A Change Support Model for Distributed Collaborative Work

Distributed collaborative software development tends to make artifacts and decisions inconsistent and uncertain. We try to solve this problem by providing an information repository to reflect the state of works precisely, by managing the states of artifacts/products made through collaborative work, and the states of decisions made through communications. In this paper, we propose models and a tool to construct the artifact-related part of the information repository, and explain the way to use the repository to resolve inconsistencies caused by concurrent changes of artifacts. We first show the model and the tool to generate the dependency relationships among UML model elements as content of the information repository. Next, we present the model and the method to generate change support workflows from the information repository. These workflows give us the way to efficiently modify the change-related artifacts for each change request. Finally, we define inconsistency patterns that enable us to be aware of the possibility of inconsistency occurrences. By combining this mechanism with version control systems, we can make changes safely. Our models and tool are useful in the maintenance phase to perform changes safely and efficiently.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figures, 4 table

Green Organic Synthesis of N-Methylpyrrolidine

N-methylpyrrolidine was successfully synthesized in an aqueous medium by using methylamine and 1,4-dibromobutane in the presence of catalyst K2CO3 at a moderated temperature. Here, N-methylpyrrolidine was firstly synthesized via the green chemistry process, in which both the water solvent and potassium carbonate catalyst were inexpensive and environmentally friendly. Also, the reaction temperature was quite moderated at 900C. As a result, the current synthesis process was highly potential to implement in practice. Since the product yield directly depended on the operating conditions, the catalysts, temperature, ratio of reactants and solvent would be critical factors. In the present study, the structure of N-methylpyrrolidine product was confirmed by using the IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and Gas Chromatography-Mass spectroscopy (GC-MS)

Two decades of studies on learning management system in higher education: A bibliometric analysis with Scopus database 2000-2020

Over the past twenty years, using learning management systems in higher education has attracted increasing interest from researchers around the globe. In this context, the current study aimed to explore the volume, growth trajectory, and geographic distribution of learning management systems in higher education literature, along with identifying impactful authors, sources, and publications, and highlight emerging research issues. The authors conducted bibliometric analysis on 1334 documents, related to the use of learning management systems in the context of higher education, extracted from Scopus database. The findings show a rapidly growing knowledge base on learning management systems in higher education, especially intensely in the years 2015-2020 and primarily from research in developed societies. This flourishing is consistent with the development trend of international education and the strong development of technology. In addition, the core literature was identified based on the volume of publications and citations. The results also reveal the emerging intellectual structure of the field and provide points of reference for scholars studying the discipline. This paper offers a knowledge map for future research assessments of learning management systems in higher education

Long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks for short-term water level prediction in Mekong river estuaries

This study firstly adopts a state-of-the-art deep learning approach based on a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) neural network for predicting the hourly water level of Mekong estuaries in Vietnam. The LSTM models were developed from around 8,760 hourly data points within 2018 and were evaluated using the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient (NSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean square error (RMSE). The results showed that the NSE values for the training and testing steps were both above 0.98, which can be regarded as very good performance. Furthermore, the RMSE were between 0.09 and 0.11 m for the training and between 0.10 and 0.12 m for the testing, while MAE for the training ranged from 0.07 to 0.08 m and varied from 0.08 to 0.10 m for the testing. The LSTM networks appear to enable high precision and robustness in water level time series prediction. The outcomes of this research have crucial implications in river water level predictions, especially from the viewpoint of employing deep learning algorithms

Discrepancies in prevalence trends for HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus in Haiphong, Vietnam from 2007 to 2012

