Cumulative Values Research Articles

Experimental investigation on cooling load caused by unorganized ventilation in subway station: A case study

Unorganized ventilation significantly increases the energy consumption of subway stations. However, the quantitative description of cooling load caused by the unorganized ventilation in subway stations with platform screen doors (PSDs) still needs to be explored in depth. This study firstly proposed an experiment-based method to determine the airflow rate of unorganized ventilation, and then the corresponding cooling load is determined. Based upon this method, a series of field tests were conducted at a subway station in Shanghai. By analyzing the experimental data, the characteristic of unorganized ventilation at PSDs and entrance/exit passages was obtained. As for PSDs, the volume of unorganized ventilation in a cycle (the period from the upward train entering the station to the next upward train starting to approach the station) from the tunnel to the platform and from the platform to the tunnel is 2112.24 m3 and 4219.31 m3, respectively. With regard to entrance/exit passages, the volume of unorganized ventilation is 2655 m3 in a cycle. Thereafter, the above-mentioned results were used to determine cooling load. Owing to the difference in the departure density of train on weekdays and weekends, two typical summer days were selected for the purpose of cooling load analysis. The overall cumulative value of the cooling load caused by unorganized ventilation was 1416 kWh on a working day and 1718 kWh for the weekend, which accounted for 16.74 % and 19.19 % of the daily cooling load, respectively.

Profiling and health risk assessment of trace metal contents in bovine tissues: A case study in Gondar City, Ethiopia

This study aimed to determine six trace metal (Cu, Mn, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Pb) concentrations in three bovine tissues (kidney, liver and muscle) from Gondar City abattoir, Ethiopia, and assess associated health risks. Samples were digested with HNO3/HClO4, and metal concentrations were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy. Zn exhibited the highest concentration in muscle (52.1 mg/kg), whereas Cd was below the LOD (0.6 µg/kg) in all muscle samples. The levels of Cd, Cr, and Mn in liver and kidney tissues, as well as Zn in muscle, exceeded FAO/WHO safety thresholds. Principal component analysis revealed distinct metal accumulation patterns among the tissues where liver is the target organ for accumulation of Pb, Mn and Cu, while kidney appears to be the organ of preference for Cd and Cr accumulation. Zn had the highest chronic daily intake for both children and adults, followed by Cu. Hazard index values for both age groups were below one, indicating no non-carcinogenic risks. However, the incremental lifetime cancer risks and cumulative carcinogenic risks of Cr exceeded the tolerable limit for adults and children, indicating a high cancer likelihood from this trace metal. In contrast, the incremental lifetime cancer risks of Pb for both adults and children were within acceptable limits. In conclusion, cumulative carcinogenic risk values indicate that consuming muscle tissue poses health risks for both adults and children, highlighting the need for stricter cattle feed regulations in the study area to safeguard public health.

Analysing Land Cover Change in the Valencian Community through Landsat Imagery: From 1984 to 2022

Land cover change represents one of the most significant global transformations, which has profound impacts on ecosystems, biological diversity, and the ongoing climate crisis. In this study, our objective was to analyse land cover transformation in the Valencian Community over the last four decades. Utilising Landsat 5, 8, and 9 summer images, a Random Forest algorithm renowned for its ability to handle large datasets and complex variables, was employed to produce land cover classifications consisting of five categories: ‘Urban Areas’, ‘Dense Vegetation’, ‘Sparse Vegetation’, ‘Water Bodies’, and Other’. The results were validated through in situ measurements comparing with pre-existing products and utilising a confusion matrix. Over the study period, the urban area practically doubled, increasing from approximately 482 to 940 square kilometres. This expansion was concentrated mainly in the proximity of the already existing urban zone and occurred primarily between 1985 and 1990. The Dense and Sparse Vegetation classes exhibit substantial fluctuations over the years, displaying a subtle trend towards a decrease in their cumulative value. Water bodies and Other classes do not show substantial changes over the years. The Random Forest algorithm showed a high Overall Accuracy (OA) of 95% and Kappa values of 93%, showing good agreement with field measurements (88% OA), ESA World Cover (80% OA), and the Copernicus Global Land Service Land Cover Map (73% OA), confirming the effectiveness of this methodology in generating land cover classifications.

