Time Research Articles

Investigating the Kappa Effect Elicited Through Concurrent Visual and Tactile Stimulation.

The experience of time and space in subjective perception is closely connected. The Kappa effect refers to the phenomenon where the perceived duration of the time interval between stimuli is influenced by the spatial distance between them. In this study, we aimed to explore the Kappa effect from a psychophysical perspective. We investigated participants' perception of temporal duration in the sub-second range by delivering visual and tactile inputs through wearable devices placed on both the palm and the forearm. We compared the impact of unimodal sensory stimulation, involving either visual or tactile stimuli, with different bimodal stimulation conditions. Our results revealed that the illusory effect on inter-stimulus duration perception can be observed in both unimodal conditions, although the distortions were significantly more pronounced in vision. In the multimodal stimulation condition, where visual stimuli were presented at non-equidistant spatial locations, the integration of tactile input did not reduce the Kappa effect, regardless of the spatial location of the tactile stimuli. However, when the visual stimuli were equidistant in space, regardless of the spatial location of the tactile stimuli, the Kappa effect disappeared. These results can shed light on the effect played by multimodality on the perception of space and time.

Analysis of roof stability in ultra-large LNG storage tanks based on field measurements

ABSTRACT To ensure an accurate assessment of the stability of the steel roof during construction of ultra-large LNG storage tanks, real-time monitoring throughout the entire concrete roof pouring process of the world's largest 270,000 cubic meter LNG storage tank was implemented. A computational model for the stability of the steel roof during construction course was established, and the influence of time interval between pours, the holding pressure, and the volume of concrete poured on the stability of the steel roof were studied. The results show that the stability of the steel roof can be enhanced significantly by increasing the time interval between pours within the first eight days after each pouring. Increasing the holding pressure can improve the stability of the steel roof, with more significant effects observed when the time interval between pours is shorter. The volume of concrete poured plays a critical role in structural stability.

THE CONSTRUCTIONS OF POWER: A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS ON BLACK AMERICAN WOMENAS PORTRAYED IN MAUD MARTHA AND THE HATE U GIVE

This study is an attempt to present a latent racial and gendered issue repeatedly taking place in American society as depicted by two novels produced within 70 years interval of time. Maud Martha was published in 1953 and The Hate U Give in 2017. Using critical discourse analysis and qualitative research methods, this article aims to explicate the causes of the unjust construction of Black women's power relations and how Black women cope with such unfavorable situations in such very different eras. Critical discourse analysis observes people's interactions through language because language is the basic element of life and the way truth and power are produced. In power contestation, discourse plays two opposing roles i.e., maintaining or preserving the system of dominion on one side and in another side fighting against the system of dominion. Seizing discourse means seizing power. The ongoing unjust construction of racial power relations is the major discourse that Maud Martha and Starr Carter have to live in. They exercise power producing discourses of their own as their resistance against the ongoing unfavorable major discourse. The contestation of power leads to hard mass demonstrations in The Hate U Give and a solemn understanding of living a peaceful life in Maud Martha.

Computational approaches on integrating vaccination and treatment strategies in the SIR model using Galerkin time discretization scheme

ABSTRACT In this manuscript, we carried out a thorough analysis of the general SIR model for epidemics. We broadened the model to include vaccination, treatment, and incidence rate. The vaccination rate is a testament to the alternatives made by individuals when it comes to receiving vaccinations and merging with the community of the recovered. The treatment rate measures how often people who have contracted a disease are able to transition into the recovered category. The continuous Galerkin-Petrov method, specifically the cGP(2)-method, is employed to calculate the numerical solutions of the models. The cGP(2)-method imperative to analyse two unknowns over every time interval. The unknowns can be determined by solving a block system of size (2 × 2). This approach demonstrates a strong level of precision throughout the entire time interval, with an impressive rate of convergence at the discrete time points. In addition, the article investigates the concept of the basic reproduction number ( R 0 ) and explores the intricacies of conducting sensitivity analysis of the developed system.

