In this paper, the least-squares solutions to the matrix equations $AX_{1}+X_{2}A^{\ast}+BY_{1}C+C^{\ast}Y_{2}B^{\ast}=E$ and $A^{\ast}X+X^{\ast}A+B^{\ast}YC+C^{\ast}Y^{\ast}B=D$ are discussed. By using the singular value decompositions and the canonical correlation decompositions (CCDs) of some matrices, the explicit expressions of the least-squares solutions to the above matrix equations are provided.

Backgrounds and Aims: Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (LVEF) serves as an important prognostic tool for the management of patients with heart failure.. Mitral annular plane systolic excursion(MAPSE) can be used for the calculation of LVEF as an easy, reproducible and cost-effective method. Method: This was a hospital-based observational study. Patients, above 18, from OPD and wards in Bir Hospital and Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre referred for echocardiographic assessment, who were found to have systolic dysfunction (LVEF < 50%), were enrolled in the study. Patients with primary valvular disease, congenital heart disease, any form of arrhythmia, acute coronary syndrome, hemodynamic instability and history of recent (≤6weeks ) cardioversion were excluded from the study. Mean of lateral and medial MAPSE values and LVEF derived from biplane apical (2- and 4-chamber) views using the modified Simpson’ s rule algorithm were taken. Results: 155 patients were enrolled in the study, out of which, 81 were males and 74 were females. Gender-wise regression analysis between LVEF-Simpson and MAPSE-Mean showed a strong positive correlation (R 2 = 0.614) for males and a fair positive correlation ( R 2 = 0.310) for females. In both, the regression model was significant (p < 0.05). From the Regression analysis, the gender-specific formulae for predicted LVEF from MAPSE for our population were calculated as:

Microbial communities in guts flexibly adjust to changes in host dietary intakes, but the relationship between diet and gut microbiome is still poorly studied in wild animals. DNA metabarcoding approaches are frequently used to characterise diets or gut microbiomes of diverse species. However, to date, no study has combined these approaches to investigate diet-gut microbiome associations in wild mammals with diverse and fluctuating dietary intakes, such as omnivores. Here, we do this for two African mammals, Civettictis civetta and Genetta spp., from the family Viverridae. We characterised bacterial communities and identified taxonomic groups within diet by sequencing vertebrate, invertebrate and plant markers on faecal samples. This led us to establish diet compositions that diverged from what has previously been found using visual identification methods for these species. Specifically, while the two genera have been categorised into the same dietary guild, we detected more animal-based diets in C. Civetta, and higher proportions of plants consumed by Genetta spp. Diet similarity correlated with gut microbiome similarity in Genetta spp., indicating that plant consumption may be an important driver of gut microbiome structure. The novel insights we provide into the omnivorous diet of C. civetta and Genetta spp. highlight the importance of detailed identification of the dietary guild of species, not only for ecology and conservation, but also when researching how diet shapes the gut microbiome.

Industrial production of paenibacillin, and similar rare antimicrobial peptides, is hampered by low productivity of the producing microorganisms and lack of efficient methods to recover these peptides from bioreactor end products. Preliminary data showed that paenibacillin was preferentially partitioned in foam accumulated during growth of the producer, Paenibacillus polymyxa, in aerated liquid media. This research was initiated to improve the production and recovery of paenibacillin in bioreactors by maximizing partitioning of the antimicrobial in the collected foam. This was completed through harvesting foam continuously during antimicrobial production, using modified bioreactor, and optimizing bioreactor conditions through response surface methodology (RSM). Experiments proved that the significant parameters and their optimal conditions for antimicrobial concentration in the foam were: incubation at 30°C for 23h with airflow of 0.95 LPM, and agitation speed of 450 RPM. These conditions increased paenibacillin concentration, predicted by RSM, from 16 µg/ml in bioreaction without foam collection to 743 µg/ml collected in foamate. The optimized conditions also almost doubled the yield of paenibacillin collected in foam (12,674 µg) when compared to that obtained without foam collection (6,400 µg). Results of this study could improve the feasibility of commercial production and downstream processing of paenibacillin and similar novel antimicrobial peptides.

