• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.1435-1444
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• 2023

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate Raman spectroscopy technique as a noninvasive tool to predict meat quality traits on Braford longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle. Methods: Thirty samples of muscle from Braford steers were analyzed by classical meat quality techniques and by Raman spectroscopy with 785 nm laser excitation. Water holding capacity (WHC), intramuscular fat content (IMF), cooking loss (CL), and texture profile analysis recording hardness, cohesiveness, and chewiness were determined, along with fiber diameter and sarcomere length by scanning electron microscopy. Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) analysis was used to differentiate tender and tough meat groups. Results: Higher values of cohesiveness and CL, together with lower values of WHC, IMF, and shorter sarcomere were obtained for tender meat samples than for the tougher ones. Raman spectra analysis allows tender and tough sample differentiation. The correlation between the quality attributes predicted by Raman and the physical measurements resulted in values of R² = 0.69 for hardness and 0,58 for WBSF. Pearson's correlation coefficient of hardness (r = 0.84) and WBSF (r = 0.79) parameters with the phenylalanine Raman signal at 1,003 cm^-1, suggests that the content of this amino acid could explain the differences between samples. Conclusion: Raman spectroscopy with 785 nm laser excitation is a suitable and accurate technique to identify beef with different quality attributes.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.80-86
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• 2024

Background: The Work Ability Index (WAI) is an instrument that measures work ability. The wide dispersion of the WAI internationally has led to its adaptation for use in different countries. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the WAI. Methods: A methodological design was used over an opportunistic sample of 233 workers in the aeronautical industry in Spain. Reliability was evaluated through internal consistency. Factorial validity, known groups, and convergent validity were tested. Results: The Cronbach's alpha and item-total correlation indicated an adequate internal consistency. The confirmatory factor analysis, performed to evaluate the factorial validity, found adequate fit indices for a two-factor solution with a high correlation between the factors. Factor 1, "Subjectively estimated work ability and resources", was composed of 3 subscales and factor 2, "Ill-health-related", of 2 subscales. Subscales 4 and 6 had loading in both factors. Workers under 45 years of age obtained higher significant scores than older ones. Convergent validity was also evidenced since WAI was highly correlated with self-assessment of health status. Conclusions: The Spanish version of the WAI has shown evidence of reliability and validity in this study, supporting its use in individual and collective health surveillance by occupational health professionals. The factorial solution that was found has previously been reported in another international context. However, further research is needed to resolve the discrepancies detected in the role of some subscales between other national and international studies.

• Coupled systems mechanics
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.545-560
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• 2021

An in situ experiment imaged via X-ray computed tomography was performed on a continuous glass fiber mat reinforced epoxy resin composite. The investigated dogbone specimen was subjected to uniaxial cyclic tension. The reconstructed scans (i.e., gray level volumes) were registered via Digital Volume Correlation. The calculated maximum principal strain fields and correlation residual maps exhibited strain localization areas within the material bulk, thus indicating damage inception and growth toward the specimen surface. Strained bands and areas of elevated correlation residuals were mainly concentrated in the narrowest gauge section of the investigated specimen, as well as on the specimen ligament edges. Gray level residuals were laid over the corresponding mesostructure to highlight and characterize damage development within the material bulk.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between diabetes and liver function test results. Unlike type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hepatogenous diabetes is caused by abnormal liver function. In this study, the relationship between liver enzymes, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and the AST/ALT ratio (De Ritis ratio), indicating liver function, and diabetes-related tests was analyzed. The results of the study showed a positive correlation between AST and glucose (r=0.14, P<0.01), ALT and glucose (r=0.21, P<0.01), AST and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (r=0.15, P<0.01), and ALT and HbA1c (r=0.20, P<0.01). The De Ritis ratio showed a negative correlation with glucose (r=-0.20, P<0.01) and HbA1c (r=-0.14, P<0.01). The results of regression analysis with AST, ALT, and the De Ritis ratio as independent variables and glucose (R²=0.05) and HbA1c (R²=0.04) as dependent variables revealed that the independent variables had a statistically significant effect on the dependent variables. AST showed a lower correlation between blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin than ALT, and an increase in ALT caused a decrease in the De Ritis ratio. Therefore, the De Ritis ratio can be said to be meaningful in relation to diabetes-related tests.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2008

The relationship between three phenological parameters and somatic embryogenesis was investigated during a two-year period. Staminodes and petals from six hybrids and two clones as controls were sowed on three distinct primary callus growth media. Flowering level, fructification level, and leaf thrusts rhythm as phenological parameters were measured simultaneously during the weekly harvest of flower buds. Mean and coefficient of variation of the measured parameters highlighted stable phenological phases. The relationship between phenological parameters and somatic embryogenesis was investigated first by comparing the variation of somatic embryogenesis and that of the phenological parameters, and second by using Pearson's linear correlation. Except for the fructification level in both control clones the first year, the other parameters recorded stable phenological phases, regardless of the genotype and year. Favorable and unfavorable phases for the somatic embryogenesis were identified. In hybrids, favorable phases included February, August, September, and October. In both control clones, time interval propitious to embryogenesis stretched from February to December. The significance of the coefficient of correlation seemed to establish a relationship between somatic embryogenesis and phenology. However, a causal link could not be established. Leaf thrusts rhythm was revealed to be the phenological parameter most linked to somatic embryogenesis. Attempts to optimize embryogenesis during unfavorable phases, showed that a correction of 2.4 D/TDZ concentration is not the solution.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.914-916
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• 2016

