Manufacturer's Specifications Research Articles

Microencapsulation of Probiotics for Enhanced Stability and Health Benefits in Dairy Functional Foods: A Focus on Pasta Filata Cheese

Probiotics provide significant health benefits, but their viability is often compromised during production, storage, and passage through the gastrointestinal tract. These challenges hinder their effective incorporation into functional applications, particularly in dairy functional foods, in which factors such as acidity, oxygen exposure, and storage conditions negatively impact cell survival. The focus was on functional dairy foods, particularly on pasta filata cheeses. Indeed, the use of probiotics in pasta filata cheeses presents significant challenges due to the specific manufacturing processes, which encompass the application of high temperatures and other harsh conditions. These factors can adversely affect the viability and availability of probiotic microorganisms. However, microencapsulation has emerged as a promising solution, offering a protective barrier that enhances probiotic stability, improves survival rates, and facilitates targeted release in the gastrointestinal environment. This review examines the pivotal role of microencapsulation in stabilising probiotics for functional applications, emphasising its relevance in high-value food systems. Functional applications, including foods designed to offer essential nutritional benefits and promote host health, play a crucial role in disease prevention and immune system support, reducing the risk of infections and other physiological impairments. Key microencapsulation technologies are analysed, focusing on their benefits, limitations, and challenges related to scalability and industrial implementation. Additionally, this review discusses strategies to optimise formulations, ensure the sensory quality of final products, and explore future opportunities for expanding innovative applications that align with growing consumer demand for health-promoting solutions.

Detailed Modeling of Surface-Plasmon Resonance Spectrometer Response for Accurate Correction

This work identifies and models the inline devices in an experimental surface-plasmon resonance spectroscopy setup to determine the system’s transfer function. This allows for the comparison of theoretical and experimental responses and the analysis of the dynamics of the components of an analyte placed on the sensor at the nanometer scale. The transfer functions of individual components, including the light source, polarizers, spectrometer, optical fibers, and the SPR sensor, were determined experimentally and theoretically. The theoretical model employed Planck’s law for the light source, manufacturer specifications for some components, and experimental characterization for others, such as the polarizers and optical fibers. The SPR sensor was modeled using characteristic matrix theory, incorporating the optical constants of the prism, gold film, chromium adhesive layer, and analyte. The combined transfer functions created a comprehensive model of the entire experimental system. This model successfully reproduced the experimental SPR spectrum with a similarity greater than 95%. The system’s operational range was also extended, constrained by the signal-to-noise ratio at the spectrum’s edges. The detailed model allows for the accurate correction of the measured spectra, which will be essential for the further analysis of nanosuspensions and molecules dissolved in liquids.

Verification of analytical performance of Creatine Kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) on the Alinity c® Experience from the Biochemistry Laboratory of Mohammed VI University Hospital in Oujda

The verification of analytical methods is a requirement of the NF EN ISO 15189 standard. It involves evaluating the performance of an analytical method according to a well-defined protocol and comparing it to pre-established analytical objectives. In this study, we present the results of the verification protocol for the measurement method of creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) on the Alinity c® analyzer, which is employed for functional exploration of the heart. Our study is conducted according to the criteria of Scope A detailed in the Verification/Validation Guide for Methods in Medical Biology, following the SH GTA 04 recommendations from COFRAC. The verification focused on the CK-MB assay on the Alinity c® analyzer using International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) method based on immunoinhibition principle for an assessment of analytical performance in terms of repeatability and intermediate precision. these results were aligned with the manufacturer's specifications. The results obtained for various CK-MB assay verification criteria on the Alinity c® analyzer demonstrate satisfactory repeatability across one level with CV = 1.29%. Intra-laboratory reproducibility was satisfactory for one level with CV = 2.58%. The coefficient of variation (CV) values obtained in our study were compared with manufacturer's specifications, no CV reference values were established by French Society of Clinical Biology SFBC. The findings from this study have allowed us to verify the performance of the CK-MB assay method and to compare them with the objectives set in the accreditation process to which our laboratory is committed.

