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Background: Haemoglobin levels guide many diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. They form part of the basic daily management of ICU patients. Laboratory results are frequently delayed. This can have important clinical consequences, including withholding potentially life-saving interventions. Point-of-care devices, if accurate, provide a solution to this problem. Inaccurate devices may provide misleading results leading to unnecessary and hazardous blood transfusions or under-estimation of disease severity. The aim was to compare the accuracy and reliability of the DiaSpect Hemoglobin T (DiaSpect. Medical GmbH, Sailauf, Germany) haemoglobinometer with the HemoCue (HemoCue AB, Angelholm Sweden) haemoglobinometer and the gold standard laboratory analyser for this trial (XT-200i Sysmex/Coulter LH750). Methods: Venous blood samples were collected via a central venous line from Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients (n = 265) for determination of haemoglobin (Hb) concentration by DiaSpect as well as the HemoCue, and the automated haemoglobin analysers: XT-200i Sysmex or the Coulter LH750. Agreement between the methods was tested using Bland–Altman plots. A Hb variation of 0.5 g/dl was considered clinically significant. There were a significant number of wasted samples with the DiaSpect, as a total of 350 cuvettes were used but only 214 complete samples obtained. This wastage was attributed to errors in sampling, cuvette shortage, lack of experience with the device and lack of ‘user-friendliness’. Results: A total of 265 samples were obtained, of which 207 had complete data sets and were analysed further in the study. There were 58 incomplete samples, of which 51 were DiaSpect samples. Mean haemoglobin was 9.11 (standard deviation ± 1.74), 9.07 (standard deviation ± 1.96) and 9.02 (standard deviation ± 2.06) using the laboratory analyser, HemoCue and DiaSpect respectively. Laboratory and HemoCue: the mean difference between the two readings was -0.04 (95% limits of agreement -2.15 to 2.07 g/dl) with an average between 5.00 g/dl and 15.10 g/dl. Laboratory and DiaSpect: the mean difference between the readings was -0.09 (95% limits of agreement -2.64 to 2.46 g/dl) with an average between 5.10 g/dl and 14.9 g/dl. HemoCue and DiaSpect: the mean difference between the two haemoglobin levels was 0.04 (95% limits of agreement 2.73 to -2.64 g/dl). Both methods returned measurements within the pre-defined clinical acceptable limits of ± 0.5 g/dl. Conclusion: The haemoglobin concentration assessment by the HemoCue and DiaSpect showed an acceptable limit of agreement when compared against the laboratory analyser. There were a significant number of wasted samples when using the DiaSpect.

DYMIND DH76 (DYMIND BIOTECH, China) is a new automated hematology system designed to provide CBC count, including a 5-part WBC differential count, and its analytical performance should be assessed before adoption for clinical use.The analyzer was evaluated according to the International Council for Standardization in Haematology guideline. The purposes of this study were to assess its analytical performance in comparison to SYSMEX XN 1000 hematology analyzer currently used in our laboratory, as well as to compare the automated and manual WBC differential.Within-run precision in all concentration ranges was very good with coefficients of variation (CVs) between 0.02% and 2.5% except for platelets over 500×109/L (CV 9.5%). Within-batch imprecision showed CVs lower the declared deviation ranges. Accuracy (defined as trueness) was excellent for all CBC and white cell differential parameters, compared with the state of the art%. Linearity was confirmed with excellent regression coefficients (0.999-1.000), even in the lowest values, and carryover was ≤ 1%. Comparison between DYMIND DH76 and SYSMEX XN 1000 was also very good with correlation coefficients (R2) for WBC (1.000), RBC (0.999), hemoglobin (0.999) and PLT over 50×10With excellent analytical performance and acceptable comparative analysis, DYMIND DH76 hematology analyser covered the predefined international standards and requirements and is fully appropriate for clinical application.DYMIND DH76 (DYMIND BIOTECH, Kina) je novi automatski hematološki sistem napravljen da pokaže broj CBC, uključujući petodelni diferencijalni broj WBC. Pre ulaska u kliničku upotrebu, potrebno je da se ispitaju njegove analitičke performanse.U ocenjivanju analizatora korišćene su smernice Međunarodnog saveta za standardizaciju u hematologiji. Svrha ove studije je bila procena njegovih analitičkih performansi u odnosu na hematološki analizator SYSMEX XN 1000 koji se trenutno koristi u našoj laboratoriji, kao i da se uporedi automatski i ručni WBC diferencijal.Preciznost u toku ispitivanja u svim rasponima koncentracija je bila vrlo dobra sa koeficijentima varijacije (CV) između 0,02% i 2,5%, osim za trombocite preko 500×109/L (CV 9,5%). Nepreciznost unutar serije je pokazala da CV smanjuje deklarisani opseg odstupanja. Tačnost (definisana kao istinitost) je bila odlična za sve CBC i diferencijalne parametre belih ćelija, u poređenju sa procentom vrhunske tačnosti. Linearnost je potvrđena odličnim koeficijentima regresije (0,999-1,000), čak i u najnižim vrednostima, a prenos je bio ≤ 1%. Poređenje između DYMIND DH76 i SYSMEX XN 1000 je takođe bilo vrlo dobro sa koeficijentima korelacije (R2) za WBC (1,000), RBC (0,999), hemoglobin (0,999) i PLT preko 50×109/L (0,994), i R2 je bio niži, ali i dalje prihvatljiv (0,910) za PLT50x109/L. R2 za neutrofile, limfocite, eozinofile, bazofile i monocite je bio redom 0,974; 0,982; 0,957; 0,625 i 0,836 u poređenju između ručnog i DYMIND DH76 automatskog diferencijalnog broja WBC.Sa odličnim analitičkim performansama i prihvatljivom uporednom analizom, hematološki analizator DYMIND DH76 je pokrivao unapred definisane međunarodne standarde i zahteve i u potpunosti je pogodan za kliničku primenu.

