Flexible Test Research Articles

Implementation of a Self-Audit Tool Improves Regulatory Compliance for Point-of-Care Respiratory Virus Testing in the Emergency Department.

Point-of-care testing in the emergency department decreases wait times and supports evidence-based patient care. However, hurdles to successful implementation include management of interdisciplinary work flows and establishment of an effective quality control program. As COVID-19 testing is now integrated into screening protocols in emergency and urgent care settings, hospital systems must maintain flexible and adaptable respiratory virus testing to adapt to regional trends in transmission. In response to this challenge, our hospital system established a point-of-care respiratory virus laboratory within the emergency department to test for COVID, influenza A/B, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). However, maintaining regulatory compliance and standardized protocols within such a dynamic environment became challenging. We launched a quality improvement initiative to support improved performance and efficiency in the point-of-care laboratory with a focus on regulatory benchmarks. Following a period of observation and discussion with key stakeholders in the emergency department and pathology, an audit tool was developed and to be deployed in collaboration with ED nursing. Utilizing the new tool, ED nursing would perform audits in parallel to audits performed by point-of-care staff. Prior to the intervention, the average audit score was approximately 55%; 6 months following the intervention, audit scores have remained stable at approximately 80%, representing a significant improvement in regulatory compliance. Creation of a regulatory tool enabled real-time cross-departmental monitoring of regulatory compliance. These findings underscore the importance of developing transparent interdisciplinary work flows and effective communication to improve patient care.

EvaSprayViti: A flexible test bench for comparative assessment of the 3D deposition efficiency of vineyard sprayers at multiple growth stages

The main approach to protect grapes against diseases involves the use of plant protection products. Understanding the quantitative amount and the distribution of these products on the vines is essential to assess the effectiveness of spray equipment and to evaluate the relationship between dosage and response when targeting pathogens. Improving the targeting of sprayers is an important lever to reduce the quantities of phytosanitary inputs applied, taking into account various cropping systems and training. For this purpose, a regularly distributed artificial canopy, adjustable in height and width was designed to mimic three grapevine growth stages for two of the most common trellised training systems encountered in France for ‘wide row vineyards’ (Royat cordon and Guyot, inter-row width 2.5 m). This artificial canopy was evaluated with the perspective of using it as a testing facility for classifying sprayers. Using a dye tracer, spray deposits were directly recovered after the rinsing of artificial leaves. A first series of experiments defined the most adapted sampling strategy in the canopy according to the crop stage, with the comparison of two contrasted sprayers. A second series of experiments compared the quantities of deposits obtained from both the artificial and a real vine, for several sprayers at a full growth stage and for one sprayer at three growth stages. Deposition patterns and mean deposits on both targets were found comparable, allowing a realistic perspective for the classification of spray application modalities using the artificial vine. A third series of experiments compared deposition at three crop stages on artificial and real vines for one type of sprayer. A fourth series of experiments on the artificial vineyard discriminated between three behaviour classes within 65 spraying modalities that combined sprayer types and sprayer settings (such as nozzle types). The discrimination was achieved using a PCA analysis that confirmed the soundness of the sampling strategy used. Overall, these results highlight the ability of the EvaSprayViti test facility to assess and rank the performance of vineyard sprayers.

A unified framework for partitioning the drivers of stability of ecological communities

AbstractAimIdentifying the drivers of ecological stability is critical for ensuring the maintenance of ecosystem functioning and services, particularly in a changing world. Different ecological mechanisms by which biological communities stabilize ecosystem functions (i.e. “stabilizing effects”) have been proposed, yet with various theoretical expectations and debated conclusions. Here we propose a unified framework that aims at reconciling, and combining, different approaches to reliably test the strength of three stabilizing effects on the temporal constancy of ecosystem functions: the effects of (a) dominant species, (b) species asynchrony, and (c) diversity.InnovationCompared to existing developments the approach allows, for the first time, disentangling these three stabilizing effects at the level of individual communities. So far this was not possible, and conclusions depended on indirect tests and comparative analyses across communities. We also propose a graphical representation of the relative contributions of the three stabilizing effects on a ternary plot, allowing us to easily compare communities sampled in various ecological contexts in a standardized space.Main conclusionsOur study answers the current need for a unified framework to link theoretical concepts on the temporal stability of ecological communities to data analysis. The present development promises flexible tests for a deeper understanding of the ecological stabilization of biodiversity and the relative importance of its components.

