Sample Collector Research Articles

Compact, high-flow, water-based, turbulent-mixing, condensation aerosol concentrator for collection of spot samples.

A new high-flow, compact aerosol concentrator, using rapid, turbulent mixing to grow aerosol particles into droplets for dry spot sample collection, has been designed and tested. The "TCAC (Turbulent-mixing, Condensation Aerosol Concentrator)" is composed of a saturator for generating hot vapor, a mixing section where the hot vapor mixes with the cold aerosol flow, a growth tube where condensational droplet growth primarily occurs, and a converging nozzle that focuses the droplets into a beam. The prototype concentrator utilizes an aerosol sample flow rate of 4 L min-1. The TCAC was optimized by varying the operating conditions, such as relative humidity of the aerosol flow, mixing flow ratio, vapor temperature, and impaction characteristics. The results showed that particles with a diameter ≥ 25 nm can be grown to a droplet diameter > 1400 nm with near 100% efficiency. Complete activation and growth were observed at relative humidity ≥ 25% of the aerosol sample flow. A consistent spot sample with a diameter of (the diameter of a circle containing 90% of the deposited particles) was obtained regardless of the aerosol particle diameter ( ). For fiber counting applications using phase contrast microscopy, the TCAC can reduce the sampling time, or counting uncertainty, by two to three orders of magnitude, compared to the 25-mm-filter collection. The study shows that the proposed mixing-flow scheme enables a compact spot sample collector suitable for handheld or portable applications, while still allowing for high flow rates.

Venus cloud sample return concept for astrobiology

The sulfuric acid clouds of Venus are of high scientific interest due to several intriguing observations from the past decades. These observations are not fully explained with current chemical models. Manyhypotheses have been posed to date, including the presence of complex organics or microbial life in the clouds. The possibility of life is primarily supported by the biologically benign temperatures in the cloud layers and is secondarily bolstered by several unresolved cloud-layer atmospheric chemical anomalies. Here we propose that a robust search for signs of life or life itself in the Venusian aerial environment requires a sample return of the cloud particles. We propose a Venus cloud sample return mission concept by performing key trade studies, and evaluating the requirements, feasibility, and technological needs. The baseline mission concept includes a Venus entry system, a balloon for sample collection and ascent in the clouds, a Venus Ascent Vehicle to deliver samples to orbit, a Venus orbiter, and an Earth return system. We present the concept of three critical systems that are the focus of our study: cloud sample collectors, an aerial platform, and a Venus Ascent Vehicle. We found an electrostatic fog collector for low-power, high-efficiency cloud sample capture. The most significant newly identified technology gaps for near-term focused development that we uncovered are the rapid inflation of a large 7000 m3 balloon and navigation and control of the ascent vehicle in a low-visibility and turbulent cloud environment. We discuss the various technologies of the sample return mission that need focused development and have synergies across multiple types of planetary missions.

P424 Analysis of the intestinal microbiome using an Endoscopic Brush in Ulcerative colitis

Abstract Background The precise pathogenesis of the Ulcerative colitis is still yet unknown, but one of its cause is known to be microbial dysbiosis. The mucosa-associated microbiota are more deeply involved in the pathogenesis of UC. However, the optimal sampling of mucosa-associated microbiome has yet to be investigated. In this study, we investigated the mucosa-associated microbiome in patients with ulcerative colitis, using endoscopic brush samples. We hypothesized that endoscopic brushing is precise and noninvasive method to get sample of mucosa-associated microbiome. Methods Patients with UC who visited the gastroenterology department of Korea University Anam hospital were screened for this study. Clinical data such as medical records, colonoscopy and fecal samples were reviewed. Using a stool and saliva sample collector kit respectively, the subjects provided stool and saliva samples. Brushing samples were collected during the sigmoidoscopy procedure with 3-4 brush strokes on the colon mucosa using the cytology brush. The samples were analyzed for microbiome in the Korea University Medical Center. Results From July 2022 to January 2023, we prospectively enrolled 19 patients with UC. Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the most common species in microbiota of brush, stool and saliva.(Fig.1-1) The microbiome between stool and brush was no significant difference in alpha and beta diversities.(Fig.1-2) However, Oral microbiome was different from stool and brush in beta diversities.(Fig.1-3) Patients were categorized into to analyze the oral microbiome. A trend was observed where increased disease severity was associated with an increase in Firmicutes.(Fig.1-4) Conclusion The microbiome of stool and brush was no significantly different. However, the novel sampling of mucosa-associated microbiome, endoscopic brush, is not inferior compared to currently used sampling of stool. Also the analysis of the oral microbiome suggested that Firmicutes could be considered a useful biomarker for assessing disease severity. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct followup research by increasing the number of subjects.