A novel porous AC/Ni(OH)2 composite was prepared by a two-step hydrothermal method, which was used as an electrode for a supercapacitor for the first time with a specific capacitance of 1653.5 F/g at 1 A/g and a cycling stability of 90.2% after 3000 cycles. Moreover, there is a asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) assembled by using AC/Ni(OH)2 and active carbon. On the condition of having a power density of 801.5 W kg-1 with the voltage window of 1.6 V, the ASC produces a high energy density of 38.58 W h kg-1, maintaining an outstanding cycling stability capacitance retention of 88.5% after 3000 cycles at current density of 8 A g-1. Therefore, AC/Ni(OH)2 electrode material helps to improve the performance of ASC devices and can be used as a potential electrode material for the development of energy storage devices in the future.

Rationale, aims, and objectives: An effective screening tool for substance use disorders is most needed for patient care and referral. The study aims to develop the Substance Use Disorder Screening Test (SUDST) to classify the severity of substance use disorders based on the Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Methods: Eleven items of the SUDST, developed based on the DSM-5 criteria for substance use disorders, were tested on 207 participants who were receiving treatment for methamphetamine use at the Thanyarak hospitals in four regions of Thailand from August 2017–December 2018. Participants were interviewed with the SUDST, the screening test of the Ministry of Public Health Version 2 (V.2), the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Inventory (M.I.N.I) and were clinically diagnosed by attending psychiatrists. Internal consistency was analysed using Cronbach’s alpha. Content validity, concurrent validity, and construct validity were tested. Results: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.79. The SUDST was highly significantly associated with the M.I.N.I., V.2, and the clinical diagnosis (p < 0.001). Factor analysis showed three components of the instrument: 1) preoccupation and loss of control 2) risky/harmful use and 3) impact to bio-psychosocial aspects. Of the total score of 11, the cut-off point to identify severe risk was ≥7, moderate risk was 5-6, and mild level of risk was 3-4 with sensitivity = 72.7% to 96.5% and specificity = 61.9% to 88.7%. Conclusions: The Thai SUDST has been tested for content, concurrent, and construct validity and had high reliability that could be used for screening risk of substance use based on DSM-5 diagnosis for substance use disorders.

Remdesivir has appeared to be the most effective medication against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and is broadly administered to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients around the world. Remdesivir is an RNA polymerase inhibitor with a broad spectrum of antiviral activities against RNA viruses in in-vitro and in-vivo models of SARS-CoV, the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and SARS-CoV-2. Remdesivir is the first Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved anti-SARS-CoV-2 treatment for adult and pediatric patients and has been used intravenously for patients requiring hospitalization for COVID-19. However, questions have been raised about the value of remdesivir in treating COVID-19, and governing bodies worldwide have been hesitant to approve this medication. Nevertheless, in the context of the public health emergency and the urgent need for effective treatments for patients with COVID-19, remdesivir has been approved by several authorities worldwide. Here, we discuss characteristics and applications of remdesivir, and various challenging studies with different outcomes about its efficacy are also reviewed.

Lysine-ε-acetylation (Kac) is a reversible post-translational modification that plays important roles during plant-pathogen interactions. Some pathogens can deliver secreted effectors that encode acetyltransferase or deacetylases into host cell directly modify acetylation of host proteins. However, how Kac dynamically affects defense response remains unclear. We describe a highly dynamic Kac catalog from pathogen colonization to symptom visible in maize. Mass spectrometry-based approach was performed to quantify the protein abundance and levels of Kac proteins in southern-corn rust (SCR)-resistant and susceptible maize infected with Puccinia polysora for 0h, 12h, 24h, 48h and 72h. Proteome-wide analysis identified 7412 Kac site from 4697 proteins, in which 1732 Kac sites in 1006 proteins were quantified. Among them 1680 and 7128 Kac sites were novelly found in quantified and identified dataset, respectively. The Kac motif -Y/W/F-X-X-Kac-Y/P/T/S/N- was specifically found in this study. The proteins involved in signaling transduction, defense response, cell wall fortification, ROS scavenging, redox reaction and proteostasis were differentially acetylated, and some of them Kac levels presented converse pattern in SCR-resistant and susceptible maize. Our acetylproteomics not only greatly extending our knowledge of in vivo acetylation during plant-pathogen interactions but also firstly providing a comprehensively dynamic Kac catalog for plant immune response.

