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The paper presents a new methodology for short-term (5–25 min) benchtop tests to evaluate the effectiveness of magnetic treatment of feed water for reducing mineral scaling on a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. Scale deposition is measured at a controlled level of salt supersaturation in water flowing through an RO unit in once-through mode. A magnetic water conditioner is tested in a transient flow regime when variations of the permeate flux along the flow path are insignificant. Scale formation under these conditions is governed by salt crystallization on the membrane surface. The proposed method was implemented to investigate the influence of magnetic treatment on gypsum deposition on RO membranes in supersaturated aqueous CaSO4/NaCl solutions. The effects of magnetic water treatment on scale formation under our experimental conditions were found to be statistically insignificant with a confidence level of 95%. However, this outcome should not be considered to negate the potential efficiency of magnetic water treatment in specific applications. The proposed methodology of testing under a controlled level of salt supersaturation will also be useful for evaluating the efficiency of other water treatment technologies.

Remote test settings have become more common due to COVID-19. This paper presents two user tests focusing on the usability and user experience of an augmented reality-related solution. We describe the proceeding of the tests from the perspective of what has been conducted face-to-face and remotely. Thereafter, the appropriateness of the used test methodology is evaluated based on (i) the acquired results, (ii) the ease of using and understanding the methods and (iii) the test atmosphere. The physical presence of a person providing technical support to the test participant proved vital for augmented reality-related testing; the location of other test organisers appears more indifferent. Finally, we present the perspectives to contemplate when choosing between face-to-face and remote features in the test setting.

Remote test settings have become more common due to COVID-19. Our paper presents two user tests focusing on the usability and user experience of an augmented reality-based solution, i.e., augmented reality system. We describe the proceeding of the tests from the perspective of what party has participated in the test in the same location as the test participant, i.e., locally, and what party remotely. The importance - or unimportance - of physical presence is contemplated from the perspective of the successfulness of the test. The physical presence of a person providing technical support to the test participant during the testing proved vital for the augmented reality related testing; the location of other test organisers appears more indifferent in this context.

The paper discusses the task of organizing the usability testing of web applications that are in pilot or industrial operation. A usability testing technique is described that combines the development, debugging and execution of test scenarios, and analysis of the received test data. The development of test scenarios is based: on the use of the accumulated experience of users who have already worked with this application or with another, similar in functionality; on the use of web analytics, which can provide scenarios of the behavior of user data on the site; and on the use of statistical data on visits to specific pages. Simultaneously with this approach, a different approach is used in the construction of tests. It is based on the development of tests aimed at identifying defects in the program. Debugging and execution of test tasks is carried out in the same way as it is realized when performing functional testing of web applications using testing automation tools. In addition, the analysis of the data obtained during the operation using web analytics makes it possible to form a group of respondent testers, whose capabilities reflect the capabilities of the entire set of probable users of this web application. The approaches outlined in the work were put into practice. As an example, the article provides test data for the page of the admissions committee of MIREA – Russian Technological University – priem.mirea.ru. The obtained experimental data showed that, despite testing the usability of software at the development stages, some errors in the operation of web applications remain undetected. The cost of detecting and eliminating these errors increases significantly. Therefore, it is recommended in the work to increase the level of usability already in the early stages of development. In particular, for the operational prediction of the level of usability, it is desirable to have mathematical tools for modeling the behavior of the designed system and the user.

Natural stone is an important component of historical heritage (buildings and art objects such as sculptures or rock engravings), and it is still widely used in contemporary works. Soluble salts are the main erosive agent in the built environment, and we review here comparative studies that subject the same rock type to testing with different salt solutions. The results mostly support the accepted notion of the major impact of sodium sulphate, although there are some exceptions. The effects of sodium chloride and calcium sulphate deserve specific discussion given field information on the relevance of these specific salts in the built environment. We relate the information collected to the issues of risk assessment (considering both geochemical conditions and salt effects) and conservation interventions (highlighting the interest of tests that do not produce damage to susceptible materials) and present some methodological suggestions to avoid a case study culture., The Lab2PT-Landscapes, Heritage and Territory laboratory—UIDB/04509/2020 is supported by the Portuguese FCT—“Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia”. The authors also gratefully acknowledge the support of the CERENA (funded by a strategic project of the FCTUIDB/04028/2020) and the LAMPIST of the DECivil, Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal. The University Institute of Geology of the University of A Coruña (Spain) receives support from the Xunta de Galicia from the program “Consolidación y estructuración de unidades de investigación competitivas: Grupos de potencial de crecimiento” (ED431B 2018/47) and Redes de investigación (R2017/008).

Short glass fiber reinforced plastics (SGFRP) offer superior mechanical properties compared to polymers, while still also enabling almost unlimited geometric variations of components at large-scale production. PA6-GF30 represents one of the most used SGFRP for series components, but the impact of injection molding process parameters on the fatigue properties is still insufficiently investigated. In this study, various injection molding parameter configurations were investigated on PA6-GF30. To take the significant frequency dependency into account, tension–tension fatigue tests were performed using multiple amplitude tests, considering surface temperature-adjusted frequency to limit self-heating. The frequency adjustment leads to shorter testing durations as well as up to 20% higher lifetime under fatigue loading. A higher melt temperature and volume flow rate during injection molding lead to an increase of 16% regarding fatigue life. In situ X-ray microtomography analysis revealed that this result was attributed to a stronger fiber alignment with larger fiber lengths in the flow direction. Using digital volume correlation, differences of up to 100% in local strain values at the same stress level for different injection molding process parameters were identified. The results prove that the injection molding parameters have a high influence on the fatigue properties and thus offer a large optimization potential, e.g., with regard to the component design., Polymers;13(10)

Short glass fiber reinforced plastics (SGFRP) offer superior mechanical properties compared to polymers, while still also enabling almost unlimited geometric variations of components at large-scale production. PA6-GF30 represents one of the most used SGFRP for series components, but the impact of injection molding process parameters on the fatigue properties is still insufficiently investigated. In this study, various injection molding parameter configurations were investigated on PA6-GF30. To take the significant frequency dependency into account, tension–tension fatigue tests were performed using multiple amplitude tests, considering surface temperature-adjusted frequency to limit self-heating. The frequency adjustment leads to shorter testing durations as well as up to 20% higher lifetime under fatigue loading. A higher melt temperature and volume flow rate during injection molding lead to an increase of 16% regarding fatigue life. In situ X-ray microtomography analysis revealed that this result was attributed to a stronger fiber alignment with larger fiber lengths in the flow direction. Using digital volume correlation, differences of up to 100% in local strain values at the same stress level for different injection molding process parameters were identified. The results prove that the injection molding parameters have a high influence on the fatigue properties and thus offer a large optimization potential, e.g., with regard to the component design.

