Ideal Time Research Articles

Activated rice husk biochar for azo dye removal: batch adsorption, kinetics and thermodynamic studies

<p>The study aimed to analyze the adsorption behaviour of an activated rice husk biochar adsorbent in batch mode to expunge azo dye concentrations depletion from liquid solvents. The biochar adsorbent was formulated using different chemical synthesis processes, and its surface region was assessed using Nitrogen retention. The existence of the particular azo dyes was verified through SEM and EDX examinations. Additionally, XRD analysis was conducted to examine the intensity and crystalline structure of the activated biochar adsorbent. A batch mode study was conducted to ascertain the ideal adsorption parameters, including pH, contact time, biochar dose, and azo dye concentration. The adsorption kinetic studies supported the notion of a favourable adsorption interaction occurring through the mutual influence of the adsorbed matter and the adsorbing substrate. Most isotherm studies were well-fitted with regression values of isotherm models, indicating an adsorption process with non-uniform monolayer formation. Thermodynamic investigations validated that the binding forces between the adsorptive and the adsorbing phase are endothermic, and a significant amount of spent adsorbent was successfully recovered using a strong hydrochloric acid desorption process.</p>

Timing of First Set of Pressure Equalization Tubes in Pediatric Patients With Cleft Deformities.

Children with cleft palates often have comorbid eustachian tube dysfunction requiring pressure equalization tubes (PETs). PETs can relieve middle ear effusions that impede hearing. Ideal PET placement timing in this population is controversial. In this study, the audiologic exam passing rates of patients with cleft palate prior to and following PET insertion were assessed. Rates for patients receiving PETs at different ages were compared. It was hypothesized that earlier PET placement may benefit patients with additional months of improved hearing. A retrospective chart review was performed of patients with cleft palate between November 22, 2016 and November 22, 2021 at a tertiary center. Statistical analysis compared passing/normal audiologic exams in patients receiving PETs at different ages. A total of 348 patients had cleft palate diagnoses, received PETs, and had adequate hearing data for inclusion. Those with PETs inserted at 3 months of age or less had an increase in percent of patients passing audiologic exams following versus prior to PET insertion of 13% (1.3 times improvement). Those receiving PETs between 7- and 12-months had the largest rate of improvement (42%) (2.4 times improvement); other groups had changes in passing rates between 31% and 40%. The rate of passing audiologic exams following PET insertion was high across all groups, ranging from 66% to 81%. This is one of the first studies exploring the timing of PET placement in this population and showed that patients receiving PETs at 3 months of age or younger passed subsequent audiologic exams at similar rates relative to those receiving PETs later in life. 3 Laryngoscope, 134:3391-3394, 2024.

Evaluation of Chlorella vulgaris biosorption capacity for phosphate and nitrate removal from wastewater

High wastewater production rates during the past few decades are mostly attributable to anthropogenic activities. The main components leading to the nutrient enrichment of natural water bodies are such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and other minerals. The main focus of this research was to assess the ability of using Chlorella vulgaris algae, a potent and environmentally benign material, to eliminate phosphate and nitrate ions from wastewater. FTIR results showed that the biologically active molecules that facilitate the binding of phosphate and nitrate ions unto the C. vulgaris are C=C and N–H amid. The ideal equilibrium time for adsorption was 24 h with an optimum pH of 7 and the mass ratio of algae and different anions concentration was 80%. Freundlich isotherm model was the best-fitted isotherm. Moreover, the results of the experiment fit more closely with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model than other models. Elovich kinetic model data for both ions showed that the adsorption rate was much higher than the desorption rate. The growing popularity of biosorbents in treating wastewater has led to an improvement in their affordability and availability, and C. vulgaris may now represent an environmentally friendly choice from an environmental, and economic standpoint.

