Values Of Quantities Research Articles

A Cross-Sectional Study: Systematic Quantification of Chemerin in Human Cerebrospinal Fluid

Background: Dysregulation of adipokines is considered a key mechanism of chronic inflammation in metabolic syndrome. Some adipokines affect food intake by crossing the blood/brain barrier. The adipokine chemerin is associated with metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases and immune response. Little is known about chemerin’s presence in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its ability to cross the blood/CSF barrier. Methods: We quantified chemerin levels in paired serum and CSF samples of 390 patients with different neurological diagnoses via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Correlation analyses of serum and CSF chemerin levels with anthropometric, serum and CSF routine parameters were performed. Results: Overweight patients exhibited higher chemerin levels in serum and CSF. Chemerin CSF levels were higher in men. Chemerin levels in serum were associated with BMI (body mass index) and CRP (C-reactive protein). Chemerin levels in CSF were associated with age. Neurological diseases affected chemerin levels in CSF. The chemerin CSF/serum ratio was calculated as 96.3 ± 36.8 × 10−3 for the first time. Conclusions: Our data present a basis for the development of standard values for chemerin quantities in CSF. CSF chemerin levels are differentially regulated in neurological diseases and affected by BMI and sex. Chemerin is able to cross the blood/CSF barrier under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Molecular dynamics of deformation and fragmentation processes in liquid droplets under pulsed electric field

The deformation and breakup of droplets are widely observed in various aspects of production and daily life. Using molecular dynamics simulations, this study primarily investigated the deformation and breakup of droplets in a nitrogen environment under pulsed electric fields of different frequencies. The results indicate that the droplet deformation undergoes periodic changes under the influence of the pulsed electric field. At equivalent electric field strengths, droplets are more likely to break under a 6.25 GHz pulsed electric field compared to a 25 GHz pulsed electric field, where droplet deformation remains stable without breaking. At every frequency, the bond energy of water molecules consistently decreases. The solvent-accessible surface area changes with the electric field at 6.25 GHz. Furthermore, the minimum value of hydrogen bond quantity reached under high-frequency pulsed fields is higher than that under low-frequency fields. The change in hydrogen bond quantity is inversely proportional to the solvent-accessible surface area. These findings provide insights into the microscopic mechanisms of droplet deformation and breakup, offering a reference for future studies.

Investigation, Determination, and Analysis of Dominant Vegetation in Mining Areas

During the mining process, a large amount of untreated and unusable land, namely mining wastelands, is generated. Ecological remediation in mining areas aims to rehabilitate polluted mining wasteland, thus enabling the reuse of land resources. Phytoremediation technology can effectively restore pollution in mining areas, with the prerequisite of identifying suitable tolerant or dominant plant species, which are typically found in the vicinity of mining sites with a long history of exploitation. This study conducted field surveys and collected samples, followed by laboratory analyses to explore the dominant plant species in the vanadium-titanium mining area of Zhujiabaobao, Panzhihua. Field surveys revealed a low coverage of wild vegetation due to the fragile ecological environment, primarily consisting of low, medium, and high-coverage vegetation types. Based on a comprehensive analysis of 13 dominant plant species in terms of their quantity, quality, morphological characteristics, and potential value, Eriophorum vaginatum, Rumex hastatus, and Dodonaea viscosa were identified as the three most suitable species for ecological remediation in this mining area.