Robotics in agriculture: Advanced technologies in livestock farming and crop cultivation

This article provides an analysis of the impact of robotic systems on modern agriculture. Key aspects of integrating advanced technologies, such as automation of feeding processes, pasture management, and automated crop harvesting, are highlighted. Examples of successful implementation of innovative solutions on farms are discussed, including mobile feed mixers, automated calf feeding systems, smart soil sample collectors, and flying autonomous garden robots. Special attention is given to the analysis of the economic efficiency and sustainability of applying these technologies, as well as their impact on improving working conditions and reducing environmental impact. Challenges and problems related to high initial investments, the need for qualified personnel, and the adaptation of old farm structures to new technologies are also discussed. Conclusions are drawn regarding the prospects and opportunities that robotics opens up for agriculture, emphasizing its role in achieving sustainability and increasing productivity in the face of growing global challenges.

An analytical approach for on-site analysis of breath samples for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Increased acceptance of cannabis containing the psychoactive component, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), raises concerns about the potential for impaired drivers and increased highway accidents. In contrast to the "breathalyzer" test, which is generally accepted for determining the alcohol level in a driver, there is no currently accepted roadside test for THC in a motorist. There is a need for an easily collectible biological sample from a potentially impaired driver coupled with an accurate on-site test to measure the presence and quantity of THC in a driver. A novel breath collection device is described, which includes three separate sample collectors for collecting identical A, B, and C breath samples from a subject. A simple one-step ethanol extraction of the "A" breath collector sample can be analyzed by UHPLC/selected ion monitoring (SIM) liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to provide qualitative and quantitative determination of THC in breath sample in less than 4 min for samples collected up to 6 h after smoking a cannabis cigarette. SIM LC/MS bioanalyses employed d3-THC as the stable isotope internal standard fortified in negative control breath samples for quantitation including replicates of six calibrator standards and three quality control (QC) samples. Subsequent confirmation of the same breath sample in the B collectors was then confirmed by a reference lab by LC/MS/MS analysis. Fit-for-purpose bioanalytical validation consistent with pharmaceutical regulated bioanalyses produced pharmacokinetic (PK) curves for the two volunteer cannabis smokers. These results produced PK curves, which showed a rapid increase of THC in the breath of the subjects in the first hour followed by reduced THC levels in the later time points. A simpler single-point calibration curve procedure with calibrators and QC prepared in ethanol provided similar results. Limitations to this approach include the higher cost and operator skill sets for the instrumentation employed and the inability to actually determine driver impairment.

Side of chute and handedness does not affect the sensitivity of Tritrichomonas foetus sample collection in bulls

Tritrichomonas foetus, a sexually transmitted pathogen of cattle, continues to plague the cattle industry despite control efforts. Pre-analytical diagnostic considerations such as sample collection and sample handling continue to be a shortcoming in the diagnosis of T. foetus in bulls. Preputial scraping is the most common means of sample collection. Previous studies have shown an effect of handedness of the sample collector and the side of the chute that collection was made from as factors that affected the diagnostic sensitivity of the test. The aim of our study was to determine if being right or left-handed and the side of the chute the collection occurred on impacted the diagnostic sensitivity or specificity. Eleven sexually mature bulls naturally infected with T. foetus were enrolled in a 2-factor cross-over study design. Samples were taken once a week for 8 weeks by either a right-handed or left-handed veterinarian from either the left then the right side of the chute or right then left side of the chute, only using their dominant hand to make the scraping motion used to obtain the sample. Utilizing a 2-way ANOVA, we found no significant difference in the chance of acquiring a positive sample per bull (P = 0.8708) regardless of whether the sample was taken from the right or left side of the chute and regardless of dominant hand. In conclusion, using current RT-qPCR methods, the authors found no effect of handedness or side of chute on diagnostic sensitivity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Inter-comparison of measurements of inorganic chemical components in precipitation from NADP and CAPMoN at collocated sites in the USA and Canada during 1986–2019