A new die-level flexible design-for-test architecture for 3D stacked ICs

A die-level design-for-test architecture for 3D stacked ICs is proposed. The main component of this architecture is a newly proposed configurable boundary cell, based on which flexible parallel test is achieved. Both of the number of parallel scan chains and their lengths can be configured during test. This test architecture features light-weight, high flexibility in parallel test configuration, modularity, and IEEE P1149.1 compatibility. In this work, both infrastructure and implementation aspects are illustrated. Experimental results demonstrate desired test acceleration. The acceleration ratio approximately reaches its limit, which equals the number of parallel scan chains, when the number of test vectors is over 300.

A Wideband and Flexible Testing System Based on a Quasi-Coaxial Structure and Machine Learning

A Wideband and Flexible Testing System Based on a Quasi-Coaxial Structure and Machine Learning

A simple and flexible test of sample exchangeability with applications to statistical genomics

A simple and flexible test of sample exchangeability with applications to statistical genomics

Flexible multi-step hypothesis testing of human ECoG data using cluster-based permutation tests with GLMEs

BackgroundTime series analysis is critical for understanding brain signals and their relationship to behavior and cognition. Cluster-based permutation tests (CBPT) are commonly used to analyze a variety of electrophysiological signals including EEG, MEG, ECoG, and sEEG data without a priori assumptions about specific temporal effects. However, two major limitations of CBPT include the inability to directly analyze experiments with multiple fixed effects and the inability to account for random effects (e.g. variability across subjects). Here, we propose a flexible multi-step hypothesis testing strategy using CBPT with Linear Mixed Effects Models (LMEs) and Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Models (GLMEs) that can be applied to a wide range of experimental designs and data types. MethodsWe first evaluate the statistical robustness of LMEs and GLMEs using simulated data distributions. Second, we apply a multi-step hypothesis testing strategy to analyze ERPs and broadband power signals extracted from human ECoG recordings collected during a simple image viewing experiment with image category and novelty as fixed effects. Third, we assess the statistical power differences between analyzing signals with CBPT using LMEs compared to CBPT using separate t-tests run on each fixed effect through simulations that emulate broadband power signals. Finally, we apply CBPT using GLMEs to high-gamma burst data to demonstrate the extension of the proposed method to the analysis of nonlinear data. ResultsFirst, we found that LMEs and GLMEs are robust statistical models. In simple simulations LMEs produced highly congruent results with other appropriately applied linear statistical models, but LMEs outperformed many linear statistical models in the analysis of “suboptimal” data and maintained power better than analyzing individual fixed effects with separate t-tests. GLMEs also performed similarly to other nonlinear statistical models. Second, in real world human ECoG data, LMEs performed at least as well as separate t-tests when applied to predefined time windows or when used in conjunction with CBPT. Additionally, fixed effects time courses extracted with CBPT using LMEs from group-level models of pseudo-populations replicated latency effects found in individual category-selective channels. Third, analysis of simulated broadband power signals demonstrated that CBPT using LMEs was superior to CBPT using separate t-tests in identifying time windows with significant fixed effects especially for small effect sizes. Lastly, the analysis of high-gamma burst data using CBPT with GLMEs produced results consistent with CBPT using LMEs applied to broadband power data. ConclusionsWe propose a general approach for statistical analysis of electrophysiological data using CBPT in conjunction with LMEs and GLMEs. We demonstrate that this method is robust for experiments with multiple fixed effects and applicable to the analysis of linear and nonlinear data. Our methodology maximizes the statistical power available in a dataset across multiple experimental variables while accounting for hierarchical random effects and controlling FWER across fixed effects. This approach substantially improves power leading to better reproducibility. Additionally, CBPT using LMEs and GLMEs can be used to analyze individual channels or pseudo-population data for the comparison of functional or anatomical groups of data.

