A Heuristic-Based Approach to Locate Concepts in Execution Traces

ABSTRACT Maintenance is the last phase of software life cycle and plays an important role in the life cycle of a system. More than 50% of the cost of the whole life cycle belongs to the maintenance phase. One of the most challenging problem of software maintenance is program comprehension. Program comprehension is a crucial part of maintenance and is a major factor in providing effective software maintenance and enabling successful evolution of a software system. A common problem in understanding software systems is that software systems often lack an adequate documentation. Most of the time, the only available source to understand the program is the source code. Therefore, developers must resort to reading the system source code, without specific tool support but code browsers, to understand the systems and perform their maintenance and evolution tasks. Concept or feature location and identification aim at helping developers to perform their maintenance and evolution tasks, by identifying abstractions (i.e., features) and the location of the implementation of these abstractions. Specifically, they aim at identifying code fragments, i.e., set of method calls in traces and the related method declarations in the source code, responsible for the implementation of domain concepts and user-observable features. The literature reports approaches built upon static and dynamic analyses; Information Retrieval (IR) and hybrid (static and dynamic) techniques. This thesis proposes a novel approach to identify cohesive and decoupled fragments in execution traces, which likely participate in implementing concepts related to some features. The approach relies on search-based optimization techniques using metaheuristic algorithm, textual analysis of the system source code using latent semantic indexing, and trace compression techniques. The proposed approach is evaluated to identify features from execution traces of two open source systems from different domains, JHotDraw and ArgoUML. Results show that the approach is stable and is generally able to locate concepts with a high precision.----------RESUMÉ La maintenance de logiciels est la dernière phase du cycle de vie des logiciels. Elle joue un rôle important dans le cycle de vie d’un logiciel car plus de 50% du coût du cycle de vie appartient à la maintenance. Un des défis importants avec la maintenance de logiciels est la compréhension. La compréhension de logiciels est une partie cruciale de la maintenance et est un facteur majeur pour une maintenance efficace ainsi que pour une évolution réussie d’un logiciel. Un problème commun à la compréhension de logiciels est souvent le manque d’une documentation adéquate. Quelques années après le déploiement, c’est possible que la documentation n’existe plus ou si elle existe, elle est surement dépassée. Les développeurs qui maintiennent le logiciel, la plupart du temps, sont différents de ceux qui l’ont développé. Par conséquent, les développeurs doivent recourir à la lecture du code source du système, avec rien d’autre que des navigateurs de code, pour comprendre le logiciel et accomplir leurs tâches de maintenance et d’évolution. L’identification et la localisation de concepts ou de fonctionnalités visent à aider les développeurs à effectuer leurs tâches de maintenance et d’évolution, en identifiant des abstractions et l’emplacement de l’implémentation de ces abstractions. Autrement dit, ils visent à identifier des fragments de code source, c’est à dire l’ensemble d’appels de méthodes dans des séquences d’instructions et les déclarations de ces méthodes dans le code source, responsables de la mise en oeuvre des concepts du domaine du logiciel et des caractéristiques observables par l’utilisateur. Dans la littérature il existe des approches d’analyse statique et dynamiquve ; Recherche Documentaire (Information Retrieval - IR) et des approches d’analyse hybride (statique et dynamique). Cette thèse propose une nouvelle approche pour identifier des fragments cohésifs et découplés dans des traces d’exécution, qui participent probablement à mettre en oeuvre les concepts liés à certaines fonctionnalités. L’approche repose sur des techniques optimisées pour la recherche en utilisant un algorithme de métaheuristiques, analyse textuelle du code source du logiciel en utilisant l’indexation sémantique latente et des techniques de compression de traces. Pour évaluer l’approche proposée, nous avons effectué une étude empirique en appliquant l’approche proposée sur deux logiciels libres, ArgoUML et JHotDraw. Les résultats ont montré que l’approche est stable, et, globalement, localise les concepts avec une précision élevée

Impact of the Second Teacher (Teacher Contributor) On the Academic Achievement of Students in Mathematics

