Quantitative Measurements Research Articles

Fractal dimension and lacunarity measures of glioma subcomponents are discriminative of the grade of gliomas and IDH status.

Since the overall glioma mass and its subcomponents-enhancing region (malignant part of the tumor), non-enhancing (less aggressive tumor cells), necrotic core (dead cells), and edema (water deposition)-are complex and irregular structures, non-Euclidean geometric measures such as fractal dimension (FD or "fractality") and lacunarity are needed to quantify their structural complexity. Fractality measures the extent of structural irregularity, while lacunarity measures the spatial distribution or gaps. The complex geometric patterns of the glioma subcomponents may be closely associated with the grade and molecular landscape. Therefore, we measured FD and lacunarity in the glioma subcomponents and developed machine learning models to discriminate between tumor grades and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) gene status. 3D fractal dimension (FD3D) and lacunarity (Lac3D) were measured for the enhancing, non-enhancing plus necrotic core, and edema-subcomponents using preoperative structural-MRI obtained from the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and University of California San Francisco Preoperative Diffuse Glioma MRI (UCSF-PDGM) glioma cohorts. The FD3D and Lac3D measures of the tumor-subcomponents were then compared across glioma grades (HGGs: high-grade gliomas vs. LGGs: low-grade gliomas) and IDH status (mutant vs. wild type). Using these measures, machine learning platforms discriminative of glioma grade and IDH status were developed. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to assess the prognostic significance of FD3D and Lac3D measurements. HGG exhibited significantly higher fractality and lower lacunarity in the enhancing subcomponent, along with lower fractality in the non-enhancing subcomponent compared to LGG. This suggests that a highly irregular and complex geometry in the enhancing-subcomponent is a characteristic feature of HGGs. A comparison of FD3D and Lac3D between IDH-wild type and IDH-mutant gliomas revealed that mutant gliomas had ~2.5-fold lower FD3D in the enhancing-subcomponent and higher FD3D with lower Lac3D in the non-enhancing subcomponent, indicating a less complex and smooth enhancing subcomponent, and a more continuous non-enhancing subcomponent as features of IDH-mutant gliomas. Supervised ML models using FD3D from both the enhancing and non-enhancing subcomponents together demonstrated high-sensitivity in discriminating glioma grades (~97.9%) and IDH status (~94.4%). A combined fractal estimation of the enhancing and non-enhancing subcomponents using MR images could serve as a non-invasive, precise, and quantitative measure for discriminating glioma grade and IDH status. The combination of 2-hydroxyglutarate-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (2HG-MRS) with FD3D and Lac3D quantification may be established as a robust imaging signature for glioma subtyping.

Characterization of Potent Odorants Causing an Oily Odor in Rice-Made Baijiu by Comparative Aroma Extract Dilution Analysis, Quantitative Measurements, and Aroma Addition and Omission Studies.

The presence of an oily odor in rice-made Baijiu is a unique characteristic that has not been thoroughly studied. This study qualitatively and quantitatively identified important aroma-active compounds in samples with typical and atypical oily odors using aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA). By comparing the differences between flavor dilution (FD) and odor activity values (OAVs), nine compounds showing significant differences were selected. By combining normal-phase silica gel column and sensory analysis, these nine potential oily odor compounds were isolated from the typical oily odor sample. Addition and omission experiments confirmed that hexanal, trans-2-heptenal, trans,trans-2,4-nonadienal, (2E)-2-decenal, trans,trans-2,4-decadienal, and γ-nonanolide are key contributors to the oily odor.

Association between radius axial low-frequency ultrasound velocity and bone fragility in primary hyperparathyroidism.

