Evaluation of Laboratory Request Forms Completion in a Tertiary Medical Laboratory of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Background: The inadequacy in the completeness of the Laboratory Request Form (LRF) has been reported as one of the major sources of errors during the pre-analytical step of laboratory analysis. To prevent the occurrence of such errors, this study aimed at assessing the level of completeness of LRFs. Methods: A retrospective analysis of laboratory request forms was conducted at the Clinical Biology Laboratory of the Kinshasa University Clinic, DR Congo, between November 2021 to May 2022. The LRFs were evaluated according to the completeness of all sections including administrative data of the patient, data of physician who ordered the test, relevant patient’s clinical data and data of the biological sample. Results: From a total of 2842 LRFs evaluated, none was fully completed with all required information. Particularly, patient’s clinical data including the medical history, provisional diagnosis and current treatment, were the most absent in 99% LRFs. However, two sections related to patient’s ID and prescribed test were informed in 100% LRFs. Conclusion: The results of this preanalytical audit can serve as an improvement opportunity focused on strengthening awareness about complete filling of LRF.

Progress in the Study of Laboratory Indicators Related to Acute Pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is one of the more common gastrointestinal diseases in clinics and is characterized by rapid progression, many complications, and high mortality. When it develops into severe pancreatitis, its prognosis is poor. Therefore, early assessment of the degree of inflammatory response plays a crucial role in the treatment plan and prognosis of patients. More and more studies have shown that the levels of D-dimer (D-D), angiotensin-2 (Ang-2), phosphate, heparin-binding protein (HBP), retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4), and osteoblastic protein (OPN) are closely related to the severity of acute pan-creatitis and can be used as effective indicators for early assessment of AP. In this paper, the research progress of the above indicators in assessing the severity of AP is summarized.

Impact of numerous larval diets on the biology of pink bollworm Pectinophora gossypiella(Saunders)(Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae)under laboratory conditions

Background Pink bollworm,Pectinophora gossypiella(Saunders)(Lepidoptera:Gelechiidae)has become a poten-tial pest of cotton by causing substantial yield losses around the world including Pakistan.Keeping in view the facts like limited research investigations,unavailability,and high cost of artificial diet’s constituents and their premixes,the present research investigations on the dietary aspect of P.gossypiella were conducted.The larvae of P.gossypiella were reared on different diets that were prepared using indigenous elements.The standard/laboratory diet com-prised of wheat germ meal 34.5 g,casein 30.0 g,agar–agar 20.0 g,sucrose 10.0 g,brewer’s yeast 5.0 g,α-cellulose 1.0 g,potassium-sorbate1.5 g,niplagin 0.5 g,decavitamin 0.01 g,choline-chloride 0.06 g,maize-oil 3.30 g,honey 2.0 g,and water 730.0 mL.Alternatives to cotton bolls and wheat germ meal were okra seed sprouts,okra fruit,cottonseed meal,and okra seed meals,which were included in the study to introduce an efficient and economic mass-rearing system.Results The larval development completed in 19.68d±0.05 d with a weight of 20.18mg±0.20 mg at the fourth instar fed on the cottonseed meal-based diet instead of wheat germ meal based diet.On the same diet,84.00%±4.00%,17.24 mg±0.03 mg,and 7.76d±0.06 d were recorded as pupae formation,pupal weight,and pupal duration,respectively.Adult emergence,76.00%±1.00%was recorded from pupae collected from larvae raised on cottonseed meal-based diet.These male and female moths lived for 40.25d±0.10 d,and 44.34d±0.11 d,respectively.Females deposited 21.28±0.04 eggs per day with the viability of 65.78%±0.14%.The larval mortal-ity at the fourth instar was 37.20%±1.36%and malformed pupation of 12.00%±1.41%was recorded.Replacement of wheat germ meal with that of local meals(cottonseed and okra seed)in the standard laboratory diet has saved 463.80 to 467.10 PKR with 1.62 to 1.63 cost economic returns,respectively.Conclusion This research is of novel nature as it provides a concise and workable system for the economic and suc-cessful rearing of P.gossypiella under laboratory conditions.

