Lab Utilization Research Articles

Lactobacillus plantarum Antimicrobial Peptide Y8-2: A New strategy against Toxoplasma gondii

Toxoplasma gondii is an important foodborne zoonotic parasite that is estimated to have infected one-third of the world's population. However, there are no specific drugs or vaccines to treat toxoplasmosis in humans. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop safe and effective ways for toxoplasmosis. The antimicrobial peptide Y8-2 was isolated from the supernatant of Lactobacillus plantarum Y8 fermentation that was involved in this study. Flow cytometry analysis showed that Y8-2 had a significant killing effect on tachyzoites; this result, combined the results of SEM and TEM, suggested that Y8-2 could deform cells, disrupt the integrity and permeability of tachyzoite cell membranes, resulting in cytoplasmic vacuolization and extravasation. In addition, Y8-2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of tachyzoites at 12 h and 24 h and elevated the levels of IL-12p70 and TNF-α after infection with Ana-1 cells. Plaque experiments verified that Y8-2 can inhibit tachyzoites invasion and proliferation and significantly reduce the plaque area. Our study provides a new strategy for developing a safe and effective method for the treatment of toxoplasmosis and provides data to support the treatment of toxoplasmosis with LAB metabolites, thus broadening the prospects for the development and utilization of LAB.

Implementation of a bundle to improve diagnosis in hospitalized patients: lessons learned.

The inpatient setting is a challenging clinical environment where systems and situational factors predispose clinicians to making diagnostic errors. Environmental complexities limit trialing of interventions to improve diagnostic error in active inpatient clinical settings. Informed by prior work, we piloted a multi-component intervention designed to reduce diagnostic error to understand its feasibility and uptake. From September 2018 to June 2019, we conducted a prospective, pre-test/post-test pilot study of hospital medicine physicians during admitting shifts at a tertiary-care, academic medical center. Optional intervention components included use of dedicated workspaces, privacy barriers, noise cancelling headphones, application-based breathing exercises, a differential diagnosis expander application, anda checklist to enable a diagnostic pause. Participants rated their confidence in patient diagnoses and completed a survey on intervention component use. Data on provider resource utilization and patient diagnoses were collected, and qualitative interviews were held with a subset of participants in order to better understand experience with the intervention. Data from 37 physicians and 160 patients were included. No intervention component was utilized by more than 50 % of providers, and no differences were noted in diagnostic confidence or number of diagnoses documented pre-vs. post-intervention. Lab utilization increased, but there were no other differences in resource utilization during the intervention. Qualitative feedback highlighted workflow integration challenges, among others, for poor intervention uptake. Our pilot study demonstrated poor feasibility and uptake of an intervention designed to reduce diagnostic error. This study highlights the unique challenges of implementing solutions within busy clinical environments.

Steady-State temperature field prediction for FPGA chips with reduced number of temperature sensors

Obtaining the steady-state temperature distribution of FPGA chip is the basis to build the thermal monitoring mechanism for reliable system performance. Existing work employs the full-coverage strategy to measure the steady-state temperature distribution of chip. However, many temperature sensors make it more complex to manage and optimize the FPGA’s logic, which would degrade the performance of FPGA. To overcome the problem, this paper proposes a method with a reduction of 60 % sensors to achieve an accuracy close to the steady-state temperature field of the FPGA obtained by the full-coverage strategy. In this method, the temperature field prediction model of the chip is established with fewer measurement data to generate the chip’s steady-state temperature distribution. Experimental results show that the proposed method performs excellently at ambient temperatures from 25 °C to 150 °C, with the average absolute error of 0.49 °C. The proposed temperature sensor placement strategy ensures the measurement accuracy and the LAB utilization rate of FPGA is only 3.06 %. Additionally, the proposed method has good generalization ability for different number and placement of hotspots.

