Test Procedure Research Articles

Cediranib and Olaparib Combination Compared With Cediranib or Olaparib Alone, or Chemotherapy in Platinum-Resistant or Primary Platinum-Refractory Ovarian Cancer: NRG-GY005.

We assessed the efficacy of cediranib, olaparib, and cediranib/olaparib compared with standard-of-care chemotherapy (SOC) in platinum-resistant or platinum-refractory epithelial ovarian cancer (PROC). NRG-GY005 is an open-label, four-arm, phase II/III superiority trial enrolling patients with high-grade serous/endometrioid PROC and one to three previous therapies. Key exclusion criteria included previous receipt of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor or receipt of antiangiogenic therapy in the recurrent setting. Treatment arms (SOC [once weekly paclitaxel, topotecan, or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin], cediranib, olaparib, or cediranib/olaparib) were equally randomized. A preplanned interim futility analysis on the basis of progression-free survival (PFS) selected treatment arms to advance to phase III. PFS and overall survival (OS) were phase III coprimary end points, with hierarchical testing of PFS followed by OS to preserve type 1 error control, designed to have 90% power for a 0.625 PFS hazard ratio (HR). OS was tested after PFS in the multiple hierarchical testing procedure. Secondary end points included objective response rate (ORR) and patient-reported outcomes. Five hundred sixty-two eligible patients were enrolled for phase II/III. Three arms met PFS criteria to carry forward to phase III (SOC, cediranib/olaparib, and cediranib). Median PFS was 3.4, 5.2, and 4 months with SOC, cediranib/olaparib, and cediranib, respectively, with a median follow-up duration of 42.2 months. PFS HR estimates for cediranib/olaparib and cediranib (v SOC) were 0.796 (98.3% CI, 0.597 to 1.060) and 0.972 (98.3% CI, 0.726 to 1.300), respectively. Median OS was 13.6, 12.8, and 10.5 months, and of 443 patients with measurable disease, ORR was 8.6%, 24.7%, and 13.1% for SOC, cediranib/olaparib, and cediranib, respectively. No new safety signals were identified. In patients receiving cediranib/olaparib, no statistically significant difference was observed on the NFOSI-DRS-P subscale compared with SOC (98.3% CI, -1.3 to 1.5, P = .8725). The cediranib-containing arms demonstrated clinical activity on the basis of PFS but were not superior compared with SOC.

Deformation behavior of aluminum alloy rivets for aerospace applications

For many decades, solid rivets made of high-strength aluminum alloys have been used for mechanical joining of aircraft structures. For numerical modeling of riveting processes the detailed description of the deformation behavior of the rivets is of utmost importance; however, only very little reliable material data are available. Therefore, this study reviews and investigates the deformation behavior of commercial MS20426AD3-5 countersunk rivets made of aluminum alloy AA-2117-T4 as typically used in aerospace applications. The self-consistent procedure for determining the material-specific flow curve includes (i) the exact preparation of cylindrical samples, (ii) compression testing of the samples at testing speeds of 0.05 mm/s, 0.5 mm/s and 5 mm/s, and (iii) inverse numerical modeling of the testing procedure. In general, the compliance of the testing setup must be considered for obtaining reliable flow curves, especially when testing small samples. The determined flow curve of aluminum alloy AA-2117-T4 showed higher yield stress and more distinct initial strain hardening than most of the flow curves published in literature. Although the flow curve did not show any significant strain rate dependency, notable softening due to deformation-induced adiabatic heating of the compressed sample was observed at the highest testing speed. However, the fracture strain seems to be strain rate-dependent, because samples deformed at the low testing speed did not show any signs of macroscopic fracture, whereas local fracture occurred in samples deformed at the medium and high testing speeds.

