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Copyright of Forum Zakażeń is the property of Evereth Publishing Ltd. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The paper presents the results of model and empirical tests conducted for a marine diesel engine fueled by a blend of n-butanol and diesel oil. The research were aimed at assessing the usefulness of the proprietary diesel engine model in conducting research on marine engines powered by alternative fuels to fossil fuels. The authors defined the measures of adequacy. On their basis, they assessed the adequacy of the mathematical model used. The analysis of the results of the conducted research showed that the developed mathematical model is sufficiently adequate. Therefore, both the mathematical model and the computer program based on it will be used in further work on supplying marine engines with mixtures of diesel oil and biocomponents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High voltage DC insulation plays an important role, especially in power transmission systems (HVDC) but also increasingly on medium voltage levels (MVDC). The space charge behavior under DC voltage has great importance on electrical insulation reliability. This paper reports investigations of encapsulated space charge in homo-multilayer dielectric materials using the pulsed electro-acoustic (PEA) method. The charge has been introduced on the homo-layer interface by corona sprinkling prior to encapsulation. Two doses of charge density were accumulated on the dielectric surface in two types of dielectric materials Kapton and LDPE. The polarization DC voltage was applied in 2 min intervals in steps corresponding to an effective electric field strength in a range of 8-40 kV/mm for Kapton and 10-50 kV/mm for LDPE. The PEA-based detected space charge was compared at the initial, reference stage, prior to charge accumulation, and after corona sprinkling of defined charge density. The evaluation was based on the PEA time-dependent charge distributions and charge profiles referring to the DC polarization field strength. The goal of the experiment was to identify the relationship and the character of the known sprinkled and encapsulated charge inside homo-layered materials using the PEA method. According to the observations, the ratio between sprinkled charge densities is proportional to the encapsulated, charge densities measured by the PEA method on the interfacial homo-layer for the Kapton specimen. In the case of LDPE, a fast decrease of interfacial charge was observed, especially at a higher polarization field above 10 kV/mm. The encapsulation of the known charge amount can be extended to different types of multilayer material. The presented methodology might be used also for extended calibration of the PEA measurement system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection and use of historic buildings is a difficult and costly task. Most often, these objects are under conservatory protection and any interference in their structure requires appropriate consent. On the other hand, conducting construction works on historic buildings carries a high risk of their damage or even destruction. Therefore, proper prior diagnostics is an extremely important factor affecting the scope and manner of works to be conducted. The paper presents the use of 3D scanning to determine the deflection of the ceiling under the Column Hall of the historic Palace, the floor of which showed elasticity, recorded during changing service loads. After identifying the places with the greatest deflections, based on data from 3D laser scanning, test holes were made and wood samples from the ceiling were taken to perform moisture content and mycological tests. An endoscopic inspection camera was inserted into test holes, providing the basis for recognizing the structure of the ceiling, i.e. arrangement of layers as well as dimensions and spacing of ceiling beams. Strength calculations were made with the limit state method resulted in the determination of the maximum permissible service load on the ceiling. The presented course of action in diagnostics of the analysed historic building may be an example of a preliminary procedure to be taken before deciding on changes in the manner of use of historic buildings or the functionalities of their individual parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of New Trends in Qualitative Research is the property of Ludomedia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) hold great promise for clinical application as new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. This paper describes major GMP-based upstream and downstream manufacturing processes for EV large-scale production, also focusing on post-processing technologies such as surface bioengineering and uploading studies to yield novel EV-based diagnostics and advanced therapy medicinal products. This paper also focuses on the quality, safety, and efficacy issues of the bioengineered EV drug candidates before first-in-human studies. Because clinical trials involving extracellular vesicles are on the global rise, this paper encompasses different clinical studies registered on clinical-trial register platforms, with varying levels of advancement, highlighting the growing interest in EV-related clinical programs. Navigating the regulatory affairs of EVs poses real challenges, and obtaining marketing authorization for EV-based medicines remains complex due to the lack of specific regulatory guidelines for such novel products. This paper discusses the state-of-the-art regulatory knowledge to date on EV-based diagnostics and medicinal products, highlighting further research and global regulatory needs for the safe and reliable implementation of bioengineered EVs as diagnostic and therapeutic tools in clinical settings. Post-marketing pharmacovigilance for EV-based medicinal products is also presented, mainly addressing such topics as risk assessment and risk management.

