80,714 research outputs found
Test-aware combinatorial interaction testing
Combinatorial interaction testing (CIT) approaches system- atically sample a given configuration space and select a set of configurations, in which each valid t-way option setting combination appears at least once. A battery of test cases are then executed in the selected configurations. Exist- ing CIT approaches, however, do not provide a system- atic way of handling test-specific inter-option constraints. Improper handling of such constraints, on the other hand, causes masking effects, which in turn causes testers to de- velop false confidence in their test processes, believing them have tested certain option setting combinations, when they in fact have not. In this work, to avoid the harmful conse- quences of masking effects caused by improper handling of test-specific constraints, we compute t-way test-aware cov- ering arrays. A t-way test-aware covering array is not just a set of configurations as is the case in traditional covering arrays, but a set of configurations, each of which is asso- ciated with a set of test cases. We furthermore present a set of empirical studies conducted by using two widely-used highly-configurable software systems as our subject applica- tions, demonstrating that test-specific constraints are likely to occur in practice and the proposed approach is a promis- ing and effective way of handling them
High altitude radiation measurements Quarterly report, 1 Oct. - 31 Dec. 1969
Research and developments in high altitude radiation measurement
Benefits of polidocanol endovenous microfoam (VarithenaÂź) compared with physician-compounded foams
Objective: To compare foam bubble size and bubble size distribution, stability, and degradation rate of commercially
available polidocanol endovenous microfoam (Varithena) and physician-compounded foams using a number of laboratory tests.
Methods: Foam properties of polidocanol endovenous microfoam and physician-compounded foams were measured
and compared using a glass-plate method and a Sympatec QICPIC image analysis method to measure bubble size and
bubble size distribution, TurbiscanTM LAB for foam half time and drainage and a novel biomimetic vein model to measure
foam stability. Physician-compounded foams composed of polidocanol and room air, CO2, or mixtures of oxygen and
carbon dioxide (O2:CO2) were generated by different methods.
Results: Polidocanol endovenous microfoam was found to have a narrow bubble size distribution with no large
(>500 mm) bubbles. Physician-compounded foams made with the Tessari method had broader bubble size distribution
and large bubbles, which have an impact on foam stability. Polidocanol endovenous microfoam had a lower degradation
rate than any physician-compounded foams, including foams made using room air (p < 0.035). The same result was
obtained at different liquid to gas ratios (1:4 and 1:7) for physician-compounded foams. In all tests performed, CO2 foams
were the least stable and different O2:CO2 mixtures had intermediate performance. In the biomimetic vein model,
polidocanol endovenous microfoam had the slowest degradation rate and longest calculated dwell time, which represents the length of time the foam is in contact with the vein, almost twice that of physician-compounded foams using
room air and eight times better than physician-compounded foams prepared using equivalent gas mixes.
Conclusion: Bubble size, bubble size distribution and stability of various sclerosing foam formulations show that
polidocanol endovenous microfoam results in better overall performance compared with physician-compounded
foams. Polidocanol endovenous microfoam offers better stability and cohesive properties in a biomimetic vein model
compared to physician-compounded foams. Polidocanol endovenous microfoam, which is indicated in the United States
for treatment of great saphenous vein system incompetence, provides clinicians with a consistent product with enhanced
handling propertie
The MINERA Data Acquisition System and Infrastructure
MINERA (Main INjector ExpeRiment -A) is a new few-GeV neutrino
cross section experiment that began taking data in the FNAL NuMI (Fermi
National Accelerator Laboratory Neutrinos at the Main Injector) beam-line in
March of 2010. MINERA employs a fine-grained scintillator detector capable
of complete kinematic characterization of neutrino interactions. This paper
describes the MINERA data acquisition system (DAQ) including the read-out
electronics, software, and computing architecture.Comment: 34 pages, 16 figure
Targeted anthelmintic treatment of parasitic gastroenteritis in first grazing season dairy calves using daily live weight gain as an indicator
Control of parasitic gastroenteritis in cattle is typically based on group treatments with anthelmintics, complemented by grazing management, where feasible. However, the almost inevitable evolution of resistance in parasitic nematodes to anthelmintics over time necessitates a reappraisal of their use in order to reduce selection pressure. One such approach is targeted selective treatment (TST), in which only individual animals that will most benefit are treated, rather than whole groups of at-risk cattle. This study was designed to assess the feasibility of implementing TST on three commercial farms, two of which were organic. A total of 104 first-grazing season (FGS), weaned dairy calves were enrolled in the study; each was weighed at monthly intervals from the start of the grazing season using scales or weigh-bands. At the same time dung and blood samples were collected in order to measure faecal egg counts (FEC) and plasma pepsinogen, respectively. A pre-determined