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Copyright of Journal of Laboratory Diagnostics / Diagnostyka Laboratoryjna is the property of Index Copernicus International and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Avances en Ciencias e Ingeniería is the property of Avances en Ciencias e Ingenieria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Transparent objects are encountered frequently in our daily lives, yet recognizing them poses challenges for conventional vision sensors due to their unique material properties, not being well perceived from RGB or depth cameras. Overcoming this limitation, thermal infrared cameras have emerged as a solution, offering improved visibility and shape information for transparent objects. In this paper, we present TRansPose, the first large-scale multispectral dataset that combines stereo RGB-D, thermal infrared (TIR) images, and object poses to promote transparent object research. The dataset includes 99 transparent objects, encompassing 43 household items, 27 recyclable trashes, 29 chemical laboratory equivalents, and 12 non-transparent objects. It comprises a vast collection of 333,819 images and 4,000,056 annotations, providing instance-level segmentation masks, ground-truth poses, and completed depth information. The data was acquired using an FLIR A65 thermal infrared camera, two Intel RealSense L515 RGB-D cameras, and a Franka Emika Panda robot manipulator. Spanning 87 sequences, TRansPose covers various challenging real-life scenarios, including objects filled with water, diverse lighting conditions, heavy clutter, non-transparent or translucent containers, objects in plastic bags, and multi-stacked objects. Supplementary material can be accessed from the following link: https://sites.google.com/view/transpose-dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green Chemistry and Sustainability are the two widely used concepts in the present-day Higher Education Chemistry curriculum. This paper issues a call for action for chemistry instructors to build stronger connections in the chemistry curriculum to sustainability. An acid-base titration is a commonly used experiment in undergraduate laboratories where synthetic indicators are generally used to locate the endpoint by observing the color change. In this paper, the ability of aqueous extracts of Lagerstroemia speciosa (locally known as Azar) as a natural indicator was investigated by using it instead of commonly used synthetic acid-base or neutralization indicators like Phenolphthalein, Methyl Orange, etc. The natural acid-base indicators are non-toxic, easily available, cost-effective, and environmentally benign. This inquiry-based investigation project can raise the standard of chemistry education while preserving local resources that can be used to address today's sustainability challenges. Thus, by considering several interconnected challenges to identify sustainable solutions that can be adopted in both higher secondary school and undergraduate chemistry education, such studies will enrich students' understanding of chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melting calorimetry, a classic experiment conducted in high school chemistry laboratories using calorimeters made from coffee cups, holds untapped potential beyond its educational context. Despite the fact that in the past this technique has been successfully used to measure the liquid water content in snow, its widespread adoption was impeded as it is often unjustly associated with generating large measurement errors. This paper shows how this technique can be incorporated in a rigorous field protocol to measure the liquid water content in the snow providing also a quantification of the uncertainty associated to the measurements. The results presented here encourage the use of melting calorimetry in all cases where liquid water content of the snow has to be quantified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At University of California, Irvine, a large-enrollment research university, undergraduate chemistry courses for non-chemistry majors were delivered remotely during the 2020-2021 academic year, with a return to in-person instruction planned for January 2022. Because this return to in-person instruction coincided with the transition of second-year students from general chemistry to organic chemistry laboratory courses, the instructional staff recognized a need for remedial laboratory curricula for students with no prior in-person laboratory experience. Simultaneously, we desired to implement undergraduate Learning Assistants (LAs) in non-chemistry major organic chemistry laboratories for the first time at our university. In this paper, we describe our approach for leveraging undergraduate LAs to (1) test new laboratory curricula and (2) address feelings of comfort and safety for students with no prior in-person laboratory experience. Benefits of our LA program perceived by students include increased laboratory efficiency and improved student learning from near-peer instructors; benefits perceived by LAs include the development of professional skills and teamwork with graduate student teaching assistants. We provide an outline of resources and strategies to enable instructors to simultaneously implement undergraduate LAs and new laboratory curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory courses in Information Technology programs are pivotal for hands-on learning and skill development. They prepare students for real-world applications, nurture critical thinking and teamwork, and offer practical problem-solving experiences. These courses bridge the gap between theory and practice, helping students become industry-ready and ethical technology professionals. However, challenges in the conduct of laboratory courses include limited access to resources like computers and software, maintaining up-to-date content