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Although difficulties processing both symbolic and nonsymbolic proportion compared with absolute number are well established, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. We investigate four potential explanations to account for better number processing in adulthood: (a) number is more salient than proportion, (b) number is encoded more automatically than proportion, (c) proportion is more effortfully processed than number, and (d) number competes with proportion during decision making. Across three experiments, we used a delayed match-to-sample paradigm in which adults were asked which of two alternatives matched a sample set of red and blue dots. We systematically manipulated which dimension of the sample participants matched (number of red dots, total number of dots, proportion of red dots), the presence/absence of the competing quantity in the choice alternatives, and when they were told which quantitative dimension to encode (before vs. after the sample presentation, or not at all). Overall, data reveal that proportion was less salient than the numerical subset. Additionally, the number of items within the subset, but not the total number of items in the superset, interfered with proportion-based responding. Last, even in the absence of response competition and costly task demands, proportion matching took longer than number matching, highlighting basic processing differences. Together, results reveal pervasive difficulties in representing proportion compared with number, even when task demands are unambiguous. However, this varied depending on the numerical set involved and across encoding, processing, and decision processes. We discuss the implications of these findings for theories of ratio processing and of quantity more generally. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Soils should supply nutrients to the plants in accessible forms, in the right level as well as in the absence of toxic substances. The ability of soils to provide nutrients in these required forms is known as soil fertility. It is very crucial to know a way to estimate the soil fertility and so soil fertility plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture. Soil analysis is used for evaluating the availability of nutrients present in a soil sample. Soil analysis helps the farmers or agricultural producers to identify the needed fertilizers and its quantity that should be supplied to the plant for a profitable crop production. The most commonly used method for soil analysis is chemical analysis but it is time consuming, laborious, high costs processes. With the evolution of applied science, several methods have been discovered for the analysis of soil traits. Spectroscopic methods had shown to be a cost-effective, fast, eco-friendly, nondestructive, and repeatable analytical technique for soil analysis. Our project is to develop a cost effective technique and instrument for the analysis of soils in situ to detect nutrients excess and deficient in the sample. The equipment under development is expected to be a useful addition to increase the profit and reduce the risk of small and medium scale farmers across the world. Infrared spectroscopy (IR) has already developed as a popular as well as rapid method to evaluate the fertility of soil. It is precise to organic as well as inorganic materials present in the soil sample. IR spectrum provides significant information about all chemicals present in the soil sample including macro and micro nutrients. In the agriculture and food industry, spot identification of elements are very important. This can be done using nanomaterials based on optical sensors. We apply spectroscopic methods along with the latest commercially available sensors and computational facilities to develop an economical, user convenient, IT enabled appliance for rapid and effortless soil sample analysis.

Being able to appropriately perform fine needle aspiration (FNA) collecting techniques and sample preparation is essential in obtaining a diagnostic sample, which is a critical skill for veterinary practitioners. Collection and preparation of cytologic samples are skills gained through practice. Experience leads to refinement of technique and improved diagnostic quality. Using live patients for mass skills training is not feasible; therefore, an aspiration simulation model and laboratory session was developed to reinforce physical exam skills, appropriate selection of sample collection supplies, and collection technique. Materials for the models include Ping-Pong balls, silicone, instant vanilla pudding mix, water, and stuffed animals. The laboratory session allows veterinary students to practice lesion identification, isolation, aspiration, and successful preparation. Subsequent submission of the collected sample involves being able to expel and spread the sample on a slide and proper labeling. While the simulation experience was initially developed for a short course with 12 students, it has recently been incorporated into the required clinical pathology clinical year rotation for up to 100 fourth-year veterinary students. The model is inexpensive and efficient and allows for technique development and immediate instructor assessment and feedback.

Introduction Mycotoxins are toxic metabolites produced by fungi that commonly contaminate foods. As recommended by the World Health Organization, total diet study (TDS) is the most efficient and effective way to estimate the dietary intakes of certain chemical substances for general populations. It requires sensitive and reliable analytical methods applicable to a wide range of complex food matrices and ready-to-eat dishes. Objectives A novel strategy with high selectivity and sensitivity, incorporating three methods based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), was designed for measuring 43 mycotoxins in dietary samples in a China TDS. Methods The 43 mycotoxins were divided into 3 groups for analysis to achieve better performance. For each group, an UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed to determine the target compounds after clean-up by solid phase extraction. A total of 21 isotope internal standards were employed for accurate quantitation. Method validation in terms of linearity, selectivity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision was performed for all the 43 mycotoxins in 12 complex food matrices. Results The limits of detection (LODs) and limits of quantitation (LOQs) were 0.002–1 ng mL−1 and 0.006–3 ng mL−1, respectively. The method recoveries of the 43 mycotoxins spiked in 12 food categories were in the range of 60.3%–175.9% after internal standard correction, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 13.9%. For practical application, this method was utilized for 72 dietary samples collected from 6 provinces in the 6th China TDS. More than 80% of the samples were found contaminated by mycotoxins. DON, SMC, FB1, ZEN, BEA, ENNB1, and ENNB were most detected. Conclusions The proposed methods with high sensitivity, accuracy, and robustness provide powerful tools for multi-mycotoxin monitoring and dietary exposure assessment, allowing 43 mycotoxins, including some emerging mycotoxins, to be accurately investigated in a total diet study for the first time.

Background Machine learning (ML) prepares and trains a model through supervised or unsupervised learning methods. Sputum, a respiratory tract secretion, is a common laboratory specimen that aids in diagnosing respiratory diseases, including pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Gram stain is an easy, cost-effective stain, which may be applied to sputum smears to screen out an unsatisfactory sample. ML model may help in screening sputum smears. Methods This collaborative project was carried out from June 2020-July 2021. In this study, a color-based segmentation ML algorithm using K-Means clustering was developed. A library of stained sputum smears was built. The Bartletts criteria (based on neutrophil and squamous cell count) for screening and selecting satisfactory sputum smears were used. A smartphone camera was used to take several photographs of satisfactory, as well as unsatisfactory, smears. The image segmentation algorithm was applied to medical image analysis, color-segmentation of sputum images was done. The hue saturation value (HSV) color ranges were defined on a prototype image. Then, all connected pixels were identified as a single object, and morphological operations were applied. Results Usage of AI-driven model on the slide-image revealed the slide adequacy as the cell count was acceptable based on Bartlett’s criteria. Both the manual cell counts (Range: 126–203 neutrophils, 14–47 squamous cells) and the model counts (Range: 117–242 neutrophils, 14–37 squamous cells) are within acceptable limits. Conclusion The use of a model to screen a large number of sputum slides may be a boon in resource-limited settings where trained microscopists may not be easily available.

Sequential (or adaptive) designs are common in acceptance sampling and pharmaceutical trials. This is because they can achieve the same type 1 and type 2 error rate with fewer subjects on average than fixed sample trials. After the trial is completed and the test result decided, we need full inference on the main parameter Δ . In this paper, we are interested in exact one-sided lower and upper limits. Unlike standard trials, for sequential trials there need not be an explicit test statistic, nor even p -value. This motivates the more general approach of defining an ordering on the sample space and using the construction of Buehler (1957). This is guaranteed to produce exact limits, however, there is no guarantee that the limits will agree with the test. For instance, we might reject Δ ≤ Δ 0 at level α but have a lower 1 − α limit being less then Δ 0 . This paper gives a very simple condition to ensure that this unfortunate feature does not occur. When the condition fails, the ordering is easily modified to ensure compatibility.

