Compliance Testing Research Articles

Variability of oxygen permeability index values in concrete construction: A proposed approach for parameter margins to guide concrete mixture design

Specifications for durability that are based on performance tests on concrete during the early stages of construction are finding acceptance throughout the world. In South Africa the durability index (DI) approach has been accepted into local specifications. This raises a challenge in the design of a concrete mixture for a construction project that takes account of the variability in materials and test conditions to ensure that the concrete will achieve the specification requirements when subjected to DI testing on in-situ samples. This paper proposes a statistical approach to accounting for this variability in concrete mixture design with oxygen permeability index (OPI) testing, in a manner that acknowledges the variability of both laboratory-based and in-situ sample testing for compliance. The OPI test results obtained on nominally similar concretes on actual construction projects undertaken by the South African National Roads Agency Limited (SANRAL), which included the DI-based specifications, were used to illustrate the operation of the proposed approach. The results show that the target value of OPI to be achieved in the design of concrete mixtures is influenced by the level of quality control on construction sites but that this can be managed through an appropriate statistical approach.

Remediation of antimony-contaminated soil with composite materials of Fe/Fe2+-fly ash-concrete additive in seasonal freezing regions

Antimony (Sb) finds its wide application in industries, however, the research on Sb solidification/stabilization (S/S) in the Sb-contaminated soil is currently insufficient, particularly in seasonal freezing regions. Here six composite materials of Fe/Fe2+-fly ash-concrete additive (Fe-FA-CA) were employed and optimized to remediate the Sb-contaminated soil subject to 40 freezing-thawing (F-T) cycles. After remediation, FeSO4-fly ash-calcium lignosulfonate (FFC) exhibited the best resistance performance to F-T. The stabilization efficiency was evaluated with TCLP at 92.92%. Meanwhile, Sb concentration met the criteria of landfill for inert waste assessed with the compliance test for leaching (CT) of European Standard. The S/S efficiency of Sb dropped slightly from 92.68% to 88.22% (TCLP) and from 97.18% to 93.37% (CT), respectively, after aging 40 F-T cycles. The fraction of residual Sb in the soil treated by FFC was increased by 10.41%, and the strength of the S/S soil was much higher than 350 kPa, the requirement of landfills in the U.S. during F-T cycles. Additionally, the poorly crystalline Fe in the soil remediated by FFC was increased by 4.54 g/kg, suppressing Sb migration. The feasibility and effectiveness of FFC in S/S of Sb demonstrated its potential to remediate Sb-contaminated soil in seasonal freezing regions.

Comparison of State-Level Regulations for Cannabis Contaminants and Implications for Public Health.

Background:The presence of contaminants in cannabis presents a potential health hazard to recreational users and susceptible patients with medical conditions. Because of the federally illegal status of cannabis, there are no unified regulatory guidelines mitigating the public health risk of cannabis contaminants.Objective:To inform further research and provide solutions to the public health risk of cannabis contaminants at a national level, we examined the current landscape of state-level contaminant regulations, and cannabis contaminants of concern, as well as patient populations susceptible to contaminants.Methods:We examined the regulatory documents for medical and recreational cannabis in all legalized U.S. jurisdictions and compiled a complete list of regulated contaminants, namely, pesticides, inorganics, solvents, microbes, and mycotoxins. We data mined the compliance testing records of 5,654 cured flower and 3,760 extract samples that accounted for of California’s legal cannabis production in 2020–2021. We also reviewed the publicly available medical cannabis use reports to tabulate the susceptible patient populations.Results:As of 18 May 2022, 36 states and the District of Columbia listed a total of 679 cannabis contaminants as regulated in medical or recreational cannabis, including 551 pesticides, 74 solvents, 12 inorganics, 21 microbes, 5 mycotoxins, and 16 other contaminants. Different jurisdictions showed significant variations in regulated contaminants and action levels ranging up to four orders of magnitude. A failure rate of 2.3% was identified for flowers and 9.2% for extracts in the California samples. Insecticides and fungicides were the most prevalent categories of detected contaminants, with boscalid and chlorpyrifos being the most common. The contaminant concentrations fell below the regulatory action levels in many legalized jurisdictions, indicating a higher risk of contaminant exposure. Cannabis use reports indicated usage in several patient populations susceptible to contamination toxicity, including cancer (44,318) and seizure (21,195) patients.Discussion:Although individual jurisdictions can implement their policies and regulations for legalized cannabis, this study demonstrates the urgent need to mitigate the public health risk of cannabis contamination by introducing national-level guidelines based on conventional risk assessment methodologies and knowledge of patients’ susceptibility in medical use. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11206

