Equipment Settings Research Articles

Analysis of Long-Term Quality Control Data for a 137Cs Dosimetry Calibration Source.

Strict quality assurance programs are required for many radiological applications, but these seldom exist for verifying dosimetry calibration sources. After initial characterization of a dosimetry calibration facility, quality control procedures are recommended to ensure the early detection of any changes or malfunctions. These also result in refined knowledge about average dose rate and experimental variations in dose delivery. This paper describes the implementation of a phase I quality control protocol for a 137Cs dosimetry calibration source and includes an analysis of the resulting data collected over a 24-mo period. During this time, substantial data was collected to establish trial control limits. Air kerma rate measurements were obtained using an ion chamber and were adjusted for decay, corrected for ambient temperature, pressure and humidity, and then analyzed using quality control charts. Three variations of rational subgrouping methods were used in order to find assignable causes of error, and Nelson's Rules were followed to detect any non-random statistical variations. Measurements were subgrouped according to same-day measurements in order to detect positional errors as well as atmospheric correction errors. Additionally, measurements were subgrouped according to analogous experimental setups in order to detect failure in equipment or incorrect settings. Both were analyzed using the X-bar and R chart method. Similarly, individuals and moving ranges charts were used to carefully examine each position in order to observe any situational errors that may occur which include timing, positional, or interference errors. Each method was successful in identifying unique out-of-control data points that occurred during the phase I application of forming control limits. Over the 24-mo period, enough data points were deemed in-control to establish reliable trial limits. Future experiments will include the phase II application of gaining more reliable measurements in order to fine-tune the limits, as well as performing a designed experiment, where variables are purposefully changed in order to test the variation of the data.

The Application of Terrestrial LiDAR for Geohazard Mapping, Monitoring and Modelling in the British Geological Survey

Geomatics is the discipline of electronically gathering, storing, processing, and delivering spatially related digital information; it continues to be one of the fastest expanding global markets, driven by technology. The British Geological Survey (BGS) geomatics capabilities have been utilized in a variety of scientific studies such as the monitoring of actively growing volcanic lava domes and rapidly retreating glaciers; coastal erosion and platform evolution; inland and coastal landslide modelling; mapping of geological structures and fault boundaries; rock stability and subsidence feature analysis, and geo-conservation. In 2000, the BGS became the first organization outside the mining industry to use Terrestrial LiDAR Scanning (TLS) as a tool for measuring change; paired with a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), BGS were able to measure, monitor, and model geomorphological features of landslides in the United Kingdom (UK) digitally. Many technologies are used by the BGS to monitor the earth, employed on satellites, airplanes, drones, and ground-based equipment, in both research and commercial settings to carry out mapping, monitoring, and modelling of earth surfaces and processes. Outside BGS, these technologies are used for close-range, high-accuracy applications such as bridge and dam monitoring, crime and accident scene analysis, forest canopy and biomass measurements and military applications.

Deep Learning Techniques in Estimating Ankle Joint Power Using Wearable IMUs

Estimating ankle joint power can be used to identify gait abnormalities, which is usually achieved by employing a complicated biomechanical model using heavy equipment settings. This paper demonstrates deep learning approaches to estimate ankle joint power from two Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) sensors attached at foot and shank. The purpose of this study was to investigate deep learning models in estimating ankle joint power in practical scenarios, in terms of variance in walking speeds, reduced number of extracted features and inter-subject model adaption. IMU data was collected from nine healthy participants during five walking trials at different speeds on a force-plate-instrumented treadmill while an optical motion tracker was used as ground truth. Three state-of-the-art deep neural architectures, namely Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and, fusion of CNN and LSTM (CNN-LSTM), were developed, trained, and evaluated in predicting ankle joint power by extracting few simple, meaningful features. The proposed architectures were found efficient and promising with higher estimation accuracies (correlation coefficient, R > 0.92 and adjusted R-squared value > 83%) and lower errors (mean squared error <; 0.06, and mean absolute error <; 0.13) in inter-participant evaluations. Performance evaluations among the three deep regressors showed that LSTM performed comparatively better. Lower standard deviations in mean squared error (0.029) and adjusted R-squared value (5.5%) proved the proposed model's efficiency for all participants.

