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Industrial robotic systems (IRS) consist of industrial robots that automate industrial processes. They accurately perform repetitive tasks, replacing or assisting with dangerous jobs like assembly in the automotive and chemical industries. Failures in these systems can be catastrophic, so it is important to ensure their quality and safety before using them. One way to do this is by applying a software testing process to find faults before they become failures. However, software testing in industrial robotic systems has some challenges. These include differences in perspectives on software testing from people with diverse backgrounds, coordinating and collaborating with diverse teams, and performing software testing within the complex integration inherent in industrial environments. In traditional systems, a well-known development process uses simple, structured sentences in English to facilitate communication between project team members and business stakeholders. This process is called behavior-driven development (BDD), and one of its pillars is the use of templates to write user stories, scenarios, and automated acceptance tests. We propose a software testing (ST) approach called automated acceptance testing for industrial robotic systems (AAT4IRS) that uses natural language to write the features and scenarios to be tested. We evaluated our ST approach through a proof-of-concept, performing a pick-and-place process and applying mutation testing to measure its effectiveness. The results show that the test suites implemented using AAT4IRS were highly effective, with 79% of the generated mutants detected, thus instilling confidence in the robustness of our approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new constellation lifecycle cost optimization problem was introduced. • Useful insights to the satellite burn-in problem can guide satellite manufacturers. • Long testing durations are undesirable; testing can be traded off with number of satellites produced. • Combining burn-in, warranty and availability analysis opens new paths for constellation research. Constellation lifecycle costs are an important metric for constellation designers. Recurring costs of mega constellations in particular are large relative to the non-recurring costs, yet little attention has been given to the reduction of recurring costs. Moreover, few studies exist on the impacts of pre-launch activities such as satellite testing on subsequent operational reliability. We thus study the lifecycle cost impacts of environmental stress screening during acceptance testing to minimize constellation lifecycle costs. Parallels are drawn with the field of electronics testing, and costs arising from burn-in, replacement and availability are considered in our formulation. A single-objective cost minimization problem and a multi-objective cost and unavailability minimization problem are presented to capture different mission applications that require different objectives. The effects of system homogeneity and the use of sparing strategies are investigated. We propose genetic algorithms to solve the optimization problems and give some insight into how burn-in should be carried out for minimizing total costs. The optimization is also applied to a case study of a proposed mission scenario and the constellation lifecycle costs of an optimized burn-in plan are compared to those of a typical "reliability target" burn-in plan. The optimization resulted in lifecycle cost savings of around 19% while significantly reducing the burn-in duration, showing much promise in the burn-in cost optimization approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial robotic systems (IRS) consist of industrial robots that automate industrial processes. They accurately perform repetitive tasks, replacing or assisting with dangerous jobs like assembly in the automotive and chemical industries. Failures in these systems can be catastrophic, so it is important to ensure their quality and safety before using them. One way to do this is by applying a software testing process to find faults before they become failures. However, software testing in industrial robotic systems has some challenges. These include differences in perspectives on software testing from people with diverse backgrounds, coordinating and collaborating with diverse teams, and performing software testing within the complex integration inherent in industrial environments. In traditional systems, a well-known development process uses simple, structured sentences in English to facilitate communication between project team members and business stakeholders. This process is called behavior-driven development (BDD), and one of its pillars is the use of templates to write user stories, scenarios, and automated acceptance tests. We propose a software testing (ST) approach called automated acceptance testing for industrial robotic systems (AAT4IRS) that uses natural language to write the features and scenarios to be tested. We evaluated our ST approach through a proof-of-concept, performing a pick-and-place process and applying mutation testing to measure its effectiveness. The results show that the test suites implemented using AAT4IRS were highly effective, with 79% of the generated mutants detected, thus instilling confidence in the robustness of our approach.

