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Medical lab science and tech research papers/topics, covid 19 – history and scientific progress in treatment.

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is a highly transmittable and pathogenic viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in Wuhan, China and spread around the world. Genomic analysis revealed that SARS-CoV-2 is phylogenetically related to severe acute respiratory syndrome-like (SARS-like) bat viruses, therefore bats could be the possible primary reservoir. The intermediate source of origin and transfer to humans is not known, howeve...

PRODUCTION OF LIQUID SOAP USING LEMONGRASS AS FRAGRANCE

ABSTRACT Lemon grass (Cymbogon citratus) is an abundant, locally available plant. In this work, essential oil was extracted from it using solvent extraction method.  In this work two methods of extraction was used, solvent extraction and enfleurage methods were used to extract essential oil from lemongrass. Solvent extraction method yielded 2.08% and effleurage method yielded 1.96% essential oil respectively. From the analysis solvent extraction gave the highest yield because of the less e...

A Feasibility Study on the Production of Yogurt

ABSTRACT This project work titled “A feasibility study on the production of yogurt” a case study of Fan Milk Nigeria Plc, Oregun – Ikeja has been written to p-rovide an intensive knowledge of the practical aspect of producing yogurts in addition to the theories which involves the economical and nutritional benefits of yogurts already learnt by the researchers. This study will look into the production processes with Fan Milk Nigeria Plc, Oregun – Ikeja. The coverage of the subject ma...

Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated with Trichuris trichiura among Patients Attending Health Care at AL-Shifa Health Centre in Yaqshid, District

ABSTRACT Trichuris trichiura, also known as the human whipworm, is a roundworm that causes trichuriasis in humans. It is referred to as the whipworm because it looks like a whip with wide handles at the posterior end. The main objective of this study was to determine prevalence and risk factors associated with Trichuris trichiura among patients attending health care at AL-Shifa Health Center in Yaqshid, District. During this study, 100 stool samples were examined, which were collected from pa...

Unlocking the Spectrum: A Comprehensive Overview of Spectrometry

ABSTRACT Spectrophotometry is a powerful analytical technique that plays a pivotal role in various scientific disciplines, including medicine, chemistry, biology, physics, and environmental science. This seminar presentation offers a comprehensive overview of spectrophotometry, exploring its fundamental principles, applications, and technological advancements in various sectors. The presentation begins by delving into the basic principles of spectrophotometry, elucidating the interaction of...

Effects of Botanicals and Biocontrol Agents on Growth and Aflatoxin Production by Aspergillus Flavus Infecting Maize in Some Parts of Nigeria

ABSTRACT In a comprehensive study to assess the effects of botanicals and biocontrol agents on growth and aflatoxin (AF) production by Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus) infecting maize, a total of 1143 maize samples, collected in eighteen batches of five maize varieties (yellow, white, pop, variegated and mixed) from northern and southern parts of Nigeria were investigated between June 2011 to December 2013. Samples collected from field, 414 (36.2%) and stored batches, 729 (63.8%) were cultured...

The Effect of Ocimum Tenuiflorum (Nchuanwu) Leaf Extract on Hematolgical Parameters of Immumnosuppressed Albino Rats.

ABSTRACT The effect of Ocimum tenuiflorum on hematological parameters in immunosuppressed albino rats was investigated in this study. The aqueous (AE) and methanol extract (ME) of the leaf were obtained. Acute toxicity study was done to determine the LD50 of the leaf extract. Rats of mixed sexes, aged 2- 3months, weighing 150 to 240 grams were used. The rats were divided into 8 groups A-H of four rats each. Group A served as normal control. Immunesuppression was induced using 3mg/kg bodyweig...

Relationship between Microalbuminuria and Ischemic Heart Diseases

Serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines, haptoglobin in children of various abo blood group and heamoglobin-genotype with p. falciparaum malaria in nnewi, nigeria.

ABSTRACT Malaria is characterized by marked changes in cytokine production from immune responses to infection (Jurgen, 2007). Genetics influences these variations in cytokine expression and ABO blood group and haemoglobin phenotype are genetic expressions (Deepa et al, 2011). Acute phase proteins may also be involved in cytokine induced replication of inflammatory processes (Warren (2010). This case controlled study involving children with plasmodium falciparum malaria (PFM) in Nnewi, Nigeri...

Assessment of Sensitivity and Specifity Immunochromatograophy Test And ELISA for detecting Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antibodies among Screening Patients in Khartoum State

Abstract  Human Immunodeficiency Virus ( HIV) is global and serious problem , with increase in mortality and morbidity worldwide. This was prospective , descriptive and cross sectional study aimed to assess the level of HIV Ab using the ICT and ELISA for detecting Ab and Ag (p24) .It was conducted among Screening patient in Khartoum state (National Public Health Laboratory) from 1 April to 30 June (2015) on a total of eighty nine (n=89)to compare the sensitivity and specificity of immunochro...

Measurement of Complete Blood Count (CBC) in alcohol consumer – Khartoum 2014

Abstract This is a prospective case control study to investigate the effect of alcohol consumption on complete blood count (CBC) of alcohol consumers in Khartoum State from April to July 2014.The participants were 80 apparently healthy adult males; 50 of them are alcohol consumers and 30 are non-alcoholic (control).Their age was (41 ±7.3years).A questionnaire was constructed to obtain information about the participants after an informed verbal consent from all the participants. Ethical appr...

Molecular Basis of Immunological Dysfunction in People Living with HIV and AIDS in Enugu, Nigeria

ABSTRACT Molecular basis of immunological dysfunction in people living with HIV and AIDS was studied among HIV-positive people attending clinics at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku-Ozalla, Annunciation Specialist Hospital Emene, Mother of Christ Specialist Hospital and Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, all in Enugu metropolis. A total of 90 subjects recruited for the study were divided into three groups: 30 diagnostically positive HIV subjects (A), 30 HIV-positive sub...

Analysis of Heavy Metals in Pleurotus Tuberregium Sclerotia,Toxicity in Blood, Bone Marrow and Some Selected Organs of Albino Rats

ABSTRACT Pleurotus tuberregium is a common mushroom which is used as food or medicine, more commonly as a vegetable soup thickener. This study investigated the presence of heavy metals in wild samples of pleurotus tuberregium sclerotia consumed within our localities, compared the degree of heavy metal contamination of the samples, investigated the presence of heavy metals in the serum of albino rats due to its consumption and the effects of its consumption on blood, bone marrow, liver and kid...

Potential for the Prediction of Prostate Cancer Risk Using Haplotypes in Exon 5 of Klk2 Gene

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is the most common neoplasia of middle aged men .Early detection is problematic due to the lack of marker that has high sensitivity and specificity. Our aim was to genetically predict the possibility of developing prostate cancer using haplotypes in exon 5 of kLk2 gene. We evaluated polymorphisms in human glandular kallikreins 2 (KLK2) genes because a protein product of this gene is known to be increased in prostate cancer. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Blood samp...

ABH Prevalence, Cd4 and Cd8 Levels in Secretors and Non-Secretors of ABH Antigens Among HIV Positive Individuals in Abakaliki Area of South-East Nigeria.

ABSTRACT Sixty(60)patients (31 males and 29 females) with Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) disease attending Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (EBSUTH) Abakaliki were used for the study. Sixty (60) age and sex matched apparently healthy individuals(34 males and 26 females) who were screened three months prior to study and then rescreened immediately the study started, served as the control group. Secretor status of the groups (test and control) were determined, using neutralization ...

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Laboratory Science Technology Associate in Applied Science Degree

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Discover the science behind the scenes with an AAS program in Laboratory Science Technology. Unlock scientific secrets.

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Overview for Laboratory Science Technology AAS

The laboratory science technology program, with its foundation of course sequences in chemistry, biology, and instrumental analysis, was developed primarily from an industry perspective to prepare students for employment as laboratory technicians. The program has several significant factors that set it apart, including the application of real-world analyses and a state-of-the-art instrumentation laboratory. Graduates are prepared to work in a broad range of fields, including chemical, biological, biotechnical, pharmaceutical, environmental, industrial, forensic, and food analysis. This program is available for qualified deaf and hard of hearing students.

If you're interested in doing scientific analysis and lab work in chemical, biological, biotechnical, pharmaceutical, environmental, forensic, food or industrial fields, then the laboratory science technology program is for you. You will study in laboratory settings with experienced faculty and learn to use state-of-the-art laboratory equipment for scientific analysis. Our advanced, high-tech analytical instrumentation is equivalent to that used by scientists on the job. You get hands-on experience using this instrumentation daily.

Laboratory science technology, offered by RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf , is available as an associate in applied science (AAS) degree or as an Associate+Bachelor’s Degree Program.

The AAS degree in laboratory science technology is a career-focused degree program that leads to immediate entry into well-paying careers at the paraprofessional or technician level in municipal, public, private and industrial laboratories. Technicians are involved with the collection and preparation of samples and standards. They also perform instrumental, volumetric, gravimetric, and biological analyses. Additional job responsibilities may include the interpretation and reporting of experimental results and data. 

The Associate+Bachelor's Degree Program in laboratory science technology prepares you to complete an RIT bachelor’s degree. In this option, upon successful completion of the AAS in laboratory science technology, provided you maintain a 3.0 or higher grade point average, you will have several bachelor’s degree options from which to choose. You can enroll in RIT’s School of Individualized Study , where you can pursue a bachelor’s degree in applied arts and science . Or you may enroll in RIT’s College of Science , where you can work towards a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry ,  biology , biotechnology and molecular bioscience , chemistry , or  environmental science . Qualified laboratory science technology students also have continued their education in other majors in RIT’s College of Science and College of Health Sciences and Technology upon completion of the laboratory science technology program. The length of time required to obtain a bachelor’s degree upon completion of the AAS program and the number of credits transferred from the laboratory science technology curriculum vary by program.

Learn more about the benefits of pursuing an Associate+Bachelor’s Degree Program .

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Careers and Cooperative Education

Typical job titles, cooperative education.

Cooperative education, or co-op for short, is full-time, paid work experience in your field of study. And it sets RIT graduates apart from their competitors. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries. RIT co-op is designed for your success .

Students in the laboratory science technology program are required to complete a cooperative education work experience prior to graduation. You may schedule your co-op after completing your second-year academic requirements.

Curriculum for 2023-2024 for Laboratory Science Technology AAS

Current Students: See Curriculum Requirements

Laboratory Science Technology, AAS degree, typical course sequence

See NTID General Education Curriculum (GE) requirements for more information.

See Wellness Education Requirement for more information. Students completing associate degrees are required to complete one Wellness course.

† An ASL-Deaf Cultural Studies (AASASLDCS) course is required for graduation. It can be taken in any semester and can be taken at NTID or another college of RIT. In order to fulfill this requirement as part of the credit hours in the program, it can be a course approved for both AASASLDCS and a General Education - Perspective or General Education - Elective.

