Qualification Techniques Research Articles

57‐1: Invited Paper: Key challenges for the qualification of vehicle displays

Today, automotive displays are among the innovators for high‐resolution, free‐form, curved and flexible displays with immense demands on durability, brightness and color fidelity. These ever‐increasing requirements go hand in hand with the future‐oriented changes in mobility. The importance of displays, especially in semi‐autonomous and autonomous vehicles, is constantly increasing. At the same time, the complexity of the overall component is increasing due to multitouch, haptic feedback, integrated camera technology and other sensor technology. Accordingly, the qualification techniques must be constantly adapted and expanded and face new challenges to be able to evaluate image processing measures and optimizations, e.g. through local dimming.Modern optical measurement techniques in combination with efficient and fully comprehensive commissioning of entire components can significantly shorten the development time and are today decisive competitive advantages. We show and try to evaluate which changes are necessary for the development process as well as for the product validation and give examples for corresponding solution approaches.The work was done in cooperation with the quality assurance department at Mercedes‐Benz AG.

Development of RF GD-OES technique for chemical qualification of BWR and PHWR core components

Development of RF GD-OES technique for chemical qualification of BWR and PHWR core components

Selection and qualification of e-commerce suppliers

With the growth of e-commerce in Brazil year after year, competition increases and entrepreneurs need to be attentive to their competitors and apply the best strategies and innovations to remain in the market. Thus, there is a need for organizations to adopt supplier selection and qualification techniques that provide competitive advantages in the market. Current organizations have sought to make their suppliers strategic partners in their businesses, and this partnership becomes a crucial factor for the growth of their businesses and a win-win negotiation for both parties. The methodology employed for the development of this scientific article was characterized by adopting a qualitative approach, and the research procedure used was a bibliographic study. The overall objective of this research is to demonstrate the importance of a careful selection and qualification of e-commerce suppliers. From the information gathered throughout the research, it became clear that evaluating the performance of suppliers is an essential issue for the development of e-commerce companies, as well as for the organization and optimization of the supply chain.

Aflatoxin tests in herbal products and its quantification: Latest updates.

Aflatoxin is naturally occurring mycotoxins produced by fungi. The existence of aflatoxin in herbal medicines is a well-known issue. The detection of aflatoxin with good sensitivity and also that is reliable in complex matrices like herbs usually necessitates difficult processes and powerful detection instrument in preparation of sample. This study investigated the global occurrence of aflatoxin contamination herbal products. This article pivots on key breakthroughs in preparation of sample and its importance in analytical technology. Studies from published studies were screened to determine the general level of aflatoxin contamination. The countries involved were Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, Brazil, Nigeria, Thailand, South Africa, and Morocco. This review also includes recent studies on the development and application of screening assays such as lateral flow immunoassays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, aptamer-based lateral flow assays, and cytometric bead arrays, as well as traditional chromatographic techniques for aflatoxin qualification or quantitation. The current study looks at aflatoxin contamination of key herbal drug raw material, which are frequently used in the production of numerous herbal pharmaceuticals. Contamination of aflatoxin might occur in herbal products if the ingredients such as medicinal herbs and plants that are used in manufacturing of herbal products are not dried thoroughly or stored inappropriately after preparation.

Evolution of policy instruments for food safety risk management: Comparing China and Western countries

Using text mining and instrument qualification techniques based on 605 policy instrument texts issued by the China government from 1985 to 2019, this study quantitatively analyzes the total number, type structure, specific composition, and evolution of policy instruments for food safety risks governance. Overall, 1,193, 459, and 95 of these instruments were compulsory, mixed, and voluntary, respectively. The results found that the evolution of these instruments in China exhibits a strong similarity to those in Western countries. They both started with compulsory instruments alone, then turned to a combination of compulsory and mixed instruments, and eventually progressed to a mixture of compulsory, mixed, and voluntary instruments. The internal logic of this evolution is that the instrument type structure changes continuously in response to the changes in the stakeholder relationships among government, market, and society. However, unlike Western countries, China still relies heavily on the role of government, which results in the dominance of compulsory instruments and insufficiency of mixed and voluntary instruments, reflecting high path dependence. Implications are discussed. • Using text mining and instrument qualification techniques. • The internal logic is with the relationship among government, market, and society. • The evolution of instruments in China is similar in Western countries. • China exist structural imbalance among instruments.