The sacrum is often used for sex estimation of human remains. However, reported sexual classification accuracies based on the sacrum produce highly discrepant estimates ranging from 54% to 98% depending on the method and reference sample. Here, we therefore aim to evaluate the sacrum's efficacy in differentiating males from females by comparing three different approaches in a homogeneous Central European sample (n = 58, 27 males and 31 females) obtained from the 19th century Weisbach collection. Specifically, we investigated the sacrum by 1) a qualitative visual inspection, 2) traditional linear metrics, namely, sacral width, corpus width, and the associated corporo-basal index, and 3) geometric morphometrics (GM) using a 3D configuration of 100 landmarks and semilandmarks. Classification accuracies for the qualitative approach ranged from 69% to 81%. The investigated quantitative methods based on linear dimensions led to comparable classification accuracies of 62% for sacral width and 78% for the corporo-basal index. However, absolute corpus width had a stronger discriminative power (86%), similar to the PC scores from shape space (87%). Unexpectedly, the GM approach, which considered the shape of the entire sacrum, did not classify better than linear variables. This was exceeded only when sacrum shape was combined with corpus width or another measure of size, like the natural logarithm of the centroid size, yielding a classification accuracy of 95%. The male and female group means differed mainly in the general height-to-width relationship and corpus-to-alae proportions, corroborating patterns previously described in the literature. Our results suggest that the sacrum is markedly less effective than the hipbone for sex determination, which is at odds with its central position within the pelvic girdle and thus its supposed obstetric relevance.

When using initial deformation from oedometer tests to quantify sample disturbance, a correction for false deformation is sometimes needed. A method to determine this false deformation is presented.

Negative sampling plays an important role in ranking-based recommender models. However, most existing sampling methods cannot generate informative item pairs with positive and negative instances due to two limitations: 1) they merely treat observed items as positive instances, ignoring the existence of potential positive items (i.e., nonobserved items users may prefer) and the probability of observed but noisy items and 2) they fail to capture the relationship between positive and negative items during negative sampling, which may cause the unexpected selection of potential positive items. In this article, we introduce a dynamic sampling strategy to search informative item pairs. Specifically, we first sample a positive instance from all the items by leveraging the overall features of user's observed items. Then, we strategically select a negative instance by considering its correlation with the sampled positive one. Formally, we propose an item pair generative adversarial network named IPGAN, where our sampling strategy is realized in two generative models for positive and negative instances, respectively. In addition, IPGAN can also ensure that the sampled item pairs are informative relative to the ground truth by a discriminative model. What is more, we propose a batch-training approach to further enhance both user and item modeling by alleviating the special bias (noise) from different users. This approach can also significantly accelerate the process of model training compared with classical GAN method for recommendation. Experimental results on three real data sets show that our approach outperforms other state-of-the-art approaches in terms of recommendation accuracy.

Conventionally used spectrometric techniques of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-MS) usually involve time-consuming sample preparation procedure of a sample dissolution which requires the usage of aggressive and toxic chemicals. The need for suitable and sustainable analytical methods for direct multi-elemental analysis of plant samples has been increased in recent years. Spectrometric techniques for direct sample analysis, instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) have been applied in environmental studies and various fields of screening tests. Nevertheless, these techniques are not commonly used for plant sample analysis and their performances need to be evaluated. This research aimed to assess how reliable non-destructive techniques are in the determination of elements in plants compared to conventionally used spectrometric techniques. A total of 49 plant samples of four conifer species (Pinus nigra, Abies alba, Taxus baccata and Larix decidua) were measured using two conventionally applied (ICP-MS, ICP-OES) and two non-destructive techniques (wavelength dispersive XRF (WD-XRF), INAA). The comparison was performed by investigation of relative ratios of concentrations and by correlation analysis. Moreover, precision of the techniques was examined and compared. The quality control included analysis of NIST pine needles certified reference material (1575a) using all examined techniques. Our results suggest that additional analytical and quality control steps are necessary for reaching the highest accuracy of multi-elemental analysis. Конвенционално коришћене спектрометријске технике (ICP-OES, ICP-MS) обично подразумевају дуготрајну процедуру припреме узорка која захтева коришћење агресивних и токсичних хемикалија за минерализацију. У последњих неколико година расте потреба за погодним и одрживим аналитичким методама за директну мулти-елементарну анализу биљних узорака. Спектрометријске технике за директну анализу (INAA, XRF) се већ примењују у еколошким истраживањима и у различитим пољима скрининг испитивања. Ипак, ове технике нису уобичајено коришћене за анализу биљака и њихове перформансе морају бити процењене. Циљ овог истраживања је био да се процени колико су недеструктивне технике поуздане код одређивања елемената у биљном материјалу, у односу на рутински коришћене спектрометријске технике. Укупно 49 узорака четири врсте четинара (Pinus nigra, Abies alba, Taxus baccata и Larix decidua) су анализиране помоћу две рутински коришћене (ICP-MS и ICP-OES) и две недеструктивне технике (WD-XRF и INAA). Технике су упоређене испитивањем релативних односа концентрација и помоћу корелационе анализе. Поред тога, испитана је и упоређена прецизност техника. Програм контроле квалитета је обухватао анализу сертификованог референтног материјала, иглица бора (NIST 1575a) помоћу свих коришћених техника. Резултати нашег истраживања сугеришу да су неопходни додатни аналитички и кораци контроле квалитета како би се постигла максимална тачност мулти-елементарне анализе.

The main factor restricting lead isotope analysis of metals from museum collections is the requirement for physical material. Hence, there are major incentives for developing minimally invasive methods for lead isotope analysis that are accurate and precise enough to reveal historical information about artefacts and their origin. Portable laser ablation (pLA), collecting microscopic samples on Teflon filters, has four key benefits. It produces no visual impact to the artefacts, does not require transport of artefacts to laboratory facilities, there are no artefact size restrictions, and samples are processed under clean laboratory conditions allowing Pb purification prior to measurement by solution MC-ICPMS. To validate the efficacy of the pLA technique on silver, nine matrixed-matched commercial, in-house and archaeological reference materials were sampled and analysed multiple times (9-10). The pLA mean analyses (±2SD) were all consistent with inter-laboratory bulk analyses. The digestion of sample filters produces precisions that are consistently more than five-times better than in situ nsLA-MC-ICPMS and are the same order of magnitude expected for bulk samples processed in different laboratories. This journal is

A strange story, including a new concept of identification of inorganic solid materials and of photocatalyst design, is told here. Why is it that solid materials have not been identified, while organic chemists are required to identify their organic compounds for publication of a report? What is the meaning of identification? Why is it almost impossible to identify inorganic solids? Is it possible to identify an inorganic solid by using a certain fingerprint? Can energy-resolved distribution of electron traps (ERDT) patterns be fingerprint of solid materials? What do ERDT/CBB (conduction-band bottom) patterns tell us about the photocatalytic activity of titania samples?

Human biological fluids are quite varied and complex. Some examples include blood, cerebrospinal fluid, synovial fluid, peritoneal fluid, intraocular fluids, and fluids that do not require an invasive sample uptake, such as lacrimal fluid, seminal fluid, sweat, urine and saliva. They are present in the body in very different volumes, from the low microliter level to the liter range. For those requiring invasive sampling, just a small percentage can be sampled in order not to disrupt the living body. Furthermore, quite often, the extracted samples must be divided into several aliquots required for different independent (bio)chemical assays. In addition, volumes of biofluids are much smaller in new-borns and infants. Therefore, just a microvolume of the biofluid is quite often available for analysis. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is a suitable technique for elemental and isotopic determination of biological fluids at the trace and ultra-trace levels. Such determinations contributes to the interpretation of biochemical processes within our bodies and in many cases serve for the diagnosis of diseases. A research trend along the years has been to increase the capabilities of ICP-MS for the analysis of microsamples. This review focusses on strategies for microsample collection of fluids from the human body and their introduction into an ICP-MS. In addition, representative examples of applications in the clinical field are briefly described.