We previously reported a significant reduction in the prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) from 2007 to 2012 in people who inject drugs (PWID; 35.9% to 18.5%, p < 0.001) and female sex workers (FSW; 23.1% to 9.8%, p < 0.05), but not in blood donors (BD) or pregnant women, in Haiphong, Vietnam. Our aim in the present study was to assess trends in the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV, respectively). We also investigated the coinfection rates of HBV and HCV with HIV in the same groups. Between 2007 and 2012, HBV prevalence was significantly decreased in BD (18.1% vs. 9.0%, p = 0.007) and slightly decreased in FSW (11.0% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.21), but not in PWID (10.7% vs. 11.1%, p = 0.84). HCV prevalence was significantly decreased in PWID (62.1% in 2007 vs. 42.7% in 2008, p < 0.0001), but it had rebounded to 58.4% in 2012 (2008 vs. 2012, p < 0.0001). HCV prevalence also increased in FSW: 28.6% in 2007 and 2009 vs. 35.3% in 2012; however, this difference was not significant (2007 vs. 2012, p = 0.41). Rates of coinfection with HBV and HCV among HIV-infected PWID and FSW did not change significantly during the study period. Our findings suggest that the current harm reduction programs designed to prevent HIV transmission in PWID and FSW may be insufficient to prevent the transmission of hepatitis viruses, particularly HCV, in Haiphong, Vietnam. New approaches, such as the introduction of catch-up HBV vaccination to vulnerable adult populations and the introduction of HCV treatment as prevention, should be considered to reduce morbidity and mortality due to HIV and hepatitis virus coinfection in Vietnam. © 2017 Ishizaki et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited

Multiple routes of hepatitis C virus transmission among injection drug users in Hai Phong, Northern Vietnam

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系To identify hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission routes among injection drug users in Northern Vietnam, plasma samples were collected from 486 drug users in Hai Phong. Plasma viral RNA was extracted from 323 (66.5%) samples that were positive for anti-HCV antibodies. Portions of the HCV 5′- untranslated (5′UTR)-Core and NS5B genes were amplified by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, sequenced directly, and genotyped in 194 and 195 specimens, respectively. Both regions were genotyped in 137 specimens. In the 5′UTR-Core region, genotype 6a was predominant (32.5%), followed by genotype 1a (23.7%), genotype 1b (20.6%), and genotype 6e (14.4%). In the NS5B region, genotype 1a was predominant (42.6%), followed by genotype 1b (24.1%), genotype 6a (14.4%), genotype 3b (7.2%), and genotype 6e (5.1%). Of the 137 specimens with both regions genotyped, 23 (16.8%) showed discordant genotyping results between the two regions, suggesting possible recombination and/or dual infection. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close associations between Hai Phong strains and strains from Southern China: the Yunnan province for genotype 3b; the Guangxi province for genotype 6e; the USA for genotype 1a; and Southern Vietnam for genotypes 1a and 6e. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection rate among HCV-infected injection drug users was 52.6-55.4% and did not differ significantly by HCV genotype. Most drug users infected with HIV-1 [98.8% (171/173)] were co-infected with HCV. These results suggest multiple routes of HCV transmission among injection drug users in Northern Vietnam that may also be HIV transmission routes. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

Application of molecular markers to study ascochyta rabiei : the causal agent of ascochyta blight of chickpea

Chickpea (Cicer ariatium L.) is an important legume crop in Australia. A major limiting factor of chickpea production is ascochyta blight, a devastating disease, caused by the fungal pathogen Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Labrousse. A specific molecular marker was identified based on restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for pathogen identification. From the marker, a diagnostic test was developed for the fast, specific, sensitive and reliable detection of the pathogen in infected leaves and seeds of chickpea. A study of the genetic structure of a population of A. rabiei isolates, sampled from the five chickpea-growing states in Australia, revealed a relatively low level of genetic diversity among the isolates while there was a high level of genetic variation found between Australian and overseas A. rabiei isolates as well as among the overseas isolates. Gene flow was high among Australian chickpea growing regions. It is therefore important to prevent the new introduction of the more diverse overseas isolates into Australia. The heterothallic nature of the mating system of A. rabiei is largely responsible for the increases in genetic diversity and adaptive potential of this pathogen. To identify which mating type was present in the field and in the laboratory collection, how they were distributed in the population, and the role they played in the population genetic structure of the pathogen; a molecular marker were developed for the mating type 1 (MAT-1) of A. rabiei. To successfully control a disease, genetics of important traits such as resistance in the host as well as mating type, avirulence/virulence, and fungicide resistance in the pathogen need to be understood. A genetic linkage map of A. rabiei was constructed in this project to facilitate such studies by providing a framework for the location and inheritance of such important traits

ソフトウェア成果物間に発生する矛盾の管理法に関する研究

Supervisor:落水　浩一郎情報科学研究科博