Testing Programs Research Articles

Extrapolation methods: development, application and validation of novel methods: advanced testing concepts

To allow for an accelerated determination of creep properties, several analytically based as well as experimentally based extrapolation methods have been developed in the past. In contrast to experimental methods, analytical methods are already introduced and genuinely used in praxis. Especially in the context of creep of metallic high temperature materials fundamental research work providing guidelines and concepts for the application of experimentally based extrapolation methods are strongly demanded, yet missing. With that, this publication focuses on the examination of experimentally based extrapolation methods particularly with regard to accelerated determination of creep properties required for high temperature applications. Results and conclusions of recently finished research works will be presented, which subjected a variety of accelerated testing methods on the basis of comprehensive experimental testing programs. Individual influencing factors and sensitivities as well as the application possibilities and restrictions regarding different types of heat resistant steels were determined and discussed. . Abbreviations ACT: Accelerated Creep Test; CA: Combinatory Approach; CCT: Conventional Creep Test; tu, tp1: Rupture Time, Time to 1% Strain; MAT Main Application Temperature; r1,r2,r3: Variants of Accelerated Creep Test; MG: Monkman-Grant; S1, …,S5: Step of Accel. Creep Test/Relaxation Test; ReT: Relaxation Test; Type A, …,E: Type of Combinatory Approach; TTP: Time-Temperature-Parameter

IDF21-0304 ELSA Study: EarLy Surveillance for Autoimmune diabetes in the UK

Background: Multiple autoantibody testing identifies children with pre-symptomatic type 1 diabetes (T1D) and is able to stratify those at risk over a 10–15-year period. Identifying children at risk reduces the rates of DKA at presentation and allows them to participate in clinical trials for T1D prevention. T1D general population testing programmes have been trialled in the US and Germany and found a pre-symptomatic T1D rate of 0.3%, achieved a reduction in diabetic ketoacidosis rates from 20% to 5%, and were considered acceptable to families.

Construction of Plastic Concrete Seepage Cut-Off Wall for Polavaram Earth Cum Rockfill Dam

Abstract: Polavaram Project is being executed on River Godavari near Ramayyapeta village of Polavaram Mandal, West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh. This multipurpose major project envisages construction of 2454m long Earth-cum-Rock fill (ECRF) dam across river Godavari near Polavaram with a maximum height of 50.32m. The proposed ECRF dam will be founded on a bed of sand. The depth of sand bed over the underlying rock strata varies from 30m to 90m at different location. To restrict the flow of seepage water through the sand bed, a plastic concrete diaphragm wall/Cut-Off wall is proposed with its top end embedded in the clay core of the ECRF Dam and the bottom end embedded into underlying hard rock. The wall was constructed of plastic concrete using panel construction method. Plastic concrete was selected to provide a seepage Cut-Off wall that has sufficient strength to withstand both static and seismic stresses beneath the new embankment, and yet is flexible enough to undergo seismic deformations, without cracking, with the surrounding soils. This paper illustrates the construction of the plastic concrete Cut-Off wall for the Polavaram ECRF dam, including the field and laboratory testing performed to confirm design wall stiffness, strength, and hydraulic conductivity requirements. The trial laboratory and field testing programs to determine plastic concrete mix design, and the QA/QC testing conducted during construction are presented. Keywords: ECRF, Plastic concrete, Cut-Off wall, Hydraulic grab, Trench cutter, Koden, Tremie

Genome-wide association analysis for susceptibility to infection by Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis in US Holsteins