This paper presents an overview of integrating new research outcomes into the development of a structural health monitoring strategy for the floating cover at the Western Treatment Plant (WTP) in Melbourne, Australia. The size of this floating cover, which covers an area of approximately 470 m × 200 m, combined with the hazardous environment and its exposure to extreme weather conditions, only allows for monitoring techniques based on remote sensing. The floating cover is deformed by the accumulation of sewage matter beneath it. Our research has shown that the only reliable data for constructing a predictive model to support the structural health monitoring of this critical asset is obtained directly from the actual floating cover at the sewage treatment plant. Our recent research outcomes lead us towards conceptualising an advanced engineering analysis tool designed to support the future creation of a digital twin for the floating cover at the WTP. Foundational work demonstrates the effectiveness of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based photogrammetry methodology in generating a digital elevation model of the large floating cover. A substantial set of data has been acquired through regular UAV flights, presenting opportunities to leverage this information for a deeper understanding of the interactions between operational conditions and the structural response of the floating cover. This paper discusses the current findings and their implications, clarifying how these outcomes contribute to the ongoing development of an advanced digital twin for the floating cover.

Biosensors are small, integrated, self-contained and self-analysing scientific devices that are used to identify and measure topics of interest. Biological detection components (e.g., enzymes, antibodies and nucleic acids) are closely related to transducers (e.g., optical, electrochemical, piezoelectric) that makes the concept of biodegradation more complex and quantitative. As a general rule, the strength of the output signal corresponds to a group of analysers. Finally, the results are created using applied gadgets and the programming framework that are involved. These provide an easier and advanced visualisation that can be handled even by a non expert. In simpler words biosensor can be termed as an 'easy-to-use' tool for diagnostic purposes, that are developed to help in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Early diagnosis is the key to successful treatment of many diseases. Biosensors utilise the unique properties of biological and physical materials to recognise a target molecule and effect transduction of an electronic signal. The key advantages of biosensors are fast responsiveness and high sensitivity. Also, the basic advantage for 'Point of Care' (POC) devices such as biosensors would include integration of nano materials, microfluidics, automatic samplers and transduction devices on a single chip. Biosensors are also being used as new analytical tools to study medicine related diagnostic aspects. This paper reviews the significance of biosensors for clinical diagnosis and therapeutic applications in the field of dentistry and its application during the COVID-19 pandemic era. It provides a comprehensive account of progress in biosensors for dental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The difficult economic situation in Ukraine today is the main motivating factor for studying problems and developing possible solutions. Since Ukraine is an agrarian country, in our research we justified the need to take into account risk factors in the agricultural sector by diagnosing the financial situation using models to assess the likely crisis and bankruptcy. The article highlights the advantages and disadvantages of using discriminant models developed by both foreign and domestic scientists. The main drawback is the maladaptation to the industry factor. The shortcomings of the diagnosis of financial state for agricultural enterprises are also identified. In order to develop measures to prevent bankruptcy, recommendations for improving the financial state of agricultural enterprises on the example of Lviv region cluster analysis was used. The article states that the need to diagnose the financial condition of the enterprise is systematic and requires a comprehensive assessment using various methods, techniques and methods of analysis, as it is one of the most important characteristics of the results of agricultural enterprises, which is determined by the interaction of all components of the financial relations of the enterprise, the totality of all production and economic factors. The combination of financial indicators and risk assessment, which have the greatest impact on the life of agricultural enterprises, thanks to a comprehensive approach will increase the accuracy of assessing the prospects of the financial state of agricultural enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Media4u Magazine is the property of Ing. Jan Chromy, Ph.D. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Monitoring children's language ability levels makes it possible to predict their school achievement and identify potential difficulties. Identifying literacy difficulties in terms of specific learning disabilities is an important topic for elementary school pupils. Today, there is a general consensus based on research evidence that the diagnostic battery of literacy skills should always include a test of language abilities, through which the prerequisites for individual reading skills and at-risk readers can be identified. A working group has created a diagnostic tool for language awareness that allows the morphologicalsyntactic (subtest A and B) and semantic (subtest C) language levels of Czech children of elementary school age to be assessed. Data analysis examines how individual language skills correspond to reading performance - decoding and reading comprehension in different reading modalities (oral and silent reading) and how they correspond to other prerequisites for reading, such as listening comprehension. The paper introduces a new diagnostic tool using a quantitative methodology. It is based on data from the research project Key Literacy Skills for Primary School Pupils - a diagnostic battery, in which 881 elementary grade pupils (Grade 1 - Grade 5) participated. The statistical parameters of the new tool are presented and the relations between the Language Awareness Test, decoding skills, and oral and silent reading comprehension are analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our understanding of the formation and evolution of the corona and the heliosphere is linked to our capability of properly interpret the data from remote sensing and in-situ observations. In this respect, being able to correctly connect in-situ observations with their source regions on the Sun is the key for solving this problem. In this work we aim at testing a diagnostics method for this connectivity. This paper makes use of a coronal jet observed on 2010 August 2nd