Power Program Research Articles

Optimizing the Software Testing Problem Using Search-Based Software Engineering Techniques

Software testing is a fundamental step in the software development lifecycle. Its purpose is to evaluate the quality of software applications. Regression testing is an important testing methodology in software testing. The purpose of regression testing is to validate the software after each change of its code. This involves adding new test cases to the test suite and running the test suite as the software changes, making the test suite larger. The cost and time of the project are affected by the test suite size. The challenge is to run regression testing with a smaller number of test cases and larger amount of software coverage. Minimization of the test suite with maximization of the software coverage is an NP-complete problem. Search-based software engineering is an important topic in software engineering, which addresses software engineering optimization problems to find the optimal/approximate solution of the given problem. This study investigated an approach to reducing the regression testing effort and saving time. It also solved the regression testing optimization problem by achieving the maximum test suite coverage with the minimum test suite size. Several experiments were conducted to obtain the optimal solutions for the regression testing problem. We propose an optimization methodology that combines a genetic algorithm and a greedy algorithm to optimize regression testing by respectively maximizing the software test coverage and minimizing the test suite size. The proposed methodology can conveniently deliver fault-free, fully covered, and powerful programs for mission-critical functions. It can be applied to test a real-time system that has high requirements for reliability, security, and safety.

Coping Power in the City: Promoting Coping in African American Male Students

This article describes efforts to adapt an adolescent version of the Coping Power program, called Coping Power in the City, for use with high school students attending an urban school district with high concentrations of students exposed to community violence and challenges related to elevated tensions between youth and police. The goal of this group-based preventive intervention is to provide a comprehensive, school-based approach to stem rates of violence, discipline problems, and related mental health concerns for adolescents. A novel feature is the integration of a school police component into the intervention model with concurrent supports for students, parents, and teachers to supplement school counseling efforts. We present an overview of the program and a rationale for its adaptation to meet the needs of African American males in urban high schools. We summarize baseline data for 514 ninth graders (46% African American males) across 10 urban high schools participating in a randomized controlled trial. We also address lessons learned and implications for school-based counseling practices for African American male students and engagement of school police officers in urban high schools.

Studying Physics, Getting to Know Python: RC Circuit, Simple Experiments, Coding, and Data Analysis With Raspberry Pi

Raspberry Pi (RPi) is a well-known single-board computer natively equipped with a Linux-based operating system, Raspbian, and a powerful programming language, Python. In this article, we propose an integrated project on physics and computer science exploiting RPi and Python: a set of lab activities, coding, and discussion related to the study of charging and discharging phases of a capacitor in an RC circuit. In our simple experiments, entirely computer-controlled, the RPi and Python scripts are used to: (i) apply a known constant voltage to the circuit at a desired time; (ii) measure the voltage on selected circuit elements as a function of time; (iii) evaluate and analyze experimental data. This approach is based on inexpensive hardware and open source software. It allows a hands-on experience with electric circuits and with dedicated examples of Python coding. The codes involve Python modules such as Numpy, Scipy, and Matplotlib that prove to be easy to use and efficient for our goals, supporting the choice of Python language for further study or research tasks.

Linear capabilities for fully abstract compilation of separation-logic-verified code

Abstract Separation logic is a powerful program logic for the static modular verification of imperative programs. However, dynamic checking of separation logic contracts on the boundaries between verified and untrusted modules is hard because it requires one to enforce (among other things) that outcalls from a verified to an untrusted module do not access memory resources currently owned by the verified module. This paper proposes an approach to dynamic contract checking by relying on support for capabilities, a well-studied form of unforgeable memory pointers that enables fine-grained, efficient memory access control. More specifically, we rely on a form of capabilities called linear capabilities for which the hardware enforces that they cannot be copied. We formalize our approach as a fully abstract compiler from a statically verified source language to an unverified target language with support for linear capabilities. The key insight behind our compiler is that memory resources described by spatial separation logic predicates can be represented at run time by linear capabilities. The compiler is separation-logic-proof-directed: it uses the separation logic proof of the source program to determine how memory accesses in the source program should be compiled to linear capability accesses in the target program. The full abstraction property of the compiler essentially guarantees that compiled verified modules can interact with untrusted target language modules as if they were compiled from verified code as well. This article is an extended version of one that was presented at ICFP 2019 (Van Strydonck et al., 2019).

