Evaluation of the Accuracy of Estimated Endpoint Titer of NOVA View in Indirect Immunofluorescent Antinuclear Antibody Testing.

For antinuclear antibody (ANA) screening, the gold standard method is an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) using HEp-2 cells, and a serial dilution test is needed to determine the endpoint titer. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the estimated endpoint titer (eEPT) by the NOVA View system, by comparing it with the EPT by the serial dilution method (dEPT). The endpoint titers of a total of 1518 ANA positive cases with five major patterns including speckled, homogeneous, centromere, nucleolar, and nuclear dots patterns were determined using both the estimation function and the serial dilution method by the NOVA View system. A significant correlation between the light intensity unit (LIU) values and dEPTs was identified in all five patterns with high ρ values, ranging from 0.666 to 0.832. However, the overall exact match rate between dEPT and eEPT was 22.1% (336/1518), with the ±one-titer match rate being highest in the centromere pattern (62.8%, 81/129), and lowest in the homogeneous pattern (37.6%, 200/532). This suggests that while LIU values correlate well with dEPT, there are discrepancies in numerical agreement. Most cases that did not show an exact match, showed one-to-three-titer overestimations by eEPT. Therefore, adjusting eEPT downward significantly improved the concordance rates with dEPTs. Further investigation for an appropriate cutoff of LIU values for determining eEPT should be performed for clinical application and contribution to the standardization of the ANA titer.

Machine learning-assisted chromium speciation using a single-well ratiometric fluorescent nanoprobe.

Chromium is widely recognized as a significant pollutant discharged into the environment by various industrial activities. The toxicity of this element is dependent on its oxidation state, making speciation analysis crucial for monitoring the quality of environmental water and assessing the potential risks associated with industrial waste. This study introduces a single-well fluorometric sensor that utilizes orange emissive thioglycolic acid stabilized CdTe quantum dots (TGA-QDs) and blue emissive carbon dots (CDs) to detect and differentiate between various chromium species, such as Cr (III) and Cr (VI) (i.e., CrO42- and Cr2O72-). The variations of fluorescence spectra of the proposed probe upon chromium species addition were analyzed using machine learning techniques such as linear discriminant analysis and partial least squares regression as a classification and multivariate calibration technique, respectively. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) demonstrated exceptional accuracy in differentiating single-component and bicomponent samples. Additionally, the findings from the partial least squares regression (PLSR) showed that the sensor created has strong linearity within the 1.0-100.0, 1.0-100.0, and 0.1-15 µM range for Cr2O72-, CrO42-, and Cr3+, respectively. Furthermore, appropriate detection limits were successfully achieved, which were 2.6, 2.9, and 0.7 µM for Cr2O72-, CrO42-, and Cr3+, respectively. Ultimately, the successful capability of the sensing platform in the identification and quantification of chromium species in environmental water samples provides innovative insights into general speciation analytics.

Quantum Information Entropy for Another Class of New Proposed Hyperbolic Potentials.

In this work, we investigate the Shannon entropy of four recently proposed hyperbolic potentials through studying position and momentum entropies. Our analysis reveals that the wave functions of the single-well potentials U0,3 exhibit greater localization compared to the double-well potentials U1,2. This difference in localization arises from the depths of the single- and double-well potentials. Specifically, we observe that the position entropy density shows higher localization for the single-well potentials, while their momentum probability density becomes more delocalized. Conversely, the double-well potentials demonstrate the opposite behavior, with position entropy density being less localized and momentum probability density showing increased localization. Notably, our study also involves examining the Bialynicki-Birula and Mycielski (BBM) inequality, where we find that the Shannon entropies still satisfy this inequality for varying depths u¯. An intriguing observation is that the sum of position and momentum entropies increases with the variable u¯ for potentials U1,2,3, while for U0, the sum decreases with u¯. Additionally, the sum of the cases U0 and U3 almost remains constant within the relative value 0.01 as u¯ increases. Our study provides valuable insights into the Shannon entropy behavior for these hyperbolic potentials, shedding light on their localization characteristics and their relation to the potential depths. Finally, we extend our analysis to the Fisher entropy F¯x and find that it increases with the depth u¯ of the potential wells but F¯p decreases with the depth.

Prediction of oxygen distribution in the waste mass from an aeration well in bioreactor landfills.

The key to upgrade the efficiency of aerobic remediation of landfills is to determine the distribution characteristics of oxygen concentration during aerobic ventilation. This study discusses the distribution law of oxygen concentration with time and radial distance based on a single-well aeration test at an old landfill site. The transient analytical solution of the radial oxygen concentration distribution was deduced using the gas continuity equation and approximation of calculus and logarithmic functions. Oxygen concentration data from the field monitoring were compared with the results predicted by the analytical solution. The results indicated that the oxygen concentration initially increased and then decreased with prolonged aeration time. With an increase in radial distance, the oxygen concentration rapidly declined, followed by a gradual decrease. The influence radius of the aeration well increased slightly when the aeration pressure increased from 2 to 20 kPa. The field test data agreed with the analytical solution prediction results, preliminarily verifying the reliability of the oxygen concentration prediction model. Results from this study provide a basis of guidelines for the design, operation and maintenance management of a landfill aerobic restoration project.

