Test Unit Research Articles

Gender disparities in symptomology of COVID-19 among adults in Arkansas

Only a few studies and reports assessing the natural history and symptomatology for COVID-19 by gender have been reported in literature to date. Thus, the objective of this study was to examine patterns in symptomology of COVID-19 by gender among a diverse adult population in Arkansas. Data on COVID-19 symptoms was collected at day of testing, 7th day and 14th day among participants at UAMS mobile testing units throughout the state of Arkansas. Diagnosis for SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed via nasopharyngeal swab and RT-PCR methods. Data analysis was conducted using Chi-square test and Poisson regression to assess the differences in characteristics by gender. A total of 60,648 community members and patients of Arkansas received RT-PCR testing. Among adults testing positive, we observed a statistically significant difference for fever (p < 0.001) and chills (p = 0.04). Males were more likely to report having a fever (22.6% vs. 17.1%; p < 0.001) and chills (14.9% vs. 12.6%; p = 0.04) compared to females. Among adults testing negative, females were more likely to report each symptom than males. To conclude, we observed a greater prevalence of certain symptoms such as fever and chills among men testing positive for COVID-19, compared to women during the time of testing. These differences elucidate the important issue of rapidly emerging health disparities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A general procedure for the evaluation of the prediction fidelity of pharmaceutical systems models

Quantitative systems models have been increasingly used to accelerate the development of pharmaceutical processes that traditionally require time and resource-intensive experimental campaigns. However, despite the potential benefits of modelling in pharmaceutical process development, there is often a lack of confidence from stakeholders to adopt these approaches in a systematic way. This is particularly important in a highly regulated sector such as the pharmaceutical industry, where model uncertainty evaluation may have to be quantified and filed if model results are to be included as part of a regulatory submission. In this study, a systematic procedure is proposed, combining both standard techniques (e.g., global sensitivity analysis, model-based design of experiments) and new methods based on data analytics to assess model fidelity and to support practitioners in model usage for pharmaceutical development. A direct compression systems model for manufacturing oral solid dosage products is used as a case study. The systems model is comprised of the following sub-models: (1) Tablet press unit operation, (2) Tablet disintegration test unit, (3) In vitro dissolution test unit. The implementation of the methodology is critically discussed, showing the effectiveness of the approach and the benefits of the proposed techniques in (i) evaluating model fidelity as a result of uncertainty in parameter estimation, (ii) assessing whether it is necessary to estimate all systems model parameters in a statistically satisfactory way, and (iii) analyzing whether model calibration should be carried out on a unit basis or considering the overall system.

Partial oxidation of biomass gasification tar with oxygen transport membranes

Dual phase oxygen transport membranes were directly integrated into the producer gas stream of a low temperature circulating fluidized bed (LT-CFB) gasifier for partial oxidation of tar. Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95–La0.6Sr0.4FeO3-d composite membranes were prepared by extrusion and dip-coating, co-sintered and infiltrated with electro-catalysts. These were investigated in two different set-ups: i) a membrane test rig, and ii) a partial oxidation testing unit connected to a biomass gasifier. The stability and performance of the membrane were tested in two different gas-streams; i) H2 and ii) producer gas. An oxygen flux of 1.5 Nml∙cm−2∙min−1 was measured in an air/H2 gradient at 850 °C through a 10 cm long membrane with a diameter of 10 mm, whereas a lower oxygen flux of 0.5 Nml∙cm−2∙min−1 was measured for the air/producer gas case. The producer gas contained ca. 2000 mg Nm−3 of primary tar. Analysis of the gas and the tar composition at the output of the membrane unit demonstrated that it contributed to the partial oxidation of the primary tar, resulting in a twofold increase of H2, CH4 and CO in the producer gas. This successful integration of oxygen transport membranes demonstrated that these membranes can reduce the tar content in producer gas from biomass gasifiers.

