimed to apply the concept of roughness in general sound quality perception to vocal roughness assessment and to characterize the relationship between vocal roughness and temporal envelope fluctuation measures obtained from a biologically inspired auditory processing model. Ten /ɑ/ recordings with a wide range of roughness were selected from an existing database. Ten listeners evaluated perceived roughness using a single-variable matching task. Temporal envelope fluctuations of the recordings were analyzed with an auditory processing model of amplitude modulation based on a modulation filterbank tuned to different modulation frequencies. Pitch strength and the smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS) also were computed for comparison. Individual simple regression models yielded envelope standard deviation from a modulation filter with a low center frequency (64.3 Hz) as a statistically significant predictor of vocal roughness with a strong coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.81). Pitch strength and CPPS were not significant predictors of roughness. These results support the utility of envelope fluctuation measures from an auditory model as objective correlates of vocal roughness. [Work supported by NIH R01DC009029.]

FACTORS AFFECTING THE QUALITY OF REGIONAL FINANCIAL SUPERVISION

This research was conducted to analyze several factors that affected the quality of the inspectorate supervision, namely Independence, objectivity, expertise, due professional care, and accountability. Multiple regression analysis was chosen for this research, and the F statistic test and T statistic test were utilized for Hypothesis Test. The result indicated that (1) independence affected the quality of the inspectorate supervision, (2) objectivity affected the quality of the inspectorate supervision, (3) expertise affected the quality of the inspectorate supervision, (4) due professional care did not affect the quality of the inspectorate supervision, (5) accountability affected the quality of the inspectorate supervision. The influence of Independence, objectivity, expertise, due professional care, and accountability toward the inspectorate supervision had a strong coefficient of determination.

Integration of remote sensing in spatial ecology: assessing the interspecific interactions of two plant species in a semi-arid woodland using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) photogrammetric data.

The spatial structure of plant communities in semi-arid regions is mostly derived by plant-plant interactions and environmental heterogeneity. In this study, we investigated the intra- and interspecific interactions and their contribution to growth inhibition in the patches of Pistacia trees and Amygdalus shrubs in semi-arid woodland communities through the implementation of photogrammetric data provided by unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). This study was conducted in a part of Wild Pistachio Natural Reserve covered by Pistacia-Amygdalus stands in Zagros Mountains, western Iran. We used univariate and bivariate forms of pair- and mark correlation functions and Analytical Global Envelopes under inhomogeneous Poisson process which allow detection of the interactions of the species within the 45-ha study area. Our results indicated that the UAV-derived photogrammetric data proved to be efficient in identification of the plant individuals (F-score ≈ 0.92 for both species). Additionally, strong coefficients of determination (R2 = 0.98 and 0.94 for Pistacia and Amygdalus, respectively) supported prediction of crown area. We observed the aggregation of the species individuals in clusters of conspecifics and heterospecifics at small spatial scales, most likely as a result of aggregation in favourable parts of the study area. The aggregation of the species within patches had a marked effect on their size (i.e., crown area, height) inferred as growth inhibition, probably due to intra- and interspecific competition. Our findings demonstrated that promising UAV photogrammetric data can be effectively utilized by ecologists for investigation of plant associations, hence increasing the potentiality of remote sensing in spatial ecology of vegetation patches in semi-arid environments.

Biometric measurements of body and internal organ traits of indigenous chickens on free range in South-Eastern Nigeria