Wet deposition monitoring is a critical part of the long-term monitoring of acid deposition, which aims to assess the ecological impact of anthropogenic emissions of SO2 and NOx. In North America, long-term wet deposition has been monitored through two national networks: the Canadian Air and Precipitation Monitoring Network (CAPMoN) and the US National Atmospheric Deposition Program (NADP), for Canada and the USA, respectively. In order to assess the comparability of measurements from the two networks, collocated measurements have been made at two sites, one in each country, since 1986 (Sirois et al., in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 62, 273–303, 2000; Wetherbee et al., in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 1995–2004, 2010). In this study, we compared the measurements from NADP and CAPMoN instrumentation at the collocated sites at the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State), USA, from 1989 to 2016, and Frelighsburg, Quebec, Canada, from 2002 to 2019. We also included in the study the collocated daily-vs-weekly measurements by the CAPMoN network during 1999–2001 and 2016–2017 in order to evaluate the differences in wet concentration of ions due to sampling frequency alone. The study serves as an extension to two previous CAPMoN-NADP inter-comparisons by Sirois et al. (Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 62, 273–303, 2000) and Wetherbee et al., in (Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 1995–2004, 2010). At the Penn State University site, for 1986–2019, CAPMoN was higher than NADP for all ions, in terms of weekly concentration, precipitation-weighted annual mean concentration, and annual wet deposition. The precipitation-weighted annual mean concentrations were higher for SO42− (2%), NO3− (12%), NH4+ (16%), H+ (6%), and base cations and Cl− (11–15%). For annual wet deposition, CAPMoN was higher for SO4−2, NO3−, NH4+ and H+ (5–17%), and base cations and Cl− (12–17%) during 1986–2019. At the Frelighsburg site, NADP changed the sample collector in October 2011. For 2002–2011, the relative differences at the Frelighsburg site were positive and similar in magnitude to those at the Penn State site. For 2012–2019, the precipitation-weighted annual mean concentrations were 5–27% lower than NADP, except for H+, which was 23% higher. The change in sample collector by NADP had the largest effect on between-network biases. The comparisons of daily-vs-weekly measurements conducted by the CAPMoN network during 1999–2001 and 2016–2017 show that the weekly measurements were higher than the daily measurements by 1–3% for SO42−, NO3−, and NH4+; 3–9% for Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and Cl−; 10–24% for K+; and lower for H+ by 8–30% in terms of precipitation-weighted mean concentration. Thus, differences in sampling frequencies did not contribute to the systematically higher CAPMoN measurements. Understanding the biases in the data for these networks is important for interpretation of continental scale deposition models and transboundary comparison of wet deposition trends.

Development of a bulk cargo fruit sampler

The design of an agricultural machine or equipment can be considered of great complexity, due to the interactions between the operator, the machine, the product and the environment. There is a lack of available technologies for collecting fruit in bulk cargo at any time from transport to industries. A limiting factor is the loading of fruits that are at the base of the cargo. This study was carried out to develop a detailed design of a bulk cargo fruit sampler that can collect fruits in any position of the x, y and z axes. A methodology was applied and adapted to execute the design. This methodology was divided into the following stages: design planning, informational design, conceptual design, preliminary design and detailed design. The variant considered the most appropriate was selected for the preliminary design and detailed design. The concepts were divided into chassis or support, sample collector and support for sample removal. The removal of fruits was carried out to maintain as much of their interaction with the environment outside the collector as possible. With the conclusion of the detailed design, it was possible to file, at the National Institute of Industrial Property, the patent for the collector of fruit samples in bulk cargo. Results obtained from fruits in the collector were used in doctoral theses.

