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Gynecologic cancers remain a frequent and deadly diagnosis. Historically, treatment has focused on a “one size fits all” approach, but there is an urgent need for more personal medicine. Hence, to enhance personal medicine, new biomarkers are needed. Samples from the Danish Cancer Biobank (DCB) may be well‐suited for biomarker studies, as the biobank contains samples from more than 100.000 cancer patients, and the samples are annotated with pre‐analytical variables. The aim of this study was to investigate if the recorded pre‐analytical variables indicate the gynecologic tissue in DCB are suited for biomarker studies. Data on processing time, transport time, and registration‐ and verification status were extracted from all patients with a gynecologic tissue sample collected between 2020 and 2022 in DCB. The mean processing time across centers was found to be 1.03 h (SD = 0.71), and the mean transport time was found to be 0.32 h (SD = 0.70). In total, 69% of the tissue samples were pathologically examined, and 91.5% of the pathologically examined samples were found to be concordant with the patient's final diagnosis. While differences were observed, 98% of the samples were processed within 3 h, indicating the majority of gynecologic tissue samples in DCB are of high quality and optimal for biomarker studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finger vein recognition is an emerging biometric trait known for its privacy features. Despite the remarkable performance of deep learning methods like convolutional neural networks on challenging finger vein datasets, their reliability and robustness need further examination. This study evaluates the robustness of three recognition methods—the traditional Miura Method, a supervised convolutional neural network, and an unsupervised convolutional auto-encoder—through the challenging and more realistic scenario of cross-dataset comparisons. We also analyse the reliability of these methods in terms of sample quality. We introduce a novel vein quality metric to measure vein clarity and complexity and compare it against an existing image quality metric, natural image quality evaluator. Our findings reveal differences in how these recognition methods utilise finger vein images for comparisons, highlighting the need for robust recognition techniques in more realistic scenarios. In addition, our vein quality metric effectively detects defective images, reducing the zero false-match rate from 34.98% to 8.18% on the SDUMLA-HMT dataset. These results indicate the need for metrics more focussing on finger vein image characteristics for effective quality assessment for finger vein images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Finger vein recognition is an emerging biometric trait known for its privacy features. Despite the remarkable performance of deep learning methods like convolutional neural networks on challenging finger vein datasets, their reliability and robustness need further examination. This study evaluates the robustness of three recognition methods—the traditional Miura Method, a supervised convolutional neural network, and an unsupervised convolutional auto-encoder—through the challenging and more realistic scenario of cross-dataset comparisons. We also analyse the reliability of these methods in terms of sample quality. We introduce a novel vein quality metric to measure vein clarity and complexity and compare it against an existing image quality metric, natural image quality evaluator. Our findings reveal differences in how these recognition methods utilise finger vein images for comparisons, highlighting the need for robust recognition techniques in more realistic scenarios. In addition, our vein quality metric effectively detects defective images, reducing the zero false-match rate from 34.98% to 8.18% on the SDUMLA-HMT dataset. These results indicate the need for metrics more focussing on finger vein image characteristics for effective quality assessment for finger vein images.

This paper evaluates 16 year results of the Allergy EQA program shared by EQA organisers in Belgium, Finland, Portugal, and The Netherlands. The performance of Thermo Fisher and Siemens user groups (in terms of concordance between both groups, between laboratory CV, prevalence of clinically significant errors) and suitability of samples (stability and validity of dilution of patient samples) are evaluated using data of 192 samples in the EQA programs from 2007 to 2022. Measurands covered are total IgE, screens and mixes, specific IgE extracts and allergen components. There is perfect (53 %), acceptable (40 %) and poor (6 %) concordance between both method groups. In case of poor concordance the best fit with clinical data is seen for Thermo Fisher (56 %) and Siemens (26 %) respectively. The between laboratory CV evolves from 7.8 to 6.6 % (Thermo Fisher) and 7.3 to 7.7 % (Siemens). The prevalence of blunders by individual laboratories is stable for Siemens (0.4 %) and drops from 0.4 to 0.2 % for Thermo Fisher users. For IgE, the between year CV of the mean of both user groups is 1 %, and a fifteen-fold dilution of a patient sample has an impact of 2 and 4 % on the recovery of Thermo Fisher and Siemens user groups. The analytical performance of Thermo Fisher is slightly better than that of Siemens users but the clinical impact of this difference is limited. Stability of the sample and the low impact of dilution on the recovery of measurands demonstrates the suitability for purpose of the EQA program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACTThe current land cover (LC) mapping paradigm relies on automatic satellite imagery classification, predominantly through supervised methods, which depend on training data to calibrate classification algorithms. Hence, training data have a critical influence on classification accuracy. Although research on specific aspects of training data in the LC classification context exists, a study that organizes and synthetizes the multiplicity of aspects and findings of these researches is needed. In this article, we review the training data used for LC classification of satellite imagery. A protocol of identification and selection of relevant documents was followed, resulting in 114 peer-reviewed studies included. Main research topics were identified and documents were characterized according to their contribution to each topic, which allowed uncovering subtopics and categories and synthetizing the main findings regarding different aspects of the training dataset. The analysis found four research topics, namely construction of the training dataset, sample quality, sampling design and advanced learning techniques. Subtopics included sample collection method, sample cleaning procedures, sample size, sampling method, class balance and distribution, among others. A summary of the main findings and approaches provided an overview of the research in this area, which may serve as a starting point for new LC mapping initiatives.

AbstractDue to the perishable nature of food, especially vegetables, and the need for long-term storage, freezing is one of the best methods to preserve food, and thawing is often required to use frozen products. The purpose of this study was to use the combined method of defrosting using hot air-infrared radiation on the quality characteristics of defrosted cooked carrot samples. At first, after cutting, the carrot samples were cooked at 75 °C for 30 minutes, and after placing the thermocouple inside the samples, they were frozen at -18°C for 48 hours. Then, the effect of defrosting parameters including air temperature (30 and 40 °C), air velocity (0.5 and 5 ms-1) and infrared power (100 and 300 W) on the quality characteristics of defrosted cooked carrots was investigated and the sample thawed at 25 °C was considered as a control samples. Using this method, the thawing time for the control sample was reduced from 47 min to 6.11 min in the optimal conditions, The minimum amount of ascorbic acid was 2.63 mg100 g-1 for treatment 1 and the maximum for treatment 6 was 5.78 mg100 g-1 . The amount of beta-carotene in the control sample was 29.21 mg100 g-1 in the minimum condition and 49.33 mg100 g-1 in the optimal condition. The highest amount of loss due to defrosting belonged to treatment 8 by 18.32% and the lowest amount belonged to the control sample by 44.7%. The use of combined infrared-hot air method is very suitable for defrosting cooked carrots and in addition to reducing the duration of defrosting, it maintains the quality of the product to a great extent. This method is very cost-effective and its investment and setup costs are small and can be used for various products.