Paratuberculosis, or Johne's disease, is a chronic, granulomatous, gastrointestinal tract disease of cattle and other ruminants caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Control of Johne's disease is based on programs of testing and culling animals positive for infection with MAP and concurrently modifying management to reduce the likelihood of infection. The current study was motivated by the hypothesis that genetic variation in host susceptibility to MAP infection can be dissected and quantifiable associations with genetic markers identified. Two separate GWAS analyses were conducted, the first using 897 genotyped Holstein artificial insemination sires with phenotypes derived from incidence of MAP infection among daughters based on milk ELISA testing records. The second GWAS analysis was a case-control design using US Holstein cows phenotyped for MAP infection by serum ELISA or fecal culture tests. Cases included cows positive for either serum ELISA, fecal culture, or both. Controls consisted of animals negative for all tests conducted. A total of 376 samples (70 cases and 306 controls) from a University of Minnesota Johne's management demonstration project and 184 samples (76 cases and 108 controls) from a Michigan State University study were used. Medium-density (sires) and high-density (cows) genotype data were imputed to full genome sequence for the analyses. Marker-trait associations were analyzed using the single-step (ss)GWAS procedure implemented in the BLUPF90 suite of programs. Evidence of significant genomic contributions for susceptibility to MAP infection were observed on multiple chromosomes. Results were combined across studies in a meta-analysis, and increased support for genomic regions on BTA7 and BTA21 were observed. Gene set enrichment analysis suggested pathways for antigen processing and presentation, antimicrobial peptides and natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity are relevant to variation in host susceptibility to MAP infection, among others. Genomic prediction was evaluated using a 5-fold cross-validation, and moderate correlations were observed between genomic breeding value predictions and daughter averages (∼0.43 to 0.53) for MAP infection in testing data sets. These results suggest that genomic selection against susceptibility to MAP infection is feasible in Holstein cattle.

Ageing surveillance programmes in Swiss nuclear power plants

Abstract Ageing surveillance programmes for Swiss nuclear power plants were started about ten years ago. The following contribution gives an overview of these programmes. They deal with ageing phenomena of materials of mechanical and electrical components, as well as civil structures. For each safety relevant component, the known ageing mechanisms are identified, and the maintenance, testing, inspection and monitoring programmes are then examined with respect to their suitability for detecting the ageing degradation. Programmes and procedures may be adjusted, or new ones introduced to ensure state of science and technology ageing surveillance. Documentation of the plant-specific ageing surveillance programmes is prepared by the nuclear power plant operators and given to the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate for assessment. Experience with the ageing surveillance programmes over the last ten years shows favourable results for the monitoring of ageing and safe operation of the plants.

Follow-up study on indoor radon levels in Irish schools after a National School Survey and remediation programme

Background: A National Survey of Radon in Irish Schools was carried out by the Department of Education and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (formerly the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland) between 1998 and 2004. Then, a remediation programme was developed and implemented in the schools with elevated radon levels.
 Objectives: To determine the durability of the remediation systems 10–17 years post-installation and to study the effect of radon awareness on follow-up programmes, radon retests were performed in 16 schools that had some form of remediation implemented.
 Design: The schools were chosen based on the data of the National Survey for Irish Schools and the post-remediation survey. A total of 276 rooms were tested for radon using CR-39 etched track detectors supplied by the EPA. Short questionnaires were given to the school principals to gather information about the level of radon awareness, remediation maintenance and retesting policies.
 Results: An increasing trend in the radon concentration with time was found in some schools. Potential factors contributing to this rise are lack of maintenance, lack of follow-up testing programmes and knowledge lost due to staff turnover. The results showed that 26% of the rooms which had remediation installed had risen to above the Department of Education’s reference level for schools of 200 Bq/m3 again and 10% to above 400 Bq/m3. Through case studies and questionnaires, radon awareness in schools was observed to be correlated with an ability to maintain radon concentrations below the reference level. Although the National Survey of Radon in Irish Schools is to be commended for its exhaustive completeness, many schools in this project were unaware of the remediation system installed. Only 15% of the schools in this study remember or have records of regularly checking or servicing their remediation systems.
 Conclusions: Retesting for radon is crucial in indicating where remediation methods are less effective or have failed. A follow-up programme to retest for radon and to ensure maintenance of remediation systems should be implemented.

