University of Colorado Colorado Springs

About: University of Colorado Colorado Springs is a education organization based out in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 6664 authors who have published 10872 publications receiving 323416 citations. The organization is also known as: UCCS & University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Interlaboratory Agreement of Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Concentrations Measured by Mass Spectrometry

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)[7][1] is a key mediator of growth hormone (GH) action and a well-characterized biomarker of GH abuse. Current immunoassays for IGF-1 suffer from poor concordance between platforms, which makes comparison of results between laboratories difficult. Although previous work has demonstrated good interlaboratory imprecision of LC-MS/MS methods when plasma is supplemented with purified proteins, the interlaboratory imprecision of an endogenous protein in the nanogram-per-milliliter concentration range has not been reported. METHODS: We deployed an LC-MS/MS method to quantify serum IGF-1 in 5 laboratories using 5 different instruments and analyzed 130 healthy human samples and 22 samples from patients with acromegaly. We determined measurement imprecision (CV) for differences due to instrumentation, calibration curve construction, method of calibration, and reference material. RESULTS: Instrument-dependent variation, exclusive of digestion, across 5 different instrument platforms was determined to be 5.6%. Interlaboratory variation was strongly dependent on calibration. Calibration materials from a single laboratory resulted in less variation than materials made in individual laboratories (CV 5.2% vs 12.8%, respectively). The mean imprecision for 152 samples between the 5 laboratories was 16.0% when a calibration curve was made in each laboratory and 11.1% when a single-point calibration approach was used. CONCLUSIONS: The interlaboratory imprecision of serum IGF-1 concentrations is acceptable for use of the assay in antidoping laboratories and in standardizing results across clinical laboratories. The primary source of variability is not derived from the sample preparation but from the method of calibration. [1]: #fn-10

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Abstract: Large software systems are crafted by joining disparate code sequences through a common interface . The mechanisms for defining interfaces must be robust, well-understood, and resistant t o change. Ada provides unique mechanisms for defining the interfaces between separated cod e sequences . One of these is the private type. Types exported by Ada packages can be defined as private indicating that the package's client has no visibility to the actual structure of the full typ e definition. Types imported by generic units can be defined as private indicating that the unit does not require visibility to the actual structure of the client's type definition . \"=\" is an operation provided with these type mechanisms that must be used with care by a package's client and within a generic unit .

The significance of leaf water repellency in ecohydrological research: a review

Abstract: Numerous studies in materials science and chemistry have expanded our understanding of the repellency of water droplets from surfaces. Much of the inspiration for the development of synthetic water-repellent materials came from the examination of water-repellent properties of animals and plants in the natural environment. The hydrological significance of water repellency in the natural environment remains an underexplored research topic. Although the hydrological significance of soil water repellency has become well established in the ecohydrology and water resources literature, fewer studies have examined the significance of leaf water repellency. This review examines the properties of leaf water repellency, the methodologies used to calculate leaf water repellency, the leaf surface properties that promote leaf water repellency, and the significance of leaf water repellency in ecohydrological research. The repellency of a water droplet by a leaf surface is functionally important among plant species and may reflect selective strategies that either favour leaf water uptake in drought-prone environments or promote higher photosynthetic efficiency during prolonged periods of precipitation through higher repellency. Information on the functional significance of leaf water repellency in hydrologic models could enhance our understanding of the delivery of water resources to municipal reservoirs and fill in a missing gap in our understanding of leaf water repellency as a process that influences discharge, and by extension, water resources. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The Use of 2 Conditioning Programs and the Fitness Characteristics of Police Academy Cadets

Abstract: Context: Police academy training must physically prepare cadets for the rigors of their occupational tasks to prevent injury and allow them to adequately perform their duties. Objective: To compare the effects of 2 physical training programs on multiple fitness measures in police cadets. Design: Cohort study. Setting: Police training academy. Patients or Other Participants: We collected data from 70 male (age = 27.4 ± 5.9 years, body weight = 85.4 ± 11.8 kg) and 20 female (age = 30.5 ± 5.8 years, body weight = 62.8 ± 11.0 kg) police cadets and analyzed data from 61 male cadets (age = 27.5 ± 5.5 years, body weight = 87.7 ± 13.2 kg). Intervention(s): Participants completed one of two 6-month training programs. The randomized training group (RTG; n = 50), comprising 4 separate and sequential groups (n = 13, n = 11, n = 13, n = 13), completed a randomized training program that incorporated various strength and endurance exercises chosen on the day of training. The periodized group (PG; n = 11) completed a per...

Pioneering Experiences in Distance Learning: Lessons Learned

Abstract: This article describes the lessons learned from teaching human resource management via Web-based instruction. Three areas of recommendation are addressed: (a) communication logistics, (b) knowledge sharing, and (c) the benefits of conducting a pilot program. Although the specific content for this course was human resource management, the same principles for creating a valuable learning experience are applicable to any content taught via the Internet.