iChecker

Author(s):  
Samuel P. M. Choi ◽  
Sze Sing Lam

Academic plagiarism is regarded as a serious offense and much effort in the past has been devoted to build stand-alone plagiarism detection systems for a specific language. This paper proposes a new information retrieval-based plagiarism detection algorithm that handles multilingual documents and enables seamless integration with learning management systems. The proposed algorithm employs information retrieval and sequence matching techniques to identify suspected plagiarized sentences and permits parametric control to reduce both false-positive and false-negative results. The full-featured implementation, called iChecker, not only could quickly identify suspected plagiarized works but also ease academics' effort to evaluate the severity of the offence by a quantified measure. Currently iChecker is adopted by over 300 courses (with some having several hundred of students) and has obtained satisfactory results. During 2012 to 2016, iChecker has processed and verified a total of 276,943 documents in English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese text.

Author(s):  
Samuel P. M. Choi ◽  
Sze Sing Lam

Academic plagiarism is regarded as a serious offense and much effort in the past has been devoted to build stand-alone plagiarism detection systems for a specific language. This paper proposes a new information retrieval-based plagiarism detection algorithm that handles multilingual documents and enables seamless integration with learning management systems. The proposed algorithm employs information retrieval and sequence matching techniques to identify suspected plagiarized sentences and permits parametric control to reduce both false-positive and false-negative results. The full-featured implementation, called iChecker, not only could quickly identify suspected plagiarized works but also ease academics' effort to evaluate the severity of the offence by a quantified measure. Currently iChecker is adopted by over 300 courses (with some having several hundred of students) and has obtained satisfactory results. During 2012 to 2016, iChecker has processed and verified a total of 276,943 documents in English, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese text.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 290-299
Author(s):  
Isabelle Danielle Piec ◽  
Beatrice Tompkins ◽  
William Duncan Fraser

Abstract Background Asfotase alfa (STRENSIQ®, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) is the only approved treatment for patients with pediatric-onset hypophosphatasia, a disease caused by a mutation in the tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNSALP) gene. ALP is often used as signaling system in routine immunoassays. Because asfotase alfa contains the active site of the full ALP enzyme, it can catalyze the substrate as the antibody-conjugated ALP would within an assay. Therefore, its presence in a treated patient’s sample may generate false positive or false negative results. We investigated whether the presence of asfotase alfa within a sample induced interference in immunoassays that utilize ALP or alternative detection systems. Methods Asfotase alfa was added to samples at concentrations from 0.08–5 µg/mL and analysed on various immunoassays following manufacturer’s instructions. Results Asfotase alfa was detected in all ALP assays but ALKP1 (RayBiotech). We observed no changes in normetanephrine and noradrenaline (IBL) at any asfotase alfa concentration. However, asfotase alfa notably interfered in an oxytocin (ENZO) assay in nonextracted samples. Extraction using a C18 column eliminated the interference. No interference was observed on automated analyzers using alternative detection system (COBAS fT4 and TSH; Advia Centaur FSH, fT4; Architect LH; FSH). Immulite 2000 fT4, TSH, testosterone and hCG (ALP-based) showed no interference. However, the presence of asfotase alfa resulted in a dose-dependent increase of Troponin I signal. Conclusion The presence of asfotase alfa must be taken into consideration when analyzing blood samples in treated patients to avoid any risk of misinterpretation of false positive/negative results. It is essential that assays be tested for this possible interference.


Author(s):  
Peng Li ◽  
Hong Chen ◽  
Constantine Anagnostopoulos ◽  
Mohammad Faghri

In microfluidic sensing systems, it is challenging to achieve desirable sensitivity for detecting reduced number of analytes in a small volume (pL–nL). Many efforts have been made in order to improve the sensitivity of microfluidic fluorescence detection systems. Some prevalent methods (e.g., optical components integration and analyte enrichment) either increase cost or require extra operational steps. Fluorescence amplification using dye-doped silica nanoparticles has proved to be an inexpensive and efficient approach; however, this technique is still far from perfect. For instance, dye molecules physically entrapped in the silica nanoparticles occasionally leak and can cause false-negative results. In addition, the nonspecific adsorption of nanoparticles has not been resolved.