in a rapidly evolving field, addressing diverse student backgrounds and abilities, preventing plagiarism and cheating, and managing large class sizes efficiently. These challenges can impact the quality of hands-on learning, require effective teaching strategies, and demand careful planning and adaptation to ensure a productive learning environment. Inquiry-based learning (IBL) is an educational approach that centers on active student engagement and exploration. It involves students posing questions, problems, or scenarios and then actively seeking answers or solutions through research, investigation, and critical thinking. Inquiry based learning, when implemented in lab courses promises to promote connection to the real-world problems, problem solving skills and application of engineering knowledge to solve complex problems. In this paper, a hybrid inquiry based approach is adapted for the conduct of three laboratory courses in B.Tech Information Technology Program. The implementation was experimented over different batches of around 390 students. The proposed approach resulted in significant improvement of the attainment of course outcomes. It also had profound impact on the transferable skills of the learners such as critical thinking, problem solving skills, attention to detail and management skills. The impact of the proposed approach is measured and the quantitative results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed instructional design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The idea of remote/virtual laboratories is still limited in Engineering due to the nature of engineering applications, equipment, and the competencies students are expected to gain as future engineers. Once COVID-19 hit, there was no time to think, review, and study how educational institutions can integrate remote/distance learning laboratories into their curriculum. Universities in our country and the rest of educational institutions around the globe rushed to find solutions to make sure students still get the best learning experience and gain the core concepts as expected. Many had to make instant decisions and purchase software, simulators, and/or record technical experiments and share them with students. In many majors, this wasn't an issue and there were many resources accessible to students that required minimal direction from educators. However, for engineering majors, simulators are not available for all labs and even if they are available, educational institutions are required to provide them to students with suitable documentation and usage instructions. In addition, recording a demonstration for experiments doesn't provide students with the hands-on experience they are aiming for. Adopt and learn was the main theme during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is what our department did to guarantee a quality lab experience for its students and later communicate valuable feedback to achieve the best level of learning. This paper focused on getting an insight into the lab experience for students in Digital Communications and Analog Communications laboratories during the COVID pandemic. Measuring the satisfaction level of students' experience was via conducting surveys with a focus on three main skills which are: hands-on experience, teamwork, and communication skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in environmental matrices is increasingly being studied due to its environmental persistence, global occurrence, bioaccumulation, and associated human health risks. Some indoor environments can significantly impact the health of occupants due to pollutants in indoor air and household dust. To investigate the potential exposure of individuals to PFOA in specific confined environments, this study reports an analytical method and results concerning the determination of PFOA in household dust, used as a passive sampler. To the best of our knowledge, this paper represents one of the first studies concerning PFOA concentrations in indoor dust collected in the south of Italy, within the European region. A total of twenty-three dust samples were collected from two different areas of Sicily (Palermo and Milena), extracted, and analyzed by an UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS system. Finally, PFOA exposure was estimated using a new index (Indoor PFOA Exposure Index, IPEX) that incorporates the PFOA levels in dust, exposure time, and the correlation between the PFOA in dust and blood. It was then compared across four different exposure groups, revealing that PFOA exposure for people working in chemistry laboratories was evaluated to be ten times higher than the exposure for homemakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Generally, chemical engineering students get well acquainted with the batch synthesis of various active pharmaceutical ingredients, however, only tiny focus is provided to undergraduates on the topic of flow chemistry. In this paper, we report that students participating in the chemical engineering BSc course at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics were encouraged to perform the flow synthesis of paracetamol, a common pain painkiller. Two different synthetic routes for the continuous production of paracetamol were investigated and compared the batch and flow methods. Thus, these experiments allowed the students to discover flow chemistry for themselves under supervision: how to set up a flow system, how to carry out a reaction continuously, and to experience the advantages of flow chemistry over batch synthesis. In addition, students also got familiar with in-line Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, as one of the reactions was monitored in real-time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global imperative for decarbonization gains momentum, the need for action in chemistry laboratories becomes increasingly