Technician Expertise Research Articles

Maintenance cost optimisation in critical single-component systems: A technician’s training approach based on a joint learning–forgetting and fuzzy maintenance quality model

Effective maintenance in critical systems is crucial to ensure their operability and safety. Maintenance technicians play an important role in achieving the safety and reliability objectives of critical system components. However, the role of the technical team in maintenance quality is often overlooked. Our study addresses this knowledge gap by developing a methodology to optimise the training scheduling of maintenance technicians in single-component systems, focusing on a learn-and-forget approach. Our main objective is to improve maintenance efficiency by mitigating the negative impact of technician expertise level. To this end, we implemented a simulation-based optimisation, modelling the evolution of technician experience and its influence on maintenance costs. As a case study, we used an urban aerial passenger ropeway system, demonstrating that proper training of technical staff can significantly reduce both corrective and preventive maintenance costs. Our methodology identified three strategic areas for training technical staff throughout the system lifecycle. The results highlight the importance of investing in the training scheduling of technical equipment in critical systems and suggest that an appropriate training strategy can improve operational efficiency and reduce maintenance costs. In conclusion, our research underlines the need to actively consider the human factor in the maintenance of critical systems to ensure their optimal performance and long-term safety.

Estrus response to estrus synchronization using prostaglandin nanoparticle in beef cattle in Majalengka regency

Abstract The study was conducted to determine the estrus response to the applying of prostaglandin nanoparticles (PNp) in two different estrous synchronization protocols. The estrus synchronization occurred in the Majalengka Regency in different years at the same location. The first study (study 1), estrus synchronization was carried out using a single PNp injection protocol, which was preceded by corpus luteum (CL) selection (21 cows). The second study (study 2), double PNp injections were carried out at day-0 and day-11 without prior CL selection (23 cows). The observation of estrus: onset of estrus and estrus quality (score 0-3) were observed 1-5 days after the PNp injection. Results of the study showed that 100% of the cattle were in estrus 2-3 days after the injection of PNp (study 1). The study 2, the estrus response appeared 2-3 days after the PNp injection: 17.35% showed an estrus response after the first PNp injection, 78.26% showed an estrus response at the second PNp injection, and 4.35% showed no estrus response. The pregnancy rate after estrus synchronization is 66.7% and 68.2% for studies 1 and 2. It can be concluded that there is a good response to estrus and pregnancy rate in the application of PNp in both single injections preceding CL selection and double injections with two periods of insemination. Both methods can be applied for estrus synchronization for more savings in PNp hormone administration. The application of that method depends on hormone availability and technician expertise in CL detection.

Identifikasi Kerusakan Pada Landing Gear Pesawat Cessna C208B

One type of aircraft commonly used for flight training, patrol, and transportation in remote areas is the Cessna. It should be understood that each tool and component in the aircraft has its own level of importance and can experience failures in carrying out its functions. These failures often become a problem for users due to a limited understanding of the aircraft engine field. Issues arising from the aircraft's landing gear sometimes involve minor problems that do Does not require a high level of expertise. To solve this, it may be possible for someone with knowledge of landing gear to address the issue. By using the Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) method for fault identification, a technician's expertise in aircraft landing gear can be applied and integrated. The search for solutions or fault identification Can be obtained promptly In the testing results of the Fault System for Cessna C208B Aircraft Landing Gear using the CBR method, the system's calculations were consistent with the manual. However, the application still has some shortcomings in the system, such as the preprocessing stage, which has not been able to search for the root words in a question sentence.

Detection of circulating plasma cells in peripheral blood using deep learning-based morphological analysis.

