Glass Slides Research Articles

Evaluating pathologist practices in peripheral blood smear review: A comprehensive practice survey.

Widely accepted standardized criteria for peripheral blood (PB) smear review do not exist. The aim of this study was to collect data regarding PB smear review practices across multiple institutions, with a focus on pathologist review. A 23-question survey was developed by members of the Society for Hematopathology (SH) Education Committee and distributed to SH members. The survey included questions on practice environment and PB smear review practices, including trainee involvement. Of 725 members contacted, 137 (19%) completed the entire survey. Over half of practices examined 5 to 20 smears a day. All respondents reported using complete blood count/differential leukocyte count data and clinical history as part of smear review. The reported proportion of laboratory-initiated vs clinician-requested reviews varied across respondents. Clinician-requested smear reviews were more likely to be billed and issued as a separate pathology report. Glass slide review (as opposed to digital microscopy) was used by most respondents. All respondents affirmed that PB smear review is an essential component of pathology training programs. Numerous free-text comments were submitted by respondents regarding their own experiences with PB smear review and suggested improvements. This survey elucidated the spectrum of practice patterns for pathologist review of blood smears and identified potential areas for process improvement.

Superhydrophilic antireflection films with excellent optical and mechanical performance for perovskite solar cells

SiO2-based antireflection (AR) films can obviously improve the transmittance of the glass cover on the solar cells. Nevertheless, it’s still challenging to fabricate SiO2 films in a facile way with great antireflective properties, high hardness and good weather resistance to ensure their long-term use in outdoor environments. To solve this problem, a double-layer broadband SiO2 antireflective film with high transmittance increase and excellent mechanical properties was successfully prepared via an acid-catalyzed sol–gel method using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as pore-forming agent. The porous PEG2000-modified SiO2 films were selected as the outer layer for coating onto the pure SiO2 film to form double-layer SiO2 films with graded refractive index. When the mass ratio of PEG2000 to TEOS was 40 %, the obtained film showed the highest transmittance increase of 3.03 % in the wavelength range of 380–1100 nm and a high hardness of 3H. After applied to the perovskite solar cell, a significant enhancement of 1.19 % in photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) was achieved compared to the solar cell covered with bare substrate. Furthermore, the water contact angle (WCA) was also reduced to 6° while that of pure SiO2 film was 51.3°, endowing the double-layer SiO2 film superhydrophilic and anti-fogging performance. After the weather resistance test, the transmittance loss of the film was only 0.38 %. Therefore, this work demonstrated that the use of an appropriate amount of pore-forming agent PEG and the double-layer graded refractive index structure can enhance the transmittance of acid-catalyzed SiO₂ films, while maintaining high hardness and good weathering resistance for perovskite solar cells.

EVALUATION OF ENHANCED SOLAR DESALINATION SYSTEM PROTOTYPE

Solar desalination technology has been one of the effective solutions to tackle the problem of water scarcity. A number of studies have been conducted at our water research group to determine which variable influences the quantity of distilled water produced by an independent solar desalination unit. Aims: This study was aimed to design and optimize a novel solar desalination unit and field-tested using the best variable from the previous studies. Methodology and results: Variables used from the previous studies were evaluated to obtain the best values for each parameter, those are: glass cover inclination, gap distance between water and glass cover, insulation thickness, water depth, and water mass flow rate. Those best values were then implemented in the optimized basin design, delivery mechanisms, evaporation techniques, and heat isolation methods. The optimized design can generate up to 2,778.2 mL/m2/8hrs of distilled water with an efficiency of 23.35% in preliminary test, and was field tested at Batukaras Beach, where it produced up to 902 mL/m2/8hrs with an efficiency of 13.56%. Conclusion, significance and impact study: Meteorological parameters and environmental conditions are important factors that greatly affect the performance and productivity of the desalination unit. The relative humidity is inversely proportional to the volume of distillate water, where the smaller the value, the greater the amount of distillate water that can be produced, and it has significant impact on the productivity of the prototype. The quality of the distillate water produced still needs improvement on the parameters of pH, turbidity, and total coliform.