Aim: To report on the performance characteristics of the 5‐ring GE Discovery MI PET/CT systems using the AAPM TG‐126 report and compare these results to NEMA NU 2‐2012 where applicable. Materials and Methods: TG‐126 testing was performed on two GE 5‐Rings Discovery MI scanners. Tests performed included spatial resolution, PET/CT image‐registration accuracy, sensitivity, count rate performance, accuracy of corrections, image contrast, scatter/attenuation correction, and image uniformity. All acquired data were analyzed using scanner console or free software tools as described by TG‐126 and the results were then compared to published NEMA NU 2‐2012 values. Results: Both scanners gave similar resolution results for TG‐126 and NEMA NU 2‐2012 and were within manufacturer specifications. Image‐registration accuracy between PET and CT using our clinical protocol showed excellent results with values ≤1 mm. Sensitivity using TG‐126 was 19.43 cps/kBq while for NEMA the value was 20.73 cps/kBq. The peak noise‐equivalent counting rate was 2174 kcps at 63.1 kBq/mL and is not comparable to NEMA NU 2‐2012 due to differences in phantoms and methods used to measure and calculate this parameter. The accuracy of corrections for count losses for TG‐126 were expressed in SUV values and found to be within 10% of the expected SUV measurement of 1. Image contrast and scatter/attenuation correction using the TG‐126 method gave acceptable results. Image uniformity assessment resulted in values within the recommended ± 5% limits. Conclusion: These results show that the 5‐ring GE Discovery MI PET/CT scanner testing using TG‐126 is reproducible and has similar results to NEMA NU 2‐2012 tests where applicable. We hope these results start to form the basis to compare PET/CT systems using TG‐126. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this article, we summarize the deployment of the Air Force Weather (AFW) HPC11 system at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) including the process followed to successfully complete acceptance testing of the system. HPC11 is the first HPE/Cray EX 3000 system that has been successfully released to its user community in a federal facility. HPC11 consists of two identical 800‐node supercomputers, Fawbush and Miller, with access to two independent and identical lustre parallel file systems. HPC11 is equipped with Slingshot 10 interconnect technology and relies on the HPE Performance Cluster Manager software for system configuration. ORNL has a clearly defined acceptance testing process used to ensure that every new system deployed can provide the necessary capabilities to support user workloads. We worked closely with HPE and AFW to develop a set of tests that used the United Kingdom's Meteorological Office's Unified Model and 4‐dimensional variational data assimilation. We also included benchmarks and applications from the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility portfolio to fully exercise the HPE/Cray programming environment and evaluate the functionality and performance of the system. Acceptance testing of HPC11 required parallel execution of each element on Fawbush and Miller. In addition, careful coordination was needed to ensure successful acceptance of the newly deployed lustre file systems alongside the compute resources. In this work, we present test results from specific system components and provide an overview of the issues identified, challenges encountered, and the lessons learned along the way. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Failure reporting analysis and corrective action system (FRACAS) is used during the development, manufacturing and deployment stages of a product. It helps in the knowledge process to learn about the root cause of failure through failure analysis and then implement the required corrective action. The objective of this research is to propose a productivity-oriented FRACAS framework and to determine its usefulness at a manufacturer site for medical oxygen plant (MOP). MOP is a spin-off technology of the onboard oxygen generating system (OOGS) used in defence fighter aircrafts. During implementation, the FRACAS framework was found to have effectiveness of 89%, with testing failure rate being reduced significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TaiChi, a new multi-modality radiotherapy platform that integrates a linear accelerator, a focusing gamma system, and a kV imaging system within an enclosed O-ring gantry, was introduced into clinical application. This work aims to assess the technological characteristics and commissioning results of the TaiChi platform. The acceptance testing and commissioning were performed following the manufacturer's customer acceptance tests (CAT) and several AAPM Task Group (TG) reports/guidelines. Regarding the linear accelerator (linac), all applicable validation measurements recommended by the MPPG 5.a (basic photon beam model validation, intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)/volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) validation, end-to-end(E2E) tests, and patient-specific quality assurance (QA)) were performed. For the focusing gamma system, the absorbed doses were measured using a PTW31014 ion chamber (IC) and PTW60016 diode detector. EBT3 films and a PTW60016 diode detector were employed to measure the relative output factors (ROFs). The E2E tests were performed using PTW31014 IC and EBT3 films. The coincidences between the imaging isocenter and the linac/gamma mechanical isocenter were investigated using EBT3 films. The image quality was evaluated regarding the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), spatial resolution, and uniformity. All tests included in the CAT met the manufacturer's specifications. All MPPG 5.a measurements complied with the tolerances. The confidence limits for IMRT/VMAT point dose and dose distribution measurements were