A biometric study of the body conformation and internal organs of the indigenous chickens on free range in rural areas of Imo State in South-Eastern Nigeria was conducted using 5 Local Government Areas. It was observed that the predominant plumage colours were black (51.25%) and brown (36.25%) for the hens while the cocks were predominantly black (30.36%) and red (25.01%). The dressed colour of the birds was majorly yellow and white comprising of (70.68%) and (29.32%) for the hens and (77.75%) and (22.25%) for the cocks, respectively. Shank colour was black (95.4%) and white (4.65%) for the hens, while the cocks were (54.24%) black and (46.76%) white respectively. The mean shank length, neck length and back length of 6.725±0.09 cm, 11.11±0.20 cm and 17.77±0.29 cm were estimated for the hens, while the cocks had mean shank length, neck length and back length of 7.79±0.13 cm, 11.35±0.30 cm and 18.29±0.44 cm, respectively. The mean body weights of the hens and cocks were 868.48±21.18 g, and 1032±57.84 g, respectively with cocks being significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in body weight and back length than hens. The mean biometric and internal organ measures of chickens per Local Government Area (LGA) were also investigated with no significant (P&gt;0.05) differences among chickens in the five LGAs except for weight of proventriculus and full intestine. Regression equations for the prediction of body weight using the biometric and internal organ measurements were obtained under two functional forms (linear and semi-log) which showed a weak coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 7.5 to 24.3% for biometric measurements, and a strong coefficient of determination (R2) ranging between 21.4 to 98.89% for internal organs. There was no significant correlation coefficient (r) between the biometric measurements taken, but strong and significant correlation (r) was shown between internal organs and body weight. Therefore, indigenous chickens of South-Eastern Nigeria exhibit wide variability among phenotypes in terms of physical appearance, biometric measurement and internal organ characteristics. More so, the internal organs can be predicted more effectively than biometric measurements by the body weight, using regression models of the two functional forms; and significant indirect selection can be made to improve internal organs like gizzard weight using the bodyweight, due to significant correlation coefficient established.

Changes in sandy soil hydro‐physical properties as function of biochar and biogas slurry amendments

AbstractRaising a sandy soil's ability to retain more water is an important strategy to manage sandy soils. Combined application of biochar and slurry was hypothesized to be an appropriate strategy for improving soil hydro‐physical properties. A two‐season field trial was conducted by cultivating peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) on a sandy soil under permanent overhead sprinkler irrigation. Rice straw biochar at 0, 10, 20 and 30 Mg ha−1 and biogas slurry at 0, 5, 10 and 15 Mg ha−1 were applied. Results indicated that all biogas slurry rates were more effective than biochar on improving all investigated parameters apart from infiltration rate and hydraulic conductivity which were higher with 30 Mg ha−1 of biochar than with 15 Mg ha−1 of slurry. Soil bulk density (g m−3) decreased significantly from 1.76 for the control to record 1.72 and 1.62 under biochar and slurry, respectively. Soil moisture contents at different tensions were the highest under the maximum combination rates, while biochar singly gave lower contents than slurry. The combined effect of 10 and 15 Mg ha−1 biochar and slurry, respectively, surpassed their individual effects. With strong coefficients of determination (R2 ranges from 0.88 to 0.98) and identical curves of estimated and predicted variables, it is possible to have accurate predictions for the changes in soil hydro‐physical properties linked with different combinations of biochar and biogas slurry.

Deciphering the performance of satellite-based daily rainfall products over Zambia

The amount and distribution of precipitation plays a vital role in the management of water resources, agriculture and flood-risk preparedness. Unfortunately, Zambia like many other developing countries is a highly data-scarce country with few and unevenly distributed meteorological stations. The objective of this study was to run a comparative analysis of satellite-based rainfall products (SRPs) and gauge data to ascertain the reliability of using SRPs for daily rainfall measurements in Zambia. The four daily SRPs examined in this study include the following: The Tropical Applications of Meteorology using Satellite and ground-based observations version 3 (TAMSATv3), Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN), the Climate Hazards group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data version 2 (CHIRPSv2.0), and the African Rainfall Climatology Version 2 (ARCv2). SRPs were compared to rain gauge data from 35 meteorological, agrometeorological, and climatological stations in Zambia for the period 1998–2015. Statistical analyses were extensively carried out at temporal scales inter alia daily, monthly, seasonal and annual. Comparisons were also done for three stations lying at the highest, middle and lowest elevations to examine the ability of SRPs to capture precipitation occurrences on complex topography. Strong coefficient of determination (> 0.9) of all the SRPs and gauge data were found at the monthly scale even over multifaceted topography. However, the ability of these products to capture rain gauge data at daily, seasonal and annual scales differs markedly. Specifically, PERSIANN outperforms all the other SRPs at all scales, CHIRPSv2.0 is rated second, followed by TAMSATv3 and ARCv2, respectively. These results suggest that PERSIANN can reliably be used in studies that seek to estimate rainfall in data-sparse regions of Zambia at any temporal scale and arrive at similar results to rain gauge data.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the novel monobactam LYS228 in a neutropenic murine thigh model of infection.

