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In pipeline ultrasonic testing, the accurate identification of defect types is a prerequisite for quantifying defect sizes. To this end, this paper proposes a defect identification algorithm based on the combination of Wavelet Packet Transform (WPT), Distance Evaluation Technique (DET) and GA-SVM to precisely identify defect boundaries. First, the ultrasonic echo signals are processed using WPT to more accurately extract defect information. Then, DET is employed to eliminate redundant feature parameters, which are sorted by sensitivity to determine the input feature parameters for the GA-SVM. On this basis, a self-developed ultrasonic testing experimental system is used to collect ultrasonic echo signals from Q235 steel pipes with cylindrical, spherical, and conical defects at different spatial orientations of the probe and the pipe. After processing and identifying the signals, it was found that the proposed algorithm achieves an average identification accuracy of 99% for different types of defects, thereby realising automatic identification of pipeline defects. The results provide new ideas and methods for the intelligent identification of volumetric defect types in pipeline ultrasonic internal testing and promote the development of industrial-grade ultrasonic internal detectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess whether the choice between double embryo transfer (DET) and single embryo transfer (SET) in healthy women of advanced maternal age (AMA) was associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. Materials and Methods: Healthy women aged 39?40 years who achieved live birth after in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment between 2009 and 2020 at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm in Sweden, were included in this prospective, single-center cohort study. Results: A total of 310 women, who underwent IVF/ICSI treatments and achieved live births, were included in our analysis. Within this cohort, 78% of the women received SET, while 22% received DET. Nulliparity was common in both the SET (62.7%) and DET (85.3%) groups. Fresh embryo transfers were more prevalent in the DET group (91.2%) than in the SET group (31.1%). The rate of pregnancy-induced hypertension was higher in the SET group (8.3%) compared to the DET group (1.5%, p?=?0.048). Furthermore, the DET group had a significantly higher rate of twin pregnancies (13.2%) compared to the SET group (0.4%). No statistically significant differences were observed in composite obstetric and perinatal complications between the SET and DET groups across all model estimates following different adjustments. Clinical Trial Registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov NTC04602962. Conclusions: While DET was more common in nulliparous women and associated with a higher rate of twin pregnancies, our analysis did not reveal significant differences in adverse outcomes between the SET and DET groups after comprehensive adjustments. Our study suggests that in the absence of co-morbidities, meticulous patient selection coupled with comprehensive maternal care can potentially mitigate potential DET-associated risks in women of AMA.

Amide herbicides have been extensively used worldwide and have received substantial attention due to their adverse environmental effects. Here, a novel amidohydrolase gene was identified from a soil metagenomic library using diethyl terephthalate (DET) as a screening substrate. The recombinant enzyme, AmiH52, was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and later purified and characterized, with the highest activity occurring at 40 ℃ and pH 8.0. AmiH52 was demonstrated to have both esterase and amidohydrolase activities, which exhibited highly specific activity for p-nitrophenyl butyrate (2669 U/mg) and degrading activity against several amide herbicides. In particular, it displayed the strongest activity against propanil, with a high degradation rate of 84% at 8 h. A GC–MS analysis revealed that propanil was transformed into 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) during this degradation. The molecular interactions and binding stability were then analyzed by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation, which revealed that several key amino acid residues, including Tyr164, Trp66, Ala59, Val283, Arg58, His33, His191, and His226, are involved in the specific interactions with propanil. This study provides a function-driven screening method for amide herbicide hydrolase from the metagenomic libraries and a promising propanil-degrading enzyme (AmiH52) for potential applications in environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical bus is needed for the operation of all active spacecraft systems and subsystems. In the spacecraft mechanism, the battery charging system and the bus storage continued with bus control, the conditioning and bus distribution is an essential part for keeping the spacecraft in working mode. In this paper, the discussion for electrical power system (EPS) analysis in the spacecraft body will be elaborated from the previous research papers on this subject covering the topics of solar array, solar array drive, over current and over voltage protection, battery charging and discharging, bus control, conversion.

