Assessing K-9 Teachers' Computational Thinking Skills

Many national curricula have incorporated computational thinking (CT) into compulsory education. Teacher ability to deliver the revised curriculum determines whether these new skills can be successfully integrated into teaching. Therefore, it is crucial to examine teacher readiness. This study measured Swedish K-9 teacher CT skills through a CT test validated by an expert review panel and a principal component analysis. Additionally, we engaged statistical analyses to examine the relationship between the teachers' background and their CT test scores, as well as their self-reported ability to teach CT. The result demonstrated the teachers' proficiency in different types of CT skills. Another finding revealed that the type of programming language mastered by teachers was associated with both their CT test score and self-reported ability to teach CT. This CT test can support teachers to identify specific areas for professional development and may facilitate the school management to plan teachers' competence training strategically.

Remote Monitoring Programs for Cardiac Conditions

These recommendations were developed by the CADTH Health Technology Expert Review Panel (HTERP) to address the implementation of remote monitoring or remote management programs for patients with chronic cardiac conditions. The recommendations were developed following HTERP deliberations over multidisciplinary evidence reviewed in a CADTH Health Technology Assessment (HTA) report. The HTA included a realist review conducted to identify key perceived or actual mechanisms of remote monitoring programs, patients’ and caregivers’ expectations and experiences of engaging with remote monitoring programs, and ethical issues raised by the use of remote monitoring for patients with chronic cardiac conditions. HTERP recommends that the design and implementation of remote monitoring programs include a broad range of stakeholder voices with considerations across several key domains. In particular, HTERP recommends that: remote monitoring programs for chronic cardiac conditions be flexible and adaptable to a diverse range of patient circumstances if implemented, remote monitoring should be an integral part of the care pathway for chronic cardiac conditions, with processes and policies to support it jurisdictions understand and be transparent about information flow, and keep patient data use and privacy at the forefront of service contract negotiations remote monitoring programs for cardiac conditions avoid creating or exacerbating inequities in health care remote monitoring programs include an evaluation component to ensure program aims are met.

Hybrid Closed-Loop Insulin Delivery Systems for People With Type 1 Diabetes

The CADTH Health Technology Expert Review Panel (HTERP) suggests that hybrid closed-loop insulin delivery (HCL) systems hold promise for the care of people with type 1 diabetes. HTERP considers that, at present, there are insufficient long-term data on clinically relevant and patient-important outcomes to recommend how extensive the role of HCL systems should be in care. HTERP recommends the collection of robust and comparative data for consideration of future reassessments that compare HCL systems to existing insulin delivery and glucose monitoring methods in terms of glycated hemoglobin (hemoglobin A1C); time-in-range; time above and below range; glycemic variability; quality of life; patient, parent or caregiver, and health care provider satisfaction; diabetes-related complications; discontinuation rates; and health system impact. Robust data are collected in well-designed comparative studies that are, among other considerations, of sufficient duration to ensure a clinically meaningful outcome assessment.

Screening of 154 Veterinary Drug Residues in Foods of Animal Origin Using LC-MS/MS, First Action 2020.04

Background Veterinary drug residues in food are substances (>200 compounds) exhibiting potential health risks for consumers, thus being regulated in national legislations and the Codex Alimentarius. Most of the compounds are regulated based upon a maximum residue limit (MRL) while a few of them are banned in food for humans. The food sector needs a reliable and consensus analytical platform able to monitor these substances in a wide range of food commodities. Objective Several confirmatory methods based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry are available in the literature for either screening or quantification of veterinary drug residues in food, but usually applicable to limited scope of matrices. The current work describes the single-laboratory validation (SLV) of a method for screening 154 veterinary drug residues in several food categories. Methods This work describes a streamlined platform making use of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) for screening 105 antibiotics, 41 antiparasitics, 5 anti-inflammatory agents and 3 tranquilizers in foods of animal origin. For the best performance across the commodities (dairy-, meat-, fish- and egg-based materials) four method streams were established. As a screening tool, probabilities of detection (PODs) were assessed at the screening target concentration (STC < MRL) and the blank. Results The SLV led to PODs at the STC >94% and PODs in the blank < 4%. Conclusion Performance is in agreement with the acceptance criteria defined in SMPR 2018.010. Highlights The Expert Review Panel approved the present method as AOAC Official First Action 2020.04.