Measuring NOx during periodic technical inspection of diesel vehicles

BackgroundAll light-duty (LD) and heavy-duty (HD) vehicles circulating in the European Union undergo regular checks during mandatory periodic technical inspections (PTI). These inspections promote road safety and environmental protection. Vehicles with defective deNOx aftertreatment systems can result in high emissions of NOx, which is an important air pollutant. The ongoing revision of the “so-called” Roadworthiness Package by the European Commission propose including a new method for measuring NOx from vehicles’ exhaust during PTI (NOx-PTI).ResultsThe results obtained showed an increase in NOx emissions, 8 to 28 times, when the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) unit was not working. The applicability of the NOx-PTI idling test procedure to Euro VI HD vehicles was also investigated satisfactorily. Furthermore, methods to warm-up the vehicle’s aftertreatment prior to the NOx-PTI idling test, including standing still free accelerations and urban speed drives, as well as systems conditions before the test, were studied. Five different NOx analysers were assessed against reference equipment to ensure the accuracy of NOx measurements to assess their suitability for PTI purposes. The findings indicate that an urban speed drive is suitable for warming up both LD and HD vehicles. The tested analysers appeared to be suitable for use in PTI.ConclusionsThe high NOx emissions recorded when the SCR unit was not working, and their potential environmental impact, highlight the importance of a PTI test capable of detecting malfunctioning vehicles. The study demonstrated that the idle test procedure, testing conditions, and NOx analysers used were effective in performing a NOx-PTI check on both light- and heavy-duty Diesel vehicles, successfully discriminating between functioning and malfunctioning SCR systems.

A comprehensive study on the effects of printing parameters on the mechanical properties of PLA

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effects of five different printing parameters, namely, printing speed (PS), printing temperature/nozzle temperature/extrusion temperature, heated-bed temperature, raster angle (RA) and layer height (LT), on mechanical properties. Design/methodology/approach American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards were used for the specimen design. Then, the Taguchi method was used for the design of the experiment and an L16 orthogonal array was preferred. Tensile, Shore D and surface roughness tests were conducted on polylactic acid test specimens. The test results were analyzed using the signal-to-noise ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Findings As a result of the study, it was seen that RA is the most important parameter for the tensile strength, PS is for the hardness and LT is for the surface roughness. According to the ANOVA results, the effects of the RA, PS and LT on the maximum tensile strength, hardness and surface roughness were 41.59%, 69.51% and 44.6%, respectively. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the most comprehensive parameter optimization studies for additive manufacturing in the literature because it includes five different printing parameters and three mechanical test procedures.

A-356 A hand-held microfluidic platform for rapid and sensitive identification of respiratory viruses from nasal swab samples

Abstract Background Identifying the infected individual with a fast and accurate test is essential to constrain the spread of viruses and provide the proper treatment. Antigen rapid test (ART) provides quick screening of infection for patients; however, it shows less promising in the detection of early infection and patent’s full recovery as its inferior sensitivity to the nucleic acid detection method. On the other hand, bulky and costly instrument, tedious and prolonged procedures in traditional nucleic acid testing is also unfavorable for the screening. Delta is developing a fully automated hand-held POC using molecular technology to simultaneously detect 4 targets in 20 mins. The POC can be stand-alone or linked to mobile or PC app for different application scenarios. The proprietary recipe of the lysis buffer could neutralize the inhibition in the sample with effective pathogen lysis in seconds. The microfluidic cartridge containing lyophilized reagent can be stored at room temperature. The amplification signal is detected via the optical system from the colorimetric LAMP. This study is to evaluate the performance of the POC system in detecting SARS-CoV2 (SC2), FluA and B viruses in nasal swab. In addition, the assay performance was further compared with other commercial products available. Methods The attenuated SC2 virus, FluA and B viruses were diluted with 1xTE into different concentrations. The diluted viruses were spiked into the lysis buffer in 5% v/v ratio. Nasal samples collected from donors were soaked and swirled inside the cartridges containing lysis buffer according to the manufacturers’ instructions. For commercial products without lysis buffer, direct swabs were used. The cartridges were then put into the respective devices for further testing. Results The lyophilized SC2 assay consistently detected the viruses at 1000 copies/ml (20 out of 20) in real nasal samples in the presence of Delta Lysis Buffer (containing lyophilized neutralizer). However, without Lysis buffer, there was no signal detected even in the presence of 240x LoD viruses. The whole workflow sensitivity was tested with SC2 positive samples at 1x, 4x, 10x LoD and negative samples in the nasal sample matrix on Delta hand-held system. The results were processed via embedded algorithm and displayed on device as well as on PC and mobile app respectively. Out of 79 positive samples tested, the detection rate was 100%. There was no false positive detection for 31 negative samples tested. Positive internal control indicated the valid runs. 5 major SC2 subtypes (99.8% in silico analysis of 366,707 strains), 10 FluA and 9 FluB subtypes were successfully detected. Further, Delta hand-held platform outperformed in the LoD of SC2 with 500 copies/swab comparing to the ≥50,000 copies/swab of the benchmarked commercial platforms. Conclusions The performance of the hand-held molecular detection system we developed demonstrated a rapid, sensitive, and competitive analytical performance in the respiratory panel detection. The capability of device linking to apps and clouds for data management and the extendable docking system for multiple devices to run samples simultaneously and independently, make it applicable for the infectious diseases screening in both clinical settings and for home-use.