The presence of circulating plasma cells (CPCs) is an important laboratory indicator for the diagnosis, staging, risk stratification, and progression monitoring of multiple myeloma (MM). Early detection of CPCs in the peripheral blood (PB) followed by timely interventions can significantly improve MM prognosis and delay its progression. Although the conventional cell morphology examination remains the predominant method for CPC detection because of accessibility, its sensitivity and reproducibility are limited by technician expertise and cell quantity constraints. This study aims to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-based automated system for a more sensitive and efficient CPC morphology detection. A total of 137 bone marrow smears and 72 PB smears from patients with at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, were retrospectively reviewed. Using an AI-powered digital pathology platform, Morphogo, 305,019 cell images were collected for training. Morphogo's efficacy in CPC detection was evaluated with additional 184 PB smears (94 from patients with MM and 90 from those with other hematological malignancies) and compared with manual microscopy. Morphogo achieved 99.64% accuracy, 89.03% sensitivity, and 99.68% specificity in classifying CPCs. At a 0.60 threshold, Morphogo achieved a sensitivity of 96.15%, which was approximately twice that of manual microscopy, with a specificity of 78.03%. Patients with CPCs detected by AI scanning had a significantly shorter median progression-free survival compared with those without CPC detection (18months vs. 34months, p< .01). Morphogo is a highly sensitive system for the automated detection of CPCs, with potential applications in initial screening, prognosis prediction, and posttreatment monitoring for MM patients. Diagnosing and monitoring multiple myeloma (MM), a type of blood cancer, requires identifying and quantifying specific cells called circulating plasma cells (CPCs) in the blood. The conventional method for detecting CPCs is manual microscopic examination, which is time-consuming and lacks sensitivity. This study introduces a highly sensitive CPC detection method using an artificial intelligence-based system, Morphogo. It demonstrated remarkable sensitivity and accuracy, surpassing conventional microscopy. This advanced approach suggests that early and accurate CPC detection is achievable by morphology examination, making efficient CPC screening more accessible for patients with MM. This innovative system has the potential to be used in the diagnosis and risk assessment of MM.

TAVR Interventions and Coronary Access: How to Prevent Coronary Occlusion.

Due to technological advancements during the past 20 years, transcatheter aortic valve replacements (TAVRs) have significantly improved the treatment of symptomatic and severe aortic stenosis, significantly improving patient outcomes. The continuous evolution of transcatheter valve models, refined imaging planning for enhanced accuracy, and the growing expertise of technicians have collectively contributed to increased safety and procedural success over time. These notable advancements have expanded the scope of TAVR to include patients with lower risk profiles as it has consistently demonstrated more favorable outcomes than surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). As the field progresses, coronary angiography is anticipated to become increasingly prevalent among patients who have previously undergone TAVR, particularly in younger cohorts. It is worth noting that aortic stenosis is often associated with coronary artery disease. While the task of re-accessing coronary artery access following TAVR is challenging, it is generally feasible. In the context of valve-in-valve procedures, several crucial factors must be carefully considered to optimize coronary re-access. To obtain successful coronary re-access, it is essential to align the prosthesis with the native coronary ostia. As part of preventive measures, strategies have been developed to safeguard against coronary obstruction during TAVR. One such approach involves placing wires and non-deployed coronary balloons or scaffolds inside an at-risk coronary artery, a procedure known as chimney stenting. Additionally, the bioprosthetic or native aortic scallops intentional laceration to prevent iatrogenic coronary artery obstruction (BASILICA) procedure offers an effective and safer alternative to prevent coronary artery obstructions. The key objective of our study was to evaluate the techniques and procedures employed to achieve commissural alignment in TAVR, as well as to assess the efficacy and measure the impact on coronary re-access in valve-in-valve procedures.

COMPUTER ASSISTED TEST UNTUK PENGELOMPOKAN JABATAN TEKNISI MENGGUNAKAN ALGORITMA K-MEANS (STUDI KASUS : PT. XYZ)

&lt;em&gt;Computer assisted test to classify technician positions using the K-means algorithm is a system built with the ability to measure abilities as well as determine the area of expertise of technicians at PT. XYZ. The purpose of making this computer-assisted test information system is to improve the technical exam system that is still manual into a computerized technician exam system by changing the procedure into a computer that uses storage media in the form of a database. The computer assisted test information system was created by referring to the SDLC (System Development Life Cycle) method which has the characteristic of working on each phase in Waterfall, which must be completed first before proceeding to the next phase. The system built is a website-based application that has two main interfaces, namely the admin interface and the technician interface. Admin interface that functions to manage users or technicians, manage question banks and manage test scores. While the User interface serves to work on exam questions. The test score data will be processed by the K-means algorithm to determine the area of expertise of each technician. This research was conducted by Muhamad Ramadhan, a student of the 2020 POLSUB information systems study program. M. Ramadhan assessed the suitability of the system with the design made by testing the system using black box testing which showed 100% success of system functionality and User Acceptences Testing (UAT) which showed ergonomic values. which is quite high at 93.25%.&lt;/em&gt;

