Laboratory Management Research Articles

Assessment of a large language model's utility in helping pathology professionals answer general knowledge pathology questions.

To assess the utility and performance of the large language model ChatGPT 4.0 regarding accuracy, completeness, and its potential as a time-saving tool for pathologists and laboratory directors. A deidentified database of questions previously sent to pathology residents from health care providers was used as a source of general knowledge-type pathology questions. These questions were submitted to the large language model and the responses graded by subject matter experts in different pathology subspecialties. The grading criteria assessed accuracy, completeness, and the potential time savings for helping the pathologist craft the response. Overall, respondents thought that most of the answers would take less than 5 minutes of additional work to be used (85%). Accuracy and completeness for the 61 questions was high, with 98% of responses being at least "completely or mostly accurate" and 82% of responses "containing all relevant information." Of the respondents, 97% stated that the response would have "zero or near-zero potential for medical harm," and all thought the tool had potential to save time in constructing answers to health care providers' queries. Performance was similar in both Anatomic Pathology (AP) and Clinical Pathology (CP), with the only exception being some relevant information was excluded in 46% of AP answers vs only 10% in CP (P < .01). ChatGPT version 4.0 gave responses that were predominantly accurate and complete for general knowledge-type pathology questions. With further research and when reviewed by a pathologist or laboratorian, this could facilitate its use as a pathologist's aid in answering questions from health care providers.

Naked data: curating Wikidata as an artistic medium to interpret prehistoric figurines

ABSTRACT In 2019, Digital Curation Lab Director Toni Sant and the artist Enrique Tabone started collaborating on a research project exploring the visualization of specific data sets through Wikidata for artistic practice. An art installation called Naked Data was developed from this collaboration and exhibited at the Stanley Picker Gallery in Kingson, London, during the DRHA 2022 conference. Through data analysis, employing Wikidata tools, this creative work employs a data set depicting prehistoric female figurines held by Heritage Malta. The artistic research aims to develop a creative workflow model for processing essential information about art collections, museum policies, and ways to engage with cultural heritage through data. This article outlines the key elements involved in this practice-based research work and shares the artistic process involving the visualizing of the scientific data with special attention to the aesthetic qualities afforded by this technological engagement.

Laboratory and clinical management capacity for invasive fungal infections: the Italian landscape.

We assessed the laboratory diagnosis and treatment of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in Italy to detect limitations and potential for improvement. The survey was available online at www.clinicalsurveys.net/uc/IFI management capacity/, and collected variables such as (a) institution profile, (b) perceptions of IFD in the respective institution, (c) microscopy, (d) culture and fungal identification, (e) serology, (f) antigen detection, (g) molecular tests, (h) susceptibility testing and (i) therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). The laboratory capacity study received responses from 49 Italian centres, with an equitable geographical distribution of locations. The majority of respondents (n = 36, 73%) assessed the occurrence of IFD as moderate-high, with Aspergillus spp. being the pathogen of highest concern, followed by Candida spp. and Mucorales. Although 46 (94%) of the institutions had access to microscopy, less than half of them performed direct microscopy on clinical specimens always when IFD was suspected. Cultures were available in all assessed laboratories, while molecular testing and serology were available in 41 (83%), each. Antigen detection tests and antifungal drugs were also generally accessible (> 90%) among the participating institutions. Nevertheless, access to TDM was limited (n = 31, 63%), with a significant association established between therapeutic drug monitoring availability and higher gross domestic product per capita. Apart from TDM, Italy is adequately prepared for the diagnosis and treatment of IFD, with no significant disparities depending on gross domestic product. Future efforts may need to focus on enhancing the availability and application of direct microscopic methods, as well as TDM, to promote optimal treatment and better patient outcomes.

Open-source workflow design and management software to interrogate duckweed growth conditions and stress responses

Duckweeds, a family of floating aquatic plants, are ideal model plants for laboratory experiments because they are small, easy to cultivate, and reproduce quickly. Duckweed cultivation, for the purposes of scientific research, requires that lineages are maintained as continuous populations of asexually propagating fronds, so research teams need to develop optimized cultivation conditions and coordinate maintenance tasks for duckweed stocks. Additionally, computational image analysis is proving to be a powerful duckweed research tool, but researchers lack software tools to assist with data collection and storage in a way that can feed into scripted data analysis. We set out to support these processes using a laboratory management software called Aquarium, an open-source application developed to manage laboratory inventory and plan experiments. We developed a suite of duckweed cultivation and experimentation operation types in Aquarium, which we then integrated with novel data analysis scripts. We then demonstrated the efficacy of our system with a series of image-based growth assays, and explored how our framework could be used to develop optimized cultivation protocols. We discuss the unexpected advantages and the limitations of this approach, suggesting areas for future software tool development. In its current state, our approach helps to bridge the gap between laboratory implementation and data analytical software for duckweed biologists and builds a foundation for future development of end-to-end computational tools in plant science.

