Home Kit Research Articles

Feasibility test of STEM at home prototype kit as science project-based learning media for Junior High School students

To promote the application of the STEM approach in science learning, it is necessary to provide cheap, easy-to-obtain, and effective STEM project support materials. In addition, science teachers should try to plan and implement STEM in their teaching, even for simple projects. To overcome the problem of the length of time on projects in science teaching, we propose "STEM at Home", a term which means that STEM projects are carried out by students at home under the supervision of parents or families. In order for this home project-based learning to be effective, we have prepared a STEM at Home Kit and Worksheet for Junior High Schools students. We chose the topic Simple . The STEM at Home Kit and Worksheet that have been developed, have received expert approval as learning media that are suitable for use. One-to-one evaluation with 3 participants, and small group evaluation with 14 participants, were carried out to obtain feedback on students’ difficulties in using the product, their perceptions of the product, and their perceptions of the potential impact produced by the instructional product. The results of these evaluation showed that the STEM at Home Project Kit and Worksheet are valid and practically used in science learning, especially on the topic of Simple Machines

Knowledge of the Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act and possession of a naloxone kit among people recently released from prison

PurposeThis study aims to describe knowledge of Canada’s Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act (GSDOA) and take home naloxone (THN) training and kit possession among people being released from provincial correctional facilities in British Columbia.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted surveys with clients of the Unlocking the Gates Peer Health Mentoring program on their release. The authors compared the characteristics of people who had and had not heard of the GSDOA and who were in possession of a THN kit.FindingsIn this study, 71% people had heard of the GSDOA, and 55.6% were in possession of a THN kit. This study found that 99% of people who had heard of the GSDOA indicated that they would call 911 if they saw an overdose. Among people who perceived themselves to be at risk of overdose, 28.3% did not have a THN kit. Only half (52%) of participants had a mobile phone, but 100% of those with a phone said they would call 911 if they witnessed an overdose.Originality/valueThe authors found that people with knowledge of the GSDOA were likely to report that they would call 911 for help with an overdose. Education about the GSDOA should be a standard component of naloxone training in correctional facilities. More than one in four people at risk of overdose were released without a naloxone kit, highlighting opportunities for training and distribution. Access to a cellphone is important in enabling calls to 911 and should be included in discharge planning.

Associations of hair dye and relaxer use with breast tumor clinicopathologic features: Findings from the Women’s circle of Health Study

BackgroundBuilding upon our earlier findings of significant associations between hair dye and relaxer use with increased breast cancer risk, we evaluated associations of select characteristics of use with breast tumor clinicopathology. MethodsUsing multivariable-adjusted models we examined the associations of interest in a case-only study of 2998 women with breast cancer, overall and stratified by race and estrogen receptor (ER) status, addressing multiple comparisons using Bonferroni correction. ResultsCompared to salon application of permanent hair dye, home kit and combination application (both salon and home kit application) were associated with increased odds of poorly differentiated tumors in the overall sample. This association was consistent among Black (home kit: OR 2.22, 95 % CI: 1.21–5.00; combination: OR 2.46, 95 % CI: 1.21–5.00), but not White women, and among ER+ (home kit: OR 1.47, 95 % CI: 0.82–2.63; combination: OR 2.98, 95 % CI: 1.62–5.49) but not ER-cases. Combination application of relaxers was associated with increased odds of tumors >2.0 cm vs. <1.0 cm (OR = 1.82, 95 % CI: 1.23–2.69). Longer duration and earlier use of relaxers and combination application of permanent hair dyes and relaxers were associated with breast tumor features including higher tumor grade and larger tumor size, which often denote more aggressive phenotypes, although the findings did not maintain significance with Bonferroni correction. ConclusionsThese novel data support reported associations between hair dye and relaxer use with breast cancer, showing for the first time, associations with breast tumor clinicopathologic features. Improved hair product exposure measurement is essential for fully understanding the impact of these environmental exposure with breast cancer and to guide risk reduction strategies in the future.