achieved according to TG-119. The point dose differences were below 1.68% and gamma passing rates (3%/2 mm) were above 95.1% for the linac E2E tests. All plans of patient-specific QA had point dose differences below 1.79% and gamma passing rates above 96.1% using the 3%/2 mm criterion suggested by TG-218. For the focusing gamma system, the differences between the calculated and measured absorbed doses were below 1.86%. The ROFs calculated by the TPS were independently confirmed within 2% using EBT3 films and a PTW60016 detector. The point dose differences were below 2.57% and gamma passing rates were above 95.3% using the 2%/1 mm criterion for the E2E tests. The coincidences between the imaging isocenter and the linac/gamma mechanical isocenter were within 0.5 mm. The image quality parameters fully complied with the manufacturer's specifications regarding the CNR, spatial resolution, and uniformity. The multi-modality radiotherapy platform complies with the CAT and AAPM commissioning criteria. The commissioning results demonstrate that this platform performs well in mechanical and dosimetry accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomophagy is directly connected with culture, explaining why it is commonly rejected in Western countries. Due to increased meat consumption in recent years with its associated negative impacts on health and sustainability, the development of products based on alternative protein sources has become urgent. The larval form of Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) has the potential to substitute meat as it requires less resources and produces less emissions compared to other forms of meat production. Therefore, in this project we have aimed to develop pasta sauces with differing mealworm contents based on a common meat sauce and to test the acceptance with 91 consumers in Austria. Three sauces (100% mealworm, 50% mealworm and 50% meat, 100% meat) were developed and tested using a 9-point hedonic scale for acceptance, and the CATA (Check-All-That-Apply) method was integrated to also receive descriptive information. The analysis of the liking data revealed that the liking for the hybrid sauce with meat and mealworm content was comparable to the meat sauce (6.9 ± 1.8. vs. 6.5 ± 1.8, p > 0.05). Less liked was the sauce with the highest mealworm content (5.7 ± 1.8, p < 0.05). The CATA analysis demonstrated the strongest positive effects on the mean in terms of how much the products were liked for the attribute "fleshy" (0.8). On the other hand, the attributes "brownish" (−0.9) or "mushy" (−1.0) had the strongest negative effects on the mean of the liking of products. We have seen that meat cannot be substituted by mealworm immediately and completely. The results suggest a stepwise substitution and the further adaptation of products regarding the (negative and positive effecting) attributes to increase consumer acceptance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the use of multi-material objects in industry continues to rise, the need for geometrical quality control by means of computed tomography-based coordinate measurement systems (CT-based CMSs) for entire geometries is rising as well. But the lack of international standards and the limited knowledge available on the influence of multi-materials on dimensional CT measurements greatly impairs the reliability of this technology. Therefore this paper, after summarising the multi-material effects on dimensional CT measurements, will evaluate the performance of a metrology CT system for multi-material measurements. The objectives here are to gather evidence for and to better understand the multi-material influence on CT measurements. The investigation consisted of carrying out test measurements similar to standardised acceptance test measurements using a set of dedicated multi-material reference standards. The evaluation of the measurement results relied on statistical analyses and estimation of the test value uncertainty. This evaluation has validated that effects not present in mono-material measurements indeed exist in multi-material measurements, thus highlighting the importance of considering multi-material effects on dimensional CT measurements. • Evaluation of the multi-material performance of an X-ray CT system. • Determination of the test value uncertainty for CT multi-material measurements. • Importance of multi-material effects to be considered in normative documents. • Multi-material effects are not visible in mono-material measurements. • Proof of the statistical relevance of the multi-material acceptance testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ophthalmic brachytherapy treats eye lesions by stitching plaques containing a radionuclide (e.g. Ru-106) onto the sclera. Compliance with quality assurance standards is crucial, but practical limitations complicate independent source strength measurement in clinical practice. In this article, a new prototype for acceptance testing of Ru-106 plaques is assayed to assess its suitability for a hospital's medical physics department. The system designed for Ru-106 plaque assessment includes a phantom basin fillable with water, a Si-diode for electrons coupled with an electrometer, type-dependent plaque holders and a micrometre gauge. Testing involved the measurement of three plaque types (CCA, CIB, COB) by six medical physics experts and trainees, the assessment of inter and intra-observer variability and the suitability for measurement at the reference point, 2 mm. Measured absorbed dose rates in water at 2 mm from the plaque surface demonstrated compatibility across all testers for the three plaques. Intra and inter-observer variability was minimal (1.0% and 1.3% of the measured value, respectively), confirming system robustness in terms of operator influence. The system proves suitable for Ru-106 plaque acceptance testing ensuring accurate plaque positioning and dose