Design of digital control systems is often based on use of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC). Such devices offer a broad variety of functions that can be organized in blocks independently or in ...hierarchical structures. Such an organization can lead to cumulative delays in reaction time of digital outputs of the control system. In the paper there are described results of research aimed to determine dependencies of various aspects of designing programs for Programmable Logic Control devices influencing the effective time of reaction of digital outputs. Research method is presented, assumptions are made, and experiments are described and discussed. Observations of system behavior are presented for selected control tasks and different control situations. Research results are presented and discussed, conclusion is drawn, and areas of future work are identified.
•Pediatric reference intervals were determined for 32 Siemens Atellica® CH assays.•Of 32 parameters, 26 required age partitioning and 18 required sex partitioning.•Assay reference distributions ...mirrored those on other systems with few exceptions.
Pediatric reference intervals are essential for test interpretation. With development of newer analytical systems, de novo reference interval establishment is of necessary importance. In the current study, pediatric reference intervals were determined for 32 analytes using Siemens Healthineers Atellica® CH assays in the CALIPER cohort of healthy children and adolescents.
Approximately 600 healthy children and adolescents were recruited with informed consent and collected serum samples were analyzed on the Siemens Healthineers Atellica® CH platform. Assays studied included enzymes, proteins, lipids, electrolytes, and additional markers Reference intervals were established according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines.
Of the 32 parameters, 26 required age partitioning and 18 required sex partitioning. Reference value distributions included consistent increases, decreases, and dynamic variation across the age continuum. Chloride, LDL cholesterol, glucose, lipase, sodium, and triglyceride demonstrated no age or sex-specific differences.
The current study expands the clinical utility of the CALIPER database to include 32 Siemens Atellica® chemistry assays. Reference value distributions for Siemens assays mirrored those observed on other comparable assays/systems with few exceptions (e.g. lipase, direct and total bilirubin). These finding support the robustness of previously derived reference intervals in the CALIPER cohort and other global cohorts.
The effects of operating and geometric parameters on convective heat transfer (CHT) in Siemens reactor with a laboratory-scale are investigated. A dimensionless analysis of the CHT is performed ...considering the flow characteristics, rod diameter (d), rod length (L), number of rods, and the distance between adjacent silicon rods. A dimensionless parameter (Hou) is proposed to represent the number of rods and the distance between adjacent rods. Additionally, three dimensionless parameters that affect the CHT, namely, the Rayleigh number, d/L, and Hou, are obtained. The two-factor interaction effects of the dimensionless parameters on the CHT are analyzed, and their relationships are determined for calculating the CHT flux. Based on these relationships, the Nusselt number is calculated for 7- and 8-rod laboratory-scale Siemens reactors, and the relative errors between the predicted and calculated results are 1.4 and 3.2 %, respectively.
•Urine creatinine measurements ≤2 mmol/L are underestimated on the Siemens Vista.•This may affect spot urine biomarkers reporting.•Laboratories may be at risk of delivering incorrect results.
While ...considerable efforts have been accomplished to standardize the measurement of plasma creatinine (PCr), urine creatinine (UCr) has not been subject to the same scrutiny. UCr is importantly used when measuring biomarkers in spot urines, to assess urine output and variable dilution of urine samples. Here, we report underestimation of Jaffe UCr measurements on the Siemens Dimension Vista® analyzer, critically affecting samples with UCr ≤2 mmol/L. We demonstrate that this error is caused by automatic urine pre-dilution by the Vista’s «urine mode», and that UCr measured in «plasma mode» without pre-dilution does not present this error. In the absence of a comprehensive solution proposed by Siemens, we propose simple formulae that can be easily implemented in a laboratory to correct these low UCr measurements. Importantly, the observed UCr underestimation can significantly influence reported results for biomarkers/UCr ratios measured in spot urine. Indeed, these results can be overestimated up to +84.4 % before correction using our formulae. This can sometimes lead to misclassification according to clinical thresholds, e.g. Kidney disease: improving global outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines for urine albumin/creatinine. This highlights the need for every clinical laboratory to assess the detection limits of their assays, including for lesser-discussed parameters such as UCr. Indeed, the error we reported here may affect other urine assays performing systematic urine pre-dilution and could have significant repercussions on the clinical management of patients.
