Software Engineering Using design RATionale

For a number of years, members of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Design community have studied Design Rationale (DR), the reasons behind decisions made while designing. DR is invaluable as an aid for revising, maintaining, documenting, evaluating, and learning the design. The presence of DR would be especially valuable for software maintenance. The rationale would provide insight into why the system is the way it is by giving the reasons behind the design decisions, could help to indicate where changes might be needed during maintenance if design goals change, and help the maintainer avoid repeating earlier mistakes by explicitly documenting alternatives that were tried earlier that did not work. Unfortunately, while everyone agrees that design rationale is useful, it is still not used enough in practice. Possible reasons for this are that the uses proposed for rationale are not compelling enough to justify the effort involved in its capture and that there are few systems available to support rationale use and capture. We have addressed this problem by developing and evaluating a system called SEURAT (Software Engineering Using RATionale) which integrates with a software development environment and goes beyond mere presentation of rationale by inferencing over it to check for completeness and consistency in the reasoning used while a software system is being developed and maintained. We feel that the SEURAT system will be invaluable during development and maintenance of software systems. During development, SEURAT will help the developers ensure that the systems they build are complete and consistent. During maintenance, SEURAT will provide insight into the reasons behind the choices made by the developers during design and implementation. The benefits of DR are clear but only with appropriate tool support, such as that provided by SEURAT, can DR live up to its full potential as an aid for revising, maintaining, and documenting the software design and implementation

What users want for my app - implementing a system to analyze user reviews for mobile application maintenance activities

User reviews of mobile applications are often provided by users about their satisfaction, complaints or suggestions on the mobile apps. They form valuable and instructive feedback for app developers in the maintenance process to fix bugs, add new features, enhance the user experience of using the app, etc. However, due to the large quantity and various qualities of the user reviews, it is not realistic for developers to manually read every review to elicit useful information for application maintenance. To address this problem, the study proposes a mobile Application Review Analysis system for Maintenance (ARAM). ARAM is able to identify the useful app review information that can contribute to mobile application maintenance, extract keyphrases from review contents, and analyze users’ sentiments for the keyphrases. A new method called DoubleRank was proposed for extracting keyphrases from app reviews. By classifying and summarizing the user reviews, ARAM produces a report of users’ opinion on the extracted keyphrases and their associated reviews, which can provide useful suggestions for developers to plan maintenance activities. The generated report is accurate when comparing with the results of manual analysis

Next-generation big data analytics: state of the art, challenges, and future research topics

The term big data occurs more frequently now than ever before. A large number of fields and subjects, ranging from everyday life to traditional research fields (i.e., geography and transportation, biology and chemistry, medicine and rehabilitation), involve big data problems. The popularizing of various types of network has diversified types, issues, and solutions for big data more than ever before. In this paper, we review recent research in data types, storage models, privacy, data security, analysis methods, and applications related to network big data. Finally, we summarize the challenges and development of big data to predict current and future trends.This work was supported in part by the “Open3D: Collaborative Editing for 3D Virtual Worlds” [EPSRC (EP/M013685/1)], in part by the “Distributed Java Infrastructure for Real-Time Big-Data” (CAS14/00118), in part by eMadrid (S2013/ICE-2715), in part by the HERMES-SMARTDRIVER (TIN2013-46801-C4-2-R), and in part by the AUDACity (TIN2016-77158-C4-1-R). Paper no. TII-16-1

MARITIME SECTOR: KEY DRIVER OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

Nigeria’s Maritime sector is a neglected gold mine. It is capable of becoming a key engine of economic growth and sustainable development, if enhancive strategies are implemented for optimum efficiency. Nigeria’s maritime sector performance for 2019, like the global maritime business in the evidently points to the negative. However, factors that led the local maritime downward are different from factors that negatively affected global maritime sector. This paper will assess the technologies advancement; automation and digitalisation of Nigeria maritime sector to ensure it attain global best practices recommended by International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Currently, technological advancement is bringing its transformative advantages to the maritime ports and shipping space. In the industry known for complex issues, large scale, and a need for firm reliability, digital technologies that create new opportunities for better optimization, automation, and profitability. The study will also analyse maritime performance indicators which includes performance measurement, direct shipping connectivity, port improved management and environmental factor. Performance indicators are systematic tools that determine nature and critical issues that confront shipping industry and ports, help evaluate the possible impact of another policy decision. The challenges, prospects and sustainability of maritime sector in Nigeria over the years will be properly reviewed. The maritime future poses numerous challenges, but also erupt numerous opportunities. Global trade is expanding, Ports and shipping as its workhorse are undergoing transformation and facing massive challenges in maintaining competitiveness. Theories, analyses supporting statistical data, and related information from other relevant institutions and agencies, served as the framework of the study. The result of the study is expected to contribute in economic growth and sustainable development of the maritime sector. JEL: R40; R42; L20 Article visualizations

The Network and the Void: Myth and Spectacle of the Mediatized Self in Personal Blogs.

