Laboratory Resources Research Articles

ЛАПЧАТКА МУЛДАШЕВА POTENTILLA MULDASCHEVII KNIAZ. ET SEMERIKOV (ROSACEAE) – НОВЫЙ ЭНДЕМИЧНЫЙ ВИД ФЛОРЫ РЕСПУБЛИКИ БАШКОРТОСТАН

of the Southern Urals, candidate of biological sciences, senior researcher at the laboratory of Geobotany and Plant Resources of the Ufa Institute of biology of the Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, honored ecologist of the Russian Federation Albert Akramovich Muldashev in connection with his 70th anniversary, which was celebrated on August 25, 2024. The species Potentilla muldaschevii Kniaz. et Semerikov (family Rosaceae) is a narrow-local endemic of the Southern Urals (Uchalinsky Uplands). This species was described in 2006 from the territory of the Republic of Bashkortostan (RB) by famous scientists from Yekaterinburg M.S. Knyazev and V.L. Semerikov [2006]. The species is included in the Red Data Book of the RB 3rd edition [2021] with the regional protection status: 1) rarity status category: 1 – endangered species; 2) endangered status category: endangered species (EN – Endangered); 3) conservation status: II priority (it is necessary to implement one or more special measures to preserve the species in the Southern Urals). This species is very rare. In the RB, the species is known from 3 points in the Uchalinsky district: the Maly Irendyk ridge west of the village Tungatarovo (locus classicus), ridges to the north and south of the village of Polyakovka [Knyazev, Semerikov, 2006; materials of the LE Herbarium and the SVER Herbarium; Red Data Book…, 2021]. In the Chelyabinsk region, the species is found on the limestone Ustinovskie cliffs along the right bank of the Miass River (Miass district) [materials of the CSUH Herbarium; Knyazev, Semerikov, 2006; Red Data Book…, 2017].

Fluoride Levels in Drinking Water Across Lahore District Towns and Their Link to Dental Fluorosis (2022)

Objective: To measure the concentration of fluoride levels in drinking water and its association with dental fluorosis in various towns of Lahore district, Pakistan in the year 2022. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 27th September to 30th December, 2022 across nine towns in Lahore, where 100 drinking water samples were collected from randomly selected tube wells. The tube wells were chosen using random number tables from a list provided by WASA. Additionally, 400 residents aged 25 years and above (4 residents per area) were interviewed and clinically examined for dental fluorosis in the areas corresponding to the water sample collection sites. Fluoride concentrations in all water samples were analyzed using the spectrophotometric method at the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) laboratory in Lahore. Results: With 1.5 mg/l as the recommended fluoride level in drinking water, the fluoride concentration ranged from 0.50 to 1.63 mg/l, with a mean of 0.58 ± 0.33 mg/l among individuals with dental fluorosis compared to those without. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.013). Dental fluorosis was observed in 189 participants (47.3%), of whom 48.8% were male and 39.7% were female. Conclusion: Fluoride levels in drinking water exceeding the recommended limit were significantly associated with a higher frequency of dental fluorosis among residents. Keywords: Fluoride concentration, Drinking water, Dental fluorosis, Dean’s fluorosis index, tube-wells.

Bridging bench to bedside: The evolution and impact of translational research in oncology. The experience of the Gruppo Oncologico Italiano di Ricerca Clinica (GOIRC).

The Gruppo Oncologico Italiano di Ricerca Clinica (GOIRC) is Italy's first cooperative oncology research group, evolving to conduct academic clinical trials since 1985. With 167 publications and collaborations with national and international partners, GOIRC has significantly impacted clinical practices. The group emphasizes training and has developed robust internal standard operative procedures (SOPs) to enhance data quality. GOIRC is poised to tackle future challenges in translational research, focusing on innovative trial designs, precision medicine, and leveraging different laboratory resources across its 42 units.

How cardiac computed tomography angiography and positron emission tomography play complementary roles in a Practice's business model.