rate verification at 2 mm. These findings confirm its potential as a support for compliance with quality assurance standards. These results are subject to the issue of the corresponding calibration certificate for the Si-diode. • Technical difficulties to verify the dose rate to water for Ru-106 plaques represent an anomalous situation in brachytherapy. • Beta testing of a new prototype for acceptance testing of Ru-106 plaques in ocular brachytherapy is presented. • The system proves suitable for clinical use, ensuring robust operator handling and adequate dose rate verification at 2 mm. • The prototype has potential to address gap in quality assurance, thereby enhancing patient safety and clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entomophagy is directly connected with culture, explaining why it is commonly rejected in Western countries. Due to increased meat consumption in recent years with its associated negative impacts on health and sustainability, the development of products based on alternative protein sources has become urgent. The larval form of Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) has the potential to substitute meat as it requires less resources and produces less emissions compared to other forms of meat production. Therefore, in this project we have aimed to develop pasta sauces with differing mealworm contents based on a common meat sauce and to test the acceptance with 91 consumers in Austria. Three sauces (100% mealworm, 50% mealworm and 50% meat, 100% meat) were developed and tested using a 9-point hedonic scale for acceptance, and the CATA (Check-All-That-Apply) method was integrated to also receive descriptive information. The analysis of the liking data revealed that the liking for the hybrid sauce with meat and mealworm content was comparable to the meat sauce (6.9 ± 1.8. vs. 6.5 ± 1.8, p > 0.05). Less liked was the sauce with the highest mealworm content (5.7 ± 1.8, p < 0.05). The CATA analysis demonstrated the strongest positive effects on the mean in terms of how much the products were liked for the attribute “fleshy” (0.8). On the other hand, the attributes “brownish” (−0.9) or “mushy” (−1.0) had the strongest negative effects on the mean of the liking of products. We have seen that meat cannot be substituted by mealworm immediately and completely. The results suggest a stepwise substitution and the further adaptation of products regarding the (negative and positive effecting) attributes to increase consumer acceptance.

The human body's reaction to various therapeutic medications is critical to comprehend since it aids in the appropriate construction of automated decision support systems for healthcare. Healthcare Internet of Things (IoT) solutions are becoming more accessible and trusted, necessitating more testing before they are standardized for commercial usage. We have developed an activity diagram based on the Unified Modeling Language (UML) to represent acceptability testing in IoT systems. The activity flow graph is used to extract all of the necessary information by traversing the activity flow diagram from start to finish, displaying all its properties. In this paper, a test case is generated to compute the type of diabetes using blood sugar test results, estimate the kind of diabetes, and the probability that a person would get diabetes in the future. We have demonstrated how these test cases can function using a telehealth care case study. First, we offer a high-level overview of the topic as well as a design model working diagram. The test case creation method is then outlined using the activity diagram as a guide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous work related to runs is extended to include various patterns. The familiar CSCF, CSTF and TSCSTFCF procedures for reliability demonstration tests are generalized for patterns. The waiting time distributions and the value of the expected number of required tests are presented. Like for runs, some auxiliary functions are defined, a set of equations is set up and a numerical solution is presented. In some cases, closed-form expressions are provided. The analysis is generalized for the case of testing a number of units in parallel. Following the case of runs, a constrained optimization procedure is shown for evaluating the optimal values of the parameters involved within the procedure. It is observed that in some cases it is preferable to deal with patterns instead of runs. In addition, the following problem is solved: given 'i' successes within 'n' tests, what is the probability of not having a certain number of kcs consecutive successes within a given pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptance testing and commission are essential elements of the quality assurance program for imaging equipment. We present the results of a performance evaluation of Flat Panel-Based Cardiovascular Fluoroscopy X-ray Systems as a part of acceptance testing and commissioning. Measurements were obtained using a calibrated dose rate meter, patient equivalent phantoms, and Leeds image quality test tools. The results were compared with the manufacturer and European acceptability criteria. The entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) rate ranged from 8.0 to 12.0 mGy min−1 in the continuous mode and from 0.01 to 0.04 mGy fr−1 in the pulsed mode of operation. Detector-input air kerma rates ranged from 0.29 to 0.39 mGy min−1 in continuous mode and from 0.02 to 0.07 µGy fr−1 in pulsed mode. Fluoroscopy device half-value layer (HVL) ranged from 2.5 to 3.0 mm Al, and the low resolution ranged from 0.9 to 1.3%. The spatial resolution limit was double that of the image intensifier (2.4 to 3.6) lp/mm. Flat-panel fluoroscopy demonstrated superior image quality and dose performance as compared to conventional image intensifier-based fluoroscopy. The quality assurance measurements presented are essential in the rapid