Reference Technique Research Articles

Critical analysis of the problems of Islamic education in the era of disruption

The world of Islamic education in the disruptive era faces fundamental problems. This research critically analyzes these challenges using a literature study with a philosophical approach. Data were collected through documentation techniques for relevant references and using content analysis. The findings highlight vital issues about the relevance and accessibility of Islamic education in the era of disruption. Challenges include aligning or relevance of Islamic education with the evolving job market, societal needs, and technological advancements. Barriers to access to Islamic education include inadequate facilities, information dissemination gaps, transportation issues, teacher quality, and underrepresentation in marginalized groups and 3T areas. The government has implemented policies such as Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka, compulsory education, BOS funds, Indonesia Smart Card, frontline teachers, and zoning-based new student admissions. Practical challenges include differences of opinion, program incompatibility, limited public awareness, and complexity. This study provides valuable insights into Islamic education, emphasizing the need for continuous evaluation and improvement to create Indonesia's inclusive, responsive and effective Islamic education system. Addressing these challenges will better equip the Islamic education framework to navigate the disruptive era successfully.

Evaluation of the Uniaxial Compressive Strength of Gneiss from Southern Togo from Non-Destructive Tests

The mechanical and physical characteristics of rocks hold significant importance across various realms of research and engineering, particularly in the field of Civil Engineering. The utilization of rocks as construction materials hinges on several of their mechanical traits (Los Angeles, Micro Deval under water presence, Young's Modulus, Compression Strength) as well as physical attributes (homogeneity, porosity, etc.). Tests for determining certain of these characteristics are expensive, challenging, and time-consuming. Among these attributes, mention can be made of determining compression strength, which necessitates substantial equipment for proper sample preparation. This renders the process very costly, laborious, and leads to the complete destruction of samples during experimental measurements. Our objective in this study is to assess the uniaxial compression strength of gneiss from southern Togo using non-destructive testing. This would help mitigate the relatively high costs associated with this test. To address this issue, the development of new methods for determining this test using non-destructive testing approaches is necessary. Among the most commonly used reference techniques for characterizing materials and determining their physical and mechanical properties are non-destructive evaluation techniques based on ultrasonic wave propagation and rebound hammer testing. The adopted methodological approach involves the collection of rock samples (amphibole and biotite gneiss) from 33 sites in southern Togo, their proper sampling, and the execution of various tests on the obtained samples. The obtained results have facilitated the examination of several approaches, notably the ANFIS model (Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System) and the MLR model (Multiple Linear Regression), for predicting the uniaxial compression strength value based on the sclerometer index and the ultrasonic wave propagation velocity (in parallel or perpendicular orientation to the foliations). It emerges from the ANFIS model, combining ultrasonic waves in the perpendicular orientation to the foliations and the sclerometer index, that the uniaxial compression strength can be predicted with an R² of 0.9884, an RMSE of 2.9271, a MAPE of 1.160, and a VAF of 98.83. In comparison, the MLR model yields an R² of 0.9832, an RMSE of 3.686, a MAPE of 1.402, and a VAF of 98.22. The derived ANFIS models can be utilized to estimate the uniaxial compression strength of gneiss in Togo and beyond. Keywords: Gneiss, Non-destructive Testing, Sclerometer Index, Ultrasonic, Compression Strength.

Khoomei Research on Singing Techniques and Stage Performance

The Mongolian word "Khoomei" refers to a special sound emitted by exhalation from the lungs. Because of its unique and distinctive pronunciation, it is called "the oldest singing method in the world", which is a unique singing art in the world, because its unique pronunciation is that a person can make two parts at the same time.Therefore, Khoomei has extremely distinctive national characteristics. However, due to the influence of language and singing technology, the spread is not wide. Nowadays, only Mongolia, the Altai region of Xinjiang and the Republic of Tuva still has the vocal art of Khoomei, and Khoomei is on the verge of crisis in China. Therefore, for Khoom It is very necessary to analyze and study singing techniques and their stage performance research. This article discusses its development process and singing techniques for reference.

