Evaluating the impact of CASE: an empirical comparison of retrospective and cross-sectional survey approaches

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate two methods of assessing the productivity and quality impact of Computer Aided Software Engineering (CASE) and Fourth Generation Language (4GL) technologies: (1) by the retrospective method; and (2) the cross-sectional method. Both methods involve the use of questionnaire surveys. Developers' perceptions depend on the context in which they are expressed and this includes expectations about the effectiveness of a given software product. Consequently, it is generally not reliable to base inferences about the relative merits of CASE and 4GLs on a cross-sectional comparison of two separate samples of users. The retrospective method that requires each respondent to directly compare different products is shown to be more reliable. However, there may be scope to employ cross-sectional comparisons of the findings from different samples where both sets of respondents use the same reference point for their judgements, and where numerical rather than verbal rating scales are used to measure perceptions.     

Presupposition failure — A comedy of errors

Presuppositions of utterances are the pieces of information you convey with an utterance no matter whether your utterance is true or not. We first study presupposition in a very simple framework of updating propositional information, with examples of how presuppositions of complex propositional updates can be calculated. Next we move on to presuppositions and quantification, in the context of a dynamic version of predicate logic, suitably modified to allow for presupposition failure. In both the propositional and the quantificational case, presupposition failure can be viewed as error abortion of procedures. Thus, a dynamic assertion logic which describes the preconditions for error abortion is the suitable tool for analysing presupposition.     

中国古典园林三维造型研究

论述了采用层次结构化及参数化三维造型方法，建立一个以造型函数库为核心，从而构造各类、各级园林景观构件表面模型的方法和过程。对于某些非建筑类的园林配景构件，采用了Ｆｒａｃｔａｌ方法进行造型。     

Microstructure-Property Correlation in AI_4C_3 Dispersion Strengthened Al Composite

The microstructure and tensile properties of Al_4C_3 dispersion strengthened Al composite fabricatedby reaction milling technique were investigated.It is indicated that the rod-like Al_4C_3 dispersoidshaving a diameter of 0.02-0.03 μm and a length of 0.1-0.3μm are formed by reaction of C with Al,and uniformly distributed in the Al matrix.The interface between Al_4C_3 and Al is clean and theinterfacial bonding is good.The matrix consists of the subgrains which have the size of 0.3-0.4μm,and most of the Al_4C_3 dispersoids are distributed on the subgrain boundaries.The 11 vol.-%Al_4C_3/Al composite exhibits an UTS (ultimate tensile strength) of 400 MPa and anelongation-to-failure of 8.0%.     

有限区间信号边界效应问题的研究

研究了截断信号边界的“吉布斯”现象及数字滤波器相位特性对有限区间信号滤波处理的影响，在阐明了有限区间信号处理中边界效应物理本质的基础上，探讨了数字信号处理中通常所采用的边界处理方法的有效性问题，提出了一种命名为端值延拓法的新的边界处理方法，通过比较分析和实例验证表明这种方法的优越性，文中以零相位数字滤波及运用MALLAT算法对有限区间信号进行小波分解与重构为实例，介绍了其边界效应问题及解决方案，取得了很好的效果。     

A novel cyclic process using CaSO<Subscript>4</Subscript>/CaS pellets for converting sulfur dioxide to elemental sulfur without generating secondary pollutants: Part I. Feasibility and kinetics of the reduction of sulfur dioxide with calcium-sulfide pellets

