Volume Work Research Articles

Machine tool thermal error measurement and prediction via wireless microscope

A novel method is proposed to measure the thermal errors of a three-axis machine tool by taking images of unique custom-designed fiducials attached to a worktable using a wireless microscope mounted to the spindle. Multiple fiducials are applied for the measurement of different thermal errors at various worktable locations. In addition, a least-squares thermal error model within the work volume is proposed in which the model parameters are determined from various fiducial measurements, and the use of various fiducials for the thermal error model is analyzed. The results show the method can measure thermal errors within four times the positioning resolution of the machine tool, with most of the errors being smaller in magnitude than twice the positioning resolution. Further, the results show the thermal error model depends on the location of the fiducials used to construct the model. The unique numbering system for the fiducial patterns also allows for the measurement of large planar thermal errors, which is advantageous for machine tools that undergo significant thermal drift.

The Role of TandemHeartTM combined with ProtekDuoTM as Right Ventricular Support Device: A Simulation Approach

Background and ObjectiveRight ventricular failure increases short-term mortality in the setting of acute myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, advanced left-sided heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Percutaneous and surgically implanted right ventricular assist devices (RVAD) have been investigated in different clinical settings. The use of the ProtekDuoTM is currently a promising approach due to its features such as groin-free approach leading to early mobilisation, easy percutaneous deployment, compatibility with different pumps and oxygenators, and adaptability to different configurations. The aim of this work was to simulate the behaviour of the TandemHeartTM pump applied “in series” and “in parallel“ mode and the combination of TandemHeartTM and ProtekDuoTM cannula as RVAD using CARDIOSIM© software simulator platform. MethodsTo achieve our aim, two new modules have been implemented in the software. The first module simulated the TandemHeartTM pump in RVAD configuration, both as a right atrial-pulmonary arterial and a right ventricular-pulmonary arterial connection, driven by four different rotational speeds. The second module reproduced the behaviour of the ProtekDuoTM cannula plus TandemHeartTM. ResultsThe effects induced on the main haemodynamic and energetic variables were analysed for both the right atrial-pulmonary arterial and right ventricular-pulmonary arterial configuration with different pump rotational speed and following Milrinone administration. The TandemHeartTM increased right ventricular end systolic volume by 10%, larger increases were evident for higher speeds (6000 and 7500 rpm) and connections with 21-Fr inflow and 17-Fr outflow cannula, respectively. Both TandemHeartTM and ProtekDuoTM support increased left ventricular preload. When different RVAD settings were used, Milrinone therapy increased the left ventricular pressure-volume area and decreased the right pressure-volume area slightly. A reduction in oxygen consumption (demand) was observed with reduced right stroke work and pressure volume area and increased oxygen supply (coronary blood flow). ConclusionsThe outcome of our simulations confirms the effective haemodynamic assistance provided by the ProtekDuoTM as observed in the acute clinical setting. A simulation approach based on pressure-volume analysis combined with modified time-varying elastance and lumped-parameter modelling remains a suitable tool for clinical applications.

Critical reviews of exposure assessment in carcinogenic hazard identification: the IARC Monographs experience

ObjectivesTo summarise the rationale, workflow and recommendations for the conduct of exposure assessment critiques in key human studies evaluated for International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs on the...

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICIENCY OF PARABOLIC AND TRAPEZOIDAL SECTIONS IN IRRIGATIONCANALS

One of the current scientific directions in hydraulic engineering is to give irrigation canals a hydraulically and statically stable cross-sectional shape in the form of the most advantageous parabolic profile. This approach allows maximizing the sediment transport capacity of the flow and significantly reducing the time and costs of construction and maintenance works, using optimization criteria for next-generation machinery and mechanisms. The significance of this research lies in developing a new concept for designing, constructing, and operating irrigation canals in hydraulic engineering systems with cross-sectional shapes that are both hydraulically and statically stable. These shapes aim to maximize sediment transport capacity, ensure ecological sustainability of natural-technical basin systems, and contribute to national food security. The objects of study are hydraulic engineering structures, specifically the inter-farm canals of irrigation systems within the Syr Darya river basin in the southern region of the Republic of Kazakhstan. For the study, methods were used including stability analysis of earth slopes using circular-cylindrical sliding surfaces, methods based on analogy between shear curves and slopes, and methods based on the theory of limit equilibrium. Calculations have demonstrated the advantages, including increased resistance to cross-section deformation, reduced earthwork volumes during irrigation canal construction and cleaning by 20-25%, decreased materials and work volume for possible lining by 13-18%, narrower canal top width and land acquisition zones by 11-17%, lower labor costs by 13-16%, reduced construction costs by 14-18%, and decreased specific adjusted costs by 15-18%.