evaluation of the imaging system for acceptance testing and commissioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Web API/service technology has been attracting considerable attention and the REST (REpresentational State Transfer) architecture is now widely accepted as mainstream technology. Nonetheless, developing the means by which to discover RESTful Web APIs/services is crucial to the further development of this technology. Unfortunately, existing search engines for RESTful Web APIs/services provide only keyword-based or tag-based search functions. A failure to take into account the semantics and/or characteristics (e.g., their interface compatibility) greatly hampers the ability to find suitable APIs/services. In this study, we propose a novel approach to the discovery of RESTful Web API/services, referred to as Test-Oriented API Search with Semantic Interface Compatibility (TASSIC). This scheme involves expanding the terms of Web API/service documents based on DBpedia and WordNet. Unsuitable APIs/services are then filtered out using a systematic process, as follows: 1) calculation of semantic similarity between a set of candidate APIs/services and a user query, 2) analysis of interface compatibility between candidate APIs/services using the Hungarian Algorithm, 3) invocation of candidate APIs/services to verify functionality and availability, and 4) analysis of similarity between the actual response of the candidate services and the expected response specified in the user query. The proposed TASSIC increases the likelihood of matching APIs/services that are semantically equivalent or similar to user queries. Unit test and acceptance test are used to verify that a set of candidate APIs/services are actually available and that they actually meets user requirements. Experiment results demonstrate the efficacy of TASSIC, the accuracy of which is superior to that of existing methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Component-based software development is rapidly introducing numerous new paradigms and possibilities to deliver highly customized software in a distributed environment. Among other communication, teamwork, and coordination problems in global software development, the detection of faults is seen as the key challenge. Thus, there is a need to ensure the reliability of component-based applications requirements. Distributed device detection faults applied to tracked components from various sources and failed to keep track of all the large number of components from different locations. In this study, we propose an approach for fault detection from component-based systems requirements using the fuzzy logic approach and historical information during acceptance testing. This approach identified error-prone components selection for test case extraction and for prioritization of test cases to validate components in acceptance testing. For the evaluation, we used empirical study, and results depicted that the proposed approach significantly outperforms in component selection and acceptance testing. The comparison to the conventional procedures, i.e., requirement criteria, and communication coverage criteria without irrelevancy and redundancy successfully outperform other procedures. Consequently, the F-measures of the proposed approach define the accurate selection of components, and faults identification increases in components using the proposed approach were higher (i.e., more than 80 percent) than requirement criteria, and code coverage criteria procedures (i.e., less than 80 percent), respectively. Similarly, the rate of fault detection in the proposed approach increases, i.e., 92.80 compared to existing methods i.e., less than 80 percent. The proposed approach will provide a comprehensive guideline and roadmap for practitioners and researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography quality assurance program is necessary to ensure that patients receive optimal imaging and care. We summarize the AAPM Task Group (TG) 126 report on acceptance and quality assurance (QA) testing of PET/CT systems. Methods: TG 126 was charged with developing PET/CT acceptance testing and QA procedures. The TG aimed to develop procedures that would allow for standardized evaluation of existing short‐axis cylindrical‐bore PET/CT systems in the spirit of NEMA NU 2 standards without requiring specialized phantoms or proprietary software tools. Results: We outline eight performance evaluations using common phantoms and freely available software whereby the clinical physicist monitors each PET/CT system by comparing periodic Follow‐Up Measurements to Baseline Measurements acquired during acceptance testing. For each of the eight evaluations, we also summarize the expected testing time and materials necessary and the recommended pass/fail criteria. Conclusion: Our report provides a guideline for periodic evaluations of most clinical PET/CT systems that simplifies procedures and requirements outlined by other agencies and will facilitate performance comparisons across vendors, models, and institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study is presented of various start-up demonstration procedures based on a combinatorial approach. The expected number of required tests and the probability of accepting the tested unit are derived using a set of auxiliary functions. A constrained optimization problem is solved for minimizing the number of required tests subject to some confidence level requirements. The variables for this optimization include the total number of successes, failures, and the maximal lengths of runs of successes and failures. Various extensions to scan statistic-based and weighted tests are included and also to the testing of several units in parallel. The alternative Markov Chain embedding approach might involve in some cases the inversion of very large matrices. This disadvantage does not exist here.

