Positive Interferences Research Articles

B-281 Performance Characteristics Evaluation of the ARK Diagnostics Immunoassay for Xylazine/4-HydroxyXylazine in Urine

Abstract Background Xylazine exposure is currently common in some US cities, but routine laboratory testing is not available. We evaluated the ARK Diagnostics immunoassay for qualitative detection of xylazine/4-hydroxy Xylazine in urine, prior to its anticipated release as a Forensic Use Only assay. Evaluation of performance characteristics of the ARK assay were conducted at two university hospitals, using either the semi-quantitative application of the assay, as performed on the Roche Cobas 503 analyzer (Institution A), or the qualitative application of the assay, as performed on the Beckman Coulter AU480 analyzer (Institution B). Methods Xylazine (X) and 4-hydroxy Xylazine (4-OHX) were obtained from Cayman Chemical (Ann Arbor, MI). Pooled xylazine-free urine was spiked either with X or 4-OHX in the range of 0-2000 ng/mL. De-identified, to-be-discarded patient urine samples were obtained from among those submitted for routine drugs-of-abuse panel testing. X measurements on all samples were performed by LC-MS/MS; samples were segregated into X-NEGATIVE (X<10 ng/mL) and X-POSITIVE (X>=10 ng/mL). The ARK assay was conducted according to manufacturer’s instructions, either as a semi-quantitative assay (Institution A, Roche analyzer) or as a qualitative assay (Institution B, Beckman Coulter analyzer), with 10 ng/mL as the manufacturer-specified cutoff for ARK POSITIVE, using manufacturer-supplied calibration standards ranging from 0-500 ng/mL X. Results The ARK semi-quantitative analysis (Roche analyzer) showed essentially equivalent curvilinear response curves for either X or 4-OHX at concentrations below 1000 ng/mL; for the semi-quantitative ARK assay, we use “>1200 ng/mL” for X-ARK >1200 ng/mL. By mixing studies (Roche), there were neither positive nor negative interferences observed as assessed for common drugs of abuse or for common therapeutic drugs. The presence of hemoglobin, bilirubin or moderate lipemia were devoid of assay interference. Precision studies for manufacturer-supplied controls were as follows: intra-assay CVs were 6.9% for the NEGATIVE control (5.1±0.35 ng/mL) and 5.9% for the POSITIVE control (15.7±0.53 ng/mL) (n=20); interassay CVs were 7.8% for the NEGATIVE control (5.1±0.40 ng/mL) and 5.7% for the POSITIVE control (15.9±0.90 ng/mL) (n=20). For the qualitative ARK assay as performed on the Beckman analyzer, POSITIVE and NEGATIVE controls ran invariably according to their designations. For the semi-quantitative assay application (Roche analyzer): among 78 X-NEGATIVE samples by LC-MS/MS, there were 0% ARK-POSITIVE results (false-positive rate=0%); among 74 X-POSITIVE samples by LC-MS/MS, there was one ARK-NEGATIVE result (false-negative rate=1.4%); this sample (X=65 ng/mL) was found to have a high amorphous crystalline content, and was unable to be reanalyzed. For the qualitative assay application (Beckman Coulter analyzer): among 78 X-NEGATIVE samples there was one ARK-POSITIVE sample (false-positive rate=1.3%) for a sample with xylazine=8.8 ng/mL by LC-MS/MS, with undetectable 4-OHX (<10 ng/mL); among 74 X-POSITIVE samples, there were no ARK-NEGATIVE results (false-negative rate=0%). Conclusions The ARK xylazine immunoassay demonstrated acceptable analytical performance with respect to detection of xylazine in urine at 10 ng/mL. With additional consideration of the assay’s cross reactivity with the major xylazine metabolite, 4-OH-xylazine, the assay was judged to be highly suitable for routine use as a screening test for detection of xylazine exposure via urine testing.

