Search Results (884)

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the fit accuracy between retainers fabricated using conventional cold-curing resin (hereinafter referred to as “conventional retainers”) and those fabricated using three-dimensional (3D) printing based on computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology (hereinafter referred to as “CAD/CAM retainers”). Furthermore, the study aimed to compare two different methods to evaluate the fit accuracy: the impression replica technique and the 3D triple-scan protocol. Methods: For each of the 20 working models derived from a maxillary typodont, one conventional retainer and one CAD/CAM retainer were fabricated. The fit accuracy was evaluated using the impression replica technique and the 3D triple-scan protocol. Measurements were taken at 12 points on each model, and the differences in thickness (gap) were analyzed using Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test. Moreover, the correlation between thickness and measurement site was evaluated using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results: In both evaluation methods, the CAD/CAM retainers exhibited superior fit accuracy compared to the conventional retainers. Notably, the 3D triple-scan protocol clearly demonstrated that the fit accuracy differed depending on the measurement site. Conclusions: CAD/CAM retainers demonstrated superior fit accuracy compared to conventional retainers, possibly because digital design can account for polymerization shrinkage. In the impression replica technique, the median (interquartile range) thickness for the conventional retainers was 0.169 (0.120–0.260) mm, whereas that for the CAD/CAM retainers was 0.136 (0.096–0.198) mm. The CAD/CAM retainers showed significantly smaller gap values (p < 0.001). Within the limitations of this in vitro study, CAD/CAM retainers showed significantly smaller gap values than conventional retainers, indicating improved fit accuracy. In particular, the 3D triple-scan protocol accurately captured site-specific variations in fit accuracy among the anterior, canine, and molar regions. Full article

Objectives: Evaluate the agreement and interobserver variability between manual segmentation and the ellipsoid formula in estimating single kidney volume (SKV) in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Methods: In this retrospective study, 130 unenhanced CT scans of ADPKD kidneys were analyzed. Three radiologists (one senior, two juniors) measured SKV using manual segmentation and the ellipsoid formula. Statistical analyses included intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Bland–Altman analysis, and paired t-tests to compare measurement values and computation times. Results: Both methods showed excellent interobserver agreement (ICC ≥ 0.977). No significant difference was observed in volume estimates between the two techniques (Wilcoxon p = 0.295). Bland–Altman analysis confirmed strong agreement between methods for the senior radiologist. The ellipsoid method was significantly faster for all readers (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The ellipsoid formula is a reliable, time-efficient alternative to manual segmentation for SKV estimation in ADPKD, offering comparable accuracy with reduced resource demands in clinical settings. Full article

The current transformation of global energy systems has been the subject of a multi-faceted scientific discourse for years. Researchers focus on technical and technological aspects, seeking new and improved alternatives to current solutions. They also analyse formal and legal frameworks of the changes and evaluate their economic aspects or environmental effects. The public’s attitude towards the changes in light of demanding environmental conditions is investigated the least. In particular, little heed is paid to the opinions of rural populations, especially in Poland. In light of the above, this paper aims to analyse the issue of Poland’s energy transition and the public’s perception of the challenges of environmental protection and the resulting need to improve energy solutions to promote the dissemination of renewable energy sources. The research area was Poland, and detailed research was conducted in five districts (Małopolska region), where the age of the respondents was taken as the differentiating feature. The study was based on a literature review and, at a detailed level, on a diagnostic survey among residents of Wadowicki, Miechowski, Krakowski, Limanowski, and Tarnowski Districts. The 2024 CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing) survey involved 300 randomly selected interviewees. The study employed a qualitative and quantitative approach, utilising statistical tools such as Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient analysis, the Kruskal–Wallis rank test, and the nonparametric Mann–Whitney U test. The statistical analysis was supported by IBM’s SPSS v.25. The results show that the majority of the population understand and agree with the need for an energy transition in Poland towards renewable energy. Indications of no opinion or in favour of non-renewable energy in the Polish energy system are distinct. This class of indications is determined by the interviewees’ age and suggests potential for improving public awareness of the matter in the group of mature respondents. Full article

