Object-Oriented Software Testing: A Review

Object-oriented (OO) software systems present specific challenges to the testing teams. As the object-oriented software contains the OO methodology and its different components, it is hard for the testing teams to test the software with arbitrary software components and the chance of errors could be increased. So different techniques, models, and methods researchers identified to tackle these challenges. In this paper, we are going to analyze and study the OO software testing. For handling challenges in OO software testing, different techniques and methods are proposed like UML diagrams, evolutionary testing, genetic algorithms, black-box testing, and white-box testing. The methodology used for research is literature review (LR) of the recent decay

Areca nut chewing and the risk of re-hospitalization and mortality among patients with acute coronary syndrome in Pakistan

Objectives: Areca nut is widely consumed in many parts of the world, especially in South and Southeast Asia, where cardiovascular disease (CVD) is also a huge burden. Among the forms of CVD, acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Research has shown areca nut chewing to be associated with diabetes, hypertension, oropharyngeal and esophageal cancers, and CVD, but little is known about mortality and re-hospitalization secondary to ACS among areca nut users and non-users. Methods: A prospective cohort was studied to quantify the effect of areca nut chewing on patients with newly diagnosed ACS by categorizing the study population into exposed and non-exposed groups according to baseline chewing status. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the associations of areca nut chewing with the risk of re-hospitalization and 30-day mortality secondary to ACS. Results: Of the 384 ACS patients, 49.5% (n=190) were areca users. During 1-month of follow-up, 20.3% (n=78) deaths and 25.1% (n=96) re-hospitalizations occurred. A higher risk of re-hospitalization was found (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.29 to 3.27; p=0.002) in areca users than in non-users. Moreover, patients with severe disease were at a significantly higher risk of 30-day mortality (aHR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.67 to 4.59; p<0.001) and re-hospitalization (aHR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.73 to 4.26; p<0.001). Conclusions: The 30-day re-hospitalization rate among ACS patients was found to be significantly higher in areca users and individuals with severe disease. These findings suggest that screening for a history of areca nut chewing may help to identify patients at a high risk for re-hospitalization due to secondary events

MICROBIAL OXIDATION OF FINASTERIDE WITH MACROPHOMINA PHASEOLINA(KUCC 730)

Objectives: New  microbial oxidative derivatives of Finasteride [17β-(N-tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-aza-5α-androst-1-en-3-one] (1) has been investigated with Macrophomina phaseolina (ATCC730).Methods: Fermented media of  Macrophomina phaseolina (ATCC730) was prepared to cultivate the fungal cultures . Substrate 1 was incubated in liquid media for 16 days. After sixteen days, filtration and extraction of the fermented media was carried out with 9 L DCM in three portions. Resulting organic extract was dried using anhydrous (Na2SO4), and evaporated to afford a brown gum (950 mg). This on chromatographic purification with MeOH in CH2Cl2 afforded the metabolites 2-4 . Results: Three oxidised metabolites of finasteride (1) which were identified as 15-oxo-finasteride (2), 11a-hydroxyfinasteride (3), and 15β-hydroxyfinasteride (4). Metabolite 2 was found to be new. The structure of the oxidised metabolites were elucidated by 1-D (1H, 13C) and 2-D NMR (COSY, HMBC, HMQC, NOESY) techniques and MS analyses.Conclusion: As a result of these study, oxidation at C-7, C-11 and C-15 positions were found. Metabolite 2 was identified as a new metabolite

Improving M-Learners\u27 Performance through Deep Learning Techniques by Leveraging Features Weights