This work is focused on the development of innovative large-scale experimental testing procedures based on a scaled concept for a 15MW floating offshore wind turbine (FOWT) of the two concrete-based floating substructures designs: a spar (WindCrete) and a semi-submersible (ActiveFloat). In order to evaluate the impact of the wind-turbine aerodynamic loads over the dynamics of both platforms, and hence over the power cable and mooring system, we propose a methodology that couples two complimentary hybrid testing techniques:  A multi-fan system able to reproduce the full wind turbine aerodynamic loads in a wave tank.  A 6_DOF platform able to reproduce the full hydrodynamic performance of a floating wind turbine in a wind tunnel.

The article discusses the stages of conducting a technical inspection of the quality of foundations of residential buildings during operation. Ways to increase the strength characteristics of building foundations are given. В статье рассмотрены этапы проведения технического обследования качества фундаментов жилых зданий в ходе их эксплуатации. Приведены способы по усилению надежности фундаментов здания.

To coordinate the operation of the different generating units, storage systems and loads belonging to a microgrid, typically a Microgrid Control System (MGCS) is needed. This MGCS defines the set points to be delivered to the controllable devices to guarantee the appropriate operation of the microgrid both from the technical and the economic perspectives. The MGCS must be able to operate the microgrid in islanded mode, grid-connected, and withstand the transitions between the two operatingmodes. Recently two international standards have been approved dealing with microgrid con-trollers, “IEEE 2030.7-2017 – IEEE Standard for the Specification of Microgrid Control-ler” and “IEEE 2030.8-2018 - IEEE Standard for the Testing of Microgrid Controllers”. The research leading to this publication has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 654113 via the Trans-national Access (TA) User Project 05.024-2018.

This research is aimed at evaluating the effect of low-cycle fatigue on a newly designed hybrid sandwich ski structure to determine the changes that may occur due to cyclic loading and thus affect its use. This is primarily concerned with the fatigue behavior of the tested ski over different time intervals simulating its seasonal use and its effect on the mechanical properties of the ski, i.e., the durability and integrity of the individual layers of the sandwich ski structure. The ski was subjected to 70,000 deflections by moving the crossbar by 60 mm according to the ski deflection calculation in the arch. The results of the cyclic tests of the engineered ski design showed no significant changes in the ski during loading. The average force required to achieve deflection in the first 10,000 cycles was 514.0 ± 4.2 N. Thereafter, a secondary hardening of the structure occurred during relaxation and the force required increased slightly to 543.6 ± 1.7 N. The required force fluctuated slightly during the measurements and in the last series the value was 540.4 ± 0.8 N. Low-cycle fatigue did not have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the ski; there was no change in shape or visual delamination of the individual layers of the structure. From the cross-section, local delamination was demonstrated by image analysis, especially between the Wood core and the composite layers E-Glass biaxial and Carbon triaxial.

The objective of this work, in the context of the European RADSAGA project, is to propose a new methodology for radiation hardness assurance of digital systems. We investigate the possibility to define an intermediate approach that would combine the concept of system-level testing with the existing knowledge and best practices of component-level methods. Our methodology is developed and applied to two recent generations of system-on-modules based on 28-nm Planar and 16nm FinFET system-on-chips. A specific instrumentation was designed and added to the case study software and firmware application to improve the observability of the failures during system-level test campaigns performed with atmospheric-like neutrons, high-energy protons, pulsed laser and X-rays. The results are analyzed and the lessons learned from the experimental campaigns are summarized. Finally, the methodology limitations and possible improvements are reviewed.; L'objectif de ce travail, réalisé dans le cadre du projet Européen RADSAGA, est de proposer une nouvelle méthodologie pour l’évaluation de la tenue aux radiations des systèmes numériques. Nous étudions la possibilité de définir une approche intermédiaire combinant le test au niveau système avec les connaissances et les méthodes connues au niveau composant. La méthodologie proposée est construite et appliquée à deux générations récentes de systèmes-sur-modules basés sur des systèmes-sur-puce en technologie 28nm et 16nm FinFET. Une instrumentation spécifique est développée et intégrée à l’application logicielle testée afin d’améliorer l’observabilité des évènements durant des campagnes de test au niveau système menées avec différents types de faisceaux : neutrons atmosphériques, protons de haute énergie, impulsions laser et rayons X. Les résultats sont présentés et analysés, et les retours d’expérience sont résumés. La méthodologie passerelle proposée est alors détaillée et ses limitations et possibilités d’amélioration sont discutées.

The methodology, developed for active testing of electronic devices under the radiations, is presented. The test set-up includes a gamma-ray facility, the hardware board/fixtures and the software tools purposely designed and realized. The methodology is so wide-ranging to allow us the verification of different classes of electronic devices, even if only application examples for static random access memory modules are reported.

An N1 vehicle model is created, which allows for changing suspension parameters and conditions of experimental performance. A methodology of computer testing performance for vehicle ride comfort and stability service properties’ characterization in a virtual environment is proposed. Vehicle suspension system modelling and simulation are performed. The results of the N1 vehicle suspension system from full-scale laboratory and road tests are given.

Computer-based assessments open up new possibilities to measure constructs in authentic settings. They are especially promising to measure 21st century skills, as for instance information and communication technologies (ICT) skills. Items tapping such constructs may be diverse regarding design principles and content and thus form a heterogeneous item set. Existing validation approaches, as the construct representation approach by Embretson (1983), however, require homogenous item sets in the sense that a particular task characteristic can be applied to all items. To apply this validation rational also for heterogeneous item sets, two experimental approaches are proposed based on the idea to create variants of items by systematically manipulating task characteristics. The change -approach investigates whether the manipulation affects construct-related demands and the eliminate -approach whether the test score represents the targeted skill dimension. Both approaches were applied within an empirical study ( N = 983) using heterogeneous items from an ICT skills test. The results show how changes of ICT-specific task characteristics influenced item difficulty without changing the represented construct. Additionally, eliminating the intended skill dimension led to easier items and changed the construct partly. Overall, the suggested experimental approaches provide a useful validation tool for 21st century skills assessed by heterogeneous items.