Hollow fiber-solid phase microextraction of fatty acid methyl esters from wastewater coupled with micro sample collector assisted injection technique

Hollow fiber-solid phase microextraction combined with micro sample collector assisted injection technique was developed for the detection of trace fatty acid methyl esters in biodiesel wastewater. Polypropylene hollow fiber was employed as extraction material to absorb fatty acid methyl esters in biodiesel wastewater. After the adsorption, hollow fiber was sleeved on the needle core of a micro sample collector and introduced directly into a GC injector for thermal desorption of the analytes. The selectivity of polypropylene hollow fiber on fatty acid methyl esters was investigated by extracting common pollutants in wastewater. Under the optimal conditions, the enrichment factors of polypropylene hollow fiber for methyl palmitate, methyl linoleate, methyl oleate, and methyl stearate were tested as high as 471, 287, 527, and 801, respectively. The quantitative method was validated and the linearity was satisfactory over a concentration range of 10–2000 µg/L with the correlation coefficients more than 0.9990 for 4 fatty acid methyl esters. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.04–0.40 µg/L and 10.0 µg/L, respectively. The recoveries were in the range of 92.0–116.7% by analyzing actual spiked samples. The results showed that the established method was suitable for the analysis of trace fatty acid methyl esters in water samples, with simple operation, low cost and environmental friendliness.

Machine Vision Algorithm for Identifying Packaging Components of HN-3 Arterial Blood Sample Collector

The arterial blood sample collector produced in large quantities often fails to meet the requirements due to missing components in the packaging bag, and traditional manual detection methods are both inefficient and inaccurate. To solve this problem, a PyCharm-integrated development environment was used to study image processing and recognition algorithms for identifying components inside the packaging bag of the HN-3 arterial blood sample collector. The machine vision system was used to capture images of the packaging bags of the HN-3 Arterial blood sample collector. Template matching was employed to extract the packaging ROI, and the threshold segmentation method in the HSV color model was used to extract material features based on the packaging ROI. Morphological processing algorithms such as dilation or erosion were used to enhance the connectivity of the extracted features. The existence of components was determined by setting thresholds for the connected domain area or length. The results of the recognition experiment show that the false detection rate is 0.2%, the missed detection rate is 0%, and the average image processing time per product is no more than 39 ms. Compared with manual recognition methods, the efficiency and accuracy have been improved by 36.5 times and 2.3%, respectively. The experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the image processing algorithm.

Perceived distress due to nasopharyngeal swab collection: Correspondence.

Dear Editor, we would like to correspond on the publication “Assessment of perceived distress due to nasopharyngeal swab collection in healthy Indian infants participating in a clinical trial1”. Nasopharyngeal swab collection caused significant distress, which worsened with age, according to Kawade et al.1 The authors concluded that sample collectors should be properly trained, and parents should be encouraged to participate in the procedure.1 We agree that effective clinical specimen collection can lead to a high diagnostic yield and give patients the most comfort. However, regardless of the invasiveness of the treatment, fear of specimen collection is a prevalent problem among pediatric patients.2 Children may experience severe pain, worry, and suffering during a specimen collecting procedure.3, 4 Most young children who had clinical specimens collected reported having a lot of fear before the procedure.3 Children who experienced more moderate to severe pain throughout the specimen collection process were more likely to have high pre-procedural anxiety.4 To lessen the discomfort experienced during the procedure, anxiety-reducing therapies should be investigated.4 To lessen the subjects' worry and terror, a standard quality control for specimen collecting procedure as well as patient preparation is required. The reported distress may have been lessened had the authors applied effective distraction during the procedure. Any distraction method could have been chosen.2 Distraction tactics of any kind have been shown to significantly lower the perception of pain and anxiety.2 Kawade et al. should provide details on the distraction technique(s) used with the children in their study. None.

