Search

Applying a spatio-temporal endemic–epidemic forecasting model, we evaluate different perspectives on the adequacy of COVID-19 containment policies. Using Germany's early containment policy as an example, we show that containment policies judged as rational based on the real-time perspective of policymakers may be deemed unnecessary or ineffective in ex-post evaluations. We also demonstrate that one-size-fits-all policies implemented in Germany early in the pandemic are likely suboptimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive analytical validation studies of a developed ion molecule reaction – mass spectrometer (IMR-MS) were undertaken for the real-time determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air. The instrument was developed with a focus on promoting chemical ionization (CI) in the reaction chamber by direct sample loading and enhancing maintenance efficiency and reliability of the results. Instrument stability was assessed through a system check and pre-performance check process, and consequently, the instrumental and analytical conditions including the plasma generation, pressure, temperature, and flow rate were successfully optimized. Relevant performance characteristics, such as mass resolution, mass detection range, accuracy, and precision were also investigated by VOC standards composed of benzene, toluene, perfluorotoluene, propylbenzene, and octane. To evaluate whether the performance of the technology is comparable to already accepted techniques, the quantitative results of the IMR-MS were compared with those of a commercial mass spectrometer. This evaluation was successful and suggests the applicability of the technology for spillage accidents of hazardous chemicals and identification of odor-causing substances as well as for real-time gas analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental pollution has arisen from releasing pollutants into water sources in many parts of the world, endangering human health and marine environments. Chemical discharge may come from various places, including wastewater treatment plants, agriculture, manufacturing, and stormwater overflows. As a result, monitoring pollution including, heavy metals, pesticides, toxic gases, and other contaminants in environmental samples such as water (e.g., groundwater, surface water, and drinking water), air, soil, and vegetables is critical to eliminating or reducing their risk and toxicity. Real-time analysis may also have an effect on reducing consumption of a variety of harsh chemicals and reagents, with the additional benefit of on-site contaminant composition assessment prior to discharge into the setting. Electrochemical biosensors have received a lot of interest in solving this issue as a result of recent technological breakthroughs. This review presents the types and properties of carbon-based nanomaterials and their applications in electrochemical biosensors for environmental toxicants over the past five years. We emphasize the sensing performances of electrochemical biosensors in terms of limit of detection, linear range, and their applicability in real samples. This review would be helpful in raising awareness and understanding of the role of electrochemical biosensors in sustaining the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review emphasizes the importance of classification of surface reservoirs represented by building and indoor materials. Models developed in the past 45 years to study mainly non-reactive thermodynamic partitioning of air pollutants to surfaces as well as their validation through analytical measurements are discussed. Analytical techniques aiming at surface characterization have been summarized. Applications relevant to surface chemistry performed indoors in the last decade are also given. Finally, techniques for microbiological sampling to characterize the hygienic state of surfaces have also been compiled. Readers will be introduced to the state-of-the-art of analytical techniques that are being used indoors for (physico)chemical and microbiological characterization of surfaces. The focus is on real-time in situ instrumentation used to understand chemical processes rather than air quality monitoring indoors. Our aim was to give an overview of useful instrumentation and a tutorial on analytical approaches and challenges represented by surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a monthly economic activity indicator is constructed for the Turkish economy for the period of 1988–2020. A dynamic factor modeling framework is utilized in the process. The variables are first categorized into five types as activity (hard data), activity (survey-based data or soft data), trade, employment, and financial variables. After determining the candidate variables for each category, data selection is finalized by using the hard-thresholding method. Results indicate that our monthly economic activity indicator is successful in detecting the past recessionary periods of the Turkish economy and providing timelier information about the course of economic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides an overview and a critical discussion of novel possibilities of applying soft sensors for on-line monitoring and control of industrial bioprocesses. Focus is on bio-product formation in the upstream process but also the integration with other parts of the process is addressed. The term soft sensor is used for the combination of analytical hardware data (from sensors, analytical devices, instruments and actuators) with mathematical models that create new real-time information about the process. In particular, the review assesses these possibilities from an industrial perspective, including sensor performance, information value and production economy. The capabilities of existing analytical on-line techniques are scrutinized in view of their usefulness in soft sensor setups and in relation to typical needs in bioprocessing in general. The review concludes with specific recommendations for further development of soft sensors for the monitoring and control of upstream bioprocessing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current practice of collecting rock fragmentation data for image analysis is highly manual and provides data with low temporal and spatial resolution. Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for collecting images of rock fragments improves the quality of the image data and automates the data collection process. This work presents the results of laboratory-scale rock fragment measurements using a UAV. The goal is to highlight the benefits of aerial fragmentation analysis in terms of both prediction accuracy and time effort. The pile was manually photographed and the results of the manual method were compared to the UAV method. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Quantifying cytostatic and cytotoxic outcomes of cells responding to perturbagens is an essential component of mechanism-based studies and pharmacological screening approaches. We recently described an easy and versatile method for single-cell and population-level analyses using real-time kinetic labeling (SPARKL). This technology enables zero-handling, non-disruptive protocols for integrating proliferation profiles with cell death mechanisms, along with advanced mathematics for robust analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pushed by the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm modern sensor networks monitor a wide range of phenomena, in areas such as environmental monitoring, health care, industrial processes, and smart cities. These networks provide a continuous pulse of the almost infinite activities that are happening in the physical space and are thus, key enablers for a Digital Earth Nervous System. Nevertheless, the rapid processing of these sensor data streams still continues to challenge traditional data-handling solutions and new approaches are being requested. We propose a generic answer to this challenge, which has the potential to support any form of distributed real-time analysis. This neutral methodology follows a brokering approach to work with different kinds of data sources and uses web-based standards to achieve interoperability. As a proof of concept, we implemented the methodology to detect anomalies in real-time and applied it to the area of environmental monitoring. The developed system is capable of detecting anomalies, generating notifications, and displaying the recent situation to the user. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The reactivity of the metalloligand [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4] with the boron-functionalized alkylating agents BrCH2(C6H4)B(OR)2(R = H or C(CH3)2) was investigated by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) in real time using pressurized sample infusion (PSI). The macroscopic reaction of [Pt2(μ-S)2(PPh3)4] with one mole equivalent of alkylating agents BrCH2(C6H4)B{OC(CH3)2}2and BrCH2(C6H4)B(OH)2gave the dinuclear monocationic μ-sulfide thiolate complexes [Pt2(μ-S){μ-SCH2(C6H4)B{OC(CH3)2}2}(PPh3)4]+and [Pt2(μ-S){μ-S+CH2(C6H4)B(OH)(O−)}(PPh3)4]. The products were isolated as the [PF6]−salt and zwitterion, respectively, and fully characterized by ESI-MS, IR,1H and31P NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray structure determinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to construct a real-time acceleration gait analysis system equipped with software to analyse real-time trunk acceleration during walking and to examine the intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities of the this system.Methods: This system has been comprised of an accelerometer, an acceleration amplifier, a transmitter, two foot switches, a receiver and a personal computer installed with the real-time acceleration analysis software. The acceleration signals received were analysed using the real-time acceleration analysis software, and gait parameters were calculated. The subjects were 20 healthy individuals and two raters. The intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities of the measurement results obtained from this system were examined by performing intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland–Altman analysis.Results: The intra-rater and inter-rater ICCs ranged from 0.61 to 0.92 in any gait parameters. In the Bland–Altman analysis, neither fixed nor proportional bias was found in any of the gait parameters.Conclusions: From the ICC and Bland–Altman analysis results, the gait measurement using this system clearly demonstrates that the intra-rater and inter-rater measurements had good reproducibility. Owing to this system, we can improve the clinical efficiency of gait analysis and gait training for physiotherapy.Implication for RehabilitationThis study focused on the advantage of a gait analysis method using an accelerometer and constructed a gait analysis system that calculates real-time gait parameters from trunk acceleration measurements during walking. The gait analysis using this system has good intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities, and using this system can improve the clinical efficiency of gait analysis and gait training. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Dynamical systems methods characterise patterns of change over time. Typically, such methods are applied only after data collection is complete. However, brief disturbances – perturbations – can occur as a process unfolds and can result in undesirable outcomes if not acted on. The application of dynamics in real time would be useful for detecting these sudden changes. Real-time analysis was accomplished by updating dynamical estimates simultaneously across different window sizes. We calculated the largest Lyapunov exponent, a measure of dynamical stability, to detect a perturbation to team communication in a simulated uninhabited air vehicle (UAV) reconnaissance mission. The perturbation consisted of information demands from a confederate that occurred unexpectedly during performance of a UAV mission. We demonstrate the use of real-time methods in detecting that perturbation as it occurred. In application, this technique would have enabled real-time intervention. Extensions of