Mathematics: Algebra and Geometry. GED Scoreboost.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hoyt, Cathy

GED "Scoreboost" materials target exactly the skills one needs to pass the General Educational Development (GED) tests. This book focuses on the GED Mathematics test. To prepare for the test, the test taker needs to learn skills in number and operation sense, data and statistics, geometry and measurement, and algebra. To pass the test,…

Influences of deep learning, need for cognition and preparation time on open- and closed-book test performance.

PubMed

Heijne-Penninga, Marjolein; Kuks, Jan B M; Hofman, W H Adriaan; Cohen-Schotanus, Janke

2010-09-01

The ability to master discipline-specific knowledge is one of the competencies medical students must acquire. In this context, 'mastering' means being able to recall and apply knowledge. A way to assess this competency is to use both open- and closed-book tests. Student performance on both tests can be influenced by the way the student processes information. Deep information processing is expected to influence performance positively. The personal preferences of students in relation to how they process information in general (i.e. their level of need for cognition) may also be of importance. In this study, we examined the inter-relatedness of deep learning, need for cognition and preparation time, and scores on open- and closed-book tests. This study was conducted at the University Medical Centre Groningen. Participants were Year 2 students (n = 423). They were asked to complete a questionnaire on deep information processing, a scale for need for cognition on a questionnaire on intellectualism and, additionally, to write down the time they spent on test preparation. We related these measures to the students' scores on two tests, both consisting of open- and closed-book components and used structural equation modelling to analyse the data. Both questionnaires were completed by 239 students (57%). The results showed that need for cognition positively influenced both open- and closed-book test scores (beta-coefficients 0.05 and 0.11, respectively). Furthermore, study outcomes measured by open-book tests predicted closed-book test results better than the other way around (beta-coefficients 0.72 and 0.11, respectively). Students with a high need for cognition performed better on open- as well as closed-book tests. Deep learning did not influence their performance. Adding open-book tests to the regularly used closed-book tests seems to improve the recall of knowledge that has to be known by heart. Need for cognition may provide a valuable addition to existing theories on learning.

Glucose screening tests during pregnancy

MedlinePlus

Oral glucose tolerance test - pregnancy; OGTT - pregnancy; Glucose challenge test - pregnancy; Gestational diabetes - glucose screening ... first step, you will have a glucose screening test: You DO NOT need to prepare or change ...

A guideline for heavy ion radiation testing for Single Event Upset (SEU)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nichols, D. K.; Price, W. E.; Malone, C.

1984-01-01

A guideline for heavy ion radiation testing for single event upset was prepared to assist new experimenters in preparing and directing tests. How to estimate parts vulnerability and select an irradiation facility is described. A broad brush description of JPL equipment is given, certain necessary pre-test procedures are outlined and the roles and testing guidelines for on-site test personnel are indicated. Detailed descriptions of equipment needed to interface with JPL test crew and equipment are not provided, nor does it meet the more generalized and broader requirements of a MIL-STD document. A detailed equipment description is available upon request, and a MIL-STD document is in the early stages of preparation.

Testing Gone Amok: Leave No Teacher Candidate behind

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wepner, Shelley B.

2006-01-01

Teacher preparation, now acknowledged for its impact on K-12 student achievement (Darling-Hammond, 2000; Darling-Hammond, Berry, & Thoreson, 2000), needs to be part of the discussions about ways to address emerging issues with testing and accountability. What then do teacher educators who work with those preparing to teach do to guide their…

Fungal Tests

MedlinePlus

... preparation is needed. See More See Less Accordion Title Common Questions How is it used? Fungal tests ... involving skin, nails, or mucous membranes appear, for example: Itchy, red, scaly areas of skin Nails that ...

Development and Preparation of Lead-Containing Paint Films and Diagnostic Test Materials

EPA Science Inventory

Lead in paint continues to be a threat to children’s health in cities across the United States, which means there is an ongoing need for testing and analysis of paint. This ongoing analytical effort and especially development of new methods continue to drive the need for diagnost...

A-1 Test Stand work

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2010-01-01

A structural steel beam to support the new thrust measurement system on the A-1 Test Stand at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center is lifted to waiting employees for installation. The beam is part of the thrust takeout structure needed to support the new measurement system. Four such beams have been installed at the stand in preparation for installation of the system in upcoming weeks. Operators are preparing the stand for testing the next generation of rocket engines for the U.S. space program.

New Model of Mobile Learning for the High School Students Preparing for the Unified State Exam

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Khasianov, Airat; Shakhova, Irina

2017-01-01

In this paper we study a new model of mobile learning for the Unified State Exam ("USE") preparation in Russian Federation. "USE"--is the test school graduates need to pass in order to obtain Russian matura. In recent years the efforts teachers put for preparation of their students to the "USE" diminish how well the…

Improving the medical school-residency transition.

PubMed

Morgan, Helen; Skinner, Bethany; Marzano, David; Fitzgerald, James; Curran, Diana; Hammoud, Maya

2017-10-01

In response to calls to improve the continuum between undergraduate and graduate medical education, many medical schools are creating electives designed to prepare students for residency training. There is a need for data that link improvements from these residency preparation courses to residency itself. Data is needed that links improvements from these residency preparation courses to residency OBJECTIVE: To examine senior medical student performance on the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) Preparation for Residency Knowledge Assessment before and after an obstetrics and gynaecology residency preparation elective, and to determine whether the knowledge improvements persisted to the start of the residency. All 13 students enrolled in the course completed the APGO knowledge assessment on the first and last day of the elective. Three months later, the students were asked to re-take the assessment immediately prior to the start of their residency. There was improvement in mean scores from the pre-test score of 66.4 per cent to the post-test score of 77.4 per cent. At the time of the pre-test, three of the 13 students (23%) had passing scores (70% or greater), and at the time of the post-test, 11 of the 13 (85%) had passing scores. Nine of the 13 students (69%) completed the APGO knowledge assessment immediately prior to the start of their residency. Those nine students had a mean pre-residency score of 76.4 per cent. Eight of the nine students (89%) passed the pre-residency test. Our data support the value of residency preparation electives for improving knowledge, and suggest that senior medical school electives can help to bridge the continuum between undergraduate and graduate medical education. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd and The Association for the Study of Medical Education.

EMC Test Report Electrodynamic Dust Shield

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carmody, Lynne M.; Boyette, Carl B.

2014-01-01

This report documents the Electromagnetic Interference E M I evaluation performed on the Electrodynamic Dust Shield (EDS) which is part of the MISSE-X System under the Electrostatics and Surface Physics Laboratory at Kennedy Space Center. Measurements are performed to document the emissions environment associated with the EDS units. The purpose of this report is to collect all information needed to reproduce the testing performed on the Electrodynamic Dust Shield units, document data gathered during testing, and present the results. This document presents information unique to the measurements performed on the Bioculture Express Rack payload; using test methods prepared to meet SSP 30238 requirements. It includes the information necessary to satisfy the needs of the customer per work order number 1037104. The information presented herein should only be used to meet the requirements for which it was prepared.

Food Preparation and Service: Cluster Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Central Michigan Univ., Mount Pleasant.

This teacher's guide is one of a series of publications focusing on the occupational preparation of persons with special education needs. The material was developed and tested by cooperating teachers over a period of three years. Task analysis information is presented using occupational descriptions from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles,…

Oromucosal film preparations: classification and characterization methods.

PubMed

Preis, Maren; Woertz, Christina; Kleinebudde, Peter; Breitkreutz, Jörg

2013-09-01

Recently, the regulatory authorities have enlarged the variety of 'oromucosal preparations' by buccal films and orodispersible films. Various film preparations have entered the market and pharmacopoeias. Due to the novelty of the official monographs, no standardized characterization methods and quality specifications are included. This review reports the methods of choice to characterize oromucosal film preparations with respect to biorelevant characterization and quality control. Commonly used dissolution tests for other dosage forms are not transferable for films in all cases. Alternatives and guidance on decision, which methods are favorable for film preparations are discussed. Furthermore, issues about requirements for film dosage forms are reflected. Oromucosal film preparations offer a wide spectrum of opportunities. There are a lot of suggestions in the literature on how to control the quality of these innovative products, but no standardized tests are available. Regulatory authorities need to define the standards and quality requirements more precisely.

PREPARE: guidelines for planning animal research and testing

PubMed Central

Smith, Adrian J; Clutton, R Eddie; Lilley, Elliot; Hansen, Kristine E Aa; Brattelid, Trond

2017-01-01

There is widespread concern about the quality, reproducibility and translatability of studies involving research animals. Although there are a number of reporting guidelines available, there is very little overarching guidance on how to plan animal experiments, despite the fact that this is the logical place to start ensuring quality. In this paper we present the PREPARE guidelines: Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals: Recommendations for Excellence. PREPARE covers the three broad areas which determine the quality of the preparation for animal studies: formulation, dialogue between scientists and the animal facility, and quality control of the various components in the study. Some topics overlap and the PREPARE checklist should be adapted to suit specific needs, for example in field research. Advice on use of the checklist is available on the Norecopa website, with links to guidelines for animal research and testing, at https://norecopa.no/PREPARE. PMID:28771074

PREPARE: guidelines for planning animal research and testing.

PubMed

Smith, Adrian J; Clutton, R Eddie; Lilley, Elliot; Hansen, Kristine E Aa; Brattelid, Trond

2018-04-01

There is widespread concern about the quality, reproducibility and translatability of studies involving research animals. Although there are a number of reporting guidelines available, there is very little overarching guidance on how to plan animal experiments, despite the fact that this is the logical place to start ensuring quality. In this paper we present the PREPARE guidelines: Planning Research and Experimental Procedures on Animals: Recommendations for Excellence. PREPARE covers the three broad areas which determine the quality of the preparation for animal studies: formulation, dialogue between scientists and the animal facility, and quality control of the various components in the study. Some topics overlap and the PREPARE checklist should be adapted to suit specific needs, for example in field research. Advice on use of the checklist is available on the Norecopa website, with links to guidelines for animal research and testing, at https://norecopa.no/PREPARE .

Beyond the Bubble in History/Social Studies Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Breakstone, Joel; Smith, Mark; Wineburg, Sam

2013-01-01

Teachers need tools and assessments that will prepare students to meet the ambitious goals laid out by the Common Core State Standards. The multiple-choice tests that dominate in history will not prepare students to analyze primary and secondary sources, cite textual evidence to support arguments, consider the influence of an author's perspective,…

The limitations of point of care testing for pandemic influenza: what clinicians and public health professionals need to know.

PubMed

Hatchette, Todd F; Bastien, Nathalie; Berry, Jody; Booth, Tim F; Chernesky, Max; Couillard, Michel; Drews, Steven; Ebsworth, Anthony; Fearon, Margaret; Fonseca, Kevin; Fox, Julie; Gagnon, Jean-Nicolas; Guercio, Steven; Horsman, Greg; Jorowski, Cathy; Kuschak, Theodore; Li, Yan; Majury, Anna; Petric, Martin; Ratnam, Sam; Smieja, Marek; Van Caeseele, Paul

2009-01-01

As the world prepares for the next influenza pandemic, governments have made significant funding commitments to vaccine development and antiviral stockpiling. While these are essential components to pandemic response, rapid and accurate diagnostic testing remains an often neglected cornerstone of pandemic influenza preparedness. Clinicians and Public Health Practitioners need to understand the benefits and drawbacks of different influenza tests in both seasonal and pandemic settings. Culture has been the traditional gold standard for influenza diagnosis but requires from 1-10 days to generate a positive result, compared to nucleic acid detection methods such as real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Although the currently available rapid antigen detection kits can generate results in less than 30 minutes, their sensitivity is suboptimal and they are not recommended for the detection of novel influenza viruses. Until point-of-care (POC) tests are improved, PILPN recommends that the best option for pandemic influenza preparation is the enhancement of nucleic acid-based testing capabilities across Canada.

Proposed activities to prepare for testing advanced/stealth weapons systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bishop, Harold T.

1989-08-01

The B-2 brings new challenges for Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Testing. This paper discusses the unique characteristics of the B-2 and develops a time line of activities that need to be completed by the AF Weapons Laboratory before EMP testing of the B-2 begins.

Enhancing preparedness and satisfaction of caregivers of patients discharged from an inpatient rehabilitation facility using an interactive website.

PubMed

Stone, Karon

2014-01-01

Research indicates a need for improved caregiver preparation to provide care following a patient's discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. The aim of this project was to test the use of web-based resources to enhance the preparedness and satisfaction of such caregivers. A website was provided to caregivers with resources and e-mail access to a rehabilitation nurse practitioner. Care recipients had the following diagnoses: stroke, amputation, trauma/orthopedic, brain injury or debility. Preparedness for caregiving was assessed before utilization of the website and after discharge. Satisfaction of the resources was assessed after discharge. Measures included the Preparedness for Caregiver Scale and the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. Seventy caregivers completed the predischarge preparedness tool. Thirty returned both tools postdischarge. Analysis of pre-post test data indicated increased preparedness to provide care after resource use, no increase meeting the caregiver's personal needs, and satisfaction with the resources provided. The caregivers of brain-injured patients reported less preparation as caregivers than those who cared for patients with other diagnoses. Although high interest was reported in using e-mail with the nurse practitioner, the resource was not utilized. This preliminary study supports the clinical relevance of Internet resources to improve caregiver preparation. With shortened hospital stays, providing applicable and evidence-based websites and other online services for caregivers can complement other healthcare services. More research focused on preparing caregivers and supporting personal caregiver needs is needed to evaluate the impact on overall rehabilitation outcomes. © 2013 Association of Rehabilitation Nurses.

Nevada Test Site Environmental Report 2008

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cathy A. Wills

2009-09-01

The Nevada Test Site Environmental Report (NTSER) 2008 was prepared to meet the information needs of the public and the requirements and guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for annual site environmental reports. It was prepared by National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec), for the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office (NNSA/NSO). This and previous years’ NTSERs are posted on the NNSA/NSO website at http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/aser.aspx.

Motor Transport Operator Training: An Approach to Preparing Training Managers and Instructors to Design, Conduct, and Evaluate Performance Oriented Training

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-09-01

the needed knowledge and skills must be provided. Ideally, these programs should be self- contained , capable of easy administration within...type of vehicle, duplicate cards were prepared. In effect, a task file was prepared, the file containing cards which described the task and...test situation contains a description of the situation. (If the operator does not actually encounter the situation, the situation is read to him by

Final LDRD report : development of sample preparation methods for ChIPMA-based imaging mass spectrometry of tissue samples.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Maharrey, Sean P.; Highley, Aaron M.; Behrens, Richard, Jr.

2007-12-01

The objective of this short-term LDRD project was to acquire the tools needed to use our chemical imaging precision mass analyzer (ChIPMA) instrument to analyze tissue samples. This effort was an outgrowth of discussions with oncologists on the need to find the cellular origin of signals in mass spectra of serum samples, which provide biomarkers for ovarian cancer. The ultimate goal would be to collect chemical images of biopsy samples allowing the chemical images of diseased and nondiseased sections of a sample to be compared. The equipment needed to prepare tissue samples have been acquired and built. This equipment includesmore » an cyro-ultramicrotome for preparing thin sections of samples and a coating unit. The coating unit uses an electrospray system to deposit small droplets of a UV-photo absorbing compound on the surface of the tissue samples. Both units are operational. The tissue sample must be coated with the organic compound to enable matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) and matrix enhanced secondary ion mass spectrometry (ME-SIMS) measurements with the ChIPMA instrument Initial plans to test the sample preparation using human tissue samples required development of administrative procedures beyond the scope of this LDRD. Hence, it was decided to make two types of measurements: (1) Testing the spatial resolution of ME-SIMS by preparing a substrate coated with a mixture of an organic matrix and a bio standard and etching a defined pattern in the coating using a liquid metal ion beam, and (2) preparing and imaging C. elegans worms. Difficulties arose in sectioning the C. elegans for analysis and funds and time to overcome these difficulties were not available in this project. The facilities are now available for preparing biological samples for analysis with the ChIPMA instrument. Some further investment of time and resources in sample preparation should make this a useful tool for chemical imaging applications.« less

76 FR 77767 - Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-12-14

...; post-exposure management and monitoring plans; scrapie test records; application for indemnity payments... authority to promulgate regulations designed to prevent the importation, preparation, sale, or shipment of... applications, product and test report forms and field study summaries. Need and Use of the Information: APHIS...

Influence of operator experience on canal preparation time when using the rotary Ni-Ti ProFile system in simulated curved canals.

PubMed

Mesgouez, C; Rilliard, F; Matossian, L; Nassiri, K; Mandel, E

2003-03-01

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of operator experience on the time needed for canal preparation when using a rotary nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) system. A total of 100 simulated curved canals in resin blocks were used. Four operators prepared a total of 25 canals each. The operators included practitioners with prior experience of the preparation technique, and practitioners with no experience. The working length for each instrument was precisely predetermined. All canals were instrumented with rotary Ni-Ti ProFile Variable Taper Series 29 engine-driven instruments using a high-torque handpiece (Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). The time taken to prepare each canal was recorded. Significant differences between the operators were analysed using the Student's t-test and the Kruskall-Wallis and Dunn nonparametric tests. Comparison of canal preparation times demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the four operators (P < 0.001). In the inexperienced group, a significant linear regression between canal number and preparation time occurred. Time required for canal preparation was inversely related to operator experience.

The quality and scope of information provided by medical laboratories to patients before laboratory testing: Survey of the Working Group for Patient Preparation of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine.

PubMed

Nikolac, Nora; Simundic, Ana-Maria; Kackov, Sanja; Serdar, Tihana; Dorotic, Adrijana; Fumic, Ksenija; Gudasic-Vrdoljak, Jelena; Klenkar, Kornelija; Sambunjak, Jadranka; Vidranski, Valentina

2015-10-23

The aim of this work was to evaluate to what extent the scope and content of information provided to patients is standardized across medical biochemistry laboratories in Croatia. Two on-line self-report surveys were sent out: Survey A regarding attitudes on importance of patient preparation and Survey B on the contents of patient preparation instructions. 13/118 laboratories (11%) do not provide written instructions to patients on how to prepare for laboratory testing, and 36 (40%) do not include information about water intake in their instructions. Only half of laboratories provide instructions for prostate-specific antigen (53.8%), female sex hormones (53.7%) and therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) (52.5%). Inadequate information about fasting status (55.0%) and 24 hour urine collection (77.9%) were frequent errors with high severity and were associated with the greatest potential to cause patient harm. Laboratory professionals in Croatia have a positive attitude towards the importance of patient preparation for laboratory testing. However, the information for laboratory testing is not standardized and frequently lacks guidance for tests related to TDM, coagulation and endocrinology. This study highlights the need for standardized, updated and evidence-based recommendations for patient preparation in order to minimize the risk for patients. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fighting the flu: developing sustained community resilience and preparedness.

PubMed

Paton, Douglas; Parkes, Bruce; Daly, Michele; Smith, Leigh

2008-10-01

A pandemic will impose considerable demands on communities over a period of several weeks; thus, people must develop means to facilitate their resilience in such an event. This article describes the development and testing of a model to inform public education strategies to facilitate the sustained adoption of the preparedness and protective measures that underpin community resilience. The model is derived from the premise that decisions to act reflect how people interpret information to make it meaningful to them. The model describes how this outcome reflects the interaction among personal beliefs about preparing, community characteristics influencing how risk beliefs and risk management strategies are developed, and the relationship between the community and health information sources. It highlights a need to distinguish those who decide not to prepare from those who accept a need to prepare but need guidance. Implications for developing pandemic public education and risk communication programs are discussed.

Leadership as Accountability for Learning: The Effects of School Poverty, Teacher Experience, Previous Achievement, and Principal Preparation Programs on Student Achievement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vanderhaar, Judi E.; Munoz, Marco A.; Rodosky, Robert J.

2006-01-01

In the current era of accountability for achievement, school principals play the pivotal role of instructional leader. In a high-stakes testing environment, leadership preparation programs in universities and school districts need to be positively related to academic outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between…

TORCH Test

MedlinePlus

... Time and International Normalized Ratio (PT/INR) PSEN1 Quantitative Immunoglobulins Red Blood Cell (RBC) Antibody Identification Red ... preparation is needed. See More See Less Accordion Title Common Questions How is it used? The TORCH ...

Teaching Psychological Assessment: Training Issues and Teaching Approaches.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Russ, Sandra W.

1978-01-01

Graduate psychology students are not as well prepared as many internship supervisors would like. Students need help in dealing with issues of categorizing individuals, using tests, taking responsibility, and developing a balance between critical evaluation of tests and appreciation of their usefulness. Approaches for dealing with these issues are…

What Every Middle School Teacher Needs to Know about Reading Tests (From Someone Who Has Written Them)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fuhrken, Charles

2011-01-01

Tests require a special kind of savvy, a kind of critical thinking and knowledge application that is not always a part of classroom reading experiences. Who better to teach you how to prepare your students for reading tests than someone who has written them? Charles Fuhrken has spent years working with several major testing companies and…

High School Equivalency Testing in Washington. Forum: Responding to Changes in High School Equivalency Testing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kerr, Jon

2015-01-01

In 2013, as new high school equivalency exams were being developed and implemented across the nation and states were deciding which test was best for their population, Washington state identified the need to adopt the most rigorous test so that preparation to take it would equip students with the skills to be able to move directly from adult…

US Army Proposed Automatic Test Equipment Software Development and Support Facility.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-10-29

programs would be prepared as weapon and prime system operating software. The ATE Software Development and Support Facility will help prevent the TPS...ONE AS A STANDARD **Partially being Developed (2) UNDER DEVELOP- by Navy CSS Prgram MENT (3) NEEDS TAILOR- (5) NEEDS ING FOR ARMY DEVELOPMENT A- 2

Child Abuse and Neglect: Training Needs of Student Teachers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKee, Bronagh E.; Dillenburger, Karola

2009-01-01

Increasing awareness of child abuse and neglect (CAN) raises questions about how well teachers are prepared for their role in child protection. This paper assesses and differentiates training needs of first-year students (n = 216) in Northern Ireland. Multiple-choice tests were used to assess knowledge of CAN statistics; recognising and reporting;…

Preparation for Analytical Measurements on Mars

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-03-31

A Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) team member at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, prepares the SAM testbed for an experiment. This test copy of the SAM suite of instruments is inside a chamber that, when closed, can model the pressure and temperature environment that SAM sees inside NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars. Many weeks of testing are often needed to develop and refine sequences of operations that SAM uses for making specific measurements on Mars. This was the case with preparation to pull a volume of gas from the atmosphere and extract the heavy noble gas xenon. SAM's measurements of different types of xenon in the Martian atmosphere provide clues about the planet's history. http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA19149

Nondestructive Testing Introduction RQA/M1 and M3-5330.9.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Huntsville, AL. George C. Marshall Space Flight Center.

As the first in the series of programmed instruction handbooks, prepared by the U. S. space program, home study material is presented in this volume concerning familiarization and orientation on nondestructive testing. The subject is presented under the following headings: The Need for Higher Quality; Working the Billet; Forging Discontinuities;…

Herbicides in Florida's Flatwoods-Efficacy and Opportunity

Treesearch

D.G. Neary; J.L. Michael

1985-01-01

Herb in the usage in the intensively-managed forests of north Florida have moved from a testing phase to full-scale operational use over the past 4 years. Much information still needs to be developed on the combinations of herbicides and rates needed to control weeds during site preparation. and release operations. Use of herbicides in Florida's forests will...

[Update to ISO 15189:2012, and future prospects].

PubMed

Shimoda, Katsuji; Kubono, Katsuo

2014-06-01

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standard bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing international standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. ISO 15189 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 212, clinical laboratory testing, and in vitro diagnostic test systems. This third edition replaces the second edition (ISO 15189:2007), which was technically revised. Medical laboratory services are essential for patient care and, therefore, have to be available to meet the needs of all patients and the clinical personnel responsible for the care of those patients.

Comparing the Information and Support Needs of Different Population Groups in Preparation for 2015 Government Approval for HIV Self-testing in France

PubMed Central

Greacen, Tim; Kersaudy-Rahib, Delphine; Le Gall, Jean-Marie; Lydié, Nathalie; Ghosn, Jade; Champenois, Karen

2016-01-01

Context HIV self-tests are currently being introduced in France with the aim of promoting screening both for the general population and for high-risk populations. Objective The current study aimed to identify and compare the information and support needs of the different target population groups. Methods The Delphi process was used to synthesize expert opinions for each population group. Experts were chosen for their experience and expertise in the area of HIV and HIV screening for each population. Each group developed recommendations for a specific population: six high HIV prevalence populations (men who have sex with men; transgender people; substance users; migrants from sub-Saharan Africa; French West Indies; French Guiana) and two low prevalence populations (the general population; people under 25). Each group included expertise from four areas: research, screening and care, policy-making, and community groups. Results A final total of 263 recommendations were grouped into eight main themes: Communicating at both national and community levels about self-test arrival (24% of all recommendations); Providing information adapted to the different community groups’ needs (23%); Providing counselling on self-test use and access to care (15%); Making self-tests available to all in terms of accessibility and cost (13%); Preparing community healthcare and screening systems for the arrival of the self-test (11%); Approving only high quality self-tests (6%); Defending self-test users’ legal rights (5%); Evaluating self-test use (3%). Although a large number of recommendations were common to several groups of experts, the study highlighted a certain number of recommendations specific to each different population group, particularly with regard to information content and access both to information and to the self-tests themselves. Conclusion Results from the current study should make a significant contribution to policy decisions concerning catering for the specific access, information and support needs of different potential HIV self-test user groups in France. PMID:27031234

Comparing the Information and Support Needs of Different Population Groups in Preparation for 2015 Government Approval for HIV Self-testing in France.

PubMed

Greacen, Tim; Kersaudy-Rahib, Delphine; Le Gall, Jean-Marie; Lydié, Nathalie; Ghosn, Jade; Champenois, Karen

2016-01-01

HIV self-tests are currently being introduced in France with the aim of promoting screening both for the general population and for high-risk populations. The current study aimed to identify and compare the information and support needs of the different target population groups. The Delphi process was used to synthesize expert opinions for each population group. Experts were chosen for their experience and expertise in the area of HIV and HIV screening for each population. Each group developed recommendations for a specific population: six high HIV prevalence populations (men who have sex with men; transgender people; substance users; migrants from sub-Saharan Africa; French West Indies; French Guiana) and two low prevalence populations (the general population; people under 25). Each group included expertise from four areas: research, screening and care, policy-making, and community groups. A final total of 263 recommendations were grouped into eight main themes: Communicating at both national and community levels about self-test arrival (24% of all recommendations); Providing information adapted to the different community groups' needs (23%); Providing counselling on self-test use and access to care (15%); Making self-tests available to all in terms of accessibility and cost (13%); Preparing community healthcare and screening systems for the arrival of the self-test (11%); Approving only high quality self-tests (6%); Defending self-test users' legal rights (5%); Evaluating self-test use (3%). Although a large number of recommendations were common to several groups of experts, the study highlighted a certain number of recommendations specific to each different population group, particularly with regard to information content and access both to information and to the self-tests themselves. Results from the current study should make a significant contribution to policy decisions concerning catering for the specific access, information and support needs of different potential HIV self-test user groups in France.

Testing REACH draft technical guidance notes for conducting chemical safety assessments-the experience of a downstream user of a preparation.

PubMed

Gade, Anne Lill; Ovrebø, Steinar; Hylland, Ketil

2008-07-01

The goal of REACH is the safe use of chemicals. This study examines the efficiency and usefulness of two draft technical guidance notes in the REACH Interim Project 3.2-2 for the development of the chemical safety report and exposure scenarios. A case study was carried out for a paint system for protection of structural steel. The focuses of the study were risk assessment of preparations based on Derived No Effect Level (DNEL) and Predicted No Effect Concentrations (PNEC) and on effective and accurate communication in the supply chain. Exposure scenarios and generic descriptions of uses, risk management measures, and exposure determinants were developed. The study showed that communication formats, software tools, and guidelines for chemical risk assessment need further adjustment to preparations and real-life situations. Web platforms may simplify such communication. The downstream formulator needs basic substance data from the substance manufacturer during the pre-registration phase to develop exposure scenarios for preparations. Default values need to be communicated in the supply chain because these were critical for the derivation of applicable risk management demands. The current guidelines which rely on the available toxicological knowledge are insufficient to advise downstream users on how to develop exposure scenarios for preparations.

Pharmaceutical studies on and clinical application of olanzapine suppositories prepared as a hospital preparation.

PubMed

Matsumoto, Kazuaki; Kimura, Satoru; Takahashi, Kenichi; Yokoyama, Yuta; Miyazawa, Masayuki; Kushibiki, Satoko; Katamachi, Morio; Kizu, Junko

2016-01-01

A new formulation of olanzapine available for terminally ill patients is needed. Rectal administration using suppositories is an alternative for patients for whom administration via the oral route is not feasible. In the present study, we prepared olanzapine suppositories, and confirmed using pharmaceutical tests. Furthermore, we demonstrated the efficacy and safety of olanzapine suppositories in terminally ill patients. We prepared olanzapine suppositories using bases consisting of different compositions of Witepsol H-15, Witepsol S-55, and Witepsol E-75. The suppository release test was performed, and the olanzapine suppository with the best dissolution rate was selected. The suppository was assessed using the content uniformity test, content test in suppositories, hardness test, stability test, and clinical efficacy and safety. The dissolution rate at 360 min of olanzapine suppositories with Witepsol H-15 was the best (77.0 ± 3.3 %). The suppositories prepared had a uniform weight (2.47 ± 0.02 g) and content (2.11 ± 0.07 mg). The power required to break suppositories was 7.96 ± 0.55 kgf. When olanzapine suppositories were stored with protection from light, their contents were maintained regardless of whether the temperature was at 4 °C or room temperature. The numbers of patients administered 2.5 mg, 5 mg, and 10 mg of olanzapine suppositories were 4, 19, and 1. The percentages of patients with delirium or nausea and vomiting cured with olanzapine suppositories were 82 and 57 %, respectively. We suggest that olanzapine suppositories prepared in the hospital by pharmacists will improve the quality of life of terminally ill patients. UMIN000022172. May 2, 2016 retrospectively registered.

Development of Guidelines for In-Situ Repair of SLS-Class Composite Flight Hardware

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weber, Thomas P., Jr.; Cox, Sarah B.

2018-01-01

The purpose of composite repair development at KSC (John F. Kennedy Space Center) is to provide support to the CTE (Composite Technology for Exploration) project. This is a multi-space center effort with the goal of developing bonded joint technology for SLS (Space Launch System) -scale composite hardware. At KSC, effective and efficient repair processes need to be developed to allow for any potential damage to composite components during transport or launch preparation. The focus of the composite repair development internship during the spring of 2018 was on the documentation of repair processes and requirements for process controls based on techniques developed through hands-on work with composite test panels. Three composite test panels were fabricated for the purpose of repair and surface preparation testing. The first panel included a bonded doubler and was fabricated to be damaged and repaired. The second and third panels were both fabricated to be cut into lap-shear samples to test the strength of bond of different surface preparation techniques. Additionally, jointed composite test panels were impacted at MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center) and analyzed for damage patterns. The observations after the impact tests guided the repair procedure at KSC to focus on three repair methods. With a finalized repair plan in place, future work will include the strength testing of different surface preparation techniques, demonstration of repair methods, and repair of jointed composite test panels being impacted at MSFC.

An Examination of the Perceived Importance of Technical Competence in Acquisition Project Management

DTIC Science & Technology

1991-09-01

Develop (First Draft) Instructions Critique (Revision) Answerability Pilot Test (Second Draft) Analysis Response Mode Revision Useability Preparation...appropriate questionnaire items. Initially, the set of questions developed for the study reflected a few shortcomings. A pilot test of the first draft among...resulted. First, feedback from the pilot test indicated a need to reduce the completion time. Because the multiple choice format required several

Valuing goodwill: not-for-profits prepare for annual impairment testing.

PubMed

Heuer, Christian; Travers, Mary Ann K

2011-02-01

Accounting standards for valuing goodwill and intangible assets are becoming more rigorous for not-for-profit organizations: Not-for-profit healthcare organizations need to test for goodwill impairment at least annually. Impairment testing is a two-stage process: initial analysis to determine whether impairment exists and subsequent calculation of the magnitude of impairment. Certain "triggering" events compel all organizations--whether for-profit or not-for-profit--to perform an impairment test for goodwill or intangible assets.

Proposed Guidance for Preparing and Reviewing Molten Salt Nonpower Reactor Licence Applications (NUREG-1537)

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Belles, Randy; Flanagan, George F.; Voth, Marcus

Development of non-power molten salt reactor (MSR) test facilities is under consideration to support the analyses needed for development of a full-scale MSR. These non-power MSR test facilities will require review by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) staff. This report proposes chapter adaptations for NUREG-1537 in the form of interim staff guidance to address preparation and review of molten salt non-power reactor license applications. The proposed adaptations are based on a previous regulatory gap analysis of select chapters from NUREG-1537 for their applicability to non-power MSRs operating with a homogeneous fuel salt mixture.

Automation of laboratory testing for infectious diseases using the polymerase chain reaction-- our past, our present, our future.

PubMed

Jungkind, D

2001-01-01

While it is an extremely powerful and versatile assay method, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be a labor-intensive process. Since the advent of commercial test kits from Roche and the semi-automated microwell Amplicor system, PCR has become an increasingly useful and widespread clinical tool. However, more widespread acceptance of molecular testing will depend upon automation that allows molecular assays to enter the routine clinical laboratory. The forces driving the need for automated PCR are the requirements for diagnosis and treatment of chronic viral diseases, economic pressures to develop more automated and less expensive test procedures similar to those in the clinical chemistry laboratories, and a shortage in many areas of qualified laboratory personnel trained in the types of manual procedures used in past decades. The automated Roche COBAS AMPLICOR system has automated the amplification and detection process. Specimen preparation remains the most labor-intensive part of the PCR testing process, accounting for the majority of the hands-on-time in most of the assays. A new automated specimen preparation system, the COBAS AmpliPrep, was evaluated. The system automatically releases the target nucleic acid, captures the target with specific oligonucleotide probes, which become attached to magnetic beads via a biotin-streptavidin binding reaction. Once attached to the beads, the target is purified and concentrated automatically. Results of 298 qualitative and 57 quantitative samples representing a wide range of virus concentrations analyzed after the COBAS AmpliPrep and manual specimen preparation methods, showed that there was no significant difference in qualitative or quantitative hepatitis C virus (HCV) assay performance, respectively. The AmpliPrep instrument decreased the time required to prepare serum or plasma samples for HCV PCR to under 1 min per sample. This was a decrease of 76% compared to the manual specimen preparation method. Systems that can analyze more samples with higher throughput and that can answer more questions about the nature of the microbes that we can presently only detect and quantitate will be needed in the future.

Apes produce tools for future use.

PubMed

Bräuer, Juliane; Call, Josep

2015-03-01

There is now growing evidence that some animal species are able to plan for the future. For example great apes save and exchange tools for future use. Here we raise the question whether chimpanzees, orangutans, and bonobos would produce tools for future use. Subjects only had access to a baited apparatus for a limited duration and therefore should use the time preceding this access to create the appropriate tools in order to get the rewards. The apes were tested in three conditions depending on the need for pre-prepared tools. Either eight tools, one tool or no tools were needed to retrieve the reward. The apes prepared tools in advance for future use and they produced them mainly in conditions when they were really needed. The fact that apes were able to solve this new task indicates that their planning skills are flexible. However, for the condition in which eight tools were needed, apes produced less than two tools per trial in advance. However, they used their chance to produce additional tools in the tool use phase-thus often obtaining most of the reward from the apparatus. Increased pressure to prepare more tools in advance did not have an effect on their performance. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Individual class evaluation and effective teaching characteristics in integrated curricula.

PubMed

Hwang, Jung Eun; Kim, Na Jin; Song, Meiying; Cui, Yinji; Kim, Eun Ju; Park, In Ae; Lee, Hye In; Gong, Hye Jin; Kim, Su Young

2017-12-12

In an integrated curriculum, multiple instructors take part in a course in the form of team teaching. Accordingly, medical schools strive to manage each course run by numerous instructors. As part of the curriculum management, course evaluation is conducted, but a single, retrospective course evaluation does not comprehensively capture student perception of classes by different instructors. This study aimed to demonstrate the need for individual class evaluation, and further to identify teaching characteristics that instructors need to keep in mind when preparing classes. From 2014 to 2015, students at one medical school left comments on evaluation forms after each class. Courses were also assessed after each course. Their comments were categorized by connotation (positive or negative) and by subject. Within each subject category, test scores were compared between positively and negatively mentioned classes. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed to test group differences in scores. The same method was applied to the course evaluation data. Test results for course evaluation showed group difference only in the practice/participation category. However, test results for individual class evaluation showed group differences in six categories: difficulty, main points, attitude, media/contents, interest, and materials. That is, the test scores of classes positively mentioned in six domains were significantly higher than those of negatively mentioned classes. It was proved that individual class evaluation is needed to manage multi-instructor courses in integrated curricula of medical schools. Based on the students' extensive feedback, we identified teaching characteristics statistically related to academic achievement. School authorities can utilize these findings to encourage instructors to develop effective teaching characteristics in class preparation.

Evaluating the Sensitivity of a Media-Fill Challenge Test Under Various Situations as a Reliable Method for Recommended Aseptic Technique Competency Assessment

PubMed Central

Moody, Colleen A.; Eckel, Stephen F.; Amerine, Lindsey B.

2015-01-01

Background: Microbial contamination of compounded medications is a serious concern within hospital pharmacies as it can lead to severe patient injury. The United States Pharmacopeia <797> mandates that pharmacy personnel responsible for preparing compounded sterile preparations must annually demonstrate competency in aseptic technique by performing a media-fill challenge test. Objective: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity of a commonly used media-fill test through proper and improper compounding techniques. Methods: Two aseptically trained pharmacy technicians performed media-fill challenge testing by carrying out 5 separate manipulations 5 times each for a total of 25 trials. Sterile vials, syringes, and intravenous bags were prepared. The first manipulation followed best-practice aseptic technique and sterile compounding procedures. Each of the following 4 manipulations removed one aspect of best-practice aseptic technique. The prepared products were incubated at 20°C to 25°C. A positive result for microbial contamination is indicated by visible turbidity within the vials, syringes, and intravenous bags at the following check points: 24 hours, 72 hours, 7 days, 14 days, 21 days, and >30 days. Results: Twenty-five trials, each containing 10 distinct admixtures, resulted in a total of 250 compounded preparations. No single preparation showed signs of turbidity, sedimentation, or visible microbial growth at any of the 6 checkpoints yielding a 0% contamination rate. However, the positive controls inoculated with bacteria did have positive microbial growth results. Conclusion: A more sensitive test needs to be developed to provide assurances that all poor aseptic practices are detected in compounding personnel.

Orion Ammonia Boiler System Preflight Test Preparations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Levitt, Julia L.

2017-01-01

The Environmental Controls and Life Support Systems (ECLSS) branch at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is currently undergoing preparations for ground testing of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) to prepare its subsystems for EM-1 (Exploration Mission-1). EM-1, Orions second unmanned flight, is a three-week long lunar mission during which the vehicle will complete a 6-day retrograde lunar orbit before returning to Earth. This paper focuses on the work done during the authors 16-week internship with the Mechanical Engineering Branch of KSCs Engineering Directorate. The authors project involved assisting with the preparations for testing the Orion MPCVs ammonia boiler system. The purpose of the ammonia boiler system is to keep the spacecraft sufficiently cool during the reentry portion of its mission, from service module (SM) separation to post-landing. This system is critical for keeping both the spacecraft (avionics and electronics) and crew alive during reentry, thus a successful test of the system is essential to the success of EM-1. XXXX The author was able to draft a detailed outline of the procedure for the ammonia system functional test. More work will need to be done on the vehicle power-up and power-down portions of the procedure, but the ammonia system testing portion of the procedure is thorough and includes vehicle test configurations, vehicle commands, and GSE. The author was able to compile a substantial list of questions regarding the ammonia system functional test with the help of her mentors. A significant number of these questions were answered in the teleconferences with Lockheed Martin.

Workshop on standards in biomass for energy and chemicals: proceedings

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Milne, T.A.

1984-11-01

In the course of reviewing standards literature, visiting prominent laboratories and research groups, attending biomass meetings and corresponding widely, a whole set of standards needs was identified, the most prominent of which were: biomass standard reference materials, research materials and sample banks; special collections of microorganisms, clonal material, algae, etc.; standard methods of characterization of substrates and biomass fuels; standard tests and methods for the conversion and end-use of biomass; standard protocols for the description, harvesting, preparation, storage, and measurement of productivity of biomass materials in the energy context; glossaries of terms; development of special tests for assay of enzymaticmore » activity and related processes. There was also a recognition of the need for government, professional and industry support of concensus standards development and the dissemination of information on standards. Some 45 biomass researchers and managers met with key NBS staff to identify and prioritize standards needs. This was done through three working panels: the Panel on Standard Reference Materials (SRM's), Research Materials (RM's), and Sample Banks; the Panel on Production and Characterization; and the Panel on Tests and Methods for Conversion and End Use. This report gives a summary of the action items in standards development recommended unanimously by the workshop attendees. The proceedings of the workshop, and an appendix, contain an extensive written record of the findings of the workshop panelists and others regarding presently existing standards and standards issues and needs. Separate abstracts have been prepared for selected papers for inclusion in the Energy Database.« less

Preparation of a Frozen Regolith Simulant Bed for ISRU Component Testing in a Vacuum Chamber

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klenhenz, Julie; Linne, Diane

2013-01-01

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) systems and components have undergone extensive laboratory and field tests to expose hardware to relevant soil environments. The next step is to combine these soil environments with relevant pressure and temperature conditions. Previous testing has demonstrated how to incorporate large bins of unconsolidated lunar regolith into sufficiently sized vacuum chambers. In order to create appropriate depth dependent soil characteristics that are needed to test drilling operations for the lunar surface, the regolith simulant bed must by properly compacted and frozen. While small cryogenic simulant beds have been created for laboratory tests, this scale effort will allow testing of a full 1m drill which has been developed for a potential lunar prospector mission. Compacted bulk densities were measured at various moisture contents for GRC-3 and Chenobi regolith simulants. Vibrational compaction methods were compared with the previously used hammer compaction, or "Proctor", method. All testing was done per ASTM standard methods. A full 6.13 m3 simulant bed with 6 percent moisture by weight was prepared, compacted in layers, and frozen in a commercial freezer. Temperature and desiccation data was collected to determine logistics for preparation and transport of the simulant bed for thermal vacuum testing. Once in the vacuum facility, the simulant bed will be cryogenically frozen with liquid nitrogen. These cryogenic vacuum tests are underway, but results will not be included in this manuscript.

Rotary Engine Friction Test Rig Development Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

fundamental research is needed to understand the friction characteristics of the rotary engine that lead to accelerated wear and tear on the seals...that includes a turbocharger . Once the original GT-Suite model is validated, the turbocharger model will be more accurate. This validation will...prepare for turbocharger and fuel-injector testing, which will lead to further development and calibration of the model. Further details are beyond the

How Schools Cope with the Double Challenge of Excellence in High-Stakes Risk Tests and Investment in Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Klein, Joseph

2017-01-01

The purpose of the research is to investigate the behaviour of school personnel under two assessment-reporting conditions and school functioning when faced with the choice of excelling in high-stakes tests or catering to local educational needs. The functioning of 60 schools was compared in terms of their preparation for high-risk external tests…

Techniques and Protocols for Dispersing Nanoparticle Powders in Aqueous Media-Is there a Rationale for Harmonization?

PubMed

Hartmann, Nanna B; Jensen, Keld Alstrup; Baun, Anders; Rasmussen, Kirsten; Rauscher, Hubert; Tantra, Ratna; Cupi, Denisa; Gilliland, Douglas; Pianella, Francesca; Riego Sintes, Juan M

2015-01-01

Selecting appropriate ways of bringing engineered nanoparticles (ENP) into aqueous dispersion is a main obstacle for testing, and thus for understanding and evaluating, their potential adverse effects to the environment and human health. Using different methods to prepare (stock) dispersions of the same ENP may be a source of variation in the toxicity measured. Harmonization and standardization of dispersion methods applied in mammalian and ecotoxicity testing are needed to ensure a comparable data quality and to minimize test artifacts produced by modifications of ENP during the dispersion preparation process. Such harmonization and standardization will also enhance comparability among tests, labs, and studies on different types of ENP. The scope of this review was to critically discuss the essential parameters in dispersion protocols for ENP. The parameters are identified from individual scientific studies and from consensus reached in larger scale research projects and international organizations. A step-wise approach is proposed to develop tailored dispersion protocols for ecotoxicological and mammalian toxicological testing of ENP. The recommendations of this analysis may serve as a guide to researchers, companies, and regulators when selecting, developing, and evaluating the appropriateness of dispersion methods applied in mammalian and ecotoxicity testing. However, additional experimentation is needed to further document the protocol parameters and investigate to what extent different stock dispersion methods affect ecotoxicological and mammalian toxicological responses of ENP.

Computerized NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN preparation programs. Comparative review, 1997.

PubMed

Riner, M E; Mueller, C; Ihrke, B; Smolen, R A; Wilson, M; Richardson, V; Stone, C; Zwirn, E E

1997-01-01

The computerized test taking market continues to expand to meet the needs of nursing students studying to prepare for the NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN. In addition, currently registered nurses may choose to use these software programs to review clinical knowledge in areas in which they are not currently practicing. This article reviewed software designed for personal use, review books with complete disks, on-site institutional testing and consultation, and school of nursing LANs. The costs of software for personal use is priced reasonably and provides flexibility for students to use as their schedule permits. The cost of institutional licenses is moderate and most programs provide multiple on-site use rights. The marketplace has responded to the computerized NCLEX testing now in place nationally. As new formats are developed and new uses identified, nursing faculty and students can expect to see an expanded use of computerized testing.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Antigen 5-Based ELISAs for Human Cystic Echinococcosis

PubMed Central

Pagnozzi, Daniela; Addis, Maria Filippa; Biosa, Grazia; Roggio, Anna Maria; Tedde, Vittorio; Mariconti, Mara; Tamarozzi, Francesca; Meroni, Valeria; Masu, Gabriella; Masala, Giovanna; Brunetti, Enrico; Uzzau, Sergio

2016-01-01

Background Clinical diagnosis and follow up of cystic echinococcosis (CE) are based on imaging complemented by serology. Several immunodiagnostic tests are commercially available, but the development of new tools is still needed to overcome the lack of standardization of the target antigen, generally consisting of a crude extract of Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cyst fluid. In a previous work, we described a chromatographic method for the preparation of a highly enriched Antigen 5 fraction from hydatid cyst fluid. The high reactivity of patient sera against this preparation prompted us to evaluate further this antigen for the serodiagnosis of CE on a larger cohort of samples. Methodology/Principal Findings A total of 327 sera from CE patients with heterogeneous conditions for cyst stage, cyst number, organ localization, drug therapy, and surgical intervention, together with 253 sera from healthy controls, were first analyzed by an ELISA based on the Ag5 preparation in two different experimental setups and, in parallel, by a commercial ELISA routinely used in clinical laboratories for CE serodiagnosis. The Ag5 ELISAs revealed different sensitivity (88.3% vs 95.3%) without significant differences in specificity (94.1% vs 92.5%), for the two setups, respectively. Moreover, possible relationships between the Ag5 ELISA absorbance results and clinical variables were investigated. Chi squared test, bivariate logistic regression and multiple regression analyses highlighted differences in the serology reactivity according to pharmacological treatment, cyst activity, and cyst number. Conclusions/Significance The two Ag5 ELISAs revealed different performances depending on the setup. The good diagnostic sensitivity and the high reliability of the Ag5 preparation method make this antigen a promising candidate for the serodiagnosis of CE. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the ability of our test to provide useful information on specific CE clinical traits. PMID:27023205

Negotiating the use of formative assessment for learning in an era of accountability testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yin, Xinying

The purpose of this collaborative action research was to understand how science educators can negotiate the tension between integrating formative assessment (FA) for students' learning and meeting the need for standardized summative assessment (testing) from a critical perspective. Using formative assessment in the era of accountability testing was a process in which the science educators identified the ways that the standardized testing system constrained the teacher's use of FA to improve students' learning, sought solutions to overcome the obstacles and came to understand how FA can be utilized to neutralize the power relationship between the institutional requirement and classroom teaching and learning. The challenge of doing FA under the pressure of standardized testing mainly lie in two dimensions: one was the demand of teaching all the desired standard-based content to all students in a limited amount of time and the sufficient time and flexibility required by doing FA to improve students' understanding, the other was the different levels of knowledge and forms of knowledge representation on FA and tests. The negotiation of doing FA for teaching standards and preparing students for tests entailed six aspects for the collaborative team, including clarifying teaching objectives, reconstructing instructional activities, negotiating with time constraints, designing effective FA activities, attending to students' needs in doing FA, and modifying end-of-unit tests to better assess the learning goals. As the teacher's instructional goals evolved to be more focused on conceptual understanding of standards and more thorough understanding for less activities, she perceived doing FA for learning and preparing students for standardized tests as more congruent. By integrating both divergent and convergent FA into instruction as well as modifying tests to be more aligned with standards, students' learning were enhanced and they were also being prepared for tests. This study added to our understandings about the relationship between formative assessment and summative accountability tests in science education and classroom teachers' conceptions and practices in making the relationship more coherent for learning. It also provided implications for science teacher professional development of formative assessment and for educational accountability policies.

Bacterial safety of cell-based therapeutic preparations, focusing on haematopoietic progenitor cells.

PubMed

Störmer, M; Wood, E M; Schurig, U; Karo, O; Spreitzer, I; McDonald, C P; Montag, T

2014-05-01

Bacterial safety of cellular preparations, especially haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), as well as advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) derived from stem cells of various origins, present a challenge for physicians, manufacturers and regulators. The article describes the background and practical issues in this area and illustrates why sterility of these products cannot currently be guaranteed. Advantages and limitations of approaches both for classical sterility testing and for microbiological control using automated culture systems are discussed. The review considers novel approaches for growth-based rapid microbiological control with high sensitivity and faster availability of results, as well as new methods for rapid bacterial detection in cellular preparations enabling meaningful information about product contamination within one to two hours. Generally, however, these direct rapid methods are less sensitive and have greater sampling error compared with the growth-based methods. Opportunities for pyrogen testing of cell therapeutics are also discussed. There is an urgent need for development of novel principles and methods applicable to bacterial safety of cellular therapeutics. We also need a major shift in approach from the traditional view of sterility evaluation (identify anything and everything) to a new thinking about how to find what is clinically relevant within the time frame available for the special clinical circumstances in which these products are used. The review concludes with recommendations for optimization of microbiological control of cellular preparations, focusing on HPCs. © 2013 International Society of Blood Transfusion.

A new method for the radiochemical purity measurement of ¹¹¹In-pentetreotide.

PubMed

Salgado-Garcia, Carlos; Montoza-Aguado, Manuel; Luna-Alcaide, Ana B; Segovia-Gonzalez, Maria M; de Mora, Elena Sanchez; Lopez-Martin, Juana; Ramos-Font, Carlos; Jimenez-Heffernan, Amelia

2011-12-01

The recommended method for the measurement of radiochemical purity (RCP) of ¹¹¹In-labelled pentetreotide is thin-layer chromatography with a silica gel as the stationary phase and a 0.1 N sodium citrate solution (pH 5) as the mobile phase. According to the supplier's instructions, the mobile phase must be prepared before the test is carried out, and the recommended stationary phase is off-market. We propose a new method for RCP measurement in which the mobile phase is acid citrate dextrose, solution A, which does not need to be prepared beforehand, and thin-layer chromatography is performed with a silica gel-impregnated glass fibre sheet as the stationary phase. We used both methods to measure the percentages of radiopharmaceutical and impurities. The range of RCP values obtained was 98.0-99.9% (mean=99.3%) by the standard method and 98.1-99.9% (mean=99.2%) by the new method. We observed no differences between the RCP values of both methods (P=0.070). The proposed method is suitable for RCP testing because it yields results that are in good agreement with those of the standard method and because it is easier to perform as the mobile-phase solution need not be prepared in advance.

New cleaning technologies advance coal

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Onursal, B.

1984-05-01

Alternative options are discussed for reducing sulfur dioxide emissions from coal burning utility and industrial sources. Test results indicate that it may be most advantageous to use the AED Process after coal preparation or on coals that do not need much ash removal. However, the developer claims that research efforts after 1981 have led to process improvements for producing clean coals containing 1.5% to 3% ash. This paper describes the test facility where a full-scale test of the AED Process is underway.

Directed Test Review and Self-Evaluation Using a Microcomputer

PubMed Central

Franklin, Kenneth J.; Hodder, Richard A.; Riordan, Daniel D.; Manning, Randolph

1981-01-01

Medical students adopt various review strategies to prepare for the tests administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). The Uniformed Services University Board Review System (UBRS) was created to fill a perceived need by some students for a directed, intensive study aid based on questions in NBME format. In its current form, it is a useful adjunct for directed study, development of test-taking skills, and review of course material in any subject to which it is applied.

