Sequential Sampling Designs for Estimating Software Reliability

Title from PDF of title page viewed August 25, 2020Dissertation advisors: Kamel Rekab and Paul RulisVitaIncludes bibliographical references (pages 58-62)Thesis (Ph.D.)--Department of Mathematics and Statistics and Department of Physics and Astronomy. University of Missouri--Kansas City, 2020For any non-trivial system, it is impossible to reach the exact reliability of software due to the complexity, cost, and time required to complete the testing. Instead, a sample of test cases can be used to estimate the overall software reliability. Our objective is to obtain the most accurate estimate of software reliability by allocating test cases among partitions. In the traditional approach, the method of allocating test cases among partitions is determined before reliability testing begins. By allocating test cases in advance, there is no opportunity to take advantage of the errors in choosing the distributions of test cases that may occur during the testing of the software. The inability to use these errors to adjust the estimate during testing is a shortcoming of a fixed sampling scheme. We applied sequential sampling schemes to make allocation decisions dynamically throughout the testing process. Under these sampling schemes, we can refine the allocation of test cases sequentially based on the information gained as the testing proceeds. Using theoretical results and Monte Carlo simulation, we have shown that the proposed sequential sampling scheme performs at least as well as the balanced sampling scheme.Introduction -- A fully sequential sampling scheme for software reliability estimation -- A Two-Stage Sampling Scheme for Software Reliability Estimation -- Summary and conclusion -- Appendi

The role of S100A4 in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia

Nuclear mislocalization of proteins can interfere with normal cellular function and cooperatively drive tumour development. To understand how this process mediates AML development, the nuclear proteome of AML blasts was analyzed in comparison with normal human CD34+ cells to identify misregulated nuclear proteins. This study identified that S100A4 as the most significant and fold changing protein in AML blasts which has not been previously associated with AML. S100A4 belongs to the S100 multigene family of calcium-binding proteins of the EF-hand type and has been implicated in tumour progression and metastasis in many solid tumours but little is known of its role in haematological malignancy. Using western blotting, S100A4 protein expression was observed in the nucleus of AML blasts FAB M1 (83%; 24/33) and 44% FAB M4 (4/9) whilst normal CD34+ or CD14+ differentiated monocytic controls have shown only cytosolic expression of S100A4. An independent dataset (TCGA) supports the overexpression of S100A4 mRNA in AML and suggests that overexpression may confer a poor prognosis (p=0.0118). To determine whether ectopic expression of nuclear S100A4 can affect the growth and survival of normal hematopoietic cells, CD34+ cells were infected with lentiviral vectors expressing nuclear-targeted S100A4. Overexpression of nuclear S100A4 could not be demonstrated in transduced CD34+ cells or in normal differentiated cells (probably due to rapid degradation of ectopically expressed S100A4 in these cells). To examine functional significance of S100A4 expression on normal and leukaemic cells, S100A4 expression was knocked down. In CD34+ cells, no significant effects were observed on the growth or lineage development of these cells suggesting S100A4 is not required for normal hematopoiesis. Conversely, knocking down S100A4 expression in AML lines (NOMO-1, TF-1, THP-1, and OCIAML2) showed significant reduction in growth and induced cell death through apoptosis suggesting that AML cells are dependent on S100A4 for their growth and survival. Further, to identify the binding partners of S100A4 through which mediates its functions, a co immunoprecipitation coupled with LC/MS was performed on cytoplasmic and nuclear extract of AML cell line (ME-1) under Ca2+ enriched conditions. Heterogeneous nuclear Ribonucleoprotein M (hnRNPM) was identified as novel binding partner of S100A4 AML. These findings suggest that therapeutically targeting S100A4 would be an effective strategy in AML while sparing normal hematopoietic cells

Strategy Plan and Policy Model of Public Transport in Saudi Arabia

GDP of Saudi Arabia has increased from $1 billion US dollar in 1972 to more than$300 billion US dollar in 2011. The increase in population from 10 million in 1950 to 28 million in 2010, urbanization represent about 80%. the country consume about 20-25% of it's own oil production about 2.5 million per/daily. This shows that the Saudi policy have given incentive to cars user for longtime and has done little to manage demand or support public transport. The main objective of this paper is place the Saudi model in public transport in the international context and to draw an international prospective of public transport policy and the rational of government intervention in transport sector. The study gives classification models which characterize the industries and form of intervention. Further more the study highlight some of the approaches which adopted by both developed and developing industry at specific time. The Methods and models use vary from one country and this study had classified intervention in transport sector in five models which are such as models of ownership, regulation, competition, finance system and private public partnership model. In 2011 Saudi Arabia has introduce it First National Transport Strategy, which have adopted many objectives among the most is, to improve efficiency of transport sector, module environmental impact of transport sector, improves safety facilitate the movement of peoples and goods to improve economic activity (MOT 2011). This state shows that no clear objectives to improve public transport policy