‡ Students placing above NMTH-212 must take a higher-level NMTH or MATH (College of Science) course as appropriate.

§ Please see list of professional /technical electives below.

Professional/Technical electives*

* Some of these courses may require department approval. Additional courses may be used as electives, with department approval.

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For the career-focused aas degree.

• 2 years of math required
• 1 year of science required
• English language skills as evidenced by application materials determine associate degree options.

For the AAS Degree Leading to Bachelor’s Degree (Associate+Bachelor’s Program)

• 2 years of math required; students interested in engineering, math and science transfer programs should have three or more years of math.
• 1 year of science required; students interested in engineering, math and science transfer programs should have two or more years of science.
• Physics is recommended for students interested in engineering.

Specific English, Mathematics, and Science Requirements and other Recommendations

• English: Placement in a First Year Writing course, such as FYW: Writing Seminar (UWRT-150). Students typically enter First-Year Writing with reading scores equivalent to 130 or higher on the NTID Reading Test and writing scores of 67 or higher on the NTID Writing Test. However, students who complete AAS degrees typically enter NTID with reading scores above 98 on the NTID Reading Test and writing scores above 50 on the NTID Writing Test.
• Mathematics: Placement in Integrated Algebra (NMTH-212) or higher. Typically, students entering this major will have completed at least three years of high school mathematics.
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• ACT (optional) : The ACT middle 50% composite score is 18-21.

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NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Medicare Payment Methodology for Clinical Laboratory Services; Miller Wolman D, Kalfoglou AL, LeRoy L, editors. Medicare Laboratory Payment Policy: Now and in the Future. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2000.

Medicare Laboratory Payment Policy: Now and in the Future.

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3 Technology Trends in the Clinical Laboratory Industry

The laboratory environment has been characterized by ongoing rapid and dramatic innovation since the 1980s. There has been remarkable growth in the range and complexity of available tests and services, which is expected to continue. Laboratory technology is often at the forefront of medical advances. In some cases, testing techniques to diagnose or screen for a particular condition are available before effective treatment. Innovation in laboratory technology, which includes both new tests and advances in equipment and testing techniques, has made testing more efficient and automated. Information technology (IT) has revolutionized the transfer of data by decreasing the time it takes to order and receive test results and by creating opportunities for research on large datasets. Many predict that clinical laboratory technology will play an even more important role in the future delivery of health care (Felder et al., 1999; Wilkinson, 1997). Innovation in health care, particularly when it is more efficient than existing methods (see Box 3.1 ), is welcomed by payers, providers, and patients; however, the efficient integration of innovation into medical care may be affected by policies related to coverage, coding, and payment.

The Future of Technology. Edwina Clark, a 42 year old woman with diabetes, no longer needs to test her blood sugar concentrations every day because she now has a glucose sensor implanted under the skin of her thigh. Her toilet at home provides a double (more...)

There are wide variations in the types of technology employed by different types of laboratories. The discussion of technology trends below does not mean that these trends are occurring in all settings. For example, certain small laboratories do not have the volume of testing to justify automated or elaborate IT systems.

This chapter reviews the three major technological innovations that have radically altered the way samples are collected and analyzed and the way results are reported. These innovations include automation, IT, and laboratory measurement or testing technology. The changes that these technological developments produce, especially how and where testing services are delivered and laboratory-staffing needs, are also discussed.

Automation has been, and promises to continue to be, an important force in the changing laboratory marketplace. Laboratory automated (and manual) processes occur in three stages:

Preanalytic stage: This includes, choosing the test, placing the order, preparing the patient, collecting the specimen, transporting the specimen, any specimen preparation work, and daily quality controls.

Analytic stage: This involves actual testing of the specimen and all routine procedures up to result reporting.

Postanalytic stage: This is concerned primarily with forwarding results to the appropriate hospital department or physician and routine daily maintenance and shutdown (Travers and Krochmal, 1988). 1

Preanalytic Stage

Although some progress has been made in automating the preanalytic phase of testing, much of the work in this phase is still performed manually. In some settings, such as within the hospital, specimens are transferred efficiently using a pneumatic tubing system. In an independent laboratory setting, specimens are often transported manually by courier to the testing site. 2 In most settings of care, specimens are collected and labeled with identifying information and are entered into the laboratory computer system manually. In addition, most decisions about the adequacy of the specimen's volume and whether the specimen is in the correct type of container are made by a laboratory technician, not a machine (McPherson, 1998).

There are many opportunities to automate preanalytic processes. For instance, specimen containers can be prelabeled with bar codes that link specimens to identifying electronic information. The container may also contain substances that automatically prepare the sample for processing (Felder et al., 1999). There has been progress with optical character recognition hardware and software that can “read” labels (Burtis, 1996). Test tubes may eventually have computer chips embedded in the stopper (Felder et al., 1999). Technology to automate many of the processes for aliquot 3 or specimen preparation, sample quality testing, specimen transport and handling, and automatic accessioning 4 exist but are not widely used (McPherson, 1998). Test ordering over the Internet may increase efficiency and reduce administrative errors during specimen collection and processing. Machines eventually may draw blood specimens, and robots may transport specimens from hospitalized patients to the hospital laboratory (Felder et al., 1999; Wilkinson, 1997).

Analytic Stage

In most laboratory settings, the analytic stage of testing is more automated. Beginning in the 1960s, several rounds of sophisticated automation resulted in multianalyzers, which are multichannel instruments that measure many different analytes. 5 Automative technology also allows groups of tests, called “panels” or “profiles,” to be run on the same sample. A similar evolution occurred in the hematology laboratory, where the counting of different types of blood cells is consolidated and expanded to include automated differentials on the same instrument (McPherson, 1998). A chemistry, hematology, coagulation, or urinalysis analyzer can now generate highly precise and accurate results in only a few minutes (Cruse, 1998).

Consolidation of tests and testing equipment is possible in part because operator activities for each type of test are interchangeable. Running tests is simplified by redesigning equipment (“analyzers”) to look and function similarly on the outside, even though very different operations are done inside. According to Richard McPherson, “The tasks that attendant operators conduct now (sample presentation, result review, and quality control) are quite similar on very different analyzers” (McPherson, 1998).

Emerging in the early 1980s, consolidated workstations contain several instruments in one area. Typically, the area is managed by one technical person supervising several nontechnical staff (Cruse, 1998). 6 The technical staff member monitors all instruments, and reviews and releases the test results (McPherson, 1998). The workstation approach increases the productivity of the laboratory, reduces personnel costs, and dramatically decreases testing turnaround time (TAT) (Cruse, 1998).

Modular laboratory automation was introduced during the 1990s and represents a more sophisticated design than approaches aimed at automating the entire laboratory all at once. This technology permits the laboratory to begin with a basic configuration and add automated modules as needed. Thus, a laboratory can buy only the modular pieces that best meet its needs. It also makes integrating the new technology into existing laboratory architecture easier because the modular units are small and mobile (Sainato, 2000). Only a few vendors of modular automation are in the market at this time (Marietti, 1998). Robots may be part of a facility's modular laboratory automation system. Although especially beneficial for tasks such as serology, blood grouping, and tissue typing, (Lifshitz and De Cresce, 1989), robots are not used as extensively by the clinical laboratory industry in the United States as they are in Japan. 7

Replacing manual steps with automated processes virtually eliminated the risk of mistakes and reduced testing error rates (Howanitz, 1994). Enhancements in automated processing resulted in improved technical precision and accuracy. According to McPherson (1998), “the vast majority of assays demonstrate technical variabilities that are well within medical needs.”

Postanalytic Stage

Over the past 20 years, the postanalytic phase has become more automated. In the 1980s, test results were often transferred by courier or mail. In the 1990s, they were sometimes conveyed over the telephone or via fax. Today, in some laboratories, the completed results are automatically forwarded to the appropriate area of the hospital or physician office electronically through the use of dedicated printers, and billing and utilization report generation is computerized (McPherson, 1998). Use of the Internet to report results would likely reduce costs by eliminating the need for designated fax and telephone lines. In addition, quicker TAT may lead to reduced episode-of-care costs.

Many analytic and postanalytic tasks are now automated using process control software (Markin and Whalen, 2000). For instance, repeat, reflex, 8 and add-on 9 testing are managed through electronic systems. 10 Electronic systems may also manage specimen transportation, storage, and disposal. Finally, these systems monitor consistency of results and ensure that panic values are called to medical staffs attention.

Billing and collection processes may become more automated in the future. Laboratories may automatically obtain and transmit all required documentation necessary for payers to process the claim through electronic systems (e.g., patient's name, address, and primary and secondary insurance information). Additional information required includes referring provider information, the patient's copay responsibilities, diagnosis codes, and other data that might be necessary to demonstrate medical necessity. Typically this information is transmitted manually each time a test is ordered. Integrating electronic systems that automatically send updated information electronically every time a test is ordered would increase efficiency.

There are steps that take place after the laboratory submits its results to the physician including physician interpretation and physician and patient action. After physicians receive the results, they must interpret what those results mean for the patient. Sometimes the physician is assisted in interpreting results by normal ranges included in the laboratory report or a written explanation of the testing results. In some cases, the physician may consult with a laboratorian to better understand the meaning of the test results. The next step is the physician's course of action. The laboratory tests may indicate that all test results are normal and that no action needs to be taken other than informing the patient of the results. Other courses of action might include additional laboratory testing, hospitalization, changing a medication or the dose of a medication, initiating a new course of treatment, monitoring the patient more closely, or counseling a patient to change certain health-related behaviors. The ultimate outcome for the patient is not simply dependent on obtaining an accurate test value. It also depends on the physician's interpretation and the action taken by both the physician and patient.

• INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Like many other areas of healthcare delivery, laboratory services are experiencing an IT revolution. Laboratory experts that keep pace with emerging IT have found new, more efficient ways to communicate and provide services; educate themselves, their staff, and their clients; market their products; and manage data and information.

Because Internet-based communications are inexpensive and not hampered by time differences and geographic distance, experts predict that the Internet will become the primary means of communication in the future (Burtis, 1996; Klatt, 1997). Requests for testing and test results will be communicated electronically. Electronic image transmission will mean that hard-to-diagnose images can be sent quickly and efficiently to national specialty centers (Wilkinson, 1997). Test result reports will be linked to journal articles and other sophisticated multimedia information sources (Friedman, 1998). This capability may become more important with the increased use of genetic testing by general practitioners since physicians often do not understand the meaning of genetic test results (Holtzman, 1999). Streamlining the cost of providing this additional information will also be important since individual consults with a laboratory expert are often not paid for separately and must be worked into the cost of the test.

The use of electronic systems creates the opportunity to improve laboratory services. For instance, laboratory results for certain tests can be influenced by drug use. Patient records could include all pharmaceuticals the patient is taking. The computer could then be programmed to identify cases in which the results are likely to be affected, and it may even be able to assist in the interpretation of test results and suggest appropriate actions to be taken.