A Brief Scrutiny of Malawi’s Policy on Nuclear Power

Background: Malawi’s 2018 National Energy Policy includes nuclear power as an energy option with an operational 100 MW targeted for 2035. Materials and Methods: This paper challenges the scope of the policy on nuclear power by reviewing its implementation strategy and comparing it to: the strategy established for coal in the same policy; some experiences from other countries; and documents by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) relating to establishing a national position on nuclear power and infrastructural requirements for a nuclear power program. Results and Discussion: It is found that the pro-nuclear position is uninformed, and targets are unrealistic owing to a lack of understanding of nature of nuclear power including the requirements for safety, security and safeguards, and nuclear infrastructure. It is apparent that neither consultation nor a proper analysis were comprehensively conducted for nuclear. Though the national energy policy suggests a national position for nuclear energy, the content does not demonstrate that the position was arrived at knowledgeably. Conclusion: Thus, nuclear power may presently be viewed as a potential energy option that is yet to be seriously considered. It is important to build an appropriate level of literacy on nuclear science and technology for policy makers, key stakeholders, and the public to be better positioned for strategizing on nuclear power.

A Review of Temporary Housing Management Modeling: Trends in Design Strategies, Optimization Models, and Decision-Making Methods

Temporary housing plays a critical role in disaster response and recovery by providing a temporary home for displaced people before they return to their permanent residence. In recent years, temporary housing has faced three primary dilemmas related to design type, site selection, and cost. Significant contributions have been made in research and in practice to improve temporary housing management. However, gaps still exist in resolving the dilemmas, and a critical review and evaluation of current methods is needed to determine the path forward and identify priorities of future research. This paper presents a comprehensive overview of prior methods developed and applied towards temporary housing management and identifies future pathways for success in temporary housing research and implementation. The literature review reveals that temporary housing requires further research in proactive management, storage, sustainability, and community resilience to effectively enhance post-disaster temporary housing. This study finds that programs such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) program provide methodologies which can benefit temporary housing implementation, designs, and modeling. In addition, circular economy thinking can enable the recyclability of temporary housing to reduce economic and environmental impacts.

Indoor Climate Measurements in Buildings and Design Functions for Building Simulations

For the planning or energetic optimization of buildings, building physics simulation programs are indispensable tools. Even though relevant building physics standards and guidelines usually refer to stationary calculation methods to prove the serviceability of a building, these powerful planning tools usually also allow transient calculations in any time steps. However, the use of modern simulation programs leads to realistic evaluations only under the condition of valid, expected input variables. Well known are the building material parameters, as well as the site-related outdoor climate. For the indoor climate, such precise information does not exist yet. Nevertheless, the indoor climate is required as an essential input variable for many simulations and verifications in building physics. In this case, rough approximations are used in this case. Information in the literature on the development of the indoor climate is usually generally valid and does not differentiate between climate regions, occupancy profiles or room use. But especially for the increasingly powerful transient simulation programs, these data provide insufficient results. Indoor climate measurements are therefore carried out over a period of several years at various locations in Germany. Measurements are carried out in window-ventilated living spaces. This paper presents indoor climate measurements from this study over a measurement period of one year in twelve living rooms and nine associated bedrooms. From the measured values, the outdoor temperature and time-dependent compensation functions for indoor air temperature and dew point temperature are derived. During the measurement period, the living rooms were free of damage and showed different occupancy profiles. The comparison of both room types shows the great influence of room use on the indoor climate in residential buildings. This is especially true for the indoor air temperature. Model curves for the parameter of the indoor climate for both window-ventilated living rooms and bedrooms are derived from the measurement results. This information can be used as a basis for planning. Furthermore, it can also be used to check and evaluate simulation results with regard to the risk of condensation on the wall surface of the window-ventilated rooms.

Development and strengthening of the nuclear and radiation safety infrastructure for nuclear power program of Bangladesh

Bangladesh, as a newcomer country, is expecting to start her nuclear power journey by 2022. Due to evident reasons, newcomer nuclear countries face several key challenges concerning the development of national nuclear safety infrastructure. The paper investigates the status of the 7 key safety infrastructure issues out of the 19 and readiness of the supportive organizations, laboratories, and workforces following the International Atomic energy Agency’s status evaluation guide at milestone 3 and foreign countries’ practice. Much progress has been achieved at phase 3 regarding the establishments of a few Acts, a regulator, and an operator. However, comprehensive regulatory frameworks, skilled workforces, establishments of a few supportive organizations, and laboratories for managing environmental radioactivity, radiological accidents, and radioactive wastes are yet to ready. Several suggestions are made for establishing and expediting radiation monitoring laboratories, a radiological emergency management center, a radioactive waste management company, and technical support organizations for the safety infrastructure. To avoid perceived risks, policymakers and competent authorities need to emphasize creating an optimized safety infrastructure before commissioning and operating the 1stnuclear power plant safely, securely, and cost-sustainably.