Surface Deformation Time-Series Monitoring and Stability Analysis of Elevated Bridge Sites in a Coal Resource-Based City

The viaduct is an important infrastructure for urban sustainable development, but it will inevitably pass through a coal mining subsidence area in coal resource-based cities, which poses a threat to the construction and operation of the viaduct. However, there is a lack of research on long time-series monitoring and assessing the safety of elevated bridges above subsidence areas, both domestically and internationally. In this study, a resource-based city viaduct in Shandong, China, was selected as the research object, utilizing SBAS-InSAR technology for deformation monitoring during bridge construction and post-opening phases. The viaduct based on the goaf was analyzed by the key settlement subsection. Before completing construction (March 2019 to December 2020), research revealed that the cumulative maximum deformation in the bridge area was 44mm and the maximum uplift was 22 mm, with overall stability in the underlying subsidence area. After completion (January 2021 to July 2023), the cumulative maximum deformation value in the elevated bridge area was 10mm and the maximum uplift was 6 mm, indicating minimal fluctuations over three years, maintaining overall stability. This stable condition ensures the safety of construction and operation of regional elevated bridges. These findings not only support the safe operation of bridges in underlying subsidence areas but also provide a new approach to sustainable areas globally, especially in coal resource-based urban areas.

Effect of Different Levels of NPK, Biochar and Azotobacter on Physico-chemical Properties of Soil on Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata)

In light of this, the following goals are present in the experiment "Effect of Different Levels of NPK and Biochar, Azotobacter on Physico-chemical Properties of Soil and Yield Attributes of Cowpea to calculate the impact of various NPK, Biochar, and Azotobacter dosages on the physical-chemical characteristics of soil. An excavated soil sample from the experimental site revealed that the land topography ranged from nearly level to sloped by 1% to 6%, with soil area falling into the Inceptisol order. The soil texture was sandy loam, with sand percentages of 62.65%, silt percentages of 21.09, and clay percentages of 16.26. The pH of soil was 6.89, and its electrical conductivity (EC) was non-saline (0.42 ds m-1). Organic carbon content was low to medium, available nitrogen was low to medium (280.78 kg ha-1), available phosphorus was 17.34 kg ha-1, and available potassium was 168.16 kg ha-1. Two factors with three levels of @NPK 0, 50, and 100% ha-1, three levels of @Biochar 0, 50, and 100% ha-1, and a randomized block design were used in the statistical analysis. During field testing, nine different treatments were used; the best outcomes were significant. The results indicate that the physical and chemical parameters of the soil, including the cumulative mean values for bulk density (1.39 and 1.41 mg m-3), particle density (2.46 and 2.47 mg m-3), and soil pH (6.89 and 6.91), attained their maximum in T1 (Absolute control) at depths of 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm, respectively. Additionally, the percentage pore space was found to be 48.22% and 47.39%, and the water holding capacity was found to be 44.14% and 45.34%), electrical conductivity (EC) was measured at 0.49 ds m-1 and 0.52 ds m-1, the percentage of organic carbon was determined to be 0.40%), and the available nitrogen was found to be (299.78 kg ha-1 and 295.76 kg ha-1, available phosphorus was (23.78 kg ha-1 and 21.98 kg ha-1), and the available potassium was (179.25 kg ha-1 and 176.56 kg ha-1).

Critical Raw Materials Supply: Challenges and Potentialities to Exploit Rare Earth Elements from Siliceous Stones and Extractive Waste