The rapid and widespread adoption of cloud computing technology has enabled a variety of software as a service (SaaS) solutions for businesses. In the SaaS model, the application and its data are hosted in the cloud by a software vendor, enabling customers to use the application over the internet and pay only for the actual usage, not infrastructure or maintenance. Simple installation and configuration, high reliability, and availability have contributed greatly to the popularity of SaaS. This also means that requirements for software acceptance testing, specifically tailored for SaaS environments, should be explored and developed. This single-case study explores different methodologies for SaaS acceptance testing and their impact on existing business processes at a company in Finland, focusing on helping the case company assess and improve its internal SaaS testing practices. Reoccurring obstacles in effective SaaS are identified, and recommendations for improving current acceptance testing practices are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, the acceptance of Open Source Software (OSS) varies among the users of a company. Despite the substantive software, social, and infrastructure-related implications of OSS acceptance, the research on the acceptance of OSS across organizations inhabitants remains surprisingly limited. To propose a model for the acceptance of OSS; investigate the influence of the OSS characteristics, UTAUT constructs, and infrastructure factors on the acceptance of open source software system. It also examines the validity of UTAUT in the open source software context. Quantitative design has been used following the distribution of questionnaire among a sample of 255 individuals employed at public and private organizations (172 males and 83 females). Software quality, software interoperability, and software security had a significant impact on the performance expectancy (PE) (β = 0.445, P < 0.001), (β = 0.302, P < 0.001), (β = 0.139, P < 0.05), respectively. Moreover, PE, cost, facilitating conditions, social influence SI and self-efficacy had a notable impact on the behavioral intention (β = 0.275, P < 0.05), (β = 0.229, P < 0.01), (β = 0.136, P < 0.01), (β = 0.220, P < 0.01) and (β = 0.174, P < 0.01) respectively. A new path appears to exist between EE (effort expectancy) and PE (β = 0.215, P < 0.01). The outcomes indicated that users perceive that OSS user-friendliness must be upgraded for optimizing its benefits. It showed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, self-efficacy, software security, software quality, software interoperability, and software cost are important indicators in the acceptance and implementation of OSS. Further research can be conducted in organizations to observe the implementation of OSS and its effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A manufactured product is required to undertake an acceptance testing before delivery in order to ensure the quality of the product can meet industry standard. The acceptance testing usually consists of a large number of functional tests, which consumes considerable production time. In order to optimize the production process, acceptance testing strategies that could identify a subset from all available functional tests while still assure the inspection accuracy need to be identified. In this study, a statistical quality control method - Lot Acceptance Sampling Plan (LASP) - and strategies derived from feature selection techniques are presented. Feature selection is a process of selecting a segment consisting of the most significant variables from the original ones. The feature selection techniques outperform the LASP by means of choosing functional tests according to their importance instead of randomly and therefore largely reduces the inspection time. The derived strategies are implemented and their performance is tested on an acceptance testing dataset provided by Siemens. The results of the case study have shown that the feature selection based acceptance testing strategies can reduce as high as 81% inspection time while keeping the same accuracy with current industrial strategy to distinguish a qualified and non-qualified product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptance testing and commission are essential elements of the quality assurance program for imaging equipment. We present the results of a performance evaluation of Flat Panel-Based Cardiovascular Fluoroscopy X-ray Systems as a part of acceptance testing and commissioning. Measurements were obtained using a calibrated dose rate meter, patient equivalent phantoms, and Leeds image quality test tools. The results were compared with the manufacturer and European acceptability criteria. The entrance surface air kerma (ESAK) rate ranged from 8.0 to 12.0 mGy min−1 in the continuous mode and from 0.01 to 0.04 mGy fr−1 in the pulsed mode of operation. Detector-input air kerma rates ranged from 0.29 to 0.39 mGy min−1 in continuous mode and from 0.02 to 0.07 µGy fr−1 in pulsed mode. Fluoroscopy device half-value layer (HVL) ranged from 2.5 to 3.0 mm Al, and the low resolution ranged from 0.9 to 1.3%. The spatial resolution limit was double that of the image intensifier (2.4 to 3.6) lp/mm. Flat-panel fluoroscopy demonstrated superior image quality and dose performance as compared to conventional image intensifier-based fluoroscopy. The quality assurance measurements presented are essential in the rapid evaluation of the imaging system for acceptance testing and commissioning.