A decomposition heuristic algorithm for dynamic reconfiguration after contingency situations in distribution systems considering island operations

This paper presents a decision-making model for the dynamic reconfiguration of distribution networks after contingency situations based on formulations of the self-healing problem with islanding. This paper develops a three-stage algorithm. The first stage applies a greedy reconfiguration heuristic, which calculates the criteria values for each viable network configuration in each hour. To address the variety of criteria, the analytic hierarchy process method is applied to define the weights. The second stage addresses the problem statically to reduce the number of configurations and, therefore, the combinations of step 3. In the third stage, the problem is approached dynamically, generating the optimal sequence of topologies for the analyzed period, while considering the time-varying operational conditions of the system. The proposed heuristic significantly reduces the complexity of the problem while minimizing the following criteria: energy not supplied, losses, number of interrupted consumers and switch operations. The physical constraints of the power grid considered in the proposed model are the line limits, protective equipment settings, voltage limits, distributed generators (DG) limits and network radiality. The proposed model is analyzed in different scenarios in the IEEE 123-bus system, modified with the insertion of DGs. The proposed method is compared with a conventional benchmark model.

ON THE PROBLEM OF USING PARTICLE IMAGE VELOCIMETRY FOR MEASUREMENTS IN HIGH-VELOCITY THIN SHEAR LAYERS

The flow velocity in the region of shock wave–boundary layer interaction on a plate for a Mach number M = 1.43 was measured using particle image velocimetry. The laminar and turbulent states of the incoming boundary layer are considered; the boundary-layer thickness can be two orders of magnitude smaller than the characteristic longitudinal scale of the flow. The results of measuring the boundary-layer velocity by particle image velocimetry for various equipment settings are compared with the results of measurements using various algorithms to determine tracer particle displacements and use them to reconstruct velocity fields. It is shown that the main limitation for increasing the spatial resolution is the inertia of tracer particles.

Evaluation of Dynamic Image Analysis for Characterizing Granular Soils

Abstract This study investigates the efficacy of dynamic image analysis (DIA) for determining particle size and shape distribution. The method employs a high-frame-rate camera to image individual particles of sand that have been transported and separated using a stream of pressurized air. DIA can generate both particle size and shape information and provides a quantitative statistical description of the grain size and shape distribution within the specimen. The feasibility, repeatability, and accuracy of DIA for routine analysis of particle size and shape distribution was investigated using 16 granular soils spanning a number of common sizes and shapes. Several particle shape descriptors were evaluated, including aspect ratio, convexity, and sphericity. The effect of a variety of test parameters including moisture content, sample weight, primary air pressure, and test duration were explored to determine the optimal specimen weight and equipment settings for DIA. Finally, the efficacy of DIA in resolving mixtures of fine and coarse sands was also explored. The method proved to be feasible, repeatable, and accurate for providing particle size distributions spanning four orders of magnitude, in terms of particle size. DIA offers a number of advantages; the method is quick, requires small specimen sizes, and provides quantitative information on approximately 3–4 % of the particles in the specimen.

A descriptive study of teat morphology, milking machine characteristics, and milking practices in a sample of Brazilian dairy herds.

