Test Locations Research Articles

Air Quality Monitoring and Analysis in Tasikmalaya City

Within the national scope, based on Government Regulation no. 47 of 1997 concerning the National Spatial Plan, the City of Tasikmalaya which is included in the East Priangan Region is included in the mainstay area. Where Tasikmalaya City functions as a Regional Activity Center (PKW) city. One result is the increased volume of traffic in the area. One of the impacts of motor vehicle traffic activity is air pollution. Air pollution is defined as the contamination of the atmosphere by gases, liquids or by-products in such concentrations and periods that can harm human health/life, and or create discomfort. The method used in conducting the research was in the form of monitoring ambient air parameters which were carried out at 10 points, spread across community activity centers in Tasikmalaya City. Based on the research that has been done, it can be concluded that the parameters Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Oxidants (O3), Dust (TSP), Ammonia (NH3) and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) at 10 the testing location still meets the required quality standards based on PP RI No. 41 of 1999. Meanwhile, the results of noise level measurements have exceeded the noise level quality standards, so that treatment is needed in the form of implementing sound emission rules and localizing industrial pollutant sources.

Stability and suitability of genotypes and environment to Ascochyta blight of chickpea.

Ascochyta blight (AB) is a major biotic constraint to chickpea production internationally. The disease caused by the phytopathogenic fungus Ascochyta rabiei is highly favored by prolonged spells of low temperature and high humidity. The disease scenario is expected to aggravate in the near future as a result of rapidly changing climatic conditions and the emergence of fungicide-resistant pathogen strains. Tapping into host-plant resistance is the most logical way to preempt such a crisis. Presently, high levels of stable resistance against AB are yet to be identified from the chickpea gene pool. The present study was aimed at facilitating this process through multi-environment testing of chickpea genotypes. Using the GGE biplot analysis method, we could identify three genotypes, viz., ICCV 16508, ICCV 16513, and ICCV 16516, from the International Ascochyta Blight Nursery, which showed consistent moderate resistance reactions across all the tested environments. Moreover, we were able to evaluate the test locations for their suitability to support AB screening trials. Ludhiana and Palampur locations were identified as the most ideal for continual screening in the future. Controlled environment screening at the ICRISAT location offered to reduce large plant populations to small meaningful sizes through initial screening under controlled environment conditions. This study will further improve the scope of phenotyping and sources of stable resistance to be utilized in future AB resistance breeding programs.

Influence of Renewable Energy Sources on Day Ahead Optimal Power Flow Based on Meteorological Data Forecast Using Machine Learning: A case study of Johor Province

This article investigates a day ahead optimal power flow considering the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources that involved with weather conditions. The article integrates the machine learning into power system operation to predict precisely day ahead meteorological data (wind speed, temperature and solar irradiance) that influence directly on the calculations of generated power of wind turbines and solar photovoltaic generators. Consequently, the power generation schedulers can make appropriate decisions for the next 24 hours. The proposed research uses conventional IEEE -30-bus as a test system running in Johor province that selected as a test location. algorithm designed in Matlab is utilized to accomplish the day ahead optimal power flow. The obtained results show that the true and predicted values of meteorological data are similar significantly and thus, these predicted values demonstrate the feasibility of the presented prediction in performing the day ahead optimal power flow. Economically, the obtained results reveal that the predicted fuel cost considering wind turbines and solar photovoltaic generators is reduced to 645.34 USD/h as compared to 802.28 USD/h of the fuel cost without considering renewable energy sources. Environmentally, CO 2 emission is reduced to 340.9 kg/h as compared to 419.37 kg/h of the conventional system. To validate the competency of the whale optimization, the OPF for the conventional system is investigated by other 2 metaheuristic optimization techniques to attain statistical metrics for comparative analysis.

