Application Of Instrument Research Articles

Student Perceptions of the Application of Practicum Learning Project-Based Medical Instrumentation to Increase Student Creativity

Student Perceptions of the Application of Practicum Learning Project-Based Medical Instrumentation to Increase Student Creativity

The effect of 1% tropicamide on central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure

Background: Dilating the eye with tropicamide may alter the intraocular pressure (IOP) because of an obstruction of the iridocorneal angle, resulting in decreased aqueous outflow drainage. Also, the repeated application of eyedrops and instrumentation could lead to increased central corneal thickness (CCT), consequently affecting IOP.Aim: This study aimed to determine the effect of 1% tropicamide on CCT and IOP post-mydriasis among the University of Limpopo optometry students.Setting: The data were collected at the optometry clinic of the University of Limpopo.Methods: A within-subject experimental study was conducted on 59 healthy subjects aged 18 years – 28 years. A computer assisted simple random probability sampling was used to identify a sample of participants from the study population (N = 200). Baseline and post-mydriasis IOP (20 min, 30 min, and 45 min intervals) were measured with a Goldmann applanation tonometer. Central corneal thickness and IOP were analysed using means, correlations and paired t-tests.Results: The mean CCT pre-mydriasis was 504.68 μm, and post-dilation was 507.90 μm, 510.08 μm and 509.25 μm at 20 min, 30 min, and 45 min, P = 026, p = 0.033, P = 0.004, respectively. Moreover, the mean IOP pre-mydriasis was 15.97 mmHg, and post-dilation was 16.85 mmHg, 16.46 mmHg and 16.85 mmHg over 20 min, 30 min, and 45 min of followed-up time, p = 0.140, p = 0.432, and p = 0.183, respectively.Conclusion: Measuring IOP post-dilation is still valid; however, CCT should be measured before the instillation of tropicamide.Contribution: This study analysed the effect of 1% tropicamide on CCT and IOP post-mydriasis in a clinical South African context.

Applicability and Validity of Second Victim Assessment Instruments among General Practitioners and Healthcare Assistants (SEVID-IX Study)

Applicability and Validity of Second Victim Assessment Instruments among General Practitioners and Healthcare Assistants (SEVID-IX Study)

Development and application of the practical training instrument of warming needle moxibustion with quantifiable evaluation.

Based on summarizing the essential procedures and elements of traditional manipulation techniques of warming needle moxibustion and determining the quantitative parameters and indicators for evaluating the operation of this acupuncture technique, a training instrument of warming needle moxibustion was developed and adopted in the curriculum teaching of practice. It showed that this instrument could quantify the speed of fixing mugwort ball on the needle handle, the number of the prepared mugwort ball, the duration for anti-vibration, the frequency of anti-vibration and the burning time of mugwort ball. The instrument could objectively evaluate the skills of warming needle moxibustion and the effects of fixing mugwort ball. Besides, it may provide the references to improve the protocol of the future research. The development and application of the practical training instrument of warming needle moxibustion is conductive to cultivate the standardization and accuracy of the technique operation in students, and it is significant for objectif-ying the teaching course of warming needle and teaching assessment, as well as for diversifying the teaching modes. Moreover, it plays an exemplary role in the practical training of other acupuncture and moxibustion techniques.

The war in Ukraine, the EU’s geopolitical awakening and implications for the “contested neighbourhood”

ABSTRACT This article looks at how the Russian invasion has reshaped the EU's Eastern neighbourhood policy and subsequently how has the new policy affected the strategies of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. We systematically review policy responses to the war of the EU and the countries of the EU-Russia contested neighbourhood and identify new patterns in foreign policy behavior of these states and key domestic policy changes. We specifically highlight the shift in two key attributes of the EU's foreign policy, which has traditionally defined its neighbourhood policy: its relations with Russia and the inclusiveness of the EaP countries in the European project. We make two arguments: first, the crisis and new risks in the region has created a demand and opened a geopolitical dimension to the EU neighbourhood policy, which required Brussels to fill a hard security vacuum in its own policies in the neighbourhood, which invoked an application of new instruments to deter Moscow and support EU's Eastern allies. Second, the crisis contributes to even faster erosion of the post-Soviet space and a new regional fragmentation along geopolitical lines. Finally, the question of sustainability of these changes and their effect on the EU as an actor remains open.

Secondary Ion Mass Spectral Imaging of Metals and Alloys.

Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) is an outstanding technique for Mass Spectral Imaging (MSI) due to its notable advantages, including high sensitivity, selectivity, and high dynamic range. As a result, SIMS has been employed across many domains of science. In this review, we provide an in-depth overview of the fundamental principles underlying SIMS, followed by an account of the recent development of SIMS instruments. The review encompasses various applications of specific SIMS instruments, notably static SIMS with time-of-flight SIMS (ToF-SIMS) as a widely used platform and dynamic SIMS with Nano SIMS and large geometry SIMS as successful instruments. We particularly focus on SIMS utility in microanalysis and imaging of metals and alloys as materials of interest. Additionally, we discuss the challenges in big SIMS data analysis and give examples of machine leaning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for effective MSI data analysis. Finally, we recommend the outlook of SIMS development. It is anticipated that in situ and operando SIMS has the potential to significantly enhance the investigation of metals and alloys by enabling real-time examinations of material surfaces and interfaces during dynamic transformations.

Increasing the Throughput and Reproducibility of Activity-Based Proteome Profiling Studies with Hyperplexing and Intelligent Data Acquisition.

Intelligent data acquisition (IDA) strategies, such as a real-time database search (RTS), have improved the depth of proteome coverage for experiments that utilize isobaric labels and gas phase purification techniques (i.e., SPS-MS3). In this work, we introduce inSeqAPI, an instrument application programing interface (iAPI) program that enables construction of novel data acquisition algorithms. First, we analyze biotinylated cysteine peptides from ABPP experiments to demonstrate that a real-time search method within inSeqAPI performs similarly to an equivalent vendor method. Then, we describe PairQuant, a method within inSeqAPI designed for the hyperplexing approach that utilizes protein-level isotopic labeling and peptide-level TMT labeling. PairQuant allows for TMT analysis of 36 conditions in a single sample and achieves ∼98% coverage of both peptide pair partners in a hyperplexed experiment as well as a 40% improvement in the number of quantified cysteine sites compared with non-RTS acquisition. We applied this method in the ABPP study of ligandable cysteine sites in the nucleus leading to an identification of additional druggable sites on protein- and DNA-interaction domains of transcription regulators and on nuclear ubiquitin ligases.

THE INTRODUCTION OF “FREE, PRIOR AND INFORMED CONSENT” TO THE LAND REFORM LEGAL LEXICON Baleni v Minister of Mineral Resources 2019 (2) SA 453 (GP)

Although decided four years ago, Baleni v Minister of Mineral Resources (2019 (2) SA 453 (GP) (Baleni)) stands out regarding four significant features and it remains surprising that the decision has not attracted more attention in connection with the land-reform programme. The first feature was the interpretation of the Interim Protection of Informal Land Rights Act 31 of 1996 (IPILRA). The second feature was the emphasis on customary law in the interpretation of IPILRA. The third feature was the application of multiple international-law instruments in the interpretation of IPILRA. The fourth feature was the court’s conclusion that these international-law instruments determine that no decisions may be taken regarding the lands of indigenous peoples without the latter’s “free, prior and informed consent” (FPIC). This conclusion has far-reaching implications for the South African land-reform process introduced by section 25 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (the Constitution).

Technological tools in English language teaching activities to deaf students

A study of the impact that technological tools have on the activities of teaching the English language to deaf students is shown. The difficulties that this segment of the student population has in relation to the resources or materials available for the teaching-learning process of the English language, in addition to the difficulties they have in the development of these language skills. In this sense, the research adopted a mixed qualitative-quantitative approach. The objective was to diagnose the technological tools used in learning the English language in the EGB student of the Liceo "El Oasis", and analyze the results obtained through the application of data collection instruments designed based on the declared variables. The result was that the causes that make learning the English language difficult for students with hearing disabilities is demotivation, according to 50%, indicating that they cannot establish fluid communication. The main conclusion revolves around that the EducaPlay Educational Software can contribute to the development of the English language skills of students with hearing disabilities; but now, teachers do not know about this type of application. It must be considered that the case studied does not learn at the same pace as his peers.

