The impact of rapid release cycles on the integration delay of fixed issues

The release frequency of software projects has increased in recent years. Adopters of so-called rapid releases—short release cycles, often on the order of weeks, days, or even hours—claim that they can deliver fixed issues (i.e., implemented bug fixes and new features) to users more quickly. However, there is little empirical evidence to support these claims. In fact, our prior work shows that code integration phases may introduce delays for rapidly releasing projects—98% of the fixed issues in the rapidly releasing Firefox project had their integration delayed by at least one release. To better understand the impact that rapid release cycles have on the integration delay of fixed issues, we perform a comparative study of traditional and rapid release cycles. Our comparative study has two parts: (i) a quantitative empirical analysis of 72,114 issue reports from the Firefox project, and a (ii) qualitative study involving 37 participants, who are contributors of the Firefox, Eclipse, and ArgoUML projects. Our study is divided into quantitative and qualitative analyses. Quantitative analyses reveal that, surprisingly, fixed issues take a median of 54% (57 days) longer to be integrated in rapid Firefox releases than the traditional ones. To investigate the factors that are related to integration delay in traditional and rapid release cycles, we train regression models that model whether a fixed issue will have its integration delayed or not. Our explanatory models achieve good discrimination (ROC areas of 0.80–0.84) and calibration scores (Brier scores of 0.05–0.16) for rapid and traditional releases. Our explanatory models indicate that (i) traditional releases prioritize the integration of backlog issues, while (ii) rapid releases prioritize issues that were fixed in the current release cycle. Complementary qualitative analyses reveal that participants’ perception about integration delay is tightly related to activities that involve decision making, risk management, and team collaboration. Moreover, the allure of shipping fixed issues faster is a main motivator for adopting rapid release cycles among participants (although this motivation is not supported by our quantitative analysis). Furthermore, to explain why traditional releases deliver fixed issues more quickly, our participants point out the rush for integration in traditional releases and the increased time that is invested on polishing issues in rapid releases. Our results suggest that rapid release cycles may not be a silver bullet for the rapid delivery of new content to users. Instead, our results suggest that the benefits of rapid releases are increased software stability and user feedback.     

Surface analysis with scanning electrochemical microscopy in the feedback mode: Monitoring of reactivity and pitting precursor sites on the Nd-Fe-B-type magnet

Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) in the feedback mode was utilized for monitoring the surface reactivity and the localized corrosion processes occurring on the Nd_13.5Fe_79.5Si₁B₆ permanent magnet (intrinsically comprising iron inclusions). SECM imaging experiments, performed with the application of ferrocenecarboxylic acid as the mediator, revealed distinctly reactive areas at the magnet surface during early stages of its immersion in 0.1 mol dm⁻³ phosphate buffer (pH = 7). It was demonstrated that the iron inclusions were responsible for the existence of these reactive areas whereas the bulk material surface was practically unreactive (insulating). It was observed that the surface reactivity of the iron inclusions gradually decreased with time and after 7 h immersion the whole magnet surface became uniformly unreactive (insulating). The results were explained in terms of differences in the dynamics of the passive film formation on the iron inclusions and on the bulk material. Another factor that might be responsible for the observed non-uniform surface reactivity was also considered, namely, the differences in abilities to charge propagation through passive films existing on the iron inclusions and on the bulk material. The role of the iron inclusions as pitting precursor sites in the presence of chlorides in the phosphate buffer solution was also examined.     

Morphologic characterization and fractal analysis of lapped and polished surfaces of quartz single crystals

Lapping and polishing are industrial processes sometimes used alternatively for surface finishing of hard and brittle materials. This article presents advanced image analysis of surfaces of quartz crystal blanks finished by lapping and polishing. Scanning electron micrographs were obtained from workpiece surfaces parallel to Y-, AT-, and Z-cut crystal planes treated with different normal stress and abrasive grit size, and stereometric and fractal/multifractal approaches were used to analyze the respective surfaces. Fractal dimensions and segmentation parameters were able to decode the effect of normal stress increasing on the surface roughness of lapped and polished samples. Moreover, the texture isotropy and the bifractal—hence agglomerated—nature of the surface patterns, suggest that both treatments dismiss the anisotropic signature of hardness and fracture toughness inherent to each crystal plane. This study provides promising results regarding the applicability of fractal analysis in the assessment of surfaces severely worn by the combined effect of brittle microcracking and plastic deformation mechanisms.     

Anodic oxidation of parabens in acetic acid�Cacetonitrile solutions

The electrochemical properties of esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, called parabens, were investigated on a carbon fiber microelectrode and on a glassy carbon macroelectrode in glacial acetic acid containing 20?% acetonitrile (v/v) and sodium acetate as a supporting electrolyte. The anodic oxidation of parabens in this medium proceeds in a single stage giving well-shaped peaks or waves in the same potential region of above 1.0?V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The electrode process was characterized as being quasireversible, diffusion-controlled, and proceeds with the exchange of one electron and one proton. Phenoxyl radicals as products of the electrode process are chemically unstable and participate in the successive irreversible homogenous reactions resulting in electroinactive products (E _q C _i mechanism). Smaller oxidation potentials for parabens in comparison to such unsaturated fatty acids as oleic, linoleic, and linolenic ones indicate that these compounds can show antioxidative properties. Since parabens are often used as preservatives in many products, the results presented can be found useful in the determination of their total content in real samples.     