An on-line flow injection mercury analyser (FIMA) for inorganic mercury (Hg) analysis in environmental waters is presented. The FIMA is a portable dual-channel and purge-and-trap system combining aqueous reduction with stannous chloride (SnCl2), two-stage gold (Au) amalgamation, thermal desorption of Hg0 and final detection with cold vapour atomic fluorescence spectrometry (CVAFS). Simultaneous on-line operations of sample loading and analysis make analytical throughput and accuracy improved and contamination eliminated. Results of system optimisation and reliability regarding the determination of inorganic Hg2+ are described. Analytical performances of both channels were the same in terms of data reliability. Low procedural blanks were obtained from laboratory and field trip (≤5 pg, n = 30). Excellent calibrations (r2 > 0.99) with a high precision and good stability (RSD −1 and −1, n = 30). The system was finally validated by measurements comparison of the two channels (r2 > 0.98), and analysis of a certified reference material (coastal seawater BCR-579, recoveries 101 ± 4%, n = 10). Overall, a sample throughput of ~10 samples per hour with two-channel detections of FIMA can be achieved. The onboard analysis of inorganic Hg species (e.g. elemental, reactive, and total Hg) in surface seawaters of the East China Sea (ECS) are also successfully achieved. The portable FIMA is fast, easy, and robust for reliable monitoring of Hg in natural seawaters.

There are two officially approved methods for stable isotope analysis for wine authentication. One describes δ18O measurements of the wine water using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (IRMS), and the other one uses Deuterium-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (2H-NMR) to measure the deuterium of the wine ethanol. Recently, off-axis integrated cavity output (laser) spectroscopy (OA-ICOS) has become an easier alternative to quantify wine water isotopes, thanks to the spectral contaminant identifier (SCI). We utilized an OA-ICOS analyser with SCI to measure the δ18O and δ2H of water in 27 wine samples without any pre-treatment. The OA-ICOS results reveal a wealth of information about the growth conditions of the wines, which shows the advantages to extend the official δ18O wine water method by δ2H that is obtained easily from OA-ICOS. We also performed high-temperature pyrolysis and chromium reduction combined with IRMS measurements to illustrate the “whole wine” isotope ratios. The δ18O results of OA-ICOS and IRMS show non-significant differences, but the δ2H results of both methods differ much more. As the δ2H difference between these two methods is mainly caused by ethanol, we investigated the possibility to deduce deuterium of wine ethanol from this difference. The results present large uncertainties and deviate from the obtained 2H-NMR results. The deviation is caused by the other constituents in the wine, and the uncertainty is due to the limited precision of the SCI-based correction, which need to improve to obtain the 2H values of ethanol as alternative for the 2H-NMR method.

MorphInd 2 ( Larasati et al., 2011 ) is a state-of-the-art morphological analyser for Indonesian. To date, there has not been any comprehensive evaluation of the morphological annotation scheme which MorphInd implements. My evaluation of this annotation scheme reveals a number of significant drawbacks. Some analytical features encoded in MorphInd's tagset seem not to reflect features actually present in Indonesian morphology, while certain common features in the analysis of Indonesian are absent. Likewise, the Part of Speech (pos) hierarchy in the MorphInd tagset does not reflect the usual pos hierarchy used by Indonesian reference grammars. Moreover, the MorphInd output does not link morphological tags to the corresponding morpheme. Finally, a number of issues which might problematise text/corpus querying in the annotation's layout are observable, particularly relating to affixes, reduplication, and the affix–reduplication interface.

Trypan blue dye exclusion-based cell viability measurements are highly dependent upon image quality and consistency. In order to make measurements repeatable, one must be able to reliably capture images at a consistent focal plane, and with signal-to-noise ratio within appropriate limits to support proper execution of image analysis routines. Imaging chambers and imaging systems used for trypan blue analysis can be inconsistent or can drift over time, leading to a need to assure the acquisition of images prior to automated image analysis. Although cell-based autofocus techniques can be applied, the heterogeneity and complexity of the cell samples can make it difficult to assure the effectiveness, repeatability and accuracy of the routine for each measurement. Instead of auto-focusing on cells in our images, we add control beads to the images, and use them to repeatedly return to a reference focal plane. We use bead image features that have stable profiles across a wide range of focal values and exposure levels. We created a predictive model based on image quality features computed over reference datasets. Because the beads have little variation, we can determine the reference plane from bead image features computed over a single-shot image and can reproducibly return to that reference plane with each sample. The achieved accuracy (over 95%) is within the limits of the actuator repeatability. We demonstrate that a small number of beads (less than 3 beads per image) is needed to achieve this accuracy. We have also developed an open-source Graphical User Interface called Bead Benchmarking-Focus And Intensity Tool (BB-FAIT) to implement these methods for a semi-automated cell viability analyser.It is critical for the manufacturing and release of living cell-based therapies to determine the viability, the ratio of living cells to the total number of cells (live and dead), in the therapy. Dead cells can be a safety concern for the patient, and dosing is often based on the number of living cells which are the active ingredient of the drug product. Currently, the most common approach to evaluating cell viability is based on the staining of cell samples with the trypan blue marker of cell membrane integrity: a loss in cell membrane integrity with cell death allows the dye into the cell, which can be seen using brightfield microscopy. To classify cells as live/dead, the brightness of the cells is evaluated and cells with bright centres are considered live, while those with dark centres are considered dead. Unfortunately, this approach of staining, imaging and classification is very sensitive to image acquisition settings, including image focus and brightness. This paper introduces a method to establish the required image quality for image viability analysis, providing a tool to return to image acquisition settings that will ensure image quality even when there is variability from sample to sample. In this method, polymeric beads are added to each cell sample prior to cell viability analysis. Using image processing, we extract key features from the beads in the image such as sharpness of the edges of the beads. The image features of the cells can vary significantly from sample to sample and under different cell conditions, but image features of beads have proved to be consistent across samples. We are thus able to collect reference datasets quantifying bead features over a wide range of image acquisition settings (brightness and focus), allowing us to establish a reference focal plan for image acquisition for any cell sample based on bead features. We show that with as few as three beads per image, the reference focal plane can be found from a single acquisition of beads image data over a wide range of image focuses and brightness, allowing users to consistently acquire images for cell viability that meet pre-defined quality requirements.