P-2085. Optimizing GAIHN-AR Network Microbiology Laboratory Assets for Early Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms in Limited Resources Settings: Argentine Experience

Abstract Background The Global Action in Healthcare Network-Antimicrobial Resistance Module (GAIHN-AR), led by the U.S. CDC, enhances prevention, detection and response in low-resource hospital settings (LRS) against emerging antimicrobial resistance (AR) threats, with an initial focus on carbapenemase-producing organisms. GAIHN-AR includes a lab. component for improving early AR detection, an infection prevention and control program, and a communication platform for rapid response coordination. We describe the implementation verification/validation of new AR diagnostic methods and their integration into clinical workflow Table Methods Prior to GAIHN-AR initiation in two hospitals in Argentina in January 2023, validation of CPO diagnostic techniques was conducted. For this, reference strains characterized by WGS from the CDC & FDA AR-Bank and Argentina-NRL repository were used. Evaluation followed manufacturer specifications, with GeneXpert also tested with alternative Dacron swabs. Pure colonies were used for validation of all methods, except for GENEXPERT®Carba-R where contrived fecal sample were also used. Methodologies were acceptable with sensitivity, specificity, and precision values ≥ 95%.The following methodologies were verified for carbapenemase detection in Enterobacterales, P. aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter spp. (ACI): (i) GENEXPERT®Carba-R; (ii) NG-Test®CARBA-5 lateral flow (ACI excluded); (iii) CHROMagar mSuperCARBA® chromogenic medium for carbapenem resistance detection; (iv) RAPIDEC® CARBA-NP. Additionally, the GENEXPERT®Carba-R was validated for: i) KPC variants with ceftazidime/avibactam resistance, ii) local circulation metallo-β-lactamase IMP variants Results The methodologies under evaluation achieved performance between 95-100%, except for the IMP variants with GenXpert Carba-R where sensitivity was reduced to 44% (Table). Conclusion Verification/validation process demonstrated that most methods had acceptable performance, allowing integration into lab workflows to facilitate prompt diagnosis and rapid communication with IPC teams. Results benefited not only GAIHN-AR hospitals but also other LRS facilities with whom they were shared through the NRL, offering valuable lessons for similar settings Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Data-driven Modeling of Li-ion Battery based on the Manufacturer Specifications and Laboratory Measurements

Data-driven Modeling of Li-ion Battery based on the Manufacturer Specifications and Laboratory Measurements

Influence of temperature on energy production performance at the Azito thermal power plant (southern part of Côte d'Ivoire)

Technological advances in plant design, cooling and materials are essential to optimise performance under variable conditions. These factors are even more critical under climate change, which may exacerbate these thermal challenges. In this study, the impact of temperature variations on the energy production efficiency of the Azito thermal power plant is investigated using the THERMOFLOW model. The simulation results show that the variation of the atmospheric temperature is an important factor that affects the operation of the basic equipment and the auxiliary equipment of the power generation units. The characteristics of the gas turbine, an essential piece of equipment in the combined cycle system, fall short of the manufacturer's specifications. This will reduce the efficiency of the unit.

Comparison of slot tolerance with manufacturing measurements of different stainless steel self-ligating brackets

Background: Bracket slot dimensions is of great interest to orthodontists as it plays a major role in torque expression by affecting the wire/ slot play. This study was designed to measure slot tolerance (dimensions) and convergence angles of different stainless steel self-ligating brackets and to compare between the chosen brands. Materials and methods: Eighty upper first premolar brackets of four different brands {Damon Q (Ormco corporation, Brea, California, USA), DTC (Medical apparatus Cor., Hangzhou, China), IOS (Pactive self-ligating bracket, IOS, Stafford, USA), Lotus Plus interactive bracket (Orthotechnology Inc., southern Ct, West Columbia, USA)} of stainless steel self-ligating brackets with claimed slot dimensions of 0.559 mm (0.022") in height, 0.711mm (0.028") in depth and with zero taper angle were used (twenty brackets of each brand). Brackets were mounted in a purposely planned way to ensure the parallelism of the slot's walls and assessed using an inverted fluorescent optic microscope. The slot dimensions measurements were done using an AutoCAD software version 2020. One sample t-test was done to compare between brands and nominal values and One-way ANOVA with Tukey tests were done to compare between brands. Results: Actual slot dimensions were different significantly from the manufacturing measurements; the DTC bracket had the largest slot height and depth compared with manufacturing values (0.571mm, 0.741mm respectively), while the Lotus Plus bracket had significantly the lowest slot height and depth (0.549mm, 0.504mm respectively). Furthermore, DTC and IOS brackets have convergent slot walls, whereas Lotus Plus and Damon Q brackets exhibited divergent slot walls where Damon Q showed significantly the highest mean value (2.81◦). Conclusion: Apart from IOS brackets, the slot tolerances of the other brands did not comply with the manufacturer's specifications. Moreover, DTC and IOS showed a convergence slot angle, while Damon Q and Lotus Plus brackets showed a divergent one.

