Applying black-box testing to UML/OCL database models

Most Unified Modeling Language (UML) computer-aided software engineering tools have been insufficient in the development process because they provide little support for conceptual model testing. Model testing aims to ensure the correctness of a UML/OCL class diagram, or, in other words, that a given class diagram can perfectly meet the user’s requirements. This study proposes the validation of class diagrams with black-box testing, a technique used to test software without focusing on the software’s implementation or structure. An approach is proposed for the automatic transformation of the constraints of a UML/OCL class diagram into test cases. Following the creation of the test cases, they are executed with JUnit and the results produced are shown to the tester. To demonstrate the applicability of this approach, an effectiveness evaluation and an efficiency evaluation are performed here. Evaluation studies show that all faults included in a class diagram have been detected within an efficient time.     

MOE prediction in Abies pinsapo Boiss. timber: Application of an artificial neural network using non-destructive testing

Determining the modulus of elasticity of wood by applying an artificial neural network using the physical properties and non-destructive testing can be a useful method in assessments of the timber structure in old constructions. The modulus of elasticity of Abies pinsapo Boiss. timber was predicted in this study through the parameters of density, width, thickness, moisture content, ultrasonic wave propagation velocity and visual grading of the test pieces. A feedforward multilayer perceptron network was designed for this purpose, achieving 75.0% success in the testing or unknown group.     

Reinforcement learning of pedagogical policies in adaptive and intelligent educational systems

In an adaptive and intelligent educational system (AIES), the process of learning pedagogical policies according the students needs fits as a Reinforcement Learning (RL) problem. Previous works have demonstrated that a great amount of experience is needed in order for the system to learn to teach properly, so applying RL to the AIES from scratch is unfeasible. Other works have previously demonstrated in a theoretical way that seeding the AIES with an initial value function learned with simulated students reduce the experience required to learn an accurate pedagogical policy. In this paper we present empirical results demonstrating that a value function learned with simulated students can provide the AIES with a very accurate initial pedagogical policy. The evaluation is based on the interaction of more than 70 Computer Science undergraduate students, and demonstrates that an efficient and useful guide through the contents of the educational system is obtained.     

Visual specification of measurements and redesigns for domain specific visual languages

Ensuring model quality is a key success factor in many computer science areas, and becomes crucial in recent software engineering paradigms like the one proposed by model-driven software development. Tool support for measurements and redesigns becomes essential to help developers improve the quality of their models. However, developing such helper tools for the wide variety of (frequently domain specific) visual notations used by software engineers is a hard and repetitive task that does not take advantage from previous developments, thus being frequently forgotten.In this paper we present our approach for the visual specification of measurements and redesigns for Domain Specific Visual Languages (DSVLs). With this purpose, we introduce a novel DSVL called SLAMMER that contains generalisations of some of the more used types of internal product measurements and redesigns. The goal is to facilitate the task of defining measurements and redesigns for any DSVL, as well as the generation of tools from such specification reducing or eliminating the necessity of coding. We rely on the use of visual patterns for the specification of the relevant elements for each measurement and redesign type. In addition, SLAMMER allows the specification of redesigns either procedurally or by means of graph transformation rules. These redesigns can be triggered when the measurements reach a certain threshold.These concepts have been implemented in the meta-modelling tool AToM³. In this way, when a DSVL is designed, it is possible to specify measurements and redesigns that will become available in the final modelling environment generated for the language. As an example, we show a case study in the web modelling domain.     

Characteristics of High- and Low-Fat Bologna Sausages as Affected by Final Internal Cooking Temperature and Chilling Storage

A study was made of the effect that final internal processing temperature (63, 70 and 78°C) and chilling storage (2°C) exerted on the characteristics (cooking loss, purge loss, colour, Instron texture profile analysis) of high-fat (242 g kg⁻¹) and low-fat (100 g kg⁻¹) bologna sausage. High-fat sausages were harder and chewier than low-fat sausages. Lower fat contents were accompanied by a significant reduction in the cooking loss and purge loss. Binding properties were not affected ( P> 0·05) by final internal cooking temperature. In general, Hunter colour parameter a values were higher in low-fat samples subjected to a high final internal cooking temperature than in those cooked up to only 63°C. High internal temperatures produced harder meat emulsions, an effect which was more pronounced in high-fat than in low-fat sausages. Cohesiveness and springiness of sausages was not affected ( P> 0·05) by heat treatment. There were no major variations in textural parameters as a result of chilled storage.     