Cardiovascular imaging is fundamental and crucial for providing accurate diagnosis and guiding treatment. There are unique clinical benefits and uses of Cardiac CT as well as cardiac PET. There have been advances in cardiac PET as well as Cardiac CT which have led to novel applications. These novel applications also expand clinical practice and increase downstream referrals, testing and procedures which therefore increases business revenue. Cardiac CT adoption in practice expands business by incrementally increased use in a larger patient population. Cardiac CT does not decrease utility of other imaging modalities but ensures more appropriate use of other imaging modalities. There are upfront costs that need to be considered when adopting cardiac CT or cardiac PET. Although the upfront costs for both modalities are high and the Medicare reimbursement of cardiac CT relative to cardiac PET is lower, the ability to perform five times more cardiac CT studies per day compared with cardiac PET studies offsets the decreased reimbursement for cardiac CT. Additionally, there is a good return on investment for cardiac CT especially resulting from increased downstream testing and referrals for procedures and cardiology clinic follow up and from more efficient use of cardiac catheterization lab resources. Cardiac PET also allows for more targeted revascularization in multivessel CAD. Adopting both modalities improves patient outcomes, streamlines care, and increases downstream revenue.

A New Method for Creating Structured High‐Performance Current Collectors for Electrochemical Applications

A significant challenge in many electrochemical systems is finding a stable, high‐performing current collector material that is mechanically robust, adaptable in form factor, and free of precious metals. Titanium electrodes are robust in many of these regards but exhibit poor charge transfer performance due to self‐passivation. Herein, a new materials processing paradigm based on the titanium/titanium nitride (Ti/TiN) system which allows for robust, stable, and low‐resistance current collectors of arbitrary form factor is presented. Specifically, a gas‐nitriding process for 3D‐printed titanium electrodes that results in a 20‐fold improvement of charge transfer characteristics relative to the untreated material is outlined. The ability to utilize 3D‐structured current collectors with a net 40‐fold improvement in performance over nonstructured electrodes is further demonstrated. This novel approach to creating electrochemical current collectors requires minimal laboratory resources and can be widely adapted for a variety of applications, including desalination, electrolysis, energy storage, and basic research. The work described herein provides both a means for accelerating research and opens the door to hierarchical tuneability for enhanced performance.

Hurdling obstructions on instructional management of science teachers in schools with challenging laboratory resources

Lacking the resources for hands-on scientific experimentation could impact both students' educational experiences and their long-term proficiency. Without access to laboratories, students miss out on crucial opportunities to engage in practical applications of theoretical concepts, hindering their ability to comprehend scientific principles fully. The purpose of this exploratory study was to analyze the experiences of science teachers (n=20) from last-mile schools in the Philippines. Narratives from science teachers were the primary data in this study being collected through one-on-one interview. Thematic analysis revealed that the science teachers were challenged by insufficient resources available in their laboratories while others conduct experiments only in their classrooms while having class. Adapting to their concerns, teachers were able to maintain their instructional competence through hands-on demonstrations, visual and audio-visual presentations, interactive activities, and printout instruction. For science teachers, addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts from policymakers, educational institutions, and stakeholders to ensure equitable access to resources and professional development opportunities for teachers. The study emphasized the need for sustainable solutions to bridge the gap between resource-rich and resource-poor schools, ultimately enhancing students' educational experiences and long-term proficiency in science.

An artificial intelligence-enabled consumables tracking system for medical laboratories

Abstract The medical laboratory plays a crucial role within a hospital setting and is responsible for the examination and analysis of patient specimens to accurately diagnose various ailments. The burden on medical laboratory personnel has significantly increased, particularly in the context of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. Worldwide, the implementation of comprehensive and extended COVID-19 screening programs has placed a significant strain on healthcare professionals. This burden has led to exhaustion among medical employees, limiting their ability to effectively track laboratory resources, such as medical equipment and consumables. Therefore, this study proposed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based solution that contributes to a more efficient and less labor-intensive workflow for medical workers in laboratory settings. With the ultimate goal to reduce the burden on healthcare providers by streamlining the process of monitoring and managing these resources, the objective of this study is to design and develop an AI-based system for consumables tracking in medical laboratories. In this work, the effectiveness of two object detection models, namely, YOLOv5x6 and YOLOv8l, for the administration of consumables in medical laboratories was evaluated and analyzed. A total of 570 photographs were used to create the dataset, capturing the objects in a variety of settings. The findings indicate that both detection models demonstrate a notable capability to achieve a high mean average precision. This underscores the effectiveness of computer vision in the context of consumable goods detection scenarios and provides a reference for the application of real-time detection models in tracking systems within medical laboratories.

