Using a process-centered approach to minimize the effort of compliance

 The complexity of different quality standards can, in principle, be covered by different approaches and strategies. In-depth process mapping of quality control (QC) work streams was used by the analytical laboratories of Lonza AG to show up the principle differences in being compliant to different quality systems. The results identified two main drivers for all necessary actions: process-related activities and infrastructure-related activities. In addition, a clear indication of the economic impact of these driving forces was gained, which led the laboratories to decide on a process-oriented approach. This approach has the advantage of being able to reflect the different demands of different quality assurance (QA) regulations within the same QC organizational structure. Following the process helps avoid unnecessary efforts in analytical work and represents a very economical approach, at the same time, providing high flexibility to react to different QA or customer demands. Received: 5 July 2002 Accepted: 12 November 2002 Acknowledgements The process-oriented approach resulted from many, very challenging discussions for which I would like to thank the staff of my organization (Analytics & QC), especially, the QA staff and the LIMS team. Presented at Analytica Conference, 23–26 April 2002, Munich, Germany Correspondence to B. Ciommer     

温州地区维持性血液透析患者矿物质代谢紊乱情况调查

目的 了解温州地区维持性血液透析患者矿物质代谢紊乱情况及相关影响因素。方法 收集2013 年在温州地区长期维持性血液透析患者血钙、血磷、全段甲状旁腺激素（iPTH）的资料,并根据美国肾脏病协会指南（KDOQI）及中华医学会肾脏病学分会（CSN）制订的《慢性肾脏病矿物质和骨异常诊治指导》计算患者的血钙、血磷、iPTH 的达标率,并对相关影响因素进行分析。结果 共收集2 227 例2013 年在温州地区各家透析中心维持性血液透析患者的资料。按KDOQI 指南标准,患者血钙、血磷、iPTH 的达标率分别为44.90%、46.30%、27.64%,3 项均达标者占6.29%;按《慢性肾脏病矿物质和骨异常诊治指导》建议,患者血钙、血磷、iPTH 的达标率分别为57.66%、46.30%、61.14%,3 项均达标者占16.97%。此外,三级医院维持性血液透析患者的平均血磷水平为（1.67±0.51）mmol/L,血磷达标率49.10%,二级医院患者的平均血磷水平为（1.79±0.53）mmol/L,达标率为43.22%,三级医院维持性血液透析患者的血磷达标率情况优于二级医院。血白蛋白、含钙磷结合剂的使用及透析频率是影响血钙达标的独立相关因素。患者的性别、年龄、活性维生素D 的使用、透析龄及透析频率是影响血磷达标的独立相关因素。患者活性维生素D的使用是影响iPTH 达标的独立相关因素。结论 温州地区维持性血液透析患者矿物质代谢紊乱纠正情况与有关指南的要求仍然存在较大差距;患者性别、营养状态、透析频率、含钙磷结合剂的服用、活性维生素D 的使用等是影响维持性血液透析患者矿物质代谢紊乱纠正的主要相关因素。     

Uncertainty of measurement and legislative limits

 The uncertainty affecting analytical measurements has to be taken into account when evaluating compliance of suspect matrices to legislative limits. To this aim Type 1 and 2 errors must be considered. This necessarily leads to the evaluation of the minimum detectable inadmissible signal, from which the minimum detectable inadmissible concentration can be obtained. The signal of suspect matrices thus has to be compared with the minimum detectable inadmissible signal. This paper aims to discuss practical problems involved in the comparison.     

From dynamic modulus via different relaxation spectra to relaxation and creep functions

The main goal of the paper is to compare predictive power of relaxation spectra found by different methods of calculations. The experimental data were obtained for a new family of propylene random copolymers with 1-pentene as a comonomer. The results of measurements include flow curves, viscoelastic properties, creep curves and rubbery elasticity of copolymer melts. Different relaxation spectra were calculated using independent methods based on different ideas. It lead to various distributions of relaxation times and their “weights”. However, all of them correctly describe the frequency dependencies of dynamic modulus. Besides, calculated spectra were used for finding integral characteristics of viscoelastic behaviour of a material (Newtonian viscosity, the normal stress coefficient, steady-state compliance). In this sense all approaches are equivalent, though it appears impossible to estimate instantaneous modulus. The most crucial arguments in estimating the results of different approaches is calculating the other viscoelastic function and predicting behaviour of a material in various deformation modes. It is the relaxation and creep functions. The results of relaxation curve calculations show that all methods used give rather similar results in the central part of the curves, but the relaxation curves begin to diverge when approaching the high-time (low-frequency) boundary of the relaxation curves. The distributions of retardation times calculated through different approaches also appear very different. Meanwhile, predictions of the creep curves based on these different retardation spectra are rather close to each other and coincide with the experimental points in the wide time range. Relatively slight divergences are observed close to the upper boundary of the experimental window. All these results support the conclusion about a rather free choice of the relaxation time spectrum in fitting experimental data and predicting viscoelastic behaviour of a material in different deformation modes. Received: 15 March 2000 Accepted: 18 September 2000     

