New Method Of Testing Research Articles

Photosensitive Accessibility for Interactive Data Visualizations.

Accessibility guidelines place restrictions on the use of animations and interactivity on webpages to lessen the likelihood of webpages inadvertently producing sequences with flashes, patterns, or color changes that may trigger seizures for individuals with photosensitive epilepsy. Online data visualizations often incorporate elements of animation and interactivity to create a narrative, engage users, or encourage exploration. These design guidelines have been empirically validated by perceptual studies in visualization literature, but the impact of animation and interaction in visualizations on users with photosensitivity, who may experience seizures in response to certain visual stimuli, has not been considered. We systematically gathered and tested 1,132 interactive and animated visualizations for seizure-inducing risk using established methods and found that currently available methods for determining photosensitive risk are not reliable when evaluating interactive visualizations, as risk scores varied significantly based on the individual interacting with the visualization. To address this issue, we introduce a theoretical model defining the degree of control visualization designers have over three determinants of photosensitive risk in potentially seizure-inducing sequences: the size, frequency, and color of flashing content. Using an analysis of 375 visualizations hosted on bl.ocks.org, we created a theoretical model of photosensitive risk in visualizations by arranging the photosensitive risk determinants according to the degree of control visualization authors have over whether content exceeds photosensitive accessibility thresholds. We then use this model to propose a new method of testing for photosensitive risk that focuses on elements of visualizations that are subject to greater authorial control - and are therefore more robust to variations in the individual user - producing more reliable risk assessments than existing methods when applied to interactive visualizations. A full copy of this paper and all study materials are available at https://osf.io/8kzmg/.

Cold Welding in Hold Down Points of Space Mechanisms Due to Fretting When Omitting Grease

Cold welding refers to an effect related to space (vacuum). The heavy vibrations during a launch subject interfaces (hold down points) to oscillating motions which may lead to formation of a kind of “friction weld”. If so, these mechanisms may get stuck, and deployment will be hindered. This may endanger the functionality of the mission (instruments) or even the whole spacecraft (if solar panels do not open). Several studies have been done to characterize material combinations (including coatings) for their ability to cold welding in space. Meanwhile, also during launch grease free contacts are demanded. If grease hat to be omitted, the risk of cold welding under fretting was found to increase (when testing in high vacuum). To rate this risk under launch conditions, the test method was recently extended for testing under launch conditions. The new tests procedure consists of fretting applied in the sequence in air, low vacuum and high vacuum. The paper shall present first results gained with this new method of testing in launch conditions and compare them to previous studies done in vacuum. Following the need of space industry on mechanisms for launch and in-orbit life, a first set of combinations of materials and coatings were selected for this new test sequence where fretting is now applied in a sequence of air, low vacuum and high vacuum. Under this sequence, the measured levels of adhesion and it’s evolvement was found to differ strongly from tests done formerly. The paper outlines these first results and compares them to existing data.

A new method of testing for a unit root in the INAR(1) model based on variances

We present a new method of testing for unit roots in the INAR(1) model based on estimated variances. We present detailed simulation evidence regarding the performance of the new test statistics that show that our method is more powerful than the Dickey–Fuller tests especially in nearly unit root circumstances. We evaluate the presence of a unit root in two empirical time series, namely, the number of schools for the blind, deaf, and the developmentally disabled people as well as the number of teachers in such schools. We find evidence of a unit root in either series.

Detection of Novel Corona Virus Using Machine Learning and Image Recognition

In the recent past whole of the world has come to a standstill due to a novel airborne virus. The airborne nature of this disease has made it highly contagious which has led to a great number of people being infected very fast. This requires a new method of testing that is faster and more precise. Machine Learning has allowed us to develop sophisticated self-learning models that can learn from data being fed and decide on entirely new options. In the past we have used different Machine Learning algorithm to make models on different biomedical dataset to detect various kind of acute or chronic diseases. Here we have developed a model that successfully detects severe cases of Novel corona virus affected person with great precision.