Comprehensive Single-Platform Lipidomic/Metabolomic Analysis Using Supercritical Fluid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) is a rapidly expanding technique in the analysis of nonpolar to moderately polar substances and, more recently, also in the analysis of compounds with higher polarity. Herein, we demonstrate a proof of concept for the application of a commercial SFC instrument with electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (MS) detection as a platform for the comprehensive analysis of metabolites with the full range of polarities, from nonpolar lipids up to highly polar metabolites. The developed single-platform SFC-MS lipidomic/metabolomic method is based on two consecutive injections of lipid and polar metabolite extracts from biphase methyl tert-butyl ether extraction using a diol column and two different gradient programs of methanol-water-ammonium formate modifier. Detailed development of the method focused mainly on the pressure limits of the system, the long-term repeatability of results, and the chromatographic performance, including optimization of the flow rate program, modifier composition and gradient, and injection solvent selection. The developed method enabled fast and comprehensive analysis of lipids and polar metabolites from plasma within a 24 min cycle with two injections using a simple analytical platform based on a single instrument, column, and mobile phase. Finally, the results from SFC-MS analysis of polar metabolites were compared with widely established liquid chromatography MS analysis in metabolomics. The comparison showed different separation selectivity of metabolites using both methods and overall lower sensitivity of the SFC-MS due to the higher flow rate and worse chromatographic performance.

Development and Rasch Analysis of the Prior Knowledge of Chemistry Concepts Test for Pre-medical Students in the Philippines

Chemistry concepts are embedded in several contexts that are related to the future professional roles of pre-medical students. In the current academic landscape of pre-medical programs, an objective measurement of prior knowledge of chemistry concepts is necessary to promote students’ academic success. To address this issue, this study aimed to develop and validate the Prior Knowledge of Chemistry Concepts Test. This multiple-choice research instrument is designed to measure pre-medical students’ knowledge of essential chemistry concepts from pre-requisite chemistry courses in pre-medical programs in the Philippines. The final item pool, consisting of 26 general chemistry concepts and 21 general organic chemistry concepts was administered to 470 college students from four tertiary institutions in the Philippines. Item content validity indices (I-CVI) and kappa statistics guided initial revisions, while dichotomous Rasch analysis was utilized to determine the psychometric properties of the research instrument. The analysis provided evidence of adequate person and item reliability, item fit, local independence, and unidimensionality, although some items may be omitted in subsequent iterations. The application of the research instrument to assessment and evaluation was elaborated using the student ability and item difficulty logits along the person-item map. Suggestions for the improvement of the research instrument were also discussed.

Innovative Application of the Artistic Modeling of Ancient Chinese Astronomical Instruments in Modern Design: A Case Study of the Armillary Sphere

Ancient Chinese astronomical instruments, exemplifying classical Chinese traditional artefact design, represent a perfect amalgamation of ancient China's advanced scientific and technological prowess with the aesthetic philosophy underlying traditional Chinese artefact creation. Their scientific and artistic values are considerable and should not be underestimated. This research introduces these instruments' concepts, design characteristics, and innovative application cases, mainly focusing on the armillary sphere from an artistic design perspective. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, literature reviews, and systematic analysis; the research examines the instruments' design features and cultural significance. The objective of the study is to highlight the armillary sphere's potential as a source of inspiration across various modern design domains, such as sculpture and installation, fashion accessory design and stage performance. The study concludes that reinterpreting these ancient astronomical instruments in modern design not only preserves cultural heritage but also encourages cross-border innovation. This fusion approach offers new perspectives for designers, blending traditional Chinese culture with contemporary design practice. Future research is suggested to explore the integration and wider application of ancient Chinese astronomical instruments in modern design.

Five-Tier Instrument to Identify Students' Misconceptions and Representation: A Systematic Literature Review

Initial knowledge and conception are one of the factors that have a major influence on learning activities. This is the basis for building students' knowledge of a material concept. However, not all students have the same ability, there are students who have low ability to build concepts. As a result, students who have low ability to build concepts may experience misconceptions that have an impact on their learning outcomes. Therefore, it is necessary to have an appropriate test instrument to identify misconceptions and multiple representation profiles especially in chemistry learning materials, one of which is the topic of reaction rate. This article aims to provide an overview of the application of the five-tier diagnostic instrument in identifying misconceptions and profiles of students' misconceptions about reaction rates. The method used is the SLR (Systematic Literature Review) from literature studies from 2011 to 2021 which are available in the ERIC, SINTA, and Google Scholar databases. The findings of the research results show that the five-tier test instrument can identify students' misconceptions about learning material. Information obtained from the use of the instrument can be used to determine the development of students' ability to understand chemistry using representations.

The word-with-noise test: development, validation and reference values.