Cause of death for heart transplant patients, an autopsy study

IntroductionHeart transplantations are lifesaving for patients with end-stage heart failure. It is pertinent for the multidisciplinary care team to understand how heart transplant patients succumbed to death and the complications that occurred. In this study, we performed a comprehensive retrospective review of all the autopsies performed in our institute for heart transplant patients and report the trend of demographic data, cause of death, and autopsy findings. Materials and methodsReports, photos, and slides of autopsies performed at our institute from 1990 to 2023 for heart transplant patients were reviewed. Pertinent demographic data (age, gender, pretransplant diagnosis), clinical data (clinical history of rejection, complication, time interval from transplant to death, clinical cause of death) and pathological findings (allograft pathology, infectious etiology, other findings related to cause of death) were reviewed, documented, and analyzed. ResultsWe identified 88 cases, consisting of 53 male and 35 female patients. The median age at transplant was 26 years, while 28.5 years was the median age at death. The median interval from transplant to death was 10 months. The cases were classified in three categories based on length of survival post-transplant: Superacute (<1 month, 21%), Early (1 month-12 months, 30%), and Late (> 12 months, 49%). Slides were unavailable for review in 15 cases, which were excluded from cause of death (COD) evaluation. We categorized 41.1% of cases as allograft-related COD and 58.9% as non-allograft-related COD. Six of the CODs were not perceived premortem. These unexpected CODs included moderate/severe acute cellular rejection in a patient with a recently negative biopsy, dehiscent suture caused by a fungal abscess, an aorto-bronchial fistula, CMV myocarditis, acute abdominal bleeding, and ruptured atherosclerotic plaques with acute myocardial infarction. ConclusionWe systematically reviewed 33 years of heart transplant autopsies. We found that 41.1% of deaths were allograft related, with infection being the most frequent COD. While the rate of unexpected findings was low, the findings demonstrate the continued utility of autopsy in patient evaluation.

Constructing a visual detection method for coagulation effect based on image feature machine learning

The coagulation process is influenced by several factors, including turbidity, temperature, pH, and hydraulic conditions. Consequently, optimizing the dosage of coagulants is often time-consuming and challenging. To quickly evaluate coagulation efficacy and optimize coagulant dosage, this study utilized a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to analyze the accuracy of effluent turbidity predictions from floc images at different time intervals. Python OpenCV was employed to develop a program that extracts macro features (e.g., texture) and micro features (e.g., particle size distribution) from the images, and these feature parameters were analyzed using a BP-ANN model. The results of the CNN analysis indicated that the middle to late stages of flocculation are the optimal periods for predicting effluent turbidity, with the highest prediction accuracy of 99.81 % achieved during the middle stage of flocculation. The BP-ANN analysis demonstrated that particle size distribution effectively represents the microscopic characteristics of flocs, achieving a maximum prediction accuracy of 96.94 % in the middle stage of flocculation. Furthermore, combining macroscopic and microscopic features yielded a prediction accuracy of 99.44 % at the end of flocculation using BP-ANN. These findings suggest that machine learning techniques applied to floc images can effectively predict effluent turbidity, offering valuable insights for future water quality prediction and the development of flocculation kinetics models.

Is the Endurance Standardized ACWRHMLD or the Underlying Acute and Chronic Components Related to Injuries?

Acute (AW) and chronic (CW) workload imbalances, including their ratio (ACWR), are largely associated with increased injury risk. However, the inclusion of personal endurance performance (EP) in this calculation as a means of improving accuracy has been neglected in previous studies. The aim of this longitudinal observational study was to evaluate the relevance of the high metabolic load distance (ACWRHMLD) to EP in relation to non-contact injuries. Twenty-three German male first division soccer players (age: 24.5 ± 3.5 years; VO2max: 53.7 ± 4.9 mL/min/kg; v4: 15.2 ± 0.9 km/h) were analyzed. Eleven players with non-contact injuries were identified and matched with players without any injuries within the same time interval. Players were monitored using GPS and LPS tracking to calculate ACWRHMLD on a daily basis over the course of one competitive season. Relationships between different endurance performance parameters (v2, v4, vLT, VO2max) and the ACWRHMLD, AW, CW were established for statistical analysis. An area under the curve analysis (AUC) was performed. Based on the four weeks preceding the non-contact injuries, the CW, especially for the last two weeks before the injury, proved to be the most suitable parameter to estimate the risk of injury. The highest significant AUC value (0.81, 95% CI: 0.59–1.00) was calculated for the CW (last week before injury) in relation to the vLT (suitable cut-off: 0.04 km; sensitivity: 78%, specificity: 80%). With regard to the injury rate, the ACWRHMLD seems to be the most appropriate method of calculation, especially for CW related to EP (vLT). The sole use of ACWR, AW, and CW is not recommended.