Abstract B056: Assessing knowledge of genetic testing for inherited cancer among registry-based young black breast cancer survivors and predominantly non-Hispanic white clinic-based patients

Abstract Introduction: Practice guidelines put forth through the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) evolved to encompass a new method of testing whereby multiple genes are tested in parallel (i.e., multi-gene panel testing) and racial disparities in genetic testing rates persist. To measure and compare knowledge of inherited cancer predisposition and multi-gene panel testing across racially diverse patient groups, we administered a newly developed and validated knowledge scale aligned with the 2016 ASCO guidelines. Methods: Online survey data inclusive of 14 knowledge questions was collected among Black women diagnosed with breast cancer at or below age 50 recruited through the Tennessee and Florida state cancer registries (“Registry group”; N=39) and an insured, predominately non-Hispanic White patient population referred for cancer genetic risk assessment at the Vanderbilt Hereditary Cancer Clinic (“Clinic group”; N= 55). Demographic and clinical information were compared using Chi-Square and Fisher’s Exact tests. Mean knowledge scores were calculated and compared using multiple regression analysis. Results: Rates of cancer among the Registry and Clinic groups were 100% and 49% (p<.0001), and rates of previous genetic testing were 69% and 13% (p<.0001). Mean knowledge scores were 6.10 and 6.75. When controlling for race, cancer history, and previous genetic testing, knowledge was not significantly different between the two groups (p=0.507). The lowest scoring knowledge questions among the Registry and Clinic groups included: 1) understanding of a variant of uncertain significance (15% and 11%); 2) knowledge of impact of genetic test results on supplemental insurance (21% and 11%); and 3) the types of possible test results (15% and 18%). Conclusion: These findings demonstrate similar knowledge of inherited cancer predisposition between a predominantly non-Hispanic White clinic-based population and a registry-based population of young Black breast cancer survivors; however, additional analyses should be performed as sample size increases. Knowledge about the possible results of genetic testing and the lack of protection against discrimination by supplemental insurers (e.g., life and disability insurance) was low across both groups; thus, should be a focus for improvement given that it could have real-world implications for decision-making. It remains important to assess knowledge of inherited cancer across diverse patient groups to develop effective strategies and interventions to increase knowledge across populations, including those with recognized disparities. Citation Format: Sydney Cadiz, Sonya Reid, Brenda Zuniga, Ann Tezak, Anne Weidner, Tuya Pal. Assessing knowledge of genetic testing for inherited cancer among registry-based young black breast cancer survivors and predominantly non-Hispanic white clinic-based patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Twelfth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2019 Sep 20-23; San Francisco, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl_2):Abstract nr B056.

Spot and Adjust Filter: a New Image Filter for Image Enhancement and Noise Reduction

Wind and earthquake disasters in the world often cause billions of dollars of damage to buildings, most of which is to non-engineered buildings-especially homes. Wood-frame homes use connectors which exhibit partial rotational rigidity at the member ends, making analytical solutions difficult. This is due to the lack of information about the complex behavior of the connections used in this type of buildings, and the lack of a methodology to analyze light-timber frame buildings with flexible joints. In order to address the problem, tests were carried out to determine the moment rotation characteristics of wood joints made of conventional and mechanical fasteners. During testing, it was discovered that rotational stiffness of timber connections is a function of the axial load as well as the shear load. Comparison of ordinary timber connections with metal connectors were made. Resisting moment capacity of joints with different connectors were also determined. This paper presents a new method of testing for joint stiffness and the experimental results obtained during testing for stud-to-bottom-plate, rafter-to-ridge-board, and top-plate-to-rafter connections using different connectors.

Iliac Veins Are More Compressible Than Iliac Arteries: A New Method of Testing.

Incompressibility implies that a tissue preserves its volume regardless of the loading conditions. Although this assumption is well-established in arterial wall mechanics, it is assumed to apply for the venous wall without validation. The objective of this study is to test whether the incompressibility assumption holds for the venous wall. To investigate the vascular wall volume under different loading conditions, inflation-extension testing protocol was used in conjunction with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in both common iliac arteries (n = 6 swine) and common iliac veins (n = 9 dogs). Use of IVUS allows direct visualizations of lumen dimensions simultaneous with direct measurements of outer dimensions during loading. The arterial tissue was confirmed to preserve volume during various load conditions (p = 0.11) consistent with the literature, while the venous tissue was found to lose volume (about 35%) under loaded conditions (p < 0.05). Using a novel methodology, this study shows the incompressibility assumption does not hold for the venous wall especially at higher pressures, which suggests that there may be fluid loss through the vein wall during loading. This has important implications for coupling of fluid transport across the wall and biomechanics of the wall in healthy and diseased conditions.

Hardware in the loop simulation for homing missiles

In this paper, we present a new method of testing the guidance, navigation and control (GNC) system of missiles with homing guidance based on image processing homing head. Testing of the GNC system of the homing missile is usually carried out on a five axis or three axis motion simulator in the hardware in the loop (HWIL) environment. HWIL testing on a five axis motion simulator is applicable to all guidance systems regardless of the type of detector used in the homing head, but equipping the laboratory is at least two times more expensive compared to the new method of testing presented here. The goal of this paper is to present a relatively cheap, simple and effective way of testing the guidance systems in cases when the type of detector used in the homing head is either television (TV) or Infra-Red (IR) camera, more precisely when image processing homing heads are used.