Sosialisasi tentang Pentingnya Perilaku Hidup Bersih dan Sehat (PHBS) Sejak Dini di TK Yarsi Mataram

Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) from an early age in kindergarten children is very important to socialize. This is intended to educate kindergarten children about the importance of implementing PHBS in their daily activities. The introduction of PHBS at an early age is the ideal time to provide education so that the hope can be recorded in memory so that it becomes a habit until adulthood. There are many types of PHBS, one of which is washing your hands properly and correctly. This socialization activity aims to increase the knowledge of children at Yarsi Mataram Kindergarten about the importance of Clean and Healthy Living Behavior (PHBS) in children, as well as providing an understanding of the simple application of Clean and HealthyLiving Behavior. The results of the service are in the form of understanding and increasing awareness of kindergarten children about the importance of developing clean and healthy living habits that are easy for them to understand, such as how to wash their hands properly and correctly. So it is hoped that this simple understanding can become a habit for them to apply until they grow up.

Adsorption of CF3SO2F decomposition products by HfS2 vacancy structures as a promising detection device: A DFT study

As a new environmentally friendly insulating gas that is expected to replace SF6, CF3SO2F has great potential for application in the power industry. However, the harm caused by its decomposition products cannot be ignored, and gas sensing detection technology is an effective means to solve this problem. The adsorption properties of HfS2 monolayer, Hf vacancy (HfS2-HfV) and S vacancy (HfS2-SV) for four CF3SO2F decomposition products (HF, SO2, SO2F2 and CF4) were investigated based on density functional theory. The results show that S vacancy is easier to form than Hf vacancy, and S vacancy can also significantly enhance the adsorption effect of HfS2 on the four gases, among which the adsorption effect of SO2 is the most obvious improvement, with the adsorption energy of -2.695 eV. During the adsorption process, SO2 acts as an electron acceptor and gains electrons, while the other three gases act as electron donors and lose electrons. After the adsorption of four gases, HfS2-SV with a large change of work function indicates that HfS2-SV has the potential to be used as a FET gas sensor. In addition, at the temperature of 298 K, HfS2-SV has an extremely ideal recovery time for SO2F2 and a very long recovery time for SO2, indicating that HfS2-SV has the potential to detect SO2F2 or remove SO2 by purposeful modification the S vacancy on the surface of HfS2 through defect engineering technology. This study shows that HfS2-SV is a promising new gas detection material or adsorption material for the detection and removal of CF3SO2F decomposition products.

Physical and physiological aspects in cocoa seeds influenced by fruit maturity stage

The determination of the harvest time is one of the crucial aspects to consider for obtaining high-quality seeds, which can be established based on the fruit maturity stage. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of seeds from cocoa clones based on the fruit maturity stage, aiming to determine the ideal harvest time. The experimental design used was completely randomized in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme, with four maturity stages based on the visual coloration of the fruit exocarp (green, semi-green, semi-ripe, and ripe) and four clones (SJ02, CEPEC 2006, PH16, and CCN51). After extraction from the fruits, the seeds underwent analysis, including assessment of physical aspects (length, width, water content, and dry matter) and physiological aspects (germination, germination speed index, seedling emergence, and electrical conductivity). The biometric results showed low influence of the maturity stages, not being sufficient to define the ideal harvest stage. The ripe stage (yellow-orange exocarp) for the studied clones enabled obtaining cocoa seeds with higher quality, generally indicating it as the ideal harvest time.

