Instrument Package Research Articles

Potential of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) in a circular economy from a life cycle assessment perspective - a case study for anaesthesia and surgical instrument packaging waste in Australia

Plastics are a versatile material group with many applications in the healthcare sector. Clinicians, particularly in the operating rooms, have become increasingly dependent on single-use instruments and consumables typically packaged in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) resulting in significant amounts of PET waste. In this study, a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology based on ISO 14040/44 is conducted to assess the environmental impacts of existing and potential future end-of-life options for PET anaesthesia and surgical instrument packaging waste in an Australian hospital context. The results show the reduction potential of environmental impacts by recycling of PET waste via direct collection or in Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand. When replacing end-of-life options such as landfill or incineration with recycling, a reduction of 88% of total Climate Change (CC) impact can be seen. Furthermore, there is a reduction in environmental impacts across other impact categories through this change. Even if the recyclate quality (up to 30%) was reduced, there is a significant reduction in the environmental impacts. The transition of end-of-life options to recycling offers the potential for reduction of emissions and enables a circular economy for plastics. Furthermore, based on the results of LCA, opportunities and challenges of circular economy pathways in health industry are identified and discussed in this study.

Green synthesis of multifunctional bamboo-based nonwoven fabrics for medical treatment

Medical nonwovens fabrics are pivotal materials in modern healthcare systems, and find extensively application in surgical gowns, masks, nursing pads, and surgical instrument packaging. As healthcare requirements evolve and medical technology advances, the demand for functional nonwoven medical devices is continuously increasing. In addition, numerous environmental challenges and the need to transition to a sustainable society have increased the popularity of studies on environmentally friendly multifunctional nonwoven materials prepared from biomass fibers. Therefore, in this study, ecofriendly bamboo fibers were used to fabricate multifunctional medical nonwoven materials with superhydrophobic, antibacterial, flame-retardant, and biocompatible properties. Specifically, ZIF-67 was grown in situ on natural bamboo cellulose fibers (BCFs) extracted from natural bamboo and coated with polydimethylsiloxane to construct an environmentally friendly and versatile nonwoven fabric. The treated nonwoven fabric exhibited superhydrophobicity with contact angle of 163° and possess excellent self-cleaning properties. The antibacterial activity of the samples was investigated by the plate-counting method; the results showed that the untreated BCFs did not exhibit antibacterial activity, whereas the treated bamboo nonwoven fabrics demonstrated significant antibacterial activity (p < 0.001), with an antibacterial rate of >99 % against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans. In addition, when the samples were exposed to different temperatures (−4 and 50 °C) and humidities (0 % and 95 %), they demonstrated an antibacterial activity of >99 % against E. coli (F5,10 = 0.602; p = 0.670) and S. aureus (F4,10 = 0.289; p = 0.879). The heat release rate and smoke production rate of the nonwoven fabric decreased by 54.64 % and 93.18 %, respectively, compared to those of the BCFs, indicating excellent flame retardancy. The nonwoven fabric also exhibited satisfactory biocompatibility and breathability, ensuring user comfortability. This research not only has significant implications for producing low-cost, environmentally friendly, sustainable, and multifunctional medical products and openi up new pathways for the diversified utilization of bamboo, thereby expanding its applicability.

Person explanatory multidimensional item response theory with the instrument package in R.

We present the new R package instrument to perform Bayesian estimation of person explanatory multidimensional item response theory. The package implements an exploratory multidimensional item response theory model and a higher-order multidimensional item response theory model, a type of confirmatory multidimensional item response theory. Explanation of person parameters is accomplished by fixed and random effect linear regression models. Estimation is carried out using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo in Stan. In this article, we provide a detailed description of the models; we use the instrument package to demonstrate fitting explanatory item response models with fixed and random effects (i.e., mixed modeling) of person parameters in R; and, we perform a simulation study to evaluate the performance of our implementation of the models.