in active region 11092 as a test for our connectivity method. This combines solar EUV and in-situ data together with magnetic field extrapolation, large scale MHD modeling and FIP (First Ionization Potential) bias modeling to provide a global picture from the source region of the jet to its possible signatures at 1 AU. Our data analysis reveals the presence of outflow areas near the jet which are within open magnetic flux regions and which present FIP bias consistent with the FIP model results. In our picture, one of these open areas is the candidate jet source. Using a back-mapping technique we identified the arrival time of this solar plasma at the ACE spacecraft. The in-situ data show signatures of changes in the plasma and magnetic field parameters, with FIP bias consistent with the possible passage of the jet material. Our results highlight the importance of remote sensing and in-situ coordinated observations as a key to solve the connectivity problem. We discuss our results in view of the recent Solar Orbiter launch which is currently providing such unique data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Medica Medianae is the property of Acta Medica Medianae and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bearings are now part of most small or large rotary machines. Maintenance of rotary machines is an essential part of preventing a bearing seizure, which can cause extensive damage to the machine or injury to the machine operators. Early replacement of a broken bearing can preserve the machine, avoiding long-term downtime and saving considerable amounts of money. This paper is concerned with the measurement of two vibration parameters (velocity and acceleration of vibrations) on the bearing housing of a laboratory model using a worn and unworn bearing. The measurement also focuses on monitoring the temperature change in the bearings using a thermal imager. Subsequent analysis of the vibrodiagnostic signal and thermal imaging pictures from the bearing is critical in terms of early identification of an upcoming failure, which can result in the failure of the production equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The study aims to summarise the literature on cancer care pathways at the diagnostic and treatment phases. The objectives are to find factors influencing the delivery of cancer care pathways; to highlight any interrelating factors; to find gaps in the literature concerning areas of research; to summarise the strategies and recommendations implemented in the studies.Design/methodology/approach: The study used a qualitative approach and developed a causal loop diagram to summarise the current literature on cancer care pathways, from screening and diagnosis to treatment. A total of 46 papers was finally included in the analysis, which highlights the recurring themes in the literature.Findings: The study highlights the myriad areas of research applied to cancer care pathways. Factors influencing the delivery of cancer care pathways were classified into different albeit interrelated themes. These include access barriers to care, hospital emergency admissions, fast track diagnostics, delay in diagnosis, waiting time to treatment and strategies to increase system efficiency.Originality/value: As far as the authors know, this is the first study to present a visual representation of the complex relationship between factors influencing the delivery of cancer care pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The question of properties and diagnostics for Gricean (1975) conversational implicature is a complex one, and it has been the subject of ongoing debate since the 1970s. At present, there is often a tendency for researchers to assume that the question has been answered decidedly and to move forward in further analyses without acknowledgment that it is in fact very much still an open debate. In a recent article, for example, entitled “Manner Implicatures and How to Spot Them” (Rett 2020), it is assumed with very little discussion that conversational implicatures of Manner are distinguishable with the following set of diagnostics: calculability, reinforceability, discourse sensitivity to the ‘Question under Discussion,’ and embeddability. The article goes on to assume as well that this set of properties can pick out all conversational implicatures in general. In this present paper, I show that this assumption is not justified and that there are serious problems with the proposed diagnostic arrangement. It is suggested at the very least that the arrangement should be presented as a tentative or exploratory one—rather than a settled one—before then going on to make larger claims about the conversational implicature category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation of hypogea and their accessibility by the visitors is a hard question, due to the interaction of different factors such as the intrinsic characteristics of the hypogeal environments and the presence of public. A particular case is represented by the Mithraeum of Marino Laziale, located a few kilometers away from Rome and accidentally discovered in the 1960s. The uniqueness of the discovery was the presence of a well-preserved painting of the Mithraic scene (II century A.D.) probably due to the oblivion of the place of worship over the centuries as well as the isolation from the outdoor environment. Unfortunately, despite a recent complete restoration and recovery of the archaeological area, which ended in 2015, the area was never open to the visitors and only two years after completing the works it was no longer safe to use. Hence, the need for a new planning of interventions starting from the deep knowledge of this cultural heritage and from the analysis of past incorrect actions to arrive at the opening—without any risk for the archaeological findings and visitors—and management of this site, never exposed to the public. Therefore, since 2018 a diagnostic campaign and microclimate monitoring have been started. The data collected during the two years of investigations have been fundamental to assess the conservation state of the hypogeal environment and the potential risks for the preservation of the three paintings (the Mithraic scene and two dadophores). Long-term monitoring of indoor environmental conditions assumes the role of an essential tool for the planning of preventive conservation strategies but also for the control of the site after its opening to the visitors. Furthermore, the characterization of the microclimate is non-invasive, sufficiently economical and accurate. In this paper, the characterization of surfaces in the Mithraic gallery through optical microscopy, UV fluorescence/imaging techniques, FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD and the microclimatic parameters variation in the presence or absence of visitors are used to define the strategies for the opening and fruition of the Mithraeum. The strategies for the sustainable fruition of this unique archaeological site have been defined through a conservation protocol