Developmental stages and molecular phylogeny of Hepatozoon fitzsimonsi (Dias 1953) (Adeleorina: Hepatozoidae) in tortoises Stigmochelys pardalis (Cryptodira: Testudinidae) and ticks of the genus Amblyomma (Acari: Ixodidae) from South Africa

BackgroundHepatozoon fitzsimonsi (Dias, 1953) is a frequently found haemogregarine of southern African tortoises. At the time of this species’ reassignment from the genus Haemogregarina to Hepatozoon, developmental stages such as sporocysts and sporozoites were observed in ticks associated with H. fitzsimonsi parasitised and non-parasitised tortoises. It was thus suggested that ticks may act as the potential vectors for this parasite. However, this earlier research was unable to confirm the identity of these sporogonic stages using molecular markers. In a separate study aimed at identifying tick species parasitising South African reptiles and molecularly screening these for the presence of Hepatozoon, that study identified H. fitzsimonsi in tortoise-associated ticks. Thus, the present study aimed to revisit the potential of ticks to act as vectors for H. fitzsimonsi in tortoises using a combined microscopy and molecular approach.MethodsSpecimens of Kinixys natalensis, Kinixys spekii, Kinixys zombensis and Stigmochelys pardalis were collected from Bonamanzi and Ndumo Game Reserve, South Africa. Upon capture, animals were examined for ticks, and these were collected along with blood and other tissues. Adult ticks were dissected and visceral impression slides were prepared along with thin blood and tissue smears on clean microscope slides. Smears and impression slides were stained with Giemsa, screened and micrographs of parasites were captured. Two primer sets were employed to target fragments of the 18S rRNA gene of parasites found in both tortoises and ticks and the resulting sequences were then compared with other known H. fitzsimonsi and haemogregarine sequences from the GenBank database.ResultsPeripheral blood gamont and liver merogonic stages were observed in S. pardalis, while the sporogonic stages were observed in the haemocoel of Amblyomma ticks. Gamont and sporocyst stages compared morphologically with previous descriptions of H. fitzsimonsi, identifying them as this species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the blood and tick sequences obtained in this study clustered in a monophyletic clade comprising known H. fitzsimonsi.ConclusionsThe present study provides further support for ticks acting as the vectors of H. fitzsimonsi by molecularly identifying and linking observed developmental stages in tortoises (S. pardalis) with those in the invertebrate host (Amblyomma spp.).Graphical

Accuracy of ultrasound TIRADS classification for the differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid lesions taking Bethesda classification as gold standard

AbstractBackgroundThe TIRADS classification system is commonly used in ultrasound imaging to evaluate the risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules, but there is still debate about its accuracy. The BSRTC categorizes FNA biopsy results to determine the likelihood of malignancy in thyroid nodules, and this remains the gold standard for diagnosis.MethodologyThis is a cross-sectional study design conducted in the Radiology Department of Chughtai Lab Head Office in Lahore. This study assessed 154 patients with thyroid nodules. The ultrasound equipment used for the study is the Toshiba Applio 500 model, while the equipment for FNAC included topical anesthesia, 21-gauge 10 CC syringes, glass slides, cell block, and the Olympus CX23 microscope. The sampling technique employed is the consecutive sampling technique.ResultsOut of 154 patients, the mean age was 42.0 ± 13.6 years. Majority were female (89%) while 11% are male. The P-value of <0.0001 suggests a statistically significant association between TIRADS and Bethesda categories. The findings suggested that ultrasonography is a highly reliable and effective method for diagnosis, with a superior degree of sensitivity and specificity in addition to invasive cytology tests. Results from the ROC curve analysis showed an impressive area under the curve of 0.972. The sonographic features show significant associations with TIRADS categories (P-value <0.0001). The association between TIRADS suspiciousness and Bethesda diagnosis is statistically significant (P-value <0.0001). Benign nodules were most commonly classified as not suspicious (56.5%), followed by mildly suspicious (9.7%), while malignant nodules were primarily classified as highly suspicious (11.0%). Notably, no malignant nodules were categorized as benign.ConclusionHealthcare professionals may consider utilizing TIRADS as a first-line imaging method and then BETHESDA if needed to provide patients with the most accurate results and minimize unwanted interventional exposure. Combining these two scoring methods appears to yield the most precise outcomes for identifying and distinguishing benign from malignant nodules, which is critical for arriving at a definitive diagnosis in individuals with thyroid malignancies.

