Strong Positive Correlation Coefficient Research Articles

Evaluation of GeneXpert and advanced biological laboratories UltraGene HCV diagnostic detection and performance against Roche real time PCR in Myanmar

BackgroundDeveloping countries experience limited access to HCV laboratory tests for different reasons. Providing near to real–time HCV testing and results especially to at–risk populations including those in rural settings for timely initiation to treatment is key. Within a rural Myanmar setting, we compared HCV diagnostic detection and quantification of the GeneXpert, and Advanced Biological Laboratories UltraGene–HCV assays against the gold standard and reference method Roche real–time HCV in Myanmar. MethodsBlood samples from 158 high–risk individuals were assessed using three different methods at baseline. Results were checked for normality and log transformed. Log differences and bias between methods were calculated and correlated. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine the association of HCV viral loads across all methods. The level of agreement with the standard method (Roche real time HCV) was assessed using Bland–Altman analyses. ResultsThere was a strong positive correlation coefficient between all three methods with GeneXpert and Roche having the strongest, r = 0.96, (p<0.001). Compared to Roche, ABL (mean difference, 95 % limits of agreement; -0.063 and -1.4 to 1.3 Log10IU/mL) and GeneXpert (mean difference, 95 % limits of agreement; -0.28 and -0.7 to 1.8 Log10IU/mL) showed a good level of agreement with the GeneXpert being slightly superior. ConclusionWe demonstrate the excellent performance and no-inferiority, in terms of levels of agreements of both GeneXpert and ABL compared to the Roche platform and supporting the use of the POC assays as alternative a cost-effective methods in HCV detection and diagnosis in developing and low resource settings countries.

MOTIVATING THE YOUTH: UNCOVERING THE ATTITUDES AND MOTIVATION BEHIND SCHOOL SPORTS ENGAGEMENT

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between attitudes, motivation, and school sports engagement frequency, using the newly constructed Attitudes and Motivation Toward School Sports Questionnaire (AMTSSQ) inventory as a tool for assessment. The study found a significant effect of attitudes (F = 11.96, p &lt; .001, np² = 0.02) and motivation (F = 19.63, p &lt; .001, np² = 0.03) with strong positive correlation coefficients (r = 0.71) between attitudes, motivation, and school sports engagement frequency. However, Bayesian analyses supported the null hypothesis with moderate to strong evidence (Bayes Factor &lt; 0.33), and credible intervals for effect size and R2 were relatively narrow. Additionally, school sports engagement frequency is not significantly related to motivation (b = -0.08 to 0.03, p &gt; .05), and the highest order unconditional interaction of school sports engagement frequency and attitudes was not significant (F = 1.18, p = .315). However, attitudes were strongly related to motivation (R2 = .99), suggesting that students who viewed school sports as important and developed had higher motivation toward school sports. Hence, we can conclude that the AMTSSQ reliably and validly assesses students’ attitudes and motivation toward school sports, and we found positive associations between attitudes and motivation. The findings suggest that attitudes towards school sports, like the perceived importance and developmental benefits, are significant predictors of motivation and may influence engagement in school sports. However, school sports engagement frequency did not moderate the relationship between attitudes and motivation. These findings have implications for promoting physical activity and student-school sports participation.

Asthma control test (ACT): comparison with the accurate use of inhalers for the treatment among patients with asthma

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease characterized by chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract. Pharmacological therapies that are often given by inhalation are Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) and Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI). According to the GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR ASTHMA Asthma Control Test (ACT) is a questionnaire that can be used to measure the level of asthma controlPurpose: To determine the relationship between the correct use of inhalers and the results of the Asthma Control Test (ACT) in asthma patientsMethod: The design of this study was an analytic survey with a cross-sectional approach. The parameter used were asthma control test questionnaires taken from primary data in the form of a survey. There were 126 total samples of respondents who met the inclusion criteria, namely asthma patients who used inhalers and underwent at least 3 months of treatment.Results: Spearman correlation test was obtained p = 0.000 which means that there is a significant relationship between the accuracy of inhaler use and the results of the asthma control test and a strong positive correlation coefficient of r = 0.667 and, for the 95% confidence interval in this study, it was obtained (95%CI = 3.09-3.83).Conclusion: There is a relationship between the correct use of inhalers and the results of the asthma control test (ACT) in asthma patients.

