Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Performance Testing (performance + testing)
Selected AbstractsLaboratory Performance Testing of Venous Cannulae During Inlet ObstructionARTIFICIAL ORGANS, Issue 7 2008Antoine P. Simons Abstract:, Venous cannulae undergo continuous improvements to achieve better and safer venous drainage. Several cannula tests have been reported, though cannula performance during inlet obstruction has never been a test criterion. In this study, five different cannulae for proximal venous drainage were tested in a mock circulation that enabled measurement of hydraulic conductance after inlet obstruction by vessel collapse. Values for hydraulic conductance ranged from 1.11 × 10,2 L/min/mm Hg for a Thin-Flex Single Stage Venous Cannula with an open-end lighthouse tip to 1.55 × 10,2 L/min/mm Hg for a DLP VAD Venous Cannula featuring a swirled tip profile, showing a difference that amounts to nearly 40% of the lowest conductance value. Excessive venous drainage results in potentially dangerous high-negative venous line pressures independent of cannula design. Cannulatip design featuring swirled and grooved tip structures increases drainage capacity and enhances cannula performance during inlet obstruction. [source] Implementation, performance, and science results from a 30.7 TFLOPS IBM BladeCenter clusterCONCURRENCY AND COMPUTATION: PRACTICE & EXPERIENCE, Issue 2 2010Craig A. Stewart Abstract This paper describes Indiana University's implementation, performance testing, and use of a large high performance computing system. IU's Big Red, a 20.48 TFLOPS IBM e1350 BladeCenter cluster, appeared in the 27th Top500 list as the 23rd fastest supercomputer in the world in June 2006. In spring 2007, this computer was upgraded to 30.72 TFLOPS. The e1350 BladeCenter architecture, including two internal networks accessible to users and user applications and two networks used exclusively for system management, has enabled the system to provide good scalability on many important applications while being well manageable. Implementing a system based on the JS21 Blade and PowerPC 970MP processor within the US TeraGrid presented certain challenges, given that Intel-compatible processors dominate the TeraGrid. However, the particular characteristics of the PowerPC have enabled it to be highly popular among certain application communities, particularly users of molecular dynamics and weather forecasting codes. A critical aspect of Big Red's implementation has been a focus on Science Gateways, which provide graphical interfaces to systems supporting end-to-end scientific workflows. Several Science Gateways have been implemented that access Big Red as a computational resource,some via the TeraGrid, some not affiliated with the TeraGrid. In summary, Big Red has been successfully integrated with the TeraGrid, and is used by many researchers locally at IU via grids and Science Gateways. It has been a success in terms of enabling scientific discoveries at IU and, via the TeraGrid, across the US. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] The sources and manifestations of stress amongst school-aged dyslexics, compared with sibling controlsDYSLEXIA, Issue 4 2008Neil Alexander-Passe Abstract All school children experience stress at some point in their school careers. This study investigates whether dyslexic children, by way of their educational and social difficulties, experience higher levels of stress at school. The School Situation Survey was used to investigate both the sources and manifestations of stress amongst dyslexic children and non-dyslexic sibling controls. Samples were broken down by gender, age and the size of families. Results suggest significant differences between the groups, with dyslexics in academic years 3,5 experiencing the highest stress levels, specifically in interactions with teachers, worries over academic examinations (SATs) and performance testing, causing emotional (fear, shyness and loneliness) and physiological (nausea, tremors or rapid heart beat) manifestations. Results also suggest that dyslexics in larger families (3,4 sibling families) experience greater stress in interactions with their peers, than those in smaller families (two sibling families),possibly from unfair sibling comparison. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Boiling heat transfer coefficient of R22 and an HFC/HC refrigerant mixture in a fin-and-tube evaporator of a window air conditionerHEAT TRANSFER - ASIAN RESEARCH (FORMERLY HEAT TRANSFER-JAPANESE RESEARCH), Issue 6 2010M. Herbert Raj Abstract The commonly used refrigerant in unitary type air conditioners is R22 and its phase out schedule in developing countries is to commence from 2015. Many alternatives to R22 are found in published literature in which R407C has similar characteristics to those of R22 except for its zeotropic nature. However, R407C which is an HFC is made compatible with the mineral oil lubricant in the system compressor by the addition of 20% of HC. This HFC/HC mixture called the M20 refrigerant mixture is reported to be a retrofit refrigerant for R22. Though its latent heat value is greater than that of R22, its refrigerating capacity is lower when it is used to retrofit R22 window air conditioners. Hence, a heat transfer analysis was conducted in the evaporator of a room air conditioner, for practically realized heat flux conditions during standard performance testing. The tests were conducted as per the BIS and ASHRAE standards. Kattan,Thome,Favrat maps are used to confirm the flow patterns, which prevail inside the fin-and-tube evaporator in the tested operating conditions. It is revealed that the heat transfer coefficient/heat fluxes are poorer for M20 because of the lower mass flow rate and higher vapor fraction at the entry of the evaporator than that of R22 in the prevailing operating conditions. The heat transfer coefficients of the M20 refrigerant mixture under various test conditions are lower in the range of 14% to 56% than those of R22. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20299 [source] Development and Simulation of an Embedded Hydrogen Peroxide Catalyst Chamber in Low-Temperature Co-Fired CeramicsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED CERAMIC TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2007Donald Plumlee Satellites in the range of 10,50 kg require small propulsion devices to perform station-keeping tasks in orbit. Low-temperature co-fired ceramic structures provide a unique platform to produce a reliable, low-cost micropropulsion system. The design uses microchannels embedded in the ceramic substrate to create a nozzle and embedded catalyst chamber. A hydrogen peroxide monopropellant is injected into a silver-coated catalyst chamber structure. The monopropellant decomposes into hot gas, which is expelled through the nozzle producing thrust. A thermal energy balance and a kinetic model is presented along with performance testing. [source] Serum insulin-like growth factor-1 concentration in pigs divergently selected for daily food intake or lean growth rateJOURNAL OF ANIMAL BREEDING AND GENETICS, Issue 4 2003N. D. Cameron Summary Divergent selection over seven generations for daily food intake (DFI) and for two lean growth rate (LGA and LGS) selection objectives in pigs produced correlated responses in serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration. The LGA and LGS selection objectives were for lean growth, but with performance testing on ad libitum (LGA) or on restricted (LGS) feeding regimes. There were 342 animals in the study, with an average of 46 pigs in each selection line and 72 pigs in the control line. All animals were performance-tested from 30 to 90 kg on an ad libitum feeding regime. Selection on DFI increased IGF-1 at 6 weeks of age (158 versus 104 ,g/l, SED 21; control 136 ,g/l) and selection for high LGA increased IGF-1 at 30 kg liveweight (202 versus 161 ,g/l, SED 14; control 185 ,g/l). At 6 weeks of age and at 30 kg of weight, there was no response in IGF-1 with selection on LGS (128 versus 129 and 167 versus 153 ,g/l, respectively) suggesting that IGF-1 may not be a reliable physiological predictor of genetic merit for such a selection objective, which combined rate and efficiency of lean growth. IGF-1 measured immediately prior to the start of performance test may be useful in determining which animals to performance test for a lean growth selection objective, whereas IGF-1 measured at 6 weeks of age may be a useful physiological predictor of genetic merit for daily food intake during performance test. Zusammenfassung Serumkonzentrationen des insulinähnlichen Wachstumsfaktors-1 bei Schweinen, die entweder auf tägliche Futteraufnahme oder auf hohe Wachstumsrate für Magerfleischanteil selektiert wurden Die Selektion von Schweinen über sieben Generationen einerseits auf tägliche Futteraufnahme (DFI) und andererseits auf zwei Wachstumsraten für Magerfleischanteil (LGA, ad-libitum -Fütterung; LGS, rationierte Fütterung) ergab korrelierende Konzentrationen am insulinähnlichen Wachstumsfaktor (IGF-1). An der Studie waren 342 Tiere mit einer durchschnittlichen Tierzahl von 46 Schweinen pro Selektionsgruppe und 72 Schweinen als Kontrollgruppe beteiligt. Alle Tiere wurden zwischen 30 und 90 kg bei der ad-libitum Fütterung leistungsgeprüft. Die Selektion auf tägliche Futteraufnahme (DFI) erhöhte die IGF-1 Konzentrationen in der 6. Lebenswoche von 104 ,g/l auf 158 ,g/l (Kontrollgruppe 136 ,g/l) und die Selektion auf LGA bei der ad-libitum -Fütterung bei einem Lebendgewicht von 30 kg von 161 ,g/l auf 202 ,g/l (Kontrollgruppe 185 ,g/l). In der 6. Lebenswoche und bei 30 kg Lebendgewicht gab es keinen Anstieg der IGF-1 Konzentrationen in der Selektionsgruppe LGS mit rationierter Fütterung (128 ,g/l bzw. 129 ,fg/l in der 6. Lebenswoche; 167 ,g/l bzw. 153 ,g/l bei 30 kg),was darauf hinweisen könnte, dass IGF-1 wahrscheinlich kein verlässlicher, physiologischer Marker für den genetischen Erfolg für ein solches Selektionsziel, welches die Wachstumsrate und die Effizienz beim Magerfleischwachstum kombiniert, darstellt. Die direkt vor Prüfungsbeginn ermittelten IGF-1 Konzentrationen könnten bei der Auswahl der Tiere, die an einer Leistungsprüfung für die Wachstumsrate des Magerfleischanteils als Selektionsziel herangezogen werden sollten, hilfreich sein. Die IGF-1 Konzentrationen, die in der 6. Lebenswoche gemessen werden, sind wahrscheinlich ein hilfreicher physiologischer Marker für den genetischen Erfolg für DFI während einer Leistungsprüfung. [source] The Neuropsychological Impairment Scale,Senior: A procedure for evaluating awareness disturbance in geriatric patientsJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 3 2001William E. O'Donnell The Neuropsychological Impairment Scale,Senior (NIS-S) is a 30-item, orally administered questionnaire for geriatric patients about symptoms of cognitive impairment, affective disturbance, and defensiveness. Clinical and nonclinical norms are described along with validity and reliability information. A procedure is presented for comparing a patient's self-reported cognitive impairment with scores on performance testing, which gauges whether the patient is over- or under-reporting cognitive deficits. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 57: 423,427, 2001. [source] Circulating and synovial levels of IGF-I, cytokines, physical function and anthropometry differ in women awaiting total knee arthroplasty when compared to menJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 2 2005Sonia M. C. Pagura Abstract Purpose: Determine if gender differences in osteoarthritis relate to cytokine and growth factor levels. Methods: Cross-sectional comparison of serum and synovial concentrations of cytokines (IL-1,,, TNF-,, IL-6), growth factors (IGF-I, TGF-,, IRAP), physical performance and perceived function in total knee arthroplasty candidates (TKAC) (n = 17) and healthy controls (n = 21) was done. Results: Serum IGF-I values were reduced in female (TKAC 137.6 ± 7.2; Controls 160.2 ± 26.2) but not male TKAC (TKAC 182.6 ± 18.4; Controls 184.0 ± 18.4) (p < 0.05). Serum and synovial levels of cytokines and growth factors did not differ significantly by group or gender. Physical performance testing (SPW, TUG) revealed significant group and gender differences (p = 0.001) with women demonstrating greater functional impairment. Discussion: A systemic, not local component to OA pathophysiology may exist for female TKAC. Male TKAC were less impaired, and their IGF-I levels differ little from Control values. © 2004 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [source] Package performance testing of dangerous goods in high-altitude shipmentsPACKAGING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Issue 3 2003S. Paul Singh Abstract This paper discusses the impact of high-altitude shipments on package integrity. High-altitude shipments are encountered when trucks travel over high mountain passes or when cargo and feeder aircraft transport packages in non-pressurized or partially-pressurized cargo holds. Both these types of transport methods will result in severe changes in pressure as compared to packages being transported close to sea level. The testing of packages under these conditions is critical since package integrity may be compromised. The current shipping tests performed in test laboratories do not account for pressure changes and vibration together. This study showed that combination packages for dangerous goods and hazardous materials that are tested to existing UN, ICAO and US DOT requirements are limited, and can result in significant number of leaks. Testing under combined vibration and pressure changes is necessary. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Learning and Retention Rates after Training in Posterior Epistaxis ManagementACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2008Richard L. Lammers MD Abstract Objectives:, The objective of the study was to compare the learning and retention rates of resident physicians trained in posterior epistaxis management with nasal gauze packing on a simulation model following two training methods. Methods:, This was a prospective, repeated-measures study. An objective, criterion-referenced performance standard, consisting of the number of major steps completed in the proper sequence, and the number of minor steps completed within a specified time, was used by an evaluator to assess performances. Subjects underwent two pretraining assessments 1 week prior to and the day of training and then were randomized to one of two training methods: the traditional "observation" method or a "pause-and-perfect" method. After training, both groups repeated the procedure until meeting the performance standard. Subjects were retested 1 and 3 months after training. Results:, Twenty-eight subjects participated. Baseline performance measures were similar between groups and did not change prior to training. During performance testing, experimental subjects completed a greater percentage of major steps (84%) and minor steps (86%) in less time (25 minutes) than the controls (65 and 68%, in 35 minutes) during the first attempt. All subjects met the standard within three attempts. There were no differences in major and minor steps completed between the two groups at either 1 week or 3 months after training, but performance times were shorter in the experimental group. After 3 months, 13% of control and none of experimental subjects met the performance standard. Conclusions:, The pause-and-perfect training method produced more rapid progress toward a performance standard during the initial attempt and better performance times after 3 months than the traditional, observational training method. Without further practice, this skill deteriorated after 3 months with both methods of training. [source] | ||||||||||||||||