World Tuberculosis Day 2022: aligning COVID-19 and tuberculosis innovations to save lives and to end tuberculosis

World Tuberculosis Day 2022: aligning COVID-19 and tuberculosis innovations to save lives and to end tuberculosis

Assessing the Impact of Equating Error on Group Means and Group Mean Differences

AbstractEquating error is usually small relative to the magnitude of measurement error, but it could be one of the major sources of error contributing to mean scores of large groups in educational measurement, such as the year‐to‐year state mean score fluctuations. Though testing programs may routinely calculate the standard error of equating (SEE), the commonly used summary statistics of SEE are not direct quantifications of the impact of equating error on group means. This article proposed summary statistics that directly quantify the impact of equating error on group means or group mean differences and provided empirical and analytical methods to estimate these statistics. Examples based on empirical data were used to illustrate practical applications of these statistics.

Debut Single

The Beechcraft Denali's new engine and airframe requires one of the most comprehensive testing programs for a general aviation aircraft in decades

Digital Module 28: Unusual Things That Usually Occur in a Credentialing Testing Program

AbstractFormal graduate education in a measurement related field provides a solid foundation for professionals who work on credentialing examinations. Those foundational skills are then expanded and refined over time as practitioners encounter complex and nuanced challenges that were not covered by or go beyond the context described in textbooks. For instance, as most of us who work on operational testing programs are (sometimes) painfully aware, real data can be very messy. Often unanticipated situations arise that can create a range of problems from threats to score validity, to unexpected financial costs, and even longer‐term reputational damage. In practice, solutions for these unanticipated situations are not always straightforward, often requiring a compromise between psychometric best practices, business resources, and needs of the customer. In this module we discuss some of these unusual challenges that usually occur in a credentialing program. First, we provide a high‐level summary of the main components of the assessment lifecycle and the different roles within a testing organization. Next, we propose a framework for qualifying risk along with various considerations and potential actions for managing these challenges. Lastly, we integrate this information by presenting a few scenarios that can occur in practice that should help learners think though applicable team‐based problem‐solving and better align recommended action from a psychometric perspective given the context and magnitude of the challenge.

Mixed‐methods exploration of views on choice in a university asymptomatic COVID‐19 testing programme

Asymptomatic COVID‐19 testing programmes are being introduced in higher education institutions, but stakeholder views regarding the acceptability of mandating or incentivizing participation remain little understood. A mixed‐method study (semi‐structured interviews and a survey including open and closed questions) was undertaken in a case study university with a student testing programme. Survey data were analysed descriptively; analysis for interviews was based on the framework method. Two hundred and thirty‐nine people participated in the study: 213 in the survey (189 students, 24 staff), and 26 in interviews (19 students, 7 staff). There was majority (62%) but not universal support for voluntary participation, with a range of concerns expressed about the potentially negative effects of mandating testing. Those who supported mandatory testing tended to do so on the grounds that it would protect others. There was also majority (64%) opposition to penalties for refusing to test. Views on restricting access to face‐to‐face teaching for non‐participants were polarized. Three‐quarters (75%) supported incentives, though there were some concerns about effectiveness and unintended consequences. Participants emphasized the importance of communication about the potential benefits of testing. Preserving the voluntariness of participation in student asymptomatic testing programmes is likely to be the most ethically sound policy unless circumstances change.

The Importance of Prisons in Achieving Hepatitis C Elimination: Insights from the Australian Experience.