Impact of Botulinum Toxin Along with Task-Specific Training in Post-Stroke Quality of Life in Focal Hand Dystonia

Objective: To investigate the impact of BOTOX, along with task-specific training, on focal hand dystonia in post-stroke patients and to determine the correlation between quality of life and motor outcomes in upper extremity dystonic patients. Methodology: A quasi-experimental involving 20 patients, study was conducted at Holy Family Hospital (HFH), Chambeli Institute of Rehabilitation in Rawalpindi, and Neurocounsel Clinic in Islamabad. A convenient sampling technique was utilized to select participants for inclusion in the study. Assessments were conducted at four time points: baseline (0 weeks), 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. The assessment tools used were the Abductor Digiti Minimi Abduction (ADDA) test, Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), and Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SS-QoL) questionnaire. Repeated measures ANOVA was employed to analyze mean differences in data across various weeks. The associations between scales were evaluated using Spearman's rho and Pearson correlation coefficients, based on different variables. Results: The mean age was 42.7 ± 10.45 years. The study included 14 males and 6 females. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated a significant difference between MAS scores for upper extremity and quality of life in post-stroke dystonic patients, with a p-value of 0.001**. A strong positive correlation coefficient was found between MAS and SS-QoL through Spearman's correlation analysis, with a p-value of less than 0.05. Conclusion: The administration of Type a Botulinum toxin, coupled with task-specific training, not only exhibited improvements in upper limb motor outcomes but also in the quality of life of focal hand dystonic patients after a stroke.

Fc gamma receptor IIb in tumor-associated macrophages and dendritic cells drives poor prognosis of recurrent glioblastoma through immune-associated signaling pathways.

Background: Among central nervous system tumors, glioblastoma (GBM) is considered to be the most destructive malignancy. Recurrence is one of the most fatal aspects of GBM. However, the driver molecules that trigger GBM recurrence are currently unclear. Methods: The mRNA expression data and clinical information of GBM and normal tissues were collected from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and REpository for Molecular BRAin Neoplasia DaTa (REMBRANDT) cohorts. The DESeq2 R package was used to identify the differentially expressed genes between primary and recurrent GBM. ClueGO, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Biological Process in Gene ontology (GO-BP), and the Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships (PANTHER) pathway analyses were performed to explore the enriched signaling pathways in upregulated DEGs in recurrent GBM. A gene list that contained potential oncogenes that showed a significant negative correlation with patient survival from The Cancer Genome Atlas was used to further screen driver candidates for recurrent GBM. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to investigate the risk score for the mRNA expression of the candidates. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) analyses were used to determine the cell type-specific distribution of Fc gamma receptor II b (FcγRIIb) in GBM. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to confirm the FcγRIIb-positive cell populations in primary and paired recurrent GBM. Results: Through DEG analysis and overlap analysis, a total of 10 genes that are upregulated in recurrent GBM were screened. Using validation databases, FcγRIIb was identified from the 10 candidates that may serve as a driver for recurrent GBM. FCGR2B expression, not mutation, further showed a highly negative correlation with the poor prognosis of patients with recurrent GBM. Furthermore, scRNA-Seq analyses revealed that tumor-associated macrophage- and dendritic cell-specific FCGR2B was expressed. Moreover, FcγRIIb also showed a strong positive correlation coefficient with major immune-associated signaling pathways. In clinical specimens, FcγRIIb-positive cell populations were higher in recurrent GBM than in primary GBM. Conclusion: This study provides novel insights into the role of FcγRIIb in recurrent GBM and a promising strategy for treatment as an immune therapeutic target.