Visualization of biochar colloids transport and retention in two-dimensional porous media

Biochar colloids (BCs) have received considerable attention in recent years due to the unique environmental behavior and potential risks. In this work, a real-time visualization system to reveal the transport and retention mechanisms of biochar colliods in two-dimensional (2-D) porous media under the ionic strength (IS), pH and media grain size was developed. The system consists of charge coupled device (CCD) microscope camera and flow cell (connected to a pump and sample collector). The breakthrough curve of flow cell effluent concentration was used to quantitatively analyze the migration behavior of BCs. BCs transport in 2-D porous media was simulated with a simplified Double Monod model. The results show that BCs had a strong migration capacity in 2-D porous media. Electronegativity of BCs and quartz sand increases with the decrease of IS and the increase of pH, and the electrostatic repulsion between them then increases, resulting in the reduction of the adhesion of BCs on the sand surface, which promotes the migration and reduces the retention of BCs in the 2-D porous media. In addition, the reduction of media grain size had an inhibitory effluence on the transport of BCs, and the finer sand could provide more deposition sites for BCs. Meanwhile, the Double Monod model also fitted the transport behavior nicely (R2 > 0.94). The visualization method in this study properly explains the migration behavior of BCs in 2-D porous media, which provides reasonable support for more comprehensive evaluation environmental risk.

Awareness survey on drug crime scene investigation and drug detection kits among drug-related police officers

This questionnaire-based study aimed to investigate the drug crime scene experienced by drug-related police officers and the perceptions of drug test kits by them before initiating the development of drug test kits to detect 16 types of drugs. The subjects were 57 drug-related police officers. Most of the respondents (96.5%) had <10 years of experience in drug-related work. Respondents were questioned about the drug scene investigation and perceptions of drug test kits. The questionnaire about drug test kits included the question on ‘simple/rapid drug test kit’ and ‘electronic portable drug analyzer’ regarding the disadvantages of existing kits and expecting features when a new kit is developed. First, in the on-site survey, the drug-related crime occurred at the suspect's house (47.8%), and methamphetamine (35.0%) and γ-hydroxybutyric acid (19.5%) were mainly found. In the awareness survey on drug test kits, most respondents (67.2%) had an experience of using ‘simple/rapid drug test kits’, whereas 17.5% for the ‘electronic portable drug analyzer’. In the case of ‘simple/rapid drug test kit’, the false-positive rate reached 53.8% by a misinterpretation due to ambiguous color change (47.6%). The inaccuracy of the result (33.3%) was the most concern in ‘electronic portable drug analyzer’. Respondents most favored pipette type for sample collector when a new kit is developed. In addition, they preferred the smaller kit with short detection times in both kit types. This survey could be applied to the development of efficient and practical kits for police officers working in drug-related fields.

Soil sampling plan design of key facilities for denuclearization based on data quality objective process

The possibility of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula has been continuously debated, and the initiative participation of the Republic of Korea has necessitated preemptive measures against neighboring countries. In this study, we present a proposal for formulating a site survey plan when the amount of site information provided is insufficient and the accuracy of the information is not guaranteed. Considering a case wherein “a soil sample analysis is used to determine the presence or absence of nuclear activity” in a radiochemical laboratory, which is a typical key facility for denuclearization, the optimal soil sample collection plan is designed based on international guidelines and public information. In the event of denuclearization, a scenario that is not based on the expertise of the sample collector is set, and the data quality objective (DQO) process is applied to ensure reality. Consequently, the primary sample collection points can be derived in consideration of accessibility, and the sample collection scale can be adjusted according to the cost. By applying the DQO process to ensure sample representativeness and reality, reliable and resource-efficient soil sample collection can be achieved in radiochemical laboratories and other denuclearization facilities.

