Target Directed Event Sequence Generation for Android Applications

Testing is a commonly used approach to ensure the quality of software, of which model-based testing is a hot topic to test GUI programs such as Android applications (apps). Existing approaches mainly either dynamically construct a model that only contains the GUI information, or build a model in the view of code that may fail to describe the changes of GUI widgets during runtime. Besides, most of these models do not support back stack that is a particular mechanism of Android. Therefore, this paper proposes a model LATTE that is constructed dynamically with consideration of the view information in the widgets as well as the back stack, to describe the transition between GUI widgets. We also propose a label set to link the elements of the LATTE model to program snippets. The user can define a subset of the label set as a target for the testing requirements that need to cover some specific parts of the code. To avoid the state explosion problem during model construction, we introduce a definition "state similarity" to balance the model accuracy and analysis cost. Based on this model, a target directed test generation method is presented to generate event sequences to effectively cover the target. The experiments on several real-world apps indicate that the generated test cases based on LATTE can reach a high coverage, and with the model we can generate the event sequences to cover a given target with short event sequences

High Sensitivity Tunable Radio Frequency Sensors

Highly sensitive and tunable RF sensors that provide detection and analysis of single cells and particles are provided. The tunable RF sensors are configured as tunable interferometers, wherein cells or particles to be analyzed are passed through a channel, such as a microfluidic channel, across waveguides corresponding to reference and test branches of the interferometers. A network analyzer coupled to the interferometers can be configured to measure a plurality of scattering parameters, such as transmission scattering coefficients (S.sub.21) of the reference and test branches, to evaluate characteristics of cells passing through the channel. A plurality of tunable interferometers may be employed, each interferometer operating in different frequency bands such that information obtain from the plurality of interferometers may be combined to provide further information

DEM simulation and experimental study on the screening process of elliptical vibration mechanical systems

For an elliptical vibration system, the vibration parameters seriously affect conveying speed and sieving efficiency of the materials. In addition, considering the lack of studies about the elliptical vibration machine, we applied the discrete element method to simulate and analyze the elliptical vibration screening process in this paper. A vibration screening model is particularly based on the purpose of our research to fundamentally demonstrate the novel relationships among the conveying speed, sieving efficiency and vibration parameters of the materials. And the sieving experiment of typical materials is additionally carried out on the same simulation system. This paper analyzes the influence rule of vibration parameters on conveying speed and sieving efficiency of the materials during the elliptical vibration screening process by virtue of comprehensively comparing the results of experimental study coupled with simulation research. Consequently, we can throw up the optimal vibration screening parameters to guarantee high sieving efficiency and large throughput of the screening machine at the same time. The screening test carried out in this paper lays the experimental foundation for the study of the mechanism of elliptical vibration screening machine and the study of materials screening characteristics by combining the conclusions of DEM simulation analysis of lots of materials. It provides not only a basis for selecting the vibration parameters of the actual working process of the screening machine, but also data support based on the experiment and simulation for the study of the sieving mechanism of elliptical vibration systems. For screening mechanism, this is a significant progress which will affect future design and manufacture of elliptical vibration machines. Furthermore, the conclusions drawn from this research can help us study and explain better the screening process of other vibration machinery

Neuroprotective effects of edaravone on cognitive deficit, oxidative stress and tau hyperphosphorylation induced by intracerebroventricular streptozotocin in rats

AbstractOxidative stress is implicated as an important factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In the present study, we have investigated the effects of edaravone (9mg/kg, 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one), a free radical scavenger, in a streptozotocin (STZ-3mg/kg) induced rat model of sporadic AD (sAD). Treatment with edaravone significantly improved STZ-induced cognitive damage as evaluated in Morris water maze and step-down tests and markedly restored changes in malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) adducts, hydroxyl radical (OH), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels. In addition, histomorphological observations confirmed the protective effect of edaravone on neuronal degeneration. Moreover, hyperphosphorylation of tau resulting from intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) injection was decreased by the administration of edaravone. These results provide experimental evidence demonstrating preventive effects of edaravone on cognitive dysfunction, oxidative stress and hyperphosphorylation of tau in ICV-STZ rats. Since edaravone has been used for treatment of patients with stroke, it represents a safe and established therapeutic intervention that has the potential for a novel application in the treatment of age-related neurodegenerative disorders associated with cognitive decline, such as AD

Biodistribution in sarcoma 180-bearing mice of N-succinyl-chitosan nanoparticles for tumor targeting

In the present study, we sought to systemically evaluate the biodistribution and the tumor-accumulation of N-succinyl-chitosan nanoparticles (Suc-Chi-NPs, 200 nm in diameter) in model tumor-bearing mice and also the binding of Suc-Chi-NPs to k562 cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. In vitro studies showed that all Suc-Chi-NPs displayed high affinity to k562 cells. After intravenous injection of Suc- Chi-NPs via the tail vein, a small amount of Suc-Chi-NPs was found in liver and spleen for 4 days, whereas a negligible quantity was detected in heart and lung. The distributed amount of Suc-Chi-NPs in blood was as a high level throughout the 4 days. The distributed amount of Suc-Chi-NPs (> 15 % of dose) was accumulated at 1 day and gradually increased in tumor, as blood circulation time increased. This result suggests that Suc-Chi-NPs accumulate passively in the tumor tissue due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, following intravenous administration. These findings revealed the promising potential of Suc-Chi-NPs on the basis of Suc-Chi as a carrier for cancer therapy.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of psychogenic erectile dysfunction: study protocol for a randomized control trial

Acupuncture is widely used in China for various conditions. Recently, due to the limitations of conventional treatment, many patients with psychogenic erectile dysfunction (ED) tend to choose acupuncture therapy, which is more commonly applied in countries such as China. The present clinical trial protocol aimed to initially verify the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in the treatment of psychogenic ED. Our study is a prospective, randomized control trial (RCT). The protocol for this RCT is based on the standard protocol items: recommendations for interventional trials (SPIRIT) 2013 statement. After the participants who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria sign an informed consent form, the investigator will schedule them for the trial. Patients will be randomly divided into two groups (acupuncture and sham acupuncture). Both groups will receive 18 sessions of interventions for 6 continuous weeks and will be followed up for 10 weeks. At five time points (0, 2, 4, 6 and 10 weeks), We will measure the primary and secondary outcomes. Emerging evidence support acupuncture therapy for improving male sexual function and its application in andrology. However, its efficacy on patients diagnosed with psychogenic ED has not been extensively studied. With our study, we anticipate to fill the knowledge gap in acupuncture as treatment for psychogenic ED

Photometric Variability in the CSTAR Field: Results From the 2008 Data Set

The Chinese Small Telescope ARray (CSTAR) is the first telescope facility built at Dome A, Antarctica. During the 2008 observing season, the installation provided long-baseline and high-cadence photometric observations in the i-band for 18,145 targets within 20 deg2 CSTAR field around the South Celestial Pole for the purpose of monitoring the astronomical observing quality of Dome A and detecting various types of photometric variability. Using sensitive and robust detection methods, we discover 274 potential variables from this data set, 83 of which are new discoveries. We characterize most of them, providing the periods, amplitudes and classes of variability. The catalog of all these variables is presented along with the discussion of their statistical properties.Comment: 38 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables; Accepted for publication in ApJ