EDUCATION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST SCORES

PubMed Central

Pershad, Dwarka; Verma, S. K.

1980-01-01

Education, a long neglected variable affecting psychological test score, is in search of reemphasis. Some evidence for this has accumulated on the psychological tests constructed and standardized here at the department of Psychiatry, P.G.I., Chandigarh. Tentative norms prepared education wise on WAIS-Verbal section, PGI-Memory Scale, Proverb and Similarity Tests, Psychoticism Questionnaire, and PGI MQN 2, for adults, in the age range of 16-50, are reported. The results showed marked difference in the mean scores of different educational categories and thus stressed the need for reporting norms separately for different educational levels. PMID:22064617

Feasibility of Using Dredged Mud for Prepared the Permeable Brick

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Chaoqun; Cheng, Xiaosu; Zeng, Lingke; Wang, Hui; Chen, Jing

2017-10-01

Through experimental analysis found that the chemical composition of the dredged mud is similar to clay and the dredged mud does not leach heavy metals. Using the dredged mud in the preparation of permeable bricks reduced the quantity of incineration dredged mud buried in landfills, and the exploitation and consumption of natural sandstone. The dredged mud needs to be checked by the validation criteria when the second use, so we used the TCLP test to identify hazardous materials. Its leaching of heavy metals was in line with industry standard. And the basic formula of permeable brick were prepared, its performance was in line with national standards. The use of dredged mud preparing eco-friendly permeable bricks, not only solves the problem of environmental pollution, but also gets some economic and social profit.

Isolation and quantification of botulinum neurotoxin from complex matrices using the BoTest matrix assays.

PubMed

Dunning, F Mark; Piazza, Timothy M; Zeytin, Füsûn N; Tucker, Ward C

2014-03-03

Accurate detection and quantification of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) in complex matrices is required for pharmaceutical, environmental, and food sample testing. Rapid BoNT testing of foodstuffs is needed during outbreak forensics, patient diagnosis, and food safety testing while accurate potency testing is required for BoNT-based drug product manufacturing and patient safety. The widely used mouse bioassay for BoNT testing is highly sensitive but lacks the precision and throughput needed for rapid and routine BoNT testing. Furthermore, the bioassay's use of animals has resulted in calls by drug product regulatory authorities and animal-rights proponents in the US and abroad to replace the mouse bioassay for BoNT testing. Several in vitro replacement assays have been developed that work well with purified BoNT in simple buffers, but most have not been shown to be applicable to testing in highly complex matrices. Here, a protocol for the detection of BoNT in complex matrices using the BoTest Matrix assays is presented. The assay consists of three parts: The first part involves preparation of the samples for testing, the second part is an immunoprecipitation step using anti-BoNT antibody-coated paramagnetic beads to purify BoNT from the matrix, and the third part quantifies the isolated BoNT's proteolytic activity using a fluorogenic reporter. The protocol is written for high throughput testing in 96-well plates using both liquid and solid matrices and requires about 2 hr of manual preparation with total assay times of 4-26 hr depending on the sample type, toxin load, and desired sensitivity. Data are presented for BoNT/A testing with phosphate-buffered saline, a drug product, culture supernatant, 2% milk, and fresh tomatoes and includes discussion of critical parameters for assay success.

Novel multi-day sputum transport reagent works with routine tuberculosis tests and eliminates need for cold chain: Preliminary study of compatibility with the Xpert® MTB/RIF assay.

PubMed

Kelly-Cirino, Cassandra D; Curry, Patricia S; Marola, Jamie L; Helstrom, Niels K; Salfinger, Max

2016-11-01

OMNIgene®•SPUTUM (OM-S) is a sputum transport reagent designed to work with all tuberculosis diagnostics and eliminate the need for cold chain. The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the compatibility of OM-S-treated sputum with the Xpert® MTB/RIF assay. Fifty-five characterized sputa from the FIND TB Specimen Bank were used. Compatibility of OM-S was assessed for both Xpert sample preparation methods: H.1 protocol (sediment, n=25) and H.2 protocol (direct expectorate, n=30). All controls were prepared using the H.2 protocol. Results revealed 100% concordance of MTB/RIF results for all except the low-positive group in the H.1 study arm (n=10; 88% concordance). OM-S-treated sputa were successful in both protocols; if the Xpert buffer is not added during the H.2 procedure, sample viscosity may require repeat testing. Using OM-S could offer users flexibility in clinical testing algorithms. Larger compatibility studies are warranted, particularly with respect to MTB/RIF results for low-positive samples. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Utilization of computer technology by science teachers in public high schools and the impact of standardized testing

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Priest, Richard Harding

A significant percentage of high school science teachers are not using computers to teach their students or prepare them for standardized testing. A survey of high school science teachers was conducted to determine how they are having students use computers in the classroom, why science teachers are not using computers in the classroom, which variables were relevant to their not using computers, and what are the effects of standardized testing on the use of technology in the high school science classroom. A self-administered questionnaire was developed to measure these aspects of computer integration and demographic information. A follow-up telephone interview survey of a portion of the original sample was conducted in order to clarify questions, correct misunderstandings, and to draw out more holistic descriptions from the subjects. The primary method used to analyze the quantitative data was frequency distributions. Multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the relationships between the barriers and facilitators and the dimensions of instructional use, frequency, and importance of the use of computers. All high school science teachers in a large urban/suburban school district were sent surveys. A response rate of 58% resulted from two mailings of the survey. It was found that contributing factors to why science teachers do not use computers were not enough up-to-date computers in their classrooms and other educational commitments and duties do not leave them enough time to prepare lessons that include technology. While a high percentage of science teachers thought their school and district administrations were supportive of technology, they also believed more inservice technology training and follow-up activities to support that training are needed and more software needs to be created. The majority of the science teachers do not use the computer to help students prepare for standardized tests because they believe they can prepare students more efficiently without a computer. Nearly half of the teachers, however, gave lack of time to prepare instructional materials and lack of a means to project a computer image to the whole class as reasons they do not use computers. A significant percentage thought science standardized testing was having a negative effect on computer use.

The impact of the proportion of nanoparticles to the spherical microparticles of silver on the connection parameters LTJT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szałapak, J.; Kiełbasiński, K.; Krzemiński, J.; Jakubowska, M.

2017-08-01

There are few EU directives restricting use of lead and other hazardous substances in electronics. That leads to ban Pb- Sn alloy from use, the consequence of which is a search for new ways of preparing joints. One of the discussed solutions is using silver particles in Low Temperature Joining Technique (LTJT). This technique allows to use different conducting pastes and lower their sintering temperatures with the use of pressure. The most popular material for the joining tests was silver. Due to its high melting temperature and high pressures needed for lowering the temperature, silver nanoparticles were considered and tested. The temperatures of sintering decreased to 300ºC and the pressures went down from about 40 to less than 10 MPa. Due to unsatisfactory parameters of such joints, the authors prepared mixtures of spherical, submicron-sized silver particles with nanoparticles. Joints were tested for their electrical and shears strength parameters. In this article, the authors show the comparison of different variations of the mixtures with joints prepared only with nanoparticles.

Evaluation of the Illumigene Malaria LAMP: A Robust Molecular Diagnostic Tool for Malaria Parasites

PubMed Central

Lucchi, Naomi W.; Gaye, Marie; Diallo, Mammadou Alpha; Goldman, Ira F.; Ljolje, Dragan; Deme, Awa Bineta; Badiane, Aida; Ndiaye, Yaye Die; Barnwell, John W.; Udhayakumar, Venkatachalam; Ndiaye, Daouda

2016-01-01

Isothermal nucleic acid amplification assays such as the loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), are well suited for field use as they do not require thermal cyclers to amplify the DNA. To further facilitate the use of LAMP assays in remote settings, simpler sample preparation methods and lyophilized reagents are required. The performance of a commercial malaria LAMP assay (Illumigene Malaria LAMP) was evaluated using two sample preparation workflows (simple filtration prep (SFP)) and gravity-driven filtration prep (GFP)) and pre-dispensed lyophilized reagents. Laboratory and clinical samples were tested in a field laboratory in Senegal and the results independently confirmed in a reference laboratory in the U.S.A. The Illumigene Malaria LAMP assay was easily implemented in the clinical laboratory and gave similar results to a real-time PCR reference test with limits of detection of ≤2.0 parasites/μl depending on the sample preparation method used. This assay reliably detected Plasmodium sp. parasites in a simple low-tech format, providing a much needed alternative to the more complex molecular tests for malaria diagnosis. PMID:27827432

Improving Mathematics Achievement of Exceptional Learners through Differentiated and Peer-Mediated Instruction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ivory, Tontaleya S.

2007-01-01

The purpose of this study was to implement differentiated and peer-mediated instruction to determine if these instructional interventions were successful in preparing students with disabilities for state standardized tests. In addition, this study identified how exceptional needs learners responded to techniques utilized during differentiated and…

Automotive and Power Service: Cluster Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Michigan State Dept. of Education, Lansing. Special Needs Program.

This teacher's guide is one of a series of publications focusing on the occupational preparation of persons with special education needs. The material was developed and tested by cooperating teachers over a period of three years. Task analysis information is presented using occupational descriptions from the Dictionary of Occupational Titles,…

Development of Generalizable Educational Programs in Laser/Electro-Optics Technology: Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hull, Daniel M.

The purpose of the Laser/Electro-Optics Technology (LEOT) Project was to establish a pilot educational program, develop a flexible curriculum, prepare and test instructional materials, transport the curriculum and instructional materials into other educational institutions by establishing relevant LEOT programs wherever they are needed, and to…

Status and Pre-Employment Training Requirements of Welding Tradesmen, Technicians, and Technologists.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morgan, Daryle Whitney

To assess the status of welding in various manufacturing industries and to ascertain the occupational preparation needed for welding tradesmen, technicians, and technologists, completed questionnaires were obtained from 138 selected industrial specialists. The hypotheses were tested by Freidman's two-way nonparametric analysis of variance and by…

ACC Study Guide Series (Revised Edition).

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Staples, Katherine; And Others

Designed for the beginning college student who needs to search for information, prepare written assignments, or take tests, the ACC (Austin Community College) Study Guide Series comprises 17 one-page study guides. Printed on card stock with colored headings, the guides are highlighted with cartoon illustrations and are intended to provide…

What Do Teachers Need to Support English Learners?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gomez, Marjorie N.; Diarrassouba, Nagnon

2014-01-01

This study explored K-8 teachers' perceptions of their preparation and the challenges they encountered in delivering instruction to culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Using a mixed method research design, data were collected through a web-based survey from teachers in the state of Michigan. Researchers used chi-square tests to…

A Descriptive Survey of Anesthesiology Residency Simulation Programs: How Are Programs Preparing Residents for the New American Board of Anesthesiology APPLIED Certification Examination?

PubMed

Isaak, Robert S; Chen, Fei; Arora, Harendra; Martinelli, Susan M; Zvara, David A; Stiegler, Marjorie P

2017-09-01

Anesthesiology residency programs may need new simulation-based programs to prepare residents for the new Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) component of the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) Primary Certification process. The design of such programs may require significant resources, including faculty time, expertise, and funding, as are currently needed for structured oral examination (SOE) preparation. This survey analyzed the current state of US-based anesthesiology residency programs regarding simulation-based educational programming for SOE and OSCE preparation. An online survey was distributed to every anesthesiology residency program director in the United States. The survey included 15 to 46 questions, depending on each respondent's answers. The survey queried current practices and future plans regarding resident preparation specifically for the ABA APPLIED examination, with emphasis on the OSCE. Descriptive statistics were summarized. χ and Fisher exact tests were used to test the differences in proportions across groups. Spearman rank correlation was used to examine the association between ordinal variables. The responding 66 programs (49%) were a representative sample of all anesthesiology residencies (N = 136) in terms of geographical location (χ P = .58). There was a low response rate from small programs that have 12 or fewer clinical anesthesia residents. Ninety-one percent (95% confidence interval [CI], 84%-95%) of responders agreed that it is the responsibility of the program to specifically prepare residents for primary certification, and most agreed that it is important to practice SOEs (94%; 95% CI, 88%-97%) and OSCEs (89%; 95% CI, 83%-94%). While 100% of respondents reported providing mock SOEs, only 31% (95% CI, 24%-40%) of respondents provided mock OSCE experiences. Of those without an OSCE program, 75% (95% CI, 64%-83%) reported plans to start one. The most common reasons for not having an OSCE program already in place, and the perceived challenges for implementing an OSCE program, were the same: lack of time (faculty and residents), expertise in OSCE development and assessment, and funding. The results provide data from residency programs for benchmarking their simulation curriculum and ABA APPLIED Examination preparation offerings. Despite agreement that residency programs should prepare residents for the ABA APPLIED Examination, many programs have yet to implement an OSCE preparation program, in part due to lack of financial resources, faculty expertise, and time. Additionally, in contrast to the SOE, the OSCE is a new format for ABA primary certification. As a result, the lack of consensus concerning preparation needs could be related to the amount information that is available regarding the examination content and assessment process.

The influence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae enzyme ratio on preparation virgin coconut oil for candidate in-house reference materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rohyami, Yuli; Anjani, Rafika Debby; Purwanti, Napthalina Putri

2017-03-01

Virgin coconut oil is an excellent product which has result of oil processing business opportunities in the international market. Standardization of virgin coconut oil necessary to satisfy the requirements industry needs. This research is expected as procedure preparation of reference materials. Preparation of virgin coconut oil by Sacharomycescerevisiaeenzyme. Based on the results of this study concluded that the ratio of Saccharomyces cerevisiae can affect the yield of virgin coconut oil produced. The preparation of virgin coconut oil enzymatically using a variety of mass ratio of 0.001 to 0.006% is obtained yield average of 12.40%. The optimum separation of virgin coconut oil on the use of enzymes with a mass ratio of 0.002%. The average water content at a ratio of 0.002% is 0.04 % with a value of uncertainty is 0.005%. The average iodine number in virgin coconut oil produced is 2.4403 ± 0,1974 grams of iodine per 100 grams of oil and optimum iodine number is obtained from the manufacturing process virgin coconut oil with a ratio of 0.006% Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sacharomycescerevisiae with a ratio of 0.002% results virgin coconut oil with acid number 0.3068 ± 0.1098%. The peroxide value of virgin coconut oil between 0.0108 ± 0.009 to 0.0114 ± 0015milli-equivalent per kilograms. Organoleptic test results and test chemical parameters can be used as the test data that can be developed in prototype preparation of candidate in-house reference material in the testing standards of quality virgin coconut oil.

RF Microalgal lipid content characterization

PubMed Central

Ahmad, Mahmoud Al; Al-Zuhair, Sulaiman; Taher, Hanifa; Hilal-Alnaqbi, Ali

2014-01-01

Most conventional techniques for the determination of microalgae lipid content are time consuming and in most cases are indirect and require excessive sample preparations. This work presents a new technique that utilizes radio frequency (RF) for rapid lipid quantification, without the need for sample preparation. Tests showed that a shift in the resonance frequency of a RF open-ended coaxial resonator and a gradual increase in its resonance magnitude may occur as the lipids content of microalgae cells increases. These response parameters can be then calibrated against actual cellular lipid contents and used for rapid determination of the cellular lipids. The average duration of lipid quantification using the proposed technique was of about 1 minute, which is significantly less than all other conventional techniques, and was achieved without the need for any time consuming treatment steps. PMID:24870372

Integration of the CLS doctorate into the healthcare organization.

PubMed

Montoya, Isaac; Kimball, Olive

2009-01-01

A review of how the doctorally prepared CLS fits into the healthcare organization. Literature review. Numerous national studies have called for a reshaping of the health care delivery system and the need to improve patient outcomes. Because of unprecedented advances in laboratory related technology as well as the need for economic retrenchment strategies in health care, with its significant influence on patient care, the laboratory has become the subject of intensive study. It has been concluded that the traditional organizational structure of the laboratory information process and the required personnel skills both need rethinking. In order to foster change in the laboratory, an advanced degreed CLS laboratory professional is needed, one already equipped with a broad scientific base developed via a baccalaureate/masters level of education. With the addition of advanced technical expertise, basic medical skills, data interpretation skills and patient interaction abilities, and medical research experience, this laboratory professional can enhance the effective and efficient use of laboratory information and ultimately improve patient care. The clinical doctorates in CLS are educationally and experientially prepared to recommend support and enhance appropriate testing. They translate and transform complex laboratory data into an understandable product necessary for clinicians to be able to assess the validity of current and new assays to ensure better patient care. In addition, they assist in reducing questionable test usage, thereby reducing costs for both the patient and the laboratory.

A Quantitative Point-of-Need Assay for the Assessment of Vitamin D3 Deficiency.

PubMed

Vemulapati, S; Rey, E; O'Dell, D; Mehta, S; Erickson, D

2017-10-26

Vitamin D is necessary for the healthy growth and development of bone and muscle. Vitamin D deficiency, which is present in 42% of the US population, is often undiagnosed as symptoms may not manifest for several years and long-term deficiency has been linked to osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer. Currently the majority of vitamin D testing is performed in large-scale commercial laboratories which have high operational costs and long times-to-result. Development of a low-cost point-of-need assay could be transformative to deficiency analysis in limited-resource settings. The best biomarker of vitamin D status, 25hydroxyvitamin D 3 (25(OH)D 3 ), however, is particularly challenging to measure in such a format due to complexities involved in sample preparation, including the need to separate the marker from its binding protein. Here we present a rapid diagnostic test for the accurate, quantitative assessment of 25(OH)D 3 in finger-stick blood. The assay is accompanied by a smartphone-assisted portable imaging device that can autonomously perform the necessary image processing. To achieve accurate quantification of 25(OH)D 3 , we also demonstrate a novel elution buffer that separates 25(OH)D 3 from its binding protein in situ, eliminating the need for sample preparation. In human trials, the accuracy of our platform is 90.5%.

Design and Analysis of Chronic Aquatic Tests of Toxicity with Daphnia magna.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-12-01

surface waters. From that need evolved numerous standard toxicity tests. Aquatic toxicologists and biologists developed, refine,, and standard- ized many...experimental categorization summary sheets prepared by Dr. William van der Schalie, which is shown in Table I.I. 7 j-. " .’?, i...partial solution to this dilema can be obtained by studying the effects of the solvent alone. If the solvent by itself produces no toxic responses at

Feasibility of a colon capsule overnight procedure followed by colonoscopy.

PubMed

Brechmann, T; Schmiegel, W; Klute, L; Rösch, T; Pox, C

2016-02-01

Due to limited acceptance of colonoscopy as diagnostic and screening test alternatives are warranted. Colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) has been shown to be a possible filter test, but because of logistical issues a second bowel preparation is usually required, if consecutive colonoscopy is needed. We therefore evaluated the feasibility of a single bowel preparation for both overnight CCE and (therapeutical) colonoscopy thereafter. Patients from two university hospitals referred to undergo colonoscopy were prospectively included in a dual centre feasibility study. A polyethylene glycol (PEG) based bowel preparation-schedule with ingestion of a colon capsule endoscopy (CCE) at 10pm and subsequent colonoscopy at about 12am on the next day was investigated. The first generation PillCam colon capsule was used with 4 different preparation protocols containing several prokinetics in different compositions (i. e. metoclopramide, erythromycin, sennosoides). The main endpoint was the proportion of patients who completed both CCE and colonoscopy; secondary endpoints were capsule transit times, amount of colon seen on CCE, bowel cleanliness, sensitivity and specifity of CCE and patients' acceptance. 50 patients between 18 and 75 years were included. The sequence of overnight colon capsule endoscopy and colonoscopy was successfully completed in all but one (one refused colonoscopy). The capsule was excreted during recording time in 86 % of examinations, visualization of the complete colon was possible in 60 %, but adequate colon preparation was achieved in only 45 % irrespective of the regimen used. The preparation regimen consisting of a PEG-solution, erythromycin as prokinetic drug followed by PEG-solution as boost showed the largest proportion of adequate preparations. Overall sensitivity and specificity of CCE for polyps of any size were 65 % and 76 %, respectively. 26 of 30 patients (86.7 %) returned the subjective assessment questionnaire. 23 patients (88 %) reported mild to no discomfort or embarrassment during CCE, whereas 15 patients (58 %) did during the preparation procedure. Drinking the purgative solution was the most inconvenient step in 84 % of cases, drinking the boosts during CCE the second inconvenient step (60 %). Overnight CCE-procedure followed by direct capsule-reading is feasible and safe and might avoid repetitive bowel preparation for subsequent colonoscopy. The bowel preparation needs to be improved. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cathy Wills

The Nevada Test Site Environmental Report 2006 (NTSER) was prepared to meet the information needs of the public and the requirements and guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for annual site environmental reports. It was prepared by National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec). This Executive Summary presents the purpose of the document, the major programs conducted at the Nevada Test Site (NTS), NTS key environmental initiatives, radiological releases and potential doses to the public resulting from site operations, a summary of nonradiological releases, implementation status of the NTS Environmental Management System, a summary of compliance with environmental regulations, pollutionmore » prevention and waste minimization accomplishments, and significant environmental accomplishments. Much of the content of this Executive Summary is also presented in a separate stand-alone pamphlet titled Nevada Test Site Environmental Report Summary 2006 produced to be a more cost-effective means of distributing information contained in the NTSER to interested DOE stakeholders.« less

Validation of Physics Standardized Test Items

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marshall, Jill

2008-10-01

The Texas Physics Assessment Team (TPAT) examined the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) to determine whether it is a valid indicator of physics preparation for future course work and employment, and of the knowledge and skills needed to act as an informed citizen in a technological society. We categorized science items from the 2003 and 2004 10th and 11th grade TAKS by content area(s) covered, knowledge and skills required to select the correct answer, and overall quality. We also analyzed a 5000 student sample of item-level results from the 2004 11th grade exam using standard statistical methods employed by test developers (factor analysis and Item Response Theory). Triangulation of our results revealed strengths and weaknesses of the different methods of analysis. The TAKS was found to be only weakly indicative of physics preparation and we make recommendations for increasing the validity of standardized physics testing..

78 FR 29698 - Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Field Testing a Canine Lymphoma Vaccine, DNA

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-21

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS-2013-0033... environment. Based on the risk analysis and other relevant data, we have reached a preliminary determination... human environment, and that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared. We intend to...

77 FR 22283 - Availability of an Environmental Assessment for Field Testing Feline Interleukin-2...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-04-13

... DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service [Docket No. APHIS-2012-0017... on the quality of the human environment. Based on the risk analysis, we have reached a preliminary... the human environment, and that an environmental impact statement need not be prepared. We intend to...

Take the Test: Sample Questions from OECD's PISA Assessments

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Salz, Susanne, Comp.; Figueroa, Diana Toledo, Comp.

2009-01-01

Parents, students, teachers, school leaders, governments and the general public need good information on how well their education systems prepare students for life. A growing commitment by governments to monitor the outcomes of education systems in terms of student achievement on a regular basis and within an internationally agreed framework led…

Remedial Placements Found to Be Overused

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sparks, Sarah D.

2013-01-01

At a time when more high schools are looking to their graduates' college-remediation rates as a clue to how well they prepare students for college and careers, new research findings suggest a significant portion of students who test into remedial classes don't actually need them. Separate studies from Teachers College, Columbia University, and the…

Doing the Math: Are Maryland's High School Math Standards Adding Up to College Success?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martino, Gabrielle

2009-01-01

The educational standards, instruction, and testing of mathematics remain a controversial subject in the United States. Given the significant and growing need for mathematics remediation, it is reasonable to question how well individual states are preparing its high school students to succeed. This evaluation examines the correlation between the…

Engineering Encounters: The Tightrope Challenge

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burton, Bill

2014-01-01

In order to prepare students to become the next innovators, teachers need to provide real-world challenges that allow children to exercise their innovation muscles. Innovation starts with a problem and innovators work to solve a problem by planning, creating, and testing. The real-world innovation process does not happen on a worksheet, and it…

Intercomparison of U.S. Ballast Water Test Facilities

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-11-01

with many of the requirements of the ETV Protocol, although in some aspects, they employed different approaches and processes . The ETV Protocol calls...and recommendations from the audit process will be reported separately by NSF (in preparation). Both TFs benefited from developing procedures needed...11  4.1.2  Development Process

Strategic development of a multivariate calibration model for the uniformity testing of tablets by transmission NIR analysis.

PubMed

Sasakura, D; Nakayama, K; Sakamoto, T; Chikuma, T

2015-05-01

The use of transmission near infrared spectroscopy (TNIRS) is of particular interest in the pharmaceutical industry. This is because TNIRS does not require sample preparation and can analyze several tens of tablet samples in an hour. It has the capability to measure all relevant information from a tablet, while still on the production line. However, TNIRS has a narrow spectrum range and overtone vibrations often overlap. To perform content uniformity testing in tablets by TNIRS, various properties in the tableting process need to be analyzed by a multivariate prediction model, such as a Partial Least Square Regression modeling. One issue is that typical approaches require several hundred reference samples to act as the basis of the method rather than a strategically designed method. This means that many batches are needed to prepare the reference samples; this requires time and is not cost effective. Our group investigated the concentration dependence of the calibration model with a strategic design. Consequently, we developed a more effective approach to the TNIRS calibration model than the existing methodology.

Egg labeling methods for gastric emptying scintigraphy are not equivalent in producing a stable solid meal.

PubMed

Knight, Linda C; Kantor, Steven; Doma, Siva; Parkman, Henry P; Maurer, Alan H

2007-11-01

A wide range of radiolabeled test meals have been used for gastric emptying scintigraphy. The purpose of this study was to test whether (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid-labeled liquid egg white is as stable as 2 fresh whole eggs labeled with (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid and whether the cooking method is important. Whole eggs and liquid egg white were mixed with (99m)Tc-sulfur colloid and cooked by either microwaving or frying on a griddle. The cooked eggs were tested for breakdown after 2 and 4 h of incubation in gastric fluid or HCl. Labeled liquid egg white, prepared by either method of cooking, exhibited less breakdown in gastric fluid than whole eggs. Whole eggs cooked in the microwave exhibited significantly more breakdown than liquid egg white. (99m)Tc-Sulfur colloid binds better to egg whites compared with whole eggs. These results emphasize the need to evaluate the stability of new radiolabeled test meal preparations, including the method of cooking.

Preparing novice teachers to develop basic reading and spelling skills in children.

PubMed

Spear-Swerling, Louise; Brucker, Pamela Owen

2004-12-01

This study examined the word-structure knowledge of novice teachers and the progress of children tutored by a subgroup of the teachers. Teachers' word-structure knowledge was assessed using three tasks: graphophonemic segmentation, classification of pseudowords by syllable type, and classification of real words as phonetically regular or irregular. Tutored children were assessed on several measures of basic reading and spelling skills. Novice teachers who received word-structure instruction outperformed a comparison group of teachers in word-structure knowledge at post-test. Tutored children improved significantly from pre-test to post-test on all assessments. Teachers' post-test knowledge on the graphophonemic segmentation and irregular words tasks correlated significantly with tutored children's progress in decoding phonetically regular words; error analyses indicated links between teachers' patterns of word-structure knowledge and children's patterns of decoding progress. The study suggests that word-structure knowledge is important to effective teaching of word decoding and underscores the need to include this information in teacher preparation.

Risks of musculoskeletal disorders among betel quid preparers in Taiwan.

PubMed

Chang, Jer-Hao; Wu, Jyun-De; Chen, Chih-Yong; Sumd, Shih-Bin; Yin, Hsin-I; Hsu, Der-Jen

2014-04-01

Betel quid chewing is common in Taiwan. The work of betel quid preparers is characterized by long hours of static work, awkward working posture and highly repetitive hand/wrist motion. However, the musculoskeletal health of betel quid preparers receives very little attention. The Chinese version of the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) was administered, and electrogoniometers and electromyography were used in this cross-sectional study to characterize the hand/wrist motion of the subjects. Physical examinations on the thumbs and wrists of the subjects were conducted by means of Phalen's test and Finkelstein's test, respectively. Among the 225 participants, more than 95% attributed their musculoskeletal complaints to their work, and shoulder, neck, hand/wrist, and lower back discomfort were most frequently reported. More than 70% of the preparers did not seek medical treatment for their musculoskeletal problems. Based on the physical examination, 24% of the participants had suspected symptom of either carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) or DeQuervain's tenosynovitis. The instrumental measurements indicated that betel quid preparation is characterized by extreme angle ranges and moderate repetition of wrist motion as well as low forceful exertion. This study concludes that betel quid preparers are a high risk group of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Future studies by electrogoniometers and detailed physical examination on betel quid preparers are needed to determine the predisposing factors for CTS. Some intervention measures to prevent MSDs and to lessen psychological stress for this group of workers are strongly suggested. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Smart command recognizer (SCR) - For development, test, and implementation of speech commands

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simpson, Carol A.; Bunnell, John W.; Krones, Robert R.

1988-01-01

The SCR, a rapid prototyping system for the development, testing, and implementation of speech commands in a flight simulator or test aircraft, is described. A single unit performs all functions needed during these three phases of system development, while the use of common software and speech command data structure files greatly reduces the preparation time for successive development phases. As a smart peripheral to a simulation or flight host computer, the SCR interprets the pilot's spoken input and passes command codes to the simulation or flight computer.

Novel hard compositions and methods of preparation

DOEpatents

Sheinberg, H.

1981-02-03

Novel very hard compositions of matter are prepared by using in all embodiments only a minor amount of a particular carbide (or materials which can form the carbide in situ when subjected to heat and pressure); and no strategic cobalt is needed. Under a particular range of conditions, densified compositions of matter of the invention are prepared having hardnesses on the Rockwell A test substantially equal to the hardness of pure tungsten carbide and to two of the hardest commercial cobalt-bonded tungsten carbides. Alternately, other compositions of the invention which have slightly lower hardnesses than those described above in one embodiment also possess the advantage of requiring no tungsten and in another embodiment possess the advantage of having a good fracture toughness value.

Hanford Waste End Effector Phase I Test Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Berglin, Eric J.; Hatchell, Brian K.; Mount, Jason C.

This test plan describes the Phase 1 testing program of the Hanford Waste End Effector (HWEE) at the Washington River Protection Solutions’ Cold Test Facility (CTF) using a Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)-designed testing setup. This effort fulfills the informational needs for initial assessment of the HWEE to support Hanford single-shell tank A-105 retrieval. This task will install the HWEE on a PNNL-designed robotic gantry system at CTF, install and calibrate instrumentation to measure reaction forces and process parameters, prepare and characterize simulant materials, and implement the test program. The tests will involve retrieval of water, sludge, and hardpan simulantsmore » to determine pumping rate, dilution factors, and screen fouling rate.« less

Interactive Schematic Integration Within the Propellant System Modeling Environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coote, David; Ryan, Harry; Burton, Kenneth; McKinney, Lee; Woodman, Don

2012-01-01

Task requirements for rocket propulsion test preparations of the test stand facilities drive the need to model the test facility propellant systems prior to constructing physical modifications. The Propellant System Modeling Environment (PSME) is an initiative designed to enable increased efficiency and expanded capabilities to a broader base of NASA engineers in the use of modeling and simulation (M&S) technologies for rocket propulsion test and launch mission requirements. PSME will enable a wider scope of users to utilize M&S of propulsion test and launch facilities for predictive and post-analysis functionality by offering a clean, easy-to-use, high-performance application environment.

The relative persuasiveness of gain-framed versus loss-Framed HIV testing message: evidence from a field experiment in northwest Ethiopia.

PubMed

Bekalu, Mesfin Awoke; Eggermont, Steven

2014-01-01

This study assessed the relative advantages of gain- versus loss-framed messages for promoting HIV testing among a sample of urban and rural residents in northwest Ethiopia. The authors randomly assigned 394 participants to read gain-framed (n = 196) or loss-framed (n = 198) HIV testing message prepared in a form of brochure. Experience with HIV testing, concern about and information needs on HIV/AIDS, and urbanity versus rurality significantly moderated the effects of framing on intention to test for HIV. A gain-frame advantage was found among urbanites, participants with high experience with HIV testing, and those with high concern about and information needs on HIV/AIDS, suggesting a more likely construal of HIV testing as a prevention behavior among these individuals. In contrast, a loss-frame advantage was found among ruralites and participants with low concern about and information needs on HIV/AIDS, suggesting a more likely construal of HIV testing as a detection behavior among such individuals. Moreover, gain- and loss-framing led to similar outcomes among individuals with low levels of experience with HIV testing, with a slight advantage for the loss-framed message. All of the framing effects obtained were of small to medium size.

Toddler test or procedure preparation

MedlinePlus

Preparing toddler for test/procedure; Test/procedure preparation - toddler; Preparing for a medical test or procedure - toddler ... Before the test, know that your child will probably cry. Even if you prepare, your child may feel some discomfort or ...

A novel website to prepare diverse older adults for decision making and advance care planning: a pilot study.

PubMed

Sudore, Rebecca L; Knight, Sara J; McMahan, Ryan D; Feuz, Mariko; Farrell, David; Miao, Yinghui; Barnes, Deborah E

2014-04-01

We have reconceptualized advance care planning (ACP) as a multistep process focused on preparing patients with skills needed for communication and in-the-moment decision making. To operationalize this paradigm, we created an easy-to-use ACP website (prepareforyourcare.org) based on a theoretical framework of behavior change and pilot-tested its efficacy to engage older adults in ACP. At baseline and 1 week after viewing the PREPARE website, we assessed behavior change in ACP by using a validated survey that includes Process Measures (knowledge, contemplation, self-efficacy, and readiness, 5-point Likert scales) and Action Measures (yes/no whether an ACP behavior was completed). We also assigned participants into behavior change stages (i.e., precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, maintenance) and determined the percentage of participants who moved from precontemplation at baseline to higher stages at 1 week. We also assessed PREPARE ease-of-use (10-point scale, 10 being the easiest). Changes were assessed with Wilcoxon signed rank sum tests and McNemar's tests. Mean age of the participants was 68.4 years (SD 6.6), and 65% were nonwhite. Behavior Change Process Measures average Likert scores increased from 3.1 (0.9) to 3.7 (0.7), P < 0.001. Action Measures did not change significantly. However, precontemplation significantly decreased for most actions (e.g., talking to doctor about desired medical care, 61% to 35%, P < 0.003), with a mean decrease of 21% (range, 16%-33%). PREPARE was rated a nine of ten (±1.9) for ease-of-use. A new, patient-centered ACP website that focuses on preparing patients for communication and decision making significantly improves engagement in the process of ACP and behavior change. A clinical trial of PREPARE is currently underway. Published by Elsevier Inc.

First international external quality assessment of molecular detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.

PubMed

Escadafal, Camille; Olschläger, Stephan; Avšič-Županc, Tatjana; Papa, Anna; Vanhomwegen, Jessica; Wölfel, Roman; Mirazimi, Ali; Teichmann, Anette; Donoso-Mantke, Oliver; Niedrig, Matthias

2012-01-01

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonosis caused by a Nairovirus of the family Bunyaviridae. Infection is transmitted to humans mostly by Hyalomma ticks and also by direct contact with the blood or tissues of infected humans or viremic livestock. Clinical features usually include a rapid progression characterized by hemorrhage, myalgia and fever, with a lethality rate up to 30%. CCHF is one of the most widely distributed viral hemorrhagic fevers and has been reported in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as parts of Europe. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment against CCHF virus (CCHFV) infections. In this context, an accurate diagnosis as well as a reliable surveillance of CCHFV infections is essential. Diagnostic techniques include virus culture, serology and molecular methods, which are now increasingly used. The European Network for the Diagnostics of "Imported" Viral Diseases organized the first international external quality assessment of CCHVF molecular diagnostics in 2011 to assess the efficiency and accurateness of CCHFV molecular methods applied by expert laboratories. A proficiency test panel of 15 samples was distributed to the participants including 10 different CCHFV preparations generated from infected cell cultures, a preparation of plasmid cloned with the nucleoprotein of CCHFV, two CCHFV RNA preparations and two negative controls. Forty-four laboratories worldwide participated in the EQA study and 53 data sets were received. Twenty data sets (38%) met all criteria with optimal performance, 10 (19%) with acceptable performance, while 23 (43%) reported results showing a need for improvement. Differences in performance depended on the method used, the type of strain tested, the concentration of the sample tested and the laboratory performing the test. These results indicate that there is still a need for improving testing conditions and standardizing protocols for the molecular detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus.

First International External Quality Assessment of Molecular Detection of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus

PubMed Central

Escadafal, Camille; Ölschläger, Stephan; Avšič-Županc, Tatjana; Papa, Anna; Vanhomwegen, Jessica; Wölfel, Roman; Mirazimi, Ali; Teichmann, Anette; Donoso-Mantke, Oliver; Niedrig, Matthias

2012-01-01

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonosis caused by a Nairovirus of the family Bunyaviridae. Infection is transmitted to humans mostly by Hyalomma ticks and also by direct contact with the blood or tissues of infected humans or viremic livestock. Clinical features usually include a rapid progression characterized by hemorrhage, myalgia and fever, with a lethality rate up to 30%. CCHF is one of the most widely distributed viral hemorrhagic fevers and has been reported in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as parts of Europe. There is no approved vaccine or specific treatment against CCHF virus (CCHFV) infections. In this context, an accurate diagnosis as well as a reliable surveillance of CCHFV infections is essential. Diagnostic techniques include virus culture, serology and molecular methods, which are now increasingly used. The European Network for the Diagnostics of “Imported” Viral Diseases organized the first international external quality assessment of CCHVF molecular diagnostics in 2011 to assess the efficiency and accurateness of CCHFV molecular methods applied by expert laboratories. A proficiency test panel of 15 samples was distributed to the participants including 10 different CCHFV preparations generated from infected cell cultures, a preparation of plasmid cloned with the nucleoprotein of CCHFV, two CCHFV RNA preparations and two negative controls. Forty-four laboratories worldwide participated in the EQA study and 53 data sets were received. Twenty data sets (38%) met all criteria with optimal performance, 10 (19%) with acceptable performance, while 23 (43%) reported results showing a need for improvement. Differences in performance depended on the method used, the type of strain tested, the concentration of the sample tested and the laboratory performing the test. These results indicate that there is still a need for improving testing conditions and standardizing protocols for the molecular detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus. PMID:22745842

Training in multiple breath washout testing for respiratory physiotherapists.

PubMed

O'Neill, Katherine; Elborn, J Stuart; Tunney, Michael M; O'Neill, Philip; Rowan, Stephen; Martin, Susan; Bradley, Judy M

2018-03-01

The development of multiple breath washout (MBW) testing in respiratory disease highlights the need for increased awareness amongst respiratory physiotherapists and a potential opportunity for professional development in the use of an important outcome measure for clinical trials. To rationalise how MBW may be a useful assessment tool for respiratory physiotherapists and to describe a local MBW training and certification programme for physiotherapists. The respiratory Multidisciplinary Team in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) identified a need for MBW testing to be available to facilitate clinical research and assessment. A 2day training programme consisting of prereading preparation, self-directed learning, theory presentations, practical demonstrations and hands-on practice was developed and delivered. All participants underwent a certification process. We have demonstrated the successful training and certification of clinical and research physiotherapists and encourage other respiratory physiotherapists to consider MBW test training. Copyright © 2017 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effective removal of equine arteritis virus from stallion semen.

PubMed

Morrell, J M; Geraghty, R M

2006-05-01

A method of removing equine arteritis virus (EAV) from equine semen used for artificial insemination is urgently needed. Recent medical studies suggest that a double semen processing technique of density gradient centrifugation followed by a 'swim-up' can provide virus-free sperm preparations for assisted reproduction. To investigate the use of the double semen processing technique to obtain virus-free sperm preparations from stallion semen containing EAV. Aliquots of an ejaculate from an uninfected stallion were spiked with virus and processed by the double processing technique. The sperm preparations were tested by PCR for the presence of EAV. The procedure was repeated using an ejaculate from a known shedding stallion, testing processed and unprocessed aliquots by PCR and virus isolation. Virus-free sperm preparations were obtained using the double sperm processing technique. The 'swim-up' step is apparently required to ensure complete virus removal. The double semen processing technique is potentially a useful and simple tool for the removal of EAV from the semen of shedding stallions. The inclusion of density gradient centrifugation and 'swim-up' in protocols for the processing of semen for artificial insemination could help prevent the transmission of viral diseases carried in semen, such as EAV.

Educating nurses to care for military veterans in civilian hospitals: An integrated literature review.

PubMed

Cooper, Linda; Andrew, Sharon; Fossey, Matt

2016-12-01

In the UK, military veterans will receive care by civilian nurses in civilian hospitals. We propose that the nurses providing this care require an understanding of the unique experiences and specific health needs of veterans to deliver evidence-based care. To conduct an integrative review of published literature to explore how nursing programmes prepare nurses to care for the military veteran population in civilian hospitals. A systematic search was undertaken of a range of electronic databases, Google Scholar and hand searching of Military and Veteran health journals. Papers that focused on education of civilian nurses about veteran health and included primary research or description of practice-based innovations were included in the review. The search generated sixteen papers that were focused on nurse education in higher education institutions. Several papers focused on simulation as a teaching method for veteran-specific health issues or curriculum developments with educational innovations such as online courses. Six papers focusing in continuing professional education of nurses in the clinical setting were included as supplementary information. All papers reviewed were US focused and dated between January 2011 and September 2015. Our search concluded that there is a gap in knowledge in this subject area within a UK context, therefore our review includes UK background information to support the US findings. Civilian nurses need educational preparation to understand the specific needs of veterans. Educational institutions in the US have responded to nationwide initiatives to undertake that preparation. More empirical studies need to be undertaken to develop, test and evaluate educational innovations for preparing students and nurses delivering care to military veteran in civilian healthcare settings. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Time on Text and Science Achievement for High School Biology Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wyss, Vanessa L.; Dolenc, Nathan; Kong, Xiaoqing; Tai, Robert H.

2013-01-01

The conflict between the amount of material to be addressed in high school science classes, the need to prepare students for standardized tests, and the amount of time available forces science educators to make difficult pedagogical decisions on a daily basis. Hands-on and inquiry-based learning offer students more authentic learning experiences…

Correlation between MCAT Biology Content Specifications and Topic Scope and Sequence of General Education College Biology Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rissing, Steven W.

2013-01-01

Most American colleges and universities offer gateway biology courses to meet the needs of three undergraduate audiences: biology and related science majors, many of whom will become biomedical researchers; premedical students meeting medical school requirements and preparing for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT); and students completing…

Read Long and Prosper: Five Do's and Don'ts for Preparing Students for College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDaniel, Kathryn N.

2014-01-01

Too often, students reach college without the learning, critical thinking, and literacy skills they need to succeed in higher education. Recent educational trends that promote teaching to the test, short reading and writing assignments, group work, and technological resources contribute to students' difficulties transitioning to college-level…

Children's Lack of Playtime Seen as Troubling Health, School Issue

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jacobson, Linda

2008-01-01

Teachers and parents are frequently warned that students in the United States are lacking the academic skills they need for the 21st century. But a growing contingent of educators, psychologists, and other professionals are voicing worries that today's children are also growing up without the chance to play. Test preparation in kindergarten,…

Preparing Pilots for Takeoff

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ravage, Barbara

2012-01-01

Why would schools consider partnering with a vendor to operate a pilot? Why not just wait until the final product is released? For starters, pilots provide schools with a golden opportunity to get an early look at the software, take it for a test flight, and ask for changes tailored to their operating environment and business needs. In some cases,…

Politics and Transformation: Critical Approaches toward Political Aspects of Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keller, Deborah Biss; Keller, J. Gregory

2014-01-01

The current situation in education in the United States of America (USA), with an emphasis on high-stakes testing and privatization, calls for a counter-discourse revealing what is sacrificed by these educational policies and what forms of education are needed to prepare future teachers to engage their students in effecting social justice. We draw…

Exploring the Academic Achievement Gap among Hispanic Students on State Standardized Tests

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Melendez, Ruth L.

2013-01-01

Historically Hispanic students have lagged behind African American, White, and other ethnic groups in academics. The Hispanic population is the fastest growing minority group in the United States. The increase of Hispanic students in our schools has created significant concerns among educators. The schools are not prepared to meet the needs of…

Why Students Need to Be Prepared to Cooperate: A Cooperative Nudge in Statistics Learning at University

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Buchs, Céline; Gilles, Ingrid; Antonietti, Jean-Philippe; Butera, Fabrizio

2016-01-01

Despite the potential benefits of cooperative learning at university, its implementation is challenging. Here, we propose a theory-based 90-min intervention with 185 first-year psychology students in the challenging domain of statistics, consisting of an exercise phase and an individual learning post-test. We compared three conditions that…

Understanding Teacher Effectiveness: Providing Feedback to Teacher Preparation Programs. Data for Action 2013

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Data Quality Campaign, 2014

2014-01-01

Teachers need longitudinal student-level data, such as attendance history, course-taking patterns, grades, and test scores, to tailor instruction to individual students' strengths and weaknesses.This factsheet uses the findings from the Data for Action 2013 analysis to discuss how states can provide teachers with student-level longitudinal data,…

Screening tests for pathogenic corynebacteria.

PubMed Central

Colman, G; Weaver, E; Efstratiou, A

1992-01-01

AIM: To provide simple tests that would help in the identification of corynebacteria that produce diphtheria toxin. METHODS: A collection of 99 freshly isolated corynebacteria was assembled and the cultures identified by conventional tests confirmed by an identification kit. Modifications were made to procedures for preparation of the culture medium for the Elek test and to the test for detection of pyrazinamidase (pyrazine carboxylamidase) activity. These two together with an indicator medium for cystinase activity were applied to the collection of organisms. RESULTS: Cystinase was detected in all 61 members of the toxigenic species and none produced pyrazinamidase. In contrast, all but two of the 38 representatives of non-toxigenic species yielded pyrazinamidase and none formed cystinase. Of the 61 cystinase producing cultures (which were also pyrazinamidase negative), 21 gave a positive Elek test with the modified culture medium. A total of 30 of these 61 were tested for toxigenicity in guinea pigs and the results of the animal and plate tests concorded. At least seven cultures could have been reported as non-toxigenic if Elek tests based on media prepared in the conventional way had been the only test available. CONCLUSION: The three procedures described go some way towards meeting the needs of diagnostic laboratories for efficient procedures for distinguishing pathogenic corynebacteria. PMID:1740514

Small Business: Action Needed to Determine Whether DOD’s Comprehensive Subcontracting Plan Test Program Should Be Made Permanent

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-11-01

collected. We determined that the methodologies were valid and the data were reliable for our purposes. In addition, we interviewed DOD officials and...of contracts and cost of labor involved in preparing program documentation, to arrive at the estimates for savings. To validate the data used in the...studies to be reasonable, and the data were sufficiently reliable for our purposes. We interviewed officials from DOD and 5 of the 12 Test Program

Satellite power system (SPS) concept definition study. Volume 3: Experimental verification definition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hanley, G. M.

1980-01-01

An evolutionary Satellite Power Systems development plan was prepared. Planning analysis was directed toward the evolution of a scenario that met the stated objectives, was technically possible and economically attractive, and took into account constraining considerations, such as requirements for very large scale end-to-end demonstration in a compressed time frame, the relative cost/technical merits of ground testing versus space testing, and the need for large mass flow capability to low Earth orbit and geosynchronous orbit at reasonable cost per pound.

Efficiency of organic acid preparations for the elimination of naturally occurring Salmonella in feed material.

PubMed

Axmann, Sonja; Kolar, Veronika; Adler, Andreas; Strnad, Irmengard

2017-11-01

Salmonella can enter animal stocks via feedstuffs, thus posing not only an infection risk for animals, but also threatening to contaminate food of animal origin and finally humans. Salmonella contamination in feedstuffs is still a recurring and serious issue in animal production (especially for the poultry sector), and is regularly detected upon self-monitoring by feed companies (self-checks) and official inspections authorities. Operators within the feed chain in certain cases need to use hygienic condition enhancers, such as organic acids, to improve the quality of feed for animal nutrition, providing additional guarantees for the protection of animal and public health. The present study investigated the efficiencies of five organic acid preparations. The acid products were added to three different feed materials contaminated with Salmonella (contamination occurred by recontamination in the course of the production process) at seven different inclusion rates (1-7%) and analysed after 1, 2, and 7 days' exposure time using culture method (tenfold analysis). A reliable standard was established for defining a successful decontamination under the prevailing test conditions: 10 Salmonella-negative results out of 10 tested samples (0/10: i.e. 0 positive samples and 10 negative samples). The results demonstrated that the tested preparations showed significant differences with regard to the reduction in Salmonella contamination. At an inclusion rate of 7% of the feed materials, two out of five acid preparations showed an insufficient, very small, decontamination effect, whereas two others had a relatively large partial effect. Reliable decontamination was demonstrated only for one acid preparation, however, subject to the use of the highest acid concentration.

Automated CD-SEM recipe creation technology for mass production using CAD data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kawahara, Toshikazu; Yoshida, Masamichi; Tanaka, Masashi; Ido, Sanyu; Nakano, Hiroyuki; Adachi, Naokaka; Abe, Yuichi; Nagatomo, Wataru

2011-03-01

Critical Dimension Scanning Electron Microscope (CD-SEM) recipe creation needs sample preparation necessary for matching pattern registration, and recipe creation on CD-SEM using the sample, which hinders the reduction in test production cost and time in semiconductor manufacturing factories. From the perspective of cost reduction and improvement of the test production efficiency, automated CD-SEM recipe creation without the sample preparation and the manual operation has been important in the production lines. For the automated CD-SEM recipe creation, we have introduced RecipeDirector (RD) that enables the recipe creation by using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) data and text data that includes measurement information. We have developed a system that automatically creates the CAD data and the text data necessary for the recipe creation on RD; and, for the elimination of the manual operation, we have enhanced RD so that all measurement information can be specified in the text data. As a result, we have established an automated CD-SEM recipe creation system without the sample preparation and the manual operation. For the introduction of the CD-SEM recipe creation system using RD to the production lines, the accuracy of the pattern matching was an issue. The shape of design templates for the matching created from the CAD data was different from that of SEM images in vision. Thus, a development of robust pattern matching algorithm that considers the shape difference was needed. The addition of image processing of the templates for the matching and shape processing of the CAD patterns in the lower layer has enabled the robust pattern matching. This paper describes the automated CD-SEM recipe creation technology for the production lines without the sample preparation and the manual operation using RD applied in Sony Semiconductor Kyusyu Corporation Kumamoto Technology Center (SCK Corporation Kumamoto TEC).

Dextran/Albumin hydrogel sealant for Dacron(R) vascular prosthesis.

PubMed

Lisman, Anna; Butruk, Beata; Wasiak, Iga; Ciach, Tomasz

2014-05-01

In this paper, the authors describe a novel type of hydrogel coating prepared from the copolymer of human serum albumin and oxidized dextran. The material was designed as a hydrogel sealant for polyester (Dacron®)-based vascular grafts. Dextran was chosen as a coating material due to its anti-thrombogenic properties. Prepared hydrogels were compared with similar, already known biomaterial made from gelatine with the same cross-linking agent. Obtained hydrogels, prepared from various ratios of oxidized dextran/albumin or oxidized dextran/gelatine, showed different cross-linking densities, which caused differences in swelling, degradation rate and mechanical properties. Permeability tests confirmed the complete tightness of the hydrogel-modified prosthesis. Results showed that application of the hydrogel coating provided leakage-free prosthesis and eliminated the need of pre-clotting.

Identifying images of handwritten digits using deep learning in H2O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sadhasivam, Jayakumar; Charanya, R.; Kumar, S. Harish; Srinivasan, A.

2017-11-01

Automatic digit recognition is of popular interest today. Deep learning techniques make it possible for object recognition in image data. Perceiving the digit has turned into a fundamental part as far as certifiable applications. Since, digits are composed in various styles in this way to distinguish the digit it is important to perceive and arrange it with the assistance of machine learning methods. This exploration depends on supervised learning vector quantization neural system arranged under counterfeit artificial neural network. The pictures of digits are perceived, prepared and tried. After the system is made digits are prepared utilizing preparing dataset vectors and testing is connected to the pictures of digits which are separated to each other by fragmenting the picture and resizing the digit picture as needs be for better precision.

Guidelines for integrating population education into primary education and literacy programmes.

PubMed

1989-01-01

In recent seminars and workshops in the Asia and Pacific region the integration of population education into primary schools and literacy programs were the main topics. In most of the countries in this area separate courses in population education appear to be unfeasible for primary and secondary schools. In the nonformal area experience has indicated that population education acquires more meaning and relevance if it is integrated into an ongoing development program. The integration approach requires knowledge of the contents of the accommodating subjects or programs and knowledge of the contents of the accommodating subjects or programs and knowledge of the contents of population education. Guidelines suggested include the following steps in developing an integrated curriculum and instructional materials. First determine the needs, characteristics and other background information needed on the target group. Next prioritize the problems and needs of the target group, and formulate educational objectives from the identified needs and problems. Next determine and sequence the curriculum contents and then determine specific population education objectives and contents for integration, and what specific materials have to be developed. Then identify the specific type of format of materials to be developed, and write the first draft of the material. Also prepare illustrations and other art and graphic materials. Then the draft material should be reviewed and translated into the language of the target audience if needed. The materials should then be pretested, or field tested, using a sample of the intended users. To make sure the materials are reaching the target groups and being used effectively, a user's guide should be prepared and teachers and facilitators, as well as supervisors, should be prepared on the use of the material. In addition, a distribution and utilization plan should be prepared. Nonformal education materials can be distributed through libraries, reading center, residences of village leaders, neighborhood stores, and direct mail. The material distribution and utilization should be monitored and evaluated.

