Test Infrastructure Research Articles

Quality of maize supplied under school feeding program and associated financial losses in Turkana County, Kenya

Turkana County, being an arid and semi-arid county is one of the major beneficiaries of the homegrown school feeding program from the government of Kenya. Most of the maize consumed in Turkana county is sourced from other counties as well as neighbouring countries such as Uganda and Ethiopia. Due to the vast distance, high temperatures as well as security challenges, post-harvest losses in the county are inevitable. This study, therefore, sought to establish the losses associated with the quality and safety of maize supplied to public primary schools under the homegrown school feeding program. All suppliers, n=22, who were supplying maize to public primary schools under the homegrown school feeding program, n=128 were included in the study. Maize samples were picked from school stores and analyzed for moisture content, aflatoxin B1, total aflatoxin and fumonisin. Moisture content was determined by AOAC method number AOAC 976.08:2012 while aflatoxin and fumonisin were determined using the ELISA method. Losses were estimated based on the Kenyan standard requirements for maize where any result above the recommended limit was considered a loss. The market price of maize at the time of study, Ksh. 50 per Kg was used to estimate the associated financial losses. The quality losses were Ksh. 15,075,950/= for moisture content and Ksh. 25,805,350/= for grading and live infestation. Safety losses based on aflatoxin B, Total aflatoxin and fumonisin were Ksh. 6,726,850/=, Ksh. 4,362,500/= and Ksh. 1,356,050/=, respectively. In total, Ksh. 53 million would be lost by the county government if the Kenyan standard for maize was well enforced. This shows that the quality and safety of maize supplied to schools under the school meals program is questionable and contributes further to post-harvest losses. Therefore, there is a need for proper sensitization on post-harvest handling among the school suppliers as well as investment in testing infrastructure by the county government. Key words: Feeding, Losses, school, safety, quality, post-harvest, maize, financial, supplied

Analysis of the implementation of activities of adolescent girls drinking iron supplement tablets to prevent anemia in West Sumatra Province

The World Health Organization (WHO) has set six global nutrition targets, one of which is to reduce the prevalence of anemia among women of childbearing age by 50%, aiming for a global rate of 18%. According to Indonesia's 2018 Basic Health Research data, the prevalence of anemia in West Sumatra exceeded the national average, reaching 27.6%. This study aims to analyze the implementation of anemia prevention activities among adolescent girls in West Sumatra Province in 2023, focusing on both successful and unsuccessful districts/cities based on the coverage of iron supplement tablet consumption among adolescent girls. This research employed semi-structured interviews and purposive sampling, utilizing appropriate research instruments. Findings indicate that both successful and unsuccessful districts/cities lacked policies formally supporting anemia prevention activities in the form of local regulations. Additionally, differences in health workforce availability between these districts/cities were observed. The presence of Adolescent Health Cadres in schools fulfilled only 7.4% of the required demand. Furthermore, the availability of facilities and infrastructure for hemoglobin testing was hindered by challenges in procuring consumables needed for the tests.

Minimal Residual Disease Testing Infrastructure in Multiple Myeloma: Guidance for Clinical Trial and Routine Practice Use in Canada

Minimal Residual Disease Testing Infrastructure in Multiple Myeloma: Guidance for Clinical Trial and Routine Practice Use in Canada

Understanding Barriers to Hepatitis C Antiviral Treatment in Low-Middle-Income Countries.

Background: Direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have significantly reduced Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) transmission and improved health outcomes since their FDA approval in 2011. Despite these advances, over 70 million people remain untreated globally, with a disproportionately high burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: Through a structured search of open access informational sources and an informal peer-reviewed literature review, HCV treatment barriers were identified, compiled, and analyzed. Current challenges to HCV treatment were organized by themes and summarized as recommendations for LMICs. Results: Key obstacles to HCV treatment in LMICs are identified, with the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of the disease linked to inadequate funding and healthcare infrastructure for screening and testing, poor awareness among healthcare providers, and the misinformation and stigmatization of HCV disease. Discussion: Recommendations for LMICs to attenuate treatment obstacles include distributing educational media, implementing mobile clinics, and fostering international partnerships. The successful implementation of these interventions has been demonstrated in developed countries. Conclusions: To achieve the WHO's goal of eliminating HCV as a public health threat by 2030, concerted efforts are needed by LMICs to reduce gaps in care and ensure that all patients are afforded access to testing and treatment.

