Dynamic Testing Techniques of Non-Functional Requirements in Mobile Apps: A Systematic Mapping Study

Context: The mobile app market is continually growing offering solutions to almost all aspects of people’s lives, e.g., healthcare, business, entertainment, as well as the stakeholders’ demand for apps that are more secure, portable, easy to use, among other non-functional requirements (NFRs). Therefore, manufacturers should guarantee that their mobile apps achieve high-quality levels. A good strategy is to include software testing and quality assurance activities during the whole life cycle of such solutions. Problem: Systematically warranting NFRs is not an easy task for any software product. Software engineers must take important decisions before adopting testing techniques and automation tools to support such endeavors. Proposal: To provide to the software engineers with a broad overview of existing dynamic techniques and automation tools for testing mobile apps regarding NFRs. Methods: We planned and conducted a Systematic Mapping Study (SMS) following well-established guidelines for executing secondary studies in software engineering. Results: We found 56 primary studies and characterized their contributions based on testing strategies, testing approaches, explored mobile platforms, and the proposed tools. Conclusions: The characterization allowed us to identify and discuss important trends and opportunities that can benefit both academics and practitioners.

Overview on Oscillating Water Column Devices

Oscillating-water-column (OWC) converters, of fixed structure or floating, are an important class of wave energy devices. A large part of wave energy converter prototypes deployed so far into the sea are of OWC type. The paper presents a review of recent advances in OWC technology, including sea-tested prototypes and plants, new concepts, air turbines, model testing techniques and control.

CaCO3 Polymorphs Used as Additives in Filament Production for 3D Printing

Nowadays, additive manufacturing—also called 3D printing—represents a well-established technology in the field of the processing of various types of materials manufacturing products used in many industrial sectors. The most common type of 3D printing uses the fused filament fabrication (FFF) method, in which materials based on thermoplastics or elastomers are processed into filaments. Much effort was dedicated to improving the properties and processing of such printed filaments, and various types of inorganic and organic additives have been found to play a beneficial role. One of them, calcium carbonate (CaCO3), is standardly used as filler for the processing of polymeric materials. However, it is well-known from its different applications that CaCO3 crystals may represent particles of different morphologies and shapes that may have a crucial impact on the final properties of the resulting products. For this reason, three different synthetic polymorphs of CaCO3 (aragonite, calcite, and vaterite) and commercially available calcite powders were applied as fillers for the fabrication of polymeric filaments. Analysis of obtained data from different testing techniques has shown significant influence of filament properties depending on the type of applied CaCO3 polymorph. Aragonite particles showed a beneficial impact on the mechanical properties of produced filaments. The obtained results may help to fabricate products with enhanced properties using 3D printing FFF technology.

Environmental Sanitation in Heredia

Costa Rica is recognized for its efforts in sustainable development. This study analyzes the challenges of environmental sanitation to articulate environmental management in the Canton of Heredia. Currently, the country faces significant challenges regarding access to water and environmental sanitation. This research contributes to the analysis of the challenges of the environmental sanitation system in this territory. The testing techniques and photographic registration in the impact area, along with the interviews with employees and professionals on the subject, and extensive bibliographic consultation support this methodology. The study's conclusions regarding the challenges of environmental sanitation are 1) legal and institutional framework faced by the environmental sanitation project of the Publics Services Company of Heredia (ESPH for its initials in Spanish), 2) strategy for the treatment of sanitary waters in the canton, and 3) improvement in the quality of life of the Heredia's citizens.

PENGALAMAN KERJA, PELATIHAN KERJA, IKLIM OGANISASI DAN PENGARUHNYA TERHADAP KINERJA KARYAWAN PT. TRENGGINAS JAYA

Thiss study aims to determine work experience, job training, organizational climate, and its influence on employee performance at PT. Trengginas Jaya either partially or simultaneously. The sample used as many as 30 employees. This research uses descriptive and verification methods. Hypothesis testing techniques T-test and F-test and data analysis techniques for Multiple Linear Regression using SPSS v25 for Windowss software. The result of this study indicate that there is a significant effect of work experience, job training, and organizational climate on employee performance simultaneously of 26.907. In addition, work experience, job training, and organizational climate also partially have a significant effect on employe performance. Among these variables, partially Work Experience has a significantly greater level than the other three variables, which is 3.778

Investigation and Application of Fractal Theory in Cement-Based Materials: A Review

Cement-based materials, including cement and concrete, are the most widely used construction materials in the world. In recent years, the investigation and application of fractal theory in cement-based materials have attracted a large amount of attention worldwide. The microstructures of cement-based materials, such as the pore structures, the mesostructures, such as air voids, and the morphological features of powders, as well as the fracture surfaces and cracks, commonly present extremely complex and irregular characteristics that are difficult to describe in terms of geometry but that can be studied by fractal theory. This paper summarizes the latest progress in the investigation and application of fractal theory in cement-based materials. Firstly, this paper summarizes the principles and classification of the seven fractal dimensions commonly used in cement-based materials. These fractal dimensions have different physical meanings since they are obtained from various testing techniques and fractal models. Then, the testing techniques and fractal models for testing and calculating these fractal dimensions are introduced and analyzed individually, such as the mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP), nitrogen adsorption/desorption (NAD), and Zhang’s model, Neimark’s model, etc. Finally, the applications of these fractal dimensions in investigating the macroproperties of cement-based materials are summarized and discussed. These properties mainly include the mechanical properties, volumetric stability, durability (e.g., permeability, frost and corrosion resistance), fracture mechanics, as well as the evaluation of the pozzolanic reactivity of the mineral materials and the dispersion state of the powders.