Determination of puberty in gilts: contrast of diagnostic methods

BackgroundEarly onset of a gilt´s puberty is needed for adequate economic performance in farms, because it indicates her reproductive performance and longevity. Therefore, an effective diagnosis is needed. Our purpose was to compare different procedures (external characteristics, blood progesterone analysis and ultrasonography diagnosis) to detect puberty in 70 gilts (Topigs TN70; 240 days old) on farm conditions. Postmortem examination was the standard reference. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify which combination of independent variables (predictors) best predicts the status of gilts.ResultsPuberty (46/70 gilts; 65.71%) was characterized by the presence of follicles larger than 6 mm, corpus albicans, corpus rubrum, and corpus luteum (postmortem examination). Vaginal length, body condition, backfat, carcass weight and progesterone blood concentration were significantly higher in pubertal than prepubertal gilts (P < 0.05). Two types of ultrasonography equipment (DELTA and W3) were compared and performed by the same senior technician (V1). The results obtained by two technicians with different levels of experience (V1 and V2, a junior technician) using W3 were also compared. Ultrasonography provided better results than other diagnostic techniques, although the effectiveness of the ultrasonography changed with technological improvements and with increased expertise of technicians. The most accurate results were found by V1/DELTA (Nagelkerke´s R2 = 0.846; Sensitivity = 0.956; Specificity = 0.958; Positive predictive value = 0.978; Negative predictive value = 0.920; Area under ROC curve = 0.957). Results using the W3 equipment could be improved when used in conjunction with vaginal length (V1; Nagelkerke´s R2 = 0.834; Sensitivity = 0.933; Specificity = 0.958; Positive predictive value = 0.977; Negative predictive value = 0.885; Area under ROC curve = 0.972) or progesterone concentration (V2; Nagelkerke´s R2 = 0.780; Sensitivity = 0.955; Specificity = 0.826; Positive predictive value = 0.915; Negative predictive value = 0.905; Area under ROC curve = 0.970).ConclusionsUltrasonography provided better results than other diagnostic techniques. The effectiveness of the ultrasonography changes with technological improvements and with increased expertise of technicians. Results using the W3 equipment could be improved when used along with vaginal length (V1) or progesterone concentration (V2). Accuracy parameters are a guide to choose puberty diagnosis, but the farms must also evaluate effect on gilts, ease and cost of administration.

Malaysia Moving Towards a Sustainability Municipal Waste Management

The elevation of waste generation subsequent to population growth has become a severe environmental topic in Malaysia. Since most of the waste is being dumped into a landfill, the open dumpsite, or unsanitary landfills which are not constructed with proper engineering plan, severe impacts on the environment result. The energy demand in Malaysia increased with the growing population, but reliance on fossil fuels to generate electricity has created another greenhouse gas contributor. Alternatively, waste-to-energy technology solves the problem of increasing waste by converting the waste to a renewable energy source. Malaysia has moved towards landfill gas recovery system and incineration for waste energy recovery. The recovery system and refuse-derived fuel plant achieved expectation; however, the incineration plants have failed due to the opposition of the public, lack of funding and technician expertise, and other technical issues. The solid waste management practices lacking separation and recycling sources, become an obstacle for development. The government puts effort into solving the current issue by promoting recycling in the public, enforcing the legislation, and approaching new technologies for better solid waste management practice in the future. This paper aims to discuss the application of energy recovery from municipal solid waste in Malaysia.

Test-retest reliability and validity of body composition methods in adults.

