JExample: Exploiting Dependencies Between Tests to Improve Defect Localization

To quickly localize defects, we want our attention to be focussed on relevant failing tests. We propose to improve defect localization by exploiting dependencies between tests, using a JUnit extension called JExample. In a case study, a monolithic white-box test suite for a complex algorithm is refactored into two traditional JUnit style tests and to JExample. Of the three refactorings, JExample reports five times fewer defect locations and slightly better performance (-8-12\%), while having similar maintenance characteristics. Compared to the original implementation, JExample greatly improves maintainability due the improved factorization following the accepted test quality guidelines. As such, JExample combines the benefits of test chains with test quality aspects of JUnit style testing.

Brain CYP1A in seabream, Sparus aurata exposed to benzo(a)pyrene

This study compares basal and induced expression of cytochrome P4501A-CYP1A in the brain of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata. Larval or adult seabream were exposed to benzo(a)pyrene -B(a)P- and the CYP1A response was assessed by analyzing CYP1A mRNA (RT-PCR), CYP1A protein (expression levels: ELISA, western blotting; cellular localization: immunohistochemistry), and CYP1A catalytic activity (7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase-EROD). In the brain of adult S. aurata, CYP1A immunostaining was generally detected in the vasculature. It was present in the neuronal fibers and glial cells of the olfactory bulbs and the ventral telencephalon. ELISA and RT-PCR analyses confirmed CYP1A expression in the brains of non-exposed seabream. B(a)P exposure led to increased CYP1A staining mainly in neuronal fibers and glial cells of the olfactory bulbs, but also in the vascular endothelia. EROD activity, however, could not be detected in the brain of adult seabream, neither in control nor in exposed fish. In the developing brain of S. aurata larvae, immunohistochemical staining detected CYP1A protein exclusively in endothelia of the olfactory placode and in retina. Staining intensity of CYP1A slightly increases with larval development, especially in vascular brain endothelia. Exposing the larvae to 0.3 or 0.5 microg B(a)P/L from hatching until 15 days post hatching (dph) did not result in enhanced CYP1A immunostaining in the brain. In samples of whole seabream larvae, both from controls and BaP treatments, neither CYP1A mRNA, protein nor catalytic activity were detectable. The results demonstrate that CYP1A is expressed already and inducible in the larval brain, but that the regional and cellular expression differs partly between larval and adult brain. This may have implications for the toxicity of CYP1A-inducing xenobiotics on early and mature life stages of seabream.

Clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical analyses of feline squamous cell carcinoma in situ

Actinic keratosis (AK) and Bowenoid in situ carcinoma (BISC) are two distinct forms of in situ squamous cell carcinoma in felines. They usually occur on different locations and present with specific clinical and histologic features. However, in some cases, these diseases cannot be distinguished either clinically or histopathologically. The aim of the present study was to determine the accuracy of diagnosis based on clinical or histologic criteria alone, and whether immunohistochemistry for papillomavirus or p53 can improve the accuracy of diagnosis. A series of in situ squamous cell carcinoma cases (n = 45) were selected according to their location and initial histologic classification and subsequently classified as AK (n = 22) or BISC (n = 23) according to the clinical criteria and were reevaluated histologically by 2 dermatopathologists. All BISC cases and most of the AK cases (n = 15) were confirmed histologically. In 7 cases clinically classified as AK, this diagnosis was not unanimously confirmed histologically because of the presence of overlapping features. P53 immunoreactivity was observed in 11/14 (79%) confirmed AK cases and in 4/22 (18%) BISC cases, while papillomavirus antigen was not detected in any confirmed AK case but was detected in 11/23 (48%) BISC cases. It was concluded that BISC can usually be reliably diagnosed histologically. The histologic diagnosis of lesions clinically suggestive of AK might sometimes be difficult. Results of immunohistochemistry for p53 and papillomavirus antigen were supportive for a role of sun exposure and papillomavirus in the pathogenesis of AK and BISC, respectively.

Clostridium perfringens beta-toxin binding to vascular endothelial cells in a human case of enteritis necroticans

Clostridium perfringens type C-induced enteritis necroticans is a rare but often fatal disease in humans. A consistent histopathological finding is an acute, deep necrosis of the small intestinal mucosa associated with acute vascular necrosis and massive haemorrhage in the lamina propria and submucosa. Retrospective immunohistochemical investigations of tissues from a diabetic adult who died of enteritis necroticans revealed endothelial localization of C. perfringens beta-toxin in small intestinal lesions. Our results indicate that vascular necrosis might be induced by a direct interaction between C. perfringens beta-toxin and endothelial cells and that targeted disruption of endothelial cells plays a role in the pathogenesis of enteritis necroticans.

