Testing Capabilities Research Articles

Experimental setup for study of mechanical performance of materials in liquid Pb-16Li and first results

Dual Coolant Lithium Lead (DCLL) Breeding Blanket, which is using the eutectic lead-lithium alloy (Pb-16Li) as tritium breeder, neutron moderator and coolant, is being developed in the frame of the EUROfusion project. Flow channel inserts (FCI) are insulating components embedded along the Pb-16Li channels inside the DCLL breeding blanket modules developed to minimize the magnetohydrodynamic pressure drop and heat losses. There is an effort to modify the originally designed steel-ceramic-steel layered structure of FCI by eliminating the steel protective layer leading to simple steel-ceramic structure. In this arrangement, the ceramic is directly exposed to liquid Pb-16Li. Demanding operating conditions of the DCLL blanket, in particular elevated temperatures, may give a rise to thermomechanical stresses leading to component failure. Therefore, the assessment of mechanical behaviour of the material in direct contact with Pb-16Li is of primary interest.To study the mechanical properties of the material exposed to corrosive environment of Pb-16Li at elevated temperatures, a dedicated experimental setup was designed. Three-point flexural test is adopted to evaluate the flexural stress-strain material response. Since the experimental procedure is performed in liquid Pb-16Li at high temperatures with an inert atmosphere, the mechanical test takes place in an isolated testing chamber filled with molten Pb-16Li transferred from the melting chamber prior the mechanical test. A specificity of the presented facility is its capability of material testing of three samples within one testing procedure in Pb-16Li at temperatures up to 650 °C.

SHEAR saliva collection device augments sample properties for improved analytical performance.

Despite being a convenient clinical substrate for biomonitoring, saliva's widespread utilization has not yet been realized. The non-Newtonian, heterogenous, and highly viscous nature of saliva complicate the development of automated fluid handling processes that are vital for accurate diagnoses. Furthermore, conventional saliva processing methods are resource and/or time intensive precluding certain testing capabilities, with these challenges aggravated during a pandemic. The conventional approaches may also alter analyte structure, reducing application opportunities in point-of-care diagnostics. To overcome these challenges, we introduce the SHEAR saliva collection device that mechanically processes saliva, in a rapid and resource-efficient way. We demonstrate the device's impact on reducing saliva's viscosity, improving sample's uniformity, and increasing diagnostic performance of a COVID-19 rapid antigen test. Additionally, a formal user experience study revealed generally positive comments. SHEAR saliva collection device may support realization of the saliva's potential, particularly in large-scale and/or resource-limited settings for global and community diagnostics.

GelMA, Click-Chemistry Gelatin and Bioprinted Polyethylene Glycol-Based Hydrogels as 3D Ex Vivo Drug Testing Platforms for Patient-Derived Breast Cancer Organoids.

3D organoid model technologies have led to the development of innovative tools for cancer precision medicine. Yet, the gold standard culture system (Matrigel®) lacks the ability for extensive biophysical manipulation needed to model various cancer microenvironments and has inherent batch-to-batch variability. Tunable hydrogel matrices provide enhanced capability for drug testing in breast cancer (BCa), by better mimicking key physicochemical characteristics of this disease’s extracellular matrix. Here, we encapsulated patient-derived breast cancer cells in bioprinted polyethylene glycol-derived hydrogels (PEG), functionalized with adhesion peptides (RGD, GFOGER and DYIGSR) and gelatin-derived hydrogels (gelatin methacryloyl; GelMA and thiolated-gelatin crosslinked with PEG-4MAL; GelSH). Within ranges of BCa stiffnesses (1−6 kPa), GelMA, GelSH and PEG-based hydrogels successfully supported the growth and organoid formation of HR+,−/HER2+,− primary cancer cells for at least 2−3 weeks, with superior organoid formation within the GelSH biomaterial (up to 268% growth after 15 days). BCa organoids responded to doxorubicin, EP31670 and paclitaxel treatments with increased IC50 concentrations on organoids compared to 2D cultures, and highest IC50 for organoids in GelSH. Cell viability after doxorubicin treatment (1 µM) remained >2-fold higher in the 3D gels compared to 2D and doxorubicin/paclitaxel (both 5 µM) were ~2.75−3-fold less potent in GelSH compared to PEG hydrogels. The data demonstrate the potential of hydrogel matrices as easy-to-use and effective preclinical tools for therapy assessment in patient-derived breast cancer organoids.

