Spot checking

Simply doing electronic structure computations at the M, K, X, and T points in the Brillouin zone is not necessarily sufficient to yield a band gap. This is because the minimum and maximum energies reached by any given energy band sometimes fall between these points. Such limited calculations are sometimes done when the computational method is very CPU-intensive. For example, this type of spot check might be done at a high level of theory to determine whether complete calculations are necessary at that level. 

Ah initio calculations of polymer properties are either simulations of oligomers or band-structure calculations. Properties often computed with ah initio methods are conformational energies, polarizability, hyperpolarizability, optical properties, dielectric properties, and charge distributions. Ah initio calculations are also used as a spot check to verify the accuracy of molecular mechanics methods for the polymer of interest. Such calculations are used to parameterize molecular mechanics force fields when existing methods are insulficient, which does not happen too often. 

Tracer Type. A discrete quantity of a foreign substance is injected momentarily into the flow stream and the time interval for this substance to reach a detection point, or pass between detection points, is measured. From this time, the average velocity can be computed. Among the tracers that have historically been used are salt, anhydrous ammonia, nitrous oxide, dyes, and radioactive isotopes. The most common appHcation area for tracer methods is in gas pipelines where tracers are used to check existing metered sections and to spot-check unmetered sections. 

Although there is a British Standard for hammers, there is no legislation in the UK which compels retailers to supply only standard hammers. It is, in fact, quite difficult to get standard hammers "over the counter". But reputable makers spot check their hammers, because they will not knowingly sell improperly heat-treated hammers. 

Check-weights can be used by Operations for spot checks on scales, but all repairs and adjustments should be sole responsibility of scale manufacturer or instrument department. 

You may believe that the accidents could not happen at your plant because you have systems to prevent them. Many of the accidents I describe occurred on plants that had such systems, but the systems were not always followed. The accidents happened because of various management failures failure to convince people that they should follow the systems, failure to detect previous violations (by audits, spot checks, or just keeping an open eye), or deliberately turning a blind eye to avoid conflict or to get a job done quickly. The first step down the road to many a serious accident occurred when someone turned a blind eye to a missing blind (see Chapter 1). 

Alternatively, a survey can be used as the principal method of information gathering, with a limited amount of "spot-checking" at selected facilities to give you confidence that the survey was understood by recipients and accurately completed. This method may be most useful in situations in which ... 

If you gather most of your information through surveys, it is well to conduct spot checks, perhaps through telephone interviews. 

All other divisions were subject to spot checks... 

Stich-kultur, /. stab culture, -loch, n. tap hole, -pfropf, m. tap-hole plug, -probe, /. sample at random sample taken by tapping or piercing random test, spot check (Metal.) assay of tapped metal (Brewing) pricking teat. 

Infrared thermometers or spot radiometers are designed to provide the actual surface temperature at a single, relatively small point on a machine or surface. Within a predictive maintenance program, the point-of-use infrared thermometer can be used in conjunction with many of the microprocessor-based vibration instruments to monitor the temperature at critical points on plant machinery or equipment. This technique is typically used to monitor bearing cap temperatures, motor winding temperatures, spot checks of process piping temperatures and similar applications. It is limited in that the temperature represents a single point on the machine or structure. However when used in conjunction with vibration data, point-of-use infrared data can be a valuable tool. 

The above processes of elimination led to many correlations being discarded, and in a recent catalog by Clerici et al. (C4), who examined the most important burn-out correlations, the number listed is down to 20. Clerici et al. show graphically the results of some spot checks using the selected correlations to predict the burn-out heat flux for uniformly heated round tubes. The results indicate wide disparity, with calculated burn-out flux values differing in some cases by a factor of more than 2, so that a great deal more sorting out of burn-out correlations is still needed. 

The audit also emphasizes the self-regulated nature of the industry and the ideal relationship between the agency and the industry. In theory and effective practice, a biomedical company utilizes its quality assurance (QA) unit (in this case, supplemented by credible Part 11 auditors) to maintain control of safety, effectiveness, and quality. The FDA can then review the quality system (QS) and spot-check the other systems such as laboratory or production for most efficient regulatory oversight. In effect, the QA regulates the company and the FDA regulates the QA. 

