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Scientific Reports Apr 2023This paper reports on developing a low cost but efficient paired emitter-detector diode (PEDD)-based photometer. The photometer consists of a white light-emitting diode...
This paper reports on developing a low cost but efficient paired emitter-detector diode (PEDD)-based photometer. The photometer consists of a white light-emitting diode (LED) as the emitter diode, an RGB LED as the detector diode, and a multimeter for recoding the signal. The developed PEDD-based photometer was utilized for the determination of liquid bleach adulteration in cow milk samples. N,N-Diethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulfate aqueous solution of pH 6 was used as a probe to monitor the presence of residual active chlorine in milk. The results showed that the developed method could be used to determine sodium hypochlorite in the concentration range of 0.5 to 20.0 ppm Cl with 0.14 and 0.46 ppm Cl limit of detection and limit of quantification, respectively. The intraday and interday precisions of the method at two concentration levels of 5.5 and 13.7 ppm Cl were 1.04% and 0.52%, and 1.81% and 1.02%, respectively. The recoveries of 114.2% and 106.9% were obtained for 5.5 and 13.7 ppm Cl concentrations levels, respectively. Real sample analyzes results showed that "maybe" liquid bleach adulteration in milk is the case for local distributors of raw milk.
Topics: Animals; Milk; Sodium Hypochlorite; Photometry
PubMed: 37069217
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-33527-y -
Journal of Medical Internet Research Sep 2022Early access to antenatal care and high-cost technologies for pregnancy dating challenge early neonatal risk assessment at birth in resource-constrained settings. To...
BACKGROUND
Early access to antenatal care and high-cost technologies for pregnancy dating challenge early neonatal risk assessment at birth in resource-constrained settings. To overcome the absence or inaccuracy of postnatal gestational age (GA), we developed a new medical device to assess GA based on the photobiological properties of newborns' skin and predictive models.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to validate a device that uses the photobiological model of skin maturity adjusted to the clinical data to detect GA and establish its accuracy in discriminating preterm newborns.
METHODS
A multicenter, single-blinded, and single-arm intention-to-diagnosis clinical trial evaluated the accuracy of a novel device for the detection of GA and preterm newborns. The first-trimester ultrasound, a second comparator ultrasound, and data regarding the last menstrual period (LMP) from antenatal reports were used as references for GA at birth. The new test for validation was performed using a portable multiband reflectance photometer device that assessed the skin maturity of newborns and used machine learning models to predict GA, adjusted for birth weight and antenatal corticosteroid therapy exposure.
RESULTS
The study group comprised 702 pregnant women who gave birth to 781 newborns, of which 366 (46.9%) were preterm newborns. As the primary outcome, the GA as predicted by the new test was in line with the reference GA that was calculated by using the intraclass correlation coefficient (0.969, 95% CI 0.964-0.973). The paired difference between predicted and reference GAs was -1.34 days, with Bland-Altman limits of -21.2 to 18.4 days. As a secondary outcome, the new test achieved 66.6% (95% CI 62.9%-70.1%) agreement with the reference GA within an error of 1 week. This agreement was similar to that of comparator-LMP-GAs (64.1%, 95% CI 60.7%-67.5%). The discrimination between preterm and term newborns via the device had a similar area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (0.970, 95% CI 0.959-0.981) compared with that for comparator-LMP-GAs (0.957, 95% CI 0.941-0.974). In newborns with absent or unreliable LMPs (n=451), the intent-to-discriminate analysis showed correct preterm versus term classifications with the new test, which achieved an accuracy of 89.6% (95% CI 86.4%-92.2%), while the accuracy for comparator-LMP-GA was 69.6% (95% CI 65.3%-73.7%).
CONCLUSIONS
The assessment of newborn's skin maturity (adjusted by learning models) promises accurate pregnancy dating at birth, even without the antenatal ultrasound reference. Thus, the novel device could add value to the set of clinical parameters that direct the delivery of neonatal care in birth scenarios where GA is unknown or unreliable.
INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)
RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027442.
Topics: Abnormalities, Multiple; Female; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Machine Learning; Parturition; Pregnancy
PubMed: 36069805
DOI: 10.2196/38727 -
Heliyon Sep 2022In sub-Saharan Africa, co-morbidity with malaria, schistosomiasis, and soil transmitted helminths (STH) is common among young children. The current study investigated...
BACKGROUND
In sub-Saharan Africa, co-morbidity with malaria, schistosomiasis, and soil transmitted helminths (STH) is common among young children. The current study investigated malaria, urinary schistosomiasis and their co-infection and anemia among school-age children in an endemic community, Nakolo in the Kassena-Nankana East District of northern Ghana.
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey of 336 school-age children, 5-16 years was undertaken. Urine samples were examined for ova using microscopy. Finger prick blood samples were examined for parasites using microscopy and haemoglobin concentration measured with HemoCue Hb301 photometer.
RESULTS
The mean age was 10.52 (Standard deviation: ±2.27; range: 5-16 years), of which 50.6% (170/336) were males. The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis and was 12.8% (43/336) and 37.8% (127/336), respectively with 6.0% (20/336) coinfection. Participants with only infection had 17.8% (19/107) of moderate anemia whilst 21.7% (5/23) of children infected with only had moderate anemia and 4.3% (1/23) had severe anemia. 5.0 % (1/20) of moderate anemia was observed in concurrent infections of and . Use of open water bodies was associated with increased risk of infection (OR = 1.21; 95% CI = [1.06-1.39]; p = 0.001), with females being at reduced risk (OR = 0.93; 95%CI = [0.87-0.99]; p = 0.005). Absence of self-reported haematuria had 0.81 times reduced odds of infection (OR = 0.81; 95%CI = [0.74-0.87]; p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
This study has revealed that urinary schistosomiasis remains prevalent in Kassena-Nankana East district and suggests that urinary schistosomiasis may contribute to moderate anemia among school-age children as compared to asymptomatic malaria infection. These findings call for an evaluation of the annual mass drug administration of Praziquantel among in-school children to ascertain its impact on urinary schistosomiasis prevalence across the district.
PubMed: 36119865
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10440 -
Journal of Occupational and... Apr 2018This experimental study aimed to evaluate airborne particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from surgical smoke when a local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system...
This experimental study aimed to evaluate airborne particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from surgical smoke when a local exhaust ventilation (LEV) system is in place. Surgical smoke was generated from human tissue in an unoccupied operating room using an electrocautery surgical device for 15 min with 3 different test settings: (1) without LEV control; (2) control with a wall irrigation suction unit with an in-line ultra-low penetration air filter; and (3) control with a smoke evacuation system. Flow rate of LEVs was approximately 35 L/min and suction was maintained within 5 cm of electrocautery interaction site. A total of 6 experiments were conducted. Particle number and mass concentrations were measured using direct reading instruments including a condensation particle counter (CPC), a light-scattering laser photometer (DustTrak DRX), a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS), an aerodynamic particle sizer (APS), and a viable particle counter. Selected VOCs were collected using evacuated canisters using grab, personal and area sampling techniques. The largest average particle and VOCs concentrations were found in the absence of LEV control followed by LEV controls. Average ratios of LEV controls to without LEV control ranged 0.24-0.33 (CPC), 0.28-0.39 (SMPS), 0.14-0.31 (DustTrak DRX), and 0.26-0.55 (APS). Ethanol and isopropyl alcohol were dominant in the canister samples. Acetaldehyde, acetone, acetonitrile, benzene, hexane, styrene, and toluene were detected but at lower concentrations (<500 μg/m) and concentrations of the VOCs were much less than the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommended exposure limit values. Utilization of the LEVs for surgical smoke control can significantly reduce but not completely eliminate airborne particles and VOCs.