Qualitative assessment refers to conditions where wines are assessed primarily on the characteristics typically associated with a wine’s provenance, stylistic, or varietal attributes. Although wine competitions imply objectivity, the results suggest otherwise. In addition, one of the principal goals of commercial tasting is to promote sales and media exposure. Thus, the semblance of objectivity is adequate. Although seeming a damning indictment, human perception is so idiosyncratic, almost no two consumer preferences will be identical. Ranking and wine descriptions tell more about the preferences of the provider(s) than the wine. Acknowledging this situation should free consumers to select wines on personal criteria, unfettered by the opinions of others. What wine courses and societies have the potential to do is permit members to gain experience with a wide range of wines, finding their own preferences and confidence to assess on their own. Where desired, the experience gained could be used to develop memory models for the characteristics of the varieties and styles of wine preferred. For those who love wine, focused attention on a wine’s sensory pleasures can enhance one’s quality of life.

A standardized source of light is essential for visual color assessments, which is why lighting booths were developed. For the best results in visual assessment, it is important to consider the right choice of light source, the right viewing conditions, and the variability of the viewer. To date, many light booth technologies have been introduced to meet user demands. Since most of the light sources on the market are characterized by the designer or manufacturer, the resulting variations from booth-to-booth remain. In this study, we compared the performance of two standard light booths to assess the color difference of eleven metameric pairs. In this study, we checked an earlier technology-based light booth that is still used in the textile industry and contains illuminant A (Tungsten lamp) with CCT 2700 K, TL84 (tri-band fluorescent tube) with CCT 4000 K, and simulator D65 (CCT 6500 K) with a different light booth whose original light sources have been replaced by currently available LED retro kits from equivalent CCTs. As an inexperienced customer or industrial user, our question was, how important is this replacement? The results revealed that two different standard lighting technologies with similar CCTs cannot reproduce the same estimates because the light sources produced different SPDs. It is illustrating that caution is necessary when comparing results obtained from two different light booths containing light sources with similar CCTs but different SPDs. This comparative study suggested that the variability of the light sources’ SPDs or the observer or the sample should be modeled considering light booth’s technology to estimate its contribution to the overall variability. The close relationship between perceived and CAM02-UCS suggests that if both booths are used after the light sources have been calibrated, a formula based on color appearance models must be used to predict color appearance. To obtain better agreement between perceived and calculated color difference, one must need to avoid light booths with nominally white light sources.

Background Multi-sample comparison is commonly used in cancer genomics studies. By using next-generation sequencing (NGS), a mutation's status in a specific sample can be measured by the number of reads supporting mutant or wildtype alleles. When no mutant reads are detected, it could represent either a true negative mutation status or a false negative due to an insufficient number of reads, so-called "coverage". To minimize the chance of false-negative, we should consider the mutation status as "unknown" instead of "negative" when the coverage is inadequately low. There is no established method for determining the coverage threshold between negative and unknown statuses. A common solution is to apply a universal minimum coverage (UMC). However, this method relies on an arbitrarily chosen threshold, and it does not take into account the mutations' relative abundances, which can vary dramatically by the type of mutations. The result could be misclassification between negative and unknown statuses. Methods We propose an adaptive mutation-specific negative (MSN) method to improve the discrimination between negative and unknown mutation statuses. For a specific mutation, a non-positive sample is compared with every known positive sample to test the null hypothesis that they may contain the same frequency of mutant reads. The non-positive sample can only be claimed as “negative” when this null hypothesis is rejected with all known positive samples; otherwise, the status would be “unknown”. Results We first compared the performance of MSN and UMC methods in a simulated dataset containing varying tumor cell fractions. Only the MSN methods appropriately assigned negative statuses for samples with both high- and low-tumor cell fractions. When evaluated on a real dual-platform single-cell sequencing dataset, the MSN method not only provided more accurate assessments of negative statuses but also yielded three times more available data after excluding the “unknown” statuses, compared with the UMC method. Conclusions We developed a new adaptive method for distinguishing unknown from negative statuses in multi-sample comparison NGS data. The method can provide more accurate negative statuses than the conventional UMC method and generate a remarkably higher amount of available data by reducing unnecessary “unknown” calls.

Objective To figure out the source of uncertainty in the determination of 14C activity concentration in urine samples, and to establish a complete expression of analysis results, in order to improve the accuracy of 14C monitoring method. Methods Four urine samples of normal people were collected, and wet oxidation method was used in the pretreatment of the samples, then the activity concentration of 14C was determined by liquid scintillation counting (LSC). After the mathematical model was established, the uncertainty components were determined, the standard uncertainty was combined, and the extended uncertainty was calculated. Results The relative uncertainty of 4 samples was 22.5%, 17.0%, 17.3% and 18.2%. The activity concentration of urine was (0.32 ​± ​0.14), (0.60 ​± ​0.20), (0.86 ​± ​0.30) and (0.74 ​± ​0.27) Bq/L, respectively. In the relative uncertainty of 22.5%, 17.7% was from sample counting, 13.6% from detection efficiency, 2.1% from recovery rate, 0.58% from sample volume, and 0.01% from sample weight. Conclusions The main factors affecting the uncertainty include the error or deviation of sample counting, detection efficiency and recovery rate. The error of volume and weight also contributes to the measurement uncertainty.

Forensic sex estimation is a key component in attempts to identify human remains. The skull is often used for this purpose, but is often damaged or recovered in fragments. Studies of individual cranial bones are hampered by subjectivity in visual assessment and difficulties in the ability to capture complex shape variations, as well as accounting for population-specificity in the expression of sexual dimorphism. The present study employed geometric morphometric analysis to assess morphological variation of the occipital bones of 792 adult South African individuals. Though sexual differences in size were detected, shape dimorphism was not detected until ancestry was simultaneously accounted for. Female occipital bones were less robust but more sloped than those of males. Detected variation between ancestry groups was sufficient to produce approximately 80% classification accuracies for Black and White groups, and 74% for the highly heterogeneous Coloured group. When variation was assessed according to sex and ancestry simultaneously, groups could be distinguished with 74.8% accuracy. Shape variation showed no significant age or secular trend changes, though some weak positive allometric influence was detected in the variation between sexes and between the Coloured group and the other two ancestry groups. This study demonstrated that even isolated bones such as the occipital could be used for sex and ancestry estimation, though population differences must be considered. The geometric morphometric analysis was found to allow objective and sufficiently sensitive detection of variation in the complex occipital shape to allow for accurate distinction of even highly heterogeneous and closely related groups, even when using a limited number of cranial landmarks. Thus, similar analyses of the occipital may be employed in forensic cases where the cranium has been damaged or only the occipital bone is recovered and available for analysis.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), as the main metabolite, found in aflatoxin contaminated food is highly toxic and strictly controlled in many countries. Aiming to construct a simplified, highly sensitive, and accurate quantitative detection platform of AFB1 in ordinary conditions, a one-step competitive quantum dot-labeled immunosorbent assay (cQLISA) was developed using biocompatible CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs). The quantitative detection of AFB1 can be achieved by adding food sample and QD-AFB1 antibody simultaneously, with an analytical range between 1 and 40 ng/mL. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of this method is 542 pg/mL and the limit of detection (LOD) is 56 pg/mL for standard samples, demonstrating a twofold improvement in sensitivity compared with that of the commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kit. The recovery rates of negative corn spike-in samples range from 87.01 to114.7% (CV