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with long-term disturbances in stress regulation, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress and reduced psychological coping capacity. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between selected neurobiological biomarkers (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1—IGF-1; Caspase-9—CASP-9; Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase—nNOS; and Interleukin-10—IL-10) and coping styles evaluated using the Brief Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (Brief-COPE) questionnaire in men with trauma experience. Particular emphasis was placed on analyzing the effect of PTSD chronicity (≤5 years vs. >5 years) on these relationships. The study included 92 adult men with a history of life-threatening situations. Participants were divided into three groups: PTSD within the past ≤5 years (n = 33), PTSD within the past >5 years (n = 31), and a No PTSD group (n = 28). Biomarkers were measured in blood serum. Coping strategies were assessed using the Brief-COPE questionnaire, which includes four subscales: task-oriented, emotion-oriented, avoidant, and general coping. Due to the lack of normal distribution, the Kruskal–Wallis test and Dunn’s post hoc test were used. Correlations between biomarkers and Brief-COPE subscales were calculated using Spearman’s Rank Correlation Coefficient (Rho). Significant differences between groups were found in all four biomarkers (p < 0.001). IGF-1 and IL-10 reached the highest values in the No PTSD group and the lowest in the PTSD ≤ 5 years group, indicating neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory deficits in PTSD. Conversely, CASP-9 and nNOS levels (markers of apoptosis and oxidative stress) were highest in PTSD ≤ 5 years, with partial normalization in the PTSD > 5 years group. In terms of coping strategies, the No PTSD group displayed a highly adaptive profile (task-oriented: 30/32; emotion-oriented: 43/48; and avoidant: 12/32). Individuals with PTSD ≤ 5 years presented a maladaptive pattern (task-oriented: 13/32; avoidant: 26/32; and emotion-oriented: 27/48), while in PTSD > 5 years, a further decline in emotion-oriented (21/48) and general coping (59/112) was observed, suggesting progressive depletion of psychological resources. The strongest correlations between biomarkers and coping strategies occurred in PTSD groups. Low IGF-1 levels in PTSD ≤ 5 years correlated negatively with emotion-oriented coping (Rho = −0.39) and general coping (Rho = −0.35). High CASP-9 levels were associated with reduced task-oriented coping in PTSD > 5 years (Rho = −0.29). Similar trends were observed for nNOS and IL-10, indicating a disturbance in neurobiological balance that favors persistence of PTSD symptoms. PTSD, both in its acute and chronic phases, is associated with an abnormal profile of neuroprotective, apoptotic, and inflammatory biomarkers, which correlates with impaired adaptive coping capacity. Although partial normalization of biological parameters is observed in chronic PTSD, deficits in emotion-oriented and task-oriented coping persist. The Brief-COPE questionnaire, combined with biomarker analysis, may serve as a useful clinical tool for assessing psychophysiological balance and designing early interventions. These results highlight the potential of IGF-1, CASP-9, nNOS, and IL-10 as biomarkers of stress adaptation and therapeutic targets in PTSD. Full article

Background/Objectives: Denosumab-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (DRONJ) is a serious complication in patients receiving long-term antiresorptive therapy for bone metastases from prostate cancer. While established risk factors include invasive dental procedures and poor oral health, the role of body composition, with a particular focus on sarcopenia and inflammatory biomarkers, remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the association between skeletal muscle mass, fat distribution, and systemic inflammatory biomarkers with DRONJ risk in Asian prostate cancer patients with bone metastases. Methods: This retrospective study reviewed 64 patients who received denosumab between 2014 and 2023. Baseline CT scans were used to measure total psoas muscle index (TPI), visceral fat area (VFA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), and body mass index (BMI). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were calculated from blood counts. Group comparisons used the Wilcoxon rank-sum or chi-squared test, and correlations were assessed using Spearman’s coefficient. Results: Twelve patients (18.8%) developed DRONJ, with a mean onset time of 20.3 months. The prevalence of sarcopenia was significantly higher in the DRONJ group compared to the non-DRONJ group (p = 0.0331). VFA, SFA, BMI, diabetes, and visceral obesity were not significant predictors. NLR, but not PLR, showed a significant negative correlation with TPI (ρ = −0.2487, p = 0.0475), but no direct association with DRONJ, suggesting an indirect effect via sarcopenia. Conclusions: Sarcopenia may be an independent risk factor for DRONJ. Inflammatory biomarkers, particularly NLR, may contribute indirectly through reduced muscle mass. Body composition assessment may improve DRONJ risk stratification. Full article