Objectives The neutropenic murine thigh infection model and a dose-fractionation approach were used to determine the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship of LYS228, a novel monobactam antibiotic with activity against Enterobacteriaceae including carbapenem-resistant strains. Methods Mice (n = 4 per group) were inoculated with Enterobacteriaceae strains via intramuscular injection. Two hours post-bacterial inoculation, treatment with LYS228 was initiated. Animals were euthanized with CO2 24 h after the start of therapy and bacterial counts (log10 cfu) per thigh were determined. PK parameters were calculated using free (f) plasma drug levels. Results Following a dose-fractionation study, non-linear regression analysis determined that the predominant PK/PD parameter associated with antibacterial efficacy of LYS228 was the percentage of the dosing interval that free drug concentrations remained above the MIC (%fT>MIC). In a dose-dependent manner, LYS228 reduced the thigh bacterial burden in models established with Enterobacteriaceae producing β-lactamase enzymes of all classes (e.g. ESBLs, NDM-1, KPC, CMY-2 and OXA-48). The range of the calculated static dose was 86-649 mg/kg/day for the isolates tested, and the magnitude of the driver of efficacy was 37-83 %fT>MIC. %fT>MIC was confirmed as the parameter predominantly driving efficacy as evidenced by a strong coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.68). Neutrophils had minimal impact on the effect of LYS228 in the murine thigh infection model. Conclusions LYS228 is efficacious in murine thigh infection models using β-lactamase-producing strains of Enterobacteriaceae, including those expressing metallo-β-lactamases, ESBLs and serine carbapenemases, with the PK/PD driver of efficacy identified as %T>MIC.

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the novel monobactam LYS228 in a neutropenic murine thigh model of infection.

The neutropenic murine thigh infection model and a dose-fractionation approach were used to determine the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship of LYS228, a novel monobactam antibiotic with activity against Enterobacteriaceae including carbapenem-resistant strains. Mice (n = 4 per group) were inoculated with Enterobacteriaceae strains via intramuscular injection. Two hours post-bacterial inoculation, treatment with LYS228 was initiated. Animals were euthanized with CO2 24 h after the start of therapy and bacterial counts (log10 cfu) per thigh were determined. PK parameters were calculated using free (f) plasma drug levels. Following a dose-fractionation study, non-linear regression analysis determined that the predominant PK/PD parameter associated with antibacterial efficacy of LYS228 was the percentage of the dosing interval that free drug concentrations remained above the MIC (%fT>MIC). In a dose-dependent manner, LYS228 reduced the thigh bacterial burden in models established with Enterobacteriaceae producing β-lactamase enzymes of all classes (e.g. ESBLs, NDM-1, KPC, CMY-2 and OXA-48). The range of the calculated static dose was 86-649 mg/kg/day for the isolates tested, and the magnitude of the driver of efficacy was 37-83 %fT>MIC. %fT>MIC was confirmed as the parameter predominantly driving efficacy as evidenced by a strong coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.68). Neutrophils had minimal impact on the effect of LYS228 in the murine thigh infection model. LYS228 is efficacious in murine thigh infection models using β-lactamase-producing strains of Enterobacteriaceae, including those expressing metallo-β-lactamases, ESBLs and serine carbapenemases, with the PK/PD driver of efficacy identified as %T>MIC.

