Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) enables rapid and sensitive diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), which facilitates treatment and mitigates transmission. Nucleic acid extraction from sputum constitutes the greatest technical challenge in TB NAAT for near-patient settings. This report presents preliminary data for a semi-automated sample processing method, wherein sputum is disinfected and l...

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Introduction: Automated weaning systems may improve adaptation of mechanical support for a patient’s ventilatory needs and facilitate systematic and early recognition of their ability to breathe spontaneously and the potential for discontinuation of ventilation. Our objective was to compare mechanical ventilator weaning duration for critically ill adults and children when managed with automated...

samples of participants’ writing were scored by two raters using toefl writing scoring rubric. the readability index of each text was calculated through the use of six readability formulae and graphs, i.e., flesch-kincaid index, reading ease index, fog index, smog formula, fry’s graph, and dale-chall readability index. the scores given to each essay were later compared to the obtained readabili...

nanocomposites based on vinyl ester resin (derakane 470-300) and nano clay (cloisite 30b) were prepared. the effect of clay content of 1, 3 and 5% (by weight) on the morphology, mechanical properties and water absorption of vinyl ester resin nanocomposites were studied. the nanocomposites were characterized  using  small-angle x-ray  scattering  (saxs),  feld  emission  scanning electron micros...

mixing conditions of nbr/pvc nanocomposites such as mixing temperature, rotor speed and mixing time are determining parameters in rheological, mechanical and morphological properties of the compound. three levels were chosen for each parameter using design expert software via box-behnken method. the nanocomposite samples were melt-mixed in brabender internal mixer. the effect of various mixing ...