Background/Objectives: This exploratory study aimed to evaluate the impact of an 80 km ultra-marathon trail running event on changes in faecal bacterial composition, and to investigate whether any correlations exist between exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GIS) with faecal bacterial profiles. Such events represent a unique physiological stressor and may impact the composition of the gut microbiota. Studying this impact may provide insights into acute (i.e., <24 h) gut microbiota changes under extreme conditions. Methods: Thirteen endurance athletes (n = 7 males, n = 6 females) aged 41 ± 8 years completed the 80 km Margaret River (Australia) ultra-marathon race in 2022. Faecal samples were collected pre- and post-race. Faecal bacterial profile, as per relative abundance (RA) of operational taxonomic units and the determination of α-diversity (Shannon Equitability Index (SEI)), was achieved by 16S rRNA amplicon gene sequencing. Changes in RA% and SEI pre- to post-race were assessed by the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Correlations between Ex-GIS with bacterial profile and changes pre-, during, and post-ultra-marathon race were determined by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients. Results: Bacterial calculations of phyla (n = 5), family (n = 23), and genus (n = 41) were detected for RA (≥0.5%). A significant decrease pre- to post-race of Actinobacteriota (p = 0.035) phyla, Bifidobacteriaceae (p = 0.007), and Clostridiaceae (p = 0.010) family, and Blautia (p = 0.039) and Subdoligranulum (p = 0.023) genus was determined; meanwhile, Oscillospiraceae (p = 0.016) and Monoglobaceae (p = 0.039) family significantly increased pre- to post-race. No other bacterial group changes were observed. No correlations were observed between pre- to post-ultra-marathon RA change and Ex-GIS. Conclusions: The completion of an 80 km ultra-marathon did not invoke substantial changes in the gut microbiota as determined by faecal bacterial profiling. Very strong and strong correlations were observed between certain bacterial groups and Ex-GIS; however, no significant correlations were observed between pre- to post-ultra-marathon changes in RA ≥ 0.5% and Ex-GIS. Full article

Background: Early childhood caries (ECC) is a common chronic disease in young children, influenced by multiple factors, including the activity of bacteria and other microorganisms, diet, and immune response. Pro-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-8 (IL-8) and anti-inflammatory cytokines like interleukin-10 (IL-10) play crucial roles in the inflammatory process of caries. However, their relationship with ECC severity remains unclear. This study aimed to compare salivary IL-8 and IL-10 levels in children with and without ECC and analyze their association with caries severity using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). Children with and without central obesity were included to evaluate the potential influence of nutritional status on cytokine expression. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from March 2022 to December 2023 in San Luis Potosí, México, including 76 children aged 3 to 5 years (40 with ECC and 36 caries-free). Anthropometric measurements were taken to classify children as centrally obese or non-centrally obese. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected, and IL-8 and IL-10 levels were measured using ELISA. Statistical analysis included the Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and binary logistic regression analysis, considering p < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: IL-8 levels were higher in the ECC group (85 ± 119 pg/mL) than in the control group (45 ± 74 pg/mL), but this difference was not significant (p = 0.3613). IL-10 levels were lower in the ECC group (3 ± 2 pg/mL) than in the control group (11 ± 44 pg/mL; p = 0.6481). The difference between IL-8 and IL-10 levels was greater in the ECC group (27 ± 41 pg/mL) than in the control group (17 ± 33 pg/mL; p = 0.1709). No significant correlation was found between cytokine levels and ICDAS scores (p > 0.05), and binary logistic regression did not show an association between IL-8, IL-10, WHtR, and cavitated caries lesions. Conclusions: Although IL-8 tended to be elevated and IL-10 reduced in children with ECC, the differences were not statistically significant. The observed trend suggests a possible local immunological imbalance in children with caries, which may contribute to disease progression independently of bacterial activity or behavioral influences. Full article