Design ATE systems for complex assemblies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Napier, R. S.; Flammer, G. H.; Moser, S. A.

1983-06-01

The use of ATE systems in radio specification testing can reduce the test time by approximately 90 to 95 percent. What is more, the test station does not require a highly trained operator. Since the system controller has full power over all the measurements, human errors are not introduced into the readings. The controller is immune to any need to increase output by allowing marginal units to pass through the system. In addition, the software compensates for predictable, repeatable system errors, for example, cabling losses, which are an inherent part of the test setup. With no variation in test procedures from unit to unit, there is a constant repeatability factor. Preparing the software, however, usually entails considerable expense. It is pointed out that many of the problems associated with ATE system software can be avoided with the use of a software-intensive, or computer-intensive, system organization. Its goal is to minimize the user's need for software development, thereby saving time and money.

Utah Elementary School Principals Preparation as Technology Leaders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Esplin, Nathan L.

2017-01-01

The rapidly expanding use of technology in education has brought about the need for principals to be prepared as technology leaders. Although, there is a need for principals to be prepared as technology leaders, many currently are not prepared for this role. It is crucial that principals are prepared in order ability to lead their school in…

The autonomic laboratory

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Low, P. A.; Opfer-Gehrking, T. L.

1999-01-01

The autonomic nervous system can now be studied quantitatively, noninvasively, and reproducibly in a clinical autonomic laboratory. The approach at the Mayo Clinic is to study the postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers of peripheral nerve (using the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test [QSART]), the parasympathetic nerves to the heart (cardiovagal tests), and the regulation of blood pressure by the baroreflexes (adrenergic tests). Patient preparation is extremely important, since the state of the patient influences the results of autonomic function tests. The autonomic technologist in this evolving field needs to have a solid core of knowledge of autonomic physiology and autonomic function tests, followed by training in the performance of these tests in a standardized fashion. The range and utilization of tests of autonomic function will likely continue to evolve.

Skylab 4 crew at start of high altitude chamber test at KSC

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1973-01-01

Astronaut Gerald P. Carr, fully suited, Skylab 4 commander, prepares to enter spacecraft 118 (the Skylab 4 vehicle) at the start of the high altitude chamber test at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) (34093); The Skylab 4 crew, fully suited, are seated inside their Command Module, which has been undergoing high altitude chamber test runs at KSC after being considered as a possible rescue vehicle, if needed for the Skylab 3 crew. Facing the camera is Scientist-Astronaut Edward G. Gibson, science pilot. Astronauts Carr, commander; and William R. Pogue, pilot, are also pictured (34094).

Exit Presentation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melone, Kate

2016-01-01

Skills Acquired: Tensile Testing: Prepare materials and setting up the tensile tests; Collect and interpret (messy) data. Outgassing Testing: Understand TML (Total Mass Loss) and CVCM (Collected Volatile Condensable Material); Collaboration with other NASA centers. Z2 (NASA's Prototype Space Suit Development) Support: Hands on building mockups of components; Analyze data; Work with others, understanding what both parties need in order to make a run successful. LCVG (Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment) Flush and Purge Console: Both formal design and design review process; How to determine which components to use - flow calculations, pressure ratings, size, etc.; Hazard Analysis; How to make design tradeoffs.

Proceedings: Nozzle Initiative Industry Advisory Committee on standardization of carbon-phenolic test methods and specifications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hall, William B.

1992-01-01

Verbal discussions during the biannual meeting of the Industry Advisory Committee for Carbon-phenolic constituent test methodology, which is constituted under the Solid Propulsion Integrity Program (SPIP), are addressed. The items on the agenda are: (1) NASA video tape library; (2) product code identification; (3) NMR progress; (4) IR and DMTA workshop; (5) aerospace database update; (6) M vision database demonstration; (7) constituent fingerprinting; (8) cured materials test development; (9) engineering needs for computer modeling; and (10) review action items. The materials prepared to support some of the oral presentations are also included in the Appendix.

EU Regulation of Nanobiocides: Challenges in Implementing the Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR)

PubMed Central

Brinch, Anna; Hansen, Steffen Foss; Hartmann, Nanna B.; Baun, Anders

2016-01-01

The Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) contains several provisions for nanomaterials (NMs) and is the first regulation in the European Union to require specific testing and risk assessment for the NM form of a biocidal substance as a part of the information requirements. Ecotoxicological data are one of the pillars of the information requirements in the BPR, but there are currently no standard test guidelines for the ecotoxicity testing of NMs. The overall objective of this work was to investigate the implications of the introduction of nano-specific testing requirements in the BPR and to explore how these might be fulfilled in the case of copper oxide nanoparticles. While there is information and data available in the open literature that could be used to fulfill the BPR information requirements, most of the studies do not take the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s nanospecific test guidelines into consideration. This makes it difficult for companies as well as regulators to fulfill the BPR information requirements for nanomaterials. In order to enable a nanospecific risk assessment, best practices need to be developed regarding stock suspension preparation and characterization, exposure suspensions preparation, and for conducting ecotoxicological test. PMID:28344290

EU Regulation of Nanobiocides: Challenges in Implementing the Biocidal Product Regulation (BPR).

PubMed

Brinch, Anna; Hansen, Steffen Foss; Hartmann, Nanna B; Baun, Anders

2016-02-16

The Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) contains several provisions for nanomaterials (NMs) and is the first regulation in the European Union to require specific testing and risk assessment for the NM form of a biocidal substance as a part of the information requirements. Ecotoxicological data are one of the pillars of the information requirements in the BPR, but there are currently no standard test guidelines for the ecotoxicity testing of NMs. The overall objective of this work was to investigate the implications of the introduction of nano-specific testing requirements in the BPR and to explore how these might be fulfilled in the case of copper oxide nanoparticles. While there is information and data available in the open literature that could be used to fulfill the BPR information requirements, most of the studies do not take the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's nanospecific test guidelines into consideration. This makes it difficult for companies as well as regulators to fulfill the BPR information requirements for nanomaterials. In order to enable a nanospecific risk assessment, best practices need to be developed regarding stock suspension preparation and characterization, exposure suspensions preparation, and for conducting ecotoxicological test.

An Adaptation of the Original Fresno Test to Measure Evidence-Based Practice Competence in Pediatric Bedside Nurses.

PubMed

Laibhen-Parkes, Natasha; Kimble, Laura P; Melnyk, Bernadette Mazurek; Sudia, Tanya; Codone, Susan

2018-06-01

Instruments used to assess evidence-based practice (EBP) competence in nurses have been subjective, unreliable, or invalid. The Fresno test was identified as the only instrument to measure all the steps of EBP with supportive reliability and validity data. However, the items and psychometric properties of the original Fresno test are only relevant to measure EBP with medical residents. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to describe the development of the adapted Fresno test for pediatric nurses, and provide preliminary validity and reliability data for its use with Bachelor of Science in Nursing-prepared pediatric bedside nurses. General adaptations were made to the original instrument's case studies, item content, wording, and format to meet the needs of a pediatric nursing sample. The scoring rubric was also modified to complement changes made to the instrument. Content and face validity, and intrarater reliability of the adapted Fresno test were assessed during a mixed-methods pilot study conducted from October to December 2013 with 29 Bachelor of Science in Nursing-prepared pediatric nurses. Validity data provided evidence for good content and face validity. Intrarater reliability estimates were high. The adapted Fresno test presented here appears to be a valid and reliable assessment of EBP competence in Bachelor of Science in Nursing-prepared pediatric nurses. However, further testing of this instrument is warranted using a larger sample of pediatric nurses in diverse settings. This instrument can be a starting point for evaluating the impact of EBP competence on patient outcomes. © 2018 Sigma Theta Tau International.

Comparing the frequency of physical examination techniques performed by associate and baccalaureate degree prepared nurses in clinical practice: does education make a difference?

PubMed

Giddens, Jean

2006-03-01

Rapid changes in health care have underscored the need for reform in health professions education, including nursing education. One of many problems cited in the nursing and other health sciences education literature is overcrowded curricula; therefore, an evaluation of content is necessary. The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences exist in the frequency that physical examination techniques are performed by associate and baccalaureate degree prepared nurses. Participants completed a survey on performance of various physical examination techniques. A Mann-Whitney test showed no differences between the two groups in terms of frequency of techniques performed. A small negative correlation was found between frequency and years of experience with the nutrition assessment category. A comparison of physical examination content covered in baccalaureate and associate degree nursing programs is needed to further understand these findings.

Phase diagrams for lead-free solder alloys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kattner, Ursula R.

2002-12-01

The need for new, improved solder alloys and a better understanding of reactions during the soldering process grows steadily as the need for smaller and more reliable electronic products increases. Information obtained from phase equilibria data and thermodynamic calculations has proven to be an important tool in the design and understanding of new lead-free solder alloys. A wide range of candidate alloys can be rapidly evaluated for proper freezing ranges, susceptibility to contamination effects, and reactions with substrate materials before the expensive process of preparing and testing candidate alloys is initiated.

The integrity of bonded amalgam restorations: a clinical evaluation after five years.

PubMed

Mach, Zbynek; Regent, Jan; Staninec, Michal; Mrklas, Lubor; Setcos, James C

2002-04-01

Bonded amalgam restorations have been studied extensively in vitro, but few long term clinical studies exist. The authors examined the clinical performance of bonded amalgam restorations after five years of clinical service an compared it with that of nonbonded amalgam restorations. The authors placed 75 bonded and 62 nonbonded amalgam restorations in patients needing restorations. Most of the restorations were placed in conventional preparations; six bonded restorations were placed in nonretentive cavities. They were evaluated after a five-year period of clinical service by two trained dentists using a mirror and explorer and following modified U.S. Public Health Service criteria. Statistical analysis (via Fisher exact test) showed no significant differences between the two techniques when conventional preparations were used. Restorations in nonretentive preparations were successful during this period. Bonded and nonbonded amalgam restorations yielded similar results in conventional preparations after five years of clinical service. Bonded amalgam restorations were clinically successful in a limited number of nonretentive preparations over a five-year period. Bonded amalgam restorations can be used successfully in conventional preparations and possibly in nonretentive preparations as well, and can be expected to last at least five years.

Systematic Review of Plant-Based Homeopathic Basic Research: An Update.

PubMed

Ücker, Annekathrin; Baumgartner, Stephan; Sokol, Anezka; Huber, Roman; Doesburg, Paul; Jäger, Tim

2018-05-01

 Plant-based test systems have been described as a useful tool for investigating possible effects of homeopathic preparations. The last reviews of this research field were published in 2009/2011. Due to recent developments in the field, an update is warranted. Publications on plant-based test systems were analysed with regard to publication quality, reproducibility and potential for further research.  A literature search was conducted in online databases and specific journals, including publications from 2008 to 2017 dealing with plant-based test systems in homeopathic basic research. To be included, they had to contain statistical analysis and fulfil quality criteria according to a pre-defined manuscript information score (MIS). Publications scoring at least 5 points (maximum 10 points) were assumed to be adequate. They were analysed for the use of adequate controls, outcome and reproducibility.  Seventy-four publications on plant-based test systems were found. Thirty-nine publications were either abstracts or proceedings of conferences and were excluded. From the remaining 35 publications, 26 reached a score of 5 or higher in the MIS. Adequate controls were used in 13 of these publications. All of them described specific effects of homeopathic preparations. The publication quality still varied: a substantial number of publications (23%) did not adequately document the methods used. Four reported on replication trials. One replication trial found effects of homeopathic preparations comparable to the original study. Three replication trials failed to confirm the original study but identified possible external influencing factors. Five publications described novel plant-based test systems. Eight trials used systematic negative control experiments to document test system stability.  Regarding research design, future trials should implement adequate controls to identify specific effects of homeopathic preparations and include systematic negative control experiments. Further external and internal replication trials, and control of influencing factors, are needed to verify results. Standardised test systems should be developed. The Faculty of Homeopathy.

Modified use of methylene blue in the tissue compression technique to detect sarcocysts in meat-producing animals.

PubMed

Ng, Yit Han; Subramaniam, Vellayan; Lau, Yee Ling

2015-11-30

Sarcocystosis in meat-producing animals is a major cause of reduced productivity in many countries, especially those that rely on agriculture. Although several diagnostic methods are available to detect sarcocystosis, many are too time-consuming for routine use in abattoirs and meat inspection centers, where large numbers of samples need to be tested. This study aimed to compare the sensitivity of the methylene blue tissue preparation, unstained tissue preparation and nested PCR in the detection of sarcocysts in tissue samples. Approximately three-fold more sarcocysts were detected in methylene blue-stained tissue compared to unstained controls (McNemar's test: P<0.01). Test sensitivity was comparable to that of the gold standard for sarcocyst detection, nested polymerase chain reaction. These results suggest that methylene blue can be used in tissue compression as a rapid, safe, and inexpensive technique for the detection of ruminant sarcocystosis in abattoirs. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Study of development and utilization of a multipurpose atmospheric corrosion sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Diwan, Ravinder M.; Raman, A.; Bhattacharya, P. K.

1994-01-01

There has been a critical need for analyzing various aspects of atmospheric corrosion and for the development of atmospheric corrosion microsensors. The project work has involved the following activities: (1) making of multielectrode corrosion monitors on dielectric substrates; (2) testing them in the laboratory for functional characteristics; (3) preparing a report on the state of the art of atmospheric corrosion sensor development around the world; and (4) corrosion testing of electrochemical changes of sensor specimens and related fog testing. The study included work on the subject of development and utilization of a multipurpose atmospheric corrosion sensor and this report is the annual report on work carried out on this research project. This has included studies on the development of sensors of two designs, stage 1 and stage 2, and with glass and alumina substrate, experimentation and development and characterization of the coating uniformity, aspects of corrosion monitoring, literature search on the corrosion sensors and their development. A state of the art report on atmospheric corrosion sensor development was prepared and submitted.

Transformative Pedagogy, Leadership and School Organisation for the Twenty-First-Century Knowledge-Based Economy: The Case of Singapore

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dimmock, Clive; Goh, Jonathan W. P.

2011-01-01

Singapore has a high performing school system; its students top international tests in maths and science. Yet while the Singapore government cherishes its world class "brand", it realises that in a globally competitive world, its schools need to prepare students for the twenty-first-century knowledge-based economy (KBE). Accordingly,…

Weed Control and Seedling Performance Using Oust, Velpar, and Velpar+Oust Impregnated Diammonium Phosphate

Treesearch

J.L. Yeiser

2002-01-01

Technology that combines herbicide and fertilizer into one treatment thereby reducing application costs while enhancing growth is needed. Four clean and well-prepared sites in TX, MS, and AL were tested. Study objectives were to evaluate the effectiveness of diammonium phosphate (DAP) impregnated with Oust, Velpar, or Velpar+Oust for herbaceous weed control and newly...

If You Require It, Will They Learn from It? Student Perceptions of an Independent Research Project

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conner, Jerusha O.

2010-01-01

Although most teachers believe that "students should write at least one in-depth paper during high school," the independent research paper is disappearing from high school curricula in the face of two competing pressures: the need to prepare for high-stakes tests and student "senioritis." In many high schools, the senior year has become "a…

Screening Technique for Lead and Cadmium in Toys and Other Materials Using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brouwer, Henry

2005-01-01

A simple procedure to quickly screen different consumer products for the presence of lead, cadmium, and other metals is described. This screening technique avoids expending a lot of preparation time on samples known to contain low levels of hazardous metals where only samples testing positive for the desired elements need to be analyzed…

Pre and Post Test Evaluations of Students in the Needs-Analysis Based EAP Course at Undergraduate Level

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nafissi, Zohreh; Rezaeipanah, Fariba; Monsefi, Roya

2017-01-01

Iran's education system is exam-based and to gain admission to universities at undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels, candidates have to sit a competitive examination. For this reason, developing an EAP course which prepares the candidates for these examinations is of crucial importance. The present study attempted to develop an EAP…

Facilitating Democracy in a Testing Culture: Challenges and Opportunities for School Leaders

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bergmark, Ulrika; Salopek, Michelle; Kawai, Roi; Lane-Myler, Jennifer

2014-01-01

In 2010, Principal Kirk introduced Small Group Meeting (SGM) at Hillcrest Elementary. SGMs are multiage student groupings who meet with school faculty once a month to work on community building, service-learning projects, and advising. Many teachers liked the SGMs, some felt they needed more time to prepare, and others felt it was a waste of time.…

Opening Doors to the Future: Preparing Low-Achieving Middle Grades Students To Succeed in High School. 2002 Outstanding Practices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Southern Regional Education Board, Atlanta, GA.

This publication describes the efforts of 15 schools to address systemic change needed to help low-achieving students move successfully from middle to high school. Section 1, "Getting Students Ready for High School," examines "Interdisciplinary Approach Helps Eighth-Graders Improve Their Scores on State Tests"; "Two-Year Interdisciplinary Program…

Examining the Principal Preparation and Practice Gap

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Gary E.; Papa, Rosemary

2008-01-01

To anticipate the future needs of principal preparation, it is important to understand past efforts to bridge the preparation and practice gap. Decades ago, both the military and corporate industries discovered that classroom training was not meeting their needs for preparing soldiers and business professionals for real-life challenges. So they…

Development of replicated optics for AXAF-1 XDA testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Engelhaupt, Darell; Wilson, Michele; Martin, Greg

1995-01-01

Advanced optical systems for applications such as grazing incidence Wolter I x-ray mirror assemblies require extraordinary mirror surfaces in terms of fine finish and surface figure. The impeccable mirror surface is on the inside of the rotational mirror form. One practical method of producing devices with these requirements is to first fabricate an exterior surface for the optical device then replicate that surface to have the inverse component with lightweight characteristics. The replicated optic is not better than the master or mandrel from which it is made. This task identifies methods and materials for forming these extremely low roughness optical components. The objectives of this contract were to (1) prepare replication samples of electroless nickel coated aluminum, and determine process requirements for plating XDA test optic; (2) prepare and assemble plating equipment required to process a demonstration optic; (3) characterize mandrels, replicas and test samples for residual stress, surface contamination and surface roughness and figure using equipment at MSFC and; (4) provide technical expertise in establishing the processes, procedures, supplies and equipment needed to process the XDA test optics.

Preschooler test or procedure preparation

MedlinePlus

Preparing preschoolers for test/procedure; Test/procedure preparation - preschooler ... Preparing children for medical tests can reduce their anxiety. It can also make them less likely to cry and resist the procedure. Research shows that ...

Capabilities Development for Transient Testing of Advanced Nuclear Fuels at TREAT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Woolstenhulme, N. E.; Baker, C. C.; Bess, J. D.

2016-09-01

The TREAT facility is a unique capability at the Idaho National Laboratory currently being prepared for resumption of nuclear transient testing. Accordingly, designs for several transient irradiation tests are being pursued to enable development of advanced nuclear fuels and materials. In addition to the reactor itself, the foundation for TREAT’s capabilities also include a suite of irradiation vehicles and supporting infrastructure to provide the desired specimen boundary conditions while supporting a variety of instrumentation needs. The challenge of creating these vehicles, especially since many of the modern data needs were not historically addressed in TREAT experiment vehicles, has necessitated amore » sizeable engineering effort. This effort is currently underway and maturing rapidly. This paper summarizes the status, future plans, and rationale for TREAT experiment vehicle capabilities. Much of the current progress is focused around understanding and demonstrating the behavior of fuel design with enhanced accident tolerance in water-cooled reactors. Additionally, several related efforts are underway to facilitate transient testing in liquid sodium, inert gas, and steam environments. This paper discusses why such a variety of capabilities are needed, outlines plans to accomplish them, and describes the relationship between transient data needs and the irradiation hardware that will support the gathering of this information.« less

Caregivers

MedlinePlus

... needs help with his or her medical expenses? article Preparing for unexpected events If you need to act quickly, being prepared saves time and protects your loved one. list Your lupus care file ... article Preparing for health emergencies Keep a binder with ...

Evaluation of the effect of a home bleaching agent on surface characteristics of indirect esthetic restorative materials--part II microhardness.

PubMed

Torabi, Kianoosh; Rasaeipour, Sasan; Ghodsi, Safoura; Khaledi, Amir Ali Reza; Vojdani, Mahroo

2014-07-01

The exponential usage of esthetic restorative materials is beholden to society needs and desires. Interaction between the bleaching agents and the esthetic restorative materials is of critical importance. This in vitro study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of a home bleaching agent, carbamide peroxide (CP) 38%, on the microhardness of the fiber reinforced composite (FRC), overglazed, autoglazed, or polished porcelain specimens. For overglazed, autoglazed, polished ceramics and also FRC cylindrical specimens (n = 20 per group) were prepared. The specimens were stored in distilled water at 37°C for 48 hours prior to testing. Six samples from each group were selected randomly as negative controls which were stored in distilled water at 37°C that was changed daily. CP 38% was applied on the test specimens for 15 minutes, twice a day for 14 days. By using Knoop-microhardness tester microhardness testing for baseline, control and test specimens was conducted. Data were statistically analyzed using paired t-test, Mann-Whitney test, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Home bleaching significantly decreased the surface microhardness of all the test samples (p < 0.05), whereas the control groups did not show statistically significant changes after 2 weeks. The polished porcelain and polished composite specimens showed the most significant change in microhard-ness after bleaching process (p < 0.05). Although the type of surface preparation affects the susceptibility of the porcelain surface to the bleaching agent, no special preparation can preclude such adverse effects. The contact of home bleaching agents with esthetic restorative materials is unavoidable. Therefore protecting these restorations from bleaching agents and reglazing or at least polishing the restorations after bleaching is recommended.

Electrophysiological study for comparing the effect of biological activity between type A botulinum toxins in rat gastrocnemius muscle.

PubMed

Kim, C-S; Jang, W S; Son, I P; Nam, S H; Kim, Y I; Park, K Y; Kim, B J; Kim, M N

2013-09-01

New cosmetic applications and products based on the effects of botulinum toxin (BTX) treatment have stimulated demand for this class of natural compounds. This demand generates the need for appropriate standardized protocols to test and compare the effectiveness of new BTX preparations. Based on the previously described electrophysiological methods, we measured and compared the inhibitory effects of two BTX type A (BTX-A) preparations on neuromuscular transmission through split-body test. The effectiveness was evaluated in terms of the compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and conduction velocity after BTX-A injection. We used a split-body method to compare two different BTX-As in the rat. Based on the changes in the CMAP, the two different BTX-As induced paralytic effect on the rat tibialis anterior muscle. However, the two different BTX-A preparations did not differ significantly in effectiveness and did not induce a delay in conduction velocity. The new BTX-A preparation used in this electrophysiological study had similar effect compared with the previously marketed BTX-A.[AQ: Please approve the edits made to the sentence "The new BTX-A preparation…") We propose that a split-body electrophysiological protocol will be useful in establishing the comparative effectiveness of new BTX products.

The role of the female doctorally prepared nurse in caring for infertile women.

PubMed

Marshak, L S

1993-01-01

Today, in medical and nursing literature, infertility is described as a couple problem, with interventions aimed at treating the couple. While not dismissing the fact that the conception does involve both genders, the reality of infertility treatment is that the woman, not the couple, undergoes the majority of infertility testing and treatment. The numerous physical demands made of women during infertility investigation and therapy are associated with significant emotional and informational needs. As such, all infertility practices should offer supportive counseling to their clients. Incorporation of such services into general infertility treatment will ensure that the greatest number of female infertility clients receive the information and emotional support they need. The health care professional best qualified to provide these services is the female doctorally prepared nurse. By virtue of both her gender and training, she is more likely to be capable of intervening therapeutically, woman to woman, in a sensitive and empathic manner. Furthermore, she can anticipate extending her role to include the following services: (a) provision of basic gynecological care, (b) follow-up of patients on hormone therapy, (c) coordination of patient care, (d) provision of supportive counseling, and (e) participation in research. To secure a position, the female doctorally prepared nurse needs to recognize the importance of promoting herself in the infertility marketplace. Ultimately, both the establishment and survival of her role will depend on her professional uniqueness.

Teaching Food Preparation with Video Flash Cards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scholl, Jan F.; Cason, Katherine; Cherry, Tom

2004-01-01

Food preparation skills are needed to prepare low-cost, nutritious meals that meet current dietary recommendations. Research indicates that many youth and adults can read a recipe for ingredients, but they often do not know basic food preparation techniques such as how to broil, fold, dredge, baste and other cooking methods. To address the need to…

Use of healthcare consumer voices to increase empathy in nursing students.

PubMed

Heidke, Penny; Howie, Virginia; Ferdous, Tabassum

2018-03-01

Nurses need to be well prepared to address the needs of a diverse population and facilitate positive experiences in an equitable and inclusive approach to care. The aim of the study was to determine whether the integration of consumer lived experience interviews into the content of a first-year course influenced empathy in nursing students. A one group pre-test, post-test design was used. A convenience sample of first-year undergraduate nursing students (N = 32) from a regional Australian university was recruited for the study. The pre and post tests were conducted using the Kiersma Chen Empathy Scale and t-tests performed to analyse the data. Results showed overall that nursing students demonstrated moderate levels of empathy; pre-test score of (M = 75.53; SD = 5.76). After the intervention the post-test results showed that there was a statistically significant increase in students' empathy towards vulnerable, disadvantaged and stigmatised population groups. The healthcare consumer voice has the potential to strengthen current teaching practices that promote caring behaviours in nursing students. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KSC-2014-3313

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-07-30

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel remove the handling fixture from the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in the well deck of the USS Anchorage at the U.S. Naval Base San Diego, to prepare for Underway Recovery Test 2. The ship will head out to sea, off the coast of San Diego, in search of conditions to support test needs. The team will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

KSC-2014-3314

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-07-30

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – NASA, Lockheed Martin and U.S. Navy personnel remove the handling fixture from the Orion boilerplate test vehicle in the well deck of the USS Anchorage at the U.S. Naval Base San Diego, to prepare for Underway Recovery Test 2. The ship will head out to sea, off the coast of San Diego, in search of conditions to support test needs. The team will conduct tests in the Pacific Ocean to prepare for recovery of the Orion crew module on its return from a deep space mission. The second underway recovery test will allow the teams to demonstrate and evaluate the recovery processes, procedures, new hardware and personnel in open waters. The Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is conducting the underway recovery tests. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of the Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

A closed system for islet isolation and purification using the COBE2991 cell processor may reduce the need of clean room facilities.

PubMed

Klaffschenkel, R A; Biesemeier, A; Waidmann, M; Northoff, H; Steurer, W; Königsrainer, A; Lembert, N

2007-01-01

During the isolation of human islets of Langerhans the digest has repeated direct contact with the ambient atmosphere. In order to fulfill GMP requirements in clinical applications, the entire cell preparation must be performed in clean room facilities. We hypothesized that the use of a closed system, which avoids the direct exposure of tissue to the atmosphere, would significantly ease the preparation procedure. To avoid the direct atmosphere exposure we tested a modification of the isolation and purification process by performing all islet preparation steps in a closed system. In this study we compared the isolation outcome of the traditional open preparation technique with the new closed system. Pancreata from 6-month-old hybrid pigs were procured in the local slaughterhouse. After digestion/filtration the digest was cooled, collected, and concentrated in centrifugation containers and purified thereafter in the COBE2991 by top loading (control). In the control group 502 +/- 253 IEQ per gram pancreas were purified. The total preparation time amounted to 12 h. In the closed system the digest was cooled and directly pumped into the COBE2991 for centrifugation followed by supernatant expelling. Bag filling, centrifugation, and expelling were repeated several times. Islets in pellet form were then purified by adding a gradient (bottom loading). Using this closed system 1098 +/- 489 IEQ per gram pancreas were purified with a total cell viability of 67 +/- 10% and a beta-cell viability of 41 +/- 13%. The total preparation time reduced to 6 h. After 24 h of cell culture the viability of beta-cells was still 56 +/- 10% and was only reduced after the addition of proapoptotic IL-1 and TNF-alpha to 40 +/- 4%, indicating that freshly isolated islets are not apoptotic. In conclusion, the closed system preparation is much faster, more effective, and less expensive than the traditional islet preparation. The closed system may be applicable for human islets preparations to restrict the need of clean room facilities for islet preparations to a minimum and may open the way for islet preparations without clean room demand.

Reference Proteome Extracts for Mass Spec Instrument Performance Validation and Method Development

PubMed Central

Rosenblatt, Mike; Urh, Marjeta; Saveliev, Sergei

2014-01-01

Biological samples of high complexity are required to test protein mass spec sample preparation procedures and validate mass spec instrument performance. Total cell protein extracts provide the needed sample complexity. However, to be compatible with mass spec applications, such extracts should meet a number of design requirements: compatibility with LC/MS (free of detergents, etc.)high protein integrity (minimal level of protein degradation and non-biological PTMs)compatibility with common sample preparation methods such as proteolysis, PTM enrichment and mass-tag labelingLot-to-lot reproducibility Here we describe total protein extracts from yeast and human cells that meet the above criteria. Two extract formats have been developed: Intact protein extracts with primary use for sample preparation method development and optimizationPre-digested extracts (peptides) with primary use for instrument validation and performance monitoring

Clinical providers' experiences with returning results from genomic sequencing: an interview study.

PubMed

Wynn, Julia; Lewis, Katie; Amendola, Laura M; Bernhardt, Barbara A; Biswas, Sawona; Joshi, Manasi; McMullen, Carmit; Scollon, Sarah

2018-05-08

Current medical practice includes the application of genomic sequencing (GS) in clinical and research settings. Despite expanded use of this technology, the process of disclosure of genomic results to patients and research participants has not been thoroughly examined and there are no established best practices. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 21 genetic and non-genetic clinicians returning results of GS as part of the NIH funded Clinical Sequencing Exploratory Research (CSER) Consortium projects. Interviews focused on the logistics of sessions, participant/patient reactions and factors influencing them, how the sessions changed with experience, and resources and training recommended to return genomic results. The length of preparation and disclosure sessions varied depending on the type and number of results and their implications. Internal and external databases, online resources and result review meetings were used to prepare. Respondents reported that participants' reactions were variable and ranged from enthusiasm and relief to confusion and disappointment. Factors influencing reactions were types of results, expectations and health status. A recurrent challenge was managing inflated expectations about GS. Other challenges included returning multiple, unanticipated and/or uncertain results and navigating a rare diagnosis. Methods to address these challenges included traditional genetic counseling techniques and modifying practice over time in order to provide anticipatory guidance and modulate expectations. Respondents made recommendations to improve access to genomic resources and genetic referrals to prepare future providers as the uptake of GS increases in both genetic and non-genetic settings. These findings indicate that returning genomic results is similar to return of results in traditional genetic testing but is magnified by the additional complexity and potential uncertainty of the results. Managing patient expectations, initially identified in studies of informed consent, remains an ongoing challenge and highlights the need to address this issue throughout the testing process. The results of this study will help to guide future providers in the disclosure of genomic results and highlight educational needs and resources necessary to prepare providers. Future research on the patient experience, understanding and follow-up of recommendations is needed to more fully understand the disclosure process.

40 CFR 1065.405 - Test engine preparation and maintenance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 33 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Test engine preparation and...) AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS ENGINE-TESTING PROCEDURES Engine Selection, Preparation, and Maintenance § 1065.405 Test engine preparation and maintenance. This part 1065 describes how to test engines for a...

40 CFR 1065.405 - Test engine preparation and maintenance.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 32 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Test engine preparation and...) AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS ENGINE-TESTING PROCEDURES Engine Selection, Preparation, and Maintenance § 1065.405 Test engine preparation and maintenance. This part 1065 describes how to test engines for a...

Respirator Filter Efficiency Testing Against Particulate and Biological Aerosols Under Moderate to High Flow Rates

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-08-01

Biotech QCount® Colony Counter G.2 MS2 Phage G.2.1 Growth of E . coli E . co/i serves as the host for MS2 replication and was needed for the MS2...quantification assay. Before culturing, the E . coli (American Type Culture Collection [ATCC] No. 15597, Rockville, MD) stock was tested for purity by streaking on...pure, a working solution of E . coli was prepared by inoculating nutrient broth (NB) media and incubating in a shaking incubator at 37°C and 150

Integrating Preparation for Parenting Into Childbirth Education: Part II—A Study

PubMed Central

Corwin, Ann

1999-01-01

This study was designed to test the effectiveness of using a broad conceptualization of childbirth education that includes parenting preparation in pregnancy. The goal is to assist in breaking cycles of dysfunction in families. At the core of this expanded model of childbirth education is the concept of prevention. The intervention described in Part I in the Journal of Perinatal Education 7(4), 26–33 provided parents with information and coping mechanisms by drawing parallels to traditionally learned coping skills for childbirth with techniques needed to cope in post-partum. This approach also encouraged prenatal parents to learn techniques for promoting attachment to their children before birth. The curriculum was tested by randomizing 48 couples to the expanded or traditional model of childbirth education. A pre- and post-Prenatal Parenting Scale was administered to both groups. Only the experimental group demonstrated improvement at the post-class administration. PMID:22945974

Integrating Preparation for Parenting Into Childbirth Education: Part II-A Study.

PubMed

Corwin, A

1999-01-01

This study was designed to test the effectiveness of using a broad conceptualization of childbirth education that includes parenting preparation in pregnancy. The goal is to assist in breaking cycles of dysfunction in families. At the core of this expanded model of childbirth education is the concept of prevention. The intervention described in Part I in the Journal of Perinatal Education 7(4), 26-33 provided parents with information and coping mechanisms by drawing parallels to traditionally learned coping skills for childbirth with techniques needed to cope in post-partum. This approach also encouraged prenatal parents to learn techniques for promoting attachment to their children before birth. The curriculum was tested by randomizing 48 couples to the expanded or traditional model of childbirth education. A pre- and post-Prenatal Parenting Scale was administered to both groups. Only the experimental group demonstrated improvement at the post-class administration.

BWRVIP-140NP: BWR Vessel and Internals Project Fracture Toughness and Crack Growth Program on Irradiated Austenitic Stainless Steel

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gilman, J

2005-03-15

To prepare for this project, EPRI and BWRVIP conducted a workshop at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida during February 19-21, 2003 (EPRI report 1007822). Attendees were invited to exchange relevant information on the effects of irradiation on austenitic materials in light water reactors and to produce recommendations for further work. EPRI reviewed the data, recommendations, and conclusions derived from the workshop and developed prioritized test matrices defining new data needs. Proposals were solicited, and selected proposals are the basis for the program described in this report. Results The planned test matrix for fracture toughness testing includes 21 tests on 5 materials.

46 CFR 170.185 - Stability test preparations.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 7 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Stability test preparations. 170.185 Section 170.185....185 Stability test preparations. The following preparations must be made before conducting a stability... of the vessel to be tested. (2) Date and location of the test. (3) Inclining weight data. (4...

Background review for diagnostic test development for Zika virus infection.

PubMed

Charrel, Rémi N; Leparc-Goffart, Isabelle; Pas, Suzan; de Lamballerie, Xavier; Koopmans, Marion; Reusken, Chantal

2016-08-01

To review the state of knowledge about diagnostic testing for Zika virus infection and identify areas of research needed to address the current gaps in knowledge. We made a non-systematic review of the published literature about Zika virus and supplemented this with information from commercial diagnostic test kits and personal communications with researchers in European preparedness networks. The review covered current knowledge about the geographical spread, pathogen characteristics, life cycle and infection kinetics of the virus. The available molecular and serological tests and biosafety issues are described and discussed in the context of the current outbreak strain. We identified the following areas of research to address current knowledge gaps: (i) an urgent assessment of the laboratory capacity and capability of countries to detect Zika virus; (ii) rapid and extensive field validation of the available molecular and serological tests in areas with and without Zika virus transmission, with a focus on pregnant women; (iii) monitoring the genomic diversity of circulating Zika virus strains; (iv) prospective studies into the virus infection kinetics, focusing on diagnostic sampling (specimen types, combinations and timings); and (v) developing external quality assessments for molecular and serological testing, including differential diagnosis for similar viruses and symptom clusters. The availability of reagents for diagnostic development (virus strains and antigens, quantified viral ribonucleic acid) needs to be facilitated. An international laboratory response is needed, including preparation of protocols for prospective studies to address the most pressing information needs.

Background review for diagnostic test development for Zika virus infection

PubMed Central

Charrel, Rémi N; Leparc-Goffart, Isabelle; Pas, Suzan; de Lamballerie, Xavier; Koopmans, Marion; Reusken, Chantal

2016-01-01

Abstract Objective To review the state of knowledge about diagnostic testing for Zika virus infection and identify areas of research needed to address the current gaps in knowledge. Methods We made a non-systematic review of the published literature about Zika virus and supplemented this with information from commercial diagnostic test kits and personal communications with researchers in European preparedness networks. The review covered current knowledge about the geographical spread, pathogen characteristics, life cycle and infection kinetics of the virus. The available molecular and serological tests and biosafety issues are described and discussed in the context of the current outbreak strain. Findings We identified the following areas of research to address current knowledge gaps: (i) an urgent assessment of the laboratory capacity and capability of countries to detect Zika virus; (ii) rapid and extensive field validation of the available molecular and serological tests in areas with and without Zika virus transmission, with a focus on pregnant women; (iii) monitoring the genomic diversity of circulating Zika virus strains; (iv) prospective studies into the virus infection kinetics, focusing on diagnostic sampling (specimen types, combinations and timings); and (v) developing external quality assessments for molecular and serological testing, including differential diagnosis for similar viruses and symptom clusters. The availability of reagents for diagnostic development (virus strains and antigens, quantified viral ribonucleic acid) needs to be facilitated. Conclusion An international laboratory response is needed, including preparation of protocols for prospective studies to address the most pressing information needs. PMID:27516635

Traditional Postextractive Implant Site Preparation Compared with Pre-extractive Interradicular Implant Bed Preparation in the Mandibular Molar Region, Using an Ultrasonic Device: A Randomized Pilot Study.

PubMed

Scarano, Antonio

The immediate placement of single postextractive implants is increasing in the everyday clinical practice. Due to insufficient bone tissue volume, proper primary stability, essential for subsequent osseointegration, is sometimes not reached. The aim of this work was to compare two different approaches: implant bed preparation before and after root extraction. Twenty-two patients of both sexes were selected who needed an implant-prosthetic rehabilitation of the fractured first mandibular molar or presented an untreatable endodontic pathology. The sites were randomly assigned to the test group (treated with implant bed preparation before molar extractions) or control group (treated with implant bed preparation after molar extractions) by a computer-generated table. All implants were placed by the same operator, who was experienced in both traditional and ultrasonic techniques. The implant stability quotient (ISQ) and the position of the implant were evaluated. Statistical analysis was carried out. In the control group, three implants were placed in the central portion of the bone septum, while eight implants were placed with a tilted axis in relation to the septum; in the test group, all implants were placed in ideal positions within the root extraction sockets. The different position of the implants between the two procedures was statistically significant. This work presented an innovative approach for implant placement at the time of mandibular molar extraction. Preparing the implant bed with an ultrasonic device before root extraction is a simple technique and also allows greater stability to be reached in a selective case.

An Imperative for Leadership Preparation Programs: Preparing Future Leaders to Meet the Needs of Students, Schools, and Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beyer, Bonnie

2009-01-01

This paper addresses the structure, philosophy, and curriculum of educational leadership preparation programs and the importance of preparing schools leaders to address the unique needs of students and communities. In particular, it will address how programs can be enhanced by integrating organizational research and philosophies from educational,…

In an Age of Change, Where Are You...in the Classroom? Book I: For Building Staff.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atkinson, Karla

Focusing on the changing roles of women and men in the home and in the work place and the need to prepare students for these changing roles, this booklet presents facts and information that challenge stereotypical views about sex roles and provides activities for teachers to test their own views. The information and activities encourage teachers…

A Survey of Cyber Ranges and Testbeds

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-01

used in organisations is large and growing. The literature indicated that cyber test labs (not explicitly called CRs) have been developed for a... organisation requires a realistic training and proving ground to prepare and conduct military CNO. That is, they need a CR. Operational networks are... developed by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to simulate the network environment of many DoD organisations . Its main capabilities

Aircraft Mishap Exercise at SLF

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-14

NASA Kennedy Space Center's Flight Operations prepares to rehearse a helicopter crash-landing to test new and updated emergency procedures. Called the Aircraft Mishap Preparedness and Contingency Plan, the operation was designed to validate several updated techniques the center's first responders would follow, should they ever need to rescue a crew in case of a real accident. The mishap exercise took place at the center's Shuttle Landing Facility.

The Applicability of the Army Physical Fitness Test in the Contemporary Operating Environment

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-06-13

abdominis, external obliques, internal obliques, latissimus dorsi, lumbar paraspinals, and rectus femoris during performance of different abdominal ...by asserting the need to train soldiers in the most stressful, painful , realistic environment possible in order to prepare them for combat. Both of...In Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, researchers specifically identify usage of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique

Collaborative learning and testing in introductory general chemistry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amaral, Katie Elizabeth

Students taking General chemistry at the University of Florida are either well-prepared or under-prepared. To meet the needs of the under-prepared students, an introductory course (CHM 1025) was developed. An accurate method of placement into CHM 1025 or the mainstream course (CHM 2045) was needed. The Chemistry Readiness Assessment Exam was written and tested and students are advised to take either course based upon their scores. The accuracy of the cutoff scores was examined, with the minimum passing chemistry score lowered to six correct out of 18, and the math score raised to six correct out of eight. Collaborative problem-solving sessions were held during every CHM 1025 class. These sessions were shown to increase student achievement in CHM 1025. Group placement was also shown to have an effect on student achievement in the course. Students placed randomly into collaborative groups had the highest average GPA, while students placed by achievement had the lowest average GPA. The efficacy of CHM 1025 was examined to determine if the students who required the course do as well in CHM 2045 as those students who did not need it. Students who had taken CHM 1025 had a higher GPA in CHM 2045 than the students who went directly into CHM 2045. Students in the spring semester of 2004 took collaborative exams. Achievement levels of students who had collaborative exams were compared to students who took traditional exams to determine if collaborative testing had an effect on student achievement and retention in CHM 1025. There was no significant difference in achievement although the collaborative exams were harder. Percentages of students taking each exam were also compared, with more students taking the collaborative exams. Finally, undergraduate students called peer mentors, who had taken CHM 1025, were recruited to assist with the course. Mentors helped CHM 1025 students with the collaborative problems. The mentors' presence helped lower students' withdrawal rates in the class. The mentors also benefited from the program, as evidenced by their higher GPA in CHM 2045.

Program evaluation of Protovation Camp

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Healy, Laurel Lynell Martin

The purpose of this program evaluation was to determine the extent to which Protovation Camp utilized the combined resources of multiple institutions to impact student learning in science, technology, engineering, and math. The partnership consisted of multiple institutions: the university, providing graduate students to facilitate inquiry-based lessons; the science center, allowing the use of their facilities and resources; and the elementary school, contributing rising third through fifth grade campers. All of these components were examined. The mixed-methods approach used post hoc quantitative data for campers, which consisted of pre-test and post-test scores on the Test of Science-Related Attitudes (TOSRA), the Draw-A-Scientist Test, and content tests based on the camp activities. Additionally, TOSRA scores and current survey results for the graduate students were used along with qualitative data collected from plusdelta charts to determine the impact of participation in Protovation Camp on teachers and students. Results of the program evaluation indicated that when students were taught inquiry-based lessons that ignite wonder, both their attitudes toward science and their knowledge about science improved. An implication for teacher preparation programs was that practicing inquiry-based lessons on actual students (campers) was an important component for teachers (graduate students) as they prepare to positively impact student learning in their own classrooms. Immediate feedback from the campers in the form of pre-test and post-test scores and from peers on plusdelta charts allowed the graduate students the opportunity to make needed adjustments to improve effectiveness before using the lesson with a new set of campers or later in their own classrooms. Keywords. Teacher preparation, Inquiry-based instruction, STEM instructions, University and museum partnerships

Ames Research Center life sciences payload

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Callahan, P. X.; Tremor, J. W.

1982-01-01

In response to a recognized need for an in-flight animal housing facility to support Spacelab life sciences investigators, a rack and system compatible Research Animal Holding Facility (RAHF) has been developed. A series of ground tests is planned to insure its satisfactory performance under certain simulated conditions of flight exposure and use. However, even under the best conditions of simulation, confidence gained in ground testing will not approach that resulting from actual spaceflight operation. The Spacelab Mission 3 provides an opportunity to perform an inflight Verification Test (VT) of the RAHF. Lessons learned from the RAHF-VT and baseline performance data will be invaluable in preparation for subsequent dedicated life sciences missions.

Launching a Laboratory Testing Process Quality Improvement Toolkit: From the Shared Networks of Colorado Ambulatory Practices and Partners (SNOCAP).

PubMed

Fernald, Douglas; Hamer, Mika; James, Kathy; Tutt, Brandon; West, David

2015-01-01

Family medicine and internal medicine physicians order diagnostic laboratory tests for nearly one-third of patient encounters in an average week, yet among medical errors in primary care, an estimated 15% to 54% are attributed to laboratory testing processes. From a practice improvement perspective, we (1) describe the need for laboratory testing process quality improvements from the perspective of primary care practices, and (2) describe the approaches and resources needed to implement laboratory testing process quality improvements in practice. We applied practice observations, process mapping, and interviews with primary care practices in the Shared Networks of Colorado Ambulatory Practices and Partners (SNOCAP)-affiliated practice-based research networks that field-tested in 2013 a laboratory testing process improvement toolkit. From the data collected in each of the 22 participating practices, common testing quality issues included, but were not limited to, 3 main testing process steps: laboratory test preparation, test tracking, and patient notification. Three overarching qualitative themes emerged: practices readily acknowledge multiple laboratory testing process problems; practices know that they need help addressing the issues; and practices face challenges with finding patient-centered solutions compatible with practice priorities and available resources. While practices were able to get started with guidance and a toolkit to improve laboratory testing processes, most did not seem able to achieve their quality improvement aims unassisted. Providing specific guidance tools with practice facilitation or other rapid-cycle quality improvement support may be an effective approach to improve common laboratory testing issues in primary care. © Copyright 2015 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

25 CFR 15.104 - Does the agency need a death certificate to prepare a probate file?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... 25 Indians 1 2010-04-01 2010-04-01 false Does the agency need a death certificate to prepare a... the Probate Process § 15.104 Does the agency need a death certificate to prepare a probate file? (a) Yes. You must provide us with a certified copy of the death certificate if a death certificate exists...

Blue Ribbon Committee on Bloodborne Parasitic Diseases.

PubMed

2002-09-01

In summary, the A1 recommendations are related to: developing a network (epidemiologic and demographic aspects); undertaking activities within the network; providing support for parasite research testing; developing new policies, and; preparing a Memorandum to Cabinet for submission by September 1, 2001, for funding from April 2002 over 5 years. The A recommendations deal with sustaining the network and addressing existing needs, including Public and professional education Review of current policies Business plan Development of a contribution program to meet operational needs. The B recommendation(s) will be dealt with by the future Treasury Board submission. The group identified no C recommendations.

NASA EPSCoR Preparation Grant

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sukanek, Peter C.

2002-01-01

The NASA EPSCoR project in Mississippi involved investigations into three areas of interest to NASA by researchers at the four comprehensive universities in the state. These areas involved: (1) Noninvasive Flow Measurement Techniques, (2) Spectroscopic Exhaust Plume Measurements of Hydrocarbon Fueled Rocket Engines and (3) Integration of Remote Sensing and GIS data for Flood Forecasting on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Each study supported a need at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The first two addressed needs in rocket testing, and the third, in commercial remote sensing. Students from three of the institutions worked with researchers at Stennis Space Center on the projects.

Ethics, policy, and educational issues in genetic testing.

PubMed

Williams, Janet K; Skirton, Heather; Masny, Agnes

2006-01-01

Analyze ethics, public policy, and education issues that arise in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) when genomic information acquired as a result of genetic testing is introduced into healthcare services. Priorities in the Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues Research Program include privacy, integration of genetic services into clinical health care, and educational preparation of the nursing workforce. These constructs are used to examine health policies in the US and UK, and professional interactions of individuals and families with healthcare providers. Individual, family, and societal goals may conflict with current healthcare practices and policies when genetic testing is done. Current health policies do not fully address these concerns. Unresolved issues include protection of privacy of individuals while considering genetic information needs of family members, determination of appropriate monitoring of genetic tests, addressing genetic healthcare discrepancies, and assuring appropriate nursing workforce preparation. Introduction of genetic testing into health care requires that providers are knowledgeable regarding ethical, policy, and practice issues in order to minimize risk for harm, protect the rights of individuals and families, and consider societal context in the management of genetic test results. Understanding of these issues is a component of genetic nursing competency that must be addressed at all levels of nursing education.

Fast preparation of a long chimeric armored RNA as controls for external quality assessment for molecular detection of Zika virus.

PubMed

Lin, Guigao; Zhang, Kuo; Zhang, Dong; Han, Yanxi; Xie, Jiehong; Li, Jinming

2017-03-01

The emergence of Zika virus demands accurate laboratory diagnostics. Nucleic acid testing is currently the definitive method for diagnosis of Zika infection. In 2016, an external quality assurance (EQA) for assessing the quality of molecular testing of Zika virus was carried out in China. A single armored RNA encapsulating a 4942-nucleotides (nt) long specific RNA sequence of Zika virus was prepared and used as positive samples. A pre-tested EQA panel, consisting of 4 negative and 6 positive samples with different concentrations of armored RNA, was distributed to 38 laboratories that perform molecular detection of Zika virus. A total of 39 data sets (1 laboratory used two test kits in parallel), produced by using commercial (n=38) or laboratory developed (n=1) quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) kits, were received. Of these, 35 (89.7%) had correct results for all 10 samples, and 4 (10.3%) reported at least 1 error (11 in total). The testing errors were all false-negatives, highlighting the need of improvements in detecting sensitivity. The EQA reveals that the majority of participating laboratories are proficient in molecular testing of Zika virus. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Needs of students seeking careers in communication sciences and disorders and barriers to their success.

PubMed

Fuse, Akiko

The purpose of this study was to identify the needs for and barriers to success of underrepresented students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders field and to determine factors linked to student persistence and academic achievement. An online survey was completed by 126 undergraduates pursuing graduate studies in Communication Sciences and Disorders. Data were subjected to Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests. Survey responses indicated that financial matters exerted the most influence on students' preparation for and number of choices for graduate-school applications. However, socioeconomic status was associated with needed financial support for paying tuition and completing the admission process. In addition, students at lower socioeconomic status reported spending fewer hours studying for tests and earned lower grade-point averages than peers who self-identified with a relatively high socioeconomic status. The findings also show a relationship between students' grade-point averages and family members' levels of education. The majority reported that mothers had earned the highest degree in their household, followed by siblings, themselves, and fathers. The findings suggest that students of low socioeconomic status were less academically prepared than those self-reporting a higher status. Moreover, the presence of a role model, such as a college-educated family member, may affect academic performance. Therefore, interventions for students at risk of not gaining admissions to graduate school include financial assistance and mentoring and advising programs. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

How does public policy impact cervical screening and vaccination strategies?☆

PubMed Central

Herzog, Thomas J.; Huh, Warner K.; Einstein, Mark H.

2011-01-01

Objectives To examine the current approaches to cervical screening and points to consider for improving HPV vaccination acceptance and uptake in the US. Methods An expert forum was conducted September 12–13, 2008, by the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists including 56 experts in cervical cancer and titled “Future Strategies of Cervical Cancer Prevention: What Do We Need to Do Now to Prepare?”. Results Cervical cancer prevention has primarily relied on screening paradigms but vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the cause of the disease, is a primary preventative measure that has been recommended by all cervical cancer screening stakeholders. Guidelines for vaccination are developed by national advisory groups, but successful implementation requires a supportive infrastructure and the cooperation of providers, clinicians, and patients. HPV vaccination has been available in the United States (US) since 2006 and screening practices have been updated to also include HPV genotyping. However, many clinicians fail to adhere to the guidelines for HPV testing (and HPV co-testing) as part of cervical cancer screening, and vaccination coverage has been poor among females aged 11 and 12, the group for which vaccination is recommended by all organizations. Conclusions The data reviewed and presented in this session of the “Future Strategies of Cervical Cancer Prevention. What Do We Need to do Now to Prepare?”. The Forum suggests that the policies influencing HPV vaccination and screening need to be reassessed at multiple levels in order to achieve more effective implementation and regular use. PMID:20932433

A new AMS facility in Caserta/Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terrasi, F.; Rogalla, D.; De Cesare, N.; D'Onofrio, A.; Lubritto, C.; Marzaioli, F.; Passariello, I.; Rubino, M.; Sabbarese, C.; Casa, G.; Palmieri, A.; Gialanella, L.; Imbriani, G.; Roca, V.; Romano, M.; Sundquist, M.; Loger, R.

