Bayesian control chart using variable sample size with engineering applications.

In this study, we suggested an innovative approach by introducing an Adaptive Exponential Weighted Moving Average (AEWMA) control chart utilizing Variable Sample Size (VSS) under Bayesian methodology. The proposed methodology utilized an integer linear function to dynamically adjust sample sizes according to the AEWMA statistic. Another appealing feature of our adaptive framework is the integration of the smoothing constant of an EWMA chart, which enhances monitoring responsiveness. We reveal the superiority of our recommended control chart by extensive simulations to existing Bayesian EWMA and Bayesian AEWMA control charts using Fixed sample size (FSS). The offered Bayesian VAEWMA control chart is more sensitive to detection improvement, a decrease in the false alarm rate, and overall more effective than the existing methods. These findings provide additional justification for the basic notion that process control statistical tools needed to be dynamic, as the manufacturing process itself was dynamic. The results suggest the importance of introducing adaptive SPC methods in dynamic manufacturing environments. A real data application is performed to evaluate the validity and optimal performance of our recommended chart."Please check article if captured correctly."="Dear Editor we have checked and found corrrect."As per standard instruction, city is required for affiliations; however, this information is missing in affiliations [1, 5]. Please check if the provided city is correct and amend if necessary."Dear Editor we have checked and found correct.  thanks youPlease check and confirm that the authors and their respective affiliations have been correctly identified and amend if necessary."Dear Editor we have checked and found correct. thank you".

Wavelet and time-based cerebral autoregulation analysis using diffuse correlation spectroscopy on adults undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Adult patients who have suffered acute cardiac or pulmonary failure are increasingly being treated using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a cardiopulmonary bypass technique. While ECMO has improved the long-term outcomes of these patients, neurological injuries can occur from underlying illness or ECMO itself. Cerebral autoregulation (CA) allows the brain to maintain steady perfusion during changes in systemic blood pressure. Dysfunctional CA is a marker of acute brain injury and can worsen neurologic damage. Monitoring CA using invasive modalities can be risky in ECMO patients due to the necessity of anticoagulation therapy. Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) measures cerebral blood flow continuously, noninvasively, at the bedside, and can monitor CA. In this study, we compare DCS-based markers of CA in veno-arterial ECMO patients with and without acute brain injury. METHODS: Adults undergoing ECMO were prospectively enrolled at a single tertiary hospital and underwent DCS and arterial blood pressure monitoring during ECMO. Neurologic injuries were identified using brain computerized tomography (CT) scans obtained in all patients. CA was calculated over a twenty-minute window via wavelet coherence analysis (WCA) over 0.05 Hz to 0.1 Hz and a Pearson correlation (DCSx) between cerebral blood flow measured by DCS and mean arterial pressure. RESULTS: Eleven ECMO patients who received CT neuroimaging were recruited. 5 (45%) patients were found to have neurologic injury. CA indices WCOH, the area under the curve of the WCA, were significantly higher for patients with neurological injuries compared to those without neurological injuries (right hemisphere p = 0.041, left hemisphere p = 0.041). %DCSx, percentage of time DCSx was above a threshold 0.4, were not significantly higher (right hemisphere p = 0.268, left hemisphere p = 0.073). CONCLUSION: DCS can be used to detect differences in CA for ECMO patients with neurological injuries compared to uninjured patients using WCA.