Introduction: Due to the perishable nature of food, especially vegetables, and the need for long-term storage, freezing is one of the best methods to preserve food, and thawing is often required to use frozen products. The purpose of this study was to use the combined method of defrosting using hot air-infrared radiation and the interaction effect of temperature, air velocity and infrared radiation source power on the quality characteristics of defrosted cooked carrot samples. Materials and Methods: At first, after cutting, the carrot samples were cooked at 75 °C for 30 minutes, and after placing the thermocouple inside the samples, they were frozen at -18°C for 48 hours. Then, the effect of defrosting parameters including air temperature (30 and 40 °C), air velocity (0.5 and 5 ms-1 ) and infrared power (100 and 300 W) on the quality characteristics of defrosted cooked carrots was investigated and the sample thawed at 25 °C was considered as a control sample. Increasing temperature, power of radiation and air velocity had a significant effect on thawing time, ascorbic acid, beta-carotene and thawing lost and pH (P≤0.05). Results and Discussion: Using this method, the thawing time for the control sample was reduced from 47 min to 6.11 min in the optimal conditions. The minimum pH was 5.49 for treatment 1 and the maximum for treatment 6 was 6.28. The minimum amount of ascorbic acid was 2.63 mg100 g-1 for treatment 1 and the maximum for treatment 6 was 5.78 mg100 g-1 . The amount of beta-carotene in the control sample was 29.21 mg100 g-1 in the minimum condition and 49.33 mg100 g-1 in the optimal condition. The highest amount of loss due to defrosting belonged to treatment 8 by 18.32% and the lowest amount belonged to the control sample by 44.7%. Conclusion: The use of combined infrared-hot air method is very suitable for defrosting cooked carrots. In addition to reducing the duration of defrosting, it maintains the quality of the product to a great extent. This method is very cost-effective and its investment and setup costs are small and can be used for various products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Management strategies and the use of advanced technologies are equally important for determining the sample number and sampling frame for successful field sampling for animal disease prevalence studies. The quality of the biological samples collected in the field has a direct bearing on the integrity of the data generated, prevalence estimates and subsequent policy decisions on disease control. Hence, compromising the quality of biological samples collected in the field could potentially undermine the priority setting principles in disease control strategies. Biological samples collected from domestic animals in the field are precious materials and require meticulous planning for sample collection, sample storage in the field, transportation, and storage in the laboratory. Poorly managed field sampling has a significant detrimental impact on the sample quality and quantity and directly affects the accuracy of disease prevalence data. A bad choice of sampling tools, containers, storage and transport all have a negative impact on the integrity of the sample and consequently have an impact on the outcome. Over the last two years, as part of our one health animal sampling work in India, we have observed challenges and opportunities in the field sampling of animals for disease prevalence studies. This paper aims to provide information on management practices and technologies for efficient biological sample collection from the field and ensure that good quality samples are available for testing.

Management strategies and the use of advanced technologies are equally important for determining the sample number and sampling frame for successful field sampling for animal disease prevalence studies. The quality of the biological samples collected in the field has a direct bearing on the integrity of the data generated, prevalence estimates and subsequent policy decisions on disease control. Hence, compromising the quality of biological samples collected in the field could potentially undermine the priority setting principles in disease control strategies. Biological samples collected from domestic animals in the field are precious materials and require meticulous planning for sample collection, sample storage in the field, transportation, and storage in the laboratory. Poorly managed field sampling has a significant detrimental impact on the sample quality and quantity and directly affects the accuracy of disease prevalence data. A bad choice of sampling tools, containers, storage and transport all have a negative impact on the integrity of the sample and consequently have an impact on the outcome. Over the last two years, as part of our one health animal sampling work in India, we have observed challenges and opportunities in the field sampling of animals for disease prevalence studies. This paper aims to provide information on management practices and technologies for efficient biological sample collection from the field and ensure that good quality samples are available for testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have attained significant prominence in gene therapy and genome editing applications, necessitating the development of robust and precise methodologies to ensure the quality and purity of AAV products. Existing AAV characterization techniques have proven effective for the analysis of pure and homogeneous AAV samples. However, there is still a demand for a rapid and low-sample-consumption method suitable for the characterization of lower purity or heterogeneous AAV samples commonly encountered in AAV products. Addressing this challenge, we propose the SEC-MP method, which combines size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with mass photometry (MP). In this novel approach, SEC effectively separates monomeric AAV particles from impurities, while the UV detector determines the virus particle concentration. MP complements this process by estimating the fraction of fully packaged AAVs in the total population of AAV particles. This combined methodology enables accurate determination of the titer of effective, fully packaged AAVs in samples containing aggregates, incorrectly packaged AAVs with incomplete genomes, protein or DNA fragments, and other impurities. Our experimental results demonstrate that SEC-MP provides valuable guidance for sample quality control and subsequent applications in the field of AAV research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the geotechnical characteristics of index and deformation properties of Stockholm clays. These clays exhibit large variations both geographically and with depth. The clays range from highly organic clays with high plasticity to silty clays with low plasticity. First, the geological conditions of the clays are outlined to qualitatively explain the typical soil stratigraphy encountered in the Stockholm area. Second, two large generic databases are presented, containing 3,500 and 1,600 data points, respectively. The data originates from routine testing and constant rate of strain oedometer tests conducted in commercial projects. The data is analyzed and compared with results from high quality block sampling. It is seen that a common feature of the clays are low undrained shear strengths, and consequently low yield stresses and oedometer moduli. Further, several deformation properties such as preconsolidation pressure and several oedometer moduli is shown to depend on the soils natural water content and its plasticity. Differences in sample quality is shown to highly affect some properties, highlighting the importance of quality sampling and handling of samples. Criteria for sample quality for this type of clay is proposed based on the oedometer moduli before and after the preconsolidation pressure. The paper can hopefully work as a useful reference to engineers working on similar soils worldwide.