Comparative Analysis of Conventional Methods with BIM Methods on Construction Cost Estimate at Structure Project Design Calculations (Case Study of Construction of A Satpol PP Building)

Construction cost estimate in construction projects requires high accuracy in calculating work volumes and applying unit cost analysis. Lack of accuracy in calculating the volume of work can result in inaccurate cost estimates, causing project budget overruns. This research discusses the use of 3D BIM planning concepts using Autodesk Revit software to help calculate volumes accurately, with the aim of reducing project budget overruns. Comparative analysis of cost estimates between the use of Autodesk Revit and conventional methods provides an overview of the efficiency and effectiveness of using BIM software in estimating construction project costs. The object of this research is the Satpol PP Bantul office construction project, with a focus on structural work. This research method includes data collection, 3D BIM modeling, calculating cost estimates based on the volume produced using unit cost analysis, and comparative analysis of cost estimates between the use of BIM software and conventional methods. Based on the research results, it found that the construction cost estimate for structural work from Revit had a value of IDR 862,330,518.59 and a difference of IDR 53,420,195.31. This shows that the use of the 3D BIM concept results in 5.83% cheaper calculations than conventional construction cost estimate methods.

Volume and Cutting Optimization of Reinforcing Steel in Construction of a Satpol PP Building Project

The world of construction is very dependent on technology, especially in the era of the industrial revolution which demands efficiency and competitiveness. The use of BIM (Building Information Modeling) technology supported by Autodesk Revit software enables more effective and efficient project planning and implementation. One application of BIM is in planning reinforcing steel requirements. To overcome material waste which often occurs due to less than optimal cutting of reinforcing steel, material management with a bar bending schedule and the use of BIM is an important solution. In the Satpol PP Building Construction Project in Bantul Regency by PT Quinad Bahana Indonesia, this new method with software was applied to correct cutting of reinforcing steel, reduce waste and increase construction efficiency. This research method includes data collection, 3D BIM modeling, comparing work volume using Autodesk Revit and conventional. After getting the reinforcing steel volume from the Autodesk Revit software, continue by entering the volume data into the BIM to obtain optimal reinforcing steel cutting patterns. The research results show that the use of Autodesk Revit software for column and beam work results in an overall difference of 11%. The volume resulting from Revit quantity take-off is less than manual analysis. Based on waste level calculations, the average value of waste level is 0.97%. This proves that the BIM is effective in reducing material waste on construction projects. Apart from reducing material waste, the BIM is also able to optimize reinforcing steel cuts.

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Experience at an Academic Medical Examiner's Office.

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a great deal of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Since most deaths related to COVID-19 are currently considered natural, and they tend to occur following a clinically recognized illness, many medical examiner/coroner offices within the United States do not take jurisdiction over the majority of COVID-19 deaths. In this review, we present the experience of a medium-sized medical examiner's office affiliated with an academic medical school institution, over the first 15 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to a 15-month period that immediately preceded the pandemic, our office experienced a significant increase in the total number of reported deaths, scene investigations, full autopsies, natural deaths, accidents, homicides, and drug-related deaths, but a decrease in the number of suicides. Overall, our office performed 5 autopsies during the study period where COVID-19 was considered the primary cause of death, 4 cases where COVID-19 was considered a contributory cause of death, and 28 cases where COVID-19 testing was positive, but COVID-19 was not contributory to death. The COVID-19 pandemic was accompanied by a sizeable increase in work volume within our academic medical examiner's office. Although this increased workload was not related to a large number of COVID-19-related deaths investigated by the office, there were numerous areas of increased workload that were likely secondarily related to the conditions associated with the pandemic.