apparent. This study examines the 2019 carbon footprint of three French chemistry laboratories encompassing energy, purchases, travels, and commutes. The average per capita carbon footprint stands at 5.6 teqCO2 per year, positioning chemistry laboratories slightly above the median calculated across all disciplines. Key contributors are purchases (31–42%) and heating (23–33%), driven by heavy equipment, consumables and fume hoods. Attainable mitigation strategies suggest a 40–50% reduction by 2030. Pivotal efforts involve transitioning heating sources to renewables, extending the equipment lifespan, collaborative resource management, as well as a limitation in the use of planes and combustion engine vehicles. Such changes imply actions at the level of the government, the university, the laboratory and the individual. We suggest fostering a sustainable research environment in chemistry laboratories by rationalizing experimental practices and dedicating time to consider the socio-environmental implications of research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In virtual laboratories, various cognitive aids are used to improve students' performance and assist them while completing experimental tasks. However, excessive use of cognitive aids in virtual laboratories can lead to a cognitive load on students which affects their performance. In this paper, we proposed the concept of adaptive aids virtual reality chemistry laboratory. User expertise, quantitatively measured in terms of errors and time spent, is used as an adaptation criterion to dynamically update adaptive aids (arrows, text or animations). The system modifies the contents of such aids for good, average, and weak students to give them the opportunity to improve their performance. In this manner, adaptive aids assist the users to perform an experiment in the proposed system correctly according to the correct procedure with high performance. For evaluation, we conducted a comprehensive user study with 59 participants from various institutions. These students were selected randomly by their teachers and contained different levels of students (i.e., weak, average, and good students). We also conducted a written quiz and based on their scores we divided them into three groups (i.e., good, average, and weak). The participants (students) were classified into three groups G1, G2, and G3 based on their expertise levels (i.e., good, average and low). Then each group conducted an experiment four times. Evaluations revealed that the proposed system consistently improved students' performance in four trials. In particular, weak students' performance greatly improved as compared to that of good and average students in terms of a variety of factors, including time and errors during the performance of experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plenty of information and communication technologies are frequently employed in educational activities to improve the opportunities for students to gain knowledge and experience, including the virtual laboratory. The virtual laboratory is quite often implemented into educational process in many science, technology, and engineering courses at the university level of education. However, the use of virtual laboratory in the field of electronic commerce education is rather rare. In our educational practice, a virtual laboratory of electronic commerce was designed and implemented within the course of electronic entrepreneurship. This paper presents the design of the virtual laboratory of electronic commerce and provides an outline of its integration into the university course's teaching process. The study examines the learning progress claimed by the students who participated in the most current edition of the course delivered utilizing this virtual laboratory. The findings revealed improvement of course participants' experience and abilities in the field of electronic entrepreneurship in e-commerce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a back cover advertisement for Dalton Transactions, an international journal of inorganic chemistry. It promotes professional recognition and career advancement in the field of science. The advertisement encourages readers to apply for professional registers or chartered status. It also mentions a specific research article by Debasis Koley and Sakya S. Sen, which showcases their work on the activation of carbon disulfide by a hypersilyl germylene. The article is from Volume 53, Number 26 of Dalton Transactions, published on July 14, 2024. [Extracted from the article]

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is widely acknowledged by academia and industry as a key tool for promoting environmental sustainability within the field of green chemistry. However, certain barriers hinder its straightforward applicability, primarily stemming from data unavailability when the target reaction falls outside the direct or indirect control of LCA practitioners. Several methodologies have been proposed over the years to address the data gap in terms of mass, energy, catalyst, emissions, recovery, etc. These have been compiled into a compendium aimed at providing comprehensive guidance for practitioners in overcoming this challenge. This procedural life cycle inventory aims to facilitate the adoption of LCA by ensuring that key environmental steps, such as energy consumption, are not overlooked, and that mass balances are complete. The methodology is presented through a case study focusing on bio-based maleic anhydride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reporting a measurement procedure and its analytical performance following method evaluation in a peer-reviewed journal is an important means for clinical laboratory practitioners to share their findings. It also represents an important source of evidence base to help others make informed decisions about their practice. At present, there are significant variations in the information reported in laboratory medicine journal publications describing the analytical performance of measurement procedures. These variations also challenge authors, readers, reviewers, and editors in deciding the quality of a submitted manuscript. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Group on Method Evaluation Protocols (IFCC WG-MEP) developed a checklist and recommends its adoption to enable a consistent approach to reporting method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics of measurement procedures in laboratory medicine journals. It is envisioned that the LEAP checklist will improve the standardisation of journal publications describing method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics, improving the quality of the evidence base that is relied upon by practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurement of total bilirubin (TBil) concentration in serum is the gold standard approach for diagnosing neonatal unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. It is of utmost importance that the measured TBil concentration is sufficiently accurate to prevent under treatment, unnecessary escalation of care, or overtreatment. However, it is widely recognized that TBil measurements urgently require improvement in neonatal clinical chemistry. External quality assessment (EQA) programs for TBil assess for differences between laboratories and provide supporting evidence of significant differences between various methods, manufacturers and measurement platforms. At the same time, many countries have adopted or only slightly adapted the neonatal hyperbilirubinemia management guidelines from the USA or UK, often without addressing differences in the methodology of TBil measurements. In this report, we provide an overview of the components of bilirubin that are measured by laboratory platforms, the availability of current reference measurement procedures and reference materials, and the role of EQA surveys in this context. Furthermore, the current status of agreement in neonatal bilirubin against clinical decision thresholds is reviewed. We advocate for enhancements in accuracy and comparability of neonatal TBil measurements, propose a path forward to accomplish this, and reflect on the position of the International Federation for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) Working Group Neonatal Bilirubin (WG-NB) in this matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Working Group of the Emerging Technology Division of International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) aims to develop a methodological approach for producing structured HTA information for laboratory medicine technologies. This approach seeks to support decision-making processes at the country, regional, and/or hospital levels regarding the introduction of specific technologies. The focus of this model will primarily be on defining assessment elements within the domains of 'organizational aspects' and 'costs and economic evaluations', potentially differentiated by the type of diagnostic technology (e.g., genetic tests, molecular tests). To achieve this project's goal, a literature review and examination of websites of international HTA agencies have been conducted. The research aims to identify multidisciplinary methodological approaches used to assess laboratory diagnostic technologies and to pinpoint the domains and assessment elements utilized. We found 7 methodological articles describing methodological approaches adopted to assess laboratory diagnostic technologies. Among the HTA organizations considered, 23 reports were found, of which 7 were produced by the European Network of HTA (EUnetHTA), 4 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Diagnostic Assessment Program (NICE DAP), and 12 by other HTA agencies. The EUnetHTA reports were rapid collaborative assessments covering various domains, while the NICE DAP reports focused on diagnostic guidances, including descriptions of technologies, clinical need and practice, diagnostic tests, accuracy, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness. Finally, a survey targeting laboratory professionals will be conducted to introduce assessment elements, differentiated by the type of diagnostic technology, primarily for organizational and economic domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While many sources of contamination in chemical and biological laboratories are well understood and known, some are less so. To quantify the magnitude of the potential contamination of solutions by zinc in common laboratory syringes, a study was conducted on solutions stored in rubber-containing syringes in which the rubber was catalyzed by zinc. This study identified specific factors contributing to contamination from laboratory syringes, including the syringe brand, time, solution type, and pH. Two common syringe brands, Covidien and BD, were tested, and three time durations, 0 days, 1 day, and 14 days, were examined. The solutions tested included sucrose and tartaric acid, representing both covalent and ionic species. Additionally, this study employed a pH range of 2 to 13 to further explore zinc contamination across a wide range of conditions and factors. The zinc concentration from the syringes was measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The results, which ranged from less than 20 to over 600 μg L−1, revealed increased zinc concentration at both extreme pH values, while remaining lower but measurable at neutral pH levels. Zinc contamination is important to study because its contamination in laboratory syringes could interfere with the detection of other elements, further skew laboratory data, unexpectedly catalyze reactions, and lead to inconsistencies in experimental conditions. This study further emphasizes the broader