Statistical analysis of seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C in Nowshera District, Pakistan.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission remains a significant public health concern. It is well documented globally, however, Nowshera district, Pakistan, is lacking such profile. This study aims to explore the relationship between HCV infection and several risk factors, including socio-demographic, clinical and personal life-style factors. This study using a cross-sectional design, examined 606 randomly selected individuals visiting the Pathology department at Qazi Hussain Medical Complex and District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital Nowshera between May 1, 2022 and Jun 30, 2023. This research investigation employed a methodical approach involving formal interviews in conjunction with structured questionnaires to gather comprehensive information related to socio-demographic characteristics, clinical history, and personal hygiene practices. We collected 10 ml of blood samples and tested the separated serum to identify markers using the Immuno-Chromatographic Test (ICT) and the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). IBM SPSS Statistics version 27 was used for data analysis. To measure the association between dependent variable and independent variables, a chi-square and risk analysis was carried out; multiple logistic regression was employed for modeling the risk factors associated with independent variable. A statistical significance level was established at a P-value of less than 0.05. In present study, which included 606 participants, 12% were found to be infected with HCV. Importantly it revealed that facial shave at barber (adjusted odds ratio, aOR = 40.65, p = 0.000) represents the most prevalent mode of HCV transmission. Additionally, a strong association was observed between HCV infection and history of past surgery (RR = 2.98, p = 0.001), HCV infected family member (aOR = 4.28, p = 0.001), workplace injuries (aOR = 6.68, p = 0.000), history of hospital admission (RR = 2.09), practicing ear and nose piercing (aOR = 5.01, p = 0.001), dental treatment (RR = 2.31) and the frequency of injections (aOR = 8.607, p = 0.000). These findings underscore the pressing need for targeted interventions. This study highlights the paramount importance of understanding the modes of HCV transmission and their associated risk factors. The results emphasize the need for educational initiatives, both within the healthcare sector and among the general public, to combat HCV transmission effectively. By implementing sterilization procedures and increasing awareness, we can make significant strides in reducing the burden of HCV infection. Moreover, proactive measures within families can help contain the spread of the virus, ultimately contributing to improved public health.

Neurosurgical Procedures in Patients Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is often withheld in patients with significant neurologic injury or recent neurosurgical intervention due to perceived futility. Studies of neurosurgical interventions before or during ECMO are limited to case reports or single-center series, limiting generalizability, and outcomes in this population are unknown. We therefore sought to report the outcomes of ECMO patients with acute neurosurgical interventions at four high-volume ECMO and comprehensive stroke centers. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Four academic tertiary referral hospitals in the United States. PATIENTS: Adults (n = 24) having undergone neurosurgical procedures before or during ECMO. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed adults at four institutions who had undergone neurosurgical procedures immediately before or during ECMO from 2015 to 2023. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included favorable neurologic outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1 or 2) and neurosurgical complications. Twenty-four of 2957 ECMO patients (0.8%) were included. Primary indications for neurosurgical intervention included traumatic brain (n = 8) or spinal (n = 3) injury, spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage (n = 6), and acute ischemic stroke (n = 5). Procedures included extraventricular drain (EVD) and/or intracranial pressure monitor placement (n = 10), craniectomy/craniotomy (n = 5), endovascular thrombectomy (n = 4), and spinal surgery (n = 3). Fifteen patients (63%) survived to hospital discharge, of whom 12 (80%) were discharged with favorable neurologic outcomes. Survival to discharge was similar for venoarterial and venovenous ECMO patients (8/12 vs. 7/12; p = 0.67) and those who had neurosurgery before vs. during ECMO (8/13 vs. 7/11; p = 0.92). One patient (4%) experienced a neurosurgical complication, a nonlethal tract hemorrhage from EVD placement. Survival to discharge was similar for neurosurgical and nonneurosurgical ECMO patients at participating institutions (63% vs. 57%; p = 0.58). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with acute neurologic injury can feasibly undergo neurosurgery during ECMO or can undergo ECMO after recent neurosurgery. Larger studies are needed to fully understand risks for bleeding and other procedure-related complications.