Enhancing the Skills of Hi Tech Lab Utilization in Teaching Geometrical Concepts

Abstract
 Teaching learning is a wonderful experience in every learning places.Particularly in schools it happened every moment.School labs are a great place for students which help them enhance their learning by understanding the theoretical concepts of mathematics which are taught in classrooms. Well-designed Hi-techlaboratories not only make science experiments fun but also help students in achieving good academic results. The world has been taken over by modern technology all around. Even the education sector has adopted the benefits of scientific advancements to offer quality education programmes to the students and teachers. The aim of this present study reveals that the skills of Hi-tech labutilization in teaching geometrical concepts.

Immersive virtual reality-based learning as a supplement for biomedical engineering labs: challenges faced and lessons learned.

Immersive virtual reality (VR) based laboratory demonstrations have been gaining traction in STEM education as they can provide virtual hands-on experience. VR can also facilitate experiential and visual learning and enhanced retention. However, several optimizations of the implementation, in-depth analyses of advantages and trade-offs of the technology, and assessment of receptivity of modern techniques in STEM education are required to ensure better utilization of VR-based labs. In this study, we developed VR-based demonstrations for a biomolecular engineering laboratory and assessed their effectiveness using surveys containing free responses and 5-point Likert scale-based questions. Insta360 Pro2 camera and Meta Quest 2 headsets were used in combination with an in-person lab. A cohort of 53 students watched the experimental demonstration on VR headsets in the lab after a brief lab overview in person and then performed the experiments in the lab. Only 28.29% of students reported experiencing some form of discomfort after using the advanced VR equipment as opposed to 63.63% of students from the previous cohort. About 40% of the students reported that VR eliminated or reduced auditory and visual distractions from the environment, the length of the videos was appropriate, and they received enough information to understand the tasks. The traditional lab method was found to be more suitable for explaining background information and lab concepts while the VR was found to be suitable for demonstrating lab procedures and tasks. Analyzing open-ended questions revealed several factors and recommendations to overcome the potential challenges and pitfalls of integrating VR with traditional modes of learning. This study provides key insights to help optimize the implementation of immersive VR to effectively supplement in-person learning experiences.

Role of Laboratories and Science Teaching Material in Science Teaching and Students Learning at Secondary Level in Public Schools

The focus of this study is on the Role of laboratories in science teaching and students learning at secondary level in public schools. The science education is incomplete without the practical work and use of labs. This research study find out the utilization, availability and role of labs and science teaching material in science teaching and students learning at secondary level. It is a qualitative study and the purpose of this study is to explore the present difficulties and problems in science due to deficiencies of labs which affect both on science teaching and learning of students. Data is collected by interviews directed to science teachers. Interviews were semi structured. Researcher used open-ended questions. These interviews were recorded and transcribed by using thematic analysis, themes and subthemes are used for the analysis of data. The findings of this study showed that labs and science material is very essentials for the improvement of student learning and play significant role in the development of science education. Government should ensure the availability of science lab with enrich material in each school.

Routine post-operative labs and healthcare system burden in acute appendicitis

BackgroundData from the National Health Expenditure Accounts have shown a steady increase in healthcare cost paralleled by availability of laboratory tests. Resource utilization is a top priority for reducing health care costs. We hypothesized that routine post-operative laboratory utilization unnecessarily increases costs and healthcare system burden in acute appendicitis (AA) management. MethodsA retrospective cohort of patients with uncomplicated AA 2016–2020 were identified. Clinical variables, demographics, lab usage, interventions, and costs were collected. ResultsA total of 3711 patients with uncomplicated AA were identified. Total costs of labs ($289,505, 99.56%) and repletions ($1287.63, 0.44%) were $290,792.63. Increased LOS was associated with lab utilization in multivariable modeling, increasing costs by $837,602 or 472.12 per patient. ConclusionsIn our patient population, post-operative labs resulted in increased costs without discernible impact on clinical course. Routine post-operative laboratory testing should be re-evaluated in patients with minimal comorbidities as this likely increases cost without adding value.

Immune cell counts in cerebrospinal fluid predict cognitive function in aging and neurodegenerative disease.