Основные виды соседских вмешательств по праву Германии и Швейцарии

This article analyses the neighbour law in the law of Germany and Switzerland with the question of borrowing foreign experience in Russia. For this purpose, the classification of neighbours’ interventions is examined in detail. Each type is considered in the context of foreign doctrine and judicial practice, its impact on the balance of interests of neighbours and the state is studied, and a conclusion is made about the necessity or lack thereof for potential borrowing in Russia. Also important terms and principles accompanying neighbourly relations are analysed: materiality of interference, economic feasibility of measures to reduce harmful effects, the principle of good neighbours in the context of cohabitation. The ways of protection of the owner’s rights against them are considered, among which there are negatory action, tort action, challenging the decision of a public authority, compensation action. As a result of the study, the following conclusions are drawn. Not all types of interference in the right of ownership by a neighbour could be relevant in Russia, in particular intangible (affecting the value of real estate without direct interference in use) and aggregate interferences (from several sources and issuers) are applied in Germany with great difficulty (most often only reaching the Supreme Court), but positive (physical) interferences and negative (interfering in use without direct physical interference), taking into account the text of the draft reform of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation (where they are indirectly taken into account) would be important in the future and could find a place in the legal system of the Russian Federation.

Interference Effects on Flow-Induced Oscillation of Three Tandem Cylinders With Passive Turbulence Control

Abstract The characteristics of flow-induced oscillation (FIO) of multiple tandem cylinders with passive turbulence control (PTC) change due to interference between PTC cylinders. Identifying positive and negative interferences is vital for designing marine structures involving PTC cylinders on elastic supports. Experiments on a single PTC cylinder, two PTC cylinders and three PTC cylinders in tandem were conducted to study the interferences due to placing an identical oscillating PTC cylinder upstream, downstream, and both upstream and downstream. Critical parameters (damping, stiffness) and Reynolds number (Re) are varied in the tests. The onset inflow velocity of oscillation is reduced and back-to-back vortex-induced vibration (VIV) and galloping is achieved, when placing interference cylinders in the vicinity of the basic oscillator. The interference due to the downstream cylinder enhances FIO of the basic oscillator. In the VIV region, one interference downstream cylinder is more effective than two interference downstream cylinders. In the galloping region, the enhancement improves for two interference cylinders for lower stiffness and damping ratios. The interference upstream cylinder tends to suppress FIO of the basic oscillator for higher stiffness. The suppression of one upstream cylinder is more vigorous than that of two upstream cylinders in the VIV region, and the opposite is true in the galloping region. When two interference cylinders are placed both downstream and upstream of the basic oscillator, its FIO is enhanced for the lower stiffness whilst it is suppressed for the higher stiffness.

A new colorimetric lactate biosensor based on CUPRAC reagent using binary enzyme (lactate-pyruvate oxidases)-immobilized silanized magnetite nanoparticles

A novel optical lactate biosensor is presented that utilizes a colorimetric interaction between H2O2 liberated by a binary enzymatic reaction and bis(neocuproine)copper(II) complex ([Cu(Nc)2]2+) known as CUPRAC (cupric reducing antioxidant capacity) reagent. In the first step, lactate oxidase (LOx) and pyruvate oxidase (POx) were separately immobilized on silanized magnetite nanoparticles (SiO2@Fe3O4 NPs), and thus, 2 mol of H2O2 was released per 1 mol of the substrate due to a sequential enzymatic reaction of the mixture of LOx-SiO2@Fe3O4 and POx-SiO2@Fe3O4 NPs with lactate and pyruvate, respectively. In the second step, the absorbance at 450 nm of the yellow-orange [Cu(Nc)2]+ complex formed through the color reaction of enzymatically produced H2O2 with [Cu(Nc)2]2+ was recorded. The results indicate that the developed colorimetric binary enzymatic biosensor exhibits a broad linear range of response between 0.5 and 50.0 µM for lactate under optimal conditions with a detection limit of 0.17 µM. The fabricated biosensor did not respond to other saccharides, while the positive interferences of certain reducing compounds such as dopamine, ascorbic acid, and uric acid were minimized through their oxidative removal with a pre-oxidant (NaBiO3) before enzymatic and colorimetric reactions. The fabricated optical biosensor was applied to various samples such as artificial blood, artificial/real sweat, and cow milk. The high recovery values (close to 100%) achieved for lactate-spiked samples indicate an acceptable accuracy of this colorimetric biosensor in the determination of lactate in real samples. Due to the increase in H2O2 production with the bienzymatic lactate sensor, the proposed method displays double-fold sensitivity relative to monoenzymatic biosensors and involves a neat color reaction with cupric-neocuproine having a clear stoichiometry as opposed to the rather indefinite stoichiometry of analogous redox dye methods.Graphical