913-P: Good Concordance between Home Kit A1C, Glucose Management Indicator, and Point-of-Care A1C: Potential Solutions to Glycemic Assessment during the SARS CoV-2 Pandemic

Due to the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, fewer in-person clinic visits have resulted in fewer point-of-care (POC) A1c measurements in youth with T1D. Therefore, there is an increased need to use alternate methods to assess A1c, including continuous glucose monitoring-derived Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) and home kit A1c.The University of Minnesota’s home kit A1c (n=59), GMI (n=56), and POC A1c (n=16) were collected from youth with T1D (age 10.0 [5.3, 13.0] years, 42% female, and baseline A1c 12.4 ± 2.2%). Matched pairs were used for Bland Altman analyses and Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (pc) to evaluate the agreement between A1c measures. GMI data (up to 90 days) was captured using Dexcom Clarity.In relation to POC A1c, both home kit A1c (panel A) and GMI (panel B) showed a slight positive bias (mean difference 0.13 and 0.22%, respectively). Home kit A1c and GMI showed strong concordance to POC A1c (pc = 0.987 [0.963, 0.995] and 0.930 [0.835, 0.971], respectively). GMI (panel C) also showed a slight positive bias (mean difference 0.26%) and good concordance (pc = 0.803 [0.703, 0.871]) to home kit A1c.These data demonstrate that home kit A1c and GMI show strong concordance with POC A1c. Overall, home kit A1c and GMI may be potential solutions to glycemic assessment for telehealth visits, including during the SARS CoV-2 pandemic.View largeDownload slideView largeDownload slide DisclosureD. Zaharieva: None. A. Addala: None. P. Prahalad: None. B. Leverenz: None. V. Ding: None. M. Desai: None. A. B. Karger: Research Support; Self; Siemens Corporation. D. M. Maahs: Advisory Panel; Self; Abbott Diabetes, Dompe, Eli Lilly and Company, Medtronic, Novo Nordisk, Consultant; Self; aditxt.FundingNational Institutes of Health (1R18DK122422 01A1); Stanford Diabetes Research Center (P30DK116074); The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (G-2002-04251-1)

Microbiology Lab Simulations, A Pandora's Box, During an Epic Pandemic

Universities and colleges were shaken to their core when an unprecedented 21st Century Pandemic hit the World. SARS-CoV2 quickly changed the educational environment. Faculty scrambled to convert in-person lectures into online format. While this transition appeared chaotic, perhaps the more daunting task was converting laboratory and clinical courses to online labs without compromising the integrity of student learning. In this study, we examined if virtual simulations could be comparable experience to in-person lab courses. The two groups included students taking microbiology lab courses that was either (1) in-person or (2) online. Students taking in-person, hands-on lab were assigned virtual simulations as homework. Students in an online lab course only had virtual simulations. The simulations, which were selected based on curriculum mapping to the learning outcomes, included theoretical concepts, performing virtual experiments, and answering questions. In both groups, students were instructed to complete seven to nine virtual lab simulations. We examined student learning with pre/post-tests, containing 3 to 4 questions per learning outcome. Students were given the same set of 24 questions on the first day of the course and during the final exam. We found that although treatment was a significant factor, time had an effect size an order of magnitude larger using repeated measures ANOVA analyses. There was statically significant increase in student learning over time (Fig. 1). Students from the in-person courses (n=31) showed significant improvement in three of the seven learning outcomes using Bonferroni correction, paired t-tests on pre/post-tests. Students from the online courses (n=88) showed significant improvement in six of the seven learning outcomes. The only learning outcome that had no significant change over time in both groups was on lab safety. This was not surprising because students normally take other lab courses prior to entering microbiology lab. In addition, students voluntarily responded to an end-of-course anonymous survey that had statements about anxiety, career/value, confidence, motivation, and self-pace on a scale of 1-5 (1: strongly disagree to 5: strongly agree). Overall, students in both groups showed significant improvement in anxiety, confidence, and motivation by the end as compared to the beginning of the course. However, when asked if a student can see themselves becoming a scientist, both groups mean responses was neutral (2.89, n=31 for in-person; 3.16, n=52 for online). This study showed that virtual lab simulations, although they could be viewed as a Pandora's Box, have the potential to be a valuable tool for students in microbiology lab. For students, the cost of virtual simulations is less than a hands-on microbiology home kit, not to mention the safer route biologically. However, practicality of simulations could be hampered by limitations in computer and Internet access. In addition, this study only tested lab concepts and did not test lab skills. Universities and colleges will continue to evaluate virtual labs and assess their strengths and weakness well beyond this Pandemic.