TRISO Fuel’s Safety Functions, Contributions to Reactor Safety, and Necessary Safety Limits

Safety functions are the actions, passive or active, that structures, systems, and components of a nuclear facility contribute to the safety of the workers, the public, or the environment. Well-defined safety functions are the foundation of a solid safety case for a reactor. For reactors that use tri-structural isotropic (TRISO)-coated particles, the TRISO fuel plays an important part in the safety case because of its ability to contain radionuclides in the fuel itself. This ability enables the use of a functional containment strategy for the reactor where radionuclide retention is the primary safety function supported by the safety functions of controlling reactivity control and controlling heat rejection. This paper establishes at a deeper level the role that TRISO fuel plays in each of these safety functions and the associated quality assurance and testing requirements for TRISO particle manufacturing to ensure these safety functions. Safety limits necessary to protect these safety functions include manufacturing specifications, operational limits, time-at-temperature limits, and fission gas release activity limits. This approach demonstrates the role that specific aspects of TRISO fuel play in protecting the safety of workers, the public, and the environment.

Three-way comparison of different ESR measurement methods and analytical performance assessment of TEST1 automated ESR analyzer.

Validation and performance assessment of novel ESR analyzer is required before implementation. The objective of this study was to assess the correlation between three ESR measurement methods. Full validation and performance assessment of an alternate method (TEST1) were also evaluated. Three-way correlation assessment for the Westergren (WG), modified Westregren (Mixrate), and alternate (TEST1) methods were performed. Analytical performance of TEST1 including precision, carryover, sample stability, potential interferences as well as effect of hematocrit (Hct) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) were also determined. Strong correlation between three ESR measurement methods were observed. Correlation coefficient (r)was 0.902, 0.977, and 0.949 for WG vs. TEST1, WG vs. Mixrate, and TEST1 vs. Mixrate, respectively with absolute bias <5 mm. For TEST1, precision and carryover were within the manufacturer's claim. Samples were stable upto 24 h and 48 h when they were stored at room temperature or 2-8 °C, respectively. No effect of trigyceride and cholesterol was observed. In low Hct samples, no significant different between the results obtained from Fabry's formula corrected WG values and from TEST1. Three-way comparison study yielded a strong correlation between methods. As part of the method validation before implementing a new analyzer, full validation of TEST1 showed that all validated parameters met the manufacturer's specifications. A negative bias was observed but remains within the acceptable criteria. Difference in values for samples with low hematocrit were noted, but these can be corrected by Fabry's formula applied to the values from WG method.

Processed Seafood Sustainability Supply Chain Management Practices: A Comparison of Community Enterprises and SMEs

The purpose of this study was to empirically examine current manufacturing practices of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) in processed seafood supply chain management, looking at the size difference between specific manufacturing organizations: community enterprises and SMEs. A survey was undertaken to collect data from processed seafood producers in the Rayong and Chonburi provinces, which are the main areas of processed seafood production in Thailand. The final 32 valid responses provided a response rate of 54.24%. The Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test, a nonparametric test statistic, was utilized to compare the mean difference between the Rayong and Chonburi groups of processed seafood producers. The results indicated that SMEs have a significantly higher potential than community enterprises in terms of plan, source, make and delivery. Semi-structured interviews highlighted issues regarding SSCM practices, such as a lack of knowledge of how to achieve sustainable benefits, a lack of technology use, and the instability of raw material supply from the sea, related to weather conditions, leading to difficulties in production planning and sourcing. The results of this study can be used to reflect the current status of SSCM practices. Therefore, the findings should assist both community enterprises and SMES implement more efficient processes, leading to higher performance.