Agricultural management in Europe faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental footprint. Implementing precision agriculture for weed management could offer a solution and minimize the use of chemical products. High spatial resolution imagery from real time kinematic (RTK) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in combination with supervised convolutional neural network (CNNs) models have proven successful in making location specific treatments. This site-specific advice limits the amount of herbicide applied to the field to areas that require action, thereby reducing the environmental impact and inputs for the farmer. To develop performant CNN models, there is a need for sufficient high-quality labelled data. To reduce the labelling effort and time, a new labelling method is proposed whereby image subsection pairs are labelled based on their relative differences in weed pressure to train a CNN ordinal regression model. The model is evaluated on detecting weed pressure in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Model performance was evaluated on different levels: pairwise accuracy, linearity (Pearson correlation coefficient), rank consistency (Spearman’s (r_s) and Kendal (τ) rank correlations coefficients) and binary accuracy. After hyperparameter tuning, a pairwise accuracy of 85.2%, significant linearity (r_s = 0.81) and significant rank consistency (r_s = 0.87 and τ = 0.69) were found. This suggests that the model is capable of correctly detecting the gradient in weed pressure for the dataset. A maximum binary accuracy and F1-score of 92% and 88% were found for the dataset after thresholding the predicted weed scores into weed versus non-weed images. The model architecture allows us to visualize the intermediate features of the last convolutional block. This allows data analysts to better evaluate if the model “sees” the features of interest (in this case weeds). The results indicate the potential of ordinal regression with relative labels as a fast, lightweight model that predicts weed pressure gradients. Experts have the freedom to decide which threshold value(s) can be used on predicted weed scores depending on the weed, crop and treatment that they want to use for flexible weed control management. Full article

Durum wheat is a vital wheat species cultivated worldwide for human consumption, ranking second to bread wheat. The Ethiopian durum wheat allele pool shows wide gene diversity; however, limited improvement work has been done to exploit this diversity. Thus, this study aimed to assess the genetic variability, heritability, and interrelationship among different phenotypic traits in 210 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) using an alpha lattice design with two replications. The analysis of variance revealed a significant difference for all the measured traits. The phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was greater than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) for all the characters, which reflects that the existing range of variability within the genotypes was not only due to the varying influence of genotype but also the environment. A correlation analysis disclosed that grain yield was positively related to the traits of plant height and 1000-kernel weight, suggesting that selecting these traits could enhance yield. Path analysis revealed that days to booting, maturity, and 1000-kernel weight directly affect grain yield. Among the measured traits, early developmental traits revealed higher broad-sense heritability. The findings of this study highlight high genetic diversity among Ethiopian durum wheat genotypes, opening up opportunities to integrate these materials into future wheat-breeding programs through introgression with other germplasm sources in Ethiopia and beyond. Full article

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, affecting 2.3 million and causing 670,000 deaths in women annually. However, data indicate that the risk of developing breast cancer decreases with pregnancy at a young age, and each subsequent pregnancy further reduces the risk by approximately 10%. One of the characteristics inherent in both the mammary gland epithelium in pregnant women and luminal epithelial adenocarcinomas is the increased expression of NIS—the sodium/iodide symporter, whose defective cytoplasmic forms possess pro-oncogenic properties. Therefore, the analysis of the degree of influence of pregnancy on NIS expression in breast cancer cells is of medical interest. The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative morphological analysis of NIS expression in breast cancer cells according to the number of pregnancies of each patient. This study included 161 patients with triple-negative breast cancer who visited the P.A. Herzen Moscow Oncology Research Institute from 2020 to 2023. Immunohistochemical examination was performed using antibodies to NIS. The gravidity status of women was determined based on provided medical documentation. The degree of NIS expression was assessed using a modified Gainor scale. Statistical analysis was performed using mean and standard deviation (SD) depending on the normality of the distribution (Lilliefors test: p > 0.20); a p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The degree of correlation between variables was assessed using Kendall’s tau rank correlation coefficient. A weak to moderate negative correlation (τ: −0.369) was found between the number of pregnancies and the degree of NIS expression in triple-negative breast cancer cells. In patients with triple-negative breast cancer, a weak to moderate negative correlation was found between the degree of NIS expression and gravidity status. The discovered phenomenon is likely due to the terminal differentiation of the mammary gland epithelium that occurs during pregnancy. This may potentially indicate the suppression of pro-oncogenic properties of atypical cells developed from the epithelium that has undergone terminal differentiation. Full article

