Technical debt(TD)happens when project teams carry out technical decisions in favor of a short-term goal(s)in their projects,whether deliberately or unknowingly.TD must be properly managed to guarantee that its negati...Technical debt(TD)happens when project teams carry out technical decisions in favor of a short-term goal(s)in their projects,whether deliberately or unknowingly.TD must be properly managed to guarantee that its negative implications do not outweigh its advantages.A lot of research has been conducted to show that TD has evolved into a common problem with considerable financial burden.Test technical debt is the technical debt aspect of testing(or test debt).Test debt is a relatively new concept that has piqued the curiosity of the software industry in recent years.In this article,we assume that the organization selects the testing artifacts at the start of every sprint.Implementing the latest features in consideration of expected business value and repaying technical debt are among candidate tasks in terms of the testing process(test cases increments).To gain the maximum benefit for the organization in terms of software testing optimization,there is a need to select the artifacts(i.e.,test cases)with maximum feature coverage within the available resources.The management of testing optimization for large projects is complicated and can also be treated as a multi-objective problem that entails a trade-off between the agile software’s short-term and long-term value.In this article,we implement a multi-objective indicatorbased evolutionary algorithm(IBEA)for fixing such optimization issues.The capability of the algorithm is evidenced by adding it to a real case study of a university registration process.展开更多
Evolutionary testing (ET) is an effective test case generation technique which uses some meta-heuristic search algorithm, especially genetic algorithm, to generate test case automatically. However, the population prem...Evolutionary testing (ET) is an effective test case generation technique which uses some meta-heuristic search algorithm, especially genetic algorithm, to generate test case automatically. However, the population prematurity problem may decrease the performance of ET. In this paper, a hybrid optimization strategy is proposed based on extended cataclysm which integrates both static configuration strategies and dynamic optimization strategy. Dynamic optimization strategy included the optimization of initial population and the dynamic population optimization based on extended cataclysm, where the diversity of population was monitored during the evolution process of ET, and once the population prematurity was detected, extended cataclysm operation was used to renew the diversity of the population. Experimental results show that the hybrid optimization strategy can improve the performance of ET.展开更多
Search-based statistical structural testing(SBSST)is a promising technique that uses automated search to construct input distributions for statistical structural testing.It has been proved that a simple search algorit...Search-based statistical structural testing(SBSST)is a promising technique that uses automated search to construct input distributions for statistical structural testing.It has been proved that a simple search algorithm,for example,the hill-climber is able to optimize an input distribution.However,due to the noisy fitness estimation of the minimum triggering probability among all cover elements(Tri-Low-Bound),the existing approach does not show a satisfactory efficiency.Constructing input distributions to satisfy the Tri-Low-Bound criterion requires an extensive computation time.Tri-Low-Bound is considered a strong criterion,and it is demonstrated to sustain a high fault-detecting ability.This article tries to answer the following question:if we use a relaxed constraint that significantly reduces the time consumption on search,can the optimized input distribution still be effective in faultdetecting ability?In this article,we propose a type of criterion called fairnessenhanced-sum-of-triggering-probability(p-L1-Max).The criterion utilizes the sum of triggering probabilities as the fitness value and leverages a parameter p to adjust the uniformness of test data generation.We conducted extensive experiments to compare the computation time and the fault-detecting ability between the two criteria.The result shows that the 1.0-L1-Max criterion has the highest efficiency,and it is more practical to use than the Tri-Low-Bound criterion.To measure a criterion’s fault-detecting ability,we introduce a definition of expected faults found in the effective test set size region.To measure the effective test set size region,we present a theoretical analysis of the expected faults found with respect to various test set sizes and use the uniform distribution as a baseline to derive the effective test set size region’s definition.展开更多