Border Gateway Protocol Route Leak Detection Technique Based on Graph Features and Machine Learning

In the Internet, ASs are interconnected using BGP. However, due to a lack of security considerations in the design of BGP, a series of security issues arise during the propagation of routing information, such as prefix hijacking, route leakage, and AS path tampering. Therefore, this paper conducts research on the detection of route leakage. By analyzing BGP routing information, we abstract the routing propagation relationship between ASs into a network topology graph, and extract graph features from the graph abstracted from routing data at certain time intervals. Based on the structural robustness features and centrality measurement features of the graph, we determine whether a route leakage has occurred during the current time period. To this end, we use machine learning methods and propose a weighted voting model. This model trains multiple single models and assigns weights to them, and through the weighted analysis of the results of multiple models, it can determine whether a route leakage has occurred. In addition, to determine the corresponding weights, we use genetic algorithms for identifying route leaks. The experimental results show that the method used in this paper has a high accuracy rate, and compared with a single model, it performs better on multiple datasets.

Error estimates of effective boundary conditions for the heat equation with optimally aligned coatings

We are interested in the validity of effective boundary conditions for a heat equation on a coated body as the thickness of the coating shrinks to zero. The coating is optimally aligned in the sense that the normal vector in the coating is an eigenvector of the thermal tensor. If the heat equation satisfies Neumann boundary condition on the outer boundary of the coating, Chen et al. (Arch. Ration. Mech. Anal. 206 (2012) 911-951) derived the complete list of effective boundary conditions satisfied by the limiting model. In this paper we provide explicit error estimates between the full model and the effective model. Moreover, our error estimates are independent of time, which shows that the maximal time interval in which the effective boundary conditions remain valid are infinite. The proof is based on H2 estimates for solutions of the full model, characterization of large time behaviors for solutions of the effective model, and interaction estimates between the two models.

OPTIMIZING ROYALTY PAYMENTS FOR MAXIMUM ECONOMIC BENEFIT: A CASE STUDY UTILIZING MODIFIED SHOOTING AND DISCRETIZATION METHODS

This research delves into the application of the modified shooting method for the numerical resolution of non-standard optimal control (OC) problems. More precisely, it concentrates on scenarios where the final state value component remains unknown and unconstrained, leading to a non-zero final shadow value or costate variable. Moreover, the objective function involved a piecewise royalty function, which poses a challenge due to its lack of differentiability within a specific time interval. Consequently, the novel modified shooting method was employed to ascertain the elusive final state value. The model’s differentiability is maintained throughout by adopting a continuous hyperbolic tangent (tanh) approximation. In addition, the construction of the Sufahani-Ahmad-Newton-Golden-Royalty Algorithm (SANGRA) and Sufahani-Ahmad-Powell-Golden-Royalty Algorithm (SAPGRA) was accomplished using the C++ programming language to formulate the problem. The outcomes of these algorithms, satisfying the criteria for optimality, were juxtaposed with non-linear programming (NLP) techniques such as Euler and Runge-Kutta, aside from Trapezoidal and Hermite-Simpson approximations. This groundbreaking discovery carries extensive practical implications as it propels the field forward and ensures the application of contemporary problem-solving methodologies. Moreover, the study underscores the significance of fundamental theory in effectively tackling current economic challenges.

Default mode network tau predicts future clinical decline in atypical early Alzheimer's disease.