Testability design of memristive digital circuits based on Knowm memristor

A multi-function memristive logic test unit based on Knowm memristor is designed and implemented to the memristive digital circuits testability design in this article. The single fault memristive digital circuit is analyzed, Boolean difference algorithm is applied to the memristive digital circuits to generate test patterns and determine the location of the fault nodes. The multi-function memristive logic test unit can realize different functions, combining Boolean difference to solve the problem of uncertain faults with the same test patterns, and improve the controllability and observability of memristive digital circuits. It is a new exploration in testability design of memristive digital circuits, which provides new ideas and development directions, and lays a foundation for the research on the testability design of multi fault memristor digital circuits.

Effectiveness of letermovir for cytomegalovirus prophylaxis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: A global systematic review

Objective(s)Letermovir (LET), a novel antiviral, has largely supplanted more traditional preemptive therapy (PET) for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HCT) patients. Use of LET demonstrated efficacy against placebo in phase III randomized controlled trials, but is considerably more expensive than PET. This review aimed to evaluate the real-world effectiveness of LET in preventing clinically significant CMV infection (csCMVi) for allo-HCT recipients and related outcomes. DesignA systematic literature review was performed using an a priori protocol using PubMed, Scopus, and ClinicalTrials.gov from January 2010 to October 2021. Setting and ParticipantsStudies were included if they met the following criteria: LET compared with PET, CMV-related outcomes, patients aged 18 years or older, and English language-only articles. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize study characteristics and outcomes. Outcome MeasuresCMV viremia, csCMVi, CMV end-organ disease, graft-versus-host-disease, all-cause mortality. ResultsA total of 233 abstracts were screened, with 30 included in this review. Randomized trials demonstrated efficacy of LET prophylaxis in preventing csCMVi. Observational studies demonstrated varying degrees of effectiveness of LET prophylaxis compared with use of PET alone. All studies with a comparator group resulted in lower rates of csCMVi for patients using LET. Included studies varied widely by CMV viral load threshold cutoff and CMV test units, limiting synthesis of results owing to high heterogeneity. ConclusionLET reduces risk of csCMVi, but lack of standardized clinical definitions on how to evaluate csCMVi and related outcomes largely prevent synthesis of results. Clinicians must consider this limitation in the context of evaluating the effectiveness of LET to other antiviral therapies, especially for patients at risk of late-onset CMV. Future studies should focus on prospective data collection through registries and concordance of diagnostic definitions to mitigate study heterogeneity.

Vacuum Cleaner Noise Annoyance: An Investigation of Psychoacoustic Parameters, Effect of Test Methodology, and Interaction Effect between Loudness and Sharpness

The first aim of this paper was to determine the variability in the signal characteristics and psychoacoustic data of canister-type vacuum cleaners. Fifteen vacuum cleaners with different sound power levels, provided by the manufacturers, were selected as test units to calculate their acoustic and psychoacoustic parameters. The selection of the devices was based on an even distribution of the reported sound power levels. The investigated variability in the acoustic and psychoacoustic parameters on different vacuum cleaners was discussed to derive the common characteristics of canister-type vacuum cleaner noise. The derived common characteristics were compared with the those in the available literature on the noise generation mechanisms of vacuum cleaners. Based on these characteristics, prototypical vacuum cleaner noise was defined. The second aim of this paper was to understand the annoyance perception of vacuum cleaner noise. Annoyance assessments were obtained from two sets of listening experiments. The first listening experiment was conducted to find the correlates of annoyance evaluations. Loudness, sharpness and tonal components at lower and higher frequencies were found to be dominant correlates of vacuum cleaner noise annoyance estimations. In the second listening experiment, a possible interaction between loudness and sharpness was investigated in different listening test methods. The selected loudness and sharpness values for this experiment were consistent with the observed ranges in the first part. No significant interaction between loudness and sharpness was observed, although each separately correlated significantly positively with annoyance.