Bioconvection flow of Carreau nanomaterial invoking Soret and Dufour impacts

Background and objectiveThermal transport enhancement through nanomaterial flow has gained much attention of the investigators recently. Such attention is for applications in engineering, petroleum industries, geothermal engineering and pharmaceutical developments such as X-ray imaging, welding process, semiconductor material production, thermal storage system, electric cooling devices, drug delivery, magma solidification etc. In view of such interest here we analyze the bioconvective stretched flow of Carreau nanoliquid. Thermal, microorganism and mass convective constraints are considered. Gyrotactic microorganisms within presence of chemical reaction is considered. Variable thermal conductivity is considered. Dufour and Soret features are under consideration. Thermophoresis diffusion and random movement features are considered. Energy relation comprises heat generation and radiation. MethodologyNonlinear dimensionless expressions are developed by employing suitable transformations. Numerical computations are obtained by implementation of Newton built in-shooting technique. ResultsPerformance of liquid flow, concentration, microorganism field, and thermal field is studied. Numerical values of quantities of engineering performance via influential parameters are explored. Larger Weissenberg number yield velocity increase. Reduction in velocity through bioconvection Rayleigh number is witnessed. Concentration and thermal field through solutal thermal Biot numbers have similar effect. An increment in thermal distribution and Nusselt number for Dufour number is detected. Increasing values of Soret number and chemical reaction correspond to decay in concentration. An augmentation in thermal transfer rate and temperature through radiation is noticed. An increment in density number against Peclet and bioconvection Lewis numbers is noticed.

Quantitative and qualitative assessment of food waste in rural markets in Morocco

Background: Food waste, a significant issue in sustainable food systems, occurs at various stages of the food supply chain, from production to consumption. However, there is limited data assessing the quantity and nutritional value of food waste at the retail level, especially in rural markets (Souks). Aims: This research aimed to characterize and quantify the nutritional value of food waste in rural retail markets of El Jadida and Sidi Bennour in Morocco. Material and Methods: A quantitative approach was employed, combining observational diagnosis of food waste types and a survey of sellers to collect information, through a questionnaire, on purchased and remaining quantities, as well as the nature and disposal of food waste. The nutritional value of wasted food was estimated using the Ciqual food composition table and the bilnut calculation program. Results: The estimated quantity of unsold food in the studied retail markets studied was 1135.36 tons/year, equivalent to 0.85 kg/inhabitant/year for the region’s population. Vegetables accounted for the largest proportion of unsold food (45.7%), followed by fruits (27.4%), and meat and offal (10.8%). The estimated quantity of food waste was 677.3 tons/year or 0.5 kg/inhabitant/year. The daily nutritional value of wasted food in the studied Souks was estimated to be 118.173 kcal, 7.616 g of carbohydrates, 6.026 g of proteins and 6.386 g of total fats, 1.579 g of dietary fiber, 334 mg of vitamin A, 1.6 mg of vitamin D, 945.9 mg of iron, 21.712 mg of calcium, 1.903 mg of potassium, and 4.56 mg of iodine. These nutrient contents could potentially contribute to the daily needs of a significant portion of the population, particularly for iron, as the estimated daily loss of 945.9 mg/day could meet the recommended daily intake of 59 adult women or 236 children under five years old. Conclusion: This study provides a novel comprehensive assessment of the nutritional value lost due to food waste in rural retail markets in El Jadida-Sidi Bennour. The findings reveal the need for improved supply chain management and demand forecasting to reduce food waste I these. Strengthening efforts to redistribute and reutilize wasted food can contribute to addressing nutritional deficiencies and food insecurity among vulnerable rural populations. Keywords: Food waste, retail trade, valorization, nutritional loss, rural markets.

Theoretical framework for learning through structural plasticity

A growing body of research indicates that structural plasticity mechanisms are crucial for learning and memory consolidation. Starting from a simple phenomenological model, we exploit a mean-field approach to develop a theoretical framework of learning through this kind of plasticity, capable of taking into account several features of the connectivity and pattern of activity of biological neural networks, including probability distributions of neuron firing rates, selectivity of the responses of single neurons to multiple stimuli, probabilistic connection rules, and noisy stimuli. More importantly, it describes the effects of stabilization, pruning, and reorganization of synaptic connections. This framework is used to compute the values of some relevant quantities used to characterize the learning and memory capabilities of the neuronal network in training and testing procedures as the number of training patterns and other model parameters vary. The results are then compared with those obtained through simulations with firing-rate-based neuronal network models. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Analysis of Wheat Export Performance in India