In order to optimize the ultrasonic extraction technique for the total flavonoid of leaf yellows plus, the contents of 21 leaf yellows plus total flavonoid from four regions in Heilongjiang Province were comparatively...In order to optimize the ultrasonic extraction technique for the total flavonoid of leaf yellows plus, the contents of 21 leaf yellows plus total flavonoid from four regions in Heilongjiang Province were comparatively analyzed. The ultrasonic extraction technology was optimized by Box-Behnken response surface method, and the total flavonoid content of 21 kinds of Acanthopanax senticosus(Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms from different producing areas were analyzed by cluster analysis. The optimal process conditions were determined as ultrasonic time 30 min, solid-liquid ratio 1 : 12 and ultrasonic power 250 W, and the average yield of the total flavonoid was 1.453 mg·g^ (-1). By optimizing the ultrasonic-assisted extraction method, the total flavonoid content from different producing areas was compared in the experiment, which provided certain data support for the optimization of the extraction process in the future and laid a certain theoretical foundation for the quality analysis of Chinese medicinal materials.展开更多
Abstract： Estimation of evapotranspiration （ET） for mountain ecosystem is of absolute importance since it serves as an important component in balancing the hydrologic cycle. The present study evaluates the performa...Abstract： Estimation of evapotranspiration （ET） for mountain ecosystem is of absolute importance since it serves as an important component in balancing the hydrologic cycle. The present study evaluates the performance of original and location specific calibrated Hargreaves equation （HARG） with the estimates of Food and Agricultural Organization （FAO） Penman Monteith （PM） method for higher altitudes in East Sikkim, India. The results show that the uncalibrated HARG model underestimates ET0 by 0.35 mm day^-1 whereas the results are significantly improved by regional calibration of the model. In addition, this paper also presents the variability in the trajectory associated with the climatic variables with the changing climate in the study site. Non- parametric Mann-Kendall （MK） test was used to investigate and understand the mean monthly trend of eight climatic parameters including reference evapotranspiration （ET0） for the period of 1985 - 2009. Trend of ET0 was estimated for the calculations done by FAO PM equation. The outcomes of the trend analysis show significant increasing （p ≤ 0.05） trend represented by higher Z-values, through MK test, for net radiation （Rn）, maximum temperature （Tmax） and minimum temperature （Train）, especially in the first months of the year. Whereas, significant （0.01 ≥ p ≤0.05） decreasing trend in vapor pressure deficit （VPD） and precipitation （P） is observed throughout the year. Declining trend in sunshine duration, VPD and ET0 is found in spring （March - May） and monsoon （June - November） season. The result displays significant （0.01≤ p ≤0.05） decreasing ET0 trend between （June - December） except in July, exhibiting the positive relation with VPD followed by sunshine duration at the station. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of trend analysis of ET0 and other climatic variables for efficient planning and managing the agricultural practices, in identifying the changes in the meteorological parameters and to accurately assess the hydrologic water balance of the hilly regions.展开更多
For structural comparisons of paired prokaryotic genomes,an important topic in synthetic and evolutionary biology,the locations of shared orthologous genes(henceforth orthologs)are observed as binned data.This and oth...For structural comparisons of paired prokaryotic genomes,an important topic in synthetic and evolutionary biology,the locations of shared orthologous genes(henceforth orthologs)are observed as binned data.This and other data,e.g.,wind directions recorded at monitoring sites and intensive care unit arrival times on the 24-hour clock,are counted in binned circular arcs,thus modeling them by discrete circular distributions(DCDs)is required.We propose a novel method to construct a DCD from a base continuous circular distribution(CCD).The probability mass function is defined to take the normalized values of the probability density function at some pre-fixed equidistant points on the circle.Five families of constructed DCDs which have normalizing constants in closed form are presented.Simulation studies show that DCDs outperform the corresponding CCDs in modeling grouped(discrete)circular data,and minimum chi-square estimation outperforms maximum likelihood estimation for parameters.We apply the constructed DCDs,invariant wrapped Poisson and wrapped discrete skew Laplace to compare the structures of paired bacterial genomes.Specifically,discrete four-parameter wrapped Cauchy(nonnegative trigonometric sums)distribution models multi-modal shared orthologs in Clostridium(Sulfolobus)better than the others considered,in terms of AIC and Freedman’s goodness-of-fit test.The result that different DCDs fit the shared orthologs is consistent with the fact they belong to two kingdoms.Nevertheless,these prokaryotes have a common favored site around 70°on the unit circle;this finding is important for building synthetic prokaryotic genomes in synthetic biology.These DCDs can also be applied to other binned circular data.展开更多