Understanding factors influencing total coliform and E. coli sampling outcomes in new private water wells in North Carolina, USA

Provision of safe drinking water is critical for human health and survival. Indicator bacteria (i.e., total coliforms and fecal coliforms) are typical indicators of microbial water quality. In North Carolina (NC), new private drinking water wells are required for total coliform and E. coli testing. Such wells are typically only tested once before use in NC, so consistent and accurate testing is critical. Herein, we analyzed a large data set (n = 32,839) of water samples collected from private drinking water wells, representing 80 of North Carolina's 100 counties, and analyzed for significant differences in E. coli and total coliform positive rates depending on county and region of collection, transport method, sampling collection point, day of week, month, year, season, treatment method, time elapsed between collection and incubation, method used for detection, and the personnel reporting sample results. Our results showed that 34.1% of samples tested positive for total coliform, while 1.38% tested positive for E. coli. The total coliform positive rate ranged from 16.4% to 60.0% among the 80 counties. While nine counties reported no positive E. coli samples, positive E. coli rates for the remaining counties ranged from 0.17% to 12.7%. Samples from the Inner Coastal Plain were more likely to be positive for total coliforms, while samples from the Outer Coastal Plain were more likely to be positive for both the E. coli and total coliforms. Delivery method, sampling site, month, year and season of collection, treatment type, elapsed time between collection and analysis, and person reporting sample results were correlated with positive total coliform results. Similarly, sampling point, month, treatment type, test type, and the person reporting the results were correlated with positive E. coli results. These results can be used to prioritize limited public health resources for maximum impact on new private well drinking water safety. Further, providing clear and complete information by the sample collector could improve future research to better inform well water sampling practices.

Tracer Tests For Heterogeneity Characterization And Saturation Determination On Core Flooding

Low sweep efficiency is the common problem in displacement process due to heterogeneity, high permeability streaks, fractures, and thief zones existing in the formation. Similarly, the success or failure of EOR implementations are always affected by those problems which causes displacing fluids fingering and early breakthrough. Factors of this type, unless properly identified and understood before the start of EOR process, will likely cause a project failure. Core flooding as the model of small scale of fluids movements in reservoir undergoes similar circumstances. Approximately one foot long of four 3.5 inches stacked native and synthetic cores are normally used in core flooding experiment. Tracer test was performed to characterize the core in addition of CT scan analysis. On this experiment, lithium solution was selected as tracer solution to be then injected into core at constant rate, 4 ft/day. Afterwards, the effluents were collected by Gilson sample collector in each tube for further determinination its concentration using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Response curves of lithium tracer were able to determine core heterogeneities and this should be done to avoid misleading interpretation of core flooding results. Besides, lithium concentration reported in some extent and subsequently analyzed by employing method of temporal moments. This method provides numerical calculation to estimate effective core pore volume (PV) and fluid saturation. Weighing method was also used to compare the PV with aforementioned method and the results were comparable.

Insects as Chemical Sensors: Detection of Chemical Warfare Agent Simulants and Hydrolysis Products in the Blow Fly Using LC-MS/MS.

In this work, blow flies were investigated as environmental chemical sample collectors following a chemical warfare attack (CWA). Blow flies sample the environment as they search for water and food sources and can be trapped from kilometers away using baited traps. Three species of blow flies were exposed to CWA simulants to determine the persistence and detectability of these compounds under varying environmental conditions. A liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed to detect CWA simulants and hydrolysis products from fly guts. Flies were exposed to the CWA simulants dimethyl methylphosphonate and diethyl phosphoramidate as well as the pesticide dichlorvos, followed by treatment-dependent temperature and humidity conditions. Flies were sacrificed at intervals within a 14 day postexposure period. Fly guts were extracted and analyzed with the LC-MS/MS method. The amount of CWA simulant in fly guts decreased with time following exposure but were detectable 14 days following exposure, giving a long window of detectability. In addition to the analysis of CWA simulants, isopropyl methylphosphonic acid, the hydrolysis product of sarin, was also detected in blow flies 14 days post exposure. This work demonstrates the potential to obtain valuable samples from remote or access-restricted areas without risking lives.

