scholarly journals Aerosolised fluorescein can quantify FFP mask faceseal leakage: a cost-effective adaptation to the existing point of care fit-test.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sameer Zaman ◽  
Henry Seligman ◽  
Freya Hepworth Lloyd ◽  
Keval Tushar Patel ◽  
Digby Chappell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Filter Paper ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Test Protocol ◽  
Taste Test ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fit Testing ◽  
Total Fluorescence ◽  
Low Levels

Abstract Background Filtering facepiece (FFP) respirators must provide an adequate faceseal to protect healthcare workers from harmful particles. A qualitative fit-test using bitter-tasting aerosols the commonest way to determine if an FFP mask is safe enough for clinical use. This taste-test is subjective and can be biased by placebo. We propose a cheap and quantitative modification of the taste-test, by measuring the amount of fluorescein staining filter paper behind the FFP mask after a fit-test protocol, using digital image analysis. Methods Medical grade fluorescein was added to bitter-tasting denatonium benzoate solution and Aerosolised during a mask fit-testing protocol. Scientific filter paper was placed on the inner surface of the mask. Participants were asked if they could taste the solution to determine their qualitative ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ result. Filter paper photographs were analysed after the test to quantify total fluorescence (TF). TF levels in the taste-test ‘pass’ and ‘fail’ groups were compared.Results Fifty-six healthcare professionals completed the fluorescein mask fit-test protocol. 32 (57%) ‘passed’ the qualitative (taste) test and the remainder ‘failed’. There was a significant difference in TF between the groups based on their qualitative results (p <0.001). A cut-off of TF = 5.0 x 106 fluorescence units was determined by analysing the precision (78%) and recall (84%) of the fluorescein test. Applying this cut-off resulted in 5 out of 56 participants (9%) being reclassified from ‘pass’ to ‘fail’ by the fluorescein test. 7 out of 56 (12%) participants were reclassified from ‘fail’ to ‘pass’.Conclusions Fluorescein is detectable and sensitive to identify faceseal leaks in FFP masks. The fluorescein fit-test is discriminating in its ability to divide people into ‘pass’ and ‘fail’ groups similarly to the taste-test. The adaptations are low-cost and could be incorporated in the point-of-care setting. After further validation the fluorescein test could increase safety for staff by reducing the number of false ‘pass’ by the taste-test. It could also reassure people who have ‘failed’ the taste-test that they have low levels of fluorescein leak, enabling them to return to clinical practice safely.

scholarly journals Effect of Seed Priming Techniques on Germination Parameters of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

2018 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-163
Author(s):  
Milan Jocković ◽  
Petar Čanak ◽  
Vladimir Miklič ◽  
Jelena Ovuka ◽  
Velimir Radić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Filter Paper ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Seed Priming ◽  
Carthamus Tinctorius ◽  
Distilled Water ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mean Germination Time ◽  
Metabolic Activities ◽  
Germination Parameters ◽  
Priming Technique

Summary A useful approach for improving seed germination and seedling growth is a seed priming technique. Application of the priming technique enhances water absorption, causing activation of metabolic activities in the seed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of seed priming on germination parameters of safflower and to compare different priming techniques: priming by soaking and priming on filter paper. The priming treatments included hydropriming (distilled water) and osmopriming with 0.1% and 0.5% solutions of KNO3 for 8 and 16 hours. The experiment revealed significant difference between the priming treatments and the control. The highest germination (89.50%) was recorded within the priming treatments by soaking in the solution of 0.1% KNO3 and priming on filter paper moistened with 0.5% KNO3 for 8 hours. Considering germination index, mean germination time and time to 50% germination, the best results were obtained within hydropriming on filter paper for 16 hours. This study has shown that the priming techniques significantly improved germination parameters of safflower. Although priming on filter paper showed better results, the soaking technique – due to its simplicity, low cost and easiness of application – can be successfully used to improve germination parameters of safflower and increase the number of plants per unit of area and thus increase the seed yield per acreage.

