Fault prediction considering threshold effects of object‐oriented metrics

Software product quality can be enhanced significantly if we have a good knowledge and understanding of the potential faults therein. This paper describes a study to build predictive models to identify parts of the software that have high probability of occurrence of fault. We have considered the effect of thresholds of object‐oriented metrics on fault proneness and built predictive models based on the threshold values of the metrics used. Prediction of fault prone classes in earlier phases of software development life cycle will help software developers in allocating the resources efficiently. In this paper, we have used a statistical model derived from logistic regression to calculate the threshold values of object oriented, Chidamber and Kemerer metrics. Thresholds help developers to alarm the classes that fall outside a specified risk level. In this way, using the threshold values, we can divide the classes into two levels of risk – low risk and high risk. We have shown threshold effects at various risk levels and validated the use of these thresholds on a public domain, proprietary dataset, KC1 obtained from NASA and two open source, Promise datasets, IVY and JEdit using various machine learning methods and data mining classifiers. Interproject validation has also been carried out on three different open source datasets, Ant and Tomcat and Sakura. This will provide practitioners and researchers with well formed theories and generalised results. The results concluded that the proposed threshold methodology works well for the projects of similar nature or having similar characteristics.     

Jojoba-oil-based two-stroke gasoline engine lubricant

Indigenous production of crude oil in India is far short of demand and crude oil must be imported especially for the production of high-quality lubricating oil base stocks. With a view to conserve and eventually replace petroleum base stocks, oil derived from jojoba is a possible substitute.Considering the requirements of small two-stroke gasoline engines and the properties of jojoba oil compared with conventional formulations, some experimental blends based on jojoba oil were prepared and screened for physico-chemical, wear and scuffing characteristics. As the results were encouraging, the piston-tightening, wear and deposit-forming tendencies were assessed in a short duration engine test. The results show that jojoba oil has a good potential to replace mineral oil base stocks in two-strole gasoline engine oil formulations.     

High-performance infrared narrow-bandpass filters for the Indian National Satellite System meteorological instrument (INSAT-3D)

This paper describes the design and manufacture of a set of precision cooled (210 K) narrow-bandpass filters for the infrared imager and sounder on the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) INSAT-3D meteorological satellite. We discuss the basis for the choice of multilayer coating designs and materials for 21 differing filter channels, together with their temperature-dependence, thin film deposition technologies, substrate metrology, and environmental durability performance.     

Effects of 1-Alkyl-(and 1-Benzyl)-2,3-Dimethylimidazolium Ionic Liquids as Additives on the Micellar Behavior of Surfactant SB-12

The micellization and surface-active behavior of zwitterionic surfactant N-dodecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate (SB-12) in aqueous media were investigated in the absence and presence of different alkyl-appended and benzyl-appended ionic liquids (IL) 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride [bdmim][Cl], 1-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bromide [bdmim][Br], 1-hexyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium bromide [hdmim][Br], and 1-benzyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium chloride [bzdmim][Cl]. The characteristics of self-organization processes in SB-12 + IL/water systems include critical micelle concentration (cmc), aggregation number (N_agg), micellar size (D), surface, and adsorption parameters. These parameters were determined by the fluorescence and surface tension measurements. In SB-12 solutions, cmc were found to be decreasing to different extents in the presence of all the studied IL than in pure water. The addition of IL [hdmim][Br] decreases the cmc of aqueous SB-12 to rather a low extent. The other three IL show a prominent lowering in cmc of surfactant SB-12 to different magnitude. The maximum lowering in cmc was observed due to addition of benzyl-appended IL [bzdmim][Cl]. The aggregation number of aqueous SB-12 solution obtained in general is higher at high wt.% of added IL. The average micellar size was also found to increase upon addition of IL. Both IL anions and cations interacted with the charged centers present on the zwitterionic surfactant SB-12, which caused a substantial increase in the surface activity.     

Buffer Standards for the Biological pH of the Amino Acid N-[2 hydroxyethyl]piperazine-N'-[3-propanesulfonic acid], HEPPS, From (278.15 to 328.15) K

For the HEPPS buffer under investigation, there are seven buffer solutions without NaCl and eight buffer solutions that contain Cl(-) and have an ionic strength (I = 0.16 mol·kg(-1)), which is similar to that of blood plasma. These buffer solutions have been evaluated in the temperature range of (278.15 to 328.15) K using the extended Debye- Hückel equation and the Bates-Guggenheim convention. The previously determined E(j) values have been used to determine the operational pH values of HEPPS buffer solutions at (298.15 and 310.15) K. These are recommended as secondary standard reference solutions for pH measurements in saline media with an isotonic ionic strength of I = 0.16 mol·kg(-1).     

