Evaluating software reuse alternatives: a model and its application to an industrial case study

We propose a model that enables software developers to systematically evaluate and compare all possible alternative reuse scenarios. The model supports the clear identification of the basic operations involved and associates a cost component with each basic operation in a focused and precise way. The model is a practical tool that assists developers to weigh and evaluate different reuse scenarios, based on accumulated organizational data, and then to decide which option to select in a given situation. The model is currently being used at six different companies for cost-benefit analysis of alternative reuse scenarios; we give a case study that illustrates how it has been used in practice.     

Linkage analysis of candidate genes in autoimmune thyroid disease: 1. Selected immunoregulatory genes. International Consortium for the Genetics of Autoimmune Thyroid Disease

Graves' and Hashimoto's diseases are autoimmune thyroid diseases in which the genetic contribution is complex. For this reason, identification of necessary susceptibility genes has been difficult. However, a number of immunoregulatory genes have been implicated by association studies, including: CTLA-4, a recently described protein involved in antigen presentation, located on chromosome 2q33; the T-cell receptor V alpha and V beta gene complexes, located on 14q11 and 7q35, respectively; and the Ig gene complex (IgH), located on 15q11. We used polymorphic microsatellite markers located within these genes, or gene complexes, to test for linkage (rather than association), to each of these candidates. Using markers within the loci allowed us to assume a fixed recombination fraction of 0.01 in the tested model. Three hundred eight subjects from 48 multiplex families were studied, with 142 affected subjects. Using this set of families, we have previously shown evidence of linkage with a major susceptibility locus for Graves' disease (GD-1) on 14q24.3-31, with a maximum lod (logarithm + odds) score of 2.1, at a penetrance of 80% and with a dominant mode of inheritance. In the present study, we obtained consistently negative lod scores for each of the candidate genes, assuming either dominant or recessive modes of inheritance. These data, therefore, showed evidence against linkage with all the candidate genes. Unlike association studies, linkage analyses detect major genetic influences on disease susceptibility exerted by the linked loci. The lack of linkage for the immunoregulatory genes that were studied indicated, therefore, that they were not major contributors to disease etiology.     

Milk production, health, behavior, and endocrine responses of cows exposed to electrical current during milking

Six cows were exposed during milkings to electrical current to assess its effects on behavior, health, milking performance, and endocrine responses. Three treatments (0, 4, and 8 mA) were applied in a changeover design over three consecutive 1-wk periods. A cow received the same current treatment during 14 consecutive milkings, beginning with the evening milking (d 1) and ending with the morning milking (d 8). Treatments began 5 min before milking and continued until milking unit removal. Treatments consisted of 60 Hz square wave current of 5-s duration applied every 30 s from udder to hooves. Milk accumulation curves provided information about milk yields, milking times, peak milk flow rates, and times of peak milk flow. Residual milk yields also were measured. Milk was analyzed for protein, fat, and somatic cells. Blood samples from 60 min before to 60 min after treatment were collected, and oxytocin, prolactin, and cortisol concentrations were measured. Behavioral responses to current decreased with time. Changes of milking performance and milk composition were not significant. Changes of milking related cortisol responses during 8-mA current stimulation were significant. Oxytocin release was delayed during 8-mA treatments. Current treatments did not affect prolactin.     

High power and low cross‐polarization microstrip patch array antenna at S‐band

This article reports the design and development of high power, low cross‐polarization, and high efficiency circularly polarized microstrip patch array antenna at S‐band, proposed for Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System payload. A novel feeding mechanism for truncated corner square patch based on square coaxial line for broadband impedance matching is discussed. Sequential rotation scheme for axial ratio improvement in an array is implemented. High power handling margins in critical regions of square coaxial line for multipaction breakdown is brought out. Measured 19 dB return loss bandwidth of array antenna is 15.6%. Axial ratio of 0.78 dB over global coverage is achieved in the desired frequency band of operation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2012.     

Visible‐light‐induced controlled/living radical polymerization of styrene with a phenyl seleno group at one terminal chain end: 1‐(Phenylseleno)ethyl benzene as a photoiniferter

The photopolymerization of styrene with a well‐defined molecular architecture and a low polydispersity index and with methyl and phenylseleno (? SePh) groups at α‐ and ω‐chain ends, respectively, was performed via a controlled/living radical polymerization with a new initiating system, 1‐(phenylseleno)ethyl benzene/tert‐butyl diphenyl (phenylseleno) silane, through the absorption of visible light at room temperature. A novel initiating living radical polymerization was examined. The yield and number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of the resulting polymer increased with the reaction time. Furthermore, a linear relationship was found in a plot of M_n versus the polymer yield. These results indicated that this polymerization proceeded through a living radical mechanism. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 93: 348–355, 2004     

A biologically motivated solution to the cocktail party problem.

We present a new approach to the cocktail party problem that uses a cortronic artificial neural network architecture (Hecht-Nielsen, 1998) as the front end of a speech processing system. Our approach is novel in three important respects. First, our method assumes and exploits detailed knowledge of the signals we wish to attend to in the cocktail party environment. Second, our goal is to provide preprocessing in advance of a pattern recognition system rather than to separate one or more of the mixed sources explicitly. Third, the neural network model we employ is more biologically feasible than are most other approaches to the cocktail party problem. Although the focus here is on the cocktail party problem, the method presented in this study can be applied to other areas of information processing.     

Novel,Printable Energetic Polymers

Novel, simple‐to‐make energetic mono‐ and bisvinylimidazolium perchlorate monomers are prepared and characterized. These energetic monomers offer the possibility to 3D print energetic polymers that may allow decreasing the content of the energetic filler in energetic devices without compromising their energetic properties. The new printable materials are suited for photocuring‐based additive manufacturing (AM), techniques, offering not only a large degree of control over the mechanical and energetic properties of the resulting solids, but also the production of complex geometries at high resolution.     

A Novel Highly Sensitive Humidity Sensor Based on ZnO/SBA‐15 Hybrid Nanocomposite

This work deals with the study of hydrothermally synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) loaded mesoporous SBA‐15 hybrid nanocomposite for relative humidity sensing (RH) at room temperature. The sensor exhibits an excellent ~5 orders impedance change along with excellent linearity, quick response time (17 s), rapid recovery time (18 s), negligible hysteresis (1.2%), good repeatability, and stability (1.8%) in 11%–98% RH range. In addition, complex impedance spectra of the sensor at different RHs were analyzed to understand the humidity sensing mechanism. Our study can open a new way for realizing ZnO/SBA‐15 hybrid nanocomposite for fabrication of high‐performance RH sensors.