Abstract 15187: Comparison of Resting and Hyperemic Coronary Physiological Indices to Evaluate Myocardial Bridging in Patients With Angina and No Obstructive Coronary Arteries

Introduction: A hemodynamically significant myocardial bridge (MB) is an important diagnosis in patients with angina and no obstructive coronary arteries (ANOCA). The most appropriate intracoronary functional assessment to distinguish an incidental vs. hemodynamically significant MB remains unclear. We compared the ability of several resting and hyperemic physiological indices to identify a hemodynamically significant MB. Methods: We prospectively studied 11 patients with ANOCA and an MB confirmed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). All patients had intracoronary functional testing at rest, including instantaneous wave-free ratio (iFR), resting full-cycle ratio (RFR), and the ratio of distal coronary pressure (Pd)/aortic pressure (Pa). These measurements were repeated at hyperemia, including adenosine fractional flow reserve (FFR), dobutamine diastolic FFR (dFFR), iFR, and RFR. Resting iFR and RFR ≤ 0.89; resting Pd/Pa ≤ 0.91; hyperemic FFR, iFR, and RFR ≤ 0.8; and dFFR ≤ 0.76 were considered indicative of hemodynamic significance of an MB. Dobutamine dFFR was considered as reference standard. Results: At rest, iFR and RFR were significant in 6 and 7 patients respectively, while Pd/Pa was significant in 6. Adenosine FFR was significant in only 4 patients. With dobutamine, iFR and RFR were significant in 8 and 9 patients, respectively, and dFFR was significant in 9. Resting Pd/Pa and hyperemic iFR had a strong positive Spearman's rank correlation coefficient with dFFR (Figure). By kappa statistics, dobutamine iFR and RFR had almost perfect agreement with dobutamine dFFR. Conclusion: In patients with ANOCA who have an MB by IVUS, intracoronary physiology assessment is necessary to determine if the MB is hemodynamic significant. While adenosine FFR is an insufficient measure, diastolic indices such as dobutamine dFFR, iFR, or RFR may identify hemodynamic significance, although whether one diastolic index outperforms another requires further evaluation.

The Effect of Leptin on the Regulation of Immune Responses in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

&lt;b&gt;Background and Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells in adipose tissue that plays a biological role in metabolism, immune system control and energy flow regulation. The study's objective was to investigate serum leptin levels in PCOS females and determine how they are related to immunological and hormonal parameters. &lt;b&gt;Materials and Methods:&lt;/b&gt; Thirty PCOS women were chosen for the study and compared to thirty healthy women as control samples, with both case and normal samples ranging in age from 18-36 years. WBC count, absolute numbers of neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, leptin, Prolactin and serum IgA levels were measured. &lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; The results showed the mean WBC, lymphocytes and eosinophil absolute numbers in PCOS women were significantly different. However, there was no significant difference in the absolute numbers of neutrophils and monocytes. The findings also revealed a significant increase in BMI, IgA, leptin and prolactin levels in PCOS when compared to controls. The results showed strong positive correlation coefficients between BMI and IgA (1.000**), WBC with neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes (0.797**, 0.790**, 0.712**), respectively and finally leptin and prolactin (0.474**). The same test, on the other hand, revealed an inverse correlation coefficient between BMI, IgA and prolactin (-0.376*, -0.376*, respectively with p&lt;u&gt;<&lt;/u&gt;0.05). &lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; A rise in the levels of the hormones leptin and prolactin, which were positively associated with the body mass index in women with PCOS, was found in the current study. The findings revealed that the hormones leptin and prolactin have an effect on some immune parameters in women with PCOS.

Effects of Phytoremediation on Microbial Biomass, Composition, and Function in a Sulphide-Rich Tailing From a Metal-Contaminated Region

Mining activities lead to serious land deterioration and large scale mine waste generation. Reclamation has been carried out on several technogenic materials to encourage the development of soils. To date no detailed studies have been conducted to assess if soil developed in reclaimed tailings can be suitable for microbial community sustainability and associated plant population. This study investigated if 1) soil metal contamination affects microbial biomass and composition in sulphide tailings and 2) phytoremediation of tailing increases microbial abundance, diversity, and function. Microbial biomass was assessed using Phospholipid fatty acid analysis (PLFA). Soil bacterial and fungal microbiota was determined by high throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA gene for bacteria and internal transcribed spacer region for fungi using the Illumina platform. Total copper, nickel, iron, and titium were higher in unreclaimed sites compared to vegetated areas but the total microbial biomass was significantly higher in reclaimed sites compared to reference areas. More importantly, the levels of microbial biomass were not impacted by metals since the bioavailable Cu, Ni, and Ti were low in all the sites. Site-specific bacterial and fungal genera were identified. Proteobacteria was the most dominant bacterial phylum while Ascomicota was the predominant fungal phylum. Interestinlgy, Acidiferrobacter, an acidophilic, thermotolerant and facultatively anaerobic was the most predominant genus in unreclaimed site that is characterized by extreme acidity (pH = 2.8). Analysis of microbial diversity revealed higher Chao 1, # of OTUs, Shannon index, and species richness in bacterial and fungal populations from reclaimed sites compared to controls. The levels of β-glucosidase (BG), cellobiohydrolase (CBH), β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (NAGase), aryl sulfatase (AS), acid phosphatase (AP), alkaline phosphatase (AlP), glycine aminopeptidase (GAP), and leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) activities were significantly higher in vegetated sites compared to reference areas. Strong positive correlation coefficients were observed between soil organic matter and total microbial biomass (r = 0.99). These two factors were positively correlated with enzymatic activities and bacterial population diversity. Overall, newly developed soils can sustain diverse microbial communities and associated vegetations.