Combined COVID-19 vaccination and hepatitis C virus screening intervention in marginalised populations in Spain

BackgroundCOVID-19 has hindered hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV screening, particularly in marginalised groups, who have some of the highest rates of these conditions and lowest rates of COVID-19 vaccination. We assessed the acceptability of combining HCV testing with COVID-19 vaccination in a centre for addiction services (CAS) in Barcelona and a mobile testing unit (MTU) in Madrid, Spain.MethodsFrom 28/09/2021 to 30/06/2022, 187 adults from marginalised populations were offered HCV antibody (Ab) testing along with COVID-19 vaccination. If HCV Ab+, they were tested for HCV-RNA. MTU participants were also screened for HIV. HCV-RNA+ and HIV+ participants were offered treatment. Data were analysed descriptively.ResultsFindings show how of the 86 CAS participants: 80 (93%) had been previously vaccinated for COVID-19, of whom 72 (90%) had the full first round schedule; none had a COVID-19 vaccine booster and all received a COVID-19 vaccine; 54 (62.8%) were tested for HCV Ab, of whom 17 (31.5%) were positive, of whom all were tested for HCV-RNA and none were positive. Of the 101 MTU participants: none had been vaccinated for COVID-19 and all received a COVID-19 vaccine; all were tested for HCV Ab and HIV and 15 (14.9%) and 9 (8.9%) were positive, respectively; of those HCV Ab+, 9 (60%) were HCV-RNA+, of whom 8 (88.9%) have started treatment; 5 (55.6%) of those HIV+ had abandoned antiretroviral therapy, of whom 3 (60%) have re-started it.ConclusionsThe intervention was accepted by 54 (62.8%) CAS participants and all MTU participants and can be used in marginalised communities.

Comparison of saddles in hippotherapy for patients with chronic low back pain

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) significantly impacts daily life. Currently, hippotherapy on a robotic horse has been shown to decrease pain and disability in low back pain. However, live horses and different types of saddles used during hippotherapy may have various therapeutic effects. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the standard all-purpose saddle and the pad saddle used in live horse hippotherapy for individuals with CLBP. Ten participants with CLBP were assessed pain level using the visual analog scale (VAS) and lumbopelvic mobility using the Schober test and inertia measurement unit (IMU) before and after each saddle, with a one-week interval between saddles and a 20-minute hippotherapy session. The dependent t-test, with a significance level of 0.05, was conducted to compare the percentage change of each variable between two saddles. The result showed that the standard saddles significantly reduced pain levels (p &lt;0.001) and increased pelvic range (p&lt;0.05) greater than applied pad saddles in participants with chronic LBP. Therefore, the standard all-purpose saddle is more beneficial than the applied pad saddle for individuals with chronic LBP undergoing hippotherapy.

A unit-based symbolic execution method for detecting memory corruption vulnerabilities in executable codes

Memory corruption is a serious class of software vulnerabilities, which requires careful attention to be detected and removed from applications before getting exploited and harming the system users. Symbolic execution is a well-known method for analyzing programs and detecting various vulnerabilities, e.g., memory corruption. Although this method is sound and complete in theory, it faces some challenges, such as path explosion, when applied to real-world complex programs. In this paper, we present a method for improving the efficiency of symbolic execution and detecting four classes of memory corruption vulnerabilities in executable codes, i.e., heap-based buffer overflow, stack-based buffer overflow, use-after-free, and double-free. We perform symbolic execution only on test units rather than the whole program to lower the chance of path explosion. In our method, test units are considered parts of the program’s code, which might contain vulnerable statements and are statically identified based on the specifications of memory corruption vulnerabilities. Then, each test unit is symbolically executed to calculate path and vulnerability constraints for each statement of the unit, which determine the conditions on unit input data for executing that statement or activating vulnerabilities in it, respectively. Solving these constraints gives us input values for the test unit, which execute the desired statements and reveal vulnerabilities in them. Finally, we use machine learning to approximate the correlation between system and unit input data. Thereby, we generate system inputs that enter the program, reach vulnerable instructions in the desired test unit, and reveal vulnerabilities in them. This method is implemented as a plug-in for angr framework and evaluated using a group of benchmark programs. The experiments show its superiority over similar tools in accuracy and performance.