Following the availability of highly effective direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) to treat hepatitis C infection, the uptake of treatment by people living with hepatitis C rose dramatically in high- and middle-income countries but has since declined. To achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2030 target to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat among people who inject drugs, an increase in testing and treatment is required, together with improved coverage of harm reduction interventions. The population that remains to be treated in high- and middle-income countries with high hepatitis C prevalence are among the most socially disadvantaged, including people who inject drugs and are involved in the criminal justice system, a group with disproportionate hepatitis C prevalence, compared with people in the wider community. Imprisonment provides an unrivalled opportunity for screening and treating large numbers of people for hepatitis C, who may not access mainstream health services in the community. Despite some implementation challenges, evidence of the efficacy, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of in-prison hepatitis treatment programs is increasing worldwide, and evaluations of these programs have demonstrated the capacity for treating people in high numbers. In this Perspective we argue that the scale-up of hepatitis C prevention, testing, and treatment programs in prisons, along with the investigation of new and adapted approaches, is critical to achieving WHO elimination goals in many regions; the Australian experience is highlighted as a case example. We conclude by discussing opportunities to improve access to prevention, testing, and treatment for people in prison and other justice-involved populations, including harnessing the changed practices brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using Andersen\u2019s model of health care utilization to assess factors associated with COVID-19 testing among adults in nine low-and middle-income countries: an online survey

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate, using Andersen’s model of health care utilization, factors associated with COVID-19 testing among adults in nine low- and middle- income countries.MethodsIn between 10 December 2020 and 9 February 2021, an online survey was organized in nine low- and middle-income countries. In total 10,183 adults (median age 45 years, interquartile range 33–57 years, range 18–93 years), including 6470 from Brazil, 1738 Malaysia, 1124 Thailand, 230 Bangladesh, 219 DR Congo, 159 Benin, 107 Uganda, 81 Malawi and 55 from Mali participated in the study. COVID-19 testing/infection status was assessed by self-report.ResultsOf the 10,183 participants, 40.3% had ever tested for COVID-19, 7.3% tested positive, and 33.0% tested negative. In an adjusted logistic regression model, predisposing factors (residing in Brazil, postgraduate education), enabling/disabling factors (urban residence, higher perceived economic status, being a student or worker in the health care sector, and moderate or severe psychological distress), and need factors (having at least one chronic condition) increased the odds of COVID-19 testing. Among those who were tested, participants residing in Bangladesh, those who had moderate to severe psychological distress were positively associated with COVID-19 positive diagnosis. Participants who are residing in Malaysia and Thailand, and those who had higher education were negatively associated with a COVID-19 positive diagnosis. Considering all participants, higher perceived economic status, being a student or worker in the health sector, and moderate or severe psychological distress were positively associated with a COVID-19 positive diagnosis, and residing in Malaysia, Thailand or five African countries was negatively associated with a COVID-19 positive diagnosis.ConclusionA high rate of COVID-19 testing among adults was reported in nine low-and middle-income countries. However, access to testing needs to be increased in Africa. Moreover, COVID-19 testing programmes need to target persons of lower economic status and education level who are less tested but most at risk for COVID-19 infection.

Large-scale implementation of rapid antigen testing system for COVID-19 in workplaces.

The transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in workplaces has been a persistent issue throughout the pandemic. In response, a not-for-profit initiative emerged to mitigate COVID-19 workplace transmission in Canada. We report the process for establishing a workplace frequent rapid antigen test (RAT) program. The screening program identified 473 asymptomatic individuals who tested positive on the RAT and confirmed positive by a nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic test. One in 4300 RATs was presumptive positive but later tested PCR negative, and thus, false positives did not meaningfully disrupt workplace operations. Most employers rated the program highly and felt strongly that the program contributed to workplace and community safety. The findings describe a sustained and scalable implementation plan for establishing a frequent workplace testing program. High-frequency testing programs offer the potential to break chains of transmission and act as an extra layer of protection in a comprehensive public health response.

Modelling of Environmental Ageing of Polymers and Polymer Composites-Durability Prediction Methods.

Polymers and polymer composites are negatively impacted by environmental ageing, reducing their service lifetimes. The uncertainty of the material interaction with the environment compromises their superior strength and stiffness. Validation of new composite materials and structures often involves lengthy and expensive testing programs. Therefore, modelling is an affordable alternative that can partly replace extensive testing and thus reduce validation costs. Durability prediction models are often subject to conflicting requirements of versatility and minimum experimental efforts required for their validation. Based on physical observations of composite macroproperties, engineering and phenomenological models provide manageable representations of complex mechanistic models. This review offers a systematised overview of the state-of-the-art models and accelerated testing methodologies for predicting the long-term mechanical performance of polymers and polymer composites. Accelerated testing methods for predicting static, creep, and fatig ue lifetime of various polymers and polymer composites under environmental factors’ single or coupled influence are overviewed. Service lifetimes are predicted by means of degradation rate models, superposition principles, and parametrisation techniques. This review is a continuation of the authors’ work on modelling environmental ageing of polymer composites: the first part of the review covered multiscale and modular modelling methods of environmental degradation. The present work is focused on modelling engineering mechanical properties.

