Enhancing the ESIM (Embedded Systems Improving Method) by Combining Information Flow Diagram with Analysis Matrix for Efficient Analysis of Unexpected Obstacles in Embedded Software

In order to improve the quality of embedded software, this paper proposes an enhancement to the ESIM (Embedded Systems Improving Method) by combining an IFD (Information Flow Diagram) with an Analysis Matrix to analyze unexpected obstacles in the software. These obstacles are difficult to predict in the software specification. Recently, embedded systems have become larger and more complicated. Theoretically therefore, the development cycle of these systems should be longer. On the contrary, in practice the cycle has been shortened. This trend in industry has resulted in the oversight of unexpected obstacles, and consequently affected the quality of embedded software. In order to prevent the oversight of unexpected obstacles, we have already proposed two methods for requirements analysis: the ESIM using an Analysis Matrix and a method that uses an IFD. In order to improve the efficiency of unexpected obstacle analysis at reasonable cost, we now enhance the ESIM by combining an IFD with an Analysis Matrix. The enhancement is studied from the following three viewpoints. First, a conceptual model comprising both the Analysis Matrix and IFD is defined. Then, a requirements analysis procedure is proposed, that uses both the Analysis Matrix and IFD, and assigns each specific role to either an expert or non-expert engineer. Finally, to confirm the effectiveness of this enhancement, we carry out a description experiment using an IFD.14th Asia-Pacific Software Engineering Conference (APSEC\u2707), 4-7 Dec. 2007, Aichi, Japa

The Absence of Prion-Like Infectivity in Mice expressing Prion Protein-Like Protein

Cellular prion protein, PrP^C, undergoes pathogenic structural conversion into the proteinase K (PK)-resistant isoform, PrP^Sc, to constitute a nucleic acid-free infectious agent, so called a prion. To determine whether a recently identified PrP-like protein, named PrPLP/Dpl, could also be transformed to a prion-like protein, we intracerebrally inoculated a mouse-adapted Fukuoka-1 prion into Ngsk and Zrch I mice either homozygously (Prnp^0/0) or heterozygously (Prnp^0/+) devoid of PrP^C. Only the former expressed PrPLP/Dpl ectopically in the brains, particularly in neurons. Ngsk Prnp^0/+ and Zrch I Prnp^0/+ mice similarly developed the disease. The diseased Ngsk Prnp0/+ mice transmitted the disease to the mice expressing PrP^C but not to the mice expressing PrPLP/Dpl, showing abundant accumulation of PrP^Sc but not PK-resistant PrPLP/Dpl in the brains. Moreover, the inoculated Ngsk Prnp^0/0 mice neither developed the disease nor produced any infectivity transmissible to PrPLP/Dpl-expressing mice. These results indicate that PrPLP/Dpl have no potential to undergo pathogenic conversion to form a prion-like infectious particle

A Case Study of Requirements Elicitation Process with Changes

Requirements changes sometimes cause a project to fail. A lot of projects now follow incremental development processes so that new requirements and requirements changes can be incorporated as soon as possible. These processes are called integrated requirements processes, which function to integrate requirements processes with other developmental processes. We have quantitatively and qualitatively investigated the requirements processes of a specific project from beginning to end. Our focus is to clarify the types of necessary requirements based on the components contained within a certain portion of the software architecture. Further, each type reveals its typical requirements processes through its own rationale. This case study is a system to manage the orders and services of a restaurant. In this paper, we introduce the case and categorize its requirements processes based on the components of the system and the qualitative characteristics of ISO-9126. We could identify seven categories of the typical requirements process to be managed and/or controlled. Each category reveals its typical requirements processes and their characteristics. The case study is our first step of practical integrated requirements engineering

A preliminary study on operation management for one-way EV car sharing system in university campus

Car sharing using electric vehicles(EVs) is effective in local society and community from the viewpoint of economy and the protection of the natural environment. For instance, Univerisiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), which has two large campuses, has a plan to use a small number of small EVs as one of transportation methods. When a large number of people share a small number of vehicles in this way, the confliction of usage requests by users may cause inconvenience to users and ineffective operation of vehicles. In addition, because the degree of legal compliance with usage time and operation rules relies on social and cultural backgrounds, operation methods may be affected by them. Therefore, a framework for supporting operation management in consideration of characteristics of the local society and community is necessary in order to efficiently operate a limited number of vehicles without detracting from the convenience of users. We have been developing an operation management support system for one-way EV car sharing in the university campus to improve user convenience and vehicle operation efficiency. In this presentation, we clarify the issues of operation management for car sharing system. We also introduce an overview of the operation management support system and propose several reservation methods of vehicles

An overview of the Jordanian oil shale: its chemical and geologic characteristics, exploration, reserves and feasibility for oil and cement production