Critical raw materials (CRMs) supply is a challenge that EU countries have to face, with many thinking about domestic procurement from natural ore deposits and anthropogenic deposits (landfills and extractive waste facilities). The present research focuses on the possibilities linked to the supply of CRMs and the potential for exploiting rare earth elements (REEs), investigating a large variety of extractive waste and siliceous rocks in the Piedmont region (Northern Italy). Indeed, the recovery of REEs from the extractive waste (EW) of siliceous quarries and other siliceous ore deposits can be a valuable way to reduce supply chain risks. Starting with a review of the literature on mining activities in Piedmont and continuing with the sampling and geochemical, mineralogical, petrographic, and environmental characterization of EW facilities connected to siliceous dimension stones, of kaolinitic gneiss ore deposits, and of soils present near the investigated areas, this study shows that the degree of REEs enrichment differs depending on the sampling area (soil or EW) and lithology. The concentration of REEs in the EW at some sampling sites fulfils the indicators of industrial-grade and industrial recovery; the high cumulative production and potential market values of EW and the positive recovery effects through proven methodologies indicate a viable prospect of REE recovery from EW. However, REE recovery industrialization faces challenges such as the difficulty in achieving efficient large-scale recovery due to large regional differences in REE abundance, the mismatch between potential market value and waste annual production, etc. Nonetheless, in the future, EW from dimension stone quarries could be differentially studied and reused based on the enrichment and distribution characteristics of trace elements. The present paper shows investigation procedures undertaken to determine both CRMs potentialities and environmental issues (on the basis of literature data employed to select the more-promising areas and on sampling and characterization activities in the selected areas), together with procedures to determine the waste quantities and tentative economic values of REEs present in the investigated areas. This approach, tested on a large area (Piedmont region), is replicable and applicable to other similar case studies (at EU and non-EU levels) and offers decision makers the possibility to acquire a general overview of the potential available resources in order to decide whether and where to concentrate efforts (including economic ones) in a more detailed study to evaluate the exploitable anthropogenic deposits.

Temporal Variation in and Influence of Environmental Variables on a Lepidopteran Community in a Mediterranean Mid-Mountain Area

The temporal variation in a community of nocturnal and diurnal Lepidoptera was studied in a Mediterranean mid-mountain area of the SW Iberian Peninsula between 2017 and 2019. Monthly samplings that allowed for the identification of 3528 specimens, belonging to 373 species from 40 different families, also provided data on the temporal and seasonal variation in richness and the abundance (dominated by Geometridae and Noctuidae), diet type (mainly oligophagous), voltinism (mostly univoltine) and biogeography of the community, primarily Mediterranean in scope. Richness, abundance and diversity were also found to be highly positively correlated with temperature and solar radiation, and less negatively correlated with precipitation and humidity. Canonical correspondence analyses (CCAs) also indicate that temperature and radiation are the climatic variables with the greatest influence on species occurrence over the different months of the year. The CCAs gave a cumulative variance value of 84.79% when using the monthly mean values of temperature, solar radiation and minimum relative humidity, and 86.4% if only monovoltine species were considered. Guidelines to maintain diversity in the environment of the study area are provided. It is possible that the area may function as a refuge area for Lepidoptera in the face of climate change and deforestation that are occurring in the geographical environment.

Reliability and validity of "My Jump 2" application for countermovement jump free arm and interlimb jump symmetry in different sports of professional athletes.

Vertical jumping is an important evaluation tool to measure muscle strength and power as well as lower limb symmetry. It is of practical importance and value to develop and utilize a portable and low-cost mobile application (APP) to evaluate jumping. The "My Jump 2" app is an iPhone camera-based application for measuring jumping movements, which is applied to the countermovement jump (CMJ) vertical jumps of the lower limbs of athletes in different sports. The validity of this application and previous versions applied to different forms of vertical jump tests has been preliminarily demonstrated in different population, which has an obvious progress in research. Therefore, the reliability and validity of the jump height, time of flight parameters and symmetry of the CMJ vertical jump of athletes in different sports are needed to be verified by more experiments. The purpose of this study is to verify whether "My Jump 2" can effectively and reliably assess jump height, flight practice and lower limb symmetry in CMJAM (countermovement jump free arm) tests in fencing, swimming and diving athletes. Seventy-nine fencers, swimmers and divers with training experience participated in this study. They completed a total of three CMJAM vertical jump and lower limb symmetry tests in 1 day, while being assessed by using the "My Jump 2" application and a force platform. The intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to verify reliability, while the Cronbach's alpha and coefficient of variation (CV%) was used to analyze the stability of the CMJAM vertical jump test over three jumps. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to verify the strength of the relationship between methods (i.e., concurrent validity), and the Bland-Altman plot was used to represent consistency, meanwhile, the t-test was used to determine the systematic bias between methods. Compared with the force platform, the cumulative height values of the total number of jumps (r = 0.999; p = 0.000), the cumulative time to vacate (r = 0.999; p = 0.000) for the CMJAM test obtained by the "My Jump 2" application, the height (ICC = 0.999-1, p = 0.000), the time to vacate flight (ICC = 0.999-1, p = 0.000), contact time symmetry (ICC = 0.976-0.994, p = 0.000), and flight time symmetry (ICC = 0.921-0.982, p = 0.000), respectively. Showed high correlation between the results of "my jump 2" app and the force platform. The "My Jump 2" application is a valid tool to assess CMJAM vertical jump and lower limb symmetry in fencing, swimming and diving athletes with training experience.