Immune dysfunction is important in aging and neurodegeneration; lacking clinically available tools limits research translation. We tested associations of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR)-innate immune activation surrogate-with cognition in an aging and dementia cohort, hypothesizing that elevated MLR is associated with poorer executive functioning. CSF MLR was calculated in well-characterized, genotyped participants enrolled in studies of aging and dementia at University of California, San Francisco Memory and Aging Center (n=199, mean age 57.5 years, SD 11.9). Linear models tested associations with episodic memory and executive function (verbal fluency, speeded set-shifting). Aging was associated with higher CSF monocyte, lower lymphocyte counts, and higher MLRs (p<0.001). MLR was associated with verbal fluency (p<0.05) only. Using clinical labs, we show an inverse association between CSF MLR and executive function in aging and dementia, supporting the utility of clinical labs in capturing associations between innate immune dysfunction and neurodegeneration.

Labs Do Not Predict Postoperative Intra-abdominal Abscess in Pediatric Perforated Appendicitis

IntroductionWe aim to evaluate the utility of postoperative labs in predicting the development of an intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) in pediatric patients with perforated appendicitis. We hypothesize that postoperative labs are not predictive of IAA development. MethodsThis was a single-institution retrospective cohort study that included pediatric patients (n = 61) who underwent surgery for perforated appendicitis from January 1, 2019 to December 1, 2020. Patients were stratified into those who developed a postoperative IAA (n = 22) and those who did not (n = 39). Postoperative labs (white blood cell [WBC] count, absolute neutrophil count, platelet count, C-reactive protein) were examined. Mann–Whitney U tests and chi-square tests were used to assess for differences between groups. ResultsThere was extensive heterogeneity and overlap in postoperative lab values between patients who developed an IAA and those who did not. Almost all patients who developed an IAA had clinical signs that were indicative of abscess formation regardless of their postoperative WBC count or change in WBC count. While patients who developed an IAA had a higher postoperative median WBC count (10.8 versus 8.4, P = 0.003) and a smaller WBC count decrease (−4.9 versus −7.4, P = 0.01), no cutoff value for any of the examined lab values specifically predicted abscess formation. Postoperative median absolute neutrophil count (7.4 versus 4.0, P = 0.15), platelet count (360 versus 353, P = 0.98), and C-reactive protein (8.20 versus 5.32, P = 0.06) did not differ significantly. ConclusionsWe conclude that postoperative labs have limited clinical utility in evaluating IAA development in children with perforated appendicitis.

Virtual Lab Simulator in Mechanical Engineering Education-Hybrid Approach

Many universities worldwide are partially disrupting their education by the spread of the coronavirus. Consequently, the Universities took the necessary steps to change their teaching methods to online laboratory experiments and workshops. However, universities should continue to maintain their higher education standards and provide a high-quality student experience required for the learning outcomes associated with each degree program. Adhering to online teaching methods for both theory and practical lectures has created a challenge in education. The discussion of the theory lessons by showing PPTs and video presentations was comfortable for students. In addition to that, virtual labs came into existence. These virtual labs had a significant impact on students' learning process, but this did not apply to all labs. This paper projects the outcome of the virtual lab using the explicit dynamic analysis application in solid works software and integration of AR &amp; VR teaching techniques. This paper also includes the work done by the students and the effective outcome utilization of virtual labs compared with practical labs by using mild steel specimens.

Living Lab Utilization Plan for Customized Green Remodeling of Decrepit Public Rental Housing - Focusing on Gwangju Public Rental Housing -

The purpose of study was to suggest ways to utilize living lab for exploration about Customized green remodeling method of decrepit public rental housing considering local environment, user needs, and social issues. To investigate the current status, three cases of green remodeling projects for decrepit public rental housing currently in progress by the Gwangju Metropolitan City Corporation were investigated. As a result, depending on the purpose of green remodeling, remodeling was in progress with a focus on improving energy efficiency and using eco-friendly materials. However, it hasn’t put into parctice about specialized projects that take into the characteristics of regions and residents. Therefore, in this study, as a way to utilize the living lab for green remodeling customized for decrepit public rental housing, Stakeholder composition, business operation process, and living lab laboratory operation plan were proposed for the establishment of the operating system. Through customized green remodeling using the Living Lab, not only will the participation rate and satisfaction of residents be increased, but they will also be able to find the meaning of life that they are interested in and share with their living environment, local community and neighbors.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Laboratory Test Utilization at a Pediatric Medical Center.