Residents’ evaluation of advantages and disadvantages of golf community living in Alicante,Spain

The growing numbers of golf communities are attracting a diverse group of homebuyers who experience varying levels of neighborhood satisfaction. A multinomial logistic regression analysis with follow-up ANOVA reveals that homeowners in one region of Spain who believe there are more advantages than disadvantages to living in a golf community are more likely to be older, Spanish, and evaluate the natural environment, sports facilities, and water supply of their community as better. Meanwhile, those who perceive more disadvantages cite the limitations on using the golf course for non-golf activities, high housing costs, automobile dependence, and lack of services and shops. Thus, satisfaction with the golf community varies depending on the residents’ personal characteristics as well as their evaluation of the neighborhood’s characteristics, but is not directly attributable to whether they play golf or whether the course was a decisive factor in choosing the house.     

Rheological changes during thermal processing of low-fat meat emulsions formulated with different texture-modifying ingredients

The rheological behaviour of high-fat (22%) and low-fat (8%) meat emulsions during thermal processing in the presence (3%) of various texture-modifying non-meat ingredients, namely maltodextrin, starch, wheat flour, egg white and apple fibre, was analysed. Rheological properties of emulsions were assessed using non-destructive measurements (thermal scanning rigidity monitor, TSRM). The lower the fat content, the lower were the rigidity values of meat emulsions throughout the temperature range studied. Emulsions made with maltodextrin proved less rigid. Addition of starch and egg white favoured the formation of more rigid structures in low-fat meat emulsions at temperatures over 55 °C. Low-fat meat batters containing wheat flour and apple fibre exhibited the highest rigidity values over the given temperature range. The presence of wheat flour caused variations in the modulus of rigidity at all stages of the thermal gelation process, very similar to those observed in high-fat emulsions.     

Oxidation Behavior of a PVD-Processed Mg–10.6Zr Alloy

The oxidation behavior in air of a physical vapor-deposited (PVD) Mg–10.6Zr (wt. %) alloy was studied in the 325–450°C temperature range. The oxidation rate of this alloy remains low at temperatures below 375°C. However, at higher temperatures, the alloy experienced extremely high oxidation rates, which can even lead to disintegration of the sample. Oxidation is controlled by fast inward oxygen transport along the open boundaries of the alloy, leading to the formation of cracks throughout the sample, and subsequent formation of a thin MgO at crack interfaces. The MgO layer remains protective while coarsening of zirconium precipitates at the open boundaries does not take place. Thickening of Zr precipitates over a critical size induces impairment of the MgO layer at crack interfaces, facilitating inward oxygen diffusion. The volume increase resulting from the formation of new oxide at open boundaries favors decohesion of open boundaries, leading to accelerated oxidation.     

High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method for the Monitoring of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium</Emphasis> Derivative Propyl Propane Thiosulfonate Used as Natural Additive in Animal Feed

A new simple analytical method for monitoring propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTSO) in animal feed is presented. PTSO is an active ingredient from Allium spp. (like onion and shallot), proposed as a natural additive for feed being an efficient alternative to antibiotics used as growth promoter due to its efficiency improving animal health. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography with UV detection has been used and a previous sample treatment based on solid-liquid extraction has been developed and optimized in order to extract PTSO from a feed for laying hens using acetone as extraction solvent. The method has been characterized obtaining limits of detection and quantification of 11.2 and 37.3 mg kg^?1, respectively, which are lower than the concentrations expected in samples containing this additive. The intra- and interday relative standard deviations (RSDs) were lower than 8.3 % in all the cases, and recoveries varied from 90.2 to 94.6 %. Finally, in order to check the unequivocal identification of PTSO, mass spectrometry detection was applied. The proposed method is a simple procedure for monitoring PTSO in commercial feed, being possible to implement it in routine laboratories for quantification purposes and stability studies of the distributed products.