661 research outputs found

    Further evaluation of a novel COP container system for the cryopreservation of adherent and suspension human cell types

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    The commercialization of cell and gene-based therapies is driving a critical need for the refinement of handling, storage and transportation procedures to ensure the integrity of the product is maintained throughout its life cycle. One such area for refinement is in the preservation of cells that is routinely performed at cryogenic temperatures. Cells are typically stored in the vapor phase of Liquid Nitrogen (LN) at approx. -180oC to eliminate the risk of any degradation. For cryogenic storage, there are various container systems that are available for research and commercial use. These include traditional polypropylene (PP) screw-cap cryovials, and container systems with glass or polymer vials that are closed with a rubber stopper and aluminum seal. Glass/rubber vial systems, although common elsewhere in the pharmaceutical industry for drug containment, are not well suited to the challenges of cryopreservation. Even beyond risk of fracture, the differences in coefficients of thermal expansion of glass and rubber can put these systems at risk of losing container closure integrity (CCI) when stored at cryogenic temperatures. Containment systems that rely on screw-caps are also at risk, as the screw thread can create a pathway that can lead to an ingress of contaminants. In contrast, a polymer/rubber vial system, comprised of materials with more comparable coefficients of thermal expansion, closed with an aluminum seal would be a better suited alternative that could better ensure that CCI is maintained throughout a product life cycle. This research presented here is a scientific evaluation of a novel cyclic olefin polymer (COP) container system. The performance at cryogenic temperatures has been demonstrated in two separate studies. An investigation conducted without cells but measuring CCI via Oxygen Headspace of vials stored at -180°C over a 90-day period has been combined with a follow up study that compared performance between COP and PP-based container systems when cryopreserving two different cell types: adherent type human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and suspension type umbilical cord hematopoietic (CD34+) stem cells. The results showed that the polymer/rubber-based container closure system maintains CCI at -180°C, and that the cells were preserved well, as demonstrated by their viability, morphology and biomarker expression post-thaw. These findings, when combined with previously reported advantages of the novel COP container system [1], show that it is a highly suitable alternative to traditional packaging systems for cryopreservation in the field of cell and gene-based therapies. [1] E.J. Woods, A. Bagchi, R. Nase and V. Vilivalam, Container System for Enabling Commercial Production of Cryopreserved Cell Therapy Products, Regenerative Medicine, 5(4) (2010), 659-66

    Generalized Romberg methods for integrals of derivatives

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    Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/46316/1/211_2005_Article_BF02165095.pd

    Cubature Rules of Prescribed Merit

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    Tackling Health Inequalities in Scotland: an Innovative Approach to Implement the ‘Early Years’ Policy into Practice

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    Major health inequalities existing across the world and are often closely linked with degrees of social disadvantage. Scotland is fully committed to tackling this major challenge of health and social inequalities. One key focus is ensuring that every child and young person has equal access to opportunities and health improvements. This is supported by a series of national guidelines and ‘early years’ policy drivers. To implement these policies in practice, one National Health Service (NHS) health board (Lanarkshire) in collaboration with the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), adopted an innovative approach to develop the Best Possible Start (BPS) program of focused activity to reshape ‘early years’ services and ways of working. The foundation for the program was the national transformational initiative ‘Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC)’. This is based on the belief that the developments of the child and their experiences in the early years have a major impact on the child’s future life chances. The early nurturing environment is seen crucial in influencing emotional attachment. The BPS program focused on reshaping and streamlining the related health services in the early years between preconception and early school years. This is incorporated in the universal pathway of care encompassing all ‘early years’ services and related professionals. This universal pathway of care is underpinned with evidence based practice, workforce development, building research capacity and influencing leadership in the workplace. This paper presents a detailed overview of the BPS program including the structure, strategic aims and the rationale underpinning the pathway of care

    Exact diagonalization of the S=1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on finite bcc lattices to estimate properties on the infinite lattice

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    Here we generate finite bipartite body-centred cubic lattices up to 32 vertices. We have studied the spin one half Heisenberg antiferromagnet by diagonalizing its Hamiltonian on each of the finite lattices and hence computing its ground state properties. By extrapolation of these data we obtain estimates of the T = 0 properties on the infinite bcc lattice. Our estimate of the T = 0 energy agrees to five parts in ten thousand with third order spin wave and series expansion method estimates, while our estimate of the staggered magnetization agrees with the spin wave estimate to within a quarter of one percent.Comment: 16 pages, LaTeX, 1 ps figure, to appear in J.Phys.

    Influencing Leadership and Building Research Capacity through the Implementation of Health Policy into Practice

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    Leadership in nursing and midwifery is a cornerstone to guide and support teams in the dynamic and rapidly changing health environment. Developing research capacity in health is also a key factor to produce and implement a sound evidence base for practice. Internationally, building health service research capacity is a recognized essential factor to influence and inform policy and practice. This includes developing research capacity across the range of individuals and teams, organisations and networks. This paper describes how one NHS Health Board in Scotland promoted a supportive environment and activities to develop leadership and increase research capacity to support implementation of national Early Years policies into practice

    Paper and electronic versions of HM-PRO, a novel patient-reported outcome measure for hematology: an equivalence study.

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    © 2019 Goswami, Oliva, Ionova et al.Aim:To determine measurement equivalence of paper and electronic application of the hematologi-cal malignancy-patient-reported outcome (HM-PRO), a specific measure for the evaluation of patient-reported outcomes in HMs.Patients & methods:Following International Society of Pharmacoeconomicsand Outcomes Research ePRO Good Research Practice Task Force guidelines, a total of 193 adult patientswith different HMs were recruited into a multicenter prospective study. The paper and the electronic ver-sion of the instrument were completed in the outpatient clinics in a randomized crossover design with a30-min time interval to minimize the learning effect. Those who completed the paper version first, com-pleted the electronic version after 30 min and vice versa. Instrument version and order effects were testedon total score of the two parts of the HM-PRO (Part A: quality of life and Part B: signs & symptoms) in atwo-way ANOVA with patients as random effects. Intraclass correlation coefficients (95% CI) and Spear-man’s rank correlation coefficients were used to evaluate test–retest reliability and reproducibility. Theeffects of instrument version and order were tested on total score of the two parts of HM-PRO.Results:The questionnaire version and administration order effects were not significant at the 5% level. Therewere no interactions found between these two factors for HM-PRO (Part A [quality of life]; p=0.95); and(part B [signs and symptoms]; p=0.72]. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were greater than 0.9, andintraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.94 to 0.98; furthermore, the scores were not statisticallydifferent between the two versions, showing acceptable reliability indexes. Noteworthy, the differencebetween the completion time for both paper (mean=6:38 min) and electronic version (mean=7:29 min)was not statistically significant (n=100; p=0.11). Patients did not report any difficulty in completing theelectronic version during cognitive interviews and were able to understand and respond spontaneously.Conclusion:Measurement equivalence has been demonstrated for the paper and electronic applicationof the HM-PRO.Peer reviewe

    The effect of pre-analysis washing on the surface film of graphite electrodes

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    Electrodes are routinely washed to remove electrolyte deposits, salt, and high boiling point solvents prior to analysis with surface-sensitive techniques. The effect of washing on the surface films of graphite electrodes from LiCoO2/graphite cells, which contained varying amounts of vinylene carbonate (VC), was investigated by comparing the microstructure and chemical composition. We confirmed that there are two different kinds of films on the surface of the electrodes: one at low and one at high VC content concentration. Far from being limited to remove extraneous salt deposits from the surface of the sample, DMC washing was found to completely remove one and to affect the composition of deeper strata in the other
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