Determination of Fructans in Infant Formula and Adult/Pediatric Nutritional Formula by Anion-Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection after Enzymatic Treatment: Collaborative Study, Final Action 2016.14

Background Fructans are added to infant formula and adult nutritionals for their prebiotic effect. A method (AOAC 2016.14) was developed for their analysis which has already demonstrated excellent performance during single laboratory validation. Objective To determine repeatability and reproducibility of the method through a collaborative study. Methods Fourteen laboratories from 11 different countries enrolled for the study. Participants analyzed a practice sample, then 8 formula or adult nutritionals in blind duplicate. Results and any method modifications were reported to the study director. Results Twelve laboratories provided results on time for reporting. Precision results for five samples met the requirements of the Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR 2014.002), with RSDr ranging from 3.60 to 4.25% and RSDR ranging from 5.90 to 11.7%. The practice sample also met the requirements of SMPR 2014.002, with RSDr and RSDR of 2.53% and 6.70% respectively. Precision results for three test samples did not fully meet the SMPR, with RSDr ranging from 2.27 to 7.65% and RSDR ranging from 12.8 to 15.1%. After review, the AOAC Stakeholder Panel for Infant Formula and Adult Nutritional Expert Review Panel (SPIFAN ERP) concluded that the data presented mostly met the SMPR and hence recommended that the method to be advanced for adoption as an AOAC Final Action method. Conclusions The method described in AOAC 2016.14 is suitable for the determination of fructans in infant formula and adult nutritionals.

Determination of Cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa Dried Flowers and Oils by LC-UV: Single-Laboratory Validation, First Action 2018.10

Background Legalization of Cannabis across many U.S. states and in Canada had led to an urgent need for validated analytical methods for the quantitation of cannabinoids in Cannabis sativa L. flowers and finished products. The AOAC Stakeholder Panel on Strategic Food Analytical Methods Cannabis Expert Review Panel (ERP) approved an HPLC-diode-array detection (DAD) method for First Action Official MethodsSM status. Objective To present Official Methods of AnalysisSM (OMA) 2018.10 method details, validation results, and additional method extension data as approved by the ERP and further requirements for Final Action Official MethodsSM status. Methods This previously published method used 80% aqueous methanol via sonication for extracting eight cannabinoids—tetrahydrocannabidiolic acid, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiolic acid, cannabidiol, tetrahydrocannabivarin, cannabigerol, cannabinol, and cannabichromene—in dried flowers followed by reversed-phase chromatographic separation and UV detection. Results The original method underwent extensive method optimization and a single-laboratory validation. Additional requirements requested by the Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR®) included a method extension, which was performed to collect repeatability data on two additional cannabinoids: cannabidivarinic acid and cannabigerolic acid. The methods performance was compared with the AOAC SMPR 2017.002 and 2017.001. RSDr ranged from 0.78 to 10.08% and recoveries from 90.7 to 99.2% in several different chemotypes. Conclusions The ERP adopted the method and provided recommendations for achieving Final Action status. Highlights After submission of additional validation data, an HPLC-DAD method for quantitation of cannabinoids in dried flowers and oils was accepted for First Action Official Method status (OMA 2018.10).

Assessing K-9 Teachers' Computational Thinking Skills

Many national curricula have incorporated computational thinking (CT) into compulsory education. Teacher ability to deliver the revised curriculum determines whether these new skills can be successfully integrated into teaching. Therefore, it is crucial to examine teacher readiness. This study measured Swedish K-9 teacher CT skills through a CT test validated by an expert review panel and a principal component analysis. Additionally, we engaged statistical analyses to examine the relationship between the teachers' background and their CT test scores, as well as their self-reported ability to teach CT. The result demonstrated the teachers' proficiency in different types of CT skills. Another finding revealed that the type of programming language mastered by teachers was associated with both their CT test score and self-reported ability to teach CT. This CT test can support teachers to identify specific areas for professional development and may facilitate the school management to plan teachers' competence training strategically.

Total Amino Acids by UHPLC–UV in Infant Formulas and Adult Nutritionals, First Action 2018.06

Background: An acid hydrolysis ultrahigh-performance LC–UV method was evaluated for the determination of total amino acids in infant formula and adult/pediatric nutritional formula. Objective: It was assessed for compliance against AOAC INTERNATIONAL Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR®) established by the Stakeholder Panel for Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN). Methods: A single-laboratory validation (SLV) study was conducted as a first step in the process to validate the method. In this SLV, 17 SPIFAN matrices representing a range of infant formula and adult nutritional products were evaluated for their amino acid content. Results: The analytical range was found to be within the needs for all products; some may require a dilution. Evaluation of trueness performed on Standard Reference Material 1849a (Infant/Adult Nutritional Formula) showed all compounds met the SMPR theoretical value, with exceptions for threonine and tyrosine. These may have a bias for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) data, depending on hydrolysis used in the determination of the NIST certificate of analysis. Conclusions: Based on the results of this SLV, this method met the SMPR and was approved as a First Action method by the AOAC Expert Review Panel on Nutrient Methods on August 28, 2018.