Identifying individuals with early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) at greater risk of steeper clinical decline would enable better-informed medical, support, and life planning decisions. Despite accumulating evidence on the clinical prognostic value of tau positron emission tomography (PET) in typical late-onset amnestic AD, its utility in predicting clinical decline in individuals with atypical forms of AD remains unclear. Across heterogeneous clinical phenotypes, patients with atypical AD consistently exhibit abnormal tau accumulation in the posterior nodes of the default mode network of the cerebral cortex. This evidence suggests that tau burden in this functional network could be a common imaging biomarker for prognostication across the syndromic spectrum of AD. Here, we examined the relationship between baseline tau PET signal and the rate of subsequent clinical decline in a sample of 48 A+/T+/N+ patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia due to AD with atypical clinical phenotypes: Posterior Cortical Atrophy (n = 16), logopenic variant Primary Progressive Aphasia (n = 15), and amnestic syndrome with multi-domain impairment and young age of onset < 65 years (n = 17). All patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), tau PET, and amyloid PET scans at baseline. Each patient's longitudinal clinical decline was assessed by calculating the annualized change in the Clinical Dementia Rating Sum-of-Boxes (CDR-SB) scores from baseline to follow-up (mean time interval = 14.55 ± 3.97 months). Atypical early AD patients showed an increase in CDR-SB by 1.18 ± 1.25 points per year: t(47) = 6.56, p < .001, Cohen's d = 0.95. Across clinical phenotypes, baseline tau in the default mode network was the strongest predictor of clinical decline (R2 = .30), outperforming a simpler model with baseline clinical impairment and demographic variables (R2 = .10), tau in other functional networks (R2 = .11-.26), and the magnitude of cortical atrophy (R2 = .20) and amyloid burden (R2 = .09) in the default mode network. Overall, these findings point to the contribution of default mode network tau to predicting the magnitude of clinical decline in atypical early AD patients one year later. This simple measure could aid the development of a personalized prognostic, monitoring, and treatment plan, which would help clinicians not only predict the natural evolution of the disease but also estimate the effect of disease-modifying therapies on slowing subsequent clinical decline given the patient's tau burden while still early in the disease course.

Global Lipschitz stability for an inverse coefficient problem for a mean field game system

For an inverse coefficient problem of determining a state‐varying factor in the corresponding Hamiltonian for a mean field game system, we prove the global Lipschitz stability by spatial data of one component and interior data in an arbitrarily chosen subdomain over a time interval. The proof is based on Carleman estimates with different norms.

Effectiveness of violet LED with or without a bleaching gel: a 12-month randomized clinical trial

IntroductionThe present interventional, controlled, randomized, blind clinical study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an in-office bleaching procedure with violet LED associated or not with 37% carbamide peroxide, considering as response variables the degree of change and color stability over 12 months and dental sensitivity over a month.MethodsForty participants, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 20) according to the bleaching protocol conducted, in two sessions, with a 7-day interval: vLED—violet LED, without gel; vLED/CP—37% carbamide peroxide photocatalyzed with violet LED (control group). In the vLED group, in each session the bleaching was carried out by 2 consecutive irradiation cycles of 25’ each (10 × 2’ LED + 30” interval), with 5’ interval between cycles. In the vLED/CP group, the gel was applied 5 times in the bleaching session and photocatalyzed 3 times for 2’ with 30” intervals (7’30” per gel application), totaling 37’30” per session. Dental sensitivity was assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the effectiveness of bleaching as a function of the degree of change and color stability (ΔE) with a spectrophotometer. The data were tabulated and submitted to statistical tests (p &amp;lt; 0.05).ResultsThe VAS analysis showed that some individuals from both groups had mild pain (1 ≤ VAS &amp;lt; 4) during the time intervals evaluated, being more prevalent in the vLED/CP group. Regarding the degree of color change, the groups behaved differently over time (p &amp;lt; 0.0001). The ΔE observed for the vLED/CP group was superior in comparison to the vLED group at all evaluated moments.ConclusionsOver 12 months, the vLED/CP group was more effective in relation to the bleaching effect compared to the vLED group. Both groups showed low levels of sensitivity in the studied time intervals. Clinical Trial Registration[https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-6rc23h], identifier [U1111-1253-8850].

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft vehicle trajectory control model with air-launched missiles

Purpose In today’s technology, the significance of unmanned aerial vehicles is steadily increasing. Many unmanned aerial vehicles design, especially those used for military purposes, have achieved autonomy from human operators. Undoubtedly, one of the most crucial features of these aircraft is their vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. Inspired by quadrotor methodology, this paper aims to conduct, a modeling of an aircraft with VTOL capabilities. Design/methodology/approach The impact of releasing air-launched missiles, considered as the useful payload carried during the flight of the aircraft, has been taken into account in this modeling. The release of air-launched missiles disrupts both the symmetric structure of the system and alters the mass and inertia parameters. Simulations were conducted to investigate scenarios involving the simultaneous release of all air-launched missiles and their release at different times. Findings The investigation focused on determining how quickly an aircraft, aiming to consecutively hit targets, can return to its desired trajectory. The time interval between the consecutive releases of two air-launched missiles has been identified. Originality/value It is crucial for a VTOL-capable aircraft to possess a unique modeling structure to examine its capability of releasing air-launched missiles in various scenarios. This entails understanding not only the aircraft’s VTOL functionality but also its ability to effectively release missiles in different operational conditions.