Re-evaluating the necessity of routine laboratory monitoring during isotretinoin therapy for acne

In this letter,we discuss the topic of necessity of routine laboratory monitoring during isotretinoin treatment for acne.According to Park and colleagues,it is advisable to monitor the levels of triglycerides,alanine aminotransferase,and aspartate aminotransferase every 5 to 6 months.Additionally,the levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein should be checked within the first two months of treatment.Isotretinoin is a commonly prescribed agent mainly used to treat acne.Despite its high effectiveness,it necessitates regular monitoring of laboratory parameters due to its side effect profile.Currently,there remains a lack of consensus on the appropriate frequency for monitoring these parameters during treatment with isotretinoin.This letter will provide insight into this complex and controversial topic.Based on existing literature,we concluded that the incidence of changes in lipid and liver aminotransferase levels during isotretinoin treatment for acne was low and likely clinically insignificant.For generally healthy people,we recommend testing lipid and liver profiles once at baseline and a second time at the peak dosage.However,frequent testing might still be beneficial in certain populations of patients.

Impact of Laboratory Value Flowsheet in Electronic Health Record (EHR) Documentation Time

Research on the use of EHR is contradictory since it presents contradicting results regarding the time spent documenting. There is research that supports the use of electronic records as a tool to speed documentation;and research that found that it is time consuming. The purpose of this quantitative retrospective before-after project was to measure the impact of using the laboratory value flowsheet within the EHR on documentation time. The research question was: “Does the use of a laboratory value flowsheet in the EHR impact documentation time by primary care providers (PCPs)?” The theoretical framework utilized in this project was the Donabedian Model. The population in this research was the two PCPs in a small primary care clinic in the northwest of Puerto Rico. The sample was composed of all the encounters during the months of October 2019 and December 2019. The data was obtained through data mining and analyzed using SPSS 27. The evaluative outcome of this project is that there is a decrease in documentation time after implementation of the use of the laboratory value flowsheet in the EHR. However, patients per day increase therefore having an impact on the number of patients seen per day/week/month. The implications for clinical practice include the use of templates to improve workflow and documentation as well as decreasing documentation time while also increasing the number of patients seen per day. .

Laboratory or Department?Exploration and Creation in Computer Science and Technology

In the very beginning,the Computer Laboratory of the University of Cambridge was founded to provide computing service for different disciplines across the university.As computer science developed as a discipline in its own right,boundaries necessarily arose between it and other disciplines,in a way that is now often detrimental to progress.Therefore,it is necessary to reinvigorate the relationship between computer science and other academic disciplines and celebrate exploration and creativity in research.To do this,the structures of the academic department have to act as supporting scaffolding rather than barriers.Some examples are given that show the efforts being made at the University of Cambridge to approach this problem.

Detection Algorithm of Laboratory Personnel Irregularities Based on Improved YOLOv7

Due to the complex environment of the university laboratory,personnel flow intensive,personnel irregular behavior is easy to cause security risks.Monitoring using mainstream detection algorithms suffers from low detection accuracy and slow speed.Therefore,the current management of personnel behavior mainly relies on institutional constraints,education and training,on-site supervision,etc.,which is time-consuming and ineffective.Given the above situation,this paper proposes an improved You Only Look Once version 7(YOLOv7)to achieve the purpose of quickly detecting irregular behaviors of laboratory personnel while ensuring high detection accuracy.First,to better capture the shape features of the target,deformable convolutional networks(DCN)is used in the backbone part of the model to replace the traditional convolution to improve the detection accuracy and speed.Second,to enhance the extraction of important features and suppress useless features,this paper proposes a new convolutional block attention module_efficient channel attention(CBAM_E)for embedding the neck network to improve the model’s ability to extract features from complex scenes.Finally,to reduce the influence of angle factor and bounding box regression accuracy,this paper proposes a newα-SCYLLA intersection over union(α-SIoU)instead of the complete intersection over union(CIoU),which improves the regression accuracy while increasing the convergence speed.Comparison experiments on public and homemade datasets show that the improved algorithm outperforms the original algorithm in all evaluation indexes,with an increase of 2.92%in the precision rate,4.14%in the recall rate,0.0356 in the weighted harmonic mean,3.60%in the mAP@0.5 value,and a reduction in the number of parameters and complexity.Compared with the mainstream algorithm,the improved algorithm has higher detection accuracy,faster convergence speed,and better actual recognition effect,indicating the effectiveness of the improved algorithm in this paper and its potential for practical application in laboratory scenarios.