Influence of a plasma focus device on the structural and optical properties of highly conductive AZO thin films

In the present work, we deposited Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films on microscope glass slides at different pressures (5, 10, 20, and 30 mTorr) using an EAEA-PFD (Plasma Focus Device of the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority) without any extra heat treatment. Argon gas provided the radiant energy needed to form a crystalline AZO film. This study investigated the deposition and features of AZO thin films. The impact of changes in work pressure on the microstructure, morphology, and optical attributes of AZO films was reported. The results demonstrated that varying the work pressure significantly affects the microstructure, morphology, crystallinity, optical absorbance, and optical energy gap. The microstructure and morphology were evaluated through XRD and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The optical properties were analyzed using a UVvis double-beam spectrophotometer within a wavelength range from 300 to 1100 nm. XRD patterns indicating a zinc-blende structure and the Williamson–Hall approach were used to estimate the structural parameters. The estimated trend in the particle size of the AZO film demonstrates a decrease from 82 ± 5 nm to 48 ± 5 nm as the pressure increases. The calculated energy gap, Egopt, increases from 3.53 eV to 3.69 eV with increasing work pressure. The conductivities in terms of both optical and electrical decreased with increasing work pressure of the AZO films.

Smart and cheap assessment of microscope slide surface wettability by polysorbate 20–in aqueous buffered solutions and for increasing amounts

Smart and cheap assessment of microscope slide surface wettability by polysorbate 20–in aqueous buffered solutions and for increasing amounts

Prognostic significance of histologic phenotype in periampullary adenocarcinomas.

Periampullary adenocarcinomas typically exhibit either intestinal or pancreatobiliary (PB) differentiation, and the type of differentiation may be prognostically more important than the anatomic site of origin. This study aimed to evaluate prognostic significance of histological type of periampullary carcinomas. Microscopic slides from 110 consecutive pancreatoduodenectomies performed between 2010 and 2020 were reviewed and classified as intestinal or PB type. Clinicopathological factors were compared between PB-(n=93) and intestinal-type (n=17) differentiation. The intestinal type included significantly more patients with well-differentiated histology (35.3% vs. 11.8%, p=0.001) and fewer patients with perineural invasion (41.2% vs. 76.4%, p=0.029), advanced T stage (> T3; 41.2% vs.74.2%, p=0.007), and systemic recurrence (71.4% vs. 92.9%, p=0.005) than PB type. The 5-year-overall survival rate of intestinal-type was significantly higher than that of PB-type (58.8% vs. 20.4%, p=0.003). When pancreatic cancer was separately analyzed, the intestinal type showed the best 5-year-overall survival rate, with no significant difference between the PB types excluding PDAC and PDAC (39.4% vs. 19.2%, p=0.148). In multivariate analysis, curative resection (hazard ratio, 0.417; 95% CI, 0.219-0.792, p=0.008) was the only significant prognostic factor. Although intestinal histologic phenotype was not an independent prognostic factor on multivariate analysis, it showed pathologic features associated with better survival, while the PB type showed more aggressive tumor biology and consequently worse survival. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the prognostic significance of histologic phenotype.

Inactivation of Bacillus cereus Spores and Vegetative Cells in Inert Matrix and Rice Grains Using Low-Pressure Cold Plasma.

This study investigated the effects of low-pressure cold plasma on the inactivation of Bacillus cereus vegetative cells and spores in an inert matrix (borosilicate glass slide) and in rice grains, using oxygen as ionization gas. Greater reductions in B. cereus counts were observed in vegetative cells rather than spores. The experimental data obtained show that both the power of the plasma treatment and the matrix proved to be determining factors in the inactivation of both the spores and vegetative cells of B. cereus. To characterize the inactivation of B. cereus, experimental data were accurately fitted to the Weibull model. A significant decrease in parameter "a", representing resistance to treatment, was confirmed with treatment intensification. Furthermore, significant differences in the "a" value were observed between spores in inert and food matrices, suggesting the additional protective role of the food matrix for B. cereus spores. These results demonstrate the importance of considering matrix effects in plasma treatment to ensure the effective inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms, particularly in foods with low water activity, such as rice. This approach contributes to mitigating the impact of foodborne illnesses caused by pathogenic microorganisms.