Effectiveness of pleurodesis for postoperative air leaks after lung resection

BackgroundPleurodesis is often performed for air leaks; however, the ideal materials and timing of the procedure remain controversial. We investigated the efficacy of pleurodesis using different materials and timing.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed 913 consecutive patients who underwent segmentectomy or lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer between 2014 and 2021. Pleurodesis efficacy was assessed on the day of chest tube removal.ResultsEighty-six patients (9%) underwent pleurodesis for postoperative air leaks. Pleurodesis was performed on a median of postoperative day (POD) 5. Talc was the most frequently used material (n = 52, 60%), followed by autologous blood patches (n = 20, 23%), OK-432 (n = 12, 14%), and others (n = 2, 2%). No difference existed in the number of days from initial pleurodesis to chest tube removal among the three groups (talc, 3 days; autologous blood patch, 3 days; OK-432, 2 days; P = 0.55). No difference in patient background, except for sex, was observed between patients who underwent pleurodesis within 4 PODs and those who underwent pleurodesis on POD 5 or later. Drainage time was significantly shorter in patients who underwent pleurodesis within 4 PODs (median, 7 vs. 9 days; P = 0.004).ConclusionsThe efficacies of autologous blood patch, talc, and OK-432 would be considered comparable and early postoperative pleurodesis could shorten drainage time. Prospective studies are required.

Early cholecystectomy.

In patients with acute calculous cholecystitis, early laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the first choice, including high risk patients. The ideal timing is surgery within 72 hours of the onset of symptoms, and the duration of the symptoms should not exceed 7-10 days. If surgery is contraindicated, percutaneous or endoscopic gallbladder drainage may be considered. Team experience and technical equipment of the unit play an important role in the choice of the most appropriate procedure.

KONCEPTUALIZACIJA DETINjSTVA U DETINjSTVU – PEDESETOGODIŠNjA BAŠTINA

Childhood – a children’s literature journal (Detinjstvo – časopis o književnosti za decu) has been published continuously since 1975 in Novi Sad in the Zmaj’s Children’s Games (Zmajeve dečje igre) edition. During its half a century of existence, six editors-in-chief and many more editorial teams have changed. On the pages of Childhood, texts of different nature were published, but all of them were dedicated to children’s literature and childhood, examining their various aspects. This text shows how criticism, evaluation of works of literature for children, actually evaluates the recipient itself, that is a child. It is also shown how the attitude towards the language of the literary work reflects the understanding of the child’s overall development, not only speech development. Insights into childhood and the child in older literature (for example, medieval) and oral tradition lead to a conclusion about the position of the child during the historical development of society. The image of childhood and children in different genres and in the works of different writers is most common on the pages of Childhood. It goes from the vision of an “ideal times” in which the “ornament of the world” flourishes, to the representation of a lonely child, left to itself and the terror of a consumer society in which it has the status of a “suppressed group”. The paper provides a broad framework that includes the concept of a child and childhood in a series of variations that are difficult to encompass. In such a widely covered synchronic and diachronic understanding of the child and childhood, in the Yugoslav, South Slavic and Serbian regions, but also in constant communication with general movements and knowledge, in the texts of different preoccupations (program texts, literary criticism and presentations, didactic texts), concepts of the child as an unfinished being and the child as an ideal and idealized projection of humanity are clearly observed, but also observed are the general value system of the culture, the national culture above all, and the culture of Western civilization with its essentially ambivalent attitude towards the child and childhood.

When is the Ideal Time to Calculate the Vasoactive Inotropic Score as a Predictor of Mortality and Morbidity in Cardiac Surgery? A Retrospective Study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prediction of vasoactive inotropic score (VIS) on early mortality and morbidity after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to determine the ideal time for score calculation. The study included patients who underwent isolated on-pump CABG surgery between November 2021 and November 2022. Pre, intra, and postoperative data were obtained by retrospective chart review. The final VIS value in the operating room (VISintra) and the highest VIS value in the first 24 hours in the intensive care unit (VISmax) were calculated. The patients were divided into two groups; Group 1 who developed early postoperative morbidity and mortality and Group 2 who did not. And the data were analyzed by groups. A total of 221 patients with a mean age of 63.49 ± 9.96 years were evaluated and 73 (33%) were in Group 1. The cut-off value for VISintra was determined to be 6.20, VISmax was 6,05. VISintra and VISmax values were significantly higher in the poor outcome group. Multivariate analysis showed that only VISmax value was an independent variable on mortality-morbidity. Our results imply that the vasoactive inotropic score is an easy and inexpensive score to calculate and can be used as a specific scoring system to predict poor early outcomes in CABG patients. According to statistical analyses, the most predictive time among VIS measurements was VISmax, the highest value calculated in the ICU in the first 24 hours postoperatively.