Effective immobilization of geogenic As and Pb in excavated marine sedimentary material by magnesia under wet–dry cycle, freeze–thaw cycle, and anaerobic exposure scenarios

Massive amounts of marine sedimentary materials with geogenic heavy metal(loids) are excavated by the subsurface construction projects and then exposed to weathering conditions, which pose potential threats to the environment. In the present study, 2 % magnesia (MgO) was applied to immobilize geogenic arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in excavated marine sedimentary material. To better evaluate the immobilization efficiency under different environmental scenarios, the untreated and amended solids were subjected to wet–dry cycles, freeze–thaw cycles, and anaerobic incubation until 49 days. The leaching behaviors of As and Pb were investigated and their size fractionations in the leachates were compared. The results indicate that most Pb exists in particulate and agglomerated colloidal fractions (0.1–5 μm) in the leaching suspensions, while most As is found in dissolved forms (<0.1 μm). It is therefore necessary to consider the element type and exposure scenarios during environmental risk evaluation, particularly using the batch test as a routine compliance testing procedure. In the control test without MgO addition, the wet–dry cycle resulted in the “self-induced” immobilization of As and Pb. The pH decreases to the neutral range and the formation of amorphous Fe-(oxyhydr)oxides following pyrite oxidation largely explained the decreased As and Pb leaching. In comparison, the freeze–thaw cycle and anaerobic incubation tended to enhance As and Pb leaching. Overall, MgO addition significantly reduced the leachability of As and Pb and displayed sustained immobilization performance under all studied scenarios. These findings could be largely attributed to solid particle aggregation induced by MgO addition, including the adsorption of As and Pb onto newly formed Fe-(oxyhydr)oxides and/or MgSi precipitates. This study offers a simple and effective strategy for the sustainable management of excavated marine sedimentary materials contaminated by geogenic As and Pb.

Testing for Benford's Law in very small samples: Simulation study and a new test proposal.

Benford's Law defines a statistical distribution for the first and higher order digits in many datasets. Under very general condition, numbers are expected to naturally conform to the theorized digits pattern. On the other side, any deviation from the Benford distribution could identify an exogenous modification of the expected pattern, due to data manipulation or even fraud. Many statistical tests are available for assessing the Benford conformity of a sample. However, in some practical applications, the limited number of data to analyze may raise questions concerning their reliability. The first aim of this article is then to analyze and compare the behavior of Benford conformity testing procedures applied to very small samples through an extensive Monte Carlo experiment. Simulations will consider a thorough choice of compliance tests and a very heterogeneous selection of alternative distributions. Secondly, we will use the simulation results for defining a new testing procedure, based on the combination of three tests, that guarantees suitable levels of power in each alternative scenario. Finally, a practical application is provided, demonstrating how a sounding testing Benford compliance test for very small samples is important and profitable in anti-fraud investigations.