significance of understanding pollutants within laboratory settings. The findings highlight the intricate dynamics of zinc contamination, stressing the need for the control of environmental factors and the broad dissemination of lesser-known sources. Recognizing the potential impact of contaminants like zinc is crucial, as it not only influences analytical accuracy, but also mirrors the wider concern of pollutants compromising scientific integrity in diverse experimental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory (CSL) conducted the Southwest Urban NO x and VOCs Experiment (SUNVEx) to study emissions and the role of boundary layer (BL) dynamics and sea-breeze (SB) transitions in the evolution of coastal air quality. The study presented utilizes remote sensing and in situ observations in Pasadena, California. Separate analyses are conducted on the synoptic conditions during ozone (O 3) exceedance (>70 ppb) and non-exceedance (<70 ppb) days, as well as the fine-structure variability of in situ chemistry measurements during BL growth and SB transitions. Diurnal analyses spanning August 2021 revealed a markedly different wind direction during evenings preceding O 3 exceedance (northerly) versus non-exceedance (easterly) days. Increased O 3 occurred simultaneously with warmer and drier conditions, a reduction in winds, and an increase in volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). While the average BL height was lower and surface pressure was higher, the day-to-day variability of these quantities led to an overall weak statistical relationship. Investigations focused on the fine-structure variability of in situ chemistry measurements superimposed on background trends were conducted using a novel multivariate spectral coherence mapping (MSCM) technique that combined the spectral structure of two or more independent measurements through a wavelet analysis as reported by maximum-normalized scaleograms. A case study was chosen to illustrate the MSCM technique, where the dominant peaks in scaleograms were identified and compared to BL height during the growth phase. The temporal widths of peaks (τmax) derived from VOC and nitrogen oxide (NO x) scaleograms, as well as scaleograms combining VOCs, NO x , and variations in BL height, indicated a broadening with respect to time as the BL increased in depth. A separate section focused on comparisons between τmax and BL height during August 2021 revealed uncorrelated or weakly correlated scatter, except in the case of VOCs when really large τmax and relatively deep BL heights were ignored. Instances of large τmax and relatively deep BL heights occurred near sunrise and as onshore flow entered Pasadena, respectively. Wind transitions likely influenced both the dynamical evolution of the BL and tracer advection and thus offer additional challenges when separating factors contributing to the fine structure. Other insights gained from this work include observations of descending wind jets from the San Gabriel Mountains that were not resolved by the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model and the derivation of intrinsic properties of oscillations observed in NO x and O 3 during the interaction between an SB and enhanced winds above the BL that flowed in opposition to the SB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The laboratory is a high-risk place for scientific research and learning, and there are many risk factors and great potential for harm. Hazardous chemicals are important to consider and are the key objects to monitor in a laboratory. In recent years, hazardous chemical fire accidents have occurred in laboratories in various industries, bringing painful lessons and making it urgent to strengthen the safety management of hazardous laboratory chemicals. In this study, a semi-quantitative comprehensive risk assessment model for hazardous chemical laboratory fires was constructed by combining the bowtie model, three-dimensional risk matrix, and analytic network process (ANP). This study applied this method to the management of hazardous chemicals at the TRT Research Institute; evaluated the probability, severity, and preventive components of the corresponding indicators by constructing different index systems; and calculated the evaluation results using the weight of each index. The evaluation results show that the comprehensive likelihood level is 2, the comprehensive severity level is 3, the comprehensive preventive level is 3, and the final calculated comprehensive risk level is tolerable (II). Based on the results of the risk assessment, the corresponding control measures that can reduce the fire risk of hazardous chemicals in the laboratory are proposed according to the actual situation at the TRT Research Institute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To be accurate and equivalent among assays, laboratory results should be traceable to higher-order references and their quality should fulfill maximum allowable measurement uncertainty (MU) as defined to fit the intended clinical use. Accordingly, laboratory professionals should estimate and validate MU of performed tests using appropriate analytical performance specifications (APS). Current consensus supports the derivation of APS by using one of the three models established by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Strategic Conference held in Milan in 2014. It is recognized that some models are better suited for certain measurands than for others and the attention should be primarily directed towards their biological and clinical characteristics. Among others, model 3 should reflect the state of the art of the measurements that can be defined as the best analytical performance that is technically achievable. Taking serum C-reactive protein and ferritin as examples, here we describe the theoretical premises and the experimental protocol to be used to derive