To propose an instrument for assessing speech recognition in the presence of competing noise. To define its application strategy for use in clinical practice. To obtain evidence of criterion validity and present reference values. The study was conducted in three stages: Organization of the material comprising the Word-with-Noise Test (Stage 1); Definition of the instrument's application strategy (Stage 2); Investigation of criterion validity and definition of reference values for the test (Stage 3) through the evaluation of 50 normal-hearing adult subjects and 12 subjects with hearing loss. The Word-with-Noise Test consists of lists of monosyllabic and disyllabic words and speech spectrum noise (Stage 1). The application strategy for the test was defined as the determination of the Speech Recognition Threshold with a fixed noise level at 55 dBHL (Stage 2). Regarding criterion validity, the instrument demonstrated adequate ability to distinguish between normal-hearing subjects and subjects with hearing loss (Stage 3). Reference values for the test were established as cut-off points expressed in terms of signal-to-noise ratio: 1.47 dB for the monosyllabic stimulus and -2.02 dB for the disyllabic stimulus. Conclusion: The Word-with-Noise Test proved to be quick to administer and interpret, making it a useful tool in audiological clinical practice. Furthermore, it showed satisfactory evidence of criterion validity, with established reference values.

Directions of change in the spatial policies of Polish border municipalities during the first year of war in Ukraine, 2022

Local-level spatial policies in Poland are determined by diverse social, economic, political and environmental factors. On the one hand, they result from the specific characteristics of individual areas. On the other, however, supra-local factors are found to be playing an increasingly important role. These can include trends related to the Europeanisation of spatial planning and the associated promoted institutional changes and changes in planning practices. However, from February 2022 onwards, certain European countries in particular have seen another important factor has come into play, i.e. the war in Ukraine. It thus seems legitimate to verify how the fundamental change in the geopolitical situation, i.e. the location in the immediate vicinity of a victim state (Ukraine), an aggressor state (Russia) and an aggressor-friendly state (Belarus), along with a number of related consequences (including a change in the nature of border capacity, a sense of insecurity, potential changes in investment policy, etc.) determine the directions local spatial policies have been taking. The main purpose of the article is to diagnose the current planning situation of units of local-government administration along Poland’s eastern border by reference to two groups of issues: (1) concerning the state of progress of planning work, as well as (2) the impact of the outbreak of war in Ukraine on changes in spatial policy (perforce ancillary, given the small number of responses received). The source of the data were annual surveys of the Ministry of Development and Technology and Statistics Poland regarding the advancement of planning work at the level of the Polish gmina, as well and a survey addressed to all 77 such units of local administration located by the border. Particular reference was made to the application of spatial-planning instruments at the local level (studies of spatial planning conditions and directions, local spatial development plans and decisions on development conditions – with the analyses concerning the period before the major July 2023 amendment of spatial planning law). Particular attention was paid to the frequency of enactment of individual acts, with this being related to both earlier periods and trends in Poland as a whole. The research finds that the relatively high level of activity shown by some of the surveyed gminas in amending/updating spatial planning studies and spatial / physical development plans may not be related to the outbreak of war in Ukraine. The Polish spatial-planning system in fact lacks instruments by which to react flexibly and ensure the integration of development policies (as is particularly necessary when a crisis erupts).

Revenues from Environmental Taxes, with Emphasis on Pollution Taxes during the Corona Crisis

Improving the quality of the environment and reducing its pollution should be a global priority. Many countries are developing their environmental policies and trying to achieve their objectives through a variety of instruments. This paper highlights the application of economic instruments of environmental policy. It focuses on the analysis of environmental tax revenues in the European Union and in Slovakia, with a focus on the period of the Covid-19 pandemic. It then focuses on the analysis of a specific pollution tax in Slovakia, highlighting the factors that influenced its level.