© 2013 IEEE. Mobile learning (M-learning) has gained tremendous attention in the educational environment in the past decade. For effective M-learning, it is important to create an efficient M-learning model that can identify the exact requirements of mobile learners (M-learners). M-learning model is composed of features that are generated during M-learners\u27 interaction with mobile devices. For an adaptive M-learning model, not only learning features are required, but it is also important to determine how they differ for various M-learners, their weights, and interrelationship. This study proposes a robust and adaptive M-learning model that is based on machine learning and deep learning (ML/DL) techniques. The proposed M-learning model dynamically explores learning features, their corresponding weights, and association for M-learners. Based on learning features, the M-learning model categorizes M-learners into different performance groups. The M-learning model then provides adaptive content, suggestions, and recommendations to M-learners in order to make learning adaptive and stimulating. For comparative analysis, the prediction accuracy of five baseline ML models was compared with the deep Artificial Neural Network (deep ANN). The results demonstrated that deep ANN and Random Forest (RF) models exhibited better prediction accuracy. Subsequently, both models were selected for developing the M-learning model which included the performance categorization of M-learners under a five-level classification scheme and assigning weights to various features for providing adaptive help and support to M-learners. Our explanatory analysis has shown that behavioral features besides contextual features also influence the learning performance of M-learners. As a direct outcome of this research, more efficient, interactive, and useful mobile learning applications can be developed that accurately predict learning objectives and requirements of diverse M-learners thus helping M-learners in enhancing their study behavior

Accessibility of antenatal services at primary healthcare facilities in Punjab, Pakistan

Introduction: Almost one-fifth of the world\\u27s population constitutes women of reproductive age who are repeatedly exposed to pregnancy and childbearing. Many are often at high risk of illness and mortality during pregnancy and require maternal healthcare services for early detection of complications. More than 0.5 million women die every year worldwide due to pregnancy-related complications. Almost 0.03 million of them are in Pakistan. Maternal healthcare in Pakistan is poor and results in high rates of morbidity and mortality. This paper evaluates the accessibility of antenatal care (ANC) services in primary healthcare settings in the Punjab province of Pakistan during the period June 2010-August 2011. Methods: The paper uses a cross-sectional study including mix methods (qualitative and quantitative).Nine districts were included in the project; one from each administrative tier or division. Nineteen health facilities, including two rural health centres (RHCs) and 17 basic health units (BHUs) were randomly selected from each district. The total sample was 171 health facilities. The qualitative assessment was carried out through focus-group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews with clients, providers, and health managers. Results: The reasons for the gaps in service accessibility were the distant location of facilities, a lack of transport, and inconvenient facility working hours. The issues of service accessibility were further exacerbated by socio-cultural factors such as low levels of client awareness, a lack of decision-making by clients, and the influence of spiritual healers and quacks. Health managers further pointed out weak co-ordination between vertical programmes and routine integrated health services, and a lack of human resources in distantly located facilities.Conclusion: In order to increase the accessibility of ANC services, facility working hours must be extended and adjusted according to the convenience of clients in primary healthcare (PHC) facilities. The utilisation of ANC services can also be increased through client awareness and gender empowerment for ANC decision-making

Quantum Field Theory in de Sitter spacetime

In this paper we will analyse quantum field theory on de Sitter spacetime. We will analyse a general scalar and vector field theory on de Sitter spacetime. This is done by first calculating these propagators on four-Sphere and then analytically continuing it to de Sitter spacetime

Synthesis of 2-{[5-(aralkyl/aryl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2- yl]sulfanyl}-N-(4-methyl-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)acetamides: Novel bi-heterocycles as potential therapeutic agents