MeDeT: Medical Device Digital Twins Creation with Few-shot Meta-learning

Testing healthcare Internet of Things (IoT) applications at system and integration levels necessitates integrating numerous medical devices. Challenges of incorporating medical devices are: (i) their continuous evolution, making it infeasible to include all device variants, and (ii) rigorous testing at scale requires multiple devices and their variants, which is time-intensive, costly, and impractical. Our collaborator, Oslo City’s health department, faced these challenges in developing automated test infrastructure, which our research aims to address. In this context, we propose a meta-learning-based approach (MeDeT) to generate digital twins (DTs) of medical devices and adapt DTs to evolving devices. We evaluate MeDeT in Oslo City’s context using five widely-used medical devices integrated with a real-world healthcare IoT application. Our evaluation assesses MeDeT’s ability to generate and adapt DTs across various devices and versions using different few-shot methods, the fidelity of these DTs, the scalability of operating 1000 DTs concurrently, and the associated time costs. Results show that MeDeT can generate DTs with over 96% fidelity, adapt DTs to different devices and newer versions with reduced time cost (around one minute), and operate 1000 DTs in a scalable manner while maintaining the fidelity level, thus serving in place of physical devices for testing.

AI-Powered Test Automation for Financial Cloud Applications Using LLMs and Serverless Computing

This article proposes a conceptual framework for AI-powered testing of financial cloud applications by integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) with serverless computing architecture. The framework addresses critical challenges in financial software testing, including regulatory compliance, security validation, and performance scalability. Through theoretical analysis, the design incorporates sophisticated prompt engineering techniques and automated compliance monitoring systems to achieve high compliance validation accuracy while potentially reducing monitoring costs. The architecture suggests superior performance capabilities, potentially processing concurrent test executions efficiently while reducing operational costs compared to traditional testing infrastructures. The framework design anticipates improvements in test generation efficiency, regulatory compliance coverage, and overall testing costs while maintaining robust security standards through enhanced vulnerability detection mechanisms. The theoretical integration of LLMs with serverless computing shows promise in addressing the complex challenges of financial software testing, offering a potential pathway to a scalable, cost-effective solution that could meet the stringent requirements of modern financial cloud applications while ensuring regulatory compliance and security.

Development of a Triplex Endpoint PCR Assay for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2: Insights on Cost-Efficiency and Method Design

Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infections, including COVID-19, have a substantial global impact, making the development of diagnostic tests crucial. The study aimed to develop a new, accurate, fast, and cost-effective PCR-based detection method for SARS-CoV-2, applicable in limited settings and capable of detecting all current variants and potential future pathogens. Methods: The study was conducted between 2020 and 2022 at the molecular biology department of Mures County Clinical Hospital (MCCH), Romania. Initially, pharyngeal and nasal secretions were collected and processed using the real-time qRT-PCR method for routine COVID-19 diagnosis. Ninety-two samples were randomly selected to develop the assay, including samples from different infection periods and negative controls. Complementary DNA was prepared from the selected samples, and the presence and integrity of the extracted RNA were evaluated by amplifying the GAPDH housekeeping gene. Primers for three specific viral genes (N, ORF1ab, and S) were designed, and their efficiency was evaluated using endpoint PCR and sequencing. Finally, the method was optimized and implemented as a one-step triplex PCR assay for routine diagnostic use. Results: The molecular laboratory at the MCCH analyzed a total of 41,818 samples between June 2020 and December 2022. Among these samples, 26.15% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, while 70.9% were negative and 2.95% were inconclusive or invalid. Three peaks of positive tests were observed in November 2020, April 2021, and February 2022. The study selected 92 preserved RNA samples for triplex PCR assay development, validating the primers’ specificity and confirming the quality of the nucleic acids. The comparative analysis showed the efficiency and accuracy of the endpoint reverse transcription triplex PCR method (RT-PCR), indicating its potential as a cost-effective alternative to real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) in low-income countries with limited infrastructure for COVID-19 testing. Conclusion: This method has the potential to facilitate large-scale diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections, allowing for rapid and appropriate therapeutic management and ongoing monitoring of patients. Additionally, the method can be easily adapted for the detection of other pathogens.