Engineering and design of a novel high-current source for testing low-voltage electrical equipment

This article presents the specification and design of a low-voltage high-current source with a capacity of up to 65 kA and 1 kV for testing electrical equipment such as low-voltage power circuit breaker switchgear, metal-enclosed switchgear, transformers, and cables, among others. Tests that can be performed with the proposed source include the short-circuit withstand on the low-voltage side of transformers, verification in temperature rise limits on electrical power connectors and transformers, and other compliance tests on power circuit breaker switchgear and controlgear assemblies. The design results from the comparison of general topologies of high-current sources according to the literature and test requirements established in current IEEE and IEC standards. In addition, the low-voltage high-current source emerged as a need for the Colombian electricity sector and will help comply with the test guidelines for switchgear and other low-voltage equipment, according to the national standard, also contributing to reducing costs of conducting tests abroad. The specification of the source resulted in the definition of three operating ranges for different types of tests, equipment, voltage, and current levels. Moreover, the general scheme of the low-voltage high-current source is provided with a description of the major components, namely, the novel medium- and low-voltage power modules based on the parallel and series arrangements of toroidal transformers to obtain levels of current and voltage of up to 65 kA and 1 kV, and the switching and protection, control, and measurement systems. Finally, a discussion of the results is presented, and the conclusions are highlighted. © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Migration of Styrene in Yogurt and Dairy Products Packaged in Polystyrene: Results from Market Samples.

The European Food Safety Authority is re-evaluating styrene for assessing the safety of food contact materials (FCM) such as polystyrene (PS) and started a systematic review of the data on migration levels in food. A restriction for styrene is expected in the near future. The main food contact application of PS is dairy packaging, mainly at refrigerated storage. In this study, seventeen dairy products packed in PS taken from the Italian and German markets were investigated. Styrene concentrations in the refrigerated dairy products (yogurt, cream) ranged from 5 to 30 µg/kg at the best before date, while in single serving portions of coffee creamer, which were stored at room temperature until the best before date of approx. 190 days, 401 µg/kg were measured. Among several parameters, the ratio between the surface contact area of the package and the quantity of the food packed, the time/temperature conditions of production/filling and storage of the products were identified as the main factors influencing styrene migration into food under realistic conditions. Yogurts fermented in the pots for approximately 8 h at 40–50 °C showed higher styrene levels than those fermented in an incubator and filled at 20 °C. The fat content might influence the styrene level but the effect, if any, was too small in relation to the variability of other parameters. Levels of styrene migrating into 50% ethanol food simulant under standardized condition (10 days/40 °C) were found to be much higher than levels in refrigerated foods. This raises the question as to whether compliance testing for PS plastics should be adapted taking into consideration the correlation between migration testing by laboratory simulations and migration into real food.

Development of an integrated duty cycle test method to assess cordwood stove performance

ABSTRACT The US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Residential Wood Heaters (RWH) require certification emission testing of prototype appliances. In 2015, EPA revised those standards to further reduce particulate matter emissions from this critical source. However, to achieve that goal, lower emissions measured in certification tests must reflect lower emissions when the appliance is operated in homes. Woodstove certification tests have used either the Federal Reference Method (FRM), a crib wood method, or a cordwood testing method developed by ASTM International that was designated as a broadly applicable Alternative Test Method (ATM) by the EPA until December 2021, when that status was revoked. There is broad agreement that the FRM and ASTM procedures do not simulate typical fueling and operating of wood stoves in the field, raising questions about the efficacy of the current program. Effective emission reduction efforts require robust, accurate, and reproducible test methods. With input from a range of stakeholders, the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM) developed the Integrated Duty Cycle Test Method for Certification of Wood-Fired Stoves Using Cordwood (IDC), a cordwood testing protocol designed to improve the efficacy of residential wood heater certification testing. That method was approved by EPA as a broadly applicable ATM in 2021. IDC test runs assess appliance performance under a range of operating and fueling conditions representative of typical consumer use patterns. Unlike previous test methods, the IDC protocol requires three replicate runs to assess appliance performance variability. Including variable fueling and operating conditions, along with the requirement for replicates runs, will increase the effectiveness of certification testing and promote the development of improved wood stove technology. This paper reports on experiments conducted to develop and test the IDC method. Implications: Residential wood heating is one of the largest sources of primary particulate matter pollution nationwide. EPA’s New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) establish emission limits for this source category and require certification testing of prototype wood appliances to demonstrate compliance with those limits. However, the operating and fueling requirements in NSPS compliance testing protocols do not represent typical conditions in the field. We developed a new testing approach, the Integrated-Duty Cycle (IDC) Test Method, to address the shortcomings of current certification test approaches. The IDC procedure for cordwood stoves, which was approved by EPA as a broadly applicable alternative test method in 2021, assesses appliance operations over various operating and fueling conditions representing typical consumer use patterns in an integrated run and requires three replicate runs to enable the assessment of variability in stove performance. Stoves certified with this method will be equipped to meet the NSPS limits consistently in field operation.