Wheat is a plant which is valued highly for its kernel as an edible part and an important source of carbohydrates. India ranks second position in wheat production in the world with a contribution of roughly 13.53 per cent to global wheat output (Naga Latha et. al., 2022). The study analyses the export performance of wheat and examines the trends in the growth performance of wheat in terms of area, production and productivity, export quantity and export value during 1973-2022 which is a period of 50 years. The analysis reveals that the highest compound growth rate in terms of area was 1.16 per cent, production was 4.49 per cent and productivity was 3.29 per cent respectively. The results of the study on the compound growth rates during the study periods have shown positive and increasing value which indicates high potential for the export of wheat from India. In the analysis of instability, there exists a high positive correlation between the export quantity and value of export in the overall period. Wheat area, production and productivity exhibit higher variability and instability in the overall period. Period II shows lower variability and instability, indicating increased stability. Period I exhibits moderate variability and instability. The overall period has the highest instability, suggesting unpredictable production. Instability indices show high instability at 126.97 per cent in Period I and 138.18 per cent overall, while Period II exhibits moderate instability at 101.94 per cent. Market volatility, trade policies, economic fluctuations, weather patterns and production variability contribute to these fluctuations. As of trend analysis, there is a positive and significant increase. The NPC value of wheat during the overall period was 0.051, it indicates that the commodity is not protected. NPC<1 indicates that the commodity is exportable and possesses export competitiveness and hence the hypothesis i.e. Indian wheat has better competitiveness in the International market.

Optimization of aluminum hydroxide catalyst for efficient hydrogen generation from aluminum-water reaction

The aluminum-water reaction offers a promising method for clean hydrogen production, but it requires an effective catalyst. This study investigates the use of aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)3) as a catalyst for the aluminum-water reaction to generate hydrogen gas. Various aluminum hydroxide catalysts were synthesized and evaluated for their catalytic performance. The effects of catalyst source, synthesis conditions, quantity, and pH value of the reacting solution were systematically studied. The results demonstrate that self-synthesized, nano-sized Al(OH)3 catalysts exhibit superior catalytic activity compared to commercial sources. Additionally, optimizing the pH value was found to significantly impact the hydrogen generation rate. Proper synthesized Al(OH)3 is capable of completing hydrogen generation within 160 s at pH 11.6, while slightly higher pH value accelerates this reaction down to 60 s. Comparative studies with uncatalyzed reactions at higher pH levels (up to 14) showed significantly slower and incomplete hydrogen production. This research provides insights into developing efficient and sustainable catalytic systems for aluminum-water based hydrogen production.

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH RATE OF LISTED TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY ENTERPRISES IN VIETNAM

The article clarifies the basis for discussion on sustainable growth and models for measuring sustainable growth rate. The article uses Higgins' sustainable growth model to determine the steady growth rate of the Securities Telecommunications technology enterprise in Vietnam. The results were found: Listed telecommunications technology enterprises in Vietnam had an average solid growth rate of -0.04 - 0.078, the highest solid growth rate in 2017 with a value of Quantity value 0.2189, 2021 recorded a return to growth; however, the period from late 2022 to early 2023 saw businesses in the industry gradually decreasing in growth due to weak demand. by the risks of deterioration in world economic exchange and applying detection capabilities. Despite facing complex and large-scale difficulties with benefits from policies to promote digital economic development, the business community in the industry is still able to maintain a steady growth rate and develop strongly in the near future.

Educational assessment without numbers.

