Applied Logic Laboratory (Hungary)

<bold>Introduction:</bold> COPD Assessment Test (CAT) is a commonly used 8-item questionnaire assessing disease-specific quality of life. While it is a good tool to quantify patients’ symptoms, and the GOLD guidelines suggest its use in each assessment, many parameters can affect the implementation. <bold>Aim:</bold> To determine patient and disease characteristics affecting CAT scores. <bold>Methods:</bold> A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among COPD patients in Hungary who have been >12 months under maintenance inhaled therapy. Disease specific characteristics, comorbidities, lung function, and general demographic data were recorded. Multiple linear regression models were used to estimate all imputed variables’ effect on CAT scores. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator was chosen for variable selection. <bold>Results:</bold> We analyzed the data of 6962 patients. Mean (standard deviation) and median (min-max) CAT scores were 15.5 (7.0) and 15.0. (0-40), respectively. Estimates (average difference in CAT score moving from the reference to the stated category while holding all other predictors constant) of the most statistically significant predictors are as follows: increasing Modified Medical Research Council categories: 4; 3; 2 and 1 (+10.89; +8.50; +4.76; +2.49 points, respectively), errors during the use of the inhaler for maintenance medication (+2.43 points), moderate exacerbations in the previous year (1; 2 or >2 events; +1.20 ; +0.77; +1.63 points respectively), insomnia (+1.91 points) and pMDI device use (+0.92 points); p<0.003 for all. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Multiple modifiable and unmodifiable parameters affect CAT score in COPD patients, which should be adressed during daily clinical practice to improve patients’ quality of life.

Abstract Optimizing gas turbine maintenance can reduce total operating costs but raises the risk of unit failures. A large pipeline fleet requires constant up time, but experiences variation in unit-to-unit reliability and availability. There is an ongoing desire to optimize maintenance budget to maximize fleet availability. This can be done using detailed maintenance records; however, analyzing these in-depth for the entire fleet can be cumbersome. In this study, a Bayesian reliability and availability analysis is used to predict failure risks for both the fleet and individual units using only high level summary information including MTBF, MTTR, and asset service factor. Bayesian statistics enable transformation of these summary metrics into predictive distributions for reliability and availability accounting for seasonal and annual variations. The study considers a fleet of gas turbines and compares individual units to the fleet to identify outliers. This provides the first step in prioritizing maintenance decisions.

Представлены используемые в практической деятельности способы повышения эффективности процессов мембранного разделения жидкостей и наиболее целесообразные области их применения. На примере технологии VSEP показаны теоретические оценки влияния гидродинамических условий на процессы мембранного разделения, в которых мембраны плоскорамного модуля с открытыми напорными каналами не закреплены неподвижно, а подвержены вибрации в виде синусоидальных вращательных колебаний, направленных вдоль рабочей поверхности. Определены основные преимущества таких процессов. Намечены перспективы использования процессов мембранного разделения по технологии VSEP. Обозначена важность продолжения исследований в направлении изучения и моделирования гидродинамических режимов движения жидкостей в напорных межмембранных каналах. The methods used in practice to increase the process efficiency of membrane separation of liquids as well as the most appropriate areas of their application are presented. Using the example of VSEP technology, theoretical estimates of the effect of hydrodynamic conditions on membrane separation processes are shown, where the membranes of a flat-plate module with open pressure channels are not hard-set fixed but subject to vibration in the form of sinusoidal rotary oscillations directed along the working surface. The main advantages of such processes are defined. The prospects for using VSEP technology in membrane separation processes are outlined. The importance of continuing the research trend and simulation of the hydrodynamic modes of liquid movement in pressure intermembrane channels is indicated.

A munka célja, hogy bemutassa a digitalizáció fontosságát és lehetőségeit a méhészetekben. Két alkalmazást, a Züminaplót és az ApiManagert mutatjuk be. Letöltést követően bal oldalt található meg a menü, amelyben rögzíthetőek az alapadatok és a méhészkedéskor tapasztaltak mindkét applikációban. Züminapló esetében a következő választási lehetőségek, adatok rögzíthetőek: telephelyek, kaptárok, mérleg, etetések, pörgetés, vándorlások, kezelések. Az ApiManagernél pedig a kezdőoldal, a méhész, a kaptárak, ellenőrzések, feladatok, a méhek élelme, a pergetési munkálatok, kezelések, tárolások. Az applikációk megfelelően működnek és gyors nyomonkövetést biztosítanak a méhészeti munka alkalmával. Véleményünk szerint népszerűsítésük fontos lenne, mert precízebb adatgyűjtést tesz lehetővé, ám a méhészek idősebb átlagéletkora miatt Magyarországon még kevéssé alkalmazottak.

With machine learning (ML), we see the potential to better harness the intelligence and decision-making abilities of human inspectors performing manual visual inspection (MVI) and apply this to automated visual inspection (AVI) with the inherent improvements in throughput and consistency. This article is intended to capture current experience with this new technology and provides points to consider for successful application to AVI of injectable drug products. The technology is available today for such AVI applications. Machine vision companies have integrated ML as an additional visual inspection tool with minimal upgrades to existing hardware. Studies have demonstrated superior results in defect detection and reduction in false rejects, when compared with conventional inspection tools. ML implementation does not require modifications to current AVI qualification strategies. The utilization of this technology for AVI will accelerate recipe development by use of faster computers rather than by direct human configuration and coding of vision tools. By freezing the model developed with artificial intelligence tools and subjecting it to current validation strategies, assurance of reliable performance in the production environment can be achieved.

The unique VSEP (Vibratory Shear Enhanced Process) membrane separation technology is presented, which minimizes the negative effects of concentration polarization. The difference in technology lies in the vibration of the membrane surface. The result are several key technology benefits. All this significantly pushes the boundaries of using membrane methods and makes it possible to use membranes where it was previously impossible. In addition, the separation process does not normally require the use of antiscalant, Recovery rates and Flux are much higher than those of traditional membrane separation systems. The technology is already widely used in the world for many different industries.