Development of a quality of work life scale for Japanese community pharmacists: a questionnaire survey mostly in large companies

BackgroundHuman resource management may become complex for community pharmacists owing to recent changes in work volume and content. Few studies have examined job satisfaction, well-being, and quality of work life (QWL) among community pharmacists in Japan. This study focused on QWL, a more comprehensive concept than job satisfaction, and aimed to develop the QWL questionnaire for Japanese community pharmacists (the QWLQ for JCP) and assess its reliability and validity.MethodsA questionnaire survey was conducted among 2027 pharmacists who worked in pharmacies with the cooperation of 20 corporations running pharmacies. Collected data were subjected to principal component factor analysis with Promax rotation via SPSS Windows version 28.ResultsThe factor analysis used data from 1966 pharmacists. In total, five significant components, which formed the basis of the QWLQ for JCP, were identified. These included “Influence of work on mind and body,” “Relationships with colleagues,” “Relationship with the boss,” “Meaning of existence in the workplace,” and “Pride in work.” Cronbach’s alpha, which expressed reliability, ranged from 0.585 to 0.854 for all the subscales.ConclusionThe QWLQ for the JCP significantly explained the concept of QWL, which indicated that its validity was sufficient.

Selection of Robot for Contour Crafting Using Analytical Hierarchy Process

The use of robotic equipment and a new technique called contour crafting allows for the construction of buildings at lower labor and material costs. The selection of the type of robot is an important factor that affects the overall performance of the contour crafting (CC) system. Various robot configurations, such as gantry, cylindrical, and SCARA, may be employed for contour crafting. There are benefits and drawbacks to using different types of robots for various tasks, including cost, work volume, material compatibility, and precision. Identifying a proper robot using the multi-criterion decision-making (MCDM) technique is crucial for successful building automation. This article uses the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method to rank the best robots according to several characteristics. Cartesian robots, cylindrical robots, and SCARA robots were evaluated based on cost, accuracy, work volume, surface finish, type of profile, and speed. The results showed that the gantry-type robot is the most suitable option, while the cylindrical robot is unsuitable for building construction due to lower accuracy.

A microfluidic card-based electrochemical assay for the detection of sulfonamide resistance genes

Most electroanalytical detection schemes for DNA markers require considerable time and effort from expert personnel to thoroughly follow the analysis and obtain reliable outcomes. This work aims to present an electrochemical assay performed inside a small card-based platform powered by microfluidic manipulation, requiring minimal human intervention and consumables. The assay couples a sample/signal dual amplification and DNA-modified magnetic particles for the detection of DNA amplification products. Particularly, the sul1 and sul4 genes involved in the resistance against sulfonamide antibiotics were analyzed. As recognized by the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance threatens global public health by hampering medication efficacy against infections. Consequently, analytical methods for the determination of such genes in environmental and clinical matrices are imperative. Herein, the resistance genes were extracted from E. coli cells and amplified using an enzyme-assisted isothermal amplification at 37 °C. The amplification products were analyzed in an easily-produced, low-cost, card-based set-up implementing a microfluidic system, demanding limited manual work and small sample volumes. The target amplicon was thus captured and isolated using versatile DNA-modified magnetic beads injected into the microchannel and exposed to the various reagents in a continuously controlled microfluidic flow. After the optimization of the efficiency of each phase of the assay, the platform achieved limits of detections of 44.2 pmol L−1 for sul1 and 48.5 pmol L−1 for sul4, and was able to detect down to ≥500-fold diluted amplification products of sul1 extracted from E. coli living cells in around 1 h, thus enabling numerous end-point analyses with a single amplification reaction.

Muscular stress is equal when resistance exercise with blood flow restriction is matched in total work volume: A cross-sectional, cross-over study.

