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Fish farmers struggle with the problem of fish mortality due to climate change, poisoning, and bad water quality. Estimates on the mortality of fishes ranges from 60% to 80% depending on the type of fish. Traditional approaches in monitoring the quality of water such as observation or laboratory testing prove to be costly and time-consuming. This study aims to develop a portable water quality monitoring kit for fish farms. The device allows users to monitor the water's dissolved oxygen, nitrogen, total dissolved solids, turbidity, temperature, and pH level. It is powered by a rechargeable battery, uses an Arduino microcontroller, and has a real-time alert system. The device's limitations include the battery life and the sensors will need to be recalibrated at least monthly to ensure the accuracy of the readings. However, the results show that the implementation of the device garnered high acceptability in all parameters in the evaluation with a total mean rating of 4.66. This implies that the device can be used in monitoring the water quality in aquaculture sectors as corroborated by the respondent's evaluation. It is recommended to enhance the device by adding more water quality sensors and integrating Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities to further improve its functionality and reliability.

Titanium carbide (Ti3C2Tx) MXene has attracted significant attention due to its exceptional properties and versatile solution processibility. However, MXene dispersions are prone to various degradation processes, leading to the formation of byproducts that negatively affect its morphological, electrical, and mechanical properties. Through the years, several methods have been developed to mitigate MXene degradation; however, divergent viewpoints on the understanding of degradation mechanisms are prevalent, hindering the development of versatile strategies in producing environmentally stable MXene dispersions. This review provides a chronological analysis of the research efforts aimed at unraveling the underlying mechanisms of MXene degradation and highlights strategies for circumventing this process. This review discusses apparent inconsistencies in experimental findings and theoretical models. These discrepancies prompt further investigation for a clearer understanding of the degradation process in MXene. This narrative allows readers to follow the evolution of dominant theories and disputes and to ultimately stimulate further investigation, aiming for a better understanding of this process. It is anticipated that identifying the fundamental factors affecting the oxidation of MXene dispersions will enable their full‐scale processing into higher‐order structures and practical devices with greater longevity and long‐term performance.

Abstract Alteration of basaltic glass and in situ mineral growth are fundamental processes that influence the chemical and material properties of Earth’s oceanic crust. These processes have evolved at the basaltic island of Surtsey (SW Iceland) since eruptions terminated in 1967. Here, subaerial and submarine lapilli tuff samples from a 192 m-deep borehole drilled in 2017 (SE-02b) are characterized through petrographic studies, X-ray powder diffraction analyses, and SEM–EDS imaging and chemical analyses. The integrated results reveal (i) multi-stage palagonitization processes in basaltic glass and precipitation of secondary minerals from matrix pore fluids, (ii) multi-stage crystallization of secondary phillipsite, analcime and Al-tobermorite in the vesicles of basaltic pyroclasts and (iii) variations in palagonitization processes as a function of thermal and hydrological domains. Although temperature appears to be an important factor in controlling rates of secondary mineralization, the chemistry of original basaltic components and interstitial fluids also influences reaction pathways in the young pyroclastic deposits. The integration of systematic mineralogical analyses of the 50-year-old tuff from one of the most carefully monitored volcanic sites on Earth, together with temperature monitoring in boreholes since 1980, provide a reference framework for evaluating mineralogical evolution in other Surtseyan-type volcanoes worldwide.

A pipeline for the analysis of GC×GC-MS data is presented. The pipeline consists of retention index matching that improves compound identification as well as several methods for removing background compounds of no interest and column bleed. The efficacy of retention index matching is demonstrated via sample mixtures of 26, 26, and 23 compounds. The pipeline in practice is able to reduce the number of matched compounds by half even with lenient screening parameters.

This study presents an analytical approach for calculating retention indices of unknown compounds in the 2nd dimension of GC×GC systems by using an n-alkane-aromatic hydrocarbon (AH) reference mixture. We demonstrated that, by running a reference mixture containing a series of n-alkanes and three AH compounds in a GC×GC system, with the same run parameters as the target sample, we can mathematically obtain the retention index of unknown compounds. An analytical calculation procedure was developed and verified by using 59 test compounds. The results show that the calculated second dimension retention indices are in good agreement with those obtained from 1-D GC–MS runs, with a high coefficient of determination (R² = 0.996) and an average 2nd dimension retention index error of 14 points with standard deviation of 11.7.