Radius quantitative ultrasound measurement, that utilized a portable low-frequency (VLF) axial transmission ultrasound for assessing the properties of radius cortical bone in a non PHPT population revealed a possible role as a screening tool prior to DXA to evaluate fragility fracture. To evaluate this portable ultrasound device as a screening tool of skeletal fragility in PHPT patients. We enrolled 117 postmenopausal women with PHPT. Every subject had a DXA of femur, lumbar spine, non-dominant distal 1/3 radius, TBS measurement, VLF with a portable device and spine x- ray. The mean age of the patients was 68 ± 10 years. The measurement of agreement between radius DXA and VLF was: K = 0.43, p < 0.001. A lower radius US T-score, also adjusted for years since menopause and BMI, was associated with osteoporosis identified with DXA at lumbar and/or femoral neck sites: OR = 1.852 (CI 1.08, 3.18). All fractures were associated with femoral neck T-score: OR = 1.89 (95% CI 1.24, 2.89), as well as with total hip T-score: OR = 1.65 (95% CI 1.09, 2.50), and years since menopause: OR = 1.25 (95% CI 1.02, 1.54).Morphometric vertebral fractures were associated with years since menopause: OR = 1.28 (95% CI 1.02,1.61), femoral neck T-score OR = 1.96 (95% CI 1.227, 3.135), total hip T-score OR = 1.64 (95% CI 1.04, 2.60), TBS OR = 0.779 (95% CI 0.60-0.99), both ultra-distal radius T-score: OR = 1.50 (95% CI 1.05, 2.156), and radius US T-score: OR = 1.67 (95% CI 1.09, 2.56). VLF could be used for screening purposes prior to DXA to evaluate PHPT fracture risk, only in conditions in which DXA measurement cannot be performed.

Deep Learning-Enhanced Paper-Based Vertical Flow Assay for High-Sensitivity Troponin Detection Using Nanoparticle Amplification.

Successful integration of point-of-care testing (POCT) into clinical settings requires improved assay sensitivity and precision to match laboratory standards. Here, we show how innovations in amplified biosensing, imaging, and data processing, coupled with deep learning, can help improve POCT. To demonstrate the performance of our approach, we present a rapid and cost-effective paper-based high-sensitivity vertical flow assay (hs-VFA) for quantitative measurement of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), a biomarker widely used for measuring acute cardiac damage and assessing cardiovascular risk. The hs-VFA includes a colorimetric paper-based sensor, a portable reader with time-lapse imaging, and computational algorithms for digital assay validation and outlier detection. Operating at the level of a rapid at-home test, the hs-VFA enabled the accurate quantification of cTnI using 50 μL of serum within 15 min per test and achieved a detection limit of 0.2 pg/mL, enabled by gold ion amplification chemistry and time-lapse imaging. It also achieved high precision with a coefficient of variation of <7% and a very large dynamic range, covering cTnI concentrations over 6 orders of magnitude, up to 100 ng/mL, satisfying clinical requirements. In blinded testing, this computational hs-VFA platform accurately quantified cTnI levels in patient samples and showed a strong correlation with the ground truth values obtained by a benchtop clinical analyzer. This nanoparticle amplification-based computational hs-VFA platform can democratize access to high-sensitivity point-of-care diagnostics and provide a cost-effective alternative to laboratory-based biomarker testing.

Three-dimensional imaging in craniofacial surgery: utilization of a novel 3D mobile application to evaluate the surgical outcomes of a skull recontouring procedure for cephalohematoma.

Cranial abnormalities are common birth defects that frequently alter skull shape and appearance. Despite their prevalence, objective quantification of defect severity pre- and posttreatment is limited. The authors evaluated the ability of MirrorMe3D, a novel 3D mobile iPhone application, to measure changes in the contour of the skull for patients undergoing contouring of a calcified cephalohematoma. The heads of two 20-month-old patients with disfiguring right parietal cephalohematomas undergoing a skull recontouring operation were scanned pre- and postsurgery. Four scans of the cranial abnormality were taken throughout the procedure and intraoperative 3D models were generated. Models of the head were overlapped pre- and postsurgery and compared using a depth analyzer built into MirrorMe3D. Depth analysis revealed 6.0-mm and 9.9-mm differences for patients 1 and 2, respectively. Volume analysis revealed 33-cm3 and 85-cm3 differences for patients 1 and 2, respectively. Currently, no standard for quantitative measurement of the surgical outcomes of a skull reconstruction procedure exists. MirrorMe3D provides an efficient method for monitoring patients with simple topographic scans that create accurate models of the head. The authors show the app's ability to capture the severity of a calcified cephalohematoma and quantify the changes in the contour of the skull before and after surgery.

A Qualitative Examination of Clinician Anxiety about Suicide Prevention and Its Impact on Clinical Practice.