2007-06-01

A new AMS system has been installed at Center for Isotopic Research on Cultural and Environmental Heritage (CIRCE) in Caserta/Italy. It was built by National Electrostatics Corp. Middleton, WI/USA, and arrived at CIRCE in the middle of January 2005; the installation and the acceptance tests were completed at the end of February 2005. At first, the system is intended for Radiocarbon AMS; for future Al and Be AMS only minor upgrades are needed and the magnets are designed to bend heavy isotopes like Uranium. Concerning Radiocarbon AMS, the first measurements of unknown samples, prepared in the internal preparation laboratory, already yielded results of high precision and 14C dating is in full swing.

Nevada Test Site Environmental Report 2007

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cathy Wills

2008-09-01

The Nevada Test Site Environmental Report 2007 (NTSER) was prepared to meet the information needs of the public and the requirements and guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for annual site environmental reports. It was prepared by National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec). This Executive Summary presents the purpose of the document, the major programs conducted at the Nevada Test Site (NTS), NTS key environmental initiatives, radiological releases and potential doses to the public resulting from site operations, a summary of nonradiological releases, implementation status of the NTS Environmental Management System, a summary of compliance with environmental regulations, pollutionmore » prevention and waste minimization accomplishments, and significant environmental accomplishments. Much of the content of this Executive Summary is also presented in a separate stand-alone pamphlet titled Nevada Test Site Environmental Report Summary 2007. This NTSER was prepared to satisfy DOE Order 231.1A, Environment, Safety and Health Reporting. Its purpose is to (1) report compliance status with environmental standards and requirements, (2) present results of environmental monitoring of radiological and nonradiological effluents, (3) report estimated radiological doses to the public from releases of radioactive material, (4) summarize environmental incidents of noncompliance and actions taken in response to them, (5) describe the NTS Environmental Management System and characterize its performance, and (6) highlight significant environmental programs and efforts. This report meets these objectives for the NTS and three offsite Nevada facilities mentioned in this report.« less

High power cable with internal water cooling 400 kV

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rasquin, W.; Harjes, B.

1982-08-01

Due to the concentration of electricity production in large power plants, the need of higher power transmissions, and the protection of environment, developement of a 400 kV water cooled cable in the power range of 1 to 5 GVA was undertaken. The fabrication and testing of equipment, engineering of cable components, fabrication of a test cable, development of cable terminal laboratory, testing of test cable, field testing of test cable, fabrication of industrial cable laboratory, testing of industrial cable, field testing of industrial cable, and system analysis for optimization were prepared. The field testing was impossible to realize. However, it is proved that a cable consisting of an internal stainless steel water cooled tube, covered by stranded copper profiles, insulated with heavy high quality paper, and protected by an aluminum cover can be produced, withstand tests accordingly to IEC/VDE recommendations, and is able to fulfill all exploitation conditions.

Diagnostic Tests to Support Late-Stage Control Programs for Schistosomiasis and Soil-Transmitted Helminthiases.

PubMed

Hawkins, Kenneth R; Cantera, Jason L; Storey, Helen L; Leader, Brandon T; de Los Santos, Tala

2016-12-01

Global efforts to address schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) include deworming programs for school-aged children that are made possible by large-scale drug donations. Decisions on these mass drug administration (MDA) programs currently rely on microscopic examination of clinical specimens to determine the presence of parasite eggs. However, microscopy-based methods are not sensitive to the low-intensity infections that characterize populations that have undergone MDA. Thus, there has been increasing recognition within the schistosomiasis and STH communities of the need for improved diagnostic tools to support late-stage control program decisions, such as when to stop or reduce MDA. Failure to adequately address the need for new diagnostics could jeopardize achievement of the 2020 London Declaration goals. In this report, we assess diagnostic needs and landscape potential solutions and determine appropriate strategies to improve diagnostic testing to support control and elimination programs. Based upon literature reviews and previous input from experts in the schistosomiasis and STH communities, we prioritized two diagnostic use cases for further exploration: to inform MDA-stopping decisions and post-MDA surveillance. To this end, PATH has refined target product profiles (TPPs) for schistosomiasis and STH diagnostics that are applicable to these use cases. We evaluated the limitations of current diagnostic methods with regards to these use cases and identified candidate biomarkers and diagnostics with potential application as new tools. Based on this analysis, there is a need to develop antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) with simplified, field-deployable sample preparation for schistosomiasis. Additionally, there is a need for diagnostic tests that are more sensitive than the current methods for STH, which may include either a field-deployable molecular test or a simple, low-cost, rapid antigen-detecting test.

46 CFR 61.05-5 - Preparation of boilers for inspection and test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 46 Shipping 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Preparation of boilers for inspection and test. 61.05-5... PERIODIC TESTS AND INSPECTIONS Tests and Inspections of Boilers § 61.05-5 Preparation of boilers for... preparing the boilers for the hydrostatic test, they shall be filled with water at not less than 70 °F. and...

The Preparation for and Execution of Engineering Operations for the Mars Curiosity Rover Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Samuels, Jessica A.

2013-01-01

The Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover mission is the most complex and scientifically packed rover that has ever been operated on the surface of Mars. The preparation leading up to the surface mission involved various tests, contingency planning and integration of plans between various teams and scientists for determining how operation of the spacecraft (s/c) would be facilitated. In addition, a focused set of initial set of health checks needed to be defined and created in order to ensure successful operation of rover subsystems before embarking on a two year science journey. This paper will define the role and responsibilities of the Engineering Operations team, the process involved in preparing the team for rover surface operations, the predefined engineering activities performed during the early portion of the mission, and the evaluation process used for initial and day to day spacecraft operational assessment.

Performance Improvement of Friction Stir Welds by Better Surface Finish

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Russell, Sam; Nettles, Mindy

2015-01-01

The as-welded friction stir weld has a cross section that may act as a stress concentrator. The geometry associated with the stress concentration may reduce the weld strength and it makes the weld challenging to inspect with ultrasound. In some cases, the geometry leads to false positive nondestructive evaluation (NDE) indications and, in many cases, it requires manual blending to facilitate the inspection. This study will measure the stress concentration effect and develop an improved phased array ultrasound testing (PAUT) technique for friction stir welding. Post-welding, the friction stir weld (FSW) tool would be fitted with an end mill that would machine the weld smooth, trimmed shaved. This would eliminate the need for manual weld preparation for ultrasonic inspections. Manual surface preparation is a hand operation that varies widely depending on the person preparing the welds. Shaving is a process that can be automated and tightly controlled.

Stability of fragrance patch test preparations applied in test chambers.

PubMed

Mowitz, M; Zimerson, E; Svedman, C; Bruze, M

2012-10-01

Petrolatum patch test preparations are for practical reasons often applied in test chambers in advance, several hours or even days before the patient is tested. As many fragrance compounds are volatile it may be suspected that petrolatum preparations applied in test chambers are not stable over time. To investigate the stability of petrolatum preparations of the seven chemically defined components in the fragrance mix (FM I) when stored in test chambers. Samples of petrolatum preparations applied in test chambers stored at room temperature and in a refrigerator for between 4 and 144 h were analysed using liquid chromatographic methods. The concentration decreased by ≥ 20% within 8 h in four of seven preparations stored in Finn chambers at room temperature. When stored in a refrigerator only the preparation of cinnamal had decreased by ≥ 20% within 24 h. The stability of preparations of cinnamal stored in IQ chambers with a plastic cover was slightly better, but like the preparations applied in Finn chambers, the concentration decreased by ≥ 20% within 4 h at room temperature and within 24 h in a refrigerator. Cinnamal and cinnamyl alcohol were found to be more stable when analysed as ingredients in FM I compared with when analysed in individual preparations. Within a couple of hours several fragrance allergens evaporate from test chambers to an extent that may affect the outcome of the patch test. Application to the test chambers should be performed as close to the patch test occasion as possible and storage in a refrigerator is recommended. © 2012 The Authors. BJD © 2012 British Association of Dermatologists.

Aircraft Mishap Exercise at SLF

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-14

Members of NASA Kennedy Space Center's Flight Operations team prepare for a rehearsal of a helicopter crash-landing to test new and updated emergency procedures. Called the Aircraft Mishap Preparedness and Contingency Plan, the operation was designed to validate several updated techniques the center's first responders would follow, should they ever need to rescue a crew in case of a real accident. The mishap exercise took place at the center's Shuttle Landing Facility.

Aircraft Mishap Exercise at SLF

NASA Image and Video Library

2018-02-14

A member of NASA Kennedy Space Center's Flight Operations team prepares for a rehearsal of a helicopter crash-landing to test new and updated emergency procedures. Called the Aircraft Mishap Preparedness and Contingency Plan, the operation was designed to validate several updated techniques the center's first responders would follow, should they ever need to rescue a crew in case of a real accident. The mishap exercise took place at the center's Shuttle Landing Facility.

Catching Up: Impact of the Talent Development Ninth Grade Instructional Interventions in Reading and Mathematics in High-Poverty High Schools. Report 69

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Balfanz, Robert; Legters, Nettie; Jordan, Will

2004-01-01

Concerns that higher standards and demanding high-stakes tests will disadvantage students who have attended weak, unsuccessful, or under-resourced schools have typically been met with the counter-claim that poorly prepared students will be provided with the extra help and support they need to succeed. Efforts to provide extra help are in their…

DFAS Needs More Effective Controls Over Managing DoD Contractor Debt

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-07-15

Acrobat fil e onl y) to audc lev@dod ig.m il. Copies of management comments must have the actual signature of the authori zing official for yo ur...Attribute Testing Results 18 E. Sampling Methodology 20 Glossary of Technical Terms 21 Management...Bill of Collection number to each contractor debt as a debt management tool. CDS allows users to prepare a demand letter from the database, post

Why I Force My Students to Memorize Poetry: Despite the Fact that It Won't Be on the Standardized Test

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Waddell, Andy

2011-01-01

So often teachers see education as a series of units leading to an examination, which will in turn prepare students for the SATs or APs they need to pass to enter university where, if they pass other examinations, they will graduate and earn large incomes. Teachers hold those future earnings before their students like a carrot while beating them…

Puzzle test: A tool for non-analytical clinical reasoning assessment.

PubMed

Monajemi, Alireza; Yaghmaei, Minoo

2016-01-01

Most contemporary clinical reasoning tests typically assess non-automatic thinking. Therefore, a test is needed to measure automatic reasoning or pattern recognition, which has been largely neglected in clinical reasoning tests. The Puzzle Test (PT) is dedicated to assess automatic clinical reasoning in routine situations. This test has been introduced first in 2009 by Monajemi et al in the Olympiad for Medical Sciences Students.PT is an item format that has gained acceptance in medical education, but no detailed guidelines exist for this test's format, construction and scoring. In this article, a format is described and the steps to prepare and administer valid and reliable PTs are presented. PT examines a specific clinical reasoning task: Pattern recognition. PT does not replace other clinical reasoning assessment tools. However, it complements them in strategies for assessing comprehensive clinical reasoning.

630 A MARITIME NUCLEAR STEAM GENERATOR. Progress Report No. 2

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

None

1962-09-28

A layout of a reduced-height 630A assembly (34 to 23 ft) was prepared and is presently being evaluated for use in a merchant vessel. While shielding studies indicate the need for some rearrangement of the shield materials, the desired radiation constraint can be obtained without an increase in shielding weight. A preliminary stress analysis of the pressure vessel, flow path analysis, and insulation evaluation was completed and showed no major problems. Evaluation of the total containment design indicates a design pressure of 45 psig. The Critical Experiment (CE) mockup is about 80% complete. The CE tank and dolly is aboutmore » 50% complete. The CE hazards report was reviewed and approved. The draft of the test program and procedures document is 75% complete. The LPT control room modifications were made, and the draft of the standard operating procedures completed. The CE fuel was inspected and a significant portion was found to be of no use, about 60% requires recoating. Creep and oxidation test time on some of the fuel sheet has exceeded 3000 hr with no significant oxidation or elongation on any of the samples. The nickel -chromium alloy sheet high- temperature (1750 F) stress and oxidating testing have exceeded 5000 hr with elongations below 0.8% except for one sample of 2.3%. Experimental fuel sheet samples were prepared and comparative property studies were ini-tiated. Fabrication of the ring test assembly, 3-F-1, for test in the MTR is essentially complete. The design of the test ring for seal evaluations was initiated. A detailed schedule for the work in FY 63 was prepared and issued for comments and concurrence. (auth)« less

Shear test of composite bonded to dentin: Er:YAG laser versus dental handpiece preparations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Visuri, Steven R.; Gilbert, Jeremy L.; Walsh, Joseph T., Jr.; Wigdor, Harvey A.

1995-05-01

The erbium:YAG laser coupled with a cooling stream of water appears to be an effective means of removing dental hard tissues. However, before the procedure is deemed clinically viable, there are several important issues of safety and efficacy that need to be explored. In this study we investigated the surface that remains following laser ablation of dentin and compared the results to the use of a dental handpiece. Specifically, we studied the effect the laser radiation had on the bonding of composite to dentin. The crowns of extracted human molars were removed revealing the underlying dentin. An additional thickness of material was removed with either a dental handpiece or an Er:YAG laser by raster scanning the samples under a fixed handpiece or laser. Comparable surface roughnesses were achieved. A cylinder of composite was bonded onto the prepared surfaces following the manufacturer's directions. The dentin-composite bond was then shear stressed to failure on a universal testing apparatus and the maximum load recorded. Preliminary results indicated that laser irradiated samples had improved bond strengths. SEM photographs of the surfaces were also taken to compare the two methods of tooth preparation.

Using Spacelab as a precursor of science operations for the Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marmann, R. A.

1997-01-01

For more than 15 years, Spacelab, has provided a laboratory in space for an international array of experiments, facilities, and experimenters. In addition to continuing this important work, Spacelab is now serving as a crucial stepping-stone to the improved science, improved operations, and rapid access to space that will characterize International Space Station. In the Space Station era, science operations will depend primarily on distributed/remote operations that will allow investigators to direct science activities from their universities, facilities, or home bases. Spacelab missions are a crucial part of preparing for these activities, having been used to test, prove, and refine remote operations over several missions. The knowledge gained from preparing these Missions is also playing a crucial role in reducing the time required to put an experiment into orbit, from revolutionizing the processes involved to testing the hardware needed for these more advanced operations. This paper discusses the role of the Spacelab program and the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center- (MSFC-) managed missions in developing and refining remote operations, new hardware and facilities for use on Space Station, and procedures that dramatically reduce preparation time for flight.

Simulation workshops with first year midwifery students.

PubMed

Catling, Christine; Hogan, Rosemarie; Fox, Deborah; Cummins, Allison; Kelly, Michelle; Sheehan, Athena

2016-03-01

Simulated teaching methods enable a safe learning environment that are structured, constructive and reflective. We prepared a 2-day simulation project to help prepare students for their first clinical practice. A quasi-experimental pre-test - post-test design was conducted. Qualitative data from the open-ended survey questions were analysed using content analysis. Confidence intervals and p-values were calculated to demonstrate the changes in participants' levels of understanding/ability or confidence in clinical midwifery skills included in the simulation. 71 midwifery students participated. Students rated their understanding, confidence, and abilities as higher after the simulation workshop, and higher still after their clinical experience. There were five main themes arising from the qualitative data: having a learning experience, building confidence, identifying learning needs, developing communication skills and putting skills into practise. First year midwifery students felt well prepared for the clinical workplace following the simulation workshops. Self-rated understanding, confidence and abilities in clinical midwifery skills were significantly higher following consolidation during clinical placement. Longitudinal studies on the relationship between simulation activities and student's overall clinical experience, their intentions to remain in midwifery, and facility feedback, would be desirable. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effects of packaging and storage conditions on the quality of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid – an analysis of Cambodian samples

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Background The use of substandard and degraded medicines is a major public health problem in developing countries such as Cambodia. A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate the quality of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid preparations under tropical conditions in a developing country. Methods Amoxicillin-clavulanic acid tablets were obtained from outlets in Cambodia. Packaging condition, printed information, and other sources of information were examined. The samples were tested for quantity, content uniformity, and dissolution. Authenticity was verified with manufacturers and regulatory authorities. Results A total of 59 samples were collected from 48 medicine outlets. Most (93.2%) of the samples were of foreign origin. Using predetermined acceptance criteria, 12 samples (20.3%) were non-compliant. Eight (13.6%), 10 (16.9%), and 20 (33.9%) samples failed quantity, content uniformity, and dissolution tests, respectively. Samples that violated our observational acceptance criteria were significantly more likely to fail the quality tests (Fisher’s exact test, p < 0.05). Conclusions Improper packaging and storage conditions may reduce the quality of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid preparations at community pharmacies. Strict quality control measures are urgently needed to maintain the quality of amoxicillin–clavulanic acid in tropical countries. PMID:23773420

Laboratory diagnostics of malaria

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siahaan, L.

2018-03-01

Even now, malaria treatment should only be administered after laboratory confirmation. There are several principal methods for diagnosing malaria. All these methods have their disadvantages.Presumptive treatment of malaria is widely practiced where laboratory tests are not readily available. Microscopy of Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of malaria infection. The technique of slide preparation, staining and reading are well known and standardized, and so is the estimate of the parasite density and parasite stages. Microscopy is not always available or feasible at primary health services in limited resource settings due to cost, lack of skilled manpower, accessories and reagents required. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are potential tools for parasite-based diagnosis since the tests are accurate in detecting malaria infections and are easy to use. The test is based on the capture of parasite antigen that released from parasitized red blood cells using monoclonal antibodies prepared against malaria antigen target. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), depend on DNA amplification approaches and have higher sensitivity than microscopy. PCR it is not widely used due to the lack of a standardized methodology, high costs, and the need for highly-trained staff.

A Standard Method To Inactivate Bacillus anthracis Spores to Sterility via Gamma Irradiation

PubMed Central

Cote, Christopher K.; Buhr, Tony; Bernhards, Casey B.; Bohmke, Matthew D.; Calm, Alena M.; Esteban-Trexler, Josephine S.; Hunter, Melissa; Katoski, Sarah E.; Kennihan, Neil; Klimko, Christopher P.; Miller, Jeremy A.; Minter, Zachary A.; Pfarr, Jerry W.; Prugh, Amber M.; Quirk, Avery V.; Rivers, Bryan A.; Shea, April A.; Shoe, Jennifer L.; Sickler, Todd M.; Young, Alice A.; Fetterer, David P.; Welkos, Susan L.; McPherson, Derrell; Fountain, Augustus W.

2018-01-01

ABSTRACT In 2015, a laboratory of the United States Department of Defense (DoD) inadvertently shipped preparations of gamma-irradiated spores of Bacillus anthracis that contained live spores. In response, a systematic evidence-based method for preparing, concentrating, irradiating, and verifying the inactivation of spore materials was developed. We demonstrate the consistency of spore preparations across multiple biological replicates and show that two different DoD institutions independently obtained comparable dose-inactivation curves for a monodisperse suspension of B. anthracis spores containing 3 × 1010 CFU. Spore preparations from three different institutions and three strain backgrounds yielded similar decimal reduction (D10) values and irradiation doses required to ensure sterility (DSAL) to the point at which the probability of detecting a viable spore is 10−6. Furthermore, spores of a genetically tagged strain of B. anthracis strain Sterne were used to show that high densities of dead spores suppress the recovery of viable spores. Together, we present an integrated method for preparing, irradiating, and verifying the inactivation of spores of B. anthracis for use as standard reagents for testing and evaluating detection and diagnostic devices and techniques. IMPORTANCE The inadvertent shipment by a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) laboratory of live Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) spores to U.S. and international destinations revealed the need to standardize inactivation methods for materials derived from biological select agents and toxins (BSAT) and for the development of evidence-based methods to prevent the recurrence of such an event. Following a retrospective analysis of the procedures previously employed to generate inactivated B. anthracis spores, a study was commissioned by the DoD to provide data required to support the production of inactivated spores for the biodefense community. The results of this work are presented in this publication, which details the method by which spores can be prepared, irradiated, and tested, such that the chance of finding residual living spores in any given preparation is 1/1,000,000. These irradiated spores are used to test equipment and methods for the detection of agents of biological warfare and bioterrorism. PMID:29654186

A Review of Models for Teacher Preparation Programs for Precollege Computer Science Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deek, Fadi P.; Kimmel, Howard

2002-01-01

Discusses the need for adequate precollege computer science education and focuses on the issues of teacher preparation programs and requirements needed to teach high school computer science. Presents models of teacher preparation programs and compares state requirements with Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) recommendations. (Author/LRW)

From Professional Preparation to On-the-Job Development: What Do Beginning Principals Need?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duncan, Heather; Range, Bret; Scherz, Susan

2011-01-01

Wyoming principals were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the strengths and deficits of their preparation program, their professional development needs as beginning principals, and the areas in which their districts offer professional development. Findings indicated much variation in perceptions of preparation program strengths and deficits.…

Evidence of the Need to Prepare Prospective Teachers to Engage in Mathematics Consultations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van Ingen, Sarah; Eskelson, Samuel L.; Allsopp, David

2016-01-01

The mathematics consultation represents a powerful opportunity for mathematics teachers to leverage the knowledge base of special education professionals to advance equity for students with special education needs. Yet, most teacher preparation programs do not specifically prepare prospective teachers to engage in mathematics-specific…

Digital Natives as Preservice Teachers: What Technology Preparation Is Needed?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lei, Jing

2009-01-01

This study focused on "digital natives" as preservice teachers to examine their beliefs, attitudes, and technology experiences and expertise, identify the strengths and weaknesses in their technology knowledge and skills, and explore what technology preparation was needed to prepare them to integrate technology in their future classrooms. Results…

Preparing to Test

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-03-26

Stennis Space Center employees install a 96-inch valve during a recent upgrade of the high-pressure industrial water system that serves the site’s large rocket engine test stands. The upgraded system has a capacity to flow 335,000 gallons of water a minute, which is a critical element for testing. At Stennis, engines are anchored in place on large test stands and fired just as they are during an actual space flight. The fire and exhaust from the test is redirected out of the stand by a large flame trench. A water deluge system directs thousands of gallons of water needed to cool the exhaust. Water also must be available for fire suppression in the event of a mishap. The new system supports RS-25 engine testing on the A-1 Test Stand, as well as testing of the core stage of NASA’s new Space Launch System on the B-2 Test Stand at Stennis.

40 CFR 1066.420 - Test preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 33 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false Test preparation. 1066.420 Section... VEHICLE-TESTING PROCEDURES Preparing Vehicles and Running an Exhaust Emission Test § 1066.420 Test... before the test that ambient conditions are within the tolerances specified in this paragraph (c). For...

The state of cell block variation and satisfaction in the era of molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine

PubMed Central

Crapanzano, John P.; Heymann, Jonas J.; Monaco, Sara; Nassar, Aziza; Saqi, Anjali

2014-01-01

Background: In the recent past, algorithms and recommendations to standardize the morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular classification of lung cancers on cytology specimens have been proposed, and several organizations have recommended cell blocks (CBs) as the preferred modality for molecular testing. Based on the literature, there are several different techniques available for CB preparation-suggesting that there is no standard. The aim of this study was to conduct a survey of CB preparation techniques utilized in various practice settings and analyze current issues, if any. Materials and Methods: A single E-mail with a link to an electronic survey was distributed to members of the American Society of Cytopathology and other pathologists. Questions pertaining to the participants’ practice setting and CBs-volume, method, quality and satisfaction-were included. Results: Of 95 respondents, 90/95 (94%) completed the survey and comprise the study group. Most participants practice in a community hospital/private practice (44%) or academic center (41%). On average, 14 CBs (range 0-50; median 10) are prepared by a laboratory daily. Over 10 methods are utilized: Plasma thrombin (33%), HistoGel (27%), Cellient automated cell block system (8%) and others (31%) respectively. Forty of 90 (44%) respondents are either unsatisfied or sometimes satisfied with their CB quality, with low-cellular yield being the leading cause of dissatisfaction. There was no statistical significance between the three most common CB preparation methods and satisfaction with quality. Discussion: Many are dissatisfied with their current method of CB preparation, and there is no consistent method to prepare CBs. In today's era of personalized medicine with an increasing array of molecular tests being applied to cytological specimens, there is a need for a standardized protocol for CB optimization to enhance cellularity. PMID:24799951

The state of cell block variation and satisfaction in the era of molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine.

PubMed

Crapanzano, John P; Heymann, Jonas J; Monaco, Sara; Nassar, Aziza; Saqi, Anjali

2014-01-01

In the recent past, algorithms and recommendations to standardize the morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular classification of lung cancers on cytology specimens have been proposed, and several organizations have recommended cell blocks (CBs) as the preferred modality for molecular testing. Based on the literature, there are several different techniques available for CB preparation-suggesting that there is no standard. The aim of this study was to conduct a survey of CB preparation techniques utilized in various practice settings and analyze current issues, if any. A single E-mail with a link to an electronic survey was distributed to members of the American Society of Cytopathology and other pathologists. Questions pertaining to the participants' practice setting and CBs-volume, method, quality and satisfaction-were included. Of 95 respondents, 90/95 (94%) completed the survey and comprise the study group. Most participants practice in a community hospital/private practice (44%) or academic center (41%). On average, 14 CBs (range 0-50; median 10) are prepared by a laboratory daily. Over 10 methods are utilized: Plasma thrombin (33%), HistoGel (27%), Cellient automated cell block system (8%) and others (31%) respectively. Forty of 90 (44%) respondents are either unsatisfied or sometimes satisfied with their CB quality, with low-cellular yield being the leading cause of dissatisfaction. There was no statistical significance between the three most common CB preparation methods and satisfaction with quality. Many are dissatisfied with their current method of CB preparation, and there is no consistent method to prepare CBs. In today's era of personalized medicine with an increasing array of molecular tests being applied to cytological specimens, there is a need for a standardized protocol for CB optimization to enhance cellularity.

Tolerance of freshwater test organisms to formulated sediments for use as control materials in whole-sediment toxicity tests

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kemble, N.E.; Dwyer, F.J.; Ingersoll, C.G.; Dawson, T.D.; Norberg-King, T. J.

1999-01-01

A method is described for preparing formulated sediments for use intoxicity testing. Ingredients used to prepare formulated sediments included commercially available silt, clay, sand, humic acid, dolomite, and α-cellulose (as a source of organic carbon). α-Cellulose was selected as the source of organic carbon because it is commercially available, consistent from batch to batch, and low in contaminant concentrations. The tolerance of freshwater test organisms to formulated sediments for use as control materials in whole-sediment toxicity testing was evaluated. Sediment exposures were conducted for 10 d with the amphipod Hyalella azteca, the midges Chironomus riparius and C. tentans, and the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus and for 28 d with H. azteca. Responses of organisms in formulated sediments was compared with a field-collected control sediment that has routinely been used to determine test acceptability. Tolerance of organisms to formulated sediments was evaluated by determining responses to varying levels of α-cellulose, to varying levels of grain size, to evaluation of different food types, or to evaluation of different sources of overlying water. In the 10-d exposures, survival of organisms exposed to the formulated sediments routinely met or exceeded the responses of test organisms exposed to the control sediment and routinely met test acceptability criteria required in standard methods. Growth of amphipods and oligochaetes in 10-d exposures with formulated sediment was often less than growth of organisms in the field-collected control sediment. Additional research is needed, using the method employed to prepare formulated sediment, to determine if conditioning formulated sediments before starting 10-d tests would improve the growth of amphipods. In the 28-d exposures, survival of H. azteca was low when reconstituted water was used as the source of overlying water. However, when well water was used as the source of overlying water in 28-d exposures, consistent responses of amphipods were observed in both formulated and control sediments.

USS Anchorage Leaves Port for Launch of Orion

NASA Image and Video Library

2014-12-01

The USNS Salvor, a safeguard-class rescue and salvage ship, is docked at Naval Base San Diego in California. The ship will head out to sea along with the USS Anchorage ahead of Orion's first flight test. NASA and U.S. Navy personnel are making preparations ahead of Orion's flight test for recovery of the crew module, forward bay cover and parachutes on its return from space and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. If needed, the Salvor would be used for an alternate recovery method. Ground Systems Development and Operations Program is leading the recovery efforts.

Preparing America for Deep Space Exploration Episode 11: Committed to Exploration

NASA Image and Video Library

2015-12-09

Engineers around the country are making progress developing NASA’s Space Launch System, Orion spacecraft and the ground systems at Kennedy Space Center in Florida needed to send astronauts on missions to deep space destinations. Between July and September, progress continued as pieces of Orion’s crew module and the SLS core stage tanks were welded together at NASA’s Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, modifications were made to the mobile launcher at Kennedy, astronauts tested techniques for exiting Orion after a mission, and an RS-25 engine was tested at Stennis Space Center in Mississippi.

Genetic Testing between Private and Public Interests: Some Legal and Ethical Reflections

PubMed Central

Sándor, Judit

2018-01-01

In Europe, there is a wide variety of genetic tests that various private companies offer to patients or to consumers. More and more people have become curious about their genetic predisposition and susceptibility. Most public health-care systems, however, are not adequately prepared for responding to these new demands and to the results of these genetic tests as, quite often, there is no available therapy for the identified genetic condition. This discrepancy between the newly emerging expectations and the insufficient responses contributes to a further rift between the public and private sectors of health care. Individual genetic test results may also trigger the need for personalized medicine and may open up a competition between the two fields in offering further genetic tests and medical exams. Pro-active patients may need a different kind of information on genetic tests and their implications. In this context, how should the public health system deal with the challenges of private testing? Will private genetic testing transform health care from a solidarity-based system to an individualistic one? In this paper, I would like to explore the emerging legal and ethical issues related to genetic testing and the relevant legal framework that has developed so far. In the conclusion, I will examine the possibilities of further legal development. PMID:29445722

Genetic Testing between Private and Public Interests: Some Legal and Ethical Reflections.

PubMed

Sándor, Judit

2018-01-01

In Europe, there is a wide variety of genetic tests that various private companies offer to patients or to consumers. More and more people have become curious about their genetic predisposition and susceptibility. Most public health-care systems, however, are not adequately prepared for responding to these new demands and to the results of these genetic tests as, quite often, there is no available therapy for the identified genetic condition. This discrepancy between the newly emerging expectations and the insufficient responses contributes to a further rift between the public and private sectors of health care. Individual genetic test results may also trigger the need for personalized medicine and may open up a competition between the two fields in offering further genetic tests and medical exams. Pro-active patients may need a different kind of information on genetic tests and their implications. In this context, how should the public health system deal with the challenges of private testing? Will private genetic testing transform health care from a solidarity-based system to an individualistic one? In this paper, I would like to explore the emerging legal and ethical issues related to genetic testing and the relevant legal framework that has developed so far. In the conclusion, I will examine the possibilities of further legal development.

Test security in medicolegal cases: proposed guidelines for attorneys utilizing neuropsychology practice.

PubMed

Morel, Kenneth R

2009-11-01

In the context of forensic neuropsychological assessments, the professional interaction of law and psychology is viewed primarily as one where the retaining attorney or court dictates its needs to psychologists when resolving legal disputes. While this perspective is conceptually accurate, the positive and practical collaboration of law and psychology also relies on attorneys adhering to basic protections of sensitive psychological assessment procedures and tests. Objective testing is undermined when a practitioner of law engages in actions prior to, during, or following a neuropsychological examination in a manner that threatens the test security. An appreciation among practitioners of law and psychology regarding the necessity of test security is essential. This article reviews attorney actions that can affect test security, proposes a distinction by psychology between appropriate and problematic client preparation for a neuropsychological examination, integrates the available legal precedent regarding test security, and suggests productive measures to protect test security in medicolegal settings.

Perform qualify reliability-power tests by shooting common mistakes: practical problems and standard answers per Telcordia/Bellcore requests

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Zheng

2002-08-01

Facing the new demands of the optical fiber communications market, almost all the performance and reliability of optical network system are dependent on the qualification of the fiber optics components. So, how to comply with the system requirements, the Telcordia / Bellcore reliability and high-power testing has become the key issue for the fiber optics components manufacturers. The qualification of Telcordia / Bellcore reliability or high-power testing is a crucial issue for the manufacturers. It is relating to who is the outstanding one in the intense competition market. These testing also need maintenances and optimizations. Now, work on the reliability and high-power testing have become the new demands in the market. The way is needed to get the 'Triple-Win' goal expected by the component-makers, the reliability-testers and the system-users. To those who are meeting practical problems for the testing, there are following seven topics that deal with how to shoot the common mistakes to perform qualify reliability and high-power testing: ¸ Qualification maintenance requirements for the reliability testing ¸ Lots control for preparing the reliability testing ¸ Sampling select per the reliability testing ¸ Interim measurements during the reliability testing ¸ Basic referencing factors relating to the high-power testing ¸ Necessity of re-qualification testing for the changing of producing ¸ Understanding the similarity for product family by the definitions

The Functions and Preparational Needs of Directors of Hospital Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hole, Floyd Marvin

This study sought mainly to determine the important functions and the preparational needs of directors of hospital education, to identify the most pertinent problems encountered by these directors in recent years, to propose educational recommendations, and to provide a pattern for improving existing preparational programs or developing new ones.…

Teacher Preparation: Reforming the Uncertain Profession

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duncan, Arne

2010-01-01

In this paper, the Arne Duncan, the United States Secretary of Education, discusses the need for a sea change in America's schools of education, and focuses on the need to improve teacher preparation programs. Many schools of education have provided high-quality preparation programs for aspiring teachers for years. In the last decade, many…

Listening to Country Voices: Preparing, Attracting and Retaining Teachers for Rural and Remote Areas.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yarrow, Allan; Herschell, Paul; Millwater, Jan

1999-01-01

Examines the need for better preparation of teachers to live and work in rural Australia. Uses responses from a rural Queensland community meeting to discuss preparation needs related to multiage classrooms, cultural differences, and school-community involvement. Describes a new internship/mentor program at Queensland University of Technology that…

Evaluation of a Cooperative Extension Curriculum in Florida: Food Modification for Special Needs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dahl, Wendy J.; Ford, Amanda L.; Radford, Allyson; Gal, Nancy J.

2016-01-01

State and national surveys of adult family care homes identified a strong need for education on texture-modified food preparation and the nutritional needs of older adults. An Extension curriculum, Food Modification for Special Needs, was developed to provide an overview of chewing and swallowing problems, food texture, pureed food preparation,…

Evaluation of a Secure Laptop-Based Testing Program in an Undergraduate Nursing Program: Students' Perspective.

PubMed

Tao, Jinyuan; Gunter, Glenda; Tsai, Ming-Hsiu; Lim, Dan

2016-01-01

Recently, the many robust learning management systems, and the availability of affordable laptops, have made secure laptop-based testing a reality on many campuses. The undergraduate nursing program at the authors' university began to implement a secure laptop-based testing program in 2009, which allowed students to use their newly purchased laptops to take quizzes and tests securely in classrooms. After nearly 5 years' secure laptop-based testing program implementation, a formative evaluation, using a mixed method that has both descriptive and correlational data elements, was conducted to seek constructive feedback from students to improve the program. Evaluation data show that, overall, students (n = 166) believed the secure laptop-based testing program helps them get hands-on experience of taking examinations on the computer and gets them prepared for their computerized NCLEX-RN. Students, however, had a lot of concerns about laptop glitches and campus wireless network glitches they experienced during testing. At the same time, NCLEX-RN first-time passing rate data were analyzed using the χ2 test, and revealed no significant association between the two testing methods (paper-and-pencil testing and the secure laptop-based testing) and students' first-time NCLEX-RN passing rate. Based on the odds ratio, however, the odds of students passing NCLEX-RN the first time was 1.37 times higher if they were taught with the secure laptop-based testing method than if taught with the traditional paper-and-pencil testing method in nursing school. It was recommended to the institution that better quality of laptops needs to be provided to future students, measures needed to be taken to further stabilize the campus wireless Internet network, and there was a need to reevaluate the Laptop Initiative Program.

Performance Evaluation Test of the Rapid Area Preparation Tool (RAPTOR)

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

the standard SETCO tires. A blast test of the new SETCO tire is scheduled for the spring of...Washington, DC 20301-2500 Performance Evaluation Test of the Rapid Area Preparation Tool (RAPTOR) December 2008 Prepared ...2008 to 00-00-2008 4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE Performance Evaluation Test of the Rapid Area Preparation Tool (RAPTOR) 5a. CONTRACT NUMBER 5b.

Racial Differences in Test Preparation Strategies: A Commentary on "Shadow Education, American Style: Test Preparation, the SAT and College Enrollment"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Alon, Sigal

2010-01-01

Claudia Buchmann, Dennis Condron and Vincent Roscigno's study, titled "Shadow Education, American Style: Test Preparation, the SAT and College Enrollment," demonstrates that vigorous use of expensive test preparation tools, such as private classes and tutors, significantly boosts scores on standardized exams such as the SAT or ACT. This…

Evaluation of Chemical Coating Processes for AXAF

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Engelhaupt, Darell; Ramsey, Brian; Mendrek, Mitchell

1998-01-01

The need existed at MSFC for the development and fabrication of radioisotope calibration sources of cadmium 109 and iron 55 isotopes. This was in urgent response to the AXA-F program. Several issues persisted in creating manufacturing difficulties for the supplier. In order to meet the MSFC requirements very stringent control needed to be maintained for the coating quality, specific activity and thickness. Due to the difficulties in providing the precisely controlled devices for testing, the delivery of the sources was seriously delayed. It became imperative that these fabrication issues be resolved to avoid further delays in this AXA-F observatory key component. The objectives are: 1) Research and provide expert advice on coating materials and procedures. 2) Research and recommend solutions to problems that have been experienced with the coating process. 3) Provide recommendations on the selection and preparation of substrates. 4) Provide consultation on the actual coating process including the results of the qualification and acceptance test programs. 5) Perform independent tests at UAH or MSFC as necessary.

Preparing the nursing workforce of the future.

PubMed

Ellenbecker, Carol H

2010-05-01

Nurse shortages coupled with the need for national healthcare reform present a challenge. We are not preparing enough nurses nor are we preparing nurses with the right skills to fully participate in a reformed healthcare system. Historical forces in nursing education have resulted in multiple levels of entry into nursing practice and an inadequate nursing workforce. Today's environment of expanding knowledge, the call for interdisciplinary healthcare delivery teams, and evidence of the relationship between nurse education and improved patient outcomes strongly indicate the need for nurses prepared at the baccalaureate level. Requiring a baccalaureate degree for entry into nursing practice, and as the initial degree of nursing education would prepare nurses earlier for graduate education and the much needed roles of educator, researcher and advanced practice nurse. The nursing profession should take the lead in advocating for educational policies that would adequately prepare the nurse workforce of the future.

Engineers conduct key water test for A-3 stand

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2009-01-01

Water cascades from the A-2 Test Stand at Stennis Space Center as engineers challenge the limits of the high-pressure water system as part of the preparation process for the A-3 Test Stand under construction. Jeff Henderson, test director for Stennis' A Complex, led a series of tests Nov. 16-20, flowing water simultaneously on the A-1 and A-2 stands, followed by the A-1 and B-1 stands, to determine if the high-pressure industrial water facility pumps and the existing pipe system can support the needs of the A-3 stand. The stand is being built to test rocket engines that will carry astronauts beyond low-Earth orbit and will need about 300,000 gallons of water per minute when operating, but the Stennis system never had been tested to that level. The recent tests were successful in showing the water facility pumps can operate at that capacity - reaching 318,000 gallons per minute in one instance. However, officials continue to analyze data to determine if the system can provide the necessary pressure at that capacity and if the delivery system piping is adequate. 'We just think if there's a problem, it's better to identify and address it now rather than when A-3 is finished and it has to be dealt with,' Henderson said.

10 CFR 26.93 - Preparing for alcohol testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Preparing for alcohol testing. 26.93 Section 26.93 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Collecting Specimens for Testing § 26.93 Preparing for alcohol testing. (a) Immediately before collecting a specimen for alcohol testing, the collector...

10 CFR 26.93 - Preparing for alcohol testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Preparing for alcohol testing. 26.93 Section 26.93 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Collecting Specimens for Testing § 26.93 Preparing for alcohol testing. (a) Immediately before collecting a specimen for alcohol testing, the collector...

Mapping users' expectations regarding extended-range forecasts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ervasti, Tiina; Gregow, Hilppa; Vajda, Andrea; Laurila, Terhi K.; Mäkelä, Antti

2018-05-01

An online survey was used to map the needs and preferences of the Finnish general public concerning extended-range forecasts and their presentation. First analyses of the survey were used to guide the co-design process of novel extended-range forecasts to be developed and tested during the project. In addition, the survey was used to engage the respondents from the general public to participate in a one year piloting phase that started in June 2017. The respondents considered that the tailored extended-range forecasts would be beneficial in planning activities, preparing for the weather risks and scheduling the everyday life. The respondents also perceived the information about the impacts of weather conditions more important than advice on how to prepare for the impacts.

Adaptogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mikhaylenko, E. A.; Stepchenko, L. M.

2009-04-01

The mechanism of adaptive action of peat preparations needs further understanding. Therefore, the research studied of the effects of the peat "Hydrohumate", on the adaptation processes of young rats, born from mothers who received this preparation togethewater durinr with g a lengthy time psycho-emotional stress (swimming). The test measured selected activity of proteolytic lysosomol cathepsin L in the spleen, heart and liver tissues, and in the grey matter of the large hemispheres of the cerebrum and cerebellum. The amount of cathepsin L activity was determined in 15- and 30-day-old rats with azocasein as substrate. The experiment established that rats, born from stressed mothers that drank plain water during stress had less body mass and altered organ indexes, including the adrenal gland index, compared to rats born from mothers who drank water with the peat preparation added. The change of cathepsin L activity in offspring of treated rats compared to controls demonstrates that structural adaptations occurred, affecting a perceptible and labile system such as the activity of lysosomal enzymes. Discussion will include the effect of humic preparations added to water on rats in the adaptive mechanisms of offspring after prenatal stress.

Dual gold catalysis: σ,π-propyne acetylide and hydroxyl-bridged digold complexes as easy-to-prepare and easy-to-handle precatalysts.

PubMed

Hashmi, A Stephen K; Lauterbach, Tobias; Nösel, Pascal; Vilhelmsen, Mie Højer; Rudolph, Matthias; Rominger, Frank

2013-01-14

A series of dinuclear gold σ,π-propyne acetylide complexes were prepared and tested for their catalytic ability in dual gold catalysis that was based on the reaction of an electrophilic π-complex of gold with a gold acetylide. The air-stable and storable catalysts can be isolated as silver-free catalysts in their activated form. These dual catalysts allow a fast initiation phase for the dual catalytic cycles without the need for additional additives for acetylide formation. Because propyne serves as a throw-away ligand, no traces of the precatalyst are generated. Based on the fast initiation process, side products are minimized and reaction rates are higher for these catalysts. A series of test reactions were used to demonstrate the general applicability of these catalysts. Lower catalyst loadings, faster reaction rates, and better selectivity, combined with the practicability of these catalysts, make them ideal catalysts for dual gold catalysis. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Rapid screening test for detection of oxytetracycline residues in milk using lateral flow assay.

PubMed

Naik, Laxmana; Sharma, Rajan; Mann, Bimlesh; Lata, Kiran; Rajput, Y S; Surendra Nath, B

2017-03-15

A rapid, semi-quantitative lateral flow assay (LFA) was developed to screen the oxytetracycline (OTC) antibiotics residues in milk samples. In this study a competitive immuno-assay format was established. Colloidal gold nano-particles (GNP) were prepared and used as labelling material in LFA. Polyclonal antibodies were generated against OTC molecule (anti-OTC), purified and the quality was assessed by enzyme linked immuno sorbet assay. For the first time membrane components required for LFA in milk system was optimized. GNP and anti-OTC stable conjugate preparation method was standardized, and then these components were placed over the conjugate pad. OTC coupled with carrier protein was placed on test line; species specific secondary antibodies were placed on the control line of the membrane matrix. Assay was validated by spiking OTC to antibiotic free milk samples and results could be accomplished within 5min. without need of any equipment. The visual detection limit was 30ppb. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Observations on the distribution and ecology of Clostridium botulinum type E in Alaska.

PubMed

Miller, L G

1975-06-01

Environmental samples collected along the coastline and from the interior of Alaska were examined for the presence of Clostridium botulinum. Clostridium botulinum type E was detected in soils from 5 of 12 beaches; in 7 of 115 non-coastal soil samples; in sediments from six of eight locales; in gills of salmon from two fishing areas; and in the feces of 1 of 44 colonic samples from marine mammals. The basic biochemical characteristics of the isolates were determined. Tube tests for demonstrating gelatin liquefaction proved insensitive with these strains, whereas a plate test detected gelatinase in all isolates. The presence of multiple nidi and the continual discharge of organic materials into the environment may contribute to the perpetuation of botulinum spores by which foods prepared form marine animals become contaminated. An emphasis should be placed upon the need for measures to reduce environmental contamination, to reduce contamination during food preparation, and to alert continually the population of the hazard wherever botulism is endemic.

Experience and Explanation: Using Videogames to Prepare Students for Formal Instruction in Statistics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arena, Dylan A.; Schwartz, Daniel L.

2014-08-01

Well-designed digital games can deliver powerful experiences that are difficult to provide through traditional instruction, while traditional instruction can deliver formal explanations that are not a natural fit for gameplay. Combined, they can accomplish more than either can alone. An experiment tested this claim using the topic of statistics, where people's everyday experiences often conflict with normative statistical theories and a videogame might provide an alternate set of experiences for students to draw upon. The research used a game called Stats Invaders!, a variant of the classic videogame Space Invaders. In Stats Invaders!, the locations of descending alien invaders follow probability distributions, and players need to infer the shape of the distributions to play well. The experiment tested whether the game developed participants' intuitions about the structure of random events and thereby prepared them for future learning from a subsequent written passage on probability distributions. Community-college students who played the game and then read the passage learned more than participants who only read the passage.

Long-term care planning and preparation among persons with multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Putnam, Michelle; Tang, Fengyan

2008-01-01

Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) primarily rely on informal supports such as family members and assistive technology to meet their daily needs. As they age, formal supports may become important to compliment these supports and sustain community-based living. No previous research exists exploring plans and preparations of persons with MS for future independent living and long-term care needs. We analyzed data from a random sample survey (N = 580) to assess knowledge and perceptions of future service needs using ANOVA, chi-square, correlations, and MANOVA procedures. Results indicate that overall, most respondents are not well informed and have not planned or prepared for future care needs. Persons reporting severe MS were more likely to plan and prepare. Key "entry points" for making preparations include receiving specific education and planning information, discussions with family and professional service providers, and increased age, education, and income. We recommend greater infusion of long-term care planning into these existing entry points and creation of new entry points including healthcare provides and insurers.

Nutritional support teams: the cooperation among physicians and pharmacists helps improve cost-effectiveness of home parenteral nutrition (HPN).

PubMed

Pietka, Magdalena; Watrobska-Swietlikowska, Dorota; Szczepanek, Kinga; Szybinski, Piotr; Sznitowska, Małgorzata; Kłęk, Stanisław

2014-09-12

Modern home parenteral nutrition (HPN) requires the preparation of tailored admixtures. The physicians' demands for their composition are often at the variance with pharmaceutical principles, which causes the necessity of either the preparation of ex tempore admixtures or stability testing ensuring long shelf life. Both approaches are not cost-effective. The aim of the study was to use the cooperation among physicians and pharmacists to assure both: cost-effectiveness and patient-tailored HPN admixtures. The first part of the study consisted of the thorough analysis of prescriptions for the most demanding 47 HPN patients (27 females and 20 males, mean age 53.1 year) treated at one HPN center to create few as possible long-shelf life admixtures. The second part of the study consisted of stability testing and modifications. The analysis showed over 137 variations needed to cover all macro- and micronutrients requirements. Their cost as ex-tempore solutions was extremely high (over 110 000 EURO/month) due to logistics and similarly high if stability test for variation were to be performed (68 500 EURO). Therefore prescription was prepared de novo within team of physicians and pharmacists and four base models were designed. Water and electrolytes, particularly magnesium and calcium showed to be the major issues. Stability tests failed in one admixture due to high electrolytes concentration. It was corrected, and the new formula passes the test. Five basic models were then used for creation of new bags. Cost of such an activity were 3 700 EURO (p<0.01) CONCLUSIONS: The cooperation within the members of nutritional support team could improve the cost-effectiveness and quality of HPN. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

Nevada Test Site Environmental Report 2009

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cathy Wills, ed.

2010-09-13

The Nevada Test Site Environmental Report 2009 was prepared to meet the information needs of the public and the requirements and guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for annual site environmental reports. It was prepared by National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec), for the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office (NNSA/NSO). This and previous years’ Nevada Test Site Environmental Reports (NTSERs) are posted on the NNSA/NSO website at http://www.nv.doe.gov/library/publications/aser.aspx. This NTSER was prepared to satisfy DOE Order DOE O 231.1A, “Environment, Safety and Health Reporting.” Its purpose is to (1) report compliance status withmore » environmental standards and requirements, (2) present results of environmental monitoring of radiological and nonradiological effluents, (3) report estimated radiological doses to the public from releases of radioactive material, (4) summarize environmental incidents of noncompliance and actions taken in response to them, (5) describe the NNSA/NSO Environmental Management System and characterize its performance, and (6) highlight significant environmental programs and efforts. This NTSER summarizes data and compliance status for calendar year 2009 at the Nevada Test Site (NTS) and its two support facilities, the North Las Vegas Facility (NLVF) and the Remote Sensing Laboratory (RSL)-Nellis. It also addresses environmental restoration (ER) projects conducted at the Tonopah Test Range (TTR). Through a Memorandum of Agreement, NNSA/NSO is responsible for the oversight of TTR ER projects, and the Sandia Site Office of NNSA (NNSA/SSO) has oversight of all other TTR activities. NNSA/SSO produces the TTR annual environmental report available at http://www.sandia.gov/news/publications/environmental/index.html.« less

Rapid Microbial Sample Preparation from Blood Using a Novel Concentration Device

PubMed Central

Boardman, Anna K.; Campbell, Jennifer; Wirz, Holger; Sharon, Andre; Sauer-Budge, Alexis F.

2015-01-01

Appropriate care for bacteremic patients is dictated by the amount of time needed for an accurate diagnosis. However, the concentration of microbes in the blood is extremely low in these patients (1–100 CFU/mL), traditionally requiring growth (blood culture) or amplification (e.g., PCR) for detection. Current culture-based methods can take a minimum of two days, while faster methods like PCR require a sample free of inhibitors (i.e., blood components). Though commercial kits exist for the removal of blood from these samples, they typically capture only DNA, thereby necessitating the use of blood culture for antimicrobial testing. Here, we report a novel, scaled-up sample preparation protocol carried out in a new microbial concentration device. The process can efficiently lyse 10 mL of bacteremic blood while maintaining the microorganisms’ viability, giving a 30‑μL final output volume. A suite of six microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans) at a range of clinically relevant concentrations was tested. All of the microorganisms had recoveries greater than 55% at the highest tested concentration of 100 CFU/mL, with three of them having over 70% recovery. At the lowest tested concentration of 3 CFU/mL, two microorganisms had recoveries of ca. 40–50% while the other four gave recoveries greater than 70%. Using a Taqman assay for methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA)to prove the feasibility of downstream analysis, we show that our microbial pellets are clean enough for PCR amplification. PCR testing of 56 spiked-positive and negative samples gave a specificity of 0.97 and a sensitivity of 0.96, showing that our sample preparation protocol holds great promise for the rapid diagnosis of bacteremia directly from a primary sample. PMID:25675242

Walking the Talk: Collaborative Preparation of Bilingual and Special Educators to Serve English Learners Who Need Academic or Behavioral Supports

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Robertson, Phyllis M.; García, Shernaz B.; Rodríguez, Haydeé M.