Development of a test bench for biomechanical simulation-a preliminary study of mandibular forces.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to develop a test bench, which integrates different complexity levels and enables in that way a flexible and dynamic testing for mid and long term intervals as well as testing of maximum loads till implant failure of different osteosynthesis systems on the mandible. Material and Methods: For this purpose, an analysis of the state of the art regarding existing test benches was combined with interviews of clinical experts to acquire a list of requirements. Based on these requirements a design for a modular test bench was developed. During the implementation of the test stand, functional tests were continuously carried out and improvements made. Depending on the level of complexity, the test bench can be used either as an incorporated variant or as a standalone solution. In order to verify the performance and the degree of fulfilment of the requirements of these two variants of the test bench, preliminary studies were carried out for all levels of complexity. In these preliminary studies, commercially available osteosynthesis and reconstruction plates were investigated for their biomechanical behaviour and compared with data from the literature. Results: In total, fourteen test runs were performed for the different levels of complexity. Firstly, five test runs were executed to test the simplified load scenario in the incorporated variant of the test bench. High forces could be transmitted without failure of the miniplates. Secondly a quasi-static test scenario was examined using the incorporated variant with simplified load insertion. Five experiments with a number of cycles between 40,896 and 100,000 cycles were carried out. In one case the quasi-static testing resulted in a fracture of the tested reconstruction plate with a failure mode similar to the clinical observations of failure. The last four test runs were carried out using the standalone variant of the test bench simulating complex load patterns via the insertion of forces through imitated muscles. During the test runs joint forces were measured and the amplitude and vector of the resulting joint forces were calculated for both temporomandibular joints. Differences in the force transmission depending on the implant system in comparison to the zero sample could be observed. Conclusion: The presented modular test bench showed to be applicable for examination of the biomechanical behavior of the mandible. It is characterized by the adjustability of the complexity regarding the load patterns and enables the subsequent integration of further sensor technologies. Follow-up studies are necessary to further qualify and optimize the test bench.

Observer‐based fault diagnosis for autonomous systems

AbstractWith the advancement in sensor and communication technology, autonomous systems have been incrementally reshaping the execution of tasks in commercial and military sectors. Since the systems are designed to complete tasks without or with minimal human intervention, fault diagnosis based on sensor data has been crucial to preventing accidents and fatalities. In this paper, fault diagnosis for autonomous systems is designed based on nonlinear adaptive observers, tested in numerical simulations, and implemented in a robotic platform. To this end, we utilize the persistence of excitation conditions on the parametric model of the faults. We derive sufficient conditions for the nonlinear adaptive observer in terms of linear matrix inequality to ensure the convergence of the estimates. Furthermore, we consider one‐sided Lipschitz conditions to obtain less conservative results. The main advantage of using the nonlinear adaptive observer is that the method converges quickly to the actual fault and requires minimum computational effort. However, solving the linear matrix inequality might not be trivial. Numerical simulations based on a single‐link flexible joint robot model and experimental tests in an autonomous quadcopter are performed to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

A Study on the Effectiveness of the iTEST Paperless Testing System in English Listening Course

In the intelligent teaching environment empowered by information technology, the methods and approaches for course examinations have become increasingly diverse, with a greater emphasis on assessing the learning process and linking it to final exams. Computer-assisted testing, as a new examination system, has gained attention and recognition from educators. It has reformed traditional teaching models to a certain extent, liberating teachers from repetitive and labor-intensive teaching activities while improving the overall teaching quality. Taking the application of the iTEST paperless testing system in English Listening course as an example, this study establishes a testing template and evaluates the role of the iTEST system in teaching. The research methods used in this study include quantitative and qualitative research methods, such as interviews and statistical analysis. By collecting feedback from students and teachers who have used the iTEST system, the study aims to understand the advantages and limitations of the iTEST system as perceived by teachers. Through statistical analysis, the study evaluates the examination results of the iTEST system and compares them with those of traditional paper-based tests. The results indicate that the iTEST paperless testing system can effectively enhance the teaching outcomes of English Listening courses, providing students and teachers with a more flexible, efficient, and accurate testing experience.