Clinician distress about working with patients at risk for suicide is well documented in the literature, yet little work has examined its pervasiveness across clinical settings. We conducted a secondary analysis of qualitative data gathered from 26 clinicians in primary care and outpatient mental health clinics serving both adult and child clients on their perception of evidence-based practice use for suicide screening, assessment, and brief intervention. Qualitative data were coded for any mentions of clinician anxiety or emotional response, and brief quantitative measures were collected to characterize our sample. When discussing broader barriers to implementation, 85% of participants spontaneously mentioned anxiety or heightened emotional responses related to delivering suicide prevention practices to those at risk for suicide. Common themes included low self-efficacy in suicide prevention skills, distress related to escalating care, efforts to alleviate such distress, and difficulty related to tolerating the uncertainty inherent in suicide prevention work. Similarly, while standardized anxiety ratings for participants were consistent with those of non-clinical norming samples, clinicians reported mild to moderate anxiety when screening for suicide risk (M = 3.64, SD = 2.19, Range = 0-8) and engaging in safety planning (M = 4.1, SD = 2.88, Range = 1-7) on post-interview surveys. In contrast, survey responses reflected generally high self-efficacy in their ability to screen for suicide risk (M = 7.66, SD = 1.29, Range = 5.25-10) and engage in safety planning (M = 8.25, SD = 0.87, Range = 7-9.5). Findings highlight pervasiveness of clinician distress when implementing suicide prevention practices and can inform future suicide prevention implementation efforts.

Exploring pathogen population density as a metric for understanding post-COVID infectious disease surges

After the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, peaks of common infectious diseases surpassed pre-pandemic levels, raising questions about causes and ways to monitor these changes. A proposed measure, the Pathogen Population Density (PPD) score, could help track these shifts. PPD refers to the concentration of infectious agents within a population at a given time and location, serving as a potential indicator of infection levels in susceptible individuals at the population level. It is likely that PPD remains relatively stable within a specific community, as an equilibrium forms between infections and susceptibility. During the pandemic, nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) led to a reduction in infectious diseases, possibly lowering population immunity and decreasing the PPD score. Once NPIs were lifted, the PPD score likely increased sharply due to a larger pool of susceptible individuals, causing more primary infections and stronger recurrent infections, faster transmission, and more severe pathogenic outcomes at the individual level. Monitoring the PPD score over time could help predict when infection peaks will occur. PPD is influenced by factors such as public health strategies, vaccination programs, and the behavior of high-risk individuals. As a quantitative measure, PPD has the potential to serve as a valuable predictive and monitoring tool, helping public health officials anticipate and track changes in infectious disease dynamics. It could be an effective tool for managing future outbreaks or pandemics and serve as a communication tool between scientists and the public to understand the emergence of new disease peaks.

B-051 Clinical Validation of Vectra® DA: A Multi-Biomarker Based Test for the Objective Measurement of Disease Activity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract Background The Vectra® DA test measures serum levels of 12 protein biomarkers associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and uses these levels in an algorithmic calculation to generate a numeric score that represents RA disease activity where established categories are low for scores 1 to 29, moderate for 30 to 44, and high for 45 to 100. LabCorp Specialty Lab in Calabasas, CA completed the quantitative analytical validations of 12 Vectra biomarkers (SAA, CRP, VCAM-1, IL-6, TNF-RI, EGF, VEGF-A, Leptin, Resistin, MMP-1, MMP-3, and YKL-40) and the clinical verification of the Vectra score algorithm. Methods The Vectra test consists of the quantitative measurements of EGF, Leptin, MMP-1, TNF-R1, VEGF, MMP-3, Resistin, VCAM, YKL-40, CRP, SAA and IL-6 using multiplex immunoassay platforms. The data acquired from each biomarker assay is processed through an algorithm where a composite Vectra score adjusted based on age, gender, and adiposity of the patient is computed. Analytical parameters validated for each biomarkers include sensitivity, precision, accuracy, specificity and stability. Precision was validated using pooled human serum controls at low, moderate, and high Vectra score levels. Method comparison was performed using 584 clinically defined serum samples. Quantitatively measured analyte values and computed Vectra scores by the Labcorp Vectra assay were compared with Vectra data produced by Myriad laboratory. Results Intra- and inter-assay sample precision of the final Vectra score was &amp;lt;13% and &amp;lt;18%, respectively. Sample stability using freshly collected serum subject to ambient and refrigerated temperature up to 14 days and frozen up to 364 days and up to 6 freeze-thaw cycles were acceptable. Of 584 clinical Vectra data compared, Labcorp vs Myriad, 96% of data were comparable within the acceptable criteria. Correlation of Vectra score from Labcorp and Myriad was excellent. A linear least square model resulted in a correlation coefficient (R) of 0.981 and a Deming slope of 1.009. Qualitative method comparison of Vectra scores resulted in excellent agreement of risk of radiographic progression and rheumatoid arthritis disease activity. A 91% agreement of risk category match between Labcorp and Myriad and 100% agreement of Vectra scores within 1 risk category was achieved. Conclusions We validated the Vectra® DA multiplex assay for measuring serum levels of 12 protein biomarkers associated with RA. Vectra combines biomarker levels into a personalized disease score that represents a patient’s RA inflammation and predict their risk of radiographic progression. High Vectra® DA scores (&amp;gt; 44) have been associated with a 20% 1-year risk of radiographic progression while low scores (&amp;lt; 30) carry only a 1% risk. Thus, the Vectra score provides an objective measurement of RA disease activity that can be used in combination with existing assessment tools to aid physicians to manage patients with RA.