Topics: Air Pollutants, Occupational; Electrocoagulation; Humans; Occupational Exposure; Particulate Matter; Smoke; Ventilation; Volatile Organic Compounds
PubMed: 29283318
DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2017.1422082 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Feb 2020Recording cell-specific neuronal activity while monitoring behaviors of freely moving subjects can provide some of the most significant insights into brain function....
Recording cell-specific neuronal activity while monitoring behaviors of freely moving subjects can provide some of the most significant insights into brain function. Current means for monitoring calcium dynamics in genetically targeted populations of neurons rely on delivery of light and recording of fluorescent signals through optical fibers that can reduce subject mobility, induce motion artifacts, and limit experimental paradigms to isolated subjects in open, two-dimensional (2D) spaces. Wireless alternatives eliminate constraints associated with optical fibers, but their use of head stages with batteries adds bulk and weight that can affect behaviors, with limited operational lifetimes. The systems introduced here avoid drawbacks of both types of technologies, by combining highly miniaturized electronics and energy harvesters with injectable photometric modules in a class of fully wireless, battery-free photometer that is fully implantable subdermally to allow for the interrogation of neural dynamics in freely behaving subjects, without limitations set by fiber optic tethers or operational lifetimes constrained by traditional power supplies. The unique capabilities of these systems, their compatibility with magnetic resonant imaging and computed tomography and the ability to manufacture them with techniques in widespread use for consumer electronics, suggest a potential for broad adoption in neuroscience research.
Topics: Animals; Brain; Equipment Design; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Photometry; Prostheses and Implants; Wireless Technology
PubMed: 31974306
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1920073117 -
Evaluation of a New Workplace Protection Factor-Measuring Method for Filtering Facepiece Respirator.Safety and Health At Work Mar 2020This study aims to assess whether the TSI PortaCount (Model 8020) is a measuring instrument comparable with the flame photometer. This would provide an indication for...
BACKGROUND
This study aims to assess whether the TSI PortaCount (Model 8020) is a measuring instrument comparable with the flame photometer. This would provide an indication for the suitability of the PortaCount for determining the workplace protection factor for particulate filtering facepiece respirators.
METHODS
The PortaCount (with and without the N95-Companion™) was compared with a stationary flame photometer from Moores (Wallisdown) Ltd (Type 1100), which is a measuring instrument used in the procedure for determining the total inward leakage of the particulate filtering facepiece respirator in the European Standard. Penetration levels of sodium chloride aerosol through sample respirators of two brands (A and B) were determined by the two measuring systems under laboratory conditions. For each brand, thirty-six measurements were conducted. The samples were split into groups according to their protection level, conditioning before testing, and aerosol concentration. The relationship between the gauged data from two measuring systems was determined. In addition, the particle size distribution inside the respirator and outside the respirator was documented. Linear regression analysis was used to calculate the association between the PortaCount (with and without the N95-Companion™) and the flame photometer.
RESULTS
A linear relationship was found between the raw data scaled with the PortaCount (without N95-Companion™) and the data detected by the flame photometer (R = 0.9704) under all test conditions. The distribution of particle size was found to be the same inside and outside the respirator in almost all cases.
CONCLUSION
Based on the obtained data, the PortaCount may be applicable for the determination of workplace protection factor.
PubMed: 32206375
DOI: 10.1016/j.shaw.2019.11.001 -
The Science of the Total Environment May 2023Dust particles originating from arid desert regions can be transported over long distances, presenting severe risks to climate, environment, social economics, and human...
