34116 research outputs found
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Enhancing Diagnostic Reliability through Centrifuge Validation and Staff Education: Quality Management Initiative in a Clinical Laboratory
No full textAbstract
This capstone project aims to enhance diagnostic reliability in a clinical laboratory by validating centrifuge performance and implementing an adult education-based training program within a quality management framework. Twenty archived, de-identified whole blood samples were analyzed to compare the performance of a new centrifuge with an existing model, focusing on plasma volume, hemolysis index, and Tacrolimus concentration.
The study demonstrated statistical and clinical equivalence between the devices, supporting the implementation of the new centrifuge. A staff training program, grounded in andragogical principles and guided by transformational leadership and Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model, was developed to integrate validation practices into routine laboratory practice. Outcomes included improved sample integrity, enhanced documentation practices, and increased inspection readiness.
The project offers a scalable model for linking technical rigor, adult education, and quality leadership to promote continuous improvement and regulatory compliance in clinical laboratories
The “power to hurt and will do none”:Shakespearean Lessons in Power and Administrative Leadership
No full textWhen I was asked via email how I use Shakespeare and his oeuvre as a university administrator, I initially thought, “I don’t.” I have been a departmental chair for four years and an associate chair for two years before that. I also hold several leadership roles on my campus. Across these responsibilities, I can honestly say that I have never turned to Shakespeare’s texts for guidance when designing a program, crafting policy, running a meeting, or debating an institutional priority
Propagation of ion cyclotron emission in the DIII-D tokamak
No full textExperiments in L- and H-mode plasmas performed on the DIII-D tokamak explored ion cyclotron emission (ICE) propagation via the recently upgraded ICE diagnostic. The distance between the plasma and the outer wall was scanned to alter the evanescent region, which was seen to impact the detection of runaway electron-driven whistler modes in a comparable frequency range to typical ICE harmonics ( f ≳ 10 f c i ) [Heidbrink et al., Plasma Phys. Controlled Fusion 61, 014007 (2018)]. In L-mode plasmas, core ICE did not exhibit clear trends as the plasma-wall distance was altered. Instead, inadvertent changes to the fast ion density correlated with different ICE fine structures; the most spectral bands (spaced ∼ 150 -200 kHz apart) were observed at the highest fast ion density, and a just single band when n fast decreased by ∼ 40%. The full-wave Petra-M code simulated core ICE propagation through the plasma and to ICE probes, agreeing with experimental findings that these are likely compressional fast waves, which propagate to probe locations with no dependence on plasma-wall gap. Edge ICE in H-mode plasmas was similarly unaffected by plasma-wall distance. Unlike in core ICE cases, there were negligible changes to the edge fast ion distribution and edge bulk plasma profiles. However, changes in ELM frequency seemed most closely tied to ICE behavior. Ultimately, core and edge ICE did not exhibit clear dependencies on the plasma-wall distance, and ICE harmonics were observed with even the largest plasma-wall gaps. This independence bodes well for similar diagnostics in future tokamaks, which might be placed further from high radiation areas without adversely impacting measurement capabilities
Transformative educational strategies accelerate graduation rates for minority students at Andrews University
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Self-Assessment of Professional Competencies of Occupational Therapists Trained and Working in Kenya
No full textProfessional competencies are indicators of standards of practice. There is limited documentation on required occupational therapy (OT) competencies in Kenya. Objective: Conduct self-assessment of awareness levels of professional competencies and educational investments of OTs working in Kenya Method: Exploratory design with quantitative methods of data collection. The targetpopulation comprised, practicing OTs with diploma qualifications (Group 1) and OTs who were studying in or had graduated with upgrade degrees in Kenyan Universities (Group 2). Simple random sample was conducted on 259 OTs to select the two (2) groups. Two separate structured online questionnaires for self-assessment (one for each group) were administered to collect data