Risk Assessment of Hydrogen Peroxide Low-Temperature Plasma Sterilization Using Different Monitoring Methods

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the application value of biological monitoring and different types of chemical indicator cards in batch monitoring of hydrogen peroxide low-temperature plasma sterilization. The goal is to standardize the selection of loading conditions for this sterilization method and avoid positive biological monitoring results. Methods: Physical monitoring, Class I chemical indicator card monitoring, Class IV chemical indicator card monitoring, and biological monitoring were used to monitor the hydrogen peroxide low-temperature plasma sterilization process. The sterilization effect on instruments inside the Johnson &amp; Johnson 100S plasma sterilizer was monitored and the qualification of various monitoring methods was compared. Results: The comparison showed that when non-standard or adsorption-prone packaging materials were used, the interception rate of biological monitoring and Class IV chemical indicator cards was significantly higher than that of physical monitoring and Class I chemical indicator cards. These methods more intuitively and effectively detected sterilization failures. Conclusion: Biological monitoring and Class IV chemical indicator cards are safe, fast, accurate, and easy to interpret in hydrogen peroxide low-temperature plasma sterilization, especially for monitoring instruments inside packages. They provide a reliable basis for the release of sterilized instrument packages. Identifying the reasons for positive biological monitoring results in hydrogen peroxide low-temperature plasma sterilization and taking effective measures promptly can minimize associated risks.

Healing patient, harming planet? A drive towards sustainable surgery: review of waste production and recyclability of surgical instrument packaging.

Healthcare contributes more than 1% of all domestic waste in the United Kingdom (UK), with operating theatre waste alone accounting for approximately 50% of all hospital waste. In November 2022, the UK Surgical Royal Colleges issued an Intercollegiate Climate Emergency Declaration and called for urgent action. We review waste production and the recyclability of surgical instrument packaging used in a common ear, nose and throat procedure (thyroidectomy) and suggest strategies to make this surgery more sustainable,. These strategies can be generalised to other surgeries. We prospectively audited packaging waste from 20 thyroidectomies performed at the Royal Marsden Hospital in the UK between July and December 2022. All packaging was weighed, categorised and analysed after the operation. On average, each thyroidectomy produced packaging waste comprising 183g (34%) of plain paper/cardboard, 167g (31%) of soft plastic film, 142g (26%) of laminated paper, 37g (7%) of hard plastic and 11g (2%) of metal foil. Of all the packaging collected, only one item had a recycling label. When extrapolated to the 7,851 thyroidectomies performed in the National Health Service during the fiscal year 2021/2022, the estimated total weight of packaging waste would be 4.2 tonnes, of which only 31.4kg would be indicated as recyclable. When converted to an estimated carbon footprint, total carbon emissions would be 1,048kg CO2e, equivalent to three round trips from London to Edinburgh in a petrol car. This audit demonstrates the different categories and vast amount of packaging waste from a common operation. Manufacturers should place clear recyclability labels on packaging, and switch to recyclable materials and a digital information booklet where possible. Local waste audit and analysis can be simple first steps towards making surgery more sustainable.

An action research study of quality improvement in instrument packaging procedures for the central sterile supply department

This study aimed to reduce instrument packaging defects in the Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) using action research. Data of the instrument packs packaged by the packaging personnel at the CSSD of the authors’ institution during March to May 2023 were collected and analyzed. After identifying the problems, 2 rounds of cyclic process of “plan-action-observe-reflect” were implemented to standardize the packaging procedures and develop and improve the applicable check of standard operating procedures for the CSSD. After strictly implementing the packaging operation standards and checklists, the number of packaging defect cases dropped from 274 to 41. A significant difference was identified between the number of packaging personnel who achieved a “pass” in the assessment of 3 items for maintenance. Also, 1 item for assembly had significant differences compared with the baseline number after the first cycle (P ≤ 0.001). A significant difference was identified between the number of packaging personnel who achieved a “pass” in the assessment of 20 items for 6 components after the second cycle compared with that after the first cycle (P ≤ 0.05). Through action research methodology, strict implementation of standardized packaging procedures in the CSSD can reduce packaging defects, thereby decreasing clinical complaints and ensuring patient safety.