Rapid Lipid Mediator Profiling by Convergence Chromatography-MS/MS.

Bioactive lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid constitute an attractive pool of metabolites that reflect cellular function and signaling, as well as potential biomarkers that may respond quantitatively to disease progression or pharmacological treatment. Their quantitative measurement in biological samples is complicated by the number of isomers that share common structural features, which are not easily distinguished by immunoassays or reverse phase chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Here, we present a method that enables the rapid analysis of a panel of over 25 biologically important eicosanoids in a 96-well format for cell culture supernatants, plasma, and organ tissues using convergence chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to resolve these analytes of interest.

Photon-counting detector computed tomography in cardiac imaging.

Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) has emerged as arevolutionary technology in CT imaging. PCD-CT offers significant advancements over conventional energy-integrating detector CT, including increased spatial resolution, artefact reduction and inherent spectral imaging capabilities. In cardiac imaging, PCD-CT can offer amore accurate assessment of coronary artery disease, plaque characterisation and the in-stent lumen. Additionally, it might improve the visualisation of myocardial fibrosis through qualitative late enhancement imaging and quantitative extracellular volume measurements. The use of PCD-CT in cardiac imaging holds significant potential, positioning itself as avaluable modality that could serve as aone-stop-shop by integrating both angiography and tissue characterisation into asingle examination. Despite its potential, large-scale clinical trials, standardisation of protocols and cost-effectiveness considerations are required for its broader integration into clinical practice. This narrative review provides an overview of the current literature on PCD-CT regarding the possibilities and limitations of cardiac imaging.