Morchella conica, Morchella esculenta and Morchella delicosa Induce Apoptosis in Breast and Colon Cancer Cell Lines via Pro-apoptotic and Anti-apoptotic Regulation.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential apoptotic mechanisms of 3 Morchella extracts (Morchella conica, Morchella esculenta and Morchella delicosa) on breast and colon cancer cell lines using apoptotic biomarkers. METHODS: Human breast cell line (MCF-7) and colon cancer cell line (SW-480) were treated with methanol and ethanol extracts of 3 Morchella species with concentration ranging from 0.0625 to 2 mg/mL. After that their effects on gene expression of apoptosis related markers (pro-apoptotic markers including Bax, caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-9, and the antiapoptotic marker including Bcl-2) were determined using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: All Morchella extracts reduced breast and colon cancer cells proliferation at half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.02 ±0.01 to 0.68 ±0.30 mg/mL. As expected, all Morchella extracts significantly increased gene expressions of Bax, caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-9 and downregulated the gene expression of Bcl-2 in MCF-7 and SW-480 cell lines (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Morchella extracts demonstrated significant anti-proliferative activity against breast and colon cancer cell lines via an apoptosis induction mechanism. Anticancer activity of Morchella extracts and activation of apoptosis in breast and colon cancer cells suggest that it may be used to develop chemotherapeutic agents against cancer in future.

Photovoltaic properties of halide perovskites for solar cell application with efficiency greater than 18.

The opto-electronic properties and solar cell efficiency of halide perovskites A2LiInBr6 (A = Rb, Cs) are investigated using density functional theory (DFT) through WEIN2k and SCAPS-1D. The electronic characteristic of A2LiInBr6 (A = Rb, Cs) compounds reveal their direct bandgap semiconductor nature and are active in visible rang. The results indicate that substituting Cs with Rb causes a slight narrowing of the bandgap. According to the optical analysis, these compounds possess dynamic visible-range optical properties that make them ideal for application in opto-electronic devices and solar cells. The A2LiInBr6 (A = Rb, Cs) absorber layer is employed to simulate the solar cell efficiency of these lead free perovskite-based device. The optimized FTO/WS2/A2LiInBr6 (A = Rb, Cs)/Spiro-MeOTAD/Cu solar cells exhibit the best performance with WS2 as the ETL and Spiro-MeOTAD as the HTL having V oc value of 2.27 V and 1.85 V, J sc value is 11.35 and 11.44 mA cm-2, FF is 73.24% and 83.84%, PCE is 18.88% and 17.97%, R s is 9.94 and 4.88 Ω cm2 and R sh is 1.35 and 1.14 Ω cm2 respectively. As a result, this research paves the way for future experiments to create entirely inorganic perovskite photovoltaics, free of lead toxicity and exhibit improved photovoltaic ability.

Phosphatidylserine: A comprehensive overview of synthesis, metabolism, and nutrition.

Phosphatidylserine (PtdS) is classified as a glycerophospholipid and a primary anionic phospholipid and is particularly abundant in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane in neural tissues. It is synthesized from phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine by exchanging the base head group with serine, and this reaction is catalyzed by PtdS synthase-1 and PtdS synthase-2 located in the endoplasmic reticulum. PtdS exposure on the outside surface of the cell is essential for eliminating apoptotic cells and initiating the blood clotting cascade. It is also a precursor of phosphatidylethanolamine, produced by PtdS decarboxylase in bacteria, yeast, and mammalian cells. Furthermore, PtdS acts as a cofactor for several necessary enzymes that participate in signaling pathways. Beyond these functions, several studies indicate that PtdS plays a role in various cerebral functions, including activating membrane signaling pathways, neuroinflammation, neurotransmission, and synaptic refinement associated with the central nervous system (CNS). This review discusses the occurrence of PtdS in nature and biosynthesis via enzymes and genes in plants, yeast, prokaryotes, mammalian cells, and the brain, and enzymatic synthesis through phospholipase D (PLD). Furthermore, we discuss metabolism, its role in the CNS, the fortification of foods, and supplementation for improving some memory functions, the results of which remain unclear. PtdS can be a potentially beneficial addition to foods for kids, seniors, athletes, and others, especially with the rising consumer trend favoring functional foods over conventional pills and capsules. Clinical studies have shown that PtdS is safe and well tolerated by patients.

