Metadata Extraction in Database Testing

The need for an automated testing tool to test the correctness of the database applications is crucial in our current day since databases play an important role in almost all organizations. Also, database’s behavior need to be verified in order to avoid costly errors and false information being extracted from them. The main aim of this paper was to create a component-based tester called DBSoft that tests the correctness of database application systems. The DBSoft toolkit consists of five tools as follows: information collection with the Parser tool, test case generation with the Input Generator tool, test case implementation with the Output Generator tool, test case validation with the Output Validator tool and report generation with the Report Generator tool

TESTABILITY OF INFORMATION LEAK IN THE SOURCE CODE FOR INDEPENDENT TEST ORGANIZATION BY USING BACK PROPAGATION ALGORITHM

A strategy for software testing integrates the design of software test cases into a wellplanned series of steps that results in a successful development of the software security. The strategy provides the secure source code test by Independent Test Organization (ITO) that describes the steps to be taken, when, and how much effort, time, and resources will be required. The strategy incorporates test planning, test case design, test execution, test result collection and test leak information and evaluation. In this work we speak about the testability of leak information in source code and how to detect and protect it inside the ITO. In this paper we present a privacy preserving algorithm for the neural network learning to detect and protect the leak information in source code between two parties the programmer (source code) and Independent Test Organization (Sensor). We show that our algorithm is very secure and the sensor inside Independent Test Organization is able to detect and protect all leaks information inside the source code. We demonstrate the efficiency of our algorithm by experiments on real world data. We present new technology for software Security using Back Propagation algorithm. That is embedded sensor to analyze the source code inside the ITO. By using embedded sensor we can detect and protect in real time all the attacks or leaks of information inside the source code. The connection between an Artificial Neural Networks and source code analysis inside Independent Test Organization is providing a great help for the software security

Investigation the Relationship among Mobile Value-added Services Quality, Customer Satisfaction and the Continuance Intention: Case Study, Hamrah Avval Operator

Understanding the antecedents and consequences of customer satisfaction in the mobile communications market is important. This study explores the effects of service quality, trust and perceived value on customer satisfaction, which, in turn, affects continuance intention of mobile services. Service quality and customer satisfaction were measured by multiple dimensions. A research model was developed based on this multidimensional approach and was empirically examined with data collected from about one 237 users of mobile value-added services in Tehran university. Results show that all two dimensions of service quality (interaction quality and outcome quality) and perceived value have significant and positive effects on customer satisfaction while only one dimension of service quality (environment quality) and trust have no effect on customer satisfaction

Psychometric testing of the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer scale in an Iranian sample of family caregivers to newly diagnosed breast cancer women

Aim. To translate and test the reliability and validity of the Persian version of the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer scale. Background. Research across many countries has determined quality of life of cancer patients, but few attempts have been made to measure the quality of life of family caregivers of patients with breast cancer. The Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer scale was developed for this purpose, but until now, it has not been translated into or tested in the Persian language. Design. Methodological research design. Methods. After standard translation, the 35-item Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer scale was administered to 166 Iranian family caregivers of patients with breast cancer. A confirmatory factor analysis was carried out using LISREL to test the scale's construct validity. Further, the internal consistency and convergent validity of the instrument were tested. For convergent validity, four instruments were used in the study: sense of coherence scale, spirituality perspective scale, health index and brief religious coping scale. Results. The confirmatory factor analysis resulted in the same four-factor structure as the original, though, with somewhat different item loadings. The Persian version of the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer scales had satisfactory internal consistency (0·72-0·90). Tests of convergent validity showed that all hypotheses were confirmed. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis additionally confirmed the convergent validity between the total Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer score and sense of coherence (=0·34), negative religious coping (=-0·21), education (=0·24) and the more severe stage of breast cancer (=0·23), in total explaining 41 of the variance. Conclusion. The Persian version of the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer scale could be a reliable and valid measure in Iranian family caregivers of patients with breast cancer. Relevance to clinical practice. The Persian version of the Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer scale is simple to administer and will help nurses to identify the nursing needs of family caregivers. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd

M-Learning: The New Horizon of Learning at SQU

M-learning extends the theory and practice of learning and mobility in converging technological environments. Developing a smart course in order to improve the standard of education at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) is one of the main aims of the current authors. This proposal requires developing innovative applications for ubiquitous, mobile technologies for learning. This kind of development covers new educational and technological methods and concepts for supporting formal and informal learning. SQU is currently using Moodle as the open source e-learning management system to support and enhance traditional learning. Although elearning in SQU has proven its importance in enhancing traditional learning, it is limited to areas and locations where a personal computer exists. This constraint is a burden to many e-learning users who are staff or students, especially if they live in rural areas of Oman. To overcome this drawback, an investigative survey of the importance of m-learning was designed and distributed to SQU students. The results showed that almost all students favored and supported the idea and requested the implementation of a m-learning application. As a step forward, this paper proposes an extension for e-learning—a new m-learning tool to support learners who use mobile device technologies. Our goal in introducing m-learning at SQU is not to replace e-learning but to complement and improve it so both modalities are available, since each grants certain advantages to users

Characterizing Niobium Nitride Superconducting Microwave Coplanar Waveguide Resonator Array for Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics in Extreme Conditions

The high critical magnetic field and relatively high critical temperature of niobium nitride (NbN) make it a promising material candidate for applications in superconducting quantum technology. However, NbN-based devices and circuits are sensitive to decoherence sources such as two-level system (TLS) defects. Here, we numerically and experimentally investigate NbN superconducting microwave coplanar waveguide resonator arrays, with a 100 nm thickness, capacitively coupled to a common coplanar waveguide on a silicon chip. We observe that the resonators' internal quality factor (Qi) decreases from Qi ~ 1.07*10^6 in a high power regime ( = 27000) to Qi ~ 1.36 *10^5 in single photon regime at temperature T = 100 mK. Data from this study is consistent with the TLS theory, which describes the TLS interactions in resonator substrates and interfaces. Moreover, we study the temperature dependence internal quality factor and frequency tuning of the coplanar waveguide resonators to characterise the quasiparticle density of NbN. We observe that the increase in kinetic inductance at higher temperatures is the main reason for the frequency shift. Finally, we measure the resonators' resonance frequency and internal quality factor at single photon regime in response to in-plane magnetic fields B||. We verify that Qi stays well above 10^4 up to B|| = 240 mT in the photon number = 1.8 at T = 100 mK. Our results may pave the way for realising robust microwave superconducting circuits for circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) at high magnetic fields necessary for fault-tolerant quantum computing, and ultrasensitive quantum sensing

Date Value Chain Analysis, Development, and Competitiveness of Date Palm Products in the Sultanate of Oman

This paper considers the vision of how to develop an efficient value chain and development strategies to improve the value chain in Oman. The main key factors of inclusive and sustainable development of the date value chain are determined to carry out the appropriate actions for improving the date palm sector in Oman. To explore the challenges and opportunities leading to the improvement of the marketing, commercialization, and competitiveness of dates and date palm products in this country, an analytical tool guideline (SWOT) was framed. Such analysis is useful to raise awareness to create policies for improved marketing of dates. Based on the SWOT analysis, the diversification of date varieties, and orientation toward modern plantations are the most important strengths of the date value chain. However, the increasing competition in regional and global date markets is the major threat to the date sector in Oman. There is a good possibility to promote the date processing industry in Oman given the rising demand for fresh and processed dates in national and international markets. A profitable and competitive date palm sector could be achieved by focusing on high yield and commercial varieties to ensure higher date palm productivity and the orientation toward adoption of quality standards to meet international market demand