En este trabajo se presenta una metodología de pruebas de software basada en el marco de referencia e-TOM, la cual consta de tres macroprocesos principales los cuales son planeación y estrategia del servicio, capacidad de entrega del servicio y desarrollo y retirada del servicio; con el fin de lograr una alta cobertura de pruebas y una fácil implementación en industrias de software colombiana; la cual fue validada en un caso de estudio, donde se obtuvieron mejoras en las métricas de bugs encontrados por ciclo y total de escenarios de prueba automatizados. Abstract: This paper presents a software testing methodology based on the e-TOM reference framework, which consists of three main macroprocesses, which are service planning and strategy, service delivery capacity, and development and service retirement in order to achieve high test coverage and easy implementation in Colombian software industries; this methodology was validated in a case of study, where improvements were obtained in metrics of bugs found per cycle and total of automated test scenarios. Maestría

Accidents involving Vulnerable Road Users (VRU) are still a very significant issue for road safety. ´PROactive Safety for PEdestrians and CyclisTs´ is a collaborative research project funded by the European Commission. The objective of PROSPECT is to significantly improve the effectiveness of active VRU safety systems compared to those currently on the market by: (i) expanding the scope of scenarios addressed (ii) improving the overall Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) system performance (iii) proposing extensive validation methodologies. Concepts for sensors and control systems will be shown in three vehicle demonstrators and a mobile driving simulator and tested with novel VRU dummy specimen. Those systems address the well-known barriers of current AEB systems such as limited sensors field-of-view, fuzzy path prediction, unreliable intent recognition and slow reaction times for the actuation. The findings contribute not only to the augmentation of state-of-the-art knowledge but as well to technical innovations like assessment methodologies and tools for testing.

This paper aims to develop a new testing methodology to evaluate the measurement uncertainty of temperature field of thermostatic chambers used in food industry. The proposed methodology qualitatively evaluates the following parameters of a chamber's working space: mass of a product in a batch, thermal processing temperature, temperature in the geometric center of the product after shower cooling, duration of thermal processing, spatial temperature gradients and stability, heating and cooling dynamics between two temperature working points and temperature measurement uncertainty. As many different practical technical issues arose, by using the response surface method we analyzed the impact of imput test parameters to predict the unknown values of predefined output parameters on the basis of known values of influential input parameters, and to actually rank each resulting impact of each input test parameter.

This paper aims to develop a new testing methodology to evaluate the measurement uncertainty of temperature field of thermostatic chambers used in food industry. The proposed methodology qualitatively evaluates the following parameters of a chamber's working space: mass of a product in a batch, thermal processing temperature, temperature in the geometric center of the product after shower cooling, duration of thermal processing, spatial temperature gradients and stability, heating and cooling dynamics between two temperature working points and temperature measurement uncertainty. As many different practical technical issues arose, by using the response surface method we analyzed the impact of imput test parameters to predict the unknown values of predefined output parameters on the basis of known values of influential input parameters, and to actually rank each resulting impact of each input test parameter.

Introduction. Motor coordination is a basic motor ability necessary for daily life, which also allows athletes to win a sports rivalry and patients to assess their recovery progress after therapy and rehabilitation. The aim of the present study was to assess the reliability of a new lower-extremity rate of movements test and testing apparatus. Material and methods. The study sample consisted of 92 students aged 19.21 ± 3.55 years, with body height of 171.2 ± 15.11 cm and body mass of 66.01 ± 12.32 kg. The study used a test-retest method. Results. The correlation between the test and the retest was rs = 0.79 (p < 0.001) for the right leg, and rs = 0.78 (p < 0.001) for the left leg. In both cases a positive linear correlation was observed (rs > 0). Conclusions. The results of the study showed that the new rate of movements electronic testing apparatus was highly valid and reliable. Its technical possibilities eliminate errors that might have occurred earlier during manual counting of the performed cycles of movements.

Информације из стручне литературе, као и искуствени подаци, показују да велики проценат енергетских губитака термоелектрана потиче од система тракастих транспортера и њихових кључних компоненти – транспортних (носећих) ваљака. Зато су управо ови склопови, чија је функција да пренесу оптерећење услед масе транспортне траке и транспортованог терета на носећи рам, изабрани за објекат истраживања дисертације. Са циљем повећања поузданости, и смањења финансијских и енергетских губитака узрокованих непланираним отказима, развијене су нове и унапређене постојеће експерименталне процедуре за испитивање кључних карактеристика транспортних ваљака – обједињене у комплексну експерименталну методологију испитивања. Међу развијеним процедурама, по значају се посебно истиче процедура за испитивање радних карактеристика котрљајних лежаја (критичних компоненти транспортних ваљака) – под дејством контаминирајућих честица са површинских копова угља. Научне хипотезе представљене дисертације се односе управо на ову процедуру, односно, напредним статистичким методама (применом софтверских пакета најновије генерације) је позитивно одговорено на питање да ли постоје статистички значајне зависности између посматраних радних карактеристика вештачки контаминираних котрљајних лежаја – вибрација, температура и времена рада. Утврђене статистичке корелације су потом имплементиране у постојећу једначину за прорачун радијалног зазора котрљајних лежаја. Према развијеној експерименталној методологији је испитан велики број узорака транспортних ваљака, различитог типа, произведених од различитих произвођача. Након анализе и дискусије добијених резултата, поређењем са искуственим подацима из праксе и резултатима до сада реализованих истраживања у предметној области, развијена методологија је успешно верификована, па се може даље примењивати за процену квалитета транспортних ваљака и њихових котрљајних лежаја. Relevant literature, as well as practical experience, has shown that large percentage of thermal power plant energy losses is caused by overland conveyor systems and their key components – conveyor idlers (rollers). That’s the main reason why this assemblies, with function to transfer the load from the conveyor belt and transported material to the supporting frame, are chosen as an object of research presented in this dissertation. In order to improve reliability and decrease financial and energy losses due to unplanned maintenance, a new conveyor idlers testing procedures were developed (some of existing were improved) – and joined in complex experimental testing methodology. Among developed testing procedures, experimental procedure for conveyor idler’s rolling bearings testing is the most important – because it provides the information about the influence of exploitation contamination particles (from the open pit coal mines) on rolling bearing’s operational characteristics. Scientific hypothesis presented in this dissertation are related primarily to this experimental procedure. It was confirmed that statistically significant correlations between artificially contaminated rolling bearing’s vibrations, temperatures and time in operation could be established. One of generated correlation was afterward implemented in existing equation for rolling.