Recently, numerous new data-driven methods have been proposed. But most of them focused on the innovation of models and algorithms, and rarely discussed and optimized from the perspective of data and samples. However, the reliability of sample quality directly determines the effectiveness of machine learning models. In this paper, a novel data-driven method based on sample reliability assessment (SRA) and improved convolutional neural network (ICNN) for mechanical fault diagnosis was designed. First, multinomial logistic regression (MLR) was conducted to construct the assessment model and a statistical approach named influence function was used to compute the sample weights efficiently. Then, ICNN with the improved loss function was proposed based on the strategies of sample weights, class weights and early-stopping. Compared with traditional deep learning models, ICNN can better eliminate the negative impact of the problems during the model training including sample quality imbalance, class imbalance, and overfitting phenomenon. Therefore, the fault diagnosis performance can be improved. Finally, the trained ICNN can automatically extract the fault characteristics and achieve the fault diagnosis with the input of compressed time–frequency images. Experiments on a benchmarking dataset and a gear dataset from a practical experimental platform verified the superiority of the proposed fault diagnosis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for personalized medicine we are currently witnessing has given rise to more in-depth research in the field of biomarker discovery and, thus, in biological banks that hold the ability to process, collect, store, and distribute "high-quality" biological specimens. However, the notion of "specimen quality" is subject to change with technological advancements. In this perspective, we propose that the notion of sample quality should shift from a broad definition of "high-quality" to a "fit-forpurpose" concept more suitable for precision medicine studies. Digital twins are a digital replica of real entities. These are largely adopted in any digitalized domain and are currently finding applications in biomedicine. The adoption of digital twins for biosamples, proposed in this paper, can provide prompt information about the whole lifecycle of the physical twin (i.e., the biosample) and substantially extend the possible matching criteria between the available samples and the researchers' and physicians' requests. This finetuning matching could greatly contribute to improving the "fit-for-purpose" quality, not only for studies based on current needs, but also to improve the identification of the best available samples in future situations, determined by the evolution of technologies and biosciences. Assuming and exploiting a data-science view in our biobank perspective, the more (accurate) data there are available, the more information can be extrapolated from them, the more opportunities there are for matching future, currently unknown, needs. This should be a mandatory principle that the 'time machines' called biobanks should follow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines existing methods of evaluating sample quality, showing that their practical utility and applicability to large-scale cross-project comparisons depends on whether they require auxiliary individual-level data. Among those methods that do not demand any such additional data, we differentiate between two approaches that rely on (i) external criteria, that is, comparisons of sample estimates to benchmarks derived from external population statistics, and (ii) internal criteria, that is, comparisons of subsample estimates to a theoretically derived aprioristic value. Our analyses demonstrate the advantages and limitations of both approaches based on an evaluation of 1,125 national surveys carried out in Europe between 2002 and 2016 within four survey projects: the Eurobarometer, European Quality of Life Survey, European Social Survey, and International Social Survey Programme. We show that the prevailing absence of design weights in cross-national survey datasets severely limits the applicability of external criteria evaluations. In contrast, using internal criteria without any weights proves acceptable because incorporating design weights in calculations of internal sample quality has only minor consequences for estimates of sample bias. Furthermore, applying internal criteria, we find that around 75 percent of samples in the four analyzed projects are not significantly biased. We also identify surveys with extremely high sample bias and investigate its potential sources. The paper concludes with recommendations regarding future research, which are directed at secondary data users, as well as producers of cross-national surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the geotechnical characteristics of index and deformation properties of Stockholm clays. These clays exhibit large variations both geographically and with depth. The clays range from highly organic clays with high plasticity to silty clays with low plasticity. First, the geological conditions of the clays are outlined to qualitatively explain the typical soil stratigraphy encountered in the Stockholm area. Second, two large generic databases are presented, containing 3,500 and 1,600 data points, respectively. The data originates from routine testing and constant rate of strain oedometer tests conducted in commercial projects. The data is analyzed and compared with results from high quality block sampling. It is seen that a common feature of the clays are low undrained shear strengths, and consequently low yield stresses and oedometer moduli. Further, several deformation properties such as preconsolidation pressure and several oedometer moduli is shown to depend on the soils natural water content and its plasticity. Differences in sample quality is shown to highly affect some properties, highlighting the importance of quality sampling and handling of samples. Criteria for sample quality for this type of clay is proposed based on the oedometer moduli before and after the preconsolidation pressure. The paper can hopefully work as a useful reference to engineers working on similar soils worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AimTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of simple TaTNE in the treatment of low rectal cancer compared with laparoscopic transabdominal TME.MethodsWe collected patients with low rectal cancer admitted to our hospital between January 2019 and November 2021 who received simple TaTME or laparoscopic transabdominal TME. The main outcome was the integrity of the TME specimen. Secondary outcomes were the number of lymph nodes dissected, intraoperative blood loss, operative time, surgical conversion rate, Specimen resection length, circumferential margin (CRM), and distal resection margin (DRM), complication rate. In addition, the Wexner score and LARS score of fecal incontinence were performed in postoperative follow-up.ResultsPathological tissues were successfully resected in all patients. all circumferential margins of the specimen were negative. Specimen resection length was not statistically significant (9.94 ± 2.85 vs. 8.90 ± 2.49, P > 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications in group A (n = 0) was significantly lower than that in group B (n = 3) (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in operation time between group A and group B (296 ± 60.36 vs. 305 ± 58.28, P > 0.05). Among the patients with follow-up time less than 1 year, there was no significant difference in Wexner score and LARS score between group A and group B (P > 0.05). However, in patients who were followed up for more than 1 year, the Wexner score in group A (9.25 ± 2.73) was significantly lower than that in group B (17.36 ± 10.95) and was statistically significant (P

A nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) is the most frequently collected sample type when molecular diagnosis of respiratory viruses, including SARS CoV-2, is required. An optimal collection technique would provide sufficient sample quality for the diagnostic process and would minimize the discomfort felt by the patient. This study compares a simplified NPS collection procedure with only one rotation of the swab to a more standard procedure with five rotations. Swabs were collected from 76 healthy volunteers by the same healthcare professional on 2 consecutive days at a similar hour to minimize variability. The number of Ubiquitin C copy number per sample was measured by real-time quantitative PCR and patient discomfort was assessed by questionnaire. No statistically significant difference (p = 0.15) was observed in the Ubiquitin C copy number per sample between a NPS collected with one rotation (5.2 ± 0.6 log UBC number copies/sample) or five rotations (5.3 ± 0.5 log UBC number copies/sample). However, a statistically significant difference was observed in discomfort between these two procedures, the second being much more uncomfortable. Additional analysis of the results showed a weak correlation between discomfort and the number of human cells recovered (Spearman's rho = 0.202) and greater discomfort in younger people. The results of this study show that a NPS collected with one slow rotation has the same quality as a NPS collected with five rotations. However, the collection time is shorter and, most importantly, less unpleasant for patients.