Hydrologists need to predict extreme hydrological and meteorological events for design purposes, whose magnitude and probability are estimated using a probability distribution function (PDF). The choice of an appropriate PDF is crucial in describing the behavior of the phenomenon and the predictions can differ significantly depending on the PDF. So, the success of the probability distribution function in representing the data of extreme value series of natural events such as hydrology and climatology is of great importance. Depending on whether the series consists of maximum or minimum values, the theoretical probability density function must be appropriately fit to the right or left tail of the extreme data, which contains the most critical information. This study includes a combined evaluation of the performance of four different tests for selecting the appropriate probability distribution of maximum rainfall in Türkiye: Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) test, Anderson–Darling (AD) test, Probability Plot Correlation Coefficient (PPCC) test, and L-Moments Z^DIST test. Within the scope of the study, maximum rainfall series of seven rainfall durations from 15 to 1440 min, at rain gauge stations in 81 provinces of Türkiye, were examined. Goodness of fit was performed based on ranking using a combination of four different numerical tests (KS, AD, PPCC, Z^DIST). The probabilistic character of maximum rainfall was evaluated using a large dataset consisting of 567 time series with record lengths ranging from 45 to 80 years. The goodness of fit of distributions was examined from three different perspectives. The first is an examination considering rainfall durations, the second is a province-based examination, and the third is a general country-based assessment. In all three different perspectives, the Wakeby distribution was determined as the best fit candidate to represent the maximum rainfall in Türkiye. Full article

Background and objectives: Large language models (LLMs) show promise in automating open-ended evaluation tasks, yet their reliability in rubric-based assessment remains uncertain. Variability in scoring, feedback, and rubric adherence raises concerns about transparency and pedagogical validity in educational contexts. This study introduces CourseEvalAI, a framework designed to enhance consistency and fidelity in rubric-guided evaluation by fine-tuning a general-purpose LLM with authentic university-level instructional content. Methods: The framework employs supervised fine-tuning with Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) on rubric-annotated answers and explanations drawn from undergraduate computer science exams. Responses generated by both the base and fine-tuned models were independently evaluated by two human raters and two LLM judges, applying dual-layer rubrics for answers (technical or argumentative) and explanations. Inter-rater reliability was reported as intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(2,1)), Krippendorff’s α, and quadratic-weighted Cohen’s κ (QWK), and statistical analyses included Welch’s t tests with Holm–Bonferroni correction, Hedges’ g with bootstrap confidence intervals, and Levene’s tests. All responses, scores, feedback, and metadata were stored in a Neo4j graph database for structured exploration. Results: The fine-tuned model consistently outperformed the base version across all rubric dimensions, achieving higher scores for both answers and explanations. After multiple-testing correction, only the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT-4)—judged Technical Answer contrast remains statistically significant; other contrasts show positive trends without passing the adjusted threshold, and no additional significance is claimed for explanation-level results. Variance in scoring decreased, inter-model agreement increased, and evaluator feedback for fine-tuned outputs contained fewer vague or critical remarks, indicating stronger rubric alignment and greater pedagogical coherence. Inter-rater reliability analyses indicated moderate human–human agreement and weaker alignment of LLM judges to the human mean. Originality: CourseEvalAI integrates rubric-guided fine-tuning, dual-layer evaluation, and graph-based storage into a unified framework. This combination provides a replicable and interpretable methodology that enhances the consistency, transparency, and pedagogical value of LLM-based evaluators in higher education and beyond. Full article