Investigating momentum transfer with gall-forming wasps

Neuroterus saltatorius is a gall-forming wasp species endemic to the U.S. During summer, large numbers of galls detach from oak leaves and fall to the ground. They jump several times per minute in random directions earning them the moniker "jumping galls" or “flea seeds”. The mechanism behind this unique behavior has not been established, but one hypothesis suggests that encapsulated gall larva forces fluid through its U-shaped body at high speeds. The momentum of this fluid is transferred in such a way that a hopping motion occurs. We believe that understanding momentum transfer is important for applications focused on momentum transfer. Inspired by the jumping gall and to understand momentum transfer, we constructed a model using a mousetrap with attachable weights to demonstrate that a moving mass can cause jumping through momentum transfer. We predicted that adding weight to the arm would increase the jump height because the arm swings at the same speed with increased momentum from the larger mass. Increasing weights to the arm allowed us to identify the optimal mass for the highest jump. This modeling approach provided insights into the physical process underlying the galls' jumping behavior and extended beyond that. An application of the theory is to use momentum transfer when exploring microgravity environments like comets and asteroids because instrument packages cannot be moved by wheeled vehicles on extremely rough surfaces. An alternative is to construct robots capable of moving by momentum transfer.

Optimizing Educational Laboratories for Institutional Development in Indonesia.

The use of educational laboratories in the higher education learning process plays a crucial role in facilitating practical understanding of complex concepts. Factors such as equipment availability, faculty lecturers' expertise, and technology have influenced the effectiveness of educational laboratories. For educational institutions to improve their laboratory effectiveness, it's crucial to have well-coordinated planning in alignment with the curriculum. This study aims to develop the concept of optimizing educational laboratories at the Faculty of Education Sciences, State University of Surabaya, Indonesia. This study used descriptive qualitative research with a case study approach. Data were collected through observations, interviews, and document analysis and analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis techniques. The research results show that the facilities and infrastructure of the laboratories at the Faculty of Education, State University of Surabaya, are adequate, with quality supervision and maintenance. The development of laboratory products, including usage guidelines, standard operating procedures (SOP), and training instrument packages, has provided practical guidance and enhanced students' learning experiences. All of these products play a crucial role in improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of educational laboratory utilization. Thus, the development of educational laboratories at the Faculty of Education Sciences, State University of Surabaya, Indonesia, has positively contributed to the enhancement of higher education quality in Indonesia and has prepared students to face real-world challenges.

Using of non-pharmacological pain methods, and the perceived barriers, among nurses in critical care unit in Palestine

BackgroundPain is alleviated in one of the two common approaches, pharmacological or non-pharmacological intervention. Using non-pharmacological methods may have beneficial effect and priority on decreasing patients’ level of pain and decreasing the side effects of pharmacological methods in ICU patients. This study aimed to assess ICU Palestinian nurses use and barriers of non-pharmacological pain management.MethodsA quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was used to collect responses from a convenient sample of 215 nurses working in six hospitals in Plaestine. The timeframe for data collection was from August 2022 to December 2022. This study had three instrument packages. The first part is demographic data. The second is a tool that used 4-point Likert scale to examine ICU nursing use of non-pharmacological pain methods and it consisted of 16 items. The third is six items of perceived barriers to use non-pharmacological pain methods. All statistical procedures were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) version 28.ResultsMore than two-thirds of the nurses used non-pharmacological pain methods in ICU. 60% of the nurses have high levels of use, 10.2% have very high levels. The two highest perceived barriers to use nonpharmacological method were the lack of time, workload, and patient instability with 83.7% (n = 180), and 77.2% (n = 166), respectively. Demographic variables were not significantly associated with the use of non-pharmacological pain management methods, except age.ConclusionAdopting culturally sensitive non-pharmacological pain methods to decrease ICU patients’ level of pain, may positively reflected on patients’ outcome and on healthcare system. Developing, implementing and continuous monitoring of guidelines regarding using nonpharmacological for nurses and physicians are recommended which will be reflected positively on patients’ outcomes. Great efforts to overcome the barriers of lack of time and workload is impertive to increase the clinical usage of nonpharmacological pain methods.