The public sector wage premium puzzle

This thesis investigates the public sector wage premium in the UK over the last decade using both econometric and economic modelling methods. A comprehensive literature review is conducted to summaries the four popular types of methods adopted by the existing microeconomics studies, which are weakly derived from some labour economic theories. A common problem of the economic methods is the difficult in dealing with selection bias when valid instruments are not available. All four types of econometric methods are them applied to estimating the public sector wage premium, resulting in an overall average of 6.5% when a relatively higher female's premium. In particular, propensity score matching method provides the most robust estimate against mis-specification. As a bridge between microdata and macrodata in the labour market, the wage premium is shown to be counter-cyclical. Indirect inference is them introduced as a new method of testing and estimating a micro-founded economic model in the microdata analysis contect. All four types of econometric methods are used as auxiliary models to summarise the data features, based on which the distance between the actual data and the model-simulated data is assessed. A calibrated model passes the test only when the propensity score matching method is used as the comparison criterion. To focus on the key properties of the model, the OLS coefficients are groups into a smaller dimension, and the estimated model can also pass the test. The selection bias can be tested in a straightforward way under indirect inference, and we find no evidence for selection in the data. A Monte Carlo experiment is designed to verify the high statistical power of indirect inference test. Finally, a normative analysis is carried out and there is no evidence of unjust factors behind the observed public sector wage premium.

Comparing Colorfastness to Light of Wood-Staining Fungal Pigments and Commercial Dyes: An Alternative Light Test Method for Color Fastness

Colorfastness to light is an essential quality for textiles exposed to sunlight for a significant length of time. In this study, the colorfastness (specifically to light) of fabrics dyed with wood-staining (spalting) fungal pigments was compared to the colorfastness of commercial dyes. A short-duration immersion dying method without heat was used to minimize both water and energy usage. Both mordanted and unmordanted fabrics were tested and compared for colorfastness. Additionally, a new method of testing for colorfastness to light was developed. Results indicate that the wood-staining fungal pigments demonstrate superior colorfastness to light over commercial dyes when the employed dyeing method is used. Additionally, the colorfastness to light testing method developed using the L-2 Blue Wool Standard and QUV Accelerated Weathering Machine is a viable alternative to current standard colorfastness to light testing methods.

Country of Origin, Earnings Convergence,and Human Capital Investment: A New Method for the Analysis of U.S. Immigrant Economic Assimilation

The initial earnings of U.S. immigrants vary enormously by country of origin. Via three interrelated analyses, we show earnings convergence across source countries with time in the United States Human-capital theory plausibly explains the inverse relationship between initial earnings and earnings growth rates: the good fit between data and theory suggests that variation in initial skill transferability — not variation in the “quality” of human capital — underlies variation in initial earnings. A new method of testing for emigration bias confirms that selective emigration does not cause the convergence. Functional form and sample selections embedded in most recent analyses of immigrant economic assimilation bias downwards the earnings growth of post-1965 U.S. immigrants. When both functional-form and sample-selection constraints are lifted, a dramatically different picture of the economic assimilation of U.S.immigrants emerges.

A new method of testing of the Earth’s free oscillations on the basis of geomagnetic variation analysis

The Earth’s free oscillations are recorded for the first time in variations of the geomagnetic field measured at the Earth’s surface. The Earth’s free oscillations in the frequency range from 0.3 to 4 mHz manifest in the spectra of geomagnetic variations in the form of clearly expressed quasi-harmonic peaks. It is shown that the spectral amplitudes of the main modes of the Earth’s free oscillations are not constant and change with a periodicity corresponding to a lunar (sideral) month. The data obtained indicate the influence of oscillations in the internal geospheres on variations in the terrestrial magnetic field. The results provide new opportunities to study the Earth’s free oscillations and to specify their multiplet components. In addition, they also have certain implications for further research into the internal structure of the Earth and geodynamic processes in internal geospheres, on the basis of magnetometric data.