Potatoes are the most extensively cultivated vegetable crop in Canada and rank as the fifth largest primary agricultural commodity. Given their diverse end uses and significant market value, particularly in processed forms, ensuring consistent quality from harvest to consumption is of critical importance. Total glycoalkaloids (TGA) are nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites that are known to accumulate in the tuber as an effect of greening in-field or elsewhere in the supply chain. In this study, 210 Yukon Gold (YG) potatoes were exposed to a constant light source to green over a period of 14 days and sampled in 7-day intervals. The samples were scanned using a short-wave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral imaging camera in the 900–2500 nm wavelength range. Once individually scanned, pixel-wise spectral data was extracted and averaged for each tuber and matched with its respective ground truth TGA values which were obtained using a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) system. Prediction models using the partial least squares regression technique were developed from the extracted hyperspectral data and reference TGA values. Wavelength selection techniques such as competitive adaptive re-weighted sampling (CARS) and backward elimination (BE) were deployed to reduce the number of contributing wavelengths for practical applications. The best model resulted in a correlation coefficient of cross-validation (R²_cv) of 0.72 with a root mean square error of cross-validation (RMSE_cv) of 51.50 ppm. Full article

Excessive energy consumption of communication protocols in IoT/IIoT systems constitutes one of the key constraints for the operational longevity of remote sensor nodes, where radio transmission often incurs higher energy costs than data acquisition or local computation. Previous studies have remained fragmented, typically focusing on selected technologies or specific layers of the communication stack, which has hindered the development of comparable quantitative metrics across protocols. The aim of this study is to design and validate a unified evaluation framework enabling consistent assessment of both wired and wireless protocols in terms of energy efficiency, reliability, and maintenance costs. The proposed approach employs three complementary research methods: laboratory measurements on physical hardware, profiling of SBC devices, and simulations conducted in the COOJA/Powertrace environment. A Unified Comparative Method was developed, incorporating bilinear interpolation and weighted normalization, with its robustness confirmed by a Spearman rank correlation coefficient exceeding 0.9. The analysis demonstrates that MQTT-SN and CoAP (non-confirmable mode) exhibit the highest energy efficiency, whereas HTTP/3 and AMQP incur the greatest energy overhead. Results are consolidated in the ICoPEP matrix, which links protocol characteristics to four representative RS-IoT scenarios: unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ocean buoys, meteorological stations, and urban sensor networks. The framework provides well-grounded engineering guidelines that may extend node lifetime by up to 35% through the adoption of lightweight protocol stacks and optimized sampling intervals. The principal contribution of this work is the development of a reproducible, technology-agnostic tool for comparative assessment of IoT/IIoT communication protocols. The proposed framework addresses a significant research gap in the literature and establishes a foundation for further research into the design of highly energy-efficient and reliable IoT/IIoT infrastructures, supporting scalable and long-term deployments in diverse application environments. Full article

Background: Circulating galectin-3 (Gal-3) levels have been indicated as a promising diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic target in breast cancer patients. Specifically, serum galectin-3 levels are traditionally measured using manual Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), but recent automated methods, such as Simple Plex assay by ProteinSimple™ run on an Ella instrument, have shown promising evidence of being more efficient and less error-prone than manual methods. This paper aims to assess whether there are differences in serum galectin-3 measurements between manual and automated ELISA methods. Methods: Serum galectin-3 levels were initially analyzed from one hundred and fifteen breast cancer samples using both manual ELISA and the Ella instrument. Following coefficient of variation (CV) and outlier analysis, ninety-five samples were analyzed further with JMP statistical software to perform Shapiro-Wilk, Spearman’s correlation, Wilcoxon signed-rank, and regression analyses. Results: The Ella instrument resulted in significantly lower CV values, confirming that it is more precise and reliable than manual ELISA methods. There was a moderate correlation between ELISA and Ella measurements (r = 0.49, p < 0.0001), but a Wilcoxon signed-rank test revealed that serum gaelectin-3 measurements obtained with the Ella instrument were significantly lower compared to those obtained with manual ELISA, with a mean difference of −5.19 ng/mL (p < 0.0001). Regression analysis showed a significant increase in the difference between manual ELISA and Ella measurements as serum galectin-3 levels increase (p < 0.0001). This difference in measurements between manual and automated ELISA techniques remained consistent when analyses were performed within each breast cancer stage, immunophenotype, and histology. Conclusions: While the Ella instrument is a fast and reliable tool, the discrepancies between manual ELISA and the Ella instrument in quantifying serum galectin-3 levels are important to consider prior to widespread use. Full article