The Impact of PhET-Assisted Problem-Solving Model on Enhancing Students' Physics Problem-Solving Skills in Indonesian High Schools

This study investigates the impact of a PhET-assisted problem-solving model on high school students' physics problem-solving skills, especially in resource-limited educational settings in Indonesia. Conducted as a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design, the research involved 50 students from SMAN 10 Kendari, divided into an experimental group receiving instruction through the PhET-assisted model and a control group following traditional teaching methods. The intervention consisted of structured learning sessions incorporating PhET simulations, designed to engage students actively with physics concepts through virtual experiments. Data were collected using a 10-item problem-solving test and analyzed using a one-way ANOVA to determine the statistical significance of differences in performance between groups. Results revealed a significant improvement in the experimental group, with a mean increase of 47.91 points from pretest to posttest (M = 83.54, SD = 15.22) compared to the control group’s improvement of 39.11 points (M = 74.48, SD = 12.78). The ANOVA results (F = 23.526, p < 0.001) confirm that the PhET-assisted model significantly enhanced students' problem-solving skills. These findings suggest that PhET simulations can be an effective tool for improving physics learning outcomes in schools with limited access to laboratory resources. Integrating PhET simulations into the physics curriculum could provide students with accessible, interactive learning experiences that bridge the gap in traditional laboratory access, fostering a deeper understanding and application of physics concepts.

OCTOPUS: operation control system for task optimization and job parallelization via a user-optimal scheduler

The material acceleration platform, empowered by robotics and artificial intelligence, is a transformative approach for expediting material discovery processes across diverse domains. However, the development of an operating system for material acceleration platform faces challenges in simultaneously managing diverse experiments from multiple users. Specifically, when it is utilized by multiple users, the overlapping challenges of experimental modules or devices can lead to inefficiencies in both resource utilization and safety hazards. To overcome these challenges, we present an operation control system for material acceleration platform, namely, OCTOPUS, which is an acronym for operation control system for task optimization and job parallelization via a user-optimal scheduler. OCTOPUS streamlines experiment scheduling and optimizes resource utilization through integrating its interface node, master node and module nodes. Leveraging process modularization and a network protocol, OCTOPUS ensures the homogeneity, scalability, safety and versatility of the platform. In addition, OCTOPUS embodies a user-optimal scheduler. Job parallelization and task optimization techniques mitigate delays and safety hazards within realistic operational environments, while the closed-packing schedule algorithm efficiently executes multiple jobs with minimal resource waste. Copilot of OCTOPUS is developed to promote the reusability of OCTOPUS for potential users with their own sets of lab resources, which substantially simplifies the process of code generation and customization through GPT recommendations and client feedback. This work offers a solution to the challenges encountered within the platform accessed by multiple users, and thereby will facilitate its widespread adoption in material development processes.

Enhancing Chemistry Education Through The Integration of Rote Ndao Cultural Practices: An Ethnographic Exploration of Ethnochemistry

This study explores how integrating local cultural practices into chemistry education through ethnochemistry can provide a practical and relevant solution to these challenges. Conducted in Oeseli Village, a seven-day ethnographic study employed observations, interviews, and documentation to identify culturally significant products, such as Rote sugar, sopi (a traditional alcoholic beverage), and fried milk. These products were found to align with key chemistry concepts, including organic chemistry, fermentation, and particle interactions. By embedding these cultural assets into the chemistry curriculum, educators can enhance student engagement, contextualize learning, and overcome barriers imposed by the lack of traditional laboratory resources. The findings highlight the potential for using local traditions to foster a deeper understanding of chemistry while promoting science education that is both accessible and culturally relevant in remote regions like Rote Ndao. This approach encourages the development of a sustainable, localized educational model that can be adapted to other marginalized communities facing similar educational constraints.