Application of Calcium Alginate Products for Seawater Desalination Process

Clean water availability remains a persistent challenge for coastal communities to treat seawater. Despite abundant seawater, it should be treated to remove salt contents for daily needs. An effective method for reducing seawater’s salt content involves absorption, utilizing a substance calcium alginate. We treated calcium from natural waste coral skeletons. The coral skeletons were collected from Prigi Bay, Trenggalek. The coral sample was analyzed for the Ca content of 90.8 and 93.41% prior and after calcination by XRF analysis for calcium alginate production. The determination of the optimal time required for calcium alginate to absorb NaCl efficiently. Synthesis of calcium alginate was achieved using the drop-wise method and characterized through FTIR and SEM instruments. NaCl absorption occurs within a 1 to 10-minute span to pinpoint the prime duration for calcium alginate to reduce NaCl levels. AAS instruments and argentometric titration were employed for Na+ and Cl- ions analysis. Under optimized salt absorption conditions, calcium alginate reflected an ideal 8-minutes contact time, releasing in 88.17% and 50% for Na+ and Cl- absorptions, respectively.

Ad libitum ice slurry ingestion and half-marathon performance in a hot environment: A study comparing the effects of the amount and moment of ingestion between ice slurry and water at 37 °C

Ice slurry ingestion during prolonged exercises may improve performance in hot environments; however, the ideal amount and timing of ingestion are still uncertain. We determined whether ad libitum ice slurry ingestion influences physiological and perceptual variables and half-marathon performance while comparing the effects of the amount and moment of ingestion between ice slurry and water at 37 °C. Ten trained participants (28 ± 2 years; mean and SD) were required to run two half marathons while consuming either ice slurry (-1 °C; Ad-1) or water (37 °C; 37 CE) ad libitum. They then performed two other half marathons where, during one, they were required to ingest an amount of water equivalent to the amount consumed during the Ad-1 trial (Pro37), and in the other, to ingest ice slurry in the amount consumed during the 37 CE trial (Pro-1). During the half marathons, dry-bulb temperature and relative humidity were controlled at 33.1 ± 0.3 °C and 60 ± 3%, respectively. Ad-1 ingestion (349.6 ± 58.5 g) was 45% less than 37 CE ingestion (635.5 ± 135.8 g). Physical performance, heart rate, perceived exertion, body temperatures, and thermal perception were not influenced by the temperature or amount of beverage ingestion. However, a secondary analysis suggested that lower beverage ingestion was associated with improved performance (Ad-1 + Pro37 vs. 37 CE + Pro-1: −4.0 min, Cohen's d = 0.39), with a significant relationship between lower beverage ingestion and faster running time (b = 0.02, t = 4.01, p < 0.001). In conclusion, ice slurry ingestion does not affect performance or physiological or perceptual variables during a half marathon in a hot environment. Preliminary evidence suggests that lower beverage ingestion (ice slurry or warm water) is associated with improved performance compared to higher ingestion.

Is There an Ideal Performance Time for the Latex Tube Exercise?