We compared muscular metabolic stress during exercise performed at multiple intensities, from very low to moderate, with blood flow restriction (BFR) adjusted by the same work volume. Twenty-five healthy young adults performed unilateral plantar flexion at 1 repetition/2 s in a magnetic resonance system. The BFR exercise protocols were as follows: (A) exercise with 10% of one repetition maximum (1-RM) for 360 s, (B) 15% 1-RM for 240 s, (C) 20% 1-RM for 180 s, (D) 30% 1-RM for 120 s, and (E) 40% 1-RM for 90 s. All protocols had the same total work volume (load × repetitions = 1800). A high-intensity protocol at 65% 1-RM without BFR (60 s) was also performed for comparison. We used 31 P-magnetic resonance spectroscopy to evaluate the muscular metabolic stress in the subjects' calf muscle, defined as decreases in phosphocreatine and intramuscular pH. The phosphocreatine depletion (A: 15.6 ± 0.7, B: 14.8 ± 0.8, C: 15.2 ± 0.6, D: 14.3 ± 0.6, E: 10.9 ± 0.5 mM; no significant difference [ns]) and the intramuscular pH decrease (A: 6.82 ± 0.02, B: 6.84 ± 0.01, C: 6.83 ± 0.02, D: 6.83 ± 0.02, E: 6.77 ± 0.02; ns) at the end of each exercise were similar and greater than those produced by the 65% 1-RM without BFR. If the total work volumes are equal, the metabolic stress in exercising muscle may reach similar levels at the end of exercise with BFR and could provide similar successful training effects.

Unmasking the Unrecognized: Exploring Registered Pharmacy Technicians' Stressors During COVID-19 Through a Demands-Resources Inquiry and Looking Ahead.

Canadian registered pharmacy technicians (RPTs) were vital in supporting pharmacy operations during the pandemic. However, they have received little attention during or pre-pandemic. This study aimed to identify and understand the stressors experienced by Canadian RPTs during the pandemic and gain insights on lessons learned to help improve the profession. Through a descriptive qualitative design, virtual semi-structured focus groups were conducted with RPTs who were recruited through various sampling methods across Canada. Data were inductively analyzed and then deductively; themes were categorized using the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model. We reached data saturation after 4 focus group sessions with a total of 16 participants. As per the JD-R model, job demands included: (1) increased work volume and hours to meet patient demand; (2) drug shortages and managing prescriptions increased due to influx of orders coinciding with restricted access to medications; (3) fear of the unknown nature of COVID-19 met with frequent change in practices due to protocol changes and ineffective communication; and, (4) the pandemic introduced several factors leading to increased staff shortages. Themes pertaining to resources included: (1) poor incentives and limited access to well-being resources; (2) limited personal protective equipment delaying work operations; (3) and a general lack of knowledge or appreciation of the profession impacting work morale. Lessons learned from the pandemic were also provided. Overall, our findings revealed an imbalance where RPTs experienced high job demands with limited resources. Improved leadership within pharmacies, including improved communication between team members, is required. Furthermore, efforts to highlight and recognize the work of RPTs to the public is important to help improve enrollment, especially with their recent scope of practice expansion.

High entropy alloys and methods for synthesis

High entropy alloys (HEA) are now a well-known group of materials, which has been studied intensely in the past decade. Due to the high complexity of the various HEA structures and the wide compositional spectrum, the research in the field continues with important discoveries and high work volume. Numerous articles presented various modalities to describe the thermodynamics and atomic arrangement in HEA structures and develop specific criteria for the selection of compositions with predicted solid solution structures. The next step towards the industrial use of the new category of alloys needs to be taken and implies the necessity to describe the implications of methods for alloy synthesis, as the structures obtained would be the closest to the theoretically assumed equilibrium. A succinct review of the methods and results were presented in the article.

Efektivitas Dinding Sandwich Panel dan Precast ACC Panel Terhadap Biaya dan Waktu

Project delays in construction development have a major impact, especially on costs. Projects that experience delays in implementation will require large costs. One of the delay factors is caused by material selection, especially for wall materials. Precast AAC Panel wall and sandwich panel walls are current wall material innovations, but both differ in material composition, implementation method, and price. This research aims to analyze the effectiveness of the two types of walls in terms of cost and time. The research will use objects from the 24-story Sudimaran Forestwalk apartment development in South Tangerang. The research method uses quantitative methods by making a cost budget plan obtained from data on work volume, productivity, and unit price of work. Next, analyze the duration of work from productivity data and work volume. The analysis results for the budget for work costs using precast AAC panel materials cost IDR 11,640,163,103, while sandwich panel walls are IDR 16,223,117,608. For comparison of implementation time, precast AAC panel walls are faster, with a work duration of 623 days, and sandwich panel walls 784 days. From these price results, AAC panel walls are 23% cheaper than sandwich panel walls. Due to the low strength, the sandwich panel walls are sometimes damaged during construction, resulting in longer construction times. The analysis results show that precast AAC panel walls are more recommended as the choice of wall type in terms of cost and implementation time.

