Reliability And Validity of The Psychiatric Inpatient Patient Experience Questionnaire – Continuous Electronic Measurement (PIPEQ-CEM)

BackgroundThe increasing emphasis on patient-centred care has accelerated the demand for high-quality assessment instruments, but the development and application of measures of the quality of care provided for mental health have lagged behind other areas of medicine. The main objective of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Psychiatric Inpatient Patient Experience Questionnaire – Continuous Electronic Measurement (PIPEQ-CEM), which consists of large-scale measurements from a Norwegian population. The change from cross-sectional surveys to continuous measurements necessitated further validation of the instrument. The secondary objective was to develop a short version of the PIPEQ-CEM. MethodsThe data included responses from the first year of continuous measurement, and included adult inpatients (age ≥18 years) who received specialized mental healthcare from 191 different sections in Norway (n=3,249). Missing data, ceiling effects, factor structure and internal consistency levels were assessed. The short scale was developed by exploring missing items, ceiling effects, results from exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and item performance from item response theory (IRT) analyses.Results Psychometric testing supported previous results and illustrated that the PIPEQ-CEM comprises three empirically based scales with good internal consistency, reliability and validity, and covers structure and facilities, patient-centred interactions, and outcomes. A seven-item short form was developed, which provides an efficient approach for brief yet comprehensive measurements that can be applied in the future. ConclusionThe PIPEQ-CEM can be recommended for use in future national surveys that assess patient experience with inpatient psychiatric care in Norway and in other countries with similar healthcare systems. The short form can be applied where respondent burden and cognitive load are crucial issues. The obtained results illustrate the detailed information about an instrument that can be obtained using a combination of EFA, CFA and IRT.

Overview of Quartz Crystal Microbalance Behavior Analysis and Measurement

Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is one of the many acoustic transducers. It is the most popular and widely used acoustic transducer for sensor applications. It has found wide applications in chemical and biosensing fields owing to its high sensitivity, robustness, small sized-design, and ease of integration with electronic measurement systems. However, it is necessary to coat QCM with a sensing film. Without coating materials, its selectivity and sensitivity are not obtained. At present, this is not an issue, mainly due to the advancement of oscillator circuits and dedicated measurement circuits. Since a new researcher may seek to understand QCM sensors, we provide an overview of QCM from its fundamental knowledge. Then, we explain some of the recent QCM applications both in gas-phase and liquid-phase. Next, the theory of QCM is introduced by using piezoelectric stress equations and the Mason equivalent circuit, which explains how the QCM behavior is obtained. Then, the conventional equations that govern QCM behaviors in terms of resonant frequency and resistance are described. We show the behavior of QCM with a viscous film based on the acoustic wave equation and Mason equivalent circuit. Then, we present various existing QCM electronic measurement methods. Furthermore, we describe the experiment on QCM with viscous loading and its interpretation based on the Mason equivalent circuit. Lastly, we review some theoretical models to describe QCM behavior with various models.

Giant magneto resistance (GMR) sensors for non destructive testing

<p>The thesis investigates the use of giant magneto resistance sensors for eddy current testing in order to identify defects in steel pipes. An automated test rig which included the device under test, sensor array, excitation unit, electronic measurement equipment, mechanical setup and LabVIEW automation was designed and built. This was used to investigate the effect of excitation parameters such as current, frequency and distance to the pipe. Some preliminary algorithms to improve the signal were developed and tested. The effect of the shape and size of the defect and aluminum shield on the magnetic field was investigated. A qualitative model to describe the magnetic field, including measured defect signals, was developed. Minimum defect parameters and maximum distance values were evaluated in the context of signal to noise.</p>

Giant magneto resistance (GMR) sensors for non destructive testing

<p>The thesis investigates the use of giant magneto resistance sensors for eddy current testing in order to identify defects in steel pipes. An automated test rig which included the device under test, sensor array, excitation unit, electronic measurement equipment, mechanical setup and LabVIEW automation was designed and built. This was used to investigate the effect of excitation parameters such as current, frequency and distance to the pipe. Some preliminary algorithms to improve the signal were developed and tested. The effect of the shape and size of the defect and aluminum shield on the magnetic field was investigated. A qualitative model to describe the magnetic field, including measured defect signals, was developed. Minimum defect parameters and maximum distance values were evaluated in the context of signal to noise.</p>

Comparison of the accuracy of three different electronic apex locators used in root canals enlarged in different apical diameters