Changing attitudes towards HIV testing and treatment among three generations of men in Cameroon: a qualitative analysis using the Fogg Behavior Model

IntroductionMen are less likely than women to test for HIV and promptly initiate antiretroviral treatment, resulting in advanced HIV disease and increased mortality rates among them.MethodsIn-depth interviews were conducted with men and leaders in the west and central regions of Cameroon. Men were recruited from existing community groups and stratified by age: 21–30 years, 31–40 years, and 41 years and older. Community leaders were recommended by the community dialogue structure chairman. Interviews were conducted using a semi-structured guide in English or French, depending on the participant’s preference. Transcripts were coded in the MAXQDA v.12 software and analyzed using thematic analysis and by age group. The Fogg Behavior Model was used to gain a deeper understanding of the different perceptions across all age groups.ResultsYounger men (21–30 years) were generally more accepting of HIV testing, as it had become normative behavior. Although financial barriers could limit access, free testing was mentioned as a prompt to initiate HIV testing. The middle age men (31–40 years) had the most concerns about HIV testing interrupting their work day and recommended increasing testing locations and hours. The older men (41 + years) were the least motivated to get tested, citing worries about the impact on their social standing within the community. All age groups reported being motivated to begin treatment if they were found to be HIV-positive.Participants also provided insights regarding community HIV testing and treatment messaging. Younger and older men preferred to hear directly from qualified health professionals, but younger men noted that social media, radio, and TV could be utilized. Middle age men also identified TV and radio as effective mediums, if door-to-door messaging was not an option.ConclusionsThe study highlights important considerations when planning future information-sharing activities for HIV testing and treatment. Since lived experiences differ across generations and societal roles continue to change, not only should the content of messages differ among the generations, but the means of communication must also be considered to ensure the messages are conveyed through a trusted source.

D-SPARC: Rapid Field Albedo Measurement

The albedo of surfaces in urban areas plays an important role in regulating the urban microclimate and needs to be measured. Artificial urban surfaces, e.g., pavements with lower albedo than natural surfaces such as grass or soil, are a key contributor to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. However, widespread measurement of pavement albedo in the field remains challenging due to limited available daylight hours to record the measurements, the need for clear sky conditions, and slow data collection speed. A new portable system called Discrete SPectrAl RefleCtometer (D-SPARC) was developed to overcome these difficulties. D-SPARC was calibrated in the lab using 25 concrete specimens of known albedo and found to be accurate to within ±0.05, which is similar or better than recently developed aerial or satellite methods. The calibrated D-SPARC device was then used to acquire measurements on ten pavement sections during both the day and night and compared to the results from an albedometer. The RMSE during the day was 0.06 and during the night was 0.02. Each measurement with D-SPARC took about 4 min per test location as compared to 15 min with the albedometer. D-SPARC can be used to conveniently and rapidly measure pavement albedo over a road network with reasonable accuracy and minimal traffic disruption.

Determining Commercial Parking Vacancies Employing Multiple WiFiRSSI Fingerprinting Method

In this study, we implemented a parking occupancy/vacancy detection system (POVD) in a scaled-down model of a parking system for commercial centers by employing multiple WiFi access points. By exploiting the presence of WiFi routers installed in a commercial establishment, the WiFi’s received signal strength indicator (RSSI) signals were collected to establish the parking fingerprints and then later used to predict the number of occupied/vacant slots. Our extensive experiments were divided into two phases, namely: offline training and online matching phases. During the offline stage, the POVD collects available WiFi RSSI readings to determine the parking lot’s fingerprint based on a given scenario and stores them in a fingerprint database that can be updated periodically. On the other hand, the online stage predicts the number of available parking slots based on the actual scenario compared to the stored database. We utilized multiple router setups in generating WiFi signals and exhaustively considered all possible parking scenarios given the combination of 10 maximum access points and 10 cars. From two testing locations, our results showed that, given a parking area dimension of 13.40 m2 and 6.30 m2 and with the deployment of 4 and 10 routers, our system acquired the best accuracy of 88.18% and 100%, respectively. Moreover, the developed system serves as experiential evidence on how to exploit the available WiFi RSSI readings towards the realization of a smart parking system.

