Laboratory Grade Research Articles

Investigating correlations between the PAT and three hand-skill exercises to performance in preclinical laboratory courses.

Perceptual ability test (PAT) is a valid determinant for spatial perceptions. However, proven psychomotor skill tests for dentistry do not currently exist. This study aimed to determine whether performance on the PAT, Operation game, mirror tracing, and wax carving exercises correlate to preclinical laboratory performance in Dental Anatomy and Restorative Dentistry courses. First-year dental students (n=96) participated in the study. Final laboratory grades were obtained from course directors of preclinical Restorative Dentistry and Dental Anatomy courses. Admissions committee provided participants' PAT results. Participants completed a wax carving exercise by carving a cube and a semicircle into a wax block using the wax subtraction method. Two calibrated faculty graded the carvings as Ideal (5), Satisfactory (3), or Unsatisfactory (1). Time to complete the Operation game and number of infractions were recorded. Participants traced the six-pointed star pattern on the Auto Scoring Mirror Tracer instrument in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Completion times and number of instances outside the pattern were recorded. Spearman Rank Correlations were used to determine associations at 0.05 confidence interval. Mean PAT score was 21.7; mean times to complete the Operation game and mirror tracing exercise were 4:20 and 1:30, respectively. Mean score on the wax carving exercise was 3.19. Correlations between the independent and dependent variables were minimal to weak. The wax carving exercise was the most reliable predictor of performance. When PAT scores are striated into low (less than 20), middle (21-22), and high (23-30), it was possible to predict performance in both preclinical laboratory courses.

Antimony sulfide selenide thin film solar cells prepared from thermal evaporation sources produced via chemical reactions

Continued research during the past twenty years has contributed toward an increase in the conversion efficiency of antimony sulfide selenide thin film solar cells above 10%. Hence, new methodologies to open-up this research are relevant. Here, antimony sulfide selenide thin film solar cells were prepared by thermal evaporation from Sb2SxSe3-x sources obtained via an in-situ reaction of SbCl3, Se and Sb2S3 for a desired mole-ratio. A thin film (175 nm) of Sb2S2.1Se0.9 prepared this way with a bandgap (Eg) of 1.67 eV and photoconductivity, 10 −6 Ω– 1 cm– 1. Its solar cell, SnO2:F (FTO)/CdS(100 nm)/Sb2S2.1Se0.9 (175 nm)/C–Ag, has an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.514 V, short circuit current density (Jsc) of 11.78 mA cm – 2, and a solar-to-electric energy conversion efficiency (η) of 2.36%. Powder mixture with increased Se-content in the SbCl3 + Se + Sb2S3 mixture was produced in a tubular oven at 450 °C, and used as a source. A thin film of Sb2S0.7Se2.3 (190 nm) produced this way has an Eg of 1.29 eV and photoconductivity, 7x10 – 5 Ω – 1 cm – 1. For its solar cell, FTO/CdS(100 nm)/Sb2S0.7Se2.3 (190 nm)/C–Ag, Voc is 0.455 V; Jsc, 20.3 mA cm – 2 and η, 4.52%. This method of preparing Sb2SxSe3-x thin film solar cells of varying compositions offers versatility in vacuum thermal evaporation from sources prepared from laboratory grade reagents. Perspectives for further work to improve the solar cell efficiency are presented.

Measurement of Gaseous Exhaust Emissions of Light-Duty Vehicles in Preparation for Euro 7: A Comparison of Portable and Laboratory Instrumentation

The European Union’s ambition to reach climate neutrality and a toxic-free environment by 2050 entails, among other things, cleaner road vehicles. The European Commission’s proposal for the next regulatory emissions standard, Euro 7, requires the measurement of pollutants currently not regulated on the road. In this study we compared a prototype portable emissions measurement system (PEMS) measuring CO2, CO, NO, NO2, N2O, NH3, CH4, and HCHO based on infrared laser absorption modulation (IRLAM), and two Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometers with laboratory grade analyzers. To this end, one Euro 6d Diesel, one Euro 6d gasoline, and one Euro 4 gasoline vehicle were tested at −7 °C and 23 °C with various driving cycles covering traffic conditions to highway dynamic driving. The results demonstrated that the differences among the instruments were small: ±1 mg/km for HCHO, N2O, and CH4, ±2.5 mg/km for NH3, ±10–15 mg/km for NOx, ±50 mg/km or ±15% for CO (whichever was larger), and ±10–15 g/km for CO2. These values corresponded to <10–15% of the proposed Euro 7 limits or the emission levels of the tested vehicles. Our results confirm the feasibility of on-board systems to measure the conventional components including CO2 and the aforementioned additional pollutants.

