Non-functional testing

A model-based approach for software development is commonly used in the automotive industry, and Simulink [1] and TargetLink [9] are two examples of tools that can be used to develop automotive software. MODIFI is a fault injection tool for dependability assessment of software developed as Simulink models. Using this tool, nonfunctional properties such as error detection coverage of fault tolerance mechanisms, can be tested using Simulink models as a complement to physical fault injection tests on the target system. This method makes it possible to perform fault injection testing in early phases of the development, and the same environment is used for the development of the software, as well as functional and non-functional testing. 

Sensitive parameters are necessary to compare several high resolution magnetic field sensors. Such parameters can be found with methods of signal theory for LTI-systems. The following chapter explains characteristic functions and operations of the signal analysis for linear local invariant systems and their use in non-destructive testing. 

The Direct Current Potential Drop method (DCPD) has been evaluated for non destructive testing of uniaxially produced Powder Metallurgical (P/M) parts. The aim is to adapt DCPD to be functional as an ndt tool during production of parts. Defects can occur at different stages in the production cycle which means that DCPD has to be performed on components in different states and searching for different defects. 

The procedure concerning non-destructive testing must contain function of the procedure ... 

Female sexual development and behaviour in mammals occurs by default and requires no ovarian secretion, and it is only in genetic males that the testis can secrete hormones which destroy this female pattern and superimpose that of the male. Sexual differentiation is not so well defined in fish, and larval exposure to both synthetic estrogens and androgens is widely used in aquaculture to produce monosex cultures. Endocrine disruption of sexual differentiation in fish may therefore reflect both the complexity and diversity of such processes between different species. Some care is required in use of the terms hermaphrodite and sex-reversal since a true hermaphrodite has both functional testes and ovaries and a sex-reversed fish is fully functional as its final sex—both produce the appropriate viable gametes. Such functional sex-reversal is not possible in mammals, but in some species of fish it is the normal developmental pattern. In most of the cases of hermaphroditism or sex-reversal reported in the non-scientific press, there is evidence only for a few ovarian follicles within a functional testis. This may be considered as feminisation or a form of intersex, and is very clearly endocrine disruption, but it is certainly neither sex-reversal nor hermaphroditism. In some cases the terms have even been used to infer induction of a single female characteristic such as production of yolk-protein by males. 

The use of vibration analysis is not restricted to predictive maintenance. This technique is useful for diagnostic applications as well. Vibration monitoring and analysis are the primary diagnostic tools for most mechanical systems that are used to manufacture products. When used properly, vibration data provide the means to maintain optimum operating conditions and efficiency of critical plant systems. Vibration analysis can be used to evaluate fluid flow through pipes or vessels, to detect leaks, and to perform a variety of non-destmctive testing functions that improve the reliability and performance of critical plant systems. 

Phenylalanine hydroxylase (PH) which requires tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) as a cofactor, is defective in cases of phenylketonuria (PKU). This is a rare (prevalence 1 / 15 000 in the United Kingdom) genetic condition characterized by fair complexion, learning difficulties and mental impairment. If PH is either not present in the hepatocytes or is unable to bind BH4 and is therefore non functional, phenylalanine accumulates within the cells. Enzymes in minor pathways which are normally not very active metabolize phenylalanine ultimately to phenylpyruvate (i.e. a phenylketone). To use the traffic flow analogy introduced in Chapter 1, the main road is blocked so vehicles are forced along side roads. Phenylpyruvate is excreted in the urine (phenyl-ketone-uria), where it may be detected but a confirmatory blood test is required for a reliable diagnosis of PKU to be made. 

Figure 2. Human T cells, transduced with hdm2 81-88 epitope-specific and CD8 x A2Kb Tg mice-derived double-chain (Mu dc TCR 8-18) and non functional single-chain TCRs (Mu b 18 and sc TCR 3), were tested for cytolytic activity in response to (o) non-peptide o...

The viability and function tests described above are used to evaluate the hepatocytes within the slice. Up to now, tests to measure the viability of the non-parenchymal cells have not been reported. The presence of the latter cell types is one of the conceptual advantages of slices as compared to isolated hepatocytes. As some drug targeting devices are designed to target non-parenchymal cells in the liver, the development of tests for the sinusoidal cell types deserves more attention. For example, the uptake of substrates such as succinylated human serum albumin (Suc-HSA,which is specifically endocytosed by endothelial cells [79]), or hyaluronic acid [80], can be used to assess the functionality of endocytotic pathways in the endothelial cells in the liver [81]. Other modified proteins that are specifically taken up by Kupffer cells such as mannosylated HSA, may be used to assess the functionality of the endocytotic pathway in Kupffer cells [79]. Another parameter which can be used to assess the functionality of these non-parenchymal liver cells, is the excretion of cytokines in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli. Non-parench5mal cell function in liver slices will be described in more detail in the Section 12.7. 

