A Comparison of Two Instructional Approaches in Teaching Underground Rock Bolt Installation with a Jackleg Drill

An integrated hypermedia training tool on underground rock bolting was evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methodologies to compare it with the traditional method of training underground rock bolters. Usability experiments performed underscore the need to evaluate a new product to ensure that it meets the requirements of users. Statistical results from comparative experiment indicate that a task must be sufficiently complex in order to render a traditional paper-based method less effective than a computer-based method. Additionally, participants in the computer-based group (n = 25) rated the training effectiveness more positively than those in the paper-based group (n = 25)

CovidNudge: diagnostic accuracy of a novel lab-free point-of-care diagnostic for SARS-CoV-2

Background Access to rapid diagnosis is key to the control and management of SARS-CoV-2. Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) testing usually requires a centralised laboratory and significant infrastructure. We describe the development and diagnostic accuracy assessment of a novel, rapid point-of-care RT-PCR test, the DnaNudge® platform CovidNudge test, which requires no laboratory handling or sample pre-processing. Methods Nasopharyngeal swabs are inserted directly into a cartridge which contains all reagents and components required for RT-PCR reactions, including multiple technical replicates of seven SARS-CoV-2 gene targets (rdrp1, rdrp2, e-gene, n-gene, n1, n2 and n3) and human ribonuclease P (RNaseP) as positive control. Between April and May 2020, swab samples were tested in parallel using the CovidNudge direct-to-cartridge platform and standard laboratory RT-PCR using swabs in viral transport medium. Samples were collected from three groups: self-referred healthcare workers with suspected COVID-19 (Group 1, n=280/386; 73%); patients attending the emergency department with suspected COVID-19 (Group 2, n=15/386; 4%) and hospital inpatient admissions with or without suspected COVID-19 (Group 3, n=91/386; 23%). Results Of 386 paired samples tested across all groups, 67 tested positive on the CovidNudge platform and 71 with standard laboratory RT-PCR. The sensitivity of the test varied by group (Group 1 93% [84-98%], Group 2 100% [48-100%] and Group 3 100% [29-100%], giving an average sensitivity of 94.4% (95% confidence interval 86-98%) and an overall specificity of 100% (95%CI 99-100%; Group 1 100% [98-100%]; Group 2 100% [69-100%] and Group 3 100% [96-100%]). Point of care testing performance was comparable during a period of high (25%) and low (3%) background prevalence. Amplification of the viral nucleocapsid (n1, n2, n3) targets were most sensitive for detection of SARS-CoV2, with the assay able to detect 1×104 viral particles in a single swab. Conclusions The CovidNudge platform offers a sensitive, specific and rapid point of care test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 without laboratory handling or sample pre-processing. The implementation of such a device could be used to enable rapid decisions for clinical care and testing programs. Evidence before this study The WHO has highlighted the development of rapid, point-of-care diagnostics for detection of SARS-CoV-2 as a key priority to tackle COVID-19. The Foundation for Innovative Diagnostics (FIND) has identified over 90 point-of-care, near patient or mobile tests for viral detection of SARS-CoV-2. However, the most widely available rapid tests to date require some sample handling which limits their use at point-of-care. In addition, pressure on supply chains is restricting access to current diagnostics and alternatives are needed urgently. Added value of this study We describe the development and clinical validation of COVID nudge, a novel point-of-care RT-PCR diagnostic, evaluated during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. The platform is able to achieve high analytic sensitivity and specificity from dry swabs within a self-contained cartridge. The lack of downstream sample handling makes it suitable for use in a range of clinical settings, without need for a laboratory or specialized operator. Multiplexed assays within the cartridge allow inclusion of a positive human control, which reduces the false negative testing rate due to insufficient sampling. Implication of the available evidence Point-of-care testing can relieve pressure on centralized laboratories and increase overall testing capacity, complementing existing approaches. These findings support a role for COVID Nudge as part of strategies to improve access to rapid diagnostics to SARS-CoV-2. Since May 2020, the system has been implemented in UK hospitals and is being rolled out nationwide. Competing Interest Statement CT, RS, MS, CI, MK, TH, SDM, FL, JB and AO are employees of DnaNudge. CT is named on the patent for method and apparatus for analyzing biological specimens on the DnaNudge platform (US Patent No: US 10,093,965 B216. LSPM has consulted for bioMerieux (2013 to 2020), DNAelectronics (2015), Dairy Crest (2017 to 2018), Pfizer (2018-2020), and Umovis Lab (2020), received speaker fees from Profile Pharma (2018), received research grants from the National Institute for Health Research (2013 to 2019), Leo Pharma (2016), and CW+ Charity (2018 to 2019), and received educational support from Eumedica (2016 to 2017). NM has received speaker fees from Beyer (2016) and Pfizer (2019) and received educational support from Eumedica (2016) and Baxter (2017). All other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. Funding Statement The work was supported by the Biomedical Research Centre of Imperial College NHS Trust. M.M.G. is supported in part by the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre. GC is an NIHR Research Professor and Investigator within the NIHR London In-vitro Diagnostic Collaborative. Part of this work was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance at Oxford University in partnership with Public Health England (PHE) [grant HPRU-2012-10041] and the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the National Institute for Health Research, the Department of Health or Public Health England

The factors affecting the quality of learning process and outcome in virtual reality environment for safety training in the context of mining industry