Advancing magnetic flow cytometry to quantitative epitope analysis in high hematocrit conditions for point-of-care testing

Quantitative cell function measurements are essential for many clinical decisions but are primarily tied to centralized laboratories. Limited access to these laboratories in low-resource settings or for immobile patients highlights the urgent need for Point-of-Care testing (POCT) infrastructure. Magnetic flow cytometers (MFC) offer a solution, albeit phenotyping is limited, and sample processing steps like cell lysis or washing increase MFC's workflow complexity. Here, we investigate conditions for novel phenotyping and direct cell concentration quantification in a streamlined workflow suitable for POCT in high hematocrit environments. We characterize magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) by their size, magnetic moment, and opportunities for high signal-to-noise ratios. With adapted theoretical models, we provide the framework for quantifying bound MNPs per cell. This reveals labeling quality and gives insight into system requirements for reliable cell detection and rational cell phenotyping. We investigate temporal labeling dynamics, which show suboptimal MNP binding kinetics in whole blood (WB), leading to long incubation periods and only 50% recovery concentrations. With our streamlined workflow favoring small (<50 nm) MNPs, we quantify CD14+ monocytes in WB and achieve coefficients of variation of <11%. By simultaneously assessing quantitative epitope expression, we extend MFC's capabilities to clinical subtyping for POCT.

A Perspective on Democratizing Mechanical Testing: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Advance Sustainable Material Adoption and Decentralized Manufacturing

Abstract Democratized mechanical testing offers a promising solution for enabling the widespread adoption of recycled and renewably sourced feedstocks. Locally sourced, sustainable materials often exhibit variable mechanical properties, which limit their large-scale use due to tight manufacturing specifications. Wider access to mechanical testing at the local level can address this challenge by collecting data on the variable properties of sustainable feedstocks, allowing for the development of appropriate, uncertainty-aware mechanics frameworks. These frameworks are essential for designing custom manufacturing approaches that accommodate variable local feedstocks, while ensuring product quality and reliability through post-manufacturing testing. However, traditional mechanical testing apparatuses are too costly and complex for widespread local use by individuals or small, community-based facilities. Despite promising efforts over the past decade to develop more affordable and versatile testing hardware, significant limitations remain in their reliability, adaptability, and ease–of-use. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) present an opportunity to overcome these limitations by reducing human intervention, enhancing instrument reliability, and facilitating data interpretation. AI can thus enable the creation of low-cost, user-friendly mechanical testing infrastructure. Future efforts to democratize mechanical testing are expected to be closely linked with advancements in manufacturing and materials mechanics. This perspective paper highlights the need to embrace AI advancements to facilitate local production from sustainable feedstocks and enhance the development of decentralized, low-/zero-waste supply chains.

The Importance of Geographic Proximity of Convalescent Plasma Donors.

Donor-recipient proximity emerged as an important factor influencing the efficacy of COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) treatment during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This relationship was uncovered while analyzing data collected in the collaborative Expanded Access Program (EAP) for CCP at Mayo Clinic, a project aimed to establish protocols for CCP use amid the uncertainty of the novel disease. Analysis of data from nearly 28,000 patients revealed a significant reduction in risk of 30-day mortality for those receiving near-sourced plasma when compared to those receiving distantly sourced plasma [pooled relative risk, 0.73 (95% CI 0.67-0.80)], prompting adjustments in treatment protocols at selected institutions, and highlighting the importance of proximity in optimizing CCP outcomes. Despite its significance, subsequent studies of CCP effectiveness in COVID-19 have often overlooked donor-recipient proximity. Our findings emphasize the importance of donor-recipient proximity in CCP treatment in the current pandemic, and we discuss potential methods for improving CCP efficacy in future pandemics. Our recommendations include prioritizing virus genotyping for vulnerable patients, establishing a robust testing infrastructure, and collecting additional donor data to enhance plasma selection. This chapter underscores the importance of comprehensive data collection and sharing to navigate the evolving landscape of newly emerging infectious diseases.