Adverse events should be tabulated for easy inspection but the case report form should be available and all laboratory data such as blood coimts, renal function and liver function tests should be inspected closely The absence of obvious adverse events does not mean that all is well, and careful scrutiny of data by an experienced physician can often spot problems before they become troublesome. Not infrequently one or more volunteers become imwell during the course of a study, usually due to intercurrent viral infections, and decisions about postponement of study days and subject withdrawal follow-up can be made during these meetings. Data that are missing because of non-attendance of volunteers, for whatever reason, may lead to a delay in the study, with postponement of dose escalation imtil they have caught up. 

Although it is estimated that 1 in 118,000 patients dies from non-dose-related hepatic failure, no cases have occurred in patients older than 10 years who were receiving valproate monotherapy. Nonetheless, baseline liver function tests are indicated. If baseline test results are normal, monitoring for clinical signs of hepatotoxic-ity is more important than routine monitoring of liver enzyme levels, which has little predictive value and may be less effective than clinical monitoring (Pellock and WiUmore 1991). 

Vinorelbine is a semisynthetic derivative of vinblastine whose mechanism of action is identical to that of vinblastine and vincristine, ie, inhibition of mitosis of cells in the M phase through inhibition of tubulin polymerization. This agent has activity in non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. Myelosuppression with neutropenia is the dose-limiting toxicity, but other adverse effects include nausea and vomiting, transient elevations in liver function tests, neurotoxicity, and SIADH. 

The common input tests are condenser discharge, voltage sensitivity, and steady-current functioning. See Vol 4, p D1081- L A number of non-destructive tests have been proposed, but they are not standardized nor in general use as yet. See following article... 

The use of metformin in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease has been reported in two trials (123,124). Patients had abnormal liver function tests, which improved during the studies. No-one withdrew because of worsening of liver function tests or lactic acidosis. 

A 61-year-old woman developed symptoms of acute hepatitis 6 weeks after she began to take fluvastatin sodium 20 mg/day for hypercholesterolemia (3). Ultrasonography and liver biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of non-obstructive intrahepatic jaundice. Studies of viral markers and autoimmune factors excluded viral hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis. There was a high serum concentration of a metabolite of fluvastatin, suggesting a possible anomaly of drug metabolism. All liver function tests normalized 8 weeks after the withdrawal of fluvastatin. 

The impact of thermal shock on the properties of a ceramic or a CMC is assessed by means of both destructive and non-destructive testing methods. Flexural or tensile (mainly for CMCs) tests of suitably-sized thermally shocked specimens are usually employed to measure retained mechanical properties as a function of the temperature difference. The temperature differential for which a significant drop in property values is observed is the A A- For monolithic ceramics and particle- or whisker-reinforced CMCs the property under investigation is usually strength, whereas in fibre-reinforced CMCs a drop in Young s modulus is usually a better indication of the onset of damage. 

There are numerous thyroid gland function tests, each designed to determine the etiology of thyroid dysfunction. In general, though, when hypothyroidism is present, circulating T3 and T4 levels are down and TSH is up. The opposite is true of hyperthyroidism. In addition, free (non-protein-bound) T4 and TBG may be determined to clarify inconclusive results. In hyperthyroidism, free T4 is increased but total T4 may be normal. It is the free serum T4 that has been correlated with clinical symptoms rather than total T4. 

The two-sample f-test is robust, i.e. it will still function reasonably well with samples that are somewhat non-normally distributed. However, where data is severely nonnormal, even this test will start to produce inappropriate conclusions. In that case, either transform the data to normality or use a non-parametric test. 

Instead of transforming the data to normality, we could employ one of a range of procedures referred to as non-parametric tests . These partially duplicate the functionality of tests we have already met, but use a method of calculation that does not depend upon a normal distribution. The non-parametric test that is generally substituted for the two sample f-test goes by a variety of names, but is most commonly called the Mann-Whitney test. 

---