Integrated spectroscopic analyses and synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction investigations provide insights into the long-term reactivity of volcanic aggregate components and calcium-aluminum-silicate-hydrate (C-A-S-H) binder in mortar samples from the robust concrete of the sepulchral corridor of the Tomb of Caecilia Metella, 1st C BCE, Rome. The results of innovative micrometer-scale analytical maps indicate that Pozzolane Rosse tephra components–scoria groundmass, clinopyroxene, and leucite crystals–contributed to pozzolanic production of C-A-S-H binder and then remained reactive long after hydrated lime (Ca(OH)2) was fully consumed. The C-A-S-H binding phase is reorganized into wispy halos and tendril-like strands, some with nanocrystalline preferred orientation or, alternatively, split into elongate features with short silicate chain lengths. These microstructures apparently record chemical and structural destabilization of C-A-S-H during excessive incorporation of Al3+ and K+ released through leucite dissolution. Resistance to failure may result from the intermittent toughening of interfacial zones of scoriae and clinopyroxene crystals with post-pozzolanic strätlingite and Al-tobermorite mineral cements and from long-term remodeling of the pozzolanic C-A-S-H binding phase. Roman builders’ selection of a leucite-rich facies of Pozzolane Rosse tephra as aggregate and construction of the tomb in an environment with high surface and ground water exposure apparently increased beneficial hydrologic activity and reactivity in the concrete.

Background: Heart murmurs in puppies can be innocent or pathologic; the latter is almost always related to a congenital heart disease. Differentiating between these murmurs can be challenging for practicing veterinarians, but this differentiation is essential to ensure the best prognosis for puppies having a congenital heart disease. Our study aimed to reveal how veterinarians manage puppies with a heart murmur. Methods: A web-based questionnaire was sent to Dutch and Belgian veterinary practices. Results: Data from 452 respondents were analyzed. Though 88% of the respondents find detecting a heart murmur easy, only 9% find differentiating innocent murmurs from pathologic murmurs in puppies easy. Of the respondents, only 80% recommend immediate additional examination when detecting a loud heart murmur during the first veterinary health check at 6 weeks of age. Most of the respondents are aware that normal growth and the absence of clinical signs do not exclude severe congenital heart disease. Of the respondents, 31% were uncertain whether early surgical intervention could lead to improved outcomes. Conclusions: Veterinarians are aware of the importance of echocardiography for puppies with a loud heart murmur, and recognize their limitations when differentiating an innocent from a pathological heart murmur in a puppy.

Abstract Background The underlying motivation of this work is to demonstrate that artificial muscle activity of known and unknown motion can be generated based on motion parameters, such as angular position, acceleration, and velocity of each joint (or the end-effector instead), which are similarly represented in our brains. This model is motivated by the known motion planning process in the central nervous system. That process incorporates the current body state from sensory systems and previous experiences, which might be represented as pre-learned inverse dynamics that generate associated muscle activity. Methods We develop a novel approach utilizing recurrent neural networks that are able to predict muscle activity of the upper limbs associated with complex 3D human arm motions. Therefore, motion parameters such as joint angle, velocity, acceleration, hand position, and orientation, serve as input for the models. In addition, these models are trained on multiple subjects (n=5 including , 3 male in the age of 26±2 years) and thus can generalize across individuals. In particular, we distinguish between a general model that has been trained on several subjects, a subject-specific model, and a specific fine-tuned model using a transfer learning approach to adapt the model to a new subject. Estimators such as mean square error MSE, correlation coefficient r, and coefficient of determination R 2 are used to evaluate the goodness of fit. We additionally assess performance by developing a new score called the zero-line score. The present approach was compared with multiple other architectures. Results The presented approach predicts the muscle activity for previously through different subjects with remarkable high precision and generalizing nicely for new motions that have not been trained before. In an exhausting comparison, our recurrent network outperformed all other architectures. In addition, the high inter-subject variation of the recorded muscle activity was successfully handled using a transfer learning approach, resulting in a good fit for the muscle activity for a new subject. Conclusions The ability of this approach to efficiently predict muscle activity contributes to the fundamental understanding of motion control. Furthermore, this approach has great potential for use in rehabilitation contexts, both as a therapeutic approach and as an assistive device. The predicted muscle activity can be utilized to guide functional electrical stimulation, allowing specific muscles to be targeted and potentially improving overall rehabilitation outcomes.