Soil nematode community structure reaction to organic amendments in shallot

ABSTRACT Nematode abundance and diversity could indicate soil health since they play roles in the soil nutrient cycle. In a shallot field, nematode abundance and diversity from different types of organic manure treatment were examined to determine the effect of organic fertilizer on nematode abundance. This study aimed to determine the best option of organic amendment for managing the nematode population in crop soil. The research took place in the center of a shallot plantation in Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and consisted of four treatments: cow manure+green manure; sludge+green manure; cow manure, and chicken manure as farmer control. The nematode community was processed and analised with the PCA, which indicated a cumulative value of 94.5%. The treatment of cow and green manure contributed in nematode abundance, in which nematodes clustered were predators, bacterial feeders, and omnivores. The treatment of cow and green manure could be the best option that environmentally friendly control plant-parasitic nematodes and improve beneficial nematodes abundance that could improve the soil health by their regulation in soil.

HERisk and statistical clustering integrated for health risk modelling of PTEs in natural water resources for drinking and sanitary uses

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are well-known for exposing living organisms and humans to different levels of risk. The present study aimed to evaluate the extent of exposure to health risks sustained by the inhabitants of different suburbs across Southeastern Nigeria as a result of contaminated water sources. There are existing literatures on human health risk assessment in the study region. However, this is the first study to report a detailed breakdown of the risks faced by nine age groups in the study area. This was achieved by integrating a novel code (HERisk), statistical clustering, and water quality data. Laboratory analysis showed that the levels of PTEs (Fe2+, Ni2+, Cr3+, and Pb2+) in 53.6%, 17.8%, 3.5%, and 46% of the samples were found to be above the recommended limits. Aggregated human health risk scores for ingestion and dermal routes revealed that children aged 1 to 2 years are the most vulnerable to health hazards. According to cumulative carcinogenic health risk values (0.00E+00 to 2.41E-04), samples proximal to regions with significant human activities expose the locals to a high risk of developing cancer via ingestion. Q-mode hierarchical cluster analysis successfully validated the classification schemes used for the interpretation of the HERisk code values, captured the patterns in the dataset, and brought forth new perspectives. The comprehensive approach detailed in this study can be adopted as a framework for ongoing monitoring and assessment of water quality.

Skilful probabilistic medium‐range precipitation and temperature forecasts over Vietnam for the development of a future dengue early warning system

AbstractDengue fever is a source of substantial health burden in Vietnam. Given the well‐established influence of temperature and precipitation on vector biology and disease transmission, predictions of meteorological variables, such as those issued by ECMWF as a world‐leading provider of global ensemble forecasts, are likely to be valuable model inputs to a future dengue early warning system. In the absence of established verification at municipal and regional scales, this study assesses the skill of rainy season (May–October) ensemble precipitation and 2‐m temperature retrospective forecasts over North and South Vietnam initialized for dates during the period 2001–2020, evaluated against the ERA5 reanalysis for the same period. Forecasts are found to be significantly skilful compared with both climatology and persistence for lead times up to 10 days, including for cumulative precipitation values considered against independent rain gauge data. Rank histograms demonstrate that ensembles generally avoid excessive bias and consistently positive CRPSS values indicate substantial skill for temperature and cumulative precipitation forecasts for all spatial scales considered, despite differences in rainy season characteristics between North and South Vietnam. This forecast reliability demonstrates that meteorological input data based on ECMWF ensemble forecasts would add appreciably more value to the development of a future dengue early warning system compared to reference forecasts like climatology or persistence. These results raise hope for further exploration of predictive skill for relevant meteorological variables, particularly focused on their downscaling to produce district‐level epidemiological forecasts for urban areas where dengue is most prevalent.

