Principles in Patterns (PiP) : Heuristic Evaluation of Course and Class Approval Online Pilot (C-CAP)

The PiP Evaluation Plan documents four distinct evaluative strands, the first of which entails an evaluation of the PiP system pilot (WP7:37). Phase 1 of this evaluative strand focuses on the heuristic evaluation of the PiP Course and Class Approval Online Pilot system (C-CAP). Heuristic evaluation is an established usability inspection and testing technique and is most commonly deployed in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) research, e.g. to test user interface designs, technology systems testing, etc. The success of heuristic evaluation in detecting 'major' and 'minor' usability problems is well documented, but its principal limitation is its inability to capture data on all possible usability problems. For this reason heuristic evaluation is often used as a precursor to user testing, e.g. so that user testing focuses on deeper system issues rather than on those that can easily be debugged. Heuristic evaluation nevertheless remains an important usability inspection technique and research continues to demonstrate its success in detecting usability problems which would otherwise evade detection in user testing sessions. For this reason experts maintain that heuristic evaluation should be used to complement user testing. This is reflected in the PiP Evaluation Plan, which proposes protocol analysis, stimulated recall and pre- and post-test questionnaire instruments to comprise user testing (see WP7:37 phases 2, 3 and 4 of PiP Evaluation Plan). This brief report summarises the methodology deployed, presents the results of the heuristic evaluation and proposes solutions or recommendations to address the heuristic violations that were found to exist in the C-CAP system. It is anticipated that some solutions will be implemented within the lifetime of the project. This is consistent with the incremental systems design methodology that PiP has adopted

Investigations into the feasibility of an on-line test methodology

This thesis aims to understand how information coding and the protocol that it supports can affect the characteristics of electronic circuits. More specifically, it investigates an on-line test methodology called IFIS (If it Fails It Stops) and its impact on the design, implementation and subsequent characteristics of circuits intended for application specific lC (ASIC) technology. The first study investigates the influences of information coding and protocol on the characteristics of IFIS systems. The second study investigates methods of circuit design applicable to IFIS cells and identifies the· technique possessing the characteristics most suitable for on-line testing. The third study investigates the characteristics of a 'real-life' commercial UART re-engineered using the techniques resulting from the previous two studies. The final study investigates the effects of the halting properties endowed by the protocol on failure diagnosis within IFIS systems. The outcome of this work is an identification and characterisation of the factors that influence behaviour, implementation costs and the ability to test and diagnose IFIS designs

Principles in Patterns (PiP) : User Acceptance Testing of Course and Class Approval Online Pilot (C-CAP)

The PiP Evaluation Plan documents four distinct evaluative strands, the first of which entails an evaluation of the PiP system pilot (WP7:37 – Systems & tool evaluation). Phase 1 of this evaluative strand focused on the heuristic evaluation of the PiP Course and Class Approval Online Pilot system (C-CAP) and was completed in December 2011. Phase 2 of the evaluation is broadly concerned with "user acceptance testing". This entails exploring the extent to which C-CAP functionality meets users' expectations within specific curriculum design tasks, as well as eliciting data on C-CAP's overall usability and its ability to support academics in improving the quality of curricula. The general evaluative approach adopted therefore employs a combination of standard Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) approaches and specially designed data collection instruments, including protocol analysis, stimulated recall and pre- and post-test questionnaire instruments. This brief report summarises the methodology deployed, presents the results of the evaluation and discusses their implications for the further development of C-CAP

A CORBA-based system for testing distributed systems

Le test est considéré comme une des étapes du cycle de vie d'un logiciel, et la dernière phase de la méthodologie de création de logiciel (analyse, conception, développement, et test). Dans ce mémoire, nous contribuons à la phase de test. Nous définissons les systèmes repartis et étudions les méthodes et les architectures pour tester un système reparti, à savoir : l'architecture de test centralise, l'architecture de test réparti (ou distant), et l'architecture de test coordonné. Si l'architecture centralisée ne pose pas de problème particulier, l'architecture repartie cause plusieurs problèmes en terme de contrôlabilité et d'observabilité, qui sont des caractéristiques fondamentales du test de conformité. Après une présentation des problèmes de contrôlabilité et d'observabilité, nous proposons une solution a ces deux problèmes, qui consiste a utiliser une architecture de test coordonné. Ensuite, nous proposons et concevons une architecture de test coordonné constituée de trois parties : Ie contrôleur de test. Ie système de test, et l'implementation sous test. Ensuite, nous présentons CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture), qui s'occupe de la communication entre les trois parties de notre architecture de test. Nous présentons une implémentation en Java et CORBA de notre architecture de test. Et enfin, nous illustrons l'application de notre architecture pour Ie test d'une version temporisée du protocole X.25.Abstract: Testing is considered as one of the steps in software life cycle and is the last phase in software creation methodology (Analysis, Design, Development, Testing). In this work, we contribute to testing phase. We define distributed systems, and study methods and architectures to test a distributed system, namely: centralized test architecture, distributed (or remote) test architecture, and coordinated test architecture. If the centralized architecture does not pose any particular problem, the distributed architecture raises several problems in terms of controllability and observability , which are fundamental features of conformance testing. After presenting controllability and observability problems, we propose a solution to these two problems, which consists of using a coordinated test architecture. Then, we propose and design a coordinated test architecture, consisting of three parts: Test Controller, Test System and Implementation Under Test. Then, we introduce CORBA (Common Object Request Broker Architecture), which is responsible for communications between the three parts of our test architecture. Then, we present an implementation in Java and CORBA of our test architecture. And finally, we illustrate the application of our architecture for testing a timed version of the X.25 protocol

A pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the safety, clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and satisfaction with point of care testing in a general practice setting – rationale, design and baseline characteristics

Background: Point of care testing (PoCT) may be a useful adjunct in the management of chronic conditions in general practice (GP). The provision of pathology test results at the time of the consultation could lead to enhanced clinical management, better health outcomes, greater convenience and satisfaction for patients and general practitioners (GPs), and savings in costs and time. It could also result in inappropriate testing, increased consultations and poor health outcomes resulting from inaccurate results. Currently there are very few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in GP that have investigated these aspects of PoCT. Design/Methods: The Point of Care Testing in General Practice Trial (PoCT Trial) was an Australian Government funded multi-centre, cluster randomised controlled trial to determine the safety, clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and satisfaction of PoCT in a GP setting. The PoCT Trial covered an 18 month period with the intervention consisting of the use of PoCT for seven tests used in the management of patients with diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and patients on anticoagulant therapy. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of patients within target range, a measure of therapeutic control. In addition, the PoCT Trial investigated the safety of PoCT, impact of PoCT on patient compliance to medication, stakeholder satisfaction, cost effectiveness of PoCT versus laboratory testing, and influence of geographic location. Discussion: The paper provides an overview of the Trial Design, the rationale for the research methodology chosen and how the Trial was implemented in a GP environment. The evaluation protocol and data collection processes took into account the large number of patients, the broad range of practice types distributed over a large geographic area, and the inclusion of pathology test results from multiple pathology laboratories. The evaluation protocol developed reflects the complexity of the Trial setting, the Trial Design and the approach taken within the funding provided. The PoCT Trial is regarded as a pragmatic RCT, evaluating the effectiveness of implementing PoCT in GP and every effort was made to ensure that, in these circumstances, internal and external validity was maintained.Caroline Laurence, Angela Gialamas, Lisa Yelland, Tanya Bubner, Philip Ryan, Kristyn Willson, Briony Glastonbury, Janice Gill, Mark Shephard, Justin Beilby for members of the PoCT Trial Management Committe

Co-Emulation of Scan-Chain Based Designs Utilizing SCE-MI Infrastructure

Simulation times of complex System-on-Chips (SoC) have grown exponentially as designs reach the multi-million ASIC gate range. Verification teams have adopted emulation as a prominent methodology, incorporating high-level testbenches and FPGA/ASIC hardware for system-level testing (SLT). In addition to SLT, emulation enables software teams to incorporate software applications with cycle-accurate hardware early on in the design cycle. The Standard for Co-Emulation Modeling Interface (SCE-MI) developed by the Accelera Initiative, is a widely used communication protocol for emulation which has been accepted by major electronic design automation (EDA) companies. Scan-chain is a design-for-test (DFT) methodology used for testing digital circuits. To allow more controllability and observability of the system, design registers are transformed into scan registers, allowing verification teams to shift in test vectors and observe the behavior of combinatorial logic. As SoC complexity increases, thousands of registers can be used in a design, which makes it difficult to implement full-scan testing. More so, as the complexity of the scan algorithm is dependent on the number of design registers, large SoC scan designs can no longer be verified in RTL simulation unless portioned into smaller sub-blocks. To complete a full scan cycle in RTL simulation for large system-level designs, it may take hours, days, or even weeks depending on the complexity of the circuit. This thesis proposes a methodology to decrease scan-chain verification time utilizing SCE-MI protocol and an FPGA-based emulation platform. A high-level (SystemC) testbench and FPGA synthesizable hardware transactor models are developed for the ISCAS89 S400 benchmark circuit for high-speed communication between the CPU workstation and FPGA emulator. The emulation results are compared to other verification methodologies, and found to be 82% faster than regular RTL simulation. In addition, the emulation runs in the MHz speed range, allowing the incorporation of software applications, drivers, and operating systems, as opposed to the Hz range in RTL simulation

Proposal of a methodology for the performance of functional and clinical testing of medical devices designed and manufactured by covid 19, through the use of informed consent