Master'sMASTER OF ART

Antecedents of travellers' eWOM communication

Development of the internet and electronic media provide a convenient platform for travellers to instantly share their experiences. Known as electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), it offers a powerful source of information and can also act as an effective marketing tool. Existing studies have focused on the conceptualisation and influences of eWOM communication, but limited attention has been given to the antecedents of it from the attitUdinal perspective within the tourism industry. This study aims to fulfil that gap. Data from international travellers having experience of eWOM communication was collected through online focus groups and survey questionnaire. Content analysis and structural equation modelling were employed for data analysis respectively. Based on the literature review and online focus group findings three key antecedents were identified, being: Adoption of Electronic Communication Technology, Motivation for eWOM Communication and Subjective Norm. Thereafter, a conceptual framework was proposed to bring these three antecedents together for the first time. This was empirically tested, particularly examining the influences of the overall attitude and behavioural intention of eWOM communication. Survey results showed that the overall attitude towards eWOM communication plays an important role in the understanding of the eWOM communication behaviour of travellers, serving as a mediator between antecedents and behavioural intention. From the theoretical perspective, this study fulfils the research gap through exploring the antecedents of eWOM communication from the attitudinal perspective. A new conceptual framework is therefore empirically validated providing the basis for replication within future studies. Through employing the Technology Acceptance Model, Functional Theory of Attitude, Subjective Norm and Consumer Attitude, this study contributes to extending those theories in the context of eWOM communication within the tourism industry. Regarding managerial implications, this research identifies the antecedents of eWOM communication behaviour of travellers, which could help practitioners stimu

Defining public attitudes and understanding of human gene therapy in Australia

Since the mid-1900s, breakthroughs in the accuracy and efficiency of gene altering technologies have rapidly advanced the field of human gene therapy (HGT). HGT as a treatment modifies specific genes to eliminate common illnesses and improve the quality of life of many individuals, previously not thought possible. However, HGT does not come without risk. Medical risks range from an ineffective treatment to one that could either disable or kill the patient. There are also ethical and moral issues pertaining to informed consent and the effect of these modifications on future generations. With the advent of HGT, the implications are now extremely broad, ranging from personal to societal. The complexity of this technology is such that its mere existence brings into play complex ethical questions that are often reflected in public discourse. In order to answer key ethical and risk-assessment questions, representative data on public beliefs, attitudes and opinions towards HGT and gene editing is required. This is the first Australian study that provides a snapshot of Australian's attitudes of HGT and their willingness to accept the wide variety of procedural applications and implications of this technology. To achieve this goal, two surveys using different collection methods were published. The first was a national online survey which used chain-sampling via major social media platforms in 2017, with 553 completed responses returned. The second survey was based on a mail-out of households in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in 2019, this received 170 completed responses. A central finding of this study was a general positivity in Australians' acceptance towards all human gene-editing applications, with a strong preference towards procedures to treat a severe medical condition, as opposed to procedures for personal enhancement or prevention of potential adverse conditions. This acceptability diminished with declining severity of the medical condition. In each case, enhancement and prevention procedures were viewed as less acceptable than therapeutic applications. Demographic associations were also identified in both surveys, with females in both surveys significantly less likely to find HGT acceptable across all Likert questions. Using two different sampling methods also allowed for a comparative assessment of the survey population demographic profile and response rates received using each data collection strategy. Little difference was observed between the two demographic profiles and response rates. These results build on and reflect findings of similar national and international public opinion studies and provide a more complete picture of current Australian sentiment

Sustainability evaluation of software architectures

Long-living software systems are sustainable if they can be cost-efficiently maintained and evolved over their entire life-cycle. The quality of software architectures determines sus-tainability to a large extent. Scenario-based software archi-tecture evaluation methods can support sustainability anal-ysis, but they are still reluctantly used in practice. They are also not integrated with architecture-level metrics when evaluating implemented systems, which limits their capabil-ities. Existing literature reviews for architecture evaluation focus on scenario-based methods, but do not provide a criti-cal reflection of the applicability of such methods for sustain-ability evaluation. Our goal is to measure the sustainabil-ity of a software architecture both during early design us-ing scenarios and during evolution using scenarios and met-rics, which is highly relevant in practice. We thus provide a systematic literature review assessing scenario-based meth-ods for sustainability support and categorize more than 40 architecture-level metrics according to several design prin-ciples. Our review identifies a need for further empirical research, for the integration of existing methods, and for the more efficient use of formal architectural models. 1

Regional mission impossible?:The Twente Region and the University of Twente

A well-functioning regional innovation system involves a lot of communication and interaction among the actors. However, sometimes the communication and interaction create tensions impeding regional development. In order to explore the reasons behind this, this study looks at the relationships between key stakeholders in the Twente Region in the Netherlands. The region has an established reputation for innovation and entrepreneurship, a high inter-connectedness between the actors, and a strong knowledge infrastructure. The research focuses on the University of Twente as a key actor contributing to regional growth in close cooperation with various stakeholders. This is an introductory interview-based case study that identifies four areas of tension between the university and its regional stakeholders. Our inquiry sheds light on the misalignment of stakeholders’ interests and expectations that lessens the actors’ capacity for policy formulation and strategic agenda setting, as well as hinders its successful translation into action. Then, the absence of clear intermediaries significantly increases the perceived distance between the University of Twente and the Twente region and impedes the university’s collaboration with companies outside the science and business park. Next, the tension of discontinuity highlights the complexities of human resources and personalised networks – their diversity, multidimensionality, and overlaps make it harder to synchronise action and enhance reciprocal benefits. The knowledge asymmetry between the parties further complicates their communication and weakens commitment. In the end, the paper offers a few ideas for action for academic leaders and regional policymakers