Population differences in completeness and reliability of Dutch COVID-19 registry data: The influence of testing policy, test readiness, and registration policy from an epidemiological perspective.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bidirectional relationship between policy and data reliability has been achallenge for researchers of the local municipal health services. Policy decisions on population specific test locations and selective registration of negative test results led to population differences in data quality. This hampered the calculation of reliable population specific infection rates needed to develop proper data driven public health policy.

Do verbal coaching cues and analogies affect motor skill performance in youth populations?

The way coaching cues are worded can impact on the quality with which a subsequent motor skill is executed. However, there have been few investigations on the effect of coaching cues on basic motor skill performance in youths. Across several international locations, a series of experiments were undertaken to determine the effect of external coaching cues (EC), internal coaching cues (IC), analogies with a directional component (ADC) and neutral control cues on sprint time (20 m) and vertical jump height in youth performers. These data were combined using internal meta-analytical techniques to pool results across each test location. This approach was amalgamated with a repeated-measures analysis to determine if there were any differences between the ECs, ICs and ADCs within the different experiments. 173 participants took part. There were no differences between the neutral control and experimental cues in any of the internal meta-analyses except where the control was superior to the IC for vertical jump (d = -0.30, [-0.54, -0.05], p = 0.02). Just three of eleven repeated-measures analyses showed significant differences between the cues at each experimental location. Where significant differences were noted, the control cue was most effective with some limited evidence supporting the use of ADCs (d = 0.32 to 0.62). These results suggest the type of cue or analogy provided to a youth performer has little subsequent effect on sprint or jump performance. Accordingly, coaches might take a more specific approach that is suited to the level or preferences of a particular individual.

Edge-Based Real-Time Occupancy Detection System through a Non-Intrusive Sensing System

Building automation and the advancement of sustainability and safety in internal spaces benefit significantly from occupancy sensing. While particular traditional Machine Learning (ML) methods have succeeded at identifying occupancy patterns for specific datasets, achieving substantial performance in other datasets is still challenging. This paper proposes an occupancy detection method using non-intrusive ambient data and a Deep Learning (DL) model. An environmental sensing board was used to gather temperature, humidity, pressure, light level, motion, sound, and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) data. The detection approach was deployed on an edge device to enable low-cost computing while increasing data security. The system was set up at a university office, which functioned as the primary case study testing location. We analyzed two Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models to confirm the optimum alternative for edge deployment. A 2D-CNN technique was used for one day to identify occupancy in real-time. The model proved robust and reliable, with a 99.75% real-time prediction accuracy.

Ensuring sustainability in sensory sciences

Ensuring sustainability in sensory sciences

Effect of Correcting Peripheral Refractive Errors on Retinal Sensitivity in Younger and Older Healthy Adults.

Retinal sensitivity decreases with age and age-related eye diseases. Peripheral retinal sensitivity may also be compromised if the refractive correction is not optimized for peripheral vision. This study aimed to determine the impact of using a peripheral refractive correction on perimetric thresholds and the influence of age and spherical equivalent on this impact. We measured, in 10 younger (20 to 30 years) and 10 older (58 to 72 years) healthy subjects, perimetric thresholds for Goldmann size III stimulus in several test locations along the horizontal meridian of the visual field (eccentricity, 0, ±10, and ±25°), with default central refractive correction and with peripheral refractive corrections as measured with a Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor. We used analysis of variance to determine the effect of age and spherical equivalent (between-subject variables) and eccentricity and correction method (central vs. eccentricity specific; within-subject variables) on retinal sensitivity. Retinal sensitivity was higher if the eyes were optimally corrected for the concerning test location (P = .008), and the effect of this peripheral correction differed between the younger and older subjects (interaction term between group and correction method: P = .02), primarily because of more myopia in the younger group (P = .003). The average improvement by applying peripheral corrections was 1.4 dB in the older subjects and 0.3 dB in the younger subjects. Peripheral optical correction has a variable impact on retinal sensitivity, and therefore, assessment of retinal sensitivity may be more accurate if peripheral defocus and astigmatism are corrected.

