Testing web applications through layout constraints : tools and applications

With businesses trying to minimize cost, web applications are becoming increasingly useful by providing cross-platform applications that can be easily ported to desktop and mobile. However, testing these applications is much more arduous than testing desktop applications due to the lack of tools. In this thesis, we aim to describe a web application testing tool called Cornipickle which uses an expressive layout specification. The specification language for Cornipickle makes statements on applications’ layouts but we show that it can also test behaviours. With it, we effectively achieve to detect the bugs found with our survey of 35 real-world web applications. We also show Cornipickle’s versatility by using it in multiple applications and tools, notably pairing it with a crawler. Puisque les entreprises tentent de minimiser leurs coûts, les applications web deviennent de plus en plus utiles en fournissant des applications multiplateformes qui peuvent être facilement portées aux appareils mobiles et environnements de bureau. Par contre, tester ces applications est beaucoup plus ardu que de tester des applications de bureau en raison du manque d’outils. Dans ce mémoire, nous décrivons un outil de test d’applications web, Cornipickle, qui utilise une spécification expressive sur la mise en page. Le langage de spécification de Cornipickle fait des affirmations sur la mise en page des applications mais nous montrons qu’il permet aussi de tester des comportements. Grâce à lui, nous réussissons à détecter efficacement les bogues identifiés dans une étude de 35 applications webs. Nous montrons aussi la polyvalence de Cornipickle en l’utilisant dans une multitude d’applications et outils, notamment en l’associant à un robot d’indexation

Que signifie professionnaliser ? École de commerce versus école d’ingénieurs

En mobilisant la théorie de la cité par projets et l’économie des conventions, ainsi que deux études de cas, cet article montre comment une école d’ingénieurs et une école de commerce opèrent une « désingularisation » des relations des étudiants à leur environnement. Pour ce faire, ces écoles circonscrivent l’univers dans lequel la mise en forme à laquelle elles procèdent sera reconnaissable et valorisée, l’objectif étant de réduire les incertitudes quant à la capacité de ces étudiants à trouver un emploi et à leurs opportunités de carrière. L’article décrit une professionnalisation « intégrée », s’appuyant sur la puissance du « projet » en école de commerce et une professionnalisation « scindée », séparant nettement le scolaire et le non-scolaire, en école d’ingénieurs.On the basis of different theoretical approaches such as the Projective City or the Convention school and two case studies, this paper shows how engineering and business schools shape their students’ relationship to themselves and to the environment in order to reduce uncertainties concerning employment opportunities. Because the figure and the competencies of engineers and–all the more–managers are fuzzy, engineering and business schools exert efforts to “shape” them in a figure that can be recognized and valorized by private companies.Anhand der Sozialkritik von Boltanski und Chiapelle („Cité par projets“), der Theorie der Konventionen sowie zwei Fallstudien zeigt dieser Artikel, wie eine Ingenieurschule und eine Business School zu einer Inklusion der Studierenden in ihrem Umfeld beitragen. Zu diesem Zweck grenzen diese akademischen Einrichtungen das Umfeld ein, in dem die von ihnen vorgenommene „Formgebung“ erkennbar ist und als solche geschätzt wird. Ziel ist die Verringerung der Unsicherheiten, was die Fähigkeiten dieser Studierenden, eine Anstellung zu finden, und ihre künftigen Karrierechancen betrifft. Der Artikel beschreibt eine „integrierte“ Qualifizierung, die auf der „Stärke des Projekts“ in der Business School basiert, und eine „desintegrierte“ Qualifizierung, die eine klare Trennung der akademischen und außerakademischen Ausbildung vornimmt.Utilizando la teoría de la ciudad por proyectos y la economía de las convenciones, así como dos estudios de caso, este artículo muestra cómo una escuela de ingeniería y una escuela de negocios « desingularizan » las relaciones de los estudiantes con su entorno. Para esto, estas escuelas circunscriben el universo en el que será reconocible y valorada la puesta en forma o que llevan a cabo para reducir la incertidumbre sobre la capacidad de estos estudiantes para encontrar un trabajo y sobre sus oportunidades de carrera. Describe una profesionalización « integrada », basada en el poder del « proyecto » en la escuela de negocios y una profesionalización « escindida », que separa claramente lo escolar y lo no escolar, en la escuela de ingeniería

Conseqüències de la biodegradabilitat de la matèria orgànica en les propietats físiques i químiques dels substrats