Objective: To derive and test the implications of a sex-specific fetal growth standard. Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective observational cohort. Setting: Eight U.S. centers. Population or Sample: Nulliparas followed longitudinally through pregnancy. A lower-risk subgroup (exclusions: chronic hypertension, pre-gestational diabetes, suspected aneuploidy, preterm delivery) was selected for fetal growth equation derivation. Methods: Fetal weights at 14-20 weeks, 22-29 weeks, and birth were used to derive a sex-specific fetal growth equation. We compared rates of SGA and LGA by sex using the sex-specific and sex-neutral (Hadlock) standards. Using the full unselected cohort, we assessed outcomes and clinical management according to SGA and LGA status. Main outcome measures: Proportion considered SGA and LGA; obstetric interventions relevant to SGA and LGA. Results: We derived a sex-specific equation using 7,280 infants. The sex-neutral standard diagnosed SGA more often in female and LGA more often in male newborns. The sex-specific standard resolved these disparities. Using the full unselected cohort (N=8,339), newborns reclassified from SGA to AGA by the sex-specific standard were more likely to be delivered for growth restriction with comparable risk of morbidity compared to newborns considered AGA by both methods. Newborns reclassified from AGA to LGA by the sex-specific standard had higher rates of cesarean for arrest of descent, cesarean for arrest of dilation, and shoulder dystocia than newborns considered AGA by both methods. Conclusions: The sex-neutral standard generates sex disparities in SGA and LGA at birth. A sex-specific standard resolves these disparities and may improve growth pathology risk stratification.

Malaria is a possibly dangerous infection brought about by a parasite. This infection is more normal in nations with heat and humidities. Because of chromosomal changes, the elements of malaria parasites are very mind-boggling to study up just as for any predictions. A reaction-diffusion model to characterize the elements inside have Malaria contamination with versatile safe reactions is concentrated in this paper. The aim of the paper is to develop and analyze a spectrally accurate pseudospectral method in time and space to find the approximate solution of the reaction-diffusion model. The approximate solution is represented in terms of basis functions. The spectral coefficients are found in such a way that the residual becomes minimum. Error estimates for interpolating polynomials are derived. The computational experiments are carried out to corroborate the theoretical results and to compare the present method with existing methods in the literature. The registered mathematical outcomes are in great concurrence with those generally accessible in the writing. Simple to apply and accomplish exact arrangement in less time is the solid place of the current strategy.

This work aimed to address the two shortcomings of printed and handwritten texts (PHT) classification. The classification accuracy of FCN and U-net, which are used for PHT pixel-level classification, still has room to improve. PHT public datasets have small sample sizes, and the generalization ability of the models are not good. In this paper, first, a pixel-level sample making method for PHT identification was proposed, and a PHT dataset 2021 (PHTD 2021), containing 3,000 samples, was constructed. Second, because there is a large number of words but the contours are small in documents, the DeeplabV3+ model was improved. The network layer number and pooling times were reduced, and the convolution kernel and dilated rate were increased. In the experiment, the improved DeeplabV3+ model had a classification accuracy of 95.06% on the test samples from PHTD 2021 data set. The improved DeeplabV3+ model has a higher recognition accuracy than the FCN and DeeplabV3+ models. Finally, after the classification of PHT, applications of handwritten texts removal and handwritten texts extraction are provided.

Fourth order problems with the differential equation $y^{(4)}-(gy’)’=\lambda^2y$, where $g\in C^1[0,a]$ and $a>0$, occur in engineering on stability of elastic rods. They occur as well in aeronautics to describe the stability of a flexible missile. Fourth order Birkhoff regular problems with the differential equation $y^{(4)}-(gy’)’=\lambda^2y$ and eigenvalue dependent boundary conditions are considered. These problems have quadratic operator representations with non self-adjoint operators. The first four terms of the asymptotics of the eigenvalues of the problems as well as those of the eigenvalues of the problem describing the stability of a flexible missile are evaluated explicitly.