Tracheostomy- a complete guide for pediatric post tracheostomy care

Introduction: Tracheostomy tube care in a pediatric age group is challenging. The systematic approach for tracheostomy care and guidance to the care giver and parents will reduce complications related to tracheostomy. The purpose of this article is to ensure the safety of the infants and children who have tracheostomy tube placed in the neck. Materials and Methods: The acronym (tracheostomy) was created to teach and train the care giver and nursing staff for better post tracheostomy care. All the aspects of tracheostomy care have been included in this as mentioned below Tube change-when to change? Regular cleaning-how to perform? Airway protection-what is required? Complication awareness-how to prevent? Home kit requirement-things to keep ready bedside. Emergency situations-when to call your doctor? Oral hygiene- why it is important? Stoma/skin care-what to look for? Ties care-too tight or too loose? Outer & inner tube cleaning-how to perform? Mucous problems-suctioning tips Your safety-what all you must know. Results: The acronym is easy to remember and easy to follow. Conclusion: A systematic tracheostomy care approach can give better outcomes and reduced complication rate in pediatric age group. It will be benefitted for all the health care professionals, nursing staff and the care givers involved with the children who need tracheostomy care. Keywords: tracheostomy post tracheostomy care.

Mixed-Methods Evaluation of the Incorporation of Home Specimen Self-Collection Kits for Laboratory Testing in a Telehealth Program for HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis.

Home specimen self-collection kits with central laboratory testing may improve persistence with PrEP and enhance telehealth programs. We offered Iowa TelePrEP clients the choice of using a home kit or visiting a laboratory site for routine monitoring. Mixed-methods evaluation determined the proportion of clients who chose a kit, factors influencing choice, associations between kit use and completion of indicated laboratory monitoring, and user experience. About 46% (35/77) chose to use a kit. Compared to laboratory site use, kit use was associated with higher completion of extra-genital swabs (OR 6.33, 95% CI 1.20–33.51, for anorectal swabs), but lower completion of blood tests (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.06–0.73 for creatinine). Factors influencing choice included self-efficacy to use kits, time/convenience, and privacy/confidentiality. Clients reported kit use was straight-forward but described challenges with finger prick blood collection. Telehealth PrEP programs should offer clients home kits and support clients with blood collection and kit completion.

Study of Effectiveness of Prior Knowledge for Smart Home Kit Installation.

Smart-Home in a Box (SHiB) is a ubiquitous system that intends to improve older adults’ life quality. SHiB requires self-installation before use. Our previous study found that it is not easy for seniors to install SHiB correctly. SHiB CBLE is a computer-based learning environment that is designed to help individuals install a SHiB kit. This article presents an experiment examining how smart home sensor installation was affected by knowledge gained from two methods, SHiB CBLE, and a written document. Results show that participants who were trained by the CBLE took significantly () less time in the installation session than those in the control group. The accuracy rate of SHiB kit installation is 78% for the group trained by the CBLE and 77% for the control group. Participants trained by the CBLE showed significantly () higher confidence in the actual installation than those in the control group. These results suggest that having a training before the actual installation will help installers avoid unnecessary work, shorten the installation time, and increase installers’ confidence.

Four-Week Pain Profile and Patient Non-Adherence to Pharmacological Pain Therapy After Day Surgery.

