Vibrational methods applied to NDT testing and fluid density measurement

A system for the NDI' testing of the integrity of conposite materials and of adhesive bonds has been developed to meet industrial requirements. The vibration techniques used were found to be applicable to the development of fluid measuring transducers. The vibrational spectra of thin rectangular bars were used for the NDT work. A machined cut in a bar had a significant effect on the spectrum but a genuine crack gave an unambiguous response at high amplitudes. This was the generation of fretting crack noise at frequencies far above that of the drive. A specially designed vibrational decrement meter which, in effect, measures mechanical energy loss enabled a numerical classification of material adhesion to be obtained. This was used to study bars which had been flame or plasma sprayed with a variety of materials. It has become a useful tool in optimising coating methods. A direct industrial application was to classify piston rings of high performance I.C. engines. Each consists of a cast iron ring with a channel into which molybdenum, a good bearing surface, is sprayed. The NDT classification agreed quite well with the destructive test normally used. The techniques and equipment used for the NOT work were applied to the development of the tuning fork transducers investigated by Hassan into commercial density and viscosity devices. Using narrowly spaced, large area tines a thin lamina of fluid is trapped between them. It stores a large fraction of the vibrational energy which, acting as an inertia load reduces the frequency. Magnetostrictive and piezoelectric effects together or in combination enable the fork to be operated through a flange. This allows it to be used in pipeline or 'dipstick' applications. Using a different tine geometry the viscosity loading can be predoninant. This as well as the signal decrement of the density transducer makes a practical viscometer

Mobile Holistic Enterprise Transformation Framework

Mobile shipments have surpassed those of PCs and tablets, and the demand for mobile services has never been higher. Although, many businesses believe mobile devices and services are beneficial to them, they have not actually taken steps to adopt mobile on a large scale. Other enterprises are limiting adoption to provision of a mobile friendly web page or including mobile elements within their existing electronic services. This paper proposes a holistic framework that highlights the goals of mobile adoption, presents a taxonomy of enterprise mobile services capabilities which if utilised should assist organisations to achieve the goals of mobile adoption and categorises the components of mobile solutions and mobile strategy. Developing a taxonomy of enterprise mobile services capabilities helps the transformation to a mobile enterprise by supporting the visualisation of a future state of the enterpris

A Mobile Holistic Enterprise Transformation Framework

Mobile phones and tablets shipments are surpassing those of the PC category, as well as in relation to Internet usage as of 2016; all details which have made mobile adoption a priority for many enterprises and a challenge for them as well. Many enterprises have fallen into a paradox of spending on creating and updating mobile services, and gaining less than expected in return. Reasons for this include the lack of vision, and the lack of a clearly defined, well communicated mobile strategy. Enterprise Architecture ‘EA’ facilitates a successful transformation by controlling and managing the transitions in order to arrive at a clearly defined future state. It is regarded as the science of change to many. However, EA frameworks are very comprehensive and require weeks of training and resources, and are often too generic for mobile transformation. Therefore, an EA-based mobile holistic enterprise framework has been developed to support enterprises in making mobile initiatives a priority. The proposed framework ensures a clearly defined, well-communicated, holistic future state that is continually evaluated, as opposed to many of the existing frameworks. The proposed Mobile Holistic Enterprise Architecture Framework - ‘MHETF’ - is based on the realisation of the capabilities of smartphones that are aimed at individual average consumers (the backbone of the current mobile trend). The capabilities are categorised and translated into four sets of services categories for business use. They are linked to another two components of the framework which are: (i) the categorisation of goals and objectives that are incorporated into the Balanced Scorecard for evaluation at a later stage in planning, and continually referred to during transitions and (ii) the categorisation of the implementation forms (categorisation of end solutions’ functionalities). The framework is supported by EA inter-operability and maturity models to ensure continuity and alignment with the existing initiatives, the enterprise’s strategic objectives, and the change required in the scope of transformation. An evaluation for the available enterprise architecture frameworks was carried out and resulted in the selection of The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF). The decision was also commended by the participants in the case study evaluation due to their familiarity with this framework, which is being adopted as the Saudi E Government Standard in contrast to the other major frameworks of Zachman and Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA). MHETF has been applied to three case studies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; two applications for a leading national outsourcing company, and the third for the outpatient clinics in a large hospital in the capital city of Riyadh. The results have shown major improvements in the four goal areas of mobile transformation; productivity, processes, satisfaction improvement and facilitating new opportunities. Eventually, the final evolution has shown that the participants are satisfied with the framework overall, and indicates that the framework changed their perspective of the power of mobile applications significantly, is relatively easy to understand, and that they are planning to adopt it for future mobile initiatives

Blood Cell Salvage and Autotransfusion Does Not Worsen Oncologic Outcomes Following Liver Transplantation with Incidental Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