Background: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are associated with an increased risk of implanting implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Therefore, our study aimed to predict the risk factors for implantable cardioverter defibrillator in patients with premature ventricular contractions. Methods: A total of 309 patients (male 57%, mean age 66.73±16.12) in Olmstate Countywho had premature ventricular contractions and received a 24-hour electrocardiography monitoring were included between January 1994 and September 2010 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. All these patients were continuously followed o Jun 2015. Student’s t-test, Chi-square, univariate and multivariate Logistic regression models were used to estimate the relationship between the risk factors and the incidence of implanting implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in PVCs patients. Kaplan–Meier curve of survival in PVCs patients with ICD or free-ICD. Results: The average follow-up time was 9.3±3.9 years, in which 43 (13.9%) patients died and 24 (7.8%) patients had received ICD therapy. Sex, age, pulse pressure, early repolarization syndrome (ERS), heart rate, PVC coupling interval, QRS duration, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVEDD) and left ventricular end-systolic dimension (LVESD), diabetes were significantly associated with the mortality and the incidence of implanting ICD. Using a multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for potential confounders, showed that LVEF (OR=0.916, 95% CI:0.881 to 0.953, p<0.001) and pulse pressure (OR=1.032, 95% CI:1.001-1.064, p=0.045) were independent factors for ICD implant in PVCs patients. Moreover, implantation of ICD may not reduce mortality in patients with ventricular premature. Conclusions: Increased pulse pressure was associated a higher incidence of ICD in PVCs patients, among many electrocardiographic and clinical variables studied. We also showed that PVs patients with ICD were at high risk of death, and the great pulse pressure was linked with higher morality in PVCs patients.

Investigating the genetic footprints of historical temperature selection can get insights to local adaptation and potential influences of climate change on long-term population dynamics. Chicken is a significative species to study genetic adaptation on account of its similar domestication track related to human activity with the most diversified varieties. Yet, few studies have demonstrated the genetic signatures of its adaptation to naturally tropical and frigid environments. Here, we generated whole genome resequencing of 119 domesticated chickens in China including the following breeds which are in order of breeding environmental temperature from more tropical to more frigid: Wenchang chicken (WCC), green-shell chicken (GSC), Tibetan chicken (TBC), and Lindian chicken (LDC). Our results showed WCC branched off earlier than LDC with an evident genetic admixture between WCC and LDC, suggesting their closer genetic relationship. Further comparative genomic analyses SLC33A1 and TSHR genes exhibited stronger signatures for positive selection in the genome of the more tropical WCC. Furthermore, genotype data from about 3,000 African local ecotypes confirmed that allele frequencies of SNPs in these two genes appeared strongly associated with tropical environment adaptation. In addition, the NDUFS4 gene exhibited a strong signature for positive selection in the LDC genome, and SNPs with marked allele frequency differences indicated a significant relationship with frigid environment adaptation. Our findings partially unravel how selection footprints from environmental temperature stress can lead to advantageous genomic adaptions to tropical and frigid environments in poultry and provides a valuable resource for selective breeding of chickens and other domestic animals.

Abstract Background and Purpose: Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation contributes to major depressive disorder (MDD). Targeting microglia is a promising strategy for treating MDD. Patchouli alcohol (PA), a active component of Pogostemon cablin, has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Here, we investigate the microglia-mediated neurogenesis pathway in which PA ameliorates depressive-like behaviors in stress-induced animal model of depression. Experimental Approach: C57BL/6 male mice were exposed to chronic mild stress (CMS) for 4 weeks, then administered PA intraperitoneally at 10, 20 or 40 mg/kg once per day for 3 weeks. The antidepressant effects of PA were evaluated in the sucrose preference test, forced swimming test, and tail suspension test. Microglial phenotypes and activation of the NLRP3 inflammation were analyzed using RT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Effects of PA on neurogenesis were analyzed in vitro and in vivo using immunofluorescence staining. Key Results: Behavioral assessments showed that PA alleviated depressive-like behaviors in CMS-exposed mice. CMS induced microglial activation and pro-inflammatory profiles, which were blocked by PA treatment. PA attenuated the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, leading to decreases in the levels of caspase-1, ASC, IL-1β, and IL-18 in the hippocampus of CMS-exposed mice. In primary microglia cultures, PA inhibited LPS-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. PA rescued inflammation-inhibited neurogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion and implications: Our results suggest that PA inhibits the NLRP3 inflammasome and promotes microglia-mediated neurogenesis, leading to antidepressant effects. Thus, PA may be a novel treatment for inflammation-driven mental disorders.