Quantitation of Phenolic Benzotriazole Class Compounds in Plasma by Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Phenolic benzotriazoles are used as ultraviolet stabilizers in consumer products and have been detected in the environment suggesting potential human exposure. Phenolic benzotriazoles were nominated to the Division of National Toxicology Program for testing based on their potential widespread human exposure and lack of adequate toxicity data. Nine chemicals were selected for toxicological evaluation, representing unsubstituted (2-(2H-benzotriazole-2-yl)phenol, (P-BZT)), monosubstituted (drometrizole; 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-tert-butylphenol (tBu-BZT); octrizole), disubstituted (2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1-methyl-1-phenylethyl)phenol (diMeEtPh-BZT), 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1,1-dimethylpropyl)phenol (ditPe-BZT); 3-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-hydroxybenzenepropanoic acid, octylester (tBuPrOcEst-BZT) and halogenated trisubstituted (bumetrizole; 2-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)phenol (ditBuCl-BZT)) compounds. Different extraction methods were utilized and methods were developed to determine phenolic benzotriazoles by quantitating free (unconjugated parent) and total (free and conjugated parent) analytes in plasma of rats to aid in interpretation of toxicity data, understanding of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion differences. The calibration standard range was from 1 to 500 ng/mL for free analytes and 1 to 1000 ng/mL for total analytes. The methods were linear (r2 ≥ 0.99). The accuracy was determined as the relative error (RE) and ranged from −18.2 to +17.8, and precision as the relative standard deviation (RSD) and ranged from 0.0 to 20.1% for both free and total plasma calibration standards, respectively. The limits of quantitation were ≤5.0 and 10.0 ng/mL and limit of detection ≤ 1.2 and 2.0 ng/mL, for free and total analytes, respectively. These results demonstrate that the methods are suitable for quantitation of free and total analytes in rat plasma.

Urban working groups in the IAEA’s model testing programmes: overview from the MODARIA I and MODARIA II programmes

The IAEA’s model testing programmes have included a series of Working Groups concerned with modelling radioactive contamination in urban environments. These have included the Urban Working Group of Validation of Environmental Model Predictions (1988–1994), the Urban Remediation Working Group of Environmental Modelling for Radiation Safety (EMRAS) (2003–2007), the Urban Areas Working Group of EMRAS II (2009–2011), the Urban Environments Working Group of (Modelling and Data for Radiological Impact Assessments) MODARIA I (2013–2015), and most recently, the Urban Exposures Working Group of MODARIA II (2016–2019). The overarching objective of these Working Groups has been to test and improve the capabilities of computer models used to assess radioactive contamination in urban environments, including dispersion and deposition processes, short-term and long-term redistribution of contaminants following deposition events, and the effectiveness of various countermeasures and other protective actions, including remedial actions, in reducing contamination levels, human exposures, and doses to humans. This paper describes the exercises conducted during the MODARIA I and MODARIA II programmes. These exercises have included short-range and mid-range atmospheric dispersion exercises based on data from field tests or tracer studies, hypothetical urban dispersion exercises, and an exercise based on data collected after the Fukushima Daiichi accident. Improvement of model capabilities will lead to improvements in assessing various contamination scenarios (real or hypothetical), and in turn, to improved decision-making and communication with the public following a nuclear or radiological emergency.

