MoleView: an attribute and structure-based semantic lens for large element-based plots

We present MoleView, a novel technique for interactive exploration of multivariate relational data. Given a spatial embedding of the data, in terms of a scatter plot or graph layout, we propose a semantic lens which selects a specific spatial and attribute-related data range. The lens keeps the selected data in focus unchanged and continuously deforms the data out of the selection range in order to maintain the context around the focus. Specific deformations include distance-based repulsion of scatter plot points, deforming straight-line node-link graph drawings, and as varying the simplification degree of bundled edge graph layouts. Using a brushing-based technique, we further show the applicability of our semantic lens for scenarios requiring a complex selection of the zones of interest. Our technique is simple to implement and provides real-time performance on large datasets. We demonstrate our technique with actual data from air and road traffic control, medical imaging, and software comprehension applications.     

Characteristics of multiple-component defects and architectural hotspots: a large system case study

The architecture of a large software system is widely considered important for such reasons as: providing a common goal to the stakeholders in realising the envisaged system; helping to organise the various development teams; and capturing foundational design decisions early in the development. Studies have shown that defects originating in system architectures can consume twice as much correction effort as that for other defects. Clearly, then, scientific studies on architectural defects are important for their improved treatment and prevention. Previous research has focused on the extent of architectural defects in software systems. For this paper, we were motivated to ask the following two complementary questions in a case study: (i) How do multiple-component defects (MCDs)—which are of architectural importance—differ from other types of defects in terms of (a) complexity and (b) persistence across development phases and releases? and (ii) How do highly MCD-concentrated components (the so called, architectural hotspots) differ from other types of components in terms of their (a) interrelationships and (b) persistence across development phases and releases? Results indicate that MCDs are complex to fix and are persistent across phases and releases. In comparison to a non-MCD, a MCD requires over 20 times more changes to fix it and is 6 to 8 times more likely to cross a phase or a release. These findings have implications for defect detection and correction. Results also show that 20% of the subject system’s components contain over 80% of the MCDs and that these components are 2–3 times more likely to persist across multiple system releases than other components in the system. Such MCD-concentrated components constitute architectural “hotspots” which management can focus upon for preventive maintenance and architectural quality improvement. The findings described are from an empirical study of a large legacy software system of size over 20 million lines of code and age over 17 years.     

Integration of Kano's Model Into QFD for Multiple Product Design

Simultaneous multiple product design is essential to meet customer expectations faster and with a focus on shortening life cycles, and new methodologies are needed to address the complexities related to it. quality function deployment (QFD) can help gather customer needs and link them to product design. However, understanding customer needs accurately is a challenge for traditional QFD analysis, and for this reason, Kano's model of customer satisfaction is associated with QFD in the literature. However, incorporating the results of Kano's model into QFD presents another challenge. The objective of this research is to provide a step-by-step methodology that fine-tunes the QFD method by combining Kano's model and QFD in a robust manner, from the perspective of simultaneous multiple product design. This research also includes an application of this proposed methodology on cockpit weather information system (CWIS) design, a part of NASA's Aviation Weather Information (AWIN) project, to demonstrate its usefulness     

Comprehensive Research on Past and Future Therapeutic Strategies Devoted to Treatment of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly debilitating fatal neurodegenerative disorder, causing muscle atrophy and weakness, which leads to paralysis and eventual death. ALS has a multifaceted nature affected by many pathological mechanisms, including oxidative stress (also via protein aggregation), mitochondrial dysfunction, glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, apoptosis, neuroinflammation, axonal degeneration, skeletal muscle deterioration and viruses. This complexity is a major obstacle in defeating ALS. At present, riluzole and edaravone are the only drugs that have passed clinical trials for the treatment of ALS, notwithstanding that they showed modest benefits in a limited population of ALS. A dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate combination was also approved to treat pseudobulbar affect (PBA) in the course of ALS. Globally, there is a struggle to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of this neurodegenerative disease, including implementation of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), CRISPR-9/Cas technique, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) or ALS-on-a-chip technology. Additionally, researchers have synthesized and screened new compounds to be effective in ALS beyond the drug repurposing strategy. Despite all these efforts, ALS treatment is largely limited to palliative care, and there is a strong need for new therapeutics to be developed. This review focuses on and discusses which therapeutic strategies have been followed so far and what can be done in the future for the treatment of ALS.     