Pemodelan 3D Jembatan Lengkung, Studi Kasus Jembatan Bukit Sulap, Menggunakan Software Autodesk Revit

Infrastructure is an essential sector in a country, and infrastructure development reflects the country's progress. Infrastructure development is a priority, but the implementation of infrastructure projects needs to pay attention to time, costs and quality. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has the potential to minimize errors and increase efficiency. BIM is a method that was originally applied to the AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) industry. BIM technology makes it possible to create 3D building models that contain information, analysis of work volume calculations, scheduling, and cost calculations. There is several software that applies BIM technology such as Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Advanced Steel, Tekla Structures and Navisworks. BIM technology has been widely applied in construction projects in Indonesia, be it buildings, roads or bridges. In this research, modelling of a steel truss bridge with an arch type was carried out using Autodesk Revit software. This research was conducted to determine the capabilities and limitations of Autodesk Revit software in modelling arch-type steel frame bridge structures. The modelling in this research uses DED (Detailed Engineering Design) image sources for the Bukit Sulap Bridge project, which were obtained from the PUPR Department of Lubuklinggau City. The modelling carried out is in the form of steel frames, bracing, girder beams and bridge connections.

Study on the relationship between microstructure and properties of heavy-wall X70 pipeline steel with different processing directions

The neglect of microstructure and anisotropy in the design of subsea pipeline steel can seriously affect the pipe service life and lead to fracture failure. In this work, experimental and representative volume element (RVE) model results were used to analyze the effect of differences in the microstructural characteristics of heavy-wall ferritic/bainitic dual-phase (DP) ×70 pipeline steel in the transverse and rolling directions on the mechanical properties. The results showed that blocky bainite with an aspect ratio 1.9 in the transverse microstructure induced the ferrite to produce strain localization, decreasing the plasticity. Banded bainite with an aspect ratio of 4.4 in the rolling direction was more prone to activate the dislocation slip system, which enhanced deformation compatibility by limiting the ferrite deformation space through plastic deformation at low strain levels. The dislocation wall type of the rolling direction promoted the production of back stress (long-range internal stress) and reduced the strain gradient at the interface. The dislocation arrangement in the transverse direction was transformed from a mixed type to a dislocation wall type during cyclic loading, and the back stress was dynamically saturated by grain size. Higher forest hardening in the transverse direction increased strength and hardening rates, while higher back-stress hardening in the rolling direction promoted plasticity. The results reveal the relationship between microstructural characteristics difference and mechanical properties and back stress evolution to provide a theoretical basis for designing the heavy-wall ×70 pipeline steel.

Characteristics of specialists treating hypothyroid patients: the "THESIS" collaborative.

Thyroid specialists influence how hypothyroid patients are treated, including patients managed in primary care. Given that physician characteristics influence patient care, this study aimed to explore thyroid specialist profiles and associations with geo-economic factors. Thyroid specialists from 28 countries were invited to respond to a questionnaire, Treatment of Hypothyroidism in Europe by Specialists: an International Survey (THESIS). Geographic regions were defined according to the United Nations Statistics Division. The national economic status was estimated using World Bank data on the gross national income per capita (GNI per capita). 5,695 valid responses were received (response rate 33·0%). The mean age was 49 years, and 65·0% were female. The proportion of female respondents was lowest in Northern (45·6%) and highest in Eastern Europe (77·2%) (p <0·001). Respondent work volume, university affiliation and private practice differed significantly between countries (p<0·001). Age and GNI per capita were correlated inversely with the proportion of female respondents (p<0·01). GNI per capita was inversely related to the proportion of respondents working exclusively in private practice (p<0·011) and the proportion of respondents who treated >100 patients annually (p<0·01). THESIS has demonstrated differences in characteristics of thyroid specialists at national and regional levels, strongly associated with GNI per capita. Hypothyroid patients in middle-income countries are more likely to encounter female thyroid specialists working in private practice, with a high workload, compared to high-income countries. Whether these differences influence the quality of care and patient satisfaction is unknown, but merits further study.