Exploring Xylazine Awareness, Health Impacts, and Harm Reduction Strategies: Findings From a Multimethods Study in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Xylazine, an adulterant in local drug supplies, has been detected in approximately 30% of opioid samples submitted for testing in Massachusetts. A better understanding of local risks, harms, and use preferences is needed to combat xylazine-related impacts on local communities. Through the STOP-OD Lowell study, we aimed to assess local xylazine awareness through in-depth interviews with local community stakeholders (n = 15) and local people who use drugs (PWUD; n = 15) and surveys with local PWUD (n = 94). The qualitative interviews focused on the current drug landscape and knowledge of adulterants in Lowell, and the results informed subsequent survey design. Through our survey, we examined whether PWUD were aware of xylazine and their willingness to use xylazine test strips. Most community stakeholders and PWUD had limited awareness about the presence and impact of xylazine as an adulterant. Forty-seven (50%) survey respondents were aware of xylazine. When provided with more information about xylazine, 65% of all respondents expressed a willingness to use xylazine test strips. PWUD who had received naloxone training, reported using with others, and using tester shots were more willing to use xylazine test strips. Our findings are congruent with existing literature that indicates that there is limited awareness of xylazine among PWUD, and they consider xylazine an unwanted adulterant. We also found that PWUD who use other harm reduction measures are more willing to use xylazine test strips. The increase in xylazine warrants additional community-level interventions such as wound management and local testing infrastructure. Further research is needed to understand better the impacts associated with xylazine use, effective harm reduction techniques, and perceptions of xylazine test strips.

Presentation of a distributed testing infrastructure for joint experiments across multiple remote laboratories for robust development of new district heating concepts

4th-generation district heating networks confront numerous challenges such as integrating decentralized renewable energy sources, bidirectional heat transfer, new storage concepts, low-temperature operation, custom heat supply, data management, and advanced control strategies. Laboratory and hardware-in-the-loop testing offer a safe, cost-effective environment for testing and validating these innovations. This paper presents a framework for joint experiments in multiple remote laboratories, enhancing the testing of district heating system components. This distributed testbed enhances the efficiency of testing by utilizing existing equipment and expertise from various laboratories, thereby reducing costs and time and allowing for more scenarios to test. It targets manufacturers, grid operators, and research institutions, facilitating collaborative lab work for technology testing before field deployment. This approach allows for diverse test scenarios, considering component interactions across different locations without identical hardware or software. The framework's efficacy is shown in a proof-of-concept with a low-temperature district heating network integrated across four Fraunhofer Institutes. An initial experiment connects a test building and a ground-source heat pump physically existing in different labs with emulated models of a district heating network and a geothermal source. Results from a three-week operation validate the framework's performance.

The Genetic Diagnostics of Hemochromatosis: Disparities in Low- Versus High-Income Countries.