Psychometrics conceptualizes a person's proficiency (or ability, or competence), in a cognitive or educational domain, as a latent numerical quantity. Yet both conceptual and empirical studies have shown that the assumption of quantitative structure for such phenomena is unlikely to be tenable. A reason why most applications of psychometrics nevertheless continue to treat them as if they were numerical quantities may be that quantification is thought to be necessary to enable measurement. This is indeed true if one regards the task of measurement as the location of a measurand at a point on the real number line (the viewpoint adopted by, for example, the representational theory of measurement, the realist theory of measurement as the discovery of ratios, and Rasch measurement theory). But this is not the only philosophically respectable way of defining the notion of measurement. This paper suggests that van Fraassen's more expansive view of measurement as, in general, location in a logical space (which could be the real continuum, as in metrological applications in the physical sciences, but could be a different mathematical structure), provides a more appropriate conceptual framework for psychometrics. Taking educational measurement as a case study, it explores what that could look like in practice, drawing on fuzzy logic and mathematical order theory. It suggests that applying this approach to the assessment of intersubjectively constructed phenomena, such as a learner's proficiency in an inherently fuzzily-defined subject area, entails recognizing the theory-dependent nature of valid representations of such phenomena, which need not be conceived of structurally as values of quantities. Finally, some connections are made between this "qualitative mathematical" theorization of educational assessment, and the application of techniques from machine learning and artificial intelligence in this area.

Effect of Compressive Strength and Tensile Strength Value on Fiber Concrete Using Bendrat Wire Fibers

Concrete is a material used in modern construction and is a very important component in the manufacture of structures. Concrete has advantages, but also disadvantages, namely low tensile strength. To increase the tensile strength of concrete, fibers are added to the mix. One of the efforts made to increase the tensile strength of concrete is the addition of fibers to the fiber-concrete mixture. The purpose of this study is to examine the compressive strength and tensile strength values in fiber concrete if added with variations in fiber addition. An innovation in increasing the value of mechanical quantities in concrete is the use of bent wire fibers as a mixture in fiber concrete. This material is taken from former pieces in construction projects to connect steel reinforcement with Sengkang reinforcement and is also widely found in building shops. The fibers were also analyzed for microstructure using SEM (Scanning Electron Microstructure) tools. The length of this bent wire fiber is 13 mm with a diameter of 0.82 mm and has a minimum tensile strength value of 334.5 MPa. The variations in the addition of these bent wire fibers are 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9% of the total weight of the steel fiber. The soaking life of concrete is 7 days, 14 days, and 28 days. The results of this study show that the more variations in the addition of bent wire fibers, the compressive strength value of concrete and the tensile strength value of concrete will also increase. It can be seen that fiber concrete with an immersion life of 28 days with a variation of 9% added bent wire fiber has a maximum compressive strength value of concrete which is 63,645 MPa and a maximum value of tensile strength of 3,294 MP.

Оказание хирургической помощи пострадавшим от применения огнестрельного оружия ограниченного поражения в Арктической зоне Архангельской области

Summary. The aim of the study was to estimate the surgical care provided to the victims of traumatic weapons in the Arctic zone of the Arkhangelsk region. Materials and methods of research. We conducted a document-based statistical study using the records from 248 case histories (statistical form # 003/u) filled in for the victims of traumatic weapons, who received medical care in medical facilities of Arkhangelsk and Severodvinsk cities, located the Arctic Zone of Russia in 2005-2022. The research methods are analytical and mathematical-statistical. Categorical variables presented as percentages and frequencies were used for the analysis. The values of all relative quantities were calculated using the WinPepi program. The severity of the injuries was assessed using the VPKh-P(OR) scale, developed under the supervision of Major General of the Medical Service, Professor E.K.Gumanenko (1990) at the S.M.Kirov Military Medical Academy. The results of the study and their analysis. Every third victim of limited-damage firearms in the Arctic zone of the Arkhangelsk region required inpatient surgical care with the involvement of surgeons of various specialties. In case of multiple and combined wounds, it was necessary to involve two or more surgeons of various profiles. In case of minor wounds from limited-damage firearms during primary surgical treatment, the severity of the wound is underestimated by surgeons and, as a result, the bullet is not initially detected and remains in the wound, which, in turn, complicates the condition of the victim and requires repeated surgical intervention. In 39% of cases of wounds from limited-damage firearms to the head, every fifth case (21.9%) of wounds to the chest, every tenth case of wounds to the abdomen – specialized surgical care is required, the availability of which in the Arctic zone can be very problematic.

The Bioaccumulations of Metal(loid)s in the Tissues of Invasive Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) Fish from the Kızılırmak River (Türkiye) and Health Risk Assessment.