The potential of NO+ and O2 +• in switchable reagent ion proton transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry (SIFT-MS) and proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry with switchable reagent ion capability (PTR+SRI-MS) are analytical techniques for real-time qualification and quantification of compounds in gas samples with trace level concentrations. In the detection process, neutral compounds-mainly volatile organic compounds-are ionized via chemical ionization with ionic reagents or primary ions. The most common reagent ions are H3 O+ , NO+ and O2 +• . While ionization with H3 O+ occurs by means of proton transfer, the ionization via NO+ and O2 +• offers a larger variety on ionization pathways, as charge transfer, hydride abstraction and so on are possible. The distribution of the reactant into various reaction channels depends not only on the usage of either NO+ or O2 +• , but also on the class of analyte compounds. Furthermore, the choice of the reaction conditions as well as the choice of either SIFT-MS or PTR+SRI-MS might have a large impact on the resulting products. Therefore, an overview of both NO+ and O2 +• as reagent ions is given, showing differences between SIFT-MS and PTR+SRI-MS as used analytical methods revealing the potential how the knowledge obtained with H3 O+ for different classes of compounds can be extended with the usage of NO+ and O2 +• .

High throughput testing platform and application in wire arc additive manufactured superalloy: Anisotropy investigation and component qualification

The rapid development of additive manufacturing requires quick and cost-effective testing techniques for efficient materials, process, and product qualification. In this study, a high-throughput (HTP) tensile testing rig with capability of automatically testing 60 specimens per hour is developed, which is orders of magnitude faster than traditional one-at-a-time tensile testing. The HTP testing was utilized to investigate the anisotropy and intrinsic scattering of the mechanical properties for superalloy IN617 manufactured by wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM), in an effort to qualify the WAAM process and an actual component. 120 samples were extracted from WAAM-built qualification bulk at 3 heights (bottom, middle, and top) and 2 orientations (Y and Z) and 40 samples were extracted from a load collar (an actual gas turbine component) for HTP testing. This large dataset was statistically analyzed and revealed that the Z-direction had significantly higher elongation than Y-direction, but slightly lower ultimate tensile strength. Intrinsic scattering in the Y-direction was higher than in the Z-direction and increased with height, which agreed with microstructure variations examined by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was concluded that the WAAM process and product met the internal design requirements with the consideration of the anisotropy and intrinsic scattering of tensile properties. Qualification requirements of AM material, process and components, and potential applications of HTP testing are also discussed.

Non-Contact Measurement Techniques for Qualification of Aerospace Brackets Made by Additive Manufacturing Technologies

In recent times, additively manufactured aerospace brackets made in titanium based alloys are gaining a great importance in the design of spacecrafts and satellites. In this scenario, one of the main focal points is the qualification of these 3D printed-products, including their mechanical behavior. In literature, no dissertation can be found about stress analysis on the actual component, and this is what this paper focuses on. The importance of this study relies on the fact that some morphological or dimensional differences between the nominal (CAD) structure and the manufactured one could lead to non-predicted stress concentrations. We describe a feasibility study of the Thermoelastic Stress Analysis on a titanium based- alloy space bracket, made by Electron Beam Melting (EBM). The success of our study could enable the classical topology optimization processes to be implemented a-posteriori, thus providing an additional time and cost saving.

Rapid qualification of mereotopological relationships using signed distance fields

Although mereotopological relationship theories and their qualification problems have been extensively studied in [Formula: see text], the qualification of mereotopological relations in [Formula: see text] remains challenging. This is due to the limited availability of topological operators and high costs of boundary intersection tests. In this paper, a novel qualification technique for mereotopological relations in [Formula: see text] is presented. Our technique rapidly computes RCC-8 base relations using precomputed signed distance fields, and makes no assumptions with regards to complexity or representation method of the spatial entities under consideration.

Application of supervised machine learning for defect detection during metallic powder bed fusion additive manufacturing using high resolution imaging.

