The effect of storage temperature fluctuations on the stability of biochemical analytes in blood serum

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmuth Haslacher ◽  
Thomas Szekeres ◽  
Marlene Gerner ◽  
Elisabeth Ponweiser ◽  
Manuela Repl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Linear Models ◽  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Temperature Fluctuations ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Scientific Results ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Complex Temperature ◽  
Opening And Closing ◽  
The Impact

AbstractBackground:Irreproducibility of scientific results constitutes an undesirably onerous economic burden and is in many cases caused by low-quality materials. Therefore, researchers are increasingly devoting their attention to the bioresources they use. In turn, those bioresources are required to validate their preanalytical processes in order to ensure best possible quality. The present study thus aimed to evaluate the impact of repeated temperature fluctuations, as they occur in most research biobanks due to repetitive opening and closing of freezer doors, on the stability of 26 biochemical analytes.Methods:Serum of 43 individuals was randomly assigned to a fluctuation (n=21) and a control group (n=22). Serum of the fluctuation group underwent controlled temperature fluctuations (30 fluctuations <−75°C – <−65°C – <−75°C under real-life freezer conditions within 21 days). Control sera were stored at constant conditions. After 10, 20, and 30 fluctuations, results derived from the fluctuation group were compared to baseline and to the control group by means of general linear models.Results:Sixteen biomarkers showed statistically significant changes over time, whereas only seven of those presented with diagnostically/clinically relevant changes at certain time points (aspartate aminotransferase, amylase, calcium, uric acid, creatinine, inorganic phosphate and total protein). However, there was no difference between the fluctuation and the control group.Conclusions:Some serum analytes are influenced by storage, even at temperatures as low as <−70°C. In contrast, we found no evidence that complex temperature fluctuations produced by storage of and access to biospecimens in biobank freezers generate any additional variability.

The Impact of Exposure With No Training: Implications for Future Partner Training Research

2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (9) ◽  
pp. 2347-2352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aura Kagan ◽  
Nina Simmons-Mackie ◽  
J. Charles Victor
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Positive Outcome ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Nocebo Effect ◽  
Negative Finding ◽  
Conversational Skills ◽  
Training Studies ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This research note reports on an unexpected negative finding related to behavior change in a controlled trial designed to test whether partner training improves the conversational skills of volunteers. Method The clinical trial involving training in “Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia” utilized a single-blind, randomized, controlled, pre–post design. Eighty participants making up 40 dyads of a volunteer conversation partner and an adult with aphasia were randomly allocated to either an experimental or control group of 20 dyads each. Descriptive statistics including exact 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the percentage of control group participants who got worse after exposure to individuals with aphasia. Results Positive outcomes of training in Supported Conversation for Adults with Aphasia for both the trained volunteers and their partners with aphasia were reported by Kagan, Black, Felson Duchan, Simmons-Mackie, and Square in 2001. However, post hoc data analysis revealed that almost one third of untrained control participants had a negative outcome rather than the anticipated neutral or slightly positive outcome. Conclusions If the results of this small study are in any way representative of what happens in real life, communication partner training in aphasia becomes even more important than indicated from the positive results of training studies. That is, it is possible that mere exposure to a communication disability such as aphasia could have negative impacts on communication and social interaction. This may be akin to what is known as a “nocebo” effect—something for partner training studies in aphasia to take into account.

scholarly journals Static Postural Balance in Modern Pentathletes: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorota Sadowska ◽  
Tomasz Sacewicz ◽  
Małgorzata Lichota ◽  
Justyna Krzepota ◽  
Maria Ładyga
Keyword(s):  
Postural Balance ◽  
Postural Sway ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Test Conditions ◽  
The Stability ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Conscious Control