A complex Laboratory Developed Test(LDT)is a clinical test developed within a single laboratory.It is typically configured from many fea-ture constraints from clinical repositories,which are part of the existing Lab-o...A complex Laboratory Developed Test(LDT)is a clinical test developed within a single laboratory.It is typically configured from many fea-ture constraints from clinical repositories,which are part of the existing Lab-oratory Information Management System(LIMS).Although these clinical repositories are automated,support for managing patient information with test results of an LDT is also integrated within the existing LIMS.Still,the support to configure LDTs design needs to be made available even in standard LIMS packages.The manual configuration of LDTs is a complex process and can generate configuration inconsistencies because many constraints between features can remain unsatisfied.It is a risky process and can lead patients to undergo unnecessary treatments.We proposed an optimized solution(opt-LDT)based on Genetic Algorithms to automate the configuration and resolve the inconsistencies in LDTs.Opt-LDT encodes LDT configuration as an optimization problem and generates a consistent configuration that satisfies the constraints of the features.We tested and validated opt-LDT for a local secondary care hospital in a real healthcare environment.Our results,averaged over ten runs,show that opt-LDT resolves 90%of inconsistencies while taking between 6 and 6.5 s for each configuration.Moreover,positive feedback based on a subjective questionnaire from clinicians regarding the performance,acceptability,and efficiency of opt-LDT motivates us to present our results for regulatory approval.展开更多
Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is highly contagious disease of commercial poultry causing substantial economic loses by producing poor quality meat in broilers and effecting production in breeder birds. The causative agen...Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is highly contagious disease of commercial poultry causing substantial economic loses by producing poor quality meat in broilers and effecting production in breeder birds. The causative agent has been reported as most hazardous pathogen among other infectious agent even after being immunized with multi-variant strain vaccine. Currently, different strain such as H-120, 4/91 and D274 have been used extensively for immunoprophylaxis against velogenic strain across Pakistan with minimal protection reported. In current study PCR analysis was used to investigate the molecular nature of IB isolates from Punjab and Sind province of Pakistan in 2016 epidemics. Total of 100 tracheal samples were considered for virus inoculation in 10 days old chicken embryonated eggs. The IBV infected amniotic fluid was neutralized with monoclonal antisera of H-120, 4/91 and D274 strains. The IBV screened samples were subjected for RNA extraction and subsequent to PCR using type specific primer of each strain. The amplified product of 840 bp was sequenced through Sanger sequencing. On the basis of PCR results, four similar amplified products from both regions were obtained showing similarities in agarose gel electrophoresis, but they differ from each other on the basis of nucleotides sequence. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that nucleotide sequences of isolates from Karachi were similar to the IBV H-120, Mass-41 and Connecticut 46 reference strains. Whereas, isolates from the Punjab province are analogous to the Mans-2, Mans-3, 9/41(UK) but did not show significant similarity with other reference strain. Therefore, it is recommended that use of M-41 and H-120 in vaccine production could be effective measure against velogenic infectious agent in Sindh particularly in Karachi, whereas, it would be better to incorporate either of the variant GQ281656.1, AY279533.1 in vaccine because of their highest level of resemblance with genetically sequenced isolates from Lahore and its surroundings.展开更多
A competitive co-evolutionary Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (cc-MOGA) was used to approximate a Pareto front of efficient silvicultural regimes for Eucalyptus fastigata. The three objectives to be maximised includ...A competitive co-evolutionary Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (cc-MOGA) was used to approximate a Pareto front of efficient silvicultural regimes for Eucalyptus fastigata. The three objectives to be maximised included, sawlog, pulpwood and carbon sequestration payment. Three carbon price scenarios (3CPS), i.e. NZ $25, NZ $50 and NZ $100 for a tonne of CO2 sequestered, were used to assess the impact on silvicultural regimes, against a fourth non-carbon Pareto set of efficient regimes (nonCPS), determined from a cc-MOGA with two objectives, i.e. competing sawlog and pulpwood productions. Carbon prices included in stand valuation were found to influence the silvicultural regimes by increasing the rotation length and lowering the final crop number before clearfell. However, there were no significant changes in the frequency, timing, and intensity of thinning operations amongst all the four Pareto sets of solutions. However, the 3CPS were not significantly different from each other, which meant that these silvicultural regimes were insensitive to the price of carbon. This was because maximising carbon sequestration was directly related to the biological growth rate. As such an optimal mix of frequency, intensity, and timing of thinning maintained maximum growth rate for as long as possible for any one rotation.展开更多
基金The authors would like to thank the Deanship of Scientific Research at Umm Al-Qura University for supporting this work by Grant Code:(22UQUyouracademicnumberDSRxx).