Isogeometric homogenization of viscoelastic polymer composites via correspondence principle

We present an isogeometric homogenization theory (IGH) for efficiently identifying homogenized and local creep and relaxation response of linearly viscoelastic polymer composites with different microstructural parameters. The principal idea is to construct exact geometric representations of both two- and three-dimensional unit cell microstructures for periodic materials by utilizing multiple conforming NURBS patches that are also employed for the displacement field interpolation function at the local scale. The IGH-based unit cell formulation is then converted to the viscoelastic solution with the Laplace-Carson space parameters via the correspondence principle. Subsequently, we leverage the Zakian formula to reverse the transformed IGH solution and obtain the homogenized creep and relaxation response of the composite in the original time space. The modelling and predictive capabilities of the IGH theory have been extensively validated vis-à-vis the elasticity-based and conventional finite-element homogenization techniques, and the advantages of the proposed technique over the reference techniques were demonstrated.

Validation of the Idylla GeneFusion assay to detect fusions and MET exon-skipping in non-small cell lung cancers

Gene fusions and MET exon skipping drive oncogenesis in 8–9% and 3% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) respectively. Their detection are essential for the management of patients since they confer sensitivity to specific targeted therapies with significant clinical benefit over conventional chemotherapy. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) account for historical reference techniques however molecular-based technologies (RNA-based sequencing and RT-PCR) are emerging as alternative or complementary methods. Here, we evaluated the analytical performance of the fully-automated RT-PCR Idylla GeneFusion assay compared to reference methods using 35 fixed NSCLC samples. Idylla demonstrated overall agreement, sensitivity and specificity of 100% compared to RNASeq. Interestingly, it succeeded in retrieving 10 out of 11 samples with inconclusive results due to insufficient RNA quality for sequencing. Idylla showed an overall agreement, sensitivity and specificity of 90.32%, 91.67% and 89.47% compared to IHC/FISH respectively. Using commercial standards, the limit of detection of the Idylla system for the most frequent fusions and exon skipping ranges between 5 and 10 ng RNA input. These results support that the Idylla assay is a reliable and rapid option for the detection of these alterations, however a particular attention is needed for the interpretation of the expression imbalance.

A modified strategy to improve the dissolution of flavonoids from Artemisiae Argyi Folium using ultrasonic-assisted enzyme-deep eutectic solvent system

In this study, enzyme-deep eutectic solvent-assisted ultrasonic extraction technique (EnDUE) was developed for the efficient dissolution of flavonoids from Artemisiae Argyi Folium. The extraction results of Artemisiae Argyi Folium flavonoids (quercetin, luteolin, and isorhamnetin) were used as indicators to investigate the influencing factors through single factor experiment, Placket-burman design, and Box-behnken design, so as to obtain satisfactory yields. After systematic optimization, the optimal conditions for extraction of the target flavonoids were: Choline chloride/1,4-butanediol with a water content of 25%, cellulase+pectinase with a concentration of 1.6%, solid-liquid ratio of 1/32 g/mL, pH of 4.2, ultrasonic frequency of 80 kHz, ultrasonic power of 160 W, ultrasonic temperature of 40 °C, and ultrasonic time of 25 min, respectively, which derived a total yield of 8.06 ± 0.29 mg/g. Compared with the reference techniques, the proposed EnDUE technique showed significant advantages in the yield and extraction efficiency of flavonoids. In addition, after preliminary purification, the Artemisiae Argyi Folium flavonoids showed good antioxidant activity. Deep eutectic solvent (DES) can degrade the cell wall components and increase the action site of enzyme, and enzyme can promote the penetration of DES into the cell wall matrix, which is mutually beneficial to the dissolution of intracellular components. Therefore, the extraction technique proposed in this work (EnDUE) greatly promotes the dissolution of flavonoids from Artemisiae Argyi Folium, and provides theoretical support for the further application of plant flavonoids.

Experimental study on acoustic emission sensing and vibration monitoring of corroding reinforced concrete beams

Reinforcement corrosion is a major issue in reinforced concrete structures with severe societal and economic consequences if not detected and treated in time. This paper presents an elaborate experimental study to effectively monitor chloride-induced corrosion damage in reinforced concrete beams. A combined method of acoustic emission sensing and vibration-based monitoring is developed to detect, characterise and localise damage. Additionally, crack measurements on the concrete surface are performed as a reference technique. Four beams are corroded with an accelerated corrosion set-up while two additional beams are used as reference specimens. Whereas these monitoring techniques have already been applied individually to assess corrosion in reinforced concrete beams, they are here combined, in order to verify their complementarity. This results in an elaborate and innovative data-set which allows us to draw new conclusions on the way the techniques provide information on the evolution of corrosion damage in time and space. It was found that acoustic emission sensing can accurately detect and localise damage before cracking of the concrete, especially after dedicated noise filtering through clustering of the AE signals. Vibration-based monitoring is less sensitive to early damage, yet natural frequencies contain absolute information about the stiffness decrease due to corrosion damage, and strain mode shapes can localise damage on a larger scale. In addition, results from both techniques are in line with the crack measurements. As a result, the combination of these various monitoring methods offers valuable and complementary insights about the corrosion process.