Delayed Leukoreduction of whole blood with a platelet-sparing filter to increase low-titer group O whole blood production in the United States.

Demand for low-titer Group O whole blood (LTOWB) is increasing for trauma. The whole blood (WB) platelet-sparing (WB-SP) filter enables leukoreduction (LR) while retaining platelet quantity and function; however, in the United States WB must be filtered and placed in the cold within 8 h of collection. A longer processing window would facilitate improved logistics and supply of LR-WB to meet the growing medical need. This study evaluated the impact of increasing filtration timing from <8 h to <12 h on the quality of LR-WB. Thirty WB units were collected from healthy donors. Control units were filtered within 8 h and test units within 12 h of collection. WB was tested throughout 21 days of storage. Hemolysis, WBC content, component recovery, and 25 additional markers of WB quality were tested including hematologic and metabolic markers, RBC morphology, aggregometry, thromboelastography, and p-selectin. There were 0 failures for residual WBC content, hemolysis, or pH, and no differences in component recovery between arms. Few differences in metabolic parameters were observed, but the small effect size suggests these are not clinically significant. Trends throughout storage were similar and filtration timing did not impact hematological parameters, platelet activation and aggregation, or hemostatic capacity. Our studies showed that extending filtration timing from 8 to 12 h from the collection does not significantly impact the quality of LR-WB. Characterization of the platelets demonstrated that storage lesions were not exacerbated. Extending the time from collection to filtration will improve LTOWB inventory in the United States.

Comparisons of Load-Based and AHRI 210/240 Testing and Rating for Residential Heat Pumps

The current testing and rating procedure for residential air conditioners and heat pumps is based on a steady-state performance measurement approach with a degradation coefficient to account for cycling losses at part-load conditions. Test equipment performance is measured under various ambient conditions with varying compressor and fan speeds, and the results are propagated through a temperature-bin method to estimate seasonal performance. Although the current rating approach offers a standardized performance metric for comparing the relative performances of different equipment, it involves disabling the native controls and, as a result, does not consider the impact of integrated controls for test units and their dynamic interactions with representative building loads. As an alternative, a load-based testing methodology (CSA EXP07) has been developed in which the dynamic performance of equipment is measured in a test facility by allowing it to respond to a simulated virtual building model. This study compares the steady-state and dynamic load-based performance measurement methodologies for use on a 5-ton residential heat pump system in order to understand the differences and their significance for the next-generation rating procedure. The differences in the two test methodologies' performance evaluation results are discussed with a causal analysis of the observed differences.

Zeghdοudi distribution in acceptance sampling plans based on truncated life tests with real data application

The acceptance sampling plan (ASP) is one of the key statistics resources in the industrial sector. It entails the decision-making process for accepting or rejecting the products. The investigated quality parameter is the test unit's mean lifespan. This study develops a new ASP for Zeghdοudi distribution (ZD) when the lifetime is shortened to a specific degree. The optimal plan parameters are accomplished by obtaining the minimum sample size mandatory to ensure the identified mean lifetime for fixing the consumer's risk. Besides, the characteristic operating function (OCF) values for the ASP are displayed, and the producer's risk is determined. Several helpful tables are developed for the suggested ASP based on the ZD for suitable employment. An actual data set is fitted to the Zeghdoudi model and other models to examine the applicability of the suggested ASP in the production sector.

A high‐efficiency portable system for insulation condition assessment of wind farm inter‐array cables with double‐sided partial discharge detection and localisation

AbstractPartial discharge (PD) diagnosis is a crucial tool to assess the insulation condition of wind farm cables. Among PD diagnosis techniques, PD localisation is promising as it can provide target maintenance indicators on the insulation weak points of the cables. Accordingly, this paper developed a portable PD detection and location system for wind farm inter‐array cables. The system consists of two non‐invasive and lightweight testing units, which can be conveniently deployed on an energised cable, enabling highly efficient online PD diagnosis of the widely distributed inter‐array cables. The system achieves accurate PD localisation of the energised cable via an improved double‐sided travelling wave method. The method exhibits two superior features: the double‐sided testing units are accurately synchronised via the joint application of Global Position Systems and a pulse‐based interaction process, and a windowed phase difference method is proposed and integrated into the system to robustly estimate the time‐of‐arrival difference in low signal‐to‐noise ratio environment. Validation experiments were conducted on both a 10‐kV cable in the laboratory and a real 35‐kV cable in an on‐shore wind farm.