SOVTE has been widely used in voice clinic. Estimates of time to perform the technique with a flexible latex tube are still unknown. This study aimed to investigate the immediate effect of flexible latex tube immersed in water on amateur singers after 1, 3, 5 and 7 minutes, considering: (a) the singers' self-assessment regarding voice and vocal effort; (b) acoustic parameters; and (c) auditory-perceptual parameters of voice quality. Twenty nine amateur singers (14 women and 15 men) performed the exercise with latex tube (35 cm X 0.9 cm) in one 1-minute set and three 2-minute sets. Data collection was conducted before and immediately after each set using sustained emission of vowel [a]. Women and men were considered separately. Vocal self-assessment showed a statistically significant increase in negative sensations after 7 minutes of exercise for women. Auditory-perceptual analysis indicated voices were perceived more often as "equal" comparing pre exercise with first minute set and more often as "better" in the third and fifth minutes comparing with pre exercise only for women. The other parameters showed no significance. The exercise with flexible latex tube in amateur singers promoted improvement in vocal quality after 3 and 5 minutes for women. Also, the women presented significant negative sensations after 7 minutes. Immediate effect on the analyzed parameters was not observed in men.

Systematic Review of the Trajectory Patterns of Distress Over the Cancer Continuum Among People Living with Cancer in the United States

Purpose: Recommendations have been made for distress screening for all newly diagnosed cancer patients at their initial consult and along the cancer continuum. This review aims to synthesize the literature presenting distress trajectories of people living with cancer by describing distress trajectories by cancer site, assessment in the cancer continuum, by sex, and by instruments used. Methods: A systematic review identified 5,792 quantitative studies that included distress trajectories associated with people living with cancer. Databases searched included Ovid-Medline, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, Wiley Interscience, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and PsycINFO. Data from 20 studies were extracted and summarized. Results: Among the 20 studies, the five trajectory types described are low remaining low, low worsening to clinically high, recovery (low to high and back down to low), clinically high improving to low, and clinically high remaining clinically high. Of the 1,625 people living with cancer, 16% (262 people living with cancer) had trajectories with distress measuring high on their final outcome measure. Only 9 out of 20 studies described the distress trajectory over the full cancer continuum, from diagnosis through treatment and into follow-up care. Conclusion: To advance current knowledge on ideal intervention times for clinicians in efficiently addressing distress among people living with cancer, distress measures collected throughout the cancer continuum for individual cancers are needed.

Surface-to-Interior Transport Timescales and Ventilation Patterns in a Time-Dependent Circulation Driven by Sustained Climate Warming

Abstract The effect of climate warming in response to rising atmospheric CO2 on the ventilation of the ocean remains uncertain. Here we make theoretical advances in elucidating the relationship between ideal age and transit time distribution (TTD) in a time-dependent flow. Subsequently, we develop an offline tracer-transport model to characterize the ventilation patterns and time scales in the time-evolving circulation for the 1850–2300 period as simulated with the Community Earth System Model version 1 (CESMv1) under a business-as-usual warming scenario. We found that by 2300 2.1% less water originates from the high-latitude deep water formation regions (both hemispheres) compared to 1850. In compensation, there is an increase in the water originating from the subantarctic. We also found that slowing meridional overturning circulation causes a gradual increase in mean age during the 1850–2300 period, with a globally averaged mean-age increase of ∼110 years in 2300. Where and when the water will be re-exposed to the atmosphere depends on the post-2300 circulation. For example, if we assume that the circulation persists in its year-2300 state (scenario 1), the mean interior-to-surface transit time in year 1850 is ∼1140 years. In contrast, if we assume that the circulation abruptly recovers to its year-1850 state (scenario 2), the mean interior-to-surface transit time in 1850 is only ∼740 years. By 2300, these differences become even larger; in scenario 1, the mean interior-to-surface transit time increases by ∼200 years, whereas scenario 2 decreases by ∼80 years. The dependence of interior-to-surface transit time on the future ocean circulation produces an additional unavoidable uncertainty in the long-term durability of marine carbon dioxide removal strategies. Significance Statement The ocean’s circulation, when altered by climate warming, can affect its capacity to absorb heat and CO2, which are crucial for the global climate. In our study, we investigated how global warming, caused by rising CO2 levels, might impact the ocean circulation—the way water moves from deep ocean to the surface and vice versa. We discovered that by 2300, if we continue on our current warming trajectory, the origins of water within the ocean will shift, with less coming from deep, cold zones near the poles and more from subantarctic regions. As a result, deep water will take longer time before it resurfaces than shallow water. How quickly this water travels from deep regions to the surface could change, depending on the state of future ocean circulation. If the circulation remains as predicted in 2300, this journey will take longer. Conversely, if it reverts to the pattern in 1850, the process will be quicker. This variability introduces added uncertainty to strategies aimed at mitigating climate change by storing CO2 in the ocean. Our work highlights the intricate ways in which climate change can influence our oceans, potentially affecting our plans to mitigate global warming.