Difficult venous access (DVA), characterized by non-visible and non-palpable veins, is common in oncology patients. The objectives of this study were to compare the performances of two blood collection sets in an oncology phlebotomy setting: BD Vacutainer® UltraTouch™ Push Button (UT-PBBCS) and BD Vacutainer® Safety-Lok™ Blood Collection Set (SLBCS). The two sets were evaluated to assess whether use of a smaller gauge (G) needle (down-gauging) may reduce patient pain and improve peripheral venous access experience during phlebotomy in oncology patients. Questionnaires were used to record patient data (age, gender), phlebotomy procedural observations (venipuncture site, number of collected tubes, blood flow, needle repositioning, underfilled tubes), patient pain perception and phlebotomist difficulty perception scores (0–10 points scale). Specimen quality was evaluated by hemolysis index (HI) on Roche Cobas® 6000. Subject groups showed no statistical difference. SLBCS (21/23G) or UT-PBBCS (23/25G) were used in 264 (45.8%) and 313 (54.2%) subjects respectively. Lower gauge was preferred for DVA (hand venipuncture), and DVA was associated with tube underfilling but no with type of blood collection set. For UT-PBBCS, pain perception, patients' anxiety level and phlebotomists' difficulty grade were lower when compared to SLBCS (p < 0.001). Blood samples collected with UT-PBBCS showed less hemolysis compared to samples collected with SLBCS (p < 0.001). Provision of a smaller gauge UT-PBBCS option during phlebotomy in oncology patients with DVA reduces procedural pain and anxiety and improved phlebotomist' experience during sample collection. Despite the down-gauging, hemolysis was lower for UT-PBBCS, keeping sample quality while improving DVA patient comfort. • BD Vacutainer® UltraTouch™ Push Button (UT-PBBCS) wingset reduces venipuncture pain. • UT-PBBCS is effective in adult oncology patients with Difficult Venous Access (DVA). • UT-PBBCS supports needle Gauge reduction to 25G without affecting sample quality. • Phlebotomists' experience is better for UT-PBBCS compared to standard wingset. • Combining BD Vacutainer® partial draw tubes and UT-PBBCS is effective for DVA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past decade, adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have attained significant prominence in gene therapy and genome editing applications, necessitating the development of robust and precise methodologies to ensure the quality and purity of AAV products. Existing AAV characterization techniques have proven effective for the analysis of pure and homogeneous AAV samples. However, there is still a demand for a rapid and low-sample-consumption method suitable for the characterization of lower purity or heterogeneous AAV samples commonly encountered in AAV products. Addressing this challenge, we propose the SEC-MP method, which combines size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with mass photometry (MP). In this novel approach, SEC effectively separates monomeric AAV particles from impurities, while the UV detector determines the virus particle concentration. MP complements this process by estimating the fraction of fully packaged AAVs in the total population of AAV particles. This combined methodology enables accurate determination of the titer of effective, fully packaged AAVs in samples containing aggregates, incorrectly packaged AAVs with incomplete genomes, protein or DNA fragments, and other impurities. Our experimental results demonstrate that SEC-MP provides valuable guidance for sample quality control and subsequent applications in the field of AAV research.

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Gynecologic cancers remain a frequent and deadly diagnosis. Historically, treatment has focused on a "one size fits all" approach, but there is an urgent need for more personal medicine. Hence, to enhance personal medicine, new biomarkers are needed. Samples from the Danish Cancer Biobank (DCB) may be well-suited for biomarker studies, as the biobank contains samples from more than 100.000 cancer patients, and the samples are annotated with pre-analytical variables. The aim of this study was to investigate if the recorded pre-analytical variables indicate the gynecologic tissue in DCB are suited for biomarker studies. Data on processing time, transport time, and registration- and verification status were extracted from all patients with a gynecologic tissue sample collected between 2020 and 2022 in DCB. The mean processing time across centers was found to be 1.03 h (SD = 0.71), and the mean transport time was found to be 0.32 h (SD = 0.70). In total, 69% of the tissue samples were pathologically examined, and 91.5% of the pathologically examined samples were found to be concordant with the patient's final diagnosis. While differences were observed, 98% of the samples were processed within 3 h, indicating the majority of gynecologic tissue samples in DCB are of high quality and optimal for biomarker studies., (© 2024 Scandinavian Societies for Pathology, Medical Microbiology and Immunology. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

In biomedical research, biorepositories are pivotal resources that safeguard and supply clinical samples for scientific investigators. Proper long-term cryopreservation conditions are essential to maintain biospecimen quality. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy of sample cryopreservation at the Texas Heart Institute Biorepository and Biospecimen Profiling Core (THI-BRC). Our assessments included a thorough review of internal processes, quality reports, and both internal and external audit outcomes. We examined the integrity of human bone marrow-derived multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) that were cryopreserved for over 5 years. These samples originated from randomly selected clinical trial participants or commercially sourced cell lines. Parameters such as cell viability, DNA and RNA integrity, population doubling time, sterility, and BM-MSC-specific attributes such as surface antigen expression and differentiation potential were studied. BM-MSC samples cryopreserved for ∼6 months served as our control. Our results demonstrated that the 5-year cryopreserved samples maintained their integrity compared with the shorter-term stored control samples. Moreover, THI-BRC has met accreditation agency standards and has not received any repeated deficiencies over 7 years. Collectively, our findings affirm that THI-BRC's biospecimen storage protocols align with accepted standards as confirmed by the quality assessment of long-term stored clinical samples.