INTRODUCTION We aimed to evaluate the performance of the fully automated multiparameter CN-6000 hemostasis analyzer. METHODS Performance evaluation of the CN-6000 analyzer was conducted for 10 tests including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial prothrombin time (aPTT), fibrinogen level, anti-Xa activity, and antithrombin activity using a unique portfolio of liquid ready-to-use reagents. Precision, sample and reagent carryovers, throughput, and sample turnaround time (STAT) function were prospectively assessed. Results from 343 samples (normal subjects, critically ill patients, patients receiving anticoagulants, subjects with high or low fibrinogen levels, and patients with decreased levels of factor II, V, VII, and X) were compared to those obtained on the STA-R Max 2® analyzer using dedicated reagents. RESULTS Total precision (coefficient of variation) was below 7% for all parameters in both normal and pathological ranges. For all analyzed parameters, results obtained on the CN-6000 were strongly correlated with those obtained on the STA-R Max 2®analyzer. Agreement between both instruments was excellent for all assays. The CN-6000 demonstrated a 30% higher throughput compared to the STA-R Max 2® (258 vs 185 tests per hour for a panel of tests including PT, aPTT, fibrinogen, factor V, anti-Xa, and D-Dimer). STAT turnaround time for critical care samples testing was

One of the most challenging aspects of writing multiple-choice test questions is identifying plausible incorrect response options—i.e., distractors. To help with this task, a procedure is introduced that can mine existing item banks for potential distractors by considering the similarities between a new item’s stem and answer and the stems and response options for items in the bank. This approach uses natural language processing to measure similarity and requires a substantial pool of items for constructing the generating model. The procedure is demonstrated with data from the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE®). For about half the items in the study, at least one of the top three system-produced candidates matched a human-produced distractor exactly; and for about one quarter of the items, two of the top three candidates matched human-produced distractors. A study was conducted in which a sample of system-produced candidates were shown to 10 experienced item writers. Overall, participants thought about 81% of the candidates were on topic and 56% would help human item writers with the task of writing distractors.

From a forensic perspective, a presumptive test, one which indicates the presence or absence of a certain target material such as blood, is an invaluable tool. Among these tests, there are different specificities, sensitivities, and shelf lives. The accuracy of a test is an algebraic combination of the specificity and sensitivity of the test. Each test has limitations as given by its false positive and false negative rates. The aim of this study was to illustrate how the false positive and false negative rates are to be properly determined using a simulation study for the phenolphthalein test. New presumptive tests must be properly evaluated/validated through testing of commonly encountered household items and other potentially probative items usually found at crime scenes, however, the makeup of test sets must appropriately capture all error rates. In order to correctly use these results when the test is applied to an unknown sample recovered at a crime scene, the error rates cannot be applied directly to estimate whether or not the sample is actually the analyte of interest. In a validation study, the forensic scientist calculates the false positive rate as the p(Positive Reaction|Blood), whereas at the scene, the crime scene investigator wishes to determine the p(Blood|Positive Reaction). All crime scene investigators need to ensure that the conditional is not transposed when interpreting such results. Furthermore, this work provides a model for the assessment of a multiple test diagnostic system intended for investigators.

Nowadays, halal drinks are one of the sectors that get the attention of various parties. Alcohol in beverages is important in determining the halalness of a beverage. Halal detection can be done using chemical sensors. In the Pharmacy Department, knowledge of analysis using sensors is rare. Therefore, this community service program was carried out to introduce qualitative methods of quick and simple alcohol analysis. The participants are students of the Pharmacy Department of STIKES Anwar Medika in Sidoarjo City. Participants are communities engaged in the health sector who have an interest in halal and how to make sensors for halal testing. This program is implemented by making a video on how to make a chemical sensor for alcohol detection. The chemical sensor is a paper-immobilized colloidal silver-based chemical sensor that is easy to apply in various conditions. Based on the results of the color change produced on the filter paper, from green to bluish which indicates that the food or beverage sample contains alcohol. Based on the questionnaire, participants expressed satisfaction with the increase in knowledge about additional tools that are easy and fast to detect alcohol.

Radiocarbon dating of pictorial support is usually less used. It is accepted for paintings with the estimated age older than the Stradivarius limit (ca. 1600 - 1650 CE) as stated by A.J.T. Jull in 1997, and not as an authentication method. Considering this, a seventeenth century oil-based painting (Main Case Study) is reported. Based on the results obtained as terminus post quem, the painting cannot be attributed to the famous painter from the classical period, considered to be the author, according to the signature. Two other recently solved cases (Sample 1 and Sample 2) are briefly recorded and the information obtained was used for a more accurate interpretation of the Main Case Study. The multidisciplinary research aimed to put together, for the first time in the RoAMS Laboratory Romania, the information obtained through elemental analysis, ATR-FTIR, FT-Raman and XRF spectrometry. Radiocarbon dating process includes a comparative description of pictorial fragment pretreatments, of the textile fiber graphitization stage, and of AMS measurements used for determinations of isotopic ratio of carbon species, and general process parameter δ13C, of percent of Modern Carbon, and Conventional Radiocarbon Age, and of the Standard Deviations. The fragment of (Main Case Study) was first investigated using both FT-Raman and ATR-FTIR spectrometry. The spectra obtained reveal that the painting surface was covered with a thick layer of linseed oil, which hinders a complete analysis of the pigments through FT-Raman and ATR-FTIR spectrometry. However, the white pigment (lead white) and primer (calcium carbonate) were successfully identified. The findings from ATR-FTIR and FT-Raman spectra provide reliable information about the contaminants, information that is further used to select the most appropriate dating strategy. Before the AMS measurements, the cleaned textile fibers were investigated by elemental analysis, ATR-FTIR and micro-DRIFT spectrometry. The data obtained were compared with known natural and artificial textile fibers. The results reveal an almost complete decontamination, which additionally underlines the assumption that the textile support used exhibits a synthetic nature. Most likely, the canvas was made of synthetic nylon 6.6 fibers on a texture close to sailboat, used for sailing in the mid-twentieth century. The findings were finally confirmed by radiocarbon dating. 14C/12C isotopic ratios were close to RoAMS Laboratory background level, certifying a raw material from fossil deposits. The other fragments of canvas, those from recently solved cases (Sample 1 and Sample 2) are supposed to belong to the first part of the seventeenth, or to nineteenth / twentieth centuries (where the presumptions were made, and where the final results are placed, for Main Case Study). The comparative data reveal different particularities observed for each situation, offering pro and con arguments in determining the fibers age(s). The information provided by radiocarbon dating, elemental analysis and XRF spectrometry is in good agreement and demonstrates that it is unlikely that the authors designated for each case were those who created the paintings. The XRF spectrometry investigation highlighted the use of primers or pigments that generally appeared in the painting technique after the date when the painting creation was estimated.