BackgroundNowadays, complicated and painful surgical procedures are encouraged to be carried out in an ambulatory setting.ObjectivesThe current study aimed to assess 4-week postoperative pain profiles of 4 painful ambulatory surgical procedures. We analyzed the prevalence of and reasons for non-adherence and partial adherence of patients to a predefined treatment schedule after the ambulant surgery.MethodsThe current study analyzed data from a large randomized trial by evaluating the effect of postoperative pain medication on acute postoperative pain at home during the first 4 postoperative days (POD) in patients scheduled for ambulatory hemorrhoid surgery, shoulder or knee arthroscopy, and inguinal hernia repair. Postoperative pain intensity was assessed at POD 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, and 28 via the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). Adherence was assessed on POD 1, 2, 3, and 4.ResultsMedian average pain scores were above an NRS of 3 during the first postoperative week after shoulder arthroscopy and even above 4 during the first postoperative week after hemorrhoid surgery. 26% of patients undergoing shoulder arthroscopy and hemorrhoid surgery still had moderate pain 1 week after surgery. Median average pain scores were below an NRS of 3 during the whole study period after inguinal hernia repair and knee arthroscopy. 24.61% of patients did not use the study medication as prescribed, 5.76% of whom were non-adherent, and 18.85% were partially adherent.ConclusionsEach type of ambulant surgery has its unique postoperative pain profile. New strategies should be developed for pain therapy at home, particularly after the ambulatory arthroscopic shoulder surgery and hemorrhoid surgery. Non-adherence is uncommon if they are provided with a multimodal analgesic home kit together with clear verbal, written instructions, and intensive follow-up.

Development of IoT based solution for monitoring &amp; controlling of loads using Google Assistant with Home Security System

The main aim of this project is to make a cost effective device which is used to monitor and control the loads by using simple voice commands. Previously we have ALEXA, SIRI &amp; GOOGLE HOME which makes us more expensive. Even now when technology is handy enough only the well to do people of the society are blessed with these new smart home devices, as these devices costs are a bit high. However, not everyone is wealthy enough to be able to afford a human assistant, or some smart home kit. Hence, the need for finding an inexpensive and smart assistant for normal families keeps growing. This project proposes such inexpensive system. It uses the Google Assistant, the IFTTT application, the remoteme.org cloud application and the NodeMCU microcontroller as the major components along with a relay board comprising of 4 relays along with different sensors are working in this. Natural language voice is used to give commands to the Google Assistant All of the components are connected over the internet using Wi-Fi which puts this system under the IoT. And also we monitor data in this that is we using the different sensors like IR sensors, LDR (Light Emitting Diode) sensors etc; Not only to monitor and control the Loads but also providing the Security System to the Home, whenever the thief or the visitor enter into the room the owners will get push notification in their smart phone and also capturing the photos of visitors and uploaded to the Google Drive.

Comparative analysis of IoT based products, technology and integration of IoT with cloud computing

The advanced technology Internet of Things (IoT), a recent development in wireless sensor networks, provides a way to connect surrounding physical objects to the Internet in a dynamic way. There is an advantage of using IoT technology protocols as it requires less network bandwidth, minimum code space and hence reduces access time. Major IoT provider companies have several IoT products in the gadget market to make consumers' life effortlessly easy. Several research gaps regarding the scalability of IoT with other platforms have been identified by reviewing the existing literature and also explained essential information about the integration of IoT with cloud computing. Major technology big giants Apple, Google, and Amazon's products are differentiated on the basis of measurement parameters such as their prices, streaming options, customisable appearance methods, major partnership companies related information appearing. A prototype of Apple's Home Kit and Samsung SmartThings is developed to show the characteristics of smart home products for the user, which helps in better decision making of IoT platform providers.

Evaluation and demonstration of take home laboratory kit

Abstract This paper discusses some of the reasons for producing take home laboratory kits. This is then supplemented by detailed presentation of three different types of take home kit, alongside the motivations for their design and an evaluation of their efficacy with students.