APS for MU when a measurand is allocated to this model. Although the model lacks a direct relationship with clinical outcomes, useful information about the in vitro diagnostic medical device performance and the average quality of provided results may be obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analytical performance specifications (APS) represent the criteria that specify the quality required for laboratory test information to satisfy clinical needs. In 2014 the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) considered timely to update the topic of APS by organizing a conference in Milan in which some strategic concepts were proposed. Here I summarize the essential points representing the EFLM Strategic Conference heritage and discuss the approaches that will permit us to become more concrete, including roles and main actions expected from each of involved stakeholders for contributing a quantum leap forward in the way of practicality of Milan consensus about APS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Medical Biochemistry is the property of Society of Medical Biochemists of Serbia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In teaching chemistry, laboratory activities increase student's interest because it provides hands-on experience for learning. Unfortunately, the school lack these facilities; thus, hands on learning were barely possible. Due to this reason the researcher opted to utilize virtual chemistry laboratory to address the problem. This study attempted to determine the effect of virtual chemistry laboratory to enhance learning performance and engagement of Grade 10 Learners. Pre-experimental research design involving one-group pretest-posttest was utilized. T-tests were used to determine the significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores. Pearson correlation was used to determine the significant relationship between the students' engagement and learning performance and Cohen's d was used to determine the effect size. The result revealed an increase in learning performance of students. Moreover, students agreed that they were moderately engaged. There was a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores of both learning performance and engagement. However, there was no significant relationship between the two variables. The result further revealed that virtual chemistry Laboratory has a large effect to learning performance and engagement. In the teaching and learning process, technology plays an important role in providing an educational atmosphere that stimulate students and motivate them for better learning. In light of the results of this study, since the app utilized was downloaded by the researcher, modifications as to what the virtual laboratory should have been and should have been not possible. Thus, it is recommended that training and seminars could be provided to teachers in developing useful technologies that are personalized and based on their own context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immersive technologies such as augmented reality (AR) have the potential to enable students to remediate invalid assumptions about molecular structure through visualizing site-specific, non-observable chemical processes. In this study, we explore how this technology-embedded instruction impacted student perceptions and experiences in a collaborative face-to-face and independent remote organic chemistry laboratory, the latter of which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. While we acknowledge the emotional toll of the pandemic, it afforded a unique opportunity to compare the differences in implementation when covering the same material. We used a novel AR mobile application, H NMR MoleculAR, and a complementary worksheet to support students' understanding of proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. We gathered data using a mixed-methods pre-post survey about students' perceptions and experiences in the remote and in-person environments. There were differences in student user experience and perceptions of NMR knowledge, with face-to-face students showing more positive rankings. Although lower than those in face-to-face environments, perceptions of the remote environment remained neutral or positive for all measures. There were no differences in the reported number of challenges faced, but there were unique challenges in the remote learning environment. Our findings illuminate the complexity of factors that must be considered when implementing novel technologies into instruction in face-to-face and remote environments. We conclude by describing concrete lessons learned and considerations for researchers and instructors leveraging augmented reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review is devoted to the key achievements of the Laboratory of Chemistry of Nitro Compounds at the Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences since its founding by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V. A. Tartakovsky in 1971. The main attention is paid to the structural factors affecting the stability of polynitrogen-oxygen systems (PNO systems), design rules for new stabilized PNO systems, and new synthetic methods towards such systems. The synthesis of dinitramide salts, 1,2,3,4-tetrazine 1,3-dioxides, nitro-NNO-azoxy compounds, and other new classes of PNO systems is considered in detail. The advances in synthesis of new types of N-nitroamines are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this intervention study was to investigate the effect of three teaching approaches, namely the traditional teaching method (TTM), a teacher-based demonstration experiment (TBDE) and a student hands-on experiment (SHE), on students' academic performance. A total number of 324 senior five students studying chemistry as one of the main subjects in their combinations were selected from