Patient-reported outcome measures for cancer caregivers: a systematic review

Purpose Informal caregivers provide invaluable help and support to people with cancer. As treatments extend survival and the potential burdens on carers increase, there is a need to assess the impact of the role. This systematic review identified instruments that measure the impact of caregiving, evaluated their psychometric performance specifically in cancer and appraised the content. Methods A 2-stage search strategy was employed to: 1. identify instruments that measure the impact of caregiving, 2. run individual searches on each measure to identify publications evaluating psychometric performance in the target population. Searches were conducted in Medline, Embase, CINAHL and Psychinfo and restricted to English for instrument used and article language. Psychometric performance was evaluated for content and construct validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, precision, responsiveness and acceptability. Individual scale items were extracted and systematically categorised into conceptual domains. Results 10 papers were included reporting on the psychometric properties of 8 measures. Although construct validity and internal consistency were most frequently evaluated, no study comprehensively evaluated all relevant properties. Few studies met our inclusion criteria so it was not possible to consider the psychometric performance of the measures across a group of studies. Content analysis resulted in 16 domains with 5 overarching themes: lifestyle disruption; wellbeing; health of the caregiver; managing the situation and relationships. Conclusions Few measures of caregiver impact have been subject to psychometric evaluation in cancer caregivers. Those that have do not capture well changes in roles and responsibilities within the family and career, indicating the need for a new instrument

To share or not to share: the optimal advertising effort with asymmetric advertising effectiveness

In this paper, we study a two-stage model in which a manufacturer expands to a new market through a local retailer and has private information on the advertising effectiveness. The manufacturer chooses the information sharing format with the retailer, either no information sharing or mandatory information sharing. Under no information sharing format, the manufacturer and the retailer play a signaling game. We derive both separating and pooling equilibria and conduct equilibrium refinements for the signaling game. Under mandatory information sharing format, the manufacturer simply informs the retailer the advertising effectiveness. We also establish the stylized model and derive the optimal advertising effort. By comparing the manufacturer’s ex ante profit under the two information sharing formats, we find that the manufacturer always prefers mandatory information sharing, under which both the advertising effort and profit can be higher. We also observe that unlike the common case that the channel members may have different preference over the information sharing formats, the manufacturer and the retailer can actually achieve alignment. While some previous studies suggest that the manufacturer and the retailer may have different preference over the information sharing formats, we find that they can actually achieve alignment with asymmetric information on advertising effectiveness

Genetic Structure of Modern Durum Wheat Cultivars and Mediterranean Landraces Matches with Their Agronomic Performance

A collection of 172 durum wheat landraces from 21 Mediterranean countries and 20 modern cultivars were phenotyped in 6 environments for 14 traits including phenology, biomass, yield and yield components. The genetic structure of the collection was ascertained with 44 simple sequence repeat markers that identified 448 alleles, 226 of them with a frequency lower than 5%, and 10 alleles per locus on average. In the modern cultivars all the alleles were fixed in 59% of the markers. Total genetic diversity was HT = 0.7080 and the genetic differentiation value was GST = 0.1730. STRUCTURE software allocated 90.1% of the accessions in five subpopulations, one including all modern cultivars, and the four containing landrace related to their geographic origin: eastern Mediterranean, eastern Balkans and Turkey, western Balkans and Egypt, and western Mediterranean. Mean yield of subpopulations ranged from 2.6 t ha-1 for the western Balkan and Egyptian landraces to 4.0 t ha-1 for modern cultivars, with the remaining three subpopulations showing similar values of 3.1 t ha-1. Modern cultivars had the highest number of grains m-2 and harvest index, and the shortest cycle length. The diversity was lowest in modern cultivars (HT = 0.4835) and highest in landraces from the western Balkans and Egypt (HT = 0.6979). Genetic diversity and AMOVA indicated that variability between subpopulations was much lower (17%) than variability within them (83%), though all subpopulations had similar biomass values in all growth stages. A dendrogram based on simple sequence repeat data matched with the clusters obtained by STRUCTURE, improving this classification for some accessions that have a large admixture. landraces included in the subpopulation from the eastern Balkans and Turkey were separated into two branches in the dendrogram drawn with phenotypic data, suggesting a different origin for the landraces collected in Serbia and Macedonia. The current study shows a reliable relationship between genetic and phenotypic population structures, and the connection of both with the geographic origin of the landraces.The research was funded by the Ministerio de Economía y competitividad project AGL-2006-09226-C02-01, and Dr. Jose Miguel Soriano is funded by Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (http://www.mineco.gob.es/)