BackgroundThe epidemiology and clinical manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the pediatric population is different from the adult population. The purpose of this study is to identify effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on laboratory test utilization in a pediatric hospital.MethodsWe performed retrospective analysis on test utilization data from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, an academic pediatric medical center. Data between two 100-day periods prior to (prepandemic) and during the pandemic (mid-pandemic) were analyzed to evaluate changes in test volume, lab utilization, and test positivity rate. We also evaluated these metrics based on in- vs outpatient testing and performed modeling to determine what variables significantly impact the test positivity rate.ResultsDuring the pandemic period, there was an expected surge in COVID-19 testing, while over 84% of lab tests studied decreased in ordering volume. The average number of tests ordered per patient was not significantly different during the pandemic for any of the laboratories (adjusted P value > 0.05). Thirty-three studied tests showed significant change in positivity rate during the pandemic. Linear modeling revealed test volume and inpatient status as the key variables associated with change in test positivity rate.ConclusionsExcluding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 tests, the COVID-19 pandemic has generally led to decreased test ordering volume and laboratory utilization. However, at this pediatric hospital, the average number of tests performed per patient and test positivity rates were comparable between pre- and mid-pandemic periods. These results suggest that, overall, clinical test utilization at this site remained consistent during the pandemic.

Enhancing digital and professional competences via implementation of virtual laboratories for future physical therapists and rehabilitologist

Being popular world-wide, virtual laboratories enter into different fields of education and research and practitioners have to be responsible for choosing the most suitable and then adapt them to particular field. The aim of the present work was to assess the effectivity of the implementation of Praxilab, Labster, and LabXchange virtual laboratories as the powerful digital tool into teaching protocols of “Clinical and laboratory diagnostics” discipline for physical therapists and rehabilitologist. We have carried out the online survey for 45 students enrolled in physical rehabilitation degree program. About 70\% surveyed students reported that implementation of virtual laboratories in “Clinical and laboratory diagnostics” discipline met individual learning needs of students, helped acquired digital skills (25\%), and supported them to stay ahead of the curve. The virtual lab applications, not only assisted harness students fair against lack of practical skills, but also brought about a new dimension to the classes and helped overcome digital alienation and gain their digital skills and abilities. Indeed, a virtual lab can’t completely replace the experimental work and teacher’s explanation, but it might support teaching activities of a modern mentor and learning activities of a modern student. Almost all of surveyed students (82\%) expected that in near future the virtual laboratories would take the dominant place in the education market due to possibility of students’ pre-train the key points of practical activities before real experiments in lab and better understand their theoretical backgrounds. Thus, this study is intended to contribute to utilization of virtual labs by students enrolled in study physical therapy/physical rehabilitation with expected efficiency.

Appropriateness of the Lab Utilization in PHCs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Appropriateness of the Lab Utilization in PHCs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A Retrospective Review of the Patient Population served by the Jackson Free Clinic, a Student-run Free Clinic in Jackson, Mississippi.

To understand the health needs and challenges experienced by the patient population served by a student-run free clinic in Jackson, Mississippi. A retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients who presented between 2017 and 2019. Data collected included age, race, sex, hometown, number of visits, chief complaint, lab utilization, blood pressure, and body mass index. The patient population was 73.3% African American and 55.5% female and came from 88 different towns across Mississippi. Most patients (54.1%) came only once. Nearly half (46.7%) of African American patients and 50.0% of White patients were obese. The top three chief complaints were health management (40.3%), STI/UTI (9.3%), and musculoskeletal (7.5%). The data indicate a need for the development of programs to improve patient access to care and resources: a community health outreach program, a social health services program, and further studies to determine the effectiveness of care provided.