Evaluating Plant Biodiversity in Natural and Semi‑Natural Areas with the Help of Aerial Drones

In the era of abundant information, wisdom has become a scarce resource. Exploration and measurement of biodiversity yield copious amounts of information fragmented into numerous categories and types, following the pattern of life itself. We aim to review the potential of charting the plant diversity of woodlands, grasslands, marshlands, and other natural and semi-natural areas relevant to conservation by using low-altitude, low-cost, Earth Observation technology, such as small aerial drones, that captures images which can be mapped and analyzed. As this technology is new and quickly evolving, we limited the search to published research between 2012-2019. We have found applications for forestry, agro-forestry, horticulture, grasslands, ecological restoration, and other areas. In terms of technological progress, new hardware components and cameras and new software tools leverage drones’ power to deliver a greater quantity and quality of information. There are promising efforts to develop low-cost drone technology that facilitate better biodiversity conservation results. For analysis, software tools are also improving to take advantage of increases in computing power and artificial intelligence programming. Our findings serve as an introduction to low-cost teledetection for biodiversity conservation, with drones providing an advantage in monitoring habitats by increasing information quantity, accuracy, and ease of analysis with the aid of automation.

Effects of Visual Feedback During Recumbent Stepping in Individuals With Chronic Stroke

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of intermittent visual feedback (using the Balanced Power program on the NuStep Transitt) during recumbent stepping on strength, balance, and functional mobility in individuals with chronic stroke. DesignQuasi-experimental 1-group pretest-posttest study. SettingHuman performance research laboratory. ParticipantsAdults (N=11; 7 female; mean age, 58.7±13.6y), >6 months post stroke. InterventionsEight 45-minute training sessions on the NuStep Transitt (visits 2-9) twice a week (5-minute warm-up and cooldown with 35 minutes of training [5min with and then without visual feedback regarding left/right lower extremity percentage effort]). Visits 1 and 10: pre- and post assessment. Main Outcome MeasuresSelf-selected and fast gait speeds; maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) of knee extension and flexion and ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion; and 5 times sit-to-stand (5TSTS). ResultsSignificant improvements in 5TSTS (14.2s, P=.007) and fast gait (hemi: 4.9 cm [P=.024], nonhemi: 4.5cm (P=.019) stride length; nonhemi step length 2.3 cm (P=.024]). MVC and self-selected gait parameters showed no significant changes. ConclusionsThe NuStep Transitt is a valuable tool that provides real-time feedback about percentage of use of the hemiparetic leg. This intervention study has demonstrated that the addition of visual feedback about left/right percentage effort while exercising on the Transitt has significant and clinically relevant effects on the functional mobility of individuals with chronic stroke.

Innovative numerical form-finding of tensegrity structures

An innovative numerical platform for the form-finding of tensegrity structures is proposed. A particular objective function is introduced based on LU-decomposition of the force density matrix. The required rank deficiency of the force density matrix, which is a crucial quantity in the form-finding process, is then pursued by minimisation of the mentioned objective function. The gradient and hessian of the objective function are also derived explicitly. This critical feature enables us to efficiently employ powerful nonlinear programming approaches in the form-finding problems. Four numerical examples are provided to validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the method proposed. The results compared and contrasted from different aspects with existing analytical and some well-known numerical solutions. The comparisons verify that the method proposed is highly accurate and fast; therefore, it can be used as a compelling alternative to the available numerical form-finding methods.

Social Media Advertisement and its Effect in Sales Prediction - An Analysis

Social Media Advertising plays a vital role in today’s business. It helps marketers to build relationships with their customers and increase sales. Marketers are using social media to advertise their products and generate sales. Social networking sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram are essential in today’s competitive business for boosting the sales of the firm. This study aims to predict the impact of social media advertising on sales of a company. The purpose of this paper is to build a linear regression model that predicts sales based on money spent on YouTube advertisements. The data is analyzed using the R open-source software program for statistical analysis. The R is a powerful programming tool that can represent the dataset graphically concerning different parameters, and it also uses different packages available. The result of this research shows that YouTube advertising is a better predictor of company sales.