Purpose: We aimed to assess atrial conduction time and P wave dispersion in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) patients. Methods: 30 patients with GDM and 30 healthy pregnant women were included to the study. Atrial conduction time times (PA) were calculated by the time interval from the onset of the P wave on the electrocardiography (ECG) to the onset of the late diastolic flow (Am wave) on echocardiography; from the lateral mitral annulus (PA lateral), septal mitral annulus (PA septum), and right ventricular tricuspid annulus (PA tricuspid). Results: Mean PWD were higher in GDM (52.7±5.1 ms vs. 28.9±4.2 ms, p<0.001). PA lateral, PA septal and PA tricuspid were significantly higher in the GDM patients compared to the control group (65.7±4.2ms vs. 47.7±4.7 ms, p<0.001; 56.1±3.4 ms vs. 40.8±3.7 ms, p<0.001 and 48.4±3.9 ms vs. 36.0±3.6 ms, p<0.001 respectively). Conclusion: We suggest that patients with GDM has higher PWD and higher atrial conduction and EMD times compared to otherwise healthy pregnant control group.

Option pricing plays an important role in modern finance. This paper investigates the uncertain option pricing problems based on uncertainty theory for Liu's uncertain stock model and Peng's mean-reverting stock model which are two basic and representative uncertain stock models in uncertain finance. The pricing formulas of the European and American options are derived by applying the method to calculate the optimistic value of uncertain returns of options instead of the usual method of expected value in the sense of the weighted average. In the end, some numerical experiments are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the obtained results.

The movement and detachment of tiny oil droplets in water on the substrate is the key technology to strengthen oil-water separation by using corrugated plate oil-water separation technology. Here, the detachment behaviors of oil droplets adhered on substrates with different wettability in laminar flow field is studied experimentally and theoretically. The morphologic changes of mother and daughter oil droplets are obtained when the adhered oil droplets are continuously separated. The shedding mechanism of oil droplets is deeply analyzed, and the critical condition for the effective detachment of the oil droplet is obtained, which can be used to guide the design of the surface wettability and water flow velocity in the actual production.

Background: Methotrexate is the mainstay of the consolidation and maintenance phase of chemotherapy protocol for childhood ALL. The objective of this study was to investigate the changes of the metabolism pathways associated with MTX treatment among the patients. Methods: Two serum samples (pre- and post-) were collected from each of the 38 children with ALL: (i) once the diagnosis was confirmed (pre-MTX) and (ii) after the first high dose of MTX (post-MTX). The samples were analysed using HPLC/MS-QTOF. Data acquisition was performed using Agilent MassHunterTMB.05.00 software for metabolomics analysis. Differential expressions of metabolites were analyzed using univariate Welch’s t-test unequal variance. Compounds were identified using METLIN Database. Pathways and networks analyses were performed using Metaboanalyst. The data set was analysed using Receiving Operator Characteristic (ROC) curve. The identities of compounds that were found to be significant in statistical analysis were reconfirmed by HPLC/ MSMS- QTOF. Results: Metabolites with AUC between 0.7 and 0.9 were xanthine (0.889), oxoglutaric acid (0.770) and alpha-linolenic acid (0.741). The lower expression of xanthine was correlated with a good response to MTX in children with ALL; corresponding to a test sensitivity and specificity of 0.77 and 0.87, respectively. Interestingly, this metabolite had the highest AUC value of 0.889 (95% CI; 0.84 – 0.92) and purine metabolism was the most significant pathway altered in the patients treated with xanthine (p-value of 1.26E-35). Conclusion: Xanthine was inversely correlated with the patients’ responses to MTX in childhood ALL. However, the clinical validity of xanthine requires further analysis.

