200 research outputs found

    Towards semantic software engineering environments

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    Software tools processing partially common set of data should share an understanding of what these data mean. Since ontologies have been used to express formally a shared understanding of information, we argue that they are a way towards Semantic SEEs. In this paper we discuss an ontology-based approach to tool integration and present ODE, an ontology-based SEE

    The design and implementation of the VRPML support environment.

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    Proses pembangunan penslan berkait rapat dengan turutan langkah yang mesti dilakukan oleh jurutera perisian untuk memenuhi matlamat kejuruteraan perisian. Untuk menghasilkan proses yang tepat dan lengkap, proses pembangunan perisian boleh dimodel dan dilari menggunakan bahasa pennodelan (PML) dengan dibantu oleh sistem proses bantuan (PSEE). Software processes relate to the sequences of steps that must be performed by software engineers in order to pursue the goals of software engineering. In order to have an accurate representation and implementation of what the actual steps are, software processes may be modeled and enacted by a process modeling language (PML) and its process support system (called the Process Centered Environments i.e. PSEE)

    An Analytical Review of Process-Centered Software Engineering Environments

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    Process-centered Software Engineering Environments, or PSEEs, are intended for the definition, modification, and enactment of software process models; they thus bring software development processes into effect. Even though research efforts in process-centered software engineering abound, PSEE technology has not received the attention that it deserves. In order to create a concise but effective and practically applicable evaluation framework for PSEEs, this paper first presents a survey of PSEEs and highlights the current state of the art of the technology. The PSEEs which have been reviewed herein have been regarded as software systems, and as such, have been characterized in terms of their requirements. After providing a conceptual critique of the scope and nature of conventional PSEEs, a detailed criteria-based evaluation of a select set of several recent PSEEs has been conducted. The evaluation criteria have been derived from PSEE requirements and the results of the critique, and have then been refined and evolved into the final criterion set

    Barriers to energy-efficiency implementation: a study of the uptake of energy-efficiency initiatives offered through incentive schemes in South Africa

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    Energy efficiency has been widely recognised as a powerful tool for improving the energy situation across the globe. Whether by increasing energy security, reducing carbon emissions or alleviating grid strain, proven methods of energyefficiency management can bring about significant savings at a multitude of levels. Although energy-efficiency practices are gaining traction globally, their uptake is still less than optimal, and this is especially true of South Africa. The country is currently facing an energy crisis that brings with it a variety of complex challenges, all which can be assuaged through energy efficiency, if applied to the energy-intensive economy. It is important to understand the South Africa-specific barriers that hinder implementation of energy efficiency. While government has made strong commitments to supporting the uptake of energy-efficiency initiatives, there have been several interruptions and a lack of execution. An abundant amount of topdown research has been conducted to identify the various barriers to implementation; far less research, however, identifies barriers from within these energy-intensive economies. If these barriers could be identified from a more qualitative and participant-centred perspective, the key role-players in the sector might be able to better address energy-efficiency implementation, leading to more widespread benefits and results. To this end, the researcher performed an explanatory investigation, analysing seven energy-intensive companies that had recently participated in a fully funded local incentive scheme called the Private Sector Energy Efficiency Programme (PSEE). The PSEE performed an energy audit on each company, followed up by a report on its findings. The report clearly outlined the company's key energy-savings opportunities, in kilowatt-hours (kWh), Rand and CO2 emissions. It also estimated the costs and payback periods of the projects. Despite these reports indicating significant savings potentials and reasonable payback periods, a lack of uptake still remained. The researcher extracted and analysed the relevant quantitative data from the PSEE reports and conducted one-on-one, semi-structured interviews with the participants to identify and understand the participant-specific barriers to the recommended energy-efficient measures. The researcher also interviewed three coordinators of the PSEE programme, in the hope of identifying any PSEEspecific barriers. The other main party involved in this research was PSEE energy-efficiency ESCO which has been given an alias name ESCO E, who delivered the reports to the participants. The research found that the barriers in place in South Africa resemble those that have been identified at the global level. However, the mixed-methods approach and data sample employed in this study create a very interesting picture about the barriers that exist at the company level. The research found that there were significant saving opportunities available to companies but that, mainly due to a lack of financial support, human-resource capacity and time, there has been little to no implementation of the recommended projects. The available literature and provided global experience, coupled with participants' responses and suggestions, allow the researcher to make relevant recommendations that pertain to the study: • Lower payback periods through further incentives • Accessible funding and subsidies • Ensured continuation, longevity and growth of incentive programmes • Client-specific cost alternatives • Extensive and supported detail around each recommendation • Human resource capacity support to ensure energy management • Required energy seminars and skills training to programme participants • Increased government support and energy efficiency resources; namely an Energy Hub, which will provide a stable platform for energy efficiency • Participant-specific report alignment to encourage uptake and increased trust between incentive host and participant • More stringent government regulated technological standards

