Using Variability Management in Mobile Application Test Modeling

Mobile applications are developed to run on fast-evolving platforms, such as Android or iOS. Respective mobile devices are heterogeneous concerning hardware (e.g., sensors, displays, communication interfaces) and software, especially operating system functions. Software vendors cope with platform evolution and various hardware configurations by abstracting from these variable assets. However, they cannot be sure about their assumptions on the inner conformance of all device parts and that the application runs reliably on each of them—in consequence, comprehensive testing is required. Thereby, in testing, variability becomes tedious due to the large number of test cases required to validate behavior on all possible device configurations. In this paper, we provide remedy to this problem by combining model-based testing with variability concepts from Software Product Line engineering. For this purpose, we use feature-based test modeling to generate test cases from variable operational models for individual application configurations and versions. Furthermore, we illustrate our concepts using the commercial mobile application “runtastic” as example application

Towards Interaction Design for Mobile Devices in Collocated Mixed-Focus Collaboration

In collocated collaboration, applied methods and technologies to support the collaboration process mainly comprise either analog paper and pen methods, large display applications or the usage of several laptops. Whereas paper and pen are easy to use, they impair the digital documentation and further editing. Large displays are expensive, stationary, and depend on speci_c environments. Furthermore, laptops build physical barriers between people, which impedes face-to-face communication. This leads to the fact that direct digitization is still not often performed in collocated collaborative scenarios, although it would be useful for further processing or permanent storing of created content.To address advantages of analog media, especially small size and high ubiquity, and eliminate the disadvantages, namely the lack of direct digitization, we aim at applying mobile devices to collocated collaboration. To contribute to the development of future collaboration tools, we derive and propose concrete design goals for applying mobile devices in collocated mixed-focus collaboration

Investigating Mobile Device-Based Interaction Techniques for Collocated Merging

In mixed-focus collaboration, group members create content both individually as a kind of groundwork for discussion and further processing as well as directly together in group work sessions. In case of individual creation, separate documents and contents need to be merged to receive an overall solution. In our work, we focus on mixed-focus collaboration using mobile devices, especially smartphones, to create and merge content. Instead of using emails or messenger services to share content within a group, we describe three different mobile device-based interaction techniques for merging that use built-in sensors to enable ad-hoc collaboration and that are easy and eyes-free to perform. We conducted a user study to investigate these merging interactions. Overall, 21 participants tested the interactions and evaluated task load and User Experience (UX) of the proposed device-based interactions. Furthermore, they compared the interactions with a common way to share content, namely writing an email to send attached content. Participants gave valuable user feedback and stated that our merging interaction techniques were much easier to perform. Furthermore, we found that they were much faster, less demanding, and had a greater UX than email

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous peripheral blood stem cell support for recurrent primary AFP-producing intracranial germinoma

We report of a 34-year old man with second intracranial relapse of a suprasellar germinoma. Despite of extensive pretreatment with radiation and conventional chemotherapy relapse occurred and was treated with sequential high-dose chemotherapy followed by transfusion of autologous peripheral stem cells. The high-dose chemotherapy course was complicated by refractory derailment of pineal gland insufficiency. The patient achieved a complete remission after high dose chemotherapy which lasted for 13 months. Subsequently, he developed a third relapse and died

Cardiac Imaging Within Emergency CT Angiography for Acute Stroke Can Detect Atrial Clots

Cardiac embolism is presumed to cause a significant portion of cryptogenic strokes. Transesophageal echocardiography may detect intracardiac thrombi, but this remains a rare finding, possibly because remnant clots dissolve spontaneously or following thrombolysis. Cardiac imaging within cerebral CT angiography might offer an alternative method for thrombus detection within hyperacute stroke assessment. In a proof-of-concept study we analyzed records of patients aged ≥ 60 years that presented with suspected stroke and underwent extended cerebral CT angiography as part of their emergency assessment. CT imaging of patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and atrial fibrillation and of those with embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS) was reviewed for intracardiac clots and other cardiac or aortic pathology. Over a period of 3 months 59 patients underwent extended CT angiography for suspected stroke, 44 of whom received a final diagnosis of ischemic stroke or TIA. Of those, 17 had atrial fibrillation, and four fulfilled ESUS criteria. Thrombi were detected within atrial structures on CT angiography in three cases. In two ESUS patients complex atheromatosis of the proximal ascending aorta with irregular and ulcerating plaques was detected. Cardiac imaging within emergency cerebral CT angiography is feasible and can provide valuable diagnostic information in a patient group that might not routinely undergo transesophageal echocardiography. A small change to emergency assessment could potentially uncover cardioembolic pathology in cases that would have remained cryptogenic otherwise

Shifting cancer care towards Multidisciplinarity: the cancer center certification program of the German cancer society