Metamorphic relation prioritization for effective regression testing

SummaryMetamorphic testing (MT) is widely used for testing programs that face the oracle problem. It uses a set of metamorphic relations (MRs), which are relations among multiple inputs and their corresponding outputs to determine whether the program under test is faulty. Typically, MRs vary in their ability to detect faults in the program under test, and some MRs tend to detect the same set of faults. In this paper, we propose approaches to prioritize MRs to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of MT for regression testing. We present two MR prioritization approaches: (i) fault‐based and (ii) coverage‐based. To evaluate these MR prioritization approaches, we conduct experiments on three complex open‐source software systems. Our results show that the MR prioritization approaches developed by us significantly outperform the current practice of executing the source and follow‐up test cases of the MRs in an ad‐hoc manner in terms of fault detection effectiveness. Further, fault‐based MR prioritization leads to reducing the number of source and follow‐up test cases that needs to be executed as well as reducing the average time taken to detect a fault, which would result in saving time and cost during the testing process.

Is faster better? An economic evaluation of rapid and ultra-rapid genomic testing in critically ill infants and children

PurposeTo evaluate whether the additional cost of providing increasingly faster genomic results in pediatric critical care is outweighed by reductions in health care costs and increases in personal utility. MethodsHospital costs and medical files from a cohort of 40 children were analyzed. The health economic impact of rapid and ultra-rapid genomic testing, with and without early initiation, relative to standard genomic testing was evaluated. ResultsShortening the time to results led to substantial economic and personal benefits. Early initiation of ultra-rapid genomic testing was the most cost-beneficial strategy, leading to a cost saving of AU$26,600 per child tested relative to standard genomic testing and a welfare gain of AU$12,000 per child tested. Implementation of early ultra-rapid testing of critically ill children is expected to lead to an annual cost saving of AU$7.3 million for the Australian health system and an aggregate welfare gain of AU$3.3 million, corresponding to a total net benefit of AU$10.6 million. ConclusionEarly initiation of ultra-rapid genomic testing can offer substantial economic and personal benefits. Future implementation of rapid genomic testing programs should focus not only on optimizing the laboratory workflow to achieve a fast turnaround time but also on changing clinical practice to expedite test initiation.

Source matters: a survey of cost variation for fecal immunochemical tests in primary care

BackgroundColorectal cancer (CRC) screening can improve health outcomes, but screening rates remain low across the US. Mailed fecal immunochemical tests (FIT) are an effective way to increase CRC screening rates, but is still underutilized. In particular, cost of FIT has not been explored in relation to practice characteristics, FIT selection, and screening outreach approaches.MethodsWe administered a cross-sectional survey drawing from prior validated measures to 252 primary care practices to assess characteristics and context that could affect the implementation of direct mail fecal testing programs, including the cost, source of test, and types of FIT used. We analyzed the range of costs for the tests, and identified practice and test procurement factors. We examined the distributions of practice characteristics for FIT use and costs answers using the non-parametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test. We used Pearson’s chi-squared test of association and interpreted a low p-value (e.g. < 0.05) as evidence of association between a given practice characteristic and knowing the cost of FIT or fecal occult blood test (FOBT).ResultsAmong the 84 viable practice survey responses, more than 10 different types of FIT/FOBTs were in use; 76% of practices used one of the five most common FIT types. Only 40 practices (48%) provided information on FIT costs. Thirteen (32%) of these practices received the tests for free while 27 (68%) paid for their tests; median reported cost of a FIT was $3.04, with a range from $0.83 to $6.41 per test. Costs were not statistically significantly different by FIT type. However, practices who received FITs from manufacturer’s vendors were more likely to know the cost (p = 0.0002) and, if known, report a higher cost (p = 0.0002).ConclusionsOur findings indicate that most practices without lab or health system supplied FITs are spending more to procure tests. Cost of FIT may impact the willingness of practices to distribute FITs through population outreach strategies, such as mailed FIT. Differences in the ability to obtain FIT tests in a cost-effective manner could have consequences for implementation of outreach programs that address colorectal cancer screening disparities in primary care practices.