Internet-based reporting creates opportunities to communicate test results directly to patients. In the spring of 2000, Quest Diagnostics, a large national independent laboratory, began offering consumers direct access to test results via an Internet healthcare Web site owned by Caresoft, Inc., called “TheDailyApple.com.” Only patients who are registered with TheDailyApple.com may access their data on-line. Their physicians will have the opportunity to review the results before information is put on-line. Only routine test results are offered, and Caresoft sends personal identification numbers to users via the U.S. mail to ensure confidentiality (Direct-to-consumer test result reporting, 2000). 11

Information technology will change the way laboratorians educate themselves and their staff. Laboratory professionals can interact with one another through e-mail and specialized LISTSERVs (Burtis, 1996). They also have access to technical libraries in electronic format (Burtis, 1996). Experts predict that IT will radically alter the format and role of medical journals. They will be more electronically based with links to multimedia sources of information (Berger and Smith, 1999).

Information technology has created new marketing and advertising opportunities for laboratories (Klatt, 1997). Increased consumer empowerment, new testing techniques that are simple enough for home use or home sample collection, and IT have combined to create new direct-to-consumer marketing opportunities for laboratory tests. Laboratories may follow the pharmaceutical industry's lead by marketing directly to consumers and by making products directly available to consumers over the Internet. For instance, there is a consumer-based market for “drugs-of-abuse” tests, home-based HIV tests, glucose monitoring, pregnancy and ovulation tests, and genetic tests. Consumers may prefer to bypass their personal physician for convenience and to keep test results out of their medical records. Most of these types of tests are paid for by consumers, so they do not have the incentive of insurance coverage to obtain these tests through their health care provider.

Collecting and analyzing patient outcome data may become more essential in the marketing of laboratory services as third-party payers increasingly demand evidence that new health care services are cost-effective and positively affect patient outcomes. New hardware and software have increased the laboratory's ability to store and process data. Currently, Quest Diagnostics maintains the world's largest private database of clinical laboratory test results. It intends to use these resources to add value to its laboratory services (Where is the lab industry headed, 2000). For example, data may be used to track a patient's progress, minimize redundant testing, evaluate phlebotomists' collection technique, and track patient outcomes (McDonald, 1997; Plebani, 1999). Large databases can also be used to track disease outbreaks and conduct other types of public health research (McPherson, 1998). While research opportunities abound, laboratories will be challenged to identify ways to protect confidential patient information and obtain patients' informed consent to participate in research (Chou, 1996).

• LABORATORY MEASUREMENT AND TESTING TECHNOLOGY

Laboratory testing technology advances through both incremental and breakthrough developments. Incremental changes often make testing processes simpler, more efficient (and often less expensive), and of higher quality. Less frequently, technology makes major advances that result in totally new tests or testing techniques.

Esoteric Tests

Esoteric tests are relatively uncommon tests that are dependent on physician interpretation skill. As of the mid-1990s, approximately 1,250 different tests were performed by the clinical laboratory industry, about half of which were classified as “routine” (Smith Barney, 1995). For example, in the late 1980s, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was “cutting-edge” technology. Today, PCR is very common and is used for approximately 165,000–220,000 viral load tests for HIV and hepatitis C each year (Klipp, 2000). Because PCR has become so common, it has lost its esoteric label.

The total U.S. market for esoteric testing is roughly $2 billion annually, for 50 million specimens (Klipp, 2000). In 1998, this market consisted of $1.4 billion in reference work for hospitals and $618 million in reference work for independent laboratories (Klipp, 2000). 12 The median price of tests sent out by hospitals declined 20 percent, from an estimated $28.73 per test in 1996 to $23.19 in 1998 (Klipp, 2000). With 1.4–1.8 tests performed on the average sample, the average revenue generated per specimen is between $33 and $42 (Klipp, 2000). As esoteric tests become more commonly performed, competition and economies of scale may increase, driving prices down further, even in the esoteric market.

Genetic Testing

With the mapping of the human genome, the field of molecular diagnostics, which includes genetic testing, is expected to grow rapidly during the next five years. 13 Genetic tests are able to detect gene mutations. Early detection may allow clinicians to predict predisposition to disease. This is important because genetics are possibly a significant factor in seven of the top ten causes of death in the United States (Klipp, 2000). In addition to addressing the factors associated with these causes of death, genetic testing is also used for determining HIV and hepatitis viral loads, making prenatal diagnoses, identifying chromosome abnormalities, determining the paternity of a child, ascertaining cancer cytogenetics, and identifying inherited or predisposition to diseases.

As of August 2000, an Internet-based directory of genetics laboratories reports that 469 laboratories and 895 genetic clinics in the United States were performing tests for 753 genetic diseases, compared to only 110 laboratories that conducted genetic tests for 111 different diseases in 1993 (Children's Health Care System, 1999). Not all genetic tests are FDA approved for clinical use; some may be available only in a research setting. 14

A future trend in genetic testing is a focus on prevention. According to Robert Nakamura, the emphasis will “shift from costly intervention and treatment of established diseases to proactive prediction and prevention of disease.” He anticipates that predictive tests will screen for data identifying important population genetic risk factors for diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune diseases (Nakamura, 1999). Early identification of immunologic markers that predict autoimmune diseases may facilitate early intervention with autoantigen-specific therapy, targeted directly at the component of the immune system that causes disease (Nakamura, 1999). According to Nakamura, “This approach will require new information systems that will link large-scale databanks and special programs for data mining and retrieval in bioinformatics, cheminformatics, and population genetics. The clinical laboratory will soon be able to provide powerful new molecular diagnostic tools along with multianalytic assays for expression of genes and proteins in different patterns of diseases, disease progression, and predisposition to disease” (Nakamura, 1999).

Pharmacogenomics

More than 100,000 Americans die every year from side effects of properly prescribed medicines, and another 2 million are made seriously ill (Weiss, 2000). This occurs because medicines are made and sold on a standardized basis even though people vary substantially in the way they respond to these compounds. However, as scientists uncover more and more genes that control individual responses to medications, physicians should be able to base prescribing decisions on a patient's individual genetic makeup (Evans and Relling, 1999). The cost implications of this new science, called pharmacogenomics, are unclear. This type of genetic screening will likely increase the front-end cost of providing care. It could, however, result in better health outcomes and long-term cost savings substantial enough to offset the initial expense, particularly if screening efforts target subpopulations that are more likely to be susceptible to the genetic characteristic.

Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology, the science of building miniature devices out of very small particles such as individual atoms, molecules, viruses, or cells, merges biological and IT science. Nanotechnology has the potential to exponentially increase computer power through smaller, faster computer processors. Nanotechnology research could continue to expand during the coming years with a boost from President Clinton's 2001 budget, which proposes to create a National Nanotechnology Initiative. The President's proposal includes $495 million for research projects, an 83 percent increase over funding for this year. Seventy percent of the money will go to university-based research (Executive Office of the President, 2000; McGee, 2000).

Nanotechnology promises to affect the clinical laboratory industry through the development of miniaturized components and devices for chemical processing and measuring sensors (Burtis, 1996). This technology could prove to be extremely useful in the movement toward developing small, versatile point-of-care tests. According to Chad Mirkin, acting director for the Center for Nanofabrication and Molecular Assembly at Northwestern University, nanotechnology is already used in tests for tuberculosis and colon cancer (McGee, 2000). It has improved our ability to see chemical processes and microscopic structures in biological systems (Roco et al., 1999). Another potential application is in drug administration. Some drugs dissolve more easily if they are nanometersize (McGee, 2000). Although the potential of nanotechnology is substantial, a great deal of basic scientific research must be completed before clinical applications will be available.

• TECHNOLOGY'S EFFECT ON SITE OF SERVICE

Some laboratory testing has moved out of the laboratory and is closer to the patient. Point-of-care testing (POCT) provides rapid test results within minutes of taking the sample, and home testing affords the ultimate consumer convenience, testing from the comfort of one's home. Experts disagree about whether this trend is the beginning of a dramatic shift in site of service for laboratory testing (Maibach et al., 1998; Woo and Henry, 1994). Although trend data show that these markets are growing, concerns about costs, the potential for errors, difficulties in linking test results to other clinical processes and information systems, and coverage restrictions by third-party payers may limit the growth of these two expanding testing markets (Sainato, 1999).

BOX 3.2 Point-of-Care Testing

“In just a few years, primary care physicians may be able to get a complete-blood count (CBC) for a patient simply by shining a light in the patient's eye or sticking a probe under the patient's tongue. This technology provides immediate test results, minimizes patient discomfort, reduces the risk of needle stick injuries, is free from concerns about contamination, eliminates the need to dispose of left-over blood samples, and is likely to be much less costly than traditional laboratory blood tests.” SOURCE: (Uehling, 2000).

Point-of-Care Testing

New technologies not only have made POCT devices small and portable but also have improved specimen collection techniques so that they are minimally invasive. The relatively small size and user-friendly nature of this technology is due in large part to the advances in microprocessor-based analyzers and disposable test cartridges containing biosensor-laden silicon tests (Klipp, 2000). New laser-based skin perforators permit the collection of just a few microliters of interstitial fluid for testing glucose levels, and infrared sensors are being used to measure glucose and other analytes (e.g., bilirubin) directly through the skin (Felder et al., 1999). Multianalyte, spectroscopy-based, noninvasive sensors will provide a wide range of analytical tests at the bedside in the near future (Felder et al., 1999). Table 3.1 outlines certain POCT applications in 1999 and the estimated expenditures for each category.

Point-of-Care Test Expenditures, 1999.

Sales of POCT devices and tests to hospitals and physicians offices in the United States were roughly $1.1 billion in 1998, and nationwide. POCT expenditures are expected to grow at an average annual rate of 9 percent from 2000 to 2005 (Klipp, 2000). One industry expert suggests that 80 percent of laboratory testing will be available at the patient's bedside within the next five years at a fraction of the cost of centralized testing (Felder et al., 1999).

There is controversy over the cost-effectiveness of POCT versus centralized laboratory testing particularly since cost-effectiveness and patient outcomes data are lacking. Research from the early 1990s found that the cost per test using a POCT analyzer was significantly higher than central laboratory costs (Tsai et al., 1994). Others have found that not all types of POCT decrease the TAT of the entire diagnostic process, save sufficient amounts of money to justify the additional expense (Van Heyningen et al., 1999), or positively affect patient outcomes (Kendall et al., 1998; Parvin et al., 1996; Rose et al., 1997). These findings have led one expert to conclude that POCT will never become the primary mode of testing (Friedman, 1998). Others have found that under certain conditions, however, POCT can be provided at the same or lower cost than centralized services (Felder et al., 1999; Root, 1997). Since cost analysis methods have yet to be standardized and most research does not consider the total cost of an episode of care, it is difficult to compare findings that might help laboratory managers choose the most appropriate type of testing (Baer, 1998). It is also difficult to measure the convenience to patients and physicians of POCT. Some experts, however, expect the value of POCT to Medicare beneficiaries to be high, particularly in physicians' offices.

