Evaluation of a Plasma hCG Method for Point of Care Testing with the Aim of Shortening Test-Turnaround-Times

Objective: To examine the correlation between plasma hCG results obtained with the new i-STAT&reg hCG point of care test with those concomitantly obtained from the central hospital laboratory utilizing the same patient samples. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional laboratory test evaluation. We compared plasma hCG results obtained with the i-STAT&reg hCG test (Abbott Point of Care, Princeton, NJ, USA) with Architect Ci8200 (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, USA). We also calculated the total coefficient of variation (CV) for the i-STAT&reg method. Results: The two methods showed a good linear correlation (R2 = 0.994;slope 1.03) and CV for the i-STAT&reg method was 2.1% - 5.2%. Conclusion: We suggest that the i-STAT&reg hCG blood assay could be used as a complement to urine hCG assays in clinical situations when rapid test results are needed and urine is not available.

Application of Rollout Strategy to Test Points Selection for Integer-Coded Fault Wise Table

Test points selection for integer-coded fault wise table is a discrete optimization problem. The global minimum set of test points can only be guaranteed by an exhaustive search which is eompurationally expensive. In this paper, this problem is formulated as a heuristic depth-first graph search problem at first. The graph node expanding method and rules are given. Then, rollout strategies are applied, which can be combined with the heuristic graph search algorithms, in a computationally more efficient manner than the optimal strategies, to obtain solutions superior to those using the greedy heuristic algorithms. The proposed rollout-based test points selection algorithm is illustrated and tested using an analog circuit and a set of simulated integer-coded fault wise tables. Computa- tional results are shown, which suggest that the rollout strategy policies are significantly better than other strategies.

Selection of Minimal Test Points Set for Integer-Coded Fault Wise Table

Test points selection for integer-coded fault wise table is a discrete optimization problem. On one hand, traditional exhaustive search method is computationally expensive. On the other hand, the space complexity of traditional exhaustive is low. A tradeoff method between the high time complexity and low space complexity is proposed. At first, a new fault-pair table is constructed based on the integer-coded fault wise table. The fault-pair table consists of two columns： one column represents fault pair and the other represents test points set that can distinguish the corresponding faults. Then, the rows are arranged in ascending order according to the cardinality of corresponding test points set. Thirdly, test points in the top rows are selected one by one until all fault pair are isolated. During the test points selection process, the rows that contain selected test points are deleted and then the dimension of fault-pair table decreases gradually. The proposed test points selection algorithm is illustrated and tested using an integercoded fault wise table derived from a real analog circuit. Computational results suggest show policies are better than the exhaustive strategy.

Damage Position of Concrete Beam Based on Test of Even Change Point

The quantitative analysis of damage position of concrete beam is established.The method of damage position free of models used in this paper is based on the variations of strain mode and test of even change point.The discrete model and the position criterion are presented.Numerical example is conducted,the result demonstrates that the method of damage position is correct and effective.

Bamboo Taper Effect on Center Point Bending Test

Bamboo became the best material choice for sustainable construction because it is fully renewable materials. Indonesian people traditionally choose bamboo for their housing since a long time ago. Bamboo stems usually have unique shape. Its geometrical shape assumed as tapered hollow pipe. This study aims to find the effect of bamboo taper to its strength properties on center point bending test. The ratio between the Modulus of Rupture （S~） calculated in the center point, and the maximum bending stress along the beam is called strength ratio of taper （Ct）. The theoretical calculation results Ct value is 1 if the taper lower than 0.023, while Ct value become lower if the taper is higher than 0.023. The survey on Ampel （Bambusa vulgaris Schrad.）, Tali （Gigantochloa apus （BI. Ex Schult. f） Kurz）, Gombong （Gigantochloa verticillata （Willd.） Munro）, and Mayan （Gigantochloa robusta Kurz.） found that the overall taper range is -0.0047-0.0088 and 0-0.0127 for inner and outer taper respectively. On that overall range the Ct value is always 1, so it is reasonable to ignore the taper effect on one point bending test.

Interpretation of data and treatment of Jing-well point temperatures test

The Jing-well point temperatures test method is a method to diagnose and guide the treatment of diseases by measuring the subjects' symmetrical well point temperature. it is improved from the method of knowing heat sensitivity. The application of Jing-well point temperatures test method is wide, and it can be used in internal and external gynecology and pediatrics and facial features department. at the same time, it has the advantage of objective and accurate diagnosis. The old law has some shortcomings, such as poor intuition, unavoidable omission of information, incomplete interpretation of information and so on. In this paper, Excel software is used to transform the data into line chart form, which improves the intuition and comprehensiveness of this method, so that the data can be better interpreted and used. It is newly proposed in this article that in addition to observing the longitudinal di fference of well point temperature, more attention should be paid to the horizontal contrast difference of well point temperature in different meridians. The article also summarizes a number of treatment methods, including acupuncture, moxa moxibustion, cupping and scraping, and the selection of acupoints, including mother acupoints, tenderness points and heat-sensitive moxibustion, so that doctors can combine traditional Chinese medicine professional knowledge in clinic.

Optimal Test Points Selection Based on Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm

A new approach to select anoptimal set of test points is proposed. The described method uses fault-wise table and multi-objective genetic algorithm to find the optimal set of test points. First, the fault-wise table is constructed whose entries are measurements associated with faults and test points. The selection of optimal test points is transformed to the selection of the columns that isolate the rows of the table. Then, four objectives are described according to practical test requirements. The multi-objective genetic algorithm is explained. Finally, the presented approach is illustrated by a practical example. The results indicate that the proposed method can efficiently and accurately find the optimal set of test points and is practical for large scale systems.