Effects of Filter Material on the Permeability of Sapric Peat in Flexible Wall Permeability Tests

Introduction Installation of Prefabricated Vertical Drains (PVDs) is one of the alternatives for ground improvement used in peatland deposits. However, filter paper is commonly used as standard filter material to determine the permeability of peat rather than the PVD material itself. Aims This paper presents preliminary data on the effect of using two different filter materials on the permeability behavior of Sapric peat. Methods A series of flexible wall permeability tests (FWPTs) was conducted to evaluate the peat permeability behavior under compression using two filter materials. This study compared Whatman standard filter paper and Prefabricated Vertical Drain (PVD), which is a non-woven geotextile filter material. Results The results showed that both tests using filter paper and a PVD filter exhibited a high initial coefficient of permeability, which depends on the hydraulic gradient. The coefficient of permeability significantly decreased until a certain period and then diminished with time. The coefficient of permeability from PVD filter tests was found to be approximately 2.6 times higher than that of the standard filter paper under the same compression. The duration required to reach a semi-steady state flow condition from the PVD test was 0.9 times faster than the standard filter paper. The random error of the coefficient of permeability data from the tests using the PVD filter was lower than the data of the standard filter paper. Conclusion This preliminary result suggests that standard filter material might not represent the actual coefficient of permeability of Sapric peat. The coefficient of permeability value was less consistent compared to the PVD filter. The selection of filter material plays a crucial role in ensuring accurate and reliable results, especially when dealing with PVD construction in peat. Using the PVD filter in FWPT appears to be suitable for the design of PVD in peat. The findings of this study contribute to evaluating the correct parameters for engineers to design and analyze the effectiveness of the ground treatment method using PVD in peat.

Adaptive pneumatic soft gripper with embedded flexible bending sensor

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce a variable distance pneumatic gripper with embedded flexible sensors, which can effectively grasp fragile and flexible objects. Design/methodology/approach Based on the motion principle of the three-jaw chuck and the pneumatic “fast pneumatic network” (FPN), a variable distance pneumatic holder embedded with a flexible sensor is designed. A structural design plan and preparation process of a soft driver is proposed, using carbon nanotubes as filler in a polyurethane (PU) sponge. A flexible bending sensor based on carbon nanotube materials was produced. A static model of the soft driver cavity was established, and a bending simulation was performed. Based on the designed variable distance soft pneumatic gripper, a real-time monitoring and control system was developed. Combined with the developed pneumatic control system, gripping experiments on objects of different shapes and easily deformable and fragile objects were conducted. Findings In this paper, a variable-distance pneumatic gripper embedded with a flexible sensor was designed, and a control system for real-time monitoring and multi-terminal input was developed. Combined with the developed pneumatic control system, a measure was carried out to measure the relationship between the bending angle, output force and air pressure of the soft driver. Flexible bending sensor performance test. The gripper diameter and gripping weight were tested, and the maximum gripping diameter was determined to be 182 mm, the maximum gripping weight was approximately 900 g and the average measurement error of the bending sensor was 5.91%. Objects of different shapes and easily deformable and fragile objects were tested. Originality/value Based on the motion principle of the three-jaw chuck and the pneumatic FPN, a variable distance pneumatic gripper with embedded flexible sensors is proposed by using the method of layered and step-by-step preparation. The authors studied the gripper structure design, simulation analysis, prototype preparation, control system construction and experimental testing. The results show that the designed flexible pneumatic gripper with variable distance can grasp common objects.

The Belt and Road Initiative: conflict of laws and dispute resolution

Purpose This paper aims to determine the adaptability of China’s legal system in recognizing and enforcing foreign judgements in China. Design/methodology/approach Academic articles, case law and books are examined as are relevant reports by various regulatory authorities and organizations. Findings Historically, Chinese courts have strictly adhered to “de facto reciprocity”, which made it difficult for foreign judgements to be recognized and enforced in China. Fortunately, Chinese courts have since abandoned their rigid adherence to de facto reciprocity, and have instead, used flexible tests of reciprocity such as de jure reciprocity, reciprocal commitment and reciprocal understand/consensus. Accordingly, this would facilitate the recovery of stolen assets, as there is a lower threshold for the recognition and enforcement of a foreign judgement. Research limitations/implications There are limited data available in relation to the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgements pertaining to the recovery of stolen assets. Any discussions within this paper are based on the impressionistic observations of this author, which may not reflect the true state of affairs within the Belt and Road Initiative. Practical implications Those who are interested in examining the viability in recognizing and enforcing foreign judgements relating to stolen assets will have an interest in this topic. Originality/value The value of the paper is to demonstrate the difficulties in recognizing and enforcing foreign judgements in China in relation to stolen assets.

