Generalized Perturbation Theory Based Total Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis for High-Fidelity Neutronics Calculation

Neutronics calculation for nuclear reactor with high-fidelity technology can significantly reduce the uncertainties propagated from numerical approximation error and model error. However, the uncertainty of input parameters inevitably exists, especially for nuclear data. On the other hand, resonance self-shielding calculation is essential for multi-group assumption based high-fidelity neutronics calculation, which introduce the implicit effect for calculation responses. In order to fully consider the implicit effects in the process of uncertainty quantification, a generalized perturbation theory (GPT) based implicit sensitivity calculation method is proposed in this paper. Combining the explicit sensitivity coefficient, which can be quantified using classic perturbation theory, the total sensitivity coefficient of calculation responses is obtained. Then the total sensitivity and uncertainty module is established in self-developed neutron transport code with high-fidelity technology-HNET. To verify the accuracy of the sensitivity calculation methods proposed in this paper, a two-dimensional fuel pin problem is chosen to verify the sensitivity results, and the numerical results show good agreement with results calculated by a direct perturbation method. Finally, uncertainty analysis for two-dimensional fuel pin problem is performed and some general conclusions are obtained from the numerical results.

Comparison of fourteen Rapid Point-of-Care Antigen Tests for SARS-CoV-2: Use & Sensitivity

Fast sensitive techniques are advisable for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Various rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen detection tests have been developed, but type and quality of the sample, stage of the disease and viral load can all have an impact on their sensitivity. For this study, a total of 486 swabs were processed and checked with various commercially available tests, and then compared with q(RT)-PCR (the gold-standard method). Total sensitivity varied considerably, for example, 42.10% (nal von minden and Tody Laboratories), 68.42% (Cahnos) and 84.78% (PCL). Sensitivity reached 100% when cycle threshold (Ct) was lower than 22 in almost all tests, although this dropped considerably when Ct was higher above 30, where only three tests identified 40% or more positive samples and in 5 cases it was 0%. What is more, only two cases were 100% accurate when viral load was higher than 5 log/103 cells and accuracy was 0% in 12 cases where viral load was lower than 4 log/103 cells. These results, particularly taking into consideration the fact they used normalized viral load, suggest that antigen detection tests have their role in the fast triage of positive patients, but that considerable care should be taken with negative results, which is even more important if they are used for massive screening.

Analysis of Patients Undergoing Prostate Biopsy Procedure In Outpatient Care

Currently in the concept of de-hospitalization and consequently an increase in invasive procedures performed in the extra-hospital environment. This work aims to identify the signs and symptoms of an adverse event related to prostate biopsy. This is a cohort and retrospective research through the registration of patient care in electronic medical records after the exam. In the period from 2016 to 2018, 3,570 exams were performed, with 491 patients presenting the criteria for the classification of infection related to the procedure that strictly obeys the criteria established by the Centers Diseases Control (CDC). The inclusion criteria for patients were those who, within 15 days after performing the prostate biopsy, had emergency care due to the presence of signs and symptoms. The exams analyzed were urine culture and blood culture collected at the time of emergency care. The results were that of the 491 patients evaluated, 38 (9%) patients required hospitalization, the average age of the hospitalized patients was 71.5 years and all had at least one associated comorbidity on positive cultures, 13 for E. coli with total sensitivity to aminoglycosides and carbapenems and partial sensitivity to fluoroquinolones, 1 Protein spp sensitive to aminoglycosides and carbapenems and 1 Salmonella spp sensitive to fluoroquinolones and carbapenems. Thus, it is noted the importance of the infection control nurse's activity in the diagnostic medicine units for the elaboration of protocols adapted to the outpatient reality.