Development of double-variable seismic fragility functions for oil refinery piping systems

Seismic risk assessment of piping systems, as a group of vulnerable facilities in oil refineries, is mostly based on the single-variable fragility curves. However, it is well-known that the fragility curves, developed based on a single intensity measure (IM), are not much reliable. For increasing the confidence level of seismic risk assessment of piping systems, it was tried, in this study, to develop double-variable fragility functions by using peak ground acceleration (PGA) and peak ground velocity (PGV) together as the IMs. For this purpose, the piping system of the ISOMAX Unit of Tehran oil refinery was considered, and modeled by a powerful finite element analysis program under various loadings, including gravity, pressure and seismic loads. For seismic analyses 157 set of three-component earthquake records were employed, with PGA and PGV values varying respectively from around 0.1 g–0.6 g and 10 cm/s to 60 cm/s. By using the nonlinear time histories analyses results, two single-IM fragility curves and one double-IM fragility surface were developed based on the probability of exceedance of the maximum created stress, considered as the ‘damage index’, from the allowable stress. The results indicate that using PGA and PGV jointly, as the IMs in the development of fragility functions, provides more reliable vulnerability estimations. For example, the single-IM fragility function gives, for PGA = 0.2 g, a probability of exceedance of 75%, while by using the double-IM fragility function this probability may change from 30% for PGV = 10 cm/s to 95% for PGV = 60 cm/s.

The Ramification Of Idyllic Admonish On The Psychoneurotic-Devotional Contentment Of Sermonizing

This investigation intended to decide the impact of peaceful guiding on the psychoneurotic-otherworldly prosperity of the sermonizing. It used the pretest-posttest control bunch trial plan. 32 sermonizing partook in the examination. The sermonizing were haphazardly allocated to the test gathering and the benchmark group, with 14 members and 18 members, individually. The salivation pH strips and the Psychoneurotic logical General Contentment Index (PGWBI) were utilized to gauge the mental prosperity, while the Devotional Contentment Questionnaire (SWBQ) was utilized to quantify otherworldly prosperity. The after ramifications of the investigation uncovered that there was a noteworthy contrast in psychoneurotic-otherworldly prosperity between the test gathering and the benchmark group after the key peaceful advising. The discoveries recommend suggestions in vital peaceful directing as a powerful program for the improvement and manageability of the psychoneurotic-profound prosperity of the sermonizing.

Adding the Coping Power Programme to parent management training: the cost-effectiveness of stacking interventions for children with disruptive behaviour disorders

Parent management training (PMT) programmes and child cognitive behavioural therapy are recommended approaches for treatment of oppositional defiant disorder in children, and combining these may be effective. However, little is known regarding the economic efficiency of this additive effect. A within-trial cost-effectiveness analysis was carried out in Sweden including 120 children aged 8–12 who screened positive for disruptive behaviour disorders, within a psychiatric care setting, and their parents. They were randomly assigned to either the Swedish group-based PMT Comet, or to an enhanced version, where an additional child component was provided, the Coping Power Programme (CPP). Child behaviour problems as well as healthcare and educational resource use were measured at baseline, post-test and at two-year follow-up. A net benefit regression framework was used to estimate differences in costs and health outcomes between the two intervention arms during the two-year period. Comet with CPP cost on average 820 EURO more per family than Comet only. At the 2-year follow-up, there were 37% recovered cases of ODD in Comet with CPP, in comparison to 26% in the Comet only arm. At a willingness-to-pay of approximately 62,300 EURO per recovered case of ODD, Comet with CPP yielded positive net benefits, in comparison to Comet only. Offering children the CPP simultaneously as their parents receive PMT, in comparison to only providing PMT, yields clinically relevant gains. Despite the relatively small cost for CPP, investment in combining PMT and CPP should be guided by resource prioritisation. Trial registration number: ISRCTN10834473, date of registration: 23/12/2015

Nuclear policy-nuclear fuels for peaceful, safer co-generation and environmentally benign applications

Here, safer nuclear fuels which can sustain in the high temperature and fluence environment of the reactor core are investigated to utilize nuclear energy peacefully. At Nuclear Fuel Complex in Hyderabad, nuclear fuels are being manufactured which are best suited for high temperature and fluence environment of the reactor core even in accidental scenarios. In this paper, nuclear fuels manufactured at NFC, Hyderabad are presented. The developed nuclear fuels have higher equivalent hydraulic diameter and breeding capability to produce U^233. Nuclear fuels having higher equivalent hydraulic diameter reduce the reactor core temperature substantially. These fuels have negative temperature coefficient of reactivity. Thus, in case of an accident, the fuel temperature never exceeds the safety limit. Therefore, the thermal heat available across the secondary of a heat exchanger can be utilized for different industrial processes. This allows the development of key technologies, such as safer co-generation of electricity and Hydrogen. The Three-Stage Indian Nuclear Power Program has been explained for nuclear disarmament. The product Hydrogen gas has been utilized in many ways for different applications. Moreover, the processing of iron ore with the energy obtained from the IHX secondary side, eliminates the burning of coals and CO2 emissions into the environment. Several radioisotopes have been developed for medical applications from spent fuel.