Dust particles originating from arid desert regions can be transported over long distances, presenting severe risks to climate, environment, social economics, and human health at the source and downwind regions. However, there has been a dearth of continuous diurnal observations of vertically resolved mass concentration and optical properties of dust aerosols, which hinders our understanding of aerosol mixing, stratification, aerosol-cloud interactions, and their impacts on the environment. To fill the gap of the insufficient observations, to the best of our knowledge, this work presents the first high-spectral-resolution lidar (HSRL) observation providing days of continuous profiles of the mass concentration, along with particle linear depolarization ratio (PLDR), backscattering coefficient, extinction coefficient and lidar ratio (LR), simultaneously. We present the results of two strong dust events observed by HSRL over Beijing in 2021. The maximum particle mass concentrations reached (1.52 ± 3.5) x10 μg/m and (19.48 ± 0.36) x10 μg/m for the two dust events, respectively. The retrieved particle mass concentrations and aerosol optical depth (AOD) agree well with the observation from the surface PM concentrations and sun photometer with correlation coefficients of 0.90 and 0.95, respectively. The intensive properties of PLDR and LR of the dust aerosols are 0.31 ± 0.02 and 39 ± 7 sr at 532 nm, respectively, which are generally close to those obtained from observations in the downwind areas. Moreover, inspired by the observations from HSRL, a universal analytical relationship is discovered to evaluate the proportion of dust aerosol backscattering, extinction, AOD, and mass concentration using PLDR. The universal analytical relationship reveals that PLDR can directly quantify dust aerosol contribution, which is expected to further expand the application of polarization technology in dust detection. These valuable observations and findings further our understanding of the contribution of dust aerosol to the environment and help supplement dust aerosol databases.
PubMed: 36758704
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162091 -
PeerJ 2024Salt stress is one of the significant abiotic stress factors that exert harmful effects on plant growth and yield. In this study, five cultivars of mung bean ( L.) were...
Salt stress is one of the significant abiotic stress factors that exert harmful effects on plant growth and yield. In this study, five cultivars of mung bean ( L.) were treated with different concentrations of NaCl and also inoculated with a salt-tolerant bacterial strain to assess their growth and yield. The bacterial strain was isolated from the saline soil of Sahiwal District, Punjab, Pakistan and identified as . Plant growth was monitored at 15-days interval and finally harvested after 120 days at seed set. Both sodium and potassium uptake in above and below-ground parts were assessed using a flame photometer. Fresh and dry mass, number of pods, seeds per plant, weight of seeds per plant and weight of 100 seeds reduced significantly as the concentration of NaCl increased from 3 to 15 dSm. There was a significant reduction in the growth and yield of plants exposed to NaCl stress without bacterial inoculum compared to the plants with bacterial inoculum. The latter plants showed a significant increase in the studied parameters. It was found that the cultivar Inqelab mung showed the least reduction in growth and yield traits among the studied cultivars, while Ramzan mung showed the maximum reduction. Among all the cultivars, maximum Na uptake occurred in roots, while the least uptake was observed in seeds. The study concludes that NaCl stress significantly reduces the growth and yield of mung bean cultivars, but inoculum alleviates salt stress. These findings will be helpful to cultivate the selected cultivars in soils with varying concentrations of NaCl.
Topics: Bacillus; Vigna; Sodium Chloride; Salt Stress; Potassium; Pakistan; Soil Microbiology; Sodium; Seeds; Plant Roots; Salt Tolerance
PubMed: 38854802
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17465 -
Poultry Science May 2024A total of 720 male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were used in a 5 treatment and 8 replicate experiment to explore dynamic changes in blood metabolites in response to...