Author(s):  
Sara B Griesemer ◽  
Greta Van Slyke ◽  
Kirsten St. George

AbstractAccommodating large increases in sample workloads has presented one of the biggest challenges to clinical laboratories during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the implementation of new automated detection systems, and previous efficiencies such as barcoding, electronic data transfer and extensive robotics, throughput capacities have struggled to meet the demand. Sample pooling has been suggested as an additional strategy to further address this need. The greatest concern with this approach in a clinical setting is the potential for reduced sensitivity, particularly the risk of false negative results when weak positive samples are pooled. To investigate this possibility, detection rates in pooled samples were evaluated, with extensive assessment of pools containing weak positive specimens. Additionally, the frequency of occurrence of weak positive samples across ten weeks of the pandemic were reviewed. Weak positive specimens were detected in all five-sample pools but failed to be detected in four of the 24 nine-sample pools tested. Weak positive samples comprised an average 16.5% of the positive specimens tested during the pandemic thus far, slightly increasing in frequency during later weeks. Other aspects of the testing process should be considered, however, such as accessioning and reporting, which are not streamlined and may be complicated by pooling procedures. Therefore, the impact on the entire laboratory process needs to be carefully assessed prior to implementing such a strategy.


1974 ◽  
Vol 31 (02) ◽  
pp. 273-278
Author(s):  
Kenneth K Wu ◽  
John C Hoak ◽  
Robert W Barnes ◽  
Stuart L Frankel

SummaryIn order to evaluate its daily variability and reliability, impedance phlebography was performed daily or on alternate days on 61 patients with deep vein thrombosis, of whom 47 also had 125I-fibrinogen uptake tests and 22 had radiographic venography. The results showed that impedance phlebography was highly variable and poorly reliable. False positive results were noted in 8 limbs (18%) and false negative results in 3 limbs (7%). Despite its being simple, rapid and noninvasive, its clinical usefulness is doubtful when performed according to the original method.


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 413-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Farouk Allam

Due to the international spread of COVID-19, the difficulty of collecting nasopharyngeal swab specimen from all suspected patients, the costs of RT-PCR and CT, and the false negative results of RT-PCR assay in 41% of COVID-19 patients, a scoring system is needed to classify the suspected patients in order to determine the need for follow-up, home isolation, quarantine or the conduction of further investigations. A scoring system is proposed as a diagnostic tool for suspected patients. It includes Epidemiological Evidence of Exposure, Clinical Symptoms and Signs, and Investigations (if available). This scoring system is simple, could be calculated in a few minutes, and incorporates the main possible data/findings of any patient.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pegah Shakib ◽  
Mohammad Reza Zolfaghari

Background: Conventional laboratory culture-based methods for diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae are time-consuming and yield false negative results. Molecular methods including real-time (RT)-PCR rapid methods and conventional PCR due to higher sensitivity and accuracy have been replaced instead traditional culture assay. The aim of the current study was to evaluate lytA gene for detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the cerebrospinal fluid of human patients with meningitis using real-time PCR assay. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 30 clinical specimens were collected from patients in a period from September to December 2018. In order to evaluate the presence of lytA gene, conventional and real-time PCR methods were used without culture. Results: From 30 sputum samples five (16.66%) isolates were identified as S. pneumoniae by lytA PCR and sequencing. Discussion: In this research, an accurate and rapid real-time PCR method was used, which is based on lytA gene for diagnosis of bacteria so that it can be diagnosed. Based on the sequencing results, the sensitivity for detection of lytA gene was 100% (5/5).


Coronaviruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 01 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Silvia De Feo ◽  
Viviana Frantellizzi ◽  
Giuseppe De Vincentis

Background: We present the case of a 55-year-old woman, admitted to the Infectious Disease Department of Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, in mid-March 2020, with suspicion of COVID-19 infection. Objective: The rRT-PCR was negative and the following CT scan, performed to exclude false-negative results and help diagnosis, was inconclusive. Methods: It was decided to submit the patient to 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled leukocyte scan. Results: This exam led to the diagnosis of infective endocarditis. Conclusion: In the present pandemic scenario, 99mTc-HMPAO-labelled leukocyte scan represents a reliable imaging technique for differential diagnosis with COVID-19 in patients with confusing clinical signs, possible false-negative rRT-PCR results and inconclusive CT scan.


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