Combination Of Testing Methods Research Articles

СИСТЕМНЫЕ КРИТЕРИИ ДИФФЕРЕНЦИАЛЬНОЙ ЭКСПРЕСС-ДИАГНОСТИКИ ДОНОЗОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ НАРУШЕНИЙ ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО ЗДОРОВЬЯ РАБОТНИКОВ ОБЪЕКТОВ ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЯ АТОМНОЙ ЭНЕРГИИ

Purpose: Development of complex criteria of differential express-diagnostics of pre-dosological disorders of occupational health of employees of nuclear facilities. Material and methods: The study object was male workers of the main production facilities of the Electrohimpribor Combine undergoing periodic medical examinations and psychophysiological examinations. The state of health was assessed according to the employee’s belonging to the dispensary observation group in accordance with Order No. 404n of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation of April 27, 2021. The psychophysiological state was assessed using a hardware-software complex for group psychophysiological examination APK PFS-CONTROL. Additional testing techniques included assessment of vibraimage parameters, evaluated using computer programs HealthTest and VibraMI, developed in ELSIS (St. Petersburg). Totally 943 man-surveys were carried out with different combination of testing methods. The average age of the workers was (42.0 ± 1.7) years, total work experience was (23 ± 1.3) years, and work experience in the specialty was (13.0 ± 1.8) years. Results: As a criteria of prenosological health disorders we used the characteristics of the worker’s adaptation to the factors of life activity. Adaptation disorders are evaluated according to three specific criteria: 1) assessment of the functional state of the cardiovascular system according to HRV data; 2) rapid assessment of the psychophysiological state according to vibraimage parameters; 3) assessment of personal and special abilities according to multiple intelligence assessment. For each of the criteria a “traffic light” of states and decisive rules of their formalized identification were developed. Characteristics of unfavorable states are given. Complex express-diagnostics of pre-dosological disorders of occupational health is carried out using integral index, which is a weighted sum of private “traffic light” indexes with a ball score. The formalized express-diagnostics of premalignant disorders is carried out using linear discriminant functions with an average recognition accuracy of 96.4 % or a probabilistic nomogram, which allows to graphically estimate the risk level of health disorders. Conclusion: Improvement of medical-psychophysiological support of employees of nuclear facilities is connected with introduction of methods and criteria of differential express-diagnosis of prenosological disorders of health. The developed criteria of express-diagnostics of pre-dosological disorders of occupational health expand the existing methodological and criteria base of periodic medical examinations of nuclear industry workers, strengthen their preventive orientation with the purpose of timely application of medical, psychophysiological, organizational and other measures on preservation and maintenance of occupational health of personnel.

Non-Destructive Testing of the Longest Span Soil-Steel Bridge in Europe-Field Measurements and FEM Calculations.

The article describes interdisciplinary and comprehensive non-destructive diagnostic tests of final bridge inspection and acceptance proposed for a soil-steel bridge made of corrugated sheets, being the European span length record holder (25.74 m). As an effect of an original concept a detailed and precise information about the structure short-term response was collected. Periodic diagnostics of bridge deformations was done one year after it was built. Load test design was based on numerical simulations performed by means of finite element method (FEM). In situ measurements were done with the aid of: inductive sensors, optical total station, and terrestrial laser scanner. The results produced by terrestrial laser scanning were used to build a precise image of structure deformation in 3D space during the tests. The accuracy of laser mapping was significantly increased using the information coming from total station and inductive sensors. These have higher accuracy and therefore can be used as reference. Thus, new quality in measurements is introduced. Good correspondence between in situ values and FEM estimations was achieved. Therefore, such a combination of testing methods can be used in non-destructive diagnostics of structures and is an interesting alternative for the standard approach, in which the measurements are done in limited number of points.

First Report on Clinical Feline Heartworm (Dirofilaria Immitis) Infection in Romania.