Bottled beer is used to calibrate a CO2 analyser by measuring the dilution of O2 when gas collected in the headspace of the bottle is diluted with atmospheric air. The method is simple and provides an accurate calibration of a CO2 analyser in the field without the need or hassle of transporting expensive calibration gas.

The influence of TiO2 addition on LMNS ceramic sintering, dielectric and mechanical properties was studied. The characterisation method includes X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, network analyser, mechanical analyser, simultaneous thermal analyser and dynamic mechanical analyser. A two-phase composite (TiO2 and Li2(Mg0.96Ni0.04)SiO4) was obtained as shown in XRD patterns. With the increasing amount of TiO2, the grain size and crystallite size decreased. The starting point of shrinkage moves to a higher temperature, the activation energy increased, and the elasticity and stiffness were enhanced. With a densified microstructure, a near-zero τf (+ 1.03 ppm/°C) has obtained as x = 0.04, and other dielectric properties are that er = 6.29, Q × f = 57,000 GHz, and relative density = 96.33% sintered at 1100 °C.

Space is one of the most avant-garde sectors for additive manufacturing as the inherent characteristics of this technology allow the creation of complex and lightweight 3D structures. Using this brand-new design tool, it was possible to design the pumping system holder of the MicroMED instrument, a particle analyser developed for ExoMars 2022 mission. The geometry of the holder was optimized using a finite element approach. The effectiveness of the proposed solution was evaluated by comparing the performance of two different designs using the AlSi9Cu3 alloy. One solution was based on micro-milling and the other on Selective Laser Melting. In order to validate the designed SLMed holder, a mockup was produced and successfully tested in the mission's mechanical environment.

In this paper, we have proposed an etched silica Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) based interrogation technique using an optical spectrum analyser (OSA). The efficiency of the proposed system has extensively been investigated for measuring the temperature and strain simultaneously with higher sensitivity and accuracy covering a larger measurement range. A Single mode-Multi mode-Single mode fiber (SMS) which acts as a bandpass filter is employed in the circuitry for an efficient and fast interrogation technique. We recorded a remarkable enhancement in sensitivity of 20.30 pm/°C and 2.89 pm/μɛ over the temperature and strain range of 25–225 °C and 50–2050 μɛ, respectively. These data were recorded with the strain resolution of ±10 μɛ whereas the resolution for the temperature is ±0.50 °C. The experimental results show the capability of the sensor for measuring the strain and temperature simultaneously with higher intrinsic sensitivity and resolution. The performance of the proposed sensor has been compared with various reported techniques.

A brake pad material has been developed with multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) and Nickel sulfate (NiSO4) to increase the heat transfer rate and better manufacturability. The maximum hardness of brake pad sample is found at 15 Ton compacting load and 150 °C sintering temperature. The performance of developed brake pad is compared with conventional brake pads. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), gas sorption analyser (GSA) and thermal property analyser (TPA) are used to measure the distribution of elements, compound analysis, porosity distribution and thermal properties analysis respectively. The wear particles (mass loss) are less in the developed brake pad. The results show that developed brake pad material is superior compared to market available brake pads. An artificial neural network (ANN) model has been developed to predict the mass loss and coefficient of friction (CoF). The input parameters of 300 rpm, 50 N load and 125 °C temperature are the near optimal parameters combination for minimum wear and maximum CoF as observed by the design of experiment (DOE). The ANN and DOE results are verified with experimental findings. An ANSYS model has also been developed to study the temperature variation with time. The model has also compared with experimental results and found the 1% error.

The article aims to present a comparative study of two methods used to determine the particle size distribution of fine and medium coarse soils. These methods are used to determine the grain size distribution curve in practice; however, for different purposes. The classical sedimentation method, based on the Stoke’s sedimentation law (hydrometer, areometric, the Casagrande’s method), standardized for a geotechnical classification of soils was compared with the laser diffraction method on the Mastersizer 3,000 analyser used for soil science purposes. The first comparison on nine samples showed significant differences, especially for larger fractions above 0.01 mm. All measured values of falls from laser diffraction analysis (LDA) showed higher values of all analysed fractions. It was also interesting to follow the trend between the tests for the preparation of conversion factors. The analysis also outlined the direction for further comparison. For the geotechnical use of the LDA, it will be necessary to take into account the sample preparation and processing before analysis.

INTRODUCTION To perform comparability of instruments, the laboratory can select patient samples spanning the reportable range or can use plasma sets from commercial suppliers. We evaluated ExpertCor Routine (ECR) plasma set (Stago), a set of frozen plasmas enabling to verify the agreement between different coagulation analysers. Additionally, we evaluated whether the concept of transference of the reference range is acceptable between instruments, once comparability between the instruments is approved. METHODS Patient samples and the ECR plasma set were evaluated for method comparison for prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time and fibrinogen on five instruments. Results of one instrument were compared to the mean of all analysers by Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman analysis. Reference ranges were checked on all instruments. RESULTS The %mean difference was ≤5% and ≤3.7% for all analyser/parameter combinations, for ECR and patient sample data sets, respectively. All predefined criteria to fulfil good comparability between instruments were met. The between-instrument comparison with the ECR plasma set and the patient samples was equal for PT, INR and fibrinogen. After demonstrating comparability between instruments by either of the two plasma sample sets, reference ranges can be used interchangeably between identical instruments. CONCLUSION Instrument-to-instrument reproducibility showed comparable results using a data set obtained with patient samples or a commercial plasma set. Once comparability between instruments is confirmed, defined reference ranges can be transferred from one instrument to the other instrument without additional testing. The ECR plasma set is a good alternative to the use of local patient samples to evaluate instrument comparability.