Coronary circulation enhances the aerobic performance of wild Pacific salmon.

Female Pacific salmon often experience higher mortality than males during their once-in-a-lifetime up-river spawning migration, particularly when exposed to secondary stressors (e.g. high temperatures). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. One hypothesis is that female Pacific salmon hearts are more oxygen-limited than those of males and are less able to supply oxygen to the body's tissues during this demanding migration. Notably, female hearts have higher coronary blood flow, which could indicate a greater reliance on this oxygen source. Oxygen limitations can develop from naturally occurring coronary blockages (i.e. coronary arteriosclerosis) found in mature salmon hearts. If female hearts rely more heavily on coronary blood flow but experience similar arteriosclerosis levels as males, they will have disproportionately impaired aerobic performance. To test this hypothesis, we measured resting (RMR) and maximum metabolic rate (MMR), aerobic scope (AS) and acute upper thermal tolerance in coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) with an intact or artificially blocked coronary oxygen supply. We also assessed venous blood oxygen and chemistry (cortisol, ions and metabolite concentrations) at different time intervals during recovery from exhaustive exercise. We found that coronary blockage impaired MMR, AS and the partial pressure of oxygen in venous blood (PvO2) during exercise recovery but did not differ between sexes. Coronary ligation lowered acute upper thermal tolerance by 1.1°C. Although we did not find evidence of enhanced female reliance on coronary supply, our findings highlight the importance of coronary blood supply for mature wild salmon, where migration success may be linked to cardiac performance, particularly during warm water conditions.

Effect of germination on the physico-functional and nutritional profile of barnyard millet ()(VL-172)

: Barnyard millet is well-known for its abundant nutrients and adaptability, making it a promising candidate for product innovation, especially by exploring new processing methods like germination to boost its nutritional value and effectiveness. It is vital to examine both the physico-functional and nutrient characteristics of barnyard millet in order to fully harness their nutritional advantages in product development. Understanding factors such as grain size and properties like water and oil absorption capacity is crucial for creating inventive, nutritionally enriched foods that can meet a variety of dietary requirements and gain wider market acceptance.: This scientific approach fosters the effects of germination on the physico-functional and nutritional properties of Barnyard millet. : Barnyard millet was collected and soaked for 12 hours and germinated in different time intervals, then dehydrated at 110°C for 4 hours. Physical properties such as kernel size and volume were analysed. Functional properties, including oil and water absorption capacity, water solubility and nutritional analysis were conducted. The study revealed that as the germination time increased, the length-width ratio increased, accompanied by a slight increase in 1000 kernel weight, volume and decrease in bulk density of germinated millet. Furthermore, functional properties such as oil absorption capacity, water absorption capacity and water solubility index increased with germination time, contributing to improved texture. There was increase in protein and fiber, slight decrease in fat content. The mineral content was increased upon germination. The obtained results indicated slight variations in the physical and functional and nutritional characteristics of barnyard millet and its flour upon germination.

Advancing Diagnostic Accuracy and Quality of Patient Care Through the Implementation of a Flow Cytometry Quality Assurance Program

Abstract Introduction/Objective Flow cytometry immunophenotypic analysis plays an important role in the diagnosis, classification and disease monitoring of hematological neoplasms. However, interpretation of flow cytometry testing can be challenging, especially when using highly complex antibody panels. Thus exploring ways to improve diagnostic accuracy and in turn improving quality of patient care is needed. Methods/Case Report A flow cytometry quality assurance (QA) program was developed. Cases from various complex flow cytometry panels were randomly selected and cross-reviewed by a second pathologist on a daily basis. The outcomes of the QA review were categorized into three groups: complete agreement, minor discrepancy and major discrepancy. Each discrepancy, once identified, underwent a process of documentation, discussion and resolution. The reports were then modified in a timely manner and the clinical teams were notified of the changes. Recurrent issues and common pitfalls were reviewed and discussed at a weekly QA meeting. Here we summarize our 3-years’ experience with this program. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) In total, 6,166 cases were evaluated by the QA program; 6,028 (97.7%) cases showed complete concordance, 120 (2.0%) cases showed minor discrepancies and 18 (0.3%) cases showed major discrepancies. Antibody panels designed to evaluate mature and immature T-cell abnormalities showed the highest rate of discrepancy, 2.8%, whereas panels designed for evaluation of myelodysplastic syndromes showed the lowest discrepancy rate, 1.7%. When analyzing the trends of concordance and discrepancy over time, we found a statistically significant decrease in discrepancies over time, from 4% at the beginning of the QA program to 1.5% in the most recent time interval. Conclusion The overall concordance rate was 97.7%. The remaining 2.3% cases showed discrepancies that required a correction, underscoring the value and necessity of having a QA program. The overall discrepancy rates exhibited a gradual decline over time, indicative of the positive impact of the QA program on enhancing diagnostic competency and accuracy over time.