Effects of Various Machine Parameters on Cutting Performance for High-speed Cutting of Paddy Crop

To achieve optimised cutting performance at higher forward speeds of existing combine harvesters, performance evaluation of available cutting systems was conducted to cut paddy crop (variety: Indrayani). A tractor operated laboratory test set-up consisting of 1-m-wide cutterbar, reel and auger was developed. Freshly uprooted paddy crop was held upright using crop holder assemblies. Knife speed, cutting stroke and forward speed were iterated through set of design of experiments and dependent parameters like cutting force, specific cutting energy and overall cutting efficiency were measured. The results were then analysed and operating parameters were optimised for maximising the forward speed. The cutting performance with optimised parameters was then validated in the laboratory by operating test set-up at optimised settings. It was found that, with increase in the knife speed from 450 to 600 rpm at an interval of 50 rpm, the absolute cutting force was observed to be decreased; however, reverse trend was observed with increase in the cutting stroke from 50.8 to 101.6 mm and forward speed from 2 to 6 km h−1. Statistically stroke length was the most significant factor (α = 0.01) impacting the cutting force and specific cutting energy requirement, followed by forward speed and knife speed. Overall cutting efficiency increased with increase in the knife speed and stroke length; however, a reverse trend was observed with increased forward speed. Highest forward speed of 6 km h−1 was achieved by setting the cutting system at knife speed of 600 rpm and stroke length of 76.2 mm, where peak absolute specific cutting energy, peak absolute cutting force and overall cutting efficiency were 162.9 kJ m−2, 1212.7 N and 86.4%, respectively. Validation experiments show a strong positive correlation coefficient of 0.944, 0.988 and 0.985 for peak absolute cutting force, peak absolute specific cutting energy and overall cutting efficiency respectively. Thus, forward speed of existing combine harvesters could be increased at improved levels of cutting efficiency with the said optimization approach.

New Investigation and Challenge for Spatiotemporal Drought Monitoring Using Bottom-Up Precipitation Dataset (SM2RAIN-ASCAT) and NDVI in Moroccan Arid and Semi-Arid Rangelands

Abstract Remotely sensed soil moisture products showed sensitivity to vegetation cover density and soil typology at regional dryland level. In these regions, drought monitoring is significantly performed using soil moisture index and rainfall data. Recently, rainfall and soil moisture observations have increasingly become available. This has hampered scientific progress as regards characterization of land surface processes not just in meteorology. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between a newly developed precipitation dataset, SM2RAIN (Advanced SCATterometer (SM2RAIN-ASCAT), and NDVI (eMODIS-TERRA) in monitoring drought events over diverse rangeland regions of Morocco. Results indicated that the highest polynomial correlation coefficient and the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) between SM2RAIN-ASCAT and NDVI were found in a 10-year period from 2007 to 2017 in all rangelands (R = 0.81; RMSE = 0.05). This relationship was strong for degraded rangeland, where there were strong positive correlation coefficients for NDVI and SM2RAIN (R = 0.99). High correlations were found for sparse and moderate correlations for shrub rangeland (R = 0.82 and 0.61, respectively). The anomalies maps showed a very good similarity between SM2RAIN and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data. The results revealed that the SM2RAIN-ASCAT and NDVI product could accurately predict drought events in arid and semi-arid rangelands.