Lignin Recovery from Black Liquor Using Integrated UF/NF Processes and Economic Analysis

Lignin is a polyphenolic biopolymer present in large amounts in black liquor (BL). This work investigated the recovery of lignin from BL (pre-filtered by ultrafiltration (UF)) by nanofiltration (NF). For the NF tests, laboratory-made mixed matrix membrane (MMM) prepared with 0.1% activated carbon (AC) nanoparticles were used in crossflow filtration mode. The effect of pressure (6-15 bar) and volume reduction (VR) (~65%) were analyzed, and the filtration performance was evaluated in terms of permeate flux, lignin rejection rate, and flux reduction. The lignin rejection rate varied in the range of 67-80% with the pressure, however, the highest increases in flux and rejection were observed at 12 bar, which was found to be the optimum pressure. At a VR of ~65%, the permeate flux decreased by ~55% and the lignin rejection rate increased from 78% to 86%. In addition, an economic evaluation was performed for the preparation of UF and NF MMM. The minimum-to-maximum price range was estimated considering the costs of the laboratory and commercial grade regents. It showed a difference of ~10-fold and ~14-fold for UF and NF membranes, respectively. The results of the laboratory-scale study were used to evaluate the economic feasibility of the process for recovering lignin- and hemicellulose-rich retentate streams.

Assessment of two condensation particle counters (CPCs) in photometric mode for high concentration exhaust emission measurements

Condensation particle counters (CPCs) use light scattering to count particles after they have grown to micron size in a supersaturated environment. In single counting mode each particle is counted depending on whether the scattered light exceeds a threshold value or not. In photometric mode the total scattered light is converted in particle number concentration. While for laboratory grade particle number systems, CPCs are allowed to operate only in single counting mode, there is no such requirements for portable emissions measurements systems (PEMS) for real-driving emissions (RDE) testing or for instruments for periodic technical inspection (PTI) of vehicles. In this study two CPCs of the same model were assessed in single counting and photometric modes with silver and graphite particles with sizes ranging from 10 nm to 100 nm. The results showed that the concentration was measured accurately enough for particles in the 25 nm to 50 nm size range, but was underestimated and overestimated for smaller and larger particles, respectively. The key message is that the photometric mode should be avoided or calibrated in function of concentration and particle size.

Microstructural Characteristics of ECR Plasma Etched and Heat Treated Commercial Copper Foil

AbstractThe structural quality of the catalytic transition metal substrate plays a critical role in pristine graphene synthesis by chemical vapor deposition. In this work, the microstructural parameters of commercial copper foils are investigated in lieu of conventional laboratory grade crystalline copper foils. Initially, the commercial copper foils are simultaneously plasma etched and heat treated for a period of 30, 45 min, and 1 h respectively at two elevated temperature levels of 823 and 923 K under the exposure of hydrogen plasma. The experiments are carried out in a 2.45 GHz Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition (PE‐CVD) reactor, at an operating pressure of 5 × 10−2 mbar. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) results are plotted and analyzed by Williamson–Hall (W–H) method to determine microstructural parameters, e.g., micro‐strain, stress, average domain size, and energy density associated to the processed copper foils.

Insight into pathway of monosaccharide production from integrated enzymatic hydrolysis of rice straw waste as feed stock for anaerobic digestion

This research examined the possible pathway of monosaccharide production from the rice straw waste using three integrated enzymatic hydrolysis approaches: boiled hot water pre-treatment with enzyme, alkaline pre-treatment with enzyme, and acid pre-treatment with enzyme, that can be further used as the feedstock for anaerobic digestion. Two cellulase enzymes: SIGMA-ALDRICH laboratory grade cellulase from Aspergillus niger and atres Zymix plus as a commercial cellulase enzyme were applied. It was found that the boiled hot water pre-treatment with the commercial cellulase gave the highest total monosaccharides yields. Glucose was the most significant part (78–86%) of the monosaccharides. For the pre-treatment with dilute acid, glucose was also the main component of monosaccharides; however, for the alkali pre-treatment, xylose was the main monosaccharide. It made up 48–85% of the total monosaccharide compared to glucose that made up 5–49% of total monosaccharide. Boiled rice straw with commercial cellulase enzyme provided the highest glucose yield compared to other experiments. Moreover, the obtained results from GC–MS/MS analysis show that up to 62 species of phenolic compound could be found in enzymatic hydrolysis of the rice straw waste. Aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbon substances were also detected in the FEEM analysis. From the overall results, the integrated enzymatic hydrolysis with boil hot water pre-treatment was the most efficient method for monosaccharide production from the rice straw waste.