Cybersecurity in smart local energy systems: requirements, challenges, and standards

Smart local energy system (SLES) can support tailored regional solutions through the orchestration of cyber physical architectures, coordinating distributed technologies, with operational and forecasting models across all energy actors. Unprecedented access to new information, data streams and remotely accessible control can substantially benefit the multi-objective optimisation of multiple performance metrics. Given the expansion of this internet of things (IoT) and cyber-physical system (CPS), it is important to not only design effective detection and management of potential cybersecurity issues, but also to address the challenges in having affective and adaptive governance—built on standards to ensure the security of the IoT to minimise risks and harms to all users. This study conducts an extensive and critical investigation into the existing standards and identifies areas to focus on as to support the expansive adoption of cyber physical networks. Although existing standards and protocols are highly fragmented, our findings suggest that many of them can meet the requirements of the applications and infrastructures of SLES. Additionally, many standards have been introduced to protect information security and personal privacy due to their increasing importance. The research also suggests that the industry needs to produce more affordable and cyber-secured devices and services. For the government and regulators, relevant guidelines on the minimum function and security requirements for applications should be provided. Additionally, compliance testing and certifications should be in place and carried out by an independent third party to ensure the components of SLES ecosystem with a satisfied security level by design.

Compilador e intérprete en línea de diagramas de flujo con fines didácticos

This work deals with the development, fine-tuning and testing of an online flowchart compiler and interpreter. The development methodology takes as a frame of reference the software reengineering process model, in conjunction with the Object-Oriented Hypermedia Design Method (OOHDM). The software product obtained is a web application for educational purposes that differs from other tools mainly in three aspects: supporting the Polya problem-solving heuristics, create flowcharts following the recommendations for graphic symbology of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and be freely available on the internet. The online compiler and interpreter fine-tuning ran on two web browsers that support modal dialog boxes, one for personal computers and one for mobile devices. In addition, compliance tests with the W3C standards, loading speed tests, and a user experience perception test were applied to 22 students of a preparatory course on algorithms. The results obtained in all the tests carried out are considered satisfactory and in accordance with the current context of the students.

Securing loads on road vehicles, national regulations and test method in accordance with PN-EN 12642

The objective of this work is to develop a method of safe vehicle testing for compliance with the PN-EN 12642 standard. Vehicle tests can be carried out in a static and dynamic form. Dynamic tests better reflect the forces exerted by loads on the walls of the cargo space of vehicles. Heavy goods vehicles with certified walls of the cargo space ensure the safe transport of cargo in road traffic. Improper load securing is the cause of approximately 25% of truck accidents. Reducing the number of road accidents is the responsibility of each EU Member State. In Poland, the requirements for securing loads and appropriate vehicle construction have been introduced in the national regulations regarding the technical conditions of vehicles and their necessary equipment. The article presents the current legal status regarding cargo securing, as well as the designed and implemented solution and the method of safe conducting dynamic tests of vehicles in accordance with the PN-EN 12642 standard

A two-stage adaptive symmetric-strong-tracking square-root cubature Kalman filter for harmonics and interharmonics estimation