The continuous evolution of metabolomics over the past two decades has stimulated the search for metabolic biomarkers of many diseases. Metabolomic data measured from urinary samples can provide rich information of the biological events triggered by organ rejection in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. With additional validation, metabolic markers can be used to build clinically useful diagnostic tools. However, there are many methodological steps ranging from data processing to modeling that can influence the performance of the resulting metabolomic classifiers. In this study we focus on the comparison of various classification methods that can handle the complex structure of metabolomic data, including regularized classifiers, partial least squares discriminant analysis, and nonlinear classification models. We also examine the effectiveness of a physiological normalization technique widely used in the clinical and biochemical literature but not extensively analyzed and compared in urine metabolomic studies. While the main objective of this work is to interrogate metabolomic data of pediatric kidney transplant recipients to improve the diagnosis of T cell‐mediated rejection (TCMR), we also analyze three independent datasets from other disease conditions to investigate the generalizability of our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Standardizing RNA quality is key to interpreting RNA-seq data as a compromised sample can mask the underlying biology. The challenge remains when evaluating RNA quality in samples with high RNA fragmentation. For example, programmed fragmentation and cytoplasmic expulsion, integral to sperm maturation, is a prime example of the complexities of interpreting RNA-seq data, given that fragmentation can be random and\or targeted. To meet this challenge, we developed an algorithm that accurately measures RNA quality in samples with high fragmentation, such as spermatozoa. The integrity of 1,000 previously identified abundant sperm transcripts were independently visualized and evaluated using the Transcript Integrity Index (TII) algorithm to identify intact transcripts. Full-length transcripts from visual and the TII algorithm were evaluated for testis preference in humans using the GTEx tissues database. Samples were then filtered by the Interquartile Range (IQR), identifying those in which the greatest number of transcripts failed to pass the visual or TII thresholds. Transcript lists were overlapped, forming the set of intact transcripts used as TII standards. Each sample was re-evaluated as a function of this TII set of intact transcripts, with poor quality samples identified as those failing in the largest number of transcripts. While ontologically enriched in roles related to spermatogenesis and/or fertilization, samples did not segregate based on birth outcome. The TII algorithm proved an effective means to identify samples of similar quality from sperm, a cell type enriched in biologically fragmented RNAs. The algorithm should facilitate other studies using samples compromised by high levels of RNA fragmentation, such as Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded samples. Requisite to assessing male health, TII provides a solution to the long-sought-after standard that identifies samples of similar quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of geotechnical parameters for design problems in silty soils is complicated due to partially drained conditions and irregular soil structure, including small layers and pockets of both coarser and finer material. Many established methods to define soil parameters in clay and sand exist but little guidance is given to practicing engineers on how to interpret soil parameters for silty materials. This paper presents the results of an extensive laboratory and field test program which was carried out at a silt testing site Halsen-Stjørdal in Norway. The main objective is to broaden the database of the engineering behaviour of silts and to gain a better understanding of the behaviour of these soils. Cone penetration tests (CPTU) were performed and shear wave velocity measurements close to the site were used to supplement the CPTU results, confirming the coarse, silty nature of the deposit. In addition, several samples were taken using thin walled 54 mm steel sample tubes and examined in the laboratory by means of index, oedometer and triaxial tests. Recently developed methods to determine sample quality in intermediate low plastic soils were adopted and showed promising results. The interpretation of the oedometer tests was challenging due to the shapes of the curves. The results did not identify the yield or preconsolidation stress clearly partly due to the nature of the silt and partly due to sample disturbance. Triaxial test results on the silt showed a strong dilative behaviour developing negative pore pressures with increasing axial strain. The shape of the stress paths revealed no unique undrained shear strength of the silt. Although many researchers doubt the use of undrained shear strength (su) for partially drained materials, this parameter is still frequently used. Several methods were applied to determine values of an apparent su in the silt in order to provide an overview over the range of strength values. The results from this study contribute to the existing database and increase the understanding of silty soils.

Abstract Plasma and serum are rich sources of information regarding an individual's health state, and protein tests inform medical decision making. Despite major investments, few new biomarkers have reached the clinic. Mass spectrometry (MS)‐based proteomics now allows highly specific and quantitative readout of the plasma proteome. Here, we employ Plasma Proteome Profiling to define quality marker panels to assess plasma samples and the likelihood that suggested biomarkers are instead artifacts related to sample handling and processing. We acquire deep reference proteomes of erythrocytes, platelets, plasma, and whole blood of 20 individuals (> 6,000 proteins), and compare serum and plasma proteomes. Based on spike‐in experiments, we determine sample quality‐associated proteins, many of which have been reported as biomarker candidates as revealed by a comprehensive literature survey. We provide sample preparation guidelines and an online resource ( www.plasmaproteomeprofiling.org ) to assess overall sample‐related bias in clinical studies and to prevent costly miss‐assignment of biomarker candidates.

Item nonresponse occurs when sample units do not provide information on a particular variable, problem that may affect the representativeness of the sample and the reliability of the estimates. Efforts to reduce the item nonresponse rate do not necessarily improve the quality of the information. Besides the nonresponse rate, representativeness indicators can be used to measure the quality of the collected data. This paper analyzes the wage nonresponse mechanism of a household survey in Colombia and evaluates the quality of the wage information in two different periods of time (2008:4 and 2017:4). The results show a low but increasing nonresponse rate whose behavior does not seem to be associated with the set of observables considered. This result is of value since the selection of the adequate imputation method relies on the assumptions on the missing data mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite numerous applications and occurrences of talc, investigation into its mechanics particularly compression behaviour is limited. This paper presents the mechanics of compression behaviour in talc through a series of oedometer tests for the samples in the reconstituted and intact states. The stress and strain one-dimensional compression paths were studied considering the effects of sample quality and effects of geological structure. The engineering properties, fabric and composition as well as mineralogy were investigated using classification and index tests, scanning electron microscope equipped with EDS and XRD, respectively. The compression curves converge to unique normal compression line. The intrinsic compressibility of talc is low, the yield stress range from low to medium and the sample quality vary from excellent to poor. The sample quality index increases with the in situ specific volume and reduces exponentially with yield stress. Sample disturbance has effect on compression characteristics of intact samples. The commonly used normalising parameters in literature to analyse the effects of structure in compression for geomaterials were not able to capture the real behaviour in talc with low in situ specific volume. Two new stress sensitivity methods which do not require reconstituted samples were developed, and they were found to better represent the degree of enhanced stiffness in compression. The effects of geological structure in compression are positive and small in magnitude, and the destructuration process is rapid in sample with low quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Item nonresponse occurs when sample units do not provide information on a particular variable, problem that may affect the representativeness of the sample and the reliability of the estimates. Efforts to reduce the item nonresponse rate do not necessarily improve the quality of the information. Besides the nonresponse rate, representativeness indicators can be used to measure the quality of the collected data. This paper analyzes the wage nonresponse mechanism of a household survey in Colombia and evaluates the quality of the wage information in two different periods of time (2008:4 and 2017:4). The results show a low but increasing nonresponse rate whose behavior does not seem to be associated with the set of observables considered. This result is of value since the selection of the adequate imputation method relies on the assumptions on the missing data mechanism.