Individuals' Values and Preferences Regarding Medical Cannabis for Chronic Pain: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Cannabis for medical purposes has been legal in Canada since 2001; however, physicians receive no formal training in this modality, and clinical use of cannabis remains controversial. This study aims to explore the values and preferences of people living with chronic pain (PLwCP) in using medical cannabis for chronic pain to inform guideline development and shared decision-making in clinical practice. We conducted a descriptive qualitative study using in-depth interviews with PLwCP. Using a deductive/inductive approach, we developed concepts and themes related to values and preferences of PLwCP on their use (or avoidance) of medical cannabis for chronic pain. We interviewed 52 PLwCP, including current medical cannabis users (40), previous users (10) and non-users (2). Most PLwCP who used cannabis therapeutically reported the need for experimentation to determine what cannabis products, routes, and doses worked for them. Perceived benefits of medical cannabis among current users included relief from pain, better sleep, and improved mental health. Reasons for discontinuing use of medical cannabis included lack of improvement in pain or sleep or undesirable side effects. Cannabidiol (CBD) dominant products were reported to result in minimal adverse effects (eg, physical or mental impairment) compared to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) dominant products. Perceived barriers or facilitators to use included social acceptability, availability or access, cost, and attitudes and knowledge among healthcare providers. Participants noted different routes of cannabis use including oral routes that provided longer-lasting pain relief with a slower onset and inhaled routes with a more rapid onset with shorter-lived effects. Participants' decisions to use medical cannabis for chronic pain were varied, which suggests these decisions are likely to be sensitive to individuals' values and preferences. There is a call for further research and information-sharing to help PLwCP understand the complexities of cannabis use for medical purposes, including ideal dosing and timing.

Timing for extraction of permanent first molars in school aged children: a pilot study.

Extraction of permanent first molars (P1Ms) could create gaps, tipping and/or rotating of neighboring teeth, which depend on the extraction timing. This study evaluated the outcomes of P1Ms extraction in children who were classified based on their permanent second molar's (P2Ms) dental calcification at the time of extraction. In this retrospective study, the evaluations were made for 406 panoramic radiographs (PRs) of children aged 7-14 years who had single P1M extracted. Twenty-nine children having pre- and post-treatment PRs were selected based on the inclusion criteria. First, 2 groups were formed based on the extraction time by using the pre-treatment PRs; Early extraction group (EE) (n = 15) including Nolla Grades 5-6-7, and late extraction group (LE) (n = 14) including Nolla Grades 8-9-10 for P2Ms. Then, the inclination degrees of neighbouring teeth on extraction side and contralateral quadrant (non-extraction) side were measured by using the post-extraction PRs. Mann-Whitney U test was employed, and the statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The mesial tipping tendency of P2M was significant towards the extraction side both at EE or LE calcification grades of P2Ms (p > 0.05). The mesial inclination degrees of maxillary P2Ms showed no statistically significant difference between the two sides of LE group. The ideal extraction time should be determined according to the dental age to plan an appropriate occlusal maintenance.