This paper proposes a robust two-stage adaptive symmetric-strong-tracking square-root cubature Kalman filter (ASSTSCKF) algorithm for simultaneous estimation of the harmonic/interharmonic amplitudes, frequencies, and phases of a signal as well as the noise parameters. Unlike conventional methods, the proposed two-stage model does not require a priori information about the harmonic frequencies, which are rather obtained using subspace-based high-resolution Root-MUSIC in the first step. In the second stage, with the knowledge of harmonic frequencies, the signal parameters are obtained employing the recursive ASSTSCKF. In the developed scheme, the symmetric-strong-tracking (SST) property enhances the performance accuracy of the algorithm by diminishing the model error. The mean and covariance of the noise are estimated utilizing the maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimator. In the presence of noise, various compliance tests as per IEEE/IEC 60255-118-1-2018 Standard have been performed through simulations and in real-time. Comparing the results with the selected state-of-the-art methods, our proposed two-stage ASSTSCKF algorithm provides accurate results and is fully compliant with class M limits.

Compliance Test of X-Ray Beam Quality Using HVL Parameter on Digital Mammography

The compliance test of X-ray beam quality using HVL parameter on digital mammography was determined at a hospital in Makassar in 2019-2021. This measurement uses a ruler, X-ray multimeter, and aluminum filter. The exposure process is carried out at certain kVp and mAs conditions after placing the detector on the examination table. The HVL test to determine the X-ray beam quality is carried out by placing the detector 4 cm from the edge of the chest wall on the patient's table in an upright position facing the tube. The resulting HVL values ​​are 0.37, 0.37, and 0.38. This study resulted in a p-value of 0.000 (p &lt; 0.05). Statistically, there is a significant difference in HVL values ​​in 2019-2021. The resulting HVL value is by the tolerance limit recommended by the IAEA, which is 0.31 ≤ HVL ≤ 0.58. These values ​​indicate that mammography works well, and it is safe for the patient.

Assessment of Regulatory Compliance Testing for Vitamin D in Infant Formula-Impact of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/828.

Since the publication of Standard Method Performance Requirements (SMPR®) for vitamin D in infant formula (SMPR 2011.004) by AOAC INTERNATIONAL, revised vitamin D limits have been recommended by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for infant formula and adopted in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/828. The vitamin D range introduced, 2-2.5 μg/100 kcal, is significantly narrower than previous limits specified by Codex Standard 72-1981 and requires lower method reproducibility metrics to adequately assess regulatory compliance. The narrower limits for vitamin D present a significant challenge for current-generation reference analytical methods that comply with SMPR 2011.004. We evaluate the impact of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/828 on the demonstrated performance of AOAC Method 2016.05/ISO 20636:2018 to assess the likelihood that vitamin D results produced by the method would be found outside the EU limits when testing infant formula that is compliant as manufactured. AOAC Method 2016.05/ISO 20636:2018, specifically data generated during multi-laboratory study, was used as a basis for statistical evaluation of the impact of the narrower EU vitamin D limits. The review of AOAC Method 2016.05/ISO 20636:2018 method performance against the vitamin D regulatory range introduced in (EU) 2019/828 indicates methods capable of performing in alignment with SMPR 2011.004 are likely to produce results that fail to meet EU requirements. Our assessment illustrates the high probability that a well-manufactured product with vitamin D levels within the EU regulatory range would fail to meet the regulatory requirements due to analytical method variability when tested using fit-for-purpose methods. Further, required method performance cannot be expected with the future development of new methods. To avoid this, consideration should be given to aligning proposed regulatory limits with method performance metrics of current-generation compendial methods. Current, state-of-the-art methods cannot consistently verify infant formula product compliance for vitamin D in accordance with (EU) 2019/828.