A-068 Development of GIP ELISAs: The Next Level of DiabetesManagement

Abstract Background To develop sensitive and specific ELISAs for the quantitative measurement of total and intact GIP in human plasma, and other biological fluids. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is a peptide hormone consisting of 42 amino acids (1-42aa). This undergoes processing by a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) and produces GIP (3-42aa) and GIP (3-30aa) fragments. The processed forms have higher affinity and very efficiently inhibits GIP receptor (GIPR) activity with no intrinsic activity. It has also been observed that the GIP response is dependent not only on meal size but also on meal composition. GIP has been found to have physiological and pharmacological relevance in the development of obesity and the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease besides its involvement in type 2 diabetic pathophysiology. GIP acts in the entero-insular axis as an anabolic hormone that increases insulin levels, which in return increases glycogen and fatty acid synthesis and inhibits the breakdown of fat. GIP also has extra-pancreatic functions as well as roles in the stomach to reduce acid secretion by the parietal cells. On the bone, GIP has a dual effect as it causes the proliferation of osteoblasts as well as inhibits osteoclastic bone resorption. The widespread expression of GIP-R in the brain suggests that GIP might play an essential function in neuro-signaling mechanisms. Methods Highly specific and reproducible total GIP (AL-1013) and Intact GIP (AL-1022) ELISAs have been developed using specific monoclonal antibodies to help estimate the total and intact GIP concentrations in plasma in the respective immunoassays. Results Total and intact GIP ELISAs have been validated using well-characterized sample set and the peptide preparations. The total GIP ELISA detects 1-42aa, 3-42aa, 1-30aa, and 3-30aa in the sample. The intact GIP assay detects GIP (1-42aa) and the most abundant 3-42aa fragment equally in the human plasma. The intact GIP assay does not detect truncated C-terminal fragments(1-30aa). These assays did not cross-react to GRPP, Glucagon, Oxyntomodulin, GLP-1, and GLP-2. Method comparison between intact and total GIP assays using 388 samples yielded a slope of 0.8154 (r=0.958, p &amp;lt; 0.0001). Both the assays are highly reproducible with the total coefficient of variation less than 10%. GIP concentrations were measured in both assays in lean and obese subjects on fat-rich diet at 30-minute intervals. Average concentrations in intact GIP assay at 0 minutes (baseline) in lean and obese subjects (n=10) were 115.6 and 88.5 pg/mL, respectively. Average concentrations in total GIP assay at 0 minutes (baseline) in lean and obese subjects (n=10) were 151.5 and 125.9 pg/mL, respectively. Both total and intact GIP had steep increase in concentrations up to 90 minutes and then flattened up to 180 minutes. The GIP results have been also compared to the mean plasma concentrations of Glucagon, GLP-1, C-Peptide between lean and obese subjects on fat-rich meal. Conclusions Highly sensitive and specific total and intact GIP ELISAs have been developed to reliably quantify these important endocrine and local regulators in physiological and pathophysiological studies for metabolic disorders.

B-015 Analytical Verification of MR-proADM Biomarker in Human EDTA Plasma on Immunoassay Analyzer LIAISON® XL of Diasorin

Abstract Background Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a potent vasodilator peptide of 52-aminoacid belonging to the calcitonin family of peptides. Midregional pro-ADM (MR-ProADM) is a precursor for ADM that circulates is in a 1:1 ratio with it, and proportionally represents its levels and activity. Increased ADM circulating concentrations have been described for several disease states, including dysfunction of the cardiovascular system and sepsis. However, reliable ADM quantification has been hampered by the short half-life, the existence of a binding protein, and its physical properties. Hence, quantificacion of MR-proADM represents a more suitable option. The biomarker MR-proADM has been shown to be an accurate prognostic marker for outcome prediction in patients with lower respiratory infections, sepsis, urinary tract infections, and kidney disease. The objective of this study was the verification of the metrological characteristics and the verification of the linearity of quantitative measurement range, as declared by the manufacturer, of the LIAISON® Brahms MR-proADMTM on Liaison® XL (DiaSorin). Methods The verification was performed with two levels of quality controls (QC) from the manufacturer (x̄L=1,19 nmol/L and x̄H=5,48 nmol/L), and residual EDTA plasma samples from patients with an active sepsis code. The evaluation included the assessment of: • Detection capability (including limit of quantification (LoQ) and limit of detection (LoD), measuring three samples at the manufacturer's stated concentration (0.21 nmol/L and 0.09 nmol/L, respectively) in duplicate within 4 runs). • Precision (CV, %) and accuracy (bias, %) within, measuring 10 replicates of each QC level; and between run, measuring 5 replicates for each QC level within 5 runs. • Linearity of the quantitative range of measurement (six intermediate samples prepared by mixing a high concentration sample- XH=9.64 nmol/L- and a low concentration sample, XL=0.59 nmol/L; measured in triplicate). All studies were performed in accordance with the recommendations of the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel®, 2016. Results All results with diluted samples presented a signal (RLU) higher than that detected in samples without analyte, so the LoD was verified. The precision at the LoQ concentration was 26.7% (acceptance criteria was set as &amp;lt;20%). CV for within-run precision were 4.3% and 2.0% and for between-run precision 6.8% and 7.9% for low (L1) and high (L2) control level, respectively. The average bias was 3.60% for L1 and 4.23% for L2, meeting acceptance criteria (&amp;lt;8%). Linearity was confirmed between 0.59 and 9.64 nmol/L (R2 = 0.995). The biases between the expected and the obtained value were ≤7% through the quantitative range of measurement, except for the lowest concentration sample (close to the quantitation limit). Conclusions Our study showed good compliance with the metrological characteristics declared by the manufacturer for LoD, precision, bias and linearity range. Although the LoQ was not verified, it is outside the clinical decision value in septic patients (&amp;lt; 2.25 nmol/L) and it is not deemed a limitation for clinical practice. Additionally, the Liaison XL® platform permits us to configure an emergency protocol circuit (24/7) with a TAT of 35 min.