approved by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and necessary for the site managers and curators of the Municipality of Marino Laziale to finally support its opening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—In this paper, we focus on the biophysical basis of the method for qualitative and quantitative registration of pain syndrome objectively and on the results obtained after experimental approbation of this method. The proposed method could be applied to create systems for support of medical decision making and be used as an effective method for express diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper describes a diagnostic system for electromechanical equipment with a decision-making block based on a neural network. An asynchronous gear drive was used as a control object. Decision making was carried out on the basis of a comprehensive analysis of vibration data (from the gear drive) and the current consumption of the induction motor. Vibration velocity, vibration acceleration and current in the phases of the stator winding of the drive electric motor are distinguished as diagnostic signs. The work shows the possibility of increasing the efficiency of diagnostics of electromechanical equipment by using complex analysis with the use of an intelligent decision-making unit. Analysis of the results of the neural network operation with the received vibration and current data showed that with a smaller number of iterations (training time) (by 40 %), 97.9 % of correct answers and a lower error value (by 12 %) were obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a detailed theoretical analysis of charge exchange recombination spectroscopy based on interactions of the planned ITER neutral beams (diagnostic beam of 100 keV uâˆ'1 and heating beam of ≈1 MeV uâˆ'1) with highly-charged ions of tungsten. The results of the present spectral synthesis are based on the new set of nl -resolved charge exchange (CX) cross sections for recombination of the W q + ions (q = 61â€"66) with atomic hydrogen calculated using the classical trajectory Monte Carlo method. A large-scale collisional-radiative model describing the population kinetics of the high- n atomic states of Si-like through O-like W ions has been developed using the NOMAD code for typical conditions of the ITER core plasma, and the resulting spectra have been generated for wavelengths in the x-ray to visible range (0.1â€"1000 nm). A detailed analysis of the plasma emission predicts a significant effect of CX recombination on the W line intensity ratios that can be used for more advanced diagnostics of the ITER plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a method for the precise diagnosis of a diesel engine in an agricultural tractor based on the analysis of efficiency changes and parameters characterizing the process of fuel-air mixture preparation. We proposed that the technical condition be identified based on available data from the engine controller, as this enables the implementation of precise online diagnostics of an agricultural tractor. The method was verified using the original cycle, during which we simulated several engine defects leading to a change in conditions and quality of the processes of creating and burning the fuel/air/flue gas mixture. In the paper, we justified the selection of the points at which the engine parameters were measured, as they provide the most information and allow for efficient identification of damage. These results indicate the possibility of damage identification without the use of the diagnostic cycle in the operation of operator-driven vehicles and autonomous vehicles.

Effective use of diagnostic assays is essential for the early detection of plant pathogens and mitigation of potential disease impacts. Assay developers require a full understanding of the intended use of a test to address complicating factors that might be observed by an end user and limit the utility of the test and its scope of application in the field. The fitness of a test for a disease prevention application is determined by its performance characteristics, which are selected during assay design and defined during validation. This paper provides guidance to developers by standardizing the descriptions of key validation terms and concepts, including tiers that can be referenced in publications to better communicate the extent to which a test has been validated. These concepts are then applied in the broader context of a strategic approach to validation for various taxa and methods. The aim of this paper is to increase awareness of common pitfalls and gaps encountered during this process, with the goal of increased success in technology transfer. Recommendations are given for improving the efficiency and quality of test development through improved coordination among stakeholders. [Figure: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

The thermostat is a crucial component of a car's internal combustion engine's cooling system. Failure of the thermostat can result in undercooling or overheating of the engine. Undercooling may increase wear of engine components due to poor lubrication and lead to higher fuel consumption. Conversely, overheating can damage the engine. The engine coolant temperature is one of the fundamental parameters for the proper functioning of the engine. The vehicle's onboard diagnostics system was unable to detect the malfunction of the thermostat. As a consequence, fuel consumption increased, which was especially noticeable in winter. This paper evaluates the possibility of carrying out thermostat diagnostics using data obtained from the OBD system through a diagnostic interface ELM327, which is connected to the OBD-II connector and interfaced with Torque Pro software on a smartphone. Analysis of the data confirmed that the proposed diagnostic method was appropriate. Furthermore, the impact of the thermostat malfunction on different factors such as coolant temperature, cold engine warm-up time, parameters characterising thermostat cycling, and fuel consumption of the car were studied. It was found that, apart from the already mentioned decrease in coolant temperature, the thermostat hysteresis also decreased and the thermostat cycle time increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the operation of aero-engines (turbine and piston engines), wear processes occur in tribological nodes, which significantly affect the reliability and safety of flight operations. This paper presents aspects of tribological diagnostics of aircraft engines based on periodic testing of lubricant samples in laboratories. Firstly, the object of research with its design features, operating parameters and used lubricants is presented, as well as the theoretical basis of tribological testing. This was followed by a description of the testing methods used in tribological diagnostics of aero-engines, taking into account lubricant degradation and contamination processes, standards, testing methodologies and operating experience described in the