Software engineering in Asia

Asia boasts a growing software industry spread across several countries. However, software technology in Asia still lags behind the US. To become competitive in the global marketplace, many Asian countries have started to improve their university systems and software-development industries. If successful, by 2001 their efforts will create an Asian software industry quite different from today's. The authors survey these efforts and sketch briefly the history of software development in each country. They survey recent trends in Asian software engineering from the industrial, educational, and organizational viewpoints, and offer an optimistic assessment of efforts toward modernization and regional cooperation     

Effects of nitric oxide annealing of thermally grown silicondioxide characteristics

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) annealing on conventional thermal oxides are reported in this letter. The oxide thickness increase, resulting from NO annealing, is found to be only a few angstroms (<0.5 nm) and independent on the initial oxide thickness. Furthermore, both the electrical and physical characteristics are improved. This technique is expected to achieve sub-5 nm high quality ultrathin dielectric films for the applications in EEPROM's and ULSI     

Control of power factor correcting boost converter withoutinstantaneous measurement of input current

This paper proposes a new control method for the constant-frequency control of power factor correcting boost power converter using a sinewave template modulated PWM signal which eliminates the need for instantaneous measurement of the line current for the switching control of the boost converter. The control strategy is based on the notion that the line current can be forced to trace a deterministic waveform such as a sinusoid by considering the implicit model of the sinewave in the boost converter controller structure. The modulating sinewave template is generated using the line voltage, the boost converter output voltage and the load current. The paper provides the analysis and the design of the controller and presents simulation and implementation results to demonstrate its effectiveness     

Electrolytic regeneration of bleach solution in the motion picture industry

Cyclic voltammetric and galvanostatic experiments have been carried out with both synthetic and commercial bleach solutions with a view to regenerating the same. Maximum efficiency could be achieved if the oxidation is carried out below an anodic potential of 0·80 V vs SCE. The data obtained in galvanostatic experiments with RCE confirm the results of the earlier technique.     

Numerical analysis of solar cell current-voltage characteristics

This paper presents the determination of solar cell (SC) characteristics in double-exponential modelling using current-voltage (I–V) curve data for one-illumination level. The approach of the numerical analysis is based on the Newton-Raphson technique. Particular attention has been paid throughout to the set-up of the initial values to provide the best convergence of the iteration procedure and high accuracy of determined parameters.     

The evaluation of weekly hepatic arterial infusion of high-dose 5-FU for liver metastases from colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE: The degree to which patient education in the areas of diet, exercise, and stress management can improve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) through healthier lifestyle behaviors is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of outpatient education on the short and long term outcomes, and the association between health-promoting behaviors and symptoms. METHODS: Pender's Health Promotion Model provided the theoretical framework. The study had a prospective longitudinal design. A consecutive sample of 52 adult outpatients with IBS attended a structured class that taught health-promoting modifications of lifestyle. Participants completed the Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP) and selected items from a Bowel Disease Questionnaire (BDQ) before the class and 1 month and 6 months later. Spearman rank correlations were used to assess the association between HPLP and symptom scores. Wilcoxon rank sum tests compared changes in scores versus their baseline values. RESULTS: Response rates at 1 and 6 months were 75% and 83%, respectively. Results revealed significant 1- and 6 month-improvements in pain and Manning symptoms (p < 0.01) and in some HPLP scores (exercise at 1 month, p < 0.05; stress management at 6 months, p < 0.01). Significant associations were found between some, but not all, HPLP and symptom scores over time. CONCLUSION: A structured IBS educational class for patients with IBS improved symptoms and some health-promoting behaviors. However, relationships among specific behaviors and specific symptoms did not consistently correspond with this improvement.