Smiths Group plc is a British multinational diversified engineering business headquartered in London, England. It has operations in over 50 countries and employs around 23,550 staff. Smiths Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index.Smiths Group has its origins in a jewellery shop, S Smith & Sons, which was founded by the watchmaker and businessman Samuel Smith. Supplying its precision watches to various clients, including the Admiralty, the business quickly grew and expanded into a major provider of timepieces, diamonds and automotive instrumentation. On 21 July 1914, the business became a public limited company, holding onto this status for over a hundred years. Throughout much of the twentieth century, Smiths Group was the principal supplier of instruments to the British motorcar and motorcycle industries, organising itself as Smiths Industries Ltd in 1960. During the 1980s and 1990s, the company restructured itself, disposing of its automotive division to focus on three divisions: Smiths Industrial, Smiths Medical Systems, and Smiths Aerospace and Defence. On 30 November 2000, its name was changed to Smiths Group; it merged with specialised engineering firm TI Group that same year.Presently, Smiths Group has five divisions. Smiths Detection is the world's largest manufacturer of sensors for the detection of explosives, weapons, chemical agents, biohazards, narcotics and contraband. John Crane is a manufacturer of seals and associated products for the process industries. Smiths Medical is a manufacturer and supplier of specialty medical devices and equipment. Smiths Interconnect is a manufacturer of electronic and radio frequency components. Flex-Tek is a supplier of components to heat and move fluids and gases.
Snow traction is an important performance parameter for tire manufacturers, and it is evaluated using a standardized test (ASTM F1805-20). In this test, the tire driving traction on compressed snow is recorded under controlled conditions. However, conducting multiple tests is challenging due to the limited availability of proving grounds and the difficulty of maintaining consistent test conditions. Additionally, prototyping and testing are costly. To address these limitations, this paper investigates the modeling and prediction of snow–tire interaction to estimate the traction coefficient of standard reference test tire (SRTT) 225/60R16 at different slip ratios, and it is validated against in situ test data. The SRTT tire is modeled using finite element analysis (FEA) and validated under static loading conditions. The validation considers radial deflection, footprint area, and contact pressure at different inflation pressures against experimental data. Compacted snow is modeled using Drucker–Prager cap (DPC) plasticity material model and a hybrid smoothed particle hydrodynamics-finite element method (SPH-FEM) approach. The DPC model captures the material behavior of compacted snow accurately, while the hybrid SPH-FEM approach is computationally efficient. The study evaluates the traction performance of the SRTT tire on compacted snow for different slip ratios and compares the results with in situ test data. Furthermore, the impact of sipes on traction performance is analyzed by comparing a SRTT tire model with a blank-rib tire model under identical slip conditions. The findings contribute to enhancing traction modeling methodologies for virtual validation of winter tires.
An X-ray baggage screener plays a critical role in aviation security. However, evidence about which cognitive and perceptual factors are important for effective threat detection during X-ray baggage screening tasks remains fragmented. This review aimed to (1) scope the existing literature examining cognitive and perceptual factors associated with X-ray baggage screening performance, and (2) systematically synthesise evidence linking these factors to X-ray baggage screening performance outcomes. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines and a preregistered protocol, searches of six databases (2000–2025) yielded 24 eligible studies (n = 11184 participants) including manipulation and observational designs. Cognitive and perceptual processes appear central to effective X-ray baggage screening, particularly under conditions of uncertainty, time pressure, and low target prevalence. Evidence broadly supports theoretical accounts such as Feature Integration, Schema, and Signal Detection Theory, suggesting that performance relies on attentional feature binding, experience-based knowledge structures, and the ability to discriminate signal from noise. Training and experience were consistently associated with improved detection, including generalisation to novel threats, indicating development of flexible perceptual schemas rather than simple memorisation. However, this relationship is not uniform, with some cognitive assessments (e.g. mental rotation, search speed) showing limited or no improvement with experience, highlighting a tension between learned and potentially stable traits. Furthermore, existing “talent identification” tools testing specific cognitive skills are undermined by circularity issues. Therefore, despite intuitive links between cognitive skills, human factors, and X-ray screening performance, the fragmented and heterogeneous evidence base currently limits definitive conclusions and practical application within the aviation security sector.
Selection of optimal treatment modalities for patients with kidney and/or ureteral stones is determined by patient factors, urinary tract anatomy, and stone characteristics and are guided by shared decision-making that additionally takes into account patient goals and preferences, resource availability, and physician expertise. This Guideline serves as a resource for clinicians and patients to provide the best available evidence on which to base discussions with patients in a shared decision-making process to arrive at appropriate treatment decisions.
The COVID-19 pandemic was officially recognized in March 2020 by the World Health Organization. Since its recognition, reliance on disposable masks as a preventative measure has steadily increased, alongside the improper disposal of personal protective equipment (PPE) among healthcare workers and the general public [1]. In fact, the global demand was estimated to be a staggering 129 billion masks per month at the height of the pandemic [1].