Evaluating the Teaching of Physical Science Practical Work at a Selected Resource-Constrained Secondary School in Rundu Circuit, Kavango East Region

This study evaluated the teaching of Physical Science practical work at a resource-constrained secondary school in the Rundu Circuit, Kavango East region in Namibia. The research objectives were to assess the impact of practical work on learners’ academic performance in a resource-constrained community, identify the challenges faced by both teachers and learners in conducting practical activities, and propose strategies to address these challenges and improve the overall quality of science education. A qualitative research design was employed, with data collected through semi-structured interviews involving four Physical Science teachers. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis, with themes aligned to the research objectives. The findings revealed that the state of science practical work was poor due to a lack of sufficient laboratory equipment and resources. Other significant challenges identified included limited laboratory space, inadequate time allocation, overcrowded classrooms, a lack of motivation among learners, and insufficient background knowledge on practical work for learners. These challenges collectively impeded effective teaching and learning of science practical work. To overcome these issues, the study recommended providing adequate laboratory materials and constructing an additional laboratory to alleviate overcrowding. The study also further recommended the employment of laboratory technicians to assist teachers in organizing, planning and conducting practical activities more efficiently. Furthermore, the study suggested forming partnerships between schools to share laboratory facilities, as per Key Area 7 of the National Standard and Performance Indicators for Schools in Namibia, which emphasizes the importance of collaborative linkages within educational communities. By implementing these strategies, it was concluded that the quality of Physical Science practical work in resource-constrained schools could be significantly enhanced, leading to improved learner outcomes.

Cascade testing effectively identifies undiagnosed sickle cell disease in The Gambia: a quality improvement project.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) has a high mortality during childhood in many low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Early diagnosis improves outcomes but newborn screening is not well established in LMICs. Cascade testing may be feasible and effective in identifying undiagnosed SCD and carriers of haemoglobin (Hb) S. Quality improvement project using existing clinic and laboratory resources. The Haematology Clinic at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, Banjul, The Gambia. Families of index cases with SCD. Hb phenotype was determined in full or half-siblings of a SCD index case over a 6-week period using the HemoTypeSC test and confirmed by Hb electrophoresis. Identifying undiagnosed SCD. Of 102 families invited, 31 (30%) attended during the study period and 53 siblings were tested. Except for one indeterminate test, HemoType SC agreed with Hb electrophoresis. Ten (19%; 95% CI 10 to 32) siblings were diagnosed with HbSS, 25 (47%; 34 to 60) as carriers (HbAS) and 18 (34%; 23 to 48) were unaffected (HbAA). Some symptoms and signs of SCD occurred significantly more frequently in HbSS than in HbAA and HbAS, but none was sufficiently common to help in identifying children for testing. Cascade testing was effective in identifying undiagnosed HbSS as well as children carrying the sickle cell gene. In routine care settings in LMICs, cascade testing facilitated by point-of-care tests may be feasible and affordable in increasing the detection of SCD and improving outcomes through earlier diagnosis.

Electrophysiology lab efficiency using cryoballoon for pulmonary vein isolation in central and eastern Europe: A sub-analysis of the cryo global registry study.