Antimony (Sb) pollution has raised increasing public concerns and its rapid on-site screening is central for the risk assessment. Herein, we proposed two gel-based methods based on colorimetric diffusive equilibrium in thin films (DET) and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), for two-dimensional imaging and sensitive detection of Sb(III) by revisiting the phenylfluorone (PhF) complexation reaction. PhF was well dispersed in the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel and reacted with Sb(III) in the DET gel to form a strong PhF-Sb(III) complex. The distribution of Sb(III) was easily visualized at a submillimeter resolution using computer imaging densitometry, with a detection limit (LOD) of ∼100 nmol L−1. Field application in the Sb mine area reveals limited dissolved Sb(III) penetrating the redox barrier below the sediment-water interface by 20 mm in rivers and tailing pond sediments. To improve the detection sensitivity and apply the principle to trace Sb quantification, a SERS platform was established by anchoring PhF on the hydrogel-stabilized Ag nanoparticles via C–O–Ag bonding to specifically detect Raman-inactive Sb(III). Benefiting from the high SERS activity of PhF and enrichment ability of hydrogel, Sb(III) was quantified with a LOD of 1.2–10.7 nmol L−1 depending on the sample volume. The coexisting ions at a 100-fold higher concentration than Sb(III) resulted in only 3.3–10.4 % variation in SERS intensity, indicating a negligible interference on the SERS platform. The platform exhibited a RSD of 6.6–13.1 % and acceptable recoveries for various environmental matrices, highlighting its promise in on-site application. [Display omitted] • Two polyvinyl alcohol gel methods for Sb(III) detection were developed. • Colorimetric DET gel provides submillimeter 2D imaging at a 100 nM detection limit. • Enrichment-type SERS gel achieves detection limits as low as 1.2 nM. • Field study shows limited Sb(III) penetration beyond the sediment-water interface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrical bus is needed for the operation of all active spacecraft systems and subsystems. In the spacecraft mechanism, the battery charging system and the bus storage continued with bus control, the conditioning and bus distribution is an essential part for keeping the spacecraft in working mode. In this paper, the discussion for electrical power system (EPS) analysis in the spacecraft body will be elaborated from the previous research papers on this subject covering the topics of solar array, solar array drive, over current and over voltage protection, battery charging and discharging, bus control, conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess whether the choice between double embryo transfer (DET) and single embryo transfer (SET) in healthy women of advanced maternal age (AMA) was associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes., Materials and Methods: Healthy women aged 39-40 years who achieved live birth after in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment between 2009 and 2020 at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm in Sweden, were included in this prospective, single-center cohort study., Results: A total of 310 women, who underwent IVF/ICSI treatments and achieved live births, were included in our analysis. Within this cohort, 78% of the women received SET, while 22% received DET. Nulliparity was common in both the SET (62.7%) and DET (85.3%) groups. Fresh embryo transfers were more prevalent in the DET group (91.2%) than in the SET group (31.1%). The rate of pregnancy-induced hypertension was higher in the SET group (8.3%) compared to the DET group (1.5%, p  = 0.048). Furthermore, the DET group had a significantly higher rate of twin pregnancies (13.2%) compared to the SET group (0.4%). No statistically significant differences were observed in composite obstetric and perinatal complications between the SET and DET groups across all model estimates following different adjustments.Clinical Trial Registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov NTC04602962., Conclusions: While DET was more common in nulliparous women and associated with a higher rate of twin pregnancies, our analysis did not reveal significant differences in adverse outcomes between the SET and DET groups after comprehensive adjustments. Our study suggests that in the absence of co-morbidities, meticulous patient selection coupled with comprehensive maternal care can potentially mitigate potential DET-associated risks in women of AMA., (© Ellen-Elena Reinolds et al., 2024; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Background This study aimed to evaluate the offspring sex ratio, born through fresh and cryo-thawed single blastocyst (BL) transfers regarding a single morphological, static parameter, namely, BL diameter. Methodology This retrospective, observational study was conducted at an assisted reproductive technology (ART) center, Kinderwunschzentrum Niederrhein Germany. We conducted a statistical analysis of all births resulting from fresh and thawed in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles after a single embryo transfer (SET). The main outcome measure was the offspring sex ratio after SET of a day five BL in relation to the BL diameter measurement. Results There were more female than male babies born in our study. We observed a tendency for BL to have a higher diameter, resulting in female offspring, which was not statistically relevant. We also compared the BL diameter in the fresh embryo transfer (ET) group with that of the cryo-thawed ET group, showing a tendency toward a larger diameter in the fresh ET group. In the ICSI cycles, there was a higher tendency for a larger BL diameter when compared to IVF cycles. In the fresh ET cycles, BL leading to the male sex at birth had a tendency toward a larger diameter than the female BL. In the cryo-thaw ET cycles, BL leading to the female sex had a tendency toward a larger diameter than the male BL. Conclusions Our results showed a tendency in the sex of offspring toward the female sex and no significant difference in the BL diameter of BL leading to birth after ART and consecutive transfer of day five BL., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Ethics Committee, Aerztekammer Nordrhein issued approval 293/2022. Animal subjects: All authors have confirmed that this study did not involve animal subjects or tissue. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Hajder et al.)

• A DET analysis has been applied to a BWR during a hot shutdown phase. • RAVEN acts as a logic driver while MELCOR simulates the thermal–hydraulic response. • Cyberattack alters plant state variable processed by I&C disabling coolant injection systems. • DET focuses on cyberattack and recovery time that would compromise core integrity. Over the last decade, probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) for nuclear power plants shifted its focus toward simulation-based methods of evaluating safety and risk aspects. Classical reliability modeling based on static Boolean structures does not capture the dynamic nature of plants experiencing accident sequences. Dynamic PRA extends conventional reliability modeling, adding a higher degree of variability to events occuring during accident sequences. This paper demonstrates the capability of a new dynamic event tree (DET) analysis tool applicable to severe accident sequences. A cyberattack was assumed to penetrate the instrumentation system of a boiling water reactor during its hot shutdown phase, altering the thermal–hydraulic variables being processed. The analysis focused on scenarios that lead to the core being uncovered, in which the peak cladding temperature is reached due to the disabling of the cooling systems. A limiting surface is defined, associating the cyberattack timing to the recovery time limit that would compromise the core integrity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]