Dynamically controllable current reference technique for current-feedback low dropout regulator

This paper proposes the dynamically controllable current reference (DCCR) technique for a wide input range, transient enhancement current-feedback low dropout regulator (WTELDO) to achieve transient enhancement. Combined with a transient enhanced current mirror (TE-CM) adopting an enhanced active resistance network, this technique which is designed based on dynamic bias improves the slewing rate of the power transistor gate but also increases the loop bandwidth. Finally, this WTELDO can reduce the minimum input voltage due to the current-feedback technique and improve the transient response under the condition of maintaining low quiescent current. This designed WTELDO was fabricated in SMIC 0.18μm CMOS process. The input voltage range is 0.8–2.2 V. The output voltage is 0.64 V. The maximum load current is 50 mA and the static current consumption is about 26 μA. Its maximum current efficiency is up to 99.948%. The test results show that the overshoot is 117.5 mV and the undershoot is 167.5 mV when the load current is switched between 0 mA and 50 mA within 300 ns under a 100 pF load capacitor.

Intelligent Energy Management for Distributed Power Plants and Battery Storage

A smart energy management controller is required for effective source coordination and load demand management. This work proposes a novel instantaneous current reference technique for use in power management of hybrid power systems (HPS), both autonomous and interconnected with the grid. A grid integrated hybrid power system (GI-HPS) includes both the AC grid and additional sources used in industrial and commercial environments. Solar photovoltaic (SPV) panels, wind turbine generators, proton exchange membrane fuel cells, and batteries are all part of the test system. The suggested energy management system (SEMS) manages power from the hybrid power source and the energy storage components to meet the load needs. The recommended SEMS can transit between 12 different modes of operation to fulfil the load demand requirements. The SEMS employs a scaling factor N to accelerate the rate at which the measured current approaches the reference current. The proposed scaling factor significantly improves the SEMS’s dynamic performance since it can quickly respond to the changes in the source and load characteristics. The dependability of an HPS powered by a variety of renewable energy sources can also be improved.

Extraction-Free Colorimetric RT-LAMP Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Saliva.

The pandemic situation caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has highlighted the need of fast, simple, and cost-effective tests for the diagnosis of emerging pathogens. RT-qPCR has been established as the reference technique for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infections. This method requires a time-consuming protocol for the extraction of the nucleic acids present in the sample. A colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification using the calcein molecule combined with a simple extraction-free method for saliva samples (calcein RT-LAMP) has been developed. Samples are heated 95 °C for 10 min before amplification at 63 °C for 40 min. The results can be observed by fluorescence or by the naked eye with a color change from orange to green. The method was compared with commercialized available colorimetric and fluorescent RT-LAMP kits. The developed method shows better sensitivity and specificity than the colorimetric commercial RT-LAMP and the same as the fluorescent RT-LAMP, without the need of a fluorescent reader. Moreover, the calcein RT-LAMP has, compared to RT-qPCR, a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 100% for saliva samples with a Ct ≤ 34, without the need for expensive RT-qPCR instruments, demonstrating the potential of this method for population screening.

From cryogenic to on-scalp magnetoencephalography for the evaluation of paediatric epilepsy.

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is a neurophysiological technique based on the detection of brain magnetic fields. Whole-head MEG systems typically house a few hundred sensors requiring cryogenic cooling in a rigid one-size-fits-all (commonly adult-sized) helmet to keep a thermal insulation space. This leads to an increased brain-to-sensor distance in children, because of their smaller head circumference, and decreased signal-to-noise ratio. MEG allows detection and localization of interictal and ictal epileptiform discharges, and pathological high frequency oscillations, as a part of the presurgical assessment of children with refractory focal epilepsy, where electroencephalography is not contributive. MEG can also map the eloquent cortex before surgical resection. MEG also provides insights into the physiopathology of both generalized and focal epilepsy. On-scalp recordings based on cryogenic-free sensors have demonstrated their use in the field of childhood focal epilepsy and should become a reference technique for diagnosing epilepsy in the paediatric population. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Magnetoencephalography (MEG) contributes to the diagnosis and understanding of paediatric epilepsy. On-scalp MEG recordings demonstrate some advantages over cryogenic MEG.