Bridging for cross protocol talk in IOT devices using windows communication foundation

In the Internet of Things (IoT), multiple communication protocols are used to connect the smart device. Wi-Fi, Xbee, ZigBee, Bluetooth, and LoRaWAN are some of the communication channels utilized for connectivity by devices using some IoT platform.In order to enable the development of smart services for IoT platforms, there are solutions by different vendors to connect between IoT devices. For example, multiple IoT platforms are available in the market namely IoTivity platform developed by Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), AllJoyn platform from All Seen Alliance, Weave made by Google, and Home Kit by Apple. In view of such segmentation of IoT platforms, IoT Application’s development has been made complex, where IoT device and accompanying application compatibility with available platforms requires support for multiple protocols.To simplify the complexity introduced by multiple platforms, M2M [4] International standard was already proposed as the bridge for integrating IoT protocols. In our paper, we implement a proxy web service using Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) as a way to translate communication in one IoT protocol to another. In our implementation of middleware, we allowed the MQTT broker to accept messages, which were passed, to the Web Service from various devices over Hyper Text Protocol’s POST or GET Commands. Bridging between WCF Web Service and MQTT broker was enabled with duplex communication. Hence, devices supporting either HTTP protocol or MQTT protocol were able to communicate transparently.

Predictors and Spatial Variation of Radon Testing in Illinois, 2005-2012.

Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, but exposure can be reduced through testing one's home and mitigating if levels are high. To determine what factors predict radon testing and to identify, through spatial analysis, areas in Illinois with lower or higher than expected testing rates. An ecological study design was used to evaluate data on radon tests performed in Illinois by a licensed professional or a home radon test kit analyzed by a state-approved laboratory between 2005 and 2012. Zip code-level rates of testing per 1000 occupied residences were calculated for all testing methods combined and for licensed professional testing and home kit testing separately. The following zip code-level factors associated with radon testing were considered: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) radon zones (ie, categorization of areas by predicted radon risk), socioeconomic characteristics, homeowner occupancy, and rurality. Univariate and multivariable incidence rate ratios were calculated to examine what factors were associated with each testing type. Hotspot analysis was performed to identify zip codes with lower than expected and higher than expected testing rates (ie, "coldspots" and "hotspots," respectively). Radon testing rates varied across EPA zone, socioeconomic characteristics, and level of rurality. In multivariable analysis, EPA zone, education, and median household income positively predicted all testing types combined. Median home value was associated with licensed testing, whereas rurality was negatively associated with licensed testing. Owner occupancy positively predicted home kit testing. Between 19.6% and 31.1% of zip codes were coldspots for radon testing rates, dependent upon testing type. Coldspots of all testing method rates were concentrated in the southern part of the state. Public health professionals can benefit from understanding what area-level factors predict radon testing and what geographic areas may under-utilize testing. Such information can aid the development of geographically targeted, cost-effective interventions that increase radon testing and subsequently reduce lung cancer risk.

Study of the effects of unsupervised over‐the counter whitening products on dental enamel using μ‐Raman and μ‐EDXRF spectroscopies

The purpose of this in vitro study was to assess whether the mineralization degree and elemental content in tooth enamel are altered when bleaching the teeth with two different over‐the‐counter bleaching gels, exceeding the recommendations of the manufacturer. In order to perform this evaluation, 12 healthy teeth were used, six samples were treated with Teeth Whitening Home Kit, and the other six samples were treated with WHITE! (Bingo‐UK) bought in online shopping sites, for the period of 39 days. The pH of each product and the elemental content of each sample, before and after, were obtained by energy dispersive X‐ray spectrometry and phosphate (PO43‐) profile was evaluated with Raman spectroscopy. Data was analyzed accordingly to a pre‐established plan with a mixed‐model ANOVA for repeated measures, significance was set at 5%. Both products were markedly acidic and below enamel critical level of 5.5. Moreover, seven days after treatment, demineralization was significant, wherein at the end of the study the degree of demineralization seems to be permanent. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Strategic management of next-generation connected life: Focusing on smart key and car–home connectivity