Abstract Cinnabar (α-HgS) is a common mineral used in various fields. The identification of cinnabar can be achieved by classic mineralogical methods and instrumental methods. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is the most reliable instrumental method for identifying material phases, but the sampling process and the immovable instrument limit its wider application in the cultural heritage field. The occurrence of Assing S. p. A. Surface Monitor, a portable system integrating X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and XRD, provides researchers with a new solution. Raw mineral, polished gemstone, pigment powder and Chinese ink stick claimed to be composed of cinnabar were measured by the system as well as laboratory-type XRD and micro-Raman techniques in this study. The qualitative XRF results were applied to determining the elements existing in the samples and thus defining the range of possible phases. Patterns obtained were compared carefully with the characteristic lines to determine the most likely phases, while the pattern appearances were compared in order to recognize the different states of cinnabar and generalize the experience for identifying cinnabar by the system. The Raman spectra obtained were compared and analyzed in order to learn the best parameters and determine the real composition of each sample. The results indicate that the XRF detector is sensitive enough to distinguish cinnabar from another red pigment, minium (Pb3O4), without destructive preparation provided that the desired phases occupy a major content in the sample, while the laser micro-Raman is even better in application range and measurement speed but correct analysis of the spectra is highly dependent on experience and literatures. The portable coupled XRF-XRD system and the micro-Raman provide researchers with convenient and efficient options to preliminarily identify minerals like cinnabar, which is significantly meaningful to several research fields including mineralogy, heritage science, material science, etc. Article highlights Two efficient and non-destructive methods for the preliminary identification of minerals like cinnabar were developed. The optimum instrument parameters for the effective measurement of different cinnabar samples were given in detail. The study provides useful data for various fields including analytical science, material science, heritage science, etc.

The use of molecular pathology is becoming more evident every year, with 92% of pathologists stating that they use molecular pathology on a regular basis when reporting diagnostic work. This growth has been led not just through service development and improvement, but also with the introduction of new treatments offering patients significant improvement and overall better survival from cancer. These new treatments tend to require a targeted genomic test to identify specific cohorts of patients that will benefit. This has led to a reform of genomic and molecular pathology testing across the four nations of the United Kingdom, with the introduction of new regional testing hubs. These centres mainly use next generation sequencing platforms, to test for both the inherited and somatic mutations which drive disease. Next generation sequencing offers high-throughput cost effective sequencing of DNA, either via sequencing; individual genes, groups of genes, coding DNA known as Exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing to analysis every base pair in the patients DNA. This technology comes with new ways of working within the laboratory and relays heavily on the data analysis via bioinformatic analysis to; analyse, manipulate, quality control and interpret the vast about of data from these platforms. With the regionalization of testing to the genomic hubs, and with the increased movement of diagnostic cytopathology towards near patient sampling, this opens an opportunity for cytopathology departments to work in partnership with the new genetic testing hubs, to make sure that both parties can avail off the superior benefits offered by cytology samples; safe procurement, formalin free, high diagnostic value, rapid, minimally invasive and a high DNA yield. Cytopathology can also offer a rapid report based on sample suitability for molecular testing based on cellular content, but this to will change with the possible presence of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) which has been reported to be present in abundance in serous fluid supernatants. This supernatant that is normally discarded in the preparation of samples may hold vast diagnostic potential in the move to NGS testing.

Background Artificial intelligence can assist in cardiac image interpretation. Here, we achieved a substantial reduction in time required to read a cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) study to estimate left atrial volume without compromising accuracy or reliability. Rather than deploying a fully automatic black-box, we propose to incorporate the automated LA volumetry into a human-centric interactive image-analysis process. Methods and results Atri-U, an automated data analysis pipeline for long-axis cardiac cine images, computes the atrial volume by: (i) detecting the end-systolic frame, (ii) outlining the endocardial borders of the LA, (iii) localizing the mitral annular hinge points and constructing the longitudinal atrial diameters, equivalent to the usual workup done by clinicians. In every step human interaction is possible, such that the results provided by the algorithm can be accepted, corrected, or re-done from scratch. Atri-U was trained and evaluated retrospectively on a sample of 300 patients and then applied to a consecutive clinical sample of 150 patients with various heart conditions. The agreement of the indexed LA volume between Atri-U and two experts was similar to the inter-rater agreement between clinicians (average overestimation of 0.8 mL/m2 with upper and lower limits of agreement of − 7.5 and 5.8 mL/m2, respectively). An expert cardiologist blinded to the origin of the annotations rated the outputs produced by Atri-U as acceptable in 97% of cases for step (i), 94% for step (ii) and 95% for step (iii), which was slightly lower than the acceptance rate of the outputs produced by a human expert radiologist in the same cases (92%, 100% and 100%, respectively). The assistance of Atri-U lead to an expected reduction in reading time of 66%—from 105 to 34 s, in our in-house clinical setting. Conclusions Our proposal enables automated calculation of the maximum LA volume approaching human accuracy and precision. The optional user interaction is possible at each processing step. As such, the assisted process sped up the routine CMR workflow by providing accurate, precise, and validated measurement results.

All banknotes have security features which are intended to help determine whether they are false or genuine. Typically, however, the general public has limited knowledge of where on a banknote these security features can be found. Here, we tested whether counterfeit detection can be improved with the help of salient elements, designed to guide bottom-up visuospatial attention. We also tested the influence of the participant’s a priori level of trust in the authenticity of the banknote. In an online study (N = 422), a demographically diverse panel of Dutch participants distinguished genuine banknotes from banknotes with one (left- or right-sided) counterfeited security feature. Either normal banknotes (without novel design elements) or banknotes that contained a salient element (a pink rectangular frame) were presented for 1 s. To manipulate the participant’s level of trust, trials were administered in three blocks, whereby at the start of each block, participants were instructed that either one third, one half, or two thirds of the upcoming banknotes were counterfeit (though the true ratio was always 1:1). We hypothesized (i) that in the presence of a salient element, counterfeits would be better detected when the location of the salient element aligned with the location of the counterfeited security feature—i.e. that it would act as an attentional cue; and (ii) that this effect would be stronger with lower trust. Our hypotheses were partly confirmed: counterfeit detection improved with ‘valid cues’ and decreasing trust, but the level of trust did not modulate the cueing effect. As the overall detection performance was rather poor, we replicated the study with a sample of university students (N = 66), this time presenting stimuli until response. While indeed observing better overall performance, all other patterns were replicated. Our results provide evidence that attention can be guided to enhance banknote authentication.

Bulk tank milk (BTM) is an easy, inexpensive, and representative sample for detection of Coxiella burnetii infections (Q fever) in dairy herds using real-time PCR. Bulk tank milk PCR can be performed either for initial herd screening or for monitoring the effectiveness of preventive measures. However, one major limitation under field conditions is the need to deliver BTM samples in adequate condition (quickly, safely, and under refrigeration) to a qualified laboratory. In addition, sending non-inactivated biological samples via normal mail may be prohibited. We developed an innovative, easy, and accurate diagnostic tool (QTest) for Q fever to support veterinarians and farmers in overcoming these constraints. The farmer or veterinarian simply places some drops of BTM on a Whatman FTA Elute Micro Card (FTA card) and lets the card dry before mailing it to the laboratory. In a 2-step study, we tested the hypotheses that (1) BTM samples stored on FTA cards are stable over time and at different temperatures, and (2) PCR results obtained via FTA cards are consistent with those obtained from raw BTM samples. The stability of C. burnetii DNA in milk preserved on an FTA card was maintained for at least 29 d at room temperature or 37°C to mimic field conditions. In our field study, of the original 70 positive BTM samples (when tested on raw BTM just after sampling), 58 samples were positive (on either raw BTM or FTA card) by the time of the direct comparison study (10 to 14 d later). Of these 58 samples, 45 raw BTM samples still tested positive after aging, and 53 FTA card BTM samples tested positive, indicating that detection was higher using FTA cards (91.4%) than raw milk (77.6%). Therefore, with inactivation and shipping advantages, this technique facilitates an easier and more practical approach to diagnosis of Q fever at the herd level and would support Q fever control strategies, especially in countries lacking adequate and close laboratory facilities.