A flexible permanent magnetic field perturbation testing probe based on through-slot flexible magnetic sheet

In the field of non-destructive testing (NDT), the detection of surface cracks using permanent magnetic field perturbation (PMFP) testing has emerged as a novel approach. It is particularly well-suited for detecting ferromagnetic materials due to its capability to identify open cracks, facilitated by a compact and straightforward probe structure. However, the existing rigid PMFP probes pose challenges in terms of shape-conforming, resulting in large lift-off fluctuations during sweeping, and are prone to wear and tear. Furthermore, their suitability is limited when inspecting specimens with various specifications and irregular shapes. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel PMFP detection method based on the magnetization of a Flexible Magnetic Sheet (FMS). For further optimization, the machining of a through-slot in the FMS, with the magnetic sensor embedded within, serves to capture the magnetic field perturbation. This configuration is employed for the detection of surface defects. Compared to the conventional PMFP method that relies on rigid permanent magnetization, its flexibility makes the proposed method offer notable advantages such as streamlined processing, lightweight construction, and inherent adaptability to various shapes. Moreover, compared to the traditional PMFP structure where the sensor is placed beneath the permanent magnet, the through-plot FMS design exhibits a larger and more uniform magnetic field. Consequently, this feature significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio by approximately 30%. The flexible testing method has a high application value and can effectively detect rectangular slots of size 1 mm * 1 mm* 12.5 mm and flat-bottom holes of size Φ2mm* 0.5 mm in pipeline testing.

A test bench for the assessment of flow meters accuracy for fuel consumption measurement in highly dynamic drive cycle tests

The transport sector is one of the most significant contributors in terms of NOx, particulate matter and net CO2 emission. In order to mitigate this environmental impact, severe homologation limits have been introduced by the different regional Authorities. Both pollutant emissions and CO2 production of vehicles are measured during standardized laboratory test cycles and road tests, both characterized by relatively abrupt powertrain load and fuel rate transients. This dynamic approach results in severe issues in terms of fuel flow measurement capabilities as flow meters are typically calibrated in steady fuel flow conditions. In the present activity, an experimental test bench was developed with the aim of offering a flexible and affordable test system to evaluate the performances of different flow meters in dynamic conditions. The test bench consists of a complete fuel injection system managed to reproduce an assigned cycle; by this approach the highly-dynamic engine-like fuel flow rate is replicated, offering the opportunity to compare the accuracy of the flow meter under test with both a master Coriolis-type flow meter and the nominal fuel flow time-profile. This bench allows the execution of flow meter accuracy tests in controlled operating conditions with reduced efforts with respect to conventional vehicle test benches and with a high reproducibility level.

A Flexible Cloud-based HIL Testing of Batteries for Various Electrified Vehicles

A Flexible Cloud-based HIL Testing of Batteries for Various Electrified Vehicles

CCOG Web-Based Cognitive Assessment Tool.

Cognitive testing is an essential part of clinical diagnostics and clinical trials in Alzheimer's disease. Digital cognitive tests hold a great opportunity to provide more versatile and cost-efficient patient pathways through flexible testing including at home. In this work, we describe a web-based cognitive test, cCOG, that can be used in screening, differential diagnosis, and monitoring the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Vehicle Underhood Environment Investigations Using a Simplified Test Rig

Energy efficiency and thermal management continue to be critical areas in the vehicle development process. Independent of whether it is a vehicle with an internal combustion engine, hybrid, or fully electrical, engineers require proper and accurate tools to comprehend heat transfer in engine bays. However, developing such tools using a fully detailed production geometry can be challenging. This work presents a simplified and flexible test rig design of the vehicle underhood environment in two different variants: a passenger car and a commercial truck. The rig design in CAD and experimental data for the two rig configurations are made available upon request. These data will allow for the validation of different simulation approaches against the experimental dataset. An example of such a validation is presented in this paper. The load case scenario represented includes constant speed driving under heavy loads continued by a complete halt, which is followed by soaking for 100 min. The differences in experimental results for different rig variants are shown and analyzed. A good correlation between the experiments and CFD is obtained.