Regular involvement, walk-around inspections, informal spot checks, and specific topical discussions by line management and staff can be used to ensure that chemical reactivity hazard management systems and procedures are actually being implemented and followed on a day to day basis. Questions should be raised if unexpected changes have been made or unusual circumstances are detected. 

The data in Table 12.5 are the result of a pooling of results from a number of different products that were spot-checked for a number of different residues (drugs, antibiotics, sulfonamides, pesticides, antimicrobials). As can be seen from these limited data, the number of samples is quite small in total but can be reflective of the residue status of various products. Overall, the data indicate a very low incidence of both antibiotic and sulfonamide residues in the imported products. 

Above ground piping should be examined to determine its condition and to verify that proper drainage pitch is maintained. Underground piping should be spot-checked for deterioration at least every five years. 

Samples were also taken from the geoduck beds for PSP analysis ( 3). Spot check samples were taken, with results indicating that high levels existed only in the viscera of the clam. Of all samples taken, only one sample of body meat taken near Gravina Island (Ketchikan, 1980) revealed PSP levels above the quarantine limit of 80 mg/100 g for human consumption. 

Hitherto, imported fireworks were subject to licensing and a spot check by the HM Explosives Inspectors, while labelling was evaluated on the basis of common sense and past experience. 

The association of a particular disease with a particular gene or group of genes is rapidly increasing. A spot check of www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim, the online version of Mendelian... 

However, since any process evaluation is no better than the rate data fed into it, the chemical engineer must always be suspicious of the validity of rate data, whether from the hterature or obtained in house. A particular concern is the extrapolation of rates obtained under one set of conditions to different operating conditions. Perhaps one must process hquids at high temperatures and pressures, while lab data are easiest to acquire in a glass flask at atmospheric pressures and lower temperatures. The prudent engineer would want at least to spot check any rate expressions at actual operating conditions or risk trouble. 

At lead selection, after which typically more chemistry effort is invested, the selected compounds can be profiled in a broader (secondary) panel of assays, hopefully confirming the selective nature of the leads. If this is the case, spot checking in the primary panel through the optimization phase may be sufficient to ensure selectivity is retained while the required potency at the primary target is achieved. If the selected leads are still rather promiscuous, or certain individual unwanted liabilities remain, these should be monitored by testing in the primary panel (or in additional individual assays) and improved upon during lead optimization. Tfie broader panel can then be applied again to the selected development candidates for a final check and these may even be extended further to additional specialized panels for added security. 

Whatever package is used, it is recommended that computergenerated costs be spot-checked for reasonable results using a hand-Held calculator since errors do occur. Some commercial software companies will develop cost estimation databases in cooperation with a company for site-specific costs. 

Could regulators conduct their own audits, not depending upon validation by laboratories In theory that strategy could be successful, but two problems stand in the way. First, resources, including time and expertise, permit only a very cursory spot check on compliance. Those limited resources are much better spent in reviewing comprehensive validation reports than in conducting very limited tests of system performance and compliance. 

Monitor and Audit the Recall The FDA oversees a recall depending upon the health risk involved. For a class I recall, the FDA checks to make sure that the defective product has been recalled in full. In contrast, for a class III recall, FDA oversight may be to simply spot-check. 

In our study all experiments were performed using one single type of plasticizer —tricresyl phosphate. This product is compatible in all proportions with the polymer. By spot check experiments it was found, however, that similar results were also obtained with other types of plasticizers. 

Element standards were grouped into four standard libraries, corresponding to the four decay counting times. Decay time boundaries for each standard library are shown in Table II. In each library, at least two elements were calculated from different standards. These two standards represented different concentrations, counting geometries, dead times, decay times, and sample matrices. Visual inspection of the computer listing provided a rapid spot check for computer program malfunctions. 

Proper, Timely Addition of S02. S02 addition, as with other chemical usage, must be monitored often by spot checks. Analyze the tank contents for total S02 after each addition and mixing. 

Approximately one bubble per second can be spot-checked periodically by connecting the calcium chloride tube to an oil-filled bubble counter. 

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