Low-cost preparation of 3D-Au@SiO2 substrates for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy and finite difference time domain enhancement analysis

Thin films (thickness of ∼2 to 4 μm) comprised of SiO2 particles (300–400 nm) were deposited on glass slides using a screen-printing approach. After annealing, films were functionalized with polyethyleneimine (PEI) to facilitate the adsorption of 3 to 5 nm Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) on the SiO2 particle films, and the resulting Au@SiO2 substrates were used to evaluate their potential for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) applications. Two types of supported silica particles, monodisperse solid silica (s-SiO2) and textured silica (t-SiO2), were used to investigate the impact of the SiO2 surface properties on the formation of Au NPs hotspots. Monodisperse s-SiO2 particles were synthesized using the Stöber method, while textured surface materials were obtained by incorporating cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) into the solution at a concentration below the critical micelle concentration.SERS studies were conducted using Rhodamine 6G (R6G) as a target molecule. For Au@s-SiO2, the SERS signal results showed a reasonable spatial reproducibility with relative standard deviation values (RSD ∼5 to 16% for studies on six different samples), in agreement with literature values (RSD ∼10 %). In the case of t-SiO2, the spatial reproducibility was also good in some slides with low% RSD between 7 and 12 %, but in other substrates with values as high as 20 % to 50 % RSD. Also, a lower slide-to-slide %RSD value, 26 % vs. 34 %, was found for the s-SiO2 sample.For the Au@t-SiO2 substrates, the estimated calibration sensitivity and the calculated limit of quantification (LoQ) for R6G were 0.392 (log (peak area) vs. log ([R6G]) and 0.381 μM, respectively, close to the visual practical limit. For Au@s-SiO2, the sensitivity was lower, 0.305 vs 0.392, and the LoQ was 0.016 μM, which is lower than the visual practical limit 0.1 μM. To put these results in context, SiO2 and Au@SiO2 films were characterized using different methods, including profilometry, high resolution scanning and transmission electron microscopy (HR-SEM and TEM), UV–visible and Raman spectroscopy.In addition, finite-difference time domain (FDTD) simulations were performed to understand the relationship between substrate morphology and SERS enhancement. Image processing and 3D modelling software were used to convert the HR-SEM images of the SERS substrates into FDTD simulation-compatible models. The simulations showed that the Au@s-SiO2 substrate had a greater average plasmon resonance enhancement over the Au@t-SiO2 substrate, in good agreement with the LoQ differences between substrates, ∼0.02 μM for Au@ s-SiO2 vs. ∼0.4 μM for Au@t-SiO2.

Antireflective Superhydrophobic and Robust Coating Based on Chitin Nanofibers and Methylsilanized Silica for Outdoor Applications.

Antireflective coatings with superhydrophobicity have many outdoor applications, such as solar photovoltaic panels and windshields. In this study, we fabricated an omnidirectional antireflective and superhydrophobic coating with good mechanical robustness and environmental durability via the spin coating technique. The coating consisted of a layer of phytic acid (PA)/polyacrylamide (PAM)/calcium ions (Ca2+) (referred to as Binder), an antireflective layer composed of chitin nanofibers (ChNFs), and a hydrophobic layer composed of methylsilanized silica (referred to as Mosil). The transmittance of a glass slide with the Binder/ChNFs/Mosil coating had a 5.2% gain at a wavelength of 550 nm, and the antireflective coating showed a water contact angle as high as 160° and a water sliding angle of 8°. The mechanical robustness and environmental durability of the coating, including resistance to peeling, dynamic impact, chemical erosion, ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and high temperature, were evaluated. The coating retained excellent antireflective capacity and self-cleaning performance in the harsh conditions. The increase in voltage per unit area of a solar panel with a Binder/ChNFs/Mosil coating reached 0.4 mV/cm2 compared to the solar panel exposed to sunlight with an intensity of 54.3 × 103 lx. This work not only demonstrates that ChNFs can be used as raw materials to fabricate antireflective superhydrophobic coatings for outdoor applications but also provides a feasible and efficient approach to do so.