This paper presents a procedure for detecting and quantifying defects in reinforced concrete structures by us-ing the method of active infrared thermography (IRT). For quantitative analysis, a methodology of thermal stimulation of concrete specimens and post-processing of the gathered data was developed. Presented methodology uses principles of step heating (SH) thermography, pulsed phase (PPT) thermography, principal component thermography (PCT) and correlation operators technique. A short descriptions of the post-processing methods used in the research is also provided in the paper. All three post-processing methods i.e. PPT, PCT and correlation operators technique have shown the pos-sibility to enhance the defect detection in concrete structures in comparison to raw thermograms. According to the data accessible to the authors, in presented research, correlation operators and PCT post-processing techniques are being suc-cessfully used for the first time for defect detection within concrete structures. The results of the research clearly show the possibility of using active IRT for the detection and assessment of defect depth (quantification) in reinforced concrete structures with the measurement error within 10%.

The aim of this thesis is to verify the Testing methodology according to international practices and standards which was created and published by Iveta Králová in her thesis in 2013. In order to achieve this goal multiple partial goals have been set. In the theoretical part the basic concepts used in this thesis are identified and described and also the Test methodology according to international practices and standards is introduced. The practical part focuses on other sub-objectives. First, the project on which the Methodology was verified is introduced. Then the way in which the Methodology was verified is described followed by the actual realization of verification. After that the adjustments and modifications of the Methodology are recommended. The outcome of this thesis is to evaluate whether Testing methodology according to international practices and standards is usable on a real project. The contribution of this thesis is to confront corporate software testing processes with international standards and practices which helps to optimize and improve the processes in a particular company. Another contribution are recommendations for amendments to the Methodology.

Tarne (frikcijske) spojke su još uvijek najviše upotrebljavani tip kvačila naročito u putničkim vozilima. Konstrukcija tarnih spojki se značajno ne mijenja, ali se njihove performanse stalno poboljšavaju. Među čimbenicima koji utječu na vijek trajanja tarne spojke t.j. tarnog (frikcijskog) kotača su kvaliteta i tarne karakteristike obloge. U radu se daju rezultati eksperimentalnog istraživanja utjecaja sastava materijala obloge na tribološke parametre. Posebno se pokazuju poboljšanja koja se postižu primjenom bazaltnog vlakna u sastavu materijala tarnih obloga., Friction clutches are still the most widely used type of coupling especially in passenger vehicles. Structural construction of friction clutches is not changed significantly, but their performance is what is constantly being improved. Among other factors that determine the life of the friction clutch i.e. of the friction disk is the quality and friction characteristics of linings. This paper presents the results of experimental research of the impact of the material composition of the linings on the tribological parameters. Specifically are shown the improvements that can be achieved with the use of basalt thread in the material composition of the friction linings.

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung [Hrsg.]: Forschungsvorhaben in Ankopplung an Large-Scale-Assessments. Stand August 2016. Berlin : Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung 2016, S. 140-160. - (Bildungsforschung; 44), Eine Verlinkung von Berichtsskalen aus unterschiedlichen Large- Scale- Assessments erfordert, dass sich die Studien hinsichtlich der (1) Schlussfolgerungen, (2) Population, (3) Messeigenschaften und - bedingungen sowie der (4) operationalisierten Konstrukte (konzeptionell, dimensional und skalenbezogen) hinreichend ähnlich sind. Es wird also vorausgesetzt, dass zwischen einem latenten, also nicht direkt beobachtbaren Konstrukt, den verwendeten Testmodellen und den eingesetzten Testitems gleiche Beziehungen bestehen. Dies wird erreicht, wenn neben der konzeptuellen Äquivalenz auch dimensionale Äquivalenz und Skalenäquivalenz gegeben sind. Ziel des vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) geförderten Projektes „PISA, Bildungsstandards und die National Educational Panel Study (NEPS). Vergleich der Rahmenkonzepte und Validierung der NEPS- Testinstrumente in den Naturwissenschaften und in der Mathematik“ war es daher, unter anderem die Naturwissenschafts- und Mathematiktests aus NEPS- K9 mit PISA 2012 und LV 2012 anhand der oben genannten Kriterien zu vergleichen und die Berichtsskalen gegebenenfalls zu verankern. In diesem Beitrag werden wesentliche Ergebnisse zur konzeptionellen und dimensionalen Äquivalenz der Tests vorgestellt. (DIPF/Orig.)

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CEPS Journal 2 (2012) 3, S. 75-96, This article is a validation study of two national large-scale tests that measure the language proficiency of 11/12 year-old English learners in Norway and Slovenia. Following the example of Alderson and Banerjee (2008), the authors of the article have employed the EALTA guidelines for good practice to validate the tests, and to formulate major recommendations for improvement of both assessment instruments, where feasible (Alderson & Banerjee, 2008). The results of the validation study show that both national tests in English seem to fulfil most of the EALTA guidelines for good practice, although a few issues related to the test construct and test design procedures need to be re-assessed, and some changes may be required. (DIPF/Orig.)

The present paper aims at providing a contribution to the testing strategies in the field of mechanics of materials, with particular reference to low cycle fatigue in the strain control mode. After a detailed analysis of the state of the art on possible techniques for strain controlling, the paper points out the difficulties that could be encountered when a conventional longitudinal contact extensometer cannot be used. This methodology, based on controlling the strain at a particular specimen location, by controlling the relative displacement between its ends, was developed to provide an alternative solution in such occurrences. The paper introduces its analytical fundamentals for its most general application in the execution of fatigue or even static tests. Particular attention was devoted to the validation of the proposed methodology: this task was conducted by applying the suggested technique to both static and fatigue testing of hourglass specimens, by analyzing results also in comparison to other experimentations or numerical simulations, always observing a good agreement. The methodology proved to be efficient and reliable on a wide range of strain amplitudes.

International audience; Peer-to-peer (P2P) offers good solutions for many applications such as large data sharing and collaboration in social networks. Thus, it appears as a powerful paradigm to develop scalable distributed applications, as reflected by the increasing number of emerging projects based on this technology. However, building trustworthy P2P applications is difficult because they must be deployed on a large number of autonomous nodes, which may refuse to answer to some requests and even leave the system unexpectedly. This volatility of nodes is a common behavior in P2P systems and may be interpreted as a fault during tests (i.e., failed node). In this work, we present a framework and a methodology for testing P2P applications. The framework is based on the individual control of nodes, allowing test cases to precisely control the volatility of nodes during their execution. We validated this framework through implementation and experimentation on an open-source P2P system. The experimentation tests the behavior of the system on different conditions of volatility and shows how the tests were able to detect complex implementation problems.