Architectures for parachute testing

Parachute testing is available in numerous shapes and forms, with each method being suitable for different applications. This paper aims to provide an overview of the various testing methods and to discuss the advantages and disadvantages they bring. The paper first identifies the relevant parameters for parachute tests and matches these to the various testing methods. The particular testing architectures that are elaborated on in this writing are wind tunnel testing, drop testing from different drop platforms, re-entry capsules from sounding rockets, and dedicated sounding rocket missions. A special focus is given to the European test market and capabilities and aims to identify the various testing methods for companies and teams with limited resources, including student teams such as Delft Aerospace Rocket Engineering. Four case studies are described and discussed. These are the preliminary design of a system, flight testing of the drogue and main parachute systems of the Stratos III & IV sounding rockets, and the Stratos V main parachute.

Evaluation of health system resilience in 60 countries based on their responses to COVID-19.

In 2020, the COVID-19 epidemic swept the world, and many national health systems faced serious challenges. To improve future public health responses, it's necessary to evaluate the performance of each country's health system. We developed a resilience evaluation system for national health systems based on their responses to COVID-19 using four resilience dimensions: government governance and prevention, health financing, health service provision, and health workers. We determined the weight of each index by combining the three-scale and entropy-weight methods. Then, based on data from 2020, we used the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method to rank the health system resilience of 60 countries, and then used hierarchical clustering to classify countries into groups based on their resilience level. Finally, we analyzed the causes of differences among countries in their resilience based on the four resilience dimensions. Switzerland, Japan, Germany, Australia, South Korea, Canada, New Zealand, Finland, the United States, and the United Kingdom had the highest health system resilience in 2020. Eritrea, Nigeria, Libya, Tanzania, Burundi, Mozambique, Republic of the Niger, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Guinea had the lowest resilience. Government governance and prevention of COVID-19 will greatly affect a country's success in fighting future epidemics, which will depend on a government's emergency preparedness, stringency (a measure of the number and rigor of the measures taken), and testing capability. Given the lack of vaccines or specific drug treatments during the early stages of the 2020 epidemic, social distancing and wearing masks were the main defenses against COVID-19. Cuts in health financing had direct and difficult to reverse effects on health systems. In terms of health service provision, the number of hospitals and intensive care unit beds played a key role in COVID-19 clinical care. Resilient health systems were able to cope more effectively with the impact of COVID-19, provide stronger protection for citizens, and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. Our evaluation based on data from 60 countries around the world showed that increasing health system resilience will improve responses to future public health emergencies.

Intelligence-based doping control planning improves testing effectiveness: Perspectives from a national anti-doping organisation.

Anti-doping organisations are mandated to provide a comprehensive anti-doping programme, which aims to detect, deter and prevent doping in sport. Direct detection of prohibited substances and methods by collection of biological samples from athletes makes up about half of the global anti-doping budgets but has in the last decade been under critical scrutiny for its lack of efficiency. To ensure optimum detection and deterrence of testing and prevention efforts, a better understanding of doping practices and comparison of different doping test strategies are needed. This study evaluates 17 years of doping test statistics and Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) from the perspectives of a national anti-doping organisation. A total of 48 709 samples (2865 ± 220 annually) were collected by Anti-Doping Norway in the period 2003-2019, which resulted in total 216 ADRVs (12.7±3.7 annually), providing an average sample-to-ADRV rate of 0.44% when including urine, blood and ABP samples. Most athletes who committed ADRVs were men participating in ball and team or strength sports at a national or recreational level. Few ADRVs were recorded among elite athletes and in most high-risk sports, despite these groups being subjected to the highest number of doping tests. The number of annual ADRVs did not correlate with the corresponding number of collected doping samples. However, systematic use of intelligence in the test planning process was associated with an increase in ADRVs. Anti-doping organisations would benefit from improving their target testing capability and to take an intelligence-led approach in planning doping tests.