With the development of wireless technology, connectivity is becoming a more common feature of daily life. Connected cars and smart homes are typical examples, and the two markets are beginning to merge, as indicated by Apple's launch of “CarPlay” and “Home Kit” and iControl's partnership with Zubie. However, little research has been done on this subject because the integration of connected cars and smart homes has just begun. This study examines consumer preference for smart key functions (vehicle functions requested from outside the car) and car–home connectivity functions (communications between car and home), among others. Both revealed and stated preference datasets from a survey of U.S. drivers are used. The multivariate probit model and Bayesian estimation method are used to analyze consumer preferences. The results showed different preferences depending on socio-demographics and vehicle types. This paper provides marketing strategies for smart key functions and car–home connectivity functions by revealing socio-demographic characteristics and consumer preferences.

Home Circadian Phase Assessments with Measures of Compliance Yield Accurate Dim Light Melatonin Onsets.

There is a need for the accurate assessment of circadian phase outside of the clinic/laboratory, particularly with the gold standard dim light melatonin onset (DLMO). We tested a novel kit designed to assist in saliva sampling at home for later determination of the DLMO. The home kit includes objective measures of compliance to the requirements for dim light and half-hourly saliva sampling. Participants were randomized to one of two 10-day protocols. Each protocol consisted of two back-to-back home and laboratory phase assessments in counterbalanced order, separated by a 5-day break. Laboratory or participants' homes. Thirty-five healthy adults, age 21-62 y. N/A. Most participants received at least one 30-sec epoch of light > 50 lux during the home phase assessments (average light intensity 4.5 lux), but on average for < 9 min of the required 8.5 h. Most participants collected every saliva sample within 5 min of the scheduled time. Ninety-two percent of home DLMOs were not affected by light > 50 lux or sampling errors. There was no significant difference between the home and laboratory DLMOs (P > 0.05); on average the home DLMOs occurred 9.6 min before the laboratory DLMOs. The home DLMOs were highly correlated with the laboratory DLMOs (r = 0.91, P < 0.001). Participants were reasonably compliant to the home phase assessment procedures. The good agreement between the home and laboratory dim light melatonin onsets (DLMOs) demonstrates that including objective measures of light exposure and sample timing during home saliva sampling can lead to accurate home DLMOs. Circadian Phase Assessments at Home, http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01487252, NCT01487252.

O09.5 Optimizing Care Efficiency at the STI Clinic: Using Chlamydia Home Collection Kits

BackgroundTo study the efficiency of Chlamydia home collection kits for young people, in order to optimise care at the Amsterdam STI clinic.MethodsSince 2012, young people under the age of 25...

Accuracy of User-Friendly Blood Typing Kits Tested Under Simulated Military Field Conditions

Rapid user-friendly ABO-Rh blood typing kits (Eldon Home Kit 2511, ABO-Rh Combination Blood Typing Experiment Kit) were evaluated to determine their accuracy when used under simulated military field conditions and after long-term storage at various temperatures and humidities. Rates of positive tests between control groups, experimental groups, and industry standards were measured and analyzed using the Fisher's exact chi-square method to identify significant differences (p < or = 0.05). When Eldon Home Kits 2511 were used in various operational conditions, the results were comparable to those obtained with the control group and with the industry standard. The performance of the ABO-Rh Combination Blood Typing Experiment Kit was adversely affected by prolonged storage in temperatures above 37 degrees C. The diagnostic performance of commercial blood typing kits varies according to product and environmental storage conditions.

Pharmacists could improve uptake of chlamydia home screening kits

The uptake of chlamydia screening in sexually active under 25 year olds has not reached a level at which it will reduce transmission rates. This study aimed to assess the uptake of screening using a home kit offered by pharmacists at the time of supplying emergency hormonal contraception (EHC).