The noise in a power signal degrades the detection rate of the power quality (PQ) event signals. We present a new wavelet de-noising technique for PQ event detection that employs the correlation-based thresholding instead of the wavelet-scale-based thresholding of existing schemes. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme is more robust to Gaussian and impulsive noisy conditions and has further improved detection ratio than existing schemes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.10
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• pp.1407-1418
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• 2015

A total of 32,817 test-day milk yield (TDMY) records of the first lactation of 4,056 Girolando cows daughters of 276 sires, collected from 118 herds between 2000 and 2011 were utilized to estimate the genetic parameters for TDMY via random regression models (RRM) using Legendre's polynomial functions whose orders varied from 3 to 5. In addition, nine measures of persistency in milk yield ($PS_i$) and the genetic trend of 305-day milk yield (305MY) were evaluated. The fit quality criteria used indicated RRM employing the Legendre's polynomial of orders 3 and 5 for fitting the genetic additive and permanent environment effects, respectively, as the best model. The heritability and genetic correlation for TDMY throughout the lactation, obtained with the best model, varied from 0.18 to 0.23 and from -0.03 to 1.00, respectively. The heritability and genetic correlation for persistency and 305MY varied from 0.10 to 0.33 and from -0.98 to 1.00, respectively. The use of $PS_7$ would be the most suitable option for the evaluation of Girolando cattle. The estimated breeding values for 305MY of sires and cows showed significant and positive genetic trends. Thus, the use of selection indices would be indicated in the genetic evaluation of Girolando cattle for both traits.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2018

Background: Patients with intellectual disability (ID) often require general anesthesia during oral procedures. Anesthetic depth monitoring in these patients can be difficult due to their already altered mental state prior to anesthesia. In this study, the utility of electroencephalographic indexes to reflect anesthetic depth was evaluated in pediatric patients with ID. Methods: Seventeen patients (mean age, $9.6{\pm}2.9years$) scheduled for dental procedures were enrolled in this study. After anesthesia induction with propofol or sevoflurane, a bilateral sensor was placed on the patient's forehead and the bispectral index (BIS) was recorded. Anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane, which was adjusted according to the clinical signs by an anesthesiologist blinded to the BIS value. The index performance was accessed by correlation (with the end-tidal sevoflurane [EtSevo] concentration) and prediction probability (with a clinical scale of anesthesia). The asymmetry of the electroencephalogram between the left and right sides was also analyzed. Results: The BIS had good correlation and prediction probabilities (above 0.5) in the majority of patients; however, BIS was not correlated with EtSevo or the clinical scale of anesthesia in patients with Lennox-Gastaut, West syndrome, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. BIS showed better correlations than SEF95 and TP. No significant differences were observed between the left- and right-side indexes. Conclusion: BIS may be able to reflect sevoflurane anesthetic depth in patients with some types of ID; however, more research is required to better define the neurological conditions and/or degrees of disability that may allow anesthesiologists to use the BIS.

• Transactions on Control, Automation and Systems Engineering
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2002

Van de Vusse reactor is known as a highly nonlinear chemical process and has been considered by a number of researchers as a benchmark problem for nonlinear chemical process. Various identification methods for nonlinear system are also verified by applying these methods to Van de Vusse reactor. From the point of view of identification, only the Volterra kernel of second order has been obtained until now. In this paper, the authors show that Volterra kernels of nonlinear Van de Vusse reactor of up to 3rd order are obtained by use of M-sequence correlation method. A pseudo-random M-sequence is applied to Van de Vusse reactor as an input and its output is measured. Taking the crosscorrelation function between the input and the output, we obtain up to 3rd order Volterra kernels, which is the highest order Volterra kernel obtained until now for Van de Vusse reactor. Computer simulations show that when Van de Vusse chemical process is identified by use of up to 3rd order Volterra kernels, a good agreement is observed between the calculated output and the actual output.

• ALGAE
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2005

Scinaia latifrons Howe occurs in rhodolith beds between 9 to 27 m depths at San Lorenzo channel, Gulf of California, Mexico. As very little was known about the morphometrics of this normally temperate species in a subtropical area, we investigated the phenological changes from December 1998 to December 1999. The gametophytic phase of the species was present from late February to late May, which represented a shorter time period to other known species in the genus. Our results suggested that two gametophytic cohorts develop over winter and early spring based on the size class structure of the frond height. Thalli became reproductively mature at a small size (1-2 cm in height) and all the plants were monoecious. Scinaia latifrons at the study location underwent allometric growth, indicated by the lack of correlation between size, width of the plants, or branching patterns.