Social Media and State Action: Click "Like" and Follow This Two-Part Test

The right to free speech was deemed so important by the Framers of the Bill of Rights that they enshrined this right in the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. There was, however, no way they could have envisioned how communication would evolve to what it is now in the twenty-first century and the related issues that would arise. The threshold question to all alleged First Amendment violations is whether the action at issue is state action. As means of communication progressively move more online to social media, this question has become more difficult to answer. Many government officials now use social media to espouse their policies and interact with their constituents, which has been beneficial in many senses. But this has also led to many contentious interactions between government officials and private citizens. These contentious interactions have resulted in courts grappling with the question of whether certain actions on social media, such as blocking a person from interacting with an account, constitute state action.
 Most of the federal courts of appeals use a purpose and appearance test to answer this question. This test considers the purpose and appearance of the social media account at issue by weighing several factors to determine whether a government official’s activity while using that account is state or private action. The Sixth Circuit, however, has opted to perform the state-official test to determine whether action taken on social media is state action. This test asks whether certain social media activity is part of an official’s actual or apparent duties or could not have happened in the same way without the authority of their office. This has led to a circuit split as to how to best handle this issue.
 This Comment examines the federal courts of appeals cases utilizing these tests and proposes a solution to this circuit split by creating a two-part test using both the state-official and the purpose and appearance tests. The first part of this two-part test calls for the use of the state-official test. The stateofficial test is a bright-line test that, if satisfied, would find state action without the need to consider the purpose and appearance of a social media account. If no state action is found, however, then the second part of this two-part test uses the more flexible, multi-factor purpose and appearance test to determine if there is state action. By combining these separate tests into a two-part test, in this order, it both takes advantage of their inherent strengths and mitigates their weaknesses. Social media has established itself as a major tool for private citizens and government officials to interact with each other to an extent previously not possible. It is imperative, therefore, that United States courts be prepared to uniformly handle this issue that has occurred numerous times and will continue to occur as long as social media exists.

Mechanical testing and comparison of porcine tissue, silicones and 3D-printed materials for cardiovascular phantoms.

Background: Cardiovascular phantoms for patient education, pre-operative planning, surgical training, haemodynamic simulation, and device testing may help improve patient care. However, currently used materials may have different mechanical properties compared to biological tissue. Methods/Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanical properties of 3D-printing and silicone materials in comparison to biological cardiovascular tissues. Uniaxial cyclic tension testing was performed using dumbbell samples from porcine tissue (aorta, pulmonary artery, right and left ventricle). Flexible testing materials included 15 silicone (mixtures) and three 3D-printing materials. The modulus of elasticity was calculated for different deformation ranges. Results: The modulus of elasticity (0%-60%) for the aorta ranged from 0.16 to 0.18N/mm2, for the pulmonary artery from 0.07 to 0.09N/mm2, and for the right ventricle as well as the left ventricle short-axis from 0.1 to 0.16N/mm2. For silicones the range of modulus of elasticity was 0.02-1.16N/mm2, and for the 3D-printed materials from 0.85 to 1.02N/mm2. The stress-strain curves of all tissues showed a non-linear behaviour in the cyclic tensile testing, with a distinct toe region, followed by exponential strain hardening behaviour towards the peak elongation. The vessel samples showed a more linear behaviour comparted to myocardial samples. The silicones and 3D printing materials exhibited near-linearity at higher strain ranges, with a decrease in stiffness following the initial deformation. All samples showed a deviation between the loading and unloading curves (hysteresis), and a reduction in peak force over the first few cycles (adaptation effect) at constant deformation. Conclusion: The modulus of elasticity of silicone mixtures is more in agreement to porcine cardiovascular tissues than 3D-printed materials. All synthetic materials showed an almost linear behaviour in the mechanical testing compared to the non-linear behaviour of the biological tissues, probably due to fibre recruitment mechanism in the latter.