The Effect of Various Cleansing Agents on Fibers

Because the life of an article of clothing may be prolonged by good care, it is necessary to know how to take care of one\u27s clothing. Hence it is necessary to know when, where and how to use various cleansing agents on different fibers. An old or out of style garment may, still be, if properly cleaned of service to the wearer. Therefore the purpose of this paper is to present the results of the use of various cleansing agents, after careful experimentation. In experimenting the author tried to include that which is most interesting and important for others as well as herself. It is the aim to secure an understanding of cleansing agents which either help or harm according to the way they are used

The “Regulatory Fog” of Opioid Treatment

Over 300,000 Americans depend on opioid treatment programs (OTPs), commonly known as methadone clinics, as the sole source of substances used to reduce their addictive cravings for prescription opioid and heroin. Though considered creatures of the federal regulatory process, OTPs are also regulated by state and local authorities and are required to maintain accreditation. The result of this complex and multi-layered regulation is a focus on rule and process, not on client outcomes or program performance. This research explores the effectiveness of state regulation within the context of “regulatory fog” in which the very regulations intended to standardize provision of services may obscure the true value of policies

Optimal Science Lab Design: Impacts of Various Components of Lab Design on Students’ Attitudes Toward Lab

Variations in science lab design can differentially impact student learning. Quantification of these differential impacts can be used in modeling – an approach we term “optimal lab design.” In this study we estimated relative influences of six characteristics of lab design on students’ attitudes toward science labs in three different first-year college biology lab courses (USA). We used two end-of-semester surveys. The first had students choose their favorite and least favorite lab and answer questions associated with the six characteristics and their choices. The second had students provide an overall rating of each lab and a rating based on their perception of the degree to which the six characteristics impacted the lab. Results of the two assessments were similar and indicated the following: Total Student Attitude = 0.39 Exciting + 0.25 Time Efficient + 0.15 Not Difficult + 0.10 Lecture Help + 0.08 Experimental + 0.03 Open-Ended

Time Efficiency, Written Feedback, and Student Achievement in Inquiry-Oriented Biology Labs

We examined how different styles of written feedback by graduate-student teaching assistants (GTAs) in college intro biology lab (USA) influenced student achievement and related the different styles to time efficiency. We quantified GTA feedback on formative lab reports and student achievement on two different types of assessments, a quiz in 2010 and a summative lab report in 2011. We evaluated the extent to which three categories of written feedback impacted student achievement (grade discrepancy between actual and ideal, short direct comments, and in-depth explanatory comments). Student achievement was best explained by both grade discrepancy and short direct comments in 2010 and grade discrepancy only in 2011. In-depth explanations were not part of the best-fit models in either year. Results also indicated that GTAs provided little encouraging feedback, most feedback was targeted and asked students to expand on explanations. Results are discussed in relation to relative time efficiency and GTA training

Motivation Strategies and Exiting Class by Students in Inquiry-Oriented Biology Labs

Experimental inquiry-oriented science labs can be designed to have students regulate their own learning and decide when they leave class or to have the teacher regulate student learning and determine when they leave class. In this study, grades were examined relative to student exit times in a student-regulated class design. Preliminary interviews revealed four motivation strategies likely to differentially influence exit times and grades: proficiency, grade-target-A, grade-target-C, and time-limited. Students were categorized into the four groups of motivation strategies with a survey. Twenty teaching assistants teaching three lab sections each taught the stand-alone lab class. Students recorded the time they left class each week. Grades were determined as the overall percentage of points a student received in class. Results of the survey showed that the four motivation strategies were well represented in the student population, and two additional strategies were also frequently seen: a hybrid-1 between proficiency and grade-target-A, and a hybrid-2 between time-limited and grade-target-C. Grades were significantly higher for grade-target-A and hybrid-1 students, followed by time-limited, proficiency, grade-target-C, and hybrid 2. Time spent in class was not significantly different among categories. Students who chose to stay in class longer had significantly higher grades. If a grade is the goal, these results support the idea of a teacher-controlled exit time for the students in these inquiry-oriented labs. Implications are discussed