The thesis is focused on testing the banking software. The first part is contained introduction to the topic, introduced the project, including its objectives, the nature of the application, my role in it. Further described is a method Case study used throughout the work. The company is a researcher of the project for the client. The first objective is to describe the company's testing methodology by which the project progressed during, compare it with other methodologies with regard to their robustness, the degree of organization of work and domestic allocation. The second objective is to determine the bottlenecks including the determination of improvement. Each project is unique, so is suitable, another degree of organization. A control method of the project is agile. It is therefore expected framework anticipating complications and subsequent resolution of other areas to occur. The work defines the cause bottlenecks as the internal factor (human labor), external factors (legislative changes). Mapped was not only the current situation but also outlined the cause of the problem. And the third in terms of value-added most important goal is to design verification solutions experts. At work I described ways of solving problems. I woke them both employees solver side, so people from client companies. Experts from the client know good practices in the company and are able to assess the suitability due to the nature of society. Collaborators supply side, meanwhile, have extensive experience from similar projects. Their opinion on the issue can bring effective application of the Recommendation. The biggest benefit is not only the approval but also the subsequent implementation in the course of the entire project.

The software in satellite applications has become increasingly larger, more complex and more integrated, so its verification and validation require exploration of new approaches. In this paper we present a Model-Based Testing (MBT) approach applied to the Communication Module of the ITASAT-1 university satellite. The models are Finite State Machines (FSM) representing the software behavior. In order to manage the difficulties to model the software behavior the approach employs the Conformance and Fault Injection (CoFI) testing methodology associated with the JPlavisFSM tool in the real context of a satellite's critical software. The former advises the modularization of the modelling into different types of behavior into different FSMs, while the latter integrates several FSM-based methods to derive test cases, provides facilities to design and to check properties of the models and computes metrics. The main result of this case study was the evaluation of the drawbacks on the design of the testing models supported by CoFI and JPlavisFSM. The models, test sets, metrics with the application of our approach applied to the Communication Module are presented. The paper discusses the benefits as well as the points requiring new researches.

A detailed discussion of high strain-rate tensile testing is presented. A comparative analysis of different ways to measure stress and strain is made. The experimental stress-strain curves have been suitably interpreted to distinguish between the real behaviour of the material and the influence of the testing methodology itself. A special two sections flat specimen design was performed through FEA computer modelling. The mechanical properties as function of strain rate were experimentally obtained and the measurement system limitations were evaluated. The strain rate material law was simulated and a good correlation between experimental and simulated engineering stress-strain curves was reached.Se presenta un estudio detallado del ensayo de tracción a alta velocidad de deformación. Se compararon dos formas diferentes de medir, tanto esfuerzo como deformación. Se interpretaron cuidadosamente las curvas esfuerzo-deformación para distinguir entre el comportamiento real del material y la influencia de la propia metodología de ensayo. Se diseñó una probeta plana especial de dos secciones mediante simulación por elementos finitos. Se obtuvieron, experimentalmente, las propiedades mecánicas como función de la velocidad de deformación y se evaluaron las limitaciones de los sistemas de medida. La ley del material, dependiente de la velocidad de deformación, se simuló, obteniéndose una buena correlación entre las curvas esfuerzo-deformación ingenieril experimental y simulada.

International audience; Transactional database management systems (DBMS) have been successful at supporting traditional transaction processing workloads. However, web-based applications that tend to generate huge numbers of concurrent business operations are pushing DBMS performance over their limits, thus threatening overall system availability. Then, a crucial question is how to test DBMS performance under heavy workload conditions. Answering this question requires a testing methodology to set up non-biased conditions for pushing a particular DBMS over its normal performance limits (i.e., to stress it). In this article, we present a stress testing methodology for DBMS to search for defects in supporting very heavy workloads. Our methodology leverages distributed testing techniques and takes into account the various biases that may affect the test results. It progressively increases the workload along with several tuning steps up to a stress condition. We validate our methodology with empirical studies on two popular DBMS (one proprietary, one open-source) and detail the defects that have been found.

There are many methodologies in the field of software engineering that focus on the entire software development process. The software development process aims to provide a quality product that meets user requirements, and to deliver it on time as well as within budget. Testing is a tool for verifying the quality of software and serves as feedback in software development. Most software development methodologies are available only in English, they emphasize the actual software development and address testing only marginally. An accurately designed testing process however, may contribute to higher software quality and avoid potential problems resulting from the entire information system's failure. Current Czech methodology that focuses exclusively on testing has been developed either inside individual companies and thus is not accessible to the public, or is contained in graduate theses, where it was typically created by adapting and expanding the existing software development methodologies for testing within a particular company or team. The main objective of this thesis is to establish a methodology for testing in Czech, which is based on international practices and standards, which is not tailored to a specific organization and which can be used as guidance in defining test processes in various organizations, regardless of their specific focus. The proposed methodology is also implemented in the tool EPF Composer that enables administration of methodology and its publication in the form of the website. The thesis also pursues additional objectives. In order to verify the objective of developing a standardized testing methodology is met, the thesis strives to produce a subsequent evaluation methodology using a standardized process framework in order to improve the testing process as well as a summary detailing which areas may be the subject of further expansion methodology. The theoretical part of the thesis aims to evaluate software development methodologies in terms of testing, to provide an overview of standards related to testing and to describe selected standards, to clarify the purpose of certification in testing and to analyze the possibilities of utilizing materials to prepare for the ISTQB certification. The objectives were achieved by analyzing the available materials for ISTQB certification, analyzing software development methodologies, standards, the TMMi procedural framework and other resources that deal with testing as well as its methodologies and standards. The main contribution of this work is a testing methodology, which is based on the testing process as defined by the international organization ISTQB. It provides a methodological framework by interconnecting and expanding individual methodological elements. Elements of the methodology include working products, as specified by the methodology with respect to the IEEE 829 standard. The methodology does not depend on the needs of a particular company and may be easily adopted, managed and customized. It may be used as a starting point in creating a testing strategy in Czech companies focused on software development which are interested in approaching testing in compliance with international practices.