Quality evaluation for measurements of wind field and turbulent fluxes from a UAV-based eddy covariance system

Abstract. Instrumentation packages for eddy covariance (EC) measurements have been developed for unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) to measure the turbulent fluxes of latent heat (LE), sensible heat (H), and CO2 (Fc) in the atmospheric boundary layer. This study aims to evaluate the performance of this UAV-based EC system. First, the measurement precision (1σ) of georeferenced wind was estimated to be 0.07 m s−1. Then, the effect of the calibration parameter and aerodynamic characteristics of the UAV on wind measurement was examined by conducting a set of calibration flights. The results showed that the calibration improved the quality of the measured wind field, and the influence of upwash and the leverage effect can be ignored in wind measurement by the UAV. Third, for the measurements of turbulent fluxes, the error caused by instrumental noise was estimated to be 0.03 µmolm-2s-1 for Fc, 0.02 W m−2 for H, and 0.08 W m−2 for LE. Fourth, data from the standard operational flights were used to assess the influence of resonance on the measurements and to test the sensitivity of the measurement under the variation (±30 %) in the calibration parameters around their optimum value. The results showed that the effect of resonance mainly affected the measurement of CO2 (∼5 %). The pitch offset angle (εθ) significantly affected the measurement of vertical wind (∼30 %) and turbulent fluxes (∼15 %). The heading offset angle (εψ) mainly affected the measurement of horizontal wind (∼15 %), and other calibration parameters had no significant effect on the measurements. The results lend confidence to the use of the UAV-based EC system and suggest future improvements for the optimization of the next-generation system.

Conceptualization of Concrete Tracking in Quality Traceability System

Purpose — When problems arise with sterilization packages, the quality traceability system serves as one of the means to trace the clues. However, in cases of disputes involving clinical departments and missing instruments, it is often difficult to provide strong evidence. Methods — By connecting cameras with the traceability system, it enables concrete tracking from the retrieval to the issuance phase during barcode traceability. Results—The disputes with clinical departments have significantly decreased, and the rate of missing items in instrument packages has reduced. Conclusion — The concrete tracking in the traceability system has greatly reduced disputes with clinical departments over missing items in instrument packages, maintaining the reputation of the Disinfection Supply Center and boosting the motivation of its staff.

Surgical Instrument Recognition Based on Improved YOLOv5

Recognition of surgical instruments is a key part of the post-operative check and inspection of surgical instrument packaging. However, manual inventorying is prone to counting errors. The achievement of automated surgical instrument identification holds the potential to significantly mitigate the occurrence of medical accidents and reduce labor costs. In this paper, an improved You Only Look Once version 5 (YOLOv5) algorithm is proposed for the recognition of surgical instruments. Firstly, the squeeze-and-excitation (SE) attention module is added to the backbone to improve the feature extraction. Secondly, the loss function of YOLOv5 is improved with more global parameters to increase the convergence rate of the loss curve. Finally, an efficient convolution algorithm is added to the C3 module in the head to reduce computational complexity and memory usage. The experimental results show that our algorithm outperforms the original YOLOv5 with improvements observed across various metrics: mean average precision 50–95 (mAP50-95) achieved 88.7%, which improved by 1.8%, and computational requirements reduced by 39%. This study, with a simple but effective method, is expected to be a guide for automatically detecting, classifying, and sorting surgical instruments.

Insomnia and depression levels among Malaysian undergraduate students in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) during Movement Control Order (MCO).

Rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 has caused the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) which aimed to reduce the spread in Covid-19 infections. While some may find it easy to adjust to the new norm, others found it difficult to switch from their normal routines and habits as according to the MCO SOP. This resulted in a more frequent insomnia and depression that subsequently impacted their mental health. Insomnia and depression levels are examined in this study as they relate to the Covid-19 Pandemic and the MCO among Malaysian undergraduate health sciences students at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, UPM. Random sampling methods were utilised with consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) were the instrument packages used in this investigation. An internet platform was used to distribute the questionnaire. Based on the results, it is concluded that depression and insomnia are significantly correlated, with a p-value of 0.05. This study also revealed the link between the severity of insomnia and the severity of depression among UPM students studying health sciences. The percentage of students with depression and insomnia was rather high (54.9% and 33.9%, respectively), and this occurred during the second wave of Covid-19 cases in Malaysia.