In some cases, there may be a trade-off between the convenience of POCT and quality. Steven Gutman, M.D., director of the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) division of clinical laboratory devices points out that POCT devices may not have to meet the same quality standards as laboratory-based testing (Uehling, 2000). Some devices, such as a video microscope used to visualize and count blood cells, may even be exempt from FDA review and subject to only minimal oversight under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) (Uehling, 2000). David Wilkinson, chairman of the Department of Pathology at the Medical College of Virginia, points out that some POCT systems have a high failure rate of disposable cartridges that house the analytical components, and there may be test result bias when compared to central laboratory methods (Wilkinson, 1997).

Home Testing

Home testing is another growing market made possible by technological advances in laboratory testing. Unlike POCT, home testing is decentralized and physicians may not receive the test results unless they are provided manually by patients or entered into shared Internet-based data-monitoring systems. This has not limited the growth of the home testing market. In 1999, the total amount spent on home testing was $2.1 billion. Table 3.2 shows the sectors of the home testing market in 1999. These home testing products are relatively inexpensive, over-the-counter diagnostic and monitoring kits and devices.

Home Testing Market by Sector, 1999.

The home test market is consumer driven. Home-based tests are purchased by consumers and are rarely covered by third-party payers. Nevertheless, the demand for these products continues to increase. The $1.7 billion market in 1997 is expected to increase 100 percent by 2004 (Klipp, 2000). Future technologies may enable patients to take a more active role in their own care, integrating home testing into their medical regime. Some experts foresee a time when patients will be able to view, interpret, and add important information to their medical records through Internet-linked, hand-held devices designed for home use. They will also be able to use diagnostic products purchased from a grocery store or pharmacy and automatically upload the results to their electronic medical records in the privacy of their homes (Felder et al., 1999). The home-based test market is unlikely to completely replace sophisticated hospital and independent laboratories, especially in light of the ever-growing number of complex tests.

• EFFECT ON CLINICAL LABORATORY STAFF REQUIREMENTS

Not surprisingly, the recent and ongoing changes in clinical laboratory technology have had an impact on laboratory staff needs. According to Kenneth Cruse, MT American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP), “Traditionally, nontechnical staff collected specimens from patients and gave the specimens to technicians to perform the tests” (Cruse, 1998). Nontechnical staff members still do many of the repetitive jobs, such as feeding specimen tubes onto highly automated instruments throughout the facility. 15 Technical staff members now conduct preventive maintenance on laboratory equipment, run quality control specimens, and correct identified problems. They also evaluate patient results that require a manual review (Cruse, 1998). Highly skilled laboratorians with clinical and analytical knowledge are still essential to perform and interpret many of the more sophisticated tests.

The growth in automation and robotics is decreasing the need for nontechnical staff in the laboratory (Wilkinson, 1997). Labor cost savings may be offset somewhat by a need for additional IT staff to monitor and maintain the automated systems (Sainato, 2000). Growth in point-of-care tests, which do not have to be performed by physicians, may mean that more allied health personnel will be needed in hospitals and physicians' offices.

In the future, growth in the number of esoteric tests may increase the demand for highly skilled staff. Some predict that the number of clinical laboratory technologists and technicians is not expected to keep pace with the demand for laboratory services over the next decade, especially in the areas of cytogenetics, tissue typing, genetic testing, and transplantation. Others predict that the same trends that have reduced the need for nontechnical staff will affect the need for skilled staff (Burtis, 1996; Maibach et al., 1998).

Perhaps the greatest savings in laboratory costs will come from technology that enables labor reduction (Felder et al., 1999). For example, the move to total laboratory automation could reduce labor costs by 25–50 percent (Jacobs and Simson, 1999). Reducing the need for labor could have profound effects on the cost of performing testing since labor constitutes approximately 60 percent of the total cost of laboratory services (Jacobs and Simson, 1999). Kenneth Cruse argues that other benefits of redistributing work among technical and nontechnical personnel include enhanced productivity, increased testing accuracy and precision, significant reduction of TATs, increased physician satisfaction levels, and the potential to reduce the length of stay for hospitalized patients (Cruse, 1998).

Clinical laboratories are in the midst of a technological revolution that is likely to continue during the twenty-first century. Many medical advances will be led by technological innovation in laboratory testing. New technology is positively associated with increased efficiency, reduction in errors, and improved quality in the delivery of health care services. Whether new technologies are implemented may depend on their impact on laboratory costs and, if they are more costly, on payers' willingness to pay for them.

While efforts to automate central laboratories are likely to continue, trends appear to indicate that much routine testing in the future could be delivered through POCT and home-based testing. Centralized laboratories are likely to concentrate more on esoteric testing. Automation and shifts in the sites where laboratory services are delivered will result in major shifts in laboratory staffing needs. Demand for skilled IT professionals, experts to monitor and service robotic equipment, and allied health professionals is likely to grow. Overall decreases in labor costs, however, will likely lead to decreases in the cost per test.

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The three stages of clinical laboratory testing, specifically within the laboratory, were defined in 1988 by Eleanor Travers and Charles Krochmal. Others categorize the computer entry of demographics, test request review, and specimen preparation, including specimen labeling and centrifugation, as a part of the analytic rather than the preanalytic phase of testing (Cruse, 1998). Still others would include steps that take place in the doctor's office prior to placing the order and following delivery of the test results within these phases.

While transport is still manual, the development of a global transportation system that facilitates rapid transport of people and goods has enabled independent laboratories to centralize their facilities and reduce costs through economies of scale (Burtis, 1996).

An aliquot is the small portion of a specimen taken for an assay or test.

Accession is the process of identifying a specimen and entering a unique specimen identifier into laboratory records.

An analyte is any substance that is measured. The term is usually applied to a component of blood or other body fluid.

When considering the task conducted by individuals who do not have technical skills, it is important to note that many states have licensure laws that preclude the conduct of certain testing procedures by nontechnical staff. In addition, Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 requirements, as they relate to moderate- and high-complexity tests, do not allow the use of nontechnical staff for certain testing procedures.

Japan is more focused on industrial robotics in general and chose to make the investment in laboratory robotics. Laboratories in the United States have been slower to adopt this technology because of its high cost and difficulty integrating it into existing laboratory architecture.

Reflex tests are tests that are reordered by a physician after an abnormal test result.

Add-on tests are tests ordered on the same sample after the initial tests have been conducted.

For Medicare payment policy, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) spells out specific guidelines for reflex and add-on testing.

In some states, providers, and patients may be prohibited from utilizing this type of Internet-based service. Most states have specific laws that address direct access to medical data within the context of a patient's rights to records. For example, by statute in Tennessee, a patient cannot access medical records directly. Other states' laws say that patients may access their medical records only with the written permission of the ordering physician or by legal request.

Reference work includes testing that is sent to an outside laboratory for completion. Many hospital-based, independent, and physician office laboratories do not have adequate equipment and personnel to conduct their own esoteric testing.

Some experts believe that current expectations for genetic testing are overblown (Holtzman and Marteau, 2000; Jones, 2000).

Clinical tests are those in which specimens are examined and results reported to the provider and/or patient for the purpose of diagnosis, prevention, or treatment in the care of individual patients. U.S. laboratories performing clinical tests must be Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) approved. Research tests are those in which specimens are examined for the purpose of understanding a condition better or developing a clinical test. Test results are generally not given to patients or their providers. Rarely, a research laboratory will, at the patient's request, share potentially useful findings with a clinical laboratory so the patient's test results can be confirmed and a formal report issued. Laboratories performing research testing are not subject to CLIA regulation. The cost of research testing is generally covered by the researcher. Requests for participation in research may be denied, at the laboratory's discretion, if the laboratory has sufficient samples or the subject does not fit the research project goals.

As noted in footnote 6, when considering the tasks conducted by individuals who do not have technical skills, it is important to note that many states have licensure laws that preclude the conduct of certain testing procedures by nontechnical staff. In addition, CLIA requirements, as they relate to moderate- and high-complexity tests, do not allow the use of nontechnical staff for certain testing procedures.

• Cite this Page Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Medicare Payment Methodology for Clinical Laboratory Services; Miller Wolman D, Kalfoglou AL, LeRoy L, editors. Medicare Laboratory Payment Policy: Now and in the Future. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2000. 3, Technology Trends in the Clinical Laboratory Industry.
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Optical fibers are used on Earth and in space for applications in medicine, defense, cybersecurity, and telecommunications. Parabolic research showed that optical fibers produced in microgravity can be higher quality than those made in normal gravity, and the International Space Station provides a potential platform for commercial production of these fibers. The Production of Flawless Space Fiber ( Flawless Space Fibers-1 ) investigation is using the space station to demonstrate new manufacturing technology developed by Flawless Photonics to improve the quality and length of optical fiber produced in space.

Preliminary results have been promising. From mid-February to mid-March, the investigation manufactured a total of more than seven miles (11.9 km) of optical fiber. Eight of the runs (called draws) produced more than 2,200 feet (700 meters) of fiber, demonstrating that the results are repeatable. The investigation also drew more than 3,700 feet (1141 meters) in one day, surpassing the prior record of 82 feet (25 meters) for the longest fiber manufactured in space. Seven of the draws exceeded 2,296 feet (700 meters), demonstrating for the first time that commercial lengths of fiber can be produced in space. The space-drawn fibers are set to return to Earth soon for analysis of their quality.

These fibers are made using ZBLAN, a glass alloy made of zirconium, barium, lanthanum, sodium, and aluminum fluorides, each with different densities and crystallization temperatures. Its unique properties allow light to travel through a fiber over a broader range, providing more than ten times the capacity of traditional silica-based fibers and transmitting considerably more data over the same length of fiber. If fibers can be made long enough and of high enough quality, the increased efficiency of ZBLAN could translate into significant energy savings by reducing the need to boost the signal on long-distance transmissions.

However, when ZBLAN is drawn into fibers on the ground, crystals form that scatter signals and make the fiber brittle. Because crystals grow more slowly in microgravity, the approach is to cool drawn fibers before crystals have a chance to form. Microgravity also counters effects of sedimentation, convection, and buoyancy that limit the length and quality of fibers drawn on Earth. Manufacturers use drop towers to manufacture ZBLAN on Earth, but in-space manufacturing provides much more time to draw longer and eventually better fibers.