A Network Approach to Compliance: A Complexity Science Understanding of How Rules Shape Behavior

To understand how compliance develops both in everyday and corporate environments, it is crucial to understand how different mechanisms work together to shape individuals’ (non)compliant behavior. Existing compliance studies typically focus on a subset of theories (i.e., rational choice theories, social theories, legitimacy theories, capacity theories, and opportunity theories) to understand how key variables from one or several of these theories shape individual compliance. The present study provides a first integrated understanding of compliance, rooted in complexity science, in which key elements from these theories are considered simultaneously, and their relations to compliance and each other are explored using network analysis. This approach is developed by analyzing online survey data (N = 562) about compliance with COVID-19 mitigation measures. Traditional regression analysis shows that elements from nearly all major compliance theories (except for social theories) are associated with compliance. The network analysis revealed groupings and interconnections of variables that did not track the existing compliance theories and point to a complexity overlooked in existing compliance research. These findings demonstrate a fundamentally different perspective on compliance, which moves away from traditional narrow, non-network approaches. Instead, they showcase a complexity science understanding of compliance, in which compliance is understood as a network of interacting variables derived from different theories that interact with compliance. This points to a new research agenda that is oriented on mapping compliance networks, and testing and modelling how regulatory and management interventions interact with each other and compliance within such networks.

Lab-in-a-van: Rapid SARS-CoV-2 testing response with a mobile laboratory

SummaryBackgroundHigh testing rates and rapid contact tracing have been key interventions to control COVID-19 in Victoria, Australia. A mobile laboratory (LabVan), for rapid SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, was deployed at sites deemed critical by the Victorian State Department of Health as part of the response. We describe the process of design, implementation, and performance benchmarked against a central reference laboratory.MethodsA BSL2 compliant laboratory, complete with a class II biological safety cabinet, was built within a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Panel Van. Swabs were collected by on-site collection teams, registered using mobile internet-enabled tablets and tested using the Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay. Results were reported remotely via HL7 messaging to Public Health Units. Patients with negative results were automatically notified by mobile telephone text messaging (SMS).FindingsA pilot trial of the LabVan identified a median turnaround time (TAT) from collection to reporting of 1:19 h:mm (IQR 0:18, Range 1:03–18:32) compared to 9:40 h:mm (IQR 8:46, Range 6:51–19:30) for standard processing within the central laboratory. During deployment in nine rural and urban COVID-19 outbreaks the median TAT was 2:18 h:mm (IQR 1:18, Range 0:50–16:52) compared to 19:08 h:mm (IQR 5:49, Range 1:36–58:52) for samples submitted to the central laboratory. No quality control issues were identified in the LabVan.InterpretationThe LabVan is an ISO15189 compliant testing facility fully operationalized for mobile point-of-care testing that significantly reduces TAT for result reporting, facilitating rapid public health actions.FundingThis work was supported by the Department of Health, Victoria State Government, Australia.

Bayesian Hierarchical Modelling of Historical Data of the South African Coal Mining Industry for Compliance Testing

Bayesian hierarchical framework for exposure data compliance testing is highly recommended in occupational hygiene. However, it has not been used for coal dust exposure compliance testing in South Africa (SA). The Bayesian analysis incorporates prior information, which increases solid decision making regarding risk management. This study compared the posterior 95th percentile (P95) of the Bayesian non-informative and informative prior from historical data relative to the occupational exposure limit (OEL) and exposure categories, and the South African Mining Industry Code of Practice (SAMI CoP) approach. A total of nine homogenous exposure groups (HEGs) with a combined 243 coal mine workers’ coal dust exposure data were included in this study. Bayesian framework with Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulation to draw a full P95 posterior distribution relative to the OEL was used to investigate compliance. We obtained prior information from historical data and employed non-informative prior distribution to generate the posterior findings. The findings were compared to the SAMI CoP. The SAMI CoP 90th percentile (P90) indicated that one HEG was compliant (below the OEL), while none of the HEGs in the Bayesian methods were compliant. The analysis using non-informative prior indicated a higher variability of exposure than the informative prior according to the posterior GSD. The median P95 from the non-informative prior were slightly lower with wider 95% credible intervals (CrI) than the informative prior. All the HEGs in both Bayesian approaches were in exposure category four (poorly controlled), with the posterior probabilities slightly lower in the non-informative uniform prior distribution. All the methods mainly indicated non-compliance from the HEGs. The non-informative prior, however, showed a possible potential of allocating HEGs to a lower exposure category, but with high uncertainty compared to the informative prior distribution from historical data. Bayesian statistics with informative prior derived from historical data should be highly encouraged in coal dust overexposure assessments in South Africa for correct decision making.