Cost-effective and efficient body composition measurement devices that are reliable and valid are necessary for identifying health risk as well as for understanding the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability and validity of three body composition measurement devices. Forty-nine adults (mean age (SD)=31.5 (10.7) y; BMI=23.5 (3.0) kg/m2 ) completed a reference air displacement plethysmography (ADP) measure, and duplicate measures using skinfold callipers (Lange), ultrasound (BodyMetrix A-mode) and a 3-dimensional photonic scanner (3DPS; Fit3D ProScanner). Skinfold thickness was measured at seven sites using callipers and ultrasound; percent body fat (%BF) was then estimated using population-specific algorithms. The 3DPS was used to measure body circumferences, and then %BF was estimated using its beta-software. While skinfold callipers showed poor absolute reliability (mean differences (Δ) [95% CI]=0.54% [0.22, 0.87], standard error of measurement (SEM)=0.63%), ultrasound and the 3DPS showed excellent absolute (Δ=0.17% [-0.25, 0.58], SEM=0.78%; and Δ=-0.01% [-0.43, 0.40], SEM=0.67%, respectively) and relative reliability (ICC2,1 =0.988 [0.979, 0.993]; and ICC2,1 =0.983 [0.968, 0.991], respectively). Compared to ADP (n=43), skinfold callipers underestimated %BF (Δ=-4.53 [-7.72, -1.34]; p=0.003), while ultrasound (Δ=-0.32 [-3.51, 2.87]; p=0.99) and the 3DPS (Δ=1.06 [-2.12. 4.26]; p=0.77) were not significantly different. Bland-Altman plots showed a minimal bias of ultrasound [95% limit of agreement (LOA)=-7.87, 7.23] and the 3DPS [95% LOA=-6.66, 8.79]. In conclusion, estimating %BF from subcutaneous fat measurements using ultrasound and body circumferences using a 3DPS may be reliable and valid methods that require minimal technician expertise.

Nestor: A Tool for Natural Language Annotation of Short Texts

Nestor is a software tool that annotates natural language CSV (comma-separated variable) files, with a UTF-8 (Unicode Transformation Format – 8-bit) encoding, using a process called tagging [1]. The objective of Nestor is to help analysts make their natural language data, which is often unstructured, filled with technical content, jargon, mispellings, and abbreviations, computable to improve analysis. An example of natural language data that could be input to Nestor and the subsequent output data and the corresponding output is shown in Table 1. The annotated datasets generated by Nestor (as either a CSV or .h5 file) can be used for different analysis techniques, such as failure prediction, problem hot spot identification, and maintenance technician expertise assessment, as shown in [2–10]. Currently, the majority of use cases involve maintenance in the engineering domain (manufacturing, mining, heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC)), however, any natural language CSV file with UTF-8 encoding can be input to Nestor.

A retrospective study of quality management system at national reference laboratory in Mumbai - Highlighting quality in HIV testing

Background: National reference laboratory (NRL) is a NABL certified center of HIV testing at National Institute of Immunohaematology. It has 2 union territories and 8 medical colleges as state reference laboratories (SRL’s) with integrated counseling and testing centers (ICTC’s) and blood banks (BB). It performs activities such as external quality assurance scheme, retesting of samples, and training programs. Objective: A retrospective study was carried out from 2012 to 2016 highlighting NRL’s unceasing efforts in maintaining stringency in the quality management system. Materials and Methods: Verification and calibration of pipettes, evaluation of hands-on expertise of technicians for Combaids assay and ELISA testing were assessed. Retesting of samples as part of the quality check was performed. Panel proficiency testing of all the centers was done twice annually. Results: In 2013 and 2016 (81% and 36% pipettes) passed calibration, respectively. Evaluation of Combaids assay was done on the scale of excellent, medium, and poor. In ELISA testing, 53% followed standard operating procedure, 42% followed good laboratory practice, and 5% showed reproducibility in results. Evaluation of BB technicians was done using the borderline reactive sample in January 13, September 13, and January 14 showed correct results by 5%, 0%, and 11%, respectively, while 78% ICTC technicians gave correct results in Combaids assay. Proficiency testing showed few discordant results every year with need for calibration and technical assessment of personnel while total retesting samples tested from year 2012 to 2016 were 419. Conclusion: NRL emphasizes on the preparation of borderline sample as in-house quality control sample, calibration of equipments, training regarding same for assuring reliability of test results.