Given that soil properties including micronutrient contents vary in space and time, geospatial mapping is necessary for robust site-specific management planning. Kriging interpolation is often used in GIS environments for mapping, but it has inherent limitation of having a smooth effects. In this study, sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS) was used to map the spatial distribution of Cu concentration in and model the spatial uncertainties for an arable dryland in central Botswana. The field was divided into 30 parallel lines in an NE–SW orientation. Soil samples were collected at intervals of 25 m on each line; and 35 sampling points were obtained. A total of 1050 soils sampled at a depth of about 20 cm were air dried and analyzed using an Olympus Delta Sigma® portable X-ray fluorescence analyser. The average concentration of Cu (146 mg kg−1) in the Maibele Airstrip of Botswana is higher than the global average copper concentration (30 mg kg−1). Low copper contents were found dotted around the northern and southern edges of the study area, while high content zone is found in the interior. In comparison to kriging interpolation, SGS technique shows better performance. Kriging generally overestimated where lower values are probable and underestimated where higher values are probable. A large portion of the area has Cu content above the critical threshold of 125 mg kg−1. Since total and not plant available Cu were the measured parameter, we recommend that further study in this location should focus on confirming the plant available Cu in the high-risk areas.

Context Chemical lean (CL) is an important metric used by the Australian meat industry to describe fat content of meat product. It is a minimum meat specification included in contracts between Australian vendors of bulk packed boneless manufacturing meat and overseas or domestic buyers and can be regarded as the complement of chemically determined fat in meat (% fat, CL = 100-% fat). The microwave moisture method is commonly used for measuring CL content of meat in Australian abattoirs, relying on a relationship between CL and moisture content of boneless meat. It is regarded as a quick and easy method to use. More recently, newer methods for moisture analysis have become available which may also be suitable for CL determination, including commercial halogen moisture analysers (HMAs). HMAs use a halogen lamp as a source of infrared radiation that is absorbed by a sample, which then results in moisture loss. Aims This study aimed to compare the use of HMAs for CL determination of beef and lamb to that obtained from Soxhlet extraction technique, which is the AOAC Final Action Method for determining fat in meat and accepted as the reference method for fat determination. Additionally, the study sought to validate the use of HMAs as a method for CL determination in the Australian meat industry. Methods HMAs were used to determine the moisture content of six beef and one lamb samples, which were used to calculate the CL content. The fat content of the samples was also determined using Soxhlet fat extraction. Passing-Bablok regression and Bland-Altman plot analysis were used to identify any differences and bias between the methods, respectively. Key results Passing-Bablok regression showed that there was no difference between methods, while Bland-Altman plot analysis indicated no bias was evident between the methods. While some differences were apparent between approaches either due to using moisture as a proxy for fat/CL compared with continual solvent extraction or sample heterogeneity, sufficient agreement existed between results to lie within an acceptance criterion of 1.2 CL units. Conclusion The use of HMAs was substantiated as a method for CL determination in the Australian meat industry and has been accredited by AUS-MEAT Ltd as a method for boneless beef and lamb. Implications HMAs can be used in the Australian meat industry for CL determination and represent a relatively simpler and easier approach for this important industry metric.

The occurrence of heavy metal ions in food chain is appearing to be a major problem for mankind. The traces of heavy metals, especially Pb(II) ions present in water bodies remains undetected, untreated, and it remains in the food cycle causing serious health hazards for human and livestock. The consumption of Pb(II) ions may lead to serious medical complications including multiple organ failure which can be fatal. The conventional methods of heavy metal detection are costly, time‐consuming and require laboratory space. There is an immediate need to develop a cost‐effective and portable sensing system which can easily be used by the common man without any technical knowhow. A portable resistive device with miniaturized electronics is developed with microfluidic well and α‐MnO2/GQD nanocomposites as a sensing material for the sensitive detection of Pb(II). α‐MnO2/GQD nanocomposites which can be easily integrated with the miniaturized electronics for real‐time on‐field applications. The proposed sensor exhibited a tremendous potential to be integrated with conventional water purification appliances (household and commercial) to give an indication of safety index for the drinking water. The developed portable sensor required low sample volume (200 µL) and was assessed within the Pb(II) concentration range of 0.001 nM to 1 uM. The Limit of Detection (LoD) and sensitivity was calculated to be 0.81 nM and 1.05 kΩ/nM/mm2, and was validated with the commercial impedance analyser. The shelf‐life of the portable sensor was found to be ∼45 days.

Background: A grammar checker can be used as a proof reading tool, which depends upon the basic definition of the words. If words are not defined correctly or are not being tagged with correct grammatical meaning, the results will not be accurate. Objective: To attain this accuracy, Morphological analyser plays a crucial role. In Hindi, as the whole structure and meaning of a sentence depends upon a Noun, so it is mandatory to tag a Noun word properly. But, to tag a Noun with its correct grammatical meaning is a challenging chore. Methods: To tag a word, the word is being input in the tool, which is firstly searched inside the dictionary. If the word is not found in the dictionary, then the grammar rules are applied to analyse the word. As noun, contains names also, so some times the rules are not possible to apply on the words. In that scenario, words are manually tagged and then added to dictionary for further use. Grammar tag set of 650 tags is used to generate more accurate results. All the words are stored in a database. The performance is measured by using Precision and Recall. Furthermore, this technique can be extended to define other categories of grammar like verb, adjective, adverb, etc. Results: This paper represents a method for a Rule-Based Morphological Analyser for Hindi Nouns only. It utilizes-a dictionary and a rule-based approach for defining words with their grammatical meanings using the morphological analyser. The designed morph which has been discussed in this work stores all the words in a database. As this morph analyser uses a set of 650 plus grammatical tag sets (for complete Hindi morphological analyser), the user will always get more accurate results. The Authors have preferred both time and accuracy over memory space, which is not a big issue these days. Therefore this approach can be used for both types of morphological approach. Conclusion: Furthermore, this method can be extended to the other categories of the Hindi Grammar like Adverbs, Adjectives, and Verbs, etc. The results are very promising and are expected to provide even more advancement to the existing strategies and methodologies.