Iron requirements of broiler chickens as affected by supplemental phytase.

Iron is routinely supplemented in broiler feeds intending to prevent dietary deficiencies. The present research was conducted with the objective of assessing Fe requirements of broilers when fed supplemental phytase. A total of 1,280 1-d-old male Cobb × Cobb 500 were distributed in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement (phytase-supplemented feeds × 5 graded increases of supplemental Fe) in 80 battery cages, eight replications of eight chicks each. The trial was replicated once. Chicks were fed a Fe-deficient diet without phytase (Fe analyzed at 31.30 ± 3.79 mg/kg) from placement to 7 d and then randomly distributed into battery cages with corresponding dieting treatments with or without phytase and graded increases of supplemental Fe. Feeds were formulated with corn and soybean meal (SBM), laboratory-grade calcium carbonate, and phosphoric acid; therefore, the vast majority of dietary Fe originated from corn and SBM (analyzed diet had 53.3 ± 1.41 mg/kg Fe). Phytase was added in excess to the producer recommendation of 1,000 FYT (4,452 ± 487 FYT/kg analyzed) such that phytate degradation was expected to be maximized. Supplemental Fe was from laboratory-grade ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO47H2O) which was increasingly added to the feeds (analyzed Fe in the supplemented feeds were: 53.3 ± 1.41, 65.5 ± 0.59, 77.2 ± 1.97, 87.6 ± 1.72, 97.7 ± 1.33 mg/kg). There were no interactions between phytase and dietary Fe for any response throughout the study (P > 0.05). Supplementing phytase had no effects on Fe intake or Fe excretion, as well as on hematocrit (Ht), hemoglobin (Hb), ferritin, Fe contents in the liver or thigh muscle color (P > 0.05). However, phytase-supplemented feeds produced better live performance as well as higher ileal digestible energy and Fe digestibility (P < 0.05). No effects were found for dietary Fe in live performance at day 28 (P > 0.05). On the other hand, increasing dietary Fe led to linear increases in Fe retention and excretion, Fe contents in livers, as well as Ht and Hb at 14 d (P < 0.05). Quadratic responses (P < 0.05) were observed for Hb at 21 d, serum ferritin on days 14, 21, and 28 (maximum responses were 83.3, 104.0, 91.9, and 88.3 mg/kg Fe, respectively). In conclusion, supplementing Fe adding to a total of 97.7 mg/kg dietary Fe did not affect live performance traits. However, the average of Fe-related blood parameters was maximized at 91.9 mg/kg dietary Fe. Supplementing phytase provided a significant increase in Fe digestibility.

Storage related changes in short-set cream cheese manufactured using thermophilicstarter culture and direct acidification technique

Cream cheese is a fresh acid curd variety with semi-soft body, manufactured by the gradual, quiescent acid gelation of milk. The typical flavour profile of cream cheese is cultured diacetyl with little bit lactic acid flavour as well as aroma. It is envisaged that demand of cream cheese will increase in upcoming years due to its application as spread and it having higher nutritional value compared to similar products available in the market. The purpose of the study was to observe changes in sensory, physicochemical and microbial quality during storage in short-set cream cheese samples manufactured by using thermophilic starter culture and direct acidification technique and was compared with control cream cheese manufactured using mesophilic starter culture. All the three samples i.e., control cream cheese made using mesophilic culture (MC), cream cheese made using thermophilic culture (TC) and cream cheese made using laboratory grade lactic acid (SLA) were stored in re-closable polypropylene tubs at 7 ± 2°C. During storage study, flavour score, FFA, tyrosine value were significantly affected by storage period (P), treatment (T) and the interaction of T × P. Moisture, pH, titratable acidity, sensory parameters (except flavour) were significantly affected only by storage period (P) and treatment(T). All the three samples had storage stability up to 15 days at 7± 2°C.

