Robust Dynamic Selection of Tested Modules in Software Testing for Maximizing Delivered Reliability

Software testing is aimed to improve the delivered reliability of the users. Delivered reliability is the reliability of using the software after it is delivered to the users. Usually the software consists of many modules. Thus, the delivered reliability is dependent on the operational profile which specifies how the users will use these modules as well as the defect number remaining in each module. Therefore, a good testing policy should take the operational profile into account and dynamically select tested modules according to the current state of the software during the testing process. This paper discusses how to dynamically select tested modules in order to maximize delivered reliability by formulating the selection problem as a dynamic programming problem. As the testing process is performed only once, risk must be considered during the testing process, which is described by the tester's utility function in this paper. Besides, since usually the tester has no accurate estimate of the operational profile, by employing robust optimization technique, we analysis the selection problem in the worst case, given the uncertainty set of operational profile. By numerical examples, we show the necessity of maximizing delivered reliability directly and using robust optimization technique when the tester has no clear idea of the operational profile. Moreover, it is shown that the risk averse behavior of the tester has a major influence on the delivered reliability.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figure

Radiative absorption enhancement of dust mixed with anthropogenic pollution over East Asia

The particle mixing state plays a significant yet poorly quantified role in aerosol radiative forcing, especially for the mixing of dust (mineral absorbing) and anthropogenic pollution (black carbon absorbing) over East Asia. We have investigated the absorption enhancement of mixed-type aerosols over East Asia by using the Aerosol Robotic Network observations and radiative transfer model calculations. The mixed-type aerosols exhibit significantly enhanced absorbing ability than the corresponding unmixed dust and anthropogenic aerosols, as revealed in the spectral behavior of absorbing aerosol optical depth, single scattering albedo, and imaginary refractive index. The aerosol radiative efficiencies for the dust, mixed-type, and anthropogenic aerosols are −101.0, −112.9, and −98.3 Wm⁻²τ⁻¹ at the bottom of the atmosphere (BOA); −42.3, −22.5, and −39.8 Wm⁻²τ⁻¹ at the top of the atmosphere (TOA); and 58.7, 90.3, and 58.5 Wm⁻²τ⁻¹ in the atmosphere (ATM), respectively. The BOA cooling and ATM heating efficiencies of the mixed-type aerosols are significantly higher than those of the unmixed aerosol types over the East Asia region, resulting in atmospheric stabilization. In addition, the mixed-type aerosols correspond to a lower TOA cooling efficiency, indicating that the cooling effect by the corresponding individual aerosol components is partially counteracted. We conclude that the interaction between dust and anthropogenic pollution not only represents a viable aerosol formation pathway but also results in unfavorable dispersion conditions, both exacerbating the regional air pollution in East Asia. Our results highlight the necessity to accurately account for the mixing state of aerosols in atmospheric models over East Asia in order to better understand the formation mechanism for regional air pollution and to assess its impacts on human health, weather, and climate

Characterization of a newly isolated green microalga Scenedesmus sp. as a potential source of biodiesel

An oil-producing microalga SP-01 belonging to the genus Scenedesmus was shown to be able to grow on a media containing 5 to 30 g L-1 NaCl. Under mixotrophic condition, the maximum cell dry weight of 3.1 g L-1 and specific growth rate of 0.034 h-1 were obtained at 0.5 g L-1 NaNO3 and 6 g L-1 acetate. The effects of salinity on the biomass, lipid, and carotenoid productions of the alga SP-01 in mixotrophic mode were investigated. The biomass productivity increased with increasing NaNO3 concentrations, and addition of NaCl resulted in a higher biomass while NaNO3 was present. The maximum lipid content was obtained while no NaNO3 and NaCl was added, and the lipid content decreased with increasing NaNO3 concentrations or addition of NaCl. The maximum lipid productivities of 67.44 to 68.44 mg L-1day-1 were obtained while NaNO3 and NaCl were not added or while 20 g L-1 NaCl and 0.13 g L-1 NaNO3 were added. The algal lipid was mainly composed of C16 and C18 fatty acids accounting for more than 90% of total fatty acids. Furthermore, lutein and astaxanthin were the main carotenoids.Key words: Halotolerant, microalga, Scenedesmus sp., mixotrophic culture, lipid, carotenoid

Radiative absorption enhancement of dust mixed with anthropogenic pollution over East Asia

The particle mixing state plays a significant yet poorly quantified role in aerosol radiative forcing, especially for the mixing of dust (mineral absorbing) and anthropogenic pollution (black carbon absorbing) over East Asia. We have investigated the absorption enhancement of mixed-type aerosols over East Asia by using the Aerosol Robotic Network observations and radiative transfer model calculations. The mixed-type aerosols exhibit significantly enhanced absorbing ability than the corresponding unmixed dust and anthropogenic aerosols, as revealed in the spectral behavior of absorbing aerosol optical depth, single scattering albedo, and imaginary refractive index. The aerosol radiative efficiencies for the dust, mixed-type, and anthropogenic aerosols are −101.0, −112.9, and −98.3 Wm⁻²τ⁻¹ at the bottom of the atmosphere (BOA); −42.3, −22.5, and −39.8 Wm⁻²τ⁻¹ at the top of the atmosphere (TOA); and 58.7, 90.3, and 58.5 Wm⁻²τ⁻¹ in the atmosphere (ATM), respectively. The BOA cooling and ATM heating efficiencies of the mixed-type aerosols are significantly higher than those of the unmixed aerosol types over the East Asia region, resulting in atmospheric stabilization. In addition, the mixed-type aerosols correspond to a lower TOA cooling efficiency, indicating that the cooling effect by the corresponding individual aerosol components is partially counteracted. We conclude that the interaction between dust and anthropogenic pollution not only represents a viable aerosol formation pathway but also results in unfavorable dispersion conditions, both exacerbating the regional air pollution in East Asia. Our results highlight the necessity to accurately account for the mixing state of aerosols in atmospheric models over East Asia in order to better understand the formation mechanism for regional air pollution and to assess its impacts on human health, weather, and climate