literature, including the machine failure curve. Next, the capabilities of the testing methods are illustrated with results from periodic tribological testing of turbine engines, obtained at an accredited tribological systems diagnostics laboratory. In the following section, the role of trend analysis and statistical criteria in the process of diagnosing and managing the risk of operation of aero-engines, exploited according to both their technical condition and planned maintenance, was indicated. Then, the possibility of improving the reliability of tribological diagnostics of aero-engines on the basis of experience from industry - real-time monitoring of selected tribological parameters - was signalled. In conclusion, the high efficiency and role of tribological diagnostics in maintaining the operational safety of a fleet of different aircraft types is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global financial crisis showed that the old methods, tools and diagnostic models of strategic management of the financial and economic development of the enterprise do not work with the necessary efficiency. Therefore, the problem of developing such models, methods and forms of assessment of the financial and economic development of the enterprise, which would most fully meet the requirements of modern times, is acute. The purpose of the article is to develop a comprehensive diagnostic methodology for strategic management of the financial and economic development of the enterprise. The paper examines the process of diagnosing the financial and economic development on the example of a textile production enterprise. It was determined that financial and economic development is systemically managed, therefore, the basis of its coordination should be a systematic approach and modern information technologies For the diagnosis of strategic management of the financial and economic development of textile production enterprises, proposed to apply the "Cybernetic concept of management of marginal resources and states of the development object (CURSOR+)". This concept is based on an integral model of the result of system-situational financial and economic development and includes the calculation of a balanced system of indicators. It is noted that the cause-and-effect relationships that exist between all the indicators of the components of the balanced system of indicators are a reflection of the management business strategy adopted at the enterprise. In the article, it was proposed to carry out the procedure of convolution of all correlation coefficients. The analysis of the necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of the extremum of the development indicator as a function of many variables made it possible to determine the differential levels of strategic management of the financial and economic development of textile industry enterprises. The proposed methodology will be useful for market stakeholders who take care of the procedure of timely diagnosis of strategic management of the financial and economic development of the enterprise for effective management decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced medical imaging, such as CT, fMRI and PET, has undergone enormous progress in recent years, both in accuracy and utilization. Such techniques often bring with them an illusion of immediacy, the idea that the body and its diseases can be directly inspected. In this paper we target this illusion and address the issue of the reliability of advanced imaging tests as knowledge procedures, taking positron emission tomography (PET) in oncology as paradigmatic case study. After individuating a suitable notion of reliability, we argue that (1) PET is a highly theory-laden and non-immediate knowledge procedure, in spite of the photographic-like quality of the images it delivers; (2) the diagnostic conclusions based on the interpretation of PET images are population-dependent; (3) PET images require interpretation, which is inherently observer-dependent and therefore variable. We conclude with a three-step methodological proposal for enhancing the reliability of advanced medical imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer (BCa) is the most common cancer type diagnosed in women and 5th most common cause of deaths among all cancer deaths despite the fact that screening program is at place. This is why novel diagnostics approaches are needed in order to decrease number of BCa cases and disease mortality. In this review paper, we aim to cover some basic aspects regarding cellular metabolism and signalling in BCa behind altered glycosylation. We also discuss novel exciting discoveries regarding glycan-based analysis, which can provide useful information for better understanding of the disease. The final part deals with clinical usefulness of glycan-based biomarkers and the clinical performance of such biomarkers is compared to already approved BCa biomarkers and diagnostic tools based on imaging. Recent discoveries suggest that glycan-based biomarkers offer high accuracy for possible BCa diagnostics in blood, but also for better monitoring and management of BCa patients. The review article was written using Web of Science search engine to include articles published between 2019 and 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. Currently, the only method used to differentiate between MIBC and NMIBC is transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT). Magnetic resonance and Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) would allow for discrimination between NMIBC and MIBC. We evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of VI-RADS in the diagnosis of muscle-invasive bladder cancer and discuss its value in everyday urological practice. Methods. 64 patients with bladder cancer (BC) were enrolled into this prospective study. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) was performed before transurethral resection of the bladder tumour (TURBT) and evaluated using the VI-RADS score. Score were compared to histopathology results. We evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of this system using both cut-off VI-RADS ≥ 3 and ≥ 4. Results. Sensitivity of 92.3% (95%CI: 64.0; 99.8), specificity of 81.4% (95%CI: 69.1; 90.3), positive predictive value of 52.2% (95%CI: 30.6; 73.2) and negative predictive value of 98.0% (95%CI: 89.1; 99.9) was determined using cut off VI-RADS ≥ 3, while sensitivity of 76.9% (95%CI: 46.2; 95.0), specificity of 91.5% (95%CI: 81.3; 97.2), positive predictive value of 66.7% (95%CI: 38.4; 88.2), and negative predictive value of 94.7% (95%CI: 85.4; 98.9) was determined using cut-off VI-RADS ≥ 4. Based on our results, we consider the optimal cut-off point to be VI-RADS ≥ 3 with the overall prediction accuracy of 83.3% (95%CI: 72.7; 91.1). Conclusions. We acknowledge that mpMRI provides valuable information with regard to BC staging, however, despite its high overall accuracy, we do not consider the VI-RADS could replace TURBT in discrimination between non-muscle invasive and MIBC.