the real-time dynamical method to other domains of psychological inquiry are discussed. Practitioner Summary: A real-time dynamical analysis method that was developed to detect unexpected perturbations in team communication is described. The use of the method is demonstrated on perturbed communication from a three-person uninhabited air vehicle command-and-control team. The generalisability of the method is considered with respect to physiological and motor coordination dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A newly developed person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) system was used to analyze several solvent standards, contact cement, paint thinner, and polychlorinated biphenyl samples. Passive solid phase microextraction sampling and fast chromatography with a resistively heated low thermal mass GC column were used. Results (combined sampling and analysis) were obtained in <2 min for solvent, contact cement, and paint thinner samples, and in <13 min for the polychlorinated biphenyl sample. Mass spectra produced by the small toroidal ion trap detector used were similar to those produced with heavily used transmission quadrupole mass spectrometers for polychlorinated biphenyl compounds, simple alkanes, and cycloalknes, while mass spectra for benzene and the ketone compounds analyzed showed evidence for ion/molecule reactions in the ion trap. For one of the contact cement samples analyzed, no evidence was found to indicate the presence of n-hexane, although the relevant material safety data sheet listed this ingredient. Specific chemical constituents corresponding to a potentially wide range of petroleum distillate compounds were identifiable from GC-MS analyses. The possibility for an improved basic characterization step in the exposure assessment process exists with the availability of fast, person-portable GC-MS, although work is needed to further refine this tool and understand the best ways it may be used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato petiole sap from potassium (K) rate experiments conducted on prairie loam and river coarse sand soils from 1998 to 2002 was used to measure K concentration via the battery-operated portable Cardy flat membrane electrode meter and inductive coupled plasma (ICP) laboratory instrumentation. In 1998, for undiluted sap levels less than 3000 mg kg-1 the linear Cardy-ICP correlation was r=0.94, but when K was more than 3000 mg kg-1, r was only 0.53. Diluting the sap with water (1:1) improved the linear range to 6000 mg K L-1 (r=0.87, n=190). Petiole sap K, measured by either Cardy or ICP, was highly correlated to whole-leaf K concentration all years, r=0.8 to 0.91. Even through the slope of the regression lines were similar for the years, the intercepts were significantly different (P<0.01). The Cardy electrode can be reliably used for tomato petiole K determination provided the sap is diluted and the usual handling precautions are taken to prevent petiole moisture loss and maintain stability in electrode readings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "An investigation of inter-operator reliability tests for real-time analysis system," by Hyongjun Choi, Peter O'Donoghue, and Mike Hughes is presented.

The field method for near real-time analysis of perchloro-ethylene (Perc) in breath is simple, fast, and reproducible for Perc breath analysis infield settings and should prove useful in industrial hygiene practice. The method allows Perc monitoring with good specificity to the sub-part per million (ppm) level within minutes of exposure. A commercially available, portable gas chromatograph with a photoionization detector was used in these analyses. Gas chromatograph settings were optimized in the laboratory for measurement of Perc in Tedlar™ bags. Laboratory development of the method included evaluation of the sensitivity, specificity, precision, and speed of analysis for Perc. Replicate aliquots of Perc at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 100 ppm were used to construct a calibration curve. The mean retention time for Perc was 238 sec. The impact of potential interference by acetone, toluene, isoprene, methanol, ethanol, acetaldehyde, carbon tetrachloride, benzene, or chloroform was evaluated by mixing Perc with each compound and performing analyses. Measurements of Perc in human breath samples collected in Tedlar bags in a workplace setting were made and compared to measurements of the same samples made by an established analytical method using charcoal tubes (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health /NIOSH] Method 1003). The accuracy, precision, and speed of the gas chromatograph method were determined. Measurements made with the new method were within a margin of ±8.8% (95% CI, n = 6) of measurements made according to NIOSH Method 1003 for field samples in the range of 0.9 to 6 ppm. Method precision was determined by calculating the pooled coefficient of variation for all measurements (replicates = 3) made in the field and was found to be 5.8%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of sample concentration and chamber depth on the performance of a real-time analysis computer-assisted semen analysis system, the Hobson Sperm Tracker . Fresh semen samples were provided by patients or donors who attended the author's clinic. The samples were used to estimate total concentration, percentage motility, and sperm kinematics. A considerable variation was found in total concentration and motility recordings between manual and computerized analysis, which was more profound in high-density samples (>80 × 10[sup 6] sperm/mL). The sperm motion parameters were significantly different between low- and high-density samples. This difference could not have been due to sample variation since it was also observed after 1:10 dilution of dense samples. The results indicate that a real-time analysis system can be used clinically for semen analysis over a wide range of sperm concentration. However, high sperm concentration can distort sperm count, motility, and sperm kinematics recordings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]