The objective of this study was to describe teat morphology, milking equipment characteristics and settings, and milking practices adopted in a sample of Brazilian dairy herds. A secondary objective was to compare the study variables among herd size categories. Forty herds were visited once. A vacuum recorder was used to analyze all pulsators prior to milking. During milking, the device was mounted to a milking cluster and vacuum levels were recorded at four points (short pulsation tube, short milk tube, and mouthpiece chamber of the front and rear liners) to estimate the following variables: short milk tube vacuum (VSMT), VSMT during peak milk flow, VSMT during overmilking, liner mouthpiece chamber vacuum (VMPC) during peak milk flow, time in overmilking, total milking time, and presence of bimodal milk flow. The dataset included 678 teats from 339 cows (average of 17 teats from 8.5 cows sampled per herd) and 592 measurements from 296 pulsators (average of 14.8 measurements from 7.4 pulsators per herd). Front teats were longer and wider (4.93±1.34 and 2.58±0.71 cm) than rear teats (4.04±1.14 and 2.43±0.57 cm), respectively. Teat length was negatively associated with herd size and a higher proportion of flat teats was observed in large herds, as compared with medium or small herds. Preparation lag time was longer in small herds (median = 3.67 min) than in large herds (2.19 min). The prevalence of bimodal milk flow was 6.49%. Cows of small herds remained a longer time in overmilking than those of large herds. Higher VMPC at peak milk flow, higher pulsation rate, longer B-phase, and shorter D-phase were observed in large herds (median = 15.20 kPa, 61.93 pulses/min[p/m], 465.43 ms, and 242.01 ms, respectively), as compared with small (10.20 kPa, 58.74 p/m, 428.52 ms, and 498.14 ms) or medium (8.50 kPa, 60.46 p/m, 443.52 ms, and 264.05 ms) herds. The VSMT during overmilking (39.60 kPa) was independent of herd size category. Desirable milking practices, such as wearing of gloves, use of automatic cluster removal, use of liners in good condition, training of staff, no use of oxytocin, and reduced time in overmilking were more frequent in large and medium herds, than in small herds. Results of this study can be useful for situational diagnosis and implementation of milk quality and animal welfare improvement programs.

Calibration of Steel Rings for the Measurement of Strain and Shrinkage Stress for Cement-Based Composites.

Concrete shrinkage is a phenomenon that results in a decrease of volume in the composite material during the curing period. The method for determining the effects of restrained shrinkage is described in Standard ASTM C 1581/C 1581M–09a. This article shows the calibration of measuring rings with respect to the theory of elasticity and the analysis of the relationship of steel ring deformation to high-performance concrete tensile stress as a function of time. Steel rings equipped with strain gauges are used for measurement of the strain during the compression of the samples. The strain is caused by the shrinkage of the concrete ring specimen that tightens around steel rings. The method allows registering the changes to the shrinkage process in time and evaluating the susceptibility of concrete to cracking. However, the standard does not focus on the details of the mechanical design of the test bench. To acquire accurate measurements, the test bench needs to be calibrated. Measurement errors may be caused by an improper, uneven installation of strain gauges, imprecise geometry of the steel measuring rings, or incorrect equipment settings. The calibration method makes it possible to determine the stress in a concrete sample leading to its cracking at specific deformation of the steel ring.

The Application of Photogrammetry in the Autopsy Room: A Basic, Practical Workflow.

Photogrammetry is a technique that uses two-dimensional photographs taken from different angles and positions to determine three-dimensional coordinates and distances. Becoming familiar with the photography technique for photogrammetry purposes is the first step to obtaining high-quality results. Ten human cadavers were studied to develop this protocol. Appropriate equipment settings, measurements, and suitable ambient conditions were determined. Finally, the protocol was tested on one cadaver wherein a full postmortem examination was conducted, allowing accurate 3D modeling and measurements of the human body. This straightforward, step-by-step workflow will help users become familiar with this technique. A thorough description of the necessary steps is reported, including equipment, environment requirements, body placement, how to take photographs, and the minimum suggested number of photographs. Numerous graphics show the protocol's main steps to help users understand and reproduce the entire process. Photogrammetry allows the permanent recording and storage of photographic evidence of conditions that existed at the time of autopsy and accurate measurements of the body. The 3D model can have a powerful effect in court, where the findings can be accurately depicted without elicitation of strong emotion that may influence the judge or jurors. The primary disadvantage of photogrammetry for forensic pathology is its time-consuming nature. However, the widespread use of the photogrammetry technique in postmortem rooms would allow in-depth testing to detect and fix potential pitfalls, making this technique more reproducible and verifiable, increasing its admissibility in courts.

Guidance about age-friendly outdoor exercise equipment and associated strategies to maximise usability for older people.

Outdoor exercise equipment has become popular as important environmental infrastructure to provide opportunities for physical activity and social connectedness in public settings. With higher sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity reported among older people, infrastructure changes and safe environments that promote older peoples’ health and mobility are required. Due to ageing‐related functional decline and health conditions associated with ageing, older adults may have special physical needs that require careful consideration when choosing outdoor equipment. However, limited information is available regarding the suitability of the types of exercise equipment for older people. This commentary provides further information on the type of equipment available, its functionality and suitability for older age populations and key considerations for the decision‐maker involved in selecting, installing and supporting community use of outdoor exercise equipment. Recommendations on what is required to maximise usability from a system or organisational‐based approach using research evidence is also discussed. Older people are more susceptible to the negative influences of their local environment and outdoor neighbourhood conditions. Consequently, the age‐friendliness and suitability of the outdoor exercise equipment characteristics, location and settings may facilitate older adults’ engagement in physical and social activities.