Effect of Extraction Solvents on Phenolic Compounds of Theobroma Cacao L. By-products Using Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

Nowadays, recent studies focus on plant-derived food additives and plant by-products extract that possess health-promoting properties. Cocoa pod husk is the cocoa fruit's outer layer that is left unused after the cocoa bean processing in the cocoa industry. This by-product (cocoa pod husk) is rich in phenolic compounds due to its antioxidant level. Significant steps in separating the phytochemicals from the plant's cellular matrix are crucial, which is usually carried out by selecting the proper extraction method and choice of solvent. Phenolic compounds from cocoa pod husk were determined by ultrasound-assisted extraction using three types of solvents [aqueous ethanol (ethanol: water, 70:30 v/v), aqueous methanol (methanol: water, 70:30 v/v), and aqueous acetone (acetone: water, 70:30 v/v)]. Methanolic extracts contained significantly higher total phenolic content (34.88 mg GAE/g) and ferric reducing antioxidant power, FRAP, (521.73 µg/g TE) compared to other solvents. Meanwhile, ethanolic extracts exhibited higher flavonoid content (62.18 mg/g RE) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (73.67 µg/mL TE) compared to methanolic extracts, which indicated 33.30 mg/g RE and 65.00 µg/mL TE, respectively. Total flavonoid content had a strong positive correlation coefficient with DPPH scavenging activity (r= 0.951), while FRAP assay gave a strong negative correlation (r= -0.851). This finding provides an alternative method to reduce the accumulation of cocoa pod husk to be utilized as a potential antioxidant source.

Uso e Cobertura do Solo após Eventos de Queimadas no Município de Floresta em Pernambuco

Queimadas são recorrentes no Brasil para limpeza e aumento de territórios. Análises temporais sobre o tema demonstram que o município de Floresta em Pernambuco se destaca no número de casos no mês de novembro de 2019. Este artigo tem como propósito coletar e quantificar a incidência dos focos de calor e áreas queimadas na região e mês supracitados, além das condições de uso e cobertura do solo baseado nas técnicas do sensoriamento remoto. Utilizou-se informações da Agência Pernambucana de Águas e Clima (APAC) para a climatologia. As bases do Banco de Dados de Queimadas foram empregadas na coleta e quantificação dos focos de calor. Imagens MODIS/TERRA, MODIS/Combinado e Landsat-8/OLI foram aplicadas na caracterização das áreas queimadas, interpretação de imagens e cálculo de índices de vegetação e de queimada. Foram identificadas 35 áreas de fogo, sendo 31 de focos de calor confirmados, totalizando 208. Dessas áreas, 7 coincidiram com o dia 06 de novembro de 2019, dia Juliano 310. Observou-se pelos índices de vegetação WDRVI, IAF e NDVI que o comportamento da vegetação saudável é uniforme, com densidade de baixa a moderada. Após a queimada, o uso e cobertura do solo se regenerou, não havendo modificação. O SAVI e os NBR e NBR2 expõem coeficientes de correlação positivos muito forte e forte, respectivamente, indicando a dependência de uma variável em relação a outra. Desse modo, o sensoriamento remoto se demonstrou eficaz no estudo das condições do uso e cobertura do solo, bem como a identificação das queimadas no município de Floresta.Palavras-Chave: sensoriamento remoto, imagens de satélites, focos de calor, índices de vegetação, índices de queimada. Land use and coverage after fire events in the municipality of Floresta in Pernambuco ABSTRACTFires are recurrent in Brazil to clean up and increase territories. Temporal analyzes on the subject show that the municipality of Floresta in Pernambuco stands out in the number of cases in the month of November 2019. This article aims to collect and quantify the incidence of hotspots and burned areas in the aforementioned region and month, in addition to of land use and cover conditions based on remote sensing techniques. Information from the Pernambuco Water and Climate Agency (APAC) was used for climatology. The databases of the Burning Database were used to collect and quantify hotspots. MODIS/TERRA, MODIS/Combinado and Landsat-8/OLI images were applied in the characterization of burned areas, image interpretation and calculation of vegetation and fire indexes. 35 fire areas were identified, 31 of which were confirmed hotspots, totaling 208. Of these areas, 7 coincided with November 6, 2019, Julian day 310. It was observed by the WDRVI, IAF and NDVI vegetation indices that the Healthy vegetation behavior is uniform, with low to moderate density. After the fire, the use and cover of the soil regenerated, with no change. The SAVI and the NBR and NBR2 exhibit very strong and strong positive correlation coefficients, respectively, indicating the dependence of one variable on the other. In this way, remote sensing proved to be effective in the study of land use and cover conditions, as well as the identification of fires in the municipality of Floresta.Keywords: remote sensing, satellite images, hotspots, vegetation indices, fire índices.