Postural balance is a key element of shooting effectiveness, which determines the outcome of modern pentathlon competitions. The aim of the study is to examine the postural balance of 27 pentathletes (12 females and 15 males; mean age: 18.0 ± 1.8 years), and 26 physically active, untrained subjects (12 females and 14 males; mean age: 22.5 ± 1.4 years), and to investigate the impact of footwear on the stability of the shooting position in pentathletes. Methods: Static postural balance was examined during quiet stance in four test conditions (standing in footwear with eyes opened, standing in footwear with eyes closed, standing barefoot with eyes opened, and standing barefoot with eyes closed). During each postural balance measurement, the participant remained still on the platform, with their arms in front of their body. Postural balance in the shooting position was only evaluated in the group of pentathletes. The athlete was asked to assume a comfortable shooting position on the platform and to aim at the target. Standard pentathlon targets and pistols were used in the study. Measurements were carried out twice (barefoot and in footwear). Results: In all conditions, pentathletes achieved lower values of posturographic measures than in the control group. In non-visual conditions, measures describing the surface area of the centre of pressure decreased in pentathletes and increased in the control group. Both pentathletes and non-athletes were equally stable barefoot as in footwear. Footwear did not affect postural sway in the shooting position in pentathletes. Conclusions: Pentathletes were found to have significantly better stance stability and were less vision-dependent in postural balance than untrained subjects. Bearing in mind that the shooting position of pentathletes was as stable barefoot as in footwear, the main factors which were most likely responsible for minimising body oscillations in the pentathletes were their high level of concentration and conscious control of body alignment.

scholarly journals The Impact of Different Competitive Environments on Pacing and Performance

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 701-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco J. Konings ◽  
Florentina J. Hettinga
Keyword(s):  
Fixed Effects ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Mixed Linear Models ◽  
Start Position ◽  
Available Energy ◽  
Competitive Environments ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

Purpose: In real-life competitive situations, athletes are required to continuously make decisions about how and when to invest their available energy resources. This study attempted to identify how different competitive environments invite elite short-track speed skaters to modify their pacing behavior during head-to-head competition. Methods: Lap times of elite 500-, 1000- and 1500-m short-track speed skating competitions between 2011 and 2016 (N = 34,095 races) were collected. Log-transformed lap and finishing times were analyzed with mixed linear models. The fixed effects in the model were sex, season, stage of competition, start position, competition importance, event number per tournament, number of competitors per race, altitude, and time qualification. The random effects of the model were athlete identity and the residual (within-athlete race-to-race variation). Separate analyses were performed for each event. Results: Several competitive environments, such as the number of competitors in a race (a higher number of competitors evoked most likely a faster initial pace; coefficient of variation [CV] = 1.9–9.3%), the stage of competition (likely to most likely, a slower initial pace was demonstrated in finals; CV = −1.4% to 2.0%), the possibility of time qualification (most likely a faster initial pace; CV = 2.6–5.0%), and competition importance (most likely faster races at the Olympics; CV = 1.3–3.5%), altered the pacing decisions of elite skaters in 1000- and 1500-m events. Stage of competition and start position affected 500-m pacing behavior. Conclusions: As demonstrated in this study, different competitive environments evoked modifications in pacing behavior, in particular in the initial phase of the race, emphasizing the importance of athlete–environment interactions, especially during head-to-head competitions.

scholarly journals The Impact of a Vestibular-Stimulating Exercise Regime on Postural Stability in People with Visual Impairment

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ida Wiszomirska ◽  
Katarzyna Kaczmarczyk ◽  
Michalina Błażkiewicz ◽  
Andrzej Wit
Keyword(s):  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Postural Stability ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Stability Parameters ◽  
Static Tests ◽  
Balance System ◽  
Eyes Closed ◽  
Exercise Regime ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Impact

The aim of the study was to assess the impact of a vestibular-stimulating exercise regime on postural stability in individuals with visual impairment. The study group consisted of 70 people, including 28 persons (15 female and 13 male) with visual impairment and 42 (21 female and 21 male) without visual impairment. Each individual in the group with visual impairment was medically qualified for a 3-month training program. The research methodology included medical examination, anthropometric tests, and stabilometry tests on a Biodex Balance System SD (BBS). The tests were conducted twice: once before the start of training and again after 3 months of rehabilitation. The group with visual impairment showed significantly worse postural stability results than the control group for most of the stability parameters evaluated (OSI, APSI, and MLSI). Differences were noted between the groups with and without visual impairment for dynamic tests in women and for static tests in men. After training, the two groups showed roughly similar results for the stabilometry test with eyes closed. We conclude that exercises stimulating the vestibular system with head and body movements should be recommended for individuals with visual impairments to achieve better balance retention.