Investigation into engineering parameters of marls from Seydoon dam in Iran

The quality of designed structures embedded in rocks is strongly related to rock strength parameters of intact rock.Measuring different parameters from tests could be very expensive in designing phase of projects.Estimating some parameters from other ones can reduce costs and time of project procedure.In this paper,the relationships between static and dynamic parameters of marls are studied by using the single and multiple linear regressions.For this purpose,several marl core samples from Seydoon region,Khoozestan Province in Iran are collected and tested.Some equations with sufficient correlation have been obtained to predict the engineering parameters of marls,especially the uniaxial compressive strength(UCS).

A microfluidic device for accurate detection of hs-cTnI

This device is aimed at ensuring that the sample is uniformly and equivalently reacted with the antibody on the NC membrane in each test when the microfluidic liquid system is introduced to the chip.In this study,the developed microfluidic chip can avoid the presence of the sample and conjugate pads in the chip,while the precision of the chro matography system can be greatly improved using the same particles,NC membrane and antibody alongside the traditional strip.The results,taking the detection of cTnI as an example,revealed that the coefficient of variation(CV)is controlled within 4%,while the maximum record of the contrast chromatographic reagent strip can reach 15%.Additionally,the detection sensitivity can maintain the same order of magnitudes with that of the traditional chromatographic strip.With the results,the determination correlation of the developed microfluidic chip has been greatly improved.In addition,the CV of the chip in this study is greatly improved in comparison with that of the traditional strip.The biggest improvement lies in the mixing between the sample and the microspheres,indicating that this is a new approach to improve the CV of the traditional strip.

A precise solution for prediction of fiber-reinforced concrete behavior under flexure

This paper presents a precise solution to predict the behavior of steel fiber reinforced concrete(SFRC) under the four point bending test(FPBT).All the force components at the beam section(before and after cracking) are formulated by applying these assumptions:a realistic stress-strain model is used for concrete behavior in compression,a linear response is considered for the uncracked tension region in a concrete constitutive model,and an exponential relationship is proposed as a stress-crack opening in the crack region which requires two parameters.Then the moment capacity of the critical cracked section is calculated by using these forces and satisfying equilibrium law at the section.Parametric studies are done on the behavior of SFRC to assess the sensitivity of the solution.Finally,this solution is validated with some existing experimental data.The result shows the proposed solution is able to estimate the behavior of SFRC under FPBT.

GLOBAL: A Design for Random Testability Algorithm

A global design for testability algorithm is offered in this paper. First, a test point candidate set is obtained to simplify the test point placemellt problem; the principle of selective tracing is offered to get a sequential test point placement solution, which is used as the initial solution of the global algorithm. Using this initial value, a branch & bound algorithm is then offered to obtain a global design for testability solution. Finally,a new test length analyser is offered to evaluate the global design for testability.

Fracture behavior of 304 stainless steel coatings by cold gas dynamic spray

304 stainless steel coating was deposited on the Interstitial-Free steel substrate by cold gas dynamic spraying （CGDS）. Three-point bending test of the cold sprayed 304 stainless steel coating was tested by SHIMADZU electro-hydraulic servo-controlled fatigue testing machine and the fracture morphology was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that the fracture behavior of the cold sprayed 304 stainless steel coating was brittleness fracture. The crack in the coating occurred in the interfaces between particles and the crack extended to the internal of the coating with the increase of the load. When the crack has extended to the combination interface between coating and substrate, the crack extended to the two sides. The microstructure and mechanical property of the cold sprayed 304 stainless steel coating have been optimized after heat treatment.

Biomechanical Experimental Study on Effective Fraction of Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae on Healing of Bone Fracture

Objective: To assess the effect of Danshen 9403 (DS 9403), an effective fraction of Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae (RSM) on healing of bone fracture. Methods: Standardized radial fracture was performed in 120 Wistar rats. The model rats were randomized into four groups: Group A was fed with DS 9403, group B injected with Staphylococcus aureus , group C with normal saline administration, and group D with RSM injection. The treatment began at the first day of fracture. The rats were sacrificed on the day 25, 39 and 50 separately in batches and their intact radii were removed by dissection for detecting load and stress of three point bending test with autograph universal material testing machine (Shimazu, Japan). Results: The parameters of load in DS 9403 treated group on the 39th day and that of stress at 25th, 39th and 50th day were (6.20±1.32)N, (5.71±3.58)N/mm 2, (8.27±2.42)N/mm 2 and (66.25±26.21)N/mm 2 respectively, which were significantly higher than those in other groups, P <0.05. Conclusion: DS 9403 has the action of increasing the strength of fracture broken end.

A new quality control method for lateral flow assay

Precision and repeatability are challenging issues in point of care testing(POCT) analysis. Herein, we proposed a lateral flow assay(LFA) based on internal quality control microspheres to realize the accurate diagnosis of HbAlc in human body. Fluorescein cy5 decorated microspheres are used as labels for HbAlc detection, and BSA-fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC) decorated microspheres are used as internal quality control labels. One test line was employed in the strip for the detection of glycosylated hemoglobin(HbAlc). This method can eliminate the interference of environmental factors(temperature, humidity,etc.) to LFA in the process of chromatography, and improve the precision and accuracy of HbAlc detection.The CV for detection of low concentration HbAlc was 1.05%, and the CV for detection of high concentration HbAlc was 0.69%. We envision the method to have great prospect in in vitro diagnosis(IVD).