Patient-based pre-classified real-time quality control (PCRTQC)

BackgroundPatient-based real-time quality control (PBRTQC) has gained increasing attention in clinical laboratory management. Although its valuable characteristics complement traditional quality control measures, its performance and practical application have faced scrutiny. In this study, patient-based pre-classified real-time quality control (PCRTQC), an extended approach was devised to enhance real-time quality control protocols. MethodsPCRTQC distinguishes itself by incorporating an additional patient pre-classification step utilising the OPTICS algorithm, thus addressing interference from diverse patient types. The complete set of patient test results obtained from a clinical chemistry analyser at The First Hospital of China Medical University in 2021 was utilised. Constant error (CE) and proportional error (PE) were introduced as analytical errors. Four analytes were selected to evaluate the PCRTQC, measuring probability for false rejection (Pfr) and the average number of patient samples until error detection (ANPed). Relevant error detection charts were generated. ResultsThe PCRTQC outperformed regression-adjusted real-time quality control (RARTQC) based on the ANPed by approximately 50% for both the CE and PE, compared to the RARTQC, particularly for the total allowable error threshold. ConclusionThe pre-classification step effectively reduced inter-individual variation and improved data preprocessing, filtering, and modelling. The PCRTQC is a robust framework for real-time quality control research.

Utilization of Desktop (Mobile) Applications Borrowing Laboratory Equipment at the IKesT Muhammadiyah Palembang Integrated Laboratory

Utilization of information technology in all fields is a must to assist in operational activities in processing data quickly and precisely. Each IKesT Muhammadiyah Palembang health laboratory has assets in the form of goods or equipment to support practicum activities and the learning process of the laboratory system. In every semester of lectures there will be practicum activities for several subjects and will always involve laboratory assistants to prepare and teach practicum. where the borrowing process is still manual. Application is a subclass of computer software that directly utilizes computer capabilities to perform a task desired by the user. the author will build a system for borrowing goods and equipment at the Muhammadiyah Palembang IKesT Laboratory Management Unit using a Desktop application using Laravel 8

Mechanical Impacts from Cycling on Silicon Calendar Aging Measurements

Much of the silicon anodes for lithium ion batteries literature concentrates on the volume expansion of silicon leading to poor cycle life. Recently, the poor calendar life of silicon has become more of a focus. Calendar aging is typically measured by long periods of open circuit voltage (OCV) that are intermittently interrupted with a reference performance test (RPT) to quantify performance and capacity fade. The United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC protocol calls for an RPT once a month with daily voltage pulses to keep the state of charge the same during the rest. If the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is unstable and there is substantial volumetric changes during cycling, as is the case with silicon, the frequency and amount of cycling interruption may impact how calendar life is quantified. It was hypothesized that an SEI that equilibrates during a rest may be disrupted enough during RPT cycling that the SEI passivation is decreased and the start of the next rest will result in greater irreversible lithium inventory consumption to rebuild the SEI that was lost during cycling. To test this, a specially designed variable OCV-RPT protocol was applied to silicon – NMC622 full cells. It was found that for all rest durations, time since assembly, rather than cycling, dominated capacity fade, indicating that calendar aging is likely primarily governed by chemical SEI degradation during rest rather than mechanical SEI degradation during RPTs.This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office under the Silicon Consortium Project, directed by Brian Cunningham, and managed by Anthony Burrell. This work was conducted in part by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, the manager and operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission Laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