The present research was an examination of the concentration levels of 10 metal(loid)s that had accumulated in the muscle, gills, and liver tissues of Carassius gibelio (Prussian carp) fish. The fish species, used as samples in the study, were obtained from the part of the river in Gülşehir (Türkiye). Besides, possible health risks to consumers were specified based on the daily estimated intake (EDI) of metal(loid)s in adults. Additionally, considering the inhabitants' frequency of fish consumption in the area, target hazard quotient (THQ), hazard index (HI), carcinogenic risk (CR), and maximum safe consumption quantity (MSCQ) values were assessed. All of the examined metal(loid)s in the research were determined in all of the tissues of the fish. Also, Fe and Zn had the highest levels in the tissues, and Pb had the lowest level. There were statistically significant differences of Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb among the tissues (p < 0.05). It was determined that the gender of the fish did not affect the accumulation of the metal(loid)s in the tissues. According to the research results, no significant statistical difference was found between the accumulation of the metal(loid)s (except Ni) and the size of the fish (length and weight) (p > 0.05). The estimated daily intake levels of the metal(loid)s accumulating in the eatable muscle of the samples were calculated to be lower than the reference dose limit. Besides, the THQ and the HI values lower than 1 were found. Carcinogenic risk values related to inorganic As were below 10-6. This result specifies that consumption of the fish poses no carcinogenic risks to consumers' health. It was concluded that less than 70g of C. gibelio daily consumption would not harm consumers' health.

Genetic improvement and genomic resources of important cyprinid species: status and future perspectives for sustainable production.

Cyprinid species are the most cultured aquatic species around the world in terms of quantity and total value. They account for 25% of global aquaculture production and significantly contribute to fulfilling the demand for fish food. The aquaculture of these species is facing severe concerns in terms of seed quality, rising feed costs, disease outbreaks, introgression of exotic species, environmental impacts, and anthropogenic activities. Numerous researchers have explored biological issues and potential methods to enhance cyprinid aquaculture. Selective breeding is extensively employed in cyprinid species to enhance specific traits like growth and disease resistance. In this context, we have discussed the efforts made to improve important cyprinid aquaculture practices through genetic and genomic approaches. The recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies and genomic tools have revolutionized the understanding of biological research. The generation of a complete genome and other genomic resources in cyprinid species has significantly strengthened molecular-level investigations into disease resistance, growth, reproduction, and adaptation to changing environments. We conducted a comprehensive review of genomic research in important cyprinid species, encompassing genome, transcriptome, proteome, metagenome, epigenome, etc. This review reveals that considerable data has been generated for cyprinid species. However, the seamless integration of this valuable data into genetic selection programs has yet to be achieved. In the upcoming years, genomic techniques, gene transfer, genome editing tools are expected to bring a paradigm shift in sustainable cyprinid aquaculture production. The comprehensive information presented here will offer insights for the cyprinid aquaculture research community.

Evaluation of analytical uncertainty in quantitative determination of elements - The case of boron

BackgroundThe uncertainty including accuracy and precision is the most vital factor that determines the overall quality of quantitative analysis. The uncertainty has been, however, evaluated relatively within the same analytical technique. Given this background, the present study evaluates the uncertainty on quantitative elemental analysis with a quasi-absolute approach. The objectives of this study are (1) to investigate the analytical uncertainty of prompt gamma-ray analysis (PGA), a chemical interference-free method in principle, on the quantitative analysis of boron and (2) to evaluate the applicability of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), a common technique for quantitative elemental analysis including boron. ResultsPGA provided analytical quantity that is equivalent to the true quantity. The quantity values determined for a series of boron-containing samples are all well above the detection limit of the PGA system, the quantity resolution of which is also much smaller than the minimum difference in quantity among the samples. These facts confirm that the evaluation of analytical uncertainty with the present PGA system is statistically meaningful. The analytical uncertainty in both methods was adequately evaluated by comparing the results from PGA and ICP-OES for a series of boron-containing materials with different physical/chemical properties (i.e. CrB2, B4C, and solidified products of stainless steel-B4C melt) and the major sources of uncertainty in both methods are specified. The conditions for sample preparation/pretreatment were optimized to lower the uncertainty. Significance and noveltyThis study proposes a new concept to perform the quasi-absolute evaluation of analytical uncertainty by employing a chemical interference-free technique. The proposed concept is not limited to the combination of PGA and ICP-OES as demonstrated in this study, but it is applicable to any combination of any analytical methods for any element. Hence, the concept demonstrated in this study could be beneficial to a wide range of analytical chemistry.