BACKGROUND: Intraoperative blood cell salvage and autotransfusion (IBSA) during liver transplantation (LT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is controversial for concern regarding adversely impacting oncologic outcomes. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the long-term oncologic outcomes of patients who underwent LT with incidentally discovered HCC who received IBSA compared with those who did not receive IBSA. METHODS: Patients undergoing LT (January 2001-October 2018) with incidental HCC on explant pathology were retrospectively identified. A 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) was performed. HCC recurrence and patient survival were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed, and univariable Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed for risks of recurrence and death. RESULTS: Overall, 110 patients were identified (IBSA, n = 76 [69.1%]; non-IBSA, n = 34 [30.9%]). Before matching, the groups were similar in terms of demographics, transplant, and tumor characteristics. Overall survival was similar for IBSA and non-IBSA at 1, 3, and 5 years (96.0%, 88.4%, 83.0% vs. 97.1%, 91.1%, 87.8%, respectively; p = 0.79). Similarly, the recurrence rate at 1, 3, and 5 years was not statistically different (IBSA 0%, 1.8%, 1.8% vs. non-IBSA 0%, 3.2%, 3.2%, respectively; p = 0.55). After 1:1 matching (26 IBSA, 26 non-IBSA), Cox proportional hazard analysis demonstrated similar risk of death and recurrence between the groups (IBSA hazard ratio [HR] of death 1.26, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.52-3.05, p = 0.61; and HR of recurrence 2.64, 95% CI 0.28-25.30, p = 0.40). CONCLUSIONS: IBSA does not appear to adversely impact oncologic outcomes in patients undergoing LT with incidental HCC. This evidence further supports the need for randomized trials evaluating the impact of IBSA use in LT for HCC

Data management and wearables in older adults: A systematic review.

Background: Wearable trackers as research or clinical tools are increasingly used to support the care of older adults, due to their practicality in self-monitoring and potential to promote healthy lifestyle behaviours. However, limited understanding of appropriate data collection methods and analysis for different contexts still exists. Aim: To summarise evidence on wearable data generation and management in older adults, focusing on physical activity (PA),electrocardiogram (ECG), and vital signs monitoring. In addition to examine the accuracy and utility of incorporating wearable trackers into care of older people. Methods: A systematic search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed and a manual search were conducted. Twenty studies targeting wearable tracker use in older adults met inclusion criteria.Results: Methodological designs for data collection and analysis were heterogeneous with diverse definitions of wear and no-wear time, the number and type of valid days, and proprietary algorithms. Wearable trackers had adequate accuracy for measuring step counts, moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), ECG and heart rate (HR), but notfor respiratory rate. Participants reported ease of use and had high-level adherence over daily long-term use.Moreover, wearable trackers encouraged users to increase their daily PA level and decrease waist circumference, facilitating atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnoses and predicting length of stay. Conclusion: Wearable trackers are multidimensional technologies offering a viable and promising approach for sustained and scaled monitoring of older people’s health. Framework and/or guidelines including standards for the design, data management and application of use specifically for older adults is required to enhance validity and reliability

Not all steps are equal: Changing algorithms in wearable trackers changes outcomes.

This is a blog post on the BJSM website - http://blogs.bmj.com/bjsm/2017/01/20/not-steps-equal-changing-algorithms-wearable-trackers-changes-outcomes

The validity and reliability of consumer-grade activity trackers in older, community-dwelling adults: a systematic review

Objective: To understand the validity and reliability of consumer-grade activity trackers (consumer wearables) in older, community-dwelling adults.Methods: A systematic review of studies involving adults aged over 65 years who underwent physical activity monitoring with consumer wearables. A total of 7 observational studies qualified, identified from electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and others (2014 to 2018). Validity was interpreted using correlation coefficients (CC) and percentage error for agreement between reference devices or gold-standard validation methods. Reliability was compared using mean differences or ranges (under- or overestimation) of step count and activity time.Results: Total sample size was 290 adults, mean age of 70.2±4.8 years and females constituting 46.7±26.1%. The studies evaluated eight different consumer wearables used by community-dwelling adults with a range of co-morbidities. Daily step count for all consumer wearables correlated highly with validation criterion, especially the ActiGraph device: intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were 0.94 for Fitbit One, 0.94 for Zip, 0.86 for Charge HR and 0.96 for Misfit Shine. Slower walking pace and impaired ambulation reduced the levels of agreement. Daily step count captured by Fitbit Zip was on average 7117 (±5,880.6), which was overestimated by five of the eight consumer wearables compared with reference devices (range 167.6 to 2,690.3 steps/day). Measurement of activity duration was accurate compared with reference devices, yet less so than step count.Conclusion: In older, community-dwelling adults, consumer wearables accurately measure step count and activity duration, as confirmed by reference devices and validation methods. Further research is required to understand how co-morbidities, gait and activity levels interact with monitoring in free-living environments

Comparison of Different Physical Activity Measures in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program: A Prospective Study

Concordant assessments of physical activity (PA) and related measures in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is essential for exercise prescription. This study compared exercise measurement from an in-person walk test; wearable activity tracker; and self-report at CR entry, completion (8-weeks) and follow-up (16-weeks). Forty patients beginning CR completed the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), and wore Fitbit-Flex for four consecutive days including two weekend days. The sample mean age was 66 years; 67% were male. Increased exercise capacity at CR completion and follow-up was detected by a 6MWT change in mean distance (39 m and 42 m; p = 0.01, respectively). Increased PA participation at CR completion was detected by Fitbit-Flex mean change in step counts (1794; p = 0.01). Relative changes for Fitbit-Flex step counts and a 6MWT were consistent with previous research, demonstrating Fitbit-Flex’s potential as an outcome measure. With four days of data, Fitbit-Flex had acceptable ICC values in measuring step counts and MVPA minutes. Fitbit-Flex steps and 6MWT meters are more responsive to changes in PA patterns following exposure to a cardiac rehabilitation program than Fitbit-Flex or PASE-estimated moderate–vigorous PA (MVPA) minutes. Fitbit-Flex step counts provide a useful additional measure for assessing PA outside of the CR setting and accounts for day-to-day variations. Two weekend days and two weekdays are needed for Fitbit-Flex to estimate PA levels more precisely