System Test Planning of Software: An Optimization Approach

This paper extends an exponential reliability growth model to determine the optimal number of test cases to be executed for various use case scenarios during the system testing of software. An example demonstrates a practical application of the optimization model for system test planning.     

Effect of irrigation scheduling on grain yield and nitrogen use efficiency of irrigated wheat at Kadawa and Bakura,northern Nigeria

In this study the interaction of applied N with different irrigation schedules on grain yields and N use efficiency of wheat was investigated in two Inceptisols of the Nigerian savanna during 1978–80. Irrigation intervals ranged from 7 to 28 days at Kadawa and 5 to 10 days at Bakura while the N rates varied from 0 to 200 kg per ha. Both grain yield and N uptake increased significantly with increasing N rates at both the locations. The magnitude of increase in yield and N uptake decreased substantially when the irrigation interval became longer. This interaction was very pronounced at Bakura where the soil is highly porous, excessively drained and extremely poor in moisture retention capacity. Longer irrigation intervals produced grains with slightly higher N content but the difference was not significant. Higher N rates and fewer irrigations gave lower fertilizer N recovery.     

Rheological characteristics of coal tar and petroleum pitches with and without additives

An extensive study of rheological characteristics of coal tar and petroleum pitches with and without additives, namely, petroleum coke, natural graphite and carbon black has been made. It is found that all pitches, pure or mixed with a carbon additive are not Newtonian as reported in the literature, but behave Theologically as Bingham plastics with certain yield stress and plastic viscosity at all temperatures of measurement between 85–180°C. The yield stress and plastic viscosity both decrease with increase in temperature of the pitch. A pure petroleum pitch having the same softening point as that of a coal tar pitch is found to have a lower viscosity compared to that of the latter at all temperatures of measurement. This suggests that the criterion of softening point as a measure of suitability of a coal tar pitch binder in the manufacture of artificial carbon is not sufficient for petroleum pitches. Addition of ten parts of carbon black by weight of pitch results in a considerable decrease in viscosity change with temperature of the coal tar pitch compared to almost insignificant change in the case of the petroleum pitch of the same softening point. However, the addition of petroleum coke or natural graphite makes the pitch more viscous but does not change the temperature dependence of viscosity of either of the two types of pitches. The implications are discussed.     

The electrical and thermal conductivities of dilute copper-chromium alloys at low temperatures

Electrical and thermal conductivity measurements are reported on dilute copper-chromium alloys containing 32 and 50 at. ppm chromium, in their unannealed state and also after annealing at 530–550°C for 16 and 66 h in each case, under fore-vacuum. From the electrical resistivity measurements evidence of a possible cluster formation is obtained in the annealed sample. The electronic Lorenz number of the alloys increases with decrease of temperature in the temperature range 4.2–1.6 K. Lower temperature measurements might show a maximum around the Kondo temperature (～1 K) as predicted by the available theories on dilute magnetic alloys.     

Boundary Galerkin's method for three-dimensional finite element electromagnetic field computation

Electromagnetic field problems are often formulated as boundary value problems in unbounded regions. For this reason, the application of conventional numerical methods, such as the finite element method, is difficult. The paper describes a new technique to circumvent this difficulty. The technique is based on the reduction of the field equations in unbounded space to equivalent boundary Galerkin's criterion. Such criterion can be combined with the volume Galerkin's criterion for regions occupied by conductors. A new quasi-finite-element discretization based on the coupled boundary/volume Galerkin's criterion is presented.     

Electrophysiological assessment of primary cortical neurons genetically engineered using iron oxide nanoparticles

The development of safe technologies to genetically modify neurons is of great interest in regenerative neurology,for both translational and basic science applications.Such approaches have conventionally been heavily reliant on viral transduction methods,which have safety and production limitations.Magnetofection (magnet-assisted gene transfer using iron oxide nanoparticles as vectors) has emerged as a highly promising non-viral alternative for safe and reproducible genetic modification of neurons.Despite the high potential of this technology,there is an important gap in our knowledge of the safety of this approach,namely,whether it alters neuronal function in adverse ways,such as by altering neuronal excitability and signaling.We have investigated the effects of magnetofection in primary cortical neurons by examining neuronal excitability using the whole cell patch clamp technique.We found no evidence that magnetofection alters the voltage-dependent sodium and potassium ionic currents that underpin excitability.Our study provides important new data supporting magnetofection as a safe technology for bioengineering of neuronal cell populations.     

Finite element analysis of the skin effect in current carrying conductors

The current density distribution in a conductor of finite size is affected by the presence of eddy currents in the conductor. This phenomenon, generally known as skin effect, causes ohmic losses in the conductors and alters their magnetic induction. This paper presents an analysis of skin effect phenomena using the triangular finite element method. The results obtained by this method are compared with those of classical one-dimensional analysis for (i) a conductor in free space and (ii) a conductor in the presence of an iron boundary.     

Optimal redundancy of K-out-of-n:G system with two kinds of CCFs

This paper considers the problem of optimal redundancy of K-out-of-n:G systems. The model highlights the occurrence of two types of common-course failures, namely, lethal and non-lethal CCFs, in addition to random failures. The optimum number of redundant components (n^*) in K-out-of-n: G systems are derived with two types of CCF. The optimization is approached by a minimization of the mean cost rate (C₁(n^*)) which is established to be finite and unique. Numerical evidence indicates the reduction of optimal redundancy with two types of CCF when compared to random failures alone.     

Regeneration of a transplanted liver after right hepatic lobectomy

Liver regeneration has been described after heterotopic liver transplantation, small-for-size orthotopic liver transplantation and reduced-size liver transplantation. In this report, we document the regenerative response of a whole liver transplant to major resection for the first time. A right hepatic lobectomy for liver ischemia was performed in a 30-year-old female after transplantation for autoimmune disease of the liver. Volumetric analysis of computed tomography (CT) scans revealed a preoperative liver volume of 1,961 mL, whereas analysis of the 6-week posthepatectomy CT scan showed a volume of 1,820 mL. Factors influencing regeneration in the setting of a liver transplant include rejection, ischemia/thrombosis, infection, or cyclosporine hepatotrophic/hepatotoxic effects. These factors, balanced with the intrinsic ability of hepatocytes to achieve a standard liver volume, determine the extent of regeneration.