A modified and rapid method for the single-well push-pull (SWPP) test using SF6, Kr, and uranine tracers.

In the present study, a single-well push-pull (SWPP) test was conducted with multi-component tracers, including inert gas (SF6 and Kr) and uranine (conservative), to understand the volatile/semi-volatile component transport characteristics in the groundwater system. In an SWPP test, it is essential to obtain an initial breakthrough curve (BTC) of the inert gas concentration at the beginning of the pulling stage to analyze the hydraulic properties of the groundwater system. As a result of the SWPP test using a proposed method in this study, physicochemical parameters of the groundwater and BTC of gas tracers and uranine were acquired simultaneously and successfully. In addition, on-site measurements of uranine, pCO2, and water quality data, such as electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen, were undertaken. Modification of an existing pCO2 measuring system allowed the gas samples to be collected, transported, and analyzed for inert gas components within a few hours. As a result, reliable and interpretable data with a recovery ratio of 26%, 85%, and 95% for SF6, Kr, and uranine, respectively, were obtained. The differences in the recovery ratio were utilized to identify the environmental system, whether it contains gas inside the isolated system (closed) or not (open), and to understand plume behavior characteristics in the experimental zone. By applying a two-dimensional advection-dispersion model to the acquired tracer test data and comparing the observed and computed tracer concentrations, helpful information was obtained on the hydraulic and transport characteristics of the targeted zone. This method can be extended to the design of dissolved CO2 transport monitoring of an aquifer above a CCS site.

CaO2-based electro-Fenton-oxidation of 1,2-dichloroethane in groundwater.

It has been well recognized that the Fenton reaction requires a rigorous pH control and suffers from the fast self-degradation of H2O2. In an effort to resolve the technical demerits of the conventional Fenton reaction, particular concern on the use of CaO2-based Fenton reaction was paid in this study. To realize the practical use of CaO2 in the Fenton reaction for groundwater remediation, it could be of great importance to control its reaction rate in the subsurface. As such, this study laid great emphasis on the combined process of electrochemical oxidation and CaO2-based Fenton oxidation, using 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) as a model compound. It was hypothesized that the reaction rate is also highly contingent on the formation of Fe(II) (stemmed from iron anode oxidation). Eighty percent of 1,2-DCA were degraded by the CaO2-based Fenton reaction. The final pH was neutral, inferring that the reaction could be a viable option for the subsurface environment. Moreover, the supply of electric current in an iron anode expedited 1,2-DCA degradation efficiency from 35 % to 62 % via electrically generated Fe(II), which donated electrons to H2O2, producing more hydroxyl radicals. An anode-cathode configuration from the single-well system enhanced the degradation of 1,2-DCA, with less amount of energy consumption than the double-well system. Based on results, CaO2-based electro-Fenton oxidation can remove well 1,2-DCA in groundwater and can be a strategic measure for groundwater remediation.

Measuring well-being in older adults: Identifying an appropriate single-item questionnaire.

AIM: As the older adult population increases globally, it is important for local governments to measure their health and well-being consistently to effectively support this group. Because definitions of subjective well-being - such as happiness, life satisfaction and subjective health - overlap, it is worth considering which single-item indicator local governments can rely on to measure individual well-being. This study, therefore, explored the correlation between three single-item questionnaires on happiness, life satisfaction and subjective health used in government surveys, and established psychometric scales of happiness, life satisfaction and quality of life, and analyzed which of the three single-item indicators most effectively captured the target well-being. METHODS: Randomly selected people aged ≥65 years in urban and rural areas (n = 1440) answered the questions on the Happiness Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale and the Quality of Life scale, and the three single-item questionnaires (happiness, life satisfaction and subjective health). We analyzed the data using correlation and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: The results showed a high positive correlation between the scales and the single-item questionnaires. The single-item life satisfaction and subjective health questionnaires were significantly correlated with all the three scales. Although there was not much difference in the adjusted R2 values between putting three items jointly and separately, the value of single-item life satisfaction was the best and the subjective health was the second best. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the single-item life satisfaction and subjective health effectively captured the target well-being; these could be the appropriate indicators for a potential optimal index. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 1131-1137.

Application of NaYF4:Yb/Er/Tm UCNPs in Array-Based Sensing of Neurotransmitters: From a Single Particle to a Multichannel Sensor Array.

A novel multichannel sensor array has been designed using a single, yet multiemissive lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP). The energy levels of lanthanide ions gave rise to several emission bands which were exploited as individual sensor elements for the recognition of four important neurotransmitters (NTs): dopamine, norepinephrine, levodopa, and serotonin. At alkaline conditions, the oxidation products of these NTs quenched the fluorescence emissions of UCNPs with different quenching degrees. The resulting fingerprint multichannel emission profiles from NaYF4:Yb/Er/Tm UCNPs allowed the discrimination of NTs with excellent accuracy. The recognition was further verified in artificial cerebrospinal fluid, as a complex biological media. We believe that the designed UCNP-based multichannel sensor array offers innovative insights into the discrimination of various chemical signatures using a single measurement.