Biosensing with microwave debye relaxation analysis

The microwave dielectric response of biological solutions and electrolytes has been investigated for a number of decades though applications that utilise the response are few and far between. The dielectric features of many biological fluids are unique across the microwave spectrum and offer a wealth of possibilities for analysis techniques. This thesis documents the development of broadband and resonant microwave techniques that are suitable for applications in biological fluid analysis. Theoretical models concerning the dielectric properties and electromagnetic interaction with polar liquids such as water are examined. The means to conduct experimental observations of the dielectric spectrum of liquids are reviewed and the ability to conduct measurement on small sample volumes discussed. Broadband spectroscopy from 0.2 to 20 GHz has been performed on the simplest constituent of a biological fluid, water, and compared to literature and theoretical models. Other polar liquids such as ethanol, propanol and methanol were also examined. The impact of ions in solution on the high frequency permittivity was studied, in particular the response of alkali metal chlorides, copper sulphate and zinc sulphide. The temperature dependence of the metal chlorides was found to be highly dependent on the effective hydration radius and subsequently a means of calculating the temperature-dependent hydration radius of lithium and sodium was developed. The respective radii at room temperature were found to be 340 ±39 pm and 215± 21 pm. Relaxation processes from ion-association were examined and confirmed to be present in ions with high charge density. Comparative studies between various biological solutes in aqueous environments demonstrated that many proteins possess unique microwave dielectric spectral features based on bound water and protein-water exchange mechanisms. Two techniques for the differentiation of protein solutions are outlined based on the microwave dielectric spectrum and the relaxation processes associated with protein water. Broadband measurements were conducted from 0.5 to 40 GHz to analyse the dielectric response of whole blood and serum from human and murine donors. Based on the dielectric comparison of serum and whole blood a method for the determination of haemoglobin concentration is presented. A 9.4 GHz dielectric resonator was developed with an integrated microfluidic chip for the determination of haemoglobin concentration in samples as small as 2 microlitres. This was subsequently utilised to monitor the progression of haemoglobin levels in APCmin/+ mice with colon cancer. The results demonstrate the first microwave device with proven haematological diagnostic value with an accuracy that is equivalent to or better than existing commercial techniques (comparative standard deviation 0.85 g/dL to Sysmex system - commercial comparison >1.5 g/dL) and is non-destructive.Open Acces

Exploring key risks in the medical admissions process

AbstractThis study investigated the hospital admission process in relation to two areas associated with known patient related risks, venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment and medicines reconciliation in an English teaching hospital Acute Medical Unit (AMU). National guidance was available at the time of the study for both of these aspects of care. Government targets with associated financial penalties were set for VTE risk assessment in 2010, there were no similar targets for medicines reconciliation.NHS ethics approval was granted. A novel mixed methodology was used involving direct observations of the patient admissions process, interviews with staff and an audit of case notes. Data were collected over four one-week periods between 2009 and 2011, 36 staff were observed admitting 71 patients, 44 staff were interviewed (25 VTE, 19 medicines reconciliation) and 930 sets of case notes were audited.The observations showed that at the start of the study guidance was rarely followed for both VTE risk assessment and medicines reconciliation. Staff were unaware of its existence and ignorant of the both the associated risks and the level of guideline compliance within the organisation. There were low levels of compliance with local and national VTE guidance until national financial sanctions were introduced when significant increases in the rates of both VTE risk assessment and appropriate prescribing of prophylaxis were seen, however inappropriate prescribing also rose. Observations showed poor medication history taking and prescribing practices, during the study the proportion of items with a prescribing error increased, however the interviews showed that staff did know how to establish an accurate medication history and were aware of the potential problems.A national financial sanction was associated with the effective implementation of VTE guidance however it remains to be seen whether standards can be maintained in a complex high pressure environment. Organisations must also be aware of the potential for unexpected adverse outcomes. Prescribing errors may be reduced if a mechanism can be found to ensure that theoretical knowledge is routinely translated into practice, however greater pharmacy involvement before the admission prescription is written should also be considered

Salinity and Simulated Herbivory Influence Spartina alterniflora Traits and Defense Strategy

Sea level rise is expected to push saline waters into previously fresher regions of estuaries, and higher salinities may expose oligohaline marshes to invertebrate herbivores typically constrained by salinity. The smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora (syn. Sporobolus alterniflorus), can defend itself against herbivores in polyhaline marshes, however it is not known if S. alterniflora’s defense varies along the mesohaline to oligohaline marsh gradient in estuaries. I found that S. alterniflora from a mesohaline marsh is better defended than plants from an oligohaline marsh, supporting the optimal defense theory. Higher salinity treatments lowered carbon content, C:N, and new stem biomass production, traits associated with a tolerance strategy, suggesting that salinity may mediate the defense response of S. alterniflora. Further, simulated herbivory increased the nitrogen content and decreased C:N of S. alterniflora. This indicates that grazing may increase S. alterniflora susceptibility to future herbivory via improved forage quality. Simulated herbivory also decreased both belowground and new stem biomass production, highlighting a potential pathway in which herbivory can indirectly facilitate marsh loss, as S. alterniflora biomass is critical for vertical accretion and marsh stability under future sea level rise scenarios