Background/aimsWe previously reported that the visual field (VF) prediction model using the variational Bayes linear regression (VBLR) is useful for accurately predicting VF progression in glaucoma (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2014, 2018). We constructed a VF measurement algorithm using VBLR, and the purpose of this study was to investigate its usefulness.Method122 eyes of 73 patients with open-angle glaucoma were included in the current study. VF measurement was performed using the currently proposed VBLR programme with AP-7700 perimetry (KOWA). VF measurements were also conducted using the Swedish interactive thresholding algorithm (SITA) standard programme with Humphrey field analyser. VF measurements were performed using the 24–2 test grid. Visual sensitivities, test–retest reproducibility and measurement duration were compared between the two algorithms.ResultMean mean deviation (MD) values with SITA standard were −7.9 and −8.7 dB (first and second measurements), whereas those with VBLR-VF were −8.2 and −8.0 dB, respectively. There were no significant differences across these values. The correlation coefficient of MD values between the 2 algorithms was 0.97 or 0.98. Test–retest reproducibility did not differ between the two algorithms. Mean measurement duration with SITA standard was 6 min and 02 s or 6 min and 00 s (first or second measurement), whereas a significantly shorter duration was associated with VBLR-VF (5 min and 23 s or 5 min and 30 s).ConclusionVBLR-VF reduced test duration while maintaining the same accuracy as the SITA-standard.

A spectrophotometric approach for quantification of dissolved manganese (DMn) with 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) has been adapted for in situ application in coastal and estuarine waters. The analyser uses a submersible microfluidic lab-on-chip device, with low power (~ 1.5 W) and reagent consumption (63 µL per sample). Laboratory characterization showed an absorption coefficient of 40,838 ± 1127 L⋅mol−1⋅cm−1 and a detection limit of 27 nM, determined for a 34.6 mm long optical detection cell. Laboratory tests showed that long-term stability of the PAN reagent was achieved by addition of 4% v/v of a non-ionic surfactant (Triton-X100). To suppress iron (Fe) interferences with the PAN reagent, the Fe(III) masking agents deferoxamine mesylate (DFO-B) or disodium 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzenedisulfonate (Tiron) were added and their Fe masking efficiencies were investigated. The analyser was tested during a deployment over several weeks in Kiel Fjord (Germany), with successful acquisition of 215 in situ data points. The time series was in good agreement with DMn concentrations determined from discretely collected samples analysed via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), exhibiting a mean accuracy of 87% over the full deployment duration (with an accuracy of > 99% for certain periods) and clear correlations to key hydrographic parameters.

Analyser-Based Phase-Contrast imaging (ABPCI) is a phase-contrast imaging method that produces high contrast images of weakly absorbing materials. However, it is only sensitive to phase variations lying in the diffraction plane of the analyser crystal (i.e in one dimension; 1-D), as it is highly sensitive to phase variations lying in the diffraction plane of the analyser crystal. In order to accurately account for and measure phase effects produced by the wavefield-sample interaction, ABPCI and other 1-D phase sensitive methods must achieve 2-D phase sensitivity. We applied an inclined geometry method to a Laue geometry setup for X-ray ABPCI through rotation of the detector and object about the optical axis. This allowed this traditionally 1-D phase sensitive phase contrast method to possess 2-D phase sensitivity. We acquired tomographic datasets over 360 degrees of a multi-material phantom with the detector and sample tilted by 8 degrees. The real and imaginary parts of the refractive index were reconstructed for the phantom.

Purpose: To compare RNLF structural changes by Spectral Domain- OCT and functional visual eld defects by automated perimetry in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma cases Materials And Methods: A prospective and comparative study was conducted to quantitatively measure the peripapillary retinal nerve ber layer thickness using SD-OCT and compared it with eld changes plotted by Humphrey Field analyser 24-2. The study was conducted at the department of Glaucoma of a tertiary eye care hospital for a period of one year. 60 eyes of 30 patients who diagnosed to have POAG between the age group of 40-65 were included in the study. Patients having substantial media opacity, Retinal pathology and who underwent intra ocular surgeries were excluded from the study. Informed consent obtained from patients who were included in the study. All were examined using Slit lamp, Snellen's chart, Applanation tonometer, Gonioscope, 90 D slit lamp biomicroscope to study Fundus oculi. Fields were plotted using Humphrey eld analyser 24-2 , RNFL thickness measured using SD-OCT. Results: 60 eyes of 30 patients 19 were males 11 were females. 14(23.33%) eyes showed normal visual elds but there was thinning of RNFL was noted in SD-OCT. 41 eyes (68.3%) had visual eld defects which corresponded to thinning of RNFL in that quadrant. 5 eyes (8.3%) showed advanced eld changes and had corresponding thinning of RNFL in that quadrant. Discussion: Results of this study shows a signicant difference in RNFL thickness among all three grades of glaucoma. It was observed that the average RNFL thickness value in moderate glaucoma (66.34 microns) and all quadrant thickness values were similar to Sihota et al study (RNFL-66.07 microns). The mean RNFL thickness +/- Sd (58 +/-5.52) in advanced glaucoma of present study were closely similar with the ndings of Sihota et al study (53.65 +/-14.2). Conclusion: It is concluded that RNFL thickness changes corresponds to Field changes plotted on Humphrey eld analyser in moderate glaucoma. Even in mild cases changes RNFL thickness is noted even though the elds plotted on Humphrey eld analyser doesn't show any changes. So RNFL thickness can be taken as Pre perimetric changes as diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of POAG.

An image analyser system was used to study the process of imbibition in Melia dubia seeds, and in comparison with the conventional method of measuring seed weight by an electronic balance. Melia dudia drupes were divided into three groups and treated accordingly: drupes with intact pericarp, drupes with punctured pericarp and naked seeds without pericarp. Using seed weight and perimeter as parameters, the imbibition process in the seed samples were described by a series of imbibition curves illustrative of the triphasic pattern of water uptake during germination. The image analyser captured small variation in seed parameters between the groups. The sensitivity and feasibility of the advanced method of using an image analyser to investigate individual seeds within a population imply that the image analyser has high potential in advancing seed biology studies.