文摘Technical debt(TD)happens when project teams carry out technical decisions in favor of a short-term goal(s)in their projects,whether deliberately or unknowingly.TD must be properly managed to guarantee that its negative implications do not outweigh its advantages.A lot of research has been conducted to show that TD has evolved into a common problem with considerable financial burden.Test technical debt is the technical debt aspect of testing(or test debt).Test debt is a relatively new concept that has piqued the curiosity of the software industry in recent years.In this article,we assume that the organization selects the testing artifacts at the start of every sprint.Implementing the latest features in consideration of expected business value and repaying technical debt are among candidate tasks in terms of the testing process(test cases increments).To gain the maximum benefit for the organization in terms of software testing optimization,there is a need to select the artifacts(i.e.,test cases)with maximum feature coverage within the available resources.The management of testing optimization for large projects is complicated and can also be treated as a multi-objective problem that entails a trade-off between the agile software’s short-term and long-term value.In this article,we implement a multi-objective indicatorbased evolutionary algorithm(IBEA)for fixing such optimization issues.The capability of the algorithm is evidenced by adding it to a real case study of a university registration process.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No. 61806068, 61672204by Visiting Scholar at Home and Aboard Funded Project of Universities of Anhui Province under Grant gxfxZD2016209+3 种基金by Key Technologies R&D Program of Anhui Province under Grant 1804a09020058by the Major Program for Scientific and Technological of Anhui Province under Grant 17030901026by Talent Research Foundation Project of Hefei University under Grant 16-17RC23by Humanities and Social Science Research Project of Universities of Anhui Province under Grant SK2018A0605.
文摘Evolutionary testing (ET) is an effective test case generation technique which uses some meta-heuristic search algorithm, especially genetic algorithm, to generate test case automatically. However, the population prematurity problem may decrease the performance of ET. In this paper, a hybrid optimization strategy is proposed based on extended cataclysm which integrates both static configuration strategies and dynamic optimization strategy. Dynamic optimization strategy included the optimization of initial population and the dynamic population optimization based on extended cataclysm, where the diversity of population was monitored during the evolution process of ET, and once the population prematurity was detected, extended cataclysm operation was used to renew the diversity of the population. Experimental results show that the hybrid optimization strategy can improve the performance of ET.
基金Publication of this article in an open access journal was funded by the Portland State University Library’s Open Access Fund.
文摘Search-based statistical structural testing(SBSST)is a promising technique that uses automated search to construct input distributions for statistical structural testing.It has been proved that a simple search algorithm,for example,the hill-climber is able to optimize an input distribution.However,due to the noisy fitness estimation of the minimum triggering probability among all cover elements(Tri-Low-Bound),the existing approach does not show a satisfactory efficiency.Constructing input distributions to satisfy the Tri-Low-Bound criterion requires an extensive computation time.Tri-Low-Bound is considered a strong criterion,and it is demonstrated to sustain a high fault-detecting ability.This article tries to answer the following question:if we use a relaxed constraint that significantly reduces the time consumption on search,can the optimized input distribution still be effective in faultdetecting ability?In this article,we propose a type of criterion called fairnessenhanced-sum-of-triggering-probability(p-L1-Max).The criterion utilizes the sum of triggering probabilities as the fitness value and leverages a parameter p to adjust the uniformness of test data generation.We conducted extensive experiments to compare the computation time and the fault-detecting ability between the two criteria.The result shows that the 1.0-L1-Max criterion has the highest efficiency,and it is more practical to use than the Tri-Low-Bound criterion.To measure a criterion’s fault-detecting ability,we introduce a definition of expected faults found in the effective test set size region.To measure the effective test set size region,we present a theoretical analysis of the expected faults found with respect to various test set sizes and use the uniform distribution as a baseline to derive the effective test set size region’s definition.