Certain new sulfide-smelting processes and coal-gasification processes generate high-strength sulfur dioxide streams, for which a new process for converting sulfur dioxide to elemental sulfur needs to be developed because no process exists that is generally and economically applicable to the treatment of such streams. A thermodynamic and experimental investigation to develop a new process for converting sulfur dioxide to elemental sulfur by a cyclic process involving calcium sulfide and calcium sulfate without generating secondary pollutants was carried out. In this process, the starting raw material, calcium sulfate, is reduced by a suitable reducing agent, such as hydrogen, to produce calcium sulfide, which is used to reduce sulfur dioxide to elemental sulfur vapor and calcium sulfate. The latter is, in turn, reduced to regenerate calcium sulfide. In this Part I, detailed experimental results are presented on the kinetics of the reaction between sulfur dioxide and calcium-sulfide pellets, which produces elemental sulfur and calcium sulfate. The experiments were carried out at temperatures between 1023 and 1088 K and sulfur-dioxide partial pressures between 9 and 60 kPa by the use of a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) technique. The rate of this reaction was demonstrated by the conversion of 40 pct calcium-sulfide pellets obtained from the hydrogen reduction of fresh calcium sulfate in 10 minutes at 1073 K under a sulfur-dioxide partial pressure of 43 kPa. The reactivity decreased somewhat during the first three cycles but remained largely unchanged thereafter up to the tenth cycle. This characteristic of the pellets is important because the solids must be reusable for repeated cycles to avoid generating secondary pollutants. A pore-blocking model was found to fit the reaction rate. The reaction is first order with respect to sulfur-dioxide partial pressure and has an activation energy of 101 to 134 kJ/mol (24 to 32 kcal/mol) for calcium-sulfide pellets reacted and regenerated several different times. Sulfur dioxide-containing streams from certain sources, such as the regenerator off-gas from an integrated-gasification, combined-cycle, desulfurization unit and new sulfide-smelting plants, contain much higher partial pressures of SO₂. In these cases, the rate of the first reaction is expected to be proportionally higher than in the test conditions reported in this article. The reduction kinetics of calcium-sulfate pellets with hydrogen gas is reported in the accompanying Part II.     

热欧地区残留可容纳空间分布及储集砂体预测

辽河盆地热欧地区勘探程度低,取心资料少,砂体与油气分布具有较强的隐蔽性。针对这一问题,首次将层序地层学的原理和方法应用于该区储集砂体分布规律的预测。对地层的重新划分与对比发现,研究区沙三段内部存在着明显的不整合界面SB₂。该不整合面的形成期正是河道砂储集体沿层序SQ₂-TST沉积初期残留可容纳空间的充填期,因此循着层序界面SB₂寻找沉积古地貌低洼区是预测砂岩储集体的关键。对比发现,受断裂与火山岩堆集体的联合控制,古地貌低洼区沿沟谷及火山岩体侧翼的断槽一带展布,钻井证实该带是层序SQ₂-TST河道砂体的主要充填区。对这些砂体的成功预测有效地指导了该地区油气勘探。     

A study of CaCO3 fouling with a microscopic imaging technique

The present study introduces a new experimental method to visualize the fouling process of CaCO₃. A mini-channel heat exchanger system with a microscopic imaging technique was developed for real-time visualization of the fouling process. The present study discussed how scale started initially, how scale formed thick layers, and how a small crystal grew into a large one, touching the adjacent one. Detail microscopic images of scale crystals and corresponding fouling resistances were obtained over the entire fouling process. The microscopic observation indicated that the fouling process could be divided into three stages: an induction period, a period of uniform generation of nuclei, and a period of uniform growth of scale. Sudden appearance of numerous small nuclei indicated the end of the induction period, a key event before the rapid increase in the fouling resistance. The present experimental method using microscopic images of the wet fouling process provides a valuable insight on the fouling mechanism.     

Microbiological denitrification of red beet juice

The purpose of study was the determination of optimal conditions for red beet juice denitrification by Paracoccus denitrificans bacteria as well as the evaluation of the usefulness of microbiologically treated juice for the production of a natural colouring preparation for foods. Total reduction of nitrates was found during bacterial culturing at 25 and 30 °C, at an initial pH of 7.0-8.0 and juice osmotic pressure of 900-1100 mOsm/kg. Microbiological denitrification procedure affected colour, taste and aroma of the juice. However, the use of juice as food colouring and component was made feasible by acidification and partial evaporation of water together with volatile substances.