553 Healing Patient, Harming Planet? Review of Waste Production and Recyclability of Surgical Instrument Packaging

Abstract Aim In November 2022, the three UK Surgical Royal Colleges had issued an Intercollegiate Climate Emergency Declaration acknowledging that “climate change and anthropogenic environmental degradation pose a major threat to both human health and planetary health”. We reviewed the waste production and recyclability of surgical instrument packaging used in a common ENT procedure (thyroidectomy) and suggest strategies to improve surgical waste and make surgery more sustainable. Method We prospectively audited packaging waste from 20 thyroidectomies performed at the Royal Marsden Hospital, UK between July and December 2022. All the packaging was weighted, categorised, and analysed after the operation. Recycling labels were recorded if present. Results On average, each thyroidectomy produced packaging waste of 183 g (34%) of plain paper / cardboard, 167 g (31%) of soft plastic film, 142 g (26%) of laminated paper, 37 g (7%) of hard plastic and 11 g (2%) of metal foil. Of all packaging items we have collected, only one item had a recycling label. Conclusions Despite only one item of packaging having a recycling label, in its current form, 41% of the packaging we collected is easily recyclable. Product manufacturers should place clear labels on packing that can be recycled, switch to recyclable materials where possible and remove unnecessary information booklets that can be easily accessed digitally. Local waste audit and analysis can be the simple steps to make surgery more sustainable and reduce the environmental impact whilst treating patients.

Profile observations of the Arctic atmospheric boundary layer with the BELUGA tethered balloon during MOSAiC

During the Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate (MOSAiC) expedition, the Balloon-bornE moduLar Utility for profilinG the lower Atmosphere (BELUGA) was deployed from an ice floe drifting in the Fram Strait from 29 June to 27 July 2020. The BELUGA observations aimed to characterize the cloudy Arctic atmospheric boundary layer above the sea ice using a modular setup of five instrument packages. The in situ measurements included atmospheric thermodynamic and dynamic state parameters (air temperature, humidity, pressure, and three-dimensional wind), broadband solar and terrestrial irradiance, aerosol particle microphysical properties, and cloud particle images. In total, 66 profile observations were collected during 33 balloon flights from the surface to maximum altitudes of 0.3 to 1.5 km. The profiles feature a high vertical resolution of 0.01 m to 1 m, including measurements below, inside, and above frequently occurring low-level clouds. This publication describes the balloon operations, instruments, and the obtained data set. We invite the scientific community for joint analysis and model application of the freely available data on PANGAEA.

Radio Instrument Package for Lunar Ionospheric Observation: A Concept Study

AbstractThe lunar ionosphere is a ∼100 km thick layer of electrically charged plasma surrounding the moon. Despite knowledge of its existence for decades, the structure and dynamics of the lunar plasma remain a mystery due to lack of consistent observational capacity. An enhanced observational picture of the lunar ionosphere and improved understanding of its formation/loss mechanisms is critical for understanding the lunar environment as a whole and assessing potential safety and economic hazards associated with lunar exploration and habitation. To address the high priority need for observations of the electrically charged constituents nikear the lunar surface, we introduce a concept study for the Radio Instrument Package for Lunar Ionospheric Observation (RIPLIO). RIPLIO would consist of a multi‐CubeSat constellation (at least two satellites) in lunar orbit for the purpose of conducting “crosslink” radio occultation measurements of the lunar ionosphere, with at least one satellite carrying a very high frequency (VHF) transmitter broadcasting at multiple frequencies, and at least one satellite flying a broadband receiver to monitor transmitting satellites. Radio occultations intermittently occur when satellite‐to‐satellite signals cross through the lunar ionosphere, and the resulting phase perturbations of VikHF signals may be analyzed to infer the ionosphere electron content and high‐ resolution vertical electron density profiles. As demonstrated in this study, RIPLIO would provide a novel means for lunar observation, with the potential to provide long‐term, high‐resolution observations of the lunar ionosphere with unprecedented pan‐lunar detail.

