Software Quality Evaluation Based on Expert Judgement

A method using expert judgement for the evaluation of software quality is presented. The underlying principle of the approach is the encoding of experts' tacit knowledge into probabilistic measures associated with the achievement level of software quality attributes. An aggregated quality measure is obtained based on preference statements related to the quality attributes. The technical objectives of the paper are to develop of a generic and operationally feasible measurement technique to transform the tacit knowledge of a software expert to a probability distribution depicting his/her uncertainty of the level of achievement related to a quality attribute; to develop rules for the construction of a consensus probability measure based on expert-specific probability measures; to derive a framework for specifying software quality strategy and for evaluating the acceptance of a software produced in a software development process;The above technical developments are used to support group decision-making regarding the launch or implementation decision of a software version; the allocation of resources during the software development process.     

N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines: versatile intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of amines

N-tert-Butanesulfinyl aldimines 3 and ketimines 4 are exceedingly versatile intermediates for the asymmetric synthesis of amines. The N-tert-butanesulfinyl imines are prepared in high yields by condensing enantiomerically pure tert-butanesulfinamide 1, which is readily available in either configuration, with a wide range of aldehydes and ketones. The tert-butanesulfinyl group activates the imines for the addition of many different classes of nucleophiles, serves as a powerful chiral directing group, and after nucleophilic addition is readily cleaved by treatment of the product with acid. A wide range of highly enantioenriched amines, including alpha-branched and alpha,alpha-dibranched amines, alpha- and beta-amino acids, 1,2- and 1,3-amino alcohols, and alpha-trifluoromethyl amines, are efficiently synthesized using this methodology. In addition, N-tert-butanesulfinyl imine derivatives provide a new family of ligands for asymmetric catalysis.     

Refined Energy Correction for Calibration of Submerged Radial Gates

The energy-momentum (E-M) method for calibrating submerged radial gates was refined using a large laboratory data set collected at the Bureau of Reclamation hydraulics laboratory in the 1970s. The original E-M method was accurate in free flow, and when the gate significantly controls submerged flow, but for large gate openings with low head loss through the gate, discharge prediction errors were sometimes large (approaching 70%). Several empirical factors were investigated with the laboratory data, including the combined upstream energy loss and velocity distribution factor and the submerged flow energy correction. The utility of the existing upstream energy loss and velocity distribution factor relation was extended to larger Reynolds numbers. The relation between the relative energy correction and the relative submergence of the vena contracta was shown to be sensitive to the relative jet thickness. A refined energy correction model was developed, which significantly improved the accuracy of submerged flow discharge predictions. Although the focus of this work was radial gates, the energy correction concept and these refinements potentially have application to all submerged sluice gates.     

The impact of the online and offline features on the user acceptance of Internet shopping malls

Internet shopping mall has the dual nature of Web-based application system and traditional shopping mall. This paper explores online and offline features of Internet shopping malls and their relationships with the acceptance behaviors of customers. The results from a Web survey of 932 users show that the technology acceptance model (TAM) is valid in predicting the acceptance of the Internet shopping malls and that online and offline features have positive effects on the user acceptance. Both online and offline features have greater effects on the usefulness, attitude, and intention to use than either online or offline features separately. This study provides a domain-specific, integrative approach in evaluating the quality and antecedents of user acceptance for Internet shopping malls.     

Optimum blade configurations for the cutting of soft solids

For the same amount of work in separating surfaces of soft solids, the forces normal and tangential to an element of a cutting blade are determined by the local velocities of the material past the cutting edge, in particular by the ratio ξ of ‘slice’ to ‘push’ velocities. The greater the ξ, the lower the forces and hence reduced damage to the cut surfaces (i.e., better surface finish). Different examples are considered of flat blades of variable curvature (such spiral-profiled blades in food cutting machinery, scythes, sickles, sabres, etc.) where the local forces vary along the edge of the blade as the curvature changes. How to maximise ξ is discussed along with questions of whether the material to be cut is restrained or not. The mechanics of cutting by a cylinder lawn mower is also investigated. Here the blades are arranged on helices around the cylinder and ξ is determined by the helix angle and by N = (rω/f) which is the ‘gearing’ of the cylinder with respect to the forward speed of the machine. There is a compromise between low cutting forces and flatness of cut surface that has to be adopted in design of practical machines.     

A memetic algorithm for multiple-drug cancer chemotherapy schedule optimization.

This correspondence introduces a multidrug cancer chemotherapy model to simulate the possible response of the tumor cells under drug administration. We formulate the model as an optimal control problem. The algorithm in this correspondence optimizes the multidrug cancer chemotherapy schedule. The objective is to minimize the tumor size under a set of constraints. We combine the adaptive elitist genetic algorithm with a local search algorithm called iterative dynamic programming (IDP) to form a new memetic algorithm (MA-IDP) for solving the problem. MA-IDP has been shown to be very efficient in solving the multidrug scheduling optimization problem.     

Quantum Information Storage in the Localized State of a Spin Chain

We describe a chain of qubits with always on exchange interaction in the presence of a spatial inhomogeneity in the qubit level spacing. Similarly to the phenomenon of Anderson localization, this system has a localized eigenstate which can be used to store or trap quantum information. We discuss both the fidelity of storage and the leakage of information from this localized state and show that even a very small defect can be useful. Presented at the 38th Symposium on Mathematical Physics “Quantum Entanglement & Geometry”, Toruń, June 4–7, 2006.     

Using multimedia and Web3D to enhance anatomy teaching

Anatomy teaching is undergoing significant changes due to time constraints, limited availability of cadavers and technological developments in the areas of three-dimensional modelling and computer-assisted learning. This paper gives an overview of methods used to teach anatomy to undergraduate medical students and discusses the educational advantages and disadvantages of using three-dimensional computer models. A ‘work in progress’ account is then given of a project to develop two Web3D resources to enhance undergraduate tuition of the nervous system. Our approach is to support existing curricula using advanced modelling tools and a variety of delivery mechanisms.     

Overlap of clusters of psychiatric symptoms among clients of a comprehensive addiction treatment service.

This article describes the prevalence and overlap of psychiatric symptoms among 2,784 clients of the outpatient programs at a comprehensive addictions treatment facility. The psychiatric symptoms were assessed by a computer-based questionnaire, and the analysis focused on the overlap of symptom clusters (multimorbidity) and their relation to selected intake variables known to be predictors of treatment outcome. Of all clients, 27.4% scored positive for 1, 18.9% for 2, and 22.3% for 3 or more clusters, the most frequent being depression, anxiety, and history of conduct disorder. Multimorbidity was significantly correlated with female gender, unemployment, less social support, cannabis problems, fewer legal problems, and increased treatment engagement. Clients with more substance use disorders presented more psychiatric symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)