Bipolar enucleation of the prostate-step by step.

Bipolar enucleation of prostate (BipolEP) is a useful method for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Compared with conventional transurethral resection, the enucleation technique has several advantages. However, since the cost of laser equipment used for enucleation is relatively high, enucleation using bipolar devices has been attempted by many previous surgeons. We consider bipolar enucleation is an effective and safe procedure, and we would like to share our experience of equipment settings and procedures through this article. We will introduce the equipment and settings of BipolEP and then present the actual step-by-step procedures and surgical tips. First, circular incisions are made on bladder neck and mucosa at the level of verumontanum. Then, enucleation is performed in the order of median and lateral lobes as in laser enucleation. Haemostasis should be done throughout the procedure. After enucleation and haemostasis, prostatic tissue is evacuated by morcellator. Currently, there are several types of electrode and morcellator systems. In our experience, BipolEP has a steep learning curve but it is safe and effective procedure for managing BPH. In particular, effective haemostasis is the greatest advantage of BipolEP when compared to traditional TUR or laser enucleation.

Ultrasound image resolution influences analysis of skeletal muscle composition.

Analysis of muscle composition using ultrasound requires standardization of several equipment settings (i.e. gain). However, the influence of image resolution, which is altered by imaging depth, on measures of muscle composition is unknown. We analysed rectus femoris muscle composition using ultrasound images captured from 32 males and females (aged 28±5years) at depths of 9.0, 7.3, 5.9 and 4.7cm. The transducer's orientation was fixed using a clamp during image acquisition to minimize movement. Across each image resolution, a region of interest encompassing the same anatomical area within the muscle was used for muscle composition analysis. Muscle composition was analysed using a combination of first-, second- and higher-order texture features. Muscle composition agreement across image resolutions was evaluated using a one-way ANOVA and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). Most muscle composition features displayed differences due to image resolution (p<.05). ICCs demonstrated poor-to-good agreement across different image resolutions. In general, higher resolution images (i.e. shallower imaging depth) demonstrated better agreement (ICC>0.90) compared to lower resolution images. Ultrasound image resolution influences muscle composition analysis. Image resolution should be fixed within and between individuals when evaluating muscle composition using ultrasound.

Pupils' use of school outdoor play settings across seasons and its relation to sun exposure and physical activity.

Long outdoor stay may cause hazardous exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun even at high latitudes as in Sweden (Spring to Autumn). On the other hand, long outdoor stay is a strong predictor of primary school children´s free mobility involving moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). UV-protective outdoor environments enable long outdoor stay. We investigated the concurrent impact of different school outdoor play settings upon pupils´ sun exposure and levels of physical activity across different ages, genders, and seasons. During 1week each in September, March, and May, UVR exposure and MVPA were measured in pupils aged 7-11years. Erythemally effective UVR exposure was measured by polysulphone film dosimeters and MVPA by accelerometers. Schoolyard play was recorded on maps, and used areas defined as four play settings (fixed play equipment, paved surfaces, sport fields, and green settings), categorized by season and gender. During the academic year, sport fields yielded the highest UVR exposures and generated most time in MVPA. In March, time outdoors and minutes in MVPA dropped and UVR exposures were suberythemal at all play settings. In May, green settings and fixed play equipment close to greenery promoted MVPA and protected from solar overexposure during long outdoor stays. More outdoor activities in early spring are recommended. In May, greenery attractive for play could protect against overexposure to UVR and stimulate both girls and boys to vigorous play.