A Review of the ischium-pubis index: accuracy,reliability, and common errors.

This article examines the utility of the ischium-pubic index (IPI), a sexing technique that compares the lengths of pubis and ischium. The ratio was adapted by Washburn from a primate index devised by Schultz and was tested by Washburn on documented remains from the Hamann-Todd Human Osteological Collection. The IPI is used by forensic investigators, and indeed, the method is found in standard forensic textbooks and thus appears to be valid to early-stage researchers. However, its reliability has been questioned by physical anthropologists almost from its inception due to the intrinsic subjectivity of locating the base point from which both lengths are taken. In addition, at least one variation of the original technique is found in the literature, which alters the base point profoundly. To explore both the original method and the ramifications of altering the base point, in this article the IPI is calculated from os coxae recovered from the Mary Rose, a 16th-century English warship lost in a documented disaster; the sample is assumed to be from males. Using the original index, 20.4% of individuals (11 of 54) or, viewing the remains as commingled, 15.5% of individual pelves (15 of 97) were misclassified. Results with the base point shifted were disastrous: 95.5% (21 of 22) individuals and 91.4% (32 of 35) pelves were misclassified. Accuracy may be influenced by the technician's expertise; however, when the original methodology is altered, the results become meaningless. This article aims to promote more careful reading of our sources and to suggest that the IPI is not appropriate as a tool for sexing forensic remains.

Using NicAlert strips to verify smoking status among pregnant cigarette smokers

BackgroundDecreasing smoking during pregnancy is an important public health priority. An important step towards decreasing smoking during pregnancy is wider dissemination of evidence-based smoking cessation interventions. One such intervention is contingency management wherein mothers earn vouchers exchangeable for retail items contingent on biochemically verified smoking abstinence. Wider dissemination may be possible by using smoking verification methods that require minimal training and equipment. One possibility is to use a cotinine-sensitive dipstick (NicAlert) rather than a bench-top cotinine analyzer, which is expensive and requires relatively extensive technician expertise, or breath carbon monoxide analysis, which is relatively nonspecific. The present study was conducted to begin examining the utility of cotinine-sensitive dipsticks for this purpose. MethodsFifty urine samples from pregnant women enrolled in a smoking cessation program were analyzed to compare three different methods for verifying smoking status: NicAlert strips, a bench-top enzyme multiplied immunoassay technique (EMIT) analyzer, and gas chromatography (GC), the current gold standard for determining cotinine levels in urine. ResultsAgreement between GC and NicAlert results were high (96%) and comparable to agreement between GC and EMIT results (94%). Semi-quantitative measurements using NicAlert were low with only 30% of samples in agreement between GC and specific ranges given on the strips. ConclusionsNicAlert strips appear to be a valid measure of determining smoking status among pregnant smokers although not of absolute cotinine concentration. With minimal training and equipment required, NicAlert strips provide a potentially practical method for using urine cotinine to verify smoking status in community treatment settings.

Advances in malaria diagnosis

Malaria is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and accurate diagnostic testing for malaria can potentially save an estimated 100,000 lives annually. New technologies have the potential to circumvent limitations of the traditional diagnostic method, light microscopy, which is labor intensive and requires considerable technician expertise. Immunochromatographic tests, which are easy to use in field conditions and relatively inexpensive, offer a potential solution to the problem of malaria overtreatment in resource-poor endemic countries. Assays based on the PCR are highly sensitive, can be used for unambiguous species identification and, thus, may increasingly complement or even replace light microscopy in developed countries. Experimental diagnostics using flow cytometry and mass spectrometry are currently under investigation for high-throughput screening.