Facile modification method for the controlled synthesis of dumbbell-like gold nanoparticles (AuNDBs) for application in detecting glucose using the SERS method

Dumbbell-like nanoparticles, previously known for their excellent light absorption and dispersion, have diverse applications, especially in SERS. Herein, we have explored a fast and novel controlled synthesis approach to achieve a high formation of AuNDBs. Precise control of precursor amounts and seed addition order halted seed growth at the AuNDB formation stage, preventing further elongation into rod-like structures. The AuNDBs were functionalized with 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA) to create SERS nanosubstrates and deposited on the glass slide through 3-mercaptopropyl (dimethoxy)methylsilane by the spin-coating technique. The detection of d-glucose was achieved by measuring the signal decrease of the 4-MBA Raman probe molecules on the nanosubstrates at different trace concentrations of the analyte. These novel SERS substrates have the potential to provide an enhancement factor (EF) of 2.41 × 107 and a limit of detection (LOD) as low as 1.17 nmol/L. The electromagnetic field distribution of AuNDBs with many arrangements surrounded by air and d-glucose solutions was also determined by using the finite-difference time-domain technique (FDTD). The FDTD results confirmed that d-glucose on the SERS substrates caused the local electromagnetic field to degrade, resulting in the degree of the Raman signal. Our findings suggest that dumbbell-shaped SERS substrates can effectively detect very low levels of glucose, making them ideal for designing novel anisotropic nanoparticle-functionalized surfaces with ease.

Development of a multi-scanner facility for data acquisition for digital pathology artificial intelligence.

Whole slide imaging (WSI) of pathology glass slides using high-resolution scanners has enabled the large-scale application of artificial intelligence (AI) in pathology, to support the detection and diagnosis of disease, potentially increasing efficiency and accuracy in tissue diagnosis. Despite the promise of AI, it has limitations. 'Brittleness' or sensitivity to variation in inputs necessitates that large amounts of data are used for training. AI is often trained on data from different scanners but not usually by replicating the same slide across scanners. The utilisation of multiple WSI instruments to produce digital replicas of the same slides will make more comprehensive datasets and may improve the robustness and generalisability of AI algorithms as well as reduce the overall data requirements of AI training. To this end, the National Pathology Imaging Cooperative (NPIC) has built the AI FORGE (Facilitating Opportunities for Robust Generalisable data Emulation), a unique multi-scanner facility embedded in a clinical site in the NHS to (1) compare scanner performance, (2) replicate digital pathology image datasets across WSI systems, and (3) support the evaluation of clinical AI algorithms. The NPIC AI FORGE currently comprises 15 scanners from nine manufacturers. It can generate approximately 4,000 WSI images per day (approximately 7 TB of image data). This paper describes the process followed to plan and build such a facility. © 2024 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Giardia intestinalis Infestation and Assemblage of Isolates Among Monastery Primary School Children in Yangon, Myanmar.

Giardiasisis one of the major causes of diarrhea among children. To determine the prevalence, risk factors, and genotype of Giardia intestinalis, a cross-sectional descriptive study was done on stool samples of 462 children attending three monastery primary schools from North Okkalapa Township in Yangon, Myanmar from January 2016 to February 2019. Socioeconomic data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire after obtaining informed consent. Direct wet mount, formalin-ether sedimentation, and trichrome staining techniques were used for the primary identification and then molecular identification was carried out by conventional polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-sequencing assay. G. intestinalis was identified in 11.7% (54/462) of students. There was no significant association with water source (p=0.948) and drinking untreated water (p=0.595). The infection was more common in children with low-educated parents, unsanitary garbage disposal practices, and no restrooms. All isolates were G. intestinalis assemblage B. This is the first study characterizing human isolates in a lower region of Myanmar, at the molecular level [MOU1]. These findings pointed out the high prevalence of G. intestinalis among primary school children from densely populated and low-resource settings.

Associations of Plasmodium and Intestinal Helminth Infections with Maternal Anemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Northwest Ethiopia.