Creativity Enhancement

2013 ◽  
pp. 161-168
Author(s):  
Monty McNair ◽  
Caroline Howard ◽  
Indira Guzman ◽  
Paul Watkin
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Creative Performance ◽  
Creativity Training ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Adaptive Approaches ◽  
Information Systems Personnel

Since the dawn of humanity, creativity has been critical to surmounting the challenges of life. Innovation is particularly essential to survival on every level from an individual solving his/her problems to a world dependent on adaptive approaches to cope with rapidly expanding populations and enormous international tensions. Currently, information systems programs are not fostering the creativity needed to sustain the innovation required to compete in the 21st century marketplace. Educators and researchers need to better understand the effects of creativity training on creative performance to best design programs that meet the needs of information systems personnel and their employers. The results of this study provide evidence that it would be valuable for organizations to experiment with creativity tutorials and recommend that future research be conducted using larger samples of individuals with low levels of creativity. Because the costs of informing people about creativity are low and creativity tutorials can be designed to be easily administered and completed, the authors recommend that a low-cost tutorial would be a cost effective and beneficial strategy for organizations to employ with information systems personnel, especially those who assess themselves as low in creativity.

scholarly journals Comparative evaluation of artificial rupture of membranes and spontaneous rupture of membranes on course of labour and feto-maternal outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 4160
Author(s):  
Anjali Chauhan ◽  
Bani Sarkar ◽  
Kritika Tanwar
Keyword(s):  
Apgar Score ◽  
Spontaneous Rupture ◽  
Comparative Evaluation ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Mode Of Delivery ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Maternal Outcomes ◽  
Group Outcomes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Nicu Admission

Background: Present study was undertaken to do a comparative evaluation of artificial rupture of membrane (ARM) and spontaneous rupture of membrane (SRM) on the course of labour and feto-maternal outcome.Methods: It was prospective interventional randomized comparative study including 120 primigravidae (60 in ARM and SRM group each) with cervical dilatation ≥3 cm and intact membranes. Amniotomy was performed in ARM group after enrolment while no intervention in SRM group. Outcomes noted were duration of labor, mode of delivery, APGAR score, NICU stay.Results: Significant reduction seen in duration of labour in ARM group (p=0.0001). Mean duration of labor was 5.24 hours in ARM group while 6.94 hours in SRM group. No significant difference noted in mode of delivery (p=0.082). No significant adverse feto-maternal outcomes were seen with amniotomy. APGAR score and NICU admission had no significant difference among the two groups.Conclusions: ARM can be opted as an intervention with shorter duration of labour without adversely affecting the feto-maternal outcomes. It is safe, reliable and cost effective modality when employed in primigravida and may be considered as a low-cost accessible intervention to reduce prolonged labour and its associated complications. 

The Effect on Fit of Multiple Consecutive Donning and Doffing of N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators

2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 930-936 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Danisile Vuma ◽  
Jeanneth Manganyi ◽  
Kerry Wilson ◽  
David Rees
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Health ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Test Data ◽  
Test Protocol ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Subsequent Test ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Fit Testing ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Operational Issues

Abstract Background N95 filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) are widely used in healthcare to reduce transmission of airborne infectious diseases. These respirators are generally described as single use or limited reuse devices, but cost and operational issues mean that they may be donned and doffed multiple times. There is scant research on the effect of this practice on adequacy of fit. Objective The purpose of this study was to measure the effect on respirator fit of multiple donning and doffing of N95 FFRs. Methods This was an experiment in which 16 women and 9 men employed by the National Institute for Occupational Health (NIOH), Johannesburg, donned their same N95 FFR six times. All 25 were trained in the correct wearing of the devices before the experiment. Four models of respirators were used: the six who did not use respirators at work (novice subjects) were issued a 3M 1860 FFR and the others used their currently supplied one. During the experiment subjects donned their respirators under the supervision of the tester. Quantitative fit testing was done in the NIOH Occupational Hygiene laboratory after each donning according to the OSHA-Accepted Fit Test Protocol using the TSI PortaCount Pro+ Model 8038 Respirator Fit Tester. During the test, fit was measured after each of seven exercises and then an overall fit factor was computed. Only individuals who achieved an initial overall fit factor of ≥100 were allowed to continue participation in the study. Median overall fit factors were calculated for the 25 subjects for each donning and changes across them was examined using Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Men and women and frequent and infrequent users were compared across the six tests. Infrequent use was defined as subjects who wore respirators ≤ once per week, and novice subjects. Results Two subjects (8%) had an overall fit factor <100 at fit Test 2, 6 (24%) at Test 3, and 8 (32%) at Tests 4, 5, and 6. Thirteen respirator users (52%) achieved ≥100 throughout the fit testing, so 12 had at least one failure at either Tests 2–6. Five of the 12 subjects with at least one failure showed persistent failures on all subsequent donnings. Six subjects out of 12 (50%) who failed a fit test achieved an overall fit factor >100 at a subsequent test. There was a significant difference between the median first and sixth overall fit factors (195 versus 150; P = 0.0271), but not between the second and sixth (161 versus 150; P = 0.3584). Men and women had similar overall fit factors, but infrequent users had larger average overall fit factors than frequent users after all six donnings. Conclusion Forty-eight percent of study subjects failed at least one fit test after re-donning an N95 FFR. The fit test data suggest that donning practices probably accounted for the fit test failures. The 50% of subjects who produced overall fit factors ≥100 after a test of <100 supports this contention.