A Toolkit for the Investigation of Greek EFL Teachers’ Assessment Literacy

The role of assessment in a learner-centred environment is considered to be significant for both learners and teachers. Most of the time, however, it is used in traditional ways and ignores learners’ individual needs. Based on the results of a survey conducted in 2019, in which a questionnaire was administered to a hundred and twenty EFL teachers, the present study aims to investigate Greek EFL teachers’ responses to communicative testing techniques and their awareness of assessment methods and principles. The aforementioned survey revealed that the majority of EFL teachers in the Greek educational context use traditional tests to assess their students and, although they are aware of alternative assessment methods and the benefits they offer, they fail to employ them. Thus, a 106-item tool was created in order to help teachers design, develop, and critically evaluate tests, as well as reflect on their assessment techniques to promote the use of alternative assessment and supplement the teachers’ theoretical knowledge and experience. Ninety-three EFL teachers evaluated themselves and rated their practices through the toolkit to find out the type of assessors that they are. The findings revealed that a lot of the participants are aware of the key principles of assessment and try to assess the four skills in a communicative and authentic way to a great extent, but most of them are mainstream assessors. The findings can be used to help design samples of authentic tasks for all skills and assessment-related teacher training material.

Influence of Prominent Temperature on the Compressive Strength of Self Compacting Concrete

In an extensive research scenario, the self-compacting concrete influence a major role in the advanced construction technology which gives the higher impact on its strength and durability of the structure, for its assessment there were various types of physical and chemical testing techniques are available. In this article the work represents the compressive strength of self-compacting concrete in various temperature testing like 200o C and 400 o C with the consideration of 100% cement and different mix proportion of admixtures for the replaceable of cement like Fly-ash with 30% and 15% and GGBFS 30% and 15% and the addition of polypropylene fibre with 1% and 2% with all of its mix proportion. The fundamental tests of the concrete are performed as per the Indian Standard code. The results indicate that an enhancement of compressive strength at the maximum optimized temperature.

The Problem of the Colorectal Anastomosis

Colorectal anastomosis is defined as a surgical procedure in which the colon is attached to the remainder of the rectum after most or some part of it was removed during an intervention. A straight colorectal anastomosis implies a direct attachment, while a J-pouch colorectal anastomosis implies a previous creation of a reservoir, or “pouch” out of bowel material. The problem of colorectal anastomosis safety and outcome is among the most important and persistent issues in colorectal surgery, mainly due to the anastomotic leakage, a threatening and dangerous complication, with an incidence of up to 20% or even more in case of surgical oncology. Various prediction models and anastomosis testing techniques have been described in order to prevent or identify early any possible imperfection of the anastomosis, each with pros and cons. The measures generally used to increase the safety and reliability of the colorectal anastomosis are to evaluate the blood supply of the tissues anastomosed with indocyanine green, or to test the mechanical integrity of the anastomosis for leakage by employing air, methylene blue, or tension.

SP2.2.13Audit to evaluate the use of tumor marker CEA in a level 3 hospital

Background Tumor markers play an important role in cancer cases and their application in practice needs an understanding of its pathophysiology, testing techniques, range of values and their role in any given malignancy. The appropriate use of tumor marker testing is facilitated by national and international guidelines, inappropriate use increases both the laboratory workload and cost. In this study, we evaluated the appropriateness of ordering the tumour marker Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) in a Model 3 general hospital. Methods A single centre retrospective audit was conducted between 1st to 31st October 2020. Patients demographics and admitting consultants details were obtained through HSE online Lab Web Enquiry system. Files were reviewed for indications using the guidelines by the Association of Clinical Biochemists Ireland (ACBI). Results A total of 52 tests were ordered over the month, 38 (73.1%) of these tests were ordered correctly following ACBI guidelines. The remaining 14 (26.9%) tests were ordered inappropriately. 50% (26/52) of the total tests were ordered by oncology, 31% (16/52) by General Surgeon and the remaining 19% (10/52) by other specialities. No inappropriate tests were ordered by Oncology, inappropriate tests ordered by General Surgery were 35.7% (5/14) and 64.3% (9/14) by other Specialities. Conclusion Nearly 26% of the tests were ordered inappropriately and did not comply with published ACBI guidelines and cost 294 Euros. The tumour marker CEA is not useful as the initial work up of nonspecific complaints. Its main use is surveillance after curative resection and for monitoring treatment for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.