Process monitoring in additive manufacturing (AM) is a crucial component in the mission of broadening AM industrialization. However, conventional part evaluation and qualification techniques, such as computed tomography (CT), can only be utilized after the build is complete, and thus eliminate any potential to correct defects during the build process. In contrast to post-build CT, in situ defect detection based on in situ sensing, such as layerwise visual inspection, enables the potential for in-process re-melting and correction of detected defects and thus facilitates in-process part qualification. This paper describes the development and implementation of such an in situ defect detection strategy for powder bed fusion (PBF) AM using supervised machine learning.During the build process, multiple images were collected at each build layer using a high resolution digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera. For each neighborhood in the resulting layerwise image stack, multi-dimensional visual features were extracted and evaluated using binary classification techniques, i.e. a linear support vector machine (SVM). Through binary classification, neighborhoods are then categorized as either a flaw, i.e. an undesirable interruption in the typical structure of the material, or a nominal build condition. Ground truth labels, i.e. the true location of flaws and nominal build areas, which are needed to train the binary classifiers, were obtained from post-build high-resolution 3D CT scan data. In CT scans, discontinuities, e.g. incomplete fusion, porosity, cracks, or inclusions, were identified using automated analysis tools or manual inspection. The xyz locations of the CT data were transferred into the layerwise image domain using an affine transformation, which was estimated using reference points embedded in the part. After the classifier had been properly trained, in situ defect detection accuracies greater than 80% were demonstrated during cross-validation experiments.

A Review of Current Methods for Analysis of Mycotoxins in Herbal Medicines.

The presence of mycotoxins in herbal medicines is an established problem throughout the entire world. The sensitive and accurate analysis of mycotoxin in complicated matrices (e.g., herbs) typically involves challenging sample pretreatment procedures and an efficient detection instrument. However, although numerous reviews have been published regarding the occurrence of mycotoxins in herbal medicines, few of them provided a detailed summary of related analytical methods for mycotoxin determination. This review focuses on analytical techniques including sampling, extraction, cleanup, and detection for mycotoxin determination in herbal medicines established within the past ten years. Dedicated sections of this article address the significant developments in sample preparation, and highlight the importance of this procedure in the analytical technology. This review also summarizes conventional chromatographic techniques for mycotoxin qualification or quantitation, as well as recent studies regarding the development and application of screening assays such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, lateral flow immunoassays, aptamer-based lateral flow assays, and cytometric bead arrays. The present work provides a good insight regarding the advanced research that has been done and closes with an indication of future demand for the emerging technologies.

Selection and Qualification of Simplified QSP Models When Using Model Order Reduction Techniques.

Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) models are increasingly used in drug development to provide a deep understanding of the mechanism of action of drugs and to identify appropriate disease targets. Such models are, however, not suitable for estimation purposes due to their high dimensionality. Based on any desired and specific input-output relationship, the system may be reduced to a model with fewer states and parameters. However, any simplification process will be a trade-off between model performance and complexity. In this study, we develop a weighted composite criterion which brings together the opposing indices of performance and dimensionality. The weighting factor can be determined by qualification of the simplified model based on a visual predictive check (VPC) using the precision of each parameter. The weighted criterion and model qualification techniques were illustrated with three examples: a simple compartmental pharmacokinetic model, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) example, and a semimechanistic model for bone mineral density. When considering the PBPK example, this automated search identified the same reduced model which had been detected in a previous report, as well as a simpler model which had not been previously identified. The simpler bone mineral density model provided an adequate description of the response even after 1year from the initiation of treatment. The proposed criterion together with a VPC provides a natural way for model order reduction that can be fully automated and applied to multiscale models.

Il lavoro digitale su piattaforma

This article deals with the work carried through digital platforms of crowdsourcing.The web is now vector of production processes widespread and fragmented among network users: companies break up the activities and assign them to a digital infrastructure that commit the work to the crowd of users, sometimes through competitions for the selection of the best idea. The usual technique for contractual qualification does not directly apply to digital work on platform. The use of terms and conditions to regulate relations between the three parties involved (customer, platform and provider), in fact, shows the autonomy of these schemes compared to the regulative contribution of the employment contract.The A. also analyzes the socialization of production processes, especially in the culture industry, and the emerging user-worker, arranging his work through not transparent mechanisms governed by unilateral contractual clauses, far from the synallagma of the employment contract.The contractual and economical imbalance between digital platform and others operators characterizing web-outsourcing suggests the inclusion of crowdsourcing sites (and the ones oriented at collective production) among actors involved in the labour market. The paper finally suggests a common regulatory background for web-operators with the integration of measures that re-confirm the typical features of the worker, although user.