Abstract Background Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are high in older women in many developed countries, including Denmark. Therefore, Danish women aged 69 and older were invited for one additional human papilloma virus (HPV) based screening test in 2017. Here, we describe the clinical management and detection rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse (CIN2 +) in screen-positive women referred for colposcopy. Methods We conducted an observational study in public gynecology departments in Central Denmark Region, Denmark. Women were eligible for enrolment if they were aged 69 + in 2017, HPV positive on a screening test taken between April 20th, 2017, and December 31st, 2017, and had been referred for direct colposcopy. Data on participants’ characteristics, colposcopic findings, and histological outcomes were collected from medical records and the Danish Pathology Databank. We estimated the proportion of women with CIN2 + at the first colposcopy visit and at end of follow up including 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results A total of 191 women were included with a median age of 74 years (IQR: 71—78). Most women (74.9%) did not have a fully visible transformation zone at colposcopy. At the first visit 170 women (89.0%) had a histological sample collected, 34 of whom (20.0%, 95% CI 14.3–26.8%) had CIN2 + diagnosed, 19 had CIN3 + , and two had cervical cancer). During follow-up additional CIN2 + were detected resulting in a total of 42 women (24.4%, 95% CI: 18.2–31.5%) being diagnosed with CIN2 + , 25 with CIN3 + , and three with cervical cancer. When restricting to women with paired histologic results (i.e., biopsies and a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) specimen), we found that CIN2 + was missed in 17.9% (95% CI 8.9–30.4%) of biopsies compared to the LEEP. Conclusion Our findings suggest a potential risk of underdiagnosis in older postmenopausal women referred to colposcopy. Future studies should explore potential risk-markers for discrimination of women at increased risk of CIN2 + from those at low risk, as this would reduce risk of underdiagnosis and overtreatment.

The use of machine learning and deep learning has become prominent within various fields of bioprocessing for countless modeling and prediction tasks. Previous reviews have emphasized machine learning applications in various fields of bioprocessing, including biomanufacturing. This comprehensive review highlights many of the different machine learning and multivariate analysis techniques that have been utilized within Chinese hamster ovary cell biomanufacturing, specifically due to their rising significance in the industry. Applications of machine and deep learning within other bioprocessing industries are also briefly discussed.