Introduction The accurate measurement of HbA(2) is essential for the detection of beta-thalassaemia carriers and as no single calibrant is used by the various manufacturers of analysers, differences are seen in results obtained. The World Health Organization International Reference Reagent for HbA(2) (WHO IRR 89/666) was made available to diagnostic laboratories in the 1980s and remains the only international reference material available. A previous study (2015) demonstrated that the WHO IRR remained suitable for use as an HbA(2) standard as tested by 52 participants in the UK NEQAS Haematology Abnormal Haemoglobins Programme. This study was undertaken to include simultaneous analysis of three whole blood specimens over a range of HbA(2) values with the WHO IRR and to include participants from laboratories outside of the UK.Method Three whole blood specimens with HbA(2) levels ranging from 2.4% to 5.7% and the WHO IRR were distributed to 56 laboratories located in 14 different countries. Participants were requested to test the specimens at defined intervals and return results accompanied by chromatograms or electropherograms produced.Results Differences found in results from different analyser groups reflect the bias found in the 2015 study in that bias is seen according to the methodology used and also varies in relation to the level of analyte being measured.Conclusion Results of measurements from whole blood specimens and the lyophilized WHO IRR standard did not show any deterioration of the IRR, and it remains suitable for use. Linearity and calibration of analysers remain a problem.

A Cyranose 320 (eNose) and a Fast Gas Chromatograph (CG) analyser (zNose™) were used to measure the headspace odour of solid samples from dairy operations. The measurements of both sensors were trained by Levenberg–Marquardt Back-propagation Neural Network (LMBNN) to match human assessments. A trained human panel was used to assess the odours based on hedonic tone method and provide the model targets. A multi-sensor data fusion approach was developed and applied to integrate the eNose and zNose readings for higher predictive accuracy compared to each sensor alone. Principle Component Analysis, Forward Selection, and Gamma Test were applied to reduce the model input dimensions. Measurement fusion models and information fusion model approaches were applied. The information fusion prediction models were shown to be more accurate than all other models, including single instrument models. The information fusion model based on eNose with Gamma Test data reduction + zNose showed the best results of all cases in validation mean square error (0.34 odour units), R value (0.92), probability of the prediction falling within 10% of the target (96%), and probability of the prediction falling within 5% of the target (63%).

The paper describes a method for finding diachronic spelling variants in a corpus that consists of historical and modern Polish texts. The procedure applies the Levenshtein distance and the similarity measure determined with a Word2vec model. The method was applied for both words and sub-word units. A sample of spelling variants was manually evaluated and compared against an existing morphological analyser for Polish historical texts. The resulting lists of spelling variants and spelling modernisation rules were used in a text modernisation tool and their contribution was evaluated.The paper also presents an analogous method for finding spelling variants that result from erroneous OCR. The obtained lists of OCR variants and rules may serve for the correction of OCR output.

The enhancement of the measuring instruments accuracy has always been the most crucial task for engineers and scientists. In particular, in the field of nuclear magnetic resonance, the creation of uniform magnetic field often defines the results of measurements, therefore the main task of this study is to develop Halbach magnet array based on design characteristics of developing NMR-analyzer. The research describes the development process of the main sensor’s magnetic system components for continuous-flow portable NMR-analyzer. The scientific paper makes a different variations analysis of Halbach magnet arrays on the degree of the magnetic field homogeneity, shows the process of development and production of the 3D-framework for Halbach magnet array for NMR-analyzer. The article also gives information on the design of quartz generator based on Pierce oscillator circuit for receiver-transmitter coil of the NMR-analyzer’s sensor. The results could be useful for the magnetic sensors design with high degree of homogeneity, measuring instruments and devices using the method of nuclear magnetic resonance in its foundation.

We demonstrate a bench-scale prototype of a photoacoustic (PA) methane gas analyser that takes advantage of an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) based on a fan-out MgO : PPLN structure and resonant differential PA detector. The OPO emits in a repetitively pulsed mode (∼1750 Hz) at an idler wavelength of ∼3.3 μm with an average power of ∼40 – 50 mW. Using the prototype laser PA gas analyser, we experimentally demonstrate the feasibility of measuring the background methane concentration in air (∼2 – 3 ppm of CH4). The threshold sensitivity of the PA gas analyser (1σ) is determined to be ∼ 49 ppb of CH4.

The ever increasing wind energy penetration into the utility grid causes challenges in the power quality (PQ) of the electrical supply. Therefore, this work proposed PQ assessment in the utility grid which is interfaced with the wind energy generation using Stockwell's transform (ST) under various operating events. The experimental set-up for assessing the PQ included an emulated wind generator synchronised with the utility grid at the point of common coupling. The current and voltage measurements are carried out using PQ analyser associated with WTViewer application software. The recorded signals of the voltage waveforms are assessed using ST to detect the various PQ issues related to the grid integration and wind generator's outage. To investigate the effects of various types of loads on the PQ, the same events are carried out. Various PQ disturbances are successfully detected using the proposed algorithm. Performance of the proposed algorithm is also tested on the grid integrated solar photovoltaic (PV) system to investigate and compare the PQ disturbances associated with the grid integrated solar PV system.

The main purpose of this paper is to perform dynamic analysis of a viscoelastic laminated composite rotor shaft considering various asymmetries. Equivalent modulus theory (EMT) is employed to derive the finite element based mathematical model of the composite shaft considering the shear effect and compared with other method known as direct procedure technique (DPT). The material damping behaviour of the composite shaft is incorporated using operator-based approach, which leads to a higher-order model. Fibre-reinforced composite sample of single layer and 8 layer are fabricated and tested in dynamic mechanical analyser to obtain frequency-dependent material data and viscoelastic parameters. EMT uses single layer properties, while modelling of DPT is done considering equivalent 8 layer sample. The closeness of numerical results between two methods proves the authentication of the applied EMT for modelling of damped heterogeneous laminated composite shaft.

