A systematic review of transformation approaches between user requirements and analysis models

Model transformation is one of the basic principles of Model Driven Architecture. To build a software system, a sequence of transformations is performed, starting from requirements and ending with implementation. However, requirements are mostly in the form of text, but not a model that can be easily understood by computers; therefore, automated transformations from requirements to analysis models are not easy to achieve. The overall objective of this systematic review is to examine existing literature works that transform textual requirements into analysis models, highlight open issues, and provide suggestions on potential directions of future research. The systematic review led to the analysis of 20 primary studies (16 approaches) obtained after a carefully designed procedure for selecting papers published in journals and conferences from 1996 to 2008 and Software Engineering textbooks. A conceptual framework is designed to provide common concepts and terminology and to define a unified transformation process. This facilitates the comparison and evaluation of the reviewed papers.     

1:1 @ Carleton University School of Architecture

There exists a long-standing tradition of full-scale construction in the design studio at the Carleton University School of Architecture. The mantra "building as speculation" is explicitly evoked in varying studio and workshop contexts, ubiquitous within the fabric of the curriculum and design culture of the school. The value placed on 1:1 material engagement and construction techniques is qualified by an understanding of drawing (traditional and technological) as a form of critical, theoretical, and practical speculation. "Building speculations" at Carleton, in other words, are not constrained to conventional notions of design/build, but occur freely in the studio as a form of "sketching" or "modeling" that informs a wide range of design activities. Supported by a fully equipped metal and wood shop and photographic, video, and digital facilities, the "build" tradition at Carleton continues to adjust and transform according to the demands of architectural pedagogy.     

New rheological method to measure diffusion coefficient of volatile liquids: Application to butylmethacrylate in molten polyethylene matrix

A rheological method to assess the diffusion behavior of liquids in molten polymers above their boiling point is presented in this article. The evaporation of the liquid and the evolution of the blends complex modulus are followed by rheological measurement. Identification of the Fick's diffusion coefficient and the rate of evaporation of butylmethacrylate in low density polyethylene is done. The values of the diffusion coefficient are in agreement with those obtained by classical methods. The method developed here appears as complementary to the existent ones. It allows the measurement of diffusion coefficient of liquid/polymer system at high temperatures even for volatiles liquids. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Human sweat odour conjugates in human milk,colostrum and amniotic fluid

Using ultra performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry we identified for the first time glutamine-N-α-conjugates of the fatty acids (E)/(Z)-3-methylhex-2-enoic acid and (R)/(S)-3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid as well as cysteinylglycine-S-conjugates of (R)/(S)-3-methyl-3-sulphanylhexan-1-ol and (R)/(S)-3-sulphanylhexan-1-ol as constituents of human milk and colostrum. The glutamine-N-α-conjugates were detected also in human amniotic fluids. The mean values of glutamine-N-α-conjugate of (R)/(S)-3-hydroxy-3-methylhexanoic acid were highest in colostrums with a range of <0.1–382 μg/kg, followed by the mature human milk with values from <0.1 to 39.6 μg/kg for defatted milk, and 0.8–7.0 μg/kg in amniotic fluids. The cysteinylglycine-S-conjugate of (R)/(S)-3-methyl-3-sulphanylhexan-1-ol were detected in the range of 2–24 ng/kg in human milk, and 7–101 ng/kg in colostrums. Our data demonstrate that concentrations in human milk vary between individuals, and with lactation period as the mean concentrations of the glutamine conjugates in colostrums were elevated in comparison to mature milk and the concentrations of acid precursors were close to 10 times higher. Further, these precursors were not detected in cow milk.     

National roadside survey of child restraint system use in Belgium

In September 2011 the Belgian Road Safety Institute (BRSI) conducted its first roadside survey of child restraint system (CRS) use and misuse. The aim of this study was to obtain population-bases estimates of the prevalence of use and misuse of CRS and to identify predictors of misuse on the basis of observations in real traffic conditions. The survey was conducted on randomly selected sites across the country, stratified across various types of journeys. The principal parameters analysed were: the characteristics of the children and the car drivers, type of journey, types of CRS and types of misuse. The sample consisted of 1461 children (under 135 cm) for whom the conditions of restraint were observed in detail and the driver was interviewed.     

A Comparative Study on the Effect of Chemical,Microwave, and Pulsed Electric Pretreatments on Convective Drying and Quality of Raisins

In order to discourage the use of chemicals in raisin processing, the effect of microwave and pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatments on the drying rate and other quality parameters like color, total soluble solids, bulk density, appearance, and market quality were compared with that of chemically pretreated raisins dried at 65°C. The untreated and pretreated samples had a statistically significant difference in drying rate (P < 0.05). The drying rate of chemically pretreated raisins was the highest when compared to others. The results showed that the PEF and microwave-treated samples had a significantly high Total Soluble Solids (TSS), along with good appearance and market quality.     

Development and Validation of a Brief Version of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale With a Nonparametric Item Analysis Model.

The main purpose of the current research was to develop an abbreviated form of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) with nonparametric item response theory. The authors conducted 5 studies, with a total participation of 8,256 married or cohabiting individuals. Results showed that the item characteristic curves behaved in a monotonically increasing function for all items of the brief 4-item version of the DAS (DAS-4). The DAS-4 proved to be informative at all levels of couple satisfaction. Compared with the 32-item version of the DAS (DAS-32), it was as effective in predicting couple dissolution and was significantly less contaminated by socially desirable responding. In addition, structural equation modeling demonstrated that the underlying latent construct measured by the DAS-4 was very stable over a 2-year period. This brief version has the advantage of being less time consuming and constitutes a promising alternative to the original DAS-32 for clinicians and researchers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

XRD evidence of macroscopic composition inhomogeneities in the graphite–lithium electrode

In situ and ex situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements were carried out on lithiated graphite electrodes at different states of charge. Data were collected from both sides of electrode. We found macroscopic inhomogeneities in the lithium concentration along the electrode thickness even when the electrode was allowed to rest for 24 h. The electrode side facing the lithium counter electrode in the coin type half-cell displays higher lithium concentration as compared to the side opposed to the XRD window. Residual stage 2 compound is found in the supposedly fully lithiated and fully delithiated electrode. It seems that the differences in the chemical potential between stage 2 and stage 1 is too small to average the lithium composition through chemical diffusion at ambient temperature in reasonable times.     

Broad range RT-PCR assays targeting human noroviruses also detect swine noroviruses

Conventional broad range RT-PCR and real time RT-PCR assays designed to detect human noroviruses (NoVs) also efficiently detect swine NoVs. Investigation of the primers and probe binding sites revealed strong homologies between swine NoVs genomic sequences and human primer sequences. These findings have a serious impact on food diagnostic methods and laboratories.