Background: The dystrophic forms of epidermolysis bullosa (DEB), a group of heritable blistering disorders, show considerable phenotypic variability, and both autosomal dominant and autosomal ...recessive inheritance can be recognised. DEB is derived from mutations in the type VII collagen gene (COL7A1), encoding a large collagenous protein that is the predominant, if not exclusive, component of the anchoring fibrils at the dermal–epidermal junction. Methods: The Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association Molecular Diagnostics Laboratory (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), established in 1996, has analysed more than 1000 families with different forms of epidermolysis bullosa, among them 332 families with DEB. DNA specimens were subjected to mutation analysis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of all 118 exons and flanking intronic sequences of COL7A1, followed either by heteroduplex scanning and sequencing of the PCR products demonstrating heteroduplexes or by direct nucleotide sequencing. Results: 355 mutant alleles out of the anticipated 438 (81.1%) were disclosed. Among these mutations, a total of 242 mutations were distinct and 138 were novel, previously unreported mutations. No evidence of mutations in any other gene was obtained. Discussion: Examination of the mutation database suggested phenotype–genotype correlations, contributing to the improved subclassification of DEB with prognostic implications. The mutation information also forms the basis for accurate genetic counselling and prenatal diagnosis in families at risk for recurrence.
This study aims to benchmark a Monte Carlo (MC) model of the 18 MV photon beam produced by the Siemens Oncor® linac using the BEAMnrc and DOSXYZnrc codes.
By matching the percentage depth doses and ...beam profiles calculated by MC simulations with measurements, the initial electron beam parameters including electron energy, full width at half maximum (spatial FWHM), and mean angular spread were derived for the 10×10 cm2 and 20×20 cm2 field sizes. The MC model of the 18 MV photon beam was then validated against the measurements for different field sizes (5×5, 30×30 and 40×40 cm2) by gamma index analysis.
The optimum values for electron energy, spatial FWHM and mean angular spread were 14.2 MeV, 0.08 cm and 0.8 degree, respectively. The MC simulations yielded the comparable measurement results of these optimum parameters. The gamma passing rates (with acceptance criteria of 1% /1 mm) for percentage depth doses were found to be 100% for all field sizes. For cross-line profiles, the gamma passing rates were 100%, 97%, 95%, 96% and 95% for 5×5, 10×10, 20×20, 30×30 and 40×40 cm2 field sizes, respectively.
By validation of the MC model of Siemens Oncor® linac using various field sizes, it was found that both dose profiles of small and large field sizes were very sensitive to the changes in spatial FWHM and mean angular spread of the primary electron beam from the bending magnet. Hence, it is recommended that both small and large field sizes of the 18 MV photon beams should be considered in the Monte Carlo linac modeling.
Archery ranks among the sports with a high incidence of upper extremity injuries, particularly affecting the drawing shoulder and elbow, as well as inducing stress on the lower back. This study seeks ...to bridge the gap by integrating real-time human motion with biomechanical software to enhance the ergonomics of archers. Thirteen participants were involved in four tasks, using different bows with varied draw weights and shooting distances. Through the application of advanced integrative technology, this study highlights the distinct postures adopted by both males and females, which indicate the biomechanical differences between genders. Additionally, an analysis of the correlation between exposed spinal forces and these adopted postures provides insights into injury risk assessment during the key archery movements. The findings of this study have the potential to significantly enhance the application of training methodologies and the design of assistive devices. These improvements are geared towards mitigating injury risks and enhancing the overall performance of archers.
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