threshhold weight gain of 0.75 kg/day was used to determine those animals that would be treated; the anthelmintic used was eprinomectin. No individual animal received more than one treatment during the grazing season and all treatments were given in July or August; five animals were not treated at all because their growth rates consistently exceeded the threshold. Mean daily live weight gain over the entire grazing season ranged between 0.69 and 0.82 kg/day on the three farms. Neither FEC nor pepsinogen values were significantly associated with live weight gain. Implementation of TST at farm level requires regular (monthly) handling of the animals and the use of weigh scales or tape, but can be integrated into farm management practices. This study has shown that acceptable growth rates can be achieved in FGS cattle with modest levels of treatment and correspondingly less exposure of their nematode populations to anthelmintics, which should mitigate selection pressure for resistance by increasing the size of the refugia in both hosts and pasture
A generalized Holling type II model for the interaction between dextral-sinistral snails and Pareas snakes
ProducciĂłn CientĂficaPareatic snakes possess outstanding asymmetry in the mandibular tooth number, which has probably been caused by its evolution to improve the feeding on the predominant dextral snails. Gene mutation can generate chiral inversion on the snail body. A sinistral snail population can thrive in this ecological context. The interactions between dextral/sinistral snails and Pareas snakes are modeled in this paper by using a new generalized functional response of Holling type II. Distinct Pareas species show different bilateral asymmetry degrees. This parameter plays an essential role in our model and determines the evolution of the populations. Stability of the solutions is also analyzed for different regimes in the space of parameters.Ministerio de EconomĂa, Industria y Competitividad (grant MTM2014-57129-C2-1-P)Junta de Castilla y Leon (grant VA057U16
Radio-frequency discharges in Oxygen. Part 1: Modeling
In this series of three papers we present results from a combined
experimental and theoretical effort to quantitatively describe capacitively
coupled radio-frequency discharges in oxygen. The particle-in-cell Monte-Carlo
model on which the theoretical description is based will be described in the
present paper. It treats space charge fields and transport processes on an
equal footing with the most important plasma-chemical reactions. For given
external voltage and pressure, the model determines the electric potential
within the discharge and the distribution functions for electrons, negatively
charged atomic oxygen, and positively charged molecular oxygen. Previously used
scattering and reaction cross section data are critically assessed and in some
cases modified. To validate our model, we compare the densities in the bulk of
the discharge with experimental data and find good agreement, indicating that
essential aspects of an oxygen discharge are captured.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figure
Assessment of performance of the industrial process of bulk vacuum packaging of raw meat with nondestructive optical oxygen sensing systems
The commercially-available optical oxygen-sensing system Optech-O2 Platinum was applied to nondestructively assess the in situ performance of bulk, vacuum-packaged raw beef in three ~300 kg containers. Twenty sensors were attached to the inner surface of the standard bin-contained laminate bag (10 on the front and back sides), such that after filling with meat and sealing under vacuum, the sensors were accessible for optical interrogation with the external reader device. After filling and sealing each bag, the sensors were measured repetitively and nondestructively over a 15-day storage period at 1 °C, thus tracking residual oxygen distribution in the bag and changes during storage. The sensors revealed a number of unidentified meat quality and processing issues, and helped to improve the packaging process by pouring flakes of dry ice into the bag. Sensor utility in mapping the distribution of residual O2 in sealed bulk containers and optimising and improving the packaging process, including handling and storage of bulk vacuum-packaged meat bins, was evident
Product bundling in global ocean transportation
There are over 20 'components' in an international door-to-door transportation, ranging from warehousing and distribution, to forwarding, documentation, transportation, customs clearance, etc..As tariffs in ocean transportation tend to converge due to competition and service homogenization, carriers, in competition with third party logistics service providers, strive to integrate door-to-door services under their control. In doing so, and among others, they invest heavily in logistics rather than ships that can nowadays be easily chartered in from institutional investors.Integration efforts however have been met with varying degrees of success in the face of skeptical and suspicious shippers requiring cost break down and more transparency. With the use of game theory, this paper attempts to develop winning service bundling strategies for ocean carriers, i.e. global supply chain solutions under all-in prices. Preliminary results show that, under certain conditions, bundling can be an equilibrium strategy for one or more carriers, and despite leveraging around captive liner services and potentially enhanced profits, bundling does not necessarily lead to a loss in social welfare.bundling;integrated logistics;liner shipping;vertical integration
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