• We report a deep-learning-based model for quality classification of HJT solar cells as well as anomalies detection in electroluminescent images. • The model is designed to be trained in a semi-supervised manner on imbalanced data containing small part of annotated relevant images with defects. • The performance of model was proved with on-plant collected dataset consisting of 68 748 electroluminescent images as well as ELPV dataset. Efficient defect detection in solar cell manufacturing is crucial for stable green energy technology manufacturing. This paper presents a deep-learning-based automatic detection model SeMaCNN for classification and anomaly detection of electroluminescent images for solar cell quality evaluation. The core of the model is an anomaly detection algorithm based on Mahalanobis distance that can be trained in a semi-supervised manner on imbalanced data with a small number of digital electroluminescence images with relevant defects. This is particularly valuable for prompt model integration into the industrial landscape. The model has been trained with the dataset collected at the manufacturing plant consisting of 68 748 electroluminescent images of heterojunction solar cells with a busbar grid. Our model achieves the accuracy of 92.5%, F1 score 95.8%, recall 94.8%, and precision 96.9% within the validation subset consisting of 1049 manually annotated images. The model was also tested on the open ELPV dataset and demonstrates stable performance with accuracy 94.6% and F1 score 91.1%. The SeMaCNN model demonstrates a good balance between its performance and computational complexity, which make it applicable for integrating into quality control systems of solar cell manufacturing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Paedagogica Vilnensia is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In addition to their recognized value for obtaining 3D digital dental models, intraoral scanners (IOSs) have recently been proven to be promising tools for oral health diagnostics. In this work, the most recent literature on IOSs was reviewed with a focus on their applications as detection systems of oral cavity pathologies. Those applications of IOSs falling in the general area of detection systems for oral health diagnostics (e.g., caries, dental wear, periodontal diseases, oral cancer) were included, while excluding those works mainly focused on 3D dental model reconstruction for implantology, orthodontics, or prosthodontics. Three major scientific databases, namely Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science, were searched and explored by three independent reviewers. The synthesis and analysis of the studies was carried out by considering the type and technical features of the IOS, the study objectives, and the specific diagnostic applications. From the synthesis of the twenty-five included studies, the main diagnostic fields where IOS technology applies were highlighted, ranging from the detection of tooth wear and caries to the diagnosis of plaques, periodontal defects, and other complications. This shows how additional diagnostic information can be obtained by combining the IOS technology with other radiographic techniques. Despite some promising results, the clinical evidence regarding the use of IOSs as oral health probes is still limited, and further efforts are needed to validate the diagnostic potential of IOSs over conventional tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of preventing failures in bearings has led to a large amount of research being conducted to find methods for fault diagnostics and prognostics. Many of these solutions, such as deep learning methods, require a significant amount of data to perform well. This is a reason why publicly available data are important, and there currently exist several open datasets that contain different conditions and faults. However, one challenge is that almost all of these data come from a laboratory setting, where conditions might differ from those found in an industrial environment where the methods are intended to be used. This also means that there may be characteristics of the industrial data that are important to take into account. Therefore, this study describes a completely new dataset for bearing faults from a pulp mill. The analysis of the data shows that the faults vary significantly in terms of fault development, rotation speed, and the amplitude of the vibration signal. It also suggests that methods built for this environment need to consider that no historical examples of faults in the target domain exist and that external events can occur that are not related to any condition of the bearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El Código Técnico de la Edificación (CTE) en el apartado de Seguridad de Utilización y Accesibilidad (SUA) incluye más de 200 parámetros de accesibilidad que a su vez derivan a otras normativas. Sin embargo, los Informes de Evaluación del Edificio (IEE), como se mostrará en este trabajo, plantean un análisis mucho más escaso y subjetivo, no existiendo correlación entre sus indicadores y todos los previstos en el CTE. El objetivo de esta comunicación es analizar los parámetros del CTE en su conjunto, estudiar la proporción de parámetros físicos, frente a sensoriales y cognitivos y generar una herramienta que permita el conocimiento y aplicación de la accesibilidad universal en los edificios de vivienda plurifamiliar de forma eficiente. La metodología desarrollada es una revisión bibliográfica de la normativa y su volcado a unos listados Excel diseñados para clasificar y cuantificar los datos, donde se observa un crecimiento del 32% al añadir las normativas relacionadas y un alto peso de parámetros físicos Abstract The Technical Building Code (CTE) in the section on Safety in Use and Accessibility (SUA) includes more than 200 accessibility parameters that in turn derive from other regulations. However, the Building Evaluation Reports (IEE), as will be shown in this paper, propose a much more scarce and subjective analysis, and there is no correlation between its indicators and all those foreseen in the CTE. The aim of this paper is to analyse the parameters of the CTE as a whole, to study the proportion of physical versus sensory and cognitive parameters and to generate a tool that allows knowledge and application of universal accessibility in multi-family housing buildings in an efficient way. The methodology developed is a bibliographic review of the regulations and their dumping to Excel lists designed to classify and quantify the data, where a 32% growth is observed when adding the related regulations and a high weight of physical parameters.