NATO Support and Procurement Agency: a Powerful Instrument of Collaborative Logistics

The paper evaluates the level of cooperation between the Ministry of Defence and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) in the field of procurement of military equipment. In the practical part, the results of the research on the level of participation of Czech-based suppliers in NSPA activities between 2018 and 2022 are presented. Pareto analysis comparing the participation of the Czech and international companies in contracts implemented by NSPA in terms of their subject, quantity and financial value is used. Qualitative case studies from three different areas illustrate in which NSPA projects the Czech Republic has already been involved in and which benefits and risks are associated with this cooperation for the MoD. Positives and drawbacks in the process of acquiring military equipment in-house and opportunities and threats that may arise from the acquisition of military equipment through the NSPA are summarised in the form of the SWOT analysis. Finally, recommendations are presented on how to improve the cooperation between the MoD and the NSPA in the field of acquisition.

Environmental effects as a key factor in shaping star-forming S0 galaxies

The origins of lenticular galaxies (S0s) can be classified into two main categories: ``minor mergers" in low-density environments (LDEs) and ``faded spirals" in high-density environments (HDEs). The transitional phase in the evolution of S0s, namely, star-forming lenticular galaxies (SFS0s), can serve as an important probe for analyzing the complex processes involved in the transformation between different galaxy types and the quenching of star formation (SF). We attempt to find the impact of different environments on the global properties and spatially resolved quantities of SFS0s. We selected 71 SFS0s from the SDSS-IV MaNGA Survey, comprising 23 SFS0s in HDEs (SFS0s$\_$HE) and 48 SFS0s in LDEs (SFS0s$\_$LE). We examined the effects of the environment, by studying the global properties, concentration index, and radial profiles of the derived quantities. The varied environments of SFS0s do not lead to any significant difference in global properties (e.g., S$ e $rsic index). By calculating $CI_ alpha /cont $, we observe that different environments may cause varying concentrations of SF. Specifically, SFS0s$\_$LE, affected by external gas mergers or inflow, exhibit a more centrally concentrated SF (i.e., larger alpha /cont $). This trend is further supported by $CI_ SFR alpha $, which only considers the gas disk of the galaxy. This observation is aligned with the observed shrinking of gas disks in galaxies affected by ram-pressure stripping in HDEs. Furthermore, their $ SFR $ or resolved sSFR are comparable. On average, SFS0s$\_$LE display significantly higher values for both quantities. Finally, the observed n 4000$ and gas-phase metallicity gradient correspond well to their assumed origins. However, we did not find a significantly lower gas-phase metallicity in SFS0s$\_$LE. We suggest that different environments (i.e., origins) do not have a significant impact on the global properties of SFS0s, but they do indeed affect the distribution of SF. Considering the size of our sample and the unique nature of the galaxy, additional atomic and molecular gas data may provide further details to improve our understanding of these systems.