Field and Laboratory Study of Accumulated Debrisflow-Forming Solid Mass Sediment on the Example of River Chokheltkhevi (Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region, Georgia)

The paper presents the results of the field and laboratory research carried out in the Chokheltkhevi river basin, according to which the sediment-forming solid mass accumulated in the bed of the Chokhelthkhevi river was recorded and its granulometric and chemical composition, as well as physical-mechanical characteristics, were studied. Based on the results of the research, it can be said that in the debrisflow channel of the Chokheltkhevi River, coarse and sandy-clay soils are mainly accumulated, which represent an unstable mass for the expected debrisflow in the gorge, which, together with other geological, hydrological and climatic factors, helps to increase the scale of the expected ecological danger. According to the results of the laboratory research, it can be concluded that the soil accumulated in the drainage channel is low in ion concentration, and the humus content in it is minimal, which indicates the possibility of easy displacement of the solid mass accumulated in the drainage channel and, accordingly, the risk of a catastrophic debrisflow.

National Key Laboratory of Baiyun Obo Rare Earth Resource Researches and Comprehensive Utilization

National Key Laboratory of Baiyun Obo Rare Earth Resource Researches and Comprehensive Utilization was approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology to be one of the national key laboratories in November 2022.The laboratory was reconstructed based on former State Key Laboratory of Baiyun Obo Rare Earth Resources Researches and Comprehensive Utilization.The key laboratory takes Baotou Research Institute of Rare Earths as the main research body,cooperating with scientific and technological strength from Lanzhou University and Changsha Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

Enhancing Hazardous Chemical Management in Chinese University Laboratories:Strategies for Safety and Efficiency

This paper examines the management of hazardous chemicals in Chinese university laboratories,identifying key challenges and proposing improvements.It reviews current practices and safety measures,highlighting deficiencies such as inadequate safety systems and insufficient awareness among personnel.The study emphasizes the necessity of tailored safety management systems,the integration of digital tracking technologies like Radio Frequency Identification,and enhanced safety training for staff.The proposed recommendations aim to mitigate risks and enhance laboratory safety and efficiency.In conclusion,the paper asserts that a comprehensive approach,encompassing improved management systems,technological advancements,and educational initiatives,is essential for safer chemical handling in academic research environments.

Application of pre-whitened-constrained-MUSIC in ship-borne radar

In ship-borne radar, because of the influence of interference factors such as the correlation of background array noise and the coherence of targets and so on, the performance of high-resolution algorithms such as MUSIC is degraded. In this document by pre-whitening of background array color noise, de-correlation of coherent targets, compensation of amplitude-phase mismatch, pre-whitened-constrained-MUSIC algorithm in ship-borne radar effectively resolutes ship target and first-order sea echo. Furthermore, the algorithm performance is compared with other algorithms, result shows that pre-whitened-constrained-MUSIC can be applied effectively in high-resolution processing in ship-borne radar.

Minor Component Analysis-based Landing Forecast System for Ship-borne Helicopter

The general structure of ship-borne helicopter landing forecast system is presented, and a novel ship motion prediction model based on minor component analysis (MCA) is built up to improve the forecast effectiveness. To validate the feasibility of this landing forecast system, time series for the roll, pitch and heave are generated by simulation and then forecasted based on MCA. Simulation results show that ship-borne helicopters can land safely in higher sea condition while carrying on rescue or replenishment tasks at sea in terms of the landing forecast system.