A-193 Optimizing Emergency Laboratory Operations Through Six-Sigma Strategies for Enhanced Efficiency and Effectiveness: A Pilot Study

Abstract Background Quality assurance is vital in laboratory diagnostics to ensure patient safety and accurate results. Laboratories employ internal and external quality control measures, particularly focusing on the analytical phase. Sigma metrics, representing process variation, play a crucial role in assessing accuracy, with Six Sigma setting high standards for operational excellence. This study aims to enhance laboratory testing procedures by analyzing the analytical phase. In 2022, the Emergency laboratory at KFAFH, Jeddah, achieved optimal sigma performance, marking a significant improvement in analytical testing. http://www.westgard.com/sigma-vp-kfafh.htm. In 2023, The study also demonstrated a 30% productivity increase, driven by sustained efforts and Sigma metrics implementation, leading to cost reductions and improved quality. Real-time patient moving averages enhance quality assurance, extending coverage to the total testing process. The primary objectives include redesigning IQC procedures and optimizing resource utilization. This will be accomplished by reducing the frequency of controls, minimizing unnecessary reruns, optimizing resource allocation, and managing total costs, all while ensuring compliance and averting violations. Methods A retrospective-prospective study was conducted at the Emergency Laboratory of King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, from May 2021 to October 2023. The study assessed 841,558 tests for 131,785 emergency patients. Forty-seven analytes were evaluated for Internal Quality Control and External Quality Control (CAP), with monthly data collection. Chemistry and Hematology parameters were analyzed using Unity Real-Time software on Alinity-ci and Alinity-hq analyzers. Data was collected in three stages: baseline, pre-Sigma verification, post-Sigma implementation, and a sustainability phase. The methodology involved DMAIC model tools like flowcharts, cause & effect analysis, and sigma metric scales. Six Sigma process tools, including DPM and process capability analysis, were used. Interventions included Six Sigma metrics for QC performance, DPM for TAT process improvement, and patient moving average Real-time for proactive risk management in reducing analytical testing variation. Results Excellent performance (> 6 sigma) was achieved for 70% of chemistry test parameters for three control levels.: This indicates a high level of process capability and reliability in laboratory operations, ensuring accuracy and consistency in test results. The study successfully reduced process variation in Emergency Room (ER) laboratory Turnaround times (TATs), leading to an increase in process capability as measured on the Sigma scale, which improved from 1.35 to 3.1, indicating a more robust and efficient laboratory operation. Reducing the cost and efficiency of internal failure controls by 29% and at the same time saving in labor cost/workload marked a decrease in QC frequency from 7.0% to 0.18%, reaching the target goal of TATs and satisfaction. Conclusions The adoption of Six Sigma methodologies resulted in a notable decrease in QC runs, signaling cost savings. These high-quality methods streamline laboratory operations, improve cost-effectiveness for the healthcare system, and ultimately benefit patients and clinicians. Six Sigma methodologies play a crucial role in selecting appropriate QC designs for each parameter, ensuring efficient control while maximizing cost-effectiveness. Emphasizing the importance of suitable QC strategies and continuous technologist training is vital for mitigating analytical errors and enhancing turnaround time through comprehensive automation of the analytical phase.