Accuracy of volume measurements by a clinical spirometer in multiple veterinary hospitals.

Spirometry devices, which are components of many anaesthesia machines, are commonly used to assess lung mechanics during anaesthesia. Spirometry calibration usually adheres to manufacturer recommendations without established guidelines. Although more accurate and less variable than inbuilt spirometry in certain General Electric anaesthesia ventilators, near-patient spirometry lacks adequate evaluation. We assessed near-patient spirometers' performance using Pedi-lite and D-lite flow sensors. Certified 1 L calibration syringes were used on 67 monitors located in 14 veterinary hospitals. Three consecutive inspired and expired volume values displayed by the monitors for each volume of the calibration syringe were recorded. Volumes studied were 50, 100, 150, 250, 300 mL for Pedi-lite and 150, 300, 450, 500, 750 mL for D-lite. Measured and targeted volumes were averaged, agreement error calculated. Accuracy was assessed plotting agreement errors against calibration volumes. A linear mixed-effects model was used to obtain linear regression between the error and the calibration volume. Mean, differential and proportional bias, limits of agreement, claimed accuracy and 10% clinical tolerance were calculated and displayed. Differences among monitors were evaluated using the Friedman rank sum test, differences between inspired and expired volumes using the Wilcoxon signed-rank. Inter-monitor variability for inspired and expired volume readings using both sensors was high; intra-monitor variability was low. The error magnitude was independent of volumes evaluated. Using Pedi-lite, only a minority of measurements met manufacturer's specification or a 10% clinical tolerance; both inspired and expired volumes were significantly underestimated. Using D-lite, superior performance was demonstrated for volumes between 300 and 750 mL (mean biases close to zero and the majority of measurements meeting manufacturer's specifications and clinical tolerance). The difference between measured inspired and expired volumes with both sensors was significant. These results support caution when interpreting clinical measurements of lung volumes and mechanics in anaesthetised patients when using these sensors. This is particularly important in smaller patients where lung volumes are below 300 mL. Trends should be reliable.

High frequency of HPV high-risk preventable genotypes in Ecuadorian women with invasive cervical cancer.

To determine the distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes in invasive cervical cancer samples from Ecuadorian women who attended the Cancer Institute (Sociedad de Lucha Contra el Cáncer - SOLCA). Archived formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) cervical cancer tissue samples collected during 2017-2021 were deparaffinized, and nucleic acid extraction and purification was performed using silica columns. The obtained nucleic acids were analyzed using INNO-LiPA® HPV Genotyping Extra II per the manufacturer's specifications. Data were retrieved from records, and HPV genotypes were determined from the FFPE samples. The study included samples from 190 women diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer, with a median age of 52.78 years. Squamous cell carcinoma accounted for 78.94% of the cases, while 21.05% had adenocarcinoma. Among the 190 samples, 80.53% tested positive for HPV DNA, while 19.47% were negative. The most common genotypes detected were HPV 16 (64.05%), 18 (16.99%), and 58 (6.54%). HPV infection frequency was higher in samples from patients with elementary level education (p < 0.05). This study provides valuable insights into the distribution of HPV genotypes in invasive cervical cancer samples from Ecuadorian women. The results indicate an elevated presence of HPV 16, HPV 18, and HPV 58, which are vaccine-preventable genotypes.

Revealing the roles of solar withering and shaking processes on oolong tea manufacturing from transcriptome and volatile profile analysis.

Solar and indoor withering in the manufacturing process of semi-fermented oolong tea are crucial for aroma formation. While the processes have been established through accumulated experience, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study identified pairs of gene and volatile organic compound (VOC) that were significantly correlated and up-regulated during solar withering and the first shaking, including lipoxygenase 8 (LOX8) with 3-hexenyl iso-butyrate, terpene synthase 2 (TPS2) with β-ocimene and linalool, as well as tryptophan synthase β-subunit 2 (TSB2) with indole. Besides, two β-glucosidases (β-GH), β-GH1_1 and β-GH3_1, were up-regulated by more than 30-fold in these stages. When comparing the three manufacturing procedures, indole, nerolidol, β-ocimene, benzyl nitrile, and jasmine lactone, were largely accumulated only in the normal process, where both solar withering and shaking were included. These findings provide insights into the regulation of VOC accumulation under stresses during withering, and highlight the importance of specific manufacturing processes in the formation of oolong tea characteristic aroma.