Clinical Applications of Conebeam CTP Imaging in Cerebral Disease: A Systematic Review.

Perfusion imaging with multidetector CT is integral to the evaluation of patients presenting with ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion. Using conebeam CT perfusion in a direct-to-angio approach could reduce workflow times and improve functional outcome. Our aim was to provide an overview of conebeam CT techniques for quantifying cerebral perfusion, their clinical applications, and validation. A systematic search was performed for articles published between January 2000 and October 2022 in which a conebeam CT imaging technique for quantifying cerebral perfusion in human subjects was compared against a reference technique. Eleven articles were retrieved describing 2 techniques: dual-phase (n = 6) and multiphase (n = 5) conebeam CTP. Descriptions of the conebeam CT techniques and the correlations between them and the reference techniques were retrieved. Appraisal of the quality and risk of bias of the included studies revealed little concern about bias and applicability. Good correlations were reported for dual-phase conebeam CTP; however, the comprehensiveness of its parameter is unclear. Multiphase conebeam CTP demonstrated the potential for clinical implementation due to its ability to produce conventional stroke protocols. However, it did not consistently correlate with the reference techniques. The heterogeneity within the available literature made it impossible to apply meta-analysis to the data. The reviewed techniques show promise for clinical use. Beyond evaluating their diagnostic accuracy, future studies should address the practical challenges associated with implementing these techniques and the potential benefits for different ischemic diseases.

Multi-Objective Fault-Coverage Based Regression Test Selection and Prioritization Using Enhanced ACO_TCSP

Regression testing of the software during its maintenance phase, requires test case prioritization and selection due to the dearth of the allotted time. The resources and the time in this phase are very limited, thus testers tend to use regression testing methods such as test case prioritization and selection. The current study evaluates the effectiveness of testing with two major goals: (1) Least running time and (2) Maximum fault coverage possible. Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) is a well-known soft computing technique that draws its inspiration from nature and has been widely researched, implemented, analyzed, and validated for regression test prioritization and selection. Many versions of ACO approaches have been prolifically applied to find solutions to many non-polynomial time-solvable problems. Hence, an attempt has been made to enhance the performance of the existing ACO_TCSP algorithm without affecting its time complexity. There have been efforts to enhance the exploration space of various paths in each iteration and with elite exploitation, reducing the total number of iterations required to converge to an optimal path. Counterbalancing enhanced exploration with intelligent exploitation implies that the run time is not adversely affected, the same has also been empirically validated. The enhanced algorithm has been compared with the existing ACO algorithm and with the traditional approaches. The approach has also been validated on four benchmark programs to empirically evaluate the proposed Enhanced ACO_TCSP algorithm. The experiment revealed the increased cost-effectiveness and correctness of the algorithm. The same has also been validated using the statistical test (independent t-test). The results obtained by evaluating the proposed approach against other reference techniques using Average Percentage of Faults Detected (APFD) metrics indicate a near-optimal solution. The multiple objectives of the highest fault coverage and least running time were fruitfully attained using the Enhanced ACO_TCSP approach without compromising the complexity of the algorithm.

Design and Implementation of a Measuring Device to Determine the Content of Pigments in Plant Leaves

The design and implementation of a measuring device for the determination of pigment content in plant leaves is a topic of essential importance in plant biology, agriculture, and environmental research. The timely and sufficiently accurate determination of the content of these molecules provides valuable insight into the health, photosynthetic activity, and physiological state of plants. This paper presents the key aspects and results of the development and implementation of such a measuring device. It makes it possible to measure a larger number of pigments per type compared with the devices for commercial use that are currently known to us, and the accuracy of measurements depends mostly on the specific type of plant that is being tracked. The developed device presents a measurement accuracy ranging between 72% and 97% compared with a reference method and between 87% and 90% compared with a reference technique. Also, by using the device, a significant reduction in time and required resources can be achieved in measuring the content of pigments and nitrogen in plant leaves. This is a prerequisite for the more effective monitoring of the growth and health of plants, as well as optimizing the process of growing and caring for them. The work will be continued with the focus of the research aimed at generalizing the models for determining pigments and nitrogen in plants.