Creativity Enhancement

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Monty McNair ◽  
Caroline Howard ◽  
Indira Guzman ◽  
Paul Watkin
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Creative Performance ◽  
Creativity Training ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Adaptive Approaches ◽  
Information Systems Personnel

Since the dawn of humanity, creativity has been critical to surmounting the challenges of life. Innovation is particularly essential to survival on every level from an individual solving his/her problems to a world dependent on adaptive approaches to cope with rapidly expanding populations and enormous international tensions. Currently, information systems programs are not fostering the creativity needed to sustain the innovation required to compete in the 21st century marketplace. Educators and researchers need to better understand the effects of creativity training on creative performance to best design programs that meet the needs of information systems personnel and their employers. The results of this study provide evidence that it would be valuable for organizations to experiment with creativity tutorials and recommend that future research be conducted using larger samples of individuals with low levels of creativity. Because the costs of informing people about creativity are low and creativity tutorials can be designed to be easily administered and completed, the authors recommend that a low-cost tutorial would be a cost effective and beneficial strategy for organizations to employ with information systems personnel, especially those who assess themselves as low in creativity.

scholarly journals Inkjet printing of paraffin on paper allows low-cost point-of-care diagnostics for pathogenic fungi

Cellulose ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (13) ◽  
pp. 7691-7701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anusha Prabhu ◽  
M. S. Giri Nandagopal ◽  
Prakash Peralam Yegneswaran ◽  
Hardik Ramesh Singhal ◽  
Naresh Kumar Mani
Keyword(s):  
Filter Paper ◽  
Limit Of Detection ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Sem Analysis ◽  
Qualitative Assessment ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Hydrophobic Barrier ◽  
Pore Blockage

Abstract We present a high resolution, ultra-frugal printing of paper microfluidic devices using in-house paraffin formulation on a simple filter paper. The patterns printed using an office inkjet printer formed a selective hydrophobic barrier of 4 ± 1 µm thickness with a hydrophilic channel width of 275 µm. These printed patterns effectively confine common aqueous solutions and solvents, which was verified by solvent compatibility studies. SEM analysis reveals that the solvent confinement is due to pore blockage in the filter paper. The fabricated paper-based device was validated for qualitative assessment of Candida albicans (pathogenic fungi) by using a combination of L-proline β-naphthylamide as the substrate and cinnamaldehyde as an indicator. Our studies reveal that the pathogenic fungi can be detected within 10 min with the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.86 × 106 cfu/mL. Owing to its simplicity, this facile method shows high potential and can be scaled up for developing robust paper-based devices for biomarker detection in resource-limited settings. Graphic abstract

scholarly journals A Disposable Paper-Based Electrochemical Sensor Made of Pencil Graphite and Its Modification with Au for Detection of Glucose in Alkaline Solutions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Sen
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Monitoring ◽  
Electrochemical Sensor ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Alkaline Solutions ◽  
Glucose Detection ◽  
Electrochemical Modification ◽  
Point Of Care Diagnostics

Paper-based sensors have great potential to be used in a variety of fields ranging from environmental monitoring to clinical and point-of-care diagnostics. These sensors are disposable, cost effective, flexible and easy to use. The aim of this study was to fabricate a low cost, disposable, reliable and easy to use paper-based electrochemical sensor and its electrochemical modification with nanostructured Au for glucose detection in alkaline solutions.

scholarly journals Multiplex Solid-Phase RPA Coupled CRISPR-Based Visual Detection of SARS-CoV-2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaochen Qin ◽  
Yuyuan Zhou ◽  
Ratul Paul ◽  
Yue Wu ◽  
Yaling Liu
Keyword(s):  
Solid Phase ◽  
Dna Detection ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Control Sample ◽  
Virus Detection ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Analytical Sensitivity ◽  
One Pot ◽  
Hpv Dna

