Conventional Collection Methods Research Articles

Semi-automated bathymetry using Sentinel-2 for coastal monitoring in the Western Mediterranean

Nearshore bathymetry is one of the main parameters used in coastal studies. However, regular and continuous bathymetries are scarce due to the difficulty of continuous data collection using traditional surveys. Remote sensing offers an attractive alternative to conventional collection methods for acquiring freely available, reliable, and frequent high-resolution data from space missions, such as the European Union's Copernicus programme Sentinel-2A/B satellites, which are increasingly demonstrating their potential to derive bathymetric information. Consequently, satellite-derived bathymetry (SDB) is being used more regularly because of its low cost and high efficiency. In this study, we apply a log-transformed band ratio SDB model in the Western Mediterranean Sea (Mallorca Island, Spain). This model has been widely used in the Caribbean and along the U.S. coast, among other sites, with outstanding results in heterogeneous environments. The SDB model consists of an automatic multi-scene approach applied over several images corrected by a robust atmospheric correction model (ACOLITE), a switching model, and a procedure to remove pixels from optically deep waters. We retrieve depths up to 14 m with a mean bias of 0.02 m and a median absolute error of 0.71 m compared with multibeam echo-sounder (MBES) data. The outcomes of this study confirm the effectiveness of the multi-scene approach to automatically correct the imagery to derive accurate depths and characterize erosional and accretion patterns annually. Furthermore, it highlights the benefit of the switching model to take advantage of the spectral sensitivity of different multi-band ratio approaches. This study will provide the scientific community with substantial knowledge and improved SDB techniques to consolidate the understanding of nearshore processes in such a relevant ecosystem as the Mediterranean Sea.

뉴 미디어 시대의 자연어 데이터베이스 구축 - 영상KWIC 자동생성 기술을 중심으로 -

Collection of examples is an important part that determines the basis of language research on actually used language data. The conventional collection method of usage examples can be primarily divided into two cases: (i) A case where a researcher personally collects examples from media, such as newspapers or novels, and (ii) a case where a researcher uses a public corpus constructed based on these media. However, the distinction between such cases became diluted with the emergence of new media. This is because of the shift that occurred from a print-based to a digital-based era, allowing anyone, including individual researchers, to collect examples and build a corpus easily. The software and online homepage introduced in this study are typical examples of easy establishment of a “multimedia corpus equipped with ‘keyword in context’ (KWIC) video automatic generation technique” based on user videos. Further studies need to be conducted to examine the characteristics of language research in an era where the boundary between collection of examples and the corpus construction is blurred.

Environmental DNA detection and abundance estimates comparable to conventional methods for three freshwater larval species at a power plant discharge

AbstractEarly life stage (ELS) fishes provide a valuable metric for species, population, and ecosystem monitoring. Industrial, manufacturing, and power generating facilities in the United States can be required to monitor ELS fishes to assess impacts of facility intake waters. Traditional methods for collecting, identifying, and enumerating ELS fishes include ichthyoplankton netting and pumping from intake and discharge waters. However, sampling at these sites can prove challenging from logistical and safety standpoints, with added challenges of identifying and post‐processing of ELS fishes to quantify facility impacts on waterbodies for regulatory purposes. Methods utilizing environmental DNA (eDNA) may offer improvements in these areas. This study assessed the utility of novel, species‐specific qPCR assays to detect eDNA from three differentially abundant fish species (alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus; Wilson, 1811), gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum; Lesueur, 1818), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens; Mitchill, 1814)) at the outflow of an industrial site. eDNA concentrations were compared with abundance estimates derived from two conventional collection methods to explore the potential utility of eDNA‐based methods in future monitoring. The likelihood of detecting gizzard shad, yellow perch, and alewife in the discharge waters of the power generation station was not significantly different among eDNA, plankton netting, or pump sampling. Results suggest successful detections differ by species and time of year for each method. Gizzard shad eDNA relative abundance correlated strongly with total larval abundances captured by the pumping but not the netting methods, whereas yellow perch eDNA abundance was found to correlate with both conventional methods. Alewife was not detected by any method, consistent with documentation of the decline in this species within the lake. Overall, our study found a positive relationship between eDNA abundance and larval fish abundance in both daily and seasonal sampling, suggesting that fluctuations in eDNA concentration may be linked to larval abundance.