Automating microfluidic part verification

Microfluidic devices promise to significantly advance the field of medicine by providing diagnostic tools that may be administered at the point-of-care (POC). Currently, a major barrier to entry for POC microfluidic diagnostic technologies is part qualification where specific features of a microfluidic technology must be qualified during the manufacturing process to ensure the device performs properly, e.g., Tantra and van Heeren (Lab Chip 13:2199, 2013). Additionally, microfluidic device research is moving toward therapeutic applications where quality control requirements may be more stringent. In this paper, we use soft embossing—a replication technology—to manufacture high aspect ratio thermoplastic deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) parts, where DLD is a size-based microfluidic particle separation technology based on shift post arrays. Morphological data are collected using optical profilometry, and key metrics are automatically extracted using a novel image analysis algorithm. This algorithm allows us to rapidly quantify the average post height, post shape, array pitch and surface roughness in order to compare a lot of 12 devices to the original design and the deep reactive ion etched silicon master mold. During the run of 12 devices, the post height was 63.0 ± 5.1 μm (mean ± 6σ), the pitch was 35.6 ± 0.31 μm, the post eccentricity was 0.503 ± 0.197, the post circularity was 1.195 ± 0.084 and the root-mean-square surface roughness was 4.19 ± 3.39 μm. Importantly, this automated part qualification technique reduced data analysis time by 75- to 100-fold while allowing for additional qualification metrics and significantly reducing the need for manual measurement. Overall, this paper indicates that it is possible to improve the quality and efficiency of microfluidic part qualification using optical profilometry coupled with a novel image analysis algorithm.

Research on dark signal degradation in 60Co γ-ray-irradiated CMOS active pixel sensor

A study of ionizing radiation effects is presented for CMOS active pixel sensors manufactured in a 0.5-μm CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor)by n-well technology. The basic mechanisms that may cause failure are also presented. After exposure in γ-rays, the most sensitive parts to radiation-dark signals and dark signal non-uniformity are discussed, i.e. the physical mechanism of the degradation by irradiation. One can see from the experiment that the mean dark signals are dramatically increased with total dose for both operated and static devices. Static device seems more affected by irradiation than operated device. We find that most part of the total dark signal in a pixel comes from the depletion of the photodiode edge at the surface and the rest part is caused by the leakage of the source region of the reset transistor. Dark signal non-uniformity follows the dark current evolution with total dose. Further study of photodiode and LOCOS (local oxidation of silicon) isolation behaviors under irradiation should be done so as to correctly use this qualification techniques on MOS sensors manufactured in CMOS n-well technology process.

Characterization of Cleanroom Dry Wipers for Trace Metal Contaminations

In this work, metal contamination of cleanroom dry wipers was characterized by ICP-MS analysis using various sample preparation methods. Trace metals extracted by ultrapure water were limited even with sonication and results from nitric acid extraction were orders of magnitude higher, possibly due to improved solubility of metal species. Results from high temperature ashing process provided an overall picture of all non-volatile metal impurities in these wipers and served as a reference point for the study. By varying acid composition, acid concentration, and/or extraction temperature, metal impurity information reflecting real-world applications could be attained. The study found titanium and antimony constituted approximately 0.25% (as TiO2) and 0.015% (as Sb2O3) of wiper weight with other trace metals at 5–15 ppm; Hydrofluoric acid - hydrogen peroxide mixture extracted more impurities than dilute nitric acid; and 80°C 1-hour extraction was more effective than 20°C 24-hour extraction. Replicate measurements found significant wiper piece-to-piece variation for some metals. Time study for acid extraction of these wipers suggested 6–12 hours extraction duration needed for metals to reach concentration plateau at room temperature. The study demonstrated that ICP-MS based methods are effective and viable techniques for wiper evaluation and qualification, process monitoring, and quality control.

