Improved molecular laboratory productivity by consolidation of testing on the new random-access analyzer Alinity m

Abstract Objectives Automated molecular analyzers have accelerated diagnosis, allowing earlier intervention and better patient follow-up. A recently developed completely automated molecular analyzer, Alinity™ m (Abbott), offers consolidated, continuous, and random-access testing that may improve molecular laboratory workflow. Methods An international, multicenter study compared laboratory workflow metrics across various routine analyzers and Alinity m utilizing assays for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), high-risk human papillomavirus (HR HPV), and sexually transmitted infection (STI) (Chlamydia trachomatis [CT]/Neisseria gonorrhoeae [NG]/Trichomonas vaginalis [TV]/Mycoplasma genitalium [MG]). Three turnaround times (TATs) were assessed: total TAT (sample arrival to result), sample onboard TAT (sample loading and test starting to result), and processing TAT (sample aspiration to result). Results Total TAT was reduced from days with routine analyzers to hours with Alinity m, independent of requested assays. Sample onboard TATs for standard workflow using routine analyzers ranged from 7 to 32.5 h compared to 2.75–6 h for Alinity m. The mean sample onboard TAT for STAT samples on Alinity m was 2.36 h (±0.19 h). Processing TATs for Alinity m were independent of the combination of assays, with 100% of results reported within 117 min. Conclusions The consolidated, continuous, random-access workflow of Alinity m reduces TATs across various assays and is expected to improve both laboratory operational efficiency and patient care

Multicenter clinical comparative evaluation of Alinity m HIV-1 assay performance.

Abstract Background Accurate, rapid detection of HIV-1 RNA is critical for early diagnosis, treatment decision making, and long-term management of HIV-1 infection. Objective We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Alinity m HIV-1 assay, which uses a dual target/dual probe design against highly conserved target regions of the HIV-1 genome and is run on the fully automated Alinity m platform. Study design This was an international, multisite study that compared the diagnostic performance of the Alinity m HIV-1 assay to four commercially available HIV-1 assays routinely used in nine independent clinical laboratories. Alinity m HIV-1 assay precision, detectability, and reproducibility was compared across four study sites. Results The Alinity m HIV-1 assay produced comparable results to currently available HIV-1 assays (correlation coefficient >0.995), with an overall bias of -0.1 to 0.10 Log10 copies/mL. The Alinity m HIV-1 assay and its predecessor m2000 HIV-1 assay demonstrated comparable detection of 16 different HIV-1 subtypes (R2 = 0.956). A high level of agreement (>88 %) between all HIV-1 assays was seen near clinical decision points of 1.7 Log10 copies/mL (50 copies/mL) and 2.0 Log10 copies/mL (200 copies/mL). Alinity m HIV-1 assay precision was 0.08 and 0.21 Log10 copies/mL at VLs of 1000 and 50 copies/mL, respectively, with a high level of detectability (≥97 % hit rate) and reproducibility across sites. Conclusions The Alinity m HIV-1 assay provides comparable diagnostic accuracy to current HIV-1 assays, and when run on the Alinity m system, has the capacity to shorten the time between diagnosis and treatment

Urban Naturalization for Green Spaces Using Soil Tillage, Herbicide Application, Compost Amendment and Native Vegetation

Naturalization is a new and promising ecological approach to green space development for urban environments, although knowledge is sparse on techniques to implement it. We evaluated naturalization of eight native trees and shrubs, with site preparation (tillage, herbicide) and soil amendment (compost rates) treatment combinations at six sites in the city of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Soil texture improved with all compost rates, and acidity, electrical conductivity and total carbon increased, especially with 100% compost. Soil nutrients generally increased with compost then declined within a year. Plant species with highest potential for use in urban green spaces were Picea glauca, Symphoricarpos albus and Rosa acicularis. Herbicide was the most influential site preparation treatment, positively increasing survival and growth of planted woody species, while negatively lowering non-native species cover and increasing noxious weed cover. Soil amendment with compost influenced cover not species richness, with high compost amendment reducing vegetation cover across sites, and increasing individual plant size. This study suggests amendment of soil with compost and appropriate site preparation can positively influence naturalization of these woody species for urban green spaces

Grazing effects on soil water in Alberta foothills fescue grasslands

Grazing can have a profound impact on soil water through its influence on infiltration via treading and on evapotranspiration through defoliation. Hydrologic changes in rangelands are most often associated with heavy grazing intensities although these changes do not increase linearly with grazing intensity. The objectives of this study were to quantify the impacts of grazing on the soil water regimes of sloped areas of the foothills fescue grasslands of Alberta. The study site was located at the Agriculture Canada Research Station at Stavely, Alberta. The effects of 2 grazing intensities (heavy = 2.4 AUM ha-1 and very heavy =4.8 AUM ha-1) for 2 grazing treatments (short duration = 1 week in mid-June and continuous grazing = May through October) were compared to an ungrazed control. The study was initiated in June 1988 and ended in April 1991. Surface soil water and soil water with depth were measured throughout each growing season using a neutron probe. Surface soil water (0 to 7.5 cm) across slope positions was lowest in the control and highest in the continuous very heavy treatments, but the trend in profile soil water (to 50 cm) was the opposite. Total profile soil water in the short duration very heavy treatment was greater than that in the continuous very heavy treatment, while soil water in the short duration heavy treatment was similar to that in the continuous heavy treatment. Vegetation at the study site was regularly water-stressed, as evidenced by soil water that was often below permanent wilting point, generally by mid-summer each year. Soil was near or below permanent wilting point in the autumn, regardless of its status throughout the growing season. Profile soil water was similar across treatments in autumn, indicating vegetation is using all available soil water. In contrast, soil water was generally near or above field capacity every spring, indicating the importance of snowmelt infiltration in these ecosystems. Only major (greater than 75 mm) summer rainstorms recharged soil water to field capacity. Thus it is concluded that maintenance of a vegetative cover that will trap snow for potential snowmelt infiltration is critical to soil water recharge of these ecosystems. Any grazing management regime that enhances litter accumulation and carryover should facilitate such snowmelt soil water recharge.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202