Analyzing control of respiratory particulate matter on Land Surface Temperature in local climatic zones of English Bazar Municipality and Surroundings

Local climatic zone (LCZ), a systematic classification of internal urban morphology based on physical and thermal, radiative, land cover and geometric properties of the urban area, is identified in English Bazar Municipality and its surrounding region. Spatial land surface temperature (LST) and respiratory particulate matter (RPM) are also identified in each LCZ for characterizing the ecological milieu for living. It is also attempted to correlate RPM and LST in each LCZ for determining the impact of RPM on LST. Landsat satellite images, google earth images are employed for extracting LST, RPM and LCZ characters. Validation process using both ground control points, air temperature data and data from Pollution Control Board are applied for establishing the degree of sensitivity of the LCZ, LST and RPM models. Nine LCZs e.g. compact low-rise, open mid-rise, open low-rise, light weight low-rise etc. zones are recognized in this study area. Relatively high LST and RPM with significant spatio-seasonal variation is recognized in compact low-rise, open mid-rise, open low-rise, light weight low-rise and bare soil zones. Positive linear regression model with strong coefficient of determination (R2) is identified between RPM and LST in the built up dominated LCZ (R2 > 0.8).

Application of SPOT Imagery for Landcover Mapping and Assessing Indicators of Erosion and Proportion of Bareground in Arid and Semi-arid Environment

Inappropriate land-use on a fragile ecological condition have greater impact on the natural state of rangelands making land degradation a common phenomenon. Usage of remote sensing has become an ideal choice for monitoring these natural resources. SPOT 5 imagery was used, in this study for characterizing land cover classes and mapping vegetation distribution in the North West Province, South Africa by employing the maximum likelihood classification technique. Regression technique was also used to assess relationship between rainfall distribution and proportion of bare ground. Water body, bare ground, indicators of erosion, built-up area, grass and shrubs were the LULC classes in the image classification. Except for indicators of erosion, all the land-cover classes were classified with higher accuracies (in average, >0.78 overall accuracies and 0.70 for Kappa). However, SPOT 5 imagery yielded low overall accuracy (< 0.3) for indicators of erosion. Strong coefficient of determination (r²=0.80) was detected between average rainfall and proportion of bare ground indicating that rainfall is the most important factor in controlling the spatial distribution of vegetation in the study sites.

In vitro evaluation of ivermectin, moxidectin, albendazole and pyrantel against cyathostomins of horses.

Cyathostomins are the most prevalent nematodes of horses, and multidrug resistance has been reported worldwide. There is a need to implement alternative drug monitoring analytical tests. The objective of this study was to determine the consistency (5 repetitions) of the larval migration on agar test (LMAT) using ivermectin, moxidectin, pyrantel or albendazole against cyathostomin infective-stage larvae in eight different concentrations. LMAT showed a strong coefficient of determination (R2 > 0.91), between the test repetitions (n=5). The average 50% effective concentration (EC50) for ivermectin, moxidectin, pyrantel and albendazole were 0.0404, 0.0558, 0.0864 and 0.0988 nMol, respectively. The results of the EC50 for albendazole showed the greatest range of concentration. Ivermectin and moxidectin had the lowest in between-test variation. In the future, internationally certified susceptible isolates could be used for screening new drug candidates, or to follow up the pattern of drug efficacy from field populations.

EFFECT OF MOISTURE DAMAGE ON GAP-GRADED ASPHALT MIXTURE INCORPORATING ELECTRIC ARC FURNACE STEEL SLAG AND COPPER MINE TAILINGS

Water damage is a vital factor affecting the durability of gap-graded asphalt. There is an urgent need for a pragmatic and reasonable test to evaluate this parameter. Previous research has proposed that tensile strength ratio is a promising test for this application. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of moisture damage on gap-graded asphalt mixture incorporating electric arc furnace (EAF) steel slag and copper mine tailings (CMT). Four material mixtures of eight mix designs were investigated. Each mix was conditioned in water for 24-hour and 48-hour before testing. The study adopted retained strength index (RSI), durability index (DI) and tensile strength ratio (TSR) to describe the durability of gap-graded asphalt incorporating EAF steel slag and copper mine tailings. The results reveal that all the mixes fulfill the prescribed criteria. Also, there is a strong correlation between the retained strength index and the durability index with a strong coefficient of determination, R2 of 0.9543. The results of the study further showed that gap-graded asphalt mixture incorporating EAF steel slag and copper mine tailings did not seem to pose any problem.