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This paper introduces a computational analysis that discusses an approach for optimal synthesis in the design of magnetic lenses, specifically focusing on the analytical method. A widely employed approach for magnetic lens design involves utilizing an analysis optimization procedure, which makes use of the finite element method and is supported by Munro programs. In this study, this approach has been employed to explore magnetic lenses using the Electron Optical Design (EOD) software. The study offers insights into the role of the air gap in magnetic lens design, highlighting its importance in optimizing objective and projector properties. The analysis reveals that variations in the air gap (S) significantly influence the performance of magnetic lenses. Decreasing the air gap when it is set to (3) leads to substantial improvements in objective optical properties and focal length. Conversely, increasing the air gap when it is set to (12) enlarges the half-width of the axial magnetic field while reducing the maximum magnetic field value. These findings underscore the importance of carefully optimizing the air gap to achieve desired lens performance. The focal length is determined using this input data and coefficients of aberration (spherical and chromatic) of the objective. The study focuses on the influence of a crucial geometric parameter, specifically the air gap (S), on both objective and projector properties. Its importance stems from its capability to pinpoint the suitable geometry for magnetic lenses, thereby facilitating their efficient application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cell-free RNAs (cfRNAs) are promising analytes as non-invasive biomarkers and have even greater potential if tied in with metabolomics. Plasma is an optimal source for cfRNAs but is often derived from a variety of anticoagulants. Plasma obtained in heparin is suitable for metabolomics but is difficult to utilize for qPCR-based downstream analysis. In the present study, we aimed to develop a simple, time-efficient, and cost-effective heparinase protocol, followed by library preparation and sequencing of human plasma cfRNAs drawn and stored in heparin at −80 °C for several years. Blood was collected in CPT™ sodium heparin tubes from patients with chronic HCV infection (NCT02400216) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center. Plasma cfRNAs were treated with heparinase I and used for library preparation and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Heparinase treatment maintained RNA integrity and allowed for successful library preparation for all the study subjects even with 7 ng of cfRNAs as starting material. The classification report derived from Pavian R package v1.2.0 showed no artificial reads. The abundance of chordate over microbial reads suggests no addition of experimental error through heparinase I treatment. We report a novel and practical approach to heparinase treatment for human plasma collected and frozen in sodium heparin for several years. This is an effective demonstration of utilizing heparin plasma for NGS and downstream transcriptomic research, which could then be integrated with metabolomics from the same samples, maximizing efficiency and minimizing blood draws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Increased microbial translocation (MT) into the systemic circulation is associated with liver disease progression. Microbial translocation has yet to be completely defined in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV). Methods Our aim was to characterize MT and associated immune response in chronic HBV and HDV at various stages of disease. Serum from 53 HBV, 43 HDV, and 36 healthy control (HC) subjects was obtained. Subjects were categorized by aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index into mild (<0.5), moderate, and severe (>1.0) disease. Cytokines, microbial products, and microbial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) levels were assessed in a single treatment-naive time point for each patient. Next-generation sequencing identified bacterial species present within patient sera. Results The HBV and HDV subjects display higher serum concentrations of Gram-negative (G−) bacterial lipopolysaccharide and fungal beta-glucan compared with HC (all P <.01). Gram-positive (G+) bacterial peptidoglycan is higher in HBV compared to HDV and HC (both P <.0001). Within both disease cohorts, peptidoglycan correlates with interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-8, IL-12p70, and IL-13 (all Spearman's rho >0.45; P <.05). Next-generation sequencing from 7 subjects with detectable serum bacterial DNA revealed changes in abundance of bacterial taxa and a higher proportion of Gram-positive genera in severe disease. Greater G+/G− taxa ratio is associated with higher cytokine levels and disease markers. Conclusions The HBV and HDV patients display increased translocation of bacterial and fungal products into serum. An increased proportion of Gram-positive genera is associated with disease progression. Correlations of peptidoglycan with antimicrobial cytokines suggest that particular microbial classes may contribute to systemic inflammation and possibly disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a multi-criteria decision-making approach for the evaluation of the performance of airline service quality. Our method is developed using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique. We systematically reviewed the previous studies which have been conducted for airline service quality performance. Accordingly, a set of quality criteria under ten dimensions were identified to be evaluated by the proposed approach. By the use of AHP, we select the most important quality criteria for assessing the service quality performance of the airport. The evaluation results of the main dimensions showed that safety and reliability, passenger service, and airline website are the most important quality criteria for improving airline efficiency. In addition, the results by AHP analysis showed that baggage delivery time, up-to-date aircraft and in-flight facility, courtesy of employees, on-time performance, online purchase process, value for money, handling of delayed flight, promptness of booking, the convenience of buying ticket and loyalty program are the most important indicators respectively in passenger service, in-flight service, employees safety and reliability, airline website, pricing policy, responsiveness, booking service, ticketing service, and promotions. The finding of this study and the proposed multi-criteria decision-making approach make important contributions to the literature by helping to identify quality criteria for improving the service quality in airports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The damaging effect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on cartilage, bone, ligaments, and tendons has raised the importance of the disease activity and severity assessment to enable therapeutic decisions and to evaluate disease outcome. Aim: The aim is to compare the clinical examination of the Disease Activity Score (DAS)-28 with the musculoskeletal ultrasonography (US) examination in RA patients. Moreover, finding if we can use ultrasonographical results as a tool for predicting subsequent radiological damage. Patients and Methods: It is a longitudinal study included 60 adult RA patients. Patients were under assessment at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months from the recruitment time. Twenty-eight joints of DAS were assessed for tenderness and swelling. US gray scale (GS) and US power Doppler (PD) score also was done at each visit. Results: DAS-28, with its parameters, is positively and highly significantly correlated to synovitis severity both by US GS and US-PD score along the study follow-up visits. There was highly significant difference between the number of 28 swollen and tender joints by clinical examination with both US GS and US-PD. Linear regression analysis to predict the number of swollen and tender joints after 12 months showed significance between US PD with swollen and tender joints' numbers. The correlation was positive and significant between Larsen score at 12 months with GS US and PD US assessment, but linear regression analysis was only significant for Larsen score with only GS US. Conclusion: GS US and PD is a sensitive and reliable noninvasive method complementary to standard clinical assessment and could be a tool for predicting subsequent joints' damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]