Water consumed is stored in several water bodies in and around us, out of which dams accommodate a major portion of water. The quantity and quality monitoring of water in dams is troublesome due to their large surface area and high depths. Although groundwater resources are the primary water source in India, dams plays a vital role in water distribution and storage network. The Central Water Commission in India has identified more than 5,000 dams of which a major portion is persistently consumed by the rural and urban populations for drinking and irrigation. The water quality of these reservoirs is of serious concern as it would not only affect the socio-economic status of the nation but the aquatic systems as well. Water quality control and management are vital for a delivering clean water supply to the general society. Because of their size, collecting, assessing, and managing a vast volume of water quality data are critical. Water quality data are primarily obtained through manual field sampling; however, real-time sensor monitoring is increasingly being used for more efficient data collection. The literature depicts that the methods involving remote sensing and image processing of water quality analysis consume time, and require sample collection at various depths, analysis of collected samples, and manual interpretations. The objective of this study was to propose a novel cost-effective method to monitor water quality devoid of considerable human intervention. Sensor-based online monitoring aids in assessing the sample with limited technology, at various depths of water in the dam to analyze turbidity which gives the major indication of pure water. The quality analysis of the dam water is suitable if the water is assessed at the distribution end before consumption. Hence, to enhance the water management system, other quality parameters like pH, conductivity, temperature are sensed and monitored in the distribution pipeline. An unstable pH can alter the chemical and microbiological aspects of water, resulting in a variation of other water quality parameters. Temperature variations affect the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water bodies and results in unstable quality parameters. The change in dissolved solvents and the ionic concentration alters the electrical conductivity of the water and the increased concentration of salts also results in turbidity. The data from all the sensors are processed by the microcontroller, transmitted, and displayed in a mobile application comprehensible to the layman. HIGHLIGHTS The quantity and quality monitoring of water in dams is troublesome due to their large surface area and high depths.; An effective quality analysis is the demand of the hour and the problem statement is identified in developing a system to check water quality at various depths in a dam.; An efficient pipeline with various sensors which monitor turbidity, pH, and conductivity is developed as a prototype low cost device.

Acta crystallographica / A 77(6), 611 - 636 (2021). doi:10.1107/S2053273321010159, We explore data reduction and correction steps and processed data reproducibility in the emerging single crystal total scattering based technique of three-dimensional differential atomic pair distribution function (3D-$\Delta$PDF) analysis. All steps from sample measurement to data-processing are outlined in detail using a CuIr$_2$S$_4$ example crystal studied in a setup equipped with a high-energy x-ray beam and a flat panel area detector. Computational overhead as it pertains to data-sampling and the associated data processing steps is also discussed. Various aspects of the final 3D-$\Delta$PDF reproducibility are explicitly tested by varying data-processing order and included steps, and by carrying out a crystal-to-crystal data comparison. We identify situations in which the 3D-$\Delta$PDF is robust, and caution against a few particular cases which can lead to inconsistent 3D-$\Delta$PDFs. Although not all the approaches applied here-in will be valid across all systems, and a more in-depth analysis of some of the effects of the data processing steps may still needed, the methods collected here-in represent the start of a more systematic discussion about data processing and corrections in this field., Published by Blackwell, Oxford [u.a.]

Mechanical testing of materials at smaller length scales enables targeted studies into microstructural features while considering the limitations and handling of irradiated samples. However, sample preparation is a timely and costly task via conventional methods; as a result, data at small length scales suffer from limited statistics. Femtosecond laser machining has been shown to enable the rapid and consistent fabrication of micro-mesoscale samples. In this study, femtosecond laser machining was employed to produce micromechanical test specimens of a range of sample geometries and dimensions. Specifically, the machining and testing of three overall geometries was explored: laser SSJ2, laser lathe, and laser sheet. Associated with the development of machining procedures for these samples was the development of testing setups. The testing data from initial specimens show that both an increased throughput of small-scale mechanical testing and the generation of reliable data are possible with these methods.

The tire without air is a tire that has a very extraordinary influence on the units of vehicle users, both public vehicles and tactical vehicles in the military. In addition to being used in the field of duty, this airless tire can be used for other supporting vehicles of army so there are not many obstacles during operations. Therefore, it takes good materials and proper calculations in making this airless tire tread so that in the future there are no obstacles when using it. The research methods used are experimental methods and field studies. The study was conducted repeatedly and the data was taken directly in the field. After mechanical testing of the rubber material is done to find out the physical properties of the strength of the material. Furthermore, the entire printing and assembly process is carried out and tested on the vehicle, for the conclusion of static analysis of rubber sample material that has been done has determined the proper hardness for the material connected with polyurethane, the appropriate hardness for this rubber is 80 KN/mm. The process has been tested from each sample of rubber hardness variations and the results are determined, in addition to rheometer testing or maturation process takes 5 minutes and is given a temperature of 100 °C and is assisted by hydraulic so that air from volcanic rubber is lost with the help of hydraulic pressure.

Samples of biologic specimens and their derivatives (eg, wet tissues, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks, histology slides, frozen tissues, whole blood, serum/plasma, and urine) are routinely collected during the course of nonclinical toxicity studies. Good Laboratory Practice regulations and/or guidance specify minimum requirements for specimen retention duration, with the caveat that retention of biologic specimens need not extend beyond the duration of sample stability. However, limited availability of published data regarding stability for various purposes following storage of each specimen type has resulted in confusion, uncertainty, and inconsistency as to the appropriate duration for storage of these specimens. To address these issues, a working group of the Society of Toxicologic Pathology Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee was formed to review published information, regulations, and guidance pertinent to this topic and to summarize the current practices and rationales for retention duration through a survey-based approach. Information regarding experiences reaccessing biologic specimens and performing sample stability investigations was also collected. Based on this combined information, the working group developed several points to consider that may be referenced when developing or revising sample retention practices. [Box: see text]

Background. The researchers have shown that even small doses of some chemical substances in cosmetics, when absorbing and accumulating in the body, can damage the skin and provoke various diseases. Therefore, the choice of organic cosmetics with certified ingredients can contribute to human health and nature conservation. The survey aimed to determine behavior of choice and consumption of organic cosmetic products according to the consumers’ socio-demographic characteristics. Methods. A quantitative survey was performed, a validated questionnaire and data collection method – a written survey were used. Survey sample – 335 people (38.5 ± 4.07 years old). Data analysis using SPSS 26.0 was performed, calculated percentage frequencies, mean, Pearson’s Chi-Square test to detect statistically significant differences, and Spearman’s correlation was used. Results. The study found that more than half of women used organic cosmetics. A significant difference (p

The brain's magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is tasked with finding the pixels or voxels that establish where the brain is in a medical image The Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) can process curved baselines that frequently occur in scanned documents. Next, the lines are separated into characters. In the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) can process curved baselines that frequently occur in scanned documents case of fonts with a fixed MRI width, the gaps are analyzed and split. Otherwise, a limited region above the baseline is analyzed, separated, and classified. The words with the lowest recognition score are split into further characters x until the result improves. If this does not improve the recognition score, contours are merged and classified again to check the change in the recognition score. The features for classification are extracted from small fixed-size patches over neighboring contours and matched against the trained deep learning representations this approach enables Tesseract to easily handle MRI sample results broken into multiple parts, which is impossible if each contour is processed separately Hard to read! Try to split sentences. The CNN inception network seem to be a suitable choice for the evaluation of the synthetic MRI samples with 3000 features, and 12000 samples of images as data augmentation capacities favors data which is similar to the original training set and thus unlikely to contain new information content with an accuracy of 98.68%. The error is only 1.32% with the increasing the number of training samples, but the most significant impact in reducing the error can be made by increasing the number of samples.