Genetic Variability, Heritability and Correlation Studies in Fifty Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) Accessions Collected from Southern Nigeria

Sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] is an important food crop in southern Nigeria with high genetic variability. However, this variability is not characterized. Fifty sorghum accessions collected from different states in southern Nigeria were evaluated for eleven agronomic characters to determine the extent of genetic variability and character association among the accessions. The experiments were laid in a randomized complete block design with three replications at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) Ondo State and Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu research farm during the rainy season of 2018 and 2019. Data were collected on eleven quantitative traits for genetic variability and character association. Panicle weight had the highest GCV (24.96%) and PCV (30.61%). Ten out of the eleven traits have heritability estimates above 50% which implies an opportunity for improvement among the traits with the number of days to 50% heading having the highest (98.84%). Correlation analysis showed significant and positive association among growth, flowering traits and head traits. The strong positive correlation coefficients of plant height with all the traits implies that simultaneous selection for these traits is possible for improvement in sorghum genotypes for fodder and grain traits.

Computational Screening of Physical Solvents for CO2 Pre-combustion Capture.

A computational scheme was used to screen physical solvents for CO2 pre-combustion capture by integrating the commercial NIST database, an in-house computational database, chem-informatics, and molecular modeling. A commercially available screened hydrophobic solvent, diethyl sebacate, was identified from the screening with favorable physical properties and promising absorption performance. The promising performance to use diethyl sebacate in CO2 pre-combustion capture has also been confirmed from experiments. Water loading in diethyl sebacate is very low, and therefore, water is kept with H2 in the gas stream. The favorable CO2 interaction with diethyl sebacate and the intermediate solvent free volume fraction leads to both high CO2 solubility and high CO2/H2 solubility selectivity in diethyl sebacate. An in-house NETL computational database was built to characterize CO2, H2, N2, and H2O interactions with 202 different chemical functional groups. It was found that 13% of the functional groups belong to the strong interaction category with the CO2 interaction energy between -15 and -21 kJ/mol; 62% of the functional groups interact intermediately with CO2 (-8 to -15 kJ/mol). The remaining 25% of functional groups interact weakly with CO2 (below -8 kJ/mol). In addition, calculations show that CO2 interactions with the functional groups are stronger than N2 and H2 interactions but are weaker than H2O interactions. The CO2 and H2O interactions with the same functional groups exhibit a very strong linear positive correlation coefficient of 0.92. The relationship between CO2 and H2 gas solubilities and solvent fractional free volume (FFV) has been systematically studied for seven solvents at 298.2 K. A skewed bell-shaped relation was obtained between CO2 solubility and solvent FFV. When an organic compound has a density approximately 10% lower than its density at 298.2 K and 1 bar, it exhibits the highest CO2 loading at that specific solvent density and FFV. Note that the solvent densities were varied using simulations, which are difficult to be obtained from the experiment. In contrast, H2 solubility results exhibit an almost perfect positive linear correlation with the solvent FFV. The theoretical maximum and minimum physical CO2 solubilities in any organic compound at 298.2 K were estimated to be 11 and 0.4 mol/MPa L, respectively. An examination of 182 experimental CO2 physical solubility data and 29 simulated CO2 physical solubilities shows that all the CO2 physical solubility data are within the maximum and minimum with only a few exceptions. Finally, simulations suggest that in order to develop physical solvents with both high CO2 solubility and high CO2/H2 solubility selectivity, the solvents should contain functional groups which are available to interact strongly with CO2 while minimizing FFV.