اثر استراتيجية حدائق الأفكار في التحصيل و مهارات معالجة المعلومات لدى طالبات المرحلة المتوسطة في مادة الرياضيات

The aim of the research is to investigate the effect of idea gardens on the performance and information processing skills of high school students in mathematics. The research community represents the school's first graders, July 14th for girls. The research sample consisted of (70) male and female students. The number of students in the experimental group was (35) and the number of students in the control group was (35). The researcher found a relationship between the two in variables of IQ test, previous collection and life expectancy, measured in months, in information processing skills of the tribes. The researcher has prepared a collection of tests with (20) paragraphs. After being presented to a group of judges, the validity of the test was verified. The researcher also developed an information processing measure consisting of (20) paragraphs and extracted the obvious honesty by presenting it to a group of reviewers and extracting it in the form way to repeat the test (0.87). The researcher has achieved the following results: 1- There were statistically significant differences in favor of the experimental group, which studied the gardens of ideas, compared with the control group, which studied the conventional collection method. 2- There are statistically significant differences in favor of the experimental group studied using idea gardens versus members of the control group studied using conventional information processing Keywords: Gardens of Ideas, Collection, Mathematics

Simultaneous determination of cocaine, ecgonine methyl ester, benzoylecgonine, cocaethylene and norcocaine in dried blood spots by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry

Cocaine (COC) is one of the most widely abused drugs in the world and its sensitive and its reliable measurement in blood is of great importance in the field of forensic and clinical toxicology. Additionally, the determination of COC metabolites such as benzoylecgonine (BZE), cocaethylene (CE), ecgonine methyl ester (EME), and norcocaine (NCOC) are also of complementary diagnostic value. The quantification of COC and metabolites in dried blood spots (DBS) may be an alternative to conventional collection methods with several advantages, including easier, on-site, collection, transportation and storage. In this study, we present a simple and comprehensively validated UPLC–MS/MS assay to measured COC, BZE, EME, NCOC and CE in DBS. The evaluated assay was linear from 5–500 ng mL−1. Precision assays presented CV% of 1.27–6.82, and accuracy in the range of 97–113.78%. Low haematocrit values had a negative impact in the assay accuracy. COC, BE, NCOC and CE measurements can be made reliably in DBS stored for 14 days at room temperature, as well as at −20 °C and 45 °C. All evaluated compounds can be measured in DBS maintained at −20 °C for 14 days. DBS sampling can be used for the clinical evaluation of the exposure to COC, being an alternative for collection, short-term storage and transportation of blood at room and high temperatures.

The Role of Self-Collection by Vaginal Lavage for the Detection of HPV and High-Grade Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Objective: To compare the results of cervical cytology and high-risk HPV tests using samples obtained using two different collection modalities in a population of Brazilian women: self-collection (vaginal lavage) and cervical Pap testing. Methods: We enrolled 204 women who were aged 18-64 years and had previously obtained abnormal cervical cytology test results; 83.8% of them agreed to participate. The sample was divided into two aliquots: one for the cytological study and one for the molecular analysis of high-risk HPV. Results: Fifty-eight percent of the participants preferred to utilize self-collection as an alternative screening method. However, we noticed that the HPV positivity rate was significantly lower in self-collected samples when compared to those obtained using the conventional collection method (p = 0.035). The cytology tests of the samples obtained via self-collection were sensitive and had a positive predictive value and an area under the curve (AUC) that were significantly lower than those of the Pap test. However, the specificity and negative predictive value of these tests were similar. When compared with the HPV test, the self-collected samples demonstrated lower accuracy in predicting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or worse, with a significantly lower sensitivity, positive predictive value, and AUC than the cervical Pap test samples. Conclusion: Self-collection by vaginal lavage is simple and well accepted by women. Due to its limitations, however, self-collection by lavage should be utilized with caution.