SECM as a Direct Method to Track Changes in Silicon Passivation

Silicon is a promising next-generation anode to increase energy density over current state of the art graphite anodes. Despite much progress in improving the cycling of silicon electrodes, the calendar life is still problematic. In this work, scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used to track the reactivity of the surface of a silicon thin film over time to better understand the role of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) during calendar aging. The passivation of silicon was found to decrease with increasing time and potential relative to Li/Li+. Along with the decrease in passivation with time, the homogeneity of passivation decreases. Despite some local “hot spots” of reactivity, within resolution limits (tip radius of 12.5 μm), the changes in passivation seemed to be global SEI failure rather than local (for example, cracking). In all cases, the delithiated silicon was less passivated than the lithiated silicon. When delithiated up to 1.5 V versus Li/Li+ the surface was found to be more reactive than the pristine silicon surface. This could potentially be the result of destabilization of the surface by SEI oxidation. When the cell was only delithiated up to 0.75 V versus Li/Li+, the surface was still passivating, but still less so than the lithiated surface. This indicates that the potential of the anode should be kept at or below ∼ 0.75 V Li/Li+ for half cell and full cell cycling to prevent decreasing SEI passivation.This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Office under the Silicon Consortium Project, directed by Brian Cunningham, and managed by Anthony Burrell. This work was conducted in part by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, the manager and operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission Laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Prediction Analysis of Laboratory Equipment Depreciation Using Supervised Learning Methods

Asset management in Indonesia still poses problems in terms of securing state-owned property. These concerns make it difficult for analysts to predict laboratory equipment depreciation. Therefore, this research aims to create a new model to address this issue. Additionally, to support laboratory managers in gaining insights, a technology-based framework in the form of a laboratory equipment depreciation prediction model has been developed. A new model has been created in this research, which integrates supervised learning models with linear regression algorithms, and subsequently employs a waterfall system development approach. The testing results of the model for predicting laboratory equipment depreciation showed a high level of accuracy, reaching 93%. Furthermore, the comparison between the prediction model and the laboratory equipment data tested directly by technicians demonstrated an accuracy rate of 100%. Finally, the numerical results demonstrate that our framework provides a valuable solution to the difficulties in predicting laboratory equipment depreciation, offering an innovative and practical approach to laboratory equipment maintenance.

A New Approach to Advertising Education: The Transformative Impact of a Collaborative Research Laboratory

This paper explores the potential of a collaborative research laboratory to enhance advertising education by catalyzing student learning, engagement, and faculty interaction. By offering a comprehensive blueprint through this lab, we illuminate how institutions can leverage the benefits of such labs through immersing students in practical consumer and advertising research, audience analysis, and industry-aligned research tools and methodologies. We delve into a variety of engagement methods, ranging from lab-bounded courses, faculty-guided research projects to special topic workshops, and expert guest lectures. Despite the significant long-term investment required, this study underscores the lab’s potential to draw new students, faculty, corporate partners, and community members due to its applicability to the industry and rich networking opportunities. Furthermore, we address challenges tied to the lab operation and management, such as faculty workload, while acknowledging the lab’s promising potential as a focal point of advertising education.

An interactive platform for formative assessment and immediate feedback in laboratory courses

Abstract The aim of this work is to use the laboratory platform as a unique tool for engaging and encouraging the students to develop critical thinking and guided self-evaluation abilities. Moreover, the fact that the teaching process in the lab is held in small groups enables the detection of difficulties in an early stage, thus allowing an immediate feedback and relevant assistance. Taking advantage of this unique environment we have developed a rubric score based interface for students and teaching assistants (TAs) aimed to encourage student’s reflection and engagement while enabling a rational and valid grading of students’ performance by the TAs. The rubric consists of eight parameters which are evaluated in each lab session, both by the student and the TA. Following the lab session, a comparison of both evaluations is performed by the lab manager thus enabling real time intervention and formative assessment, along with important insights on the learning process of the student. Our preliminary studies, performed in Chemistry laboratories, indicated that this methodology enabled an efficient formative assessment of the learning process during the course. This tool might help students to rapidly improve their performance in laboratory courses, by stimulation of a continuous reflection process.

LABNET

The LabNet project represents a transformative initiative aimed at modernizing laboratory testing through the strategic integration of cutting-edge technologies. By implementing the innovative Laboratory at Home system, driven by the dynamic MERN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js), this project has successfully streamlined the entire laboratory workflow, resulting in enhanced efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility. The transition from traditional paper-based methods to a digitized platform has significantly reduced turnaround time, leading to timely delivery of critical test results to healthcare providers and patients. The seamless integration of laboratory instruments further amplifies system efficiency, automating data capture and minimizing errors. With a steadfast focus on patient outcomes, the LabNet project facilitates real-time communication among laboratory staff, healthcare providers, and patients, ultimately empowering informed decision-making and contributing to elevated healthcare services. This project embodies a revolutionary shift in laboratory management, embracing the power of digitization and automation to provide precise, timely results, and holds the potential to redefine industry standards while enhancing patient satisfaction.