基金Supported by the Breeding Techniques for New Varieties of Acanthopanax senticosus(CZKYF2022-1-B023)。
文摘In order to optimize the ultrasonic extraction technique for the total flavonoid of leaf yellows plus, the contents of 21 leaf yellows plus total flavonoid from four regions in Heilongjiang Province were comparatively analyzed. The ultrasonic extraction technology was optimized by Box-Behnken response surface method, and the total flavonoid content of 21 kinds of Acanthopanax senticosus(Rupr. et Maxim.) Harms from different producing areas were analyzed by cluster analysis. The optimal process conditions were determined as ultrasonic time 30 min, solid-liquid ratio 1 : 12 and ultrasonic power 250 W, and the average yield of the total flavonoid was 1.453 mg·g^ (-1). By optimizing the ultrasonic-assisted extraction method, the total flavonoid content from different producing areas was compared in the experiment, which provided certain data support for the optimization of the extraction process in the future and laid a certain theoretical foundation for the quality analysis of Chinese medicinal materials.
文摘Abstract： Estimation of evapotranspiration （ET） for mountain ecosystem is of absolute importance since it serves as an important component in balancing the hydrologic cycle. The present study evaluates the performance of original and location specific calibrated Hargreaves equation （HARG） with the estimates of Food and Agricultural Organization （FAO） Penman Monteith （PM） method for higher altitudes in East Sikkim, India. The results show that the uncalibrated HARG model underestimates ET0 by 0.35 mm day^-1 whereas the results are significantly improved by regional calibration of the model. In addition, this paper also presents the variability in the trajectory associated with the climatic variables with the changing climate in the study site. Non- parametric Mann-Kendall （MK） test was used to investigate and understand the mean monthly trend of eight climatic parameters including reference evapotranspiration （ET0） for the period of 1985 - 2009. Trend of ET0 was estimated for the calculations done by FAO PM equation. The outcomes of the trend analysis show significant increasing （p ≤ 0.05） trend represented by higher Z-values, through MK test, for net radiation （Rn）, maximum temperature （Tmax） and minimum temperature （Train）, especially in the first months of the year. Whereas, significant （0.01 ≥ p ≤0.05） decreasing trend in vapor pressure deficit （VPD） and precipitation （P） is observed throughout the year. Declining trend in sunshine duration, VPD and ET0 is found in spring （March - May） and monsoon （June - November） season. The result displays significant （0.01≤ p ≤0.05） decreasing ET0 trend between （June - December） except in July, exhibiting the positive relation with VPD followed by sunshine duration at the station. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of trend analysis of ET0 and other climatic variables for efficient planning and managing the agricultural practices, in identifying the changes in the meteorological parameters and to accurately assess the hydrologic water balance of the hilly regions.
基金supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 18K13459 and Grace S.Shieh was supported in part by MOST 106-2118-M-001-017 and MOST 107-2118-M-001-009-MY2.
文摘For structural comparisons of paired prokaryotic genomes,an important topic in synthetic and evolutionary biology,the locations of shared orthologous genes(henceforth orthologs)are observed as binned data.This and other data,e.g.,wind directions recorded at monitoring sites and intensive care unit arrival times on the 24-hour clock,are counted in binned circular arcs,thus modeling them by discrete circular distributions(DCDs)is required.We propose a novel method to construct a DCD from a base continuous circular distribution(CCD).The probability mass function is defined to take the normalized values of the probability density function at some pre-fixed equidistant points on the circle.Five families of constructed DCDs which have normalizing constants in closed form are presented.Simulation studies show that DCDs outperform the corresponding CCDs in modeling grouped(discrete)circular data,and minimum chi-square estimation outperforms maximum likelihood estimation for parameters.We apply the constructed DCDs,invariant wrapped Poisson and wrapped discrete skew Laplace to compare the structures of paired bacterial genomes.Specifically,discrete four-parameter wrapped Cauchy(nonnegative trigonometric sums)distribution models multi-modal shared orthologs in Clostridium(Sulfolobus)better than the others considered,in terms of AIC and Freedman’s goodness-of-fit test.The result that different DCDs fit the shared orthologs is consistent with the fact they belong to two kingdoms.Nevertheless,these prokaryotes have a common favored site around 70°on the unit circle;this finding is important for building synthetic prokaryotic genomes in synthetic biology.These DCDs can also be applied to other binned circular data.