Transport and retention patterns of fragmental microplastics in saturated and unsaturated porous media: A real-time pore-scale visualization

The environmental behaviors of microplastics (MPs) have garnered ever-increasing attention globally. To overcome the limitations of commonly used “black box”, a real-time pore-scale visualization system including microscope, charge coupled device (CCD) microscope camera, and flow cell (connected with pump and sample collector) was used to unravel the transport and retention mechanisms of fragmental microplastics (FMPs) in saturated and unsaturated porous media. The breakthrough curves (BTCs) of effluent concentrations from the flow cells were used to quantitatively analyze FMPs transport. The videos gathered from different transport scenarios indicated that FMPs can move along with the bulk flow in porous media, but also move around the sand surfaces via sliding, rolling, and saltating patterns. The FMPs were retained in porous media mainly via deposition and straining in saturated porous media. Interestingly, little FMPs were captured by the air-water interface in unsaturated conditions. The mobility of FMPs varied with environmental factors, which became lower at higher solution ionic strength (IS), smaller grain size, and lower water content in porous media. Flow rate barely affected the transport of FMPs under 0.1 mM IS with the mass recovery rate ranging between 65.8 and 67.5%, but significantly enhanced FMPs mobility under 10 mM IS through reducing the moving rate. The IS and grain size showed a more significant effect on the transport of FMPs in unsaturated porous media. Our findings, for the first time, visually deciphered the transport and retention patterns of MPs with fragmental shapes on pore-scale, expanding our current knowledge of the fate and transport of more realistic MPs in the environment.

Modeling the thermal analysis of the uncovered solar collectors using perforated absorbent plate

Abstract Uncovered solar collectors using perforated absorbent plates are a variety of reception collectors that are used for solar heating of air for consumption in air conditioning systems and dryers. The thermal performance of these collectors is subject to various factors including diameter and step holes, air suction velocity and solar radiation. Using modeling, a proper evaluation of the effect of each of these parameters on the thermal performance of the collector can be obtained. In this paper, by using heat transfer and energy balance modeling in different components of the sample collector, the effect of each of these parameters is estimated by using the preheatment of building air, thermal efficiency and output temperature of the collector according to the parameters of solar radiation, air suction velocity, diameter and step of the holes of the absorbent plate. Also, the efficiency of heat exchange of perforated plates is estimated for air suction velocity, diameter and step of holes. The results show that increasing the suction rate of air and solar radiation increases the thermal efficiency of the collector. Also, efficiency of the heat exchange (εHX), which decreases with increasing suction speed, is due to the decrease in the output temperature of the collector because of the increase in the amount of inlet air to it, increasing the suction rate from 60 m/h to 160 m/h reduces the efficiency of the heat exchange by 30%.

Implementation of a pathological diagnosis and treatment pathway may improve the molecular detection of lung cancer.

BackgroundThe 2018 Guideline from the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC), and the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) established a benchmark turnaround time (TAT), according to which the results should be available to the treating oncologist within 10 working days. This article focused on the application process of a new protocol for pathological diagnosis and gene testing pathway and a sample collector. We want to solve the problem that there are not enough puncture samples for gene testing, and the benchmark turnaround time of gene detection was long in clinic.MethodsIn this study, we established and validated a new protocol for a pathological diagnosis and treatment pathway that was tested in the Henan Cancer Hospital, China. The “Biology collector (BIOCO)” tool was designed by our team, was made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material (patent application number is 201820902335.6). It consisted of two round magnets on the collector that can be adsorbed on the microtome blade holder, thus making it to move arbitrarily. It collected specimens that were discarded when the wax block was trimmed. We analyzed the TAT, testing accuracy and anti-pollution of new protocol based on BIOCO, compared with the conventional process based on the Routine Collection (ROUCO).ResultsThe new pathway adopts a parallel approach to conventional pathology and molecular pathology, which significantly shortens the TAT to 4–6 days. The use of the BIOCO tool can effectively save pathological samples, avoid cross-contamination, and reduce the time delay caused by re-sampling. Most importantly, its accuracy and effectiveness are consistent with conventional collection methods.ConclusionsThe new diagnosis and treatment pathway based on the BIOCO collector can be used as a practical approach for the molecular diagnostic platform of the hospital pathology department.