A Gated Oscillator Clock and Data Recovery Circuit for Nanowatt Wake-Up and Data Receivers

This article presents a data-startable baseband logic featuring a gated oscillator clock and data recovery (GO-CDR) circuit for nanowatt wake-up and data receivers (WuRxs). At each data transition, the phase misalignment between the data coming from the analog front-end (AFE) and the clock is cleared by the GO-CDR circuit, thus allowing the reception of long data streams. Any free-running frequency mismatch between the GO and the bitrate does not limit the number of receivable bits, but only the maximum number of equal consecutive bits (Nm). To overcome this limitation, the proposed system includes a frequency calibration circuit, which reduces the frequency mismatch to ±0.5%, thus enabling the WuRx to be used with different encoding techniques up to Nm = 100. A full WuRx prototype, including an always-on clockless AFE operating in subthreshold, was fabricated with STMicroelectronics 90 nm BCD technology. The WuRx is supplied with 0.6 V, and the power consumption, excluding the calibration circuit, is 12.8 nW during the rest state and 17 nW at a 1 kbps data rate. With a 1 kbps On-Off Keying (OOK) modulated input and −35 dBm of input RF power after the input matching network (IMN), a 10−3 missed detection rate with a 0 bit error tolerance is measured, transmitting 63 bit packets with the Nm ranging from 1 to 63. The total sensitivity, including the estimated IMN gain at 100 MHz and 433 MHz, is −59.8 dBm and −52.3 dBm, respectively. In comparison with an ideal CDR, the degradation of the sensitivity due to the GO-CDR is 1.25 dBm. False alarm rate measurements lasting 24 h revealed zero overall false wake-ups.

From Probabilistic to Quantile-Oriented Sensitivity Analysis: New Indices of Design Quantiles

In structural reliability analysis, sensitivity analysis (SA) can be used to measure how an input variable influences the failure probability Pf of a structure. Although the reliability is usually expressed via Pf, Eurocode building design standards assess the reliability using design quantiles of resistance and load. The presented case study showed that quantile-oriented SA can provide the same sensitivity ranking as Pf-oriented SA or local SA based on Pf derivatives. The first two SAs are global, so the input variables are ranked based on total sensitivity indices subordinated to contrasts. The presented studies were performed for Pf ranging from 9.35 × 10−8 to 1–1.51 × 10−8. The use of quantile-oriented global SA can be significant in engineering tasks, especially for very small Pf. The proposed concept provided an opportunity to go much further. Left-right symmetry of contrast functions and sensitivity indices were observed. The article presents a new view of contrasts associated with quantiles as the distance between the average value of the population before and after the quantile. This distance has symmetric hyperbola asymptotes for small and large quantiles of any probability distribution. Following this idea, new quantile-oriented sensitivity indices based on measuring the distance between a quantile and the average value of the model output are formulated in this article.

High-sensitivity tunneling magneto-resistive micro-gyroscope with immunity to external magnetic interference

Micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes have numerous potential applications including guidance, robotics, tactical-grade navigation, and automotive applications fields. The methods with ability of the weak Coriolis force detection are critical for MEMS gyroscopes. In this paper, we presented a design of MEMS gyroscope based on the tunneling magneto-resistance effect with higher detection sensitivity. Of all these designed parameters, the structural, magnetic field, and magneto-resistance sensitivity values reach to 21.6 nm/°/s, 0.0023 Oe/nm, and 29.5 mV/Oe, thus, with total sensitivity of 1.47 mV/°/s. Multi-bridge circuit method is employed to suppress external magnetic interference and avoid the integration error of the TMR devices effectively. The proposed tunneling magneto-resistive micro-gyroscope shows a possibility to make an inertial grade MEMS gyroscope in the future.

Evaluation of Discrimination Performance in Case for Multiple Non-Discriminated Samples: Classification of Honeys by Fluorescent Fingerprinting