Mobile DMA testing for leakage assessment: perspectives from Ontario, Canada

Abstract The formation of discrete regions in a water distribution system, referred to as district metered areas (DMAs), can be a pragmatic approach to diagnose both system and leakage characteristics. Their application, however, has historically been limited in the North American context owing in part to their costly implementation and operational challenges. Both to overcome these barriers and to demonstrate the benefits of DMAs, a leakage testing programme was undertaken in Ontario, Canada. Novelty arises from the development and deployment of a mobile testing unit specifically designed to collect minimum night flow (MNF) and pressure data into temporarily configured DMAs. Moreover, activation of a pressure reducing valve facilitated the direct testing of pressure modulation on leakage reduction. The mobile unit was deployed in 22 DMAs across eight water systems with results indicating a clear relationship between MNFs and system characteristics for well-performing DMAs. MNF benchmarks were quantified to enable an evidence-based assessment of leakage performance at the DMA level in typical Canadian water systems. This project established the proof-of-concept of the mobile unit for providing both accurate and reliable measurements of key leakage performance characteristics and for predicting leakage reduction following system interventions.

Investigation of Upgraded Technology for Plasma Spraying of Bronze Powder Using the Combined Process with Hydrocarbon Additions

The object of the research is thermal spray process for the formation of metal coating from bronze powder in plasma-fuel variant, using direct current (DC) electric arc plasma torch, on steel samples. The aim of the work was to investigate and develop the technology for plasma-fuel spraying of functional coatings (for wear-resistant and antimicrobial applications) on machine-building and medical purpose pieces with increased process capacity and moderate energy consumptions in a comparison with conventional thermal spray technologies with use of inert and oxygen-free gas media. During the study, using experimental and thermodynamic estimation methods, the thermal and chemical parameters of the process under the spraying conditions at ambient pressure were characterized, which made it possible to determine the area of preferred regimes of the developed technology. On the modernized testing unit for plasma spraying of metal powders with power of up to 40 kW, operating using a controlled combination of three types of gases – technical nitrogen and propane-butane (LPG) with compressed air, the measurement and optimization of the operating and constructive/assembling parameters of the system for aluminum bronze coating spraying were established. In this case, the experiments were carried out using the designed fuel intensifier, which is joined with the PP-25 arc plasma torch, as well as additional technological equipment (protective shroud). For samples of the resulting coatings with a thickness of 100 to 450 mm from the bronze material, testing of phase composition and some parameters of the resulting coatings on steel products was carried out. Operating capacity of the proposed process reaches 7–15 kg/h for bronze powder when using a moderate power of the torch – up to 35–40 kW and a limited flow rate of hydrocarbon gas (for example, LPG of the SPBT grade) – 0.1–0.35 kg/h. Analysis of the energy efficiency parameters of the developed technology, as well as its calculated technical characteristics, in a comparison with plasma and combined equipment of a similar purpose, showed that it has an advantage in terms of target indicators, in particular, in terms of energy consumption and total energy efficiency of the spraying unit, not less than 20–30 %. This makes it to proceed later to the stage of application of this technology into production based on a new process for the metal coating formation, in particular with antimicrobial properties, with improved energy efficiency of the process.

Rapid identification of chronic kidney disease in electronic health record database using computable phenotype combining a common data model.

Rapid identification of chronic kidney disease in electronic health record database using computable phenotype combining a common data model.