Comparison of Postoperative Seizures Between Burr-Hole Evacuation and Craniotomy in Patients With Nonacute Subdural Hematomas: A Bi-Institutional Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Postoperative seizures are a common complication after surgical drainage of nonacute chronic subdural hematomas (SDHs). The literature increasingly supports the use of prophylactic antiepileptic drugs for craniotomy, a procedure that is often associated with larger collections and worse clinical status at admission. This study aimed to compare the incidence of postoperative seizures in patients treated with burr-hole drainage and those treated with craniotomy through propensity score matching (PSM). METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on patients with surgical drainage of nonacute SDHs (burr-holes and craniotomies) between January 2017 to December 2021 at 2 academic institutions in the United States. PSM was performed by controlling for age, subdural thickness, subacute component, and preoperative Glasgow Coma Scale. Seizure rates and accompanying abnormalities on electroencephalographic tracing were evaluated postmatching. RESULTS: A total of 467 patients with 510 nonacute SDHs underwent 474 procedures, with 242 burr-hole evacuations (51.0%) and 232 craniotomies (49.0%). PSM resulted in 62 matched pairs. After matching, univariate analysis revealed that burr-hole evacuations exhibited lower rates of seizures (1.6% vs 11.3%; P = .03) and abnormal electroencephalographic findings (0.0% vs 4.8%; P = .03) compared with craniotomies. No significant differences were observed in postoperative Glasgow Coma Scale (P = .77) and length of hospital stay (P = .61). CONCLUSION: Burr-hole evacuation demonstrated significantly lower seizure rates than craniotomy using a propensity score-matched analysis controlling for significant variables.

Influence of Cooling duration on Efficacy in Cardiac Arrest Patients (ICECAP): study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, adaptive allocation clinical trial to identify the optimal duration of induced hypothermia for neuroprotection in comatose, adult survivors of after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest is a common and devastating emergency of both the heart and brain. More than 380,000 patients suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest annually in the USA. Induced cooling of comatose patients markedly improved neurological and functional outcomes in pivotal randomized clinical trials, but the optimal duration of therapeutic hypothermia has not yet been established. METHODS: This study is a multi-center randomized, response-adaptive, duration (dose) finding, comparative effectiveness clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment. We investigate two populations of adult comatose survivors of cardiac arrest to ascertain the shortest duration of cooling that provides the maximum treatment effect. The design is based on a statistical model of response as defined by the primary endpoint, a weighted 90-day mRS (modified Rankin Scale, a measure of neurologic disability), across the treatment arms. Subjects will initially be equally randomized between 12, 24, and 48 h of therapeutic cooling. After the first 200 subjects have been randomized, additional treatment arms between 12 and 48 h will be opened and patients will be allocated, within each initial cardiac rhythm type (shockable or non-shockable), by response adaptive randomization. As the trial continues, shorter and longer duration arms may be opened. A maximum sample size of 1800 subjects is proposed. Secondary objectives are to characterize: the overall safety and adverse events associated with duration of cooling, the effect on neuropsychological outcomes, and the effect on patient-reported quality of life measures. DISCUSSION: In vitro and in vivo studies have shown the neuroprotective effects of therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest. We hypothesize that longer durations of cooling may improve either the proportion of patients that attain a good neurological recovery or may result in better recovery among the proportion already categorized as having a good outcome. If the treatment effect of cooling is increasing across duration, for at least some set of durations, then this provides evidence of the efficacy of cooling itself versus normothermia, even in the absence of a normothermia control arm, confirming previous RCTs for OHCA survivors of shockable rhythms and provides the first prospective controlled evidence of efficacy in those without initial shockable rhythms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04217551. Registered on 30 December 2019.