文摘A complex Laboratory Developed Test(LDT)is a clinical test developed within a single laboratory.It is typically configured from many fea-ture constraints from clinical repositories,which are part of the existing Lab-oratory Information Management System(LIMS).Although these clinical repositories are automated,support for managing patient information with test results of an LDT is also integrated within the existing LIMS.Still,the support to configure LDTs design needs to be made available even in standard LIMS packages.The manual configuration of LDTs is a complex process and can generate configuration inconsistencies because many constraints between features can remain unsatisfied.It is a risky process and can lead patients to undergo unnecessary treatments.We proposed an optimized solution(opt-LDT)based on Genetic Algorithms to automate the configuration and resolve the inconsistencies in LDTs.Opt-LDT encodes LDT configuration as an optimization problem and generates a consistent configuration that satisfies the constraints of the features.We tested and validated opt-LDT for a local secondary care hospital in a real healthcare environment.Our results,averaged over ten runs,show that opt-LDT resolves 90%of inconsistencies while taking between 6 and 6.5 s for each configuration.Moreover,positive feedback based on a subjective questionnaire from clinicians regarding the performance,acceptability,and efficiency of opt-LDT motivates us to present our results for regulatory approval.
文摘Infectious Bronchitis (IB) is highly contagious disease of commercial poultry causing substantial economic loses by producing poor quality meat in broilers and effecting production in breeder birds. The causative agent has been reported as most hazardous pathogen among other infectious agent even after being immunized with multi-variant strain vaccine. Currently, different strain such as H-120, 4/91 and D274 have been used extensively for immunoprophylaxis against velogenic strain across Pakistan with minimal protection reported. In current study PCR analysis was used to investigate the molecular nature of IB isolates from Punjab and Sind province of Pakistan in 2016 epidemics. Total of 100 tracheal samples were considered for virus inoculation in 10 days old chicken embryonated eggs. The IBV infected amniotic fluid was neutralized with monoclonal antisera of H-120, 4/91 and D274 strains. The IBV screened samples were subjected for RNA extraction and subsequent to PCR using type specific primer of each strain. The amplified product of 840 bp was sequenced through Sanger sequencing. On the basis of PCR results, four similar amplified products from both regions were obtained showing similarities in agarose gel electrophoresis, but they differ from each other on the basis of nucleotides sequence. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that nucleotide sequences of isolates from Karachi were similar to the IBV H-120, Mass-41 and Connecticut 46 reference strains. Whereas, isolates from the Punjab province are analogous to the Mans-2, Mans-3, 9/41(UK) but did not show significant similarity with other reference strain. Therefore, it is recommended that use of M-41 and H-120 in vaccine production could be effective measure against velogenic infectious agent in Sindh particularly in Karachi, whereas, it would be better to incorporate either of the variant GQ281656.1, AY279533.1 in vaccine because of their highest level of resemblance with genetically sequenced isolates from Lahore and its surroundings.
文摘A competitive co-evolutionary Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm (cc-MOGA) was used to approximate a Pareto front of efficient silvicultural regimes for Eucalyptus fastigata. The three objectives to be maximised included, sawlog, pulpwood and carbon sequestration payment. Three carbon price scenarios (3CPS), i.e. NZ $25, NZ $50 and NZ $100 for a tonne of CO2 sequestered, were used to assess the impact on silvicultural regimes, against a fourth non-carbon Pareto set of efficient regimes (nonCPS), determined from a cc-MOGA with two objectives, i.e. competing sawlog and pulpwood productions. Carbon prices included in stand valuation were found to influence the silvicultural regimes by increasing the rotation length and lowering the final crop number before clearfell. However, there were no significant changes in the frequency, timing, and intensity of thinning operations amongst all the four Pareto sets of solutions. However, the 3CPS were not significantly different from each other, which meant that these silvicultural regimes were insensitive to the price of carbon. This was because maximising carbon sequestration was directly related to the biological growth rate. As such an optimal mix of frequency, intensity, and timing of thinning maintained maximum growth rate for as long as possible for any one rotation.