This study provides a comprehensive overview of hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), a genetic condition characterized by iron overload due to excessive iron absorption. It elucidates diverse inheritance patterns and clinical manifestations by exploring mutations in critical genes such as HFE (hemochromatosis), HJV (hemojuvelin), HAMP (hepcidin antimicrobial peptide), TfR2 (transferrin receptor 2), and FP (ferroportin). The significance of early screening, diagnosis, and personalized management strategies based on genetic classification is emphasized, particularly in terms of high-income vs. low-income countries. Addressing challenges in diagnosis, genetic testing accessibility, and healthcare disparities, the study highlights the importance of early detection, cost-effective screening strategies, and enhancing healthcare outcomes globally. Advanced genetic testing in high-income countries facilitates early diagnosis and management, reducing complications such as liver disease and cardiomyopathy. In contrast, low-income populations face several barriers, including limited access to genetic testing, high costs, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Cost-effective serum ferritin (SF) and transferrin saturation (TS) tests and emerging point-of-care (POC) tests offer affordable diagnostic options for low-resource settings. Additionally, the ongoing development of hepcidin measurement methods holds promise for enhancing diagnostic capabilities. Implementing these strategies can aid healthcare providers in improving global HH management and reducing the burden of iron overload complications. Furthermore, the study underscores the need for public health initiatives to raise awareness about HH, promote routine screenings, and advocate for equitable healthcare policies. Collaborative efforts between governments, healthcare organizations, and research institutions are crucial in addressing the global burden of HH. By fostering international cooperation and resource-sharing, it is possible to bridge the gap between high-income and low-income countries, ensuring all individuals have access to the necessary diagnostic and treatment options. This holistic approach can ultimately lead to better health outcomes and improved quality of life for individuals affected by HH worldwide. This comprehensive examination of HH not only illuminates the genetic and clinical aspects of the condition but also provides a roadmap for addressing the multifaceted challenges associated with its diagnosis and management.

Effective Automation of End-to-End Testing for OTT Platforms

The rapid evolution of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms has reshaped the digital media landscape, necessitating robust testing strategies to ensure seamless user experiences and service reliability. Effective automation of end-to-end testing for OTT platforms emerges as a crucial strategy to address the complexities associated with diverse content delivery, user interactions, and varying device compatibilities. This paper explores the challenges and best practices in automating end-to-end testing processes for OTT platforms, focusing on integrating various testing tools, frameworks, and methodologies to achieve comprehensive coverage and efficiency. OTT platforms deliver content directly over the internet, bypassing traditional broadcast and cable channels. This direct-to-consumer approach introduces unique challenges in testing, such as ensuring consistent performance across different devices, network conditions, and content types. Additionally, the dynamic nature of content libraries and frequent updates necessitate rigorous testing to identify and rectify potential issues proactively. Automation, with its capacity to simulate real-world usage scenarios, streamline repetitive tasks, and enhance testing accuracy, plays a pivotal role in addressing these challenges. The paper first outlines the primary challenges in end-to-end testing for OTT platforms. These challenges include the need for cross-platform compatibility, performance under varying network conditions, and the ability to handle diverse content formats and streaming protocols. The complexities are compounded by the requirement for real-time performance metrics and user experience evaluations, which demand a sophisticated testing infrastructure.

Study of web application development methodology for a medical clinic using React

The article explores in detail the methodologies for developing web applications for medical clinics using the popular React library. The main goal of this study is the analysis of modern approaches to the creation of web applications that meet the specific requirements of medical institutions. Particular attention is paid to the functional and non-functional characteristics that are critical to such systems, including data security, user experience, integration with existing systems, and compliance with regulatory standards. First of all, a comprehensive analysis of the requirements of medical clinics for web applications was carried out. Data security is one of the most important aspects as healthcare institutions work with sensitive information. The study examines methods for ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of medical data, including compliance with HIPAA and GDPR standards. React makes it easy to integrate modern security tools such as JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for authentication and authorization, and use secure HTTP connections for data transfer. In addition, special attention is paid to the user experience (UX/UI), which should ensure the convenience and efficiency of using the web application by both medical personnel and patients. React allows you to create dynamic and interactive interfaces that can adapt to different devices and screens, thus providing a high-quality user experience. This is especially important for medical applications, where the accuracy and speed of interaction can affect the quality of healthcare delivery. A detailed description of best practices and approaches to web application development using React is provided. A component architecture is considered, which provides modularity and code reuse, which is a key factor in creating scalable and easily maintainable applications. Different methods of state management in the application, such as the use of Context API and Redux, have been explored, which allows for efficient data management and stable operation of the application. Guidelines for configuring routing using the React Router library are described, allowing you to create dynamic and multi-page applications while providing smooth navigation and a good user experience. In addition, ways to ensure application security are considered, including protection against XSS attacks, CSRF and other types of vulnerabilities, which is critical in medical applications. The article provides specific recommendations for implementing a web application for a medical clinic. They include practical code examples that demonstrate the implementation of key functionalities such as user registration and authentication, medical record processing, and database interaction. The process of setting up the infrastructure for development, testing and deployment of the application is described, including the use of CI/CD tools to automate these processes, which contributes to increasing the efficiency of development and the quality of the final product. The article provides valuable information for developers who seek to create effective and secure web applications for medical clinics using modern technologies. The conclusions and recommendations presented in the study will help ensure high quality and compliance of the developed solutions with modern industry standards and requirements, which will contribute to increasing the efficiency of the work of medical institutions and the quality of medical services provided to patients