Exploring the reliability of the exposure index with a range of kV and mAs values: An experimental study

IntroductionThe exposure index (EI) is a numerical post-exposure tool that provides feedback to diagnostic radiographers undertaking digital X-ray examinations. The EI seeks to provide an indicator of the quantity of incident ionising radiation imparted on an image receptor. However, any large increase to X-ray intensity could interfere with the calculation of the EI. The aim of this paper was to evaluate detector overexposure by increasing X-ray beam intensity and quantifying the resultant effect on the EI. MethodsA porcine hip was purchased and exposed with varying tube potentials (50 to 110 kVp) and tube current-time products (5 to 100 mAs). Entrance surface dose (ESD) and EI values were determined for each exposure. For each acquisition parameter, two dose readings were collected. Linear regression was utilised to ascertain the relationship between the EI and varying tube exposures. ResultsTube exposures between 50 and 80 kVp demonstrated strong positive linear correlation coefficients (r = 0.993, p <0.001; r = 0.999, p <0.001; r = 0.983, p <0.001; r = 0.925, p <0.001) between ESD and EI. However, upon increasing tube exposures (90 to 110 kVp), interference with the EI calculation was demonstrated, which impacted both linearity, strength and direction of correlation (90 kVp r = 0.083, p = .248; 100 kVp r = -0.066, p = .479; 110 kVp r = -0.110, p = .601). Consequently, the use of higher tube exposures demonstrated variability with the EI by not demonstrating an expected positive linear relationship, which remained the initial expectation in this study. ConclusionThe EI value is generally associated with providing reliable feedback to radiographers, yet this paper identifies some unexpected findings at high tube exposures (90 to 110 kVp). In short, this experiment provides insight that the EI value demonstrates inconsistent values within certain energy ranges. Implications for practiceThe findings have implications because it identifies variability of EI values at higher tube exposures. EI values may, therefore, not be helpful in providing meaningful feedback to radiographers when making changes to exposure factors.

Cross Platform Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds Using Selected Ion Flow Tube and Proton-Transfer-Reaction Mass Spectrometry.

Volatile breath metabolites serve as potential disease biomarkers. Online mass spectrometry (MS) presents real-time quantification of breath volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The study aims to assess the relationship between two online analytical mass spectrometry techniques in the quantification of target breath metabolites: selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) and proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry (PTR-ToF-MS). The two following techniques were employed: (i) direct injection with bag sampling using SIFT-MS and PTR-ToF-MS and (ii) direct injection and thermal desorption (TD) tube comparison using PTR-ToF-MS. The concentration of abundant breath metabolites, acetone and isoprene, demonstrated a strong positive linear correlation between both mass spectrometry techniques (r = 0.97, r = 0.89, respectively; p < 0.001) and between direct injection and TD tube (r = 0.97, r = 0.92, respectively; p < 0.001) breath sampling techniques. This was reflected for the majority of short chain fatty acids and alcohols tested (r > 0.80, p < 0.001). Analyte concentrations were notably higher with the direct injection of a sampling bag compared to the TD method. All metabolites produced a high degree of agreement in the detection range of VOCs between SIFT-MS and PTR-ToF-MS, with the majority of compounds falling within 95% of the limits of agreement with Bland-Altman analysis. The cross platform analysis of exhaled breath demonstrates strong positive correlation coefficients, linear regression, and agreement in target metabolite detection rates between both breath sampling techniques. The study demonstrates the transferability of using data outputs between SIFT-MS and PTR-ToF-MS. It supports the implementation of a TD platform in multi-site studies for breath biomarker research in order to facilitate sample transport between clinics and the laboratory.

Accuracy of digital mammography, ultrasound and MRI in predicting the pathological complete response and residual tumor size of breast cancer after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is the standard of care for the treatment of locally advanced or non-metastatic breast cancer, which may increase the chances of breast conservative surgery (BCS) in place of radical mastectomy without compromising on the overall survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of mammography (MG), ultrasound (US), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in predicting the complete response and to assess the extent of residual breast cancer in women treated with NACT. Fifty-six consecutive patients with stage II or III breast cancer, who underwent imaging evaluation of breast with digital mammogram, US, and MRI after NACT and before the breast surgery, were included in the study. For each patient, pathologic complete response (pCR) or residual tumor (non-pCR) was predicted and the maximum extent of the residual tumor was measured on each imaging modality. These measurements were subsequently compared with the final histopathology results. Of 56 patients, 22 showed pCR with MRI having better accuracy for predicting complete response than the MG and US (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.86, 0.68, and 0.65, respectively; p = 0.0001 for MRI; p = 0.06 for MG, and p = 0.02 for US). The sensitivity of MRI for detecting pCR was 72.7%; specificity and positive predictive value were 100%. For pathological residual tumor, the size measured on MRI showed significantly higher correlation with the pathologic size (correlation coefficient, r = 0.786), than the MG (r = 0.293) and US (r = 0.508) with P < 0.05. Accuracy of MRI for predicting pathological complete response was significantly higher than the MG and US. Pathologic residual tumor size was also more precisely reflected by the longest tumor dimension on MRI with the strong positive correlation coefficient.