Cryoballoon ablation for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) reduces procedure times, but limited data is available about its impact on electrophysiology (EP) lab efficiency in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Using CEE-specific procedure data, the present study modeled cryoballoon ablation procedures on EP lab resource consumption to improve efficiency. A discrete event simulation model was developed to assess EP efficiency with cryoballoon ablation. Model inputs were taken from CEE sites within the Cryo Global Registry, namely Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, and Slovakia. The main endpoints were percentage of days that resulted in overtime and percentage of days with time for one extra simple EP procedure. Use of the 'figure of 8' (Fo8) closure technique to reduce procedure time was also examined. The mean lab occupancy time across all CEE sites was 133 ± 47 minutes (min: 104 minutes, max:181 minutes). Cryoballoon ablation in the base-case scenario resulted in 14.6% of days with overtime and 64.8% of days with time for an extra simple EP procedure. Use of the Fo8 closure technique enhanced these values to 5.5% and 85.3%, respectively. Model endpoints were most sensitive to changes in lab occupancy times and overtime start time. In this CEE-specific analysis of EP lab efficiency it was found that 3 cryoballoon ablation procedures could be performed in 1 lab day, leaving time for a 4th simple EP procedure on most days. As such, use cryoballoon ablation for PVI is an effective way to improve EP lab efficiency.

Molecular Indicator for Distinguishing Multi-drug-Resistant Tuberculosis from Drug Sensitivity Tuberculosis and Potential Medications for Treatment.

The issue of multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) presents a substantial challenge to global public health. Regrettably, the diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) frequently necessitates an extended period or more extensive laboratory resources. The swift identification of MDR-TB poses a particularly challenging endeavor. To identify the biomarkers indicative of multi-drug resistance, we conducted a screening of the GSE147689 dataset for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and subsequently conducted a gene enrichment analysis. Our analysis identified a total of 117 DEGs, concentrated in pathways related to the immune response. Three machine learning methods, namely random forest, decision tree, and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE), were implemented to identify the top 10 genes according to their feature importance scores. A4GALT and S1PR1, which were identified as common genes among the three methods, were selected as potential molecular markers for distinguishing between MDR-TB and drug-susceptible tuberculosis (DS-TB). These markers were subsequently validated using the GSE147690 dataset. The findings suggested that A4GALT exhibited area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.8571 and 0.7121 in the training and test datasets, respectively, for distinguishing between MDR-TB and DS-TB. S1PR1 demonstrated AUC values of 0.8163 and 0.5404 in the training and test datasets, respectively. When A4GALT and S1PR1 were combined, the AUC values in the training and test datasets were 0.881 and 0.7551, respectively. The relationship between hub genes and 28 immune cells infiltrating MDR-TB was investigated using single sample gene enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). The findings indicated that MDR-TB samples exhibited a higher proportion of type 1T helper cells and a lower proportion of activated dendritic cells in contrast to DS-TB samples. A negative correlation was observed between A4GALT and type 1T helper cells, whereas a positive correlation was found with activated dendritic cells. S1PR1 exhibited a positive correlation with type 1T helper cells and a negative correlation with activated dendritic cells. Furthermore, our study utilized connectivity map analysis to identify nine potential medications, including verapamil, for treating MDR-TB. In conclusion, our research identified two molecular indicators for the differentiation between MDR-TB and DS-TB and identified a total of nine potential medications for MDR-TB.

Strengthening anthrax outbreak response and preparedness: simulation and stakeholder education in Namisindwa district, Uganda

BackgroundAnthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis that poses a significant threat to both human health and livestock. Effective preparedness and response to anthrax outbreak at the district level is essential to mitigate the devastating impact of the disease to humans and animals. The current diseaae surveillance in animals and humans uses two different infrastructure systems with online platform supported by established diagnostic facilities. The differences in surveillance systems affect timely outbreak response especially for zoonotic diseases like anthrax. We therefore aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing a simulation exercise for a potential anthrax outbreak in a local government setting and to raise the suspicion index of different district stakeholders for a potential anthrax outbreak in Namisindwa District, Uganda.MethodsWe conducted a field-based simulation exercise and a health education intervention using quantitative data collection methods. The study participants mainly members of the District Taskforce (DTF) were purposively selected given their role(s) in disease surveillance and response at the sub-national level. We combined 26 variables (all dichotomized) assessing knowledge on anthrax and knowledge on appropriate outbreak response measures into an additive composite index. We then dichotomized overall score based on the 80% blooms cutoff i.e. we considered those scoring at least 80% to have high knowledge, otherwise low. We then assessed the factors associated with knowledge using binary logistic regression with time as a proxy for the intervention effect. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% Confidence intervals (95%CI) have been reported.ResultsThe overall district readiness score was 35.0% (24/69) and was deficient in the following domains: coordination and resource mobilization (5/16), surveillance (5/11), laboratory capacity (3/10), case management (4/7), risk communications (4/12), and control measures (4/13). The overall community readiness score was 7 out of 32 (22.0%). We noted poor scores of readiness in all domains except for case management (2/2). The knowledge training did not have an effect on the overall readiness score, but improved specific domains such as control measures. Instead tertiary education was the only independent predictor of higher knowledge on anthrax and how to respond to it (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 1.07–2.31). Training did not have a significant association with overall knowledge improvement but had an effect on several individual knowledge aspects.ConclusionWe found that the district’s preparedness to respond to a potential anthrax outbreak was inadequate, especially in coordination and mobilisation, surveillance, case management, risk communication and control measures. The health education training intervention showed increased knowledge levels compared to the pre-test and post-test an indicator that the health education sessions could increase the index of suspicion. The low preparedness underscores the urgency to strengthen anthrax preparedness in the district and could have implications for other districts. We deduce that trainings of a similar nature conducted regularly and extensively would have better effects. This study’s insights are valuable for improving anthrax readiness and safeguarding public and animal health in similar settings.

Does the Third Sputum Exam has an Added Value in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis?

Abstract Introduction/Objective Introduction: Current practice of examining three sputum for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) has tended to overburden the already scarce human resources in all-purpose laboratories, and to increase the turn- around- time for patients seeking treatment. Therefore, assessing the added value of the third sputum in the diagnosis of PTB in resource-limited country with less functional External Quality Assurance (EQA) system is critical. Methods/Case Report Materials and methods: Data on patients diagnosed with smear-positive PTB during 2012- 2016 was collected retrospectively from laboratory register of nine hospitals in Eritrea. The data was extracted and analyzed for incremental yield of three sputum samples. Results (if a Case Study enter NA) Results: Data from 2,484 microscopically confirmed acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear positive PTB patients were reviewed. AFB was detected in the first sputum in 87.5% of patients, and 99.1% for the combined first and second sputum specimens. The incremental yield of the third sputum specimen as a diagnostic value was only 0.9%. No significant variation was detected by region, residence, gender or HIV. Background information Number of cases Percent Region Maekel 649 26.10% Anseba 293 11.80% Gash-Barka 815 32.80% Debub 297 12.00% Northern Red Sea 337 13.60% Southern Red Sea 93 3.70% Sex Male 1,251 50.40% Female 1,233 49.60% Residence Urban 1,296 52.20% Rural 1,188 47.80% Age group <15 35 1.40% 15 + 2,449 98.60% Total 2,484 100 Conclusion Conclusion: The added value of the third sputum is so minimal that its omission will reduce patient visits, workload and cost for patients and health services. Therefore, even countries like Eritrea, with limited EQA, should consider limiting the number of sputum examinations to improve quality.

Optimizing Science Process Skills Through the Use of Simple Steam Power Plant Models in Middle School Physics Education

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using a simple steam power plant prop in improving the science process skills of eighth grade students at Pesantren Guppi Samata Junior High School. The importance of this study lies in the need for innovative teaching methods that can improve students' engagement and understanding in science education, especially considering the limitations of traditional laboratory resources. A quasi-experimental design with a pretest-posttest control group was used, involving purposive sampling of two groups: an experimental group that used a simple steam power plant prop and a control group that did not use the prop. Data were collected through a structured multiple-choice test that assessed various aspects of science process skills and were analyzed using descriptive statistics, normality tests, and independent t-tests. The findings showed that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group in the posttest (p = 0.000), indicating that the simple steam power plant prop effectively facilitates better understanding of scientific concepts through hands-on learning. The novelty of this study lies in its focus on the use of simple and accessible teaching props to improve practical skills in science education. The results of this study suggest that incorporating these tools into teaching can improve educational outcomes, and offer a valuable resource for educators facing limited laboratory facilities.