Industry relationships with interventional radiologists: Who are the high payment physicians?

PurposeTo identify characteristics of interventional radiologists receiving more than $100,000 in general industry payments over a 5-year period (2017-2021). MethodsThe Open Payments database was queried to identify interventional radiologists who received more than $100,000 in consulting fees, speaker fees, education, and/or gifts over a 5-year period from 2017 to 2021. The national provider identifier registry, Scopus, and a web-based search were used to identify physician characteristics, such as demographics, research profile, leadership positions, and social media presence. ResultsFrom 2017-2021, 125 interventional radiologists received cumulative payments greater than $100,000 in consulting fees, speaker fees, education, and gifts. For this subset of physicians, the median (IQR) cumulative payment value was $214,380 ($141,812 - $383,740), and the total payment value was $40 million. While the highest-paid subset of physicians represented only 3 % (125/4272) of all US interventional radiologists paid by industry, the total payment value represented 66 % ($40,039,610.08/$60,859,025) of the total payment value among all interventional radiologists. 47 % (59/125) had faculty appointments and 30 % (37/125) had hospital leadership positions. 22 % (27/125) were clinical practice guideline authors, while 18 % (23/125) served on journal editorial boards and 12 % (15/125) had positions in specialty association leadership. Castle Connolly recognized 26 % (32/125) as top doctors. Among the 96 % (120/125) with published research in the past 5 years, the median (IQR) H-index was 17 (7-31). 38 % (48/125) had a presence on Twitter with a median (IQR) Kardashian index of 2.03 (0.48-6.16). ConclusionA small subset of interventional radiologists receive large payments from drug and medical device companies. These physicians are leaders in their field with influence in hospitals, research, associations, and social media. Further work is needed to understand how the concentration of these payments affects decisions in clinical practice and policy.

Analysis of energy consumption and change structure in major economic sectors of Pakistan.

Studying and analyzing energy consumption and structural changes in Pakistan's major economic sectors is crucial for developing targeted strategies to improve energy efficiency, support sustainable economic growth, and enhance energy security. The logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) method is applied to find the factors' effects that change sector-wise energy consumption from 1990 to 2019. The results show that: (1) the change in mixed energy and sectorial income shows a negative influence, while energy intensity (EI) and population have an increasing trend over the study period. (2) The EI effects of the industrial, agriculture and transport sectors are continuously rising, which is lowering the income potential of each sector. (3) The cumulative values for the industrial, agricultural, and transport sectors increased by 57.3, 5.3, and 79.7 during 2019. Finally, predicted outcomes show that until 2035, the industrial, agriculture, and transport incomes would change by -0.97%, 13%, and 65% if the energy situation remained the same. Moreover, this sector effect is the most crucial contributor to increasing or decreasing energy consumption, and the EI effect plays the dominant role in boosting economic output. Renewable energy technologies and indigenous energy sources can be used to conserve energy and sectorial productivity.

Formulation and In-Vitro Penetration Test of Ketoprofen Patch with Addition Aloe vera Powder (Aloe vera L.) Bioenhancer

Ketoprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which is generally used to reduce pain and inflammation. The main obstacle in administering drugs via transdermal is the low penetration of drugs through the skin. Aloe vera contains lignin compounds which are thought to be bioenhancer. This research aims to formulate ketoprofen and aloe vera powder in form patch and compare penetration patch with and without the addition of aloe vera powder. Preparation patch 3 formulas were made with different ratios of HPMC E5 and Eudragit E100 polymers F1 (6:2), F2 (8:2), F3 (10:2). Formula 3 is the best formula with a comparison of HPMC E5 and Eudragit E 100 of 10:2. Formula 3 has a thin, dry patch and is easy to remove from the mold. F3 then remade with additions bioenhancer by 5 % and patch without additions bioenhancer. The results of the physical quality test showed that the formula with and without the addition of aloe vera as an enhancer has uniform weight, thickness, pH and folding resistance which meets the requirements for patch preparation. Franz diffusion cell result for patch preparations with the addition of aloe vera showed a better penetration value than without the addition of aloe vera with a cumulative value of 92.5815 μg/cm2 and a total flux of 260.4355 μg/cm2 hour.