SummaryDirofilaria immitis (Nematoda: Filarioidea) is the causative agent of heartworm disease (HWD), a severe and potentially fatal condition in dogs. Although cats are considered more resistant to infection than dogs, they are also susceptible to heartworm infection. Moreover, the clinical importance of feline dirofilariosis has increased in recent years, especially in heartworm endemic areas. In contrast to dog, definitive antemortem diagnosis of heartworm infection in cat is difficult to achieve and a combination of testing methods must be used for clinical confirmation. Here we describe a clinical case of heartworm infection in a 12-year-old male mixed breed cat, originated from Southern Romania, which was referred to a veterinary clinic with a history of vomiting and clinical signs of respiratory distress. The thoracic radiograph showed a diffuse bronchointerstitial pattern of the pulmonary parenchyma. The serological test for D. immitis circulating antibody was positive and heartworms were visualized by echocardiography in the main pulmonary artery. In conclusion, the present study clearly shows that cats are at risk for D. immitis infection in heartworm-endemic areas in Romania. Additionally, the findings highlight the urgent need for increased awareness among veterinary practitioners of the existence of feline heartworm diseases and for adequate prophylactic measures to be applied. To our knowledge, this is the first report on clinical evolution and radiographic and echocardiographic features of a naturally heartworm-infected cat in Romania.

Testing digital instruments and power systems devices

Discussed here is a technique for testing digital devices based on the calculation and control of two or more characteristics of a binary electric signal at a reference point. Signals coming from a healthy and failed digital device that are indistinguishable by the value of one of the characteristics may differ in value of the other characteristic. The combination of test methods can significantly reduce the potential of not detecting the failure of digital device. The technique is aimed at increasing the information content of the healthy state monitoring results and the possibility of localizing failures in digital instruments and devices of power systems.

ОГЛЯД МЕТОДІВ ПРОВЕДЕННЯ ТЕСТУВАННЯ НА ПРОНИКНЕННЯ ДЛЯ ОЦІНКИ ЗАХИЩЕНОСТІ КОМП’ЮТЕРНИХ СИСТЕМ

Предметом статті є аналіз найбільш розповсюджених методів проведення тестування на проникнення в комп’ютерні системи. Результати. Проаналізовано міжнародні стандарти і керівництва з інформаційної безпеки, розглянуті методології проведення тестування на проникнення, проаналізовано нормативні акти різних країн в яких закріплено вимоги з проведення даного виду тестування. Наведено перелік найбільш розповсюджених міжнародних методологій проведення пентестінгу, надано їх короткий опис. Проаналізовано методи проведення пентестінгу, визначені основні переваги і недоліки таких методів. Висновок. Запропоновано класифікацію методів тестування на проникнення для оцінки захищеності комп’ютерних систем.

Efficacy and Feasibility of Stroop Test (Smart Phone Application) in the Diagnosis of Minimal Hepatic Encephalopathy

Background and Aim of the Study: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) diagnosis is often difficult due to unavailability of screening tests. A combination of test methods is recommended. Present screening tests are cumbersome and time consuming. This study aims to test the efficacy of Stroop test to detect MHE in patients with cirrhosis of liver. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study includes patients with cirrhosis of any etiology. The control group comprised of non-cirrhotic patients matched for age and level of education. Demographic data were collected and then they were subjected to Number connection test A and Stroop test as per accepted protocol and the results were recorded. Number connection test (NCT) cut-off was computed from the control population usingmean 2SD. Cutoff for Stroop test was then computed using ROC analysis as it was a non-parametric variable. The two tests were then compared in the cirrhotic population using chi-square test and statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 16.0. Results: The study included a total of 101 cirrhotics and 102 controls. Majority of the cirrhotics were male (90%) with alcohol etiology as the majority. The mean Stroop test values in controls (37.16 s) were lower than that for cirrhotics (42.26 s) with a P-value of 0.042. The prevalence of MHE in cirrhotics using NCT (cut-off of 83 s) was 23.76%. Stroop test showed a diagnostic accuracy of 82% with sensitivity of 87.5% and specificity of 80.5% with a cut-off of 43 s obtained after ROC analysis. Conclusions: Stroop test was found to be a valid and feasible measure which was easy to administer, simple to score and interpret. It is a viable addition to the fast growing battery of psychometric tests, the efficacy of which needs to be established in larger prospective trials with relevant clinical end-points.