A-031 Development of novel ELISAs for total GDF-15 and H-specific GDF-15

Abstract Background To develop sensitive and specific ELISAs for the quantitative measurement of total human GDF-15 and H-specific (H202D mutant) GDF-15 in human serum, and other biological fluids. Growth/differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) is a divergent member of the TGF-β superfamily of growth factors. It is encoded in humans by a gene in chromosome 19. The human GDF-15 gene encodes for a protein of 308 amino acid residues which consists of a signal sequence (residues 1-29), pro-domain (30-194), and mature growth factor domain (195-308). The molecular weight of a mature GDF-15 dimer is 25 kDa. Approximately 25% of humans have a missense polymorphism in the GDF-15 gene resulting in mutation of histidine 202 to aspartate (histidine 6 in the mature domain), close to the N-terminus of the mature growth factor. This variant is associated with phenotypes in prostate cancer, hyperemesis gravidarum, (severe morning sickness in pregnancy), and rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Highly specific and reproducible total GDF-15 (AL-1014-r) and H-specific GDF-15 (AL-1018-r) ELISAs have been developed using specific monoclonal antibodies to help estimate the total and mutant (DD) concentration in serum in the respective assays. The ELISAs use 10 uL sample volume and are calibrated to recombinant human GDF-15 from R &amp; D Systems (Biotechne, USA). These ELISAs were validated for their specificity using HH, DD, HD recombinant preparations and their circulating levels in male, female, 1st, and 2nd-trimester serum samples. Results The Total GDF-15 ELISA assay detects total GDF-15 including histidine 202 to aspartate mutation (HH, HD &amp; DD variant) in the mature domain in equimolar proportions. The H-specific GDF-15 assay is specific to histidine at 202aa in the GDF-15 sequence and does not detect histidine 202 to aspartate mutation (DD variant). Median Levels of total GDF-15 in healthy males (n=18), females (n=17), 1st trimester (n=20), and 2nd trimester (n=20) were 847.9 pg/mL, 1182.4 pg/mL, 12759.7 pg/mL, and 12951.2 pg/mL. Median Levels of H-specific GDF-15 in healthy males (n=18), females (n=17), 1st trimester (n=20), and 2nd trimester (n=20) were 723.2 pg/mL, 641.3 pg/mL, 8381.4 pg/mL and 4652.1 pg/mL. Method comparison between total GDF-15 and commercial GDF-15 assay using serum samples (HH, wild type) in the range of 400-2500 pg/mL yielded a slope of 0.98 (r=0.97). The HD and DD mutant samples in the total assay recovered at twice the concentrations of the commercial assay. The total and intact assays are highly reproducible with the total coefficient of variation less than 7%. Conclusions Use of total GDF-15 assay in combination with the GDF-15 H-specific assay (DD nondetectable) ELISA can accurately estimate the mutant (DD) concentration in serum. This will enhance the knowledge of the GDF-15 measurements in the literature as the commercial assays were compromised for its immunoreactivity to the HD DD genotypes which is highly prevalent.