Revolutionizing Sterile Sample Culturing: Cost-Effective Centrifugation Techniques for Research in Resource- Constrained Settings

Introduction: The yield (culture positive rate) of sterile body fluids in patients was found to be less than 50%. It has been demonstrated that centrifuging body fluid before culturing increases yield. Using concentrated bacterial samples to enhance culture growth is a more effective alternative. We sought to determine whether sterile fluid culture yield was increased by centrifugation. Methods: Patients whose body fluids were received in sufficient quantity in the microbiology lab were enrolled. Sterile body fluids culture was carried out after centrifugation and by routine conventional inoculation method which was taken as a reference method. Results: 250 samples were included in the study over six months. Of the 250 samples, 15 came positive by the conventional method and 37 came positive by centrifugation technique. Comparisons were made between the turnaround times for the two methods. However, the centrifugation approach immediately produced positive Gram stain results for 19 samples (p = 0.03) while the reference method only produced three positive results. When compared to using the reference technique, the centrifugation method achieved bacterial identification and sensitivity on average more quickly (p 0.00001). Conclusion: The centrifugation technique was successful in producing the desired outcomes and may be used in the future with such precious samples. The centrifugation technique may shorten the turnaround time for culture reports, improving the management of infectious disorders.

Comparison of the Micronaut-AM System and the EUCAST Broth Microdilution Reference Method for MIC Determination of Four Antifungals against Aspergillus fumigatus.

The Antifungal Susceptibility Testing method of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST-AFST) is a reference technique for the determination of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of antifungals for Aspergillus fumigatus. However, it is time-consuming and requires expertise. Micronaut-AM (M-AM) is a fast, simple, time-saving, and ready-to-use new colorimetric method using an indicator (resazurin) to facilitate the visual reading. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the performance of the M-AM system and compare it with the EUCAST broth microdilution reference method to determine the susceptibility of 77 A. fumigatus clinical strains to amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole. Overall, the essential agreements within ±2 dilutions were 100%, 62%, 58%, and 30% and the categorical agreements were 100%, 97%, 91%, and 87% for amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole, respectively. No categorical discrepancy was found for amphotericin B, but several categorical discordances were observed with azole antifungals. However, only 2 of the 16 azole-resistant strains confirmed by the cyp51A sequencing would have been misclassified by M-AM. The use of M-AM is probably suitable for the determination of the MICs of amphotericin B, but further evaluations are needed to confirm its usefulness for the determination of the MICs of azoles for A. fumigatus.

Undiagnosed Brucellosis in Psychiatric Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Brucellosis, also known as malt fever, poses significant health and economic challenges across various regions worldwide, particularly in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries. Objectives: This study aimed to identify cases of undiagnosed brucellosis among psychiatric patients. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at Golestan Hospital in Ahvaz, Khozestan Province, Iran. The study aimed to investigate cases of undiagnosed brucellosis among psychiatric patients during the first six months of 2021. The diagnosis of brucellosis relied on standard tests, namely the Wright test, the Coombs-Wright test, and the two-mercaptoethanol test, which are widely recognized as reference techniques. In the endemic region of Iran, a positive titer of at least 1: 80 in the Wright test and titers of at least 1: 40 in the two-mercaptoethanol test are considered diagnostic criteria. The Coombs-Wright test is deemed positive when the titer is three dilutions higher than the Wright test titer in symptomatic patients. Results: A total of 225 patients admitted to psychiatric wards with psychiatric disorders underwent examination for brucellosis. The study revealed an undiagnosed brucellosis prevalence of 7.6% (n = 17). None of these patients had a recent or prior history of brucellosis, nor had they received any treatment for the disease. Among the seventeen patients, three reported experiencing typical and commonly observed symptoms of brucellosis, such as myalgia and arthralgia, during the clinical interviews. However, the remaining fourteen patients did not display any clinical symptoms typically associated with brucellosis, including myalgia, arthralgia, fever, and sweating. Instead, they solely exhibited psychiatric symptoms alongside their condition. Conclusions: Out of the 225 patients who were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, 17 individuals were found to have brucellosis. Remarkably, 14 out of these 17 patients did not exhibit typical symptoms associated with brucellosis, but rather only showed psychiatric symptoms as manifestations of the disease.