Novel computed tomography indexes of left atrial appendage stasis

Contrast enhanced multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) may detect left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus; however, its ability to qualify LAA stasis has not been studied. We sought to identify MDCT derived LAA radiographic parameters which could qualify LAA stasis as defined by established transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) parameters. Pre-procedural MDCT followed by TEE (median procedural time difference of 11 days) from 45 patients who underwent ablation for atrial fibrillation were analyzed retrospectively. Contrast enhanced, non-gated, helical MDCT (64 detector row) was performed according to the institutional protocol. Using a combination of parametric and nonparametric tests, the mean attenuation and heterogeneity parameters of LAA attenuation were correlated with the presence of spontaneous echocardiographic contrast and Doppler derived LAA emptying velocity on TEE. If significant correlation is observed, a receiver operating curve analysis will be performed. The baseline characteristics of the studied population were; age, 62 ± 11; CHADS2 score, 2.0 ± 1.2; heart rate, 79 ± 10 bpm; left ventricular ejection fraction, 49 ± 14%. SEC was seen on TEE in 19 patients; ten with mild, eight with moderate, and one had severe SEC. No patients had LAA thrombus. Compared with the group without SEC, those with SEC had significantly increased coefficient of variation (0.19 vs. 0.14, p = 0.014) and range to mean ratio (1.04 vs. 0.73, p = 0.011). There was no significant correlation between mean LAA attenuation and LAA emptying velocity. However, the range, range to mean ratio, standard deviation and coefficient of variation of LAA attenuation had a significantly negative correlation with LAA emptying velocity (r = -0.486, r = -0.497, r = -0.434, r = -0.466, respectively, all p < 0.05). On receiver operating curve analysis, each of the heterogeneity parameters significantly discriminated LAA emptying velocities ≤30 cm/s, with areas under the curve of 0.88, 0.83, 0.81 and 0.76 respectively. In patients with atrial fibrillation, increased contrast heterogeneity within the LAA on MDCT correlated with decreased LAA emptying velocity on TEE. Contrast enhanced MDCT provides an adjunctive, noninvasive technique for Qualification of LAA stasis.

Electrical characterization of surface and interface potentials on SiC

Contact free vibrating capacitor results have shown that the SiC surface is more stable, compared to Si, and it is possible to identify the different (Si or C) planes on SiC substrates. The surface charge density seems to be higher after compression welding process. Electrostatic (corona) charge on the surface results in accumulation and depletion, and probably avalanche breakdown instead of equilibrium inversion. However, the equilibrium Q–V curve still can be measured starting from the inversion region.Among C–V methods the capabilities of V–Q and mercury C–V have been investigated, as two major electrical measurement techniques for SiC qualification. SiC–silicon-dioxide interfaces and SiC epitaxial layers were characterized with HF/LF C–V and V–Q measurement techniques. These methods were developed basically for Si measurements, but they could easily be adapted for measuring SiC too.

Predicting module level RF emissions from IC emissions measurements using a 1 GHz TEM or GTEM cell — A review of related published technical papers

This paper reviews some of the many published technical papers relating to the measurement of IC emissions using a 1 GHz TEM cell or GTEM cell modified to accept an IC test board and provides a basis for correlation between these IC level measurements and module level RF emissions. We will follow the development of this methodology from the early investigations through the later applications to show the viability of the technique for IC qualification. Developments over time have shown that this method of IC emission measurement is repeatable, correlatable to other methods and provides, within limits, useful prediction of module level RF emissions performance.

Determination of X-Ray Elastic Constants for Q1N Submarine Pressure Hull Steel

The Canadian Navy has a requirement to conduct on-site accurate residual stress investigations to improve the efficacy of risk assessment and damage tolerance analysis of critical structures. This paper describes the techniques for qualification of the portable miniature X-ray diffractometer (mXRD) for residual stress analysis on Canadian VICTORIA Class submarine (VCS) pressure hulls. The effect that thermomechanical processing has on the X-ray elastic constant (XREC) and resultant stress analysis is discussed. The approach for calibration of the mXRD equipment and calculation of residual stress values from strain measurements is explained. A new methodology for determination of the XREC, based on the ‘multiple angle method’, is presented discussed and applied to describe the stress-strain relation for tempered Q1N steel. This method, which expands on the ASTM standard, examines the change in lattice strain at multiple y angles (∂dfy /∂sin2y) and provides improved statistical error over the ASTM standard. An XREC of 195 ±6 GPa was experimentally determined for Q1N steel using the {211} crystallographic planes of bcc Fe (using Cr Kα radiation) using the multiple angle method.