Background: BD Barricor ™ tubes have been proposed to decrease laboratory turnaround time (TAT). We analytically validated and then clinically verified these tubes for use with Abbott Alinity ™ and Siemens Atellica ® highly sensitive cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) assays., Methods: hs-cTnI measurements were undertaken in paired Barricor ™ and in-use PSTII ™ tubes on both systems. 359 matched samples with hs-cTnI levels between 3 and 15,000 ng/L (Atellica ® values) were used to assess the hemolysis rate and make method comparisons. 599 paired patient samples were collected on emergency department (ED) admission to compare the performance of the rapid acute myocardial infarction (AMI) rule-out strategy based on hs-cTnI concentrations lower than recommended thresholds (<4 ng/L Alinity ™ ; <5 ng/L Atellica ® ) when different tubes and systems were employed., Results: No between-tube differences in hemolysis rate were seen when free hemoglobin concentrations in plasma samples were ≥0.25 g/L, even if PSTII ™ showed a significant increase of hemolysis rate vs. Barricor ™ (31% vs. 22%, p=0.007) when a lower cut-off for hemolysis (≥0.11 g/L) was employed on the Atellica ® detection system. The alternate use of these tubes did not influence the hs-cTnI results obtained from either of the two assays, which remained markedly biased (~40%) irrespective of the tube used. The expected optimal ability of very low hs-cTnI values on ED admission for ruling out AMI was confirmed by using both systems regardless of the tube type., Conclusions: Barricor ™ and PSTII ™ tubes can provide analytically equivalent hs-cTnI results when used on either Alinity ™ or Atellica ® hs-cTnI assays., (Copyright © 2024 International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC). All rights reserved.)

Biological samples are important resources for scientific research. These samples are stored in biobanks over years until needed, and some of them can never be retrieved if they are improperly stored, causing them to be wasted. Thus, they are priceless, and they should be used correctly and effectively. Sample quality substantially affects biomedical research results. However, sample misidentification or mix-up is common. It is necessary to establish quality standards for sample identification. In this study, we used the Advanta Sample ID genotyping panel to detect homology identification and cross-contamination. We compared the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing results of two different samples and calculated the similarity score of homologous sample pairs and nonhomologous sample pairs. Through analysis, we obtained a similarity score cutoff point of 0.8620, which was an effective way to distinguish homology and nonhomology. Cross-contamination was detected in two sets of mixtures (STD8:STD6 and jj3:1-P) mixed at a series of special ratios. Sensitivity was dependent on the sample characteristics and mixing ratios. Finally, we assessed the effect of sample degradation degree on SNP genotyping and found that degraded samples with a minimal DNA integrity number of 1.9 had complete genotyping results. On the whole, this study shows that the Sample ID panel is reliable for homology identification and cross-contamination analysis. Moreover, this technology has promising further applications in biological sample quality control.

Nasopharyngeal swabs are critical to the diagnosis of respiratory infections including coronavirus disease 2019, but collection techniques vary. We compared 2 recommended nasopharyngeal swab collection techniques in adult volunteers and found that swab rotation following nasopharyngeal contact did not recover additional nucleic acid (as measured by human DNA/RNA copy number). Rotation was also less tolerable for participants. Notably, both discomfort and nucleic acid recovery were significantly higher in Asian participants, consistent with nasal anatomy differences. Our results suggest that it is unnecessary to rotate the swab in place following contact with the nasopharynx and reveal that procedural discomfort levels can differ by ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated spectrophotometric measurement of hemolysis index (HI) allows rapid and cost-effective assessment of hemolysis interference. We evaluated the analytical performance of HI on two different platforms. Further, the impact of implementing analytically and clinically derived sample rejection criteria was investigated. Precision profiles were established, and analytical error was assessed by comparison with the reference method for hemoglobin measurement on Architect c8000/c16000 (Abbott) and Cobas c702 (Roche Diagnostics) instruments. The impact of a more analyte-specific cut off based on analytical and biologival variation was examined for five hemolysis-sensitive plasma analyses according to European recommendations. Lastly, a reference interval was established for the HI on Cobas, using the CLSI C28A3c nonparametric method. Imprecision for HI of 0.6-3.0 % for Architect and 1.5-4.5 % for Cobas was considered acceptable, which also applied for trueness in the measuring tange > 2 g/L. If cutoffs based on analytical and biological variation were used to manage results from hemolyzed samples, more potassium, LDH, conjugated bilirubin and phosphate results would be suppressed. Considering RCV only LDS remained sensitive to hemolysis. The Cobas-based HI reference interval was established to 0.01–0.16 g/L. Thorough verification of the HI on two different clinical chemistry analyzers reveals acceptable analytical performance. HI cutoffs suggested by manufacturers may be optimized by clinical laboratories using analytical and/or biological variation. A reference interval for the HI analysis is relevant as the analysis has been suggested as a diagnostic tool in the assessment of in vivo hemolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