Significance and feasibility of air kerma length product and air kerma area product comparisons

Air kerma length product and air kerma area product are special quantities used in diagnostic radiology. They are measured using special measurement devices – CT-chambers and KAP-meters, in order to calculate quantities related to patient exposure. Appropriate calibration of all measurement devices is of vital importance, and comparisons between calibration laboratories are necessary to prove competence.It is usually considered adequate to participate in air kerma comparisons to prove capabilities for special quantities, but the literature shows that some problems in calibration procedure can remain unknown. The comparisons directly in terms of special quantities provide additional burden to laboratories, and require special transfer instruments, but they allow checking the whole calibration procedures.This paper describes a comparison between two calibration laboratories in terms of both air kerma length product and air kerma area product. Both laboratories achieved good results for all radiation qualities, considering the measurement uncertainty. Transfer instruments’ linearity, field size dependence and energy dependence were investigated. Even though the metrological properties of the transfer instruments are worse than the ionization chambers, they can be taken into account by introducing additional measurement uncertainty, performing appropriate corrections or choosing calibration points for the comparison for the values of influence quantities where the transfer instrument response is relatively flat. These comparisons provide additional value to calibration laboratories, but there are still several challenges related to their organization and execution.

Cut-offs for relapse detection in men with stage I testicular germ cell tumors during active surveillance within a prospective multicentre cohort study using either raw or housekeeper normalized miR-371a-3p serum levels

PurposeMiR-371a-3p represents a novel liquid biomarker that detects all histologies of germ-cell tumors (GCT) except teratoma. However, it is currently unclear whether miR-371a-3p results obtained directly from RT-PCR (raw Cq) or normalized for housekeeper genes and transformed into the relative quantity (RQ) value should be used and at what cut-off level. The purpose of this research was to evaluate, which values should be used, and a potential cut-off level for relapse-detection to inform subsequent studies. Materials and MethodsWe applied a CE-certified qRT-PCR test to measure miR-371a-3p at each follow-up visit during active surveillance in 34 men with stage I testicular GCT. MiR-371a-3p levels were calculated by the ΔΔ method. ResultsAbout 18 Patients had pure seminoma and 16 had mixed or nonseminomatous testicular GCT. Recurrences were detected in 10 patients and were correctly identified by both raw and housekeeper-normalized miR-371a-3p serum levels. The raw Cq, with a cut-off value of <28, resulted in only 1 false positive (3%), whereas RQ, with a cut-off value of >15, produced 6 false positive results (17%). Most of these false positive results normalized in subsequent measurements. The RQ approach detected recurrence in 1 patient 6 months earlier than the raw Cq approach. ConclusionOur preliminary data suggest that this CE-certified assay, using previously suggested cut-off values, is a promising method for detecting disease recurrence, provided a confirmatory second test is conducted to identify false positive results. To avoid unnecessary scans or overtreatment, we are currently validating this assay and cut-offs in a prospective cohort study.

Self-regulating heating and self-powered flexible fiber fabrics at low temperature

Self-regulating heating and self-powered flexibility are pivotal for future wearable devices. However, the low energy-conversion rate of wearable devices at low temperatures limits their application in plateaus and other environments. This study introduces an azopolymer with remarkable semicrystallinity and reversible photoinduced solid-liquid transition ability that is obtained through copolymerization of azobenzene (Azo) monomers and styrene. A composite of one such copolymer with an Azo: styrene molar ratio of 9:1 (copolymer is denoted as PAzo9:1-co-polystyrene (PS)) and nylon fabrics (NFs) is prepared (composite is denoted as PAzo9:1-co-PS@NF). PAzo9:1-co-PS@NF exhibits hydrophobicity and high wear resistance. Moreover, it shows good responsiveness (0.624 s−1) during isomerization under solid ultraviolet (UV) light (365 nm) with an energy density of 70.6 kJ kg−1. In addition, the open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current and quantity values of PAzo9:1-co-PS@NF exhibit small variations in a temperature range of -20 °C to 25 °C and remain at 170 V, 5 μA, and 62 nC, respectively. Notably, the involved NFs were cut and sewn into gloves to be worn on a human hand model. When the model was exposed to both UV radiation and friction, the temperature of the finger coated with PAzo9:1-co-PS was approximately 6.0°C higher than that of the other parts. Therefore, developing triboelectric nanogenerators based on the in situ photothermal cycles of Azo in wearable devices is important to develop low-temperature self-regulating heating and self-powered flexible devices for extreme environments.