Study of Generative Design Using Autodesk Fusion 360

Abstract: This study explores the use of generative design in Autodesk Fusion 360 for improving knuckle joint design. By applying generative design principles, we created optimized designs specifically for additive manufacturing, which showed a significant reduction in von Mises stress compared to conventional designs. These results highlight the ability of generative design to develop structures that are more efficient and better suited for specific manufacturing processes. Overall, our findings suggest that generative design can optimize knuckle joints by lowering stress, reducing weight through careful material selection, and improving stiffness, offering valuable benefits for mechanical applications.

Business Models and Advanced Additive Manufacturing strategies for better sustainability

This article explores the impact of Additive Manufacturing (AM) on business models in the context of manufacturing sustainability. We define two new standards of sustainable business models enabled by AM and discuss their potential advantages in addressing specific manufacturing challenges. The technological advancements brought about by AM have significantly influenced the manufacturing industry, fostering innovation and reshaping market structures and value-creation processes. Notably, AM contributes to sustainability by reducing material waste and transportation costs, establishing itself as a low-impact manufacturing technology. While AM is not positioned to entirely replace traditional manufacturing processes, organizations can leverage its integration with these processes to catalyze business model innovation. To expand the market for AM technologies, it is crucial to examine AM not only from a process and technology perspective but also in terms of its ability to eliminate the need for tooling and dies, which are typically produced through energy-intensive methods. Advanced manufacturing techniques can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and time to market, demonstrating AM's potential energy-saving benefits across various sectors.

Positioning errors and accuracy of CNC machine tools

Abstract Computerized numerically controlled (CNC) machine tools are a solid foundation for modern industrial manufacturing. These machines provide linear and angular displacements in three or five axes. The accuracy of moving and positioning the tooltip relative to the work part’s surface determines the final product’s accuracy. Errors due to machine positioning can be linear or angular or both. This work studies the positioning errors of a vertical turning center CNC machine type. This machine has three axes, two linear X (horizontal) and Z (vertical), and one rotation axis ‘C’. The travel of the spindle carrying the cutting tool along the X-axis is 1400 mm, and the travel of the carriage holding the spindle along the Z-axis is 1300 mm divided into six latches. The machine rotary table which carries the work part can rotate 360°. A highly precise laser interferometer system determines the linear positioning errors in both the X and Z axes. The angular positioning errors for the ‘C’ rotation axis are determined accurately by an autocollimator system. The positioning error measurements are carried out based on ISO 230–2 as a measurement standard of positioning deviation, accuracy, and repeatability. The collected error measurements in linear displacements and angular rotation are analyzed, interpreted, and compared with manufacturer specifications and ISO 13041–4 allowable tolerances.

CARACTERIZACIÓN DE LAS PROPIEDADES MECÁNICAS DEL ÁCIDO POLILÁCTICO (PLA) EN IMPRESIÓN 3D: PERSPECTIVAS A PARTIR DE TÉCNICAS AVANZADAS DE ANÁLISIS Y ORIENTACIONES DE IMPRESIÓN

This research examines the mechanical characteristics of polylactic acid (PLA) using a variety of experimental approaches, including analyses of printing orientations and the application of advanced methodologies such as digital image correlation (DIC) for accurate assessment of deformation, along with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate fracture properties. Tensile strength, flexural, impact strength, compressive and shear strength were characterized in detail, highlighting the critical impact of layer deposition direction. These findings provide valuable information for optimizing orientation selection in specific additive manufacturing contexts, emphasizing the need to address anisotropy in 3D printed materials engineering. Keywords: Polymer; PLA; 3D-print; industrial process; Digital Image Correlation (DIC).