False-negative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 test results can negatively impact the clinical and public health response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We used droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) to demonstrate that human DNA levels, a stable molecular marker of sampling quality, were significantly lower in samples from 40 confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases that yielded negative diagnostic test results (ie, suspected false-negative test results) compared with a representative pool of 87 specimens submitted for COVID-19 testing. Our results support suboptimal biological sampling as a contributor to false-negative COVID-19 test results and underscore the importance of proper training and technique in the collection of nasopharyngeal specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human biomonitoring (HBM) depends on high-quality human samples to identify status and trends in exposure and ensure comparability of results. In this context, much effort has been put into the development of standardized processes and quality assurance for sampling and chemical analysis, while effects of sample storage and shipment on sample quality have been less thoroughly addressed. To characterize the currently applied storage and shipment procedures within the consortium of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), which aims at harmonization of HBM in Europe, a requirement analysis based on data from an online survey was conducted. In addition, the online survey was addressed to professionals in clinical biobanking represented by members of the European, Middle Eastern and African Society for Biopreservation and Biobanking (ESBB) to identify the current state-of-the-art in terms of sample storage and shipment. Results of this survey conducted in these two networks were compared to detect processes with potential for optimization and harmonization. In general, many similarities exist in sample storage and shipment procedures applied by ESBB members and HBM4EU partners and many requirements for ensuring sample quality are already met also by HBM4EU partners. Nevertheless, a need for improvement was identified for individual steps in sample storage, shipment, and related data management with potential impact on sample and data quality for HBM purposes. Based on these findings, recommendations for crucial first steps to further strengthen sample quality, and thus foster advancement in HBM on a pan-European level are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we report on the outcome of the 2nd International Danube Symposium on advanced biomarker development that was held in Vienna, Austria, in early 2018. During the meeting, cross-speciality participants assessed critical aspects of non-invasive, quantitative biomarker development in view of the need to expand our understanding of disease mechanisms and the definition of appropriate strategies both for molecular diagnostics and personalised therapies. More specifically, panelists addressed the main topics, including the current status of disease characterisation by means of non-invasive imaging, histopathology and liquid biopsies as well as strategies of gaining new understanding of disease formation, modulation and plasticity to large-scale molecular imaging as well as integrative multi-platform approaches. Highlights of the 2018 meeting included dedicated sessions on non-invasive disease characterisation, development of disease and therapeutic tailored biomarkers, standardisation and quality measures in biospecimens, new therapeutic approaches and socio-economic challenges of biomarker developments. The scientific programme was accompanied by a roundtable discussion on identification and implementation of sustainable strategies to address the educational needs in the rapidly evolving field of molecular diagnostics. The central theme that emanated from the 2nd Donau Symposium was the importance of the conceptualisation and implementation of a convergent approach towards a disease characterisation beyond lesion-counting "lumpology" for a cost-effective and patient-centric diagnosis, therapy planning, guidance and monitoring. This involves a judicious choice of diagnostic means, the adoption of clinical decision support systems and, above all, a new way of communication involving all stakeholders across modalities and specialities. Moreover, complex diseases require a comprehensive diagnosis by converging parameters from different disciplines, which will finally yield to a precise therapeutic guidance and outcome prediction. While it is attractive to focus on technical advances alone, it is important to develop a patient-centric approach, thus asking "What can we do with our expertise to help patients?" [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum samples should be centrifuged for at least 10 min at 1300–2500 × g. Changed centrifugation conditions could compromise sample quality. The objective of this study was to compare the serum quality and turnaround time (TAT) using different centrifugation conditions. Methods: The study was done in four different periods (A, B, C and D) at different conditions: for 10, 5 and 7 (A, B and C, respectively) at 2876 × g, and 7 (D) min at 4141 × g. Sample quality was assessed as the proportion of samples with: (a) aspiration errors, (b) H index >0.5 g/L and (c) suppressed reports of potassium (K) due to hemolysis. TAT was calculated for emergency samples. The proportions of samples (a), (b) and (c) were compared according to period A. Results: The number of aspiration errors was significantly higher in samples centrifuged at 2876 × g for 5 min (p = 0.021) and remained unchanged when centrifuged for 7 min (p = 0.066 and 0.177, for periods C and D, respectively). In periods B, C and D, the proportion of samples with hemolysis was higher than that in period A (p-values 0.039, 0.009 and 0.042, respectively). TAT differed between all periods (p < 0.001), with the lowest TAT observed for B and D. The lowest number of samples exceeding 60-min TAT was observed in period D (p = 0.011). Conclusions: The integrity of serum samples is changed with different centrifugation conditions than those recommended. Our study showed that shorter centrifugation at higher force (7 min at 4141 × g) significantly decreases TAT, with unchanged proportion of samples with aspiration errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collection and storage of biomaterials is essential for medical research. The aim of biobanking is the safe extension of the preanalytical phase. However, not all quality aspects are clearly defined nor accepted by the whole biobanking community. Samples for large or complex trials have to be collected and stored according to well-defined, rapid and reliable processes. In a comparable manner, also the post-storage phase needs well-defined, rapid and reliable processes which have to be implemented in order to guarantee high-quality samples as an inevitable basis for accurate analytical results. The time span between the sample removal from the biobank and analysis seems not to be in the focus of a biobank especially when it is run independently of a laboratory. Sample analysis represents the core responsibility of laboratories. But the quality of samples can be impaired by all process steps in the preanalytical phase, including preparation for analysis after the freezing period. Biobanks may contribute to high-quality standards in the retrieval and handling of samples before storage. They can offer electronic tools for data entry in parallel to sampling allowing a tight control and documentation of the preanalytical phase directly in the laboratory information system. In case of a biobank independent of the laboratory, which performs the measurements, the biobank's responsibility ends with the transport. A closer link between the two institutions, however, could significantly improve sample quality and laboratory results. Integrated biobanking combines long-term sample storage with optimized laboratory processes, thus facilitating high-quality analytical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nucleic acid integrity of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) samples is poor, and the material available for genetic analysis is limited. Therefore, to expand the effectiveness of personalized medicine in patients with HNSCC, a new sampling method is needed. In total, 128 samples from 44 patients with HNSCC were studied: 32 genetic analysis samples (GASs) collected as 5 × 5 × 5 mm tissue fragments from resected large tumors and immediately embedded in a small formalin bottle within 10 min (i.e., the ischemic time), 43 primary tumor components (primary), 14 decalcified tumor (DC) samples, 32 metastatic tumors in lymph nodes (LNs), and 7 parakeratinized components (PKCs). The nucleic acid quality in the GAS, primary, DC, LN, and PKC groups was compared and next-generation sequencing (NGS) was performed. DNA integrity number and percentage of RNA fragments with > 200 nucleotides were significantly higher in the GAS group than those in the other groups. RNA integrity number decreased first in LN, followed by GAS, primary, and DC. No significant differences were observed in DIN, RIN and DV200 among the PKC, primary and LN. Following methyl green-pyronin staining, preserved DNA and RNA were not visualized in DC samples. Most NGS metrics did not differ significantly among primary, LN, and PKC samples. In conclusion, GASs should be collected during routine hospital activities. When the volume of viable materials is limited, PKCs should be considered for genetic analysis. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to show the effect of sample disturbance on the values of pre-consolidation pressure бc by using Schmertmann method. A prediction of бc form pocket penetrometer is also achieved. This was carried out by comparing the values of бc that were estimated from the results of consolidation tests, with the readings of pocket penetrometer for same samples. Pocket penetrometer is a simple tool that can be easily used in field and laboratory to initially predict unconfined compressive strength for clayey soils. Before carrying out the consolidation tests on undisturbed samples, pocket penetrometer readings were recorded. The correlation obtained between pocket reading and бc values that resulted from consolidation tests was found to be valid for a wide range of clay stiffness, ranging between medium stiff to very stiff clay. As for soft clay, this correlation was found not to be applicable where its behavior is believed to be greatly affected by the degree of disturbance occurring to samples during drilling.