Prosperity and slums, a dynamic trajectory for positive development

This thesis was previously held under moratorium from 15th February 2019 until 23rd November 2020.Slums and their management are a phenomenon as old as cities. For Developing Region cities, slums present a challenge in maintaining inclusivity and sustainability, which the United Nations considers to be a fundamental human right and essential for fulfilling sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. On-going slum intervention approaches are inadequate in providing desired outcomes. Limitations involve overcoming negative perceptions with non-inclusive and ineffective approaches, and comprehensively understanding slums' complex social, spatial, and environmental dynamics. Interestingly, as illustrated in this thesis, slums and cities are linked through continuously evolving patterns of growth that are demographic and responsive to cities' structural vitality, which is focused on prosperity. Furthermore, there is potential to streamline slum improvement with that of cities and their prosperity, and for slums to contribute to such urban improvement endeavour when, however, what it means to prosper is clarified and detailed. This thesis recognises that definitions of slums, just like the strategies employed to address them in cities follow trends. It seeks to provide a comprehensive framework to define any slum as it exists in the city for effective intervention, and to re-formulate slums' roles, while managing them, in cities' broader progress through prosperity pursuit. The Slum Property Map (SPM) is proposed to provide an organised and rigorous way of comprehensively describing slums and developing a narrative that defines them and their existence in the city. It is developed as a non-exclusive, structured, dynamic framework and a reliable heuristic following on an integrated ontological and cognitive research and expansive literature analysis. The proposed theory for prosperity tries to simplify perceptions of the concept through an analytical synthesis of relevant theories. It shows how our existential pursuits with and within lived spaces through time can provide an operative view and a model for prosperity. Ultimately, the Slum-Prosperity Framework (SPF) is proposed as an actionable slum intervention framework, with assistive and conceptual tools for stakeholder implementation. It is conceived to help them identify and invest in most effective pathways for improvement and prosperity through streamlined, flexible, responsive (to comprehensively defined slum), and progressive actions. The SPF's development framework, while conceptual and approximate, with relevant expert validation provides a robust base for practical advancement, especially with institutional and expert collaboration. This thesis is motivated by the researcher's past experiences regarding slums and set to contribute to proactive and inclusive global urban improvement: for every challenge presented there can emerge novel and creative possibilities for engagement once the details of these challenges are closely examined and understood.Slums and their management are a phenomenon as old as cities. For Developing Region cities, slums present a challenge in maintaining inclusivity and sustainability, which the United Nations considers to be a fundamental human right and essential for fulfilling sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda. On-going slum intervention approaches are inadequate in providing desired outcomes. Limitations involve overcoming negative perceptions with non-inclusive and ineffective approaches, and comprehensively understanding slums' complex social, spatial, and environmental dynamics. Interestingly, as illustrated in this thesis, slums and cities are linked through continuously evolving patterns of growth that are demographic and responsive to cities' structural vitality, which is focused on prosperity. Furthermore, there is potential to streamline slum improvement with that of cities and their prosperity, and for slums to contribute to such urban improvement endeavour when, however, what it means to prosper is clarified and detailed. This thesis recognises that definitions of slums, just like the strategies employed to address them in cities follow trends. It seeks to provide a comprehensive framework to define any slum as it exists in the city for effective intervention, and to re-formulate slums' roles, while managing them, in cities' broader progress through prosperity pursuit. The Slum Property Map (SPM) is proposed to provide an organised and rigorous way of comprehensively describing slums and developing a narrative that defines them and their existence in the city. It is developed as a non-exclusive, structured, dynamic framework and a reliable heuristic following on an integrated ontological and cognitive research and expansive literature analysis. The proposed theory for prosperity tries to simplify perceptions of the concept through an analytical synthesis of relevant theories. It shows how our existential pursuits with and within lived spaces through time can provide an operative view and a model for prosperity. Ultimately, the Slum-Prosperity Framework (SPF) is proposed as an actionable slum intervention framework, with assistive and conceptual tools for stakeholder implementation. It is conceived to help them identify and invest in most effective pathways for improvement and prosperity through streamlined, flexible, responsive (to comprehensively defined slum), and progressive actions. The SPF's development framework, while conceptual and approximate, with relevant expert validation provides a robust base for practical advancement, especially with institutional and expert collaboration. This thesis is motivated by the researcher's past experiences regarding slums and set to contribute to proactive and inclusive global urban improvement: for every challenge presented there can emerge novel and creative possibilities for engagement once the details of these challenges are closely examined and understood