Biosafety risk of laboratory-acquired infection and countermeasures based on human factors

Biosafety of pathogenic microbiology laboratories generally highlights the use of protective equipment, procedures, and operating practices to protect personnel and the environment from potentially hazardous biological materials. Under the current complex situation where traditional and non-traditional biosafety issues coexist, laboratory-acquired infection (LAI) of pathogenic microorganisms may cause illness, disability and even death. Pathogenic microorganisms may also be carried to the surrounding environment, causing community infection, which should be taken seriously. Analysis of LAI cases helps to understand the causes of exposure and learn lessons from post-exposure prophylaxis to be prepared and even prevent problems before they happen. Human factors cause most LAIs, laboratory activities related to aerosolization, laboratory activities related to sharps materials, low ability of personnel performing the work, and deficiencies in laboratory facilities or management are the four main factors. This study focuses on the human factors that lead to LAI, combined with confirmed cases, discusses the biosafety risks of pathogenic microorganism laboratories, reviews the development and evolution of biosafety laboratories and the current protection measures for experimenters, and accordingly puts forward countermeasures and suggestions.

연구실 안전리더십 측정도구 개발

The purpose of this study is to develop a laboratory safety leadership measurement tool. In this study, safety leadership was defined as a series of actions in which laboratory managers establish safety plans based on safety communication with research workers based on their interest and belief in safety, and all laboratory members establish the importance of safety. This measurement tool was finally developed through the stages of literature review, factor and item development, and validity analysis. A survey was conducted to confirm the validity of the measurement tool, and a total of 404 copies were analyzed. As a result of the validity verification, the safety leadership measurement tool consisted of 14 questions of four factors, and the four factors were safety communication, safety interest, safety belief and planning, safety behavior, and participation. For each question, a 6-point Likert scale was used.

Streamlining Physics Laboratory Management: An Information System Solution

This study investigates the potential of information system solutions to streamline the management of physics laboratories in educational institutions. With the aim of enhancing operational efficiency, resource utilization, and overall student experience, the study adopts the Rapid Application Development (RAD) methodology and leverages Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD) principles. Common challenges in laboratory management, including resource allocation, communication, safety compliance, and data management, are addressed through the development of an integrated information system. Tests data and user feedback demonstrate the system's effectiveness in optimizing laboratory operations and enhancing user engagement. The study contributes insights into the benefits of technology-driven solutions in educational settings and highlights the importance of user-centric design and safety integration. The successful application of RAD and OOAD methodologies underscores the potential for streamlined educational processes and administrative efficiency in modern learning environments.

Ethical decision-making and role conflict in managing a scientific laboratory

ABSTRACT Scientists who manage research laboratories often face ethical dilemmas related to conflicts between their different roles, such as researcher, mentor, entrepreneur, and manager. It is not known how often uncertainty about conflicting role obligations leads scientists to engage in unethical conduct, but this probably occurs more often than many people would like to think. In this paper, we reflect on ethical decision-making in scientific laboratory management with special attention to how different roles create conflicting obligations and expectations that may produce moral uncertainty and lead to violations of research norms, especially when combined with self-interest and other factors that increase the risk of misbehavior. We also offer some suggestions and guidance for investigators and research institutions.

Glove disinfection and aseptic technique: Creating a schema for the cleanroom and laboratory