Background: The Florida Association of Pediatric Tumor Programs (FAPTP) has used the Statewide Patient Information Reporting System (SPIRS) since 1980 to track all cases of pediatric cancer. We reviewed the last 40 years of SPIRS data to see how pediatric cancer care has evolved. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the SPIRS data from 1980 through 2020 in 5-year increments, looking at numbers of new diagnoses, care delivery sites and trial enrollment in Children’s Oncology Group (COG) studies. Results: From 1981-2020 Florida’s population increased almost 88% while the pediatric population only grew 61%. New pediatric cancer diagnoses increased 326% to over 1,000 new cases/year with the median age increasing from 6 to 9. The percentage of patients treated at FAPTP centers grew from 30% to 57% with an annual percentage change (APC) of 10.3% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] of 0.6 to 20.9%) and those with known follow-up rose from 65% to 94%, an APC of 4.5% (95% CI of 3 to 6%). The rate of COG clinical trial enrollment decreased from 32% in 1981-1985 to 20% from 2016-2020, for an APC of 8.91% (95% CI of -13.3 to -4.3%). Conclusions: The striking increase in pediatric cancer cases in Florida over the last 40 years was out of proportion to the population growth. More patients received care at FAPTP centers but a lower percentage were enrolled on COG clinical trials. Improved access to care has not translated into a higher rates of trial enrollment, a deficit which merits further investigation and initiatives.

Objective: To compare pregnancy outcomes based on mode of delivery in women with homozygous sickle cell disease (HbSS) to women without (HbAA). Design and setting: Retrospective observational study was performed using delivery records of 48,600 parturients between January 1992 and January 2020 at a Jamaican hospital. Methods: We identified 250 women with HbSS and 252 age-matched with AA phenotype. Stratification based on mode of delivery revealed: 150 vaginal and 105 caesarean deliveries (HbSS), 185 vaginal and 67 caesarean deliveries (HbAA). Fisher’s exact tests and Mann-Whitney test were used to analyze variables based on sickle cell status. Unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios were calculated based on mode of delivery. Main outcome measures: Maternal and perinatal morbidity in women with HbSS and HbAA genotypes exposed to vaginal or caesarean section delivery. Results: Vaginal delivery and HbSS were more associated with labour induction/augmentation (AOR= 2.4, (0.7–7.8)), intrapartum complications (AOR= 2.6, (0.5–14), postpartum hemorrhage (AOR= 2.8 (0.5–15.2)), and postpartum infections (AOR= 9.6 (1.7–54.4)). Caesarean delivery resulted in more postpartum infections in the HbSS group (AOR = 23.6 (0.9 – 638.4)). There were no differences in rates of neonatal deaths (n (%); 3 (4) vs. 0(0), p=0.250); or stillbirths between the groups. Conclusion: Vaginal delivery in HbSS resulted in more intrapartum complications, postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive disorders, and postpartum infections. Cesarean delivery in HbSS increases the risk of postpartum infections and hypertensive disorders. There was no increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes regardless of mode of delivery.

The isolated anterior mitral leaflet cleft (AMLC) is a very rare anomaly. Echocardiographic imaging is the mainstay diagnostic tool. The isolated AMLC is a surgically correctable anomaly. Valve repair should be preferred over valve replacement in suitable patients.

Early-onset Marfan syndrome (eoMFS) is a rare subset of Marfan syndrome with varying phenotypic expression that occurs in the neonatal and infantile periods. eoMFS has a poor prognosis associated with high rates of mortality. Most newborn eoMFS patients present early onset heart failure that is resistant to treatment. This study presents a case of eoMFS.

Abstract: Background: There is significant concern that total automation can decrease the need for laboratory personnel at all levels. The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of total laboratory automation on the clinical laboratory workforce. Methods: A one-year data including demographical features of laboratory workforce and technical productivity of laboratory tests was provided by two medical laboratory departments of similar profile and different equipment setup, one adopting a total automation system and the other is utilizing discrete analysis system. The technical productivity of the two laboratories was compared and statistically tested. Results: A similar technical productivity per single laboratory worker was noted in the hematology section in each of the two sites with no significant difference (average odd radio = 0.9, p = 0.79). However, with total automation, the number of tests performed per single worker has increased to an average of 1.4 and 3.68 times at the total automated site in the clinical chemistry and serology sections respectively (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: TLA improves the productivity of the laboratory, leading to a decreased laboratory workforce. The laboratory workload has increased steadily therefore, the existing laboratory workforce, in the absence of automation, could not have been able to maintain current standards of service. Adoption of automation reduces repetitive manual labor, thereby allowing redefinition of the job roles of the laboratory workforce. TLA is ideal for laboratories that suffer from workforce shortages or managing high volume testing with less staff.