Diplomska naloga opisuje reševanje problema prometnega testiranja spletnega portala »WebCommunicator«, produkta podjetja Iskratel d.o.o., ki za svoje delovanje uporablja protokol HTTP/S in asinhrono komunikacijo s tehnologijami Comet. Cilj naloge je bil prometno testirati spletni portal in ugotoviti, ali dosega zahtevane zmogljivosti. Glavni izziv pri nalogi je bil, kako sestaviti okolje za samodejno prometno testiranje, ki bi podpiralo tudi asinhron način komunikacije odjemalec – strežnik. Potrebno je bilo podrobno analizirati delovanje portala »Web Communicator« in zasnovati ustrezno testno okolje, pri čemer je bila ključna izbira testnega orodja, s katerim bi bilo možno opraviti testiranje ter analizirati vse aspekte delovanja portala. Orodje Qtest, ki podpira vse potrebne tehnologije in protokole, potrebne za izvedbo želenih testov, in testno okolje sta se izkazala kot zelo učinkovita tudi pri testiranju spletnega portala z asinhrono komunikacijo odjemalec/strežnik, saj sta omogočila testiranje v enakih okoliščinah, kot se pojavljajo v produkcijskih postavitvah. Zato je bilo možno odkriti vse napake, ki bi se sicer pojavile med produkcijskim obratovanjem. The thesis focuses at the problem of traffic load testing of an internet portal "WebCommunicator", a product of Iskratel Ltd., which uses a protocol HTTP/S and asynchronous communication based on Comet technologies. The purpose of the work was to carry out the traffic test of an internet portal and to find out if the portal has achieved the required performance. The main challenge was how to make an environment for automatic traffic load testing which would also support the asynchronous communication mode client/server. A detailed analysis of the portal "WebCommunicator" was needed in order to devise an appropriate test environment where the key issue was the choice of the test tool for performing the testing and analysis of all aspects of the internet portal operation. Qtest has proved as suitable tool that supports all the necessary technologies and protocols needed for performing desired tests. Test environment and in particular Qtest tool has proved to be very effective in testing of an Internet portal with asynchronous communication client/server because it has allowed the implementation of tests under identical conditions as in production locations and has helped to identify all errors that would otherwise arise during the production operation.

Text line segmentation represents the key element in the optical character recognition process. Hence, testing of text line segmentation algorithms has substantial relevance. All previously proposed testing methods deal mainly with text database as a template. They are used for testing as well as for the evaluation of the text segmentation algorithm. In this manuscript, methodology for the evaluation of the algorithm for text segmentation based on extended binary classification is proposed. It is established on the various multiline text samples linked with text segmentation. Their results are distributed according to binary classification. Final result is obtained by comparative analysis of cross linked data. At the end, its suitability for different types of scripts represents its main advantage.

The properties of concrete for civil engineering structures are directly connected to the binder properties, therefore the current developments tend to increase the concrete strength, also having in mind the decrease of energy consumption and the use of industrial waste in binder production. In Europe and as well worldwide the binders testing will have to be standardized enabling to characterize and use binders in all producing countries. The paper presents an update critical review on the experimental methodology aiming to evaluate the mechanical properties of mineral matrix according to the existing standards.

Different relationships between soil-test methods results have been reported in several agricultural regions. Differences in the same soil-test procedure (e.g., soil/solution ratio) exist between soil-testing laboratories from different agricultural regions. Our objectives were to (1) determine the effect of soil/solution ratio on the amount of phosphorus removed by Bray 1 and Mehlich 3 methods, (2) compare the amounts of phosphorus removed by Bray 1 and Mehlich 3 in Mollisols from the Pampean region, and (3) determine whether soil/solution ratio affects the relationship between Bray 1 and Mehlich 3. Soil phosphorus availability was determined with two extractants (Bray 1 and Mehlich 3), using two soil/solution ratios (1:10 and 1:8, wt/v) in 72 soils (noncalcareous, loess-derived Molisolls) from the Pampean region. The amount of phosphorus removed was 20-24% greater when using 1:10 than 1:8 (wt/v) soil/solution ratio. This effect was significantly greater in Bray 1 than in Mehlich 3 (p = 0.04). When compared using the same soil/solution ratio, Mehlich 3 removed 4 to 8% more phosphorus than Bray 1. The soil/solution ratio used in the comparison affected the relationship between both extractants. The difference between extractants was slightly greater with a soil/solution ratio of 1:8 than of 1:10 (p = 0.03). Our results showed that even when using the same method, changes in the procedure (like soil/solution ratio) may cause different soil-test results and also differences in the relationship between two extracting solutions. Therefore, reported relationships between two methods are only valid for the soils and region where the relationship was developed and should not be extrapolated to other regions, even with similar soils. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Fil: Gutiérrez Boem, Flavio Hernán. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícola y Uso de la Tierra. Cátedra de Fertilidad y Fertilizantes; Argentina Fil: Rubio, Gerardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biociencias Agrícolas y Ambientales; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícola y Uso de la Tierra. Cátedra de Fertilidad y Fertilizantes; Argentina Fil: Barbero, Daniel. Laboratorio Molisol; Argentina

Diplomska naloga opisuje uporabo testnega orodja SoapUI na produktih podjetja Iskratel d.o.o., ki za svoje delovanje uporabljajo protokol SOAP. Cilj naloge je bil ugotoviti, ali je orodje SoapUI bolj uporabno za testranje SOAP vmesnikov, kot orodja, ki so bila v podjetju v uporabi do sedaj. Dodobra se je bilo potrebno seznaniti s testnim orodjem. Raziskati in ugotoviti je bilo potrebno kako na najenostavnejši način orodje SoapUI predstaviti testerjem in verifikatorjem, ki se z njim še niso srečali. Da bi lahko vsak čim hitreje začel uporabljati program je bilo potrebno napisati obširno in pregledno dokumentacijo in navodila za uporabo programa. Na koncu je bilo izvedeno še enodnevno izobraževanje iz uporabe progragama SoapUI na sedežu podjetja Iskratel d.o.o. v Kranju. Diploma describes the use of SoapUI testing tool on Iskratel d.o.o. products, which are using SOAP protocol. The goal was to find out whetrher the SoapUI is more efficient for testing the SOAP interfaces than the tools used so far. It was necessary to get familiar with a testing tool. Then it was needed to find out how to present SoapUI to other testers and verificatiors on easiest way possible. New methodology of testing has had to be written. Easy to use and step by step user guide has had to be written as well, so that others could actively start using SoapUI without spending too much time. At the end a one day training at the company headquarters was prepare and carried aout.

Though revised operational objectives should only be finalised through an iterative process as the results of simulation tests of Candidate Management Procedures (CMPs), and hence their trade-off implications, become available, this process merits initiation at the present time.