Health policy under the microscope: a micro policy design perspective.

The comparative study of health policy has focused mainly on the macro-structural dimensions of health systems and reforms that have sought to change these organizational arrangements. Thus, a great deal of attention has been paid to the multiple models of insurance against sickness risks and various modes of organizing and financing healthcare providers. However, little attention has been paid to policy tools and policy design in the health policy domain. This research gap largely impedes a focus on the micro (granular) dimension of health policy, although this is the level at which health policies impact reality and thus deliver progress toward the expected goals. Such a focus on the micro dimension could not only allow a finer-grained comparison of how health systems work but also shed light on how capable health policies are of achieving the expected outcomes. This paper fills this gap by presenting an analytical framework capable of illuminating the granular dimension of policy design (the instrumental delivery package) and shows the analytical relevance of the framework by applying it to the designs of maximum waiting time guarantee and vaccination mandate policies.

Moon Diver: Exploring a pit's exposed strata to understand lunar volcanism

Natural pits on the Moon expose deep cross-sections of the lunar maria, enabling direct investigation of the Moon's volcanic history and providing potential access to subsurface lava tubes. The Moon Diver mission concept seeks to explore the Mare Tranquillitatis pit, which exposes the largest wall of bedrock of the mare pits (∼65 m). The concept is enabled by two innovative capabilities: pinpoint landing near the pit and robotic access to its near-vertical wall with an instrument package to examine the elemental chemistry, mineralogy, and morphology of these bedrock layers. Pinpoint landing uses closed-loop guidance with terrain-relative navigation (TRN), which was advanced by Perseverance landing on Mars, to deliver the lander within a 100-m ellipse. The Axel robotic explorer, which remains tethered to the lander, would egress onto the lunar surface and traverse the relatively flat terrain to the pit's funnel entrance. The lander, which is the data link to Earth, also serves as an anchor and provides power and communication to the rover through its tether. The rover is a novel two-wheeled platform with a trailing boom and a spool that pays out the tether as the rover traverses toward the pit. The 300-m long tether is well margined for the rover to scale the pit wall. The rover carries a surface preparation tool and three additional instrument types: (a) three high-resolution cameras for acquiring context images of the near and far walls with the near-wall pair in a stereoscopic configuration, (b) an alpha-particle-X-ray spectrometer (APXS) for elemental composition, and (c) a multi-spectral microscopic imager (MMI) that uses controlled lighting for mineralogy. The surface-preparation tool removes dust and patina from the rock wall by grinding a small area. This tool, the MMI, and the APXS would be deployed from an instrument bay inside the wheel wells. The rover would independently point each instrument at the same target on the wall with millimeter repeatability. Landing shortly after sunrise, the surface mission timeline is just shy of a lunar daytime (14 Earth days). Beyond the primary mission, the rover would be capable of descending from the overhang and peering into the void that may open to a large cave or lava tube. Lunar pits provide an exciting new target for exploration using innovative robotic capabilities that have been tested with integrated science instruments at multiple terrestrial analogue sites including a pit with basaltic layers in Arizona.

SG-APSIC1112: The quality enhancement in sterilization processes at Naresuan University Hospital

Background: Disinfection and sterilization of medical devices, instruments, and medical supplies are a crucial part of hospital infection control. The significant problems include insufficient cleaning, incorrect registration in the request form, no basic cleaning at the point of use (POS), and incorrect labelling. These problems were analyzed according using the fishbone diagram process. Objectives: We sought to decrease insufficient cleanliness of items after washing, to increase data accuracy in transferring contaminated devices from wards (from end users), to increase the rate of decontamination at the point of use, and to decrease incorrect labelling on instrument packaging. Method: The Community of Practice in Sterilization (CoP Sterile) team revised the disinfection and sterilization system of the Naresuan University Hospital Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) using root-cause analysis of subprocess problems and implementing prioritized solutions. A regular monthly meeting was set up to ensure active response, and closed monitoring was performed to ensure the implementation of the revised protocol according to the plan–do–study–act (PDSA) process. Results: From 2019 to 2021, the percentages of annual insufficient cleanliness of items after washing decreased from 4.8% to 3.6% to 3.1% each year. The percentages of incorrect request forms decreased from 14.59% to 2.91% to 1.84% during these same years. The percentages of decontamination ignorance at the point of use decreased from 3.13% to 0.12% to 0.03% from 2019 to 2021. The percentages of incorrect labelling were 0.013%, 0.008%, and 0.013% each year. Conclusions: The CoP Sterile team used quality improvement tools and regular monitoring to achieve reductions in insufficient cleanliness and incorrect request forms and to increase knowledge of decontamination procedures.