The ultimate aim of training is to improve task performance towards expert level. Novices and experts differ in their capability to understand and make sense of sensory information (for example, perception on environmental hazard). Computer-aided training, from online course to immersive simulation such as Virtual Reality (VR) [1]. van Wyk and de Villiers [2] define VR-based training environments as real-time computer simulations of the real world, in which visual realism, object behavior and user interaction are essential elements . The use of VR-based training environments assumes that Human-Machine interaction stimulates learning processes through better experiencing and improved memorization, leading to a more effective transfer of the learning outcomes into workplace environments. However, there are many human factors (internally and externally), which have impact on the quality of the training and learning process which need to be identified and investigated. The present study was conducted with Coal Services Pty Ltd, a pioneering training provider for the coal mining industry in NSW, Australia. The research focussed on 288 rescuers and the specific training programs developed for them. In this article, initially factors affecting the quality of the training and learning process for underground mine rescuers have been identified and then measured by using pre- and post-training questionnaires. We attempted to determine how much of the trainees\u27 perceived learning could be explained by pre-training (9 in total) and post-training (16 in total) factors. The relatively small size of the sample (288 observations for 17 predictors) and the high level of correlation between variables led us to Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Principle Component Analysis (PCA) has been used to investigate the underlying relationship among different variables. This technique results in factor reduction based on hidden relationships. Based on the nature of the pre-training factors mostly contributing to each component we have used the first 3 Components to create 3 new aggregated variables: Positive State of Mind (Component 1), Negative State of Mind (Component 2) and Technology Experience (Component 3). Similarly, based on the nature of the post-training factors mostly contributing to each component we have used the first 3 Components to create 3 new aggregated variables: Positive Learning Experience (Component 1), Negative Learning Experience (Component 2) and Learning Context (Component 3)

Assessing a novel, lab-free, point-of-care test for SARS-CoV-2 (CovidNudge): a diagnostic accuracy study.

Background: Access to rapid diagnosis is key to the control and management of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Laboratory RT-PCR testing is the current standard of care but usually requires a centralised laboratory and significant infrastructure. We describe our diagnostic accuracy assessment of a novel, rapid point-of-care real time RT-PCR CovidNudge test, which requires no laboratory handling or sample pre-processing. Methods: Between April and May, 2020, we obtained two nasopharyngeal swab samples from individuals in three hospitals in London and Oxford (UK). Samples were collected from three groups: self-referred health-care workers with suspected COVID-19; patients attending emergency departments with suspected COVID-19; and hospital inpatient admissions with or without suspected COVID-19. For the CovidNudge test, nasopharyngeal swabs were inserted directly into a cartridge which contains all reagents and components required for RT-PCR reactions, including multiple technical replicates of seven SARS-CoV-2 gene targets (rdrp1, rdrp2, e-gene, n-gene, n1, n2 and n3) and human ribonuclease P (RNaseP) as sample adequacy control. Swab samples were tested in parallel using the CovidNudge platform, and with standard laboratory RT-PCR using swabs in viral transport medium for processing in a central laboratory. The primary analysis was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the point-of-care CovidNudge test with laboratory-based testing. Findings: We obtained 386 paired samples: 280 (73%) from self-referred health-care workers, 15 (4%) from patients in the emergency department, and 91 (23%) hospital inpatient admissions. Of the 386 paired samples, 67 tested positive on the CovidNudge point-of-care platform and 71 with standard laboratory RT-PCR. The overall sensitivity of the point-of-care test compared with laboratory-based testing was 94% (95% CI 86-98) with an overall specificity of 100% (99-100). The sensitivity of the test varied by group (self-referred healthcare workers 93% [95% CI 84-98]; patients in the emergency department 100% [48-100]; and hospital inpatient admissions 100% [29-100]). Specificity was consistent between groups (self-referred health-care workers 100% [95% CI 98-100%]; patients in the emergency department 100% [69-100]; and hospital inpatient admissions 100% [96-100]). Point of care testing performance was similar during a period of high background prevalence of laboratory positive tests (25% [95% 20-31] in April, 2020) and low prevalence (3% [95% 1-9] in inpatient screening). Amplification of viral nucleocapsid (n1, n2, and n3) and envelope protein gene (e-gene) were most sensitive for detection of spiked SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Interpretation: The CovidNudge platform was a sensitive, specific, and rapid point of care test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 without laboratory handling or sample pre-processing. The device, which has been implemented in UK hospitals since May, 2020, could enable rapid decisions for clinical care and testing programmes. Funding: National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance at Oxford University in partnership with Public Health England, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre Oxford, and DnaNudge

Desvios de custos e prazos em empreendimentos da construção civil: categorização e fatores de influência

Desvios de custos e prazos são desafios recorrentes na construção civil. Neste artigo, os autores objetivaram revisar sistematicamente a literatura relacionada a desvios de prazos e custos para determinar uma estrutura de categorização e respectivos fatores responsáveis por esses desvios. Foi empregada a abordagem Systematic Literature Review (Revisão Sistemática de Literatura - RSL) de maneira metódica, para proporcionar acompanhamento e reprodução futura. Informações relevantes foram extraídas dos artigos selecionados e posteriormente sintetizadas para a obtenção da proposta de categorização e respectivos fatores responsáveis pelos desvios. Nove categorias foram identificadas e definidas com base em seus determinantes: relações governamentais; contratos; organização; gerenciamento; financiamento; projeto e documentação; alterações de escopo; aspectos ambientais e econômicos; e atividades e equipamentos. Além disso, 95 fatores de influência foram identificados e anexados às categorias pertinentes. Apesar de a literatura ser heterogênea em relação a contextos e regiões globais, o que dificulta a condução da RSL, houve boa sustentação para os fatores identificados. Escassez de evidências foram identificadas na América Latina, particularmente no Brasil. A literatura existente em desvios de prazos e custos até o momento se mostrou multifacetada, com 92 artigos publicados em 46 fontes diferentes no intervalo de tempo de 1985 a 2014. A maioria das pesquisas teve como foco o estudo de alguns desses fatores em particular, enquanto esta pesquisa classificou-os e sintetizou-os de forma a possibilitar uma visão nova e mais abrangente sobre o fenômeno