Urinary creatinine is measured to assess kidney function and also as part of sample validity testing in drugs of abuse. Creatinine methods based on alkaline picrate Jaffe’s reaction require extra cleaning on chemistry analysers to minimise any interference from picric acid and sodium hydroxide on other reagents on board. Enzymatic methods reagents are not as invasive and more specific. Siemens enzymatic method is more sensitive and specific when compared to Thermo Fisher alkaline picrate method but there were no available analytical parameters to setup the Siemens enzymatic method on Beckman-Coulter AU5800 analyser as an open system analyser. Emulating setup parameters from Siemens chemistry analysers did not work. The analytical parameters were developed through systematic testing using different settings to adopt and optimise the method. A full correlation was performed using the developed parameters with alkaline picrate method. The Deming regression weighted analysis for 438 samples showed a good correlation at a 95% confidence interval. Slope is 1.029 to 1.041, Y-intercept when X=0.0 is -0.9156 to -0.7481 and correlation coefficient (r) is 0.998. Alkaline picrate method Mean and SD is 12.059 and 7.248 respectively and for the Enzymatic method is 11.653 and 7.504 respectively. Many interferences from drugs and other substances are eliminated when using the enzymatic method and the stability of other reagents on-board improved because the reagents used in the enzymatic method are less invasive.

The European Pharmacopoeia requires that the transportation and storage of human plasma for fractionation should be carried out at –20 °C or below, while allowing for some deviations in the temperature regime. The current Russian regulatory documentation requires the transportation and storage of plasma intended for the production of labile protein preparations (blood clotting factors) at –30 °C or lower. However, acceptable deviations from the temperature regime are not specified, which creates certain difficulties in their assessment by an authorised person during plasma batch release. The main tool in risk assessment is in-process control of factor VIII activity in plasma stored at inadequate temperature, which entails significant financial costs. The aim of the study was to assess stability of factor VIII activity in human plasma for fractionation when modeling deviations in the storage and transportation temperature regime and to assess the possibility of amending the regulatory documentation requirements. Materials and methods: only full individual doses of plasma obtained by apheresis were used in the experiments. The tests were performed under simulated high temperature conditions with accurate continuous recording of temperature by a measuring system. An automatic coagulation analyser was used to determine factor VIII activity. Quantitative evaluation of the results was carried out by comparing factor VIII activity in the plasma before freezing and in the tested plasma. Statistical processing of data was performed by descriptive statistics methods using Microsoft Excel 2007 applications. Results: no significant effect of short-term deviations in the storage temperature on the stability of factor VIII activity in human plasma for fractionation was observed. Conclusions: the obtained data can be used as a rationale for introducing changes in the official requirements for the storage and transportation temperature regime for human plasma for fractionation, as well as for including details of acceptable short-term deviations of the storage and transportation temperature regime in the regulatory documentation.

Numerous studies have reported the so-called fish-hook effect on granulometric efficiency curves of hydrocyclones. This effect has been reported since laser diffraction particle size analysers started to be used. In this work a 15-mm-diameter Bradley hydrocyclone has been used to separate a suspension of calcium carbonate 1,2% in volume to analyse the fish-hook effect. The Malvern Mastersizer 2000 particle size analyser has been used and both Fraunhofer's and Mie's light scattering theories have been assessed. It has been concluded that the fish-hook effect is a result of using Fraunhofer's correlation to determine the size of particles which are knowingly out of its range of validity (diameters smaller than 50 μm) or using Mie's correlation with inappropriate particles' imaginary refraction indexes (IRI). A method to determine the appropriate IRI in the Malvern Mastersizer 2000 is also presented. The fish-hook effect is therefore a misuse of laser diffraction particle size analysers.

Machining vibration is a significant concern in the manufacturing industry, as vibration cannot be eliminated during metal to metal turning operations. It can be controlled to the minimum when a proper study is carryout before the turning process. This study aims to experimentally analyse the effect of the individual parameters such as depth of cut (DOC) and cutting speed have on the machining vibration during turning of AL1060 alloy. A computer numerical control (CNC) program was applied to investigate the effects of the different depths of cut such as 1 mm, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 2.5 mm, and 3 mm. Moreover, cutting speed of 200 m/min, 350 m/min, 500 m/min, and 600 m/min with a constant feed rate of 5 mm/rev have on the machining vibration during the turning process. DTO 32105 frequency analyser an MXC-1600 digital frequency counter was employed to measure the machining vibration for a specific time between 15 seconds to 500 seconds. The result shows that as the depth of cut continually increases, the machining vibration increases and the minimum machining vibration of 131.8 Hz was obtained at cutting speed of 600 m/min, depth of cut of 1 mm, and cutting time of 15 sec. The Pareto chart was further used to analysis the average vibration frequency at the optimised cutting speed of 600 m/min. The surface quality and the cutting tool life can be significantly enhanced with the study of the individual machining parameters.

The influence of urban plumes on the final measurements recorded at rural stations is an issue which has rarely been touched upon in great detail. A better knowledge of local and regional sources of atmospheric CO2 and CH4 evolution over time and space provides policy-makers with the right awareness when acting to improve air quality. Assessing the links between air pollutant mixing ratios and wind direction data can help to identify possible sources. Using the Lagrangian METEX model, the current paper’s main motivation is to identify the impact of the Valladolid urban plume on the final CO2 and CH4 high-precision measurements recorded with a Picarro analyser at a rural station in the upper Spanish plateau (CIB station). The current paper is based on a statistical approach in which multiyear CO2 and CH4 observations are interpreted by means of different statistics and distribution functions. Higher values were detected for both CO2 and CH4 in southern sectors, showing the effect which the Valladolid plume has on final CO2 and CH4 measurements. In addition, six different distribution functions were applied to the dataset and provided satisfactory contrasts with experimental values obtained using Pearson correlation and r critical values. Results indicate that CO2 and CH4 data fitted the Gamma, the Gumbel, and the Lognormal distributions best.