scholarly journals Pathology of the Organs of Vision in Metallurgists

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 492-496
Author(s):  
A. L. Onischenko ◽  
A. V. Kolbasko ◽  
M. A. Melnichenko ◽  
S. N. Filimonov
Keyword(s):  
Tear Film ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Length Of Service ◽  
Metallurgical Production ◽  
Outer Corner ◽  
Cataract Development ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Chronic Conjunctivitis

The frequency and structure of ophthalmopathology in workers of the Novokuznetsk Metallurgical Combine (NMC) have been studied. In total 1911 workers of NMC have been examined. The control group comprised 1801 people working in hazardous industrial conditions. The experimental group consisted of employees dealing with management, engineering center, accounting (110 people). Their work was not connected with the impact of unfavorable factors of metallurgical production. In the control group, the hazard classes ranged from 3.2 to 3.4. The difference between the classes of hazard impact consisted in an increase of the intensity of the hazardous factors exposure. In the structure of conjunctival diseases we have diagnosed chronic conjunctivitis (198.3 ‰), chronic blepharoconjunctivitis (109.4 ‰), pinguecula (266.7 ‰) and pterygium (7.2 ‰) in metallurgical workers. Pengucules in the control group of workers was not only more often than in engineers, but also larger, often located in the inner and outer corner of the eye, and was detected in workers under 30–35 years. The workers of the main shops suffered more severely from the function of tear production and the stability of the pre-corneal tear film. The miners suffered from the highest frequency of cataract development — 301 ‰. Thus, a high incidence of inflammatory and dystrophic diseases of the eyelids and conjunctiva, cataracts in metallurgy has been established. An increase in the frequency of ophthalmopathology was noted with an increase in the length of service under harmful conditions of metallurgical production. The authors suggest the term “metallurgy ophthalmopathy”, which includes manifestations of chronic conjunctivitis and / or blepharoconjunctivitis against the background of unstable precorneal film and frequent formation of posterior-subcapsular opacities of the lens.

scholarly journals The Impact Of Problem Based Learning On The Students’ Learning Outcomes Toward Critical Thinking Skill In Elementary School

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Agustiningsih Agustiningsih ◽  
Singgih Bektiarso ◽  
Arju Mutiah ◽  
Ahmad Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Elementary School ◽  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Problem Based Learning ◽  
T Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Thinking Skill ◽  
Critical Thinking Skill ◽  
The Impact

Problem based learning supports students to have an ability to solve problems in real life, so that students’ critical thinking skill is structurally able to appear and is examined well. By problem based learning, students are able construct their own knowledges. This research is held in elementary school using true experimental with test post-test control group design. It uses quantitative descriptive approach. The data of critical thinking skill indicates that problem based learning does not affect significantly toward students’ critical thinking. The data of learning outcomes is analyzed by using t-test in 5 % signification level. The calculation result using t-test gains tcount = 2, 533. This value is consulted to ttable with db = 54 in 5 % signification level, so that it gains ttable = 2,005. It gains tcount>ttable (2,533 > 2,005). Based on its result, it can be concluded that problem based learning affects students’ learning result, unlike students’ critical thinking skill.

scholarly journals Real Life Clinical Impact of Antimicrobial Stewardship Actions on the Blood Culture Workflow from a Microbiology Laboratory

Antibiotics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1511
Author(s):  
Jose Maria López-Pintor ◽  
Javier Sánchez-López ◽  
Carolina Navarro-San Francisco ◽  
Ana Maria Sánchez-Díaz ◽  
Elena Loza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Culture ◽  
Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Correct Treatment ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