Comparison of lipemia interference created with native lipemic material and intravenous lipid emulsion in emergency laboratory tests.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of lipemia on clinical chemistry and coagulation parameters in native ultralipemic (NULM) and intravenous lipid emulsion (IVLE) spiked samples. The evaluation of biochemistry (photometric, ion-selective electrode, immunoturbidimetric method), cardiac (electrochemiluminescence immunoassay method) and coagulation (the viscosity-based mechanical method for prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), fibrinogen and the immunoturbidimetric method for D-dimer) parameters were conducted. In addition to the main pools, five pools were prepared for both types of lipemia, each with triglyceride (TG) concentrations of approximately 2.8, 5.7, 11.3, 17.0 and 22.6 mmol/L. All parameters' mean differences (MD%) were presented as interferographs and compared with the desirable specification for the inaccuracy (bias%). Data were also evaluated by repeated measures of ANOVA. Prothrombin time and APTT showed no clinically relevant interference in IVLE-added pools but were negatively affected in NULM pools(P < 0.001 in both parameters). For biochemistry, the most striking difference was seen for CRP; it is up to 134 MD% value with NULM (P < 0.001) at the highest TG concentration, whereas it was up to - 2.49 MD% value with IVLE (P = 0.009). Albumin was affected negatively upward of 5.7 mmol/L TG with IVLE, while there was no effect for NULM. Creatinine displayed significant positive interferences with NULM starting at the lowest TG concentration (P = 0.028). There was no clinically relevant interference in cardiac markers for both lipemia types. Significant differences were scrutinized in interference patterns of lipemia types, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of lipemia interferences in clinical laboratories. It is crucial to note that lipid emulsions inadequately replicate lipemic samples.

Quartz crystal microbalance biosensor for the detection of procalcitonin

Procalcitonin is a blood protein and precursor of the hormone calcitonin. The procalcitonin level increases due to bacterial infections, sepsis, and other related pathologies. Here, we present a simple biosensor for procalcitonin assay suitable for point-of-care tests as an alternative to the current laboratory methods. The biosensor was based on a QCM piezoelectric sensor and a conjugate of gold nanoparticles-antibodies conjugate. It was suitable for the procalcitonin assay in biological samples and fully correlated to the standard ELISA method, and it did not suffer false positive or negative results or interferences. The detection limit was equal to 37.8 ng/l and the quantification limit to 104 ng/l for a sample of 25 μl. The dynamic range of the assay was 37.8 ng/l to 30.0 μg/l. The practical relevance of the biosensor is expected considering the findings, and the possible application of the assay principle for the development of biosensors for other markers is inferred.

Self-efficacy, stress levels and daily style of living among older patients with type 2 diabetes in a rural primary care setting: a cross-sectional study.

AimsTo identify to what extent stress and self-efficacy may be associated with specific features in the elderly with type 2 diabetes, such as lifestyle habits, multi-morbidity, sleep quality and duration, and treatment regimen.MethodsA cross-sectional study of 92 out of 103 recruited patients ≥65 year old with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was conducted at a rural primary care unit in Northern Greece. The General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), the Short Anxiety Screening Test (SAST) and an original questionnaire to assess health habits and disease monitoring information were completed after structured personal interviews.ResultsIn the multiple linear regression analysis, patients with higher education, with more night sleeping hours and physical exercise weekly had a higher GSES score than their counterparts (p<0.05). Stress levels assessed with SAST were shown mostly associated with poor sleep quality, fewer days of meat and legumes consumption, increased body mass index and multi-morbidity (p<0.05), as emerged from the multiple linear regression analysis. Glycemic control in the elderly does not have a significant correlation with stress levels or general self-efficacy.ConclusionsSelf-efficacy and stress levels are not predictors for glycemic control, but can indirectly be seen as co-determinants, contributing to the overall daily life quality among patients with diabetes. Mental health well-being, expressed by higher self-efficacy and less stress scale rating, showed positive interferences with eating, sleep and daily life attitudes among elderly with diabetes.