Lehrkräfte sollen kompetenzorientiert unterrichten und ihre förderdiagnostischen Fähigkeiten entwickeln - dies sind auch wichtige bildungspolitische Forderungen nach PISA. Wenn die neu eingeführten Bildungsstandards verwirklicht werden sollen, ist eine Stärkung der förderdiagnostischen Kompetenzen von Lehrkräften unabdingbar. Der vorliegende Band enthält Beiträge zu zwei Themenbereichen: 1) Welche neuen Erkenntnisse bieten uns Wissenschaft und empirische Forschung für die Erfassung und Modellierung von Rechtschreibkompetenz und die Diagnose orthographischer Kompetenzen? 2) Was leisten Kompetenzmodelle der Orthographie für die individuelle Förderung in Schule und Berufskollegs? Da in einer IGLU-Zusatzstudie die Rechtschreibleistung von Kindern in jeweils drei verschiedenen Tests erhoben wurde, bot sich die außergewöhnliche Möglichkeit, die Leistung eines Kindes in verschiedenen Tests aus unterschiedlicher Perspektive förderdiagnostisch auszuwerten, und zwar anhand des linguistischen Kompetenzmodells (Löffler/Meyer-Schepers), des Strategiediagnosekonzepts (May), der Sprachsystematischen Rechtschreibdiagnose (Blatt) sowie der Silbenanalytischen Auswertung (Roeber), so dass sich Leserin oder Leser ein eigenes Bild über die Reichweite und Aussagekraft unterschiedlicher diagnostischer Verfahren bilden kann. Der Band enthält ferner Berichte zu erfolgreichen Praxisprojekten, in denen Kompetenzmodelle der Orthographie für die individuelle Förderung erprobt wurden. (Herausgeberin)

Lehrkräfte sollen kompetenzorientiert unterrichten und ihre förderdiagnostischen Fähigkeiten entwickeln - dies sind auch wichtige bildungspolitische Forderungen nach PISA. Wenn die neu eingeführten Bildungsstandards verwirklicht werden sollen, ist eine Stärkung der förderdiagnostischen Kompetenzen von Lehrkräften unabdingbar. Der vorliegende Band enthält Beiträge zu zwei Themenbereichen: 1) Welche neuen Erkenntnisse bieten uns Wissenschaft und empirische Forschung für die Erfassung und Modellierung von Rechtschreibkompetenz und die Diagnose orthographischer Kompetenzen? 2) Was leisten Kompetenzmodelle der Orthographie für die individuelle Förderung in Schule und Berufskollegs? Da in einer IGLU-Zusatzstudie die Rechtschreibleistung von Kindern in jeweils drei verschiedenen Tests erhoben wurde, bot sich die außergewöhnliche Möglichkeit, die Leistung eines Kindes in verschiedenen Tests aus unterschiedlicher Perspektive förderdiagnostisch auszuwerten, und zwar anhand des linguistischen Kompetenzmodells (Löffler/Meyer-Schepers), des Strategiediagnosekonzepts (May), der Sprachsystematischen Rechtschreibdiagnose (Blatt) sowie der Silbenanalytischen Auswertung (Roeber), so dass sich Leserin oder Leser ein eigenes Bild über die Reichweite und Aussagekraft unterschiedlicher diagnostischer Verfahren bilden kann. Der Band enthält ferner Berichte zu erfolgreichen Praxisprojekten, in denen Kompetenzmodelle der Orthographie für die individuelle Förderung erprobt wurden. (Herausgeberin)

Integral part of all systematically managed software development or maintenance projects is emphasis on continuous quality of all project activities. Because final quality of project deliverables (new or enhanced applications, preconfigured solutions as ie. SAP) is a very big influencer of project success and therefore also important influencer of long-term relationship between customer and contractor(s), this document focuses on ways how to proactively prevent from mistakes (within the whole software development lifecycle) and on techniques helping to establish better quality control of important deliverables through systematic approach, high quality tools and suitable metrics in software testing discipline. This document gradually exposes typical project areas where it is necessary to keep control on quality of project members' outputs, perceives testing in context of typical project consequences, offers practical recommendations in testing methodology, tools as well as widely tested technologies, and explains trends and risks in testing domain. The goal of this document is not only to document a wide range of possibilities given by frequently used testing techniques or tools but also to offer a practical guidance in deployment of test discipline. This document was written by comparing author's professional experience in software quality management with knowledge gathered by reading information sources attached to this document. This document consists of concrete conclusions of this comparison.

DESI-Konsortium [Hrsg.]: Unterricht und Kompetenzerwerb in Deutsch und Englisch. Ergebnisse der DESI-Studie. Weinheim u.a. : Beltz 2008, S. 34-54, Die Analyse der komplexen und umfangreichen Daten, wie sie aus Large-Scale-Assessments wie DESI resultieren, ist mit einer Reihe methodischer Herausforderungen verbunden. Verschiedene statistische Analyseverfahren, die dem aktuellen Stand der Forschungsmethodik entsprechen, kommen zum Einsatz, um eine möglichst gesicherte Interpretation der Ergebnisse zu gewährleisten. Das vorliegende Kapitel gibt einen Überblick über die verschiedenen methodischen Anforderungen, die bei der Analyse der DESI-Daten zu berücksichtigen waren, und zugleich wird darüber informiert, mit welchen Verfahren gearbeitet wurde. Der erste Abschnitt des Kapitels befasst sich mit der Messung der sprachlichen Kompetenzen, d.h. mit der Auswertung der Daten aus den Leistungstests. Hier werden kurz die verwendeten Skalierungsmodelle skizziert sowie die Schätzung der Kompetenzwerte und deren Aufbereitung für eine anschauliche Ergebnisdarstellung behandelt. Im zweiten Teil des Kapitels geht es um Fragen, die bei den weiteren Auswertungsschritten zu berücksichtigen waren, in erster Linie bei der Untersuchung von Zusammenhängen der Kompetenzen mit weiteren Schüler-, Unterrichts- und Schulvariablen. Das Kapitel gibt einen Überblick über die Verfahrenslogik der eingesetzten Techniken und verweist auf vertiefende Literatur. (DIPF/Orig.)

DESI-Konsortium [Hrsg.]: Unterricht und Kompetenzerwerb in Deutsch und Englisch. Ergebnisse der DESI-Studie. Weinheim u.a. : Beltz 2008, S. 11-25, Es werden die Ziele der DESI-Studie sowie die Untersuchungsmethoden vorgestellt. Dabei wird insbesondere eingegangen auf die Untersuchungspopulation und die Stichprobenziehung, die Testentwicklung und das Untersuchungsdesign sowie auf die Durchführung der Erhebung. (DIPF/Mar.)