How ready is the health care system in Northeast India for surgical delivery? a mixed-methods study on surgical capacity and need.

Surgical services are scarce with persisting inequalities in access across populations and regions globally. As the world's most populous county, India's surgical need is high and delivery rates estimated to be sub-par to meet need. There is a dearth of evidence, particularly sub-regional data, on surgical provisioning which is needed to aid planning. This mixed-methods study examines the state of surgical care in Northeast India, specifically health care system capacity and barriers to surgical delivery. It involved a facility-based census and semi-structured interviews with surgeons and patients across four states in the region. Abdominal conditions constituted a large portion of the overall surgeries across public and private facilities in the region. Workloads varied among surgical providers across facilities. Task-shifting occurred, involving non-specialist nursing staff assisting doctors with surgical procedures or surgeons taking on anaesthetic tasks. Structural factors dis-incentivised facility-level investment in suitable infrastructure. Facility functionality was on average higher in private providers compared to public providers and private facilities offer a wider range of surgical procedures. Facilities in general had adequate laboratory testing capability, infrastructure and equipment. Public facilities often do not have surgeon available around the clock while both public and private facilities frequently lack adequate blood banking. Patients' care pathways were shaped by facility-level shortages as well as personal preferences influenced by cost and distance to facilities. Skewed workloads across facilities and regions indicate uneven surgical delivery, with potentially variable care quality and provider efficiency. The need for a more system-wide and inter-linked approach to referral coordination and human resource management is evident in the results. Existing task-shifting practices, along with incapacities induced by structural factors, signal the directions for possible policy action.

Barriers to implementing clinical cancer genetics in sub-Saharan Africa: Perspectives of participants of a virtual cancer genetics course.

10597 Background: While clinical cancer genetics remains underutilized in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and many low-middle income countries, there are few empiric studies assessing knowledge gaps and perspectives of healthcare providers. We conducted a survey of participants of a virtual short course ( https://www.africanoncogenetics.org/home ). Methods: The comprehensive survey, partly adapted from other published instruments, included multiple-choice knowledge and practice questions on cancer genetics, Likert-scale questions on perspectives, and open-ended questions on barriers. Cancer genetics experts reviewed the survey to ensure face-content validity. The online course was given between October and November 2021; participants were invited through snowball circulation on global oncology listservs. Data were summarized with descriptive analysis. Results: There were 370 participant responses included in this analysis. Participants represented 40 countries, with largest representation from Nigeria (n=106, 29%), South Africa (n=50, 14%), and Uganda (n=39, 13%). Participants represented various medical specialties and research domains: laboratory medicine (15%), medical genetics (14%), biomedical science (10%), general practice (9%), and oncology (8%) were the most common. Participants also represented a spectrum of practice settings, with the highest proportions from national hospitals (29%) and private hospitals (8%). Most of the participants 223 (71%) had some genetics lectures during medical/nursing school or other training, but only 116 (37%) had attended any continuing medical education (CME) activities in cancer genetics since starting practice. Moreover, the overwhelming majority 95% expressed interest and willingness to attend a future CME course. Many participants, 148 (47.2%) rated their knowledge of cancer genetics as poor or very poor, 150 (48%) as fair, while only 15 (5%) rated as good or very good. Most participants 196 (62%) considered themselves not qualified to interpret results of clinical cancer genetics testing, 100 (32%) were somewhat qualified, and 19 (6%) very qualified. Many participants 93 (30%) noted cancer genetics testing was not available to their patients; another 67 (22%) noted testing was only available outside the country; and only 47 (15%) had testing available within their primary institutions. In aggregate, the most common listed perceived barriers to implementing cancer genetics testing were costs (18%), lack of testing infrastructure (17%), lack of personnel (17%), and lack of provider knowledge (16%). Conclusions: Our survey demonstrates several perceived gaps limiting clinical cancer genetics testing implementation in SSA. A multi-pronged approach that addresses testing costs, testing infrastructure, and patient and provider education is urgently needed.