太阳极轨天文台

<p indent="0mm">Solar magnetic fields and related solar magnetic activities dominate the heliospheric environments from the near-Earth space, to the interplanetary space, and up to the interstellar boundary. The polar magnetic fields of the Sun and its dynamic processes are especially vital in the aspects of manifesting the internal dynamo of the Sun, and shaping magnetic fields in the heliosphere. But so far, almost all the solar satellites have been limited in the vicinity of the ecliptic plane. Due to the serious projection effect, the polar regions remain as the least-known mysterious territory of the Sun. The spacecraft of “Solar Polar-orbit Observatory (SPO)” has been designed to directly image the solar polar regions in an unprecedented way by traveling in a large solar inclination angle (≥ 80°) and a small ellipticity. Based on multi-band remote-sensing and <italic>in-situ</italic> measurements, the SPO will make breakthrough on the following top-level scientific objectives: (1) Provide decisive observations for solving the problem of the century—How the solar magnetic activity cycle originates that shapes the living environment of human beings; (2) provide direct observational supports for unveiling the origin, mechanism, and effect of the “primitive” high-speed solar wind that connects the Sun and celestial bodies in the solar system; (3) provide the necessary, complete, and self-consistent initial and boundary conditions for creating a data-driven global heliospheric numerical model that serves as the foundation for space weather prediction. To achieve these scientific objectives, the SPO will be equipped with six remote-sensing instruments and one <italic>in-situ</italic> instrument package. The remote-sensing instruments are Magnetic and Helioseismic Imager (MHI; FOV: 34′ (full disk)/17′ (high resolution); pixel resolution: 1″/0.5″; sensitivity: 10 G (longitudinal), 200 G (transverse); cadence: <sc>15 min;</sc> sensitivity of Doppler velocity: <sc>30 m/s;</sc> Cadence: <sc>1 min),</sc> Extreme Ultraviolet Solar Telescope (EUST; FOV: 51′; spatial resolution: 3.5″; imaging band: 19.3, 17.1, 13.1 and <sc>30.4 nm;</sc> cadence: <sc>1 min),</sc> Visible-light Coronagraph (VISCO; FOV: 0.69°–2.67° annular; pixel resolution: 4.8″; wave band: <sc>700±40 nm;</sc> cadence: <sc>2 min),</sc> Very Large Angle Coronagraph (VLACOR; FOV: 2.67°–24° annular; pixel resolution: 45″; wave band: <sc>600–750 nm;</sc> cadence: <sc>10 min</sc> (white light), <sc>60 min</sc> (polarization)), X-ray Imaging Telescope (XIT; FOV: 48′; angular resolution: 10″; energy range: Energy spectrum <sc>0.5–10 keV;</sc> spectral resolution: <sc>1 keV@6 keV;</sc> time resolution: <sc>5 s</sc> (common), <sc>1 s</sc> (burst)), and Low Frequency Radio Spectrometer (LFRS; frequency range: <sc>10 kHz–2.0 MHz</sc> and <sc>1.0–50 MHz;</sc> spectral resolution: <sc>≤5 kHz@2.0 MHz</sc> and <sc>≤0.1 MHz@50 MHz;</sc> time resolution: <sc>1 s;</sc> dynamic range: <sc>&gt;72 dB)</sc>. The <italic>in-situ</italic> instrument package includes Solar Wind Ion Analyzer (SWIA), Solar Energetic Particles Analyzer (SEPA), and Magnetometer (MAG).