L'ús de nous materials de naturalesa orgànica provinents de l'agricultura, de la indústria i d'unes altres activitats humanes en la preparació de substrats per al cultiu de plantes fora del sòl natural requereix el coneixement de llur bioestabilitat, ja que aquesta propietat determina la variació de les característiques físiques i químiques dels substrats en el decurs del temps. En una recerca conjunta duta a terme pels dos grups de recerca pertanyents als departaments de referència de l'INRA a França i de l'IRTA a Catalunya, s'ha estudiat la bioestabilitat de sis materials orgànics: torba d'esfagne, compost d'escorça de pi, compost de residus verds de jardineria, compost de residus de bosc, fibra de coco i compost de fems de vacum, i alhora de set barreges binàries formulades amb les matèries abans esmentades. Al mateix temps s'han estudiat els efectes de la bioestabilitat en la variació de les propietats físiques i químiques de tots els substrats.Considerant els índexs de bioestabilitat respectius, les matèries primeres s'han classificat en tres grups: han resultat materials molt estables la fibra de coco, el compost d'escorça de pi i el compost de residus de jardineria; s'ha provat que són materials estables la torba d'esfagne i el compost de residus forestals; i, finalment, el compost de fems de vacum presenta una bioestabilitat moderada. S'hi mostra que, considerant els materials estudiats, la variació relativa de certes propietats físiques, com ara l'aigua disponible i l'aigua difícilment disponible, i també la de certes propietats químiques, com la capacitat de bescanvi catiònic, es correlacionen linealment, amb significació estadística, amb l'índex de bioestabilitat dels substrats estudiats en les dues localitzacions experimentals. Considerant només les matèries primeres, la regressió lineal entre llur capacitat d'aireació i llur índex de bioestabilitat presenta un coeficient de correlació també estadísticament significatiu. Per contra, l'índex de bioestabilEl uso de nuevos materiales de naturaleza orgánica procedentes de la agricultura, de la industria y de otras actividades humanas en la preparación de sustratos para el cultivo de plantas fuera del suelo natural requiere el conocimiento de su bioestabilidad, ya que esta propiedad determina la variación de las características físicas y químicas de los sustratos en el transcurso del tiempo. En una investigación conjunta realizada por los dos grupos de investigación que pertenecen a los departamentos de referencia del INRA, en Francia, y del IRTA, en Catalunya, se ha estudiado la bioestabilidad de seis materiales orgánicos: turba de esfagno, compost de corteza de pino, compost de residuos verdes de jardinería, compost de residuos de bosque, fibra de coco y compost de estiércol de bovino. También se ha estudiado este parámetro sobre siete mezclas binarias formuladas con las primeras materias antes citadas. Igualmente, se han estudiado los efectos de la bioestabilidad en la variación de las propiedades físicas y químicas de todos los sustratos. Considerando los respectivos índices de bioestabilidad, las primeras materias se han clasificado en tres grupos: materiales muy estables han resulta-do ser la fibra de coco, el compost de corteza de pino y el compost de residuos de jardinería; materiales estables se ha probado que lo son la turba de esfagno y el compost de residuos forestales. Finalmente, el compost de estiércol de bovino presenta una bioestabilidad moderada. Se muestra que, considerando los materiales estudiados, la variación relativa de ciertas propiedades físicas, como por ejemplo el agua disponible y el agua difícilmente disponible, y también la de ciertas propiedades químicas, como la capacidad de intercambio catiónico, se correlacionan linealmente, con significación estadística, con el índice de bioestabilidad de los sustratos estudiados en las dos localizaciones experimentales. Considerando sólo las primeras materias, la regresión lineal entre su capacidad

Performance of LED-Based Fluorescence Microscopy to Diagnose Tuberculosis in a Peripheral Health Centre in Nairobi.

Sputum microscopy is the only tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic available at peripheral levels of care in resource limited countries. Its sensitivity is low, particularly in high HIV prevalence settings. Fluorescence microscopy (FM) can improve performance of microscopy and with the new light emitting diode (LED) technologies could be appropriate for peripheral settings. The study aimed to compare the performance of LED-FM versus Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) microscopy and to assess feasibility of LED-FM at a low level of care in a high HIV prevalence country

Marking techniques in the Marbled Newt (Triturus marmoratus): PIT-Tag and tracking device implant protocols

Individual marking has become essential for studying population dynamics and ecological requirements. However, marking small-bodied species such as amphibians is becoming a challenge in the last decades. Amphibian surveys may require to mark manually individuals, using toe clipping, polymers and pigments, or passive integrated transponders (PIT-tags). Even if ethics committees have recently recommend avoiding toe clipping in amphibians, the use of PIT-tags led to controversial results because low tag retention reported in some studies. Here, we describe a protocol of potentially life-long PIT-tag marking in a protected species, the marbled newt Triturus marmoratus. In addition, we also detailed a second procedure of surgery for the implantation of transmitters needed in radio-tracking surveys. During both procedures, we found that the newt phase (either aquatic or terrestrial) strongly affected the anesthesia duration. Indeed, newts in aquatic phase were more quickly anesthetized than newts under terrestrial phase. We then recommend to pay attention of this physiological particularity when performing this kind of procedure. Improving our knowledge on ecological requirements and population dynamics of this species is crucial for management and conservation plans, and could be extended to other large newts

Marking techniques in the Marbled Newt (<em>Triturus marmoratus</em>): PIT-Tag and tracking device implant protocols

Individual marking has become essential for studying population dynamics and ecological requirements. However, marking small-bodied species such as amphibians is becoming a challenge in the last decades. Amphibian surveys may require to mark manually individuals, using toe clipping, polymers and pigments, or passive integrated transponders (PIT-tags). Even if ethics committees have recently recommend avoiding toe clipping in amphibians, the use of PIT-tags led to controversial results because low tag retention reported in some studies. Here, we describe a protocol of potentially life-long PIT-tag marking in a protected species, the marbled newt Triturus marmoratus. In addition, we also detailed a second procedure of surgery for the implantation of transmitters needed in radio-tracking surveys. During both procedures, we found that the newt phase (either aquatic or terrestrial) strongly affected the anesthesia duration. Indeed, newts in aquatic phase were more quickly anesthetized than newts under terrestrial phase. We then recommend to pay attention of this physiological particularity when performing this kind of procedure. Improving our knowledge on ecological requirements and population dynamics of this species is crucial for management and conservation plans, and could be extended to other large newts

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570