You cannot have both – Two different ways of change implementation and their effects on adaptive performance and frustration

The dynamics and frequency of change in today's workplaces force organizations to address the question of how to create optimal conditions for facilitating adaptation to change. Identifying critical factors that affect performance and well-being in change situations can help answer this question. Given the need for applied research in this area, the aim of this paper is to investigate whether the way of change implementation has an impact on performance and well-being. Additionally, retentivity and specific self-efficacy as individual factors are exploratorily investigated. In an experimental study, seventy-one participants learned and trained specific manufacturing steps in a simulated production environment. Subsequently, they had to adapt the trained task execution as some of the previously learned manufacturing steps were subject to change. The changes were implemented a) either in a stepwise manner or b) all at once. The executed manufacturing steps were recorded, enabling the calculation of task execution time and classification of adaptation errors. The results of Mann-Whitney-U-tests showed that the stepwise introduction of changes led to significantly faster task execution time than the change introduction all at once. Additionally, descriptive statistics indicated fewer adaptation errors but higher frustration. Our exploratory analysis showed a significant negative relationship between retentivity and task execution time, as well as between specific self-efficacy and frustration. Stepwise change introduction seems to be beneficial for adaptation, even though emotional responses and individual factors must be considered.

Industrial Assessment of Mudstone Deposits of Gercus Formation as a Raw Material for Bricks Industry in Erbil Governorate, Northern Iraq

This paper evaluates the mudstone deposits' physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties and the possibility of use as a raw material to manufacture building bricks. Four sites are selected from the Gercus Formation in Shaqlawa district and the samples are tested. The mudstone samples are analyzed to define the grain size, Atterberg limits, chemical, physical and mechanical characteristics of the clay bricks. The grain size analysis of the mudstone samples showed they contained a high percentage of clay and silt and a low percentage of sand. The chemical analysis showed that silica (SiO2) was the major component in the mudstones. XRD analysis showed the presence of non-clay minerals i.e. calcite, quartz, albite and clay minerals of illite, palygorskite and chlorite. Raw samples of all studied sites were treated to prepare brick samples without addition, and others with 10% standard sand added. The results showed that the bricks prepared from the B to B10 and C to C10 stations have varying water absorption and compressive strength, while the efflorescence has light salts. All these properties are within the requirements of the Iraqi specification for brick manufacturing. The sample sites A, D, A10, and D10 are not compatible with the Iraqi standard in terms of absorption and compression.

Optimal deflection techniques for flexible and navigablesuction ureteral access sheaths (FANS): a comparative in vitro PEARLS analysis.

Flexible and navigable suctionureteral access sheaths (FANS) have been introduced without current evidence on how to optimize deflection. Aim was to evaluate in vitro deflection angles with 2 different FANS techniques-sheath advancement and ureteroscope deflection; and effects of sheath size-ureteroscope combinations. We evaluated in vitro deflection angles of 10/12Fr, 11/13Fr and 12/14Fr FANS (Hunan Reborn Medical Co. Ltd) with six single-use flexible ureteroscopes (Pusen Uscope 7.5Fr, OTU WiScope 7.5Fr, OTU WiScope 8.6Fr, Innovex EU-scope 8.7Fr, Red Pine RP-U-C12 8.7Fr and Boston Scientific Lithovue 9.5Fr). Two deflection techniques were tested: (1) sheath advancement-advancing the sheath forward over a maximally deflected ureteroscope, and (2) ureteroscope deflection-maximally deflecting the ureteroscope from various starting positions relative to tip of the sheath. Intra and inter-scope comparisons of maximum deflection angles were significantly different (all ANOVA p < 0.01). Largest maximumangles for all ureteroscopes were with the sheath advancement technique (range 218°-277°), and second largest for most scopes using the ureteroscope deflection technique at tip (range 111°-212°), mostly deviating from manufacturer specifications (range 270°-275°). 10/12Fr and 11/13Fr sheath sizes were more flexible than 12/14Fr. Largest angles were with 11/13Fr sheath-OTU8.6Fr/Innovex8.7Fr combinations. Optimal deflection with FANS is achieved using either a sheath advancement technique, or ureteroscope deflection technique at tip. Despite using these optimized techniques, deflection angles specified by manufacturers seem hardly achievable. The sheath advancement technique and 11/13Fr sheath-OTU8.6Fr/Innovex8.7Fr combinations may be better suited for lower pole situations. Urologists should be aware of these differences and apply the findings to their FANS technique.