BACKGROUND The CN-6000 (Sysmex Corp.) is a new haemostasis analyser with blood coagulation, amidolytic, immuno-turbidometric and light transmission aggregometry (LTA) capabilities. Transmitted light is monitored at multiple wavelengths (340, 405, 575, 660, 800 nm), from an LED light source. AIMS To evaluate the performance of the CN-6000 against a predicate device. METHODS The CN-6000 was evaluated against the CS-5100 (Sysmex) for 14 different tests, using 880 samples from normal subjects, anticoagulated patients, critically ill patients, plasmas with high or low fibrinogen content or abnormal levels of interfering substances. Between-day assay imprecision was assessed using commercial QC materials (n = 10 replicates on each of 5 days). RESULTS Acceptable levels of imprecision were obtained for all assays. Agreement between the two analysers was excellent for all assays. Throughput was 35% higher using the CN-6000 (337 vs 250 tests per hour for PT, aPTT and fibrinogen). The CN-6000 also demonstrated improved clot detection in plasmas with high levels of interfering substances as demonstrated by a 29% reduction in "vote-outs" due to low light transmission (24 vs 34). CONCLUSIONS The CN-6000 demonstrated excellent comparability with the predicate instrument and acceptable levels of imprecision in all assays. Improvements in throughput and clot detection in the presence of interfering substances were also shown.

A detailed study was conducted to investigate the applicability of various ligno-cellulosic biomasses for clean energy generation purposes using thermo-chemical treatments like gasification, pyrolysis etc. The samples were selected depending on their robust availability in the form of unutilized wastes. In the present investigation, characteristics data of seven forest wood residues, one agricultural residue and one household waste have been reported. The biomasses were analysed by various physical and chemical methods to characterize their composition and structure. The proximate and ultimate analysis of the biomass samples were also carried out. Characterization techniques like HPLC, DSC, FTIR and CHNS elemental analyser were also carried out and presented in this article. The high heating value (HHV) of these biomasses were analysed to be as high as 21.42 MJ/kg. This detailed study will provide a comprehensive idea about the feasibility of the biomass samples found extensively in the areas of Northeast India for generation of clean energy using gasification, pyrolysis etc.

Background: Quality control is an essential part of quality management in medical laboratory. Various methods are available for the analysis of laboratory quality control data, common ones are Levey Jennings chart and Westgard rules. Westgard multi-rules are a set of rules based on combination of criteria to decide whether an analytical run is acceptable or unacceptable. CUSUM uses the cumulative sum of deviations from a target, however, it is rarely used in current medical laboratory practice. We share our experience of using Westgard rules and CUSUM in the analysis of laboratory quality control data. Material and methods: Internal quality control values of 2-year period was included in the present study. Data for platelet count values of normal level control material run on a fully automated haematology analyser (Sysmex XT-2000i) were analysed. A total of 1825 data points were obtained. The data was interpreted by Westgard rules as well as cumulative sum method. The out of control events was analysed. Results: There was 9 incidence of control value outside 3SD (Westgard Rule 13s) which was picked on Levey Jennings chart but missed by CUSUM method. There were 22 instances of shift in mean (bias) which were only picked by CUSUM method. Conclusion: CUSUM was more sensitive for detection of bias whereas random error was picked-up early by Westgard rules. In conclusion we recommend the use of more than one method for analysis of quality control data.

Future trends in predicting the fracture behaviour of rubber materials (products) are discussed. A complex methodology for the determination of rubber fracture behaviour from the energy viewpoint based on simulating realistic loading conditions in services applied to a rubber matrix in a laboratory test set-up is introduced. Because this is a pure rubber matrix investigation, additional effects such as rubber product design or assembling the final performance can be fully avoided. This methodology requires instrumented and automated laboratory equipment—an intrinsic strength analyser and a tear and fatigue analyser which represent the first commercialization of a classic method for assessing long-term durability. These testing methods are applied to quantify the behaviour of rubber compounds over a broad range of tearing energies—from the fatigue threshold up to the critical tearing energy or the ultimate tear strength $$T_{\mathrm {C}}$$ to determine the relationship between fatigue crack growth rates da/dn versus the tearing energy T. This complex methodology was evaluated for carbon-black-reinforced compounds based on pure natural rubber and butadiene rubber typical for tire applications. Finally, the determined data were correlated with previous work done by Lake and Lindley (J Appl Polym Sci 9:1233–1251, 1965) as well as with practical experiences of tire manufacturers.

In this study, ethylene glycol (EG)–water (35:65 %v)-based nanofluids have been prepared to study enhancement in thermal conductivity. Nanofluids containing nanoparticles of materials CuO, Al2O3 and TiO2 of different mass concentrations from 0.2 to 2% were prepared using ultrasonication. Thermal conductivity measurement was carried using KD2 Pro thermal properties analyser in the temperature range of 30–60 °C. The study investigated the effect of concentration of nanoparticles, temperature and nanoparticle material on effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. The results showed a significant improvement in effective thermal conductivity due to the addition of nanoparticles to the base fluid. Correlations were developed for predicting the effective thermal conductivity considering each material separately, and a generalized correlation considering the three materials. Subsequently, ANN modelling was carried out for predicting the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids and compared with developed correlations. The modelling work carried out in this study is more generalized as literature results were considered in addition to the results from the present study. ANN modelling predicts the effective thermal conductivity better than the proposed correlations.

This work provides an approach for simplifying and teaching of the confusing topic of Polarisation of light and relating Malus’s Law. Teaching Polarisation and the Malus’s Law are modestly achieved by means of smartphones with a convenient light meter application. The apparatus is designed so that the polarizer, the analyser, the laser light source and the smartphone are precisely aligned on a rail. During the performance, the angle of the analyser is basically varied with respect to the polariser and the transmitted light intensity is measured by the light meter application. The results clearly show that the transmitted light intensity is directly proportional to the squared polarization angle. The approach surely provides accessibility for physics teachers and would help students to learn and internalize Polarisation and relating Malus’s Law in a better manner.