Background: Accelerating the diagnosis of bacteremia is one of the biggest challenges in clinical microbiology departments. The fast establishment of a correct treatment is determinant on bacteremic patients’ outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of antimicrobial therapy and clinical outcomes of a rapid blood culture workflow protocol in positive blood cultures with Gram-negative bacilli (GNB). Methods: A quasi-experimental before–after study was performed with two groups: (i) control group (conventional work-protocol) and (ii) intervention group (rapid workflow-protocol: rapid identification by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time-Of-Flight (MALDI-TOF) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) from bacterial pellet without overnight incubation). Patients were divided into different categories according to the type of intervention over treatment. Outcomes were compared between both groups. Results: A total of 313 patients with GNB-bacteremia were included: 125 patients in the control group and 188 in the intervention. The time from positive blood culture to intervention on antibiotic treatment decreased from 2.0 days in the control group to 1.0 in the intervention group (p < 0.001). On the maintenance of correct empirical treatment, the control group reported 2.0 median days until the clinical decision, while in the intervention group was 1.0 (p < 0.001). In the case of treatment de-escalation, a significant difference between both groups (4.0 vs. 2.0, p < 0.001) was found. A decreasing trend on the change from inappropriate treatments to appropriate ones was observed: 3.5 vs. 1.5; p = 0.12. No significant differences were found between both groups on 7-days mortality or on readmissions in the first 30-days. Conclusions: Routine implementation of a rapid workflow protocol anticipates the report of antimicrobial susceptibility testing results in patients with GNB-bacteremia, decreasing the time to effective and optimal antibiotic therapy.

scholarly journals Enriching Tiger Nut Milk with Sodium Caseinate and Xanthan Gum Improves the Physical Stability and Consumer Acceptability

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-49
Author(s):  
Nazir Kizzie-Hayford ◽  
Jerry Ampofo-Asiama ◽  
Susann Zahn ◽  
Doris Jaros ◽  
Harald Rohm
Keyword(s):  
Xanthan Gum ◽  
Colloidal Stability ◽  
Storage Temperature ◽  
Physical Stability ◽  
Sodium Caseinate ◽  
Consumer Acceptance ◽  
Consumer Acceptability ◽  
Consumer Ratings ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Impact

Tiger nut milk (TNM) shows limited colloidal stability, which affects consumer acceptability in many parts of the world where tiger nut is cultivated. In this study, addition of proteins and hydrocolloids was used for improving the stability, and the impact on physical properties and consumer acceptance is reported. Enriching TNM by 3 g/100 g sodium caseinate and 0.1 g/100 g xanthan gum successfully impeded creaming and serum formation and resulted in a decrease of the instability index from 0.408 ± 0.023 to 0.015 ± 0.00 after applying forced sedimentation at 3000 x g for 2 h. After TNM enrichment, the viscosity of TNM increased from 3.0 ± 0.10 mPa.s to 285 ± 18 mPa.s which remained stable at elevated storage temperature. Flash profiling of TNM resulted in emerging descriptors namely sweet, sediment, watery, raw. Hedonic assessment by 82 consumers showed that plain TNM had the lowest rating concerning particular sensory attributes and acceptance. Enrichment resulted in more viscous, sweet and thick TNM products, leading to higher consumer ratings of attributes and acceptability. Thus, enriching TNM by sodium caseinates and xanthan gum is promising for improving the dispersion stability and consumer acceptance.

Modeling Software Patch Management Based on Vulnerabilities Discovered

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (02) ◽  
pp. 2040003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adarsh Anand ◽  
Navneet Bhatt ◽  
Deepti Aggrawal
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Software System ◽  
System A ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Modeling Software ◽  
Vulnerability Discovery ◽  
The Stability ◽  
The Impact

A software system deals with various security implications after its release in the market. Correspondingly, firm releases security patches to counter those flaws discovered in the software system. A vendor releases a patch only if a vulnerability has been discovered in a software. It is an important aspect that encompasses the prediction of potential number of patches to be released to maintain the stability of a software. Vulnerability Discovery Models (VDMs) help a software vendor to acknowledge the security trends, forecast security investments and to plan patches, but very few attempts have been made to model the Vulnerability Patch Modeling (VPM) based on the impact of vulnerabilities discovered over the time period. In this proposal, we deduce a novel approach that addresses trend in the sequential development of patches based on the vendor or reporters fetching out the vulnerabilities in a software. The vulnerability trends in a software significantly affect the discovery process and later trigger a patch deployment to suppress the possible likelihood of a breach. The integrative approach underlines the association of vulnerability patch modeling with the vulnerability discovery phenomenon. To exemplify the proposed systematic structure, a statistical analysis has been conducted using real life vulnerability and patch datasets.

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