EDGly: detection of influential nodes using game theory

Identifying those nodes that play a critical role within a network is of great importance. Many applications such as gossip spreading, disease spreading, news dispersion, identifying prominent individuals in a social network, etc. may take advantage of this knowledge in a complex network. The basic concept is generally to identify the nodes with the highest criticality in a network. As a result, the centrality principle has been studied extensively and in great detail, focusing on creating a consistent and accurate location of nodes within a network in terms of their importance. Both single centrality measures and group centrality measures, although, have their certain drawbacks. Other solutions to this problem include the game-theoretic Shapley Value (SV) calculations measuring the effect of a collection of nodes in complex networks via dynamic network data propagation process. Our novel proposed algorithm aims to find the most significant communities in a graph with community structure and then employs the SV-based games to find the most influential node from each community. A Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (SIR) model has been employed to distinctly determine each powerful node's capacity to spread. The results of the SIR simulation have also been used to show the contrast between the spreading capacity of nodes found through our proposed algorithm and that of nodes found using SV-algorithm and centrality measures alone.

     

Application of Chattim tree (devil tree,Alstonia scholaris) saw dust as a biosorbent for removal of hexavalent chromium from contaminated water

“Devil tree saw dust”; a novel biosorbent has been utilised successfully for the removal of hexavalent chromium from contaminated water. Batch adsorption procedure is utilised to test the ability of saw dust as an adsorbent for hexavalent chromium (reduction coupled adsorption). The contribution of various parameters on sorption, such as contact time, sorbate concentration, pH of the medium and temperature were estimated and maximum uptake of hexavalent chromium from contaminated water was 333.33 mg g^?1 at pH 2.0 and temperature of 35°C. Hexavalent chromium uptake from contaminated water followed the pseudo‐first‐order rate expression. The standard free energy change (ΔG⁰), standard enthalpy change (ΔH⁰) and standard entropy change (ΔS⁰) have also been evaluated and it has been concluded that the sorption was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The process follows well Langmuir isotherm. Fourier Transform Infra‐Red (FTIR) spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of hexavalent chromium loaded and unloaded saw dust were performed, SEM clearly indicates chromium adsorption. FTIR spectroscopy revealed the involvement of carbonyl, hydroxyl and amide groups on the cell surfaces in chromium binding. Very good adsorption capacity and low cost or cost free of devil tree saw dust makes this biosorbent as one of the best adsorbents for removal of hexavalent chromium from contaminated water. © 2012 Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering     

Differentiated PDGFRα-Positive Cells: A Novel In-Vitro Model for Functional Studies of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase

It is evident that depletion of interstitial cells and dysfunction of nitric oxide (NO) pathways are key players in development of several gastrointestinal (GI) motility disorders such as diabetic gastroparesis (DGP). One of the main limitations of DGP research is the lack of isolation methods that are specific to interstitial cells, and therefore conducting functional studies is not feasible. The present study aims (i) to differentiate telomerase transformed mesenchymal stromal cells (iMSCs) into platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α-positive cells (PDGFRα-positive cells) using connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and L-ascorbic acids; (ii) to investigate the effects of NO donor and inhibitor on the survival rate of differentiated PDGFRα-positive cells; and (iii) to evaluate the impact of increased glucose concentrations, mimicking diabetic hyperglycemia, on the gene expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). A fibroblastic differentiation-induction medium supplemented with connective tissue growth factor was used to differentiate iMSCs into PDGFRα-positive cells. The medium was changed every day for 21 days to maintain the biological activity of the growth factors. Gene and protein expression, scanning electron and confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry analysis of several markers were conducted to confirm the differentiation process. Methyl tetrazolium cell viability, nitrite measurement assays, and immunostaining were used to investigate the effects of NO on PDGFRα-positive cells. The present study, for the first time, demonstrated the differentiation of iMSCs into PDGFRα-positive cells. The outcomes of the functional studies showed that SNAP (NO donor) increased the survival rate of differentiated PDGFRα-positive cells whereas LNNA (NO inhibitor) attenuated these effects. Further experimentations revealed that hyperglycemia produced a significant increase in expression of nNOS in PDGFRα-positive cells. Differentiation of iMSCs into PDGFRα-positive cells is a novel model to conduct functional studies and to investigate the involvement of NO pathways. This will help in identifying new therapeutic targets for treatment of DGP.