Simulation Study of Passing Drivers’ Responses to the Autonomous Truck-Mounted Attenuator System in Road Maintenance

The autonomous truck-mounted attenuator (ATMA) system is a lead–follower vehicle system based on autonomous driving and connected vehicle technologies. The lead truck performs maintenance tasks on the road, and the unmanned follower truck alerts passing vehicles about the moving work zone and protects workers and the equipment. While the ATMA has been under testing by transportation maintenance and operations agencies recently, a simulator-based testing capability is a supplement, especially if human subjects are involved. This paper aims to discover how passing drivers perceive, understand, and react to the ATMA system in road maintenance. With the driving simulator developed for this ATMA study, the paper performed a simulation study wherein a screen-based eye tracker collected 16 subjects’ gaze points and pupil diameters. Data analysis evidenced the change in subjects’ visual attention patterns while passing the ATMA. On average, the ATMA starts to attract subjects’ attention from 500 ft behind the follower truck. Most (87.50%) understood the follower truck’s protection purpose, and many (60%) reasoned the association between the two trucks. Nevertheless, nearly half of the participants (43.75%) did not recognize that the ATMA is a connected autonomous vehicle system. While all subjects safely changed lanes and attempted to pass the slow-moving ATMA, their inadequate understanding of the ATMA is a potential risk, for issues such as cutting into the ATMA. The results implied that transportation maintenance and operations agencies should consider this in establishing the deployment guidance.

Clinical Safety and Performance Evaluation of New Personal Protective Equipment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As the healthcare response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues, providing enhanced protection to frontline healthcare personnel exposed to aerosolized infectious material is essential. The rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus across the globe in early 2020 generated an overwhelming surge in demand for effective personal protective equipment (PPE), in particular, passive personal respirators (PPR). Global manufacturing of PPR was limited, and research and development of improved respirators were restricted by the availability of accredited laboratories for timely testing at the peak of the pandemic. The authors have described a clinical method of safety and efficacy testing of a new PPR, the TopBioShield, using portable capnography for the measurement of end-tidal pCO2 (ETCO2) and bedside pulse oximetry to measure oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiratory rate (RR), and heart rate (HR) in healthy volunteers to overcome shortages of clinical testing capabilities during the height of the pandemic. Twenty-eight volunteers with a median age of 41 years (range 16–71) representing all 10 subgroups of head/face size were included. Only one participant asked to withdraw due to a feeling of claustrophobia after 30 min. Clinical monitoring while wearing TopBioShield revealed ETCO2, SpO2, respiratory rate, and heart rate measurements were within normal limits in all the subjects throughout the experiment. Bedside clinical monitoring is effective in demonstrating the physiological safety of PPR and is an important alternative to conventional mannequin testing. In this study all measured values over a 90-min experiment period were within normal limits, demonstrating the effectiveness of TopBioShield in preventing CO2 retention. Clinical testing methods must adhere to the highest standards and are essential during times of shortage.

The BeTOP facility for performance testing of building systems

Proposing new materials and systems to improve buildings' performance and energy efficiency often requires testing their performance in the field. Experimental performance characterization of new and existing building systems is crucial to understanding their behaviour. Full-scale experimental test cell facilities have been at the forefront of experimental performance evaluation in building-related research, as they provide a realistic representation of buildings, including environmental conditions, assembling challenges, and operational characteristics. In this paper, trends in the design and construction of outdoor testing facilities are first discussed. Then, based on the current literature and the knowledge gained through visits to multiple facilities, the new test cell facility “BeTOP”, located in Toronto (Ontario), is described. BeTOP is a full-scale experimental facility with the capacity to perform multiple experimental tests simultaneously. This paper describes its characteristics, including structure details, testing capabilities, system details, current monitoring campaigns, and future testing potential. The paper concludes by showing that the design of a full-scale testing facility is crucial to observe the long-term performance of new systems under variable boundary conditions in a continental climate with cold winters and hot and humid summers.

Awareness and utilization of genetic testing among Hispanic and Latino adults living in the US: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos.

We investigated the awareness, perceived usefulness, and use of genetic testing among Hispanic and Latino individuals. Annual follow-up surveys for the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) from 2019 to April 2020 assessed participants' level of awareness and use of genetic tests to determine disease risks, likelihood of passing disease to children, disease treatment, or drug selection. They also were asked to rate the usefulness of the tests for managing a person's health on a 1 (not at all useful) to 10 (extremely useful) scale. There were 5,769 HCHS/SOL participants who completed at least one survey question. Of the target population, 55.2% was aware of at least one type of genetic test. Awareness varied between HCHS/SOL enrollment sites and was higher among individuals who had higher educational attainment and had higher incomes. Only 3.3% of the target population reported receiving one or more of the tests described. HCHS/SOL individuals rated the usefulness as 8.4, on average, with lower scores observed among U.S.-born individuals compared to individuals born outside the United States, with differences by HCHS/SOL enrollment sites. In conclusion, while awareness of genetic testing among Hispanic and Latino individuals varies by location, education, and income, perceptions about its usefulness are high while experiences with testing are rare. Results identify groups and locations that may benefit from greater outreach about the capabilities of genetic testing and precision medicine.