Design and Analysis Performance of IoT-Based Water Quality Monitoring System using LoRa Technology

Water quality is one of the most important variables impacting human life. Generally, water quality measurements must be conducted on-site. If the region to be investigated is large, several test locations will be required. Repeated evaluations of water quality will be complicated and time-consuming. Therefore, a real-time water quality monitoring system is required to protect and monitor the water in order to take proactive measures for contamination. This project focuses on the aforementioned concerns and uses LoRa technology and the Node-RED application to develop environmental sensors that monitor and display water quality. It is the measurement and collection of data on water quality parameters, including temperature, electric conductivity, pH, air quality, and turbidity, according to the region requiring analysis. The microcontroller processes the sensor data before transmitting it via the wireless network to the database, where it is displayed on the Node-RED dashboard. The experimental results demonstrated that a range of 2.0 km can be used to transmit information in areas where LoRa technology encounters obstacles. Furthermore, the IoT-based monitoring system is able to monitor water quality in real time and display a Node-RED dashboard. It was determined that usability assessments were more efficient and convenient.

Feasibility of Community Pharmacist-Initiated and Point-of-Care CYP2C19 Genotype-Guided De-Escalation of Oral P2Y12 Inhibitors.

Tailoring antiplatelet therapy based on CYP2C19 pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing can improve cardiovascular outcomes and potentially reduce healthcare costs in patients on a P2Y12-inhibitor regime with prasugrel or ticagrelor. However, ubiquitous adoption-particularly in an outpatient setting-remains limited. We conducted a proof-of-concept study to evaluate the feasibility of CYP2C19-guided de-escalation of prasugrel/ticagrelor to clopidogrel through point-of-care (POC) PGx testing in the community pharmacy. Multiple feasibility outcomes were assessed. Overall, 144 patients underwent CYP2C19 PGx testing in 27 community pharmacies. Successful test results were obtained in 142 patients (98.6%). De-escalation to clopidogrel occurred in 19 patients (20%) out of 95 (67%) eligible for therapy de-escalation, which was mainly due to PGx testing not being included in cardiology guidelines. Out of the 119 patients (84%) and 14 pharmacists (100%) surveyed, 109 patients (92%) found the community pharmacy a suitable location for PGx testing, and the majority of pharmacists (86%) thought it has added value. Net costs due to PGx testing were estimated at €43 per patient, which could be reduced by earlier testing and could turn into savings if de-escalation would double to 40%. Although the observed de-escalation rate was low, POC CYP2C19-guided de-escalation to clopidogrel appears feasible in a community pharmacy setting.

Impact of Fusarium Head Blight on Wheat Flour Quality: Examination of Protease Activity, Technological Quality and Rheological Properties

Wheat infections caused by Fusarium represent a global agricultural problem that reduces grain yield and negatively impacts wheat’s technological and rheological quality. Although fungal proteases or an increase in endogenous proteases due to Fusarium infection could negatively influence wheat storage proteins and dough performance, little research has been performed on either of these topics. The primary objective of this study was to identify the effect of Fusarium infection on protease activity in 25 wheat cultivars grown in two distinct locations in eastern Croatia. Apart from proteolytic activity, this paper describes the impact of Fusarium head blight (FHB) infection on the technological quality parameters of wheat flour and the dough’s rheological properties. The first treatment consisted of naturally grown, healthy wheat without fungicides, while the second treatment utilized wheat varieties subjected to intense FHB infection. Protein and wet gluten content in wheat grain and flour of uninfected cultivars were heavily influenced by testing location, soil type, and quality. Fusarium infection increased the activity of nonspecific proteases by 43% in flour samples from Osijek and 125% in flour samples from Tovarnik. Estimates of effect size showed that FHB infection had twice as big an effect on protease activity in Tovarnik as in Osijek, and a similar trend was found for dough softening. Moreover, the infection significantly impacted wheat cultivars’ extensograph values, indicating a lower resistance to stretching, extensibility, and total stretching energy in infected flour samples, indicating that dough functionality and volume loss can be attributed to exogenous fungal proteases. Still, the magnitude of the effect varied depending on the growth location and the cultivar’s traits. Multivariate data analysis identified three clusters of wheat cultivars, each with varying degrees of the Fusarium infection’s effects. Some cultivars displayed consistent protease activity and flour quality across sites. In contrast, others showed variability in their responses due to environmental conditions. To conclude, genetic resistance could provide adequate control of FHB, guaranteeing the successful protection of wheat quality. However, the possibility of confounding factors influencing genetic and cultivation conditions must be considered, and further research is needed to understand their interaction.

