Digital research data: from analysis of existing standards to a scientific foundation for a modular metadata schema in nanosafety

Background Assessing the safety of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) is an interdisciplinary and complex process producing huge amounts of information and data. To make such data and metadata reusable for researchers, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities, there is an urgent need to record and provide this information in a structured, harmonized, and digitized way. Results This study aimed to identify appropriate description standards and quality criteria for the special use in nanosafety. There are many existing standards and guidelines designed for collecting data and metadata, ranging from regulatory guidelines to specific databases. Most of them are incomplete or not specifically designed for ENM research. However, by merging the content of several existing standards and guidelines, a basic catalogue of descriptive information and quality criteria was generated. In an iterative process, our interdisciplinary team identified deficits and added missing information into a comprehensive schema. Subsequently, this overview was externally evaluated by a panel of experts during a workshop. This whole process resulted in a minimum information table (MIT), specifying necessary minimum information to be provided along with experimental results on effects of ENMs in the biological context in a flexible and modular manner. The MIT is divided into six modules: general information, material information, biological model information, exposure information, endpoint read out information and analysis and statistics. These modules are further partitioned into module subdivisions serving to include more detailed information. A comparison with existing ontologies, which also aim to electronically collect data and metadata on nanosafety studies, showed that the newly developed MIT exhibits a higher level of detail compared to those existing schemas, making it more usable to prevent gaps in the communication of information. Conclusion Implementing the requirements of the MIT into e.g., electronic lab notebooks (ELNs) would make the collection of all necessary data and metadata a daily routine and thereby would improve the reproducibility and reusability of experiments. Furthermore, this approach is particularly beneficial regarding the rapidly expanding developments and applications of novel non-animal alternative testing methods.

Compliance of operating room sterilization procedures with valid Scientific guidelines

introduction: Infections caused by surgeries have always been considered a primary concern of medical centers and are associated with irreversible complications. Using appropriate sterilization procedures reduces these complications. This study aimed to investigate how compliant are the current sterilization procedures of operating room (OR) environment and instruments with valid scientific standards. Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical study examined ophthalmology, gynecology, and otorhinolaryngology ORs of Valiasr Hospital in Birjand. With the presence of the researcher in the OR, a standard 41-item checklist consisting of three parts (environmental cleaning, equipment cleaning, and sterilization procedure) was completed for each OR in each shift. The data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis test by SPSS(Version18) in significant level (a=0.05). Results: A total of 50 questionnaires were filled out for ORs. The highest number of questionnaires were completed for the gynecology OR, and the most elective surgeries were performed in the morning shift. There was no significant difference between the median score of OR instruments cleaning and that of valid scientific guidelines in terms of steralization (P> 0.05). The median scores of sterilization procedures and steps in hospital ORs were significantly different from those of scientific guidelines in the field of sterilization of surgical operations (P <0.05). Conclusion: The study findings indicate cases of mismatch between the quality of infection control and sterilization in the ORs of Vali-asar Hospital in Birjand and those recommended by valid scientific standards and guidelines.

CURRENT ISSUES OF INCREASING EF-FICIENCY OF SAINT-PETERSBURG STATE TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE (TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY) STUDENTS’ INVOLVEMENT IN THE INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

Currently, the government pays more atten-tion to the standards and guidelines for all education systems to ensure that vocational and higher education programmes are coor-dinated with the evolving needs of the labour market. This policy includes development of the National qualifications system and of the independent assessment of qualifications, which could be served for external evalua-tion of the quality of higher education. The paper represents indicators of SPbGTI(TU) students' involvement in the procedures of independent qualifications assessment, re-sults of students' awareness about the Na-tional Qualifications System and about the infrastructure, which carries out this as-sessment, as well as results of the study of students' motives for voluntary participation in the procedures of the independent qualifi-cations assessment. The paper also offers suggestions about improving students’ in-volvement in the independent assessment of qualifications.

Standards and Guidelines for Undergraduate Programs in Gerontology

Undergraduate programs (majors, minors, certificates) and continuing education programs in gerontology prepare students for entry-level careers in aging and increase competitiveness for graduate work in a variety of fields. Job growth in the field of gerontology is high, especially for positions requiring a bachelor’s degree and less. Gerontology education at this level is essential for meeting the growing demand for workers in social services and health services who understand the opportunities and challenges that come with increased longevity and global aging. This presentation will highlight the new recommendations for competency-based gerontology education for undergraduate and continuing education credentials outlined in the latest edition of AGHE Standards and Guidelines. Whether you are developing a new curriculum or revising an old one, we will offer suggestions for using the AGHE competencies and guidelines to ensure that your program adequately prepares students and offers them a competitive edge in today’s job market.

Standards and Guidelines for Associate's Degree Programs in Gerontology

Associate degree programs in gerontology occupy a unique space in higher education. They must prepare students for a wide variety of careers and opportunities from technical and vocational training to preparation for further gerontology education at a four-year college. It is widely known that there is great variability among the numerous associate degree programs in gerontology; this presentation gives an overview of the revised standards and guidelines for associate degree programs. Associate degree programs will vary based on the faculty, the leadership, the program, and institutional support, this presentation discusses best practices for a variety of program types paying particular attention to competency-based educational strategies.

Standards and Guidelines for Graduate Programs in Gerontology and Geriatrics

Graduate programs in gerontology prepare students for advanced academic and/or applied careers in aging. Programs at this level offer greater depth, breadth, and increased emphasis on theory and research. Persons completing a master’s and/or doctoral degree in gerontology or aging studies have reached the level of “gerontologist” whereby they have completed the necessary coursework in the physical, psychological, social and built environment in order to understand the unique opportunities and challenges of aging in a scholarly manner. While the depth of treatment of each topic will vary across programs, each of the AGHE Core Competencies should be mastered at a level of “analyzation and evaluation” or higher on Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. The current presentation addresses how the AGHE Standards and Guidelines for graduate programs in gerontology were updated as a competency-based curriculum that includes coursework, practicum, and a culminating project (e.g., thesis, comprehensive exam, and/or dissertation).

Standards and Guidelines for a New Decade

As the field evolved, so too, has the Gerontology and Geriatrics Curricular Standards and Guidelines in Higher Education. The 7th edition is focused on the integration of the highly vetted AGHE Gerontology Competencies for Undergraduate and Graduate Education. Through this work we establish a set of standards and guidelines that provides the foundation for excellence in gerontology and health professions education at various levels and across a range of programs in the US and globally. The document provide a model for institutions of higher education in the development of new programs, a basis for program assessment and evaluation, guidance for academic or institutional reviews in existing programs, and a platform for what constitutes a program of study in gerontology/geriatrics or health professions programs for students, the public, and employers. An overview of the development of the 7th edition and suggestions for its use will be provided.

The perception of local communities in non-financial reports of companies

Local communities are one of the important areas in the perspective of social development in the 21st century. Enterprises increasingly identify them as key stakeholder. This process is visible especially in companies that declare that they operate in a socially responsible manner. Currently, non-financial reports, which present key data on the achievements and priorities of activities in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), become one of the basic tools of corporate communication. Non-financial reports are prepared based on standards and guidelines developed by independent international organizations and associations. The article verifies two aspects of addressing the subject of local communities in non-financial reports. First, it was analyzed to what extent the adopted standards require organizations to report in detail their activities for or with the participation of local communities, and then to what extent companies communicate their activities concerning local communities.