Application of wastewater-based epidemiology for monitoring COVID-19 in hospital and housing wastewaters

An alternative and complementary diagnostic method of surveillance is provided by wastewater-based surveillance (WBS), particularly in low-income nations like Nepal with scant wastewater treatment facilities and clinical testing infrastructure. In this study, a total of 146 water samples collected from two hospitals (n = 63) and three housing wastewaters (n = 83) from the Kathmandu Valley over the period of March 2021–Febraury 2022 were investigated for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using quantitative reverse transcription TaqMan PCR assays targeting the N and E genes. Of the total, 67 % (98/146) samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA either by using N- or E-gene assay, with concentrations ranging from 3.6 to 9.1 log10 copies/L. There was a significant difference found between positive ratio (Chi-square test, p < 0.05) and concentration (t-test, p = 0.009) of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected from hospital wastewater and housing waters. Wastewater data are correlated with COVID-19 active cases, indicating significance in specific areas like the Hospital (APFH) (p < 0.05). According to the application of a bivariate linear regression model (p < 0.05), the concentrations of N gene may be used to predict the COVID-19 cases in the APFH. Remarkably, SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected prior to, during, and following clinical case surges, implying that wastewater surveillance could serve as an early warning system for public health decisions. The significance of WBS in tracking and managing pandemics is emphasized by this study, especially in resource-constrained settings.

Study of the production of radioisotopes at IFMIF-DONES: 177Lu with deuterons

The production of radioisotopes for nuclear medicine is boosted by different international agencies. The International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility - Demo Oriented NEutron Source (IFMIF-DONES) will be a infrastructure for testing under high neutron flux the materials to be used in future DEMO fusion reactor. IFMIF-DONES will generate neutrons by means of the impact of a high-power deuteron beam onto a lithium-jet target. There is an important effort to take advantage of the outstanding characteristics of the facility in terms of neutrons and deuterons. Thus, a complementary program is being developed, where the production of radioisotopes for medicine is one of the main applications. Here, we discuss the production of 177Lu with deuterons at IFMIF-DONES.

Research and analysis of electromagnetic interference of a motor drive control system based on PMSM with SiC MOSFET for new energy electric vehicles

Sustainable development in the 21st century faces significant challenges due to finite reserves of fossil fuels and environmental pollution. In the context of new energy electric vehicles (NEEVs), the wide-bandgap semiconductor known as the silicon carbide–metal oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor (SiC MOSFET) and the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) have emerged as advantageous sources. However, the use of these components gives rise to electromagnetic interference (EMI) issues, which impede the achievement of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) standards in the motor drive control system. This paper aims to elucidate the generation mechanism, propagation path, and test infrastructure of EMI. Furthermore, it proposes a system-level conducted EMI equivalent circuit model for the motor drive control system, encompassing the power battery pack, busbar cable, LISN, three-phase inverter, and PMSM. Building upon this foundation, the principles for suppressing and optimizing EMI noise are discussed. The paper concludes with the validation of simulations and experimental results, which demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. It is anticipated that professionals with an interest in the field of EMI/EMC will find this paper to be of both theoretical and practical importance.