T-Scan Guided Occlusal Equilibration as an Effective Treatment in the Management of Symptomatic Temporomandibular Disorders

Background: Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) constitute clinical problems that involve the masticatory muscles, the temporomandibular joints, associated structures, or both. The etiology of TMDs is multifactorial. The association between occlusal interferences and TMD is controversial.. Objectives: This study is designed to evaluate the clinical outcome of T-Scan guided occlusal equilibration in patients suffering from TMD associated with occlusal discrepancies. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 patients clinically diagnosed with TMD based on the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders and with positive occlusal interferences were included in the study. The occlusal equilibration was achieved by performing T-Scan guided Immediate Complete Anterior Guidance Development. Results: The obtained data was subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 20.0 software. There was a statistically significant reduction in the occlusion time, i.e., from 0.77 ± 0.6 pre-treatment to 0.31 ± 0.2 post-treatment (P = 0.005), and also disclusion time, i.e., from 1.71 ± 1.09 pre-treatment to 0.11 ± 0.03 post-treatment (P = 0.000). There was a statistically significant reduction in the VAS score post-treatment (P = 0.000). Conclusion: T-Scan guided occlusal equilibration in TMD patients has resulted in significant improvement of symptoms. Hence, we emphasize the importance of the identification and correction of occlusal interferences in the management of symptomatic TMDs.

Uncertanties and Risk Analysis on Ports Construction Projects Considering Technological and Market Strategic Factors

This article appropriates a new methodology for evaluating port projects involving not only economic analysis, but also strategic factors, technological and market, wich provide greater security and assertiveness on the search for the development of a Hub Port model as an option to optimize the logistics of port operations. To achieve the objectives of the proposal, a technical and economic analysis model was developed to demonstrate the feasibility of the project with the inclusion of technological features (deep of ships, modes of transport linking the port to its region of land influence, expansion area) and market components (cargo demands, free trade zone, distance from the main centers of world trade) that decisively interfere in the attractiveness of the project. Linked to this proposal, a risk analysis was carried out, including uncertainties involving economic and strategic aspects, with market and technological variables. To achieve the objectives of the study, the Monte Carlo method operated by the software “@RiskTM” was used, where the analyzes of positive and negative interferences in the project were carried out. To evaluate the proposed methodology, it was applied in two cases studies of the feasibility of a new logistics platform in Brazil and Africa, with the implementation of an offshore cargo concentrator port. One was in the State of Pará, in northern Brazil, and the other in Dakar, Senegal, which can integrate the entire South America and Africa, respectivaly. The results of those analysis show very favorable indicators for the implementation of the proposed projects. Considering that, strategic factors introduced in the study, the greatest influences were: transport modes that link the port to the land influence zone and the draft of the ships. For the offshore port of Pará, strategic factors boosted the viability result by approximately 55% for a 95% probability of success and for Dakar, in Africa, the results were 100%, both for a 14% rate and a life span of 30 years showing that strategic factors are elements very importatants, as they produced almost 100% and 70% elasticity in the results, respectivaly, so they should be considered in feasibility studies of hub ports in addition to tradicioanl economic analysis.

L2 and L3 motivational systems and their interactions: a study of Tibetan-Chinese-English trilingual learners

ABSTRACT This study explores Tibetan students’ L2 and L3 motivational systems and their interactions based on the framework of the L2 Motivational Self-System proposed by Dörnyei. Five hundred fifty-two participants were invited to respond to a questionnaire regarding their Chinese (L2) and English (L3) motivational selves, learning experiences and intended learning efforts. Multiple regression analyses revealed that L2 motivational selves and L2 learning experiences could explain 55% variance of L2 intended learning efforts (ILEs); L3 motivational selves and L3 learning experiences can explain 57% variance of L3 ILEs. Positive as well as negative interferences were also found between their L2 and L3 motivational systems. Positive interferences were found between L2 and L3 ILEs, while L3 ought-to self exerted a negative effect on L2 ILEs; L2 positive learning experiences exerted a negative impact on L3 ILEs. But the positive interferences outweighed the negative ones. The findings hold multiple implications for CSL and EFL education in Tibetan areas.

Penetration Depth Between Two Convex Polyhedra: An Efficient Stochastic Global Optimization Approach.

During the detailed design phase of an aerospace program, one of the most important consistency checks is to ensure that no two distinct objects occupy the same physical space. Since exact geometrical modeling is usually intractable, geometry models are discretized, which often introduces small interferences not present in the fully detailed model. In this paper, we focus on computing the depth of the interference, so that these false positive interferences can be removed, and attention can be properly focused on the actual design. Specifically, we focus on efficiently computing the penetration depth between two polyhedra, which is a well-studied problem in the computer graphics community. We formulate the problem as a constrained five-variable global optimization problem, and then derive an equivalent unconstrained, two-variable nonsmooth problem. To solve the optimization problem, we apply a popular stochastic multistart optimization algorithm in a novel way, which exploits the advantages of each problem formulation simultaneously. Numerical results for the algorithm, applied to 14 randomly generated pairs of penetrating polytopes, illustrate both the effectiveness and efficiency of the method.