Seasonal–Diurnal Distribution of Lightning over Bulgaria and the Black Sea and Its Relationship with Sea Surface Temperature

A seasonal–diurnal analysis of land-sea contrast in lightning activity over Bulgaria and the Black Sea over 10 years is presented here. The maximum number of flashes over both surface types is registered during the summer (with a peak over Bulgaria in June and over the Black Sea in July) and a minimum number in winter (December/February, respectively). During spring, the maximum flash density is observed over Bulgaria (in May), while in autumn, it is over the Black Sea (in September). The results show that only in autumn lightning activity dominates over the Black Sea compared to over land (Bulgaria), while in winter, spring, and summer is vice versa. For this reason, an additional investigation was conducted to determine whether there is a relationship between lightning activity and the sea surface temperature (SST) of the Black Sea in autumn. The analysis reveals that the influence of SST on the formation of thunderstorms over the Black Sea varies depending on the diurnal time interval, with the effect being more significant at night. At nighttime intervals, there is a clear trend of increasing mean flash frequency per case with rising SST (linear correlation coefficients range from R = 0.92 to 0.98), while during the daytime, this trend is not as evident. This indicates that, during the day, other favorable atmospheric processes have a greater influence on the formation of thunderstorms than sea-surface temperature, while in the autumn night hours, the higher SST values probably play a more significant role in thunderstorms formation, in combination with the corresponding orographic conditions.

The influence of calibration on bias in quality control and patient results for TSH on Vitros XT 7600 analyzer.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is a glycoprotein secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and is regulated by negative feedback from the serum free thyroid hormones. In this study we aimed to quantitate the relative bias caused by calibration drifting as seen in our TSH Levey-Jennings quality control (QC) charts and assess the magnitude of bias on patients' samples. In the period from October 2021 to August 2022 we looked at the QC results of ten 28-days' calibration time intervals and calculated relative bias compared to the mean. For each time interval the mean from three QC points before and after calibration was calculated. The average from 10 pre- and post-calibration means was calculated and the relative bias, pre- and post-calibration, was then calculated. We used 5 patient samples with low, normal and high TSH concentrations and calculated relative bias pre- and post-calibration. The allowed relative bias for TSH is ± 6.7%. At both QC levels, with the respective means of 5.14 mIU/L (coefficient of variation, CV% = 3.1%) and 27.80 mIU/L (CV% = 3.2%) had their respective relative bias - 8.2% and - 7.9%. The patient samples with low (0.586 mIU/L), normal (2.89 mIU/L and 5.19 mIU/L) and high (20.5 mIU/L and 39.8 mIU/L) TSH had - 4.1%, - 4.0%, - 3.5%, - 5.1% and - 4.1%, respectively. Even though the relative bias exceeded allowable criteria for the QC samples, this was not manifested on the patients' samples.

Sources of seismic noise in an open-pit mining environment

We present the characterization of the sources of vibration in the open-pit Riotinto mine (southern Spain), based on the data recorded by a dense seismic network of 30 stations located along a 1-km long segment of a tailings dam. We describe the most common transient signals detected, including local and distant earthquakes, blasting and vehicles. The time variations in the amplitude of the 10–40 Hz frequency band are then used to define three phases of activity during the recording period. The phase with the highest seismic amplitudes is observed during a time interval of five weeks, coinciding with the civil works carried out for the regrowth of the dam, necessary to correctly capture the continuously increasing amount of tailings. In the last three months of operation of our network, the seismic noise is dominated by the deposition of tailings into the pond, enabling the use of seismic data to monitor into detail the evolution of the deposition process.