Software reuse: The Brazilian industry scenario

This paper aims at identifying some of the key factors in adopting an organization-wide software reuse program. The factors are derived from practical experience reported by industry professionals, through a survey involving 57 Brazilian small, medium and large software organizations. Some of them produce software with commonality between applications, and have mature processes, while others successfully achieved reuse through isolated, ad hoc efforts. The paper compiles the answers from the survey participants, showing which factors were more associated with reuse success. Based on this relationship, a guide is presented, pointing out which factors should be more strongly considered by small, medium and large organizations attempting to establish a reuse program.     

A statistical approach to the determination of energy savings in a solar-assisted water-heating system

A method of determining the cost benefits of a flat-plate solar-energy collector system used for domestic hot-water preheat is reported. Because the method obviates the need for a non-solar heated control comparison and does not call for any temperature logging within the system it is ideally suited to existing installations. The method relies on a statistical analysis of readily-available data and has been applied to assess the savings made in a number of flats within an Edinburgh tenement block. Several different combinations of data inputs may be used with varying degrees of reliability in the results.     

Resting energy expenditure and carbohydrate oxidation are higher in elderly patients with COPD: a case control study

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) usually have a compromised nutritional status which is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality. To know the Resting Energy Expenditure (REE) and the substrate oxidation measurement is essential to prevent these complications. This study aimed to compare the REE, respiratory quotient (RQ) and body composition between patients with and without COPD. METHODS: This case-control study assessed 20 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease attending a pulmonary rehabilitation program. The group of subjects without COPD (control group) consisted of 20 elderly patients attending a university gym, patients of a private service and a public healthy care. Consumption of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) was determined by indirect calorimetry and used for calculating the resting energy expenditure and respiratory quotient. Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) were also measured. Percentage of body fat (%BF), lean mass (kg) and muscle mass (kg) were determined by bioimpedance. The fat free mass index (FFMI) and muscle mass index (MMI) were then calculated. Results: The COPD group had lower BMI than control (p=0.02). However, WC, % BF, FFMI and MM-I did not differ between the groups. The COPD group had greater RQ (p=0.01), REE (p=0.009) and carbohydrate oxidation (p= 0.002). Conclusions: Elderly patients with COPD had higher REE, RQ and carbohydrate oxidation than controls.     

Primary chemotherapy for stage 2 testis cancer

To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of primary chemotherapy in patients with stage 2 (retroperitoneal lymph node metastases) testis cancer, 20 consecutive patients referred to Groote Schuur Hospital between September 1992 and March 1994 were reviewed. There were 10 patients with non-bulky non-seminomatous germ cell tumour (NSGCT), 5 with bulky NSGCT and 5 with bulky seminoma. The treatment regimen consisted initially of 4 cycles of cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin. Patients with NSGCT and a residual mass after chemotherapy subsequently underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) and those with seminoma underwent a low dose of irradiation to the mass. In 7 (70%) of the 10 patients with non-bulky NSGCT, there was a complete response to chemotherapy and 3 patients underwent limited RPLND. One patient relapsed at follow-up but remains clear of disease after salvage therapy. The survival rate is 100% at a median follow-up of 60 months (range 12-143 months). In 5 patients with bulky NSGCT there was no complete response to chemotherapy. Three have undergone limited RPLND. The survival rate is 52% at a median follow-up of 130 months (range 108-152 months). In 5 patients with bulky seminomas, the survival rate is 100% at a median follow-up of 55 months (range 29-92 months). Toxicity has been modest except for 1 patient who died postoperatively in the early part of the study. Four patients have fathered children after treatment. We conclude that primary chemotherapy is the treatment of choice for patients with stage 2 testis cancer.     

Introducing primary nursing: nurses' opinions

This article reports on one aspect of a research project carried out to monitor and evaluate the introduction of primary nursing on four demonstration wards in one health authority. Nursing staff working on the wards were interviewed to identify how the changes were affecting them and their work. Stress questionnaires were also completed by a sample of nurses on the wards. Responsibility and communication--key concepts emerging from the data--are discussed and related to the literature on primary nursing.     

Crack Bifurcation at the Surface of Laminar Ceramics That Exhibit a Threshold Strength

Previous literature has shown that when a crack extends across a compressive layer within a two-phase laminar ceramic, the crack can bifurcate under special conditions. These special conditions appeared to require that a second crack (known as an edge-crack) had to preexist along the center line of the compressive layer. Here, it is shown that a crack can exhibit bifurcation without the formation of an edge-crack. It was found that a critical combination of residual compressive stress and layer thickness exists in which edge-cracking of the layer does not occur, yet the crack bifurcates when entering the compressive layer. Additionally, it was observed that crack bifurcation only occurs within the surface region of the compressive layer, while within the bulk, the crack extends straight across the compressive layer. These observations strongly suggest that the stresses on the surface of the compressive layer, which are known to be different from those within the bulk, will encourage crack bifurcation.     

A systematic review of domain analysis tools

The domain analysis process is used to identify and document common and variable characteristics of systems in a specific domain. In order to achieve an effective result, it is necessary to collect, organize and analyze several sources of information about different applications in this domain. Consequently, this process involves distinct phases and activities and also needs to identify which artifacts, arising from these activities, have to be traceable and consistent. In this context, performing a domain analysis process without tool support increases the risks of failure, but the used tool should support the complete process and not just a part of it. This article presents a systematic review of domain analysis tools that aims at finding out how the available tools offer support to the process. As a result, the review identified that these tools are usually focused on supporting only one process and there are still gaps in the complete process support. Furthermore, the results can provide insights for new research in the domain engineering area for investigating and defining new tools, and the study also aids in the identification of companies’ needs for a domain analysis tool.     

Segmentation and quantification of COVID-19 infections in CT using pulmonary vessels extraction and deep learning

Multimedia Tools and Applications - At the end of 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported pneumonia that started in Wuhan, China, as a global emergency problem. Researchers quickly...     

Theory of magnetic reconnection in solar and astrophysical plasmas

Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process in a plasma that facilitates the release of energy stored in the magnetic field by permitting a change in the magnetic topology. In this paper, we present a review of the current state of understanding of magnetic reconnection. We discuss theoretical results regarding the formation of current sheets in complex three-dimensional magnetic fields and describe the fundamental differences between reconnection in two and three dimensions. We go on to outline recent developments in modelling of reconnection with kinetic theory, as well as in the magnetohydrodynamic framework where a number of new three-dimensional reconnection regimes have been identified. We discuss evidence from observations and simulations of Solar System plasmas that support this theory and summarize some prominent locations in which this new reconnection theory is relevant in astrophysical plasmas.