Development of the on-orbit maintenance and manipulation workbench (MMW) for the Chinese space station

The logistic supply for Space Station is very expensive and difficult compared with any other human natural exploration activities due to launch costs and challenges, and the logistic problems of establishing bases on the Moon and Mars in the future will be more prominent. Especially for emergencies, the losses caused by ground support delay will be immeasurable. Considering the successful maintenance of the Hubble Telescope and operations on the ISS, one of the most effective methods to solve the logistic supply problem is to enhance the capability of self-maintenance and support of the facilities. Through the participation of astronauts and a series of tools and technical support, the capability of self-maintenance and support of the facilities can be effectively improved. For this purpose, the on-orbit Maintenance and Manipulation Workbench (MMW) has been developed and installed on the Mengtian Lab Module (MLM) of the Chinese Space Station (CSS) to provide an enclosed working area for on-orbit fault diagnosis, maintenance, and manual or mechanical operations for the payload. This paper introduces the development and functions of the MMW on the MLM. In the limited rack space and limited resources, the MMW provides a 380-L work volume, 1000-W DC power with a versatile supply interface (100, 28, and 12 Vdc), 800-W cooling capability, video and data recording and real-time downlink capabilities, ground commanding capability, wastes (waste gases and waste particles) treatment capabilities. With these capabilities, the MMW is an ideal platform to support the operation and test verification of fine mechanical operations, structural and electronic assembly of scientific experiments and technical experiments in the cabin, and to support the development of space robots and telescience technology experiments. Areas of research that will benefit from investigations in the MMW include fluid physics, materials science, combustion science, on-orbit maintenance and manipulation, and advanced life support technologies. The mechanical, electrical and thermal control subsystems are discussed separately. Special tests for the treatment of wastes have been carried out to verify the capabilities. The development of the MMW will surely enhance the space research in the forthcoming long-term activities of CSS.

Factors influencing practice choices of early-career family physicians in Canada: a qualitative interview study

BackgroundComprehensiveness of primary care has been declining, and much of the blame has been placed on early-career family physicians and their practice choices. To better understand early-career family physicians’ practice choices in Canada, we sought to identify the factors that most influence their decisions about how to practice.MethodsWe conducted a qualitative study using framework analysis. Family physicians in their first 10 years of practice were recruited from three Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia. Interview data were coded inductively and then charted onto a matrix in which each participant’s data were summarized by code.ResultsOf the 63 participants that were interviewed, 24 worked solely in community-based practice, 7 worked solely in focused practice, and 32 worked in both settings. We identified four practice characteristics that were influenced (scope of practice, practice type and model, location of practice, and practice schedule and work volume) and three categories of influential factors (training, professional, and personal).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates the complex set of factors that influence practice choices by early-career physicians, some of which may be modifiable by policymakers (e.g., policies and regulations) while others are less so (e.g., family responsibilities). Participants described individual influences from family considerations to payment models to meeting community needs. These findings have implications for both educators and policymakers who seek to support and expand comprehensive care.

Development of a Low Cost Extrusion Based 3D Printer for High Performance Engineering Polymers

The development of a low cost 3D printer is presented for high performance polymers by example of a PEI type material. The development steps and technical alternatives opted for during the design process are outlined in two cycles targeting first printing of non-demanding thermoplastics, such as ABS, PLA etc., followed by an upgrade to printing PEI and similar high performance polymers. Subsystems discussed pertain to the frame, CNC axes including feed motors and motion control, the extruder, hot end and nozzle. Of particular interest are modifications concerning the temperature setting and regulation subsystems of the printer work volume and the printing table. Calibration procedures with pitfalls and solutions is discussed and a documented series of finally successful tests for Ultem1010TM is presented.