The Flawless Space Fibers investigation is sponsored by the ISS National Laboratory and involves support from the  Luxembourg Space Agency, University of Adelaide in Australia, and NASA’s InSpace Production Applications (InSPA). InSPA advances sustainable, scalable, and profitable in-space manufacturing in low Earth orbit, working with the ISS National Lab to provide companies with access to the space station for demonstrating production of advanced materials and products for terrestrial applications. Flawless Space Fibers has achieved three of four goals for ZBLAN set by InSPA, including achieving 20 meters on a single run, repeating that amount on a separate draw, and scaling up to runs of commercial length. The analysis of fibers after return to ground is needed to determine whether the investigation meets InSPA’s fourth goal, producing fiber of ten times greater quality than on Earth.

Results may help reduce gravity-induced defects in optical glass products developed on Earth and advance in-space manufacturing models. The investigation also opens the door to creating other valuable specialty fibers in space.

NASA conducted early work processing ZBLAN in microgravity through Marshall Space Flight Center in the 1990s and early 2000s. Development of ZBLAN manufacturing on the space station began in 2014.

Other investigations that examined manufacturing ZBLAN optic fibers in microgravity include Optical Fiber Production in Microgravity ( Made In Space Fiber Optics ), which conducted the first privately funded ZBLAN fiber draw, Fiber Optic Production , and Fiber Optic Production-2 ( FOP-2 ), which first demonstrated repeated production of 20-meter lengths of fiber in microgravity. Another investigation, Fiber Optics Manufacturing in Space ( Space Fibers ), developed by FOMS Inc, first demonstrated a fully operational space facility for fiber manufacturing. 1

These efforts support commercial development of space and low Earth orbit and offer opportunities for development of next-generation technologies in space for applications on Earth.

John Love, ISS Research Planning Integration Scientist Expedition 70

Search this database of scientific experiments to learn more about those mentioned above.

1 Starodubov D, McCormick K, Dellosa M, Erdelyi E, Volfson L. Facility for orbital material processing. Sensors and Systems for Space Applications XI, Orlando, Florida. 2018 May 2; 10641106410T. DOI:  10.1117/12.2305830.

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• ACS Publications

Hot Topics in Chemistry at ACS Spring 2024: Part 1

• Mar 18, 2024

From edible bugs to exercise in pill form, we bring you a roundup of hot topics and breakthrough chemistry research presented at ACS Spring 2024.

The spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), held virtually and in person March 17-21, 2024, features more than 12,000 presentations on a diverse range of science topics. Read on to discover some of the hot topics and research highlights* presented at the meeting—and check back throughout the week for more updates!

1. Seasonal Secrets Unveiled: How Wild Animals' Hair Changes to Beat the Cold

Learn how wild animals have evolved to survive extreme temperatures in the groundbreaking research led by Taylor Millett at Utah Tech University. This study explores the fascinating world of animal hair, revealing for the first time that the inner structure of animals' coats undergoes significant changes with the seasons. Unlike common beliefs that only the color of the hair changes, Millett's research shows microscopic alterations within the hair that are crucial for survival in different weather conditions.

Millett and her colleagues explored the complex hair structures of wild, big-game animals including the pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and Rocky Mountain elk. Using advanced scanning electron microscopy, they discovered the unique 'honeycomb' structure within the hairs, which changes in density and size between seasons to provide essential insulation. Their findings not only shed light on nature's ingenious ways of protecting these animals but also suggest possibilities for other applications, such as synthetic insulation for homes and consumer products.

2. Bugging Out: The Surprisingly Tasty World of Edible Ants

When it comes to keeping with ACS Spring 2024's theme of " Many Flavors of Chemistry ," Changqi Liu and his colleagues understood the assignment. Their latest research uncovers the diverse and rich flavor profiles of edible ants , diving deep into the unique aroma profiles of four distinct ant species. From the acidic and vinegary taste of common black ants to the nutty and woody nuances of chicatana ants, their findings reveal that each species brings its own unique set of tastes and smells to the table, advancing our understanding of these insects' culinary potential.

The study also touches on the potential for incorporating these flavors into new food products, particularly as the world seeks more sustainable and eco-friendly protein alternatives.

Watch the Headline Science video surrounding this research, created by the ACS Science Communications team:

Explore More Bug Science on ACS Axial

Worm Slime: The Key to More Eco-Friendly Plastics? The Secret of Spinning A Bug’s Eye View of Road Safety

3. A Chemist's Guide to Brewing Perfect Kombucha

A team of chemists at Shippensburg University are revolutionizing kombucha brewing , tackling the challenges of inconsistent alcohol levels and flavor profiles in the fermented beverage. Their research reports on innovative ways to control alcohol content, enhance taste, and speed up fermentation, offering new insights for both home and commercial kombucha producers.

First, the team analyzed the fermentation process in different containers, where silicone bags showed superior performance over glass jars in both fermentation speed and increased acid production. They also looked into how different sugars affect kombucha's taste and alcohol content. Using glucose as a starter resulted in higher gluconic acid and lower ethanol levels, while fructose led to sweeter brews with more acetic acid and ethanol. These findings are crucial for brewers aiming to tailor their kombucha to specific flavor profiles and alcohol content.

This is not the team's first foray into the art and science of kombucha brewing. In 2023, they published a study in the Journal of Chemical Education exploring the use of a cost-effective sensor to accurately measure alcohol concentrations in kombucha across a variety of undergraduate chem lab courses. Read the article here .

Watch the Headline Science short surrounding this research, created by the ACS Science Communications team:

Read More Booze & Beverage Chemistry on Axial:

What Gives Red Bordeaux Wine a “Meaty” Aroma? Beyond the Bean: The Science Behind Lab-Grown Coffee Staying Fresh: The Chemistry of Beer Packaging Like a Fine (Sparkling) Wine: How to Age Champagne Without Losing the Bubbles

4. A New Decking Material That Fights Global Warming

In a major stride towards environmentally sustainable construction, David Heldebrant and his team have developed a new composite decking material that is both cheaper than standard options and carbon-negative. It's designed to store more carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) than its manufacturing process emits, providing a viable solution to one of the construction sector's most significant challenges: high carbon emissions.

The new material incorporates low-quality brown coal and lignin as fillers, which are then treated with CO 2 . Not only does this composite meet international building codes for decking materials in terms of strength and durability, but it also offers a significant cost advantage, being 18% cheaper than its conventional counterparts.

This type of composite decking could play a pivotal role in reducing the carbon footprint of the building industry: replacing all U.S. decking with this material could sequester the CO 2 equivalent of the annual emissions from 54,000 cars. As the team works towards commercialization, this carbon-negative decking presents a hopeful glimpse into a more sustainable solution for the construction industry.

Read more of David Hildebrant's research on CO 2 capture published in ACS journals:

Water-Lean Solvents for Post-Combustion CO 2 Capture: Fundamentals, Uncertainties, Opportunities, and Outlook David J. Heldebrant*Orcid, Phillip K. KoechOrcid, Vassiliki-Alexandra GlezakouOrcid, Roger RousseauOrcid, Deepika Malhotra, and David C. Cantu DOI : 10.1021/acs.chemrev.6b00768

In Situ Raman Methodology for Online Analysis of CO 2 and H 2 O Loadings in a Water-Lean Solvent for CO 2 Capture Amanda M. Lines, Dushyant Barpaga*, Richard F. Zheng, James R. Collett, David J. Heldebrant, and Samuel A. Bryan* DOI : 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c02281

Directed Hydrogen Bond Placement: Low Viscosity Amine Solvents for CO2 Capture Deepika Malhotra, David C. Cantu, Phillip K. Koech*, David J. Heldebrant, Abhijeet Karkamkar, Feng Zheng, Mark D. Bearden, Roger Rousseau, and Vassiliki-Alexandra Glezakou* DOI : 10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b05481

5. A Pill to Replace the Gym?

While this may seem too good to be true, researchers have recently identified new compounds that can mimic the physical benefits of exercise—a significant advancement particularly for those unable to engage in regular physical activity.

The team, led by Bahaa Elgendy at Washington University School of Medicine, initially developed SLU-PP-332 , a compound that activates estrogen-related receptors (ERRs), which are crucial in muscle adaptation to exercise. While SLU-PP-332 was a pioneering discovery, it had its limitations—particularly in its inability to cross into the brain.

To improve upon SLU-PP-332, the team engineered new molecules that not only demonstrated a stronger activation of the ERRs but also exhibited attributes like enhanced stability and lower toxicity potential. Their effectiveness was measured through an increase in RNA presence in rat heart muscle cells, suggesting a more robust simulation of exercise effects compared to SLU-PP-332.

A crucial advancement with the new compounds is their ability to penetrate the brain, opening possibilities for treating neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Elgendy and his team hope to further test these compounds in animal models, potentially leading to new treatments for various medical conditions where exercise-mimicking drugs could be beneficial.

Read more of Bahaa Elgendy's research published in ACS journals:

Synthetic ERRα/β/γ Agonist Induces an ERRα-Dependent Acute Aerobic Exercise Response and Enhances Exercise Capacity Cyrielle Billon, Sadichha Sitaula, Subhashis Banerjee, Ryan Welch, Bahaa Elgendy, Lamees Hegazy, Tae Gyu Oh, Melissa Kazantzis, Arindam Chatterjee, John Chrivia, Matthew E. Hayes, Weiyi Xu, Angelica Hamilton, Janice M. Huss, Lilei Zhang, John K. Walker, Michael Downes, Ronald M. Evans, and Thomas P. Burris* DOI : 10.1021/acschembio.2c00720

Synthesis of 3-Aminoquinazolinones via a SnCl 2 -Mediated ANRORC-like Reductive Rearrangement of 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles Mohamed Elagawany, Lingaiah Maram, and Bahaa Elgendy* DOI : 10.1021/acs.joc.3c01973

Recent Advances in the Medicinal Chemistry of Farnesoid X Receptor Yuanying Fang, Lamees Hegazy, Brian N. Finck, and Bahaa Elgendy* DOI : 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01017

6. Revolutionizing Cancer Research with Artificial Mucus

Led by Jessica Kramer at the University of Utah, this study marks a significant advancement in understanding the role of mucus in tumor formation. By synthesizing mucins, the sugar-coated proteins that mucus primarily consists of, the team discovered that altering the mucins in healthy cells to resemble those in cancer cells can induce cancer-like behaviors in these cells.

Kramer's approach, involving synthetic chemistry and bacterial enzymes, allows for the precise alteration of mucins and reveals how specific changes in their sugar or protein sequences can impact cellular behavior. This methodology led to the observation that healthy epithelial cells with modified, cancer-like mucins cease normal cell extrusion and begin to pile up, a process resembling early tumor formation. While it's still unclear if these cells transform into cancer cells, the findings open new avenues for developing cancer treatments targeting mucins, particularly the sugar groups on these molecules. Beyond cancer, this research could lead to the development of anti-infectives, probiotics, and other health-supporting therapies.

*Press Release content and videos in this post are brought to you by the ACS Science Communications team. Learn more below.

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Science Laboratory Technology Project Topics & Materials PDF Download

Science laboratory technology project topics and materials PDF download with seminar work for final year undergraduates and postgraduates students in 22023.