A-119 Lipemia Interference

Abstract Background Lipemic specimens is a common problem in clinical laboratories. Analytical results may be perturbed by lipemia, leading to misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments for patients. Serum index testing is an important preanalytical test for assessing the potential effect of endogenous HIL interferents (hemoglobin (H), bilirubin (I) or lipids (L)) on test results. Automated HIL systems are not standardized and differ in their response. HIL induced interference should be verified by all clinical laboratories. Intralipid, a commercial lipid emulsion with particle size ranges from 200 to 600 nm is often used to verify the L index. However, intralipid lacks particles that mimic large VLDL, as well as the lower and upper ranges for chylomicrons size. In contrast, patient samples contain a complex mixture of macromolecular lipid and protein structures. Therefore, lipemia induced by Intralipid is not identical to lipemia in patient serum samples. The purpose of this study is to increase awareness of lipid interference and demonstrate the relationship of a lipid L Index to intralipid and triglyceride interference. Methods A set of 16 panels were prepared from a commercially available Triglyceride rich Lipoprotein material. These panels spanned a lipid concentration from 0 to 3000 mg/dL. Panels were tested on the Alinity c and ARCHITECT c8000 TRIG2 assays (04U0615 and 04T1016 respectively) on 2 reagent lots in a single run to determine the Triglyceride concentration. Then these samples were assessed for an HIL L score using the Abbott HIL saline protocol. Results The relationship between the Triglyceride rich Lipoprotein and the L Index was linear with a high correlation (r= 0.999) for Alinity and ARCHITECT respectively. The L Index underestimated the Triglyceride Rich Lipoprotein concentration. The reason for the lower estimate of Triglyceride rich lipoprotein specimens on an L Index is likely due to the differences in size of the lipid particles between the two artificial lipid materials, Intralipid and Triglyceride rich lipoprotein. In addition, while the triglyceride assay provides a quantitative measurement of the lipemic concentration, the L Index is designed to provide an estimated result. Conclusions Intralipid is an acceptable material used to verify spectrophotometric HIL systems. The L Index provides an estimate of sample turbidity, not the concentration of Triglyceride. Vendor purchased human derived Triglyceride rich lipoprotein, which contains a heterological mixture of lipid particles, may be regarded as a more appropriate material for assessing lipid interference. Thus, while recovery of the L Index correlates well to the Intralipid concentration, it can have a poorer correlation with vendor purchased samples containing Triglyceride due to the different vesicle sizes in these materials. This study demonstrates the Triglyceride rich material used to assess lipid interference in Sigma Strong assays provides a difference in response between the Triglyceride concentration of this material determined on a Triglyceride assay vs the L Index. The choice of lipemic material to use, (eg. artificial, native), can influence the results. Thus, care should be taken in comparing results for these materials.

Synthesis of High Purity Ti2AlC MAX Phase by Combustion Method through Thermal Explosion Mode: Optimization of Process Parameters & Evaluation of Microstructure

Obtaining high-purity MAX-phase powders is a challenging issue. Therefore, in this article, the effects of two key parameters, including mechanical activation time (1, 2, and 3 h), and preheating temperature (800 and 1000 °C) were investigated on the formation mechanism of Ti2AlC MAX phase using mechanically activated (assisted) self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (MA-SHS) combustion method through thermal explosion mode. For this aim, a powder mixture of titanium, aluminum, and carbon with a stoichiometry ratio of (2:1:1) was used. Differential thermal analysis (DTA) was carried out to evaluate the effect of mechanical activation and preheating temperature of the formation temperature of the target MAX phase. Subsequently, the microstructural, phase analysis, chemical composition, and determination of surface chemical states studies were carried out through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray energy distribution spectroscopy (EDS) transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. DTA results illustrated that applying mechanical activation alters the formation temperature, which leads to an increase in the purity of the MAX phase. The quantitative measurements were carried out using the Rietveld method to determine the purity of the achieved MAX phase. The results indicated that samples subjected to 2 h of mechanical activation at a preheat temperature of 1000 °C exhibited to contain 96.1 % of Ti2AlC MAX phase, which is the highest value among other specimens and the lowest amount of secondary and oxide phases (3.9 % of TiC) during the combustion synthesis process compared to other samples.

ID: 325201 PNS a Successful Ulnar Treatment Modality By Qualitative and Quantitative Measures In Patient With CRPS

ID: 325201 PNS a Successful Ulnar Treatment Modality By Qualitative and Quantitative Measures In Patient With CRPS