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in medicine poses challenges to existing clinical workflows. This commentary discusses the necessity of context-specific quality assurance (QA), emphasizing the need for robust QA measures with quality control (QC) procedures that encompass (1) acceptance testing (AT) before clinical use, (2) continuous QC monitoring, and (3) adequate user training. The discussion also covers essential components of AT and QA, illustrated with real-world examples. We also highlight what we see as the shared responsibility of manufacturers or vendors, regulators, healthcare systems, medical physicists, and clinicians to enact appropriate testing and oversight to ensure a safe and equitable transformation of medicine through AI., Competing Interests: U.M., A.S.-D., H.-P.C., R.K.S., D.V., H.G., N.P., B.S., Z.H., K.C., G.T., T.M.D., D.R., R.M., and L.H. have nothing to disclose. K.D. receives royalties from Hologic. Q.C. has received compensations from Carina Medical LLC, not related to this work, provides consulting services for Reflexion Medical, not related to this work. R.M.S. received royalties for patents or software licenses from iCAD, Philips, ScanMed, Translation Holdings, PingAn, and MGB, and received research support from PingAn through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement, not related to this work. J.J.N. has received royalties from Hologic and from MEDIAN Technologies, through the University of Chicago licensing, not related to this work. H.Y. has received royalties from licensing fees to Hologic and Medians Technologies through the University of Chicago licensing, not related to this work. K.S. provides consulting services for Canon Medical, not related to this work. L.M. has received funding from HealthTriagesrl, not related to this work. H.H. has received funding from Siemens Healthineers for a scientific research project, not related to this work. SG.A. III has received royalties and licensing fees for computer-aided diagnosis through the University of Chicago Consultant, Novartis, not related to this work., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Institute of Radiology.)

Dose calculation plays an important role in the accuracy of radiotherapy treatment planning and beam delivery. The Monte Carlo (MC) method is capable of achieving the highest accuracy in radiotherapy dose calculation and has been implemented in many commercial systems for radiotherapy treatment planning. The objective of this task group was to assist clinical physicists with the potentially complex task of acceptance testing and commissioning MC‐based treatment planning systems (TPS) for photon and electron beam dose calculations. This report provides an overview on the general approach of clinical implementation and testing of MC‐based TPS with a specific focus on models of clinical photon and electron beams. Different types of beam models are described including those that utilize MC simulation of the treatment head and those that rely on analytical methods and measurements. The trade‐off between accuracy and efficiency in the various source‐modeling approaches is discussed together with guidelines for acceptance testing of MC‐based TPS from the clinical standpoint. Specific recommendations are given on methods and practical procedures to commission clinical beam models for MC‐based TPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The rapid development and complexity of new x‐ray computed tomography (CT) technologies and the need for evidence‐based optimization of image quality with respect to radiation and contrast media dose call for an updated approach towards CT performance evaluation. Aims: This report offers updated testing guidelines for testing CT systems with an enhanced focus on the operational performance including iterative reconstructions and automatic exposure control (AEC) techniques. Materials and Methods: The report was developed based on a comprehensive review of best methods and practices in the scientific literature. The detailed methods include the assessment of 1) CT noise (magnitude, texture, nonuniformity, inhomogeneity), 2) resolution (task transfer function under varying conditions and its scalar reflections), 3) task‐based performance (detectability, estimability), and 4) AEC performance (spatial, noise, and mA concordance of attenuation and exposure modulation). The methods include varying reconstruction and tube current modulation conditions, standardized testing protocols, and standardized quantities and metrology to facilitate tracking, benchmarking, and quantitative comparisons. Results: The methods, implemented in cited publications, are robust to provide a representative reflection of CT system performance as used operationally in a clinical facility. The methods include recommendations for phantoms and phantom image analysis. Discussion: In line with the current professional trajectory of the field toward quantitation and operational engagement, the stated methods offer quantitation that is more predictive of clinical performance than specification‐based approaches. They can pave the way to approach performance testing of new CT systems not only in terms of acceptance testing (i.e., verifying a device meets predefined specifications), but also system commissioning (i.e., determining how the system can be used most effectively in clinical practice). Conclusion: We offer a set of common testing procedures that can be utilized towards the optimal clinical utilization of CT imaging devices, benchmarking across varying systems and