Experimental investigation on polymer solar water heater using Al2O3 nanofluid for performance improvement

In the present work, the efficiency of a polymer solar water heater with Nano fluid is compared with that of simple polymer solar water heater without Nano fluid. It is proven from the earlier results that the simple polymer solar water heater is less efficient when compared to traditional flat plate collector. In order to enhance the efficiency of a polymer solar collector, the Nano fluids are used as primary heat transfer fluid. The laboratory grade Al2O3 nanoparticles with 0.05 vol% was used for the preparation of Nano fluid. The dispersion stability of Al2O3 nanoparticles in deionized water is enhanced by the addition of surfactant and is analysed by sedimentation photographic technique and UV–vis spectroscopy method. The Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) are used as surfactant with 0.01 wt%, 0.025 wt%, 0.05 wt% and 0.1 wt% concentration. The Al2O3 Nano fluid with 0.1 wt% SDS has good dispersion stability when compared to other surfactant and other concentrations. The stabilized Nano fluid is used in the polymer solar collector and performance is determined. The experiments revealed that by the use of Al2O3 Nano fluid in polymer solar collector resulted in an increment in thermal efficiency by 27.7% over polymer solar water heater with water as the absorbing fluid.

Structural features and solar absorption characteristics of sucrose derived spherical carbons: A case study towards solar-thermal water evaporation

Carbon-based materials are considered promising for the effective conversion of solar to thermal due to their efficient absorption of the solar spectrum and low thermal loss. In the present work, spherical-type carbons are derived hydrothermally from two different resources: laboratory grade and naturally derived sucrose (from sugarcane). Both the carbons are characterized in terms of their crystalline nature and microstructure using XRD, FTIR, Raman, and FESEM. The UV-VIS-NIR absorption spectra of the prepared carbons confirm their effective absorption of solar light. The prepared materials are further dispersed in water, and solar/thermal conversion studies are carried out using an indigenously developed thermal image analysis set-up. The measurable rise in the surface temperature for carbon dispersed water than pure water results in faster water evaporation. The synthesis of laboratory grade and natural sucrose-derived carbon, study on their structural features, and the possibilities of employing them for solar-thermal water evaporation are the important insights of the present article.

A Tamarind Local Variety from Garoua, Cameroon: Physicochemical Characterization, Fruit Pulp Fermentation and Extraction of Tartaric Acid from the Fruit Pulp Winery Waste

Objective: Tamarind is known for the tart taste that is characteristic of Tartaric acid. The fruit pulp is in high demand in both the domestic and industrial settings due to its high food value. It contains fatty acids, vitamins, roughage, phytosterols and many other phytochemicals necessary for good health. To the best of our knowledge, very little has been reported on the processing of this nutritional fruit and the results reported so far show variability as a function of the botanical origin of the plant. No literature exists on the Tamarind variety from Cameroon and no study combining wine production and extraction of Tartaric acid from the waste residue has so far been reported. We are taking this advantage to explore wine fermentation from Tamarind fruit pulp by focusing on the effects of different parameters such as time of treatment for juice extraction, yeast inoculate for wine fermentation and secondary fermentation on wine quality, and to extract Tartaric acid from the winery solid waste residue. Methods: The main fermentation was done at 2°C in 13d and 1w secondary fermentation was done in 1 week. The wine was characterized for alcoholic content, pH, titratable acidity, soluble dry matter and consumer acceptability. The winery solid waste residue (potassium bitartrate precipitate) was used to extract crystalline L-Tartaric acid which was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, melting point and crystallinity by powder X-ray diffraction. Results: The Tamarind pulp wine produced was of acceptable quality. It was clear, sweet, sparkling, smooth and well-flavored. The drink had a pH of 3.04 and an alcohol content of 16%. The Tartaric acid was crystalline, and it reflected all characteristic functional groups of Tartaric acid, with a melting point of 189.8-196.4°C (laboratory grade). Conclusion: It is very possible to couple Tamarind fruit pulp wine production with chemical synthesis of pure crystalline Tartaric acid using solid winery waste from Tamarind fruit pulp. The method used in this study is simple, straightforward, ecofriendly and cost effective.