Correlations Among Various Self-Consolidating Concrete Workability Responses

Self-consolidating concrete (SCC) mixtures designated for precast, prestressed applications should be highly workable to flow easily through restricted spacing and completely encapsulate reinforcements without any mechanical vibration. Key workability characteristics of SCC can be described in terms of filling ability, passing ability, and resistance to segregation. These properties are typically characterized by data that relate to specific testing methods. In general, these methods include the components required for evaluating simultaneously filling ability, passing ability, and resistance to segregation, since these properties are rather interrelated. In this investigation, 33 SCC mixtures made with various mixture proportioning parameters, including maximum size and type of aggregate, type and content of binder, and w/cm were evaluated. The mixtures were prepared using crushed aggregate and gravel of three different nominal sizes, w/cm of 0.33 and 0.38, and three binder compositions: Type MS cement, Type HE cement with 30% of slag replacement, and Type HE cement with 20% of Class F fly ash. Comparisons and correlations among various test results used in evaluating the workability responses obtained for these mixtures are established. This is done to highlight advantages and limitations of the various test methods that can be used to assess workability of SCC designated for prestressed applications. Appropriate combinations of test methods that can be used to assess workability of SCC at the precast plant are recommended, and ranges of acceptance of the various test methods are established.

Circuit Implementation of a Supply Current Spectrum Test Method

A supply current spectrum test method is developed in this work, and its implementation using measurements of various analog circuits is presented. Statistical data from fault-free circuits are effectively exploited to compute tolerance limits that affect fault detectability. A low-cost microcontroller-based measuring system that was designed and utilized for mixed-signal fault detection in production line and used for the application of the proposed method is briefly described. For exploitation of combinations of test methods, time consumption considerations are given to derive conditions under which a test method can effectively be used as a preprocessing step before another more time-consuming test method. Experimental results demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed supply current test method are presented.

Determination of Asphalt Concrete Complex Modulus with Impact Resonance Test

A methodology is presented to determine the dynamic modulus and phase angle of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) with much simpler, nondestructive impact resonance (IR) test. Thirty-five HMA mixtures with varying aggregate and binder characteristics were tested with the IR and conventional dynamic modulus tests. A comparison of the dynamic modulus and phase angle obtained from the IR tests and those measured from the conventional dynamic modulus tests demonstrates the reliability of the proposed procedure. However, it was found that the dynamic moduli from the IR tests at multiple temperatures constitute only the upper half of the master curve (i.e., the high frequencies). A combination of the IR test and the dynamic modulus test at 54.4°C or the IR test and Witczak's predictive equation at 54.4°C was found to provide accurate dynamic modulus master curves. The main advantage of these combinations of testing methods over conventional dynamic modulus testing is that they are much simpler and require less expensive tes...

Cytogenetic and molecular genetic methods for diagnosis and treatment response in chronic granulocytic leukemia

Today, laboratory geneticists help clinical hematologists diagnose chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) and monitor the response of patients undergoing treatment. The most common genetic tests for CGL include quantitative cytogenetic studies, fluorescence in situ hybridization with probes for BCR and ABL, Southern blot analysis, and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. No single genetic testing procedure fulfills all the needs of clinicians who care for patients who have CGL. Thus, it has become important to use combinations of testing methods that are both accurate and cost-effective for any given clinical situation in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with CGL.

Reading Proficiency Assessment and the ILR/ACTFL Text Typology: A Reevaluation

Two previous investigations into the validity of the Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR)/American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) text typology concluded that the model did not accurately predict test performance for foreign language (FL) readers. However, these studies suffered from serious flaws in design and implementation that may have led to erroneous conclusions. The present study considered the validity of the pragmatic approach to text difficulty that was put forward by Child in 1987—the text typology underlying the ILR/ACTFL proficiency guidelines. The following question guided this research: Does the Child discourse‐type hierarchy predict text difficulty for L2 readers? Test data were collected from 62 U.S. Government employees having some previously demonstrated French proficiency. Nine authentic French texts and a combination of testing methods were employed. The results suggested that the Child text hierarchy may indeed provide a sound basis for the development of FL reading tests when it is applied by trained raters and when such tests include an adequate sample of passages at each level to be tested.

The use of very weak galvanostatic polarization to study localized corrosion stability in stainless steel

Galvanostatic anodic polarization is sometimes used to study pitting of stainless steel, but has never been very popular despite the clear and interpretable results that can be obtained. In this paper it is shown that the galvanostatic technique provides a rapid way of assessing the relative performance of different heats of a particular stainless steel, or the stabilizing effects of inclusions and sulphur anions on pit growth. It is suggested that the importance of slow scan rate in potentiodynamic tests has been exaggerated, and that the most appropriate combination of test methods is a relatively rapid potentiodynamic scan and a galvanostatic test (or series of tests) at very low anodic current, to test the stability of localized corrosion over a relevant time scale. Remarkable evolutionary phenomena occur when a population of active pits is grown by a low applied current, and these dynamics must be relevant to the long-term performance of passive alloys in practice.