THE INTERFERENCES OF SASAK LANGUAGE ON ENGLISH VOCABULARY MASTERY

The article is aimed at revealing some crucial languags interferences that happened to Sasak students who were learning English. The Sasak itself is a sub-Austronesian language spoken by most citizens who live in Lombok and half of western Sumbawa. These language interferences play very important roles either in helping the students mastering eng English or challenging them. The positive interferences brought easiness to the students of Sasak to master English vocabularies. On the other hand, the negative interferences caused difficulties for students to learn English as their second language.The article say that defining the language interferences between Sasak and English brought some positive effects, particularly it is a real endeavor to help the lecturers, teachers, and instructors of English in conducting the teaching and learning practices. The research was conducted for the sake of findingpieces of evidences of these interferences issues. The interview was conducted by involving Sasak students who were learning English. Moreover, a writing test of vocabulary was also conducted to confirm the existance of language interferences when they are producing English words. Went through the research, it was concluded that some morphemes that exited in the Sasak were a lot similar to morphemes existed in English. Positively, this fact brought good effects on students who were learning English. Unfortunately, the accent in pronouncing those words was completely different, which then challenged the students to master the English vocabularies.

Impacts of convectively coupled equatorial waves on rainfall extremes in Java, Indonesia

AbstractRainfall extremes cause significant socioeconomic impacts in Indonesia, as they are often followed by disastrous events, such as floods and landslides. Of particular interest is Java Island, the most populated region in Indonesia, which is prone to damaging flooding as a result of heavy rainfall. The prediction of rainfall extremes in this region has mainly been focused on the effects of seasonal and intraseasonal variability, such as monsoons and the Madden–Julian Oscillation. Here, using an extensive station database from 1987 to 2017 and the gridded Asian Precipitation‐Highly Resolved Observational Data Integration Toward Evaluation of Water Resources (APHRODITE) product from 1980 to 2007, we show that severe weather conditions associated with rainfall extremes in Java during the rainy season (November to April) can also be attributed to convectively coupled equatorial waves (CCEWs) that occur on a shorter time scale.Evidence is presented that CCEWs, including Kelvin, equatorial Rossby (ER), and mixed Rossby‐gravity (MRG) waves, significantly modulate daily rainfall extremes over Java Island. Of these three types, the Kelvin waves have the greatest influence on heavy rainfall over Java Island. The convectively active (suppressed) phases of Kelvin waves increase (decrease) the probability of extreme rain events over land regions by up to 60% (50%) of the baseline probability. On the other hand, the convectively active phases of ER (MRG) waves increase the probability by up to 45% (40%), while the suppressed phases decrease this by up to 40% (30%). In terms of the mechanism of rainfall extremes, CCEWs modulate moisture flux convergence, leading to the enhancement of local convection over the region. In addition, the analysis of multiple wave events indicates that positive (negative) interferences of the CCEWs lead to an amplification (suppression) of extreme rainfall probability. Overall, the results suggest that equatorial waves provide an important source of the predictability for daily extreme rainfall events over Java Island.

Política nacional de resíduos sólidos

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar como a Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS), instituída na publicação da Lei 12.305 em 02 de agosto de 2010, contribui para o impulsionamento do desenvolvimento sustentável. Neste sentido, discute os temas PNRS e desenvolvimento sustentável, apresenta as interferências positivas nas áreas econômica social e ambiental, o que aponta para um desenvolvimento sustentável. Com base em uma revisão bibliográfica em torno dos temas colocados, discute as informações e índices em torno da gestão de resíduos sólidos, tendo em vista a evolução nos índices de reciclagem, do aumento no número de unidades de triagem e de cooperativas de catadores de material reciclável e de outros índices que demonstram uma melhor gestão dos resíduos sólidos urbanos (RSU) nos municípios brasileiros nos últimos anos. A análise mostrou que há uma significativa evolução em vários pontos da gestão de resíduos, que resultou em maior geração de renda, redução da poluição e dos impactos negativos no meio ambiente, bem como na redução da desigualdade social, sendo, portanto, evidenciado que a gestão de resíduos municipal, sob a orientação da PNRS, impulsionou o desenvolvimento sustentável. Palavras-chave: Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Gestão de Resíduos Sólidos Urbanos. Reciclagem.