Adaptive damper control for HVAC systems based on human occupancy and indoor parameters: A development study

Occupancy-based strategies for the control of ventilation systems in buildings are effective for achieving energy savings and user comfort. Savings in energy consumption of more than 50% can be achieved by controlling heat, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems with accurate sensory and occupancy information. In this study, the flow through the damper of the variable area valve (VAV) system and the speed of the blower’s variable frequency drive (VFD) are controlled in the HVAC system, on the basis of human occupancy and indoor parameters, namely, temperature and humidity, segment-wise in the building. In the proposed model, the flapper angle of the VAV is estimated using the indoor temperature, external temperature, and number of occupants. The occupancy data are fed to the controller proposed to regulate the flow through the ducts of the system, which is based on the flapper angle of the VAV, in order to maintain human comfort. The proposed scheme makes it possible to detect abnormalities in energy utilization and to trace maximum utilization in the building based on occupancy, with the control parameters of the HVAC adjusted for a comfortable indoor environment. Performance evaluation of the VAV system with its proposed control strategy, temperature, and flow distribution is simulated using Fluent software. A laboratory grade prototype incorporating the proposed control strategy is then developed, tested under three different conditions, and the results are reported. The experimental results show that an energy saving of 18% can be achieved.

Valorization of tannery solid wastes for sustainable enzyme induced carbonate precipitation process

Biocementation via enzyme induced carbonate precipitation (EICP) is an emerging ground improvement technique that utilizes urease for calcium carbonate precipitation. Usage of expensive laboratory grade chemicals in EICP hinders its implementation at field level applications. In this study, the feasibility of utilizing solid wastes generated from leather industry was investigated for EICP process. Initially, the proteinaceous fleshing waste was used as nitrogen source for production of an extracellular urease from Arthrobacter creatinolyticus MTCC 5604 followed by its subsequent use in EICP with suspended solids of tannery lime liquor, as alternative calcium source. The calcium ion solution was prepared by treating suspended solids of lime liquor with 1 N HCl. The EICP was optimum with 1000 U of urease, 1.0 M urea and 1.0 M CaCl2.2H2O for test tube experiments. Sand solidification experiments under optimal conditions with five times addition of cementation solution yielded a maximum unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of 810 kPa with laboratory grade CaCl2.2H2O and 780 kPa with calcium from lime liquor. The crystalline phases and morphology of the CaCO3 precipitate were analyzed by XRD, FTIR and SEM-EDX. The results showed the formation of more stable calcite in EICP with calcium obtained from lime liquor, while calcite and vaterite polymorphs were obtained with CaCl2.2H2O. Utilization of fleshing waste and lime liquor in EICP could reduce the pollution load and sludge formation that are generated during the pre-tanning operations of leather manufacturing. The results indicated the viability of process to achieve cost effective and sustainable biocementation for large scale applications.

Network-Agnostic Adaptive PQ Adjustment Control for Grid Voltage Regulation in PV Systems

The service of grid voltage regulation is required nowadays from inverter-based resources (IBRs) particularly at the lower voltage level. In the transmission network, this is easily managed by leveraging solely the reactive power (Q) capability of the IBR, but in distribution networks that are mix of <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$L$</tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$r$</tex-math></inline-formula> the voltage magnitude is coupled with both active (P) and reactive power injection. There are methods in the literature designed for these cases that utilize both P and Q in voltage regulation, but they usually require network and load data, which may not be readily available. Furthermore, they often disregard an apparent nonmonotonic relation between the inverter terminal voltage and the P/Q ratio risking instability. To fill this gap, this article introduces a network-agnostic P–Q adjustment technique for photovoltaic (PV) systems or other IBRs. The proposed technique tracks in a step-like manner the reference voltage set point if it is feasible, or the maximum grid voltage otherwise. This allows identification of the critical P/Q ratio without any prior information at the cost of limited voltage ripple due to a variable step-size strategy implemented. The superior performance of the proposed scheme is validated through simulations in MATLAB-Simulink in a reduced UKGDS 95-bus system and through lab experiments on a scaled down laboratory grade prototype.

Macroalgal-Derived Alginate Soil Amendments for Water Retention, Nutrient Release Rate Reduction, and Soil pH Control.