The principle aim of this thesis is to create an unified methodical framework for a smaller Software Testing Department. Furthermore, its aim is to define and describe an important element of testing - the software mistake, define the way of its reporting and finally with the view of it to specify the troubleshooting areas of web applications. The last aim is to find a solution of how to publish this methodology. The aims of this thesis were reached by studying available theoretical findings and applications of principles that are known from notorious and approved methodologies which complexly focus on the software development. These principles were confronted with author's practical experience. Based on these processes, the methodology described above has been originated The contribution of the thesis is in the inner structure of the methodology, summarization of the most important information, application of practical personal experiences and adapting some elements of the methodology according to its usage in a small team. Other strong points are the proposals and recommendations of how to improve the situation on the testing department of a particular company, how to publish the methodology and how to maintain it in the future. The thesis is composed of three main parts. In the first chapter, the essential characteristics of testing, models of the life cycle of software development, sorts and levels of tests are given. The second chapter is the crucial part of the thesis. It describes the whole methodology - the main workflow and its details (processes), activities made during these processes, roles occurring in the methodology and the description of its responsibility (for activities and artefacts), artefacts made on the testing department, full description of mistake and its reporting and finally the summary of mistakes appearing in the web applications environment. The last chapter attends to the way of putting the methodology into operation - technical coverage of particular parts of the methodology in the present time, suggestion of improvement the testing in the future and possibilities of the publication of the methodology.

Zeitschrift für Pädagogik 54 (2008) 6, S. 777-790, In recent years, many nations, including Germany, have begun to use students' scores on achievement tests to monitor the performance of schools and educational systems. Such systems have been in place for a considerable time in a few nations, notably the United States, and numerous studies of their effects have been conducted. While these studies are limited, they are sufficient to reveal serious problems that should be confronted as new systems are put in place in other nations. Research in the U.S. has shown two related types of problems in test-based accountability (TBA) systems. Studies have revealed a mix of positive and undesirable effects on teaching and other aspects of educational practice. Research has also shown that increases in scores can become seriously inflated. That is, scores can increase by a larger amount - in some cases, a far larger amount - than actual improvements in student learning warrant. This paper summarizes studies of score inflation, describes several mechanisms that produce it, and notes implications for evaluation, testing, and the design of accountability systems. (DIPF/Orig.)

Weinheim u.a. : Beltz 2007, 319 S. - (Beltz Pädagogik), In den Jahren 2001 bis 2006 führten Autorinnen und Autoren des Buches zusammen mit weiteren Bildungsforschern eine repräsentative Schulleistungsstudie durch, die Kompetenzen von Schülerinnen und Schülern der neunten Jahrgangsstufe in Deutschland beschreiben und Bedingungen der Kompetenzentwicklungen analysieren sollte. Die DESI-Studie verbindet zwei zentrale Anliegen, die vorangegangene large-scale-assessments wie TIMSS, PISA und IGLU angeregt hatten: Modellierung und Messung von Kompetenzen... [und] Aufklärung des Zusammenwirkens von unterrichtlichen und schulischen, individuellen und familiären Bedingungsfaktoren beim Kompetenzerwerb. ... Die Ergebnisse des Projekts für diese beiden Zielstellungen publiziert das DESI-Konsortium in zwei Bänden. Dieses erste Buch präsentiert die Konzepte zur Messung sprachlicher Kompetenzen und beschreibt auf der Basis der Testleistungen von mehreren tausend Schülerrinnen und Schülern Dimensionalität und Niveaus sprachlicher Kompetenz. (DIPF/Orig.)

Klieme, Eckhard [Hrsg.]; Beck, Bärbel [Hrsg.]: Sprachliche Kompetenzen. Konzepte und Messung. DESI-Studie (Deutsch Englisch Schülerleistungen International). Weinheim u.a. : Beltz 2007, S. 9-22, Empirische Studien, die an einer großen Stichprobe repräsentative Leistungsdaten mit normierten Tests erfassen, ermöglichen die Überprüfung von allgemeinen fachlichen Kompetenzen und Sprachkompetenz im Besonderen. Damit stellen sie einen wesentlichen Bestandteil für die Verbesserung des schulischen Lehrens und Lernens dar (National Research Council 2001). Diese Large-Scale-Assessments auf internationaler Ebene, wie das Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) oder die Internationale Grundschul Lese Untersuchung (IGLU) sind durch ihre aktuellen Befunde zu den sprachlichen Fähigkeiten deutscher Schülerinnen und Schüler in der politischen und wissenschaftlichen Diskussion (Bos/Lankes/Prenzel et al. 2003; Deutsches PISA-Konsortium 2001; PISA-Konsortium Deutschland 2004). Sie versprechen detaillierte Ergebnisse und Rückmeldungen über Lernerfolge an alle Beteiligten in Bildungssystemen sowie Aufschluss über die Entstehung von sprachlichen Fähigkeiten und mögliche Förderungsansätze. Dabei bedarf es eines Auswertungsdesigns, das nicht nur globale Einschätzungen der jeweiligen Kompetenzen ermöglicht, sondern darüber hinaus deren Differenzierung, d.h. kriteriumsorientierte Aussagen über erreichte Niveaustufen in Teilbereichen der Sprachkompetenz. Die Studie Deutsch-Englisch-Schülerleistungen-International (DESI) betrachtet in diesem Rahmen die Sprachkompetenz von Schülerinnen und Schülern als ein komplexes Phänomen, das es in seinen Facetten abzubilden gilt. Dazu gehört die Berücksichtigung verschiedener Sprachen, in diesem Fall der Verkehrssprache Deutsch und der Fremdsprache Englisch. Neben der Erhebung von Schülerleistungen in den einzelnen Teilbereichen und der Entwicklung möglicher Erklärungsansätze für sprachliche Leistung zielt das Projekt auch auf die Analyse der Struktur von Sprachkompetenz. Diese wird verstanden als interagierendes Gefüge von Teilkompetenzen in Deutsch und Englisch. Durch die Analyse struktureller Zusammenhänge können nicht nur didaktische Schwerpunkte ermittelt, sondern auch Unterschiede zwischen der Kompetenzstruktur von Verkehrs- und Fremdsprache offen gelegt werden. (DIPF/Autor)