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizotypal disorder (SD) both have a heterogenous presentation, with significant overlaps in symptoms and behaviour. Due to elevated recognition and knowledge of ASD worldwide, there is a growing rate of referrals from primary health professionals to specialised units. At all levels of assessment, the differential diagnostic considerations between ASD and SD exert major challenges for clinicians. Although several validated screening questionnaires exist for ASD and SD, none have differential diagnostic properties. Accordingly, in this study, we aim to develop a new screening questionnaire, the schiZotypy Autism Questionnaire (ZAQ), which provides a combined screening for both conditions, while also indicating the relative likelihood of each. Methods: We aim to test 200 autistic patients and 100 schizotypy patients recruited from specialised psychiatric clinics and 200 controls from the general population (Phase 1). The results from ZAQ will be compared to the clinical diagnoses from interdisciplinary teams at specialised psychiatric clinics. After this initial testing phase, the ZAQ will be validated in an independent sample (Phase 2). Conclusions: The aim of the study is to investigate the discriminative properties (ASD vs. SD), diagnostic accuracy, and validity of the schiZotypy Autism Questionnaire (ZAQ). Funding: Funding was provided by Psychiatric Centre Glostrup, Copenhagen Denmark, Sofiefonden (Grant number: FID4107425), Trygfonden (Grant number:153588), Takeda Pharma. Trial registration: Clinical Trials, NCT05213286, Registered 28 January 2022, clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05213286?cond = RAADS&draw = 2&rank = 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial components and systems undergo degradation in process operations. Prognostics and health management (PHM) is a process to assess and predict health conditions of components and can be applied to condition-based monitoring and maintenance. PHM is commonly utilized to analyze the health condition of a single lifecycle until failure. When maintenance occurs, degradation can be removed, and the PHM model can be restarted with new parameters related to the expected postmaintenance conditions. Maintenance actions, mostly imperfect repairs, may not entirely reset the condition to as good as new, and further degradation may occur at a higher rate. Maintenance repairs should be considered in prognostic models to predict component health more accurately. Furthermore, processes typically have more than one component that degrade and influence process measurements. The dependence of process measurements to multiple fault modes and related degradation can make individual component health monitoring complex. Commonly, faults and their related effects on process parameters must be isolated. In these cases, the diagnostics and prognostics framework should handle unsynchronized failure and maintenance reinitialization of different components for multiple fault processes. This research paper presents the Maintenance-Dependent Monitoring and Prognostics Model (MDMPM) to detect anomalies, decouple faults for different components, and predict future health conditions to calculate remaining useful life (RUL). The model is demonstrated with semisimulated nuclear power plant (NPP) data, with simultaneous condenser pump degradation and condenser tube fouling. The MDMPM shows a reliable prediction of RULs of NPP maintenance-dependent processes with interacting component degradation modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an update of the diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations of the National Consultant for Gastroenterology and the Polish Society of Gastroenterology from 2013. It contains 49 recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment, both pharmacological and surgical, of ulcerative colitis in adults. The guidelines were developed by a group of experts appointed by the Polish Society of Gastroenterology and the National Consultant in the field of Gastroenterology. The methodology related to the GRADE methodology was used to assess the quality of available evidence and the strength of therapeutic recommendations. The degree of expert support for the proposed statements was assessed on a 6-point Likert scale. Voting results, together with comments, are included with each statement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ever-increasing demand for electricity and the need for conventional sources to cooperate with renewable ones generates the need to increase the efficiency and safety of the generation sources. Therefore, it is necessary to find a way to operate existing facilities more efficiently with full detection of emerging faults. These are the requirements of Polish, European and International law, which demands that energy facilities operate with the highest efficiency and meet a number of restrictive requirements. In order to improve the operation of steam power plants of electric generating stations, thermal-fluid diagnostics have been traditionally used, and in this paper a three-hull steam turbine, having a high-pressure, a medium-pressure and a low-pressure part, has been selected for analysis. The turbine class is of the order of 200 MW electric. Genetic algorithms (GA) were used in the process of creating the diagnostic model. So far, they have been used for diagnostic purposes in gas turbines, and no work has been found in the literature using GA for the diagnostic process of such complex objects as steam turbines located in professional manufacturing facilities. The use of genetic algorithms allowed rapid acquisition of global extremes, that is efficiency and power of the unit. The result of the work undertaken is the possibility to carry out a full diagnostic process, meaning detection, localization and identification of single and double degradations. In this way 100 % of the main faults are found, but there are sometimes additional ones, and these are not perfectly identified especially for single time detection. Thus, the results showed that with a very high success rate the simulated damage to the geometrical elements of the steam turbine under study is