There is a need to develop sustainably sourced products that can address the needs for improved water retention in soils, slow the release rate of fertilizers (to prevent leaching and downstream eutrophication), and control soil pH for use in agriculture. This article investigates the use of industrial kelp solid waste extracted alginate (IW) slurries to produce soil amendment beads, potentially improving soil water retention, acting as slow-release fertilizers (SRFs), and combined with limestone controls soil pH levels. Alginate extracted from the IW was determined to have a lower guluronic (G) to mannuronic (M) acid ratio than pure laboratory-grade (LG) alginate (0.36 vs. 0.53). Hydrogels produced from the IW alginate achieved significantly higher equilibrium swelling ratios (1 wt% IW = 1.80) than LG hydrogels with similar concentrations (1 wt% LG = 0.61). Hydrogel beads were impregnated with ammonium nitrate and potassium chloride to produce potential SRFs. The release rates of K+ and NO3− nutrients from the produced SRFs into deionised water were decreased by one order of magnitude compared to pure salts. The nutrient release rates of the IW-based SRFs were shown to be similar to SRFs produced from LG alginate. Hydrogel beads were impregnated with limestone, and it was determined that the alginate-based hydrogels could significantly decrease the nutrient release rate. Using industrial kelp solid waste extracted alginate slurries shows potential for soil amendments production. This report emphasises, for the first time, the use of a crude alginate product in soil amendment formation. Further, it demonstrates slower release rates and soil pH control.

Rates of laboratory adverse events by course in paediatric leukaemia ascertained with automated electronic health record extraction: a retrospective cohort study from the Children's Oncology Group

Adverse events are often misreported in clinical trials, leading to an incomplete understanding of toxicities. We aimed to test automated laboratory adverse event ascertainment and grading (via the ExtractEHR automated package) to assess its scalability and define adverse event rates for children with acute myeloid leukaemia and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. For this retrospective cohort study from the Children's Oncology Group (COG), we included patients aged 0-22 years treated for acute myeloid leukaemia or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Atlanta, GA, USA) from Jan 1, 2010, to Nov 1, 2018, at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA, USA) from Jan 1, 2011, to Dec 31, 2014, and at the Texas Children's Hospital (Houston, TX, USA) from Jan 1, 2011, to Dec 31, 2014. The ExtractEHR automated package acquired, cleaned, and graded laboratory data as per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5 for 22 commonly evaluated grade 3-4 adverse events (fatal events were not evaluated) with numerically based CTCAE definitions. Descriptive statistics tabulated adverse event frequencies. Adverse events ascertained by ExtractEHR were compared to manually reported adverse events for patients enrolled in two COG trials (AAML1031, NCT01371981; AALL0932, NCT02883049). Analyses were restricted to protocol-defined chemotherapy courses (induction I, induction II, intensification I, intensification II, and intensification III for acute myeloid leukaemia; induction, consolidation, interim maintenance, delayed intensification, and maintenance for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia). Laboratory adverse event data from 1077 patients (583 from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, 200 from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and 294 from the Texas Children's Hospital) who underwent 4611 courses (549 for acute myeloid leukaemia and 4062 for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia) were extracted, processed, and graded. Of the 166 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, 86 (52%) were female, 80 (48%) were male, 96 (58%) were White, and 132 (80%) were non-Hispanic. Of the 911 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, 406 (45%) were female, 505 (55%) were male, 596 (65%) were White, and 641 (70%) were non-Hispanic. Patients with acute myeloid leukaemia had the most adverse events during induction I and intensification II. Hypokalaemia (one [17%] of six to 75 [48%] of 156 courses) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) increased (13 [10%] of 134 to 27 [17%] of 156 courses) were the most prevalent non-haematological adverse events in patients with acute myeloid leukaemia, as identified by ExtractEHR. Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia had the greatest number of adverse events during induction and maintenance (eight adverse events with prevalence ≥10%; induction and maintenance: anaemia, platelet count decreased, white blood cell count decreased, neutrophil count decreased, lymphocyte count decreased, ALT increased, and hypocalcaemia; induction: hypokalaemia; maintenance: aspartate aminotransferase [AST] increased and blood bilirubin increased), as identified by ExtractEHR. 187 (85%) of 220 total comparisons in 22 adverse events in four AAML1031 and six AALL0923 courses were substantially higher with ExtractEHR than COG-reported adverse event rates for adverse events with a prevalence of at least 2%. ExtractEHR is scalable and accurately defines laboratory adverse event rates for paediatric acute leukaemia; moreover, ExtractEHR seems to detect higher rates of laboratory adverse events than those reported in COG trials. These rates can be used for comparisons between therapies and to counsel patients treated on or off trials about the risks of chemotherapy. ExtractEHR-based adverse event ascertainment can improve reporting of laboratory adverse events in clinical trials. US National Institutes of Health, St Baldrick's Foundation, and Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.