Impact of Two Different Methods of Extraction on Total Antioxidant Activity and Phenolic Content in an Uncommon Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) and Commonly Consumed Fruits

To determine and compare total antioxidant activity (TAA) and phenolic content (TPC) of Sansevieria trifasciata leaves’ extract with different fruits’ extract (Guava, Indian plum and Indian gooseberry) and fruit juices (Pomelo, Orange, and Beetroot) on the basis of two extraction methods, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were analysed by Folin-Ciocalteu’s and Phosphomolybdate assay, respectively and expressed as equivalent to catechin. The extraction process of selected samples was done by using both decoction extraction method (DEM) and microwave-assisted method (MAE) of water solvent. Among both techniques of extractions, MAE exhibited significantly higher TPC and TAA than DEM. Compared to Sansevieria trifasciata plant extracts, there was a strong positive correlation coefficient (á&lt;0.05) between the total phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of different fruit juices and fruit extracts in both the classical (DEM) and modern (MAE) techniques. Sansevieria trifasciata possesses a considerable amount of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity concerning different fruit juices and fruit extracts which directly associated with health-promoting potential and appears as possible drug development for antioxidant. Among all extract and juices, Indian gooseberry possesses the greatest total phenolic content and antioxidant activity due to its higher TPC.

Predictability of PM2.5 in Seoul based on atmospheric blocking forecasts using the NCEP global forecast system

We investigate the predictability of PM2.5 (particulate matter with diameters ≤ 2.5 μm) concentration in Seoul using atmospheric blocking forecasts during four winter seasons (December, January, and February) of 2015–2019. Atmospheric blocking is predicted using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Global Forecast System (GFS), and PM2.5 concentration in Seoul of the same period are obtained from the surface measurements of the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER).We define blocking indices using two methods: the anomaly method and the gradient method. Correlation analysis establishes the relationship between the blocking and PM2.5 concentrations in Seoul. The result based on the anomaly method exhibits strong positive and negative correlation coefficients respectively over the East Sea and Japan and the vicinity of Lake Baikal. The correlation coefficient from the blocking index of the gradient method reveals a similar pattern, and the maximum values are found within the longitude range of 130–150°E Building on the relationship between PM2.5 in Seoul and the blocking index, we perform PM2.5 prediction using the GFS forecast of the atmospheric blocking index. The prediction shows reliable performance at least up to a five-day forecast. This atmospheric blocking based dynamical and statistical PM2.5 prediction can be a useful tool for mid-range PM2.5 forecast.

Stream Sediments Geochemical Exploration in Wadi El Reddah area, Northeastern Desert, Egypt

&lt;p&gt;Wadi El Reddah representing a semi-closed basin, extends in the N-S direction. It has only one outlet at the northern tip while the wadi collects floodwater from internal tributaries along wall rocks. The present study discusses the relationship between geology and geochemistry data to detect anomalous radioactive locations. The geochemical maps show the mineralization areas with abnormal rare metal contents. This led to two uranium occurrences (GXXIII and GXXIV) at Gabal Gattar in the perthitic leucogranite. At Wadi El Reddah, high contents of pathfinder elements (REE, Y, Zn, Nb and As) were discovered at the southern and eastern boundaries. This may be attributed to the presence of alkali feldspar granite at Gabal Gattar at the upstream of Wadi El Reddah and also to the sharp contact between Gabal Gattar and Hammamat Sedimentary rocks. A strong positive correlation coefficient between Fe&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sup&gt;t&lt;/sup&gt; and or Al&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; with Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, REE, U, Rb, and Th reflects their association with thematization processes.&lt;/p&gt;