Influence of Cooling duration on Efficacy in Cardiac Arrest Patients (ICECAP): study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, adaptive allocation clinical trial to identify the optimal duration of induced hypothermia for neuroprotection in comatose, adult survivors of after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Cardiac arrest is a common and devastating emergency of both the heart and brain. More than 380,000 patients suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest annually in the United States. Induced cooling of comatose patients markedly improved neurological and functional outcomes in pivotal randomized clinical trials, but the optimal duration of therapeutic hypothermia has not yet been established. Methods: This study is a multi-center randomized, response-adaptive, duration (dose) finding, comparative effectiveness clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment. We investigate two populations of adult comatose survivors of cardiac arrest to ascertain the shortest duration of cooling that provides the maximum treatment effect. The design is based on a statistical model of response as defined by the primary endpoint, a weighted 90-day mRS (modified Rankin Scale, a measure of neurologic disability), across the treatment arms. Subjects will initially be equally randomized between 12, 24, and 48 hours of therapeutic cooling. After the first 200 subjects have been randomized, additional treatment arms between 12 and 48 hours will be opened and patients will be allocated, within each initial cardiac rhythm type (shockable or non-shockable), by response adaptive randomization. As the trial continues, shorter and longer duration arms may be opened. A maximum sample size of 1800 subjects is proposed. Secondary objectives are to characterize: the overall safety and adverse events associated with duration of cooling, the effect on neuropsychological outcomes, and the effect on patient reported quality of life measures. Discussion: In-vitro and in-vivo studies have shown the neuroprotective effects of therapeutic hypothermia for cardiac arrest. We hypothesize that longer durations of cooling may improve either the proportion of patients that attain a good neurological recovery or may result in better recovery among the proportion already categorized as having a good outcome. If the treatment effect of cooling is increasing across duration, for at least some set of durations, then this provides evidence of the efficacy of cooling itself versus normothermia, even in the absence of a normothermia control arm, confirming previous RCTs for OHCA survivors of shockable rhythms and provides the first prospective controlled evidence of efficacy in those without initial shockable rhythms. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04217551, 2019-12-30).

Preparation of medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids by bio-imprinted lipase-catalyzed interesterification.

Medium and long-chain triacylglycerol (MLCT) rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were obtained in three-hour interesterification of fish oil with medium-chain triacylglycerol (MCTs), using lipase bio-imprinted with surfactant as a catalyst. Initially, for bio-imprinted lipase preparation, the interesterification reaction conditions were optimized, resulting in a lipase with 1.47 times higher catalytic activity compared to control (non-bio-imprinted). Afterwards, the reaction conditions for MLCT synthesis were optimized, using bio-imprinted lipase as a catalyst. The reaction reached equilibrium within first three hours at 70 °C temperature, 4 wt% lipase load, and molar ratio of substrate 1:1.5. Under these conditions, final product contained 18.52% MCT, 56.65% MLCT, and 24.83% long-chain triacylglycerol (LCT). To reduce the MCT content, a solvent extraction process was performed, yielding 2.42% MCT, 56.19% MLCT, and 41.39% LCT. The obtained structured lipids (SLs), enriched in n-3 PUFAs, offer significant health benefits, enhanced bioavailability, with potential applications in functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Parameter free AEWMA control chart for dispersion in semiconductor manufacturing.

The study presents a new parameter free adaptive exponentially weighted moving average (AEWMA) control chart tailored for monitoring process dispersion, utilizing an adaptive approach for determining the smoothing constant. This chart is crafted to adeptly detect shifts within anticipated ranges in process dispersion by dynamically computing the smoothing constant. To assess its effectiveness, the chart's performance is measured through concise run-length profiles generated from Monte Carlo simulations. A notable aspect is the incorporation of an unbiased estimator in computing the smoothing constant through the suggested function, thereby improving the chart's capability to identify different levels of increasing and decreasing shifts in process dispersion. The comparison with an established adaptive EWMA-S2 dispersion chart highlights the considerable efficiency of the proposed chart in addressing diverse magnitudes of process dispersion shifts. Additionally, the study includes an application to a real-life dataset, showcasing the practicality and user-friendly nature of the proposed chart in real-world situations.