COVID-19 has challenged the world's public health and led to over 4.5 million deaths. A rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective point-of-care virus detection device is crucial to the control and surveillance of the contagious severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Here we demonstrate a solid phase isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification coupled CRISPR-based (spRPA-CRISPR) assay for on-chip multiplexed, sensitive, and visual COVID-19 DNA detection. By targeting the SARS-CoV-2 structure protein encoded genomes, two specific genes were simultaneously detected with the control sample without cross-interaction with other sequences. The endpoint signal can be directly visualized for rapid detection of COVID-19. The amplified target sequences were immobilized on the one-pot device surface and detected using the mixed Cas12a-crRNA collateral cleavage of reporter released fluorescent signal when specific genes were recognized. The system was tested with samples of a broad range of concentrations (20 to 2x105 copies) and showed analytical sensitivity down to 20 copies per reaction. Furthermore, a low-cost LED UV flashlight (~$12) was used to provide a visible SARS-CoV-2 detection signal of the spRPA-CRISPR assay which could be purchased online easily. Thus, our platform provides a sensitive and easy-to-read multiplexed gene detection method with the capacity to specifically identify low concentration genes. Similar CRISPR biosensor chips can support a broad range of applications such as HPV DNA detection, influenza SARS-CoV-2 multiplex detection, and other infectious disease testing assays.

scholarly journals Deep Learning-Enabled Point-of-Care Sensing Using Multiplexed Paper-Based Sensors

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary Ballard ◽  
Hyou-Arm Joung ◽  
Artem Goncharov ◽  
Jesse Liang ◽  
Karina Nugroho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Deep Learning ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Medical Test ◽  
Sensing Membrane

ABSTRACTWe present a deep learning-based framework to design and quantify point-of-care sensors. As its proof-of-concept and use-case, we demonstrated a low-cost and rapid paper-based vertical flow assay (VFA) for high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) testing, a common medical test used for quantifying the degree of inflammation in patients at risk of cardio-vascular disease (CVD). A machine learning-based sensor design framework was developed for two key tasks: (1) to determine an optimal configuration of immunoreaction spots and conditions, spatially-multiplexed on a paper-based sensing membrane, and (2) to accurately infer the target analyte concentration based on the signals of the optimal VFA configuration. Using a custom-designed mobile-phone based VFA reader, a clinical study was performed with 85 human serum samples to characterize the quantification accuracy around the clinically defined cutoffs for CVD risk stratification. Results from blindly-tested VFAs indicate a competitive coefficient of variation of 11.2% with a linearity of R2 = 0.95; in addition to the success in the high-sensitivity CRP range (i.e., 0-10 mg/L), our results further demonstrate a mitigation of the hook-effect at higher CRP concentrations due to the incorporation of antigen capture spots within the multiplexed sensing membrane of the VFA. This paper-based computational VFA that is powered by deep learning could expand access to CVD health screening, and the presented machine learning-enabled sensing framework can be broadly used to design cost-effective and mobile sensors for various point-of-care diagnostics applications.

scholarly journals HAT-field: a very cheap, robust and quantitative point-of-care serological test for Covid-19.

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Etienne Joly ◽  
Agnes Maurel Ribes
Keyword(s):  
Room Temperature ◽  
Serological Test ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Test Protocol ◽  
Laboratory Equipment ◽  
Human Red Blood Cells ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Disposable Equipment

We have recently described a very simple and cheap serological test called HAT to detect antibodies directed against the RBD of the SARS-Cov-2 virus. HAT is based on hemagglutination, triggered by a single reagent (IH4-RBD) comprised of the viral RBD domain fused to a nanobody specific for glycophorin, which is expressed at very high levels at the surface of human red blood cells (RBCs). One of the main initial goals of this study was to devise a test protocol that would be sensitive and reliable, yet require no specialized laboratory equipment such as adjustable pipets, so that it could be performed in the most remote corners of the world by people with minimal levels of training. Because antibody levels against the viral RBD have been found to correlate closely with sero-neutralisation titers, and thus with protection against reinfection, it has become obvious during the course of this study that making this test reliably quantitative would be a further significant advantage. We have found that, in PBN, a buffer which contains BSA and sodium azide, IH4-RBD is stable for over 6 months at room temperature, and that PBN also improves HAT performance compared to using straight PBS. We also show that performing HAT at either 4°C, room temperature or 37°C has minimal influence on the results, and that quantitative evaluation of the levels of antibodies directed against the SARS-CoV-2 RBD can be achieved in a single step using titration of the IH4-RBD reagent. The HAT-field protocol described here requires only very simple disposable equipment and a few microliters of whole blood, such as can be obtained by finger prick. Because it is based on a single soluble reagent, the test can be adapted very simply and rapidly to detect antibodies against variants of the SARS-CoV-2, or conceivably against different pathogens. HAT-field appears well suited to provide quantitative assessments of the serological protection of populations as well as individuals, and given its very low cost, the stability of the IH4-RBD reagent in the adapted buffer, and the simplicity of the procedure, could be deployed pretty much anywhere, including in the poorest countries and the most remote corners of the globe.

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