A multi‐point electrical resistance measurement system for characterization of foam drainage regime and stability

Foam drainage regimes are significantly associated with the nature of the hydrodynamic resistance in foam structure. A multi‐point electrical resistance measurement technique has been applied for characterization of the drainage regimes and quantifying stability within standing foams. The capacity of the technique was confirmed by the estimation of macroscopic drainage rates for aqueous foams stabilized with sodium dodecyl sulfate. The drainage of sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, a commercial form of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate that is the most frequently used in household detergents was studied in detail by two complementary methods (forced and free drainage). The experimental data could be fitted using a power‐law with an exponent of 1/3 for forced drainage and of 1.0 for free drainage. These data indicate the following drainage behavior: mobile bubble surfaces, causing plug‐like flow within Plateau borders, thus dissipation mainly occurs inside the nodes. This research introduced an accurate method for quantifying foam stability that can be assessed by variations of real‐time measured foam heights that incorporate the evolution of the liquid content. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3143–3150, 2014     

Multiple output differential OTA with linearizing bulk‐driven active‐error feedback loop for continuous‐time filter applications

A CMOS circuit realization of a highly linear multiple‐output differential operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) has been proposed. The presented approach exploits a differential pair as an input stage with both the gate and the bulk terminals as signal ports. For the proposed OTA, improved linearity is obtained by means of the active‐error feedback loop operating at the bulk terminals of the input stage. SPICE simulations of the OTA show that, for 0.35 µm AMS process, total harmonic distortion at 1.36Vpp is less than 1% with dynamic range equal to 60.1 dB at power consumption of 276 μW from 3.3 V supply. As an example, both single output and dual differential OTAs are used to design third‐order elliptic low‐pass filters. The cut‐off frequency of the filters is 1 MHz. The power consumption of the OTA‐C filter utilizing the dual output differential OTA is reduced to 1.24 mW in comparison to 2.2 mW consumed by the single output differential OTA‐C filter counterpart. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Exogenous Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) in Pathogenesis of Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Gastric Lesions: Interaction with Protective Nitric Oxide (NO) and Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP)

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor and pro-inflammatory factor. We investigated the role of ADMA in rat gastric mucosa compromised through 30 min of gastric ischemia (I) and 3 h of reperfusion (R). These I/R animals were pretreated with ADMA with or without the combination of l-arginine, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or a small dose of capsaicin, all of which are known to afford protection against gastric lesions, or with a farnesoid X receptor (FXR) agonist, GW 4064, to increase the metabolism of ADMA. In the second series, ADMA was administered to capsaicin-denervated rats. The area of gastric damage was measured with planimetry, gastric blood flow (GBF) was determined by H₂-gas clearance, and plasma ADMA and CGRP levels were determined using ELISA and RIA. ADMA significantly increased I/R-induced gastric injury while significantly decreasing GBF, the luminal NO content, and the plasma level of CGRP. This effect of ADMA was significantly attenuated by pretreatment with CGRP, l-arginine, capsaicin, or a PGE₂ analogue. In GW4064 pretreated animals, the I/R injury was significantly reduced and this effect was abolished by co-treatment with ADMA. I/R damage potentiated by ADMA was exacerbated in capsaicin-denervated animals with a further reduction of CGRP. Plasma levels of IL-10 were significantly decreased while malonylodialdehyde (MDA) and plasma TNF-α contents were significantly increased by ADMA. In conclusion, ADMA aggravates I/R-induced gastric lesions due to a decrease of GBF, which is mediated by a fall in NO and CGRP release, and the enhancement of lipid peroxidation and its pro-inflammatory properties.     

Infrared transmittance model for pyrometric monitoring of surface quality of thin diamond films

The thickness and surface roughness of thin diamond films grown on quartz substrates are studied in the paper using a model of changes in the infrared transmission ratio associated with multiple constructive interference within a thin crystal film. On the other hand, the model is referred to periodic variations of the apparent temperature of the substrate measured by the two-color pyrometer. Obtained results are then compared with those of other similar studies, and the AFM measurements. Some discrepancy between the results from infrared and AFM data is explained in terms of optical absorption of the crystal, which is neglected in the transmittance model.     

Temperature dependence of Bi4Ge3O12 photoluminescence spectra

Bi₄Ge₃O₁₂ single crystals were obtained using Czochralski growth method. Photoluminescence spectra were analyzed versus temperature from 12 to 295 K. Besides the previously observed emission bands at 610 and 820 nm, the new emission band at 475 nm was found by a careful temperature dependence measurement in the present study. The influence of basic and defect structure on the shape and position of the spectra versus temperature was discussed.     

Photoluminescence and electrochemiluminescence studies of chosen rare earths systems

Eu（Ⅲ） complexes with chosen Keggin polyoxomatalates, POM, containing organic counter cations （tetrabutylarnmonium, tetrabutylphosphonium, triphenylethylphosphonium）, were synthesized, and their photophysical properties were studied. The synthesized complexes had the general formula of XnH5-n[EuSiW11O39], formulated based on the results of elemental and thermogravimetric analysis and FTIR spectroscopy. The photophysical properties of the obtained compounds were investigated using photoluminescence and electrochemiluminescence, ECL, methods in solutions and solids. The most intense luminescence of Eu（Ⅲ） was observed for the complexes with tetrabutylarnmonium cations. After the addition of phenanthroline to the XnH5-n[EuSiW11O39] solutions, a large increase in the Eu（Ⅲ） luminescence intensity and a lengthening of its luminescence lifetime were observed as a result of the formation of ternary complexes. Attempts to apply ECL as a method of light emission by generating species capable of forming excited states in Ln/POMs, i.e., Tb（Ⅲ） and Eu（Ⅲ） in the Na9EuW10O36 and Na9TbW10O36 complexes, were made. The influence of the POM complexes on the ECL was also tested using the Tb/EDDHA （EDDA=ethylenediamine di（o-hydroxyphenylacetic acid）） complex, which is effective in generating ECL.