RETRACTED ARTICLE: On the design of racing car suspension

The suspension assembly of a vehicle is a vital component in its ability to function safely and effectively. This paper details the design and simulation of the James Cook University Motorsports 2nd generation vehicle for the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers competition. After in-depth research it was decided that a pull-rod suspension system would be the most effective assembly for the Gen 2 car. Contrary to the current push-rod suspension on the Gen 1 car, the pull-rods allow the centre of gravity to be lowered, which is ideal. Working closely with the rear drive train, cockpit and upright teams, a design was conceived and developed. After several redesigns a final model was able to be created. SolidWorks was the tool used to generate the components created in the design phase. This is an extremely powerful program that allows the user to not only produce a three-dimensional component but also allow future modifications to be made to the component to change its dimensions. It was decided this was a vitally important ability, as future modifications will be needed when less conservative loading cases are discovered and then applied. The SolidWorks models where then transported to a computational simulation program, ANSYS. ANSYS, like SolidWorks, was an important tool in verifying design assumptions and concepts. With this program loading cases where able to be applied to the system to understand how they would react and if they would fail under the stresses applied.

Optimizing Program Size Using Multi-result Supercompilation

Supercompilation is a powerful program transformation technique with numerous interesting applications. Existing methods of supercompilation, however, are often very unpredictable with respect to the size of the resulting programs. We consider an approach for controlling result size, based on a combination of multi-result supercompilation and a specific generalization strategy, which avoids code duplication. The current early experiments with this method show promising results - we can keep the size of the result small, while still performing powerful optimizations.

Computational design applied to equilibrium-staged and rate-based absorption processes

Simulators are of great interest in Chemical Engineering because they facilitate process optimization and help evaluate different solutions through the so-called �what-if� approach. They include the most advanced thermodynamical models and complete libraries for the calculation of physicochemical properties and estimation of phase equilibria data which are successfully integrated in the process design. Moreover, simulators allow addressing both stationary and batch operations. For this reason, their use in the design of Industrial Chemistry processes has gained much acceptance in the last decades. Even so, simulations should be accompanied by another computational tool which allows the professionals to implement specific algorithms which relate inputs and outputs, so as to get the most out of the computing power. We herein exemplify how Aspen Plus and Mathcad Prime software packages were successfully integrated in a case study on the removal of carbon disulphide by contact with a paraffinic oil in an absorption tower. This absorption operation was studied in both trayed and packed columns. Regarding the first contact type, i.e. trays, Mathcad�s powerful programming tool and graphical interface enabled to corroborate and to better understand the effect of temperature on the number of theoretical stages previously observed with Aspen Plus.

Eight Weeks of Strength and Power Training Improves Club Head Speed in Collegiate Golfers.

Oranchuk, DJ, Mannerberg, JM, Robinson, TL, and Nelson, MC. Eight weeks of strength and power training improves club head speed in collegiate golfers. J Strength Cond Res 34(8): 2205-2213, 2020-Club head speed (CHS) is a major determinant of drive distance, a key component of golf performance. The purpose of this study was to determine the indirect effects of an 8-week strength and power program on CHS. Twelve (6 men, 6 women) NCAA Division II golfers (20.3 ± 1.5 years) randomly assigned to an intervention or control group underwent either a periodized strength and power program consisting of high-load barbell movements or a bodyweight and rotational movement focused resistance training program. Outcomes were CHS, countermovement jump (CMJ) height, and 1RM back squat (BS), power clean (PC), and deadlift (DL). Dependent t-tests were used to assess differences in outcome variables pre-to-post for each group, independent t-tests were used to assess differences between groups, and Pearson correlations were used to assess associations between CHS and outcome variables. On average, the intervention group experienced improvements in all outcome variables except peak CHS (p = 0.60); the control group displayed no changes in any outcome variable except a decrease in average CHS (p = 0.028). Compared with the control group, the intervention group experienced greater improvements in average CHS, BS, PC, and average and peak CMJ height (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, CHS had large associations with PC (r = 0.70, p = 0.012), BS (r = 0.64, p = 0.025), DL (r = 0.54, p = 0.068) and CMJ (r = 0.73, p = 0.007). These results suggest that improving muscular strength and power by increasing PC, BS, and CMJ is associated with increased CHS in collegiate golfers. Integrating a high-load, barbell-focused strength and power program may be beneficial for improving CHS and indirectly, golf performance.