Reliability Estimation under Normal Operating Conditions for Progressively Type-II XLindley Censored Data

This paper assumes constant-stress accelerated life tests when the lifespan of the test units follows the XLindley distribution. In addition to the maximum likelihood estimation, the Bayesian estimation of the model parameters is acquired based on progressively Type-II censored samples. The point and interval estimations of the model parameters and some reliability indices under normal operating conditions at mission time are derived using both estimation methods. Using the Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm, the Bayes estimates are calculated using the squared error loss function. Simulating the performances of the different estimation methods is performed to illustrate the proposed methodology. As an example of how the proposed methods can be applied, we look at two real-life accelerated life test cases. According to the numerical outcomes and based on some criteria, including the root of the mean square error and interval length, we can conclude that the Bayesian estimation method based on the Markov chain Monte Carlo procedure performs better than the classical methods in evaluating the XLindley parameters and some of its reliability measures when a constant-stress accelerated life test is applied with progressively Type-II censoring.

Experiment Design of Precast Small Box Girder and CIP Hidden Bent Cap Structural System

In order to effectively reduce the structure height, this paper proposes a structure with integral connection of precast small box girders and CIP hidden bent cap. A 40% scale specimen was designed suitable for hidden bent cap system. To test the feasibility of the connection, a single girder model of test unit was established using finite element analysis program. The analysis results were used to predict the test results and to ensure that the behavior of the test specimens during the test was consistent with that of the prototype. The simulation results showed that the overall stress distribution was presented tensile at the top and compressive at the bottom, with the ratio of maximum tensile stress to maximum compressive stress at approximately 33%.

Pemanfaatan Media Sosial Instagram Sebagai Media Pembelajaran Bahasa Jepang

Due to the covid-19 pandemic, online platform has made learning more flexible. However, in its implementation, there are obstacles that hinder learning to achieve its goals. Instagram, a social media platform for sharing photos and videos, is one of the most popular social media among millennials. The existence of Instagram as an alternative learning tool makes it possible to supports the achievement of learning objectives, especially language learning. The purpose of this study was to identify the use of social media Instagram as a medium for learning Japanese. This study uses the method of observation and documentation. The data objects are learning content and Instagram features utilization of five content accounts of Japanese language learning creators in Indonesia, namely @auliasenpai, @kejepangan, @harumon.japanese, @jepangeasy and @nihongo.monggo accounts. The results of the study indicate that Instagram social media can be an alternative medium for learning Japanese by utilizing existing Instagram features to create learning content. The types of material themes found in the data are Japanese linguistic, historical and cultural materials. Besides, the introduced Japanese language learning material was diverse, containing linguistic materials which introduce idioms, expressions and several others. These accounts also address JLPT or Noryokushiken test units.

THE INFLUENCE OF COMPENSATION JUSTICE FACTORS, GOVERNMENT INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS, AND ORGANIZATIONAL ETHICS ON CORRUPTION IN THE GOVERNMENT SECTOR WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AS A MODERATING VARIABLE

This study aims to examine The Influence of Compensation Justice, Government Internal Control Systems, and Organizational Ethics Factors, Against Corruption in The Government Sector with Law Enforcement as a Moderating Variable. The object of research is the work unit within the Human Resources Development Agency of Transportation by the number of respondents as many as 101 people were deliberately selected employees who handle financing activities, budgeting activities, assets management, and human resource departments. The type of data used is primary data and using multiple regression analysis was processed using SPSS 26.0. This study was designed using descriptive causal analysis and test the hypothesis by taking a test unit at the Human Resources Development Agency of Transportation. Data obtained through questionnaires, the sample is selected with the specific purpose (purposive sampling) and the data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. The results showed that the Organizational Ethics, and Government Internal Control System moderated by Law Enforcement give effect to Corruption, while the Compensation Justice, Government Internal Control System and Compensation Justice, Organizational Ethics moderated by Law Enforcement do not affect the Corruption. Based on the results, the training, education, and develop the code of ethics can improve the quality of human resources of The Government Internal Supervisory Apparatus.