Malaria and intestinal helminth infections are significant public health challenges in Ethiopia. However, little is known about the relationship of Plasmodium and intestinal helminth infections in pregnancy with maternal anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. A health-facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 526 parturients in northwest Ethiopia to investigate the associations of these parasitic infections with anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Maternal and newborn profiles were collected using questionnaires and checklists. Maternal hematocrit was determined using the micro-hematocrit method. Malaria was diagnosed by microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, whereas intestinal parasites were detected microscopically using stool wet mount and Kato-Katz preparations. Among the women, 38.6% were anemic, and 36.5% had adverse pregnancy outcomes. Single infections of hookworm (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.64-5.87) in pregnancy were associated with anemia at parturiency, whereas malaria single infections were associated with anemia (aOR = 4.28, 95% CI: 2.17-8.23) and adverse pregnancy outcomes (aOR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.47-5.91). Moreover, intestinal helminth coinfections in pregnancy were associated with anemia (aOR = 13.3, 95% CI: 4.8-36.8), whereas malaria-helminth coinfections were associated with anemia (aOR = 7.47, 95% CI: 3.71-15.04) and adverse pregnancies (aOR = 4.75, 95% CI: 2.36-9.57). Overall, the study showed that Plasmodium and intestinal helminth infections in pregnancy are associated with anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thus, strengthening malaria and intestinal parasite infection prevention and control practices in pregnancy is warranted to alleviate the burden of anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

A new diagnostic technique for identifying Angiostrongylus spp. larvae in intermediate snail species by examining the buccal cavity

BackgroundAngiostrongyliasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis. The intermediate hosts of A. cantonensis are gastropods, and snail species such as Pomacea canaliculata play a key role in the transmission of human angiostrongyliasis. Detecting A. cantonensis infection in snails is an important component of epidemiological surveillance and the control of angiostrongyliasis.MethodsIn this study, a new method for diagnosing A. cantonensis infection in gastropods was developed by recovering larvae from the buccal cavity of three snail species. The entire buccal cavity of a snail was extracted, and the tissue was pressed between two microscope slides to observe whether A. cantonensis larvae were present. Our new method was compared with traditional pathogenic detection methods of lung microscopy, tissue homogenization, and artificial digestion. We artificially infected 160 P. canaliculata, 160 Cipangopaludina chinensis, and 160 Bellamya aeruginosa snails with A. cantonensis. Then, the four different detection methods were used to diagnose infection in each snail species at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days post exposure.ResultsWe found no significant difference in the percentages of infected P. canaliculata snails using the four methods to detect A. cantonensis larvae. The radula pressing method had a mean detection rate of 80%, while the lung microscopy (81.3%), tissue homogenization (83.8%), and artificial digestion (85%) methods had slightly greater detection rates. Similarly, the percentages of infected C. chinensis snails that were detected using the radula pressing (80%), tissue homogenization (82.1%), and artificial digestion (83.8%) methods were not significantly different. Finally, the percentages of infected B. aeruginosa snails that were detected using the radula pressing (81.3%), tissue homogenization (81.9%), and artificial digestion (81.4%) methods were not significantly different. These results showed that the radula pressing method had a similar detection rate to traditional lung microscopy, tissue homogenization, or artificial digestion methods.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates a new method for the qualitative screening of gastropods that act as intermediate hosts of A. cantonensis (and other Angiostrongylus species), provides technical support for the control of human angiostrongyliasis, and furthers research on A. cantonensis.Graphical

Reproducibility of c-Met Immunohistochemical Scoring (Clone SP44) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Using Conventional Light Microscopy and Whole Slide Imaging.

Emerging therapies for non-small cell lung cancer targeting c-Met overexpression have recently demonstrated promising results. However, the evaluation of c-Met expression can be challenging. We aimed to study the inter and intraobserver reproducibility of c-Met expression evaluation. One hundred ten cases with non-small cell lung cancer (40 biopsies and 70 surgical specimens) were retrospectively selected in a single laboratory (LPCE) and evaluated for c-Met expression. Six pathologists (4 seniors and 2 juniors) evaluated the H-score and made a 3-tier classification of c-Met expression for all cases, using conventional light microscopy (CLM) and whole slide imaging (WSI). The interobserver reproducibility with CLM gave global Cohen Kappa coefficients (ƙ) ranging from 0.581 (95% CI: 0.364-0.771) to 0.763 (95% CI: 0.58-0.92) using the c-Met 3-tier classification and H-score, respectively. ƙ was higher for senior pathologists and biopsy samples. The interobserver reproducibility with WSI gave a global ƙ ranging from 0.543 (95% CI: 0.33-0.724) to 0.905 (95% CI: 0.618-1) using the c-Met H-score and 2-tier classification (≥25% 3+), respectively. ƙ for intraobserver reproducibility between CLM and WSI ranged from 0.713 to 0.898 for the c-Met H-score and from 0.600 to 0.779 for the c-Met 3-tier classification. We demonstrated a moderate to excellent interobserver agreement for c-Met expression with a substantial to excellent intraobserver agreement between CLM and WSI, thereby supporting the development of digital pathology. However, some factors (scoring method, type of tissue samples, and expertise level) affect reproducibility. Our findings highlight the importance of establishing a consensus definition and providing further training, particularly for inexperienced pathologists, for c-Met immunohistochemistry assessment in clinical practice.