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the second teacher (teacher contributor) and comparison with conventional techniques methods on the academic achievement of 50 students in the first grade of high school on math in the Qods city during the academic year 2013-2014. The research was performed semiexperimentally and with control and experimental groups by a pretest and post-test that after confirming the validity and reliability of the training content it has been designed and implemented. Experimental group during 8 weeks on mathematics with cooperative teacher and control group with no cooperative teachers have been trained. After this period, both groups were assessed through a post-test. Mean scores of achievement for control and experimental groups have a significant difference together that indicates teacher contributor's effeteness on students' achievement. Highlights of the study are include: 1. Increase academic achievement in the classroom; 2. Create confidence and more motivation for students; 3. Vitality and promotion the learning level of mathematics in students; 4. Note to all students with different learning levels; 5. Increase students' sense of responsibility; 6. Reduce academic failure

Correlation between PAL, medicarpin, phenol and flavonoid content in Medicago sativa L. at different growth stages

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is from Fabaceae family that has several flavonoid compound in roots and shoots. in alfalfa the major phytoalexin is medicarpin. In this study, total phenolic and flavonoid compounds and phenylalanin ammonia lyase (PAL) activity in different stages of development were measured. In this research the concentration of medicarpin by HPLC were studied in different stages of development. The lowest and highest level of the concentration of medicapin were in seedling stage and budding stage of growth, respectively. The results indicated that contents of total phenolic compounds and total flavonoid and PAL activity increase with developmental stage ,but decrease in flowering stage of growth

The Study of Learners’ Educational Level and Their Knowledge of True Cognate Words in Iran

Our purpose of the study was to determine the learners’ educational level and their knowledge of true cognate words. 385 had been selected from 3,789 statistical population participated in 2014–2015 at three levels of associate, bachelor, and master of Islamic Azad University as well as teachers of English in English educational institutions in Zanjan (Iran). The participants’ age was between from 18 to 52. The materials were 45 words of true cognate words from 500 words by doing CVR (content validity ratio) and CVI (content validity index) (Lawshe’s table with the index of 88% and 82% respectively). ANOVA (Analysis of variance) was used for studying the effect of educational level on the rate of awareness. The results showed there is no significant difference between the awareness of Associate diploma (A.D.), Bachelor of art (B.A.), and Master of art (M.A.) levels, but there is a significant difference between the level of awareness of teachers group and the other groups in true cognate words. Our result showed that all of them were weak in recognizing true cognate words. It also suggested the mean of true cognates recognized by the students based on educational level had increased trend

Trends of particulate matter (PM10) concentration and related Air Quality Index (AQI) during 2005-2012 in Kermanshah, Iran

Background and Aims: Atmospheric dust, also known as a part of PM10, can cause some adverse effects on public health. The aim of this study was to investigate dust concentration trends in Kermanshah city and also to compare related Air Quality Index (AQI) in different years, seasons and months during 2005 to 2012.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, totally 2589 samples were taken from air monitoring stations owned by the Environmental Protection Agency. The ghatered data were then analyzed using SPSS software V.16.Results: The frequency percentage of PM10 concentrations based on AQI descriptions (healthy, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy and dangerous) were 12.16, 68.36, 12.82, 3.43, 0.77 and 2.43 percents, respectively. It is further interesting to note that in all monitored days during the present study, 19.43% of total days were in unhealthy conditions within AQI> 100. So that, although the frequency of dusty days decreased from summer to fall, failure to meet air quality standard requirements increased from fall to winter and further to spring.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the observed changes in PM10 concentration were significant in the course of seasons and months. The worst air quality condition occured in summer (specially July). It seems possible that these results are due to frequent dust enterance originating from neighboring countries, humidity reduction, drought and unsustainable use of water resources, temperature rising, as well as wind speed and direction. Because of adverse health effects of particulate matter, it is necessary to promote environmentally aware and responsible science of its trend, short-term and long-term and also international planning to reduce its detrimental impacts.Key words: Air pollution, AQI, Dust, Kermansha

The Association between Mental Workload and Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Workers of Ahvaz Kavian Steel Company

