Software process improvement as emergent change: A structurational analysis

This paper presents a framework that draws on Structuration theory and dialectical hermeneutics to explicate the dynamics of software process improvement (SPI) in a packaged software organisation. Adding to the growing body of qualitative research, this approach overcomes some of the criticisms of interpretive studies, especially the need for the research to be reflexive in nature.Our longitudinal analysis of the case study shows SPI to be an emergent rather than a deterministic activity: the design and action of the change process are shown to be intertwined and shaped by their context. This understanding is based upon a structurational perspective that highlights how the unfolding/realisation of the process improvement (intent) are enabled and constrained by their context. The work builds on the recognition that the improvements can be understood from an organisational learning perspective. Fresh insights to the improvement process are developed by recognising the role of the individual to influence the improvement through facilitating or resisting the changes. The understanding gained here can be applied by organisations to enable them to improve the effectiveness of their SPI programmes, and so improve the quality of their software.     

Bioprocess Scale-up for Acetohydroxamic Acid Production by Hyperactive Acyltransferase of Immobilized Rhodococcus Pyridinivorans

Catalysis Letters - In this study, Rhodococcus pyridinivorans cells containing hyperactive acyltransferase was immobilized on various macromolecules based-polymeric matrices and used to improve...     

Aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition synthesis of multi-wall carbon nanotubes: II. An analytical study

We report the study of different aspects of the aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition (ACVD) method for the optimised synthesis of multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Fifteen hydrocarbons (alkanes, benzene derivatives, and cyclohexane derivatives) were used in conjunction with catalyst concentrations of 1–15 wt.% in order to investigate their effect on morphology, residual catalyst content, diameter distribution, defect density and oxidation resistance of MWCNTs. The conversion yield of the precursors was measured and their thermocatalytic cracking behaviour was studied in situ using an integrated mass spectrometer. We believe that each hydrocarbon interacts differently with the catalyst and follows a characteristic cracking route involving the creation of certain intermediate hydrocarbon fragments which are responsible for the formation of MWCNTs with different properties. We show that the properties of MWCNTs can be tuned by altering the composition of the precursor and that the synthesis rate and the precursor conversion yield can be improved by 60% and 80%, respectively, compared to the commonly used carbon sources such as toluene or xylene. Moreover, while maintaining MWCNT sample quality, i.e. MWCNTs have similar or fewer defects densities and higher oxidation resistance, the amount of residual catalyst particles in the MWCNT samples could also be reduced by ca. 50%.     

Zinc selenide nanoparticles (ZnSe-NPs): Green synthesis and investigation of their cytotoxicity effects

Mono-dispersed crystalline Zinc selenide nanoparticles (ZnSe-NPs) have been synthesized at ambient temperature conditions via a “green” chemistry method. The nanoparticles were characterized by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and UV–vis spectrophotometry. In vitro cytotoxicity studies on Neuro2A and HeLa cell lines illustrated a dose dependent toxicity with non-toxic effect of ZnSe-NPs up to a concentration of 3.9 and 7.8 µg/mL, respectively. The influencing reaction time was also investigated, and the possible formation mechanism was also proposed. The suggested method is facile, green, easy, and it can be employed to large-scale fabrication.     

Determination of suitable storage conditions to preserve fermentable sugars in raw thick beet juice for ethanol production

New long-term storage techniques are necessary to preserve fermentable sugars from sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) varieties which may qualify as advanced biofuel feedstocks in the United States. The focus of this study was to evaluate the combined effect of pH and refractometric dissolved solids (RDS) content on fermentable sugar preservation in raw thick beet juice stored for 24 wk at 23 ± 1 °C. Response surface methodology was applied to model the change in fermentable sugars in raw thick juice stored under controlled acidic (2 ≤ pH ≤ 5) and alkaline (8 ≤ pH ≤ 11) conditions in combination with RDS weight fractions in the range of 60–69%. Combinations of pH ≤ 3.5 or pH ≥ 9.5 with RDS ≥ 64.5% were effective in preserving up to 99% of fermentable sugars in stored raw thick juice. Following storage, yeast fermentation of acidic treatments achieved efficiencies of up to 82% relative to raw juice, whereas yeast fermentation was hindered in alkaline treatments resulting in efficiencies of up to 54%.     

A comprehensive method to find RPO trajectory and incentive scheme for promotion of renewable energy in India with study of impact of RPO on tariff

Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) regime in India started in 2011 with the announcement of benchmark RPO (BRPO) of states for the Financial Year (FY) 2011 by respective State Electricity Regulatory Commissions (SERC), to promote Renewable Energy (RE). The report submitted to Forum of Regulators (FoR) in this regard has recommended uniform rate of increase of BRPO of states and studied the impact of RPO on tariff for FY 2011–2015. However, more rigorous analysis is needed for fixing BRPO in a scientific manner and for fair allocation of incentives to promote RE. This paper attempts to evaluate all states on a common platform to find BRPO, giving due weightage to the state-wise energy demand and RE generation, ensuring minimum change in BRPO of consecutive years and hence less impact of RPO on tariff. To encourage the states to align their actual RPO with BRPO, a financial incentive scheme is proposed giving due weightage to RE consumption, RE capacity addition and RPO compliance of the states. The methods are illustrated for the Indian states using real system data. A study of RPO's impact on electricity tariff of Indian states is also conducted and reported for FY 2011–2015, considering Renewable Energy Certificate (REC).     

Physical characteristics of concentration fields of tropospheric bioaerosols in the South of Western Siberia

The State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector” and the Institute of Optics SB RAS are performing systematic study of tropospheric bioaerosols in the South of Western Siberia. The work summarizes the results of analysis of some physical characteristics of the data array on bioaerosol concentration obtained with an airplane laboratory at the altitudes of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5.5 and 7 km. The flights were performed during the last 10 days of each month in 1999–2003. It was shown that the concentration of total protein aerosols obeyed the laws of continual statistics, and the concentration of culturable microorganism aerosols obeyed the laws of discrete statistics. The analysis of correlation coefficients and cross correlation of bioaerosol concentration fields was performed. Wavelet analysis of the data showed that variations of tropospheric bioaerosol concentration were mainly determined by typical seasonal processes with periods of 12, 6, 4 and 8–9 months. Seasonal variations cause approximately 80% of the total dispersion of variations of total protein concentration, and the amplitudes of variations of culturable microorganism concentration are small as compared with the constant component. Harmonic analysis of bioaerosol concentration fields was performed. Harmonics that are significant in wavelet spectra for all time series were taken for the approximation of the series. It was revealed that four-month periodicity was internal and was caused by a wave spreading from above with a vertical rate of about 4 km/month.