Epidemiological Survey on Traffic Accident Mortality Referred to the Forensic Medical Center of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province During 2005-2016

Background and aims: The World Health Organization has listed Iran as the country with the highest number of driving accidents worldwide. Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari is among the top ten provinces in Iran. The aim of this study was to carry out an epidemiological survey on driving accidents resulting in deaths that were referred to the Forensic Medical Center. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the data were obtained from the Forensic Medical Center in Shahrekord, the provincial capital, during 2005-2016. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi-square test by SPSS. Results: The number of registered accidents causing death was 3001. The highest number of accidents (13.5%) occurred from August 23rd to September 22nd, which equates to the last months of the summer according to the solar calendar. Location wise, the highest number of accidents happened in Shahrekord (58.2%). In addition, men and married people were more involved in accidents compared to women and singles. The age group of 21-25 had the most number of accidents. Further, the main road had the highest percentage of accidents (86.7%) compared to freeways, by-ways, and rural roads. Finally, head trauma 1634 (60.7%) was the most important cause of death in people who were in car accidents. Conclusion: Based on these results, policymakers and planners have to carry out necessary positive interferences and plans in order to reduce the number of factors which increase car accidents. Eventually, accidents are usually caused by multiple elements and this makes it necessary to review and optimize the operational output of responsible organizations and offices and the cooperation between them.

Effects of Broad Spectrum Antibiotics on Measurement of Immunosuppressant Drugs

Antibiotics used parenterally can affect blood drug level measurements, as measured in diagnostic tests. To investigate the effect of six different antibiotics commonly used in intensive care units on tacrolimus, sirolimus, everolimus and cyclosporin A levels measured by mass spectrometry. Ampicillin + sulbactam (AB1, IV, 1 g), imipenem + cilastatin sodium (AB2, IV, 500 mg), piperacillin + tazobactam (AB3, 4.5 g, IV), ertapenem (AB4, IV, 1 g), meropenem trihydrate (AB5, 500 mg, IV) and ceftriaxone (AB6, 1 g, IV) antibiotics were used for the interference assay. Measurements were performed on the Shimadzu 8045 (Japan) LC-MS/MS instrument. Bias values were calculated. The least affected immunosuppressant was cyclosporine A (between -6.88% and 3.40%). The most affected were everolimus and sirolimus. Ertapenem caused negative interference on the level of everolimus at the rate of -27.34% and sirolimus at the rate of -26.79%. Piperacillin + tazobactam and imipenem + cilastatin sodium caused positive interferences on sirolimus at the rate of 24.24% and 22.73%, respectively. Ampicillin + sulbactam, meropenem trihydrate and ceftriaxone affected the sirolimus levels at lower rates (-4.49%, 5.93% and 9.86%). Everolimus levels deviated at the rate of -11.21% to -16.99% due to imipenem + cilastatin sodium, meropenem trihydrate and ceftriaxone. This study demonstrated the potential of antibiotic use affecting immunosuppressant levels. Antibiotic interference, especially in transplant patients, may cause erroneous immunosuppression, increasing the likelihood of rejection.

Inflection in a bilingual child. A case study

In the article, the author presents the mutual impacts of Polish and Slovenian on one another in terms of nominal inflection (mainly of nouns and adjectives) and verb inflection in the speech of a bilingual child in his early development, specifically: positive transfer and interferences. She discusses the parallel children’s bilingualism of a boy living in a mixed family, where various strategies of addressing the child were used, mainly the rule “one parent, one language” (mother – Polish, father – Slovenian). The presence of interference in the child’s speech also caused by the language of the environment in which the boy lived, i.e. the Slovenian language, which could become the dominant one. Some of the examples of Marko’s speech presented in the article indicate special linguistic phenomena which existed in his early linguistic development, e.g., code mixing, switching from one language to the other, and translation.