A-092 Siemens Healthineers Commitment to Quality - A Focus on Continuous Improvement and Customer Experience

Abstract Background It is necessary that each step of in vitro diagnostic assay development and manufacturing processes be documented and executed in alignment with established quality management systems. Here, we describe how Siemens Healthineers (SHS) maintains assay traceability and focus on continuous improvement using the Atellica® CH A-LYTE® Integrated Multisensor Technology (IMT) assays measuring electrolytes sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chloride (Cl) as a prime example. Methods Establishing an unbroken chain of comparison from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) higher standard references to the product calibrators ensures accurate value assignment within stated measurement uncertainties. Traceability and standardization are achieved by creating a panel of 10 serum anchor pools spanning the analytical measuring interval for each electrolyte: Na, K, and Cl. The concentrations of the anchor pools are determined at a reference laboratory using methods calibrated with standard solutions derived from NIST reference material. These serum anchor pools are used by SHS, assigning values to product calibrator material which maintains the chain of traceability to the primary reference methods. In addition to traceability, onboard stability for the A-LYTE® IMT multisensor is continuously monitored and evaluated against allowable drift limits for each electrolyte. Although observed drift was within allowable limits, a design change was implemented to improve recovery drift over the use life of the sensor. Results To ensure consistent, robust, and accurate performance of the A-LYTE IMT, a strict set of testing procedures are used to verify the accuracy of value assignments for each manufactured lot of master standards. The recovery of the NIST standard reference material must fall within manufacturer established acceptable bias limits. Consistency over nine master lots is shown with bias ranging from -0.9% to +1.9%, -2.4% to +1.8% and -1.8 to +0.5%, for Na, K and Cl, respectively. By further optimizing the amount of Na ionophore and the polymer matrix of the Na sensor, drift over the use life was minimized and onboard stability improved. Prior to making the sensor change, customer Na QC data at 116 mmol/L showed an SD of 1.1 mmol/L (n=585), whereas the precision improved to an SD of 0.6 mmol/L (n=470) post-optimization. As Manufacturers optimize assay performance, it may become necessary for laboratories to re-evaluate reference intervals for their patient populations. For example, one large integrated delivery network established a new reference interval for patient anion gap (AG). A re-evaluation of the historical AG reference interval which was 5-15 mmol/L identified the need for an update. AG values were calculated from 16,948 healthy patients and used to establish a new reference interval of 2-10 mmol/L. Conclusions Accurate clinical laboratory measurements are critical for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating diseases. A-LYTE assays have an unbroken chain of traceability to NIST reference material and minimal drift over the life of the multisensor. Continuous monitoring to identify improvement projects and rigorous control systems ensure sensor performance over time. This provides confidence that the patient results produced by the laboratory are accurate and consistent over time and across different laboratory locations.

B-290 Static Analytical Scopes and Lab Processes - An Existing Public Health Hazard