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Free Science Laboratory Technology Project Topics & Materials for Final year Students

In our research archive, we have lots of free science laboratory technology project topics, and premium research papers in laboratory science, medical laboratory science e.t.c. And also, related research seminar topics and journals for final year students in the SLT department.

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List of Free Science Laboratory Technology Project Topics and Research Materials

• Ammeliorative Properties Of Methanol Leaf Extract Of Mucuna Pruriens On The Kidney Markers Of Malaria Infected Mice
• Biocontrol Potential Of Bacillus Thuringiensis Isolaled From Soil Samples Against Larva Of Mosquito
• Comparative Assessment Of Lubricant Produce From Palm Kernel Oil And Tonimas Lubricating Oil
• Comparative Determination Of Protein Contents Of Breadfruit, Brown Beans And Soybeans
• Construction Of 12 Volts Battery Charger
• Construction Of A Simple Dynamo
• Design And Construction Of An Eletronic Digital Display System (Moving Message Display)
• Determination Of The Level Of Ethanol In Alcoholic Beverages Produced In Nigeria As An Indication For Safety Standard
• Determination Of The Presence And Concentration Of Some Phytochemicals In Avocado Pear (Persea Americana Mill) Seed
• Ethanol Production From Yam (Discorea Spp) Peels
• Examine The Presence And Concentration Of Some Phytochemicals In Avocado Pear (Persea Americana Mill) Seed
• Impact Of Laboratory Practical On Senior Secondary School Student Academic Achievement In Ss2 Biology, Chemistry And Mathematics
• Incidence Of Urinary Schistosomiasis And The Contributory Risk Factors Among School Children In Agulu.
• Production Of Mosquito Repellent Using Orange Peels
• Effects Of Cassava Effluent On Soil Micro Organisms
• Analysis Of Some Mineral Contents Of Coconut Water
• Determination Of Some Trace Elements In Raw Periwinkle Tympanotonus Fuscatus
• Estimation Of The Level Of Some Heavy Metals In Soil Collected From An Agricultural Farm
• Microbiological Analysis Of Dry Cassava Peel Used In The Preparation Of Pig Feeds
• Bacteriological Examination Of Fried Snail
• Determination Of Some Macroelement Composition In Phyllanthus Amarus Leaves
• The Economic Importance Of Fermentation
• Estimation Of Mineral Contents Of Mango Fruits
• Macro Elemental Composition Of Uvaria Chamae Leaves
• Hazardous Chemical Sources And Effect On The Environment
• Determination Of Heavy Metal In Fresh Water Fish
• Determination, Organic Matter, Total Nitrogen And Elemental Content Of Cow Dung
• Bioacumulation Of Heavy Metals In Fresh Water Clan (Egeria Radiata)
• Determination Of Minor Mineral Elements In Telfairia Occidentalis Seeds
• Estimation Of Viscosity Values Of Different Samples Of Oil, Using A U-Tube Glass Viscometer
• Microbial Air Quality Of Toilet Environment
• Automated Data Analysis Of Laboratory Tests Results And It’S Scientific Importance
• A Study On The Effect Of Processing Methods On The Toxicological Component Of Ukpo Mucuna Sloanei)
• An Assessment Of The Causes And Health Implications Of Flood Disaster On Health And Development
• An Investigation Into The In-Vitro Antimicrobial Activity Of Udara Leaf
• Antibacterial And Phytochemical Properties Of Phyllanthus Niruri On Selected Bacteria
• Antimirobial Investigation Of Cymbopogon Citrate (Lemon Grass)
• Assessment Of Some Haemotological Parameter On Malaria Patient
• Biological Water Quality
• Effect Of Temperature On The Growth Of Yeast
• Epidemiology Of Mucormycosis
• Incidence Of Candida Albicans Amongst Pregnant And Non-Pregnant Women
• Microbial Analysis Of Expired Canned Food Product (Liquid Canned Milk)
• Studies On The Inhibitory Effect On Tyrosine On Polyphenol Oxidase In Water Yam
• The Comparative Effect Of Myristica Fragans (Nutmeg) And Aframomum Melegueta (Alligator Pepper) On Demestes Maculatus Degeer
• The Importance Of Local Spices And Herbs To The Human Health
• Studies On The Effect Of Garlic And Honey On Some Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
• Production And Evaluation Of Activated Carbon From Groundnut Shell For Economic And Environmental Sustainability
• Production Of Custard From Corn Starch
• Bacterial Contaminants Associated With Commercial Poultry Feed
• Bacteriological Examination Of Palm Wine
• Collection, Identification, And Preservation Of Medical Plants
• Preparation Of Different Types Of Culture Media
• Production Of Hair Gel
• The Determination Of The Activities And Specificity Of Enzymes In Fermentation Of Starch – From Maize
• Bacteriological Assessment Of Some Commercially Repared Yoghurt
• Bacteriological Examination Of Sachet And Bottled Water
• The Effects Of Methanol Extract Of Dennettia Tripetala (Mmimi) On The Liver Marker Enzymes (Ast, Alt And Alp) Of Albino Rats
• The Effect Of Garcinia Kola Extract (Bitter Kola) On High Blood Glucose (Diabetes Mellitus) And Serum Cholesterol Level In Alloxan Induced Diabetic Albino Rat
• Production Of Dettol
• Production Of Activated Carbon From Walnut Shells And Groundnut Shells
• Phytochemical Analysis Of Some Nigeria Medicinal Plants
• Phytochemcial Screening Of Citrus Peel
• Extraction And Characterization Of Oil From Soybeans
• Effect Of Organic Waste On Water Biological Properties
• Evaluation Of Minerals And Vitamins Compostion Officus Capensis Leaf (Okpuno Leaf)
• Ecology Of Soil Biodata And Its Roles In Biodegradation
• Detrimental Effect Of Petroleum Oil From Mechanic Workshops On Crops
• Determination Of Additives Present In Baked Foods
• Construction Of Solar Charger Controller In Science Laboratory Technology Department
• Construction Of Fish Pond: Growth Analysis Of Clarias Specie In A Fresh Concrete Pond
• Construction Of A Fish Ponds And Longitudinal Study Of Bacteriological Analysis Of A Concrete Pond During Dry Season
• Comparative Estimation Of Ascorbic Acid Content In Citrus Sinensis (Orange) Ananas Cosmosus (Pineapple)
• Preparation Of Buffer Solution: Tris Buffer Solution
• Prevalence Study Of Hepatitis B
• Production Of Activated Carbon For Palm Oil Bleaching
• Recalibration Of 250ml Volumeter Flask
• Comparative Estimation Of Ascorbic Acid Content In Some Ngeria Fruits Viz (Orange) Citrus Sinesis, (Pineapple) Ananas Cosmosus
• Evaluation Of Microbiological Quality Of Water Using The Membrane Filter Technique
• Extraction And Analysis Of Alkaloid In Azadirachta Indica Leaf
• Microbial Examination Of Vegetable Soup
• The Production And Analysis Of Pesticide- Insecticide
• Antimicrobial Examination Of Moringa Olifera Seeds And Leaves
• Comparative Analysis Of Tap Water
• Biological Fauna Flora Of A Concrete Pond Freshly Filled With Water In Imt Botanical Garden
• Comparative Analysis Of The Bactericidal Effect Of Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) And Garlic (Allium Sativum) On Gastro Enteric Bacteria
• Construction Of Solar Panels Circuit In Science Laboratory Technology
• Construction Of Meter Bridge In Our Laboratory
• Determination Of The Cyanide Content Of Cassava Tuber
• Extraction And Characterization Of Orange Seed And Paw-Paw Seed Oil
• Extraction Of Neem Seed Oil
• Refurbishment And Maintenance Of Aquarium
• A Study On The Use Of Vegetable Oils To Protect Maize From Sitophilus Zeamays (Weevil)
• An Investigation Of Some Biochemical Parameters Among Diabetic Adult
• Ascorbic Acid Content Of Orange And Vegetable (Pumpkin) Under Different Storage Condition
• Bacterial Contaminants Associated With Commercial Poultry Feed From Three Different Companies
• Comparative Study On The Antimicrobial Properties Of Chilli Pepper (Capsicum Annuum) On Staphylococcus Aureus And Escherichia Coli
• Design And Construction Of An Induction Coil
• Extraction And Analysis Of Oil From Monodora Myristica (Ehuru Seed)
• Determination Of Sugar Content, Alcoholic Content, Vitamin A Content On Soft Drink Such As Amstel Mal, Guinness Malt And Maltina And Its Effect In Human Consumption
• Extraction And Characterization Of Fatty Acid From Palm Oil
• Hatchability Of Eggs Of Dutch Clarias Gariepinus In Borehole Water
• Isolation And Characterization Of Fungi Associated With Burukutu Production
• Isolation And Identification Of Bacteria Associated With (Tooth Ache) Dental Caries And Bleeding Gum And The Effect Of Some Tooth Pastes
• Isolation And Identification Of Bacteria Associated With Blood Infection
• Isolation And Identification Of Moulds On Baked Food (Bread And Cake)
• Isolation Of Pathogenic Microorganisms
• Microbial Evaluation Of Raw Milk From A Dairy Farm
• Microbiological Examination Of Well Water Source
• Phytochemical Analysis Of Anthocleista Djalonensis (Uteagu)
• Nutritional Analysis Of Banana Musa Spp
• Phytochemical Analysis Of Musanga Cecroproides
• Production And Formulation Of Liquid Cells (I.E Batteries) Using H2so4
• Production Of Alkyd Resin From The Oil Of Monodora Myristica (Ehuru Oil)
• Proximate Analysis Of Cashew Nut
• Refurbishing And Maintenance Of Water Bath For Use In The Laboratory
• Sugar Content Analysis Per 10ml Of Liquid Fayrouz, Coca Cola, Guinness Malt, Amstel Malt, And Pepsi Drink
• The Incidence Of Hiv In Blood Donors
• Construction Of A Solar Dryer Using Convex Lens
• Comparative Determination Of The Protein Contents Of Breadfruit, Brown Beans And Soyabeans Seminar
• The Isolation And Identification Of Nematode Affecting Tomatoes
• The Prevalence Of Cysticercosis
• Bacteria Contaminants Associated With Poultry Feeds From Three Different Companies
• Asymptomatic Bacteriuria Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic
• The Construction Of A Solar Dryer Using Convex Lens
• Optical Fibres In Telecommunication
• Extraction And Formulation Of Perfume From Lemon Grass Leaves
• Using Sound To Measure Temperature
• Physiochemical Analysis Of Stream Water And Bottle Water
• Chemical And Antioxidant Properties Of Black Pear And Pepper Fruit
• Challenges In Small Scale Entrepreneurship Development In The Hospitality Industry
• Inhibitory Effects Of Extract Black Pear, Soap Sop, Monkey Seed During Lipid Oxidation
• Factors Influencing The Incidence Of Glaucoma Among Adult Patients In General Hospitals
• An Epidemology Survey For Sctristosomiasis Among Pupils In Amagunze Community
• Bacheriological Examination
• Comparative Analysis Of Microbial Load Of The Main Water Production And Water Availability
• Gastroenteritis In Primary School Children
• Bionomics And Menace Of Cockroach As A Pest In The Wardrobes And Bookshelves
• The Prevalence Of Streptococcus Pneumoniae In Pneumonia Patients
• The Production Of Laundry Starch From Cassava Tubers
• Design And Construction Of Automatic Polythene Sealing And Cutting Machine
• Malaria Parasite And It’S Effect To Human Health
• The Herbarium Technique
• Formulation Of Artist Paint
• Incidence Of Bacteria In Female Students
• Analysis Of Waste Water For Pathogenic Bacteria
• Construction Of A Uhf Antenna (Yagi)
• Production Of Wine From Ripe Pawpaw Fruit Carica Papaya
• Design And Construction Of A Metre Bridge
• Determination Of Microbiological Safety
• Preparation Of Soap Using Local Raw Materials
• Evaluation Of Current Techniques In Diagnoses Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv)
• Phytochemical Analysis Of Fluted Pumpkin Leave (Telifairia Occidentalis)
• Prevalence Study Of Hepatitis B (Australian Antigen) Among Patient
• The Evaluation Of Microorganisms On Garri
• An Investigation Into The Spoilage Of Some Selected Fruits Of Eastern Nigerian (Paw Paw, Banana, Orange)
• Detergent Effluent Bioconcentration On Docosahexanoic Acid (Dha) Of Mackerel Fish
• Determination Of Hardness Of Well Water Supply
• Environmental Impacts Of Automobile Waste Dump On Soil
• Hypolipidemic Effect Of Tigernut (Cyperus Esculentus) On Albino Rats
• Production Of Wine From Banana And Sweet Orange
• Preparation Of Cleansing Cream
• Examination Of Incidence Of Malaria Wefestation Caused By Differnet Species Of Plasmodium
• Stool Analysis For Parasitic Worms (Enteric Worm)
• Analysis Of A Soap Product (Lux)
• Antimicrobial Activities Of Garlic And Ginger Extracts
• Quality Control Analysis Of Some Commercial Detergent Sold
• Antibacterial Activity Of Sweet Orange Citrus Sinensis On Staphylococcus Aureus And Escherichia Coli Isolated From Wound Infected
• Obesity: The Health Impacts And Relationship With Reproduction
• The Effect Of Petroleum By-Products (Fuel And Kerosene) On The Haemoglobin Of African Cat Fish (Clarias Gariepinus)
• Microbiological Examination Of Underground Water Source (Well-Water) At Campus
• Analysis Of Various Microbial Staining Techniques
• The Effect Of Pesticides Dichlorodiphenyl Trichloroeyhane (D.D.Y) And Benzene Hexachroride (Bhc) On The Microflora Of The Three Types Of Soil
• Comparative Analysis Of Mineral Concentration Of Surface Water And Underground Water In Imt Biological Garden And Possible Application And Use In Creating Concrete Pond Habitat
• Construction Of Rlc (Resistor, Inductor And Capacitor) In Oscillatory Circuit In Parrel And In Series
• Growing Of Commercial Sycamore Occidentalis) In Slt Center For Agriculture And Bioscience Research
• Design And Construction Of A Sonometer
• The Production Of Industrial Paint (Emulsion Paint)
• Effect Of Potash On Microbial Activity On Cooked Brown Beans
• Isolatioin And Characterisation Of Bacteria Associated With Hawked Suya- Meat
• Determination Of Chlorine Content In Water From Ajalli Source
• Investigate The Microbial Content Of Some Bolted Soft Drinks
• Efficacy Of The Extract Of Chewing Stick On The Agents Of Dental Carries Isolate
• Incidence Of Salmonella And Escherchia Coli In Livestock (Poultry) Feeds
• Incidence Of Urinary Schistosomiasis And The Contributory Risk Factors Among School Children
• Relationship Between Fake Drugs And People’S Perception Of Health Care Delivery System In Onitsha Urban
• Evaluating Bacterial Varginosis Using The Nugent Scoring System
• Phytochemical Screening Of Eremomastax Speciosa
• Microbial Examination Of Spoilt Persia Americana
• Isolation Amd Identification Of Microbes Associated With Spoilage Canned Food Solanum Lycopersicum
• Fasting Blood Sugar Analysis And Blood Sugar Regulation
• Isolation And Identification Of Rhizopus From Decaying Bread
• Isolation And Characterisation Of Bacteria Associated With Hawked Suya-Meat
• Isolation And Characterization Of Microorganisms From Stored Pap (OGI)
• Stool Analysis For Parasitic Worms (Enteric Worm) Among Primary School Pupils
• Isolation And Identification Of Bacteria Associated With Wound Sepsis
• The Incidence Of Candidiasis Among Single And Married Women Of Different Age Group
• Comparative Analysis Of Antimicrobial Strength Of Three Most Common Antibiotics
• Incedence Of Bacteria In Female Students
• Analysis Of Soap Product (Lux)
• Preparation Of Local Soap With Woodish Derived From The Calyx And The Corolla Of Palm Flower (Ejeasis Guineensis)
• Incidence Of Salmonella And Escherichia Coli In Livestock (Poultry) Feeds
• The Evaluation Of Microorganisms On Garri At Ogbete Market
• Microbial Examination Of Spoilt Avocado Fruit
• An Epidemology Survey For Sctristososomiasis Among Pupils
• Antibacterial Activity Of Sweet Orange (Citrus Sinensis) On Staphylococcus Aureus And Escherichia Coli Coli Isolate From Wound Infections
• Production Of Bleach Solution And Comparative Study Of Commercially Produced Bleach Solution
• Production And Chemical Quality Assessment Of Aspirin
• Extraction Of Oil From African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum Africanum) Seed Using Solvent Extraction
• Bacterial Contaminants Associated Wit Commercial Poultry Feed From Three Different Companies
• Comparative Study Of Micro-Organism Associated With The Spoilage Of Banana
• Comparative Analysis Of Microbial Load Of The Enugu Main Water Production And Water Available To Imt Campus 2 Hostel
• The Antibacterial Activity Of Three Types Of Medicated Soaps On Starhyrococcus Aureus Form Would Infections
• The Nutritional Composition Of Plant Milk (Soya Bean)
• Nutritional And Economic Importance Of Calotrpis Procera Bombom (Giant Milk Weed)
• Construction Of Low Power Indicator
• The Influence Of Laboratory Method On Students Academic Achievement In Basic Science And Technology And Science In General
• The Effect Of An Antihypertensive Drug – Nifedipine On Some Biochemical Parameters In Rats
• Production Of Facial Powder Using Corncob
• Heavy Metal Contamination Of Well Water
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• Comparative Estimation Of Ascorbic Acid Content In Some Ngeria Fruits Viz: (Orange) Citrus Sinesis,(Pineapple) Ananas Cosmosus
• Determination Of Cyanide From Cassava Tuber (Havested Same Day And Two Days Later)
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• Effects Of Packaging Material And Storage On Microbial Load Of Cocoyam Flour (Soup Thickener)
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• Isolation And Screening Micro Organisms Capable Of Degrading Raw Starch
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• Science Equipment Development
• Studies On Antimicrobial Activities Of Eupatorium Odoratum Extacts On Pseudomonas Specie Isolated From Wound Infection From Bishop Shanahan Hospital
• The Antibacterial Activity On Three Types Of Medicated Soaps (Detol, Isol, Tura) Onstaphylococcus Aureus From Wound Infection
• The Effect Of Petroleum Oil Spill On The Sulphate, Nitrate And Nitrite Level Of The Soil