four provinces and Kigali city in Rwanda. The data were collected using a chemistry achievement test comprising 30 multiple-choice questions. This test was administered before and after teaching intervention to measure the effect of the three teaching approaches on students' academic performance of solutions and titration. The Kruskal–Wallis test indicated that both SHE and TBDE had a higher mean rank after the intervention than the TTM group. The post-hoc test showed a statistically significant difference in the mean score of TTM vs. TBDE, as well as TTM vs. SHE. However, there was no significant statistical difference between the SHE vs TBDE groups. The results indicate that providing laboratory experiments through SHE or TBDE approaches significantly improved students' academic performance of solutions and titration. Chemistry teachers are advised to use laboratory experiments provided either through SHE or TBDE as an effective remedial tool that could improve students' performance in solutions and titration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of chemicals in academic laboratories is a major concern for the health and safety of individuals and the environment. Academic institutions are currently developing safe work procedures to ensure compliance with standard criteria and laboratory accreditation. However, it is unclear to what extent the activities of research laboratories... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Project-based learning (PBL) is one of the most effective teaching frame works for undergraduate engineering courses due to its enormous advantages. The PBL approach facilitates active student engagement to a greater extent in laboratory courses as it can induce the process of complex and proactive thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. This work presents pedagogical intervention in curriculum design and delivery of Measurement System Laboratory courses to undergraduate students in engineering. The study impacts assessing these new practices on student engagement and persistence in teaching-learning. The evaluation of student perception of the laboratory revealed that students enjoyed its execution, leading to improved academic performance and imbibing problem-solving skills. The PBL-laboratory exercise was a precursor to improvised student learning with self-directed initiatives working in teams. The study underlines excellent opportunities available through the reflection process that form the bedrock to strengthen their engineering laboratory practices. The detailed research strongly suggested PBL as the right way to engage students in the laboratory to fulfill curriculum needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The escalating prevalence of diabetes worldwide has resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of people who need testing, which in turn necessitates faster HbA1c measurement. The Tosoh GR01 addresses the need for fast turnaround times of whilst offering pragmatic steps to maintain result accuracy in a single instrument by offering two distinct operating modes: Short Mode (SM) and Long Mode (LM). The aim of this study was to evaluate all relevant aspects of the performance of the Tosoh GR01 with a view to accepting the instrument as a future Secondary Reference Measurement Procedure (SRMP) for the IFCC. Certified Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) Evaluation Protocols (EP) were used to evaluate precision (EP-5), accuracy (EP-9), linearity (EP-6), carry-over (EP-10) and the effect of hemoglobin variants and other potential interferences. Both modes demonstrated CVs <0.6 % in SI units and <0.4 % in NGSP units at 46 mmol/mol (6.4 %) and 75 mmol/mol (9.0 %) and passed both National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) and International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC) certification procedures when compared with 7 IFCC Certified Secondary Reference Measurement Procedures (SRMP). Sigma for both modes was >6 when using the results of EP-5 and EP-9 at an HbA1c concentration of 50 mmol/mol (6.7 %). Neither mode showed any interference with common Hb-variants except for HbAE when HbA1c was >65 mmol/mol. In the SM HbAS, HbAD and HbAC were recognized but no result was reported. There is a good balance between speed and accuracy for determining HbA1c with the Tosoh GR01 in both analytical modes and the device is suitable for use as an IFCC SRMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pedagogical approaches for supporting students' argumentative writing in science laboratories have not been fully established. This article examines the development of argumentative abilities in undergraduate students enrolled in chemistry laboratory courses that employed two teaching sequences: (i) an argumentative writing workshop for conceptual learning and (ii) weekly laboratory report writing for application of knowledge gained in the workshop. The four workshop modules guided students through the process of identifying three key components of arguments (evidence, justifications, and claims), selecting appropriate and inappropriate justifications, constructing justifications and conclusions, and analyzing experimental errors. Student performance in formulating scientific arguments was evaluated through instructors' assessment of evidence, justifications, and claims made in the Results, Discussion, and Conclusions sections, respectively, of a laboratory report. Student performance improved from 60.9 ± 3.4 to 91.5 ± 8.0 in Introductory Chemistry I Lab and 60.7 ± 5.2 to 91.7 ± 5.4 in Introductory Chemistry II Lab. Students rated the helpfulness of the writing workshop ([3.6 ± 0.1]/5.0), weekly writing ([4.1 ± 0.3]/5.0), and instructors' feedback ([4.4 ± 0.5]/5.0) for both introductory and advanced chemistry laboratories positively. The format of this writing workshop can be used for