A lab equipped with industrial DCS for different control engineering courses

The paper describes the setup and operation of a control education lab which is used in different courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in electrical engineering and building systems programs. Its main characteristic is the equipment with several industrial-scale Distributed Control Systems (DCS) and the use of commercial software for its design and operation. Although procurement and maintenance costs are relatively high, the use of the lab across different study programs and courses results in high lab utilization and reasonable cost per individual lab. Some of the student projects are described in detail, among them the design of a DCS integrated Model Predictive Control (MPC) solution. The lab setup reduces the necessary system-specific training time for students and leads to a more efficient lab organization. Students appreciate the use of industry-related installation since it helps them to carry out a smooth transition from academia to industry.

Teaching Lab-based Courses Remotely: Approaches, Technologies, Challenges, and Ethical Issues

Online learning has gained substantial traction since the popularization of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) over the last decade. After the dawn of the Covid-19 pandemic, online learning has become an indispensable mode of modern-day education. All educational institutions around the world are now compelled to switch to online classes as a physically safer and more flexible option for teaching and learning during the pandemic. Although many studies have examined the effectiveness of this online T&amp;L mode, almost no attention has been paid to the use of virtual laboratories, which are an important means of teaching practical skills and complicated theories for science and engineering subjects. Like other online methods that have their particular advantages and disadvantages, the utility of virtual laboratories is detracted by the fact that they lack some of the qualities present in the actual experiments seen in traditional learning classrooms. In particular, virtual labs are not as effective as authentic lab experiments in developing soft skills that are typically acquired from students’ teamwork activities, in addition to lacking the ability to assess the various levels of knowledge acquisition, content mastery and student attention in class. Hence, the aim of this paper is to address these issues about the utility and drawbacks of virtual labs in achieving the long-term goals and learning outcomes of STEM education. In addressing these issues, the paper highlights the varying technologies, such as gaming and virtual reality, used by different educational institutions as substitutes for physical engineering laboratories. The final section of the paper discusses some of the ethical issues related to online learning for science and engineering subjects.

Exploring the Association Between Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns and Clinical Variations in a Network of Pediatricians.

Introduction: Variation in practice patterns among physicians is well-documented despite professional guidelines and increasingly uniform medical training. Variations may lead to improper utilization of healthcare resources, misdiagnosis, overdiagnosis, unnecessary treatments, and forgoing of needed interventions. One area of clinical variation and overuse of particular interest is the prescribing of antibiotics, which can lead to eventual antibiotic resistance and other negative consequences. Variations in antibiotic prescribing along with other practice patterns have been studied previously but no attempt has been made to examine the correlation between multiple practice patterns. The purpose of this study was to determine if a correlation existed between the provider behaviors studied.Methods: A small area network of 39 pediatric providers was analyzed to determine if antibiotic prescription percentages varied. Antibiotic prescription percentages were further broken down by visit type (sick versus well). Two other practice measures, in-office lab utilization and diagnoses of food and drug allergies, were then analyzed. Data were explored primarily with Spearman’s correlation tests.Results: Strong positive correlation was seen between a provider's antibiotic prescription percentage at sick and well visits. Strong positive correlation was seen between the antibiotic prescribing percentage and the number of in-office labs ordered. Moderate positive correlation was seen between antibiotic prescribing percentage and the percentage of a provider’s empaneled patients with any allergy diagnosis (medication, food, or seasonal).Conclusion: This retrospective study demonstrates that variation in provider practice patterns continues to exist despite established practice guidelines from national organizations. It also demonstrates a linear correlation between multiple provider behaviors that have not previously been explored together. The presence of a correlation between clinical behaviors may suggest an underlying practice philosophy and present an opportunity for personalized, provider-specific education and quality improvement.