    Early Intervention Experiences: Parental Satisfaction, Involvement, and Perception of Quality

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    Parental satisfaction of, and involvement, in early intervention programs is important for child success and promotes resilience in parents and children (Fantuzzo et al., 2006). Early intervention programs and parental involvement are especially significant for children with exceptionalities (Bradshaw, 2013; Dawson et al., 2010, Gerber et al., 2011; Robertson et al., 1999). This study investigated parents’ satisfaction and involvement with their child’s early intervention program. Specifically, the differences between parental characteristics and satisfaction levels was examined, as well as parents’ perceptions of the factors that helped and challenged their involvement was explored using resiliency theory. Parents/primary caregivers (n = 100) of students who were 3 to 6 years old and in daycare, prekindergarten, or kindergarten completed an adapted version of the Parent Satisfaction Educational Experiences Scale (Fantuzzo et al., 2006) and responded to a series of open-ended questions related to the factors limiting or helping their involvement. No significant differences were found in satisfaction or involvement when looking at the child’s age, parent’s age, and the parent’s highest educational level. Thematic analyses of parents’ responses to posed open-ended question found that while many parents had positive experiences with the teacher and their child’s program, some parents reported lack of communication with the teacher and personal factors as negatively affecting their involvement. This research provides an initial exploration of what parents value and how their involvement affects their perception of their child’s program. This provides initial feedback on how educators and policy makers can improve programming, communication, and increase parental involvement which may positively influence parental satisfaction. Further research is needed to explore the dynamic parent-teacher relationship and how parents’ involvement fits into their child’s early intervention program

    ODE: ontology-based software development environment

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    Software tools processing partially common set of data should share an understanding of what these data mean. Since ontologies have been used to express formally a shared understanding of information, we argue that they can be used to improve integration in Software Engineering Environments (SEE). In this paper we discuss an ontology-based approach to improve tool integration and present ODE, an ontology-based SEE.Eje: Ingeniería de Software y Bases de Datos (ISBD)Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI

    REMIDI 2008:Proceedings for 2nd International Workshop on Tool Support and Requirements Management in Distributed Projects

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    Changing political boundaries: evidence from a party ban

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    Treballs Finals del Màster d'Economia, Facultat d'Economia i Empresa, Universitat de Barcelona. Curs: 2020-2021, Tutor: Andreu ArenasIn this study we analyze whether party bans ignite ideological polarization by exacerbating pre-existing differences. We use the 2003 ban on Batasuna, a leftist Basque political platform, as case study. In the 2005 Basque regional elections EHAK-PCTV contested in its name, which enabled the outlawed party to avoid the ban. We aim to analyze these effects in the short-term, one election period later. Using a continuous treatment in a Difference-in-Difference strategy, we are able to show that municipalities react differently given their differences in baseline support to Batasuna (measured by pre-ban vote shares in regional elections), rather than by differences in the loss of institutional representation (proxied by the pre-ban share of Batasuna councilors). The latter case holds in extreme circumstances, those in which the city mayor was from Batasuna, as the material loss of the ban is more salient. We find that the banned party increased its vote share in those places where its baseline support was higher. Moreover, the nationalist bloc increased its size while the federal bloc lost support, redefining group boundaries. We argue that the ban reinforced the ethnic identity political cleavage accentuating the inter-group political conflict

    Norwegian Aerospace Activities: an Overview

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    Excerpts from a Governmental Investigation concerning Norwegian participation in the European Space Organization (ESA) is presented. The implications and advantages of such a move and a suggestion for the reorganization of Norwegian Aerospace activity is given

    Eastern Europe as investment location for Turkish OFDI

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