times, and a basis to develop future performance‐based criteria for CT imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Descriptive methods are traditionally performed with trained assessors to objectively analyze products, since consumers have long been considered incapable of performing such tests because they are influenced by hedonic evaluations. However, in the last decades, there have been alternative descriptive tests performed by consumers, due to other advantages, such as a rapid sensory profile assessment, reducing cost and time, and Check-all-that-apply (CATA) is an example. Thus, the objective of this work was to compare the performance of trained assessors (n = 15) and consumers using quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) - traditional method and CATA - alternative method (n = 161 consumers, including acceptance test as well), for 5 samples of semi-sweet hard dough biscuit with different contents of specific ingredients: fructose (0.0 to 6.0%), vanilla aroma (0.0 to 1.2%) and water (9.0 to 13.8%). Results showed that the number of attributes in which trained assessors perceived significant differences was marginally higher (p <.1) than consumers. For smaller formulation differences, trained assessors perceived more (p <.01) attributes presenting significant differences (10) than consumers (2). The sample discrimination presented the same pattern, however trained assessors had greater discriminative power than consumers, i.e., they discriminated samples in more difference levels. The description of the samples was not similar between the methods. The QDA and CATA assessors used different attributes to describe the samples, which reflected in different drivers of liking and disliking if descriptive data come from trained assessors or from consumers. It is concluded that the choice of performing descriptive tests with trained assessors or consumers depends on the purpose of the study. Unlabelled Image • QDA (trained assessors) was more discriminating than CATA (consumers). • Sample discrimination pattern was similar, however the descriptions were different. • Drivers of liking were different when attributes were evaluated by trained assessors or consumers. • Sugar reduction did not affect acceptance when balanced with increased vanilla aroma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We summarize the AAPM TG248 Task Group report on interoperability assessment for the commissioning of medical imaging acquisition systems in order to bring needed attention to the value and role of quality assurance testing throughout the imaging chain. Methods: To guide the clinical physicist involved in commissioning of imaging systems, we describe a framework and tools for incorporating interoperability assessment into imaging equipment commissioning. Results: While equipment commissioning may coincide with equipment acceptance testing, its scope may extend beyond validation of product or purchase specifications. Equipment commissioning is meant to provide assurance that a system is ready for clinical use, and system interoperability plays an essential role in the clinical use of an imaging system. Conclusion: The functionality of a diagnostic imaging system extends beyond the acquisition console and depends on interoperability with a host of other systems such as the Radiology Information System, a Picture Archive and Communication System, post‐processing software, treatment planning software, and clinical viewers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To explore how contextual information streams are processed and prioritized during consumer studies, we manipulated the congruency of visual, auditory and olfactory cues using immersive technologies and assessed the impact on context recall, evaluation time, and preference and liking for cold brewed coffee. Each consumer (n = 50) was exposed to two identical control conditions, a visually incongruent condition, an auditory incongruent condition, an olfactory incongruent condition, and an all-incongruent condition. The control condition simulated a coffeehouse environment complete with the sights, sounds and smells commonly experienced in that venue. A laboratory setting, construction noise, and laundry detergent represented the individual incongruent visual, auditory, and aroma streams, respectively. Results revealed that olfactory information had a lesser priority than visual or auditory information in the simulated environments when assessed by subject's ability to recall encountered information streams. Panelists also spent more time evaluating coffees in the first presented control condition compared to the incongruent conditions or the repeated control condition. Finally, although the averaged combined liking score for subjects' least to most preferred coffees was significantly lowered in the all-incongruent condition compared to the control condition, this decrease was not substantial. Understanding how the saliency of contextual information influences consumer behavior and attention can inform immersive testing methodologies. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Immersive technologies used to manipulate congruency of contextual information streams. • Visual stream was most salient followed by the auditory and olfactory streams. • Context content impacted panelist evaluation times of coffees. • When all contextual streams were incongruent, coffee liking decreased albeit only slightly. • Provides insights regarding contextual influences on consumer behavior and attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]