The Influence of the Rebound Hammer Test Location on the Estimation of Compressive Strength of a Historical Solid Clay Brick

This paper presents the study of a two-hundred-year-old, demolded solid clay brick using the rebound hammer test for the estimation of the compressive strength. During the test, the location and face type influence on the rebound values are monitored and recorded. In addition, the calculation of the average rebound value has been modified to encounter the influence of location and face types. Furthermore, the estimated compressive strength is compared with the normalized mean compressive strength to check the accuracy of the rebound hammer test if it is within the confidential limit of ±25%. The result shows that the location and surface types have influence on the rebound value, which in turn affected the compressive strength.

Effects of the antidepressant fluoxetine on the swimming behaviour of the amphipod Gammarus pulex: Comparison of short-term and long-term toxicity in the laboratory and the semi-field

Fluoxetine is one of the worlds most prescribed antidepressant, and frequently detected in surface waters. Once present in the aquatic environment, fluoxetine has been shown to disrupt the swimming behaviour of fish and invertebrates. However, swimming behaviour is also known to be highly variable according to experimental conditions, potentially concealing relevant effects. Therefore, the aims of this study were two-fold: i) investigate the swimming and feeding behaviour of Gammarus pulex after exposure to the antidepressant fluoxetine (0.2, 2, 20, and 200 μg/L), and ii) assess to what degree the experimental test duration (short-term and long-term) and test location (laboratory and semi-field conditions) affect gammarid's swimming behaviour. We used automated video tracking and analysis to asses a range of swimming behaviours of G. pulex, including swimming speed, startle responses after light transition, acceleration, curvature and thigmotaxis. We found larger effects on the swimming behaviour of G. pulex due to experimental conditions than due to tested antidepressant concentrations. Gammarids swam faster, more straight and showed a stronger startle response during light transition when kept under semi-field conditions compared to the laboratory. Effects found for different test durations were opposite in the laboratory and semi-field. In the laboratory gammarids swam slower and spent more time at the inner zone of the arena after 2 days compared to 21 days while for the semi-field the reverse was observed. Fluoxetine had only minor impacts on the swimming behaviour of G. pulex, but experimental conditions influenced behavioural outcomes in response to fluoxetine exposure. Overall, our results highlight the importance of standardizing and optimizing experimental protocols that assess behaviour to achieve reproducible results in ecotoxicology.

The impact of various geological factors on the real estate valuation using AHP analysis: case studies from Turkey.

Turkey's diverse geology causes natural disasters that kill and damage towns every year. Population growth in unstable areas without geological variables in value studies endangers people and real estate. This study examines how geological factors affect house values, which are often overlooked in applications. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was used to analyze conventional parameters, geological factors, and priorities for three provinces in Turkey with unique geological properties in surface water, groundwater, active faults, and karstic collapse. The AHP analysis was performed in the Ankara-Cankaya district (Ilkbahar quarter), Bolu-Gerede district, and Konya-Karapinar district, test locations with unique geological properties in terms of surface water, groundwater, active faults, and karstic collapse in various regions of Turkey. Statistical software analyzed the test location survey data. The results show that surface water, groundwater, active faults, and karstic collapse all affect real estate value. The findings suggest that house valuation requires multidisciplinary building site investigations with appropriate methods. This reduces the risk of making unreliable decisions and eliminates uncertainties, resulting in reliable results. The geological factors that determine a house's value are crucial to reducing disaster-related deaths and property damage.