Diagnostic capability of the scratch collapse test compared with other clinical diagnostic tests for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: a prospective case-control study

Background: Diagnostic performance of the scratch collapse test for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is not clear. This study evaluated its diagnostic capability for CTS diagnosis in comparison with other widely used clinical CTS tests, including the Tinel’s sign, Phalen’s test, and Durkan’s test. Methods: In a prospective case-control study, 78 CTS patients and 78 group-matched healthy control subjects were included. The electrodiagnostic testing was regarded as a reference standard CTS diagnostic method. The tests were conducted separately for the case and control groups; the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of the tests were calculated. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of CTS diagnosis were 7.7%, 100%, 100%, 52% and 53.8% for the scratch collapse test; 91%, 97.4%, 97.3%, 91.6%, and 94.2% for the Tinel’s sign test; 84.6%, 100%,100%, 88.6%, and 93.6% for the Phalen’s test; and 87.2%, 100%, 100%, 88.6%, and 93.6% for the Durkan’s test, respectively. Conclusions: Scratch collapse test has a low sensitivity and accuracy for diagnosing CTS. These results do not support its routine use for the diagnosis of CTS. Level of Evidence: Level III

Development of a Flow-Measuring Hydropneumatic Bench for Testing Pipeline Valves

Pipe fittings are an important element of any pipeline network, ensuring stable and safe operation by regulating the flow of the working medium. To control the performance of pipeline valves, it is necessary to conduct various tests, the main ones of which are hydraulic and pneumatic. It is important to expand testing capabilities and reduce time costs. The purpose of this work is to combine hydraulic and pneumatic tests into one test complex, which will reduce the time of the test complex due to the absence of the need for reinstallation and reconfiguration. The subject of the study is the determination of the design, technical, and operational characteristics of such a stand, as well as the simulation of operating conditions to confirm its operability. During the development, methods of solid and surface modeling, the finite element method, and analytical calculation methods were used. The results of the stand design are presented, and the features of the process of its development are described, including the analysis of the stress-strain state and the analysis of reliability and durability indicators. The obtained values of the distribution of equivalent stresses, deformations, and displacements of the structure elements do not exceed the maximum allowable values and do not lead to destruction. The analysis shows that the developed stand has improved capabilities compared to those previously used. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-01-013 Full Text: PDF

A Smart Measurement System for the Combined Nanoscale and Device Level Characterization of Electron Devices: Implementation Using Ink-Jet Printing Technologies

In this article, the integration into a single measurement system of device level and nanoscale measurement equipment is presented and applied to the electrical characterization of emerging electron devices. This system is a smart solution to simplify the test procedure, since it allows a fast switching between measurement modes (device or nanoscale level), also featuring an enlarged testing capability. Key in the system is a custom-made inkjet-printed circuit board (I-PCB) that connects the device terminals to the proper instrumentation. The flexibility offered by inkjet-printing technologies is a clear advantage, since many kinds of devices can be tested, without the need of expensive hardware modifications. As a particular case of study, the proposed strategy is demonstrated by implementing a system that alternates between standard electrical measurements with a Semiconductor Parameter Analyzer (SPA) and Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy (CAFM) nanoscale measurements on back-gate graphene field-effect transistors.

Initial operational capability of future weapon systems and field test method using digital twin

The application of artificial-intelligence technology to weapon systems, is difficult to use in military applications for such reasons as killing or wounding problems, ethical problems, and field environment considerations; therefore, more-sophisticated techniques and development are required for testing and evaluation. There is an increasing demand for advanced weapon systems that incorporate new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and for electrification, and a new paradigm that can confirm and verify the performance required for field operations is required. Therefore, through case studies on digital twins, a plan for field testing and initial operational capability in future weapon systems was developed. Five development directions were identified, including policies and systems, organization, establishment of infrastructure, and utilization plans, to establish a field test and initial operational capability. In addition, studies on economic ripple effects and cost-effectiveness were conducted based on application cases of digital twins in the private sector. An optimal method for users to safely verify performance by utilizing the digital twin method to overcome the difficulties of testing and evaluating weapon systems with new technologies from the time when the weapon system requirements are determined to mass production is proposed.

SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Kit Efficacy in Comparison with Quant Studio 12 PCR

COVID-19 is an acute respiratory disease that has profoundly affected the way we test for disease and monitor viral infection. COVID-19 is caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS CoV-2. This virus is rapidly spread from person to person through contact with sputum particles, even when the infected individual is asymptomatic. Testing for the disease relies heavily on PCR molecular assays, and during the COVID-19, pandemic at-home rapid antigen test kits became widely available to improve the convenience of diagnosing the disease and increase the access to testing capabilities. COVID-19 rapid antigen kits have been a cornerstone of COVID-19 testing as a supplement for PCR testing. Rapid antigen kits can determine the presence of SARS CoV-2 using a lateral flow assay that targets the nucleocapsid protein of the virus for a qualitative result. This study aims to determine the efficacy of the rapid antigen kit by analyzing 105 rapid antigen results and comparing them with Quant Studio 12 PCR cycle threshold values. The results indicate that the lateral flow assay can detect SARS CoV-2 in samples that have a cycle threshold of 28.92 out of 40 cycles. Relative to other at-home antigen kits, the findings in this study imply that this kit is especially sensitive and able to detect low levels of viral load within patients.

Mucocutaneous manifestations of congenital syphilis in the neonate: A review of a surging disease.

Syphilis is an infection caused by Treponema pallidum. It is most commonly acquired through sexual transmission, although it can also be transmitted vertically across the placenta, resulting in congenital syphilis. Even with improved public health measures, testing, and treatment capabilities, primary, secondary, and congenital syphilis have all surged since 2012. Given this marked increase in both incidence and prevalence, here we present a comprehensive review of the clinical presentation, treatment, and management of congenital syphilis, with particular consideration given to the mucocutaneous manifestations of the disease in neonates.

EXTENSION CAPABILITIES IN TESTING ACTIVITIES OF THE ARMED FORCES OF UKRAINE IN THE CONDITIONS OF REBUFFING ARMED AGGRESSION

There is a contradiction between the large volume of weapons, military and special equipment supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine from international partners in the conditions of repelling armed aggression produced by domestic and foreign manufacturers and the opportunities for quality assessment of combat, operational and other characteristics of the entire range of samples. To solve these problems the state has formed and operated a system of testing weapons and military equipment which was created to qualitatively assess the compliance of created (modernized) samples, systems and complexes, as well as their components with operational-tactical (tactical-technical, general) requirements.
 A special place in this system belongs to the State Scientific Research Institute Of Armament And Military Equipment Testing And Certification which is the main specialized institution of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for conducting state tests of new and modernized models, as well as other types of tests during the life cycle with an assessment of their combat, technical and operational characteristics of weapons and military equipment.
 Meanwhile, there are certain problematic issues related to the war, due to the change of the main locations of the test bases, the corresponding testing grounds and other elementsthat are involved in the execution of the test tasks, the need for changes in the existing test system in accordance with the existing threats and changes in the system supply of weapons, military and special equipment. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to assess the problematic issues of the implementation of testing activities by the scientific and testing base of the State Scientific Research Institute Of Armament And Military Equipment Testing And Certification, determination the ways to increase the capabilities of testing in the conditions of repelling armed aggression.
 The article shows that the existing processes and mechanisms of supplying the troops with a wide range of nomenclature of weapons, military and special equipment require qualitative changes in the existing Test System in order to qualitatively assess the conformity of the combat, technical and operational characteristics of the samples. Ways to improve the testing base by increasing the capabilities of the State Scientific Research Institute Of Armament And Military Equipment Testing And Certification have been determined.

Portable Differential Detection of CTX-M ESBL Gene Variants, blaCTX-M-1 and blaCTX-M-15, from Escherichia coli Isolates and Animal Fecal Samples Using Loop-Primer Endonuclease Cleavage Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification.