Body composition and body mass index measures from 8 to 18 years old in children with cystic fibrosis

BackgroundHistorically, body mass index (BMI) >50th percentile has represented optimal nutritional status in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) due to its positive association with lung function. Body composition parameters including fat-free mass index (FFMI) have been suggested as a more physiological nutrition benchmark. Aims: (1) describe changes in body composition with age and gender; (2) assess the correlation between measures of nutritional status (FFMI-z, FMI-z, BMI-z) and lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second predicted; FEV1pp). MethodsThis retrospective, mixed cross-sectional and serial measures study consisted of children with CF (8 to 18 years) attending Sydney Children's Hospital (2007–2020). FFMI and fat mass index (FMI) were taken from biennial dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans. Z-scores were derived using Well's reference population [1]. Repeated measures correlation analyses assessed correlations between FFMI-z, FMI-z, and BMI-z with FEV1pp. Results339 DXA reports were analysed from 137 patients. There were slight downwards trends in BMI-z and FMI-z, and an upwards trend in FFMI-z with increasing age and across both genders. Females had higher FMI-z and FFMI-z than males from 12.5 years. There was a weak, positive correlation between FEV1pp and BMI-z (r = 0.14, p = 0.04), and FFMI-z (r = 0.25, p<0.001). FMI-z had no correlation with FEV1pp (r=-0.06, p = 0.41). ConclusionDeficits in FFMI exist despite increasing trends with age. FFMI-z and BMI-z had a weak, positive correlation with FEV1pp. In contemporary cohorts, nutritional status (reflected by surrogate markers such as FFMI and BMI) may be less influential upon lung function than in previous decades.[1]: Wells, J.C., et al. Body-composition reference data for simple and reference techniques and a 4-component model: a new UK reference child. Am. J. Clin. Nutr.96, 1316–1326 (2012).

Using optimized particle imaging of micro-Raman to characterize microplastics in water samples

Characterizing the chemical properties, morphologies, size, and quantities of microplastics (MPs) in water samples with high precision is critically important for understanding the environmental behaviors of MPs. Traditional detection methods, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy point-by-point detection, provide worthy reference techniques but are time- and labor-consuming. We established a super time-saving and high-precision technique to characterize MPs using micro-Raman automatic particle identification (MR-API). Based on the identification of PS spheres, screen magnification, exposure time, and the number of scans are selected as crucial detection parameters for MR-API analysis, which highly affect the precision of the results. Detecting particles down to 1 μm requires magnification of the mosaic until the scale showed 200 μm. The recommended setting parameters were 83.33 or 100 ms exposure time, 20 scans, 7 mW laser power, and 1 μm image pixel size, suitable for polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyamide (PA) particles detection. With the complete procedure of MR-API measurements, the recovery of MPs was 61.67–90.00 %. To validate the feasibility of the MR-API, the method was used to detect samples of known plastic types (mask leachates) and unknown plastic types (urban lake). A total of 4540 particles in the sample of mask leachates consuming 35 h 50 min 43 s, and 0.92 ± 0.49 % of particles were identified as MPs. The urban river sample efficiently identified PP, PET, PE, PVC, PS, EVA, and VC/VAC MPs using this method. The detected MPs size ranged from 8.3 to 5000 μm, saving 75.03 % and 58.38 % of the time compared to the conventional micro-FTIR and micro-Raman point-by-point methods, respectively. Therefore, this method is effective for detecting MPs in the environmental samples and has excellent prospects.

Evaluation of immunoserological detection of anti-liver kidney microsomal, anti-soluble liver antigen and anti-mitochondrial antibodies

Autoantibodies are the diagnostic hallmark of autoimmune liver diseases. Indirect immunofluorescence (IFT) is the reference method for the detection of anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA) and anti-liver kidney microsomal type-1 (anti-LKM1) antibodies, and inhibition ELISA (iELISA) for anti-soluble liver antigen (anti-SLA) antibodies. Given the complexity of these techniques, commercial ELISAs have emerged as a practical alternative, but without head-to-head validations. This study evaluated the agreement between three commercial ELISAs and the reference techniques and the impact of polyreactive immunoglobulin G (pIgG), a recently described phenomenon in autoimmune hepatitis, on commercial ELISAs. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using Cohen-Kappa coefficient (κ). Forty-eight, 46, and 66 samples were analyzed for AMA, anti-LKM1, and anti-SLA, respectively. For AMA, one commercial assay showed high agreement (κ = 0.91 (0.78–1.00)) with the reference method, while the other two showed weak or moderate agreement. For anti-LKM1, only one commercial assay showed high agreement (κ = 0.86 (0.71–1.0)). For anti-SLA antibodies only moderate agreement was achieved (κ up to 0.71 (0.52–0.89)). There was a trend towards higher pIgG levels in false-positives in the commercial ELISAs. Patients with high suspicion of autoimmune liver diseases should be referred to reference laboratories with the capacity of performing gold standard methods if the initial ELISA-based screening was performed.