found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a rapidly growing interest in the use of composite and polymer materials for the construction of marine propellers for over 20 years. The main advantages of these materials are a reduction in the weight of the propeller, increased efficiency due to the hydroelasticity effect, a reduction of the hydroacoustic signature, and a cost reduction for serial production. This paper presents an overview of diagnostic methods that can be applied at the design level and during the operation of marine propellers made of polymeric materials. Non-invasive contact and non-contact-based diagnostic techniques for evaluating the technical state of the propeller are reviewed, and the advantages and disadvantages of qualitative and quantitative methods are identified. Operational diagnostic procedures for propellers are areessential for the safety of vessels at sea. Finally, the structure of a diagnostic system is proposed. It combined diagnosis process with the genesis of damage and the prognosis of the technical condition, i.e. production and in-service diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contemporary operation-related requirements for combustion engines force the necessity of ongoing assessment of their in operation technical condition (e.g. marine engines). The engine efficiency and durability depend on a variety of parameters. One of them is valve clearance. As has been proven in the paper, the assessment of the valve clearance can be based on vibration signals, which is not a problem in terms of signal measurement and processing and is not invasive into the engine structure. The authors described the experimental research aiming at providing information necessary to develop and validate the proposed method. Active experiments were used with the task of valve clearance and registration of vibrations using a three-axis transducer placed on the engine cylinder head. The tests were carried out during various operating conditions of the engine set by 5 rotational speeds and 5 load conditions. In order to extract the training examples, fragments of the signal related to the closing of individual valves were divided into 11 shorter portions. From each of them, an effective value of the signal was determined. Obtained total 32054 training vectors for each valve related to 4 classes of valve clearance including very sensitive clearance above 0.8 mm associat-ed with high dynamic interactions in cylinder head. In the paper, the authors propose to use a convolutional network CNN to assess the correct engine valve clearance. The obtained results were compared with other methods of machine learning (pattern recognition network, random forest). Finally, using CNN the valve clearance class identification error was less than 1% for the intake valve and less than 3.5% for the exhaust valve. Developed method replaces the existing standard methods based on FFT and STFT combined with regression calculation where approximation error is up to 10%. Such results are more useful for further studies related not only to classification, but also to the prediction of the valve clearance condition in real engine operations.

A novel approach for cost-effective and temporally resolved in-line combustion gas diagnostics based on spontaneous Stokes Raman spectroscopy is presented in this paper. The proposed instrument uses a multipass configuration designed to increase the scattering generation, giving information about gas species concentrations, including H2 and N2 that are not commonly available from analysis with absorption spectroscopy techniques. The system performs calibrated analysis providing both qualitative and quantitative information about the gas composition. Depending on the application, the device can work with spectra integration time from 0.15 s up to 10 s, with a Raman spectrum ranging from the H2 rotational peak at Raman shift of 587 cm−1 up to the H2 vibrational peak at 4156 cm−1, covering all the Raman emissions of major combustion species. The device response was characterized by a working pressure from 0.7 to 7.5 bar. The instrument prototype has been made completely transportable, designed to operate using a gas sampling system, and ready to be operated in relevant industrial in-line environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of biochips with AI opened up new possibilities and is expected to revolutionize smart healthcare tools within the next five years. The combination of miniaturized, multi-functional, rapid, high-throughput sample processing and sensing capabilities of biochips, with the computational data processing and predictive power of AI, allows medical professionals to collect and analyze vast amounts of data quickly and efficiently, leading to more accurate and timely diagnoses and prognostic evaluations. Biochips, as smart healthcare devices, offer continuous monitoring of patient symptoms. Integrated virtual assistants have the potential to send predictive feedback to users and healthcare practitioners, paving the way for personalized and predictive medicine. This review explores the current state-of-the-art biochip technologies including gene-chips, organ-on-a-chips, and neural implants, and the diagnostic and therapeutic utility of AI-assisted biochips in medical practices such as cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders. Choosing the appropriate AI model for a specific biomedical application, and possible solutions to the current challenges are explored. Surveying advances in machine learning models for biochip functionality, this paper offers a review of biochips for the future of biomedicine, an essential guide for keeping up with trends in healthcare, while inspiring cross-disciplinary collaboration among biomedical engineering, medicine, and machine learning fields. [Display omitted] • Biochips are key for diagnosis, drug delivery, disease modeling, and neurostimulation. • AI-assisted biochip technology offers advances in novel diagnostics and therapeutics. • Useful in cancer, diabetes, infectious diseases, and neurological disorders. • Predictive analytics in AI-biochips shed light on predictive and precision medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]