Nonparametric Tests for Convexity/Monotonicity/Positivity of Multivariate Functions with Noisy Observations

We propose a new method of testing for a function's convexity, monotonicity, or positivity, based on some noisy observations of the function made over a finite set $\mathcal{T}$ of points in the domain, where the observations can be made multiple times at each point in $\mathcal{T}$. One of the traditional approaches to the test of a function's shape characteristic is to fit a convex, a monotone, or a positive function, depending on the shape characteristic we wish to test for, to the data set minimizing the sum of squared errors, and to compute the sum of squared differences (SSD) between the fit and the data set. While the traditional approach proceeds by observing the SSD as the number of points in $\mathcal{T}$ increases to infinity, we propose observing the SSD as $r$, the number of observations taken at each point in $\mathcal{T}$, increases to infinity. This new way of observing the asymptotic behavior of the SSD leads to a test procedure that does not require the estimation of any additional parameters, and hence, is easy to implement. The proposed test procedure is proven to achieve a prescribed power as $r \rightarrow \infty$. Numerical examples illustrate that the proposed test successfully detects the convexity/monotonicity/positivity of a function, as well as the non-convexity/non-monotonicity/non-positivity of a function.

Frequency-Domain Stochastic Modeling of Stationary Bivariate or Complex-Valued Signals

There are three equivalent ways of representing two jointly observed real-valued signals: as a bivariate vector signal, as a single complex-valued signal, or as two analytic signals known as the rotary components. Each representation has unique advantages depending on the system of interest and the application goals. In this paper, we provide a joint framework for all three representations in the context of frequency-domain stochastic modeling. This framework allows us to extend many established statistical procedures for bivariate vector time series to complex-valued and rotary representations. These include procedures for parametrically modeling signal coherence, estimating model parameters using the Whittle likelihood, performing semiparametric modeling, and choosing between classes of nested models using model choice. We also provide a new method of testing for impropriety in complex-valued signals, which tests for noncircular or anisotropic second-order statistical structure when the signal is represented in the complex plane. Finally, we demonstrate the usefulness of our methodology in capturing the anisotropic structure of signals observed from fluid dynamic simulations of turbulence.

Revisiting the Bjerrum's correction factor: Use of the liquidity index for assessing the effect of soil plasticity on undrained shear strength

The undrained shear strength (su) of fine-grained soils that can be measured in situ and in laboratory is one of the key geotechnical parameters. The unconfined compression test (UCT) is widely used in laboratory to measure this parameter due to its simplicity; however, it is severely affected by sample disturbance. The vane shear test (VST) technique that is less sensitive to sample disturbance involves a correction factor against the soil plasticity, commonly known as the Bjerrum's correction factor, μ. This study aims to reevaluate the Bjerrum's correction factor in consideration of a different approach and a relatively new method of testing. Atterberg limits test, miniature VST, and reverse extrusion test (RET) were conducted on 120 remolded samples. The effect of soil plasticity on undrained shear strength was examined using the liquidity index instead of Bjerrum's correction factor. In comparison with the result obatined using the Bjerrum's correction factor, the undrained shear strength was better represented when su values were correlated with the liquidity index. The results were validated by the RET, which was proven to take into account soil plasticity with a reliable degree of accuracy. This study also shows that the RET has strong promise as a new tool for testing undrained shear strength of fine-grained soils.

A New Method of Testing and Evaluating the Quality of Refined Montan Wax: Digital Color and GC Fingerprint

To establish a new method of testing and evaluating the quality of refined montan wax (RMW), digital color and GC fingerprint technology were introduced and applied. CIE Lab color mode was used to digitize the exterior colors of RMW, and the score obtained through a fitting function was also used to reflect its quality. It is shown that they were in complete accord with the human visual perception trend. The GC fingerprint was used to characterize the internal chemical information of RMW, and the composition of its internal features was reflected through the relative retention time (RRT) and relative peak area (RPA) values. It is shown that there was a high degree of similarity between the fingerprints, while certain differences also existed. This can be used to implement effective application of RMW to aspects such as quality control, adulteration identification, and origin attributions.

Calculating degree of neural impingement in radiculopathy using H-reflexes in loading and unloading: evidence on how to treat