Shaking table test-based numerical study on post-buckling ULCF fracture behavior of partially concrete filled steel tubular piers

Steel structures may undergo local buckling deformation or ultra-low cycle fatigue (ULCF) fracture due to stress concentration under earthquake excitations, and the stress concentration may further develop after buckling deformation, thus leading to ULCF fracture. To investigate the post-buckling fracture behavior of partially concrete-filled steel tube (PCFST) piers under earthquake exactions, a new ULCF analysis method that integrates three fracture indexes of cyclic void growth model (CVGM) was proposed in this study based on a shaking table test of PCFST piers, and then the index for quantifying the buckling deformation of PCFST piers was developed to study the post-buckling ULCF mechanism. Finally, the effect of each design parameter on the ULCF fracture index was analyzed. The results indicate that all three indexes of CVGM can accurately predict the triggering time, crack location, and crack propagation of ULCF fracture after buckling. The failure mechanism of PCFST bridge piers experiencing post-buckling fracture is also revealed, i.e., under repeated lateral loads, the plastic hinge region at the pier bottom bulges, causing an expansion of the plastic region. Meanwhile, the cumulative rate of ULCF damage rapidly increases during the expansion process and slows down after the bulge reaches the maximum stable value until the cumulative damage value meets the fracture condition. In addition, the results of the parametric analyses indicate that the model with high ductility can undergo a greater number of cycles before localized instability failure, and thus is more likely to suffer ULCF fracture first.

Morphometric Anatomical Points of Fruit Fly (Bactrocera dorsalis Complex) using Generalized Procrustes Analysis Model

This study aims to analyze the morphometric anatomical wings of the fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis Complex. The species used in this study consisted of 11 (eleven) species. The analysis technique of the wings of Bactrocera dorsalis Complex, i.e. the right wing of each individual was analyzed using Morphometric landmarks with 15 anatomical points. Digital images of wings are scaled in size and scale using Adobe Photoshop CS3 software. The results of anatomical point digitization are processed into MorphoJ software v. 1.06b. Digitization data of anatomical points of wing shape was collected using Generalized Procrustes Analysis (GPA). The results of the Canonical Variate Analysis (CVA) showed that there was a grouping of each species. The grouping of Bactrocera dorsalis complex wing types is based on the similarity of the percentage of cumulative values of CVA1 and CVA2 tests. Groups B. carambolae, B. minuscula, B. occipitalis, B. papayae, B. floresiae, B. philippinennsis, Bactrocera sp. 23, Bactrocera sp. 25, and Bactrocera sp. 26 grouped because they have similarities in wing venation. The difference in wing venation is found in Bactrocera sp. 27 and B. sumbawaensis because they are far from the group B. carambolae, B. minuscula, B. occipitalis, B. papayae, B. floresiae, B. philippinennsis, Bactrocera sp. 23, Bactrocera sp. 25, and Bactrocera sp. 26.

Research on Fatigue Performance of Fast-Melting SBS/Epoxy Resin Composite-Modified Asphalt

A high-performance composite modifier ER-SBS-T was prepared through the mixing of epoxy resin with a fast-melting styrene–butadiene–styrene modifier (SBS-T) to enhance material properties. This study evaluated the fatigue characteristics of ER-SBS-T-modified asphalt using a linear amplitude sweep test, and 70# base asphalt, SBS-modified asphalt, and SBS-T-modified asphalt were used as control groups. The fatigue life of ER-SBS-T-modified asphalt was determined according to viscoelastic continuous damage (VECD) theory. The findings indicated that as the ER-SBS-T modifier content increased, both the maximum value and the cumulative damage limit value increased, while the rate of change of decreased. At strain levels of 2.5% and 1%, the fatigue life of the modified asphalt improved with increasing ER-SBS-T content. However, at a strain level of 5%, the modified asphalt exhibited no significant trend in fatigue life across different ER-SBS-T contents. ER-SBS-T-modified asphalt with a modifier content of >10% demonstrated favorable fatigue performance suitable for practical engineering applications.

