Welcome to my Desktop SciApp page!

Problem:

Our lab's method for quantifying freezing behavior (a proxy for their fear response) in experimental test subjects involved a labor-intensive and error-vulnerable process. Observers manually check each subject for freezing behavior every ten seconds, recording results on paper. These observations are individually aggregated by hand, into minute intervals to calculate the percentage of freezing time per minute. The data is then manually transferred to an Excel spreadsheet and reformatted for statistical analysis and graphing. This multi-step process not only creates a significant bottleneck in data analysis but also increases the likelihood of introducing errors, thus compromising the efficiency and accuracy of the research.

Solution:

To streamline the quantification of freezing behavior and minimize errors, a Kivy-based graphical user interface (GUI) application was developed. This application allows observers to record freezing behavior in real-time by selecting the subject's status (check-box indicating freezing or not) on a screen at ten-second intervals. The backend of the application performs automated calculations and formats the data into an Excel spreadsheet, detailing the percentage of freezing time per minute. This automated process eliminates manual data handling and formatting, reducing errors and accelerating data processing. The resulting spreadsheet is immediately compatible with the lab’s statistical analysis software, facilitating seamless further analysis. The application also includes user-friendly controls and visual feedback to enhance the recording process and ensure data accuracy.

Problem:

The problem involved accurately quantifying the amount of pure ethanol (EtOH) ingested by test subjects from the gram weight consumed of a percent ethanol solution in water. The method requires measuring the solution's weight change before and after consumption. Since ethanol has a lower density than water, the solution’s weight per milliliter deviates from pure water, complicating direct weight-based calculations. The task was to account for this density variation to determine the exact volume of pure ethanol consumed.

Solution:

To solve this problem, a desktop application was developed that enables users to input the specific gravity of the stock liquid, the target volume percentage (Vol/Vol) for dilution in water, and the desired final volume. The application calculates the required quantities of each component in milliliters to create the specified final solution. Additionally, it provides the corresponding weights in grams for each component, allowing precise formulation and ensuring accurate knowledge of the weight of the stock liquid in each milliliter of the final solution. While initially designed to handle ethanol solutions, the application can be used for any liquid with a known specific gravity, making it a versatile tool for various dilution calculations.

Desktop Application's UI

Problem:

To prep laboratory animals for surgical procedures, a 3:2 anesthetic solution needed to be created. The amounts to use are straight forward if someone needs exactly 5 units of total volume of final solution, however, this is often not the case. Doing these calculations by hand takes valuable procedure time and can be vulnerable to error.

Solution:

Using Python and the PySimpleGUI framework, a desktop application was designed for calculating any final volume's component amounts requiring a 3:2 mixture. The app increases workflow efficiency and eliminates human error as well as the arduous rigors of pencil and paper mathing.

Problem:

Accurate drug dosing is critical in experimental research involving animal subjects, especially for tests that depend on precise drug formulations. In our lab, we trained students who were new to scientific research and animal models of neurobiology. A significant challenge they faced was converting between different units: animals are weighed in grams, drugs are measured in grams, but dosing calculations must be expressed in milligrams of drug per kilogram of animal body weight. This complexity in unit conversions frequently lead to confusion and errors among novice scientists, impacting the accuracy and reliability of dosing.

Solution:

To reduce confusion around unit conversions and prevent calculation errors in drug dosing, a Tkinter desktop application with three key functionalities was developed. This application facilitates accurate drug formulation with three primary calculation functions:

1. Calculating the required drug weight in both grams and milligrams based on the total volume of solution to be prepared and the desired mg/kg dose
2. Determining the drug weight needed in grams and milligrams using the individual weights of animals in grams and the mg/kg dose
3. Computing the total drug weight in grams and milligrams by considering the combined weight of the animals and the specified mg/kg dose

By automating these calculations, the application aids novice scientists in achieving accurate dosing with ease and confidence.

Tkinter UI