ABSTRACT The effects of the pandemic caused by COVID-19, are causing the development of medical implements and equipment quickly, in some cases due to the emergency situation authorizations are being granted for the manufacture, marketing and use. In many cases these developments are motivated by a local need that can help mitigate the effects of COVID-19. It is in this scenario, where we present a methodology to be able to collaborate in that these developments, providing recommendations of good practices for the functional testing stage, based on the design of the test protocols and informed consent, with these testing mechanisms, are It can be presented to a health ethics committee, with the intention that it be approved for subsequent application. With the completion of the studies using the equipment developed and having passed the study protocol, the results of the study guarantee that the equipment developed can be approved for registration, commercialization and subsequent clinical use. The use of the study protocol with the informed consent helps in the clinical tests of the device, the regulatory requirements must be taken into consideration for the development of the equipment that ensures the safety and integrity of the patients when they use the medical devices.. The results presented are based on the considerations to be taken into account at the time of writing the study protocols and the respective informed consents

Determination and prediction of the mechanical behaviour of architectural fabrics

PhD ThesisThis thesis concerns the material behaviour of architectural fabrics for use in the construction of tensile fabric structures, particularly the determination and prediction of biaxial and shear behaviour. Original contributions to knowledge include a novel shear test frame design, an understanding of the influence of biaxial stress on shear behaviour and an improved predictive unit cell model. While tensile fabric structures are subject to a combination of biaxial tensile stress and shear stress, there is no accepted test methodology for accurately determining shear behaviour of architectural fabrics. Shear behaviour is absent from some analysis methodologies used by industry and broad assumptions must be made by design engineers. A novel picture frame shear test design and associated test protocol is presented that aims to provide a practicable solution for the accurate determination of the shear stiffness of architectural fabrics. Strains are shown to be homogeneous across the test specimen during shear testing. The influence of biaxial stress on fabric shear behaviour is explored through tests conducted on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) coated polyester fabrics, PVC coated glass fabrics and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated glass fabrics. Results of the tests, conducted at increasing levels of biaxial prestress, and the implications for analysis are presented. Existing predictive fabric models based on constituent material properties are unable to predict fabric behaviour with a level of accuracy which is sufficient for their use in design. An improved predictive fabric model is proposed using a sinusoidal description of yarn geometry. A system of compatibility and equilibrium equations is derived which aims to realistically simulate principal deformation mechanisms within real fabrics. The improved model predicts non-linear yarn behaviour and hysteresis using input parameters obtained using non-specialist test equipment, i.e. test equipment which is available in typical material testing laboratories. The model is validated by comparing predicted data with experimentally obtained data for a range of PVC coated polyester fabrics, PTFE coated glass fabrics and silicone coated glass fabrics. Safer and more efficient structural solutions will be possible if accurate material tests are available to characterise material behaviour. Reliable predictive models will make accurate design parameters easily accessible to designers

Development of a Physiologic In-Vitro Testing Methodology for Assessment of Cervical Spine Kinematics

In-vitro biomechanical testing has been critical in the design and evaluation of spinal surgical instrumentation, however determination of realistic physiologic loading levels has proven difficult outside of the in-vivo setting. Unconstrained pure moment testing combined with the hybrid testing method is currently the gold standard test protocol for evaluation of motion preservation technology and adjacent level effects. Pure moment testing is well suited for making relative comparisons between treatments, but is currently not based on or representative of in-vivo spine motion, bringing the clinical relevance into question. The human cervical spine supports substantial compressive load in-vivo arising from muscle forces and the weight of the head. However, traditional in-vitro testing methods rarely include compressive loads, especially in investigations of multi-segment cervical spine constructs. Therefore, a systematic comparison of standard pure moment testing without compressive loading versus published and novel compressive loading techniques (follower load, axial load, and combined load) was performed. To achieve a pure moment test, a robot/UFS testing system was programmed with hybrid control, which combined load and displacement control to overcome the limitations of either control methodology alone. A follower load system was developed with actively controlled linear actuators and integrated into the robot/UFS testing system’s control algorithm. Thorough investigation of the integrated system ensured that the pure moment assumption was upheld and enabled characterization of the kinetics resulting from the application of follower load. In contrast, axial load was applied perpendicular to superior most vertebral body using the robot end-effector; it did not maintain the pure moment assumption resulting in alterations of the segmental motion patterns. The pure moment testing protocol without compression or follower load was not able to replicate the typical in-vivo segmental motion patterns throughout the entire motion path. Axial load or a combination of axial and follower load was necessary to mimic the in-vivo segmental contributions at the extremes of the extension-flexion motion path. It is hypothesized that dynamically altering the compressive loading throughout the motion path is necessary to mimic the segmental contribution patterns exhibited in-vivo—a novel concept that will be explored in future investigations