FT-IR Characterization and Phylogenetic Analysis of Patchouli Oil from West Aceh and Aceh Jaya using PCA and HCA

This study aims to characterize and compare the chemical composition of patchouli oil from various regions in Aceh, Indonesia, using Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA). Patchouli oil samples from five distinct locations within West Aceh and Aceh Jaya Regencies were analyzed, focusing on the 1800-500 cm⁻¹ range. The FT-IR spectra revealed significant chemical markers, with notable absorption bands corresponding to aliphatic C-H, C=O, and C=C stretching vibrations. Multivariate analyses showed distinct clustering patterns, with four samples (POSM, POSP, POT, and POW) exhibiting high chemical similarity and clustering together, while one sample (POP) formed a separate cluster, indicating a lower degree of similarity. PCA analysis of the original spectra in the 1800-500 cm⁻¹ range yielded a cumulative PC1 and PC2 value of 89%. The HCA dendrogram highlighted a significant relative distance of 10 between the POP sample and the other four samples, indicating minimal relatedness, with the closest relatedness observed between POSM and POSP, having a relative distance of 1.1. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of FT-IR spectroscopy combined with PCA and HCA in distinguishing chemical profiles of patchouli oil from different regions, providing insights into geographical and varietal influences on oil composition. The findings are crucial for quality control and standardization in the patchouli oil industry, with further molecular studies recommended to corroborate and enhance understanding of genetic diversity among patchouli varieties in Aceh.

Admission levels of serum biomarkers have additive and cumulative prognostic value in traumatic brain injury

Elevated levels of CNS-derived serum proteins are associated with poor outcome in traumatic brain injury (TBI), but the value of adding acute serum biomarker levels to common clinical outcome predictors lacks evaluation. We analyzed admission serum samples for Total-Tau (T-Tau), Neurofilament light chain (Nfl), Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) in a cohort of 396 trauma patients including 240 patients with TBI. We assessed the independent association of biomarkers with 1-year mortality and 6–12 months Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE) score, as well as the additive and cumulative value of biomarkers on Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Marshall Score for outcome prediction. Nfl and T-Tau levels were independently associated with outcome (OR: Nfl = 1.65, p = 0.01; T-Tau = 1.99, p < 0.01). Nfl or T-Tau improved outcome prediction by GCS (Wald Chi, Nfl = 6.8–8.8, p < 0.01; T-Tau 7.2–11.3, p < 0.01) and the Marshall score (Wald Chi, Nfl = 16.2–17.5, p < 0.01; T-Tau 8.7–12.4, p < 0.01). Adding T-Tau atop Nfl further improved outcome prediction in majority of tested models (Wald Chi range 3.8–9.4, p ≤ 0.05). Our data suggest that acute levels of serum biomarkers are independently associated with outcome after TBI and add outcome predictive value to commonly used clinical scores.

Stereologically corrected particle size distributions for polymer-mounted additive manufacturing powders

Well-defined particle size distributions are required for good flowability and powder packing properties of additive manufacturing powders. Mounting powders within a polymer and using standard metallurgical preparation techniques to cross-section and prepare powder particles for optical analysis allows for simple characterisation processes. However, measured diameters of cross-sectioned particles are typically underestimates of actual particle diameters and hence require stereological correction. The effectiveness of three stereological corrections are investigated in this work, namely the Scheil-Schwartz-Saltykov method, the Goldsmith-Cruz-Orive method and a Finite Difference Method. These methods are investigated against plasma-atomised, gas-atomised and ultrasonically processed Ti-6Al-4V powders. The corrected outputs are compared to laser size diffraction, benchmark data for each powder. Although all three stereological corrections produce improved estimations of the particle size distributions, the Finite Difference Method is recommended producing cumulative mean absolute error values of 2.4%, 3.1% and 7.5% for the plasma-atomised, gas-atomised and ultrasonically processed powders respectively.