Abstract Background Most chromatographic-based procedures have defined analytical scopes. This allows for laboratories to include the most relevant analytes in test panels and for care providers to know exactly what is included and excluded in ordered tests. Analytical scopes can be developed based on drug trend data, consensus body recommendations, or mandatory guidelines. However, it is reasonable to conclude that strictly adhering to these scopes, or not having robust processes in place that permit for rapid scope changes, will result in the underreporting of drug use in a population or miss a relevant drug finding for a single patient. For example, SAMHSA’s minimum mandatory guidelines for urine workplace drug testing does not include fentanyl. While true the number of fentanyl positive cases that are missed in this population is speculative, a factual case in point is made by evaluating laboratory results for a major novel psychoactive substance (NPS) drug class - designer benzodiazepines (DB). We performed a retrospective review to study the frequency that designer benzodiazepines would have been missed in reporting without further intervention by laboratory staff. Methods Blood samples were screened by ELISA and LC-TOF/MS. Confirmation testing using two different LC-MS/MS panels was conducted on samples that screened presumptive positive for benzodiazepines. Analytical results were retrieved from the laboratory’s data management system using the following criteria: a) date range: Feb 2023 to Feb 2024, b) blood matrix, c) DUID testing cases where benzodiazepine screening was performed by ELISA and by LC-TOF/MS, and d) at least one DB was reported regardless of the presence of other drugs. Results Nine parent DB or their metabolites were identified in the 46 cases in this study: 8-aminoclonazolam (n=3), alpha-hydroxyetizolam (n=2), bromazolam (n=35), clonazolam (n=2), deschloroetizolam (n=1), etizolam (n=1), flubromazolam (n=7), flualprazolam (n=1), and pyrazolam (n=1). Benzodiazepine screening by ELISA and LC-TOF/MS was positive for 45 and 46 cases, respectively. In the 45 cases that screened positive by ELISA, 41 did not confirm positive for any classical benzodiazepine (CBZ) which included alprazolam, diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, temazepam, oxazepam, and the nordiazepam metabolite. Only 4 cases tested positive for both a DB and CBZ (alprazolam or clonazepam) simultaneously. Conclusions While it is understood that defined analytical scopes are a laboratory necessity, care providers, law enforcement, public policy decision makers, and communities at large need to understand the limitations and regulations surrounding analytical test procedures. For some testing, a laboratory is obligated to follow mandatory guidelines, but from a clinical or medicolegal perspective, the risk is two-fold. The first is that the causative drug producing any untoward effects goes unrecognized. The second is that symptoms displayed are attributed to the presence of other drugs. This work stresses the importance of sincere collaboration between laboratories and entities that are responsible for analytical scope development and providing funding to ensure the appropriateness of real-time drug surveillance and reporting efforts.

Performance of anhydrous ethanol and gasoline blends on a SI engine: Decoupling evaporation enthalpy and knock resistance

Blending bioethanol with gasoline is recognized as a rapid solution for mitigating nonrenewable carbon dioxide emissions. This approach proves particularly meaningful in markets where the production of this biofuel aligns with sustainable practices. Understanding the alterations in the combustion process holds significance within these markets, contributing to informed decision-making and fostering environmentally conscious practices. In this context, it is widely known that highly ethanol blended fuels can provide benefits regarding suppression of knocking combustion in spark ignited engines if the quality of the base-fuel is not deteriorated to maintain octane ratings. However, the results of engine knocking investigations can be affected by two effects simultaneously. Firstly, ethanol has a beneficial effect on knock suppression due to its high enthalpy of evaporation compared to gasoline, which results in inner mixture cooling especially with direct injection. Secondly, ethanol can have beneficial effects on knock suppression by its decreased self-ignition tendency. This paper provides the set-up and results of an adapted engine testing procedure to diminish the effects of evaporation enthalpy during the knocking investigations of different highly ethanol blended fuels. The presented testing procedure at a single-cylinder research engine includes three technical steps: (1) the engine is equipped with a port fuel injection in stoichiometric operation for all tested fuels; (2) the engine is operated with constant speed of 1500 rpm and constant spark timing of 33° firing top dead center; (3) the engine is operated with fuel individual settings for the intake manifold gas pressure and intake manifold gas temperature. These parameters are adjusted to test all fuels with similar in-cylinder conditions at spark timing. The differing heating values of the fuels obviously result in differing engine loads. However, the presented testing procedure is aimed to achieve comparable in-cylinder conditions at spark timing without the effect of evaporation enthalpy. The novelty of the study lies in its adapted engine testing procedure that mitigates the cross-effects of fuel properties and operational conditions to isolate the true influences on knock occurrence. The paper provides a comprehensive description of the theoretical backgrounds, experimental set-up and post-processing procedures and also shows the results of the first measurement campaign.

To Integrate and Optimize the Use of Programmable Logic Controller in Development of Horizontal Flow Wrap Packaging Machinery for Industry Needs

This paper focuses on the use of PLC and HMI in the automation industry for a highly effective and versatile horizontal flow wrap plastic film packaging solution. The machine's functioning and efficiency are thoroughly evaluated through extensive testing and validation procedures across multiple criteria. The main aim of this paper is to do the automatic plastic film packaging of any product with packaging dimensions of 4cm X 5cm. For the process automation the FX5U 32MT PLC of Mitsubishi is used for controlling and automating the system using ladder logic. The result shows that the developed system provides fully automatic wrap packaging of products and able to do automatic packaging of 24 packets in one minute. Additionally, the results show the increased efficiency of product rate in less time for automatic packaging system. Finally, it has been observed that the system is very beneficial for the automatic packaging process using PLC and the process can be monitored and visualized on a display screen using HMI. Future advancements are required in the system to meet industry4.0 needs. By incorporating some smart technologies, deeper integration with Industry 4.0 principles could boost capabilities in data analytics, connectivity, and remote monitoring for predictive maintenance.