Max-mixed EWMA control chart for joint monitoring of mean and variance: an application to yogurt packing process.

The Max-Mixed EWMA Exponentially Weighted Moving Average (MM EWMA) control chart is a statistical process control technique used for joint monitoring of the mean and variance of a process. This control chart is designed to detect small and moderate shifts in the mean and variance of a process by comparing the maximum of two statistics, one based on the mean and the other on the variance. In this paper, we propose a new MM EWMA control chart. The proposed chart is compared with existing control charts using simulation studies, and the results show that the chart performs better in detecting small and moderate shifts in both the mean and variance. The proposed chart can be helpful in quality control applications, where joint monitoring of mean and variance is necessary to ensure a product's or process's quality. The real-life application of the proposed control chart on yogurt packing in a cup data set shows the outperformance of the MM EWMA control chart. Both simulations & real-life application results demonstrate the better performance of the proposed chart in detecting smaller shifts during the production process.

A novel flexible exponent power-X family of distributions with applications to COVID-19 mortality rate in Mexico and Canada.

This paper aims to introduce a novel family of probability distributions by the well-known method of the T-X family of distributions. The proposed family is called a "Novel Generalized Exponent Power X Family" of distributions. A three-parameters special sub-model of the proposed method is derived and named a "Novel Generalized Exponent Power Weibull" distribution (NGEP-Wei for short). For the proposed family, some statistical properties are derived including the hazard rate function, moments, moment generating function, order statistics, residual life, and reverse residual life. The well-known method of estimation, the maximum likelihood estimation method is used for estimating the model parameters. Besides, a comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted to assess the efficacy of this estimation method. Finally, the model selection criterion such as Akaike information criterion (AINC), the correct information criterion (CINC), the Bayesian information criterion (BINC), the Hannan-Quinn information criterion (HQINC), the Cramer-von-Misses (CRMI), and the ANDA (Anderson-Darling) are used for comparison purpose. The comparison of the NGEP-Wei with other rival distributions is made by Two COVID-19 data sets. In terms of performance, we show that the proposed method outperforms the other competing methods included in this study.

Risk adjusted EWMA control chart based on support vector machine with application to cardiac surgery data.

In the current study, we demonstrate the use of a quality framework to review the process for improving the quality and safety of the patient in the health care department. The researchers paid attention to assessing the performance of the health care service, where the data is usually heterogeneous to patient's health conditions. In our study, the support vector machine (SVM) regression model is used to handle the challenge of adjusting the risk factors attached to the patients. Further, the design of exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control charts is proposed based on the residuals obtained through SVM regression model. Analyzing real cardiac surgery patient data, we employed the SVM method to gauge patient condition. The resulting SVM-EWMA chart, fashioned via SVM modeling, revealed superior shift detection capabilities and demonstrated enhanced efficacy compared to the risk-adjusted EWMA control chart.

An adaptive Bayesian approach for improved sensitivity in joint monitoring of mean and variance using Max-EWMA control chart.

This article introduces an adaptive approach within the Bayesian Max-EWMA control chart framework. Various Bayesian loss functions were used to jointly monitor process deviations from the mean and variance of normally distributed processes. Our study proposes the mechanism of using a function-based adaptive method that picks self-adjusting weights incorporated in Bayesian Max-EWMA for the estimation of mean and variance. This adaptive mechanism significantly enhances the effectiveness and sensitivity of the Max-EWMA chart in detecting process shifts in both the mean and dispersion. The Monte Carlo simulation technique was used to calculate the run-length profiles of different combinations. A comparative performance analysis with an existing chart demonstrates its effectiveness. A practical example from the hard-bake process in semiconductor manufacturing is presented for practical context and illustration of the chart settings and performance. The empirical results showcase the superior performance of the Adaptive Bayesian Max-EWMA control chart in identifying out-of-control signals. The chart's ability to jointly monitor the mean and variance of a process, its adaptive nature, and its Bayesian framework make it a useful and effective control chart.