The importance of wavelength selection in on-scene identification of drugs of abuse with portable near-infrared spectroscopy

Both the increasing volume and diversity of drugs-of-abuse encountered by investigation services necessitates the need for fast on-scene detectors to detect and identify a broad range of substances. Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is suitable for presumptive drugs testing by miniaturized sensors implemented in portable devices. Currently, a myriad of different portable NIR spectrometers is available that utilize different wavelength ranges. This study presents a comparison of NIR spectra of frequently occuring drugs analyzed by five different devices. A 350 – 2500 nm range laboratory grade VIS-NIR spectrometer was used to gain insight in spectral ranges diagnostic for substances relevant in forensic science. Obtained spectra were compared to the output of portable spectrometers operating in the 740 – 1070 nm, 950 – 1650 nm, 1550 – 1950 nm and 1300 – 2600 nm range. The results yielded novel insights in the usability of individual spectrometers by visual inspection of NIR spectra as well as comparative statistics with reference substances. For MDMA detection, an instrument capable of detecting a highly abundant and specific peak at 2020 nm is beneficial whereas colored samples are more difficult to detect by lower wavelength range sensors. Relatively pure, lightly colored samples may be correctly characterized by all sensors. These findings may aid NIR spectrometer selection in forensic practice as well as future studies on instrument selectivity or cross-platform calibration transfer.

Detecting Physiological Responses Using Multimodal Earbud Sensors.

Continuous stress exposure negatively impacts mental and physical well-being. Physiological arousal due to stress affects heartbeat frequency, changes breathing pattern and peripheral temperature, among several other bodily responses. Traditionally stress detection is performed by collecting signals such as electrocardiogram (ECG), respiration, and skin conductance response using uncomfortable sensors such as a chestband. In this study, we use earbuds that passively measure photoplethysmography (PPG), core body temperature, and inertial measurements. We have conducted a lab study exposing 18 participants to an evaluated speech task and additional tasks aimed at increasing stress or promoting relaxation. We simultaneously collected PPG, ECG, impedance cardiography (ICG), and blood pressure using laboratory grade equipment as reference measurements. We show that the earbud PPG sensor can reliably capture heart rate and heart rate variability. We further show that earbud signals can be used to classify the physiological responses associated with stress with 91.30% recall, 80.52% precision, and 85.12% F1-score using a random forest classifier with leave-one-subject-out cross-validation. The accuracy can further be improved through multi-modal sensing. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using earbuds for passively monitoring users' physiological responses.

On-Campus Field Experiences Help Students to Learn and Enjoy Water Science During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Online modes of teaching and learning have gained increased attention following the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in education delivery trends likely to continue for the foreseeable future. It is therefore critical to understand the implications for student learning outcomes and their interest in or affinity towards the subject, particularly in water science classes, where educators have traditionally employed hands-on outdoor activities that are difficult to replicate online. In this study, we share our experiences adapting a field-based laboratory activity on groundwater to accommodate more than 700 students in our largest-enrollment general education course during the pandemic. As part of our adaptation strategy, we offered two versions of the same exercise, one in-person at the Mirror Lake Water Science Learning Laboratory, located on Ohio State University’s main campus, and one online. Although outdoor lab facilities have been used by universities since at least the 1970s, this research is novel in that 1) it considers not only student achievement but also affinity for the subject, 2) it is the first of its kind on The Ohio State University’s main campus, and 3) it was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time when most university classes were unable to take traditional field trips. We used laboratory grades and a survey to assess differences in student learning and affinity outcomes for in-person and online exercises. Students who completed the in-person exercise earned better scores than their online peers. For example, in Fall 2021, the median lab score for the in-person group was 97.8%, compared to 91.7% for the online group. The in-person group also reported a significant (p &amp;lt; 0.05) increase in how much they enjoyed learning about water, while online students reported a significant decrease. Online students also reported a significant decrease in how likely they would be to take another class in water or earth sciences. It is unclear whether the in-person exercise had better learning and affinity outcomes because of the hands-on, outdoor qualities of the lab or because the format allowed greater interaction among peers and teaching instructors (TAs). To mitigate disparities in student learning outcomes between the online and in-person course delivery, instructors will implement future changes to the online version of the lab to enhance interactions among students and TAs.