A total of 720 male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were used in a 5 treatment and 8 replicate experiment to explore dynamic changes in blood metabolites in response to short-term nutrient depletion and repletion. Day old chicks were offered a corn and soybean meal-based common starter diet from d1 to 14 that was formulated to meet all nutrient requirements of the birds. From d15 to 17, the experimental diets were offered, before returning all groups to a common diet from d18 to 20, at which point the experiment was terminated. A total of 5 experimental diets were designed. A standard grower diet served as a control and was offered to 1 of the 5 groups of chicks. The additional 4 experimental groups comprised diets that were low in digestible phosphorus (P), total calcium (Ca), crude protein and digestible amino acids (AA) or apparent metabolizable energy (AME). The common grower diet that was offered from d18-20 was designed to be nutritionally complete and was intended to explore dynamic response to nutrient repletion. Blood was drawn from 8 chicks per treatment at time 0 (immediately prior to introduction of the experimental diets) and then again 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48h after introduction of the nutrient depleted diets. Additionally, blood was drawn 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48h after the introduction of the nutritionally complete common grower diet. Chicks were not sampled more than once. Feed intake, body weight and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were assessed on d14, 17, and 20. Blood metabolites were analyzed using the iSTAT Alinity V handheld blood analyzer, the Vetscan VS2 Chemistry Analyzer and the iCheck Carotene Photometer. Live performance metrics were not affected by the short-term nutrient depletion and all chicks grew normally throughout the experiment. The diet with low digestible P generated a rapid temporary decrease in plasma P and an increase in plasma Ca, that were returned to baseline following the re-introduction of the common grower feed. Introduction of the diet with low total Ca resulted in a significant increase in plasma P, effects which were also mitigated during the nutrient repletion phase. Total plasma protein, albumin and uric acid (UA) were decreased, and plasma glucose increased, in the chicks that received the diet with low crude protein and digestible AA. There was a delayed increase in aspartate amino transaminase (AST) associated with the diets with low digestible P and low AME. These results demonstrate the capacity of blood biochemistry to adapt to quantitative and qualitative changes in nutrient intake. Point-of-care analysis of blood biomarkers offers nutritionists a valuable opportunity to calibrate nutritional matrices for common dietary ingredients, zootechnical feed additives and to optimize diet phase changes. It can be concluded that many blood biomarkers are plastic to changes in diet nutrient density and offer an objective index for optimization of nutritional programs for commercial broiler production.
PubMed: 38823292
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103859 -
Journal of Parasitic Diseases :... Dec 2017Cystic echinoccoccosis is a zoonotic and prevalent disease which causes health problems and economic looses worldwide. The biochemical components of hydatid cyst fluid...
Cystic echinoccoccosis is a zoonotic and prevalent disease which causes health problems and economic looses worldwide. The biochemical components of hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) have important role in metabolism and growth of unilocular hydatid cyst. The aim of the current study was to determine HCF level of enzymes and electrolytes profiles in naturally infected Iranian domestic ruminants. The livers and lungs infected with hydatid cysts were collected and HCF was aspirated from a total of 100 cysts obtained from livers (50 cysts) and lungs (50 cysts) of slaughtered domestic ruminants. Biochemical measurement of HCF was undertaken using colorimetric technique, refractometer, flame photometer, and biuret method. The enzyme levels of HCF were also measured by using appropriate kits. The average HCF level of calcium (Ca) was found to be significant higher in cattle (7.49 ± 1.28 mg/dl) and goats (13.98 ± 5.11 mg/dl) lungs. The average HCF level of phosphorous (P) was significantly higher in cattle livers (0.82 ± 0.02 mg/dl) than other examined animals. Measurement of the average HCF level of magnesium (Mg) was significantly lower in camel lungs (11.8 ± 1.05 mg/dl) than that in cattle livers (10.56 ± 1.73 mg/dl). The highest average HCF levels of Natrium (Na, 122.8 ± 11.91 mEq/l) and Kalium (Ka, 7.18 ± 1.37 mEq/l) were measured in sheep livers. The average HCF level of albumin (Alb) in infected lungs was significantly lower in cattle (0.48 ± 0.01 mg/ml) than camels (0.95 ± 0.05 mg/ml). The average HCF level of total protein (TP) in infected lungs was also lower in sheep (0.51 ± 0.06 mg/dl) than goats (3.21 ± 0.51 mg/dl). The highest average HCF level of creatine phosphokinase (CPK, 1229.25 ± 13.21 U/ml) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, 363.62 ± 10.44 U/ml) were measured in infected lungs of camels. It was concluded that HCF level of enzymes and electrolytes had differences in examined Iranian domestic ruminants which may be used to screen and help in characterization and identification of strains of .
PubMed: 29114148
DOI: 10.1007/s12639-017-0941-3