Hydrolysis of α-Tricalcium Phosphate in Simulated Body Fluid and Dehydration Behavior During the Drying Process

The hydrolysis of α-tricalcium phosphate (α-TCP) in a simulated body fluid (SBF) at 37°C was investigated. The hydration rate was found to be slower in SBF than that in deionized water. The concentration of ions in SBF was monitored by ICP. The hydrolysis product, which was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infra red, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, was determined to be carbonate-containing, calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite (CO₃−CDHAp) with Mg²⁺, Na⁺, and Cl⁻ impurities similar to the biological apatite. An amorphous layer on the α-TCP surface was found to be the precursor of the apatite phase, which may either form crystalline apatite or may decompose back to α-TCP at a lower temperature.     

Preparation and characterization of films based on crosslinked blends of gum acacia,polyvinylalcohol, and polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine complex

In an attempt to develop iodine-release systems based on polymeric blend for biomedical applications, our research group prepared blends of gum acacia (GA), polyvinylalcohol (PVA), and polyvinylpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-I) complex. The blends of GA/PVA and GA/PVA/PVP-I prepared from the aqueous solutions of the polymers were crosslinked with glutaraldehyde to increase the water resistance of the films and to improve their thermal and mechanical properties. The crosslinked GA/PVA and GA/PVA/PVP-I blend films were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, DSC, and TGA. The swelling behavior of the prepared blends was investigated and crosslinked GA/PVA blend films were found to be pH sensitive. The properties of PVP-I containing blends differed from those prepared without it probably due to the formation of an intermolecular interaction between PVP-I and the hydroxy-polymers. The results indicated that after crosslinking the blends showed improvement in water resistance, thermal, and mechanical properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Application of ANN in the prediction of the pore concentration of aluminum metal foams manufactured by powder metallurgy methods

In this work, the effect of fabrication parameters on the pore concentration of aluminum metal foam, manufactured by the powder metallurgy process, has been studied. The artificial neural network (ANN) technique has been used to predict pore concentration as a function of some key fabrication parameters. Aluminum metal foam specimens were fabricated from a mixture of aluminum powders (mean particle size 60 μm) and NaCl at 10, 20, 30, 40(wt)% content under a pressure of 200, 250, and 300 MPa. All specimens were then sintered at 630°C for 2.5 h in argon atmosphere. For pore formation (foaming), sintered specimens were immersed into 70°C hot running water. Finally, the pore concentration of specimens was recorded to analyze the effect of fabrication parameters (namely, NaCl ratio, NaCl particle size, and compacting pressure) on the foaming behavior of compacted specimens. It has been recorded that the above-mentioned fabrication parameters are effective on pore concentration profile while pore diameters remain unchanged. In the ANN training module, NaCl content (wt)%, NaCl particle size (μm), and compacting pressure (MPA) were employed as inputs, while pore concentration % (volume) of compacts related to fabrication parameters was employed as output. The ANN program was successfully used to predict the pore concentration % (volume) of compacts related to fabrication parameters.     

Reduction of earthquake response of plane frame buildings by viscoelastic dampers

This paper is focused on the viscoelastic dampers to be used as energy-absorbing devices in buildings. Their advantages and disadvantages as well as their application on three model structures have been described. The analytical studies of the model structures exhibiting the structural response reduction due to these viscoelastic devices are presented. In order to exhibit the benefits of viscoelastic dampers, a nonlinear time history analysis is carried out for all case studies: (a) a 7-storey steel frame, (b) a 10-storey reinforced concrete frame, and (c) a 20-storey reinforced concrete frame. The top storey relative displacements as well as the top storey absolute accelerations and also the base shear values obtained indicate that these viscoelastic dampers when incorporated into the super-structure behave like a break pedal and reduce the earthquake response significantly in proportion to the amount of damping supplied in these devices.     

Hydrothermal precipitation and characterization of nanocrystalline BaTiO3 particles

Crystalline BaTiO₃ powders were precipitated by reacting fine TiO₂ particles with a strongly alkaline solution of Ba(OH)₂ under hydrothermal conditions at 80°C to 240°C. The characteristics of the powders were investigated by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, thermal analysis and atomic emission spectroscopy. For a fixed reaction time of 24 hours, the average particle size of BaTiO₃ increased from 50 nm at 90°C to 100 nm at 240°C. At synthesis temperatures below 150°C, the BaTiO₃ particles had a narrow size distribution and were predominantly cubic in structure. Higher synthesis temperatures produced a mixture of the cubic and tetragonal phases in which the concentration of the tetragonal phase increased with increasing temperature. A bimodal distribution of sizes developed for long reaction times (96 h) at the highest synthesis temperature (240°C). Thermal analysis revealed little weight loss on heating the powders to temperatures up to 700°C. The influence of particle size and processing-related hydroxyl defects on the crystal structure of the BaTiO₃ powder is discussed.