Need for integration of hepatitis C (HCV) services in community-based settings for people who inject drugs: results from a global values and preferences survey

BackgroundTo inform the development of updated World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on simplified service delivery for HCV infection, a global survey was undertaken among people affected or infected by HCV. The objective of this analysis is to identify specific needs and preferences among people who inject drugs.MethodsA multi-country, anonymous, self-administered online survey conducted in 2021 was developed by Coalition PLUS and the World Hepatitis Alliance in partnership with the WHO. Preferences for test and treat locations and simplifying HCV care were collected among people affected or infected by HCV. Chi-square tests were used to compare respondents who identified with current or former injection drug users through identification with key population to other respondents who did not identify with this key population.ResultsAmong 202 respondents, 62 (30.7%) identified with current/former injection drug users. Compared to other respondents, they were: older [median (IQR): 48 (36–57) vs. 39 (31–51) years, p = 0.003]; more likely to have been tested for HCV (90.2% vs. 64.3%, p = 0.001); more likely to prefer testing in a community-based centre (CBC) (55.4% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.005); or in a support centres for people who use drugs (SCPUD)(50.0% vs. 9.8%, p < 0.001). The most important considerations regarding testing locations among people identified with current/former injection drug users (compared to the other respondents) were: non-judgemental atmosphere (p < 0.001), anonymity (p = 0.018) and community worker (CW) presence (p < 0.001). People identified with current/former injection drug users were more likely to prefer to receive HCV treatment in a CBC (63.0% vs. 44.8%, p = 0.028) or in a SCPUD (46.3% vs. 9.5%, p < 0.001), compared to the other respondents. The most important considerations regarding treatment locations among people identified with current/former injection drug users were the non-stigmatising/non-judgemental approach at the site (p < 0.001) and the presence of community-friendly medical personnel or CW (p = 0.016 and 0.002), compared to the other respondents.ConclusionThe preferences of people identified with current/former injection drug users indicated specific needs concerning HCV services. Integration of HCV services in community-based risk reduction centres may be an important element in the development of adapted services to increase uptake and retention in HCV care among this population.

Effects of Test Location and Sample Number on the Liking Ratings of Almond Beverage and Vegan Ramen Products.

The present study investigated the effects of the evaluation environment and sample number on liking ratings within the same testing session. It comprised two experiments that determined consumer taste ratings of the following food products: (1) almond beverage and (2) vegan ramen, as rated by 322 and 287 Korean consumers, respectively. Consumers tasted each food product under either laboratory or home-used test conditions. Additionally, three levels of sample numbers were established for evaluation (almond beverage test: 1, 2, and 4; vegan ramen test: 1, 3, and 5) in each test condition. A target sample was selected for each of the two food products to directly ascertain the effects of the evaluation environment and sample number on the liking ratings. The results revealed that during the same evaluation session, the sample number affected the liking ratings of the target sample more than the testing location. Moreover, the sample number effect was product item dependent, that is, no significant change was noted in the liking ratings of the target almond beverage sample according to sample number, whereas significant differences were observed in the liking ratings of the target vegan ramen sample. Furthermore, the sample number effect was more prominent under laboratory test conditions than under home-used test conditions probably due to the serving order effect driven by hedonic contrast, carry over effect, and sensory specific satiety. The findings demonstrate that home-used tests should be recommended over laboratory tests when measuring the liking of a small number of multiple sample food items with high flavor complexity.

Advancements in autonomous detection of high noise emitters in road traffic

Noise pollution is an increasing problem in densely populated areas with high traffic flow. The NEMO project (Noise and Emissions Monitoring https://nemo-cities.eu/) is funded by the EU to develop a system that is capable of detecting high emitters in terms of noise and air pollutants to prosecute vehicle owners. To this end, a fully autonomous noise measurement system was developed and tested on several test locations, both unsupervised and supervised. This paper describes the advancements in autonomous measuring of traffic noise and specifically addresses the problem of reliable noise source detection in dense traffic streams. While the correct localization of the source is of great importance, it is not yet enough to measure the correct sound pressure level. We therefore propose a method to estimate the influence of nearby noise sources, i.e. closely driving additional vehicles, that disturb the sound signal of the vehicle of interest and correct for it. This algorithm has been applied on several test locations. Using these insights, we will discuss the benefits and possibility of the integration of such a system in the near future.