2016-01-01

This article describes a Collaborative Intervention Project designed to prepare preservice teachers to develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate interventions for English learners (ELs) in need of academic and/or behavioral supports. Faculty from two departments, one preparing bilingual education (BE) elementary school teachers and the other…

Field Evaluations Test Plan for Validation of Alternative Low-Emission Surface Preparation/Depainting Technologies for Structural Steel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lewis, Pattie

2005-01-01

Headquarters National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) chartered the Acquisition Pollution Prevention (AP2) Office to coordinate agency activities affecting pollution prevention issues identified during system and component acquisition and sustainment processes. The primary objectives of the AP2 Office are to: (1) Reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous materials (HazMats) or hazardous processes at manufacturing, remanufacturing, and sustainment locations. (2) Avoid duplication of effort in actions required to reduce or eliminate HazMats through joint center cooperation and technology sharing. To achieve a substrate condition suitable for the application of a coating system, both new and old (in-situ) substrates must undergo some type of surface preparation and/or depainting operation to ensure adhesion of the new coating system. The level of cleanliness or anchor profile desired is typically a function of the type of coating to be applied and the specification being adhered to. In high performance environments, cleanliness and surface profile requirements for carbon steel (the dominant substrate for facilities, structures and equipment) dictates the use of abrasive media. Many of the abrasive media currently used across NASA and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) installations generate large quantities of fugitive particulate emissions and waste. The high quantities of airborne dust and waste generated from these operations pose significant environmental concern. Efforts to contain emissions and the reduce quantity of waste generated have significant implications on project cost; this is often a deterrent to engaging in maintenance activities. In response to recent technological developments and NASA's and AFSPC's need to undertake environmentally conscious corrosion prevention projects, a review of the industry needs to be undertaken to evaluate surface preparation technologies (materials and processes) for embrace. This project will identify, evaluate and approve alternative surface preparation technologies for use at NASA and AFSPC installations. Materials and processes will be evaluated with the goal of selecting those processes that will improve corrosion protection at critical systems, facilitate easier maintenance activity, extend maintenance cycles, eliminate flight hardware contamination and reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated. This Field Evaluations Test Plan defines the field evaluation and testing requirements for validating alternative surface preparation/depainting technologies and supplements the JTP. The field evaluations will be performed at Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, under the oversight of the Project Engineer. Additional field evaluations may be performed at other NASA centers or AFSPC facilities.

40 CFR 205.57-3 - Test vehicle preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 25 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Test vehicle preparation. 205.57-3... PROGRAMS TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT NOISE EMISSION CONTROLS Medium and Heavy Trucks § 205.57-3 Test vehicle preparation. (a) Prior to the official test, the test vehicle selected in accordance with § 205-57-2 shall not...

SRM Internal Flow Tests and Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis. Volume 4; Cold Flow Analyses and CFD Analysis Capability Development

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1995-01-01

An evaluation of the effect of model inlet air temperature drift during a test run was performed to aid in the decision on the need for and/or the schedule for including heaters in the SRMAFTE. The Sverdrup acceptance test data was used to determine the drift in air temperature during runs over the entire range of delivered flow rates and pressures. The effect of this temperature drift on the model Reynolds number was also calculated. It was concluded from this study that a 2% change in absolute temperature during a test run could be adequately accounted for by the data analysis program. A handout package of these results was prepared and presented to ED35 management.

The design, fabrication and delivery of a spacelab neutral buoyancy Instrument Pointing System (IPS) mockup. [underwater training simulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vanvalkenburgh, C. N.

1984-01-01

Underwater simulations of EVA contingency operations such as manual jettison, payload disconnect, and payload clamp actuation were used to define crew aid needs and mockup pecularities and characteristics to verify the validity of simulation using the trainer. A set of mockup instrument pointing system tests was conducted and minor modifications and refinements were made. Flight configuration struts were tested and verified to be operable by the flight crew. Tasks involved in developing the following end items are described: IPS gimbal system, payload, and payload clamp assembly; the igloos (volumetric); spacelab pallets, experiments, and hardware; experiment, and hardware; experiment 7; and EVA hand tools, support hardware (handrails and foot restraints). The test plan preparation and test support are also covered.

Use of polymerase chain reaction technique to confirm VecTest screening results in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax VK 210 laboratory-infected Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes.

PubMed

Santos-Ciminera, Patricia D; Acheé, Nicole L; Quinnan, Gerald V; Roberts, Donald R

2004-09-01

We evaluated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm immunoassays for malaria parasites in mosquito pools after a failure to detect malaria with PCR during an outbreak in which pools tested positive using VecTest and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We combined VecTest, ELISA, and PCR to detect Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax VK 210. Each mosquito pool, prepared in triplicate, consisted of 1 exposed Anopheles stephensi and up to 9 unfed mosquitoes. The results of VecTest and ELISA were concordant. DNA from a subset of the pools, 1 representative of each ratio of infected to uninfected mosquitoes, was extracted and used as template in PCR. All P. vivax pools were PCR positive but some needed additional processing for removal of apparent inhibitors before positive results were obtained. One of the pools selected for P. falciparum was negative by PCR, probably because of losses or contamination during DNA extraction; 2 remaining pools at this ratio were PCR positive. Testing pools by VecTest, ELISA, and PCR is feasible, and PCR is useful for confirmation of immunoassays. An additional step might be needed to remove potential inhibitors from pools prior to PCR.

Multiplicity: discussion points from the Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry multiplicity expert group.

PubMed

Phillips, Alan; Fletcher, Chrissie; Atkinson, Gary; Channon, Eddie; Douiri, Abdel; Jaki, Thomas; Maca, Jeff; Morgan, David; Roger, James Henry; Terrill, Paul

2013-01-01

In May 2012, the Committee of Health and Medicinal Products issued a concept paper on the need to review the points to consider document on multiplicity issues in clinical trials. In preparation for the release of the updated guidance document, Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry held a one-day expert group meeting in January 2013. Topics debated included multiplicity and the drug development process, the usefulness and limitations of newly developed strategies to deal with multiplicity, multiplicity issues arising from interim decisions and multiregional development, and the need for simultaneous confidence intervals (CIs) corresponding to multiple test procedures. A clear message from the meeting was that multiplicity adjustments need to be considered when the intention is to make a formal statement about efficacy or safety based on hypothesis tests. Statisticians have a key role when designing studies to assess what adjustment really means in the context of the research being conducted. More thought during the planning phase needs to be given to multiplicity adjustments for secondary endpoints given these are increasing in importance in differentiating products in the market place. No consensus was reached on the role of simultaneous CIs in the context of superiority trials. It was argued that unadjusted intervals should be employed as the primary purpose of the intervals is estimation, while the purpose of hypothesis testing is to formally establish an effect. The opposing view was that CIs should correspond to the test decision whenever possible. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Does Test Preparation Work? Implications for Score Validity

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xie, Qin

2013-01-01

This article reports an empirical study that examined the pattern of test preparation for College English Test Band 4 (CET4) and the differential effects of test preparation practices on its scores, thereby drawing implications for CET4 score validity. Data collection involved 1,003 test takers of CET4. A pretest was administered at the beginning…

[Laboratory accreditation and proficiency testing].

PubMed

Kuwa, Katsuhiko

2003-05-01

ISO/TC 212 covering clinical laboratory testing and in vitro diagnostic test systems will issue the international standard for medical laboratory quality and competence requirements, ISO 15189. This standard is based on the ISO/IEC 17025, general requirements for competence of testing and calibration laboratories and ISO 9001, quality management systems-requirements. Clinical laboratory services are essential to patient care and therefore should be available to meet the needs of all patients and clinical personnel responsible for human health care. If a laboratory seeks accreditation, it should select an accreditation body that operates according to this international standard and in a manner which takes into account the particular requirements of clinical laboratories. Proficiency testing should be available to evaluate the calibration laboratories and reference measurement laboratories in clinical medicine. Reference measurement procedures should be of precise and the analytical principle of measurement applied should ensure reliability. We should be prepared to establish a quality management system and proficiency testing in clinical laboratories.

Does Test Preparation Mean Low-Quality Instruction?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blazar, David; Pollard, Cynthia

2017-01-01

Critics of test-based accountability warn that test preparation has a negative influence on teachers' instruction due to a focus on procedural skills. Others advocate that the adoption of more rigorous assessments may be a way to incentivize more ambitious test preparation instruction. Drawing on classroom observations and teacher surveys, we do…

40 CFR 86.1334-84 - Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 19 2010-07-01 2010-07-01 false Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation. 86.1334-84 Section 86.1334-84 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... Exhaust Test Procedures § 86.1334-84 Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation. (a) Control system...

40 CFR 86.1334-84 - Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 20 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation. 86.1334-84 Section 86.1334-84 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... Exhaust Test Procedures § 86.1334-84 Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation. (a) Control system...

40 CFR 86.1334-84 - Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 19 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation. 86.1334-84 Section 86.1334-84 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... Exhaust Test Procedures § 86.1334-84 Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation. (a) Control system...

40 CFR 86.1334-84 - Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 20 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation. 86.1334-84 Section 86.1334-84 Protection of Environment ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY... Exhaust Test Procedures § 86.1334-84 Pre-test engine and dynamometer preparation. (a) Control system...

The effect of magnification loupes on the performance of preclinical dental students.

PubMed

Maggio, Margrit P; Villegas, Hilda; Blatz, Markus B

2011-01-01

optical magnifying devices such as magnification loupes are increasingly used in clinical practice and educational settings. However, scientific evidence to validate their benefits is limited. This study assessed the effect of dental magnification loupes on psychomotor skill acquisition during a preclinical operative dentistry course. the performance of first-year dental students was assessed during an Advanced Simulation Course (AS) using virtual reality-based technology (VRBT) training. The test group consisted of 116 dental students using magnification loupes (+MAG), while students not using them (-MAG, n = 116) served as the control. The following parameters were evaluated: number of successfully passing preparation procedures per course rotation, amount of time per tooth preparation, number of times students needed computer assistance and evaluation, and amount of time spent in the computer assistance and evaluation mode per procedure. Data were collected on each student through VRBT during the preparation procedure and stored on a closed network server computer. Unpaired t tests were used to analyze mean differences between the groups. In addition, student acceptance of magnification loupes was measured and evaluated through survey interpretation. +MAG students completed more preparations, worked faster per procedure, and used the computer-assisted evaluation less frequently and for shorter periods, therefore displaying greater overall performance. The survey revealed a high degree of student acceptance of using magnification. dental magnification loupes significantly enhanced student performance during preclinical dental education and were considered an effective adjunct by the students who used them.

40 CFR 86.1910 - How must I prepare and test my in-use engines?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... new test. In this case, only the post-repair test results would be used in the vehicle-pass... 40 Protection of Environment 20 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false How must I prepare and test my in-use...) Manufacturer-Run In-Use Testing Program for Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines § 86.1910 How must I prepare and test my...

From High School to the Future: ACT Preparation--Too Much, Too Late. Why ACT Scores Are Low in Chicago and What It Means for Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Allensworth, Elaine; Correa, Macarena; Ponisciak, Steve

2008-01-01

The majority of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students are not attaining the ACT scores they are aiming for, which they need to qualify for scholarships and college acceptance. This report looks at the reasons behind students' low performance and what matters for doing well on this test. CPS students are highly motivated to do well on the ACT, and…

Tensile-Creep Test Specimen Preparation Practices of Surface Support Liners

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guner, Dogukan; Ozturk, Hasan

2017-12-01

Ground support has always been considered as a challenging issue in all underground operations. Many forms of support systems and supporting techniques are available in the mining/tunnelling industry. In the last two decades, a new polymer based material, Thin Spray-on Liner (TSL), has attained a place in the market as an alternative to the current areal ground support systems. Although TSL provides numerous merits and has different application purposes, the knowledge on mechanical properties and performance of this material is still limited. In laboratory studies, since tensile rupture is the most commonly observed failure mechanism in field applications, researchers have generally studied the tensile testing of TSLs with modification of American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D-638 standards. For tensile creep testing, specimen preparation process also follows the ASTM standards. Two different specimen dimension types (Type I, Type IV) are widely preferred in TSL tensile testing that conform to the related standards. Moreover, molding and die cutting are commonly used specimen preparation techniques. In literature, there is a great variability of test results due to the difference in specimen preparation techniques and practices. In this study, a ductile TSL product was tested in order to investigate the effect of both specimen preparation techniques and specimen dimensions under 7-day curing time. As a result, ultimate tensile strength, tensile yield strength, tensile modulus, and elongation at break values were obtained for 4 different test series. It is concluded that Type IV specimens have higher strength values compared to Type I specimens and moulded specimens have lower results than that of prepared by using die cutter. Moreover, specimens prepared by molding techniques have scattered test results. Type IV specimens prepared by die cutter technique are suggested for preparation of tensile test and Type I specimens prepared by die cutter technique should be preferred for tensile creep tests.

Fish induced anaphylactic reaction: report of one case.

PubMed

Lin, H Y; Shyur, S D; Fu, J L; Lai, Y C; Lin, J S

1998-01-01

In the past 2 years, a 4 year-old boy has had an anaphylactic reaction whenever he contacted food prepared with fish. The symptoms included intense itching in the throat and eyes, which progressed to generalized urticaria and facial angioedema. This was accompanied by cough, wheezing and dyspnea. Many fish preparations caused these episodes including several different kinds of fish (cod, tuna, salmon, trout, eel...), fish soup, chopsticks contaminated with fish preparations and canned fish. Elevated levels of total serum IgE (224 IU/ml) and specific IgE for cod (93.1 IU/ml), tuna (> 100 IU/ml), salmon (> 100 IU/ml), trout (64.4 IU/ml), mackerel (41.2 IU/ml) and eel (28.1 IU/ml) were found by the Pharmacia CAP system RAST FEIA in our allergy clinic. A skin prick test for mixed fish extracts (contain flounder, cod and halibut) was positive. A fish challenge test for cod, tuna, salmon, trout and eel all showed anaphylactic reactions. His allergic symptoms stabilized gradually after strictly avoiding ingestion of fish and using drug treatment. He also had a similar anaphylactic reaction to frogs. The best treatment for fish allergy is avoidance. Avoidance of fish may need to include both ingestion and inhalation of cooking vapors.

Conducting Planetary Field Geology on EVA: Lessons from the 2010 DRATS Geologist Crewmembers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Young, Kelsey E.; Bleacher, J. E.; Hurtado, J. M., Jr.; Rice, J.; Garry, W. B.; Eppler, D.

2011-01-01

In order to prepare for the next phase of planetary surface exploration, the Desert Research and Technology Studies (DRATS) field program seeks to test the next generation of technology needed to explore other surfaces. The 2010 DRATS 14-day field campaign focused on the simultaneous operation of two habitatable rovers, or Space Exploration Vehicles (SEVs). Each rover was crewed by one astronaut/commander and one geologist, with a change in crews on day seven of the mission. This shift change allowed for eight crew members to test the DRATS technology and operational protocols [1,2]. The insights presented in this abstract represent the crew s thoughts on lessons learned from this field season, as well as potential future testing concepts.

Ubiquitous testing using tablets: its impact on medical student perceptions of and engagement in learning.

PubMed

Kim, Kyong-Jee; Hwang, Jee-Young

2016-03-01

Ubiquitous testing has the potential to affect medical education by enhancing the authenticity of the assessment using multimedia items. This study explored medical students' experience with ubiquitous testing and its impact on student learning. A cohort (n=48) of third-year students at a medical school in South Korea participated in this study. The students were divided into two groups and were given different versions of 10 content-matched items: one in text version (the text group) and the other in multimedia version (the multimedia group). Multimedia items were delivered using tablets. Item response analyses were performed to compare item characteristics between the two versions. Additionally, focus group interviews were held to investigate the students' experiences of ubiquitous testing. The mean test score was significantly higher in the text group. Item difficulty and discrimination did not differ between text and multimedia items. The participants generally showed positive responses on ubiquitous testing. Still, they felt that the lectures that they had taken in preclinical years did not prepare them enough for this type of assessment and clinical encounters during clerkships were more helpful. To be better prepared, the participants felt that they needed to engage more actively in learning in clinical clerkships and have more access to multimedia learning resources. Ubiquitous testing can positively affect student learning by reinforcing the importance of being able to understand and apply knowledge in clinical contexts, which drives students to engage more actively in learning in clinical settings.

Life sciences on-line: A study in hypermedia application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Christman, Linda A.; Hoang, Nam V.; Proctor, David R.

1990-01-01

The main objective was to determine the feasibility of using a computer-based interactive information recall module for the Life Sciences Project Division (LSPD) at NASA, Johnson Space Center. LSPD personnel prepare payload experiments to test and monitor physiological functions in zero gravity. Training refreshers and other types of online help are needed to support personnel in their tasks during mission testing and in flight. Results of a survey of other hypermedia and multimedia developers and lessons learned by the developer of the LSPD prototype module are presented. Related issues and future applications are also discussed and further hypermedia development within the LSPD is recommended.

Nevada Test Site Environmental Report 2005

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cathy A. Wills

2006-10-01

The Nevada Test Site Environmental Report 2005 (NTSER) was prepared to meet the information needs of the public and the requirements and guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for annual site environmental reports. Its purpose is to (1) report compliance status with environmental standards and requirements, (2) present results of environmental monitoring of radiological and nonradiological effluents, (3) report estimated radiological doses to the public from releases of radioactive material, (4) summarize environmental incidents of noncompliance and actions taken in response to them, (5) describe the NTS Environmental Management System and characterize its performance, and (6) highlight significantmore » environmental programs and efforts.« less

Virtual reality in anesthesia "simulation".

PubMed

Singh, P M; Kaur, Manpreet; Trikha, Anjan

2012-01-01

Simulation in anesthesia is a field that has revolutionized the teaching outlook. The uncommon grave situations are no more unseen. The ability of these devices to test and give a taste of nerves to an anesthetist is actually preparing him for a safe future management when the need be. The role of simulation in testing a new device for its likely success in clinical world can be foreseen. Mastering a difficult skill no longer subjects a patient to danger. These advanced methods not only see how anesthetist responds to environment, but also how the OT environment reacts to him. The review highlights how technology will help us become technically sound clinicians for tomorrow.

Detection of Ophiocordyceps sinensis and Its Common Adulterates Using Species-Specific Primers

PubMed Central

Liu, Yang; Wang, Xiao-yue; Gao, Zi-tong; Han, Jian-ping; Xiang, Li

2017-01-01

Ophiocordyceps sinensis is a fungus that infects Hepialidae caterpillars, mummifying the larvae and producing characteristic fruiting bodies (stromata) that are processed into one of the most valued traditional Chinese medicines (TCM). The product commands a very high price due to a high demand but a very limited supply. Adulteration with other fungi is a common problem and there is a need to test preparation for the presence of the correct fungus. In the current study, a PCR-based approach for the identification of O. sinensis based on a segment of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was developed. The segments is 146-bp in size and is likely to be amplified even in materials where processing led to DNA fragmentation. Primer development was based on the alignment of sequence data generated from a total of 89 samples of O. sinensis and potential adulterants as well as sequences date from 41 Ophiocordyceps species and 26 Cordyceps species available in GenBank. Tests with primer pair, DCF4/DCR4, demonstrated generation of an amplicon from DNA extracted from O. sinensis stromata, but not from extracts derived from adulterants. Species-specific primer pairs were also developed and tested for detection of the common adulterants, Cordyceps gunnii, Cordyceps cicadae, Cordyceps militaris, Cordyceps liangshanensis and Ophiocordyceps nutans. The collection of primers developed in the present study will be useful for the authentication of preparation claiming to only contain O. sinensis and for the detection of fungi used as adulterants in these preparations. PMID:28680424

The Application of Problem-Based Learning in Mechanical Engineering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Putra, Z. A.; Dewi, M.

2018-02-01

The course of Technology and Material Testing prepare students with the ability to do a variety of material testing in the study of mechanical engineering. Students find it difficult to understand the materials to make them unable to carry out the material testing in accordance with the purpose of study. This happens because they knowledge is not adequately supported by the competence to find and construct learning experience. In this study, quasy experiment research method with pre-post-test with control group design was used. The subjects of the study were students divided in two groups; control and experiment with twenty-two students in each group. Study result: their grades showed no difference in between the pre-test or post-test in control group, but the difference in grade existed between the pre-test and post-test in experiment group. Yet, there is no significant difference in the study result on both groups. The researcher recommend that it is necessary to develop Problem-Based Learning that suits need analysis on D3 Program for Mechanical Engineering Department at the State University of Padang, to ensure the compatibility between Model of Study and problems and need. This study aims to analyze how Problem-Based Learning effects on the course of Technology and Material Testing for the students of D3 Program of Mechanical Engineering of the State University of Padang.

46 CFR 61.05-5 - Preparation of boilers for inspection and test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 46 Shipping 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Preparation of boilers for inspection and test. 61.05-5 Section 61.05-5 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) MARINE ENGINEERING PERIODIC TESTS AND INSPECTIONS Tests and Inspections of Boilers § 61.05-5 Preparation of boilers for inspection and test. (a) For internal inspectio...

Investigating the Relationship between Test Preparation and "TOEFL iBT"® Performance. Research Report. ETS RR-14-15

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Liu, Ou Lydia

2014-01-01

This study investigates the relationship between test preparation and test performance on the "TOEFL iBT"® exam. Information on background variables and test preparation strategies was gathered from 14,593 respondents in China through an online survey. A Chinese standardized English test was used as a control for prior English ability.…

Properties of zirconia-toughened-alumina prepared via powder processing and colloidal processing routes.

PubMed

Rafferty, A; Alsebaie, A M; Olabi, A G; Prescott, T

2009-01-15

Alumina-zirconia composites were prepared by two routes: powder processing, and colloidal processing. Unstabilised zirconia powder was added to alumina in 5 wt%, 10 wt% and 20 wt% quantities. For the colloidal method, zirconium(IV) propoxide solution was added to alumina powder, also in 5 wt%, 10 wt% and 20 wt% quantities. Additions of glacial acetic acid were needed to form stable suspensions. Suspension stability was verified by pH measurements and sedimentation testing. For the powder processed samples Vickers hardness decreased indefinitely with increasing ZrO(2) additions, but for colloidal samples the hardness at first decreased but then increased again above >10 wt% ZrO(2). Elastic modulus (E) values decreased with ZrO(2) additions. However, samples containing 20 wt% zirconia prepared via a colloidal method exhibited a much higher modulus than the powder processed equivalent. This was due to the homogeneous dispersion of zirconia yielding a sample which was less prone to microcracking.

Attitudes and practices of school-aged girls towards menstruation.

PubMed

Jarrah, Samiha Suhail; Kamel, Andaleeb Abu

2012-06-01

The purpose of this study was to (i) investigate attitude and menstruation-related practices in Jordanian school-aged girls; (ii) identify the influence of premenstrual preparation on girls' attitude and menstruation-related practices. A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. Data was collected from a convenience sample of 490 school-age girls (12-18 years) from different districts in Jordan. Self-report instruments [Menstrual Attitude Questionnaire (MAQ), and Menstrual Practices Questionnaires (MPQ)] were used to assess the study variables. Descriptive statistics, correlation and chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. It was found that menstrual attitude and practices were positively correlated. Poor attitude toward menstruation and low menstrual practices were significantly associated with inadequate premenstrual preparation. There is a need to prepare girls for menstruation before menarche. The role of the schools and teachers should be reinforced through formal and well planned reproductive health educators for girls and their mothers. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Faculty Needs, Doctoral Preparation, and the Future of Teacher Preparation Programs in the Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Benedict, Kendra M.; Johnson, Harold; Antia, Shirin D.

2011-01-01

The purposes of the study were to obtain and analyze data on the need for, and desired characteristics of, faculty in deaf education at American institutions of higher education (IHEs), and to assess the present and projected status of doctoral-level teacher preparation programs in deaf education at American IHEs. Program directors and…

10 CFR 26.89 - Preparing to collect specimens for testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Preparing to collect specimens for testing. 26.89 Section 26.89 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Collecting Specimens for Testing § 26.89 Preparing to collect specimens for testing. (a) When an individual has been notified of a...

10 CFR 26.89 - Preparing to collect specimens for testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Preparing to collect specimens for testing. 26.89 Section 26.89 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Collecting Specimens for Testing § 26.89 Preparing to collect specimens for testing. (a) When an individual has been notified of a...

10 CFR 26.89 - Preparing to collect specimens for testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Preparing to collect specimens for testing. 26.89 Section 26.89 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Collecting Specimens for Testing § 26.89 Preparing to collect specimens for testing. (a) When an individual has been notified of a...

10 CFR 26.89 - Preparing to collect specimens for testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Preparing to collect specimens for testing. 26.89 Section 26.89 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Collecting Specimens for Testing § 26.89 Preparing to collect specimens for testing. (a) When an individual has been notified of a...

10 CFR 26.89 - Preparing to collect specimens for testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Preparing to collect specimens for testing. 26.89 Section 26.89 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Collecting Specimens for Testing § 26.89 Preparing to collect specimens for testing. (a) When an individual has been notified of a...

A Career Needs Comparison of Elementary School Teachers and Undergraduate Students in an Elementary School Teacher Preparation Program.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fitzgerald, Sheila M.

To determine if the career needs of undergraduate students entering a teacher preparation program would be similar to the needs expressed by experienced teachers on the Minnesota Importance Questionnaire (MIP), the responses of 100 undergraduate elementary education students at Michigan State University were compared to those of 178 career…

In vitro dissolution of proton-pump inhibitor products intended for paediatric and geriatric use in physiological bicarbonate buffer.

PubMed

Liu, Fang; Shokrollahi, Honaz

2015-05-15

Proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) products based on enteric coated multiparticulates are design to meet the needs of patients who cannot swallow tablets such as children and older adults. Enteric coated PPI preparations exhibit delays in in vivo absorption and onset of antisecretory effects, which is not reflected by the rapid in vitro dissolution in compendial pH 6.8 phosphate buffer commonly used for assessment of these products. A more representative and physiological medium, pH 6.8 mHanks bicarbonate buffer, was used in this study to evaluate the in vitro dissolution of enteric coated multiparticulate-based PPI products. Commercially available omeprazole, lansoprazole and esomeprazole products were subject to dissolution tests using USP-II apparatus in pH 4.5 phosphate buffer saline for 45 min (acid stage) followed by pH 6.8 phosphate buffer or pH 6.8 mHanks bicarbonate buffer. In pH 6.8 phosphate buffer, all nine tested products displayed rapid and comparable dissolution profiles meeting the pharmacopeia requirements for delayed release preparations. In pH 6.8 mHanks buffer, drug release was delayed and failed the pharmacopeia requirements from most enteric coated preparations. Despite that the same enteric polymer, methacrylic acid-ethyl acrylate copolymer (1:1), was applied to all commercial multiparticulate-based products, marked differences were observed between dissolution profiles of these preparations. The use of pH 6.8 physiological bicarbonate (mHanks) buffer can serve as a useful tool to provide realistic and discriminative in vitro release assessment of enteric coated PPI preparations and to assist rational formulation development of these products. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy: The role of parenteral iron.

PubMed

Esen, Umo I

2017-01-01

Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality remain major challenges in the delivery of safe maternity care worldwide. Anaemia in pregnancy is an important contributor to this dismal picture, especially where blood transfusion services are poorly developed. An early diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy using the new generation dextran-free parenteral iron preparations can save lives and reduce morbidity in selected pregnancies. It is time to cast aside the fears associated with the use of the old parenteral iron preparations which were associated a high incidence of anaphylaxis, and embrace the use of new parenteral iron products which have better side effect profiles and can deliver total dose infusions without the need for test dosing. In selected women, the benefits of this treatment far outweigh any disadvantages.

Rotary Mtwo system versus manual K-file instruments: efficacy in preparing primary and permanent molar root canals.

PubMed

Azar, Mohammad-Reza; Mokhtare, Maziar

2011-01-01

To compare the cleaning ability and preparation time of rotary instruments (Mtwo) and conventional manual instruments (K-file) in preparing primary and permanent molar root canals. Access cavities were prepared in 70 primary and 70 permanent teeth and India ink was injected into 120 canals of selected molars. The teeth were randomly divided into two main subgroups (n=20) and three control groups (n=10). In each of these main subgroups, either the manual instrument (K-file) or the rotary system (Mtwo) was used to prepare root canals. After cleaning the canals and clearing the teeth, dye removal was evaluated with the help of a stereomicroscope. In addition, the time needed for root canal preparation was recorded by a chronometer. Statistical analyses were done using the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney and t tests. With regard to the cleaning ability of root canals, there were no significant differences between the K-file and Mtwo rotary system in primary and permanent teeth in the apical, middle or coronal third of the canals. Moreover, there were no significant differences between primary and permanent teeth prepared with K-files and rotary instruments. In all the groups, shorter times were recorded with the rotary technique. The working time was shorter in primary than in permanent teeth. The Mtwo rotary system showed acceptable cleaning ability in both primary and permanent teeth, and achieved results similar to those of K-files in less time.

Cold Preparation of Heroin in a Black Tar Market.

PubMed

Roth, Alexis M; Armenta, Richard F; Wagner, Karla D; Strathdee, Steffanie A; Goldshear, Jesse L; Cuevas-Mota, Jazmine; Garfein, Richard S

2017-07-29

Black tar heroin is typically prepared for injection with heat which decreases the risk of HIV transmission by inactivating the virus. We received reports that persons who inject drugs (PWID) in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, a black tar heroin market, were using only water to dissolve heroin. Because Tijuana abuts San Diego County, CA, United States, we undertook the present analyses to determine the prevalence of this practice among PWID in San Diego, California. PWID completed quarterly behavioral assessments and serological testing for blood-borne viruses. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to assess for individual, social, and structural correlates of preparing heroin without heat within the preceding 6 months. Nearly half of black tar heroin users (149/305) reported they had prepared heroin without heat within 6 months. In multivariable analysis, cold preparation was independently associated with younger age (10 year decrease; AOR = 1.25; 95% CI 1.03, 1.53), more drug injecting acquaintances (per 5 acquaintance increase; AOR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01, 1.09) and prefilled syringe use (injecting drugs from syringes that are already filled with drugs before purchase; AOR = 1.86; 95% CI 1.14, 3.02). Conclusions/Importance: To our knowledge, this is the first paper to report that PWID living in a black tar heroin market are preparing heroin without heat. Additional research is needed to determine whether this is an endemic practice or PWID are engaging in new forms of drug preparation in response to changes in the environment.

[Study on two preparation methods for beta-CD inclusion compound of four traditional Chinese medicine volatile oils].

PubMed

Li, Hailiang; Cui, Xiaoli; Tong, Yan; Gong, Muxin

2012-04-01

To compare inclusion effects and process conditions of two preparation methods-colloid mill and saturated solution-for beta-CD inclusion compound of four traditional Chinese medicine volatile oils and study the relationship between each process condition and volatile oil physical properties and the regularity of selective inclusion of volatile oil components. Volatile oils from Nardostachyos Radix et Rhizoma, Amomi Fructus, Zingiberis Rhizoma and Angelicaesinensis Radix were prepared using two methods in the orthogonal test. These inclusion compounds by optimized processes were assessed and compared by such methods as TLC, IR and scanning electron microscope. Inclusion oils were extracted by steam distillation, and the components found before and after inclusion were analyzed by GC-MS. Analysis showed that new inclusion compounds, but inclusion compounds prepared by the two processes had differences to some extent. The colloid mill method showed a better inclusion effect than the saturated solution method, indicating that their process conditions had relations with volatile oil physical properties. There were differences in the inclusion selectivity of components between each other. The colloid mill method for inclusion preparation is more suitable for industrial requirements. To prepare volatile oil inclusion compounds with heavy gravity and high refractive index, the colloid mill method needs longer time and more water, while the saturated solution method requires higher temperature and more beta-cyclodextrin. The inclusion complex prepared with the colloid mill method contains extended molecular weight chemical composition, but the kinds of components are reduced.

Increased self-efficacy for vegetable preparation following an online, skill-based intervention and in-class tasting experience as a part of a general education college nutrition course.

PubMed

Brown, Katie N; Wengreen, Heidi J; Vitale, Tamara S; Anderson, Janet B

2011-01-01

Assess the effectiveness of the integration of vegetable demonstration videos and tasting experiences into a college nutrition course to influence students' readiness to change vegetable intake, self-efficacy for vegetable preparation, and usual vegetable intake. Quasiexperimental, preintervention-postintervention comparisons. College nutrition course. Of the 376 students enrolled in the course, 186 completed the online assessments (145 female, 41 male; mean age, 20 years). Participants viewed online vegetable preparation videos and participated in vegetable tasting experiences that featured four target vegetables, one vegetable each month for 4 months. Preintervention and postintervention online surveys determined usual vegetable intake, readiness to change vegetable consumption, and self-efficacy of vegetable preparation. Chi-square distribution and paired sample t-tests were used to examine differences preintervention and postintervention. Stage of readiness to change vegetable intake shifted from contemplation toward preparation (p < .001). Self-efficacy of vegetable preparation increased and postintervention self-efficacy was associated with total and target vegetable consumption (p  =  .001 and p  =  .005, respectively). The average intake of asparagus, one of four target vegetables, increased (p  =  .016); similar changes were not observed for target or total vegetable consumption. Online vegetable demonstration videos may be an effective and cost-efficient intervention for increasing self-efficacy of vegetable preparation and readiness to increase vegetable consumption among college students. More research is needed to determine long-term effects on vegetable consumption.

Differences in tuberculin reactivity as determined in a veterans administration employee health screening program.

PubMed

Mehta, Sanjay R; MacGruder, Cathy; Looney, David; Johns, Scott; Smith, Davey M

2009-04-01

In response to a difference in pricing, the San Diego Veterans Administration Medical Center changed its tuberculin preparation from Tubersol to Aplisol in the fall of 2006. Following the change, an increased number of employee skin test conversions was noted. Employee tuberculin skin test converters from 2006 were screened with the QuantiFERON Gold (QFT-G) gamma interferon release assay. Those employees who tested negative by QFT-G were asked to repeat their skin test with both Tubersol and Aplisol tuberculin preparations. Of the new purified protein derivative converters, 12 of 14 returned for repeat testing with QFT-G, and the assay was negative for 83% (10/12), positive for 8% (1/12), and indeterminate for 8% (1/12) of the individuals. Nine of the individuals who were QFT-G negative agreed to repeat skin testing with both tuberculin preparations, and 7/8 (87.5%) demonstrated reactivity with the Aplisol preparation, while 0/8 (0%) reacted to the Tubersol preparation. A change from Tubersol to Aplisol resulted in elevated tuberculin skin test conversion rates that may be due to false-positive reactions. The differences in skin test reactivity between preparations support CDC guidelines that recommend that institutions should not change tuberculin preparations, as doing so may falsely increase the number of positive reactions.

40 CFR 86.1910 - How must I prepare and test my in-use engines?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

.... In this case, only the post-repair test results would be used in the vehicle-pass determination as... 40 Protection of Environment 19 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false How must I prepare and test my in-use... In-Use Testing Program for Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines § 86.1910 How must I prepare and test my in-use...

[Comparison of the Conventional Centrifuged and Filtrated Preparations in Urine Cytology].

PubMed

Sekita, Nobuyuki; Shimosakai, Hirofumi; Nishikawa, Rika; Sato, Hiroaki; Kouno, Hiroyoshi; Fujimura, Masaaki; Mikami, Kazuo

2016-03-01

The urine cytology test is one of the most important tools for the diagnosis of malignant urinary tract tumors. This test is also of great value for predicting malignancy. However, the sensitivity of this test is not high enough to screen for malignant cells. In our laboratory, we were able to attain a high sensitivity of urine cytology tests after changing the preparation method of urine samples. The differences in the cytodiagnosis between the two methods are discussed here. From January 2012 to June 2013, 2,031 urine samples were prepared using the conventional centrifuge method (C method) ; and from September 2013 to March 2015, 2,453 urine samples were prepared using the filtration method (F method) for the cytology test. When the samples included in category 4 or 5, were defined as cytological positive, the sensitivities of this test with samples prepared using the F method were significantly high compared with samples prepared using the C method (72% vs 28%, p＜0.001). The number of cells on the glass slides prepared by the F method was significantly higher than that of the samples prepared by the C method (p＜0.001). After introduction of the F method, the number of f alse negative cases was decreased in the urine cytology test because a larger number of cells was seen and easily detected as atypical or malignant epithelial cells. Therefore, this method has a higher sensitivity than the conventional C method as the sensitivity of urine cytology tests relies partially on the number of cells visualized in the prepared samples.

Test Preparation Beliefs and Practices in a High-Stakes Context: A Teacher's Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gebril, Atta; Eid, Michael

2017-01-01

Policy makers worldwide are increasingly using high-stakes tests for accountability purposes. This practice has resulted in a considerable rise in test preparation activities in different instructional contexts. The purpose of this study is to investigate teachers' test preparation beliefs and practices in a high-stakes assessment context in…

40 CFR 1066.407 - Vehicle preparation and preconditioning.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 34 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false Vehicle preparation and...) AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS VEHICLE-TESTING PROCEDURES Vehicle Preparation and Running a Test § 1066.407 Vehicle preparation and preconditioning. This section describes steps to take before measuring exhaust...

40 CFR 1066.407 - Vehicle preparation and preconditioning.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 34 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Vehicle preparation and...) AIR POLLUTION CONTROLS VEHICLE-TESTING PROCEDURES Vehicle Preparation and Running a Test § 1066.407 Vehicle preparation and preconditioning. This section describes steps to take before measuring exhaust...

Passive Orbital Disconnect Strut (PODS 3) structural test program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parmley, R. T.

1985-01-01

A passive orbital disconnect strut (PODS-3) was analyzed structurally and thermally. Development tests on a graphite/epoxy orbit tube and S glass epoxy launch tube provided the needed data to finalize the design. A detailed assembly procedure was prepared. One strut was fabricated. Shorting loads in both the axial and lateral direction (vs. load angle and location) were measured. The strut was taken to design limit loads at both ambient and 78 K (cold end only). One million fatigue cycles were performed at predicted STS loads (half in tension, half in compression) with the cold end at 78 K. The fatigue test was repeated at design limit loads. Six struts were then fabricated and tested as a system. Axial loads, side loads, and simulated asymmetric loads due to temperature gradients around the vacuum shell were applied. Shorting loads were measured for all tests.

Fun and games in reviewing neonatal emergency care.

PubMed

Gordon, D W; Brown, H N

1995-04-01

To develop a game-based review instrument for use by newborn caregivers in preparing for emergency situations. One hundred and one test questions covering pathophysiology, resuscitation, and medications were developed. The questions then underwent expert and peer review, psychometric testing for content validity and test-retest reliability, and a game trial. The needs of adult learners are different from those of other learners. The gaming format uses knowledge gained through experience and provides an avenue for validating knowledge and sharing experiences. This format has been found effective for review and reinforcement of facts. Twelve nurses participated in a trial game and completed a written evaluation using a Likert scale. The Neonatal Emergency Trivia Game is an effective tool for reviewing material related to neonatal emergency care decisions. Additional testing with a larger group would strengthen validity and reliability data.

A Comparison of What Is Part of Usability Testing in Three Countries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clemmensen, Torkil

The cultural diversity of users of technology challenges our methods for usability evaluation. In this paper we report and compare three ethnographic interview studies of what is a part of a standard (typical) usability test in a company in Mumbai, Beijing and Copenhagen. At each of these three locations, we use structural and contrast questions do a taxonomic and paradigm analysis of a how a company performs a usability test. We find similar parts across the three locations. We also find different results for each location. In Mumbai, most parts of the usability test are not related to the interactive application that is tested, but to differences in user characteristics, test preparation, method, and location. In Copenhagen, considerations about the client's needs are part of a usability test. In Beijing, the only varying factor is the communication pattern and relation to the user. These results are then contrasted in a cross cultural matrix to identify cultural themes that can help interpret results from existing laboratory research in usability test methods.

NASA Handbook for Spacecraft Structural Dynamics Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kern, Dennis L.; Scharton, Terry D.

2005-01-01

Recent advances in the area of structural dynamics and vibrations, in both methodology and capability, have the potential to make spacecraft system testing more effective from technical, cost, schedule, and hardware safety points of view. However, application of these advanced test methods varies widely among the NASA Centers and their contractors. Identification and refinement of the best of these test methodologies and implementation approaches has been an objective of efforts by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on behalf of the NASA Office of the Chief Engineer. But to develop the most appropriate overall test program for a flight project from the selection of advanced methodologies, as well as conventional test methods, spacecraft project managers and their technical staffs will need overall guidance and technical rationale. Thus, the Chief Engineer's Office has recently tasked JPL to prepare a NASA Handbook for Spacecraft Structural Dynamics Testing. An outline of the proposed handbook, with a synopsis of each section, has been developed and is presented herein. Comments on the proposed handbook are solicited from the spacecraft structural dynamics testing community.

NASA Handbook for Spacecraft Structural Dynamics Testing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kern, Dennis L.; Scharton, Terry D.

2004-01-01

Recent advances in the area of structural dynamics and vibrations, in both methodology and capability, have the potential to make spacecraft system testing more effective from technical, cost, schedule, and hardware safety points of view. However, application of these advanced test methods varies widely among the NASA Centers and their contractors. Identification and refinement of the best of these test methodologies and implementation approaches has been an objective of efforts by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory on behalf of the NASA Office of the Chief Engineer. But to develop the most appropriate overall test program for a flight project from the selection of advanced methodologies, as well as conventional test methods, spacecraft project managers and their technical staffs will need overall guidance and technical rationale. Thus, the Chief Engineer's Office has recently tasked JPL to prepare a NASA Handbook for Spacecraft Structural Dynamics Testing. An outline of the proposed handbook, with a synopsis of each section, has been developed and is presented herein. Comments on the proposed handbook is solicited from the spacecraft structural dynamics testing community.

Development and Testing of an Automated 4-Day Text Messaging Guidance as an Aid for Improving Colonoscopy Preparation.

PubMed

Walter, Benjamin Michael; Klare, Peter; Neu, Bruno; Schmid, Roland M; von Delius, Stefan

2016-06-21

In gastroenterology a sufficient colon cleansing improves adenoma detection rate and prevents the need for preterm repeat colonoscopies due to invalid preparation. It has been shown that patient education is of major importance for improvement of colon cleansing. Objective of this study was to assess the function of an automated text messaging (short message service, SMS)-supported colonoscopy preparation starting 4 days before colonoscopy appointment. After preevaluation to assess mobile phone usage in the patient population for relevance of this approach, a Web-based, automated SMS text messaging system was developed, following which a single-center feasibility study at a tertiary care center was performed. Patients scheduled for outpatient colonoscopy were invited to participate. Patients enrolled in the study group received automated information about dietary recommendations and bowel cleansing during colonoscopy preparation. Data of outpatient colonoscopies with regular preparation procedure were used for pair matching and served as control. Primary end point was feasibility of SMS text messaging support in colonoscopy preparation assessed as stable and satisfactory function of the system. Secondary end points were quality of bowel preparation according to the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) and patient satisfaction with SMS text messaging-provided information assessed by a questionnaire. Web-based SMS text messaging-supported colonoscopy preparation was successful and feasible in 19 of 20 patients. Mean (standard error of the mean, SEM) total BBPS score was slightly higher in the SMS group than in the control group (7.3, SEM 0.3 vs 6.4, SEM 0.2) and for each colonic region (left, transverse, and right colon). Patient satisfaction regarding SMS text messaging-based information was high. Using SMS for colonoscopy preparation with 4 days' guidance including dietary recommendation is a new approach to improve colonoscopy preparation. Quality of colonoscopy preparation was sufficient and patients were highly satisfied with the system during colonoscopy preparation.

Development and Testing of an Automated 4-Day Text Messaging Guidance as an Aid for Improving Colonoscopy Preparation

PubMed Central

Klare, Peter; Neu, Bruno; Schmid, Roland M; von Delius, Stefan

2016-01-01

Background In gastroenterology a sufficient colon cleansing improves adenoma detection rate and prevents the need for preterm repeat colonoscopies due to invalid preparation. It has been shown that patient education is of major importance for improvement of colon cleansing. Objective Objective of this study was to assess the function of an automated text messaging (short message service, SMS)–supported colonoscopy preparation starting 4 days before colonoscopy appointment. Methods After preevaluation to assess mobile phone usage in the patient population for relevance of this approach, a Web-based, automated SMS text messaging system was developed, following which a single-center feasibility study at a tertiary care center was performed. Patients scheduled for outpatient colonoscopy were invited to participate. Patients enrolled in the study group received automated information about dietary recommendations and bowel cleansing during colonoscopy preparation. Data of outpatient colonoscopies with regular preparation procedure were used for pair matching and served as control. Primary end point was feasibility of SMS text messaging support in colonoscopy preparation assessed as stable and satisfactory function of the system. Secondary end points were quality of bowel preparation according to the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) and patient satisfaction with SMS text messaging–provided information assessed by a questionnaire. Results Web-based SMS text messaging–supported colonoscopy preparation was successful and feasible in 19 of 20 patients. Mean (standard error of the mean, SEM) total BBPS score was slightly higher in the SMS group than in the control group (7.3, SEM 0.3 vs 6.4, SEM 0.2) and for each colonic region (left, transverse, and right colon). Patient satisfaction regarding SMS text messaging–based information was high. Conclusions Using SMS for colonoscopy preparation with 4 days’ guidance including dietary recommendation is a new approach to improve colonoscopy preparation. Quality of colonoscopy preparation was sufficient and patients were highly satisfied with the system during colonoscopy preparation. PMID:27329204

Prepare Your Child For Reading Tests: Tips for Parents = Prepare a sus hijos para tomar pruebas de lectura: Ideas para padres.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bachman, Tori Mello

Parents can help their children prepare for reading tests in a number of ways, not only just before the test, but also with everyday activities. There are generally two types of reading tests given to students: tests given by teachers throughout the year to see what information students have retained, and more formal, often standardized, tests…

The relative importance of patient-reported barriers to colorectal cancer screening.

PubMed

Jones, Resa M; Woolf, Steven H; Cunningham, Tina D; Johnson, Robert E; Krist, Alex H; Rothemich, Stephen F; Vernon, Sally W

2010-05-01

Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates are suboptimal. The most important barriers identified by patients are poorly understood. A comprehensive assessment of barriers to all recommended modalities is needed. In 2007, a questionnaire was mailed to 6100 patients, aged 50-75 years, from 12 family medicine practices in the Virginia Ambulatory Care Outcomes Research Network. People aged 65-75 years and African Americans were oversampled. Patients were asked to rate 19-21 barriers to each of four recommended tests. In 2008, responses were coded on a 5-point scale; higher scores reflected stronger barrier endorsement. The response rate was 55% (n=3357). Approximately 40% of respondents were aged >/=65 years, 30% were African-American, and 73% were adherent to screening. A clinician's failure to suggest screening and not knowing testing was necessary received the highest mean scores as barriers. Financial concerns and misconceptions were also cited. Barrier scores differed depending on whether respondents were never screened, overdue for screening, or adherent to guidelines. The top five barriers for each modality included test-specific barriers (e.g., handling stool, bowel preparation), which often outranked generic barriers to screening. Not knowing testing was necessary was a top barrier for all tests but colonoscopy. Although physician advice and awareness of the need for screening are important, barriers to screening are not homogenous across tests, and test-specific barriers warrant consideration in designing strategies to improve screening rates. Barrier scores differ by screening status, highlighting the need to address prior screening experience. Evidence that patients are more familiar with colonoscopy than with other modalities suggests an opportunity to improve screening rates by educating patients about alternative tests. 2010 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Metrological traceability and harmonization of medical tests: a quantum leap forward is needed to keep pace with globalization and stringent IVD-regulations in the 21st century!

PubMed

Cobbaert, Christa; Smit, Nico; Gillery, Philippe

2018-05-07

In our efforts to advance the profession and practice of clinical laboratory medicine, strong coordination and collaboration are needed more than ever before. At the dawn of the 21st century, medical laboratories are facing many unmet clinical needs, a technological revolution promising a plethora of better biomarkers, financial constraints, a growing scarcity of well-trained laboratory technicians and a sharply increasing number of International Organization for Standardization guidelines and new regulations to which medical laboratories should comply in order to guarantee safety and effectiveness of medical test results. Although this is a global trend, medical laboratories across continents and countries are in distinct phases and experience various situations. A universal underlying requirement for safe and global use of medical test results is the standardization and harmonization of test results. Since two decades and after a number of endeavors on standardization/harmonization of medical tests, it is time to reflect on the effectiveness of the approaches used. To keep laboratory medicine sustainable, viable and affordable, clarification of the promises of metrological traceability of test results for improving sick and health care, realization of formal commitment among all stakeholders of the metrological traceability chain and preparation of a joint and global plan for action are essential prerequisites. Policy makers and regulators should not only overwhelm the diagnostic sector with oversight and regulations but should also create the conditions by establishing a global professional forum for anchoring the metrological traceability concept in the medical test domain. Even so, professional societies should have a strong voice in their (inter-) national governments to negotiate long-lasting public policy commitment and funds for global standardization of medical tests.

Assessing older adults in civil litigation cases.

PubMed

Kohutis, Eileen A

With the population aging, the legal and mental health systems need to be prepared for cases that involve older adults beyond the customary matters of guardianship and competency. Assessing older adults with the current tests raises concerns because these measures may not be adequately normed for this age group. Malingering, factitious disorders, and somatoform disorders are discussed due to health-related issues of normal aging. These topics complicate the assessment procedure and need consideration because they may affect the claimant's performance or symptom presentation. Although claims of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are common in civil litigation cases, it can be additionally complex in older adults. The evaluator needs to weigh not only factors related to the normal biological process of aging but also those that are attendant with the litigation. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Engineering-Scale Demonstration of DuraLith and Ceramicrete Waste Forms

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Josephson, Gary B.; Westsik, Joseph H.; Pires, Richard P.

2011-09-23

To support the selection of a waste form for the liquid secondary wastes from the Hanford Waste Immobilization and Treatment Plant, Washington River Protection Solutions (WRPS) has initiated secondary waste form testing on four candidate waste forms. Two of the candidate waste forms have not been developed to scale as the more mature waste forms. This work describes engineering-scale demonstrations conducted on Ceramicrete and DuraLith candidate waste forms. Both candidate waste forms were successfully demonstrated at an engineering scale. A preliminary conceptual design could be prepared for full-scale production of the candidate waste forms. However, both waste forms are stillmore » too immature to support a detailed design. Formulations for each candidate waste form need to be developed so that the material has a longer working time after mixing the liquid and solid constituents together. Formulations optimized based on previous lab studies did not have sufficient working time to support large-scale testing. The engineering-scale testing was successfully completed using modified formulations. Further lab development and parametric studies are needed to optimize formulations with adequate working time and assess the effects of changes in raw materials and process parameters on the final product performance. Studies on effects of mixing intensity on the initial set time of the waste forms are also needed.« less

On the measurement of austenite in supermartensitic stainless steel by X-ray diffraction

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tolchard, Julian Richard, E-mail: tolchard@material.ntnu.no; Sømme, Astri; Solberg, Jan Ketil

2015-01-15

Sections of a 13Cr supermartensitic stainless steel were investigated to determine the optimum sample preparation for measurement of the austenite content by X-ray diffraction. The surface of several samples was mechanically ground or polished using media of grit sizes in the range 1–120 μm. The strained surface layer was afterwards removed stepwise by electropolishing, and the austenite content measured at each step. It was found that any level of mechanical grinding or polishing results in a reduction of the measured austenite fraction relative to the true bulk value, and that coarser grinding media impart greater damage and greater reduction inmore » the measured austenite content. The results thus highlight the importance of the electropolishing step in preparation of such samples, but suggest that the American Society for Testing and Materials standard E975-03 substantially overestimates the amount of material which needs to be removed to recover the true “bulk” content. - Highlights: • Quantitative Rietveld analysis of austenite/martensite ratio in supermartensitic stainless steels • Critical evaluation of sample preparation for residual austenite measurements by X-ray diffraction • Highlighting of the importance of electropolishing as a final preparation step.« less

[Troubleshooting of bioinequivalence of compound valsartan tablets].

PubMed

Shao, Da; Zhang, Yi-Fan; Zhan, Yan; Chen, Xiao-Yan; Zhong, Da-Fang

2014-04-01

The study aims to evaluate the bioequivalence of valsartan hydrochlorothiazide tablets, and to investigate the potential cause of bioinequivalence. This was a single-center study with an open, randomized double-way crossover design. Test and reference preparations containing 160 mg of valsartan and 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide were given to 36 healthy male volunteers. Plasma concentrations of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide were determined simultaneously by LC-MS/MS. The pharmacokinetic parameters and relative bioavailability were calculated, while the bioequivalence between test and reference preparations were evaluated. The dissolution profiles of test and reference preparations in four different mediums were determined via dissolution test and HPLC. The similarity was investigated according to the similarity factors (f2). The F(o-t) and F(0-infinity) were (139.4 +/- 65.2)% and (137.5 +/- 61.2)% for valsartan of test preparations. It led to get the conclusion that test and reference preparations were not bioequivalent for valsartan. A significant difference was observed between test and reference tablets in the valsartan dissolution test of pH 1.2 hydrochloric acid solution. The key factor of the bioinequivalence might be that dissolution of valsartan in acid medium has marked difference between two preparations.

The effect of finish line preparation and layer thickness on the failure load and fractography of ZrO2 copings.

PubMed

Reich, Sven; Petschelt, Anselm; Lohbauer, Ulrich

2008-05-01

To prevent tooth weakening or pulp irritation, there is a need for a minimally invasive method of preparing single anterior crowns. Restoration dimensions for reduced coping thicknesses or less invasive finish line preparations are required. The purposed of this in vitro was to study investigate the fracture performance of high-strength zirconia copings, compare knife-edge margins with chamfer finish lines, and examine the effect of reducing the layer thickness from 0.5 mm to 0.3 mm. Y-TZP zirconia copings were manufactured on brass dies of a maxillary central incisor. Forty copings, with 2 layer thicknesses (0.5 and 0.3 mm), and 2 finish line preparations (knife edge and chamfer; n=10) were cemented using a conventional glass ionomer cement and stored in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 hours. The copings were vertically loaded until fracture using a universal testing machine. Data were analyzed by 2-way ANOVA (alpha=.05). Fractographic examination was performed using scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. A significantly higher mean failure load was measured for knife-edge (0.5 mm, 1110 +/-175 N; 0.3 mm, 730 +/-160 N) versus chamfer (0.5 mm, 697 +/-126 N; 0.3 mm, 455 +/-79 N) preparations (P<.001), and for 0.5-mm versus 0.3-mm thickness layers (P<.001). Knife-edge preparations present a promising alternative to chamfer finish lines; the fracture load required for knife-edge preparations was 38% greater than that required for chamfer preparations, regardless of coping thickness. Reducing the thickness of a single crown coping from 0.5 to 0.3 mm resulted in a 35% reduction in fracture load required for either preparation type.