There are different elements that contribute to good aseptic technique within the cleanroom and the laboratory. One such element is the donning of gloves (1), handling items appropriately, and keeping gloves regularly disinfected (2). Glove disinfection is an essential step for bacteriological control, although how successful control is maintained is dependent upon the type of disinfectant (these are generally alcohols for gloved hands) (3), frequency of application, volume of disinfectant, application technique and the contact time. Other variables include purchasing gloves of a suitable material and design, and appropriate training. Aa an added control with more critical areas, the gloves are pre sterilised before donning (often purchased sterile by radiation or ethylene oxide). As with other types of disinfection, the aim is not ‘sterilisation’ but to bring any bacterial density present on the gloves down to a level that is as low as possible (what is sometimes referred to as the "irreducible minimum") (4). Assessment, when required, is commonly through the use of agar contact plates onto the fingertips of each gloved hand (four fingers and the thumb) to create the ‘finger plate’ or ‘finger dab’. To avoid false negatives, the agar needs to be formulated with an appropriate disinfectant neutraliser. For cleanroom and laboratory managers seeking to maximise the maintenance of asepsis, glove control is an important element. This should take the form of a good practice schema and for this to be transitioned into a training module, supported by regular prompts in practice. In terms of what such a schema should look like, this article appraises the research that underpins an appropriate glove ‘sanitisation’ schema. This includes the central concerns of when and how effective glove disinfection is to be achieved (5). The key findings are that a 30 second disinfection time is suitable for both cleanroom and laboratory operations, provided a suitable technique is deployed and an alcohol-based disinfectant used. However, controls need to be in place to avoid the over disinfection of gloves since repeated applications increase the likelihood of microperforations occurring and thereby effective glove disinfection needs to be supported by a regular glove change procedure.

European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society technical statement: standardisation of the measurement of lung volumes, 2023 update.

This document updates the 2005 European Respiratory Society (ERS) and American Thoracic Society (ATS) technical standard for the measurement of lung volumes. The 2005 document integrated the recommendations of an ATS/ERS task force with those from an earlier National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute workshop that led to the publication of background papers between 1995 and 1999 and a consensus workshop report with more in-depth descriptions and discussion. Advancements in hardware and software, new research and emerging approaches have necessitated an update to the 2005 technical standard to guide laboratory directors, physiologists, operators, pulmonologists and manufacturers. Key updates include standardisation of linked spirometry, new equipment quality control and validation recommendations, generalisation of the multiple breath washout concept beyond nitrogen, a new acceptability and grading system with addition of example tracings, and a brief review of imaging and other new techniques to measure lung volumes. Future directions and key research questions are also noted.

Examining barriers to implementing a surgical-site infection bundle.

Surgical-site infections (SSIs) can be catastrophic. Bundles of evidence-based practices can reduce SSIs but can be difficult to implement and sustain. We sought to understand the implementation of SSI prevention bundles in 6 US hospitals. Qualitative study. We conducted in-depth semistructured interviews with personnel involved in bundle implementation and conducted a thematic analysis of the transcripts. The study was conducted in 6 US hospitals: 2 academic tertiary-care hospitals, 3 academic-affiliated community hospitals, 1 unaffiliated community hospital. In total, 30 hospital personnel participated. Participants included surgeons, laboratory directors, clinical personnel, and infection preventionists. Bundle complexity impeded implementation. Other barriers varied across services, even within the same hospital. Multiple strategies were needed, and successful strategies in one service did not always apply in other areas. However, early and sustained interprofessional collaboration facilitated implementation. The evidence-based SSI bundle is complicated and can be difficult to implement. One implementation process probably will not work for all settings. Multiple strategies were needed to overcome contextual and implementation barriers that varied by setting and implementation climate. Appropriate adaptations for specific settings and populations may improve bundle adoption, fidelity, acceptability, and sustainability.

Current challenges of university laboratory: Characteristics of human factors and safety management system deficiencies based on accident statistics

Introduction: In recent years, with the rapid development of university laboratory construction, frequent laboratory accidents have aroused widespread concern. There is an urgent need to improve laboratory safety management's effectiveness further, enhance laboratory accident prevention ability, and reduce the occurrence of accidents. Method: Based on the accident causation theory, this paper uses the accident analysis path of 24Model and the logical idea of WBA (Why-Because-Analysis) to statistically analyze the causative factors of 64 typical college laboratory fire and explosion accidents and find out the defects of current college laboratory management. Results: The study showed that unsafe human actions at the individual level were the most critical factors affecting laboratory safety management, with a high frequency of violations of experimental procedures (105 times) and managers' failure to perform their supervisory duties (98 times); low safety awareness and insufficient safety knowledge among laboratory personnel were key factors triggering unsafe actions. At the organizational level, the lack of training programs (92 times) and the lack of systematic procedures (106 times) are the weaknesses of the laboratory safety management system in general in all universities; the lack of safety culture construction is the root cause of laboratory management deficiencies. Conclusions: Based on the above statistical results, and taking into account the characteristics of university laboratories themselves, the root causes of poor safety are specifically analyzed and preventive measures are proposed in six areas to address the key causes of accidents. Practical Applications: The results of this study are essential for improving the ability to prevent accidents in flammable and explosive laboratories in universities.