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of three apex locators in enlarged teeth with different apical diameters using files that are compatible and incompatible with the apical diameters. Methodology: Sixty lower premolars were used in this study. The actual canal length was determined with a stereo microscope, and the teeth were divided into three different groups (G25, G40 and G50). The teeth in G25, G40 and G50 were enlarged in actual canal length with apical diameters of 0.25, 0.40 and 0.50 mm using hand files and Reciproc R25, R40, and R50, respectively. In the electronic measurements, a #15 hand file was used in each group, and #25, #40 and #50 hand files that were compatible with the apical diameters of the teeth in the groups were used. An alginate model was created with enlarged teeth. The electronic working length was determined for each tooth using Root ZX Mini, Raypex 6, and Propex Pixi electronic apex locators (EALs). Results: Electronic measurement results that were shorter by 0.50 mm or longer by 0.05 mm than the actual length were considered unsuccessful; otherwise, they were deemed successful. Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the accuracy of the EALs with different files in the same apical diameter. For the different apical diameters, the chi-square exact test was used to evaluate the accuracy effect of using files that were incompatible with each apical diameter. The level of significance was p > 0.05. In all the groups, the measured lengths were closer to the actual canal length with the use of #25, #40 and #50 hand files that were compatible with the apical diameters. However, there was no significant difference between the measurements with the #15 hand file (p > 0.05). According to the electronic measurement results made with the #15 hand file in teeth with 0.25, 0.40 and 0.50 apical diameters, the use of a file that was incompatible with the apical diameter did not have a significant effect on accuracy (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The use of a file that is compatible with the apical diameter of the tooth in the determination of the working length with measurement of EALs close to the actual canal length. The accuracy of EALs is not affected by the file size in electronic measurements with file sizes smaller than the apical diameter in teeth with apical diameters up to 0.50 mm. How to cite this article: Öz H, Adıgüzel Ö, Kaya S. Comparison of the accuracy of three different electronic apex locators used in root canals enlarged in different apical diameters. Int Dent Res 2021;11(Suppl.1):12-8. https://doi.org/10.5577/intdentres.2021.vol11.suppl1.3 Linguistic Revision: The English in this manuscript has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English.

Aerial Robotic Systems Drones for Contact-Based Ultrasonic Wall Thickness UT Measurements at Height

The use of aerial robotic systems that physically contact oil and gas structural assets to obtain measurement data in offshore and marine environments carries unique challenges and operational variables. The objectives of this paper are to demonstrate, with examples, how these aerial robotic systems afford safer, cheaper, and better nondestructive testing (NDT) measurement collection methodology and allow more robust insight into assets conditions than the slower, less safe, and more expensive manual method. To take NDT measurements such as Ultrasonic Wall Thickness (UT) Measurements at height, currently one needs to utilize a lift, ladders or other solutions to reach areas on certain assets. This can be both dangerous, due to the possibility of falls, and time consuming. Utilizing an aerial robotics platform for contact based (not visual) NDT measurements such as Ultrasonic Thickness (UT) allows workers to remain safely on the ground. Drones, with robotic arms, have the potential to improve inspection, testing and data collection. This paper explores an aerial robotic system that flies up to a structure with a metal sub-straight, then under full autonomous software control, touches a UT measurement probe to the target and records the measurement data compliant with American Petrolium Institute (API) and other standards. The use of aerial robotics systems for NDT is still a new and novel application utilizing existing technologies such as electronic measurement readers, drones, etc. with a system of complex integrations that allows for a better application of science. Aerial Robotic NDT systems have the potential to improve the inspection, testing and data collection aspects of coated and uncoated assets, in part, by making the NDT measurement process easier and safer thus allowing for more frequent measurements and/or a larger quantity of measurement samples. When possible, working at heights should be eliminated as part the hierarchy of fall protection stipulated by both OSHA and ANSI. For this reason alone, the use of aerial robotic systems is important now and in the immediate future Oil & Gas infrastructure, including Offshore. This paper intends to provide readers an awareness of this new technology as well as provide information about its efficacy, limitations and operational requirements.

Development and Evaluation of Solenoid-Actuated Check Valve for Electro-Mechanical Inclined Plate Metering System Under Laboratory Conditions

The seeds in the conventional seed metering mechanism are metered and transferred through seed tube to the furrow created by the furrow opener. In this type of delivery, non-uniformity occurs due to the uncontrolled seed falling through seed tube from the metering device to the furrow. In conventional precision planters, the seed rate is controlled, whereas placement of seeds in furrow cannot be controlled. To achieve control over seed placement in the furrow, the solenoid-actuated check valves have been developed and fixed to the electro mechanical inclined metering system. The check valve system was tested with an opto electronic measurement system in laboratory conditions. For CO 6 variety of maize seeds, the quality feed index, missing index, multiple index and precision indexes found out as 86.2 – 89.6 %, 8 – 11.8 %, 1.9 – 2.9 % and 14.6 to 16.5 %, respectively. Using solenoidactuated check valve, the precision index of the developed electro mechanic metering system (14.6 – 16.5 %) increased.