Optimal laboratory testing protocol for patients with acne taking oral isotretinoin

BACKGROUND Isotretinoin is a widely prescribed drug for various dermatological conditions,especially acne.Blood tests are routinely performed to monitor its side effects.However,the optimal testing schedule remains controversial.AIM To evaluate the laboratory monitoring tests and schedules of patients with acne taking isotretinoin to determine the most efficient testing regimen.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed electronic medical records from the Dermatology Department of Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital from 2005 to 2020 for patients prescribed isotretinoin for acne who underwent monthly blood tests.RESULTS Aspartate aminotransferase(AST),alanine aminotransferase(ALT),and trigly-ceride(TG)levels significantly changed between 5 and 6 mo when the total prescription period and dose variables were considered altogether.The high-density lipoprotein level also significantly changed between 5 and 6 mo.However,low-density lipoprotein(LDL)and total cholesterol levels significantly changed between 1 and 2 mo.CONCLUSION We recommend testing AST,ALT,and TG levels once every 5 to 6 mo.We also suggest testing LDL and total cholesterol levels during the first and second months.

Contribution of Simulation to the Skills Laboratory for the Learning of Obstetrical Examination in an African Setting with Limited Resources

Objective: To evaluate the interest of the simulation in the learning of the obstetric examination of parturient by medical students. Materials and methods: It was an analytical cross-sectional study that took place from 1 to 28 February 2020 at the Yalgado Ouedraogo Teaching Hospital in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The study population was made up of medical students at the Doctorate II level. The previous experience of the students in the obstetric examination of the parturient, the contribution of the simulation on their feelings and on their skills towards this examination were studied. The Mc Nemar Chi2 test was used to compare percentages on paired samples. Results: The level of difficulty in performing the obstetrical examination in the parturient evolved downwards after the practice of the simulation. The stress level to perform the obstetric exam has been significantly reduced. On the other hand, confidence has increased. The students’ ability to appreciate each of the elements of the obstetric examination studied had improved after the practice of simulation. Conclusion: The simulation in the skills laboratory was a great contribution and the acquisition of models of better fidelity would help to improve the contribution to the confidence building and the acquisition of skills by learners.

Study on Load Bearing Characteristics of Novel Expandable Deepwater Drilling Conductor Based on Laboratory Experiment and Field Test

A novel expandable conductor was designed and applied in deep-water drilling to improve the vertical and lateral bearing capacity with a significant reduction of conductor jetting depth and soaking time. The vertical and lateral bearing capability of expandable conductors was depicted based on the ultimate subgrade reaction method and pile foundation bearing theory. The load-bearing characteristics of a laboratory-scale expandable conductor were analyzed through laboratory experiments. The serial simulation experiments are accomplished to study the bearing characteristics(vertical ultimate bearing capacity, lateral soil pressure, and lateral displacement) during the conductor soaking process. The laboratory experimental results show that the larger the length and thickness of expandable materials are,the higher the bearing capacity of the wellhead will be. During the conductor soaking process, the soil pressure around the three expandable conductors increases faster, strings representing a stronger squeezing effect and resulting in higher vertical bearing capacity. Furthermore, the lateral displacement of novel expandable conductor is smaller than that of the conventional conductor. All the advantages mentioned above contributed to the reduction of conductor’s jetting depth and soaking time. Lastly, the application workflow of a novel expandable deep-water drilling conductor was established and the autonomous expandable conductor was successfully applied in the South China Sea with a significant reduction of conductor’s jetting depth and soaking time. According to the soil properties and designed installation depth of the surface conductor, the arrangement of expandable materials should be designed reasonably to meet the safety condition and reduce the construction cost of the subsea wellhead.

The Influence of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Treatment on the Quality of Life and Laboratory Indicators of Patients with Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia

Objective: To investigate the influence of integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment on the quality of life and laboratory indicators of patients with novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19). Methods: A prospective, self-controlled study was conducted to analyze the changes in corresponding laboratory indicators and quality of life in 75 confirmed COVID-19 patients treated with integrated Chinese and Western medicine in our hospital during the early stage, middle stage, recovery period, and two weeks after discharge. The effectiveness and safety of the treatment regimen were evaluated in conjunction with the time for 2019-nCoV nucleic acid conversion, disease progression, and adverse reactions. Results: The PLT levels in the initial stage were significantly lower than those in the recovery period in 75 patients. The CRP levels in the initial stage were significantly lower than those after discharge for 2 weeks. The TBIL, IBTL, and DHIL levels in the initial stage were significantly lower than those in the middle stage. The K+ levels in the initial stage were significantly lower than those in the recovery period and after discharge for 2 weeks. The LYMGH levels in the initial stage were significantly lower than those in the recovery period and after discharge for 2 weeks. The TP and ALB levels in the initial stage were higher than those in the middle stage and the recovery period. The LDH levels, scores of daily activity limitation, scores of respiratory distress symptoms, scores of psychological emotions, CT imaging scores, and positive rate of nucleic acid were significantly lower than those in the recovery period and after discharge for 2 weeks. The AG, CK, CK-MB, and α-HBDH levels in the initial stage were significantly higher than those in the recovery period. However, the AMY level in the initial stage was significantly lower than that in the recovery period and after discharge for 2 weeks (p Conclusion: Integrated Chinese and Western medicine treatment has a significant impact on laboratory indicators such as PLT, LYMGH, CRP, TBIL, IBTL, DHIL, TP, ALB, K+, AG, LDH, CK, CK-MB, α-HBDH, AMY, CT imaging, and 2019-nCoV nucleic acid in COVID-19 patients. It has good clinical efficacy and safety, and can improve the quality of life of patients.

In vitro laboratory infection research in orthopaedics:Why,when,and how

The musculoskeletal system involves multiple tissues which are constantly exposed to being exposed to various biological and mechanical stimuli.As such,isolating and studying a particular system from a complex human clinical environment is not always a realistic expectation.On top of that,recruitment limitations,in addition to the nature of orthopaedic interventions and their associated cost,sometimes preclude consideration of human trials to answer a clinical question.Therefore,in this mini review,we sought to rationalize the rapid evolution of biomedical research at a basic scientific level and explain why the perception of orthopaedic conditions has fundamentally changed over the last decades.In more detail,we highlight that the number of orthopaedic in vitro publications has soared since 1990.Last but not least,we elaborated on the minimum requirements for conducting a scientifically sound infection-related laboratory experiment to offer valuable information to clinical practitioners.We also explained the rationale behind implementing molecular biology techniques,ex vivo experiments,and artificial intelligence in this type of laboratory research.

Research on the Cultural Construction of Private University Laboratories Based on Cultural Education

University laboratories serve as crucial hubs for scientific and technological innovation and play a vital role in nurturing talents.As pivotal spaces for both teaching and scientific research,the development of laboratories necessitates not only investment in scientific research equipment and experimental facilities but also in cultural construction.This cultural aspect holds significant importance in promoting the comprehensive development of students and enhancing scientific research capabilities.This article concentrates on the strategies for cultivating laboratory culture in private universities,addressing six key dimensions:spiritual culture,institutional culture,scientific culture,innovation culture,safety culture,and shared culture.

Laboratory Life:Twenty Years of Experimental Research with Locals and New Comers in Remote Rural Areas

Through the Latour concept of philosophy of science of laboratory life,the life course of a(geo)ethnographer researcher is analyzed,in order to establish the emotional or more personal dimensions that do not usually appear in research papers,but that have notable relevance in qualitative research.The text is structured in three large parts:A conceptual vision of the new experimental geography;the experimental geo-ethnography in old social,new social and place scenarios;and finally,the most personal and emotional dimension of the research.The first part establishes the geo-ethnographic experimental context and the assumptions in fieldwork,in addition to the geo-ethnographic reconciliation process.In the second part,the main qualitative research problems related to mobility,resistance and dynamics in place are established.Finally,in the third part the research perceptions,the personal experiences,and the emotional dimension of the research in remote rural areas are established.The laboratory life of a researcher,allows one to establish scalar conclusions and rigor in qualitative research.

新形势下材料类实验室安全管理体系建设

在“双一流”建设和“新工科”建设背景下,实验室功能趋于多元化,开放共享是必然要求,实验室安全管理需要新思路和新对策。针对材料类实验室管理中存在的安全问题,须从安全管理制度、安全责任体系、安全管理队伍、安全检查制度、实验室标准化和信息化建设、安全文化等方面入手,构建实验室安全管理体系,从而切实提高实验室安全管理水平,保障校园安全。