Interpretation of urine drug testing results in patients using transdermal buprenorphine preparations for the treatment of chronic noncancer pain.

PubMed

Markman, John D; Barbosa, William A; Gewandter, Jennifer S; Frazer, Maria; Rast, Shirley; Dugan, Michelle; Nandigam, Kiran; Villareal, Armando; Kwong, Tai C

2015-06-01

To determine whether the prevailing liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectroscopy assay (LC-MS/MS) assay designed to monitor buprenorphine compliance of the sublingual formulation used in the substance abuse treatment setting can be extrapolated to the transdermal formulation used in the chronic pain treatment setting, which is 1000-fold less concentrated. Retrospective chart review. Self-reported compliant patients using the transdermal or sublingual formulations of buprenorhphine. Transdermal patch application was also visually confirmed during clinic visits. Urine drug test results from a LC-MS/MS were compared between samples from transdermal and sublingual patients. While all sublingual patients tested positive for at least one metabolite of buprenorphine, only 69% of the transdermal patients did so. In addition, the most abundant metabolite in the transdermal patients was buprenorphine-glucuronide, as compared with norbuprenorphine-glucuronide in sublingual patients. These data suggest that currently available urine drug tests for buprenorphine, including the more expensive LC-MS/MS based assays, may not be sufficiently sensitive to detect the metabolites from transdermal buprenorphine patients. This study highlights the need to evaluate the value and sensitivity of urine drug tests given the wide range of buprenorphine dosing in clinical practice. These results underscore the need for additional cost benefit analyses comparing different confirmatory drug testing techniques including many commercially available drug testing options. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Functional Testing and Evaluation of Actiwatch Spectrum Devices for Launch on STS-133/ULF5

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rollins, Selisa F.; Humbert, Scott; Tysdal, Jessica A.

2010-01-01

The Actiwatch Spectrum (AWS) is a wrist-worn device that may be used for obtaining ground or on-orbit light exposure patterns and movement data. The objective of this project was to prepare AWS devices for launch on STS-133/ULF5 by a means of implementing functional tests and engineering evaluations. The data obtained from these tests and evaluations served as a means for detecting any plausible issues that the AWS may encounter while on-orbit. Subsequent steps after detecting anomalies with AWS devices encompassed identifying their root causes and taking the steps needed to mitigate them. As a result of this study, the overall success of sleep/wake research studies for STS-133/ULF5 and future missions will be enhanced.

Phase 2 STS new user development program. Volume 1: Executive summary

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcdowell, J. R.

1976-01-01

A methodology for developing new users for STS other than NASA and DoD, thereby maximizing the use of the STS system was developed. The approach to user development, reflected in the implementation plan, and attendant informational material to be used were evaluated by conducting a series of test cases with selected user organizations. These test case organizations were, in effect, used as consultants to evaluate the effectiveness, the needs, the completeness, and the adequacy of the user development approach and informational material. The selection of the test cases provided a variety of potential STS users covering industry, other government agencies, and the educational sector. The test cases covered various use areas and provided a mix of user organization types. A summary of the actual test cases conducted is given. The conduct of the test cases verified the general approach of the implementation plan, the validity of the user development strategy prepared for each test case organization and the effectiveness of the STS basic and user customized informational material.

44 CFR 334.5 - GMR system description.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... more levels as suits its needs. (a) Stage 3, Planning and Preparation. During the planning and preparation stage, Federal departments and agencies develop their GMR plans and maintain capability to carry... departments and agencies may need to gather additional data on selected resources or increase their...

In-Service Training Needs of Agriculture Teachers for Preparing Them to Be Effective in the 21st Century

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Davis, R. Jason; Jayaratne, K. S. U.

2015-01-01

The purpose of this descriptive survey research study conducted with agriculture teachers in North Carolina was to determine their in-service training needs in order to be effective for preparing students with the 21st century skills necessary for students to be successful. This study reaffirms the need for continuation of leadership education as…

Predictive testing for Huntington's disease: relationship with partners after testing.

PubMed

Decruyenaere, M; Evers-Kiebooms, G; Cloostermans, T; Boogaerts, A; Demyttenaere, K; Dom, R; Fryns, J P

2004-01-01

This study focuses on the partner relationship of tested persons, 5 years after their predictive test result for Huntington's disease (HD). We describe changes in marital status, quality of the relationship, and perceived changes in the relationship. Twenty-six carriers, 14 of their partners, 33 non-carriers, and 17 of their partners participated in the study. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used. For the majority of tested persons (about 70%), the marital status was unchanged 5 years post test. Overall, carriers rated the quality of the relationship higher than their partners did and they perceived more positive changes. Qualitative data show that a test result leading to changed roles may induce significant marital distress. Another consequence of the test may be the changes in dynamics in asymptomatic carrier couples. A pre-test discussion of the possible impact of the test result on the relationship should result in a better preparation for and more understanding of the reactions after testing. Counselling after testing should stimulate an open communication between partners with consideration of needs and anxieties of both partners.

Preparation, Characterization, and Preliminary In Vitro Testing of Nanoceria-Loaded Liposomes

PubMed Central

Grillone, Agostina; Li, Tianshu; Battaglini, Matteo; Scarpellini, Alice; Takeoka, Shinji

2017-01-01

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria), well known for their pro- and antioxidant features, have been recently proposed for the treatment of several pathologies, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. However, interaction between nanoceria and biological molecules such as proteins and lipids, short blood circulation time, and the need of a targeted delivery to desired sites are some aspects that require strong attention for further progresses in the clinical application of these nanoparticles. The aim of this work is the encapsulation of nanoceria into a liposomal formulation in order to improve their therapeutic potentialities. After the preparation through a reverse-phase evaporation method, size, Z-potential, morphology, and loading efficiency of nanoceria-loaded liposomes were investigated. Finally, preliminary in vitro studies were performed to test cell uptake efficiency and preserved antioxidant activity. Nanoceria-loaded liposomes showed a good colloidal stability, an excellent biocompatibility, and strong antioxidant properties due to the unaltered activity of the entrapped nanoceria. With these results, the possibility of exploiting liposomes as carriers for cerium oxide nanoparticles is demonstrated here for the first time, thus opening exciting new opportunities for in vivo applications. PMID:28926967

Physical Properties of an Ag-Doped Bioactive Flowable Composite Resin

PubMed Central

Kattan, Hiba; Chatzistavrou, Xanthippi; Boynton, James; Dennison, Joseph; Yaman, Peter; Papagerakis, Petros

2015-01-01

The aim of this work was to study the physical and antibacterial properties of a flowable resin composite incorporating a sol-gel derived silver doped bioactive glass (Ag-BGCOMP). The depth of the cure was calculated by measuring the surface micro-hardness for the top and bottom surfaces. The volumetric polymerization shrinkage was measured by recording the linear shrinkage as change in length, while the biaxial flexural strength was studied measuring the load at failure. The antibacterial properties of the samples were tested against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Lactobacillus casei (L. casei). The measured values were slightly decreased for all tested physical properties compared to those of control group (flowable resin composite without Ag-BG), however enhanced bacteria inhibition was observed for Ag-BGCOMP. Ag-BGCOMP could find an application in low stress-bearing areas as well as in small cavity preparations to decrease secondary caries. This work provides a good foundation for future studies on evaluating the effects of Ag-BG addition into packable composites for applications in larger cavity preparations where enhanced mechanical properties are needed. PMID:28793463

LAMP assay and rapid sample preparation method for on-site detection of flavescence dorée phytoplasma in grapevine

PubMed Central

Kogovšek, P; Hodgetts, J; Hall, J; Prezelj, N; Nikolić, P; Mehle, N; Lenarčič, R; Rotter, A; Dickinson, M; Boonham, N; Dermastia, M; Ravnikar, M

2015-01-01

In Europe the most devastating phytoplasma associated with grapevine yellows (GY) diseases is a quarantine pest, flavescence dorée (FDp), from the 16SrV taxonomic group. The on-site detection of FDp with an affordable device would contribute to faster and more efficient decisions on the control measures for FDp. Therefore, a real-time isothermal LAMP assay for detection of FDp was validated according to the EPPO standards and MIQE guidelines. The LAMP assay was shown to be specific and extremely sensitive, because it detected FDp in all leaf samples that were determined to be FDp infected using quantitative real-time PCR. The whole procedure of sample preparation and testing was designed and optimized for on-site detection and can be completed in one hour. The homogenization procedure of the grapevine samples (leaf vein, flower or berry) was optimized to allow direct testing of crude homogenates with the LAMP assay, without the need for DNA extraction, and was shown to be extremely sensitive. PMID:26146413

Chinese Students' Perceptions of the Value of Test Preparation Courses for the TOEFL iBT: Merit, Worth, and Significance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ma, Jia; Cheng, Liying

2015-01-01

Test preparation for high-stakes English language tests has received increasing research attention in the language assessment field; however, little is known about what aspects of test preparation students attend to and value. In this study, we considered the perspectives of 12 Chinese students who were enrolled in various academic programs in a…

46 CFR 61.30-5 - Preparation of thermal fluid heater for inspection and test.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... 46 Shipping 2 2012-10-01 2012-10-01 false Preparation of thermal fluid heater for inspection and test. 61.30-5 Section 61.30-5 Shipping COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (CONTINUED) MARINE ENGINEERING PERIODIC TESTS AND INSPECTIONS Tests and Inspections of Fired Thermal Fluid Heaters § 61.30-5 Preparation of thermal fluid heater for...

[The Spanish translation of the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals: current and future solutions].

PubMed

Díez, F Gutiérrez; León, F Crespo

2004-12-01

This article presents some of the problems that arose when preparing the Spanish translation of the Manual of Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). It contains a list of the language and translation problems encountered and the solutions that were found, some of which are only provisional. The problems are in part due to the lack of a multi-lingual terminological database approved by the OIE. The need for such a database, as well as for the harmonisation of veterinary terminology by the OIE Steering Committee and the Ad hoc Group on language policy, is discussed.

Novel method for screening of enteric film coatings properties with magnetic resonance imaging.

PubMed

Dorożyński, Przemysław; Jamróz, Witold; Niwiński, Krzysztof; Kurek, Mateusz; Węglarz, Władysław P; Jachowicz, Renata; Kulinowski, Piotr

2013-11-18

The aim of the study is to present the concept of novel method for fast screening of enteric coating compositions properties without the need of preparation of tablets batches for fluid bed coating. Proposed method involves evaluation of enteric coated model tablets in specially designed testing cell with application of MRI technique. The results obtained in the testing cell were compared with results of dissolution studies of mini-tablets coated in fluid bed apparatus. The method could be useful in early stage of formulation development for screening of film coating properties that will shorten and simplify the development works. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Reduced-gravity environment hardware demonstrations of a prototype miniaturized flow cytometer and companion microfluidic mixing technology.

PubMed

Phipps, William S; Yin, Zhizhong; Bae, Candice; Sharpe, Julia Z; Bishara, Andrew M; Nelson, Emily S; Weaver, Aaron S; Brown, Daniel; McKay, Terri L; Griffin, DeVon; Chan, Eugene Y

2014-11-13

Until recently, astronaut blood samples were collected in-flight, transported to earth on the Space Shuttle, and analyzed in terrestrial laboratories. If humans are to travel beyond low Earth orbit, a transition towards space-ready, point-of-care (POC) testing is required. Such testing needs to be comprehensive, easy to perform in a reduced-gravity environment, and unaffected by the stresses of launch and spaceflight. Countless POC devices have been developed to mimic laboratory scale counterparts, but most have narrow applications and few have demonstrable use in an in-flight, reduced-gravity environment. In fact, demonstrations of biomedical diagnostics in reduced gravity are limited altogether, making component choice and certain logistical challenges difficult to approach when seeking to test new technology. To help fill the void, we are presenting a modular method for the construction and operation of a prototype blood diagnostic device and its associated parabolic flight test rig that meet the standards for flight-testing onboard a parabolic flight, reduced-gravity aircraft. The method first focuses on rig assembly for in-flight, reduced-gravity testing of a flow cytometer and a companion microfluidic mixing chip. Components are adaptable to other designs and some custom components, such as a microvolume sample loader and the micromixer may be of particular interest. The method then shifts focus to flight preparation, by offering guidelines and suggestions to prepare for a successful flight test with regard to user training, development of a standard operating procedure (SOP), and other issues. Finally, in-flight experimental procedures specific to our demonstrations are described.

Ubiquitous testing using tablets: its impact on medical student perceptions of and engagement in learning

PubMed Central

Kim, Kyong-Jee; Hwang, Jee-Young

2016-01-01

Purpose: Ubiquitous testing has the potential to affect medical education by enhancing the authenticity of the assessment using multimedia items. This study explored medical students’ experience with ubiquitous testing and its impact on student learning. Methods: A cohort (n=48) of third-year students at a medical school in South Korea participated in this study. The students were divided into two groups and were given different versions of 10 content-matched items: one in text version (the text group) and the other in multimedia version (the multimedia group). Multimedia items were delivered using tablets. Item response analyses were performed to compare item characteristics between the two versions. Additionally, focus group interviews were held to investigate the students’ experiences of ubiquitous testing. Results: The mean test score was significantly higher in the text group. Item difficulty and discrimination did not differ between text and multimedia items. The participants generally showed positive responses on ubiquitous testing. Still, they felt that the lectures that they had taken in preclinical years did not prepare them enough for this type of assessment and clinical encounters during clerkships were more helpful. To be better prepared, the participants felt that they needed to engage more actively in learning in clinical clerkships and have more access to multimedia learning resources. Conclusion: Ubiquitous testing can positively affect student learning by reinforcing the importance of being able to understand and apply knowledge in clinical contexts, which drives students to engage more actively in learning in clinical settings. PMID:26838569

Reduced-gravity Environment Hardware Demonstrations of a Prototype Miniaturized Flow Cytometer and Companion Microfluidic Mixing Technology

PubMed Central

Bae, Candice; Sharpe, Julia Z.; Bishara, Andrew M.; Nelson, Emily S.; Weaver, Aaron S.; Brown, Daniel; McKay, Terri L.; Griffin, DeVon; Chan, Eugene Y.

2014-01-01

Until recently, astronaut blood samples were collected in-flight, transported to earth on the Space Shuttle, and analyzed in terrestrial laboratories. If humans are to travel beyond low Earth orbit, a transition towards space-ready, point-of-care (POC) testing is required. Such testing needs to be comprehensive, easy to perform in a reduced-gravity environment, and unaffected by the stresses of launch and spaceflight. Countless POC devices have been developed to mimic laboratory scale counterparts, but most have narrow applications and few have demonstrable use in an in-flight, reduced-gravity environment. In fact, demonstrations of biomedical diagnostics in reduced gravity are limited altogether, making component choice and certain logistical challenges difficult to approach when seeking to test new technology. To help fill the void, we are presenting a modular method for the construction and operation of a prototype blood diagnostic device and its associated parabolic flight test rig that meet the standards for flight-testing onboard a parabolic flight, reduced-gravity aircraft. The method first focuses on rig assembly for in-flight, reduced-gravity testing of a flow cytometer and a companion microfluidic mixing chip. Components are adaptable to other designs and some custom components, such as a microvolume sample loader and the micromixer may be of particular interest. The method then shifts focus to flight preparation, by offering guidelines and suggestions to prepare for a successful flight test with regard to user training, development of a standard operating procedure (SOP), and other issues. Finally, in-flight experimental procedures specific to our demonstrations are described. PMID:25490614

Better Respiratory Education and Treatment Help Empower (BREATHE) study: Methodology and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial testing a transitional care program to improve patient-centered care delivery among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.

PubMed

Aboumatar, H; Naqibuddin, M; Chung, S; Adebowale, H; Bone, L; Brown, T; Cooper, L A; Gurses, A P; Knowlton, A; Kurtz, D; Piet, L; Putcha, N; Rand, C; Roter, D; Shattuck, E; Sylvester, C; Urteaga-Fuentes, A; Wise, R; Wolff, J L; Yang, T; Hibbard, J; Howell, E; Myers, M; Shea, K; Sullivan, J; Syron, L; Wang, Nae-Yuh; Pronovost, P

2017-11-01

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of hospitalizations. Interventional studies focusing on the hospital-to-home transition for COPD patients are few. In the BREATHE (Better Respiratory Education and Treatment Help Empower) study, we developed and tested a patient and family-centered transitional care program that helps prepare hospitalized COPD patients and their family caregivers to manage COPD at home. In the study's initial phase, we co-developed the BREATHE transitional care program with COPD patients, family-caregivers, and stakeholders. The program offers tailored services to address individual patients' needs and priorities at the hospital and for 3months post discharge. We tested the program in a single-blinded RCT with 240 COPD patients who were randomized to receive the program or 'usual care'. Program participants were offered the opportunity to invite a family caregiver, if available, to enroll with them into the study. The primary outcomes were the combined number of COPD-related hospitalizations and Emergency Department (ED) visits per participant at 6months post discharge, and the change in health-related quality of life over the 6months study period. Other measures include 'all cause' hospitalizations and ED visits; patient activation; self-efficacy; and, self-care behaviors. Unlike 1month transitional care programs that focus on patients' post-acute care needs, the BREATHE program helps hospitalized COPD patients manage the post discharge period as well as prepare them for long term self-management of COPD. If proven effective, this program may offer a timely solution for hospitals in their attempts to reduce COPD rehospitalizations. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Preparing for the SAT: A Review

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Appelrouth, Jed I.; Zabrucky, Karen M.

2017-01-01

In 2016, more than 1.6 million students took the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), a standardized college admissions test (College Board 2016a). Researchers have estimated that 33 percent of students who take the SAT participate in some mode of formal test preparation, such as private tutoring or classes, to prepare for the exam (Buchmann, Condron…

The Preparation and Characterization of INTEC HAW Phase I Composition Variation Study Glasses

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Musick, C. A.; Peeler, D. K.; Piepel, G. F.

1999-03-01

A glass composition variation study (CVS) is in progress to define formulations for the vitrification of high activity waste (HAW) proposed to be separated from dissolved calcine stored at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL). Estimates of calcine and HAW compositions prepared in FY97 were used to define test matrix glasses. The HAW composition is of particular interest because high aluminum, zirconium, phosphorous and potassium, and low iron and sodium content places it outside the realm of vitrification experience in the Department of Energy (DOE) complex. Through application of statistical techniques, a test matrix was defined for Phasemore » 1 of the CVS. From this matrix, formulations were systematically selected for preparation and characterization with respect to homogeneity, viscosity, liquidus temperature (TL), and leaching response when subjected to the Product Consistency Test (PCT). Based on the properties determined, certain formulations appear suitable for further development including use in planning Phase 2 of the study. It is recommended that glasses to be investigated in Phase 2 be limited to 3-5 wt % phosphate. The results of characterizing the Phase 1 glasses are presented in this document. A full analysis of the composition-property relationships of glasses being developed for immobilizing HAWs will be performing at the completion of CVS phases. This analysis will be needed for the optimization of the glass formulations of vitrifying HAW. Contributions were made to this document by personnel working at the INEEL, Pacific Northwest National Laboratories (PNNL), and the Savannah River Technology Center (SRTC).« less

[Fracture resistance of Procera Allceram depending on the framework design--an in vitro study].

PubMed

Hagmann, Edgar; Marinello, Carlo P; Zitzmann, Nicola U

2006-01-01

Procera AllCeram is one of the all-ceramic systems with an aluminium-oxide core employing CAD/CAM technology. The aim of the current study was to investigate the fracture resistance of Procera AllCeram full-ceramic crowns with a reduced core design compared to the conventional method. In addition, a possible influence of the preparation form (molars or premolars) and the cementation material (glas-ionomer or composite) was analyzed. For both preparation forms, 30 ceramic cores with reduced margins (collarless cores, test) and 30 cores with extended cores (control) were veneered with porcelain in a standardized procedure (total 120 crowns). For the test group, Procera-AllCeram-margin ceramic material was used for the porcelain collar. 40 crowns each were cemented on stainless steel dies with either Ketac-Cem Aplicap or Panavia F. The additional 40 crowns were set on polyurethane dies without cementation and occlusally loaded until fracture occurred. Among the molar crowns, no differences were observed in fracture resistance neither for the different core designs (test or control) nor for the cementation materials. For the premolar form, fusing of a porcelain margin was associated with a reduction in fracture resistance, while the use of composite cement was accompanied with an increase. The present in vitro results indicate that for Procera AllCeram crowns with a highly undulating preparation margin, a conventional core design combined with adhesive cementation is preferable, especially in the posterior region due to higher chewing forces; this assumption needs to be proven in clinical studies.

Laboratory Diagnosis of Zika Virus Infection.

PubMed

Landry, Marie Louise; St George, Kirsten

2017-01-01

-The rapid and accurate diagnosis of Zika virus infection is an international priority. -To review current recommendations, methods, limitations, and priorities for Zika virus testing. -Sources include published literature, public health recommendations, laboratory procedures, and testing experience. -Until recently, the laboratory diagnosis of Zika infection was confined to public health or research laboratories that prepared their own reagents, and test capacity has been limited. Furthermore, Zika cross-reacts serologically with other flaviviruses, such as dengue, West Nile, and yellow fever. Current or past infection, or even vaccination with another flavivirus, will often cause false-positive or uninterpretable Zika serology results. Detection of viral RNA during acute infection using nucleic acid amplification tests provides more specific results, and a number of commercial nucleic acid amplification tests have received emergency use authorization. In addition to serum, testing of whole blood and urine is recommended because of the higher vial loads and longer duration of shedding. However, nucleic acid amplification testing has limited utility because many patients are asymptomatic or present for testing after the brief period of Zika shedding has passed. Thus, the greatest need and most difficult challenge is development of accurate antibody tests for the diagnosis of recent Zika infection. Research is urgently needed to identify Zika virus epitopes that do not cross-react with other flavivirus antigens. New information is emerging at a rapid pace and, with ongoing public-private and international collaborations and government support, it is hoped that rapid progress will be made in developing robust and widely applicable diagnostic tools.

Lunar Polar Environmental Testing: Regolith Simulant Conditioning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kleinhenz, Julie

2014-01-01

As ISRU system development approaches flight fidelity, there is a need to test hardware in relevant environments. Extensive laboratory and field testing have involved relevant soil (lunar regolith simulants), but the current design iterations necessitate relevant pressure and temperature conditions. Including significant quantities of lunar regolith simulant in a thermal vacuum chamber poses unique challenges. These include facility operational challenges (dust tolerant hardware) and difficulty maintaining a pre-prepared soil state during pump down (consolidation state, moisture retention).For ISRU purposes, the regolith at the lunar poles will be of most interest due to the elevated water content. To test at polar conditions, the regolith simulant must be doped with water to an appropriate percentage and then chilled to cryogenic temperatures while exposed to vacuum conditions. A 1m tall, 28cm diameter bin of simulant was developed for testing these simulant preparation and drilling operations. The bin itself was wrapped with liquid nitrogen cooling loops (100K) so that the simulant bed reached an average temperature of 140K at vacuum. Post-test sampling was used to determine desiccation of the bed due to vacuum exposure. Depth dependent moisture data is presented from frozen and thawed soil samples.Following simulant only evacuation tests, drill hardware was incorporated into the vacuum chamber to test auguring techniques in the frozen soil at thermal vacuum conditions. The focus of this testing was to produce cuttings piles for a newly developed spectrometer to evaluate. This instrument, which is part of the RESOLVE program science hardware, detects water signatures from surface regolith. The drill performance, behavior of simulant during drilling, and characteristics of the cuttings piles will be offered.

End-preparation assessments and tests for compounded sterile preparations.

PubMed

McElhiney, Linda F

2013-01-01

Outsourcing has become a necessity to obtain sterile products that are currently on backorder. Because of the expense of outsourcing sterile compounding, pharmacy leadership in health systems are now considering the option of insourcing and batch preparing compounded sterile preparations, which can be a viable option for a health system. It can significantly decrease drug-spending costs, and the pharmacy has a complete record of the compounding process. The key to preparing high-quality, safe, sterile preparations and meeting United States Pharmacopeia standards is end-preparation assessments and tests.

Residents' self-reported learning needs for intraoperative knowledge: are we missing the bar?

PubMed

Pugh, Carla M; Darosa, Debra A; Bell, Richard H

2010-04-01

The purpose of this study was to compare the intraoperative learning needs and educational resource use of junior and senior residents. Our goal was to gain a better understanding of the progression of learning needs in surgical training. Residents (n = 125) completed a previously validated, 27-item survey indicating the following: (1) the extent to which traditional learning resources are used when preparing for cases in the operating room, and (2) which intraoperative management topics in which they believed they were deficient despite preoperative preparation. On a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 indicating frequent use, postgraduate year (PGY)-5 residents (n = 39) indicated surgical atlases (4.15; SD, .90) and surgical texts (4.15; SD, .90) were their most frequently used resources when preparing for a case in the operating room. In contrast, PGY-1 residents (n = 32) indicated anatomy atlases (3.97; SD, .93) and advice from colleagues (3.64; SD, .90) were their most frequently used resources when preparing for a case in the operating room. Despite the differences in how the PGY-5 group and the PGY-1 group prepared for a case, of 12 intraoperative management topics both groups believed they were the least prepared for instrument use/selection and suture selection. Today's residents represent a heterogeneous group of individuals with different learning needs based on level of experience, knowledge, and learning style. Our study highlights unexpected but critical learning needs for senior-level residents that can and should be readily addressed. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

ChemCam Mast Unit Being Prepared for Laser Firing

NASA Image and Video Library

2010-12-23

Researchers prepare for a test of the Chemistry and Camera ChemCam instrument that will fly on NASA Mars Science Laboratory mission; researchers are preparing the instrument mast unit for a laser firing test.

Training enlisted men on sexually transmitted diseases and preparation of a training model.

PubMed

Yaren, Hakan; Kir, Tayfun; Ucar, Muharrem; Gocgeldi, Ercan; Hasde, Metin

2004-12-01

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are serious public health concerns in many countries. One of the main strategies in prevention of STDs is training people who are at high risk for STDs. We aimed to train enlisted men in the Turkish Armed Forces while they served their compulsory military service because every healthy Turkish man has to complete this service and they are at high risk for STDs, as well. This study contains two main parts: trainer training and training of enlisted men. The target groups are health noncommissioned officer school students for the trainer training and enlisted men serving in a military medical academy for STD training. For both groups, we prepared and applied different training programs considering each group's knowledge needs on the topic. To describe knowledge needs, we administered a pretest on both groups. First, we trained candidate trainers, then they trained the enlisted men. We evaluated both programs comparing pre- and posttest results. In both programs, mean test scores of the groups increased significantly. Success levels of the groups also increased significantly after using a cutoff point for test scores. With respect to relative effectiveness, attributed effectiveness, and effectiveness ration, the trainers training program was more effective than the other. As a result, our approach to training enlisted men as young adults is effective. We should evaluate the limitations of the study and consider our experiences to make the program more effective.

Tolerance of Salmonella Enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus to surface cleaning and household bleach.

PubMed

Kusumaningrum, H D; Paltinaite, R; Koomen, A J; Hazeleger, W C; Rombouts, F M; Beumer, R R

2003-12-01

Effective cleaning and sanitizing of food preparation sites is important because pathogens are readily spread to food contact surfaces after preparation of contaminated raw products. Tolerance of Salmonella Enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus to surface cleaning by wiping with regular, microfiber, and antibacterial-treated cloths was investigated. Wiping with cleaning cloths resulted in a considerable reduction of microorganisms from surfaces, despite the greater difficulty in removing S. aureus than Salmonella Enteritidis. Depending on the cloth type, S. aureus were reduced on surfaces from initial numbers of approximately 10(5) CFU/100 cm2 to numbers from less than 4 CFU/100 cm2 (below the detection limit) to 100 CFU/100 cm2. Directly after the cloths were used to clean the contaminated surfaces, they contained high numbers of bacteria (10(4) to 10(5) CFU/100 cm2), except for the disposable antibacterial-treated cloths, in which no bacteria could be detected. The tolerance of these pathogens to sodium hypochlorite was studied in the suspension test and in cloths. S. aureus showed a better tolerance for sodium hypochlorite than Salmonella Enteritidis. Inactivation of microorganisms in cloths required a higher concentration of sodium hypochlorite than was needed in the suspension test. Repeated exposure to sodium hypochlorite, however, resulted in an increase in susceptibility to this compound. This study provides essential information about the transfer of bacteria when wiping surfaces and highlights the need for a hygiene procedure with cleaning cloths that sufficiently avoids cross-contamination in the household environment.

Nevada National Security Site Environmental Report 2013

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wills, C.

2014-09-09

This report was prepared to meet the information needs of the public and the requirements and guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for annual site environmental reports. It was prepared by National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec), for the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Field Office (NNSA/NFO) (formerly designated as the Nevada Site Office [NNSA/NSO]). The new field office designation occurred in March 2013. Published reports cited in this 2013 report, therefore, may bear the name or authorship of NNSA/NSO. This and previous years’ reports, called Annual Site Environmental Reports (ASERs), Nevada Test Site Environmentalmore » Reports (NTSERs), and, beginning in 2010, Nevada National Security Site Environmental Reports (NNSSERs), are posted on the NNSA/NFO website at http://www.nv.energy.gov/library/publications/aser.aspx.« less

Efficient removal of pathogenic bacteria and viruses by multifunctional amine-modified magnetic nanoparticles.

PubMed

Zhan, Sihui; Yang, Yang; Shen, Zhiqiang; Shan, Junjun; Li, Yi; Yang, Shanshan; Zhu, Dandan

2014-06-15

A novel amine-functionalized magnetic Fe3O4-SiO2-NH2 nanoparticle was prepared by layer-by-layer method and used for rapid removal of both pathogenic bacteria and viruses from water. The nanoparticles were characterized by TEM, EDS, XRD, XPS, FT-IR, BET surface analysis, magnetic property tests and zeta-potential measurements, respectively, which demonstrated its well-defined core-shell structures and strong magnetic responsivity. Pathogenic bacteria and viruses are often needed to be removed conveniently because of a lot of co-existing conditions. The amine-modified nanoparticles we prepared were attractive for capturing a wide range of pathogens including not only bacteriophage f2 and virus (Poliovirus-1), but also various bacteria such as S. aureus, E. coli O157:H7, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella, and B. subtilis. Using as-prepared amine-functionalized MNPs as absorbent, the nonspecific removal efficiency of E. coli O157:H7 or virus was more than 97.39%, while it is only 29.8% with Fe3O4-SiO2 particles. From joint removal test of bacteria and virus, there are over 95.03% harmful E. coli O157:H7 that can be removed from mixed solution with polyclonal anti-E. coli O157:H7 antibody modified nanoparticles. Moreover, the synergy effective mechanism has also been suggested. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Acoustic comparison of Er,Cr:YSGG laser and dental high speed handpiece for primary anterior tooth preparation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jorden, Monserrat; Chen, Jung-Wei; Easley, Elisabeth; Li, Yiming; Kurti, R. Steven

The acoustics of a dental hard tissue laser (Er,Cr:YSGG laser, Waterlase MD, Biolase, USA) and a traditional dental high speed hand piece (Midwest®, Dentsply International, USA) were compared in vitro using a simple approach that can be easily adapted for in vivo studies. Thirty one extracted caries and restoration free primary anterior teeth were selected. These teeth were sectioned along a symmetry axis to give two identical halves for use in a split study. These halves were randomly assigned to either the laser (experimental) or the high speed (control) group. A miniature electret microphone was coupled to the sample using a polymer and used to collect the acoustic signal at the interface of the pulp chamber. This signal was captured periodically by a digitizing oscilloscope and multiple traces were stored for subsequent analysis. 2x1x1mm3 preparations were made according to manufacturers recommendations for the given method. Each cavity was prepared by the same clinician and calibration tests were performed to ensure consistency. The measurements indicated that the peak acoustic pressures as well as cumulative acoustic effects (due to duty cycle) were significantly higher (P<0.001, T-test) with the dental hand piece than with the dental laser. Our study suggests the need for further investigations into the neurological implications of acoustic effects in dental patient care such as pain studies.

Intragranular cellular segregation network structure strengthening 316L stainless steel prepared by selective laser melting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhong, Yuan; Liu, Leifeng; Wikman, Stefan; Cui, Daqing; Shen, Zhijian

2016-03-01

A feasibility study was performed to fabricate ITER In-Vessel components by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) supported by Fusion for Energy (F4E). Almost fully dense 316L stainless steel (SS316L) components were prepared from gas-atomized powder and with optimized SLM processing parameters. Tensile tests and Charpy-V tests were carried out at 22 °C and 250 °C and the results showed that SLM SS316L fulfill the RCC-MR code. Microstructure characterization reveals the presence of hierarchical macro-, micro- and nano-structures in as-built samples that were very different from SS316L microstructures prepared by other established methods. The formation of a characteristic intragranular cellular segregation network microstructure appears to contribute to the increase of yield strength without losing ductility. Silicon oxide nano-inclusions were formed during the SLM process that generated a micro-hardness fluctuation in the building direction. The combined influence of a cellular microstructure and the nano-inclusions constraints the size of ductile dimples to nano-scale. The crack propagation is hindered by a pinning effect that improves the defect-tolerance of the SLM SS316L. This work proves that it was possible to manufacture SS316L with properties suitable for ITER First Wall panels. Further studies on irradiation properties of SLM SS316L and manufacturing of larger real-size components are needed.

Autonomy, competence, and social relatedness in task interest within project-based education.

PubMed

Minnaert, Alexander; Boekaerts, Monique; de Brabander, Cornelis

2007-10-01

To prepare students for instructive collaboration, it is necessary to have insight into students' psychological needs and interest development. The framework of self-determination theory was used to conduct a field experiment involving 114 students in vocational education. These students followed a practical business course which required they work in small learning groups. During the course, students were asked to complete the Quality of Working in Groups Instrument, an online measure of how strong autonomy, competence, social relatedness, and task interest are fulfilled. SEM showed that students' psychological needs were jointly and uniquely related to task interest over time. The significance of this on-line test for the assessment of interest within project-based education is discussed.

Preparation of Nonionic Vesicles Using the Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Reverse Phase Evaporation Method and Analysis of Their Solution Properties.

PubMed

Yamaguchi, Shunsuke; Tsuchiya, Koji; Sakai, Kenichi; Abe, Masahiko; Sakai, Hideki

2016-01-01

We have previously reported a new preparation method for liposomes using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) as a solvent, referred to as the supercritical carbon dioxide reverse phase evaporation (scRPE) method. In our previous work, addition of ethanol to scCO2 as a co-solvent was needed, because lipid molecules had to be dissolved in scCO2 to form liposomes. In this new study, niosomes (nonionic surfactant vesicles) were prepared from various nonionic surfactants using the scRPE method. Among the nonionic surfactants tested were polyoxyethylene (6) stearylether (C18EO6), polyoxyethylene (5) phytosterolether (BPS-5), polyoxyethylene (6) sorbitan stearylester (TS-106V), and polyoxyethylene (4) sorbitan stearylester (Tween 61). All these surfactants have hydrophilic-lipophilic balance values (HLBs) around 9.5 to 9.9, and they can all form niosomes using the scRPE method even in the absence of ethanol. The high solubility of these surfactants in scCO2 was shown to be an important factor in yielding niosomes without ethanol addition. The niosomes prepared with the scRPE method had higher trapping efficiencies than those prepared using the conventional Bangham method, since the scRPE method gives a large number of unilamellar vesicles while the Bangham method gives multilamellar vesicles. Polyoxyethylene-type nonionic surfactants with HLB values from 9.5 to 9.9 were shown to be optimal for the preparation of niosomes with the scRPE method.

Involving children in meal preparation. Effects on food intake.

PubMed

van der Horst, Klazine; Ferrage, Aurore; Rytz, Andreas

2014-08-01

The question of how to promote healthy eating habits in children is relevant because most children do not meet the recommended vegetable intake. Involving children in food preparation could be an opportunity to develop healthy eating behaviors and to increase vegetable consumption. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of children's involvement in meal preparation on their food and vegetable intake. A between-subject experiment was conducted with 47 children aged 6 to 10 years. In condition 1 (n = 25), children prepared a lunch meal (pasta, breaded chicken, cauliflower, and salad) with the assistance of a parent. In condition 2 (n = 22), the meal was prepared by the parent alone. Independent samples t-tests were conducted to compare intake in the "child cooks" and "parent cooks" conditions. Children in the child cooks condition ate significantly more salad 41.7 g (76.1%), more chicken 21.8 g (27.0%), and more calories 84.6 kcal (24.4%) than children in the parent cooks condition. Between before cooking and directly after cooking the meal, children in the child cooks condition reported significantly increased feelings of valence (feeling positive) and dominance (feeling in control). This study confirms that involving children in meal preparation can increase vegetable intake. Because of the potential effect on energy intake, parents need to be made aware of appropriate portion sizes for their children. Taking this into account, encouraging parents to involve their children in the preparation of healthy and balanced meals could be a valuable intervention strategy to improve the diets and vegetable intake of children. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Autodisplay for the co-expression of lipase and foldase on the surface of E. coli: washing with designer bugs

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Lipases including the lipase from Burkholderia cepacia are in a main focus in biotechnology research since many years because of their manifold possibilities for application in industrial processes. The application of Burkholderia cepacia lipase for these processes appears complicated because of the need for support by a chaperone, the lipase specific foldase. Purification and reconstitution protocols therefore interfere with an economic implementation of such enzymes in industry. Autodisplay is a convenient method to express a variety of passenger proteins on the surface of E. coli. This method makes subsequent purification steps to obtain the protein of interest unnecessary. If enzymes are used as passengers, the corresponding cells can simply be applied as whole cell biocatalysts. Furthermore, enzymes surface displayed in this manner often acquire stabilization by anchoring within the outer membrane of E. coli. Results The lipase and its chaperone foldase from B. cepacia were co-expressed on the surface of E. coli via autodisplay. The whole cell biocatalyst obtained thereby exhibited an enzymatic activity of 2.73 mU mL-1 towards the substrate p-nitrophenyl palmitate when applied in an OD578 =1. Outer membrane fractions prepared from the same culture volume showed a lipase activity of 4.01 mU mL-1. The lipase-whole cell biocatalyst as well as outer membrane preparations thereof were used in a standardized laundry test, usually adopted to determine the power of washing agents. In this test, the lipase whole cell biocatalyst and the membrane preparation derived thereof exhibited the same lipolytic activity as the purified lipase from B. cepacia and a lipase preparation which is already applied in commercial washing agents. Conclusions Co-expression of both the lipase and its chaperone foldase on the surface of E. coli yields a lipid degrading whole cell biocatalyst. Therefore the chaperone supported folding process, absolutely required for the lipolytic activity appears not to be hindered by surface display. Furthermore, the cells and the membrane preparations appeared to be stable enough to endure a European standard laundry test and show efficient fat removal properties herein. PMID:24476025

Performance testing accountability measurements

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Oldham, R.D.; Mitchell, W.G.; Spaletto, M.I.

The New Brunswick Laboratory (NBL) provides assessment support to the DOE Operations Offices in the area of Material Control and Accountability (MC and A). During surveys of facilities, the Operations Offices have begun to request from NBL either assistance in providing materials for performance testing of accountability measurements or both materials and personnel to do performance testing. To meet these needs, NBL has developed measurement and measurement control performance test procedures and materials. The present NBL repertoire of performance tests include the following: (1) mass measurement performance testing procedures using calibrated and traceable test weights, (2) uranium elemental concentration (assay)more » measurement performance tests which use ampulated solutions of normal uranyl nitrate containing approximately 7 milligrams of uranium per gram of solution, and (3) uranium isotopic measurement performance tests which use ampulated uranyl nitrate solutions with enrichments ranging from 4% to 90% U-235. The preparation, characterization, and packaging of the uranium isotopic and assay performance test materials were done in cooperation with the NBL Safeguards Measurements Evaluation Program since these materials can be used for both purposes.« less

American Indian Health Careers Handbook. Second Edition, 1975.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jennings, Don, Ed.

Prepared by the Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP), this handbook provides information relative to American Indian health careers in terms of need, opportunity, preparation, and information sources. Designed to encourage American Indian youth to seek careers in the health professions, this handbook describes the enormous need for…

Changing Science Teaching Practice in Early Career Secondary Teaching Graduates

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bartholomew, Rex; Moeed, Azra; Anderson, Dayle

2011-01-01

Initial teacher education (ITE) is being challenged internationally to prepare teachers with the understandings needed to teach an increasingly diverse student population. Science teachers need to prepare students with both conceptual and procedural understanding. The challenge is to prioritise a balance in ITE courses between theoretical…

Inclusive Classes in Physical Education: Teachers' Difficulties

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Toloi, Gabriela Gallucci; Manzini, Eduardo José; Spoldaro, Diego Machado; Zacarias, Lucas Ventura

2016-01-01

The successful inclusion of students with special needs in physical education classes requires much planning and preparation. Lack of preparation of physical education teachers working in inclusive settings in Brazil has demonstrated the need for specialized training in strategies for implementing inclusion. The goal of this study was to identify,…

Preparing the Inclusion Classroom for Students with Special Physical and Health Needs.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wadsworth, Donna E. Dugger; Knight, Diane

1999-01-01

The Classroom Ecological Preparation Inventory (CEPI) is designed to aid in inclusion of students with physical impairments and health needs in the general-education classroom. The CEPI focuses on health and medical concerns, arrangement of the physical environment, assistive equipment, instructional adaptations, and social-skills management. A…

Global Migration: The Need for Culturally Competent School Psychologists

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Vega, Desireé; Lasser, Jon; Plotts, Cynthia

2015-01-01

Never before have more children lived away from their home countries. Given the unique social, emotional, and academic needs of children who have migrated, school psychologists must be well prepared to meet these growing demands. Consequently, school psychology training programs must invest in the preparation of culturally competent future school…

Is Academic Nursing Preparing Practitioners to Meet Present and Future Societal Needs?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Felton, Geraldene

The adequacy of nursing education programs in preparing nurses to meet current and future societal needs is addressed, with attention directed to baccalaureate programs, faculty, and graduates. It is suggested that research findings and anecdotal reports have validated the dysfunction phenomena between baccalaureate nursing education, the practice…

The Multistage Compressor Facility

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Flegel, Ashlie

2004-01-01

Research and developments of new aerospace technologies is one of Glenn Research Center's specialties. One facility that deals with the research of aerospace technologies is the High-speed Multistage Compressor Facility. This facility will be testing the performance and efficiency of an Ultra Efficient Engine Technology (UEET) two-stage compressor. There is a lot of preparation involved with testing something of this caliber. Before the test article can be installed into the test rig, the facility must be fully operational and ready to run. Meaning all the necessary instrumentation must be calibrated and installed in the facility. The test rig should also be in safe operating condition, and the proper safety permits obtained. In preparation for the test, the Multistage Compressor Facility went through a few changes. For instance the facility will now be utilizing slip rings, the gearbox went through some maintenance, new lubrications systems replaced the old ones, and special instrumentation needs to be fine tuned to achieve the maximum amount of accurate data. Slips rings help gather information off of a rotating device - in this case from a shaft - onto stationary contacts. The contacts (or brushes) need to be cooled to reduce the amount of frictional heat produced between the slip ring and brushes. The coolant being run through the slip ring is AK-225, a material hazardous to the ozone. To abide by the safety regulations the coolant must be run through a closed chiller system. A new chiller system was purchased but the reservoir that holds the coolant was ventilated which doesn t make the system truly closed and sealed. My task was to design and have a new reservoir built for the chiller system that complies with the safety guidelines. The gearbox had some safety issues also. Located in the back of the gearbox an inching drive was set up. When the inching drive is in use the gears and chain are bare and someone can easily get caught up in it. So to prevent anyone from getting hurt in the gears I designed a chain guard. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

Stakeholders' Perspectives on Preclinical Testing for Alzheimer's Disease.

PubMed

Arias, Jalayne J; Cummings, Jeffrey; Grant, Alexander Rae; Ford, Paul J

2015-01-01

Progress towards validating amyloid beta as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease (AD) heightens the need for evaluation of stakeholders' perspectives of the benefits and harms of preclinical testing in asymptomatic individuals. Investigators conducted and analyzed 14 semi-structured interviews with family members of patients diagnosed with AD. Participants reported benefits, including the potential to seek treatment, make lifestyle changes, and prepare for cognitive impairment. Participants identified harms, including social harms, adverse life decisions, and psychological harms. Nine participants reported either a "positive global perspective" or a "positive global perspective (qualified)." Results from this study characterized stakeholders' perspectives on the potential benefits and harms of clinical use of preclinical testing for AD. Investigators used data from this study to develop a framework that contributes to ongoing discussions that will evaluate widespread adoption of preclinical testing and will inform future research. Copyright 2015 The Journal of Clinical Ethics. All rights reserved.

Traction test of temporary dental cements.

PubMed

Román-Rodríguez, Juan-Luis; Millan-Martínez, Diego; Fons-Font, Antonio; Agustín-Panadero, Rubén; Fernández-Estevan, Lucía

2017-04-01

Classic self-curing temporary cements obstruct the translucence of provisional restorations. New dual-cure esthetic temporary cements need investigation and comparison with classic cements to ensure that they are equally retentive and provide adequate translucence. The objective is to analyze by means of traction testing in a in vitro study the retention of five temporary cements. Ten molars were prepared and ten provisional resin restorations were fabricated using CAD-CAM technology (n=10). Five temporary cements were selected: self-curing temporary cements, Dycal (D), Temp Bond (TB), Temp Bond Non Eugenol (TBNE); dual-curing esthetic cements Temp Bond Clear (TBC) and Telio CS link (TE). Each sample underwent traction testing, both with thermocycling (190 cycles at 5-55º) and without thermocycling. TE and TBC obtained the highest traction resistance values. Thermocycling reduced the resistance of all cements except TBC. The dual-cure esthetic cements tested provided optimum outcomes for bonding provisional restorations. Key words: Temporary dental cements, cements resistance.

78 FR 42057 - National Assessment Governing Board; Meeting

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-15

... Tasks (ICTs) at grades 4, 8, and 12 for the 2014 pilot test, in preparation for the 2015 NAEP Science assessment; (2) Science Hands-on Tasks (HOTs) at grades 4, 8, and 12 for the 2014 pilot test, in preparation...) Science Interactive Computer Tasks (ICTs) at grades 4, 8, and 12 for the 2014 pilot test, in preparation...

Test Preparation in the Accountability Era: Toward a Learning-Oriented Approach

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gebril, Atta

2018-01-01

The article introduces a learning-oriented approach to test preparation that could help in easing the tension between learning and assessment. The first part of the article discusses the different concepts that are usually used in the context of test preparation. The second section reports on the literature pertaining to the effects of test…

10 CFR 26.93 - Preparing for alcohol testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Preparing for alcohol testing. 26.93 Section 26.93 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Collecting Specimens for Testing § 26.93 Preparing... shall— (1) Ask the donor whether he or she, in the past 15 minutes, has had anything to eat or drink...

10 CFR 26.93 - Preparing for alcohol testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Preparing for alcohol testing. 26.93 Section 26.93 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Collecting Specimens for Testing § 26.93 Preparing... shall— (1) Ask the donor whether he or she, in the past 15 minutes, has had anything to eat or drink...

10 CFR 26.93 - Preparing for alcohol testing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Preparing for alcohol testing. 26.93 Section 26.93 Energy NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION FITNESS FOR DUTY PROGRAMS Collecting Specimens for Testing § 26.93 Preparing... shall— (1) Ask the donor whether he or she, in the past 15 minutes, has had anything to eat or drink...

9 CFR 147.8 - Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic tests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2014-01-01 2014-01-01 false Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic tests. 147.8 Section 147.8 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH... IMPROVEMENT PLAN Blood Testing Procedures § 147.8 Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic...

9 CFR 147.8 - Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic tests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic tests. 147.8 Section 147.8 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH... IMPROVEMENT PLAN Blood Testing Procedures § 147.8 Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic...

9 CFR 147.8 - Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic tests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic tests. 147.8 Section 147.8 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH... IMPROVEMENT PLAN Blood Testing Procedures § 147.8 Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic...

9 CFR 147.8 - Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic tests.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 9 Animals and Animal Products 1 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic tests. 147.8 Section 147.8 Animals and Animal Products ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH... IMPROVEMENT PLAN Blood Testing Procedures § 147.8 Procedures for preparing egg yolk samples for diagnostic...

Environmental Interventions for Obesity and Chronic Disease Prevention.

PubMed

Gittelsohn, Joel; Trude, Angela

2015-01-01

Innovative approaches are needed to impact obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases, including tested interventions at the environmental and policy levels. We have conducted multi-level community trials in low-income minority settings in the United States and other countries that test interventions to improve the food environment, support policy, and reduce the risk for developing obesity and other diet-related chronic diseases. All studies have examined change from pre- to post-study, comparing an intervention with a comparison group. Our results have shown consistent positive effects of these trials on consumer psychosocial factors, food purchasing, food preparation and diet, and, in some instances, obesity. We have recently implemented a systems science model to support programs and policies to improve urban food environments. Environmental interventions are a promising approach for addressing the global obesity epidemic due to their wide reach. Further work is needed to disseminate, expand and sustain these initiatives through policy at the city, state and federal levels.

KSC-2012-2014

NASA Image and Video Library

2012-04-10

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Preparations are under way to remove the Pegasus payload fairing from around NASA’s Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, in Orbital Sciences’ hangar on Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Access to the spacecraft is needed for compatibility testing to verify communication with a tracking station in Hawaii. With the change in the launch timeframe to June, this station will be needed to support launch. After processing of Orbital’s Pegasus XL rocket and the spacecraft are complete, they will be flown on Orbital's L-1011 carrier aircraft from Vandenberg to the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on the Pacific Ocean’s Kwajalein Atoll for launch. The high-energy X-ray telescope will conduct a census of black holes, map radioactive material in young supernovae remnants, and study the origins of cosmic rays and the extreme physics around collapsed stars. For more information, visit http://www.nasa.gov/nustar. Photo credit: NASA/Randy Beaudoin, VAFB

Results of Testing the Relative Oxidizing Hazard of Wipes and KMI Zeolite

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ams, Bridget Elaine

This report includes the results from testing performed on the relative oxidizing hazard of a number of organic sorbing wipe materials, as well as KMI zeolite. These studies were undertaken to address a need by the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Hazardous Materials Management group, which requires a material that can sorb small spills in a glovebox without creating a disposal hazard due to the potential for oxidation reactions, as requested in Request for Testing of Wipes and Zeolite for Los Alamos National Laboratory Hazardous Materials Group (NPl-7) (NPl-7-17-002) and Request for Testing of Chamois Material for Los Alamos Nationalmore » Laboratory Hazardous Materials Group (NPl-7) (NPl-7-17-005). This set oftests is a continuation of previous testing described in Results from Preparation and Testing of Sorbents Mixed with (DWT-RPT-003), which provided data for the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant's Basis of Knowledge. The Basis of Knowledge establishes criteria for evaluating transuranic (TRU) waste that contains oxidizing chemicals.« less

Physico-chemical properties of manufactured nanomaterials - Characterisation and relevant methods. An outlook based on the OECD Testing Programme.

PubMed

Rasmussen, Kirsten; Rauscher, Hubert; Mech, Agnieszka; Riego Sintes, Juan; Gilliland, Douglas; González, Mar; Kearns, Peter; Moss, Kenneth; Visser, Maaike; Groenewold, Monique; Bleeker, Eric A J

2018-02-01

Identifying and characterising nanomaterials require additional information on physico-chemical properties and test methods, compared to chemicals in general. Furthermore, regulatory decisions for chemicals are usually based upon certain toxicological properties, and these effects may not be equivalent to those for nanomaterials. However, regulatory agencies lack an authoritative decision framework for nanomaterials that links the relevance of certain physico-chemical endpoints to toxicological effects. This paper investigates various physico-chemical endpoints and available test methods that could be used to produce such a decision framework for nanomaterials. It presents an overview of regulatory relevance and methods used for testing fifteen proposed physico-chemical properties of eleven nanomaterials in the OECD Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials' Testing Programme, complemented with methods from literature, and assesses the methods' adequacy and applications limits. Most endpoints are of regulatory relevance, though the specific parameters depend on the nanomaterial and type of assessment. Size (distribution) is the common characteristic of all nanomaterials and is decisive information for classifying a material as a nanomaterial. Shape is an important particle descriptor. The octanol-water partitioning coefficient is undefined for particulate nanomaterials. Methods, including sample preparation, need to be further standardised, and some new methods are needed. The current work of OECD's Test Guidelines Programme regarding physico-chemical properties is highlighted. Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Pilot proficiency testing study for second tier congenital adrenal hyperplasia newborn screening.