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Unlocking the quantum future

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Quantum computing is the next frontier for faster and more powerful computing technologies. It has the potential to better optimize routes for shipping and delivery, speed up battery development for electric vehicles, and more accurately predict trends in financial markets. But to unlock the quantum future, scientists and engineers need to solve outstanding technical challenges while continuing to explore new applications.

One place where they’re working towards this future is the MIT Interdisciplinary Quantum Hackathon , or iQuHACK for short (pronounced “i-quack,” like a duck). Each year, a community of quhackers (quantum hackers) gathers at iQuHACK to work on quantum computing projects using real quantum computers and simulators. This year, the hackathon was held both in-person at MIT and online over three days in February.

Quhackers worked in teams to advance the capability of quantum computers and to investigate promising applications. Collectively, they tackled a wide range of projects, such as running a quantum-powered dating service, building an organ donor matching app, and breaking into quantum vaults. While working, quhackers could consult with scientists and engineers in attendance from sponsoring companies. Many sponsors also received feedback and ideas from quhackers to help improve their quantum platforms.

But organizing iQuHACK 2024 was no easy feat. Co-chairs Alessandro Buzzi and Daniela Zaidenberg led a committee of nine members to hold the largest iQuHACK yet. “It wouldn’t have been possible without them,” Buzzi said. The hackathon hosted 260 in-person quhackers and 1,000 remote quhackers, representing 77 countries in total. More than 20 scientists and engineers from sponsoring companies also attended in person as mentors for quhackers.

Each team of quhackers tackled one of 10 challenges posed by the hackathon’s eight major sponsoring companies. Some challenges asked quhackers to improve computing performance, such as by making quantum algorithms faster and more accurate. Other challenges asked quhackers to explore applying quantum computing to other fields, such as finance and machine learning. The sponsors worked with the iQuHACK committee to craft creative challenges with industry relevance and societal impact. “We wanted people to be able to address an interesting challenge [that has] applications in the real world,” says Zaidenberg.

One team of quhackers looked for potential quantum applications and found one close to home: dating. A team member, Liam Kronman, had previously built dating apps but disliked that matching algorithms for normal classical computers “require [an overly] strict setup.” With these classical algorithms, people must be split into two groups — for example, men and women — and matches can only be made between these groups. But with quantum computers, matching algorithms are more flexible and can consider all possible combinations, enabling the inclusion of multiple genders and gender preferences. 

Kronman and his team members leveraged these quantum algorithms to build a quantum-powered dating platform called MITqute (pronounced “meet cute”). To date, the platform has matched at least 240 people from the iQuHACK and MIT undergrad communities. In a follow-up survey, 13 out of 41 respondents reported having talked with their match, with at least two pairs setting up dates. “I really lucked out with this one,” one respondent wrote. 

Another team of quhackers also based their project on quantum matching algorithms but instead leveraged the algorithms’ power for medical care. The team built a mobile app that matches organ donors to patients, earning them the hackathon’s top social impact award. 

But they almost didn’t go through with their project. “At one point, we were considering scrapping the whole thing because we thought we couldn’t implement the algorithm,” says Alma Alex, one of the developers. After talking with their hackathon mentor for advice, though, the team learned that another group was working on a similar type of project — incidentally, the MITqute team. Knowing that others were tackling the same problem inspired them to persevere.