Purpose: To evaluate the therapeutic potential of new bi-heterocycles  containing a 1,3-thiazole and 1,3,4-oxadiazole in the skeleton against Alzheimer's disease and diabetes, supported by in-silico study. Methods: The synthesis was initiated by the reaction of 4-methyl- 1,3-thiazol-2-amine (1) with bromoacetyl bromide (2) in aqueous basic medium to obtain an electrophile,2-bromo-N-(4-methyl-1,3- thiazol- 2-yl)acetamide (3). In parallel reactions, a series of carboxylic acids, 4a-r, were converted through a sequence of three steps, into respective 1,3,4-oxadiazole heterocyclic cores, 7a-r, to utilize as nucleophiles. Finally, the designed molecules, 8a-r, were synthesized by coupling 7a-r individually with 3 in an aprotic polar solvent. The structures of these bi-heterocycles were elucidated by infrared (IR), electron ionization-mass spectrometry (EI-MS), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR). To evaluate their enzyme inhibitory potential, 8a-r were screened against acetylcholinesterase (AChE), but brine shrimp lethality bioassay.Results: The most active compound against AChE was 8l with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 17.25 ± 0.07 μM. Against BChE, the highest inhibitory effect was shown by 8k (56.23 ± 0.09 μM). Compound 8f (161.26 ± 0.23μM) was recognized as a fairly good inhibitor of urease. In view of its inhibition of α-glucosidase, 8o (57.35 ± 0.17μM) was considered a potential therapeutic agent.Conclusion: The results indicate that some of the synthesized products with low toxicity exhibit notable enzyme inhibitory activity against selected enzymes compared with the reference drug, and therefore, are of potential therapeutic interestKeywords: 4-Methyl-1,3-thiazol-2-amine,1,3,4-Oxadiazole,  Cholinesterases, α-Glucosidase, Urease, Brine shrim

Synthesis of new 2-{2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-6- yl[(4-methylphenyl) sulfonyl]amino}-N-(un/substituted-phenyl) acetamides as α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and their in silico study

The aim of the present research work was to investigate the enzyme inhibitory potential of some new sulfonamides having benzodioxane and acetamide moieties. The synthesis was started by the reaction of N-2,3-dihydrobenzo[1,4]-dioxin-6-amine (1) with 4-methylbenzenesulfonyl chloride (2) in the presence of 10% aqueous Na2CO3 to yield N-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[1,4]-dioxin-6-yl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (3), which was then reacted with 2-bromo-N-(un/substituted-phenyl)acetamides (6a-l) in DMF and lithium hydride as a base to afford various 2-{2,3-dihydro-1,4-benzodioxin-6-yl[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl] amino}-N-(un/substituted-phenyl)acetamides (7a-l). All the synthesized compounds were characterized by their IR and 1 H-NMR spectral data along with CHN analysis data. The enzyme inhibitory activities of these compounds were tested against -glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). Most of the compounds exhibited substantial inhibitory activity against yeast -glucosidase and weak against AChE. The in silico molecular docking results were also consistent with in vitro enzyme inhibition data

Synthesis, Characterization, Antibacterial, α-Glucosidase Inhibition and Hemolytic Studies on Some New N-(2,3- Dimethylphenyl)benzenesulfonamide Derivatives

Purpose: To synthesize a series of new N-(2,3-dimethylphenyl)benzenesulfonamide derivatives with pharmacological analysis.Methods: N-(2,3-Dimethylphenyl)benzenesulfonamide (3) was synthesized by the reaction between 2,3-dimethylaniline (1) and benzenesulfonyl chloride (2) in aqueous basic medium. Compound 3 was further treated with various alkyl/aralakyl halides (4a-m) to yield new compounds, 5a-m, in a weak basic aprotic polar organic medium. The proposed structures of synthesized compounds were confirmed using proton-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR), infra red spectroscopy (IR) and electron impact mass spectrometry (EIMS). The synthesized compounds were screened for in vitro antibacterial, antienzymatic and hemolytic activities using standard procedures.Results: All the synthesized compounds showed moderate to high activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. The molecules 5g and 5j exhibited good inhibition of α-glucosidase enzyme with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 59.53 ± 0.01 and 55.31 ± 0.01 μmoles/L, respectively, relative to acarbose with IC50 of 38.25 ± 0.12 μmoles/L. All the compounds exhibited cytotoxicity levels ranging from 27.20 ± 0.24 to 5.20 ± 0.41 %, relative to Triton X-100.Conclusion: Compound 5f is the most potent antibacterial while 5j is the best α-glucosidase inhibitor; 5e showed the least cytotoxicity.Keywords: 2,3-Dimethylaniline, Antibacterial activity, Anti-enzymatic activity, α-Glucosidase inhibitor, Hemolytic activity, Sulfonamide