Increased recovery of touch DNA evidence using FTA paper compared to conventional collection methods

Tape lifting and FTA paper scraping methods were directly compared to traditional double swabbing for collecting touch DNA from car steering wheels (n = 70 cars). Touch DNA was collected from the left or right side of each steering wheel (randomized) using two sterile cotton swabs, while the other side was sampled using water-soluble tape or FTA paper cards. DNA was extracted and quantified in duplicate using qPCR. Quantifiable amounts of DNA were detected for 100% of the samples (n = 140) collected independent of the method. However, the DNA collection yield was dependent on the collection method. A statistically significant difference in DNA yield was observed between FTA scraping and double swabbing methods (p = 0.0051), with FTA paper collecting a two-fold higher amount. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in DNA yields between the double swabbing and tape lifting techniques (p = 0.21).Based on the DNA concentration required for 1 ng input, 47% of the samples collected using FTA paper would be expected to yield a short tandem repeat (STR) profile compared to 30% and 23% using double swabbing or tape, respectively. Further, 55% and 77% of the samples collected using double swabbing or tape, respectively, did not yield a high enough DNA concentration for the 0.5 ng of DNA input recommended for conventional STR kits and would be expected to result in a partial or no profile compared to 35% of the samples collected using FTA paper. STR analysis was conducted for a subset of the higher concentrated samples to confirm that the DNA collected from the steering wheel was from the driver. 32 samples were selected with DNA amounts of at least 1 ng total DNA (100 pg/μl when concentrated if required). A mixed STR profile was observed for 26 samples (88%) and the last driver was the major DNA contributor for 29 samples (94%). For one sample, the last driver was the minor DNA contributor. A full STR profile of the last driver was observed for 21 samples (69%) and a partial profile was observed for nine samples (25%); STR analysis failed for two samples collected using tape (6%).In conclusion, we show that the FTA paper scraping method has the potential to collect higher DNA yields from touch DNA evidence deposited on non-porous surfaces often encountered in criminal cases compared to conventional methods.

A clinical perspective on electronically collecting patient-reported outcomes at the point-of-care for overactive bladder.

Collecting patient-reported outcomes (PROs) can inform the treatment and management of overactive bladder (OAB). However, collecting these data at the point-of-care can be time-consuming and have a negative impact on a clinic's workflow. The purpose of this study was to pilot a digital system for collecting PROs at the point-of-care and qualitatively assess clinicians' perspectives in terms of the system's impact on the delivery of care for OAB. Patients visiting a urology clinic for OAB completed several PRO instruments using a tablet while awaiting assessment. Clinicians reviewed their responses using a digital dashboard during clinical encounters. Qualitative interviews were conducted with the clinicians, to assess the collection system's impact in terms of: 1) logistics, 2) workflow; 3) patient communication; 4) influence on clinical decisions; 5) user experiences; and 6) the care model. Six interviews were conducted and thematic saturation was met, with several themes emerging. All participants were generally positive regarding the use of the digital collecting system. Participants felt that the dashboard improved workflow and enhanced communication with patients, but it was not thought to be any more influential on clinical decision-making than conventional collection methods. Several aspects of the digital PRO collection system were identified as needing improvement. The digital PRO collection system used at the point-of-care had a positive impact on the delivery of care for OAB. The results from this study could provide insight to other urologists who are interested in collecting PROs in their clinic.

Ferox Trout (Salmo trutta) as `Russian dolls': complementary gut content and stable isotope analyses of the Loch Ness foodweb

1. Conventional collection methods for pelagic fish species (netting, trawling) are impractical or prohibited in Loch Ness, U.K. To investigate trophic relationships at the top of the Loch Ness food web, an alternative strategy, angling, provided samples of the top predator, the purely piscivorous ferox trout (Salmo trutta).2. The gut contents of these fish provided further samples of prey‐fish, and subsequent examination of prey‐fish guts revealed their dietary intake, analogous to the famous nested `Russian dolls'. Each trophic level separated by gut content analysis provided further complementary samples for stable isotope analysis and thus information on the longer term, assimilated diet.3. Ferox trout exhibited considerable cannibalism to supplement a diet of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). However, conspecifics stemmed from a lower isotopic baseline in relation to charr, so ferox trout exhibited a lower trophic level than predicted (4.3) by using the δ15N values. Charr displayed dietary specialisation with increasing length, and isotopic values supported by the gut data placed the charr at a trophic level of 3.5. The isotope data also indicated that charr carbon was primarily autochthonous in origin.