A sense of community also helped to motivate other quhackers. For one of the challenges , quhackers were tasked with hacking into 13 virtual quantum vaults. Teams could see each other’s progress on each vault in real time on a leaderboard, and this knowledge informed their strategies. When the first vault was successfully hacked by a team, progress from many other teams spiked on that vault and slowed down on others, says Daiwei Zhu, a quantum applications scientist at IonQ and one of the challenge’s two architects.

The vault challenge may appear to be just a fun series of puzzles, but the solutions can be used in quantum computers to improve their efficiency and accuracy. To hack into a vault, quhackers had to first figure out its secret key — an unknown quantum state — using a maximum of 20 probing tests. Then, they had to change the key’s state to a target state. These types of characterizations and modifications of quantum states are “fundamental” for quantum computers to work, says Jason Iaconis, a quantum applications engineer at IonQ and the challenge’s other architect. 

But the best way to characterize and modify states is not yet clear. “Some of the [vaults] we [didn’t] even know how to solve ourselves,” Zhu says. At the end of the hackathon, six vaults had at least one team mostly hack into them. (In the quantum world where gray areas exist, it’s possible to partly hack into a vault.)

The community of scientists and engineers formed at iQuHACK persists beyond the weekend, and many members continue to grow the community outside the hackathon. Inspired quhackers have gone on to start their own quantum computing clubs at their universities. A few years ago, a group of undergraduate quhackers from different universities formed a Quantum Coalition that now hosts their own quantum hackathons. “It’s crazy to see how the hackathon itself spreads and how many people start their own initiatives,” co-chair Zaidenberg says. 

The three-day hackathon opened with a keynote from MIT Professor Will Oliver, which included an overview of basic quantum computing concepts, current challenges, and computing technologies. Following that were industry talks and a panel of six industry and academic quantum experts, including MIT Professor Peter Shor, who is known for developing one of the most famous quantum algorithms. The panelists discussed current challenges, future applications, the importance of collaboration, and the need for ample testing.

Later, sponsors held technical workshops where quhackers could learn the nitty-gritty details of programming on specific quantum platforms. Day one closed out with a talk by research scientist Xinghui Yin on the role of quantum technology at LIGO, the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory that first detected gravitational waves. The next day, the hackathon’s challenges were announced at 10 a.m., and hacking kicked off at the MIT InnovationHQ. In the afternoon, attendees could also tour MIT quantum computing labs.

Hacking continued overnight at the MIT Museum and ended back at MIT iHQ at 10 a.m. on the final day. Quhackers then presented their projects to panels of judges. Afterward, industry speakers gave lightning talks about each of their company’s latest quantum technologies and future directions. The hackathon ended with a closing ceremony, where sponsors announced the awards for each of the 10 challenges. 

The hackathon was captured in a three-part video by Albert Figurt , a resident artist at MIT. Figurt shot and edited the footage in parallel with the hackathon. Each part represented one day of the hackathon and was released on the subsequent day.

Throughout the weekend, quhackers and sponsors consistently praised the hackathon’s execution and atmosphere. “That was amazing … never felt so much better, one of the best hackathons I did from over 30 hackathons I attended,” Abdullah Kazi, a quhacker, wrote on the iQuHACK Slack.

Ultimately, “[we wanted to] help people to meet each other,” co-chair Buzzi says. “The impact [of iQuHACK] is scientific in some way, but it’s very human at the most important level.”

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Findings from the Field: Students and Professionals Connect at Research Symposium

On March 18, 2024, 65 middle and high school scientists gathered at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) in Portland, Maine to share their science research projects with one another and with professional scientists from GMRI, Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS), and NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. GMRI is the anchor institution for the NASA Science Activation Program's Learning Ecosystems Northeast (LENE) project, which supports Findings from the Field , a journal of student scientific research. Annually, youth submitting research to the journal have the opportunity to come together to share their work during the Student Research Symposium.

This year, student and professional scientists alike prepared and delivered lightning talks and discussed their research during poster sessions. This year’s symposium featured student research on invasive green crabs, smelt population estimates using eDNA technology, climate impacts on bees and blueberries, ocean plastics, and more. Presentations by five early career scientists from GMRI and MWOBS provided an opportunity for youth to talk with near-peer role models. The program featured a scientific talk by Brandon Rodriguez from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory that inspired youth to think about the breadth of possibilities for working in planetary science. It was an exciting day for all, topped off with evening news coverage on three local television channels! Volume 7 of Findings from the Field will be released later this spring after students complete the journal’s peer review process and polish up their pieces for publication.

Odin Bravo from Baxter Academy in Portland, Maine, said, "I plan on going into science for my career, so being able to do something outside of school like this is very helpful to get me ready and to get feedback to make me better."

The Learning Ecosystems Northeast project is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AB94A and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. To learn more, visit: https://science.nasa.gov/sciact-team/gmri/

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ASU student team’s design selected as finalist for 2024 NASA-sponsored BIG Idea Challenge

Luminosity lab student team created an inflatable, reusable lunar landing pad system that could help future artemis missions.

An artistic rendering of the student-designed AEGIS inflatable lunar landing system, which is capable of autonomously deploying to reduce dust and debris generated by landers. Image courtesy Luminosity Lab/ASU

Arizona State University’s Luminosity Lab student team was recently selected as a finalist in NASA’s Breakthrough, Innovative, and Game-Changing (BIG) Idea Challenge . The group is one of six teams selected by NASA to present at the 2024 BIG Idea Challenge Forum, Nov. 5–7, at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.  

The theme for the 2024 NASA-sponsored engineering competition, “Inflatable Systems for Lunar Operations,” challenges student teams to research, design and demonstrate novel inflatable systems configured for future lunar operations that could help future Artemis missions and beyond. 

The Luminosity Lab’s student group designed an inflatable and reusable lunar landing pad system, Aegis, which is capable of autonomously deploying to reduce dust and debris generated by landers; the system will also provide precision landing assistance to enable a safe landing. Being chosen as finalists means students will spend the next several months designing, building and testing their ideas, supported by as much as $150,000 from NASA.

“We have a phenomenal team of students working on this project, and I’m really proud of what they have accomplished by winning this proposal,” said Tyler Smith , senior director at ASU’s Luminosity Lab. “The inflatable landing pad system they designed is both innovative and solves a real issue for landers on the lunar surface.”

Presenting at the finals this fall provides students the opportunity to work with experts from NASA and the commercial space industry, and to receive guidance from faculty advisors from ASU’s School of Earth and Space Exploration (SESE) and Space Technology and Science ("NewSpace") Initiative , such as Professor Jim Bell and Jim Rice , assistant research scientist, both of whom have been actively involved with several NASA solar system exploration missions.

"The team at Luminosity Lab has done a fantastic job pitching an elegant solution to NASA's call for innovative inflatable technologies on the moon,” said Bell. “A number of us in SESE and ASU/NewSpace are eager to work with these talented students to help them mature their design and test/prototype it first here in Arizona and then later this year at NASA."

The BIG Idea Challenge is an initiative supporting NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Game Changing Development program’s efforts to rapidly mature innovative and high-impact capabilities and technologies for infusion in a broad array of future NASA missions. This engineering design competition seeks innovative ideas from the higher education academic community for new topics each year relevant to current NASA Space Technology priorities. 

NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate sponsors the BIG Idea Challenge through a unique collaboration between its Game Changing Development program and the agency’s Office of STEM Engagement. It is managed by a partnership between the National Institute of Aerospace and the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.

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Imaging turbulence within solar transients for the first time

by Mary Hamisevicz, Naval Research Laboratory

The Wide-field Imager for Parker Solar Probe (WISPR) Science Team, led by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), captured the development of turbulence as a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) interacted with the ambient solar wind in the circumsolar space. This discovery is reported in the Astrophysical Journal .

Taking advantage of its unique location inside the sun's atmosphere, the NRL-built WISPR telescope on NASA's Parker Solar Probe (PSP) mission, operated by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL), captured in unparalleled detail the interaction between a CME and the background ambient solar wind.

To the surprise of the WISPR team, images from one of the telescopes showed what seemed like turbulent eddies, so-called Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities (KHI). Such structures have been imaged in the terrestrial atmosphere as trains of crescent wave-like clouds and are the results of strong wind shear between the upper and lower levels of the cloud. This phenomenon, while rarely imaged, is thought to occur regularly at the interface of fluid flows when the right conditions arise.

"We never anticipated that KHI structures could develop to large enough scales to be imaged in visible light CME images in the heliosphere when we designed the instrument," said Angelos Vourlidas, Ph.D., JHUAPL and WISPR Project Scientist.

"These fine detail observations show the power of the WISPR high sensitivity detector combined with the close-up vantage point afforded by Parker Solar Probe's unique sun-encounter orbit," said Mark Linton, Ph.D., head of NRL Heliophysics Theory and Modeling Section and Principal Investigator for the WISPR instrument.

The keen eye of an early career member of the WISPR team, Evangelos Paouris, Ph.D., George Mason University detected the KHI structures. Paouris and his WISPR colleagues undertook a thorough investigation to verify that the structures were indeed KHI waves. The results not only report an extremely rare phenomenon, even on Earth but also open a new window of investigation with important consequences for the civilian and Department of Defense (DOD) communities.

"The turbulence that gives rise to KHI plays a fundamental role in regulating the dynamics of CMEs flowing through the ambient solar wind. Hence, understanding turbulence is key in achieving a deeper understanding of CME evolution and kinematics," said Paris. By extension, this knowledge will lead to more accurate forecasting of the arrival of CMEs in Earth's vicinity and their effects on civilian and DOD space assets, thus safeguarding society and the warfighter.

"The direct imaging of extraordinary ephemeral phenomena like KHI with WISPR/PSP is a discovery that opens a new window to understand better CME propagation and their interaction with the ambient solar wind," Paouris said.

WISPR is the only imaging instrument aboard the NASA Parker Solar Probe mission. The instrument, designed, developed, and led by NRL, records visible-light images of the solar corona and solar outflow in two overlapping cameras that together observe more than 100 degrees angular width from the sun.

This NASA mission travels closer to the sun than any other mission. PSP uses a series of Venus flybys to gradually reduce its perihelion from 36 solar radii in 2018 to 9.5 in 2025. The mission is approaching its 19th perihelion on March 30, 2024, at a distance of 11.5 solar radii from the sun's center.

By observing the data the team found the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability is excited at the boundary between the CME and the ambient wind, as the two are flowing at distinctly different velocities. The resulting vortex-like structures are analyzed with respect to what the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability predicts, and inferences are presented about what the local magnetic field strength and density must be to allow such instability in this environment.

Journal information: Astrophysical Journal

Provided by Naval Research Laboratory

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