We present results of the analysis of light and radial velocity (RV) curves of eight detached eclipsing binaries observed by the All-Sky Automated Survey, which we have followed up with high-resolution spectroscopy, and were later observed by the $Kepler$ satellite as part of the $K2$ mission. The RV measurements came from spectra obtained with OAO-188/HIDES, MPG-2.2m/FEROS, SMARTS 1.5m/CHIRON, Euler/CORALIE, ESO-3.6m/HARPS, and OHP-1.93/ELODIE instruments. The $K2$ time-series photometry was analyzed with the JKTEBOP code, with out-of-eclipse modulations of different origin taken into account. Individual component spectra were retrieved with the FD3 code, and analyzed with the code iSpec in order to determine effective temperatures and metallicities. Absolute values of masses, radii, and other stellar parameters are calculated, as well as ages, found through isochrone fitting. For five systems such analysis has been done for the first time. The presented sample consists of a variety of stars, from low-mass dwarfs, through G and F-type Main Sequence objects, to evolved active sub-giants, one of which is found to be crossing the Hertzsprung gap. One target may contain a $\gamma$ Dor-type pulsator, two more are parts of higher-order multiples, and spectra of their tertiaries were also retrieved and used to constrain the properties of these systems., Comment: This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in MNRAS following peer review. 23 pages, 7 figures, 9 tables. Complete versions of some tables and figures will appear with the main article as supplementary material

Rapid DNA platforms are fully automated systems capable of processing DNA from biological samples and interpreting the results in approximately 90 minutes with minimal human intervention. With a greater reliance on the system than on the analyst, validation data are especially needed to define the performance and limitations of commercially available Rapid DNA systems. Thus, validation studies of a Rapid DNA workflow consisting of the Applied Biosystems RapidHIT ID Instrument and RapidLINK software with a focus on the ACE GlobalFiler Express Sample Cartridge and reference buccal swabs were performed in accordance with Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods Validation Guidelines. These validation studies included assessments of sensitivity, contamination, concordance, reproducibility and repeatability, stability, inhibition, mixtures, sample reprocessing, precision, and first-pass success rate. Overall, the current Applied Biosystems RapidHIT ID Instrument with the ACE GlobalFiler Express sample cartridge was found to be a reliable tool for generation of STR profiles from reference-type buccal swabs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00414-021-02722-9.

Biochar is a promising carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technology for climate change mitigation. Current procedures for its determination are lengthy, labor-intensive, and difficult to conduct. Benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCA) are the most promising molecular markers for identification and quantification of biochar and its quality as they specifically represent the stable polyaromatic backbone of biochar. Therefore, using the BPCA method, its stability and, thus, its C sequestration potential could be used for CDR accounting. The current BPCA method relies on a specific high-pressure digestion apparatus, which is not available around the world. Therefore, the aims of the present work were (i) to compare the conventional high-pressure nitric acid oxidation with a microwave-assisted digestion technique and optimize the oxidation conditions in such a way that previous results are comparable with future ones, and (ii) to significantly reduce the digestion time of soil samples of 8 h and to develop a suitable routine method that produces comparable and reproducible results. For this purpose, soil and control sample series were prepared for different temperature–time-program. Obtained results were compared with the values of the conventional method both for individual samples and for the whole dataset separately. To ensure the representativeness of the results, in addition to various soil samples with different properties, we included two reference materials into our data set, one without biochar (wheat flour) and a biochar sample. Our results showed that conventional nitric acid oxidation in the BPCA determination at 170 °C and 8 h can be substituted by digestion in a microwave reaction system (CEM Mars6) at 190 °C and 1 h. Our results further showed that this condition needs to be strictly matched, because, otherwise, over- or underestimation of biochar quantity and/or quality will be the consequence. The goal of a less time-consuming BPCA extraction from soil samples was achieved by reducing the extraction time from 8 to 1 h using the microwave-assisted method. However, one disadvantage of the new method is that five times more sample material and chemicals are needed for further BPCA analysis, compared to the original method.

Sand washing is a common application in South Africa’s quarry and mining industry. Quarry industries want to separate their fine particles from their coarser, larger particles. The aim of the study was to redesign and optimize the sand wash plant through resizing, equipment selection, simulation modelling and mass balancing. This was achieved by collecting a feed sample and retrieving the particle size distribution information. These data were used to conduct a mass balance and design the plant. Once the equipment was sized and installed, further test work was completed to compare results from the previous test work conducted. These results showed that the sand wash plant’s behaviour not only matched the simulated results but provided the required size particles which were less than 75 µm. An optimized design was tested on an existing wash plant, and the test work had reflected that the plant was not only efficient in providing the same grade of material but also saved a large amount of water. The innovative designs into the sand wash plant were estimated to be sustainable and cost-effective.

This study is a descriptive survey model which aims to reveal the measurement estimation abilities of secondary school students. The sample of the study consisted of 91 secondary school students at 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades in the province of Adana. Measurement estimation ability test was used as the data collection tool. This test is comprised of 10 items which include five measurement estimation abilities as measurement of length, area, volume, liquid and weight. The data obtained from the data collection tool was analyzed by quantitative analysis methods. The analysis results showed that the students’ measurement estimation abilities differed according to their gender and that difference was not statistically significant. It was also observed that the students’ levels of measurement estimation abilities were at “acceptable low estimation” level, their general performances in the measurement estimation test differed according to their grade levels and that difference was not significant. Moreover, it was concluded that the length and weight estimation levels of the students regarding length, area, volume, liquid, weight estimation scores were better than the estimation levels of area, volume, fluid. Although their levels increased according to their grade levels, it was not significant according to grade level.

Objective The aim of this study was to refine the YSQ-L3 by identifying the most statistically and clinically appropriate items for each Early Maladaptive Schema (EMS) using Rasch analysis. Method A Rasch analysis was undertaken on a large sample (N = 838) that included a heterogeneous clinical sample (N = 574) and a smaller non-clinical group (N = 264). Results Overall, 116 out of 232 items showed misfit across a number of statistical indicators. After the removal of these items, the fit improved for all subscales and showed good (.74) to excellent (.86) reliability with the exception of Enmeshment (.57). In line with previous research, items originally measuring Punitiveness were found to better fit two separate subscales, Punitiveness (Self) and Punitiveness (Other). Similarly, items assessing Emotional Inhibition fit better as two different constructs; Emotional Constriction, reflecting an over-control related to shame/embarrassment of showing emotions, and Fear of Losing Control, related to anxiety of the consequences if emotions are not contained. Conclusion This is the first study to apply a rigorous methodological process to item selection from the YSQ-L3. The findings of this study are significant given the wide use of this scale cross-culturally in both clinical and research settings and offer a possible alternative to the current short form.