Using administrative data in the Canadian Census: experiences and plans

Canada conducts a census every five years using a conventional collection methodology, where enumerators list all the dwellings in their Enumeration Area on a visitation record and drop-off Census questionnaires at each one. Every fifth dwelling receives a long questionnaire which asks questions additional to the basic demographic characteristics collected on the short questionnaire. An alternative to the conventional collection method is a register-based census. Redfern [6,7] has discussed the use and experiences of these register-based censuses, most notably in the four Nordic countries. These countries have accurate population registers from which popUlation statistics can be reliably derived for small areas. They also, in varying degrees using file linkages, make use of additional administrative data to compile information that would otherwise be collected during a Census, such as education, employment or housing data. Essentially, in order to utilize a register-based census, a country must have an up-to-date population register which associates each person with a unique personal number and a unique address. Other administrative sources are linked to the register by these personal numbers. Canada has no such register. However, this is not to say that there is no use of administrative data in the Census. Section 1 of this paper presents a brief description of administrative records in Canada. In Section 2, we briefly describe the current uses of administrative data in the Canadian Census. A discussion of some potential future uses follows in Section 3. Some of the issues involved in the use of administrative data with the Census are given in Section 4.

Compound parabolic concentrator probe for efficient light collection in spectroscopy of biological tissue

We describe a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC)-based probe for enhanced signal collection in the spectroscopy of biological tissues. Theoretical considerations governing signal enhancement compared with conventional collection methods are given. A ray-tracing program was used to analyze the throughput of CPC's with shape deviations and surface imperfections. A modified CPC shape with 99% throughput was discovered. A 4.4-mm-long CPC was manufactured and incorporated into an optical fiber-based near-infrared Raman spectrometer system. For human tissue samples, light collection was enhanced by a factor of 7 compared with collection with 0.29-NA optical fibers.

Characterization of the separation properties of the Beckman elutriator system.

The role of fluid flow in the elutriation process was visualized by pumping dye solution through the Beckman JE-6 elutriator rotor. Three major fluid flow disturbances were observed in the separation chambers, namely; jet-streaming, ripple flow, and whirl flow. In order to evaluate the effects of these non-ideal fluid flow patterns on the separation of homogeneous populations of particles or cells, 12--35 micron diameter latex spheres and 9L rat brain tumor cells were fractionated with the Beckman elutriator system. The elutriator system was evaluated on the basis of: (1) recovery, (2) elution loss during loading, (3) homogeneity of the size distributions, and (4) the relationship of the median volume of eluted particles or cells to the rotor speed and the collection fluid velocity. Both a conventional collection method (two 40-mL fractions at ech collection rotor speed) and a long collection method (10--15 40-mL fractions at several collection rotor speeds) were compared to determine if collection procedures could compensate for some of the difficulties caused by the non-ideal fluid flow patterns. Although more than 90% of the particles or cells were always recovered, about 5% eluted during the loading procedure. Neither collection method altered this phenomenon. The long collection method significantly improved the homogeneity of the collected populations, but this was accompanied by a reduction in cell yield. The median particle or cell volume of each fraction agreed with that expected under ideal fluid flow conditions except at high and low rotor speeds when the conventional collection method was used.

Synchronization of 9L rat brain tumor cells by centrifugal elutriation.

Asynchronous 9L cells were separated into relatively homogeneously-sized populations using centrifugal elutriation with both a conventional collection method and a long collection method. A substantial increase in the homogeneity of the volume distributions and in the degree of synchrony of the separated fractions was obtained using the long collection method. Autoradiographic data indicated that fractions containing greater than or equal to 97% G1 cells, greater than or equal to 80% S cells, and 70-75% G2 cells could be routinely recovered with this procedure. Recovery in these fractions varied from 5 to 8% of the total number of cells elutriated. The colony forming efficiency (CFE) of cells from fractions representing each phase of the cell cycle was a constant 60-70%, which was comparable to the 60-80% usually found for asynchronous 9L cells. The percentage of cells in the G1, S, and G2 phases in the elutriated fractions was more accurately determined from the volume distribution than from computer fits of the DNA histogram obtained from flow cytometry. In genereal, the degree of synchrony was related to the coefficient of variation (CV) of the volume distributions of the elutriated fractions. The CV was about 14% for all elutriated fractions. When the greater than or equal to 97% G1 population was allowed to progress to S and G2, the CVs were about 17 and 20.2%, respectively. Thus, the best nonperturbing method for obtaining synchronous 9L cells in the S or G2 phases was direct elutriation with the long collection method.