Electrospinning of Biomaterials for Vascular Regeneration

Cardiovascular diseases have been the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world recently. With the growing aging population accompanied by chronic diseases, such as uremia and diabetes, there is an increasing clinical demand for vascular grafts with proper performance. Although some achievements have been made in the development of tissue-engineered vascular grafts composed of natural and synthetic polymeric materials or decellularized vessels, clinical applications with a diameter of less than 6 mm are still principally derived from autografts, such as autologous saphenous veins. Many challenges remain in anti-thrombosis, rapid endothelialization, modulating the inflammatory response and inhibition of intimal hyperplasia and calcification. In the review, recent progress in the electrospinning of biodegradable polymers for vascular regeneration are summarized, especially from the view of biomechanical factors. Hybrid vascular grafts consisting of natural and synthetic polymers with multicomponent, di-or tri-layers are focused in order to provide novel experiences in biomaterials for applications in this field.     

Rules for stating when a limiting value is exceeded

The paper describes rules for stating whether a measurement result indicates that the value of the measurand, e.g. the concentration of a substance in the blood, is in conformity or not in conformity with given specifications. Examples of the intended applications are control of doping in sports, alcohol level in drivers’ blood, trace metals levels in workers’ blood, the proportion of gold in alloys, certain ingredients in food products and pesticides in drinking water. When limiting value(s) have been established a permissible measurand value is said to be in conformity and a non-permissible value it is said to be in non-conformity. One of the following three statements is asserted: Statement A: The value of the measurand is beyond any reasonable doubt in conformity, Statement B: The value of the measurand is beyond any reasonable doubt in non-conformity, Statement C: Neither conformity nor non-conformity could be demonstrated. The test can be performed as either a one-stage or a two-stage procedure. A two-stage procedure is recommended as especially appropriate when a cheap and fast screening method can be used in the first stage. For normally distributed measurements, a freeware computer program, conform1e.exe, is available for the calculations of the probabilities for Statements A, B and C.     

Compliance with legal requirements: definition of limits, sampling and measurement uncertainty

In many cases compositional requirements for foodstuffs (e.g. limits for the fat, protein, dry matter, or water content) are established by legislation. Adequate compliance testing is possible only if limits are clearly defined, taking measurement and sampling uncertainty into consideration. Furthermore, decisions on compliance must be based on samples which reflect the composition of the quantity to be evaluated. The resulting sample sizes are normally regarded by food inspection authorities as being much larger than acceptable. Consequently, an alternative strategy should be developed. Autocontrol data (i.e. inspection results obtained by the factory) in principle provide an adequate data basis for decisions on compliance. However, they must be reliable and the food inspection authority must have access to these data on request. Using these data and on condition that they show an approximate normal distribution, an inspection strategy based on arithmetic mean and standard deviation can be developed. Reliable and transparent decisions on compliance can thus be made. In many cases an adequate verification of food authenticity requires a comparison of raw material and product composition. Maximum acceptable differences, taking the relevant sources of variation into consideration, have to be defined and should be used instead of limits. Received: 17 April 2002 Accepted: 23 June 2002     

Formulation of the vibrational theory in terms of redundant internal coordinates

Using the generalized inverse of matrices and the method of canonical matrices, this paper develops an unambiguous formulation of the theory of small vibrations of molecules which is valid when redundant internal coordinates are used. Such treatment includes the attainment of unambiguous relationships relating the compliance matrix (the generalized inverse of the canonical force constants matrix) with experimental data (vibrational frequencies, Coriolis coupling constants, centrifugal distortion constants and mean-square amplitudes). Moreover, expressions for the elements of the Jacobian matrices of the above magnitudes with respect to the compliance constants have been also obtained as well as some sum rule relationships.     

Relationship of crack fabric tensors of different orders

A lower-order crack fabric tensor can be determined accurately by a higher-order one, but in general the reverse does not hold. In this paper, the approximate dependence of a higher-order fabric tensor on a lower-order one is established based on the properties of orientation distribution functions (ODF). As a demonstration of its application, the approximate relationship is used to simplify the fabric-tensor dependent compliance increment due to the presence of the cracks.