Intracellular localization of the BCL-2 family member BOK and functional implications

The pro-apoptotic BCL-2 family member BOK is widely expressed and resembles the multi-BH domain proteins BAX and BAK based on its amino acid sequence. The genomic region encoding BOK was reported to be frequently deleted in human cancer and it has therefore been hypothesized that BOK functions as a tumor suppressor. However, little is known about the molecular functions of BOK. We show that enforced expression of BOK activates the intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptotic pathway in BAX/BAK-proficient cells but fails to kill cells lacking both BAX and BAK or sensitize them to cytotoxic insults. Interestingly, major portions of endogenous BOK are localized to and partially inserted into the membranes of the Golgi apparatus as well as the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and associated membranes. The C-terminal transmembrane domain of BOK thereby constitutes a 'tail-anchor' specific for targeting to the Golgi and ER. Overexpression of full-length BOK causes early fragmentation of ER and Golgi compartments. A role for BOK on the Golgi apparatus and the ER is supported by an abnormal response of Bok-deficient cells to the Golgi/ER stressor brefeldin A. Based on these results, we propose that major functions of BOK are exerted at the Golgi and ER membranes and that BOK induces apoptosis in a manner dependent on BAX and BAK.

Frequency-domain source localization shows state-dependent diazepam effects in 47-channel EEG

The topic of this study was to evaluate state-dependent effects of diazepam on the frequency characteristics of 47-channel spontaneous EEG maps. A novel method, the FFT-Dipole-Approximation (Lehmann and Michel, 1990), was used to study effects on the strength and the topography of the maps in the different frequency bands. Map topography was characterized by the 3-dimensional location of the equivalent dipole source and map strength was defined as the spatial standard deviation (the Global Field Power) of the maps of each frequency point. The Global Field Power can be considered as a measure of the amount of energy produced by the system, while the source location gives an estimate of the center of gravity of all sources in the brain that were active at a certain frequency. State-dependency was studied by evaluating the drug effects before and after a continuous performance task of 25 min duration. Clear interactions between drug (diazepam vs. placebo) and time after drug intake (before and after the task) were found, especially in the inferior-superior location of the dipole sources. It supports the hypothesis that diazepam, like other drugs, has different effects on brain functions depending on the momentary functional state of the brain. In addition to the drug effects, clearly different source locations and Global Field Power were found for the different frequency bands, replicating earlier reports (Michel et al., 1992).

Localization of odors can be learned

Chemicals selectively stimulating the olfactory nerve typically cannot be localized in a lateralization task. Purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ability of subjects to localize an olfactory stimulus delivered passively to 1 of the 2 nostrils would improve under training. Fifty-two young, normosmic women divided in 2 groups participated. One group performed olfactory lateralization training, whereas the other group performed cognitive tasks. Results showed that only subjects performing lateralization training significantly improved in their ability to lateralize olfactory stimuli compared with subjects who did not undergo such training.

Highly accurate evaluation of GPS synchronization for TDOA localization

Clock synchronization is critical for the operation of a distributed wireless network system. In this paper we investigate on a method able to evaluate in real time the synchronization offset between devices down to nanoseconds (as needed for positioning). The method is inspired by signal processing algorithms and relies on fine-grain time information obtained during the reconstruction of the signal at the receiver. Applying the method to a GPS-synchronized system show that GPS-based synchronization has high accuracy potential but still suffers from short-term clock drift, which limits the achievable localization error.

Investigation on the evolution of an indoor robotic localization system based on wireless networks

This work addresses the evolution of an artificial neural network (ANN) to assist in the problem of indoor robotic localization. We investigate the design and building of an autonomous localization system based on information gathered from wireless networks (WN). The article focuses on the evolved ANN, which provides the position of a robot in a space, as in a Cartesian coordinate system, corroborating with the evolutionary robotic research area and showing its practical viability. The proposed system was tested in several experiments, evaluating not only the impact of different evolutionary computation parameters but also the role of the transfer functions on the evolution of the ANN. Results show that slight variations in the parameters lead to significant differences on the evolution process and, therefore, in the accuracy of the robot position.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of heat shock protein expression in normal canine nerve and peripheral nerve sheath tumours

Abnormal expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) has been observed in many human neoplasms and such expression has prognostic, predictive and therapeutic implications. The aim of this study was to evaluate immunohistochemically the expression of HSP 27, HSP 32 and HSP 90 in normal canine peripheral nerves and in four benign and 15 malignant canine peripheral nerve sheath tumours (PNSTs). In normal nerve, all of the HSPs were detected in axons, epineurial fibroblasts and scattered Schwann cell bodies. Cytoplasmic expression of HSP 27 was more widespread and intense in benign PNSTs compared with malignant PNSTs (P <0.05). Widespread and intense nuclear expression of HSP 32 was also associated with benign tumours (P <0.01), while high HSP 90 immunoreactivity was detected in all tumours, suggesting that HSP 90 might represent a new therapeutic target.

TDOA-Based Localization System with Narrow-band Signals

This paper gives a general overview of the challenges that arise in using narrow-band signals, such as GSM, for localisation based on the time properties of the signal. Specifically, synchronisation and retrieving of time information are addressed. We pursue two contributions, namely, analysis of achievable synchronisation precision and processing of narrowband signals that can enable localization down to a meter. Keywords-localization, narrow band signals, TOA, TDOA I.