Biotin analytical interference on Siemens immunoanalysis on Dimension EXL®: impact on cardiac troponin I and total vitamin D (D2+D3) assays

Several hyperthyroidism misdiagnoses cases have been recently described due to biotin intake. Biotin used in immuno-analysis assays which rely on biotin/streptavidin binding properties. In these assays, high plasmatic biotin levels can lead to major analytical interferences resulting in falsely higher (competition tests) or falsely reduced determinations (for sandwiches assays). We performed a simulation test of biotin intake with patient's samples. We studied the effect of biotin on cardiac troponin I and total vitamin D (D2+D3) assays that are using biotin-streptavidin binding on Dimension EXL®. Increasing doses of biotin were added (28 samples for each parameter) before the assays. The results evidenced a significant negative interference of biotin on cardiac troponin I determinations for concentrations of 100 ng/mL and above, with a total loss of signal for higher biotin additions. Such interference may lead to inappropriate therapeutic decisions. Positive interferences were observed on total vitamin D (D2+D3) with less impact for therapeutic decisions.

Novel pararosaniline based optical sensor for the determination of sulfite in food extracts.

Sulfite, which is a protective agent in various food industries, also is known as an allergen. Therefore, sulfite content in food must be monitored and controlled. In this context, a novel optical sensor is designed for simple, rapid and sensitive determination of the sulfite content in food samples. Acidified pararosaniline (PRA) hydrochloride reagent in cationic form was immobilized on the surface of the Nafion cation exchanger membrane by electrostatic interactions. In formaldehyde medium, the pale purple PRA-Nafion film was converted to rich purple due to the highly conjugated alkyl amino sulfonic acid formation in the presence of sulfite and the absorbance change at 588 nm was recorded. The proposed optical sensor gave a linear response in a wide concentration range for sulfite. The limit of detection (LOD) and the limit of quantification (LOQ) values obtained for sulfite were 0.084 and 0.280 ppm SO2 equivalent, respectively. The proposed optical sensor was validated in terms of linearity, additivity, precision and recovery parameters. The sulfite contents obtained for real food extracts were found to be comparable to the conventional iodometric titration results (with the exception of highly colored samples containing reducing agents, where iodometry was shown to exhibit a systematic error while the proposed sensor could measure the true value). The proposed optical sensor is insensitive to positive interferences from turbidity and colored components of the sample. Sulfite determination in a complex food matrix can be performed using the rapid, simple and sensitive PRA-based sensor without a need for pre-treatment.

The impact of the 2016 Fort McMurray Horse River Wildfire on ambient air pollution levels in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region, Alberta, Canada

An unprecedented wildfire impacted the northern Alberta city of Fort McMurray in May 2016 causing a mandatory city wide evacuation and the loss of 2,400 homes and commercial structures. A two-hectare wildfire was discovered on May 1, grew to ~157,000ha by May 5, and continued to burn an estimated ~590,000ha by June 13. A comprehensive air monitoring network operated by the Wood Buffalo Environmental Association (WBEA) in and around Fort McMurray provided essential health-related real-time air quality data to firefighters during the emergency, and provided a rare opportunity to elucidate the impact of gaseous and particulate matter emissions on near-field communities and regional air pollution concentrations. The WBEA network recorded 188 fire-related exceedances of 1-hr and 24-hr Alberta Ambient Air Quality Objectives. Two air monitoring sites within Fort McMurray recorded mean/maximum 1-hr PM2.5 concentrations of 291/5229μgm−3 (AMS-6) and 293/3259μgm−3 (AMS-7) during fire impact periods. High correlations (r2=0.83–0.97) between biomass combustion related gases (carbon monoxide (CO), non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC), total hydrocarbons (THC), total reduced sulfur (TRS), ammonia) and PM2.5 were observed at the sites. Filter-based 24-hr integrated PM2.5 samples collected every 6 days showed maximum concentrations of 267μgm−3 (AMS-6) and 394μgm−3 (AMS-7). Normalized excess emission ratios relative to CO were 149.87±3.37μgm−3ppm−1 (PM2.5), 0.274±0.002ppmppm−1 (THC), 0.169±0.001ppmppm−1 (NMHC), 0.104±0.001ppmppm−1 (CH4), 0.694±0.007ppbppm−1 (TRS), 0.519±0.040ppbppm−1 (SO2), 0.412±0.045ppbppm−1 (NO), 1.968±0.053ppbppm−1 (NO2), and 2.337±0.077ppbppm−1 (NOX). A subset of PM2.5 filter samples was analyzed for trace elements, major ions, organic carbon, elemental carbon, and carbohydrates. Sample mass reconstruction and fire specific emission profiles are presented and discussed. Potential fire-related photometric ozone instrument positive interferences were observed and were positively correlated with NO and NMHC.