English

Nurses comprise the largest group of the health care workforce and play a central role in patient care activities. This study explored nurses&rsquo; perspectives about context specific job factors and coping strategies for back pain experiences among nurses in Lusaka, Zambia. An interpretive paradigm qualitative research design was used. Participants were selected using maximum variation including enrolled and registered nurses and nursing administrators. Data was collected using focus group discussions, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. All thirty-two participants expressed experiencing back pain, correlated with job related factors. Context related job factors for back-pain experiences comprised workload and work environment factors. Inadequate staffing, high patient load, long work hours, mode of performing tasks, inappropriate equipment and work settings were cited as contributing factors. Pain relief medication, exercises, physiotherapy, dietary supplements and rest were coping strategies used. The study concluded that perspectives about context specific job-related factors for back-pain experiences nurses identified were job-related factors like inadequate human resource, high patient load, long work hours and mode of performing tasks. Raising self-awareness, physical activity, adequate infrastructure, manual handling training in clinical contexts and making changes in workflow are approaches that could minimise the effects of back pain experiences among nurses. Key words: Back pain, nurses, context factors, strategies, qualitative study. &nbsp; &nbsp

An Overview of the Origins and Effectiveness of Commercial Fitness Equipment and Sectoral Corporate Settings: A Critical Review of Literature

Research Question: Fitness equipment is a worldwide ever-growing phenomenon and its usage is nowadays popular both in human routines and academic investigations. Research Methods: This paper is a literature review aiming fitness equipment in relation to all the available findings connected to the complete product life-cycle phases. Results and Findings: Manufacturing industries, which are active realities of the sector, have not been a major concern for sport researchers within the production applicability sub-field. Past root hypotheses, the current state of the art and future guideline applications are addressed. Selected articles were categorised chronologically, by journal, by geographic area and, extensively, by content. Five thematic areas were included: (1) historical background, (2) creation stages, (3) product features, (4) innovation paths and (5) sectoral environments and marketing processes. Implications: By means of the provided findings, there is an opportunity to widen approaches to study fitness equipment that could be extended to the sector’s enterprise applications and methods of work.

Patient radiation doses in paediatric interventional cardiology and optimization actions

This work presents patient radiation dose data for paediatric interventional cardiology procedures in a large paediatric hospital in Chile. This will contribute to setting national diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) for Chile in the near future. The dosimetric data collection period was from January 2018 to December 2018. The local DRLs were calculated as the 3rd quartile of patient dose data distributions for kerma area-product (Pka) values. The sample of collected clinical procedures (261) was divided into diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and grouped into five weight bands. The Pka differences found between diagnostic and therapeutic procedures were not statistically significant when comparing the same weight bands, as a result of which we propose a single DRL value for both types of procedure. The local DRLs were 4.9 Gy cm2 (<5 kg), 6.6 Gy cm2 (5-<15 kg), 13.7 Gy cm2 (15-<30 kg), 30.7 Gy cm2 (30-<50 kg) and 29.7 Gy cm2 (50-<80 kg), respectively. The conclusion from comparing our results with other existing DRL values is that there is ample scope to continue optimizing by reducing patient dose values. Equipment performance, settings used and examination protocols should be reviewed as corrective actions and adapted to patient weight.

The impact of beak tissue sloughing and beak shape variation on the behavior and welfare of infrared beak-treated layer pullets and hens

This research examined how infrared beak treatment (IRBT), sloughing of the treated beak tissue, and the variations in beak shape that can occur post-IRBT impact the welfare and mortality of Lohmann LSL-Lite (LW) and Lohmann Brown (LB) pullets and hens. Two experiments were conducted and birds for both experiments were treated on the day of hatch. IRBT equipment settings were adjusted to create 4 specific beak shapes: shovel (SHV), step (STP), standard (STAN), and an untreated sham control (C). Experiment 1 pullets (n = 80 per strain) were reared in bioassay cages from 1 to 29 D of age (4 replicates per treatment). Data collected included time and presence of beak sloughing, pecking force, behavioral expression, and mortality. Experiment 2 pullets (n = 320 per strain) were reared in floor pens from 1 D to 18 wk of age (2 replicates per treatment) and then conventional cages from 18 to 60 wk of age (6 replicates per treatment). Data collected for Experiment 2 included behavioral expression, feather cover, comb damage, and mortality. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED (SAS® 9.4) with Tukey's test to separate means. Differences were significant when P ≤ 0.05. IRBT and sloughing had no effect on pecking force or mortality throughout rearing. The variations in post-IRBT beak shape had minor effects on behavior. During rearing, STAN pullets were more active than C pullets but STP and STAN pullets performed less exploratory pecking. During the laying period, SHV and STP hens preened more than C hens. The IRBT treatments, regardless of beak shape, reduced feather loss, comb damage, and cannibalism-related mortality during the laying period. Overall, the results indicate that LW and LB pullets and hens can cope with the change in beak shape that occurs with IRBT, and that welfare is not negatively impacted if some variation in beak shape occurs.