The human eye can distinguish as many as 10,000 different colours but is far less sensitive to variations in intensity1, meaning that colour is highly desirable when interpreting images. However, most biological samples are essentially transparent, and nearly invisible when viewed using a standard optical microscope2. It is therefore highly desirable to be able to produce coloured images without needing to add any stains or dyes, which can alter the sample properties. Here we demonstrate that colorimetric histology images can be generated using full-sized plasmonically active microscope slides. These slides translate subtle changes in the dielectric constant into striking colour contrast when samples are placed upon them. We demonstrate the biomedical potential of this technique, which we term histoplasmonics, by distinguishing neoplastic cells from normal breast epithelium during the earliest stages of tumorigenesis in the mouse MMTV-PyMT mammary tumour model. We then apply this method to human diagnostic tissue and validate its utility in distinguishing normal epithelium, usual ductal hyperplasia, and early-stage breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ). The colorimetric output of the image pixels is compared to conventional histopathology. The results we report here support the hypothesis that histoplasmonics can be used as a novel alternative or adjunct to general staining. The widespread availability of this technique and its incorporation into standard laboratory workflows may prove transformative for applications extending well beyond tissue diagnostics. This work also highlights opportunities for improvements to digital pathology that have yet to be explored. Colour contrast is added to unstained histological samples by using surface plasmon polaritons whose properties depend on the sample’s dielectric constant.

The best evaluation for the proportion of defective units in a batch of fruits and vegetables can be achieved by an exhaustive checking of all the boxes in the batch, that is prohibitive to perform in most cases. Usually, only a sample of boxes is checked. In EU countries, EU regulations establish to estimate the proportion of defective units in a batch by the proportion of defective units in the sample, without giving any rule for selecting boxes. Therefore, results are highly dependent on the subjective choice of boxes. In the present study, an objective design-based approach is considered to select boxes from batches, adopting balanced spatial schemes with equal inclusion probabilities. The schemes are able to select samples of boxes evenly spread throughout the batch also ensuring good statistical properties for the proportion of defective units in the sample as estimator of the proportion of defective units in the batch. The performance of these strategies is evaluated by means of a simulation study performed on real and artificial batches of apples, peppers and strawberries. A case study is considered to estimate the proportion of defective units in a batch of courgettes stored in a distribution center of a supermarket chain in Central Italy.

Material-efficient, highly load-bearing members made of high-performance compressive concretes are often exposed to cyclical loads because of their slender construction, which can be relevant to the design. When investigating the fatigue behaviour of high-performance concretes in pressure swell tests, however, the specimen temperature rises strongly owing to the elevated loading rate at frequencies higher than 3 Hz. This leads to a negative influence on the achieved number of load cycles compared to tests carried out at slow speeds and calculated values, for example, according to fib Model Code 2010. This phenomenon, which was already observed, must be considered when generating design formulae or Wöhler lines for component design, as the test conditions with high constant load frequencies as well as sample storage in a climate chamber at constant conditions are prerequisites that cannot be expected in real material applications. Therefore, laboratory testing influences must be eliminated in order to avoid underestimating the material. Instead of adjusting the test conditions to prevent or control temperature development, as was the case in previous approaches, this article shows how the temperature effects can be corrected when analysing the results, considering both the applied stress and the maximum temperature reached. For this purpose, a calculation method was developed that was validated on the basis of a large number of fatigue tests. Thus, in the future, the application of one temperature sensor to the test specimen can effectively advance the extraction of values for Wöhler curves, even with high test frequencies.

In a simultaneous discrimination, pigeons are presumed to learn to about the correct stimulus, but they may also learn to avoid the incorrect stimulus. Similarly, in a conditional discrimination, they are presumed to learn about the relation between the sample stimulus and the correct comparison stimulus but not about the incorrect comparison stimulus. In the present research, we encouraged pigeons to learn about the incorrect comparison stimulus by increasing, over trials, the number of correct comparison stimuli with one sample, to compare with increasing the number of incorrect comparison stimuli over trials with the other sample. In Experiment 1, using colors and shapes, we found no difference in acquisition between the 2 sample types. However, when we replaced either the correct or incorrect comparison from training with a novel stimulus, the pigeons showed that they had learned to avoid the incorrect comparison when there were multiple correct comparisons and to select the single correct comparison when there were multiple incorrect comparisons. In Experiment 2, using national flags as stimuli, when tested with a novel flag stimulus, once again, the pigeons learned about the single correct comparison but not about the multiple incorrect comparisons. However, with the other sample, they appeared to learn about both the multiple correct comparisons and about the single incorrect comparison. This research indicates that pigeons can show considerable flexibility in what they learn in a conditional discrimination. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Liquid-based preparation (LBP) cytology is commonly used in most laboratories these days due to its convenience and reliable results for the cervical cancer screening program. The PathTezt™ Liquid-based Pap smear is a second-generation LBP, which uses a filter-based concentration technique in processing the sample. Objective This study was done to evaluate the cellular fixation, morphology, quality of smear in gynae cytology, and diagnostic interpretation of cervical cytological smears produced by the PathTezt liquid-based processor. Materials and methods A total of 400 pap smear samples were taken and processed using the PathTezt 2000 processor. The slides were evaluated in terms of sample adequacy, percentage of the circle covered by epithelial cells, cellular distribution, obscuring factors, and cell fixation. Results About 95.25% (381) of the samples were satisfactory for the evaluation. In 19 (4.75%) of the samples, epithelial cells covered less than 50% of the circle. A sample with good cellular distribution was seen in 92% of the cases, while 354 (88.5%) samples showed minimal inflammatory background. Almost all the smears (95.75%) had no erythrocytes in the background. All smears showed good quality fixation features toward nuclear, cytoplasm, and microorganisms. The total performance rate was 99%. Conclusion Although the PathTezt liquid-based processor is still new compared to other first-generation LBP, the smears produced by this method were of high quality and it was cost-effective.

Purpose To compare the performance of OSDI and SPEED questionnaires in a non-clinical sample in Pakistan. Methods SPEED and OSDI questionnaires were simultaneously administered to a sample of 600 participants in Pakistan with an average age of 31.0 ± 10.1 years. Results Mean SPEED scores were calculated according to the OSDI categories and were found to be 3.33 ± 3.44, 5.45 ± 3.77, 7.86 ± 4.33, and 9.39 ± 4.56 for the normal, mild, moderate, and severe groups, respectively. Using Cronbach’s alpha, the total OSDI and SPEED scores were calculated to be 0.924 and 0.879, respectively. A receiver operating curve was plotted, and the area under the curve (AUC) was estimated to be 0.791. Using this curve, the cutoff score for the SPEED questionnaire was found to be 4.00 (P < 0.001). Conclusion The SPEED questionnaire can be used as an effective alternative to the OSDI.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is necessary for confirming a diagnosis of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here we present a COVID-19 case of an elderly woman whose SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests showed false negative repeatedly by evaluating with different sampling sites and procedures. Nasopharyngeal swabs, suctioned sputum, and tongue swabs were collected for SARS-CoV-2-PCR. As for tongue swabs, we compared between two different sample conditions; one obtained with dry condition and the other obtained with moistened condition inside the oral cavity. SARS-CoV-2-PCR showed positive for an extended period with suctioned sputum samples compared with nasopharyngeal swabs and tongue swabs. No SARS-CoV-2 from a nasopharyngeal swab sample obtained on day 46 after symptoms onset was isolated despite high viral load (183740.5 copies/5μL). An adequate production of neutralizing antibody in a serum sample on day 46 was also confirmed. The number of RNA copies of the tongue swab samples was higher with moistened condition than with dry condition. The present case suggests that the difference of sampling site or sample condition can affect PCR results. High loads viral RNA detection does not always correlate with infectivity.