Fast, Reliable, and Simple Point-of-Care-like Adaptation of RT-qPCR for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 for Use in Hospital Emergency Departments

During COVID-19 pandemics, the availability of testing has often been a limiting factor during patient admissions into the hospital. To circumvent this problem, we adapted an existing diagnostic assay, Seegene Allplex SARS-CoV-2, into a point-of-care-style direct qPCR (POC dqPCR) assay and implemented it in the Emergency Department of Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, Croatia. In a 4-month analysis, we tested over 10,000 patients and demonstrated that POC-dqPCR is robust and reliable and can be successfully implemented in emergency departments and similar near-patient settings and can be performed by medical personnel with little prior experience in qPCR.

Updates to LUCI: A New Fitting Paradigm Using Mixture Density Networks

LUCI is an general-purpose spectral line-fitting pipeline which natively integrates machine learning algorithms to initialize fit functions. LUCI currently uses point-estimates obtained from a convolutional neural network (CNN) to inform optimization algorithms; this methodology has shown great promise by reducing computation time and reducing the chance of falling into a local minimum using convex optimization methods. In this update to LUCI, we expand upon the CNN developed in Rhea et al. so that it outputs Gaussian posterior distributions of the fit parameters of interest (the velocity and broadening) rather than simple point-estimates. Moreover, these posteriors are then used to inform the priors in a Bayesian inference scheme, either emcee or dynesty. The code is publicly available at crhea93:LUCI (https://github.com/crhea93/LUCI).

Comparison of under-actuated and fully-actuated serial robotic arms: a case study

Under-actuated robots are very interesting in terms of cost and weight since they can result in a state-controllable system with a number of actuators lower than the number of joints. In this paper, a comparison between an under-actuated planar 3 degrees of freedom (DOF) robot and a comparable fully-actuated 2 degrees of freedom robot is presented, mainly focusing on the performances in terms of trajectories, actuator torques, and vibrations. The under-actuated system is composed of 2 active rotational joints followed by a passive rotational joint equipped with a torsional spring. The fully-actuated robot is inertial equivalent to the under-actuated manipulator: the last link is equal to the sum of the last two links of the under-actuated system. Due to the conditions on the inertia distribution and spring placement, in a simple point-to-point movement the last passive joint starts and ends in a zero-value configuration, so the 3 DOF robot is equivalent, in terms of initial and final configuration, to the 2 DOF fully-actuated robot, thus they can be compared. Results show how while the fully actuated robot is better in terms of reliable trajectory and actuator torques, the under-actuated robot wins in flexibility and vibration behavior.

Experimental Validation of the Mean Pitch Theory

There are several types of exterior ballistic models used to calculate projectile’s flight trajectories. The most complex 6 degree of freedom rigid body model has many disadvantages to using it to create firing tables or rapid calculations in fire control systems. Some of ballistic phenomena can be simplified by empirical equations without significant loss of accuracy. This approach allowed to create standard NATO ballistic model for spin stabilized projectiles named Modified Point of Mass Model (PM Model). For fin (aerodynamically) stabilized projectiles like mortar projectiles simple Point of Mass Model is commonly used. The PM Model excludes many flight phenomena in calculations. In this paper authors show the mean pitch theory as an approximation of the natural fin stabilised projectile pitch during flight. The theory allows for simple improvement of accuracy of the trajectories calculation. In order to validate the theory data obtained from shooting of supersonic mortar projectiles were used. The comparison of accuracy between simple PM Model and PM Model including mean pitch theory were shown. Results were also compared with the angle of response theory.

Modeling Disorder in Pyrochlores and Other Anion-Deficient Fluorite Structural Derivative Oxides

Their very flexible chemistry gives oxide materials a richness in functionality and wide technological application. A specific group of oxides that have a structure related to fluorite but with less oxygen, termed anion-deficient fluorite structural derivatives and with pyrochlores being the most notable example, has been shown to exhibit a diversity of useful properties. For example, the possibility to undergo a transition from an ordered to disordered state allows these oxides to have high radiation tolerance. Atomistic-scale calculations in the form of molecular dynamics (MD) and density functional theory (DFT) have been extensively used to understand what drives this order/disorder transition. Here we give a brief overview of how atomistic-scale calculations are utilized in modeling disorder in pyrochlores and other anion-deficient fluorite structural derivatives. We discuss the modeling process from simple point defects to completely disordered structures, the dynamics during the disordering process, and the use of mathematical models to generate ordered solid-solution configurations. We also attempt to identify the challenges in modeling short range order and discuss future directions to more comprehensive models of the disordered structures.

THE LiCore POWER PLANT SIMULATOR OF THE MOLTEN SALT FAST REACTOR

Molten salt reactors as liquid-fuelled reactors are flexible in terms of operation or design choices, but they are very different in terms of design, operation and safety approach compared to solid-fuelled reactors. Such reactors call for a new definition of their operating procedures and safety approach. Dedicated developments and studies have been performed in the frame of the European SAMOFAR project of Horizon2020 and in parallel in France involving CNRS, CORYS and Framatome to develop a system code called LiCore adapted to such reactors, corresponding to a basic-principle power plant simulator. The neutronic model LiCore, at the centre of the simulator, corresponds to an improved point-kinetics model to take into account the specificities of a MSR, notably the circulation of the delayed neutron precursors out of the core. Coupled to a simple piston model for the fuel motion in the core, this code can perform calculations faster than real time to simulate the behaviour of the fuel circuit. Transient calculations performed with LiCore are presented, together with comparisons first to a simple point-kinetics model and then to 3D calculations with the TFM-OpenFOAM coupled code. Finally, the LiCore code has recently been integrated in the ALICES platform, the integrated simulation toolset designed by CORYS for the development, maintenance and operation of major simulator such as power plant simulators.

The computer-aided system of e-publication contests

The authors discuss Internet-based contests aimed to reveal high-grade (approved by experts) scientific publications and graduates’ qualifying papers. Such contests are to facilitate science and education. They are held on the federal level or regionally, within an individual discipline or university. Contest performance and objectivity depend significantly on expert board to assess the entries. The modern Inter-net technologies enable to submit digital versions of printed publication and to involve experts of geographically remote regions. This approach is introduced by Direct-Media Publishers that has been the organizer and co-founder of a number of contests of students’, post-graduates’ and scientists’ papers. In 2019, a specialized computer-aided system was designed based on the expert acquisition system operating efficiently at the RAS Library for Natural Sciences. In the expert acquisition system, publications’ information value is assessed by their abstracts with a simple point system. In the contest system, experts shall be submitted to full texts to be assessed in the more complicated way. The system has to be tuned individually to each contest. The system is described in full detail. It supports acquiring and maintaining databases of experts and entries, expertise functionality (study of entries and assessing process), results analysis with marks awarded. The experts database comprises brief information on experts while the entries database comprises publication metadata which enables to identify and classify them within the classification adopted for a contest. The system was tested within 2019 “Science Foundation” and «BeFirst» contests.