Synthesis of Mesoporous Silica Sol with Low Refractive Properties for Increasing Transmittance.

Currently, coating with anti-reflective materials is an attractive approach to improve the quality of screen-based displays. In this study, mesoporous silica particles were systematically synthesized as a function of surfactant (i.e., CTAC-cetyltrimethylammonium chloride) concentration to serve as main coating fillers possessing low refractive indices. Precisely changing the amount of the CTAC surfactant, silica sol with an average diameter of 50 nm exhibits distinctively different specific surface areas, pore size, and pore volume. Prior to the preparation of final coating solutions containing these silica particle fillers, the percentage of solid content was optimized on a glass slide. The use of 50 wt% solid content exhibited the highest transmittance of light. Among various content levels of silica sol, the use of 3.5 wt% of silica particles in the solid content displayed the highest transmittance (i.e., best anti-reflectiveness). Under the almost identical coating layers prepared with the fixed amount of silica particles possessing different surface areas, pore size, and pore volume, it appears that the largest pore volume played the most important role in improving the anti-reflective properties. Experimentally understanding the key feature of low-refractive filler materials under the optimized conditions could provide a clear view to develop highly effective anti-reflective materials for various display applications.

Geometric morphometrics analysis of forensically important Sarcophaga species

Abstract Geometric morphometrics is a method that offers a mathematical description of biological forms based on geometric definitions of their size and shape, enabling the discrimination between species. In this study, we aimed to utilize geometric morphometrics as a valuable tool for identifying Sarcophagidae species, a family of flies that are challenging to distinguish morphologically. We collected a total of 80 wings (both left and right) from male individuals representing nine species (Sarcophaga africa, S. argyrostoma, S. hirticrus, S. jacobsoni, S. lehmanni, S. melanura, S. pandellei, S. portschinskyi, and S. teretirostris). These wings were removed, mounted on microscope slides, photographed, and digitized using 15 landmarks. The results demonstrated effective differentiation among seven species, representing significant progress in the expedited identification of Sarcophaga species. Due to its speed, affordability, and user-friendly nature, the wing landmark-based geometric morphometrics, when combined with taxonomy, can enhance the robustness of Sarcophagidae analyses and prove useful for discriminating flesh flies in forensic contexts.

Preliminary Geological Mapping, Petrographic, and Structural Studies of Precambrian Basement Complex Rocks in Part of Chulwe-Matale, South Kivu, DR Congo

A geological map is a veritable planning tool for the economic development of any nation. This map contains the distribution of various types of bedrock in the area. A geological map of Congo’s geographic landmass has been produced since 1974 with the recently updated map of Kivu (Eastern part of Congo) in February 2018. This map largely omits some local geology of interest, possibly owing to its large area coverage. Thus, local geologic mapping must be encouraged to bridge this lacuna; the focus of this study. Field traversing and rock sample collections were carried out and thin sections of the different rock types were prepared and mounted on glass slides for microscopic observation. Geological mapping revealed that the study area is made of ferruginous, graphitic sandstone schists and quartzite with interbedded metadoleritic sills. The petrographic studies revealed the mineral assemblages of quartz-feldspars-muscovite and olivine-pyroxene and plagioclase feldspars respectively for the first and the second group geological units. The structural investigations come out of two deformation phases: the strike-slip type would be at the origin of the cleavages and folds. It’s related to the D1 of the Kibarian orogeny. The second is an extensive phase responsible for the NW-SE fracturation mapped in the study area. The Matale discordance crosses all these lithologies, a later phase is possible. This discontinuity would have acted in the region studied by switching the lithology units from NE-SW to ENE-WSW orientation. This research recommends that the Chulwe-Matale formations would be typical of the Lower Kibarian (Bugarama group) but the geochronology and geochemical data are lacking to confirm this hypothesis.