Cerebrospinal fluid sample collection and analysis is imperative to better elucidate central nervous system injury and disease in children. Sample collection methods are varied and carry with them certain ethical and biologic considerations, complications, and contraindications. Establishing best practices for sample collection, processing, storage, and transport will ensure optimal sample quality. Cerebrospinal fluid samples can be affected by a number of factors including subject age, sampling method, sampling location, volume extracted, fraction, blood contamination, storage methods, and freeze-thaw cycles. Indicators of sample quality can be assessed by matrix-associated laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and include cystatin C fragments, oxidized proteins, prostaglandin D synthase, and evidence of blood contamination. Precise documentation of sample collection processes and the establishment of meticulous handling procedures are essential for the creation of clinically relevant biospecimen repositories. In this review we discuss the ethical considerations and best practices for cerebrospinal fluid collection, as well as the influence of preanalytical factors on cerebrospinal fluid analyses. Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in highly researched pediatric diseases or disorders are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent papers by Horsburgh et al. (2016a, 2016b) and Horsburgh (2017) continue to question the results of faunal identification by faunal specialists, as aDNA analysis has provided different results. In this paper, we question the results of this aDNA study, and argue that morphological identifications of faunal remains can and do provide reliable results.We propose ways in which faunal and aDNA specialists can cooperate more closely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract μ-Raman spectroscopy of UO 2 has demonstrated its value as a tool in nuclear forensics and for analyzing nuclear fuels, but its ability to evaluate UO 2 sample quality has been relatively unexplored. To investigate this potential, a three-pronged study that uses Raman spectroscopy to analyze 1) three distinct qualities of UO 2 single crystals with two different excitation lasers, 2) a high quality single crystal UO 2 sample that is progressively damaged with a laser, and 3) a single crystal of UO 2 grown on top of a ThO 2 substrate was undertaken. The results demonstrate that the peak height ratio between the second order longitudinal optical phonon signal near 1145 cm−1 and the T 2g peak located near 450 cm−1 is directly correlated with crystal quality when a 532 nm excitation source is used. Furthermore, this observed pattern relies upon the two most intense peaks that are present in the Raman spectra, making it more robust to lower signal-to-noise ratios than similar trends present in the peak height ratio between the first order longitudinal optical phonon signal near 565 cm−1 and the T 2g peak. Both peak height ratios are more sensitive indicators of the crystal quality than the width ratios of the same signals or the associated wavenumber shift in the T 2g peak location. The correlation between the 2LO and T 2g peak heights and the overall crystal quality offers the potential to directly assess and compare the quality of different samples of single crystal UO 2. Highlights • Raman spectroscopy is used to compare UO 2 sample quality. • The 2LO/T 2g height ratio correlates with sample quality when using a 532 nm laser. • The 2LO/T 2g height ratio is a better metric of sample quality than the width ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a laboratory investigation of the influence of simulated tube-sampling disturbance on lightly overconsolidated intermediate soils by varying their plasticity and degree of sampling disturbance. Samples consisting of varying proportions of kaolin and silica silt that produce five plasticity indexes of 0%, 4%, 9%, 16%, and 32%, are mixed as slurry and then consolidated to an overconsolidation ratio of 1.8. All specimens are tested in a stress-path triaxial cell using the ideal sampling approach (ISA), which involves applying undrained shearing with axial strain cycles of ±0.5%, ± 1.0%, and ± 3.0%, corresponding to three different degrees of tube-sampling disturbance. The results show systematic trends in the soil response with decreasing plasticity to the induced ISA disturbance. At the same degree of ISA disturbance, the subsequently measured undrained shear strength for the low-plasticity soils increases compared with the reference undisturbed specimen and the percent change increases with decreasing plasticity. This is significantly different from the reported findings from ISA testing of clays, indicating that intermediate soils and clays can have contrastingly different responses to sample disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance of intelligent fault diagnosis models is often hindered by the lack of available samples, a common issue in both the few-shot learning and imbalanced learning problems. While data generation has been shown to be an effective strategy for addressing this issue, existing methods tend to focus solely on the similarity of the generated samples, overlooking their diversity. In this regard, a self-reasoning training strategy that enables the participation of highly reliable generated samples in the training process is proposed. By augmenting the training samples, the strategy provides the generation model with diverse input information, effectively enhancing the diversity of the samples generated by the model. To assess the reliability of the generated samples, Pearson correlation coefficient between the generated and real samples in the amplitude–frequency domain is utilized. To this end, an amplitude–frequency domain generation model is constructed. In order to avoid issues such as gradient disappearance and convergence degradation during the generation process in the amplitude–frequency domain, a phase-frequency domain generation model as well as a time domain discriminator model are developed. While the phase-frequency domain generation model enhances the diversity of the generated samples in that domain, the time domain discriminator model ensures sample similarity by correlating the amplitude–frequency domain generation model with the phase-frequency domain generation model. Through experiments, it is demonstrated that the proposed method can effectively address the overfitting problem of generative adversarial networks with few samples, improving the diversity of the generated samples. Moreover, the improvement in fault diagnosis performance achieved by the samples generated by the proposed method further underscores its potential and superiority in practical applications. • A self-reasoning training strategy is proposed. • A generation model driven by multi-domain information is developed. • The quality (similarity and diversity) of the generated samples is enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]