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Due to the rising number of confirmed positive tests, the global impact of COVID-19 continues to grow. This can be attributed to the long wait times patients face to receive COVID-19 test results. During these lengthy waiting periods, people become anxious, especially those who are not experiencing early COVID-19 symptoms. This study aimed to develop models that predict waiting times for COVID-19 test results based on different factors such as testing facility, result interpretation, and date of test. Several machine learning algorithms were used to predict average waiting times for COVID-19 test results and to find the most accurate model. These algorithms include neural network, support vector regression, K-nearest neighbor regression, and more. COVID-19 test result waiting times were predicted for 54,730 patients recorded during the pandemic across 171 hospitals and 14 labs. To examine and evaluate the model’s accuracy, different measurements were applied such as root mean squared and R-Squared. Among the eight proposed models, the results showed that decision tree regression performed the best for predicting COVID-19 test results waiting times. The proposed models could be used to prioritize testing for COVID-19 and provide decision makers with the proper prediction tools to prepare against possible threats and consequences of future COVID-19 waves.

This Research to Practice work in progress paper presents a model to bridge the gap in community college engineering students successfully transferring to 4-year institutions. In 2015, the state of Tennessee (TN) launched TN Promise, a scholarship and mentoring program that enables tuition-free attendance at two-year community colleges for eligible Tennessee high school graduates. With over 18,000 students already enrolled in TN Promise, the number of students who may choose to transfer to four-year institutions is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. To prepare for the expected influx of transfer students, and to address known barriers transfer students face, we have designed the Academic Intervention, Social Supports and Scholarships for Engineering Transfer Students program (ASSETS). While transfer students are ready for college, they often face institutional barriers to success that need addressing, particularly in Engineering.The ASSETS program is a comprehensive support ecosystem designed to improve retention and reduce time to graduation for engineering transfer students. In the second year of operation, with 23 enrolled ASSETS scholars, the program has implemented and begun studying the effectiveness of evidence-based strategies to reduce these institutional barriers to success, improve retention rates, and reduce time to graduation among engineering transfer students.This paper presents the initial findings and outcomes of the ASSETS program to enhance opportunities and success of transfer students.

Welcome to the first module in our Continuing Professional Development Section (CPD). CPD is now a key element in the clinical activity of all health professionals and a cornerstone of good clinical governance throughout mental health services. This section of the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine will provide CPD modules dedicated to key topics in mental health care. In order to assist learning and self-assessment, multiple choice questions will be provided at the end of each module.This module and its multiple choice questions are available online on the website of the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine (www.ijpm.org). The CPD policy of the College of Psychiatry of Ireland indicates that psychiatrists who participate in suitable online learning which fits the criteria for CPD may claim CPD points under the Personal CPD category (up to a maximum of 5 points per year).We are confident that this CPD Section of the Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine will prove to be a valuable resource for consultant psychiatrists, psychiatric trainees and all journal readers. We welcome feedback from readers and, especially, any suggestions for topics to be covered in future CPD modules. Suggestions should be emailed to:psychological@medmedia.ie

Aims and methodTo assess attitudes of general practitioners (GPs) on who should be responsible for managing metabolic dysregulations associated with the use of antipsychotics prescribed by psychiatrists. A total of 121 GPs in West Galway catchment area were surveyed using a simple questionnaire.ResultsA total of 104 GPs responded (86% response rate). The vast majority of responders (82%) believed that medical management should be provided within primary care. However, 46% indicated that initial screening and simple non-pharmacological management should be provided by mental health services.Clinical implicationsThe vast majority of GPs appear willing to take over the medical management of metabolic dysregulations emerging from antipsychotic prescribing in secondary care. Clearly defined roles for mental health services and primary care in the management of metabolic complications are of paramount importance, and individual mental health services should implement protocols for screening, non-pharmacological management and referral to primary care.

An increasing number of students in computer science are requesting advanced study and active learning experiences in computer networking. Employers need graduates who not only understand the fundamentals of networking but those who can quickly be involved in network administration. Meeting these demands in the curriculum suggests that new and well-planned laboratory and internship experiences should be incorporated into the computer science curriculum. However, there are some major challenges in providing these experiences; it is much more complex than just adding another compiler or server to a laboratory. This paper describes several efforts the authors are making to meet these challenges.The environment in which these efforts have been studied is a small state-supported university, Northwest Missouri State University, in rural Missouri. Northwest has over 6,200 students pursuing baccalaureate, masters and specialist degrees. The networking environment at Northwest is more robust than one might expect. In 1987, the University became the first public institution in the United States to develop an "Electronic Campus" featuring University-provided, networked computing stations located in every residence hall room and faculty office. Then in 1999, each faculty member was issued a personal notebook computer and the residence halls were upgraded to Windows-based, networked desktop computers. [9]

In order to determine whether the MMPI-PTSD subscale has application for assessing DSM-III diagnosed PTSD among populations other than Vietnam veterans, a group of WWII POWs (N = 69) were given the subscale. Results indicated that the use of the PTSD subscale can be generalized to older veterans; in a small sample of Pacific POWs, PTSD is more common among those from the Pacific theater than those from Europe. However, the subscale fails to distinguish between Pacific and European POW veterans. Difficulties in sampling and confounding stressors are discussed, as well as implications for treatment of WWII veterans.

Describes a project in which an undergraduate team succeeded in synthesizing a compound never before produced.

Abstact Wheat kernels were exposed to gamma radiation, 14 MeV neutrons, and a combination of gamma radiation and thermal neutrons. Exposed kernels and corresponding control samples were germinated between moist layers of Elter paper in a controlled-environment germinator. Progress of germinating seedlings was noted daily. Gamma radiation above 30,000 kilo rad resulted in abnormal germination. High-energyneutron irradiation for 20 minutes had no effect on germination. Irradiation by gamma-rays and thermal and fast neutrons (TRIGA Mark II) for tonger than 5 minutes prevented germination.