Identification of cultured isolates of clinically important yeast species using fluorescent fragment length analysis of the amplified internally transcribed rRNA spacer 2 region

BackgroundThe number of patients with yeast infection has increased during the last years. Also the variety of species of clinical importance has increased. Correct species identification is often important for efficient therapy, but is currently mostly based on phenotypic features and is sometimes time-consuming and depends largely on the expertise of technicians. Therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of PCR-based amplification of the internally transcribed spacer region 2 (ITS2), followed by fragment size analysis on the ABI Prism 310 for the identification of clinically important yeasts.ResultsA rapid DNA-extraction method, based on simple boiling-freezing was introduced. Of the 26 species tested, 22 could be identified unambiguously by scoring the length of the ITS2-region. No distinction could be made between the species Trichosporon asteroides and T. inkin or between T. mucoides and T. ovoides. The two varieties of Cryptococcus neoformans (var. neoformans and var. gattii) could be differentiated from each other due to a one bp length difference of the ITS2 fragment. The three Cryptococcus laurentii isolates were split into two groups according to their ITS2-fragment lengths, in correspondence with the phylogenetic groups described previously. Since the obtained fragment lengths compare well to those described previously and could be exchanged between two laboratories, an internationally usable library of ITS2 fragment lengths can be constructed.ConclusionsThe existing ITS2 size based library enables identification of most of the clinically important yeast species within 6 hours starting from a single colony and can be easily updated when new species are described. Data can be exchanged between laboratories.

Effects of Tourniquet Technique, Order of Draw, and Sample Storage on Plasma Fibrinogen

The use of plasma fibrinogen concentrations to predict clinical ischemic events in subjects with and without prior evidence of atherosclerosis (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14) has led to recommendations to incorporate fibrinogen into the cardiovascular risk profile (15). Such use of plasma fibrinogen requires careful attention to potential sources of variability, as only small (5%) absolute differences in fibrinogen distinguish subjects who develop cardiovascular disease from those subjects who do not (16). Variability in fibrinogen results apart from intraindividual differences is difficult to quantify, because the few groups who have examined these issues used different assays for fibrinogen determination. Moreover, the functional assay for fibrinogen is highly influenced by technician expertise and manipulation (17). Previously, we examined within-run analytical CV, within-person, within-day biological variation, and a 6-week within-person biological variation with the Clauss method for fibrinogen determination (16). We describe here selected effects of sample collection and storage on fibrinogen results and we propose guidelines for sample collection and storage. Blood was collected in evacuated tubes (5-mL capacity) containing 0.5 mL of 0.129 mol/L (3.8%) buffered citrate solution (Becton Dickinson). Fibrinogen concentrations were determined by thrombin clottable time with the Clauss method (Dade Data-Fi, Baxter Diagnostics) (18) with bovine thrombin (100 kU/L) and 2.8 × 10−2 mol/L sodium barbital in 0.125 mol/L sodium chloride. Duplicate plasma samples were diluted 1:10 (by vol) with an imidazole buffer (Organon Teknika) and measured at 20- and 40-s intervals at 37 °C in a fibrometer (Model BBL, Becton Dickinson). All samples were acquired from healthy, nonsmoking volunteers who were seated ≥5 min before phlebotomy (19). Volunteers were excluded if they had current illnesses, regular …

Spectrophotometric determination of manganese based on thermally produced manganese (VI) compounds in plant ash

Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) is the usual method for the direct determination of small amounts of manganese in plant materials (Christian &amp; Feldman 1970; Heanes, 1981) and other substances (Carnrick, Slavin &amp; Manning, 1981). However, it uses the highly sophisticated and expensive Atomic Absorption Spectrometer, which requires a reasonable degree of technician expertise, and is therefore not suitable for routine chemical analyses in Third World countries.

Resources needed to culture Chlamydia trachomatis in laboratories of clinics for sexually transmitted diseases.

Genital infections with Chlamydia trachomatis may be more prevalent than infection with Neisseria gonorrhoeae and may have serious sequelae such as epididymitis and pelvic inflammatory disease in adults and conjunctivitis and pneumonia in neonates. A culture of the organism is the most sensitive and specific means for detecting C. trachomatis in the genital tract, yet this procedure is available only in specialized centers and universities. Establishment of a chlamydia laboratory as part of a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) requires major technical and financial resources. Technical resources include the expertise of technicians as well as specialized equipment, glassware, and reagents. The current (August, 1981) minimal cost of performing a chlamydial culture is estimated to be $14.69.