A systematic approach to understanding MACB timestamps on Unix-like systems

File timestamps are used by forensics practitioners as a fundamental artifact. For example, the creation of user files can show traces of user activity, while system files, like configuration and log files, typically reveal when a program was run. Despite timestamps being ubiquitous, the understanding of their exact meaning is mostly overlooked in favor of fully-automated, correlation-based approaches. Existing work for practitioners aims at understanding Windows and is not directly applicable to Unix-like systems. In this paper, we review how each layer of the software stack (kernel, file system, libraries, application) influences MACB timestamps on Unix systems such as Linux, OpenBSD, FreeBSD and macOS. We examine how POSIX specifies the timestamp behavior and propose a framework for automatically profiling OS kernels, user mode libraries and applications, including compliance checks against POSIX. Our implementation covers four different operating systems, the GIO and Qt library, as well as several user mode applications and is released as open-source. Based on 187 compliance tests and automated profiling covering common file operations, we found multiple unexpected and non-compliant behaviors, both on common operations and in edge cases. Furthermore, we provide tables summarizing timestamp behavior aimed to be used by practitioners as a quick-reference.

The effectiveness of auscultatory, colorimetric capnometry and pH measurement methods to confirm placement of nasogastric tubes: A methodological study.

To determine the effectiveness of auscultatory, colorimetric capnometry and pH measurement methods for confirmation of correct nasogastric tube placement in critically ill patients. Incorrect nasogastric tube placement causes serious complications. This was a methodological and comparative study. The study sample consisted of 88 new insertions of nasogastric feeding tubes between April 2018-2019. Results from the 'auscultatory', 'pH' and 'colorimetric capnometry' methods were compared with the location of the nasogastric tube as determined through radiography. Descriptive statistics, Eta analysis and the Cohen kappa compliance test as well as sensitivity and specificity were conducted. There was a weak agreement (26.3%) between the auscultation and radiological evaluation for confirming nasogastric tube placement. The pH measurement and colorimetric capnometry methods were not correlated with radiological evaluation. Stomach pH increased as patient age increased and use of the colorimetric capnometry method failed to confirm the oesophageal and duodenal location. The specificity of the auscultation was low, and both the specificity and sensitivity pH methods were low. It was determined that auscultation, measuring pH and colorimetric capnometry were unreliable methods for confirming placement of nasogastric tubes. It is recommended to confirm initial placement of the nasogastric tube with radiography and to develop effective and reliable non-radiological measurement methods that can be performed at the bedside.

A longitudinal study on improving employee information protective knowledge and behaviors

Research shows it is challenging to ensure that individuals use information protective behaviors (e.g., secure passwords, turning off tracking features), especially on smartphones. Concurrently, employees increasingly use their own devices for work (BYOD), but with limited compliance with BYOD policies. This research studies the role of knowledge in increasing employees’ use of information protective settings, and explores how exposure to security and privacy news can increase such knowledge. A 10-month field intervention with 826 corporate trainees who received daily newspapers covering privacy and security articles. Our findings show that it is possible to increase employee knowledge of security and privacy, and in turn positively affect their usage of information protective settings over time through repeated, perceived-to-be-mandatory information exposure. The study contributes to a better understanding of the importance of measuring actual knowledge in studies of employee behavioral actions towards protection of organizational information. The results suggest organizations need holistic employee compliance programs, where in addition to developing policies, as well as compliance testing and sanctions, they provide repeated information exposure.