Background: Over the last decades numerous initiatives have been set up that aim at translating the best available medical knowledge and treatment into clinical practice. The inherent complexity of the programs and discrepancies in the terminology used make it difficult to appreciate each of them distinctly and compare their specific strengths and weaknesses. To allow comparison and stimulate dialogue between different programs, we in this paper provide an overview of the German Cancer Society certification program for multidisciplinary cancer centers that was established in 2003. Main body: In the early 2000s the German Cancer Society assessed the available information on quality of cancer care in Germany and concluded that there was a definite need for a comprehensive, transparent and evidence-based system of quality assessment and control. This prompted the development and implementation of a voluntary cancer center certification program that was promoted by scientific societies, health-care providers, and patient advocacy groups and based on guidelines of the highest quality level (S3). The certification system structures the entire process of care from prevention to screening and multidisciplinary treatment of cancer and places multidisciplinary teams at the heart of this program. Within each network of providers, the quality of care is documented using tumor-specific quality indicators. The system started with breast cancer centers in 2003 and colorectal cancer centers in 2006. In 2017, certification systems are established for the majority of cancers. Here we describe the rationale behind the certification program, its history, the development of the certification requirements, the process of data collection, and the certification process as an example for the successful implementation of a voluntary but powerful system to ensure and improve quality of cancer care. Conclusion: Since 2003, over 1 million patients had their primary tumors treated in a certified center. There are now over 1200 sites for different tumor entities in four countries that have been certified in accordance with the program and transparently report their results from multidisciplinary treatment for a substantial proportion of cancers. This led to a fundamental change in the structure of cancer care in Germany and neighboring countries within one decade

Limited role for extended maintenance temozolomide for newly diagnosed glioblastoma

Objective: To explore an association with survival of modifying the current standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma of surgery followed by radiotherapy plus concurrent and 6 cycles of maintenance temozolomide chemotherapy (TMZ/RT -> TMZ) by extending TMZ beyond 6 cycles. Methods: The German Glioma Network cohort was screened for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who received TMZ/RT -> TMZ and completed >6 cycles of maintenance chemotherapy without progression. Associations of clinical patient characteristics, molecular markers, and residual tumor determined by magnetic resonance imaging after 6 cycles of TMZ with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed with the log-rank test. Multivariate analyses using the Cox proportional hazards model were performed to assess associations of prolonged TMZ use with outcome. Results: Sixty-one of 142 identified patients received at least 7 maintenance TMZ cycles (median 11, range 7-20). Patients with extended maintenance TMZ treatment had better PFS (20.5 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] 17.7-23.3, vs 17.2 months, 95% CI 10.2-24.2, p = 0.035) but not OS (32.6 months, 95% CI 28.9-36.4, vs 33.2 months, 95% CI 25.3-41.0, p = 0.126). However, there was no significant association of prolonged TMZ chemotherapy with PFS (hazard ratio [HR] 5 0.8, 95% CI 0.4-1.6, p = 0.559) or OS (HR 5 1.6, 95% CI 0.8-3.3, p = 0.218) adjusted for age, extent of resection, Karnofsky performance score, presence of residual tumor, O-6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status, or isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status. Conclusion: These data may not support the practice of prolonging maintenance TMZ chemotherapy beyond 6 cycles. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class III evidence that in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, prolonged TMZ chemotherapy does not significantly increase PFS or OS

Isolated central nervous system relapse of systemic lymphoma (SCNSL): clinical features and outcome of a retrospective analysis

We analyzed clinical outcome of patients with an isolated central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) relapse after systemic non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). All 23 patients with an isolated secondary CNSL (SCNSL) treated at two institutions from 04/2003–12/2007 were included into this analysis. At cerebral relapse, 15/23 patients were treated with a regimen consisting of high-dose methotrexate (Bonn protocol). After a median follow-up of 6.5 months (range 1–68), 15/23 (65%) patients with SCNSL had relapsed or progressed. HD (high-dose)- methotrexate (MTX) chemotherapy according to the Bonn protocol is effective concerning response rates; however, overall survival of patients with SCNSL seems to be impaired in comparison to relapses in primary CNSL (PCNSL)

Swift X-Ray Observations of Classical Novae. II. The Super Soft Source sample

The Swift GRB satellite is an excellent facility for studying novae. Its rapid response time and sensitive X-ray detector provides an unparalleled opportunity to investigate the previously poorly sampled evolution of novae in the X-ray regime. This paper presents Swift observations of 52 Galactic/Magellanic Cloud novae. We included the XRT (0.3-10 keV) X-ray instrument count rates and the UVOT (1700-8000 Angstroms) filter photometry. Also included in the analysis are the publicly available pointed observations of 10 additional novae the X-ray archives. This is the largest X-ray sample of Galactic/Magellanic Cloud novae yet assembled and consists of 26 novae with super soft X-ray emission, 19 from Swift observations. The data set shows that the faster novae have an early hard X-ray phase that is usually missing in slower novae. The Super Soft X-ray phase occurs earlier and does not last as long in fast novae compared to slower novae. All the Swift novae with sufficient observations show that novae are highly variable with rapid variability and different periodicities. In the majority of cases, nuclear burning ceases less than 3 years after the outburst begins. Previous relationships, such as the nuclear burning duration vs. t_2 or the expansion velocity of the eject and nuclear burning duration vs. the orbital period, are shown to be poorly correlated with the full sample indicating that additional factors beyond the white dwarf mass and binary separation play important roles in the evolution of a nova outburst. Finally, we confirm two optical phenomena that are correlated with strong, soft X-ray emission which can be used to further increase the efficiency of X-ray campaigns.Comment: Accepted to ApJ Supplements. Full data for Table 2 and Figure 17 available in the electronic edition. New version of the previously posted paper since the earlier version was all set in landscape mod