Mechanistic insights into pore water conversion to gas hydrates in clay minerals

The conversion of pore water to gas hydrates is an important prerequisite for natural gas hydrates (NGHs) accumulation and hydrate-based CO2 sequestration. However, the mechanism of water-to-hydrate conversion in clays, which are prevalent in hydrate reservoirs or marine sediments serving as potential hosts for CO2 hydrates, still remains poorly understood, impeding further advancements in exploiting NGHs and developing CO2 sequestration strategies. In this paper, the characteristics of pore water conversion to hydrates in montmorillonite and kaolin were comprehensively examined through quantitative measurements and NMR analysis, and compared with those in silt and coarse sand. It revealed that the water-to-hydrate conversion was more restricted in clays than in sands. Especially in montmorillonite, since almost all pore water was detected as bound water, the final water conversion was extremely low and sensitive to the subcooling degree. Additionally, as the initial water content increased from 15 wt% to 35 wt%, the final water conversion in kaolin, silt, and coarse sand decreased exponentially due to intensified kinetic limitation, whereas that in montmorillonite initially rose and then fell, attaining the maximum at a threshold of 20 wt%. It is found that the competition between thermodynamic and kinetic limitations controls water-to-hydrate conversion in clays. Specifically, in kaolin, silt and coarse sand, the main controlling factor of water-to-hydrate conversion is the kinetic limitation, as their unconverted equilibrium water is negligible. However, in montmorillonite, the thermodynamic limitation dominates at low water contents, transitioning to kinetic limitation at high water contents. This study provides direct evidence and mechanistic insights into how clays affect water-to-hydrate conversion in porous media, which has significant implications for the geological accumulation of NGHs and the site selection for hydrate-based CO2 sequestration.

A comparative analysis of remote auditing in Albania: How it affects the quality of enterprise auditing

This paper conducts an extensive examination to explore the impact of remote auditing on audit quality. It aims to ascertain whether remote audit processes can match or exceed the standards set by traditional on-site audits. The study encompasses various remote audit methods, advantages, and challenges. The study employs a mixed methods approach, gathering and analyzing data through both quantitative measures and qualitative techniques. This includes surveys directed at audit professionals to glean insights into remote auditing and its effects on audit quality. Survey findings are analyzed according to a balance scorecard. The findings indicate that remote auditing has the potential to deliver high-quality audits but requires robust technological infrastructure, effective communication channels, and rigorous data protection protocols.

Poor muscle health and cardiometabolic risks associated with antidepressant treatment.

This study aims to investigate whether antidepressant users display differences in fat distribution and muscle composition relative to non-users and to explore risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes. The study used quantitative adipose and muscle tissue measures derived from magnetic resonance imaging data from UK Biobank (N = 40,174). Fat distribution and muscle composition of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) users were compared with sex-, age-, and BMI-matched control individuals. Cox regression models were used to test for increased risk of developing CVD and type 2 diabetes. SSRI users had more visceral fat, smaller muscle volume, and higher muscle fat infiltration compared with matched control individuals. Female users showed a larger increase in BMI over time compared with male users. However, male users displayed an unhealthier body composition profile. Male SSRI users also had an increased risk of developing CVD. Both male and female TCA users showed lower muscle volume and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Adverse changes in body composition of antidepressant users are not captured by tracking the body weight or the BMI of the patients. These changes may lead to a worsened cardiometabolic risk profile.

Experimental study of thermoconcentration convection in air–water and air–undecane mixtures

A quantitative experimental comparison was conducted between thermal convection in dry air and thermoconcentration convection in two gas mixtures: air–water vapor and air–undecane vapor, within the temperature range of 0–80 °C at normal atmospheric pressure. Convection in these mixtures is driven by temperature and concentration gradients of water (or undecane) vapor in the air. The stationary thermoconcentration convection is accompanied by continuous phase transitions of the fluids. The quantitative results of the experiments are represented in terms of the Nusselt number Nu and the effective Rayleigh number RaE, which is the sum of the thermal RaT and concentration RaC Rayleigh numbers. Quantitative laboratory measurements were performed using the thermocouple method and were supplemented with qualitative data from visual monitoring of transparent fluid flows using holographic interferometry. The cubic and quadratic temperature dependencies of RaCRaT−1 were determined experimentally for moist air and for the air–undecane vapor mixture, respectively. The significant role of moisture phase transitions in air convection is established. Neglecting these effects at 25 °C and using the ordinary RaT instead of actual RaE would result in an error exceeding 30%. At 38 °C, this error would increase to nearly 100%. At around 80 °C, thermoconcentration convection becomes almost entirely concentration-driven, as the high molecular disordered thermal motion is suppressed by the ordered convective motion generated by evaporation and condensation of water on the opposite heat exchangers of the convective cell.