PubMed

De Jesús, Víctor R; Simms, David A; Schiffer, Jarad; Kennedy, Meredith; Mei, Joanne V; Hannon, W Harry

2010-11-11

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) is caused by inherited defects in steroid biosynthesis. The Newborn Screening Quality Assurance Program (NSQAP) initiated a pilot, dried-blood spot (DBS)-based proficiency testing program designed to investigate materials and laboratory performance for second tier CAH screening by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The ratio of 17-α-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP), androstenedione (4-AD) and cortisol is used as an indicator of CAH in laboratory protocols for second tier analysis of DBS specimens. DBS prepared by NSQAP contained a range of steroid concentrations resulting in different clinical ratios. Laboratories received blind-coded DBS specimens and reported results to NSQAP for evaluation. Quantitative values reported by participants for 17-OHP, 4-AD, and cortisol, reflected small differences in their analytical methods. Average quantitative values for 17-OHP increased from 81% to 107% recovery over the 3.5-year period; cortisol recoveries increased from 61.9% to 89.5%; and 4-AD recoveries decreased from 184% to 68%. Laboratory participation in the CAH second tier proficiency testing program has resulted in improved analyte recoveries and enhanced sample preparation methodologies. NSQAP services for the second tier CAH analysis in DBS demonstrate the need for surveillance to ensure harmonization and continuous improvements, and to achieve sustained high-performance of newborn screening laboratories worldwide. Published by Elsevier B.V.

An adaptable chromosome preparation methodology for use in invertebrate research organisms.

PubMed

Guo, Longhua; Accorsi, Alice; He, Shuonan; Guerrero-Hernández, Carlos; Sivagnanam, Shamilene; McKinney, Sean; Gibson, Matthew; Sánchez Alvarado, Alejandro

2018-02-26

The ability to efficiently visualize and manipulate chromosomes is fundamental to understanding the genome architecture of organisms. Conventional chromosome preparation protocols developed for mammalian cells and those relying on species-specific conditions are not suitable for many invertebrates. Hence, a simple and inexpensive chromosome preparation protocol, adaptable to multiple invertebrate species, is needed. We optimized a chromosome preparation protocol and applied it to several planarian species (phylum Platyhelminthes), the freshwater apple snail Pomacea canaliculata (phylum Mollusca), and the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis (phylum Cnidaria). We demonstrated that both mitotically active adult tissues and embryos can be used as sources of metaphase chromosomes, expanding the potential use of this technique to invertebrates lacking cell lines and/or with limited access to the complete life cycle. Simple hypotonic treatment with deionized water was sufficient for karyotyping; growing cells in culture was not necessary. The obtained karyotypes allowed the identification of differences in ploidy and chromosome architecture among otherwise morphologically indistinguishable organisms, as in the case of a mixed population of planarians collected in the wild. Furthermore, we showed that in all tested organisms representing three different phyla this protocol could be effectively coupled with downstream applications, such as chromosome fluorescent in situ hybridization. Our simple and inexpensive chromosome preparation protocol can be readily adapted to new invertebrate research organisms to accelerate the discovery of novel genomic patterns across the branches of the tree of life.

The use of unirradiated and γ-irradiated zinc oxide nanoparticles as a preservative in cosmetic preparations

PubMed Central

Hosny, Alaa El-Dien MS; Kashef, Mona T; Taher, Hadeer A; El-Bazza, Zeinab E

2017-01-01

Purpose Microbial contamination of different cosmetic preparations, as a result of preservative failure, presents a major public health threat. Also, most of the known preservatives have serious consumer side effects. The antimicrobial activity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NP) is well documented. Therefore, we aimed to determine the possible use of unirradiated and γ-irradiated ZnO NP as a cosmetic preservative. Methods The possible use of ZnO NP as a preservative was tested and compared to commonly used preservatives using a challenge test. Their activity was tested in six different types of preparations. The effect of γ radiation on the antimicrobial activity of ZnO NP was tested through determination of the obtained zone diameters against different microorganisms and the total aerobic microbial count in tested preparations. The antimicrobial activity, of unirradiated and γ-irradiated ZnO NP during storage was also determined. Results ZnO NP were superior to other commonly used preservatives in all tested cosmetic preparations. They pass the challenge test in all types of tested preparations. γ irradiation enhanced their antimicrobial activity in all tested preparations. The irradiation causes a reduction in NP sizes that is directly proportional to the applied radiation dose. Upon storage, ZnO NP were effective in maintaining the microbial count of the product within the acceptable range. Their activity in stored products was enhanced by γ irradiation. Conclusion Unirradiated and γ-irradiated ZnO NP can be used as effective preservatives. They are compatible with the components of all tested products. γ irradiation enhanced the antimicrobial activity of ZnO NP. PMID:28979119

Research Preparation in Kinesiology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Silverman, Stephen

2012-01-01

This article addresses research preparation for graduate students. A major assumption is that preparation needs to be differentiated based on a student's goals. Since this is a personal proposal for research preparation, based on experience and the literature, I begin the article providing my perspective since that frames what follows. The next…

12 CFR 630.4 - Responsibilities for preparing the report to investors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Corporation for preparation of the report to investors, including: (i) Financial data of the bank or, if the... preparation of the report to investors; (ii) Provide instructions to the disclosure entities regarding the information needed for preparation of the Systemwide combined financial statements and disclosures required to...

12 CFR 630.4 - Responsibilities for preparing the report to investors.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... Corporation for preparation of the report to investors, including: (i) Financial data of the bank or, if the... preparation of the report to investors; (ii) Provide instructions to the disclosure entities regarding the information needed for preparation of the Systemwide combined financial statements and disclosures required to...

Orthopaedic resident preparedness for closed reduction and pinning of pediatric supracondylar fractures is improved by e-learning: a multisite randomized controlled study.

PubMed

Hearty, Thomas; Maizels, Max; Pring, Maya; Mazur, John; Liu, Raymond; Sarwark, John; Janicki, Joseph

2013-09-04

There is a need to provide more efficient surgical training methods for orthopaedic residents. E-learning could possibly increase resident surgical preparedness, confidence, and comfort for surgery. Using closed reduction and pinning of pediatric supracondylar humeral fractures as the index case, we hypothesized that e-learning could increase resident knowledge acquisition for case preparation in the operating room. An e-learning surgical training module was created on the Computer Enhanced Visual Learning platform. The module provides a detailed and focused road map of the procedure utilizing a multimedia format. A multisite prospective randomized controlled study design compared residents who used a textbook for case preparation (control group) with residents who used the same textbook plus completed the e-learning module (test group). All subjects completed a sixty-question test on the theory and methods of the case. After completion of the test, the control group then completed the module as well. All subjects were surveyed on their opinion regarding the effectiveness of the module after performing an actual surgical case. Twenty-eight subjects with no previous experience in this surgery were enrolled at four academic centers. Subjects were randomized into two equal groups. The test group scored significantly better (p < 0.001) and demonstrated competence on the test compared with the control group; the mean correct test score (and standard deviation) was 90.9% ± 6.8% for the test group and 73.5% ± 6.4% for the control group. All residents surveyed (n = 27) agreed that the module is a useful supplement to traditional methods for case preparation and twenty-two of twenty-seven residents agreed that it reduced their anxiety during the case and improved their attention to surgical detail. E-learning using the Computer Enhanced Visual Learning platform significantly improved preparedness, confidence, and comfort with percutaneous closed reduction and pinning of a pediatric supracondylar humeral fracture. We believe that adapting such methods into residency training programs will improve efficiency in surgical training.

Precepting and symbolic interactionism--a theoretical look at preceptorship during clinical practice.

PubMed

Carlson, Elisabeth

2013-02-01

To present a discussion of precepting through the use of symbolic interactionism as exemplified by findings from an ethnographic study. It is a well-known fact that clinical practice, where students are supervised by precepting nurses, is an important part of nursing education. Several previous studies have stressed the vital role preceptors have for the development of student nurses' clinical competence. Despite this, few of these findings are discussed from a theoretical standpoint to further explain and illustrate the complexity of preceptorship. This article builds on findings from an ethnographic study undertaken between November 2006-May 2007 and again between March-September 2009. Full details of the empirical findings have been reported elsewhere. Precepting can be understood as a trusting relationship between preceptor and student interacting and sharing nursing activities. The participants' actions will influence and shape the meaning and understanding of these activities. Precepting is a complex and advanced role for nurses that they need to be properly prepared for. Thus, preceptor preparation needs to be organized in collaboration between healthcare organizations and universities. It is suggested that preceptor preparation programmes should focus on reflection, critical thinking and communication skills. Symbolic interactionism can serve as a potential theory that will expand the understanding of and give new perspectives of nursing practice. It would therefore be encouraging to see further testing of suitable theories to interpret empirical findings and create opportunities for practice improvement. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Experience with the use of the Codonics Safe Label System(™) to improve labelling compliance of anaesthesia drugs.

PubMed

Ang, S B L; Hing, W C; Tung, S Y; Park, T

2014-07-01

The Codonics Safe Labeling System(™) (http://www.codonics.com/Products/SLS/flash/) is a piece of equipment that is able to barcode scan medications, read aloud the medication and the concentration and print a label of the appropriate concentration in the appropriate colour code. We decided to test this system in our facility to identify risks, benefits and usability. Our project comprised a baseline survey (25 anaesthesia cases during which 212 syringes were prepared from 223 drugs), an observational study (47 cases with 330 syringes prepared) and a user acceptability survey. The baseline compliance with all labelling requirements was 58%. In the observational study the compliance using the Codonics system was 98.6% versus 63.8% with conventional labelling. In the user acceptability survey the majority agreed the Codonics machine was easy to use, more legible and adhered with better security than the conventional preprinted label. However, most were neutral when asked about the likelihood of flexibility and customisation and were dissatisfied with the increased workload. Our findings suggest that the Codonics labelling machine is user-friendly and it improved syringe labelling compliance in our study. However, staff need to be willing to follow proper labelling workflow rather than batch label during preparation. Future syringe labelling equipment developers need to concentrate on user interface issues to reduce human factor and workflow problems. Support logistics are also an important consideration prior to implementation of any new labelling system.

Organic thin film transistor with a simplified planar structure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Lei; Yu, Jungsheng; Zhong, Jian; Jiang, Yadong

2009-05-01

Organic thin film transistor (OTFT) with a simplified planar structure is described. The gate electrode and the source/drain electrodes of OTFT are processed in one planar structure. And these three electrodes are deposited on the glass substrate by DC sputtering technology using Cr/Ni target. Then the electrode layouts of different width length ratio are made by photolithography technology at the same time. Only one step of deposition and one step of photolithography is needed while conventional process takes at least two steps of deposition and two steps of photolithography. Metal is first prepared on the other side of glass substrate and electrode is formed by photolithography. Then source/drain electrode is prepared by deposition and photolithography on the side with the insulation layer. Compared to conventional process of OTFTs, the process in this work is simplified. After three electrodes prepared, the insulation layer is made by spin coating method. The organic material of polyimide is used as the insulation layer. A small molecular material of pentacene is evaporated on the insulation layer using vacuum deposition as the active layer. The process of OTFTs needs only three steps totally. A semi-auto probe stage is used to connect the three electrodes and the probe of the test instrument. A charge carrier mobility of 0.3 cm2 /V s, is obtained from OTFTs on glass substrates with and on/off current ratio of 105. The OTFTs with the planar structure using simplified process can simplify the device process and reduce the fabrication cost.

Novel hard compositions and methods of preparation

DOEpatents

Sheinberg, Haskell

1983-08-23

Novel very hard compositions of matter are prepared by using in all embodiments only a minor amount of a particular carbide (or materials which can form the carbide in situ when subjected to heat and pressure); and no strategic cobalt is needed. Under a particular range of conditions, densified compositions of matter of the invention are prepared having hardnesses on the Rockwell A test substantially equal to the hardness of pure tungsten carbide and to two of the hardest commercial cobalt-bonded tungsten carbides. Alternately, other compositions of the invention which have slightly lower hardnesses than those described above in one embodiment also possess the advantage of requiring no tungsten and in another embodiment possess the advantage of having a good fracture toughness value. Photomicrographs show that the shapes of the grains of the alloy mixture with which the minor amount of carbide (or carbide-formers) is mixed are radically altered from large, rounded to small, very angular by the addition of the carbide. Superiority of one of these hard compositions of matter over cobalt-bonded tungsten carbide for ultra-high pressure anvil applications was demonstrated.

Evidence toads may modulate landing preparation without predicting impact time

PubMed Central

Cox, S. M.; Gillis, Gary

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT Within anurans (frogs and toads), cane toads (Bufo marinus) perform particularly controlled landings in which the forelimbs are exclusively used to decelerate and stabilize the body after impact. Here we explore how toads achieve dynamic stability across a wide range of landing conditions. Specifically, we suggest that torques during landing could be reduced by aligning forelimbs with the body's instantaneous velocity vector at impact (impact angle). To test whether toad forelimb orientation varies with landing conditions, we used high-speed video to collect forelimb and body kinematic data from six animals hopping off platforms of different heights (0, 5 and 9 cm). We found that toads do align forelimbs with the impact angle. Further, toads align forelimbs with the instantaneous velocity vector well before landing and then track its changes until touchdown. This suggests that toads may be prepared to land well before they hit the ground rather than preparing for impact at a specific moment, and that they may use a motor control strategy that allows them to perform controlled landings without the need to predict impact time. PMID:27895052

Laboratory quality management system: road to accreditation and beyond.

PubMed

Wadhwa, V; Rai, S; Thukral, T; Chopra, M

2012-01-01

This review attempts to clarify the concepts of Laboratory Quality Management System (Lab QMS) for a medical testing and diagnostic laboratory in a holistic way and hopes to expand the horizon beyond quality control (QC) and quality assurance. It provides an insight on accreditation bodies and highlights a glimpse of existing laboratory practices but essentially it takes the reader through the journey of accreditation and during the course of reading and understanding this document, prepares the laboratory for the same. Some of the areas which have not been highlighted previously include: requirement for accreditation consultants, laboratory infrastructure and scope, applying for accreditation, document preparation. This section is well supported with practical illustrations and necessary tables and exhaustive details like preparation of a standard operating procedure and a quality manual. Concept of training and privileging of staff has been clarified and a few of the QC exercises have been dealt with in a novel way. Finally, a practical advice for facing an actual third party assessment and caution needed to prevent post-assessment pitfalls has been dealt with.

Novel hard compositions and methods of preparation

DOEpatents

Sheinberg, H.

1983-08-23

Novel very hard compositions of matter are prepared by using in all embodiments only a minor amount of a particular carbide (or materials which can form the carbide in situ when subjected to heat and pressure); and no strategic cobalt is needed. Under a particular range of conditions, densified compositions of matter of the invention are prepared having hardnesses on the Rockwell A test substantially equal to the hardness of pure tungsten carbide and to two of the hardest commercial cobalt-bonded tungsten carbides. Alternately, other compositions of the invention which have slightly lower hardnesses than those described above in one embodiment also possess the advantage of requiring no tungsten and in another embodiment possess the advantage of having a good fracture toughness value. Photomicrographs show that the shapes of the grains of the alloy mixture with which the minor amount of carbide (or carbide-formers) is mixed are radically altered from large, rounded to small, very angular by the addition of the carbide. Superiority of one of these hard compositions of matter over cobalt-bonded tungsten carbide for ultra-high pressure anvil applications was demonstrated. 3 figs.

Self-guaranteed measurement-based quantum computation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hayashi, Masahito; Hajdušek, Michal

2018-05-01

In order to guarantee the output of a quantum computation, we usually assume that the component devices are trusted. However, when the total computation process is large, it is not easy to guarantee the whole system when we have scaling effects, unexpected noise, or unaccounted for correlations between several subsystems. If we do not trust the measurement basis or the prepared entangled state, we do need to be worried about such uncertainties. To this end, we propose a self-guaranteed protocol for verification of quantum computation under the scheme of measurement-based quantum computation where no prior-trusted devices (measurement basis or entangled state) are needed. The approach we present enables the implementation of verifiable quantum computation using the measurement-based model in the context of a particular instance of delegated quantum computation where the server prepares the initial computational resource and sends it to the client, who drives the computation by single-qubit measurements. Applying self-testing procedures, we are able to verify the initial resource as well as the operation of the quantum devices and hence the computation itself. The overhead of our protocol scales with the size of the initial resource state to the power of 4 times the natural logarithm of the initial state's size.

Urokinase production by electrophoretically separated cultured human embryonic kidney cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kunze, M. E.; Plank, L. D.; Giranda, V.; Sedor, K.; Todd, P. W.

1985-01-01

Urokinase is a plasminogen activator found in urine. Relatively pure preparations have been tested in Europe, Japan and the United States for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and other dangerous blood clots. Human embryonic kidney cell cultures have been found to produce urokinase at much higher concentrations, but less than 5% of the cells in typical cultures are producers. Since human diploid cells become senescent in culture the selection of clones derived from single cells will not provide enough material to be useful, so a bulk purification method is needed for the isolation of urokinase producing cell populations. Preparative cell electrophoresis was chosen as the method, since evidence exists that human embryonic cell cultures are richly heterogeneous with respect to electrophoretic mobility, and preliminary electrophoretic separations on the Apollo-Soyuz space flight produced cell populations that were rich in urokinase production. Similarly, erythropoietin is useful in the treatment of certain anemias and is a kidney cell duct, and electrophoretically enriched cell populations producing this product have been reported. Thus, there is a clear need for diploid human cells that produce these products, and there is evidence that such cells should be separable by free-flow cell electrophoresis.

Designing the STS-134 Re-Rendezvous: A Preparation for Future Crewed Rendezvous Missions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stuit, Timothy D.

2011-01-01

In preparation to provide the capability for the Orion spacecraft, also known as the Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), to rendezvous with the International Space Station (ISS) and future spacecraft, a new suite of relative navigation sensors are in development and were tested on one of the final Space Shuttle missions to ISS. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) commissioned a flight test of prototypes of the Orion relative navigation sensors on STS-134, in order to test their performance in the space environment during the nominal rendezvous and docking, as well as a re-rendezvous dedicated to testing the prototype sensors following the undocking of the Space Shuttle orbiter at the end of the mission. Unlike the rendezvous and docking at the beginning of the mission, the re-rendezvous profile replicates the newly designed Orion coelliptic approach trajectory, something never before attempted with the shuttle orbiter. Therefore, there were a number of new parameters that needed to be conceived of, designed, and tested for this rerendezvous to make the flight test successful. Additionally, all of this work had to be integrated with the normal operations of the ISS and shuttle and had to conform to the constraints of the mission and vehicles. The result of this work is a separation and rerendezvous trajectory design that would not only prove the design of the relative navigation sensors for the Orion vehicle, but also would serve as a proof of concept for the Orion rendezvous trajectory itself. This document presents the analysis and decision making process involved in attaining the final STS-134 re-rendezvous design.

Test Preparation: Your Role

MedlinePlus

... transport the sample from home to the lab. Examples of some common laboratory tests that require advance preparation include: Glucose tolerance, fasting, and two-hour post-prandial blood glucose tests : fasting or eating meals ...

Preparing Bicultural, Bilingual Children to Succeed in School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Osborn, Hazel

2012-01-01

Parents who move their families to the United States want their children to have full advantage of the educational opportunities available, and they often worry about language or cultural barriers. They need the support of early childhood educators to prepare their children for a good educational experience. Child care providers need to understand…

Preparing Secondary Stem Teachers for High-Need Schools: Challenges of an Urban Residency Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garza, Rubén; Duchaine, Ellen L.; Reynosa, Raymond

2013-01-01

Teaching residency programs that blend coursework with clinical experiences have emerged nationwide to prepare aspiring teachers for the demanding reality of teaching in high-need urban schools. The Teaching Residency Program for Critical Shortage Areas was created to help urban school districts with the challenge of recruiting and retaining…

Effectiveness of Teacher Training: Voices of Teachers Serving High-Needs Populations of Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Varela, Daniella G.; Maxwell, Gerri M.

2015-01-01

This study explores the effectiveness of educator preparation programs from the perspective of three female Hispanic veteran teachers serving high-needs populations of students. The study strives to contribute to research on minimum proposed standards for teacher preparation programs in Texas. Through a process of coding data from the informant…

What Type of Faculty and Training Are Required for a Successful Basic Sciences Program?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adams, Anthony

1992-01-01

Science education for optometry must go beyond therapeutic patient management to more preparation for biologically based care. Optometry faculty should be involved in research driven by specific patient problems and should prepare professionals to address patient quality-of-life and daily living needs. Interdisciplinary collaboration is needed.…

"I Thought I Was Prepared!" Meeting the Challenges of Diversity in High-Need, High-Potential Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jung, Eunjoo; Angell, Maureen E.; Moore, Marilyn K.; Lippert, Lance R.; Hunt, Stephen K.; Simonds, Brent

2010-01-01

This article reports descriptive findings of a qualitative investigation of early-career teachers' perceptions of their preparedness to teach diverse learners in high-need, high-potential urban schools. Interviews revealed new teachers' insights into their teacher preparation programs and the challenging expectations involved in teaching diverse…

Human mixed lymphocyte cultures. Evaluation of microculture technique utilizing the multiple automated sample harvester (MASH)

PubMed Central

Thurman, G. B.; Strong, D. M.; Ahmed, A.; Green, S. S.; Sell, K. W.; Hartzman, R. J.; Bach, F. H.

1973-01-01

Use of lymphocyte cultures for in vitro studies such as pretransplant histocompatibility testing has established the need for standardization of this technique. A microculture technique has been developed that has facilitated the culturing of lymphocytes and increased the quantity of cultures feasible, while lowering the variation between replicate samples. Cultures were prepared for determination of tritiated thymidine incorporation using a Multiple Automated Sample Harvester (MASH). Using this system, the parameters that influence the in vitro responsiveness of human lymphocytes to allogeneic lymphocytes have been investigated. PMID:4271568

In-Situ Biological Reclamation of Contaminated Ground Water

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-01-01

triaxial cells . I also would like to think Dr. Ed Chian who gave me a kind word when I needed it most. Thank you all. II DEDICATION I wish to dedicate...Tri ax.al Permeability Device Owner’s Manual 103 A-i: Sample Praparation 105 A--2: Triaxial Cell Preparation 107 A--3: Back Pressure Satuaration 108 A...2) 96 vii 3-22 PollutDrit Concentration vs Time (Perm Bd #3) 96 Owner’ Manua I A-I Valve Numbering Scheme 104 Design Drawings B--I Test Cell w

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bechtel Nevada

The Nevada Test Site Environmental Report 2003 was prepared by Bechtel Nevada to meet the requirements and guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy and the information needs of the public. This report is meant to be useful to members of the public, public officials, regulators, and Nevada Test Site contractors. The Executive Summary strives to present in a concise format the purpose of the document, the NTS mission and major programs, a summary of radiological releases and doses to the public resulting from site operations, a summary of non-radiological releases, and an overview of the Nevada Test Site Environmentalmore » Management System. The Executive Summary, combined with the following Compliance Summary, are written to meet all the objectives of the report and to be stand-alone sections for those who choose not to read the entire document.« less

Teaching beyond the Test: A Method for Designing Test-Preparation Classes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Derrick, Deirdre

2013-01-01

Test-preparation classes that focus on skills will benefit students beyond the test by developing skills they can use at university. This article discusses the purposes of various tests and outlines how to design effective test-prep classes. Several practical activities are included, and an appendix provides information on common standardized…

Improving Test-Taking Performance of Secondary At-Risk Youth and Students with Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Banks, Tachelle; Eaton, India

2014-01-01

Preparing at-risk youth and students with mild disabilities for state and district tests is important for improving their test performance, and basic instruction in test preparation can significantly improve student test performance. The article defines noncognitive variables that adversely affect test-taker performance. The article also describes…

Stool DNA Test

MedlinePlus

... in the United States. Why it's done Stool DNA testing is intended to screen for colon cancer or ... and poses no risks. How you prepare Stool DNA testing requires no preparation. You can eat and drink ...

Lessons from atopy patch testing in atopic dermatitis.

PubMed

Kerschenlohr, Karin; Darsow, Ulf; Burgdorf, Walter H C; Ring, Johannes; Wollenberg, Andreas

2004-07-01

The exposure of atopic eczema (AE) patients to their relevant protein allergens (eg, from house dust mite, cat dander, grass pollen, or food allergens) can trigger an exacerbation or maintain the disease. Diagnostic procedures are needed to specify allergen avoidance recommendations for the individual patient. Skin prick tests and specific serum IgE tests might be helpful in pointing out potential trigger factors, but relevance needs to be confirmed (eg, with food provocation tests). The atopy patch test (APT) involves the epicutaneous application of intact protein allergens in a diagnostic patch test setting with an evaluation of the induced eczematous skin lesions after 24 to 72 hours. The APT targets the cellular component of AE and helps round out the AE test spectrum. As a number of apparently minor test modifications greatly influence the sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the APT, the European Task Force on Atopic Dermatitis (ETFAD) has developed a standardized APT technique. It consists of purified allergen preparations in petrolatum, applied in 12-mm diameter Finn chambers mounted on Scanpor tape to non-irritated, non-abraded, or tape-stripped skin of the upper back. The APT is read at 48 and 72 hours according to the test criteria and reading key of the ETFAD for appearance of erythema, and number and distribution pattern of the papules. In contrast with skin prick tests, the APT might even detect a relevant sensitization in the absence of specific IgE. Many studies have been undertaken to objectify the sensitivity and specificity of the APT to show its diagnostic use in clinical practice.

The Effects of Test Preparation on Second-Language Listening Test Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Winke, Paula; Lim, Hyojung

2017-01-01

To examine the effects of listening test preparation, we had three groups, two experimental and one control (63 learners total), partake in three types of instruction sandwiched between two equally difficult listening tests (pretests and posttests). The first experimental group took four practice tests and received "explicit"…

Concentrations and stability of methyl methacrylate, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde and nickel sulfate in commercial patch test allergen preparations.

PubMed

Siegel, Paul D; Fowler, Joseph F; Law, Brandon F; Warshaw, Erin M; Taylor, James S

2014-05-01

Epicutaneous patch tests are used to reproduce allergy and diagnose allergic contact dermatitis. Reliable allergen test preparations are required. The purpose of the present study was to measure the actual concentrations of nickel(II) sulfate hexahydrate (NiSO4 ), methyl methacrylate, formaldehyde, and glutaraldehyde, and to compare them with the labelled concentrations, in commercial patch test allergen preparations found in dermatology clinics where patch testing is routinely performed. The commercial in-date and out-of-date patch test allergen preparations concentrations of NiSO4 , methyl methacrylate, formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde from one to three participating clinics were analysed with chromatographic or wet chemical techniques. NiSO4 and formaldehyde concentrations were at or above the labelled concentrations; however, formaldehyde loss occurred with storage. NiSO4 particulate was uniformly distributed throughout the petrolatum. 'In-use' methyl methacrylate reagent syringes all contained ≤ 56% of the 2% label concentration, with no observable relationship with expiration date. Lower methyl methacrylate cocentrations were consistently measured at the syringe tip end, suggesting loss resulting from methyl methacrylate's volatility. The concentrations of glutaraldehyde patch test allergen preparations ranged from 27% to 45% of the labelled (1% in pet.) concentration, independently of expiration date. Some false-negative methyl methacrylate, formaldehyde or glutaraldehyde patch test results may be attributable to instability of the test preparations. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Group Work Tests for Context-Rich Problems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meyer, Chris

2016-05-01

The group work test is an assessment strategy that promotes higher-order thinking skills for solving context-rich problems. With this format, teachers are able to pose challenging, nuanced questions on a test, while providing the support weaker students need to get started and show their understanding. The test begins with a group discussion phase, when students are given a "number-free" version of the problem. This phase allows students to digest the story-like problem, explore solution ideas, and alleviate some test anxiety. After 10-15 minutes of discussion, students inform the instructor of their readiness for the individual part of the test. What follows next is a pedagogical phase change from lively group discussion to quiet individual work. The group work test is a natural continuation of the group work in our daily physics classes and helps reinforce the importance of collaboration. This method has met with success at York Mills Collegiate Institute, in Toronto, Ontario, where it has been used consistently for unit tests and the final exam of the grade 12 university preparation physics course.

THE MICROGARDENING COOKBOOK, DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING DISHES AND TUBES OF STERILE NUTRIENT AGAR.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

CHANDLER, MARION N.

THIS BOOKLET WAS PREPARED FOR TEACHER USE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE ELEMENTARY SCIENCE STUDY UNIT "MICROGARDENING." IT CONTAINS DIRECTIONS FOR PREPARING CULTURE DISHES AND TUBES OF NUTRIENT STERILE AGAR FOR FUNGAL AND/OR BACTERIAL GROWTH. IT INCLUDES (1) LISTS OF NEEDED SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT, (2) DIRECTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION AND…

Report of the Committee To Study Preparation of the Workforce. Item #7.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Illinois State Board of Higher Education, Springfield.

This report examines workforce preparation in the state of Illinois within the following general areas: (1) the current and future workforce preparation needs of business; (2) higher education's role in relation to the roles of secondary education, business, labor, and government in providing workforce preparation programs; and (3) the…

Teachers' Preparation Needs for Integrating Technology in the Classroom

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jackson, Barcus C.

2013-01-01

School districts across the country are charged with preparing the next generation for competing in a global economy and have spent billions of dollars on technology acquisition and Internet use. However, teachers do not feel prepared to integrate technology in the classroom. To prepare teachers for technology integration, the most common approach…

Specialized Preparation for Middle Level Teachers: A National Review of Teacher Preparation Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Howell, Penny B.; Faulkner, Shawn A.; Cook, Chris M.; Miller, Nicole C.; Thompson, Nicole L.

2016-01-01

Since William Alexander's (1963, 1995) call for attention to the need for specialized middle level teacher preparation in 1963, 45 states have created requirements for middle level certification, licensure, or endorsement (Association for Middle Level Education [AMLE], 2014) which have led to institutions of teacher preparation creating routes…

Trends and Challenges in Teacher Preparation in Deaf Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lenihan, Susan

2010-01-01

Recent developments in deaf education are influencing teacher preparation programs, which are facing challenges in meeting the critical need for highly qualified teachers. Of approximately 65 teacher preparation programs in the United States, 11 programs focus primarily on preparing teachers to work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing…

[Simple method for precognition of drug interaction between oral iron and phenolic hydroxyl group-containing drugs].

PubMed

Sunagane, Nobuyoshi; Yoshinobu, Etsuko; Murayama, Nobuko; Terawaki, Yasufumi; Kamimura, Naoki; Uruno, Tsutomu

2005-02-01

In the present study, we devised a simple method for detecting the drug interaction between oral iron preparations and phenolic hydroxyl group-containing drugs, using the coloring reaction as indicator, due to the formation of complexes or chelates. In the method, oral iron preparations and test drugs in amounts as much as single dose for adults were added to 10 ml of purified water to make sample suspensions for testing. Thirty minutes after mixing an oral iron suspension and a test drug suspension, the change of color in the mixture was observed macroscopically and graded as 0 to 3, with a marked color change judged as grade 3 and no color change as grade 0. Screening of 14 test drugs commonly used orally was carried out. When using sodium ferrous citrate preparations as oral iron, 5 were classified as grade 3, 2 as grade 2, 4 as grade 1, and 3 as grade 0, respectively. To verify usefulness of the method, the interactions suggested by screening were pharmacokinetically assessed by measuring serum concentrations of the drug in mice. When a levodopa or droxidopa preparation, judged as grade 3 in screening, was concomitantly administered with an iron preparation, a significant reduction in bioavailability of the test drug was observed, indicating possible drug interaction between the test drug and oral iron. Combined administration of an acetaminophen preparation, judged as grade 1, and oral iron preparation showed no influence on the bioavailability of the test drug, implying no detectable interactions between them. In conclusion, the simple method devised in the present study is useful for precognition of drug interactions between oral iron preparations and phenolic hydroxyl group-containing drugs, and the drugs with a higher grade in screening may induce drug interactions with oral iron.

Creation of Vapor/Gas Impermeable Coatings for CB Hardening of Existing Structures

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-04-05

TEST REPORT for POLYMERight, Inc. Coating Agent Testing Prepared for: POLYMERight, Inc. Prepared by: Edward Soja Brian Blackstone ...POLYMERight, Inc. Mr. Alex Vainer 4404-C Enterprise Place Fremont, CA 94538 Prepared by: Edward Soja Brian Blackstone Battelle 505 King Ave...Inc. Coating Agent Testing 24 7.0 Contacts Contact Role Location Phone Brian Blackstone Program Manager Battelle, West Jefferson (614) 424

Repellent activity screening of 11 kinds of essential oils against Aedes albopictus Skuse: microcapsule preparation of Herba Schizonepetae oil and repellent bioassay on hand skin.

PubMed

Wu, H; Fu, C C; Yu, D D; Feng, J T; Zhang, X; Ma, Z Q

2013-08-01

The main ingredient of most repellents on the market is DEET, an effective compound that has the disadvantages of toxic reactions as well as damaging effects on plastic and synthetic fabric. DEET alternatives are urgently needed. The repellent activities of 11 kinds of essential oils were tested against Aedes albopictus Skuse by a Y-tube olfactometer. Using essential oils with high repellent activity as core material and gelatin and gum arabic as wall materials, we prepared microcapsules of essential oils and optimized the preparation process. The microcapsule formulation was then subjected to repellent bioassay on hand skin. when the dosage of essential oils was 5 µL, the cinnamon oil repellent rate was 87.5% within 10 min and the Herba Schizonepetae oil (HSO) repellent rate was 98.0% within 3 min. Up to 1.5% (w/v) gelatin and 1.5% (w/v) gum arabic (as wall materials), and HSO (as core material) were used to form microcapsules with a 1:1 ratio of core material to wall material. The ointment preparations effectively protected hand skin exposed to a high-density A. albopictus Skuse rearing cage for 4-5 h. The HSO microcapsule repellent has broad application and development prospects.

Optimizing the Office Visit for Adolescents with Special Health Care Needs.

PubMed

Nathawad, Rita; Hanks, Christopher

2017-08-01

Youth with special health care needs (YSHCN) experience health care disparities and often need additional support to receive optimal medical care, particularly in adolescence as they prepare to transition to adult care. Many medical practices struggle to address their needs. Here, we discuss approaches to improve medical care in office-based settings for YSHCN. Office visits can be optimized by training staff in developmentally appropriate care and ensuring that the physical office space facilitates care. Participating in previsit preparation, including managing patient registries of YSHCN, engaging in regular team huddles, and incorporating previsit planning, can improve preparation and ensure that important needs are not overlooked. Additionally, approaches to improve patient and medical provider comfort with office visits with YSHCN, including approaches to measuring vital signs, examining patients, and communicating with patients with various disabilities, are reviewed. Finally, we discuss methods of supporting adolescents with special health care needs in developing self-management skills that will allow them to be better prepared to enter adult health care settings when appropriate. Although YSHCN can present challenges to medical teams, their care can be improved by developing office-based changes and processes to support improved care for these patients. This may help overcome the health care disparities they experience and increase comfort for all members of the medical team. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Acceptability of, and Information Needs Regarding, Next-Generation Sequencing in People Tested for Hereditary Cancer: A Qualitative Study.

PubMed

Meiser, Bettina; Storey, Ben; Quinn, Veronica; Rahman, Belinda; Andrews, Lesley

2016-04-01

Next generation sequencing (NGS) for patients at risk of hereditary cancer syndromes can also identify non-cancer related mutations, as well as variants of unknown significance. This study aimed to determine what benefits and shortcomings patients perceive in relation to NGS, as well as their interest and information preferences in regards to such testing. Eligible patients had previously received inconclusive results from clinical mutation testing for cancer susceptibility. Semi-structured telephone interviews were subjected to qualitative analysis guided by the approach developed by Miles and Huberman. The majority of the 19 participants reported they would be interested in panel/genomic testing. Advantages identified included that it would enable better preparation and allow implementation of individualized preventative strategies, with few disadvantages mentioned. Almost all participants said they would want all results, not just those related to their previous diagnosis. Participants felt that a face-to-face discussion supplemented by an information booklet would be the best way to convey information and achieve informed consent. All participants wanted their information stored and reviewed in accordance with new developments. Although the findings indicate strong interest among these individuals, it seems that the consent process, and the interpretation and communication of results will be areas that will require revision to meet the needs of patients.

Testing the implementation and sustainment facilitation (ISF) strategy as an effective adjunct to the Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) strategy: study protocol for a cluster randomized trial.

PubMed

Garner, Bryan R; Zehner, Mark; Roosa, Mathew R; Martino, Steve; Gotham, Heather J; Ball, Elizabeth L; Stilen, Patricia; Speck, Kathryn; Vandersloot, Denna; Rieckmann, Traci R; Chaple, Michael; Martin, Erika G; Kaiser, David; Ford, James H

2017-11-17

Improving the extent to which evidence-based practices (EBPs)-treatments that have been empirically shown to be efficacious or effective-are integrated within routine practice is a well-documented challenge across numerous areas of health. In 2014, the National Institute on Drug Abuse funded a type 2 effectiveness-implementation hybrid trial titled the substance abuse treatment to HIV Care (SAT2HIV) Project. Aim 1 of the SAT2HIV Project tests the effectiveness of a motivational interviewing-based brief intervention (MIBI) for substance use as an adjunct to usual care within AIDS service organizations (ASOs) as part of its MIBI Experiment. Aim 2 of the SAT2HIV Project tests the effectiveness of implementation and sustainment facilitation (ISF) as an adjunct to the Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) model for training staff in motivational interviewing as part of its ISF Experiment. The current paper describes the study protocol for the ISF Experiment. Using a cluster randomized design, case management and leadership staff from 39 ASOs across the United States were randomized to receive either the ATTC strategy (control condition) or the ATTC + ISF strategy (experimental condition). The ATTC strategy is staff-focused and includes 10 discrete strategies (e.g., provide centralized technical assistance, conduct educational meetings, provide ongoing consultation). The ISF strategy is organization-focused and includes seven discrete strategies (e.g., use an implementation advisor, organize implementation team meetings, conduct cyclical small tests of change). Building upon the exploration-preparation-implementation-sustainment (EPIS) framework, the effectiveness of the ISF strategy is examined via three staff-level measures: (1) time-to-proficiency (i.e., preparation phase outcome), (2) implementation effectiveness (i.e., implementation phase outcome), and (3) level of sustainment (i.e., sustainment phase outcome). Although not without limitations, the ISF experiment has several strengths: a highly rigorous design (randomized, hypothesis-driven), high-need setting (ASOs), large sample size (39 ASOs), large geographic representation (23 states and the District of Columbia), and testing along multiple phases of the EPIS continuum (preparation, implementation, and sustainment). Thus, study findings will significantly improve generalizable knowledge regarding the best preparation, implementation, and sustainment strategies for advancing EBPs along the EPIS continuum. Moreover, increasing ASO's capacity to address substance use may improve the HIV Care Continuum. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03120598.

Development of high impedance measurement system for water leakage detection in implantable neuroprosthetic devices.

PubMed

Yousif, Aziz; Kelly, Shawn K

2016-08-01

There has been a push for a greater number of channels in implantable neuroprosthetic devices; but, that number has largely been limited by current hermetic packaging technology. Microfabricated packaging is becoming reality, but a standard testing system is needed to prepare these devices for clinical trials. Impedance measurements of electrodes built into the packaging layers may give an early warning of device failure and predict device lifetime. Because the impedance magnitudes of such devices can be on the order of gigaohms, a versatile system was designed to accommodate ultra-high impedances and allow future integrated circuit implementation in current neural prosthetic technologies. Here we present the circuitry, control software, and preliminary testing results of our designed system.

The Air Force Phillips Laboratory multimegawatt quasi-steady MPD thruster facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castillo, Salvador; Tilley, Dennis L.

1992-07-01

The operational multimegawatt quasi-steady MPD thruster facility is described in terms of its general design emphasizing the impulse thrust stand and diagnostics capabilities. The vacuum, propellant, and electrical systems are discussed with schematic diagrams of the respective component configurations and explanations of the needs of MPD thruster testing. The impulse thrust stand comprises an accelerometer/pendulum-impulse stand which can be used to correlate thruster impulse with accelerometer readings and thereby reduce measurement uncertainties. The diagnostics of the terminal characteristics of the thruster operation are complemented by diagnostics platforms that study plasma properties in the plume and the thruster. Preliminary tests indicate that the MPD thruster facility is prepared for detailed investigations of MPD thruster performance and plume diagnostics.

Progress and Potential

PubMed Central

Haspel, Richard L.; Olsen, Randall J.; Berry, Anna; Hill, Charles E.; Pfeifer, John D.; Schrijver, Iris; Kaul, Karen L.

2014-01-01

Context Genomic medicine is revolutionizing patient care. Physicians in areas as diverse as oncology, obstetrics, and infectious disease have begun using next-generation sequencing assays as standard diagnostic tools. Objective To review the role of pathologists in genomic testing as well as current educational programs and future training needs in genomic pathology. Data Sources Published literature as well as personal experience based on committee membership and genomic pathology curricular design. Conclusion Pathologists, as the directors of the clinical laboratories, must be prepared to integrate genomic testing into their practice. The pathology community has made significant progress in genomics-related education. A continued coordinated and proactive effort will ensure a future vital role for pathologists in the evolving health care system and also the best possible patient care. PMID:24678680

Study on needs for a magnetic suspension system operating with a transonic wind tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Martindale, W. R.; Butler, R. W.; Starr, R. F.

1985-01-01

The U.S. aeronautical industry was surveyed to determine if current and future transonic testing requirements are sufficient to justify continued development work on magnetic suspension and balance systems (MSBS) by NASA. The effort involved preparation of a brief technical description of magnetic suspension and balance systems, design of a survey form asking specific questions about the role of the MSBS in satisfying future testing requirements, selecting nine major aeronautics companies to which the description and survey forms were sent, and visiting the companies and discussing the survey to obtain greater insight to their response to the survey. Evaluation and documentation of the survey responses and recommendations which evolved from the study are presented.

Transforming a Traditional Inquiry-Based Science Unit into a STEM Unit for Elementary Pre-service Teachers: A View from the Trenches

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schmidt, Matthew; Fulton, Lori

2016-04-01

The need to prepare students with twenty-first-century skills through STEM-related teaching is strong, especially at the elementary level. However, most teacher education preparation programs do not focus on STEM education. In an attempt to provide an exemplary model of a STEM unit, we used a rapid prototyping approach to transform an inquiry-based unit on moon phases into one that integrated technology in a meaningful manner to develop technological literacy and scientific concepts for pre-service teachers (PSTs). Using qualitative case study methodology, we describe lessons learned related to the development and implementation of a STEM unit in an undergraduate elementary methods course, focusing on the impact the inquiry model had on PSTs' perceptions of inquiry-based science instruction and how the integration of technology impacted their learning experience. Using field notes and survey data, we uncovered three overarching themes. First, we found that PSTs held absolutist beliefs and had a need for instruction on inquiry-based learning and teaching. Second, we determined that explicit examples of effective and ineffective technology use are needed to help PSTs develop an understanding of meaningful technology integration. Finally, the rapid prototyping approach resulted in a successful modification of the unit, but caused the usability of our digital instructional materials to suffer. Our findings suggest that while inquiry-based STEM units can be implemented in existing programs, creating and testing these prototypes requires significant effort to meet PSTs' learning needs, and that iterating designs is essential to successful implementation.

Molecular approaches to fish vaccines

USGS Publications Warehouse

Winton, J.R.

1998-01-01

For more than 50 years, researchers have tested a variety of killed, attenuated, and subunit preparations for control offish diseases. The earliest fish vaccines used killed preparations containing whole bacteria, viruses, or parasites and today, several bacterins have become commercially successful with more expected as improved delivery systems and adjuvants are realized. Live, attenuated vaccines have been developed by serial passage of a pathogen in culture or by using naturally occurring mutants and cross-reacting strains. These generally offer excellent protection and are cost-effective, but concerns about residual virulence or their effects on other aquatic species make them difficult candidates for licensing. In recent years, the tools of molecular biology have been applied to construction of a variety of recombinant, engineered, or subunit vaccines for fish. Among the approaches to be discussed are: attenuated strains of viruses and bacteria created by deletion of specific genes associated with virulence, in vitro synthesis of protective antigens from genes cloned into E. coli or baculovirus expression systems, chemical synthesis of peptides that represent protective epitopes, and direct immunization with DNA coding for protective antigens. Preparations representing each of these approaches have been tested in laboratory or field trials with various results and such vaccines promise to be safe and relatively inexpensive if they are able to provide protection when delivered by immersion. A significant advantage of genetically engineered vaccines is the ability to construct multivalent preparations that can protect fish against several pathogens or different strains of the same pathogen. While many of these novel vaccine strategies have been effective at stimulating specific immunity in the laboratory, more work is needed to develop better delivery systems and to overcome potential regulatory concerns.

Are nurses prepared for retirement?

PubMed

Blakeley, Judith; Ribeiro, Violeta

2008-09-01

This study explored various factors and income sources that registered nurses believe are important in retirement planning. In many countries worldwide, many registered nurses are approaching retirement age. This raises concerns related to the level of preparedness of retiring nurses. A mail-out questionnaire was sent to 200 randomly selected nurses aged 45 and older. SPSS descriptors were used to outline the data. Multiple t-tests were conducted to test for significant differences between selected responses by staff nurses and a group of nurse managers, educators and researchers. Of 124 respondents, 71% planned to retire by age 60. Only 24% had done a large amount of planning. The top four planning strategies identified were related to keeping healthy and active, both physically and mentally; a major financial planning strategy ranked fifth. Work pensions, a government pension and a personal savings plan were ranked as the top three retirement income sources. No significant differences were found between the staff nurse and manager groups on any of the items. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGERS/CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that managers' preparation for retirement is no different from that of staff nurses. All nurses may need to focus more on financial preparation, and begin the process early in their careers if they are to have a comfortable and healthy retirement. Nurse managers are in a position to advocate with senior management for early and comprehensive pre-retirement education for all nurses and to promote educational sessions among their staff. Managers may find the content of this paper helpful as they work with nurses to help them better prepare for retirement. This exploratory study adds to the limited amount of research available on the topic.

Variations in status of preparation of personal protective equipment for preventing norovirus gastroenteritis in long-term care facilities for the elderly.

PubMed

Fujiki, Saori; Ishizaki, Tatsuro; Nakayama, Takeo

2017-12-01

Residents of long-term care facilities are highly susceptible to norovirus gastroenteritis, and each facility is concerned about the need to implement norovirus infection control. Among control measures, personal protective equipment (PPE), such as disposable gloves and masks, plays a major role in reducing infectious spread. However, the preparation status of PPE in facilities before infection outbreaks has not been reported. The aim was to clarify the implementation status of preventive measures for norovirus gastroenteritis and the cost of preparing the necessary PPE in long-term care facilities. A questionnaire survey of facilities affiliated with the Kyoto Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture branches of the Japan Association of Geriatric Health Services Facilities was conducted. The survey items were the characteristics of the facility, whether preventive measures had been implemented for norovirus gastroenteritis from October through the following March in both 2009 and 2010, and the quantities and unit prices of PPE prepared for preventive measures. Twenty-six (11.2%) of 232 surveyed facilities (as of August 2011) answered the survey. Among them, 24 (92.3%) in 2009 and 25 (96.2%) in 2010 reported having implemented preventive measures for norovirus gastroenteritis, while 21 facilities (80.8%) in 2009 and 22 facilities (84.6%) in 2010 had prepared PPE. The median total cost for preparing the PPE needed for the preventive measures was US $2601 (range US $221-9192) in 2009 and US $3904 (range US $305-6427) in 2010. Although the results need careful interpretation because of the low response rate, most of the surveyed long-term care facilities had implemented preventive measures for norovirus gastroenteritis. However, the cost of preparing the PPE needed for the preventive measures varied among the facilities. © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Local lymph node assay: how testing laboratories apply OECD TG 429 for REACH purposes.

PubMed

Rovida, Costanza

2011-01-01

The Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA) is the official method for assessing the allergic contact dermatitis potential of chemicals for the purposes of REACH regulation. The LLNA went through a validation process that allowed the delineation of a robust protocol for performing new tests. The OECD accepted this method in 2002 and published OECD TG 429. The European Chemical Agency (ECHA) recently published data that were submitted in the registration dossiers of chemicals. This database was analysed to determine how testing laboratories apply OECD TG 429. This analysis comes after a detailed analysis of four full study reports that were also prepared for REACH purposes. Although the majority of the tests are fully compliant with OECD TG 429, some showed major deviations, and a number of others used more animals than necessary. This suggests that in vivo tests need to be planned more carefully and consciously to obtain meaningful results with the minimum animal number necessary.

A cognitive behavioral course for at-risk senior nursing students preparing to take the NCLEX.

PubMed

Poorman, Susan G; Mastorovich, Melissa L; Liberto, Terri L; Gerwick, Michele

2010-01-01

For some nursing students, the stress of preparing for and taking the NCLEX can lead to maladaptive behaviors such as poor test performance and inadequate preparation. A different approach to NCLEX preparation for at-risk seniors is described. A 3-credit course that combines cognitive behavioral techniques, metacognitive strategies, test-taking strategies, and simulated NCLEX experience with practice questions is presented. Students also develop an individualized plan of preparation from graduation until they take the NCLEX.

Etching of Cr tips for scanning tunneling microscopy of cleavable oxides

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Dennis; Liu, Stephen; Zeljkovic, Ilija

Here, we report a detailed three-step roadmap for the fabrication and characterization of bulk Cr tips for spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Our strategy uniquely circumvents the need for ultra-high vacuum preparation of clean surfaces or films. First, we demonstrate the role of ex situ electrochemical etch parameters on Cr tip apex geometry, using scanning electron micrographs of over 70 etched tips. Second, we describe the suitability of the in situ cleaved surface of the layered antiferromagnet La 1.4Sr 1.6Mn 2O 7 to evaluate the spin characteristics of the Cr tip, replacing the ultra-high vacuum-prepared test samples that have been usedmore » in prior studies. Third, we outline a statistical algorithm that can effectively delineate closely spaced or irregular cleaved step edges, to maximize the accuracy of step height and spin-polarization measurements.« less

Avirulent Bacillus anthracis Strain with Molecular Assay Targets as Surrogate for Irradiation-Inactivated Virulent Spores.

PubMed

Plaut, Roger D; Staab, Andrea B; Munson, Mark A; Gebhardt, Joan S; Klimko, Christopher P; Quirk, Avery V; Cote, Christopher K; Buhr, Tony L; Rossmaier, Rebecca D; Bernhards, Robert C; Love, Courtney E; Berk, Kimberly L; Abshire, Teresa G; Rozak, David A; Beck, Linda C; Stibitz, Scott; Goodwin, Bruce G; Smith, Michael A; Sozhamannan, Shanmuga

2018-04-01

The revelation in May 2015 of the shipment of γ irradiation-inactivated wild-type Bacillus anthracis spore preparations containing a small number of live spores raised concern about the safety and security of these materials. The finding also raised doubts about the validity of the protocols and procedures used to prepare them. Such inactivated reference materials were used as positive controls in assays to detect suspected B. anthracis in samples because live agent cannot be shipped for use in field settings, in improvement of currently deployed detection methods or development of new methods, or for quality assurance and training activities. Hence, risk-mitigated B. anthracis strains are needed to fulfill these requirements. We constructed a genetically inactivated or attenuated strain containing relevant molecular assay targets and tested to compare assay performance using this strain to the historical data obtained using irradiation-inactivated virulent spores.

LANDSAT-1 data, its use in a soil survey program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Westin, F. C.; Frazee, C. J.

1975-01-01

The following applications of LANDSAT imagery were investigated: assistance in recognizing soil survey boundaries, low intensity soil surveys, and preparation of a base map for publishing thematic soils maps. The following characteristics of LANDSAT imagery were tested as they apply to the recognition of soil boundaries in South Dakota and western Minnesota: synoptic views due to the large areas covered, near-orthography and lack of distortion, flexibility of selecting the proper season, data recording in four parts of the spectrum, and the use of computer compatible tapes. A low intensity soil survey of Pennington County, South Dakota was completed in 1974. Low intensity inexpensive soil surveys can provide the data needed to evaluate agricultural land for the remaining counties until detailed soil surveys are completed. In using LANDSAT imagery as a base map for publishing thematic soil maps, the first step was to prepare a mosaic with 20 LANDSAT scenes from several late spring passes in 1973.

New trends of short-term humanitarian medical volunteerism: professional and ethical considerations.