Abstract Oil shale is the most abundant fossil energy resource discovered in Jordan, ranking third after the USA and Brazil in terms of oil shale reserves. This asset is considered to be Jordan's most extensive domestic fossil-fuel source. The identified reserves of this oil shale are huge and sufficient to satisfy the national energy needs for hundreds of years. Numerous geologic studies have shown that the country contains several oil shale deposits. These deposits are regarded as the richest in organic bituminous marl and limestone that occur at shallow depth. Jordanian oil shale is generally of a good quality, with relatively low ash and moisture contents, a gross calorific value of 7.5 MJ/kg, and an oil yield of 8 to 12%. The spent shale has residual carbon content that may be burned to produce further energy, and ash that can be used for cement and building materials. The current study summarizes the results of the former feasibility studies and discuses the scope of future usage of Jordanian oil shale. The value of this oil shale and its associated products is highlighted herein

Milk-Borne Transmission of Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I (HTLV-I) and Its Intervention in Nagasaki

Summary Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I), a causative virus of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), transmits through both horizontal and vertical pathways. Since ATL develops in only carriers infected early in life, vertical transmission cycle is the most important target of intervention for the purpose of the prevention of ATL. Epidemiological studies in an endemic area, Nagasaki, Japan, and animal experiments identified milk-borne maternal transmission as the major vertical pathway. The prefecture-wide intervention in Nagasaki since 1987 has revealed that the refraining from breast-feeding by carrier mothers can prevent about 85% of maternal HTLV-I transmission. Pathways for the remaining 15% await for elucidation. However, our studies argued against the possibilities of intrauterine transmission and infection via saliva. Perinatal transmission remains to be evaluated as the alternative pathway. At present, refraining from breast-feeding is the most effective measure to break the cycle of maternal HTLV-I transmission in endemic areas. It is estimated that the intervention in Nagasaki for the past 10 years has prevented 1,000 maternal transmission and 50 future ATL cases. I am reasonably confident that incidence of ATL in Nagasaki will decline to the national average level over the next few generation if the intervention program stays alive

犬糸状虫,D. immitisから分離したペプタイド抗原(FPT)によるバンクロフト糸状虫症の皮内反応

Filariasis is one of the most important tropical diseases in the world. As in Japan elephantiasis, chyluria and hydrocele patients are still found in some areas. Many studies have been made in attempt to obtain information on the mechanism of filarial immunity and to find better antigens to be used for serologic tests and skin tests. The author has been making studies of this subject with aid of his co-workers and the results have been published in Japanese. Present paper attempts to summarize briefly some of their recent experiences concerning skin reaction for filariasis and its practical application, illustrating them on the tables and figures.FPT抗原を用いた糸状虫症の皮内反応については著者及協力者の名で,既に日本論語文としてその都度発表した.本編ではその重要な知見を総括的に紹介した.犬糸状虫から分離したペプタイド分画を抗原として仔虫陽性者541名,未感染の非流行地住民集団264名,他の寄生虫性疾患134名に皮内反応を実施すると同時にその一部について補体結合反応との関係を追究した.又流行地で仔虫陰性の反応強陽性者を長期に亘り経過を観察した.その結果本抗原による皮内反応は糸状虫感染,寄生に対して特異的で,類属反応や非特異的陽性反応の山現する率はきわめて低いことを知った.この皮内反応を沖縄及内地の流行地の集団約18,000名に実施し,その結果を分析すると在来行われてきた単なる仔虫検索や臨床的観察だけでは知ることのできなかったバンクロフト糸状虫症の真の広がりや流行伝搬の性格など動的疫学相を把握することができる.ことに中学校集団から得られた成績はその地域を代表するもので,流行のこまかい地域的差異を知るのに便利である.従って全国的規模による糸状虫対策を行うにあたって,対策の対象となる濃厚流行地をさがし出す予備調査の手段としても有効である.又本皮内反応の長所は昼間に,しかも学校集団では一括して実施出来ることである

Impairment of cerebellar long‑term depression and GABAergic transmission in prion protein deficient mice ectopically expressing PrPLP/Dpl

Prion protein (PrPC) knockout mice, named as the “Ngsk” strain (Ngsk Prnp0/0 mice), show late-onset cerebellar Purkinje cell (PC) degeneration because of ectopic overexpression of PrPC-like protein (PrPLP/Dpl). Our previous study indicated that the mutant mice also exhibited alterations in cerebellum-dependent delay eyeblink conditioning, even at a young age (16 weeks of age) when neurological changes had not occurred. Thus, this electrophysiological study was designed to examine the synaptic function of the cerebellar cortex in juvenile Ngsk Prnp0/0 mice. We showed that Ngsk Prnp0/0 mice exhibited normal paired-pulse facilitation but impaired long-term depression of excitatory synaptic transmission at synapses between parallel fibres and PCs. GABAA-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents recorded from PCs were also weakened in Ngsk Prnp0/0 mice. Furthermore, we confirmed that Ngsk Prnp0/0 mice (7–8-week-old) exhibited abnormalities in delay eyeblink conditioning. Our findings suggest that these alterations in both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission to PCs caused deficits in delay eyeblink conditioning of Ngsk Prnp0/0 mice. Therefore, the Ngsk Prnp0/0 mouse model can contribute to study underlying mechanisms for impairments of synaptic transmission and neural plasticity, and cognitive deficits in the central nervous system