Amendments to improve plant response under simulated water-limited conditions in diamond mine Anthroposols

Development of Anthroposols for land reclamation requires consideration of a variety of factors to support plant establishment and growth. Water limitation is a key challenge when using mine waste as a growth medium, and these materials also have poor structure and lack organic matter and nutrients. These greenhouse experiments assessed effectiveness of treatments composed of hydrogel and organic amendments to increase plant establishment and growth under water-limited conditions in mine waste materials (crushed rock, lakebed sediment, and processed kimberlite) from a diamond mine in northern Canada. Amendments were hydrogel, peat, sewage, and soil, mixed with waste materials (substrates) at four application rates, and seeded with slender wheat grass (Elymus trachycaulus). One experiment assessed germination response with limited watering during germination, and the other experiment assessed growth response with adequate water during germination followed by restricted water. Substrate had the greatest effect on germination, with processed kimberlite and crushed rock being most successful, at least 10% higher than lakebed sediment. Sewage amendment resulted in the largest plants (mean 0.22 g in lakebed sediment, 0.40 g in crushed rock and processed kimberlite, 0.05 g no amendment); sewage had a limited effect on germination. Highest organic amendment application generally improved plant response. Hydrogel did not improve plant growth, although it increased germination up to 63% in processed kimberlite. Type of mine waste, amendment, and rate of application impacted germination and plant growth and can be altered to build a suitable Anthroposol for reclamation.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Erosion control blankets, organic amendments and site variability influenced the initial plant community at a limestone quarry in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

Season of seeding and soil amendment with manure mix, wood shavings and erosion control blankets were evaluated over two growing seasons to determine their effect on soil properties and native grass establishment at a Canadian limestone quarry and lime processing plant. A season (fall, spring) of soil amending and seeding did not significantly affect revegetation or soil properties. Site characteristics such as slope, aspect, initial soil nutrients and surrounding plant communities influenced early plant community development and overall effects of soil treatments. Erosion control blankets resulted in the highest seeded plant cover and the lowest non-seeded plant cover despite not significantly changing soil chemical properties. Total nitrogen and carbon significantly increased establishment of seeded grasses and non-seeded species. Increased nitrogen and carbon in the constructed soils were best achieved through addition of manure. Wood shavings did not favour establishment of vegetation and resulted in similar, and in some cases less, vegetation than the controls. Assisted revegetation increased plant cover from < 6 to 50% and reduced cover of non-seeded species. Amendments that modified both chemical and physical soil conditions were best to increase vegetation establishment in the harsh conditions of the quarry

Germination sensitivities to water potential among co-existing C3 and C4 grasses of cool semi-arid prairie grasslands

An untested theory states that C4 grass seeds could germinate under lower water potentials (Ψ) than C3 seeds. We used hydrotime modelling to study seed water relations of C4 and C3 Canadian prairies grasses to address both Ψ divergent sensitivities and germination strategies along a risk-spreading continuum of responses to limited water. C4 grasses were Bouteloua gracilis, Calamovilfa longifolia and Schizachyrium scoparium; C3 grasses were Bromus carinatus, Elymus trachycaulus, Festuca hallii and Koeleria macrantha. Hydrotime parameters were obtained after incubation of non-dormant seeds under different Ψ PEG 6000 solutions. A t-test between C3 and C4 grasses did not find statistical differences in population mean base Ψ (Ψb(50)). We found idiosyncratic responses of C4 grasses along the risk-spreading continuum. B. gracilis showed a risk-takers strategy of a species able to quickly germinate in a dry soil due to its low Ψb(50) and hydrotime (θH). The high Ψb(50) of S. scoparium indicates it follows the risk-averse strategy so it can only germinate in wet soils. C. longifolia showed an intermediate strategy: the lowest Ψb(50) yet the highest θH. K. macrantha which thrives in the driest habitats showed the highest Ψb(50) suggesting a risk-averse strategy for a C3 species. Other C3 species showed intermediate germination patterns in response to Ψ relative to C4 species. Our results indicate that grasses display germination sensitivities to Ψ across the risk-spreading continuum of responses. Then seed water relations may be poor predictors to explain C3-C4 grasses differential recruitment and distribution in the Canadian prairies.Fil: Mollard, Federico Pedro Otto. University of Alberta; Canadá. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomia. Departamento de Biología Aplicada y Alimentos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Naeth, M. A.. University of Alberta; Canad