online teaching or incorporated into any science laboratory course with the development of appropriate content modules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reporting a measurement procedure and its analytical performance following method evaluation in a peer-reviewed journal is an important means for clinical laboratory practitioners to share their findings. It also represents an important source of evidence base to help others make informed decisions about their practice. At present, there are significant variations in the information reported in laboratory medicine journal publications describing the analytical performance of measurement procedures. These variations also challenge authors, readers, reviewers, and editors in deciding the quality of a submitted manuscript. The International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Working Group on Method Evaluation Protocols (IFCC WG-MEP) developed a checklist and recommends its adoption to enable a consistent approach to reporting method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics of measurement procedures in laboratory medicine journals. It is envisioned that the Laboratory Evaluation and Analytical Performance Characteristics (LEAP) checklist will improve the standardisation of journal publications describing method evaluation and analytical performance characteristics, improving the quality of the evidence base that is relied upon by practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually transforming the practises of healthcare providers. Over the last two decades, the advent of AI into numerous aspects of pathology has opened transformative possibilities in how we practise laboratory medicine. Objectives of this study were to explore how AI could impact the clinical practices of professionals working in Clinical Chemistry laboratories, while also identifying effective strategies in medical education to facilitate the required changes. Methods: From March to August 2022, an exploratory qualitative study was conducted at the Section of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan, in collaboration with Keele University, Newcastle, United Kingdom. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect information from diverse group of professionals working in Clinical Chemistry laboratories. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. They were asked what changes AI would involve in the laboratory, what resources would be necessary, and how medical education would assist them in adapting to the change. A content analysis was conducted, resulting in the development of codes and themes based on the analyzed data. Results: The interviews were analysed to identify three primary themes: perspectives and considerations for AI adoption, educational and curriculum adjustments, and implementation techniques. Although the use of diagnostic algorithms is currently limited in Pakistani Clinical Chemistry laboratories, the application of AI is expanding. All thirteen participants stated their reasons for being hesitant to use AI. Participants stressed the importance of critical aspects for effective AI deployment, the need of a collaborative integrative approach, and the need for constant horizon scanning to keep up with AI developments. Conclusions: Three primary themes related to AI adoption were identified: perspectives and considerations, educational and curriculum adjustments, and implementation techniques. The study's findings give a sound foundation for making suggestions to clinical laboratories, scientific bodies, and national and international Clinical Chemistry and laboratory medicine organisations on how to manage pathologists' shifting practises because of AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the laboratory work activity is an essential part of chemistry learning, recent studies on the effectiveness of Virtual Chemistry Laboratory (VICH-Lab) are proposed. This research aims to promote students' learning independence and achievement by implementing VICH-Lab in blended online learning of chemical equilibrium topics in a chemistry lesson. Quasi-experimental research with a post-test-only design was implemented in this research. The samples of this research cover two classes drawn from a public secondary school in Kulon Progo Regency, Indonesia. Both classes were established by the cluster random sampling technique. The students' learning independence data were collected through the Learning Independence Questionnaire (LIQ) and Observation Sheet of Learning Independence (OSLI). In contrast, the data on students' achievements were obtained through Chemical Equilibrium Test (CET). The two data types were analysed following the one-way Analysis of Variance (one-way ANOVA) technique. The analysis results indicate any significant effects of VICH-Lab in blended online learning on students' learning independence and achievement. Thus, the VICH-Lab in blended online learning can be used as an alternative way to promote students' learning independence and achievement, especially in this pandemic covid-19 situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a letter published in the journal Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine. The letter discusses the stability of fecal calprotectin extracts using the Diasorin® kit. Fecal calprotectin is a protein used as a biomarker for chronic inflammatory bowel disease. The study evaluated the stability of fecal calprotectin after the pre-analytical step under different storage time and temperature conditions. The results showed that the stability of the extracts is significantly influenced by storage time and temperature, with the analyte remaining stable for 18 days at -20 °C but not after seven days at 4 °C. These findings provide greater flexibility for laboratories using the Diasorin LIAISON® Calprotectin assay. [Extracted from the article]