Background: One of the most important problems in modern industries is the high mental workload which can affect the health and hygiene of workers in these industries. This study was carried out to investigate the association between mental workload and work- related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) in a case study among workers of Ahvaz Kavian Steel Company, Ahvaz, Iran, in 2016. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 240 workers of Ahvaz Kavian Steel Company participated. Data collection tools were the Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorders Questionnaire (NMQ) and NASA-TLX mental workload questionnaire, filled out through interviewing participants in the work place. Data were analyzed by using independent-samples t-test and chi-square in SPSS19. Results: During the last 12 months, 75.8% of workers experienced musculoskeletal disorder symptoms. "Physical demand" (P=0.002) and "Effort" (P=0.015) from the NASA-TLX questionnaire and shift work, among demographic features, (P=0.025) were significantly associated with MSDs prevalence in these workers. Conclusion: Musculoskeletal disorders had a high prevalence in workers of Ahvaz Kavian Steel Company. Because of the significant relation between of some dimensions of mental the work load index and demographic characteristics with musculoskeletal disorders; creating proper working conditions, utilizing ergonomic based designed implements and providing more staff training programs, can help prevent musculoskeletal disorders

Comparing thrB gene sequencing and multiplex PCR method in grouping of the different strains of escherichia coli

Background and purpose: The best-known groups of Escherichia coli are B2, B1, A, and D. Previous studies have clearly shown the difference between this group such as resistance to antibiotics, the growth rate, and pathogenicity. Therefore, identifying different groups of E. coli could be of great benefit in curing infections caused by this bacterium. There are some defects in traditional diagnosis methods for E. coli groups, hence, this study aimed at finding a more efficient method. Material and methods: To identify different E. coli groups, after surveying genomic sequence of 60 E. coli and their grouping which was done by silico multiplex PCR method, a polymorphic sequence of homoserine kinase enzyme was selected. Then, 20 unknown samples of E. coli strains were grouped by this sequence and multiplex PCR methods. Results: The 20 unknown samples of E. coli strains were grouped identically in both methods. Conclusion: Identification and grouping of different E. coli strains by sequencing method was found to be more precise than multiplex PCR method. © 2014, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Traditional uses of medicinal plants to prevent and treat diabetes; an updated review of ethnobotanical studies in Iran

Background: Obesity and physical inactivity are currently on the rise due to industrialization of the communities, which has recently led to increased incidence of different diseases such as diabetes. Epidemiological studies and figures have demonstrated the growing incidence of diabetes. Relevantly, the side effects of chemical drugs have led patients to use medicinal plants and traditional approaches despite advances in development of chemical drugs. The aim of this review article is to report the medicinal plants and their traditional uses to prevent and treat diabetes according to the findings of ethnobotanical studies conducted in different regions of Iran. Evidence Acquisitions: The search terms including ethnobotany, ethnomedicine, ethnopharmacology, phytopharmacology, phytomedicine, Iran, and traditional medicine in combination with diabetes, blood sugar and hyperglycemic were searched from scientific databases. Results: The results of this article can be a comprehensive guideline, based on ethnobotany of different regions of Iran, to prevent and treat diabetes. According to this review article, certain plant species such as Urtica dioica L., popularly called nettle, in eight regions, Teucrium polium L., popularly called poleigamander, in five regions, and Trigonella foenum-graecum L., Citrullus colocynthis (L.), Schrad., and Juglans regia L. in four regions, were reported to be frequently used to prevent and treat diabetes Conclusions: The introduced medicinal plants in this review can be investigated in further research and produce new drugs with limited side effects

Approximately orthogonality preserving mappings on Hilbert C_{0}(Z)-modules

In this paper, we will use the categorical approach to Hilbert (C^{ast})-modules over a commutative (C^{ast})-algebra to investigate the approximately orthogonality preserving mappings on Hilbert (C^{ast})-modules over a commutative (C^{ast})-algebra. Indeed, we show that if (Psi:Gamma rightarrow Gamma^{prime} ) is a nonzero ( C_{0}(Z) )-linear (( delta , varepsilon))-orthogonality preserving mapping between the continuous fields of Hilbert spaces on a locally compact Hausdorff space (Z), then (Psi) is injective, continuous and also for every ( x, y in Gamma ) and (z in Z), [ vert langle Psi(x),Psi(y) rangle(z) - varphi^2(z) langle x,y rangle(z) vert leq frac{4(varepsilon - delta)}{(1-delta)(1+varepsilon)} Vert Psi(x) Vert Vert Psi(y) Vert, ] where (varphi(z) = sup { Vert Psi(u)(z) Vert : u ~ text{is a unit vector in} ~ Gamma })