Application of Sustainable City Logistics in Saudi Arabia

The kingdom of Saudi Arabia has advantages in trade and logistics services that other countries do not have. By 2020 there was a significant increase in logistics market revenue with reach almost SAR 94 billion (USD $ 25 billion), which, in this case, opens up opportunities for FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) that must be exploited. Components and logistics services are a series of activities planning, organizing, and controlling all activities in the flow of materials, from raw materials to final consumption and the return flow of manufactured products, with the aim of satisfying the needs and desires of customers and other interested parties. city. Therefore, the sustainability of city logistics requires synergy between policy makers (government) and also the community (public) with the private sector (private) with steps such as simplification of regulations, provision of urban infrastructure, low carbon emissions in transportation means of delivery of logistics services, network governance. modern traffic so that this public-private partnership is the key to the effectiveness and efficiency of a sustainable urban logistics chain

Integrating Complementary and Alternative Medicine into Family Medicine Practice: Narrative Review

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has witnessed a significant surge in usage across various populations and regions in recent decades. This review article delves into the prevalence and patterns of CAM usage, from cancer patients to cultural practices in Saudi Arabia and New Zealand. In Saudi Arabia, CAM practices, especially spiritual ones like prayer and reciting the Quran, are widely adopted, with herbs, honey, and dietary products also being popular. New Zealand healthcare professionals, including general practitioners and midwives, generally hold a positive view towards CAM, with acupuncture being particularly favored. However, concerns about CAM's scientific evidence, safety, and costs persist. In the U.S., while CAM is popular, many family physicians feel inadequately trained to address CAM-related patient queries. In Germany, a significant number of family physicians use CAM in their practices, emphasizing the need for increased CAM education and research. The data underscores the global trend of CAM adoption and the need for its effective integration into mainstream healthcare. Despite its popularity, the integration of CAM in medical education remains limited in many regions, including Saudi Arabia. However, there's a noticeable shift with some medical schools beginning to incorporate CAM into their curriculum. The article underscores the importance of evidence-based practice, education, training, open communication, regulation, interdisciplinary collaboration, a patient-centered approach, thorough documentation, continuous research, cultural sensitivity, and cost-effectiveness evaluation when considering the integration of CAM into mainstream healthcare. The recommendations provided aim to ensure that patients receive holistic care that is both safe and effective. The overarching theme is the need for a balanced, informed, and collaborative approach to integrating CAM into family medicine practice

INVESTIGATION OF ALUMINUM TOXICITY AMONG WORKERS IN ALUMINUM INDUSTRY SECTOR

The study was conducted to evaluate urine aluminum concentration among a total of 150 participants (80 aluminum technicians and 70 non- aluminum technicians as a control). Data were collected through a previously prepared questionnaire which consists of two parts. The first part concerned with demographic data such as age and nationality. The second part concerned with occupational data such as working hours, working years, smoking, and diseases. The mean concentration of aluminum is 51.62+ 29.59 μg/l and the mean concentration of group control 16.32 + 12.49 μg/l. The following variables were associated significantly with aluminum concentration: age, weekly working hours, smoking and daily smoking packets.According to our study, aluminum workers have high concentrations of urine aluminum compared with other studies, in addition to that the incidence of diseases in relation to exposure is low, simply because: 1-Self reported questionnaires may be not a proper way to collect data about diseases. 2- Traditional surveillance approaches used in public health practice are difficult to apply to metals poisoning because adverse health effects related to metal exposure may not be clinically diagnosed, except at very high exposure levels, and are not usually listed as reportable diseases.Finally Special safety precautions and educational programs are also needed to limit the aluminum exposure in this industrial group

Nuclear factor I-C overexpression promotes monocytic development and cell survival in acute myeloid leukemia

Nuclear factor I-C (NFIC) belongs to a family of NFI transcription factors that binds to DNA through CAATT-boxes and are involved in cellular differentiation and stem cell maintenance. Here we show NFIC protein is significantly overexpressed in 69% of acute myeloid leukemia patients. Examination of the functional consequences of NFIC overexpression in HSPCs showed that this protein promoted monocytic differentiation. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis further demonstrated that NFIC overexpressing monocytes had increased expression of growth and survival genes. In contrast, depletion of NFIC through shRNA decreased cell growth, increased cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in AML cell lines and AML patient blasts. Further, in AML cell lines (THP-1), bulk RNA sequencing of NFIC knockdown led to downregulation of genes involved in cell survival and oncogenic signaling pathways including mixed lineage leukemia-1 (MLL-1). Lastly, we show that NFIC knockdown in an ex vivo mouse MLL::AF9 pre-leukemic stem cell model, decreased their growth and colony formation and increased expression of myeloid differentiation markers Gr1 and Mac1. Collectively, our results suggest that NFIC is an important transcription factor in myeloid differentiation as well as AML cell survival and is a potential therapeutic target in AML

Low Citrate Synthase Activity Is Associated with Glucose Intolerance and Lipotoxicity

This work was supported by Saudi Ministry of Higher Education Grant (to Y.A.), NHS Grampian Endowment Grant (no. 12/21) (to A.R. and S.R.G.), Kuwait Ministry of Health grant (to M.A.T.), and European Social Fund under the Global Grant Measure (VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-02-057) (to A.L. and A.R.). The authors thank Shona Fleming of the School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, for the technical assistance during their study. The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request. A corrigendum for this article has been published.Peer reviewedPublisher PD