PubMed

Asgary, Ramin; Junck, Emily

2013-10-01

Short-term humanitarian medical volunteerism has grown significantly among both clinicians and trainees over the past several years. Increasingly, both volunteers and their respective institutions have faced important challenges in regard to medical ethics and professional codes that should not be overlooked. We explore these potential concerns and their risk factors in three categories: ethical responsibilities in patient care, professional responsibility to communities and populations, and institutional responsibilities towards trainees. We discuss factors increasing the risk of harm to patients and communities, including inadequate preparation, the use of advanced technology and the translation of Western medicine, issues with clinical epidemiology and test utility, difficulties with the principles of justice and clinical justice, the lack of population-based medicine, sociopolitical effects of foreign aid, volunteer stress management, and need for sufficient trainee supervision. We review existing resources and offer suggestions for future skill-based training, organisational responsibilities, and ethical preparation.

Etching of Cr tips for scanning tunneling microscopy of cleavable oxides

DOE PAGES

Huang, Dennis; Liu, Stephen; Zeljkovic, Ilija; ...

2017-02-21

Here, we report a detailed three-step roadmap for the fabrication and characterization of bulk Cr tips for spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Our strategy uniquely circumvents the need for ultra-high vacuum preparation of clean surfaces or films. First, we demonstrate the role of ex situ electrochemical etch parameters on Cr tip apex geometry, using scanning electron micrographs of over 70 etched tips. Second, we describe the suitability of the in situ cleaved surface of the layered antiferromagnet La 1.4Sr 1.6Mn 2O 7 to evaluate the spin characteristics of the Cr tip, replacing the ultra-high vacuum-prepared test samples that have been usedmore » in prior studies. Third, we outline a statistical algorithm that can effectively delineate closely spaced or irregular cleaved step edges, to maximize the accuracy of step height and spin-polarization measurements.« less

Optimization of three- and four-component reactions for polysubstituted piperidines: application to the synthesis and preliminary biological screening of a prototype library.

PubMed

Ulaczyk-Lesanko, Agnieszka; Pelletier, Eric; Lee, Maria; Prinz, Heino; Waldmann, Herbert; Hall, Dennis G

2007-01-01

Several solid- and solution-phase strategies were evaluated for the preparation of libraries of polysubstituted piperidines of type 7 using the tandem aza[4+2]cycloaddition/allylboration multicomponent reaction between 1-aza-4-boronobutadienes, maleimides, and aldehydes. A novel four-component variant of this chemistry was developed in solution phase, and it circumvents the need for pre-forming the azabutadiene component. A parallel synthesis coupled with compound purification by HPLC with mass-based fraction collection allowed the preparation of a library of 944 polysubstituted piperidines in a high degree of purity suitable for biological screening. A representative subset of 244 compounds was screened against a panel of phosphatase enzymes, and despite the modest levels of activity obtained, this study demonstrated that piperidines of type 7 display the right physical properties (e.g., solubility) to be assayed effectively in high-throughput enzymatic tests.

Effects of Targeted Test Preparation on Scores of Two Tests of Oral English as a Second Language

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farnsworth, Tim

2013-01-01

This study investigated the effect of targeted test preparation, or coaching, on oral English as a second language test scores. The tests in question were the Basic English Skills Test Plus (BEST Plus), a scripted oral interview published by the Center for Applied Linguistics, and the Versant English Test (VET), a computer-administered and…

Do Test Design and Uses Influence Test Preparation? Testing a Model of Washback with Structural Equation Modeling

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Xie, Qin; Andrews, Stephen

2013-01-01

This study introduces Expectancy-value motivation theory to explain the paths of influences from perceptions of test design and uses to test preparation as a special case of washback on learning. Based on this theory, two conceptual models were proposed and tested via Structural Equation Modeling. Data collection involved over 870 test takers of…

Pheochromocytoma, diagnosis and treatment: Review of the literature.

PubMed

Farrugia, F A; Martikos, G; Tzanetis, P; Charalampopoulos, A; Misiakos, E; Zavras, N; Sotiropoulos, D

2017-07-01

We conducted an extensive review of the literature and tried to cite the most recent recommendations concerning the pheochromocytoma (PHEO). Pub Med and Google Scholar databases were searched systematically for studies concerning pheochromocytomas (intra-adrenal paragangliomas) from 1980 until 2016. Bibliographies were searched to find additional articles. More than four times elevation of plasma fractionated metanephrines or elevated 24-h urinary fractionated metanephrines are keys to diagnosing pheochromocytoma. If the results are equivocal then we perform the clonidine test. If we have not done it already, we preferably do a CT scan and/or an MRI scan. The patient needs pre-treatment with α1-blockers at least 10-14 days before operation. Alternatives or sometimes adjuncts are Calcium Channels Blockers and/or β-Blockers. Several familial syndromes are associated with PHEO and genetic testing should be considered. The biggest problem for pheochromocytoma is to suspect it in the first place. Elevated metanephrines establish the diagnosis. With the proper preoperative preparation the risks during operation and the postoperative period are minimal. If there is a risk of the hereditable mutation, it is strongly suggested that all the patients with pheochromocytoma need clinical genetic testing.

XS: a FASTQ read simulator.

PubMed

Pratas, Diogo; Pinho, Armando J; Rodrigues, João M O S

2014-01-16

The emerging next-generation sequencing (NGS) is bringing, besides the natural huge amounts of data, an avalanche of new specialized tools (for analysis, compression, alignment, among others) and large public and private network infrastructures. Therefore, a direct necessity of specific simulation tools for testing and benchmarking is rising, such as a flexible and portable FASTQ read simulator, without the need of a reference sequence, yet correctly prepared for producing approximately the same characteristics as real data. We present XS, a skilled FASTQ read simulation tool, flexible, portable (does not need a reference sequence) and tunable in terms of sequence complexity. It has several running modes, depending on the time and memory available, and is aimed at testing computing infrastructures, namely cloud computing of large-scale projects, and testing FASTQ compression algorithms. Moreover, XS offers the possibility of simulating the three main FASTQ components individually (headers, DNA sequences and quality-scores). XS provides an efficient and convenient method for fast simulation of FASTQ files, such as those from Ion Torrent (currently uncovered by other simulators), Roche-454, Illumina and ABI-SOLiD sequencing machines. This tool is publicly available at http://bioinformatics.ua.pt/software/xs/.

Postdoctoral education in dentistry: preparing dental practitioners to meet the oral health needs of America in the 21st century.

PubMed

Glassman, P; Meyerowitz, C

1999-08-01

There has been increasing interest in the organization and accreditation of Postdoctoral General Dentistry Programs (PGD). In addition, numerous national organizations have called for increases in the number of first postdoctoral year (PGY-1) positions and programs. At the same time there has been a movement to incorporate concepts of competency-based education into dental education programs in order to stress the outcomes of education rather then the process. These movements have coincided with an increased recognition that dental education will be affected by the changing demographics of our population, the emerging trends in health care delivery and financing, and the need for an increase in the number of primary care providers in dentistry, trained at an advanced level, who are capable of caring for an increasingly socially diverse and medically complex population in our country in the next century. This paper reviews the history of postdoctoral education programs in dentistry and medicine with a focus on PGD education, describes the changing health care environment in which future dental professionals will practice, and relates the dental postdoctoral experience to that in medicine. A strategy is presented for the dental profession to prepare dental practitioners with the competencies needed for the future and to create enough training opportunities to prepare these practitioners to care for the oral health needs of the nation. This proposal calls for a "National Consensus Development Conference on the Future of Postdoctoral Primary Care Education in Dentistry". This conference would define the strategies necessary to prepare dental practitioners with the competencies needed for the future and develop approaches to create enough training opportunities to prepare these practitioners to care for the oral health needs of the nation.

Innovations for High Quality, Aligned Early Childhood Educator Preparation. IERC 2016-3

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

White, Bradford R.; Baron, Debra Mayconich; Klostermann, Brenda K.; Duffy, Daniel Q.

2016-01-01

Much attention during the past decade has been given to the need to develop a well-trained early childhood education workforce. In order to address this need, the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) awarded Early Childhood Educator Preparation Program Innovation (EPPI) grants to institutions of higher learning. The IBHE funded partnerships,…

Information Systems Program Graduates: A Qualitative Case Study of Graduates' Preparation and Job Needs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simon, DeShea A.

2012-01-01

This study examined the academic preparation and job skill needs of information systems program graduates from institutions in an Eastern state, from their perspective. A historical review of the literature surrounding IS skill requirements was conducted for this study to provide the changes in IS over the past several decades. Providing a…

The Urgent Need for Teacher Preparation in Religious and Secular Worldview Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gardner, Ryan S.; Soules, Kate; Valk, John

2017-01-01

In a world that is becoming increasingly globalized, it is ironic--as well as unfortunate and sometimes tragic--that secular and religious worldview education is decreasing, in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere. This article argues for the immediate need for programs that intentionally prepare teachers for all aspects of the educational…

Peeking inside Pandora's Box: One University's Journey into the Redesign of Teacher Educator Preparation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dykes, Frank O'Neil; Gilliam, Brenda K.; Neel, Joanna; Everling, Kathleen

2012-01-01

In the last two decades, there have been various calls for reform in teacher education programs to address the needs of students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and students with disabilities. Consequently, many teacher education preparation programs are reviewing and redesigning their programs to meet the needs of the…

Investigating Effective Teaching Methods for a Place-Based Teacher Preparation in a Rural Community

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ajayi, Lasisi

2014-01-01

In this article, I argue for the need to improve teacher preparation (TP) courses for elementary education student teachers to teach English-language arts (ELA). In particular, these TP programs need to support student teachers in delivering culturally responsive pedagogy within rural classrooms. Twenty-three student teachers participated in this…

The Development of a Competency Based Food Preparations Curriculum for High School Special Needs Students in New Castle County, Delaware.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stewart, Richard Lee

A competency-based culinary arts food preparation curriculum for Delaware high school students with special needs was developed during a project that included the following activities: review of the state's existing culinary arts curriculum for regular education students; incumbent worker survey administered to 24 restaurant…

Responses to Information Systems Graduate Preparation and Job Needs: Implications for Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simon, DeShea; Jackson, Kanata

2015-01-01

This study examined the perspectives on academic preparation and job skill needs of Information Systems program graduates from an Eastern state in the US. A historical review of the literature surrounding information systems skill requirements was conducted for this study, to provide an understanding of the changes in information systems over the…

Developing a Curriculum for Human Service Workers. Career Education for Mental Health Workers. Occasional Paper Series, No. 6.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Slater, Arthur L.; Gordon, Katherine K.

Based on an educational needs assessment, a project designed a community college curriculum to develop the competencies of human service workers for the changing mental health service delivery system. The curriculum prepares workers to meet future service needs such as pre-discharge preparation of patients, outreach, aftercare, community…

Pre-Service Preparation, In-Service Development, and Individual Attainment: Factors in Principal Success

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yslas, Tracy M.

2016-01-01

Principals need to be leaders who set and communicate a vision for learning, understand organization development, know how to effect change, are able to help teachers grow in their craft, and can interpret and utilize data for school improvement. The literature has shown disconnect between principal preparation and actual practices needed for the…

STEM Faculty Experiences with Students with Disabilities at a Land Grant Institution

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Love, Tyler S.; Kreiser, Nicole; Camargo, Elsa; Grubbs, Michael E.; Kim, Eujin Julia; Burge, Penny L.; Culver, Steven M.

2015-01-01

Preparing faculty to meet the needs of the increasing number of students with disabilities is a critical need in higher education, particularly in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. Quality preparation is an emerging problem as the number of higher education students with disabilities is on the rise. In this…

Employers' Perceptions of Basic Technology Skills Needed for Workplace Preparation in Adult Basic Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yow, Alma V.

2010-01-01

Research has documented that many new entrants to the workforce from adult basic education (ABE) programs are critically lacking in the preparation and technology skills needed for workplace success. To address this problem, this basic interpretive qualitative study was implemented to examine and identify the basic technology skills perceived by…

Deriving robust noncontextuality inequalities from algebraic proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem: the Peres-Mermin square

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krishna, Anirudh; Spekkens, Robert W.; Wolfe, Elie

2017-12-01

When a measurement is compatible with each of two other measurements that are incompatible with one another, these define distinct contexts for the given measurement. The Kochen-Specker theorem rules out models of quantum theory that satisfy a particular assumption of context-independence: that sharp measurements are assigned outcomes both deterministically and independently of their context. This notion of noncontextuality is not suited to a direct experimental test because realistic measurements always have some degree of unsharpness due to noise. However, a generalized notion of noncontextuality has been proposed that is applicable to any experimental procedure, including unsharp measurements, but also preparations as well, and for which a quantum no-go result still holds. According to this notion, the model need only specify a probability distribution over the outcomes of a measurement in a context-independent way, rather than specifying a particular outcome. It also implies novel constraints of context-independence for the representation of preparations. In this article, we describe a general technique for translating proofs of the Kochen-Specker theorem into inequality constraints on realistic experimental statistics, the violation of which witnesses the impossibility of a noncontextual model. We focus on algebraic state-independent proofs, using the Peres-Mermin square as our illustrative example. Our technique yields the necessary and sufficient conditions for a particular set of correlations (between the preparations and the measurements) to admit a noncontextual model. The inequalities thus derived are demonstrably robust to noise. We specify how experimental data must be processed in order to achieve a test of these inequalities. We also provide a criticism of prior proposals for experimental tests of noncontextuality based on the Peres-Mermin square.

The influence of incubation time, sample preparation and exposure to oxygen on the quality of the MALDI-TOF MS spectrum of anaerobic bacteria.

PubMed

Veloo, A C M; Elgersma, P E; Friedrich, A W; Nagy, E; van Winkelhoff, A J

2014-12-01

With matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), bacteria can be identified quickly and reliably. This accounts especially for anaerobic bacteria. Because growth rate and oxygen sensitivity differ among anaerobic bacteria, we aimed to study the influence of incubation time, exposure to oxygen and sample preparation on the quality of the spectrum using the Bruker system. Also, reproducibility and inter-examiner variability were determined. Twenty-six anaerobic species, representing 17 genera, were selected based on gram-stain characteristics, growth rate and colony morphology. Inter-examiner variation showed that experience in the preparation of the targets can be a significant variable. The influence of incubation time was determined between 24 and 96 h of incubation. Reliable species identification was obtained after 48 h of incubation for gram-negative anaerobes and after 72 h for gram-positive anaerobes. Exposure of the cultures to oxygen did not influence the results of the MALDI-TOF MS identifications of all tested gram-positive species. Fusobacterium necrophorum and Prevotella intermedia could not be identified after >24 h and 48 h of exposure to oxygen, respectively. Other tested gram-negative bacteria could be identified after 48 h of exposure to oxygen. Most of the tested species could be identified using the direct spotting method. Bifidobacterium longum and Finegoldia magna needed on-target extraction with 70% formic acid in order to obtain reliable species identification and Peptoniphilus ivorii a full extraction. Spectrum quality was influenced by the amount of bacteria spotted on the target, the homogeneity of the smear and the experience of the examiner. © 2014 The Authors Clinical Microbiology and Infection © 2014 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

Nevada National Security Site Environmental Report 2011

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cathy Wills, ed

2012-09-12

This report was prepared to meet the information needs of the public and the requirements and guidelines of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for annual site environmental reports. It was prepared by National Security Technologies, LLC (NSTec), for the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office (NNSA/NSO). This and previous years reports, called Annual Site Environmental Reports (ASERs), Nevada Test Site Environmental Reports (NTSERs), and, beginning in 2010, Nevada National Security Site Environmental Reports (NNSSERs), are posted on the NNSA/NSO website at http://www.nv.energy.gov/library/publications/aser.aspx. This NNSSER was prepared to satisfy DOE Order DOE O 231.1B, 'Environment,more » Safety and Health Reporting.' Its purpose is to (1) report compliance status with environmental standards and requirements, (2) present results of environmental monitoring of radiological and nonradiological effluents, (3) report estimated radiological doses to the public from releases of radioactive material, (4) summarize environmental incidents of noncompliance and actions taken in response to them, (5) describe the NNSA/NSO Environmental Management System and characterize its performance, and (6) highlight significant environmental programs and efforts. This NNSSER summarizes data and compliance status for calendar year 2011 at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS) (formerly the Nevada Test Site) and its two support facilities, the North Las Vegas Facility (NLVF) and the Remote Sensing Laboratory-Nellis (RSL-Nellis). It also addresses environmental restoration (ER) projects conducted at the Tonopah Test Range (TTR). Through a Memorandum of Agreement, NNSA/NSO is responsible for the oversight of TTR ER projects, and the Sandia Site Office of NNSA (NNSA/SSO) has oversight of all other TTR activities. NNSA/SSO produces the TTR annual environmental report available at http://www.sandia.gov/news/publications/environmental/index.html.« less

Ceramic (Feldspathic & IPS Empress II) vs. laboratory composite (Gradia) veneers; a comparison between their shear bond strength to enamel; an in vitro study.

PubMed

Nikzad, S; Azari, Abbas; Dehgan, S

2010-07-01

Patient demand for aesthetic dentistry is steadily growing. Laminates and free metal restorations have evolved in an attempt to overcome the invasiveness nature of full veneer restorations. Although many different materials have been used for making these restorations, there is no single material that fits best for all purposes. Two groups of ceramic material (Feldspathic and IPS Empress II) and one group of laboratory composite (Gradia) discs (10 discs in each group; 4 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness) were prepared according to the manufacturer's instruction. The surface of ceramic discs were etched and silanized. In Gradia group, liquid primer was applied on composite surfaces. Thirty freshly extracted sound human molars and premolars were randomly divided into three groups. The enamel surface of each tooth was slightly flattened (0.3 mm) on the buccal or lingual side and then primed and cemented to the prepared discs with the aid of a dental surveyor. The finishing specimens were thermocycled between 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C for 2500 cycles and then prepared for shear bond strength testing. The resulting data were analyzed by one-way anova and Tukey HSD test. The fractured surfaces of each specimen were inspected by means of stereomicroscope and SEM. There is significant difference between the bond strength of materials tested. The mean bond strengths obtained with Feldspathic ceramic, IPS Empress II and Gradia were 33.10 +/- 4.31 MPa, 26.04 +/- 7.61 MPa and 14.42 +/- 5.82 MPa, respectively. The fracture pattern was mainly mixed for ceramic groups. More scientific evidence needed for standardization of bonding protocols.

Identification of wheat sensitization using an in-house wheat extract in Coca-10% alcohol solution in children with wheat anaphylaxis.

PubMed

Pacharn, Punchama; Kumjim, Sasaros; Tattiyapong, Puntanat; Jirapongsananuruk, Orathai; Piboonpocanun, Surapon

2016-06-01

Identification of wheat sensitization by a skin prick test (SPT) is essential for children with wheat-induced anaphylaxis, since oral food challenge can cause serious adverse effects. Wheat allergens are both water/salt and alcohol soluble. The preparation of wheat extract for SPT containing both water/salt and alcohol soluble allergen is needed. To determine if a wheat extract using Coca's solution containing 10% alcohol (Coca-10% EtOH), prepared in-house, contians both water/salt and alcohol soluble allergens. Serum of children with a history of anaphylaxis after wheat ingestion was used. Wheat flour was extracted in Coca-10% alcohol solution. An SPT with both commercial and in-house wheat extracts was performed as well as specific IgE (sIgE) for wheat and omega-5 gliadin. Direct and IgE inhibition immunoblots were performed to determine serum sIgE levels against water/salt as well as alcohol soluble (gliadins and glutenins) allergens in the extracts. Six children with history of wheat anaphylaxis had positive SPT to both commercial and in-house extracts. They also had different levels of sIgE against wheat and omega-5 gliadin allergens. The results of direct immunoblotting showed all tested sera had sIgE bound to ~35 kDa wheat protein. Further IgE inhibition immunoblotting identified the ~35 kDa wheat protein as gliadin but not gluten allergen. The in-house prepared Coca-10% EtOH solution could extract both water/salt and alcohol soluble allergens. The ~35 kDa gliadin appears to be a major wheat allergen among tested individuals.

Improving medical graduates’ training in palliative care: advancing education and practice

PubMed Central

Head, Barbara A; Schapmire, Tara J; Earnshaw, Lori; Chenault, John; Pfeifer, Mark; Sawning, Susan; Shaw, Monica A

2016-01-01

The needs of an aging population and advancements in the treatment of both chronic and life-threatening diseases have resulted in increased demand for quality palliative care. The doctors of the future will need to be well prepared to provide expert symptom management and address the holistic needs (physical, psychosocial, and spiritual) of patients dealing with serious illness and the end of life. Such preparation begins with general medical education. It has been recommended that teaching and clinical experiences in palliative care be integrated throughout the medical school curriculum, yet such education has not become the norm in medical schools across the world. This article explores the current status of undergraduate medical education in palliative care as published in the English literature and makes recommendations for educational improvements which will prepare doctors to address the needs of seriously ill and dying patients. PMID:26955298

The EMIR experience in the use of software control simulators to speed up the time to telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lopez Ramos, Pablo; López-Ruiz, J. C.; Moreno Arce, Heidy; Rosich, Josefina; Perez Menor, José Maria

2012-09-01

One of the main problems facing development teams working on instrument control systems consists on the need to access mechanisms which are not available until well into the integration phase. The need to work with real hardware creates additional problems like, among others: certain faults cannot be tested due to the possibility of hardware damage, taking the system to the limit may shorten its operational lifespan and the full system may not be available during some periods due to maintenance and/or testing of individual components. These problems can be treated with the use of simulators and by applying software/hardware standards. Since information on the construction and performance of electro-mechanical systems is available at relatively early stages of the project, simulators are developed in advance (before the existence of the mechanism) or, if conventions and standards have been correctly followed, a previously developed simulator might be used. This article describes our experience in building software simulators and the main advantages we have identified, which are: the control software can be developed even in the absence of real hardware, critical tests can be prepared using the simulated systems, test system behavior for hardware failure situations that represent a risk of the real system, and the speed up of in house integration of the entire instrument. The use of simulators allows us to reduce development, testing and integration time.

The magnetohydrodynamics coal-fired flow facility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1995-01-01

In this quarterly technical progress report, UTSI reports on the status of a multitask contract to develop the technology for the steam bottoming portion of a MHD Steam Combined Cycle Power Plant. The report describes the facility maintenance and environmental work completed, status of completing technical reports and certain key administrative actions occurring during the quarter. With program resources at a minimum to closeout the MHD program, no further testing occurred during the quarter, but the DOE CFFF facility was maintained in a standby status with winterization, preventive maintenance and repairs accomplished as needed. Plans and preparations progressed for environmental actions needed at the site to investigate and characterize the groundwater and for removal/disposal of asbestos in the cooling tower. Work continued to progress on archiving the results of the MHD program.

TESTING AND EVALUATION IN THE BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

NELSON, CLARENCE H.

THIS REPORT OF THE CUEBS PANEL ON EDUCATION AND TESTING SERVES AS A RESOURCE FOR THE INSTRUCTOR PREPARING COURSE EXAMINATIONS. THE MAJOR TOPICS DISCUSSED ARE (1) THE PROCEDURES IN PREPARING AN ACHIEVEMENT TEST, (2) THE CATEGORIZATION AND CODING OF TEST ITEMS, AND (3) THE ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF VARIOUS TESTING PROCEDURES. OVER 1300 OBJECTIVE…

40 CFR 205.171-2 - Test exhaust system sample selection and preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 40 Protection of Environment 26 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false Test exhaust system sample selection... Systems § 205.171-2 Test exhaust system sample selection and preparation. (a)(1) Exhaust systems comprising the sample which are required to be tested under a test request in accordance with this subpart...

The Effect of the Attachment Styles and Self-Efficacy of Adolescents Preparing for University Entrance Tests in Turkey on Predicting Test Anxiety

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Erzen, Evren; Odaci, Hatice

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of attachment styles and self-efficacy of adolescents preparing for university entrance exams in Turkey on predicting test anxieties. The study group consisted of 884 final-year high school students (423 female and 461 male) attending different types of high school, preparing for university…

Comparative evaluation of the Cobas Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Ultrasensitive Test, the new Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Ultrasensitive Test and the Versant HIV RNA 3.0 assays for quantitation of HIV-1 RNA in plasma samples.

PubMed

Berger, Annemarie; Scherzed, Lina; Stürmer, Martin; Preiser, Wolfgang; Doerr, Hans Wilhelm; Rabenau, Holger Felix

2005-05-01

There are several commercially available assays for the quantitation of HIV RNA. A new automated specimen preparation system, the Cobas AmpliPrep, was developed to automate this last part of the PCR. We compared the results obtained by the Roche Cobas Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Ultrasensitive Test (MCA, manual sample preparation) with those by the Versant HIV-1 RNA 3.0 assay (bDNA). Secondly we compared the MCA with the new Cobas AmpliPrep/Cobas Amplicor HIV Monitor Ultrasensitive Test (CAP/CA, automated specimen preparation) by investigating clinical patient samples and a panel of HIV-1 non-B subtypes. Furthermore, we assessed the assay throughput and workflow (especially hands-on time) for all three assays. Seventy-two percent of the 140 investigated patient samples gave concordant results in the bDNA and MCA assays. The MCA values were regularly higher than the bDNA values. One sample was detected only by the MCA within the linear range of quantification. In contrast, 38 samples with results <50 copies/ml in the MCA showed in the bDNA results between 51 and 1644 copies/ml (mean value 74 copies/ml); 21 of these specimens were shown to have detectable HIV RNA < 50 copies/ml in the MCA assay. The overall agreement between the MCA and the CAP/CA was 94.3% (551/584). The quantification results showed significant correlation, although the CAP/CA generated values slightly lower than those generated by the manual procedure. We found that the CAP/CA produced comparable results with the MCA test in a panel of HIV-1 non-B subtypes. All three assays showed comparable results. The bDNA provides a high sample throughput without the need of full automation. The new CAP/CA provides reliable test results with no HIV-subtype specific influence and releases time for other works in the laboratory; thus it is suitable for routine diagnostic PCR.

Concern-driven integrated approaches to nanomaterial testing and assessment – report of the NanoSafety Cluster Working Group 10

PubMed Central

Oomen, Agnes G.; Bos, Peter M. J.; Fernandes, Teresa F.; Hund-Rinke, Kerstin; Boraschi, Diana; Byrne, Hugh J.; Aschberger, Karin; Gottardo, Stefania; von der Kammer, Frank; Kühnel, Dana; Hristozov, Danail; Marcomini, Antonio; Migliore, Lucia; Scott-Fordsmand, Janeck; Wick, Peter

2014-01-01

Bringing together topic-related European Union (EU)-funded projects, the so-called “NanoSafety Cluster” aims at identifying key areas for further research on risk assessment procedures for nanomaterials (NM). The outcome of NanoSafety Cluster Working Group 10, this commentary presents a vision for concern-driven integrated approaches for the (eco-)toxicological testing and assessment (IATA) of NM. Such approaches should start out by determining concerns, i.e., specific information needs for a given NM based on realistic exposure scenarios. Recognised concerns can be addressed in a set of tiers using standardised protocols for NM preparation and testing. Tier 1 includes determining physico-chemical properties, non-testing (e.g., structure–activity relationships) and evaluating existing data. In tier 2, a limited set of in vitro and in vivo tests are performed that can either indicate that the risk of the specific concern is sufficiently known or indicate the need for further testing, including details for such testing. Ecotoxicological testing begins with representative test organisms followed by complex test systems. After each tier, it is evaluated whether the information gained permits assessing the safety of the NM so that further testing can be waived. By effectively exploiting all available information, IATA allow accelerating the risk assessment process and reducing testing costs and animal use (in line with the 3Rs principle implemented in EU Directive 2010/63/EU). Combining material properties, exposure, biokinetics and hazard data, information gained with IATA can be used to recognise groups of NM based upon similar modes of action. Grouping of substances in return should form integral part of the IATA themselves. PMID:23641967

A Simplified Extemporaneously Prepared Potassium Chloride Oral Solution.

PubMed

Tannous, Elias; Tal, Yana; Amarny, Kamal

2016-01-01

Although commercial preparations of oral potassium supplements are usually available, there are times when our Medical Center is faced with situations in which the oral solution of potassium chloride is not available. This solution is necessary for our pediatric outpatients who cannot swallow tablets and need an oral solution. Moreover, there are no studies available which describe an extemporaneously prepared potassium chloride oral solution on which we can rely for assigning a beyond-use date. The aim of this study was to formulate an extemporaneous pediatric oral solution of potassium chloride and to determine the physical and chemical stability of this preparation. We prepared 1 mMoL/mL by withdrawing 25 mL of potassium chloride 14.9%. Ora-Sweet SF was added to 50 mL in a metered flask. The solution was kept refrigerated (2°C to 8°C). Samples were withdrawn to measure potassium concentration, pH, and microbial overgrowth. The test was performed by our biochemical laboratory. The oral solution of potassium chloride 1 mMoL/mL stored at 2°C to 8°C maintained at least 91% of the initial concentration for 28 days. There were no notable changes in pH, and the solution remained physically stable with no visual microbial growth. The oral solution of potassium chloride 1 mMoL/mL prepared in Ora-Sweet and stored at 2°C to 8°C in amber glass bottles is expected to remain stable for 28 days. Copyright© by International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding, Inc.

Updating the premotor theory: the allocation of attention is not always accompanied by saccade preparation.

PubMed

Belopolsky, Artem V; Theeuwes, Jan

2012-08-01

There is an ongoing controversy regarding the relationship between covert attention and saccadic eye movements. While there is quite some evidence that the preparation of a saccade is obligatory preceded by a shift of covert attention, the reverse is not clear: Is allocation of attention always accompanied by saccade preparation? Recently, a shifting and maintenance account was proposed suggesting that shifting and maintenance components of covert attention differ in their relation to the oculomotor system. Specifically, it was argued that a shift of covert attention is always accompanied by activation of the oculomotor program, while maintaining covert attention at a location can be accompanied either by activation or suppression of oculomotor program, depending on the probability of executing an eye movement to the attended location. In the present study we tested whether there is such an obligatory coupling between shifting of attention and saccade preparation and how quickly saccade preparation gets suppressed. The results showed that attention shifting was always accompanied by saccade preparation whenever covert attention had to be shifted during visual search, as well as in response to exogenous or endogenous cues. However, for the endogenous cues the saccade program to the attended location was suppressed very soon after the attention shift was completed. The current findings support the shifting and maintenance account and indicate that the premotor theory needs to be updated to include a shifting and maintenance component for the cases in which covert shifts of attention are made without the intention to execute a saccade. (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved.

Accessing doctors at times of need-measuring the distance tolerance of rural residents for health-related travel.

PubMed

McGrail, Matthew Richard; Humphreys, John Stirling; Ward, Bernadette

2015-05-29

Poor access to doctors at times of need remains a significant impediment to achieving good health for many rural residents. The two-step floating catchment area (2SFCA) method has emerged as a key tool for measuring healthcare access in rural areas. However, the choice of catchment size, a key component of the 2SFCA method, is problematic because little is known about the distance tolerance of rural residents for health-related travel. Our study sought new evidence to test the hypothesis that residents of sparsely settled rural areas are prepared to travel further than residents of closely settled rural areas when accessing primary health care at times of need. A questionnaire survey of residents in five small rural communities of Victoria and New South Wales in Australia was used. The two outcome measures were current travel time to visit their usual doctor and maximum time prepared to travel to visit a doctor, both for non-emergency care. Kaplan-Meier charts were used to compare the association between increased distance and decreased travel propensity for closely-settled and sparsely-settled areas, and ordinal multivariate regression models tested significance after controlling for health-related travel moderating factors and town clustering. A total of 1079 questionnaires were completed with 363 from residents in closely-settled locations and 716 from residents in sparsely-settled areas. Residents of sparsely-settled communities travel, on average, 10 min further than residents of closely-settled communities (26.3 vs 16.9 min, p < 0.001), though this difference was not significant after controlling for town clustering. Differences were more apparent in terms of maximum time prepared to travel (54.1 vs 31.9 min, p < 0.001). Differences of maximum time remained significant after controlling for demographic and other constraints to access, such as transport availability or difficulties getting doctor appointments, as well as after controlling for town clustering and current travel times. Improved geographical access remains a key issue underpinning health policies designed to improve the provision of rural primary health care services. This study provides empirical evidence that travel behaviour should not be implicitly assumed constant amongst rural populations when modelling access through methods like the 2SFCA.

40 CFR 1066.401 - Overview.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) Sample emissions. (6) Record post-test data. (7) Perform post-test procedures to verify proper operation... PROCEDURES Vehicle Preparation and Running a Test § 1066.401 Overview. (a) Use the procedures detailed in... to: (1) Determine road-load power, test weight, and inertia class. (2) Prepare the vehicle, equipment...

40 CFR 1066.401 - Overview.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) Sample emissions. (6) Record post-test data. (7) Perform post-test procedures to verify proper operation... PROCEDURES Vehicle Preparation and Running a Test § 1066.401 Overview. (a) Use the procedures detailed in... to: (1) Determine road-load power, test weight, and inertia class. (2) Prepare the vehicle, equipment...

Development and Design of a Merged Secondary and Special Education Teacher Preparation Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fullerton, Ann; Ruben, Barbara J.; McBride, Stephanie; Bert, Susan

2011-01-01

As middle and secondary classrooms become increasingly inclusive, some special educators may not be prepared to teach content, and some general educators may not be prepared to address diverse learning needs. This mismatch between the reality of today's schools and traditional teacher preparation has led to the development of new models for…

Building Adaptive Expertise and Practice-Based Evidence: Applying the Implementation Stages Framework to Special Education Teacher Preparation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mason-Williams, Loretta; Frederick, Jacqueline R.; Mulcahy, Candace A.

2015-01-01

Preparing pre-service special educators to meet classroom demands requires teacher preparation programs to design experiences for students to demonstrate routine expertise, while also building adaptive expertise. In this article, the authors describe a capstone project that meets these needs and prepares pre-service special educators for their…

Validation of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing Tests for Universal Pathogen Detection.

PubMed

Schlaberg, Robert; Chiu, Charles Y; Miller, Steve; Procop, Gary W; Weinstock, George

2017-06-01

- Metagenomic sequencing can be used for detection of any pathogens using unbiased, shotgun next-generation sequencing (NGS), without the need for sequence-specific amplification. Proof-of-concept has been demonstrated in infectious disease outbreaks of unknown causes and in patients with suspected infections but negative results for conventional tests. Metagenomic NGS tests hold great promise to improve infectious disease diagnostics, especially in immunocompromised and critically ill patients. - To discuss challenges and provide example solutions for validating metagenomic pathogen detection tests in clinical laboratories. A summary of current regulatory requirements, largely based on prior guidance for NGS testing in constitutional genetics and oncology, is provided. - Examples from 2 separate validation studies are provided for steps from assay design, and validation of wet bench and bioinformatics protocols, to quality control and assurance. - Although laboratory and data analysis workflows are still complex, metagenomic NGS tests for infectious diseases are increasingly being validated in clinical laboratories. Many parallels exist to NGS tests in other fields. Nevertheless, specimen preparation, rapidly evolving data analysis algorithms, and incomplete reference sequence databases are idiosyncratic to the field of microbiology and often overlooked.

A Thinking Perspective to Teaching the Review Lesson. On Teaching.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palladino, John

1993-01-01

Argues that history teachers do not give enough attention to preparing students for major tests. Maintains that the responsibility for test preparation should be divided between the students and teacher. Provides a set of six procedures designed to help students review course content and prepare for examinations. (CFR)

46 CFR 162.060-32 - Testing and evaluation requirements for active substances, preparations, and relevant chemicals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... substances, preparations, and relevant chemicals. 162.060-32 Section 162.060-32 Shipping COAST GUARD... APPROVAL ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT Ballast Water Management Systems § 162.060-32 Testing and evaluation requirements for active substances, preparations, and relevant chemicals. (a) A ballast water management system...

46 CFR 162.060-32 - Testing and evaluation requirements for active substances, preparations, and relevant chemicals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... substances, preparations, and relevant chemicals. 162.060-32 Section 162.060-32 Shipping COAST GUARD... APPROVAL ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT Ballast Water Management Systems § 162.060-32 Testing and evaluation requirements for active substances, preparations, and relevant chemicals. (a) A ballast water management system...

46 CFR 162.060-32 - Testing and evaluation requirements for active substances, preparations, and relevant chemicals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... substances, preparations, and relevant chemicals. 162.060-32 Section 162.060-32 Shipping COAST GUARD... APPROVAL ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT Ballast Water Management Systems § 162.060-32 Testing and evaluation requirements for active substances, preparations, and relevant chemicals. (a) A ballast water management system...

Genotoxicity testing of cooked cured meat pigment (CCMP) and meat emulsion coagulates prepared with CCMP.

PubMed

Stevanović, M; Cadez, P; Zlender, B; Filipic, M

2000-07-01

The preformed cooked cured meat pigment (CCMP) synthesized directly from bovine red blood cells or through a hemin intermediate was found to be a viable colorant for application to comminuted pork as a nitrite substitute. However the genotoxicity of CCMP and meat emulsion coagulates prepared with CCMP has not been evaluated. Therefore the objectives of this work were to investigate genotoxicity of CCMP and the influence of CCMP addition on genotoxicity and the content of residual nitrite in model meat emulsion coagulates. Meat emulsions were prepared from white (musculus longissimus dorsi) and red (musculus quadriceps femoris) pork muscles with two different amounts of synthesized pigment CCMP. Comparatively, emulsions with fixed addition of nitrite salt and emulsions without any addition for color development were made. Genotoxicity of CCMP and meat emulsion coagulates was tested with the SOS/umu test and the Ames test. Neither CCMP nor meat emulsion coagulates prepared with CCMP or nitrite salt were genotoxic in the SOS/umu test. In the Ames test using Salmonella Typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 samples of coagulates prepared with CCMP and with nitrite showed weak mutagenic activity in Salmonella Typhimurium strain TA100 but only in the absence of the metabolic activation, while CCMP was not mutagenic. Coagulates prepared with CCMP contained significantly less residual nitrite than coagulates prepared with nitrite salt. These results indicate that from the human health standpoint the substitution of nitrite salt with CCMP would be highly recommendable.

A survey of collection development for United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) preparation material.

PubMed

Hendrix, Dean; Hasman, Linda

2008-07-01

The research sought to ascertain medical and dental libraries' collection development policies, evaluation methods, purchase decisions, and issues that relate to print and electronic United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and National Board Dental Examination (NBDE) preparation materials. The investigators surveyed librarians supporting American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC)-accredited medical schools (n = 58/125) on the USMLE and librarians supporting American Dental Association (ADA)-accredited dental schools (n = 23/56) on the NBDE. The investigators analyzed the data by cross-tabulating and filtering the results using EFM Continuum web survey software. Investigators also surveyed print and electronic USMLE and NBDE preparation materials from 2004-2007 to determine the number of publications and existence of reviews. A majority of responding AAMC libraries (62%, n = 58) provide at least 1 electronic or online USMLE preparation resource and buy an average of 11.6 print USMLE titles annually. Due to a paucity of NBDE print and electronic resources, ADA libraries bought significantly fewer print resources, and only 1 subscribed to an electronic resource. The most often reported evaluation methods for both populations were feedback from medical or dental students, feedback from medical or dental faculty, and online trials. Some AAMC (10%, n = 58) and ADA libraries (39%, n = 23) libraries reported that no evaluation of these materials occured at their libraries. From 2004-2007, publishers produced 45 USMLE preparation resources (total n = 546) to every 1 NBDE preparation resource (total n = 12). Users' needs, institutional missions and goals, financial status, and official collection policies most often underlie decisions to collect or not collect examination preparation materials. Evaluating the quality of examination preparation materials can be problematic due to lack of published reviews, lack of usability testing by libraries, and librarians' and library users' unfamiliarity with the actual content of examinations. Libraries must integrate faculty and students into the purchase process to make sure examination preparation resources of the highest quality are purchased.

Negatively charged silver nanoparticles with potent antibacterial activity and reduced toxicity for pharmaceutical preparations.

PubMed

Salvioni, Lucia; Galbiati, Elisabetta; Collico, Veronica; Alessio, Giulia; Avvakumova, Svetlana; Corsi, Fabio; Tortora, Paolo; Prosperi, Davide; Colombo, Miriam

2017-01-01

The discovery of new solutions with antibacterial activity as efficient and safe alternatives to common preservatives (such as parabens) and to combat emerging infections and drug-resistant bacterial pathogens is highly expected in cosmetics and pharmaceutics. Colloidal silver nanoparticles (NPs) are attracting interest as novel effective antimicrobial agents for the prevention of several infectious diseases. Water-soluble, negatively charged silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by reduction with citric and tannic acid and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, differential centrifuge sedimentation, and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. AgNPs were tested with model Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in comparison to two different kinds of commercially available AgNPs. In this work, AgNPs with higher antibacterial activity compared to the commercially available colloidal silver solutions were prepared and investigated. Bacteria were plated and the antibacterial activity was tested at the same concentration of silver ions in all samples. The AgNPs did not show any significant reduction in the antibacterial activity for an acceptable time period. In addition, AgNPs were transferred to organic phase and retained their antibacterial efficacy in both aqueous and nonaqueous media and exhibited no toxicity in eukaryotic cells. We developed AgNPs with a 20 nm diameter and negative zeta potential with powerful antibacterial activity and low toxicity compared to currently available colloidal silver, suitable for cosmetic preservatives and pharmaceutical preparations administrable to humans and/or animals as needed.

Microbial loads and antibiotic resistance patterns of Staphylococcus aureus in different types of raw poultry-based meat preparations.

PubMed

Buzón-Durán, Laura; Capita, Rosa; Alonso-Calleja, Carlos

2017-09-01

The hygiene status of raw chicken-meat preparations from retail outlets in North-Western Spain was investigated. Microbial counts (aerobic plate counts (APCs), psychrotrophs, Enterobacteriaceae, fecal coliforms, enterococci, pseudomonads, fluorescent pseudomonads, yeasts and molds, and Staphylococcus aureus) were determined for minced meat, hamburgers, nuggets, white sausages, red sausages, escalope, and roll-ups. S. aureus isolates were tested for susceptibility to twenty antimicrobials of veterinary and human clinical significance (disc diffusion method, CLSI). Average microbial loads (log10 cfu/g) ranged from 2.63 ± 0.80 (enterococci) to 6.66 ± 1.09 (psychrotrophs). Average APCs (6.44 ± 1.16 log10 cfu/g) were regarded as acceptable according to EU microbiological criteria. The type of product had an influence (P < 0.05) on microbial loads, samples of escalope showing the highest counts for most microbial groups. Two-thirds (66.7%) of the samples tested harbored S. aureus. All the S. aureus isolates were multi-resistant (to between three and fifteen antibiotics). The greatest prevalence of resistance was shown for ampicillin, oxacillin, penicillin G, ceftazidime, and nalidixic acid. The results of this study show that poultry-based meat preparations present high microbial loads and are a major reservoir of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus strains. This highlights the need for correct handling of such foodstuffs with a view to reducing risks to consumers. © 2017 Poultry Science Association Inc.

Negatively charged silver nanoparticles with potent antibacterial activity and reduced toxicity for pharmaceutical preparations

PubMed Central

Salvioni, Lucia; Galbiati, Elisabetta; Collico, Veronica; Alessio, Giulia; Avvakumova, Svetlana; Corsi, Fabio; Tortora, Paolo; Prosperi, Davide; Colombo, Miriam

2017-01-01

Background The discovery of new solutions with antibacterial activity as efficient and safe alternatives to common preservatives (such as parabens) and to combat emerging infections and drug-resistant bacterial pathogens is highly expected in cosmetics and pharmaceutics. Colloidal silver nanoparticles (NPs) are attracting interest as novel effective antimicrobial agents for the prevention of several infectious diseases. Methods Water-soluble, negatively charged silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by reduction with citric and tannic acid and characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, differential centrifuge sedimentation, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. AgNPs were tested with model Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in comparison to two different kinds of commercially available AgNPs. Results In this work, AgNPs with higher antibacterial activity compared to the commercially available colloidal silver solutions were prepared and investigated. Bacteria were plated and the antibacterial activity was tested at the same concentration of silver ions in all samples. The AgNPs did not show any significant reduction in the antibacterial activity for an acceptable time period. In addition, AgNPs were transferred to organic phase and retained their antibacterial efficacy in both aqueous and nonaqueous media and exhibited no toxicity in eukaryotic cells. Conclusion We developed AgNPs with a 20 nm diameter and negative zeta potential with powerful antibacterial activity and low toxicity compared to currently available colloidal silver, suitable for cosmetic preservatives and pharmaceutical preparations administrable to humans and/or animals as needed. PMID:28408822

Preparation, optimization, and evaluation of Zaltoprofen-loaded microemulsion and microemulsion-based gel for transdermal delivery.

PubMed

Mishra, Ratnesh; Prabhavalkar, Kedar S; Bhatt, Lokesh Kumar

2016-12-01

Zaltoprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, has potent inhibitory action against nociceptive responses. However, gastrointestinal ulcer accompanied with anemia due to the bleeding are most cited side effects associated with it. Due to this, administration of Zaltoprofen is not suitable for individuals with gastric ulcer. Thus, there is unmet need to develop an alternative delivery system that will be easy to administer and can avoid ulcerogenic side effects associated with it. Present study was aimed to prepare and evaluate microemulsion (ME) and microemulsion-based gel formulation of Zaltoprofen for transdermal delivery. Pseudo-ternary phase diagrams were utilized to prepare ME formulations. Effect of surfactant and co-surfactant mass ratio on the ME formation and permeation of ME were evaluated and formulation was optimized. Permeation studies were performed using excised pigskin was studied. Efficacy of optimized formulations was evaluated in rat model of inflammation and pain. Composition of optimized formulation was 1% (w/w) Zaltoprofen, 20% (w/w) Capryol 90, 50% (w/w) Smix (2:1, Cremophor RH 40 and Transcutol P). Optimized formulation showed globule size of 22.11 nm, polydispersity index of 0.251 and zeta potential of -11.4 mV. ME gel was found safe in skin irritation study. Significant analgesic activity and anti-inflammatory activity of ME gel was observed in hot plate test and rat paw edema test, respectively. In conclusion, results of present study suggest that ME could be a promising formulation for transdermal administration of Zaltoprofen.

Cytotoxic effects of resin-modified orthodontic band adhesives. Are they safe?

PubMed

Malkoc, Siddik; Corekci, Bayram; Botsali, Hayriye Esra; Yalçin, Muhammet; Sengun, Abdülkadir

2010-09-01

To evaluate the cytotoxic effects of three different resin-modified orthodontic band adhesives. Three resin-modified orthodontic band adhesives (Bisco Ortho Band Paste LC, Multi-Cure Glass Ionomer Band Cement, and Transbond Plus Light Cure Band Adhesive) were prepared and the samples were extracted in 3 mL of Basal Medium Eagle with 10% newborn calf serum for 24 hours. The L929 cells were plated (25,000 cells/mL) in wells of 96-well dishes and maintained in a humidified incubator for 24 hours at 37 degrees C, 5% CO(2), and 95% air. After 24-hour incubation of the cells, the incubation medium was replaced by the immersed medium in which the samples were stored. Then L929 cells were incubated in contact with eluates for 24 hours. The cell mitochondrial activity was evaluated by the methyltetrazolium test. Twelve wells were used for each specimen, and methyltetrazolium tests were applied two times. The data were statistically analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey Honestly Significantly Different tests. Results with L929 fibroblasts demonstrated that all freshly prepared resin-modified orthodontic band adhesive materials reduced vital cell numbers (P > .05), in comparison to the control group. Our data demonstrate that all materials showed significant cytotoxicity compared to the control group. The results indicate that all materials showed significant cytotoxicity compared to the control group, and further studies using different test methods are needed for all resin-modified orthodontic band adhesives.

Comparison of point-of-care-compatible lysis methods for bacteria and viruses.

PubMed

Heiniger, Erin K; Buser, Joshua R; Mireles, Lillian; Zhang, Xiaohong; Ladd, Paula D; Lutz, Barry R; Yager, Paul

2016-09-01

Nucleic acid sample preparation has been an especially challenging barrier to point-of-care nucleic acid amplification tests in low-resource settings. Here we provide a head-to-head comparison of methods for lysis of, and nucleic acid release from, several pathogenic bacteria and viruses-methods that are adaptable to point-of-care usage in low-resource settings. Digestion with achromopeptidase, a mixture of proteases and peptidoglycan-specific hydrolases, followed by thermal deactivation in a boiling water bath, effectively released amplifiable nucleic acid from Staphylococcus aureus, Bordetella pertussis, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza virus. Achromopeptidase was functional after dehydration and reconstitution, even after eleven months of dry storage without refrigeration. Mechanical lysis methods proved to be effective against a hard-to-lyse Mycobacterium species, and a miniature bead-mill, the AudioLyse, is shown to be capable of releasing amplifiable DNA and RNA from this species. We conclude that point-of-care-compatible sample preparation methods for nucleic acid tests need not introduce amplification inhibitors, and can provide amplification-ready lysates from a wide range of bacterial and viral pathogens. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Preparing students for graduate study: an eLearning approach.

PubMed

Pintz, Christine; Posey, Laurie

2013-07-01

This paper describes the development and preliminary evaluation of an eLearning program intended to provide incoming nursing students with the basic knowledge, skills and abilities needed to succeed in graduate-level, online coursework. Using Mayer's principles (2008) for the effective design of multimedia instruction, an open-access, self-directed, online program was developed. The Graduate School Boot Camp includes five online modules focused on learning strategies and time management, academic writing, technology, research, and library skills. To motivate and engage learners, the program integrates a fun, graphical sports theme with audiovisual presentations, examples, demonstrations and practice exercises. Learners begin with a self-assessment based on the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire or MSLQ (Pintrich et al., 1993). To assess change in knowledge levels before and after completing the program, learners take a pre-test and post-test. Preliminary findings indicate that the students found the information relevant and useful. They enjoyed the self-paced, multimedia format, and liked the option to return to specific content later. This innovative program offers a way to prepare students proactively, and may prove useful in identifying students at risk and connecting them with the appropriate resources to facilitate successful program completion. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Direct Ink Writing of Three-Dimensional (K, Na)NbO3-Based Piezoelectric Ceramics

PubMed Central

Li, Yayun; Li, Longtu; Li, Bo

2015-01-01

A kind of piezoelectric ink was prepared with Li, Ta, Sb co-doped (K, Na)NbO3 (KNN) powders. Piezoelectric scaffolds with diameters at micrometer scale were constructed from this ink by using direct ink writing method. According to the micro-morphology and density test, the samples sintered at 1100 °C for 2 h have formed ceramics completely with a high relative density of 98%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) test shows that the main phase of sintered samples is orthogonal (Na0.52K0.4425Li0.0375)(Nb0.87Sb0.07Ta0.06)O3. The piezoelectric constant d33 of 280 pC/N, dielectric constant ε of 1775, remanent polarization Pr of 18.8 μC/cm2 and coercive field Ec of 8.5 kV/cm prove that the sintered samples exhibit good electrical properties. The direct ink writing method allows one to design and rapidly fabricate piezoelectric structures in complex three-dimensional (3D) shapes without the need for any dies or lithographic masks, which will simplify the process of material preparation and offer new ideas for the design and application of piezoelectric devices. PMID:28788028

A study of morphology, provenance, and movement of desert sand seas in Africa, Asia, and Australia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mckee, E. D. (Principal Investigator); Breed, C. S.

1973-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Recent acquisition of generally high quality color prints for most of the test sites has enabled the project to make significant advances in preparing mosaics of sand desert areas under study. Computer enhancement of imagery of selected sites, where details of complex dune forms need to be determined, has been achieved with arrival of computer-compatible ERTS-1 tapes. Further, a comparator, recently received, gives precise visual measurements of width, length, and spacing of sand bodies and so improves comparison of patterns in various test sites. Considerable additional meteorological data recently received on sand-moving winds in China, Pakistan, Libya and other areas enabled much progress to be made in developing overlays for the dune mosaics. These data show direction, speed, and frequency of winds. Other new data for use in preparing overlays used with ERTS-1 image mosaics include ground truth on moisture control, geologic settings, and plant distribution. With the addition of visual observation data and prints from hand-held photography now being obtained by the Skylab mission, much progress in interpreting the patterns of sand seas for 17 desert sites is anticipated.

A study of morphology, provenance, and movement of desert sand seas in Africa, Asia, and Australia

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mckee, E. D. (Principal Investigator); Breed, C. S.

1974-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Recent acquisition of generally high quality color prints for most of the test sites has enabled this project to make significant advances in preparing mosaics of sand desert areas under study. Computer enhancement of imagery, where details of complex dune forms need to be determined, has been achieved with arrival of computer-compatible ERTS-1 tapes. Further, a comparator, recently received, gives precise visual measurements of width, length, and spacing of sand bodies and so improves comparison of patterns in various test sites. Considerable additional meteorological data recently received on sand-moving winds in China, Pakistan, Libya, and other study areas enabled much progress to be made in developing overlays for the dune mosaics. These data show direction, speed, and frequency of winds. Other new data for use in preparing overlays used with ERTS-1 image mosaics include ground truth on moisture control, geologic settings, and plant distribution. With the addition of visual observation data and prints from hand-held photography now being obtained by the Skylab 4 mission, much progress in interpreting the patterns of sand seas for 17 desert sites is anticipated.