Less is more: clinical utility of postoperative labs following minimally invasive hysterectomy for endometrial cancer

<h3>Objectives:</h3> With the Increasing rates of same day discharge following minimally invasive endometrial cancer (EC) surgery, the need for and value of routine postoperative testing is unclear. We determined whether routine postoperative labs following minimally invasive hysterectomy for EC led to clinically significant changes in postoperative care. <h3>Methods:</h3> This was a single-institution retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for EC by a gynecologic oncologist. A random sample was selected from an existing database of patients who underwent surgery for EC between June 2014-2017. Patient demographics, preoperative comorbidities, operative and postoperative data, and pathologic findings were manually extracted from the patients' medical records. The financial burden of laboratory evaluation was computed using hospital-level cost data. <h3>Results:</h3> Of the 266 women included in the analysis, the majority (91.4%) were White, with a mean age of 61.5 years, and mean BMI of 38.0±10.1kg/m². The most common comorbidities were diabetes (29.3%, n=78), chronic pulmonary disease (7.9%, n=21), and renal disease (3.8%, n=10). The mean operative time was 152.1±37.8 minutes and mean EBL was 105±91.7mL. Most patients (66.5%, n=177) underwent LAD, of which 77.4% had sentinel (n=78) and/or complete pelvic LAD (n=128), and an additional 42.4% (n=75) underwent paraaortic lymph node assessment. All patients had post-operative labs ordered: 100% complete blood count, 99.2% chemistry, 55.3% magnesium, 44.7% phosphate, 39.8% calcium, 3.4% PT/PTT/INR, 1.9% liver function tests, and 15% other. The mean pre- and post-operative hemoglobin was 13.5±1.4g/dL and 11.5±1.3g/dL, respectively. Mean pre- and post-operative creatinine were 0.83±0.21mg/dL and 0.78±0.20mg/dL. Thirteen patients (4.9%) had a change in management due to postoperative lab results (Table 1). Of these, only two patients (0.8% of entire cohort) had no symptoms or change in clinical status that would have otherwise prompted labs to be performed: one received a blood transfusion for asymptomatic anemia and the other electrolyte repletion for asymptomatic hypomagnesemia of 1.2mg/dL. There were no preoperative or operative factors significantly associated with a postoperative change in management due to labs, postoperative creatinine or postoperative hemoglobin. Routine postoperative laboratory evaluation in this cohort increased hospital costs by $118,455 or approximately $445 per patient. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Routine postoperative labs are unlikely to lead to significant changes in management for women undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for EC, and may increase cost without providing a discernable clinical benefit. In the setting of strict post-operative guidelines, laboratory tests should be ordered when clinically indicated rather than as part of routine postoperative management for women undergoing minimally invasive hysterectomy for EC.

Impact of Cryoballoon Ablation on Electrophysiology Lab Efficiency During the Treatment of Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: A Subanalysis of the STOP Persistent AF Study.

The volume of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation procedures has increased to address the growing patient population with AF; however, the impact of cryoballoon ablation on electrophysiology (EP) lab throughput is under-studied when treating patients with persistent AF (PsAF). To assess EP lab utilization associated with cryoballoon ablation for the treatment of patients with PsAF and to evaluate mechanisms that optimize hospital resources. Procedural data derived from the STOP Persistent AF trial were input into a discrete event simulation to assess EP lab utilization during AF ablation procedures. Patient and physician delays and lab occupancy times were modeled in a nominal and efficient EP lab setting over 1000 days. Accounting for variation in procedural times, we evaluated the number of days in which preplanned pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) cases resulted in overtime or excess time for non-ablation EP cases within a given lab day. A sensitivity analysis determined the parameters that most strongly influenced EP lab throughput. Lab occupancy times for the Nominal Use (NU) case included 165 procedures, and the High-Efficiency Use (HEU) case was derived from 69 procedures conducted at sites with faster procedure times than average. The HEU case had shorter lab occupancy times than the NU case (158 ± 32 minutes vs 188 ± 51 minutes, respectively). In the NU case, a total of 2000 procedures were conducted, with 28 lab days (2.8%) extending into overtime and 900 lab days (90%) exhibiting excess time for a non-ablation EP case. In the HEU case, a total of 3000 procedures were conducted, with 87 lab days (8.7%) extending into overtime and 635 lab days (63.5%) exhibiting excess time for a non-ablation EP case. The model was most sensitive to lab occupancy duration and the time of day that overtime started. Cryoballoon ablation for the treatment of patients with PsAF confers EP lab efficiencies that can support 3 PVI cases in a lab day.