Preventive Maintenance Policy to Improve the Effectiveness of XYZ Machine

PT ABC which is a manufacturing company that produces steel pipes. The last period there was an XYZ machine that often downtime and disrupted the production process. The breakdowns indicate the ineffectiveness of machine. It was necessary to identify and analyze the problems that occurred and the factors that caused the problem. Measurement of machine effectiveness dan it caused is carried out using the OEE method. To avoid the recurrence of machine ineffectiveness, machine maintenance is carried out in a preventive manner according to the spare parts classification (there are 3 classifications of spare parts based on price, namely A under Rp.250,000, B between Rp.250,000 -Rp.500,000 and C above Rp.500,000). The results obtained for the average value of OEE for 1 year is 68%, which shows a value below the ideal OEE standard (85%) and needs to be evaluated. From the calculation of the largest losses value is in the reduce speed losses factor of 67%, it is necessary to minimize the difference in ideal cycle time with actual time (operation time). The best scheduling results is using the preventive maintenance policy method with the schedule of maintenance are: for classification A spare parts the maintenance every 3 months, class B every 5 months, and class C every 6 months.

Referral rates and barriers to lung transplantation based on pulmonary function criteria in interstitial lung diseases: a retrospective cohort study.

Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) unresponsive to medical therapy often require lung transplantation (LTx), which prolongs quality of life and survival. Ideal timing for referral for LTx remains challenging, with late referral associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Among other criteria, patients with ILD should be considered for LTx if forced vital capacity (FVC) is less than 80% or diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is less than 40%. However, data on referral rates are lacking. To evaluate referral rates for LTx based on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) and identify barriers associated with non-referral. A single-center retrospective cohort study. The study consisted of ILD patients who performed PFT between 2014 and 2020. Patients with FVC < 80% or a DLCO < 40% were included in the study. Patients with absolute contraindications to LTx were excluded. Referral rates were computed, and a comparison was made between referred and non-referred subjects. Out of 114 ILD patients meeting criteria for referral to LTx, 35 were referred (30.7%), and 7 proceeded to undergo LTx. Median time from PFT to referral for assessment was 255 days [interquartile range (IQR) 35-1077]. Median time from referral to LTx was 89 days (IQR 59-143). Referred patients were younger (p = 0.003), had lower FVC (p < 0.001), DLCO (p < 0.001), and a higher rate of pulmonary hypertension (p = 0.04). Relatively better PFT, and older age, were significantly associated with non-referral of patients. There is under-referral of ILD patients who are eligible for LTx, which is associated with severe disease and missed opportunities for LTx. Further research is required to validate these findings.

General value functions for fault detection in multivariate time series data.

One of the greatest challenges to the automated production of goods is equipment malfunction. Ideally, machines should be able to automatically predict and detect operational faults in order to minimize downtime and plan for timely maintenance. While traditional condition-based maintenance (CBM) involves costly sensor additions and engineering, machine learning approaches offer the potential to learn from already existing sensors. Implementations of data-driven CBM typically use supervised and semi-supervised learning to classify faults. In addition to a large collection of operation data, records of faulty operation are also necessary, which are often costly to obtain. Instead of classifying faults, we use an approach to detect abnormal behaviour within the machine's operation. This approach is analogous to semi-supervised anomaly detection in machine learning (ML), with important distinctions in experimental design and evaluation specific to the problem of industrial fault detection. We present a novel method of machine fault detection using temporal-difference learning and General Value Functions (GVFs). Using GVFs, we form a predictive model of sensor data to detect faulty behaviour. As sensor data from machines is not i.i.d. but closer to Markovian sampling, temporal-difference learning methods should be well suited for this data. We compare our GVF outlier detection (GVFOD) algorithm to a broad selection of multivariate and temporal outlier detection methods, using datasets collected from a tabletop robot emulating the movement of an industrial actuator. We find that not only does GVFOD achieve the same recall score as other multivariate OD algorithms, it attains significantly higher precision. Furthermore, GVFOD has intuitive hyperparameters which can be selected based upon expert knowledge of the application. Together, these findings allow for a more reliable detection of abnormal machine behaviour to allow ideal timing of maintenance; saving resources, time and cost.