Prioritizing MCDC test cases by spectral analysis of Boolean functions

Test case prioritization aims at scheduling test cases in an order that improves some performance goal. One performance goal is a measure of how quickly faults are detected. Such prioritization can be performed by exploiting the Fault Exposing Potential (FEP) parameters associated to the test cases. FEP is usually approximated by mutation analysis under certain fault assumptions. Although this technique is effective, it could be relatively expensive compared to the other prioritization techniques. This study proposes a cost-effective FEP approximation for prioritizing Modified Condition Decision Coverage (MCDC) test cases. A strict negative correlation between the FEP of a MCDC test case and the influence value of the associated input condition allows to order the test cases easily without the need of an extensive mutation analysis. The method is entirely based on mathematics and it provides useful insight into how spectral analysis of Boolean functions can benefit software testing

Additional file 1: of L161982 alleviates collagen-induced arthritis in mice by increasing Treg cells and down-regulating Interleukin-17 and monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 levels

Raw data. Raw data of Table 1 and Fig. 4b. (XLSX 11 kb

Geographical variation in limb muscle mass of the Andrew’s toad (Bufo andrewsi)

<p>Muscles are vital for the process of movement, mating and escape of predators in amphibians. During evolution, the morphological and genetic characteristics as well as the size of muscles in species will change to adapt different environments. Theory predicts that low male-male competition in highaltitude/ latitude selects for small limb muscles. Here, we used the Andrew’s toad (<i>Bufo andrewsi</i>) as a model animal to test this prediction by analyzing geographical variation in the mass of limb muscles across nine populations from the Hengduan Mountains in China. Inconsistent with the prediction, we found that latitude and altitude did not affect the relative mass of total combined limb muscles and mass of combined hindlimb muscles among populations. Meanwhile, the relative mass of combined forelimb muscles, the two forelimb muscles (flexor carpi radialis and extensor carpi radialis) and the four hindlimb muscles (e.g. biceps femoris, semimebranous, semitendinosus and peroneus) was lowest in middle latitude and largest in low latitude whereas gracilis minor was largest in high latitudes. However, we did not find any correlations between the two forelimb muscles and the four hindlimb muscles and altitude. Our findings suggest that combined forelimb muscles, flexor carpi radialis, extensor carpi radialis, biceps femoris, semimebranous, semitendinosus and peroneus are largest in low latitudes due to pressures of mate competition.</p

Serum IgE Induced Airway Smooth Muscle Cell Remodeling Is Independent of Allergens and Is Prevented by Omalizumab

<div><p>Background</p><p>Airway wall remodeling in allergic asthma is reduced after treatment with humanized anti-IgE-antibodies. We reported earlier that purified IgE, without the presence of allergens, is sufficient to induce airway wall remodeling due to airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) activity deposing extracellular matrix.</p><p>Objective</p><p>We postulate that IgE contained in serum of allergic asthma patients, in the absence of allergens, stimulates ASMC remodeling activities and can be prevented by anti-IgE antibodies.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Isolated human ASMC were exposed to serum obtained from: (i) healthy controls, or patients with (ii) allergic asthma, (iii) non-allergic asthma, and (iv) atopic non-asthma patients. Proliferation and the deposition of collagens and fibronectin were determined after 3 and 5 days.</p><p>Results</p><p>Serum from patients with allergies significantly stimulated: (i) ASMC proliferation, (ii) deposition of collagen type-I (48 hours) and (iii) of fibronectin (24 hours). One hour pre-incubation with Omalizumab prevented these three effects of allergic serum, but had no significant effect on serum from healthy donors or non-allergic asthma patients. Interestingly, the addition of allergens did not further increase any of the IgE effects.</p><p>Conclusion and Clinical Relevance</p><p>Our data provides experimental evidence that the beneficial effect of Omalizumab on airway wall remodeling and improved lung function may be due to its direct action on IgE bound ASMC.</p></div

Dose and disease specific effects of serum and IgE on ASMC.

<p>(A) Concentration-dependent proliferative effect of human versus fetal calf serum (FCS) on primary ASMC isolated from asthmatic (n = 5) and non-asthmatic (n = 5) patients. (B) Disease specific ASMC proliferation by 2% fetal calf serum or control human serum. (C) Disease and origin specific proliferative effect of four different serum groups (control, atopic-non asthma, asthma, atopic asthma) on asthmatic and non-asthmatic ASMC. Ten sera of each donor group were tested on 5 ASMC of asthma patients and 5 ASMC of non-asthma patients. (D) Inhibitory effect of Omalizumab on serum-induced proliferation on asthmatic ASMC (n = 5). (E) The role of Erk1/2 MAPK and Igε-RI on serum-induced proliferation of asthmatic ASMC. * indicates statistic significant reduction of asthmatic ASMC proliferation compared to serum stimulation (first black bar in each group) with p < 0.05. All presented values present mean±S.E.M.</p

Hypothesized signal pathway for IgE induced airway wall remodeling in human airway smooth muscle cells.

<p>Hypothesized signal pathway for IgE induced airway wall remodeling in human airway smooth muscle cells.</p

Disease specific increased collagen type-I deposition by ASMC.

<p>(A) disease specific collagen type-I deposition stimulating effect of serum (n = 10) at 48 hours. (B) Inhibitory effect of Omalizumab on disease specific serum stimulated collagen type-I deposition by ASMC. (C) Signalling pathways and IgE-receptor mediation of collagen type-I deposition (n = 3). (D) The effect of allergen mix to serum induced collagen type-I deposition (n = 4). All data represent the mean±S.E.M. The optical density measurements of the deposed collagen type I for all experiments are provided as shown in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0136549#pone.0136549.s001" target="_blank">S1 File</a>.</p

Clinical characteristic of cell donors for ASMC and fibroblasts.

<p>Clinical characteristic of cell donors for ASMC and fibroblasts.</p

Epidemiologic data of serum donors.

<p>Values represent mean ± S.D.</p

Lowering the Onset Potential of Fe₂TiO₅/Fe₂O₃ Photoanodes by Interface Structures: F- and Rh-Based Treatments

Hematite is recognized as a promising photocatalyst for solar water oxidation. However, its practical performance at a low bias is still very low due to large onset potential. Here we report a combination of F-treatment and Rh-treatment on Fe₂TiO₅/Fe₂O₃ to lower the onset potential with a large value of 230 mV. The final onset potential is 0.63 V versus RHE comparable to the lowest value ever reported for hematite. The F- and Rh-cotreated photoanode yields a high photocurrent of 1.47 mA/cm² at 1.0 V versus RHE, which is more than 3 times that of the pristine sample. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the existence of surface Ti–F bonds after F-treatment. Moreover, the surface groups can be further modified after immersion in the working NaOH solution, which can form an interfacial hydrogen-bond network to accelerate the hole transfer. The surface Fe atoms are also partly reduced to accelerate the hole transport. Rh-treatment can further lower the onset potential with a good stability. The enhanced performance can be attributed to a synergetic effect of F- and Rh-based treatments, in which the F-based interface structure accelerates the hole transfer while the Rh-based material improves the catalytic performance