The effect of beak tissue sloughing and post-treatment beak shape on the productivity of infrared beak-treated layer pullets and hens.

Infrared beak treatment (IRBT) results in a change in beak shape; however, it is unclear what effect variations in post-treatment beak shape have on young pullets. Additionally, the impact of sloughing of the treated beak tissue is not fully understood. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of beak tissue sloughing and post-treatment beak shape on the productivity of infrared beak-treated Lohmann Brown (LB) and Lohmann LSL-Lite (LW) pullets and hens. Birds were treated on day of hatch and IRBT equipment settings were adjusted to create 4 specific beak shapes: shovel (SHV), step (STP), standard (STAN), and an untreated sham control (C). Experiment 1 pullets (n = 160) were housed in cages from 1 to 29 d of age and had access to water through chick founts or 360° nipple drinkers (2 replicate cages per treatment). Data collected included body weight (BW), feed intake (FI), feed efficiency (FE), and water disappearance (WD). Experiment 2 pullets (n = 640) were housed in floor pens from 1 d to 18 wk of age (2 replicate pens per treatment) then conventional cages during the laying period (6 replicate cages per treatment). Data collected included BW, FI, egg production, and egg quality. Data were analyzed using PROC MIXED (SAS® 9.4) and differences were significant when P ≤ 0.05. During early life, the IRBT treatments and sloughing had minor effects on FI, FE, and BW. At 4 wk of age, STAN pullets were lighter than C pullets; however, differences were no longer apparent after this age. Pullets with STP or STAN beak shapes had lower WD than C pullets when allowed access to water via nipple drinkers but this did not result in reduced growth. Throughout the laying period, SHV hens laid more saleable eggs than C hens, with no other effects on production. Overall, variations in beak shape and sloughing of the beak tissue had minimal impacts on the productivity of LW and LB pullets and hens.

3D моделирование археологических артефактов при помощи сканеров структурированного подсвета

Currently, 3D modeling of archaeological artifacts is the most actively developing science area in archaeology. It serves both for visualization of objects of the archaeological heritage, and for verifiable scientific research at a previously inaccessible level of detail. The proposed article provides a universal method for scanning archaeological artifacts using a structured light scanner. As a result of scan applying, you can get a scaled model of an archaeological artifact that fully corresponds to the original. Using the example of threedimensional images of stone tools, basic recommendations are given for scanning archaeological artifacts of various colors and sizes. Examples of the most common errors that occur during scanning as a result of incorrect equipment settings or due to the physical properties of the scanned objects are given. Error correction algorithms can be used for any scanning devices and scanning any types of artifacts. The proposed article can be used as a teaching tool for learning to scan archaeological objects using scanners of structured illumination.

Practical aspects of the measurements of non-photochemical chlorophyll fluorescence quenching in green microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using Open FluorCam.

Methods of chlorophyll fluorescence measurements are widely used in the research on photosynthesis and ecophysiology of plants and algae. Among them, a very popular technique is pulse-amplitude-modulation (PAM) flourometry, which is simple to carry out, fast and non-invasive. However, this method is also prone to generate artifacts if the experiments were not planned and executed properly. Application of this technique to algae brings additional complications, which need to be taken into consideration. Some of them are connected with sample preparation and setting of the protocols used, while another origin from the differences in the photosynthetic apparatus and regulation of photosynthesis in various algal groups when compared to vascular plants. In the present paper, some important practical aspects concerning PAM fluorometry measurements in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii have been described, including the equipment settings and sample preparation. The impact of growth conditions, such as light, temperature and medium type on the induction of non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence have been also tackled, as well as the question of state transitions occurring in darkness.