Surface disinfection change the mechanical, structural and biological properties of flexible materials used for additive manufacturing of medical devices

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a versatile technology with potential applications in healthcare and medical instruments, where surface disinfection or sterilization is essential. This study comprehensively the effect of commonly used cost-effective disinfectants, ethanol (70 V/V%) and chlorine solution on the mechanical and thermal properties of flexible 3D printed materials. The following materials were tested before and after a 5-cycle surface disinfection: Flexfill TPE 90A, Phyton Flex (TPU) for material extrusion, Flexible (resin), Elastic 50A (resin) for vat photopolymerization and Flexa Black (TPU) material for powder bed fusion technology. Mechanical tests included tensile, compression, Charpy impact, flex resistance and stress relaxation tests, as well as Shore A hardness and volume measurements. The structure was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)and Raman spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity was assessed using a A549 cell viability assay. The results show that after disinfection, significant changes occurred mainly in the tensile and Shore A properties, such as the tensile strength of the disinfected Flexible (resin) materials was 3.44 MPa ± 0.51 MPa (ethanol) and 2.62 MPa ± 0.31 MPa compared to the native 2.02 MPa ± 0.24 MPa. Interestingly, the applied surface disinfectants can negatively affect biocompatibility. Medical devices have been designed and fabricated based on the findings. Our findings can serve as a guide to the potential applications of commonly used 3D printed flexible materials in the biomedical field.

At the intersections: operationalizing intersectional thematic analysis in HIV prevention.

This study aims to provide theoretical and methodological tools to assist in producing thematic analyses guided by an intersectional approach in empirically-based qualitative health studies. It argues that combining an intersectional perspective with thematic analysis can update the latter-which is quite popular in qualitative health investigations-regarding meaningful discussions about multiple and interconnected patterns of privilege and oppression that operate structurally and institutionally, producing experiences of relative disadvantage in individuals according to their gender, race/ethnicity, class, sexuality, generation, among other positions. Based on an article that analyzed qualitative empirical data from a longitudinal demonstrative study on pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PrEP) in adolescents and young people aged 15 to 19 years in two Brazilian capitals, this study discusses the limitations, challenges, and potentialities of the theoretical and methodological efforts undertaken by those authors. Additionally, this research that offers a proposal for operationalizing thematic analysis with intersectional sensitivity. It observed that triangulating techniques can enhance thematic analysis with intersectional sensitivity to produce qualitative data. Adopting an a priori intersectional proposal, starting from the research design phase, construction, and application of data production instruments with intersectional intentionality, enables the recognition of the relations between social markers in analytical categories. However, the absence of an intersectional theoretical-methodological perspective to conceive research and produce data fails to render intersectionality as a methodological tool unfeasible, although it may limit result analysis and discussion. Such limitations can be addressed by proposing intersectional assumptions and comparing the results with literature related to the theme and object of study.

Innovations in extractable compounds from date seeds: Farms to future

<abstract> <p>Since ancient times, date fruit has been used as a staple food because of its high nutritional value and caloric content. With the development of food science and the application of modern instrumentation, we now know that date seeds contain large amounts of dietary fiber, phenols, polyphenols, amino acids, fatty acids, and many vitamins and minerals. Due to the presence of these functional food ingredients, date seeds are used in various applications, including foods such as bread, hot beverages, cosmetics such as hair and skin products, and as feed for culturing aquatic animals. Date seeds have been used in clinical applications, making use of their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and antimicrobial properties. There is now growing awareness of the value of date seeds, which were considered a waste product. In this review, we focused on explaining the major biochemical constituents of date seeds and developing these constituents for various applications. We also highlight the expected developments in date seed use for the future.</p> </abstract>

Структурне факторне дослідження загроз економічній безпеці галузі в контексті стратегічних інноваційних рішень

The proposed article examines the application of economic and mathematical instruments for multidimensional data, namely factor analysis in the context of assessing the factor space of economic security of an industry. The research is aimed at identifying the key factors influencing the socioeconomic sustainability of the industry and disclosing their interaction. Methods of multidimensional factor analysis are used to analyze the structure and identify important variables, fostering the development of strategies for improving the economic security of the industry both as a whole and with individual components. The carried out research focuses on the use of multidimensional factor analysis models for structural assessment of threats and risks to the economic security of the industry. By identifying and analyzing key factors, the research aims to provide conclusions about the dynamics of interaction and mutual influence of the variables that determine the socioeconomic sustainability of the industry. Using factor analysis as a methodological approach, the research discloses the structural components and key variables that determine the economic security of the development of the studied sector of the food industry. The results obtained during the research are intended to become the basis for the development of strategic measures aimed at increasing and ensuring the economic stability of the industry, preventing threats and precluding losses from the impact of various unpredictable challenges and uncertainties of the external environment. The results of the research are important for clarifying the factor relationships in the industry, providing valuable conclusions for decision-making to managers, specialists and scholars who are engaged in assessing, analyzing, forecasting the level of economic risks, threats in the period of rapid transformations of the external and internal environment.