Cefotaximase-Munich (CTX-M) extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) enzymes produced by Enterobacteriaceae confer resistance to clinically relevant third-generation cephalosporins. CTX-M group 1 variants, CTX-M-1 and CTX-M-15, are the leading ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae associated with animal and human infection, respectively, and are an increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) global health concern. The blaCTX-M-1 and blaCTX-M-15 genes encoding these variants have an approximate nucleotide sequence similarity of 98.7%, making effective differential diagnostic monitoring difficult. Loop-primer endonuclease cleavage loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LEC-LAMP) enables rapid real-time multiplex pathogen detection with single-base specificity and portable on-site testing. We have developed an internally controlled multiplex CTX-M-1/15 LEC-LAMP assay for the differential detection of blaCTX-M-1 and blaCTX-M-15. Assay analytical specificity was established using a panel of human, animal, and environmental Escherichia coli isolates positive for blaCTX-M-1 (n = 18), blaCTX-M-15 (n = 35), and other closely related blaCTX-Ms (n = 38) from Ireland, Germany, and Portugal, with analytical sensitivity determined using probit regression analysis. Animal fecal sample testing using the CTX-M-1/15 LEC-LAMP assay in combination with a rapid DNA extraction protocol was carried out on porcine fecal samples previously confirmed to be PCR-positive for E. coli blaCTX-M. Portable instrumentation was used to further analyze each fecal sample and demonstrate the on-site testing capabilities of the LEC-LAMP assay with the rapid DNA extraction protocol. The CTX-M-1/15 LEC-LAMP assay demonstrated complete analytical specificity for the differential detection of both variants with sensitive low-level detection of 8.5 and 9.8 copies per reaction for blaCTX-M-1 and blaCTX-M-15, respectively, and E. coli blaCTX-M-1 was identified in all blaCTX-M positive porcine fecal samples tested. IMPORTANCE CTX-M ESBL-producing E. coli is an increasing AMR public health issue with the transmission between animals and humans via zoonotic pathogens now a major area of interest. Accurate and timely identification of ESBL-expressing E. coli CTX-M variants is essential for disease monitoring, targeted antibiotic treatment and infection control. This study details the first report of portable diagnostics technology for the rapid differential detection of CTX-M AMR markers blaCTX-M-1 and blaCTX-M-15, facilitating improved identification and surveillance of these closely related variants. Further application of this portable internally controlled multiplex CTX-M-1/15 LEC-LAMP assay will provide new information on the transmission and prevalence of these CTX-M ESBL alleles. Furthermore, this transferable diagnostic technology can be applied to other new and emerging relevant AMR markers of interest providing more efficient and specific portable pathogen detection for improved epidemiological surveillance.

Seven years of SNPs: An assessment of methods utilized for generating profiles for forensic genetic genealogy

Over the past seven years, hundreds of cases have been processed with the goal of phenotyping, biogeographical ancestry, and/or forensic genetic genealogy (FGG) research. However, not all profiles developed were suitable for upload to public databases or for phenotype and ancestry estimations, while some poor-quality samples surprisingly were. The capabilities for FGG testing have grown in the past year and are still improving. This summary will serve to compare the results that can be expected from three very different DNA profiling systems; single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, whole genome sequencing (WGS), and targeted SNP testing via next generation sequencing (NGS). The ability of these testing methods to handle varying sample types, degradation, inhibition, the presence of non-human DNA, and low quantities of DNA will be examined. The information gained over the past seven years and hundreds of samples later can inform the decision-making processes moving forward as the field of FGG continues to grow. This summary will conclude by highlighting a successful case with a challenged sample processed with the intention of forensic genetic genealogy research.

Hi-LASSO: High-performance python and apache spark packages for feature selection with high-dimensional data.

High-dimensional LASSO (Hi-LASSO) is a powerful feature selection tool for high-dimensional data. Our previous study showed that Hi-LASSO outperformed the other state-of-the-art LASSO methods. However, the substantial cost of bootstrapping and the lack of experiments for a parametric statistical test for feature selection have impeded to apply Hi-LASSO for practical applications. In this paper, the Python package and its Spark library are efficiently designed in a parallel manner for practice with real-world problems, as well as providing the capability of the parametric statistical tests for feature selection on high-dimensional data. We demonstrate Hi-LASSO's outperformance with various intensive experiments in a practical manner. Hi-LASSO will be efficiently and easily performed by using the packages for feature selection. Hi-LASSO packages are publicly available at https://github.com/datax-lab/Hi-LASSO under the MIT license. The packages can be easily installed by Python PIP, and additional documentation is available at https://pypi.org/project/hi-lasso and https://pypi.org/project/Hi-LASSO-spark.