In this study we develop a variant of fluorescent sensor array technique based on addition of fluorophores to samples. A correct choice of fluorophores is critical for the successful application of the technique, which calls for the necessity of comparing different discrimination protocols. We used 36 honey samples from different sources to which various fluorophores were added (tris-(2,2′-bipyridyl) dichlororuthenium(II) (Ru(bpy)32+), zinc(II) 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonate (8-Ox-Zn), and thiazole orange in the presence of two types of deoxyribonucleic acid). The fluorescence spectra were obtained within 400–600 nm and treated by principal component analysis (PCA). No fluorophore allowed for the discrimination of all samples. To evaluate the discrimination performance of fluorophores, we introduced crossing number (CrN) calculated as the number of mutual intersections of confidence ellipses in the PCA scores plots, and relative position (RP) characterized by the pairwise mutual location of group centers and their most distant points. CrN and RP parameters correlated with each other, with total sensitivity (TS) calculated by Mahalanobis distances, and with the overall rating based on all metrics, with coefficients of correlation over 0.7. Most of the considered parameters gave the first place in the discrimination performance to Ru(bpy)32+ fluorophore.

Sperm Antioxidant Biomarkers and Their Correlation with Clinical Condition and Lifestyle with Regard to Male Reproductive Potential

Measurement of sperm oxidative-antioxidant indicators is widely used in the assessment and detection of biochemical causes of male infertility. The main purpose of this study was to identify biomarkers that assist in diagnostics and monitoring of male reproductive potential. We performed the assessment of oxidative-antioxidant malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and total redox antioxidant potential (TRAP) indicators in seminal plasma, seminogram, clinical condition, and lifestyle of people with reproductive problems. The combined assessment of GSH and TRAP as potential biomarkers of male infertility in semen plasma was characterized by the highest total sensitivity and specificity. Furthermore, we provide evidence that male reproductive potential is significantly correlated with basic sperm parameters, sperm cell membrane integrity, their morphology, lifestyle, eating habits, occupation, and mental health. Our results provide evidence on the importance of oxidative stress and defense against free radicals in diagnosing and monitoring men with infertility that are consistent with previously conducted research. We provide an alternative approach on the possibility of interpreting the combination of the biomarkers that can bring benefits to a multi-threaded approach to the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.

Design and Implementation of a Test Fixture for ELF Schumann Resonance Magnetic Antenna Receiver and Magnetic Permeability Measurements

This paper presents a prototype test fixture for the absolute calibration and estimation of the equivalent magnetic flux noise of the extremely low frequency (ELF) Schumann resonant (SR) magnetic antenna receiver and rods’ magnetic permeability measurement. The test fixture, for ELF the SR detector’s calibration, consists of a constructed coil, the signal generator, and the oscilloscope. The ELF SR detector used has been operating since 2016 near the Doliana village in the Ioannina prefecture, Northwestern Greece. At precisely this spot, far away from electromagnetic noise, the whole setup and experiment took place. The experiments performed with the proposed test fixture showed a sensitivity of 70 nV/pT/Hz and an apparent magnetic permeability at around 250 for the magnetic antenna. The total sensitivity of the ELF receiver was 210 mV/pT near 20 Hz, while the total input noise was around 0.04 pT.

Ultrasonic diagnosis of soft tissue sarcomas using functional vascular test

The purpose of the research is to find additional diagnostic tools that allow you to specify the nature of soft tissue lesions, differentiate between benign and malignant processes this localization.Materials and methods. Using multiparametric echography surveyed 514 patients with malignant (243 or 55.7%) and benign (193 or 44.3%) tumor, as well as non-tumor (78 or 15.2%) diseases. In all cases, used while rendering, color Doppler mapping, power Doppler blood flow spectral characteristics of the studied zone changes. In 87 (16.9%) observations applied functional vascular test.The results. Calculation of indicators diagnostic informative at diagnostics of sarcomas in relation to complex high without the use of vascular test and when you post data showed an increase in using it specificity and diagnostic accuracy stability in the total sensitivity of the entire complex. Sensitivity respectively amounted to 92.7% and 92.7%, specificity – 87.1% and 98.9%, accuracy-84.8% and 91.1% (inclusion in consideration of inflammatory processes led to the authenticity of the results obtained).Conclusion. Vascular test improves diagnostic high informativeness of the complex, but it can be usefully applied to exclude non-tumorous changes and accounting possible differences in differentiation of different constituent parts neoplasm.