Hindi Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of Modified Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M): A Cross-Sectional Study from the Metabolic Surgery Clinic in North India

Background: The lack of culturally-sensitive tool masks the epidemiology of weight-bias and internalized-stigma. This study aimed to translate, adapt, and validate the Modified Weight-Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS-M) into Hindi. Methods: The translation and adaptation process followed the World Health Organization guidelines. Three psychiatrists translated the original WBIS-M into Hindi. The bilingual panel comprised four psychiatrists, two laparoscopic bariatric surgeons, a professor of English, and an individual with severe obesity (with an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of Band 8.5) who was familiar with Western culture. The panel identified and resolved inadequate expressions of translations or discrepancies. An independent translator, whose mother tongue was English, back-translated it into the English language. Focused group discussions with individuals with severe obesity were conducted. The final H-WBIS-M was administered to undergraduates ( n = 120) after seven days. Test–retest reliability was assessed. The original WBIS-M, Eating Disorder Diagnostic Screen, and Fat Phobia Scale-Short Form were administered to 120 undergraduates and 55 individuals with severe obesity ( n = 175)]. Reliability and validity of H-WBIS-M were analyzed. Results: Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure of sampling adequacy was 0.788, and Bartlett’s test of sphericity was χ2 = 1381.892, p = 0.000. The exploratory factor analysis extracted three components. Spearman-Brown coefficient for H-WBIS-M was 0.875. The internal consistency was α = 0.875 ( p = 0.000), intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.857 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.812–0.893) ( p = 0.000), and Pearson correlation ranged from 0.869 to 0.989 ( p = 0.000). Cross-language concordance revealed a significant intraclass correlation coefficient (0.877–0.986) ( p = 0.000) and Pearson correlation ranging from 0.781 to 0.972 ( p = 0.000). Conclusions: The H-WBIS-M demonstrated good psychometric properties based on standard testing procedures.

Confirmatory Adaptive Designs for Clinical Trials With Multiple Time-to-Event Outcomes in Multi-state Markov Models.

The analysis of multiple time-to-event outcomes in a randomized controlled clinical trial can be accomplished with existing methods. However, depending on the characteristics of the disease under investigation and the circumstances in which the study is planned, it may be of interest to conduct interim analyses and adapt the study design if necessary. Due to the expected dependency of the endpoints, the full available information on the involved endpoints may not be used for this purpose. We suggest a solution to this problem by embedding the endpoints in a multistate model. If this model is Markovian, it is possible to take the disease history of the patients into account and allow for data-dependent design adaptations. To this end, we introduce a flexible test procedure for a variety of applications, but are particularly concerned with the simultaneous consideration of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). This setting is of key interest in oncological trials. We conduct simulation studies to determine the properties for small sample sizes and demonstrate an application based on data from the NB2004-HRstudy.

Research on automated verification method for temperature-related tests of electrical energy meters

Abstract Program of pattern evaluation of fixed electrical energy meters-alternating current and GB/T 17215 series of national standards for the examination of energy meter performance by the impact of temperature change, set up a variety of temperature-related test items. Systematic research is possible to conclude that temperature-related tests can be divided into two categories according to the test procedure: Hold at test temperature for a certain period of time, return to the reference temperature and then measure the relevant parameters; measurement of the relevant parameters immediately after a certain period of time at the test temperature. Relevant parameters include errors at different load points and daily timing error of the internal clock of the energy meter. Data processing is undertaken after the test mainly consists of deriving error shift and mean temperature coefficient. This automated calibration method allows you to freely set the test temperature, test duration, reference temperature, stabilization duration, detection parameters, test points and data processing according to the test requirements. The paper explains in detail the application of the automated calibration method to realize typical temperature dependence, test of time-keeping accuracy of the energy meter with temperature and climatic tests (high temperature test, low temperature test and durability test of accuracy) The method breaks the shackles of the traditional calibration method of fixed test temperature, fixed test points and fixed test duration. It can adapt to the development needs of different levels of pattern evaluation of energy meter and national standards, for the laboratory to realize automated testing to provide the basis for industry standards and product testing commissioned inspection.