The quantitative assessment of eye tracking data quality is critical for ensuring accuracy and precision of gaze position measurements. However, researchers often report the eye tracker's optimal manufacturer's specifications rather than empirical data about the accuracy and precision of the eye tracking data being presented. Indeed, a recent report indicates that less than half of eye tracking researchers surveyed take the eye tracker's accuracy into account when determining areas of interest for analysis, an oversight that could impact the validity of reported results and conclusions. Accordingly, we designed a calibration verification protocol to augment independent quality assessment of eye tracking data and examined whether accuracy and precision varied between three age groups of participants. We also examined the degree to which our externally quantified quality assurance metrics aligned with those reported by the manufacturer. We collected data in standard laboratory conditions to demonstrate our method, to illustrate how data quality can vary with participant age, and to give a simple example of the degree to which data quality can differ from manufacturer reported values. In the sample data we collected, accuracy for adults was within the range advertised by the manufacturer, but for school-aged children, accuracy and precision measures were outside this range. Data from toddlers were less accurate and less precise than data from adults. Based on an "a priori" inclusion criterion, we determined that we could exclude approximately 20% of toddler participants for poor calibration quality quantified using our calibration assessment protocol. We recommend implementing and reporting quality assessment protocols for any eye tracking tasks with participants of any age or developmental ability. We conclude with general observations about our data, recommendations for what factors to consider when establishing data inclusion criteria, and suggestions for stimulus design that can help accommodate variability in calibration. The methods outlined here may be particularly useful for developmental psychologists who use eye tracking as a tool, but who are not experts in eye tracking "per se." The calibration verification stimuli and data processing scripts that we developed, along with step-by-step instructions, are freely available for other researchers.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been adopted globally as a tool to combat biodiversity loss and restore marine ecosystems. Successful application of MPAs will be predicated on the ability to monitor biodiversity in a synoptic and noninvasive manner. Environmental DNA (eDNA) methods have important advantages over traditional biodiversity survey methods for monitoring conservation areas. To evaluate the efficacy of eDNA metabarcoding for fish biodiversity monitoring, we sampled 19 coastal eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds in Canada, as eelgrass beds are known for high biodiversity and significant conservation value. At each site, beach seines were used to survey fish and water samples were collected contemporaneously for eDNA metabarcoding. In total, beach seining caught 32 672 individuals across 59 fish taxa, and eDNA detected 129 fish taxa. eDNA captured site-level variation and detected higher species richness at both site and regional levels compared to seining. eDNA abundance had a positive association with capture abundance. Collectively these results highlight how eDNA metabarcoding offers an efficient approach for monitoring fish biodiversity in coastal eelgrass beds, thus providing a valuable and noninvasive tool for MPA planning and coastal monitoring. Les aires marines protegees (AMP) ont ete adoptees partout dans le monde comme outil pour contrer la perte de biodiversite et restaurer les ecosystemes marins. L'application efficace des AMP dependra de la capacite de surveillance synoptique et non invasive de la biodiversite. Les methodes reposant sur l'ADN environnemental (ADNe) presentent d'importants avantages par rapport aux methodes traditionnelles devaluation de la biodiversite pour la surveillance des aires de conservation. Afin d'evaluer l'efficacite du metacodage a barres de l'ADNe pour la surveillance de la biodiversite des poissons, nous avons echantillonne 19 herbiers de zostere (Zostera marina) cotiers au Canada, puisqu'il est etabli que ces derniers presentent une forte biodiversite et une importante valeur pour la conservation. Dans chaque site, des sennes de plage ont ete utilisees pour recenser les poissons et des echantillons d'eau ont ete preleves en meme temps pour les fins du metacodage a barres de l'ADNe. Au total, 32 672 specimens de 59 taxons de poissons ont ete pris a la senne de plage et l'ADNe a permis de detecter 129 taxons de poissons. Les donnees d'ADNe font ressortir des variations a l'echelle du site et une plus grande richesse specifique a l'echelle tant regionale que du site que la peche a la senne. L'abondance d'ADNe est positivement reliee a l'abondance des prises. Collectivement, ces resultats soulignent le fait que le metacodage a barres de l'ADNe constitue une approche efficace pour la surveillance de la biodiversite des poissons dans les herbiers a zostere cotiers, offrant ainsi un important outil non invasif pour la planification des APM et la surveillance cotiere. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Awareness of the implications of global biodiversity loss has increased over the past two decades, as has acknowledgement that biodiversity conservation should be part of broader economic and political [...]

This article explores specific aspects of literacy practices in teacher education in Norway, building upon data collected within the research project "Digital literacy and use of learning resources in teacher education in Norway" (DigiGLU). Our main aim is to explore how teachers in different subject courses in teacher education (TE) design mandatory assignments, and how students respond to these designs. After the extensive TE-reform in 2010, in revised plans and documents guiding professional training, mandatory assignments (both form and content) were considered more important for the students' learning process. In our investigation, the concepts of design for learning and design in learning, as described by Selander and Kress (2010), are considered fruitful as theoretical perspectives. The analysis focuses on oral presentations and traditional academic texts in four different TE-subjects. Our main finding, across subjects, is that there seem to be mismatches between the intentions behind the designs on the part of the assignment designers and the actual interpretation: hence the redesigned result by the receiver of the design. The article concludes with some reflections on why these mismatches occur, and what the implications might be for the students' academic development and the possible transfer of certain literacy practices to their occupational lives.

Background: Myxomatous mitral valve degeneration is the most common canine heart disease. Several clinical trials have investigated various treatments. The latest recommendations are published in the ACVIM consensus guidelines (2019). Our study aimed to investigate how closely veterinary practitioners apply the treatment recommendations of these guidelines and the latest clinical trials. Methods: An online survey was sent to Dutch and Belgian veterinary practices via digital channels. Results: The data from 363 fully completed surveys were analyzed. For stage B1 disease, 93% recommended, correctly, no treatment. For stage B2 disease, 67% of the respondents recommended starting pimobendan as monotherapy. For chronic treatment of stage C disease, 16 different drug combinations were mentioned, but nobody recommended surgery. Only 48% of the respondents recommended the only evidence-based drug combination: a loop diuretic with pimobendan. A concerning finding was the simultaneous prescription of two loop diuretics, by 19% of the respondents. Conclusions: Treatment recommendations showed an increasing variation with more advanced disease stages from B1 through B2 to C. This reflects the increasing disagreement among the panelists who prepared the ACVIM consensus guidelines. Practitioners of our study seem to practice more evidence-based medicine than veterinary cardiologists, as it was reported in a recent survey-based study.