Memory type Bayesian adaptive max-EWMA control chart for weibull processes.

The simultaneous monitoring of both the process mean and dispersion has gained considerable attention in statistical process control, especially when the process follows the normal distribution. This paper introduces a novel Bayesian adaptive maximum exponentially weighted moving average (Max-EWMA) control chart, designed to jointly monitor the mean and dispersion of a non-normal process. This is achieved through the utilization of the inverse response function, particularly suitable for processes conforming to a Weibull distribution. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed control chart, we employed the average run length (ARL) and the standard deviation of run length (SDRL). Subsequently, we compared the performance of our proposed control chart with that of an existing Max-EWMA control chart. Our findings suggest that the proposed control chart demonstrates a higher level of sensitivity in detecting out-of-control signals. Finally, to illustrate the effectiveness of our Bayesian Max-EWMA control chart under various Loss Functions (LFs) for a Weibull process, we present a practical case study focusing on the hard-bake process in the semiconductor manufacturing industry. This case study highlights the adaptability of the chart to different scenarios. Our results provide compelling evidence of the exceptional performance of the suggested control chart in rapidly detecting out-of-control signals during the hard-bake process, thereby significantly contributing to the improvement of process monitoring and quality control.

Memory type Max-EWMA control chart for the Weibull process under the Bayesian theory.

The simultaneous monitoring of both process mean and dispersion, particularly in normal processes, has garnered significant attention within the field. In this article, we present a new Bayesian Max-EWMA control chart that is intended to track a non-normal process mean and dispersion simultaneously. This is accomplished through the utilization of the inverse response function, especially in cases where the procedure follows a Weibull distribution. We used the average run length (ARL) and the standard deviation of run length (SDRL) to assess the efficacy of our suggested control chart. Next, we contrast our suggested control chart's performance with an already-existing Max-EWMA control chart. Our results show that compared to the control chart under consideration, the proposed control chart exhibits a higher degree of sensitivity. Finally, we present a useful case study centered around the hard-bake process in the semiconductor manufacturing sector to demonstrate the performance of our Bayesian Max-EWMA control chart under different Loss Functions (LFs) for a Weibull process. The case study highlights how flexible the chart is to various situations. Our results offer strong proof of the outstanding ability of the Bayesian Max-EWMA control chart to quickly identify out-of-control signals during the hard-bake procedure. This in turn significantly contributes to the enhancement of process monitoring and quality control.

After ECMO Decannulation, Are Patients Thriving or Just Surviving?

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to support patients with cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, and acute respiratory distress syndrome is rising worldwide.1 While ECMO may save the lives of some of our sickest patients, the outlook of ECMO survivorship remains uncertain. Defining longer-term functional and neuropsychiatric outcomes in ECMO survivors is important for 3 reasons. First, critically ill patients are at high risk of experiencing postintensive care syndrome (PICS), defined as new physical, cognitive, or psychological impairments that present in survivors of critical illness after hospital discharge.2 PICS is associated with more severe illness and longer intensive care unit length of stay.3 Because ECMO is reserved for patients with refractory shock or hypoxia, patients treated with ECMO represent a severely ill patient population with prolonged length of stay, putting them at particularly high risk of developing PICS. Second, ECMO is associated with direct neurologic injury, including both macrohemorrhages and microhemorrhages, infarcts, and diffuse hypoxic-ischemic brain injury that likely contribute to long-term outcomes.4 Finally, ECMO is very expensive. A recent study determined that the average cost per admission for patients with COVID-19 placed on ECMO was nearly $850,000 more than those who received only mechanical ventilation.5 Understanding patient-centered outcomes will be an integral part of future cost-effectiveness analyses.

Correction: Nutritional analysis and characterization of carbapenemase producing-Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant genes associated with bovine mastitis infected cow's milk.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293477.].