Monitoring transient groundwater fluxes using the Finite Volume Point Dilution Method.

Classic estimates of groundwater fluxes are usually based on the application of Darcy's law, which can lead to large imprecisions in transient groundwater flow cases. There is a need for direct, in situ measurement techniques able to monitor time-variable groundwater fluxes. The investigation presented here demonstrates that the Finite Volume Point Dilution Method (FVPDM) is a promising technique for the continuous monitoring of groundwater fluxes. The experimental configuration consisted of monitoring transient groundwater fluxes generated by a multiple step pumping test, which was undertaken in the alluvial aquifer of the River Meuse, Liège (Belgium). Additionally, two FVPDM tests were simultaneously performed in two piezometers screened at two different depths in the alluvial aquifer. Tracer concentration changes during the FVPDM tests were interpreted as the consequences of Darcy flux changes in the alluvial aquifer, which was related to changes in the applied pumping rate. Piezometric levels were also monitored in piezometers located around the pumping well. The pumping test was interpreted using classical analytical solutions, and the FVPDM tests were interpreted using a new mathematical solution, which allows for calculating changes in Darcy fluxes based on the FVPDM tracer concentration evolution during transient groundwater flow conditions. The experiment demonstrated the FVPDM's ability to monitor, as well as be sensitive to changes in transient groundwater fluxes. The FVPDM interpretation also showed contrasting results between the upper part of the aquifer, which is made of loam and sand and slow groundwater flows prevail, and the lower part of the aquifer, which is made of gravels and pebbles and intense groundwater flows prevail.

Insights about transport mechanisms and fracture flow channeling from multi-scale observations of tracer dispersion in shallow fractured crystalline rock.

In fractured media, solute transport is controlled by advection in open and connected fractures and by matrix diffusion that may be enhanced by chemical weathering of the fracture walls. These phenomena may lead to non-Fickian dispersion characterized by early tracer arrival time, late-time tailing on the breakthrough curves and potential scale effect on transport processes. Here we investigate the scale dependency of these processes by analyzing a series of convergent and push-pull tracer experiments with distance of investigation ranging from 4m to 41m in shallow fractured granite. The small and intermediate distances convergent experiments display a non-Fickian tailing, characterized by a -2 power law slope. However, the largest distance experiment does not display a clear power law behavior and indicates possibly two main pathways. The push-pull experiments show breakthrough curve tailing decreases as the volume of investigation increases, with a power law slope ranging from -3 to -2.3 from the smallest to the largest volume. The multipath model developed by Becker and Shapiro (2003) is used here to evaluate the hypothesis of the independence of flow pathways. The multipath model is found to explain the convergent data, when increasing local dispersivity and reducing the number of pathways with distance which suggest a transition from non-Fickian to Fickian transport at fracture scale. However, this model predicts an increase of tailing with push-pull distance, while the experiments show the opposite trend. This inconsistency may suggest the activation of cross channel mass transfer at larger volume of investigation, which leads to non-reversible heterogeneous advection with scale. This transition from independent channels to connected channels when the volume of investigation increases suggest that both convergent and push-pull breakthrough curves can inform the existence of characteristic length scales.

Contribution of the finite volume point dilution method for measurement of groundwater fluxes in a fractured aquifer.

Measurement of groundwater fluxes is the basis of all hydrogeological study, from hydraulic characterization to the most advanced reactive transport modeling. Usual groundwater flux estimation with Darcy's law may lead to cumulated errors on spatial variability, especially in fractured aquifers where local direct measurement of groundwater fluxes becomes necessary. In the present study, both classical point dilution method (PDM) and finite volume point dilution method (FVPDM) are compared on the fractured crystalline aquifer of Ploemeur, France. The manipulation includes the first use of the FVPDM in a fractured aquifer using a double packer. This configuration limits the vertical extent of the tested zone to target a precise fracture zone of the aquifer. The result of this experiment is a continuous monitoring of groundwater fluxes that lasted for more than 4 days. Measurements of groundwater flow rate in the fracture (Q(t)) by PDM provide good estimates only if the mixing volume (V(w)) (volume of water in which the tracer is mixed) is precisely known. Conversely, the FVPDM allows for an independent estimation of V(w) and Q(t), leading to better precision in case of complex experimental setup such as the one used. The precision of a PDM does not rely on the duration of the experiment while a FVPDM may require long experimental duration to guarantees a good precision. Classical PDM should then be used for rapid estimation of groundwater flux using simple experimental setup. On the other hand, the FVPDM is a more precise method that has a great potential for development but may require longer duration experiment to achieve a good precision if the groundwater fluxes investigated are low and/or the mixing volume is large.