Optimizing Science Laboratory Management for Enhanced Student Learning Outcomes

Background: Laboratory management is vital for improving science education, yet many institutions struggle to optimize these resources. Specific Background: Effective management enhances student interest and practical skills in natural sciences, but inadequate management leads to underutilization of laboratory facilities, negatively impacting learning experiences. Knowledge Gap: While the importance of laboratory management is acknowledged, studies on specific practices and their effects on student engagement in natural science remain limited. Aims: This study explores management practices in a natural science laboratory and their implications for educational outcomes. Results: Findings reveal that planning, organization, implementation, supervision, and evaluation are poorly executed, resulting in incomplete documentation and minimal follow-up. Although practical activities spark student interest, systemic issues hinder their effectiveness. Novelty: The research provides new insights into the operational challenges of laboratory management in a specific educational context. Implications: Enhanced management strategies are necessary to improve resource allocation and laboratory utilization, fostering student engagement and skill development in natural sciences. Highlights : Critical Role: Effective laboratory management enhances student interest and practical skills in science education. Systemic Issues: Inadequate management practices lead to underutilization of laboratory resources, negatively impacting learning experiences. Need for Improvement: Enhanced strategies are essential for optimizing resource allocation and fostering student engagement in natural sciences. Keywords: laboratory management, science education, student engagement, practical skills, educational outcomes

Reducing unnecessary outpatient group and screen testing at a regional cancer center.

Unnecessary group and screens (G&S) can lead to unnecessary antibody investigations, use of technologist time, and laboratory resources. A baseline audit at our institution identified that 25% of G&S from the cancer center were unnecessary. We aimed to reduce the ratio of monthly G&S to CBC samples processed from the cancer center by 10% (from 0.034 to 0.031) by January 2024. This represents an interrupted time series design from November 2022 to January 2024. Using Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles, we aimed to increase the use of an existing reflex testing system, termed "do not test." When this option is selected, the blood bank will only process the G&S sample if specific CBC criteria are met (e.g., hemoglobin <9.0 g/dL). Educational sessions increased awareness of this feature and sought feedback from end-users on its usability. With feedback, the design was updated to include a modifiable hemoglobin threshold for G&S testing, automatic re-selection of the "do not test" feature for future G&S orders, and aesthetic changes to make the feature more visible. The percentage of samples with "do not test" selected increased from 7.2% to 63.0% (p < .0001) and the ratio of G&S to CBC specimens improved from 0.034 to 0.028, exceeding the target of 0.031. We noted an improvement in the appropriateness of G&S orders from 75% at baseline (n = 20) to 97.5% (n = 80) post intervention (p = .003). We describe an effective strategy to improve G&S utilization at our institution's cancer center using a reflex testing system.

Revisiting the Environmental Impact of Inappropriate Clinical Laboratory Testing: A Comprehensive Overview of Sustainability, Economic, and Quality of Care Outcomes.

The use of laboratory resources has seen a substantial increase in recent years, driven by automation and emerging technologies. However, inappropriate use of laboratory testing, encompassing both overuse and underuse, poses significant challenges. This review explores the complex interplay between patient safety, economic, and environmental factors-known as the "triple bottom line" or "3Ps" for people, profit, and planet-associated with inappropriate use of laboratory resources. The first part of the review outlines the impact of inappropriate laboratory testing on patient safety and economic outcomes. Then the review examines the available literature on the environmental impact of laboratory activities. Several practical solutions for mitigating the environmental impact of laboratories are discussed. Finally, this review emphasizes how decreasing unnecessary laboratory testing results in cost savings and environmental benefits, as evidenced by interventional studies, without compromising patient safety. The implementation of sustainable practices in laboratories can create a virtuous circle in which reduced testing enhances cost-efficiency, reduces the environmental footprint, and ensures patient safety, thereby benefiting the 3Ps. This review highlights the critical need for appropriate laboratory resource utilization in achieving sustainability in healthcare.