A new Schiff-base complex of palladium nanoparticles on modified Fe3O4 with 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid (DAA) as a robust, reusable, and selective catalyst in the C[sbnd]N and C[sbnd]C coupling reactions

A Pd Schiff base complex was immobilized onto the surface of magnetic Fe3O4 as a novel, green, and recyclable heterogeneous nanocatalyst and fully characterized by TEM, XRD, FT-IR, BET, SEM, ICP-OES, EDS, TGA, and VSM techniques. The Fe3O4@SiO2@DAA@Schiff base-Pd(0) catalyst exhibits outstanding performance in catalyzing Buchwald-Hartwig and Stille coupling reactions, resulting in high yields of the corresponding products. This catalyst offers numerous benefits, such as a straightforward testing procedure, environmentally friendly reaction conditions, absence of hazardous solvents, quick reaction time, low catalyst usage, and the ability to be reused. Furthermore, the nanocatalyst could be effortlessly separated from the reaction mixture using a bar magnet, enabling its repeated recovery and reuse without compromising its stability or activity.

The Effect of Different Education Methods Before Invasive Urodynamics on Patients’ Anxiety, Pain, Readiness and Satisfaction Levels: Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Urodynamic testing is an invasive procedure that causes pain and anxiety. Patient education is an evidence-based nursing intervention that relieves pain and anxiety and increases patient satisfaction. This study was carried out to compare the effects of different education methods utilized before a urodynamic testing procedure on patients' pain, anxiety, readiness for the procedure, and satisfaction. The study is a randomized controlled clinical trial. Participants (n = 80) were randomly assigned to four groups. While patients in the control group were provided with routine clinical information, patients in the intervention group were given education with brochures, videos, and brochure-supported videos. The research data were collected by using a Data Collection Form with items about participants' descriptive characteristics, the Visual Analog Scale, and the State Anxiety Inventory. It was determined that pain expectation before urodynamics and the severity of pain during urodynamics were lower in intervention groups than in the control group. Pain expectation before urodynamics was lower in the brochure-supported video education group than in the brochure education group. Anxiety levels were lower and satisfaction levels were higher in the video education and brochure-supported video education groups than in the control and brochure education groups. Of the methods utilized, it was determined that the most effective one was brochure-supported video education as it affected all parameters positively.

Investigation of the strain rate and stretch level dependent behavior of elastomeric nanocomposites in complex uniaxial tests under finite strains

The mechanical behavior of elastomeric nanocomposites in experiments with nested stress-strain cycles and cyclic tests with increasing strain amplitude were considered. In our proposed testing procedures, long time stops at each stage of the change in loading direction were of great importance. This revealed two significant features of the behavior of elastomeric nanocomposites that have received little attention. It was shown that material softening (the Mullins effect) should be considered not only in the elastic part of the Cauchy stress tensor, but also in its dissipative part. The second peculiarity was the difference between the characteristic relaxation time at loading and the characteristic relaxation time at unloading observed in the experiments.This paper focuses on the behavior of highly-filled elastomeric materials based on different matrices (styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR)) and with different concentrations of carbon black (CB) or a combination of two fillers (CB and purified multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)).A mathematical model of the viscoelastic behavior of elastomeric nanocomposites under finite strains was proposed. It takes into account the peculiarities of the behavior of highly filled elastomers observed in the experiments. The specificity of the model consists in a new variant of the form of the free energy potential. It was shown that the new model satisfies the thermodynamic inequality, which is a consequence of the first law of thermodynamics and the second law in the form of the Clausius-Duhem inequality. A good agreement between theoretical calculations and experimental data was obtained.