Background: Neural compression of nerve roots in radiculopathymay bemeasured by imaging techniques. Such anatomical method may not parallel the pathophysiologic changes in those patients. There is a need to develop an electrophysiological method to measure the degree of neural impingement in radiculopathy in order to guide the treatment protocol. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate a new method of testing using the soleus H-reflex in loading and unloading in patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy (LR). The H-reflex is considered to be the most appropriate electrophysiologic procedure for testing nerve root function. Methods: Patients (n= 58) with LR (32 female and 26 males) with age range of 21–91 years were tested during our clinical services in the last 4 years. The patients’ diagnosis was confirmedby clinical, imaging andEMGtesting. Patients were classified as acute (less than 6 wks), subacute (6 wks. to 6 mo.) and chronic (>6mo.). Patients were tested using the soleus H-reflex in the right and left lower limbs during prone-lying (unloading) and standing (loading). The Tibial nerve was electrically stimulated at the popliteal fossa (1ms, 0.2 pps at H-max) while recording Soleus H-reflex using surface electrodes. Dependent parameters include peak-to-peak amplitude and deflection latency of the H-reflex. Five H-traces were averaged for each of the 4 trials (right and left lying; and right and left standing). The ratio of the mean amplitude of the more symptomatic (associated usually with the smaller H-reflex) was divided by the less symptomatic (or non-symptomatic) limb during lying and then during standing was calculated. This ratio indicates the degree of neural impingement caused by posture. The percentageofH-right (stand)/(lying)was also calculated. Similar ratio calculationwas carried out for the left lower limb to evaluate the effect of mechanical shift at the spine during loading versus unloading, in each lower limb. The data was then presented in 4-cells table, and the vertical (column) and horizontal (row) comparison was analyzed to assess the degree of mechanically driven neural impingement of the patient. The datawas comparedwith the patient’s radicular symptoms and imaging reports. Results: The results showed that the degree of reflex depression usually increased during standing versus lying position that was more pronounced in the symptomatic than in the non-symptomatic (or less symptomatic) limb. The degree of reflex depression increased with the spread of symptoms to the distal limb segments and/or the chronicity of the symptoms; all are indicating increased degree of neural impingement with the mechanical or time factors of the pathology. Conclusion(s): The proposed method for calculating neural impingement that is sensitive to mechanical and timerelated (chronicity) factors can be used in designing a more effective treatment protocol using the unloading versus loading mechanical effect. Implications: Numerical evaluation of the neural impingement of the nerve root in radiculopathy provides the evidence-based assessment that is needed for directionsensitive exercise and rehabilitation therapy. This proposed method can be used in selecting the treatment posture mentioned in our previous publications on radiculopathy.

Operational Non-Contact Diagnostics of Induction Machine Based on Stray Electromagnetic Field

Paper deals with one new method of testing and operational diagnostics of induction machines using a stray electromagnetic field. This leakage field on the surface or on surroundings of machine frame is the carrier for diagnostic information and we can make simultaneous comparisons of utility, advantages and disadvantages of the existing and most common methods of diagnostics performed using the measurement of the machine supply current. This method is patented as Czech Patent CZ 303 470, UPV 2012.

Bubbles and the Weibull distribution: was there an explosive bubble in US stock prices before the global economic crisis?

Existing studies on bubbles have been mainly concerned with investigating the stationarity properties of stock prices and market fundamentals. We develop a new method of testing for bubbles that relates the bubble component of stock prices to the probability of bursting in the context of the Weibull distribution. There were several eruptions and subsequent collapses of seeming bubbles over the past three decades: 1987 (Black Monday), 2000 (information technology (IT) boom) and 2007 (housing market boom). Using US monthly data for the S&P 500 and NASDAQ series, we have found that the S&P 500 series contained an explosive bubble only during the boom of the housing market that occurred before the 2007 global economic crisis, and the NASDAQ market contained an explosive bubble during the surge of stock prices peaking in 1987 and 2007, although our stationarity tests fail to detect the bubbles. No bubble was found in both the S&P and NASDAQ series during the 2000 IT boom. Our evidence corroborates the criticism that the traditional unit root and cointegration tests may not be able to detect some important class of bubbles.

A single-photon fault-detection method for nanocircuits that use GaN material

As the complexity of nanocircuits continues to increase, developing tests for them becomes more difficult. Failure analysis and the localization of internal test points within nanocircuits are already more difficult than for conventional integrated circuits. In this paper, a new method of testing for faults in nanocircuits is presented that uses single-photon detection to locate failed components (or failed signal lines) by utilizing the infrared photon emission characteristics of circuits. The emitted photons, which can carry information about circuit structure, can aid the understanding of circuit properties and locating faults. In this paper, in order to enhance the strength of emitted photons from circuit components, test vectors are designed for circuits’ components or signal lines. These test vectors can cause components to produce signal transitions or switching behaviors according to their positions, thereby increasing the strength of the emitted photons. A multiple-valued decision diagram (MDD), in the form of a directed acrylic graph, is used to produce the test vectors. After an MDD corresponding to a circuit is constructed, the test vectors are generated by searching for specific paths in the MDD of that circuit. Experimental results show that many types of faults such as stuck-at faults, bridging faults, crosstalk faults, and others, can be detected with this method.