A comprehensive analysis of coal toughness index: Relationships among coal toughness index, uniaxial compressive strength and proximity parameters

Coal and gas outbursts are significant safety hazards in underground coal mining, particularly in deep Australian coal seams. While the traditional outburst risk management relies on threshold limit values of seam gas content, recent experiences have shown that this approach overlooks important factors such as coal toughness and strength. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the coal toughness test, also known as the Protodyakonov strength test, as a predictor of outburst risk. After upgrading the test rig and updating testing procedures, the toughness index f was compared with conventional strength parameters, revealing a strong positive correlation with uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) and drop hammer impact strength. An analysis of 98 coal samples taken from seven seams at three Australian mines revealed that lower moisture content and higher apparent relative density are associated with increased coal toughness. Specifically, the Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients of −0.79 and −0.78 were observed, respectively, indicated a strong negative relationship between coal moisture content and toughness. Additionally, coal seams with lower volatile matter content exhibited higher toughness values. The study proposes adopting the coal toughness index as a robust alternative to the conventional indicators such as UCS, especially when obtaining intact coal samples is difficult. Incorporating the toughness index into the outburst risk assessment can improve safety by adopting a more comprehensive and reliable approach.

Inference in cluster randomized trials with matched pairs

This paper studies inference in cluster randomized trials where treatment status is determined according to a “matched pairs” design. Here, by a cluster randomized experiment, we mean one in which treatment is assigned at the level of the cluster; by a “matched pairs” design, we mean that a sample of clusters is paired according to baseline, cluster-level covariates and, within each pair, one cluster is selected at random for treatment. We study the large-sample behavior of a weighted difference-in-means estimator and derive two distinct sets of results depending on if the matching procedure does or does not match on cluster size. We then propose a single variance estimator which is consistent in either regime. Combining these results establishes the asymptotic exactness of tests based on these estimators. Next, we consider the properties of two common testing procedures based on t-tests constructed from linear regressions, and argue that both are generally conservative in our framework. We additionally study the behavior of a randomization test which permutes the treatment status for clusters within pairs, and establish its finite-sample and asymptotic validity for testing specific null hypotheses. Finally, we propose a covariate-adjusted estimator which adjusts for additional baseline covariates not used for treatment assignment, and establish conditions under which such an estimator leads to strict improvements in precision. A simulation study confirms the practical relevance of our theoretical results.

Assessment of sealing systems impact on the vibration and environmental safety of rotary machines

Energy saving control algorithms of centrifugal fans/pumps are based on the use of the frequency-controlled induction motor drives and pressure or flow rate sensors, the costs of which are comparable to the cost of the fans/pumps for low-power applications. The paper develops a new and simple estimation approach of the pressure and flow rate, utilising the measured Root Mean Square (RMS) value of the stator current, estimated motor’s input active power, reference stator voltage frequency and feed-forward backpropagation artificial neural network. The error percentage for both flow rate and pressure in experimental and estimated data is within the range of ±5%, which conforms to the ISO 13348 standard. A test rig for the rapid control prototyping of the fan is designed, and necessary design and test procedures are developed. The estimation approach is verified experimentally and demonstrates better estimation accuracy compared to the existing and possible similar simple approaches. The developed algorithm can be easily embedded into the industrial variable frequency drives without any hardware changes.

Improved Flow Rate and Pressure ANN Estimators for a Centrifugal Fan with Induction Motor Drive

Energy saving control algorithms of centrifugal fans/pumps are based on the use of the frequency-controlled induction motor drives and pressure or flow rate sensors, the costs of which are comparable to the cost of the fans/pumps for low-power applications. The paper develops a new and simple estimation approach of the pressure and flow rate, utilising the measured Root Mean Square (RMS) value of the stator current, estimated motor’s input active power, reference stator voltage frequency and feed-forward backpropagation artificial neural network. The error percentage for both flow rate and pressure in experimental and estimated data is within the range of ±5%, which conforms to the ISO 13348 standard. A test rig for the rapid control prototyping of the fan is designed, and necessary design and test procedures are developed. The estimation approach is verified experimentally and demonstrates better estimation accuracy compared to the existing and possible similar simple approaches. The developed algorithm can be easily embedded into the industrial variable frequency drives without any hardware changes.